Silver Oak stepped out of the showers to the usual clangs and clashes of armor being placed on racks. A towel wrapped around his cream colored barrel was vigorously rubbed into damp fur and then tossed into a bin, followed by another that had been around his chestnut colored mane. It had been a long day in the heat of summer. It had been his bad luck he'd pulled guard duty outside the postern gate of Castle Canter. The cold shower felt wonderful and the unicorn was planning a lazy evening of wandering some of the lower caverns of Mount Canter that had a tour going before turning in for the night. His thoughts, which had been on what made some of those crystals so big, were interrupted by a shout of his name.
"Hey, Silver Oak! Silver! Good thing I caught you," a still armored pegasus mare approached. The armor's enchantments kept her coloring white and blue, but with a flick of her head the helmet rolled back and off to dangle by the safety strap at the nape of the neck. The air seemed to shimmer around her coat before turning pale blue with a silver mane as the helmet clanged loudly against the chestplate. Her expression was a happy one, even if she was panting fit to pass out.
Silver tilted his head at the mare. "Gleaming Sky? Ma'am? Is everything all right?" Technically, the mare was a rank above him and probably still on duty. She had just been promoted a few nights before, so the admission to rank was appropriate.
"Yeah, just fine. Say, listen, you doing anything tonight? I just got off duty." She looked at him, quickly shucking the rest of her armor onto a rack and giving her mane a tussle to get rid of the rather impressive case of helmet mane she sported.
With a shake of his head Silver murmured, "No, nothing that was important anyways. Was going to go cool down in the caves with a tour then return to bunk."
If anything, Gleaming Sky's grin grew wider. "Perfect! Cancel those plans and come with me, then."
These words made the stallion pause. He'd been longtime friends with Gleam, as she liked to be called. Well before they'd joined the Royal Guard recruiting program, even. In fact, their parents had been old friends with each other, resulting in meeting and playing from the time they were still in diapers all the way through school. That long history had taught him just what a spitfire Gleam could be in her off-duty time, especially when combined with her ability to prank just about anyone, from the Princesses on down. She'd enlisted him, willingly and unwillingly, in many plans in the past and this had all the earmarks of being another harebrained plot to twist someone's tail. Knowing her it was probably that pathetic Prince Blueblood.
Still, she'd never let him take the blame he didn't deserve…
Therefore it was with only a bit of trepidation that Silver nodded. "Okay, Gleam. What's going on?"
"Can't tell you just yet!" She said in a singsong voice. The last pieces of armor were set on a rack, and she turned towards the door, trotting briskly. "But shh, we've gotta be quiet on our way. Don't want to be seen out of white."
The statement made Silver blink. It wasn't uncommon to see off-duty guards and normal ponies walking the castle; it was open to the public after all. For Sun's sake, Princess Celestia encouraged it! She liked seeing the castle full of happy faces. So why the need for secrecy?
In the time these thoughts had gone through his head, Gleam had begun moving ahead of the stationary stallion before realizing that he wasn't next to her. She paused and turned back. "Geez, you coming? And to think you were a running champ back in school."
"I still am a running champ, thank you very much!" Silver said as a grin finally spread across his muzzle. He broke into a quick jog and was beside Gleam momentarily. The two of them proceeded to make their way down long hallways. "At least I wasn't a cheerleader like you. All bounce and prance and parvaine, and no real skill."
Gleam blew Silver a raspberry, the mare's hips bumping into the stallion's. "You were just jealous I cheered for the hoofball team and wasn't there to distract you with my skirt clad flanks."
"Why do you think I didn't play hoofball in the first place, when they wanted me for a longrunner?" Silver shot back, smiling. "I didn't want to hurt your feelings by proving your charms had no effect on me."
"Ouch, low blow!" Gleam cried, leaning over and taking one of Silver's ears in her teeth. She gave it a light admonishing tug. "Making fun of a lady's looks; I thought you guard stallions were all supposed to be gentleponies!"
"I was, but you rubbed off on me," Silver replied with a flick of his ear as it was released. This was an old game the two had played, ever since they were old enough to learn that they could tease each other and not hurt feelings. It was affection, really. Many ponies thought the two were part of a herd together, but that had never been the case -- just a long and old friendship. Not that they ever did anything to dispel myths and rumors otherwise.
"You're just full of zingers today. Guess all that sun heated up your brain, eh? Made it run faster? Too bad you didn't have KP duty with me. Nice and cool, scrubbing dishes," Gleam fired, back still smiling.
Their banter had carried them down the more private sections of the palace reserved for the guard and live-in residents to one of the first major hallways used by common visitors. Silver looked at Gleam. "So are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"Nope. But hang tight, it'll be clear soon enough! We've just gotta get across the next two hallways then we'll be in the clear."
Two hallways. What was two hallways away?…
With training brought about by a year of guard camp, the two snuck through the common passages. They hid once or twice when common ponies crossed their path. Finally they came to an ornate door guarded by two on-duty ponies. With a nod they pushed open the doors and let their off duty brethren inside.
A clang resounded as the gates closed, leaving the hallway beyond in a dim golden glow filtering in from windows high above them. Silver turned to Gleam as his eyes widened slightly.
"Isn't this the private wing of the Palace?" The unicorn was answered by the grin on Gleam's muzzle and the glint in her eyes.
The private wing of the castle was one of the few areas off-limits to most ponies. There were very good reasons for this. The first was that it contained access to the highest diplomatic apartments. The second was that it held the access to the private Royal library full of books that would never make their way to the most restricted section of Starswirl the Bearded's vast literary warehouse; much less common circulation. And lastly, it contained the royal apartments.
A couple of on-duty guards casually waved from the entrance to the various Princess suites. Even when their occupants not present all eight apartments had a pair of guards at their doors. They stood ready to answer any need of the princess, regardless of whether or not she was inside, and guard duty here was usually reserved as a reward for those that had done something impressive or were deserving of recognition. It made no sense to any of the guards as far as Silver knew. There was only one princess.
As they trotted up, one of them said quietly to Gleam, "She's already inside, waiting. So are the others." Gleam nodded and trotted right up to a door and opened it.
Silver stopped in his tracks. Gleam had opened Princess Celestia's door.
Gleam sensed his stopping and turned. "Come on, silly!"
Giving himself a shake, Silver trotted in.
It wasn't what the young guardpony had expected. Not at all.
He'd been expecting sky-high ceilings with stained glass portraits of the Princess. Perhaps some would just be her, others would be well known moments in her history. There had been thoughts of opulent rugs and oversized furniture, and in pale colors that matched the Princess's coat or mane. He'd had even a wild idea that there might be several statues and potted plants around as well as paintings of herself and famous ponies of the past.
Well there were a few paintings of famous ponies. There were a few small plants. But even those minor things weren't as he had expected them to be, here in the princess's chamber.
The room's ceiling was no higher than most common rooms in the palace. This meant it was high enough for a normal pegasi to fly, but only just, and only high enough for the Princesses to walk through. The paintings were small and usually set up in modern picture frames. And the plants… well they were more like a few small terrariums scattered throughout the room. The walls were painted to look like a forest on one wall and flowing grasslands on the rest. The floor was thick, plush rugs that reminded the unicorn of midsummer grasses in the wilds. It was almost like stepping outdoors rather than into a sumptuous castle suite.
