To Deny Thyself

One year had passed since that fateful day Konton had met princess Celestia. However, the more important date in the colt’s mind was ten months, for it had been ten months since he had left Ponyvile. Ten months and four towns latter and he had yet to find any town as welcoming as Ponyville had been. Hollow Shades had been no different then the last three towns, nopony had been willing to become his friend despite his usual opening speech.

Now walking down the street as alone as he had always been since leaving Ponyville. That loneliness made him long for the friends he had left behind, the crusaders, especially Sweetie Belle. Who, as far as he knew, had kept his secrets even to this day. Although, for some reason the separation from them didn’t hurt as much as he remembered from the other friends he had to leave behind. Maybe it was a sign he was growing up, or maybe it was simply that the crusaders had been the first friendships he had made that were strong enough to comfort him no matter how much distance separated him from them. And even though his friends couldn’t be with him Konton would never forget how they had taught him not just to see the places he traveled, to see what he could do there and that lesson had made his life much more enjoyable.

A sudden breath of whispers drew Konton out of his thoughts, looking about to see what had the locals in hushed interest, he saw a lot of eyes looking up. He didn’t even have time to look up himself before a pegasus royal guard landed right in front of him. The guard looked him over making note of his horn and colors, before asking, “Are you Konton?”

“Yes,” the colt answered.

The guard frowned at the saddlebags being worn far enough back to obscure the young pony’s cutie mark and added, “This message is for your ears only. I’m afraid I’ll need to verify that you are who you say.”

Despite the implied secrecy of his words the guard had spoken loud enough that everypony on the street could have heard it. While most had the decency to at least pretend to be minding their own matters a group of four young ponies across the street were now watching with extraordinary interest as Konton lifted his saddlebags enough to present his cutie mark.

Satisfied the guard leaned in close, wrapped his wing around the colt’s head and his own mouth insuring that only Konton could hear his whispered message. “Princess Celestia wishes to inform you that Discord has been released and reformed. As such you are no longer forbidden from entering Canterlot. Also as apology for having to ban you from Canterlot in the first place, The Princess has left you a standing invitation to stay as a guest at the castle should you ever find yourself visiting Canterlot.”

“Um… sir I’m just a colt. Aren’t I a little too young to making any travel plans?”

“Hence why it’s a ‘standing’ invitation. That means you don’t have to take The Princess up on the offer any time soon. Just know that if some year down the road you find yourself in Canterlot just stop by the castle and let us know who you are and we’ll still have standing orders to set you up in one of the guest suites. Oh, one last thing, considering his less then stellar reputation among the populace, The Princess would prefer if you kept the news about Discord to yourself until it filters out on its own.” The guard unwrapped his wing, and spoke loudly to add, “Think you can handle that!?”

Playing along, Konton stepped back and saluted, “Yes sir!”

The royal guard returned the salute and with a powerful beat of his wings the stallion was off into the sky, returning to Canterlot.

“You work with the royal guard? What did he want you to do? That’s so cool! Want to hang out?” Konton suddenly found himself barraged with questions from the four young ponies running over to him. Two colts and two fillies, who were a brother and sister team and their two friends if Konton was remembering his observations from class correctly.

“I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss that. As for hanging out, I’m not expected to be anywhere special today, so sure.”

“You’ve only been in town a week or two right? Have you been hiking into the woods much?”

“Yeah I’m still new here, and no I haven’t left town much since I got here.”

“Then come on! We’ll show you all the cool places!”

Konton paused to shot a glance at the royal guard still flying away. You did that on purpose didn’t you? Thank you. He thought before galloping of after his classmates. Perhaps his time in Hollow Shades wouldn’t be all that lonely after all.