A few steps ahead of him Gleam had turned to face the bewildered unicorn. His face mirrored the internal confusion of his mind, still stuck in the door. That was until one of the door guards, with a snicker, shut the door on the surprised stallion's rump to force him the rest of the way inside. Silver jumped and was shocked out of his reverie.
It was then he realized whom else was in the room. Laying on a large cushion to his left was Sergeant-Commander Midnight Lily, his commander's commander's commander. On the right in front of an oaken chest and mirror was Princess Celestia.
"P-p…" Silver started to say and made to bow until Gleam stopped him with a hoof under his chin. This effectively closed his mouth and prevented him from lowering his front half in abasement to his monarch.
"None of that here," she whispered to him with a knowing smile. "But I did the same thing two nights ago."
Silver hissed back at her, "This is not even close to what I was expecting!"
The admonishment in Silver's tone washed right over Gleam as she simply turned the smile into a devious grin. "I know."
Their conversation was interrupted as a soft voice chimed in. "Ah, Miss Gleaming Sky. How good of you to join us! Is this the pony you mentioned to me?" They both turned to see Princess Celestia approaching from the mirror. Her regalia had been removed and placed on the top of the oak chest. She seemed oddly diminished without it, Silver thought irreverently. As though she'd suddenly become half a head smaller.
Gleam nodded, beaming at the Princess. "Yes it is, Celestia, This is my old friend, Silver Oak."
Silver sputtered out a greeting. "P-Prin-" he started, but was silenced by her upraised hoof.
"My dear little pony, it is kind of you, but in my rooms all rank is disregarded. We are all the same here." A smile lit her muzzle and eyes as she turned towards the room's other occupant. "Lily dear, could I interest you in the baths tonight?"
The poor stallion was so shocked he completely missed Midnight Lily's response. He did not miss Gleam closing his jaw for him a second time in under five minutes, however.
"Yes, it's real. Yes, that's her, and yes, there is no rank. Now come on, I know you already showered, but you won't want to miss this," Gleam said with a twinkle in her eyes. She turned to follow the other two mares to a side door with head and tail held high. With a shake of his head and a whicker of disbelief Silver followed suit.
Either Silver's mind was too busy digesting the numerous shocks to his system he'd already endured or he was beginning to become inured to them. The door led to a large private bath. It too was decorated in the wilderness motif of the main room. Its most striking feature was in the center; a large pool seemingly hewn straight from stone. Small traces of steam curled off the surface indicating that it was heated and a trickling sound from a small waterfall at the far edge gave hint to some sort of circulation present.
"Geronimo!" A light blue streak shot by and then landed with a significant splash in the pool. Gleam, true to her nature, had just dive-bombed the surface, sending ripples out everywhere to lap at the hooves of Midnight Lily and Princess Celestia. Both mares let out a laugh.
Gleam surfaced and spread out her wings with an exaggerated 'ahhh' of contentment. "Celestia, let me tell you, if I ever get the bits I want a pool like this. Don't even need a house. I'll just live afloat."
"That'd be quite a sight," Midnight Lily commented as she waded in herself with a gentle sigh. "Ahh, that feels good on my old bones."
"You don't get to comment on old bones until you're a tenth my age, Lily dear," Princess Celestia said with a chuckle. The Princess waded halfway into the water before leaning forward in a slight dive. She came up dripping water, her mane washed flat from its magical undulations of just a moment before.
"So in other words I have to be dust in my grave before I can complain?" Midnight Lily said with a chuckle. "Aye, suppose I can understand that."
"Just so," the Princess replied then turned around. "Well, good Silver Oak, do you care to join us? Or is this too much of a mare menagerie for your sensibilities?"
"Just… coming to terms, my lady," Silver said back with a shake of his head. Tentatively he stepped into the shallow end and let out a soft murmur of delight as it was delightfully warm. He quickly waded in the rest of the way to where the mares were relaxing.
Gleam grinned. "So good of you to join us, Silver. For a second there I thought you were going to bolt and run."
Lily chuckled from where she had her head tipped to the side, soaking her gray-tone mane in the water. "Still do, at that. Sure you're of stern enough stuff for the Royal Guard, colt?"
It was the Princess who stepped in to his defense. "Now now, dears, I'm sure he was simply shocked. This is our secret after all!" She smiled at Silver, a genuine one that reached her eyes as well as her lips. "Now. Don't mind us. This is a time to relax, and to not worry about who is who and what is going on. Besides," she added with a smirk that could quite have rivaled Gleam at her best. "A princess needs to keep up on her gossip somehow!"
Midnight Lily had drifted to the side where an assortment of bottles of shampoo rested and carefully picked up one. "Speaking of, Celestia, did you hear about Shimmering Shield? Seems he finally…"
Gleam settled beside Silver with her shoulder to his. "Don't worry, they teased me too."
The unicorn turned to his friend and shook his head. "This is not what I expected. It seems too surreal. Like it's a dream."
"I know what you mean. Still kinda does, but trust me, if you kick yourself it'll hurt. It's real," Gleam said. She dunked her head quickly to get her mane wet and then pulled Silver over to the bottles. "Which do you think? Lavender or sea breeze?"
"Sea breeze, it fits you more," Silver said with half his mind still on the situation. With his mind distracted he failed to notice Gleam lathering her hooves before launching herself directly at him. He let out a muffled squawk of protest as he stumbled into deeper water. Gleam could be heard giggling as he came up. Silver couldn't see her as her surprise attack had left his mane covering his eyes. However he felt her hooves working the shampoo into his mane after a moment.
The stallion opened his muzzle to protest but Gleam had been prepared. "Shush. Yes, you showered. But if you sleep with the princess tonight you shouldn't smell like Colt Spice."
That shut Silver's muzzle in a snap. He sat there for a minute letting Gleam hum tunelessly as she shampooed his mane. His ears began to pick up pieces of the conversation that Celestia and Lily were having. Was that… boy talk?
"I told you, I'm too old for a stallion like that!"
"Honey, if there's one thing I know, and trust me, I have seen it all, it's that love knows no bounds. Lily, I mean this. I get he's a private. And quite literally half your age. But you like him, and from what I've heard you no more intimidate him than a teddy bear does. Give it a try. The worst that will happen is he says no, and things are a bit awkward for a while."
"You sure about that? What if the other commanders…"
"If they make a fuss, I shall simply point out to them that there are reasons I have no rules for my guards about being in relationships together. Besides, there's nothing wrong with dating someone half your age. I'd do it, but all those that are half my age are statues in the gardens outside."
"Well, if you think so, Celestia, then I'll do it. And the only reason they're all statues out there is because after you asked them they were scared stiff!"
"… Was that a joke, Lily?"
"And a bad one, at that."
The sound of the two breaking into snorts and giggles followed. Silver couldn't help but crack a smile himself before letting out a surprised gurgle as Gleam forced his head underwater. He was held under for a moment, feeling hooves work along his scalp and neck before coming back up sputtering.
Gleam smirked at him. "All done. Now you smell like lavender and lilac. Such a masculine scent."
"You're too kind," Silver replied sarcastically, coughing up a small amount of water. He shook his mane to get some of the water out of it before turning to face Gleam. "Didn't you put the sea breeze on your hooves?"
"Nope! I'll be using it myself, but I figured we shouldn't both smell the same tonight. Might give them ideas," Gleam said softly. "Though, would you mind helping me?"
Silver nodded and went to fetch the appropriate shampoo. He squirted a bit on his hooves, lathered it up, and returned to start working it into Gleam's mane carefully. This wasn't as startling, given ponies' herd nature. Their parents had often spent time together and the two had as foals bathed often enough that it was second nature to help one another out.
As the shampoo was worked into the pegasi's mane, Silver realized he hadn't asked one of the most obvious questions yet. With a small shake of his head in dismay he leaned down and murmured, "So how did you get… invited here?"
The pegasus mare flicked her eyes up and a small grin tweaked the corners of her muzzle. "Honestly? Blame Lily. I couldn't tell you what made her decide to let me in; I mean, I've only had my promotion three days. I was in talking with her right afterwards about what it would entail when she said something along the lines of wanting to relax and to follow her, so we could have the discussion somewhere more comfortable. We got out of armor, and then she led me here." The slight grin she had turned into an embarrassed one. "I may have actually passed out for a moment."
"You, passed out?" Silver paused with a look down, one eyebrow raised in surprise.
"Mhmm. I was so shocked someone had out-pranked me!" Her ears flicked back at Silver's snort of derision and giggled. "Hey, seriously! I thought it was some sort of new officer joke they all pulled and I was so stunned that Celestia was in on it I couldn't take the idea. Well, I came to, they explained to me what was going on, and I have come back every night the last few nights."
The unicorn nodded, then realizing she couldn't see the motion and cleared his throat instead. "Well, that would do it. So why bring me here?"
Gleam paused for a moment. She then tilted her shampooed head back to her cutie mark. "You know my pair of dolphins on my flank is a symbol of spreading joy, of having fun bringing others into my little games and having them bring me in. Of course, I wanted to share, and I couldn't think of anyone better. Before I had KP duty I was on guard in the reception hall for that gathering of the finance ministers today, and Celestia came on by. She was there for a bit after they left, checking up on the staff and us guards. I asked her then if she'd mind if I brought an old friend by tonight, who was trustworthy and a good guard."
"You said that about me?" Silver blinked for a moment. "You? By the way, your mane's ready to rinse."
A soft peal of laughter interrupted the two. Celestia was laughing at something Lily had said, who had a very indignant expression on her face. "It's not that funny!"
Celestia smiled and patted the older mare with a hoof. "Yes my dear, I am sorry but it is quite adorable."
Gleam let out a snort and dunked her mane, using her hooves to rinse it as she looked back to Silver. "Nope, I really told her you're a lout and a dolt-colt who doesn't know his nose from his tail. Seriously, I mean it! So she said to invite you on by."
"Huh." Silver wasn't quite sure what to think about that, but he smiled nonetheless. "Well… thank you, Gleam. I'll have to repay you at some point."
She pulled her mane up out of the water, dripping. "You should be lucky, normally you have to be my rank before you get told! But I guess that doesn't apply to yo--" She clamped her hooves over her mouth quickly, eyes going wide for a moment. "Forget I just said anything."
"No way, what was that?" Silver tilted his head at her. "I'm older than you, you should tell me!"
"Higher rank!" She said, and jumped on him. "So that won't work on me!" She used a hoof to start a noogie around his horn. "Take that!"
Silver let out a surprised squawk and cringed. "I thought there was no rank, so you have to tell me now!" His horn lit up in a pale tan glow and lit up around the leading edge of her wings. "Wing tickles!"
"Eep, nooo not wing tickles!" Gleam squirmed to try and get away as she laughed, but refused to give her noogie up she couldn't fly out of the unicorn's magic distance.
A polite cough made them stop, the blue mare half-atop Silver and Silver twisted with his magic glowing all over her backside. The two looked up to see Celestia, her mane dripping down her sides and flowing in the water where the two came into contact, looking at them with raised eyebrows. Beside her Midnight Lily, with her dark blue coat and gray mane likewise dripping, was barely suppressing laughter. She snickered, "You t-two sure you don't need a minute alone?"
"I don't know, Lily," Celestia said as she looked down at her companion. "Something tells me Miss Gleaming Sky would like an audience."
Both Gleam and Silver had the good grace to blush fiercely. Silver's magic faded so fast it had an almost audible pop to it and Gleam slipped down off of Silver's back into the water. "Uh…"
Lily couldn't resist and burst out laughing. "S-so when's the herd announcement c-coming? Ha!"
Stepping forward Gleam said quietly, "Sorry, Celestia, sorry Lily. We were teasing each other and it got out of hand." Silver also bowed his head. "We won't let it happen again."
The two older mares looked at each other and smiled knowingly. "Now who said anything about not letting it happen again?" Lily intoned, tilting her head to the side so her mane flopped down. "Truth be told, it was funny. As long as it never happens on duty, do what you two want."
Celestia nodded. "Nothing is more delightful than my little ponies having fun with each other. I suppose this is what happens when you are old friends, hmm?"
Silver and Gleam blushed again.
Lily poked at Celestia with a wing. "If these two are old, I'm ancient, and you're history. Which is true, because there are history books about you!"
Celestia just shook her head with a smile. She walked out of the pool while flicking her tail idly. "Well if you three are quite done, dinner should be available. I hope fruit and salads are fine."
Lily trotted out after her, followed quickly by Gleam and Silver still blushing. They all dried off in relative silence before returning to the main room. On the desk was set four small platters with the aforementioned food. Each of them took one before settling down on various cushions. Silver was surprised at the food they were served. It was essentially the same things that he knew were to be served in the barracks tonight. Why would Celestia eat the same food as the rest of them? Couldn't she command higher quality food as Princess of the realm?
Something of his thoughts must have crossed his expression, for Celestia called to him. "Silver? Something wrong with your supper?"
The stallion shook his head. "I'm just surprised is all; I wasn't expecting the same thing as the dining hall." Looking up at her he saw her smiling.
"Well of course it is. I don't like to be treated any differently than other ponies when I can. Besides, when you have formal dinner parties all the time the rich food tends to become bland. This is delicious to me." The alicorn punctuated her comment by leaning down, taking a grape in her teeth, and biting down. The juice dribbled against her lips and she swallowed it quickly. "Mmmm."
Silver quickly took a few bites of his own food. It wasn't bad. It never was, if the truth were to be told, and fruit and salad was better than some dishes they served. At a slight cough however he looked up to Lily. "Silver Oak, there is something I want to ask of you. Both of you, actually. You and Miss Gleaming Sky."
That caught Gleaming's attention too, and she looked up from the apple she had been chewing at. "Whowha? Both of us? I thought it was just…" She trailed off.
Lily snorted. "Now that I have your attention… You two, if you must know, stood out during training. You're not the best fighters, or the smartest or strongest or anything like that. Where you stood out is that you worked very well together. You were able to anticipate each other, support each other, and generally compensate for each other's weaknesses. This is a valuable skill to have in general, but in the Royal Guard it can mean… other things." She cast a glance at Celestia, who nodded. "I've been keeping an eye on the two of you since you joined. It's uncommon to have friends join the guard. And you did well, so I… we, really, have a proposition for you."
With a tilt of her head to Lily, Celestia picked up speaking. "There has always been a need for Royal Guards to do duties beyond the normal. These normal duties, as you know, involve working with the citizenry, acting as a backup force for local constabulary, guarding Castle Canter and other royal sites, and guarding the Princess and her advisors from threats in all their forms. But sometimes, I need more of my guard. Things that go above and beyond that normal call of duty. These are my personal guards. They are the ones who go with me at times out into the field, and carry out my personal will even within the Guard themselves. Commander Lily and I think you two would be the best possible candidates."
As if tonight wasn't full of enough surprises. Silver looked at them both. "Why us? Why now?" Gleam nodded at his words, looking incredulous at their claim.
It was Lily who spoke. "Well, truth be told," She said with a soft sigh, "That had been my post since I was about your two's age. But I'm getting old. Last mission I went on, I pulled my wing something fierce and was laid up for almost a week." Silver blinked, recalling the notice last month that she had been placed on medical leave. He'd thought it was from some of the training she'd been involved in! "I'm in need of replacement. Celestia's been encouraging me to step down as well. So I think you two are the best choice. Would you accept?"
"What kinds of things? It sounds like it can be pretty dangerous," Gleam said. With a glance at her Silver saw her eyes twinkle, though she had a frown on. He could tell she was excited at the prospect, but she wasn't letting the excitement override her caution.
"It varies," Lily answered. "Sometimes it is dangerous. I can tell you two safely that I was doing some scouting in the gryphon lands. And it can be unusual. It once meant spending a month undercover in Manehattan as a courtesan to track down a smuggler of state secrets."
Celestia smiled. "But oftentimes it means something else," She responded warmly. "Such as sneaking into the kitchens to get me some ice cream. Or running out to the city for the latest gossip magazine. It can even mean serving as my co-conspirators in some quiet pranks." Her muzzle quirked up at that and eyes shone. Silver knew Gleam was falling for it at that moment. "It also means you become more than just my guards… hopefully, you also become my friends, my trusted advisors."
"You think we are deserving of that?" Silver asked, his voice incredulous. "I mean, this isn't some sort of silly joke, right?"
"No joke." Celestia shook her head, still-damp mane hanging at her sides. "This is a serious offer, and we think you two are out of the current crop of trainees best for it. You'd be able to support each other, and do more as a pair than any pony could singly."
Lily snorted and nodded at Celestia's remark. "There were times I'd have given my cutie mark for a partner, let me tell you. But in this sort of thing, if you don't start with them, you don't mesh nearly as well, or so I've been told. And read, mind you. The position lets you see a different side of the history as told in the history books."
"So you're asking us to become your personal spies, let us see all sorts of forbidden things, act as your special gophers, have license to probably break the laws we're supposed to uphold, and you're asking us personally?" Gleam blinked. "That's... wow. There has to be a catch. Has to." She glanced at Silver, who nodded and looked back at the alicorn and elder pegasus before weighing in himself.
"She's right, there has to be a catch or dozen."
Both mares nodded. "You'd be correct, dears," Celestia began. "There are catches, but not all of them are bad. But I suppose you want to hear the negatives first, hmm?" At their nods she continued.
"Firstly, you would not be able to tell anyone, even your families, your herdmates, or foals should you ever have them, about this work. All that would be known is you were my personal guards, and therefore had more to do in serving me than most. It is common knowledge among most ponies that my highest level guards work mostly in the private parts of the castle, distinct even from each other within their small groups. It protects them and you."
She then let out a sigh. "I cannot lie. It is dangerous work. There is a chance you will die. It has happened in the past to my special agents of the crown. You will go into work where there will be ponies and other beings who wish to silence you permanently. You must prove yourself against those kinds of foes. Which brings me to the next downside: you must be able to kill." The light in Celestia's eyes seemed to dim and her voice went flat. "It is a vicious, vile thing to take another life, to knowingly do so. I abhor it, but I also realize sometimes... there is no alternative, and there is no other choice. You must be able to live with that, should you kill. And lastly, perhaps most importantly, there is one last truth that your duty is to protect something. Something so precious, that without geasing you to it, I cannot even speak of it. Protect it, even from me should the need arise."
Silver heard Gleam's breath catch in her throat. The unicorn wasn't sure what she was thinking but he knew it had to be stuck on the same two facts his was. The secrecy was to be expected and the danger that would come with it at well; they were no surprise. But the... license to kill? It went so against the core beliefs of ponykind that he felt himself suppressing a shudder just at the idea. And that other thing, that even Celestia, the Princess herself, couldn't tell them without binding them to it? That was in his mind the very definition of foreboding. He knew he wouldn't get more of an explanation however and settled his mind on the other task. "Commander Lily?" He asked quietly, and formally. "I know this will be forward of me, but I figure now is the time to ask... have you ever had to?"
The eyes of Gleam went wide as she glanced between Silver and Lily. Lily's eyes had taken that same dead quality that Celestia's had a moment ago. She let out a sigh and nodded, once, scrunching up her face in a rictus of pain. That told the two young guardsponies all they needed to know. Both reacted in different ways to this knowledge too. Silver's mouth set itself in a thin line, eyes staring determinedly at Lily as he thought about her admission. Gleam on the other hoof had jumped up and run straight to Lily, hugging her. This took the older mare by surprise who awkwardly patted Gleam's back. "It's okay, miss Gleam. You learn how to bear it."
The admission rattled Silver. It was one thing to know that murder occured, albeit rarely in Equestrian lands, and another entirely to contemplate that you might be given complete sanction to perform it. His mind spun in circles before settling on another fact. Turning back to Celestia he said softly as if pleading, "You said there were other catches?"
That seemed to bring light back to Celestia's face. A bit of light, at any rate. A flippant part of Silver's mind wondered if that was because of the catches she was about to reveal or because of her connection to the sun.
"Well, the others aren't so bad. You would have to move chambers to the more secure part of the palace here. That would allow your disappearances at my behest to be less noticed. You would also have to take classes. Some for weapons handling and fighting, some for evasion and sleight of hoof. Others for survival knowledge and geography. And one more... you'd have to sit officer's training." Her muzzle curled up slightly as she gazed at the two of them. "Can't have anything less than Lieutenants serving the Princess, now can we? It would be most improper for a Defense Specialist and a newly christened Sergeant to serve."
Silver's mind felt like it was about to crash. This was a lot to take in. Gleam said it for him. "Us? Lieutenants? But we've not even been guards for a whole year yet!"
Lily let out a soft chuckle, pulling back from Gleam. Her eyes were a bit wet but twinkled once more. "That one has a bit of a downside - you'll have the rank, but most ponies won't officially know it. That's why the personal guards never wear rank insignia. It's one of those public secrets we hold to."
"Then what about you?" Gleam asked, sitting back on her rump and rubbing her hoof to her muzzle. "We all know your rank and it's certainly higher than Lieutenant."
"Aye you do, but that's because I, you could say, graduated out of the personal guard ranks. I still performed those duties, but took on more. It was part of a task, that maybe you'll read about. If you accept the position," Lily said with a hint of a chuckle in her tone. "So, what do you younglings say?"
Silver glanced between Celestia and Lily. "I... well, if Gleam and I are to do this together, I suppose we should talk about it. Can we?"
Gleam looked at him, her eyes widening as she understood his purpose. She then turned and nodded, adding her support to her old friend's request.
Lily and Celestia looked at each other and grinned. It was Lily who spoke, giving them both a painfully obvious chance to talk without being overheard. "You know, there wasn't any desert with dinner tonight and I heard it was a raspberry pie and peach cobbler. What say we go give those cooks a piece of our minds, Celestia, and see if we can't snag some for ourselves and these two?"
Celestia nodded and turned to the door. "That is a wise choice, my dear Lily. I think I'll go for the pie, myself, since they didn't make any cake..."
The doors to Celestia's chambers opened and shut quickly as the two walked out of the room. Gleam was in front of Silver in a second. "Okay, this is so not my planning. So please don't blame me!"
"Blame you? What for?" The unicorn said, perplexed.
"This has to be a joke on their part. The offer can't be real. It's gotta be some sort of ploy. They said they were going to let you know of a promotion when I first stopped here tonight but that's all I thought it would be! I knew the Princess liked to make a joke but this is..." Gleam said breathlessly. She shook her head, mane flaring out beside her, but stopped when he put a hoof up to her muzzle. That little irreverent part of Silver's mind made note that it could use a good brushing.
Silver chose his words carefully. "I... I don't think it's a prank, Gleam. The way their eyes changed when they talked about the catches, I don't think that's something Princess Celestia would ever, not in her lifetime as long as it may be, joke about. And I don't think Commander Lily would lie about... killing." He shook his head to clear his mind from the dark thought of death. "No, I think they mean it. And well, if they think we're qualified," Silver trailed off, letting his friend draw her conclusion from his words. Gleam's eyes went wide. She whispered, "You'd say yes?" At his nod she whispered again, "I'm not sure I could kill somepony though!"
"I don't know if I could either but I suppose, well, if it meant saving some innocent pony's life... I would," Silver said slowly. His eyes closed as he thought. "Remember the oath we swore the day we passed training? 'To be the shield against which the spear breaks, though it leaves you battle-scarred and tarnished, we will stand resolute against any and all foes'? I know most recruits thought it meant flinging pies and pastries and dropping sleetstorms on outsiders and horrors from Tartarus, but it might have meant this." He took in a breath and held it before realizing what he was doing and sighed gustily. "Merciful stars, though, could you imagine me as a Lieutenant?"
That made Gleam chuckle weakly. "You? What about me? I'm still surprised they promoted me before you, but I guess I do have a more commanding presence." She took in a breath herself and let it out in a sigh similar to his own. "If it meant I said no, would you still do it?"
A nod of his head told Gleam that he was serious. "I would still say yes, though I'd wish for your company, you can be certain sure of that. It sounds like, if I'm interpreting what Lily was saying correctly, that she was the only one in her lifespan. That means I'd guess that there's not too much too often that needs the super-spy work..." He trailed off a moment. "But that the Princess needs someone to trust to do it. And if they picked us, out of all those around our recruitment time and ranks, that means there must be something in us they see, not just our friendship but other things... at least I hope so. If they picked us too, it either means those they first asked if we weren't first said no... or they haven't asked others, and would have to ask those less qualified. Who may not survive. Who may not handle it... so, that's why I'd say yes."
Gleam let out a sigh and leaned her head forward so her neck rested against Silver's. "You dumb colt, as if I'd let you do it alone. I'm scared of it, but y'know, let's do it. We'll say yes." She leaned back with a hint of her old humor in her muzzle. "So you're stuck with me. Lieutenant Silver Oak."
Silver grinned back. If it wasn't a fullhearted grin it at least held a flicker of his old self. "Shush, Sergeant Gleaming Sky. Remember, we won't get that rank til we've had training."
They both broke into soft laughter as they heard the door open behind them. Celestia and Lily had entered, a pie and a tray held aloft in the soft golden glow of Celestia's magic. Lily grinned in the way only an old mare can and asked, "So, if you're laughing, I'm going to guess you've come to a decision you aren't too worried about, eh?"
Silver looked at Gleam and nodded to her. Turning back towards Celestia with a flick of his ears he said firmly, "We have. We'll do it."
The smile on their sovereign's muzzle let both junior guards know just how she felt at this.
"Good. I'll have new orders for you two in the morning… namely, you'll follow me when we get up and get things set up from there. But, until then, we have one final bit of formality to attend to before we can rest," Lily stated, trotting over. She looked at both of the younger ponies. "The geas."
At that moment Celestia came over. The trays held in her magic floated down to a table near the bed. She stood beside Lily with her head bowed. "I wish you two to answer truthfully. By answering these questions, you will learn what the geas helps protect, and be sworn to duty at the same time. Are you ready?"
Silver and Gleam looked at each other. They picked up on the seriousness and dropped their smiles. It was now about business… and their future. They turned as one and stood at attention with a murmur of "We're ready."
Celestia's horn lit up with a soft golden glow, encompassing both guardponies. Silver could have sworn he felt a soft tingling in every hair of his coat, in every strand of his mane and tail. His horn felt like he'd dunked it into something like pudding, but it was warm as well. He recognized the effect of magic flowing not just around him but into him.
"Do you, Silver Oak and Gleaming Sky, accept to serve the bearer of the sun, Celest'ae del'Sol ti'Via Lacte, from now until your last breaths?" Lily intoned, watching the two.
With their stated assent, Celestia asked the next question. "Do you, Silver Oak and Gleaming Sky, promise to uphold the values and beliefs of harmony and unity as laid out in the old accords, though they may call for your lives or the lives of others?"
Silver heard Gleam's voice waver slightly as she whispered her yes, and Silver couldn't help but state his own yes quietly as well.
The glow from Celestia's horn intensified and so did the tingling. Lily intoned once more, "Do you, Silver Oak and Gleaming Sky, promise to hold the secrets, the wishes, the desires, the needs, the shames, the loves, and the heartaches of the alicorns, all of them, within your hearts, to never reveal them to any other than that alicorn and each other?"
Other alicorns? What? Gleam's muzzle had fallen open but she nodded an assent. Silver's eyes went wide as saucers at that implication. Celestia wasn't the only one. Was that the reason for the geas? It would make sense. He definitely wanted to ask about that later. He said yes with only a slight stammer.
The glow intensified one last time, now lighting up not just himself and Gleam but Lily and Celestia as well. Golden glowing strings connected Lily to Celestia, and two new ones spread from Celestia to Gleam and Silver. When they contacted it felt akin to a magical jolt or being struck with lightning. Celestia's voice seemed to resonate down the line into their very souls, growing louder with each word. "Do you, Silver Oak and Gleaming Sky, accept the geas, the honor, and the burden, the terrible task of holding the power of the sun in check, to bear my powers for me so that they may only be used for the good of others and not for personal gain, for vengeance, or any selfish reason? To protect the power even from me?" As Celestia spoke these words a ghostly image of Celestia's cutie mark appeared on Lily's forehead. It seemed to shimmer and then slid along her body to the strings connecting her to her sovereign before disappearing.
Silver's mind nearly blanked as the words. This. This was what the geas was about. Taking Celestia's power from her and holding it in check? This... this was so much more than what he'd expected. But he'd already committed himself and he knew there was no going back. Through the link he could feel Gleam, her own fears screaming at her in her head just how crazy it was, but through it she managed to eek out a 'yes' just as Silver said yes in but a whisper.
As the two young guards confirmed their acceptance of the geas, the threads glowing between them surged brightly and thickened. Gleam and Silver dropped to their knees with a cry as the thickened threads caused an intensely painful sensation, a burning through every fiber of flesh they posessed. The room seemed to fade around them along with Lily. The golden glow came from everywhere all at once. Understanding dawned upon Silver - they were in the center of Celestia's power. They were in the sun itself!
Celestia stood before them. Her mane and tail billowed out in every direction, moving with the currents of energy, fusing and melding seamlessly into the light all around them. She was one with the sun. But those tendrils now flowed towards the unicorn and pegasus. It contacted each and every thread of their coats, every fiber of their manes. Their own bodies soon were flowing and bending with the energies of the golden light. It was incredible. It was painful. It was divine. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a small version of Celestia's cutie mark appear upon Gleam's neck. She seemed to wince as it formed. At that very moment Silver felt a blinding pain lance through his body, starting at his own cutie mark. It seemed to go on and on, and on, the sun shining too bright to see anything...
It was then Silver opened his eyes to look directly at Celestia's. She was nose to nose with him. Beside him he heard Gleam mutter, "Ow... anyone catch the shaman of that buffalo stampede? I got a harmony licking stone to pick with'em..."
"What... what..." Silver looked up at Celestia. His whole body was still tingling and his cutie mark felt like it was burning. Her eyes shone bright with happiness.
"Your spirits now reside in Sunhome. Welcome to the ranks of the Guard of the Sun, Silver and Gleam."
"That was real?" Gleam looked up from where she was laying. Lily was in front of her, helping the younger mare to her hooves. A nod from both Lily and Celestia confirmed it.
Lily muttered, "You two woke up faster than I did. I was out for hours afterwards. Poor Celestia was worried. It's only been ten minutes."
"My neck is killing me," Gleam muttered, as she walked gingerly over to the mirror at the bureau. She gasped. "I... what?!" Thinking what he saw happen to her in Sunhome, and his own feelings during that time, Silver looked back at his flank before gasping. Celestia's cutie mark completely encased, laying underneath, his own cutie mark. It had a faint glow to it as if it weren't quite real. A similar glowing sunmark was upon Gleam's neck. The mare was twisting her head each way to try and get a better look at it.
"That is a sign of belonging to my true guard. It means you carry significant portions of my magic and powers within you," Celestia said softly. "You will feel it soon enough, and will be with you until you die. This is true even of Lily."
"What?!" Lily's head swung around. "I thought you said --"
Celestia raised a hoof to cut her off. "I know what I said, and what I said was 'The bearing of the responsibility falls to the new Guard and no longer yours to be concerned with'. You carry the power, just no longer the means to lock it away."
"Huh. That's... why?" Oddly enough it was Gleam who asked this. Lily was glaring daggers at Celestia. Celestia sighed. "Would you believe it's because I haven't figured out how to undo the power transfer yet, without killing the pony in question?"
The admission was enough to make Lily blanch. "Oh. I didn't know you had a good reason for that oversight and misdirection." She shook her mane out. "Well, guess I'm stuck with relying on these two youngsters to hold you back then." She trotted over to Silver whom was still laying on the floor. "You all right laddybuck?"
Silver gave himself a little shake. The tingle was persisting but he was okay. Slowly he rose to his hooves. "Yeah, just trying to take it all in. I think I can safely say tonight has been the weirdest night of my life, even if you were to take every other weird thing that's ever happened to me, rolled them into one, and had them all happen. Simultaneously. Twice."
"Even including that --" Gleam started to say, but Silver bolted across the room to shove his hoof into the pegasus's muzzle. "I told you we weren't ever speaking of that again!" Gleam tried spitting out his hoof and the two wound up in a fast tussle. Behind them, Lily and Celestia each raised an eyebrow simultaneously then turned to look at each other. "You sure they're the right stuff?" Lily muttered.
Celestia snorted. "You picked them. You tell me."
The dust-up between Silver and Gleam ended with Silver flat on his stomach, hooves splayed out, and Gleam sitting victoriously on his back with a grin from ear to ear.
"These two will at least keep things interesting..." Lily muttered.
Celestia turned away from the elder pegasus going to talk to the two younger ponies, and began slicing up the forgotten pie for desert. Carefully levitating a piece for each of them she returned to the trio of ponies. "Well, now that's done, I'm sure you have some questions. So while we eat this delicious pie I'll see if I can't sort out anything that's on your mind."
She levitated the pie over towards the bed and hopped up on it. She turned in place twice before settling down. Lily followed with a quirked eyebrow back at the younger ponies and began eating her slice of pie delicately. Gleam and Silver followed at a more sedate pace - Gleam choosing a spot that placed her flank to flank with Lily while Silver instead chose to lay down facing Celestia. He accepted his pie slice and took a bite as he heard Gleam speak up through a mouthful of her own pie.
"So... Other alicorns?"
Celestia actually smiled at that. "Always thought I was the only one, miss Gleam?"
The young pegasus blushed. "Uh.... yeah. I mean, I've never heard of others talked about..."
"There is reason for that and you deserve to know," Celestia said softly. "There were other alicorns, and will be again in the future. Just for now I am the only one. But times will come, maybe in your lifetimes, that more alicorns will come to be. I just have to find the right..." She trailed off, and looked at Silver with a glint in her eyes. That glint looked a lot like the one Gleam often had. He gulped.
Gleam took a second to jump to conclusions, looking back and forth between Silver and Celestia. "No. No waaaay!" She practically squealed, bouncing to her hooves and leaning forward towards Celestia. In fact she leaned forward so much that her rear hooves came off the large bed. The sky-blue mare's eyes were wide as saucers as she tried to wrap her mind around what Celestia had just implied. For his part, Silver suddenly felt very light-headed and with the attention of all three mares on him.
"Uh... I... uh..." Silver stammered.
Lily broke the tension letting out a snort and a laugh. "Oh, oh my stars and by harmony herself that is priceless! Their faces, Celestia!" The shock on both pony's faces made them react similarly; with Silver's hooves kicking out from under and making him tip over. Gleam actually fell face-first into Celestia's quickly-outstretched wing as she lost her balance. Celestia joined in quietly with Lily's laughter.
She used her free wing to flick away a few mirthful tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry, you two, but Lily is right. Your expressions were priceless. No, I'm sorry Silver, I won't be having any alicorn foals anytime soon if ever. Alicorns don't quite work that way. The truth of the matter is alicorns are made, from normal ponies, under the right circumstances. They are different for each alicorn, so do not ask me what. But in the end we can be made."
Silver and Gleam resumed their seats after the shock. Silver took another bite of the pie before him to help clear the flutters out of his mind and body at the joke Celestia had pulled, then murmured, "That... makes sense I guess?" He turned his gaze to Lily. "So, just what mission led you to become a commander?"
A glance passed between Lily and Celestia before the elder pegasus answered. "Seeing as you're bound, it'll do you no harm to learn the truth. When I was younger there were rumors of sedition against the crown. This isn't anything new of course - we as guards have heard of it all the time. The aspect was that it was coming from within the guard ranks itself. Some question-asking led me to the commander ranks. But they were such a close-lipped group of chaos-bucking hardheads that I had no way to learn more without being one of them. So, it came to pass that I was promoted and allowed into the commander areas of the operations headquarters.
She let out a chuckle. "Turns out? It wasn't sedition of the commanders, it was a cover-up."
Silver blinked at her. "A cover up? Of what?"
"Nothing to worry about, actually." Lily chuckled. "One of the commanders, Dark Tempest, had found love. But the one he loved was one of the elligible daughters of the nobles. It was true love, Celestia and I saw that right away when we realized. But due to her status and his rank, they'd never have been able to be together. The other commanders were just covering for them, because they felt bad for the two of them."
"Oh, tell the end of the tale, Lily," Celestia said with a smile. Her wing spread out to rest over both Gleam and Lily.
Lily grinned. "Well... I managed to learn enough about the family of the mare. Her name was Crystal Lotus. While Celestia here did some 'rank restructuring' that got him moved out to a border guard, I planted some 'evidence' in her noble family's paperwork that indicated issues on their land out where they held. Which was incidentally right where the border post Tempest was stationed! To make a long story short, I met with them and we staged a rescue where he 'saved' her life in front of her family, she professed her love for him, and he earned the respect of her relations. They posted herd-notice shortly after. Last I heard they had seven foals, and will be soon expecting their first grandfoal."
The story made both younger ponies smile. If that was what the job could be like, even for all the unpleasant parts, in Silver's mind he knew it would be worth it.
Gleam had tears in her eyes. "Aww... that's so sweet!" She said. "Is he still a commander?"
"Harmony no. He was given an honorable retirement to the border post. Injury a few years after he and Crystal paired up left him with a limp. He did do guard training for a while, but now is an advisor to Crystal's family and a provider of inside information on the goings on of House Lotus," Lily said.
"So is that what awaits you? A retirement and a quiet job still serving?" Silver asked thoughtfully. He carefully levitated his small pie plate, now empty, along with the others over by the door where the rest of the dishes remained.
This gave Lily pause. "You know, I never thought much about it... but honestly, I doubt it. I'm too much a military mare, I'll probably settle in as a trainer after I'm done breaking you two in."
Lily looked up to Celestia. "What do you think?"
The alicorn closed her eyes in a well recognized thinking expression. After a few moments she opened them and gazed at her elder guard. "I think you have many options available to you, my dear. You may certainly stay at your rank and continue as a normal commander," She said as this was met with a snort, "Or you could retire to be a trainer. You could start up a herd or join one. I think however, you should do whatever makes you happy."
"Sage advice if ever I heard it. Well at least I have something to occupy my copious amounts of free time now," Lily said with a shakeout of her mane.
"However I suppose I should inform you two just what changes you can start to expect."
The next hour progressed much as Silver would have expected. There was a lot of speculation as to first tasks, and they took a short walk down the hall to find free chambers that they would call their own. To Celestia's surprise Gleam decided to bunk with Silver in the same room. In her own words, "It reinforces guard status, and I've never felt comfortable in an empty room anyways." Both older mares accepted this logic with nods of their heads, though Lily had a cynical snort. It was clear she thought there might be other reasons.
Upon returning to Celestia's chambers with a nod to the guards stationed outside her doors, the four ponies clambered back up onto the bed. Silver noted with a keen eye that the dishware was gone from earlier. Talk continued about training schedules until Gleam laid her head on her hooves and fell asleep. The other three chuckled and took this as a sign to get some rest as well. Lily leaned half-on, half-over Gleam and settled in with closed eyes. Celestia curled up with her back against the pair. However Silver laid down near to Celestia's front, facing her head, but not touching. He rested his head on his hooves as the lights in the room faded out, leaving nothing but moonlight illuminating the bed.
It wasn't long before Lily followed Gleam into sleep. Silver thought Celestia had fallen asleep too, based on her breathing, but sleep eluded the young stallion. Too much had happened and was replaying in his mind.
In particular he was replaying parts of the conversations and some of the bare facts of the evening in his mind. The multiple revelations were almost too much for him to take in. From Celestia gossiping and joking like a normal pony, to the distinct lack of opulence in her chambers, to the fact she had secret guards who carried special orders out for her, and that he and Gleam of all ponies would be inducted that very night to their ranks. That they would become officers. They would possibly have to kill. They were bearers of part of Celestia's powers, whatever that meant. The talk of other alicorns. He let out a soft sigh.
"Something troubling you?" Celestia said softly, her magenta eyes gazing at the tan unicorn.
Silver blinked rapidly. "Uh... well, just thinking everything over. It's so much, it almost doesn't seem real," Silver admitted, feeling a minor blush creep over his cheeks.
A nod from Celestia was the only response he got. It was as if, he thought, she was encouraging him to speak.
Silver cleared his throat and whispered to her, "I always figured I'd just be a guard. Maybe someday be in charge of a few. Captain at highest. And here... everything I ever thought is changed."
"Are you unhappy?" Celestia asked simply.
"No, no, that's not it," Silver quickly reassured her. "It's just... things change so much. And there's so much more that goes on that I never realized. I know I'm going to have many questions."
"Do you have any right now?" She gazed into his eyes as if she could sense the biggest one burning within him.
The stallion shook his head and thought how to word it. "When you said we would hold your power... and that the geas was for something that must be protected, even from you. That was referring to your power, wasn't it? If it is, what does that mean and why must we hold your power from you?"
The words felt strange on his tongue.
Celestia nodded. "Yes. My power must be held in check from me, and only used when you and miss Gleam allow it. You can't sense it just yet, but in time you will feel what is essentially a magical lock within you. That lock will open my power to me, in times of need. But it must be kept away from me most of the time.
"As you saw tonight, I can be a pony just like any other. This is because I was, and am, a pony like you all. My calm demeanor, my wisdom, my mask for the courtiers and nobles and the government is simply the product of doing this for most of my admittedly long life. When I don't have to be what my little ponies expect me to be, I prefer to simply relax and be... normal, even if only for a short bit at a time.
"But being a pony just like any other... It means I can get jealous. Angry. Afraid. And those negative emotions can make us react instead of act, lash out, and act without thought as to the safest and wisest approach. I learned long ago in the past the hard way that there are things that I should never do. Power can harm you, and it harmed me and those I cared about. That was the foundation of the Guard of the Sun. I swore to never let it happen again. I gave the keys to my power to my closest, trusted friends knowing they would not let me use my power poorly. Even after thousands of years, I know that my reactions can still be the same. Generations of guards have kept it in check... and now, you and miss Gleam will too."
Silver bit his lower lip. The pain in her voice at mentioning her misuse of her powers, however long ago it was, still obviously bothered her. It spoke of her need to trust others and how important they were to her that in that long ago event she turned over the keys to a vast portion of her power to them. And now it was theirs, his and Gleam's, to protect. He gulped.
He looked at Celestia again, deep into those magenta eyes of hers. "Just how much of your power do we hold within us?"
"Each of you holds half of what I lock away, naturally. And I only keep a fifth of my normal power, on a day to day basis. So each of you would hold roughly forty percent of my magical capabilities within you," Celestia responded quietly.
"That's... a lot. Will it have any effects on us?" That much power made Silver blanch in realization that most everything magical he'd seen her do was only at a fifth her full power and he held twice that much within him now. It was a scary realization that he knew would keep him up many nights in the future.
"Effects..." Celestia bit her lower lip and closed her eyes. "Yes... but not in the way you might expect."
Silver's eyes raised as she continued softly. "The mark will fade in a few days... part of getting you settled here will be to hide it until it truly disappears. At least yours and Gleam's will be hidden by armor. Poor Lily practically hid in my closet anytime a pony came near after her induction. On her forehead? That was a new one even for me. But it always chooses itself where to be placed. Regardless, there will be other effects. The first is that it will increase your innate magic. Even miss Gleam. She'll find her ability to influence weather vastly improved, and her speed will increase. You will find your magical font growing significantly, and your ability to see and manipulate magic will also grow."
She then sighed. "It will also enact some physical changes. Nothing serious, but you'll be slightly stronger, slightly faster. You will also heal more rapidly from minor injuries. But that's about it for significant side effects. Anything else is minor and nothing you'd consider noteworthy at this point in time."
Silver looked willing to argue it for a moment, but then shook his head as he thought better of it. There would be time and more than time to learn all the nuances of what it meant to be one of her guards in time.
"Did you have any other questions?" Celestia looked over at Silver, the wing not pressed against the other ponies on her back spreading out and laying upon the bed. The primaries just barely reached Silver's hooves.
"Two, that I can think of..." Silver began slowly. "When you talked about other alicorns you mentioned that there were more in the past, but didn't talk about it. Can I ask why?"
Now Celestia's face screwed up in a rictus of pain. "There has been in the past exactly two others. One male, one female. The male was the one who helped me create the power-share spell. But the first time we cast it, we got one thing wrong... it can't be held in check by another alicorn. The power corrupted his own and turned him into a monster. He had to be... locked away. Maybe someday his corruption can be cured but for now he lies in stasis in my statue garden, awaiting a cure to his madness."
Silver pulled back slightly. She'd had to... another alicorn. The spell just used on him had gone wrong. His mind reeled. Celestia continued with her eyes closed.
"The other alicorn... was my sister. A madness came over her, and those she'd shared her power with. It started with her, and when she tried to take the power from her guardians, it backlashed. But the touch was enough for the madness to infect and... alter both her guards, the Guards of the Moon. They succumbed shortly after their transformation, gave her power, and it took all I had to seal her away. She is hidden somewhere nopony will find her, awaiting the day the stars align to allow her to be healed. I know how now... but even I in my full power cannot unlock the seals I placed back then. So until the time comes, I shall stay here." Celestia's face was tight, her voice tense. Silver saw with a start the tears trailing down her face. He leaned forward and nuzzled her to wipe them away.
"Thank you, sir Silver... This is never a pleasant admission." Her voice was soft with remembered pain and tension, but slowly she calmed down from the emotional thoughts.
Finally Celestia looked up at Silver. He'd scooted closer to her in the process of comforting her from her past sorrow. At this point he was barely a hoof's length from her.
She gently touched her muzzle to his before pulling back. "You said you had two questions... what is the other?"
"It's more something that I know I'm missing a puzzle piece on... a part of me wants to think that Gleam and I being invited here tonight is just because you wanted us to be your guards... but that can't be it."
Celestia watched in silence as he continued. "The guards weren't at all surprised to see two other guards approach her chambers. That tells me this has happened before, often enough not to be a surprise to them. Same with Gleam being here a few nights before me. You could have just summoned us both tonight. And then Lily. Even if she was your guard, it sounded like she was often here the way you two were chatting. So... why do you have other guards in your chambers so frequently it's not a surprise to anyone of the right rank?"
This question actually made Celestia smile. "That has a very simple answer, actually. It's because I get lonely."
"Lonely?" Silver looked at Celestia.
"Lonely," She repeated. Her muzzle dipped. "After the loss of the other two I realized something about myself. With them, I'd never been alone in a very long life. Even when they weren't at my sides, I was surrounded by nobles, guards, and so on. But we'd established our first castle, and our private chambers. When we all piled together it was fine. But with them gone I was alone... and that loneliness started driving me into a depression, and eventually into a full blown fear. A fear that I would always be alone."
She took in a breath. "It was thanks to one of my guard at the time that saw it. He wasn't even a Guard of the Sun, but a lowly sargeant who saw a lonely sovereign. He took it upon himself to always talk to me and visit me, and guard me at night. He stayed near my doors. I knew he was there. But still my fears grew, so he came to stand guard inside my room. Then next to the bed. Before I knew it he wound up falling asleep in my bed. And… I didn't feel lonely. I may have burrowed myself against his side that night. He was most apologetic, but it helped and I told him so. After that he stayed every night.
A smile came to the princess's eyes as she recalled the memory. "There were rumors at first. Oh they were quite scandalous, as you can no doubt imagine. But he and I both played dumb and innocent, and the scandal turned to curiosity quickly. From there it wasn't long until another guard came by and joined. And slowly they all began to cycle through. This is why, to this day, it is the unspoken tradition and privilege of the guard to rest with their princess."
"All because being alone made you feel lonely?" Silver asked, feeling slight disbelief that so simple a reason could be why.
Celestia simply nodded. "Yes. And when I'm alone, I grow fearful. And when I'm afraid I act out… I would use my powers unwisely. Maybe I would do something simple such as conjure up a plush of a guard to hold. Or maybe I would think no one wished my company, and I would cast a spell to make them sleep forever."
Silver opened his muzzle to speak but the look in Celestia's eyes made him close it immediately. "I know what you will say," She all but whispered. "That I never would… but I could. I almost did, once. And that is why being alone is my greatest fear. I must be protected from myself."
A sigh escaped Celestia's muzzle and she leaned forward just to touch her nose to Silver's. "And that my dear, is your greatest duty. To save me from myself." With that, her head laid down on her hooves and she slipped into sleep.
The stallion held stock still. It all made sense, suddenly. The guard duty. Celestia's splitting of her power. All of it, along with why the guards would join her. She really was just like another pony. The mental hit was a hard one but like the shield he represented it rang off and he stood tall, better for taking the hit. Celestia didn't just need her guards; she Needed them to keep going. Everyone knew she was more than powerful enough to handle almost any threat to Equestria. She had no need of a guard it was sometimes said. Now he knew the real reason she kept her guard around her.
Finally his cutie mark made sense. He had always thought it meant he was good at guarding ponies, at being a shining beacon of good. But when Celestia's cutie mark had appeared underneath his Silver had wondered if it had more meaning. Now he knew what he was meant to do.
With a sigh of contentment Silver laid his head down next to Celestia's. He could think about this more in the morning. He soon was asleep, his flanks rising and slowly with his breath. The tiny sun above a pillar, as heraldry on a shield now itself a heraldic emblem upon Celestia's sun would give whole new meaning to Silver Oak's life.
Author's Note
I do want to thank my prereaders, AegisExemplar and KiltedKey. Really appreciate both your input!
I wrote this as a one shot, but please, I appreciate feedback, and if it's liked enough or there's enough interest I can definitely continue with more chapters. Had this sitting in my "to finish and publish" pile for ages now. Thank you again, all, for reading!
