Chapter III

Guards and the Goddess

~48th of Spring, 980 LSE – Canterlot, Equestria

The young Omnicron was overwhelmed by the sights of the miraculous marble and granite structures of the Old Imperial District as he and his father neared the majestic Canterlot Castle. To ivory towers with their gold leaf and Macintosh Hills slate, to the prestigious mansions of the old unicorn nobility, to the flawless pavement bricks, it all put him in a state of awe that most of them were built over a thousand years ago by the unicorn tribe of the Classical Era, yet still looked so … NEW. It was as if time did not touch the ancient structures and weathering ignored them over the millennia.

"I keep forgetting you've never been here before, Omniscient. I realize most of your training was through me, but you've been to Manehattan plenty of times. Is the capital really that impressive to you?" His father chuckled as he trotted alongside. "Actually, you HAVE been here before. You had to go to the academy to take your exam for your medical license."

Omnicron shook his head. "The academic district is NOTHING like this, Father. I've only ever seen the Imperial District from a distance. Most of those buildings are made of Ellettsfoal limestone, and Manehattan is mostly brick. This is something out of a foal's tale!"

Chrono shook his head in amusement. "It's a shame Cheerilee couldn't come with us; you two'd be having a gas."

"Yeah, I know. She would have loved teaching her little cousins about this; she'll make a great teacher one of these days," agreed Omni as they came to the daunting gates of Canterlot Castle with two identical-looking red uniformed Royal Guards stationed on either side—the only thing telling the two apart being their herd crests strapped to their front in purples, pinks on a white backdrop.

"State your business," declared the left unicorn guard with a stylized solar eclipse as his crest as Omni and Chrono came to a halt at the gates.

Omnicron froze-up for a moment as his mind blanked out. He was unused to being commanded to do anything outside of work—let alone by a Royal Guard. He felt like he had done something wrong, and that was not a pleasant feeling.

His father nudged his son's shoulder. "It's alright, Omniscient. Show the kind guard your invitation."

The prompt shook the colt out of his nervous lock-up. He glared at his father, seemingly annoyed with the kid talk, but he was really angry with himself for his freeze-up. He quickly recovered though and pulled the slip of paper out of his sage green saddle bag.

"I have a meeting with Her Majesty, Princess Celestia for a private dinner at seventeen thirty hours."

The guard took the slip of paper and read over it commenting, "It says here that two guests were allowed to be invited. Are we expecting another?" He turned toward Chronoheart for an answer.

Omnicron shook his head as he spoke up, "No, we won't be, good sir." He gestured to his father. "This is my father, Doctor Chronoheart of Hoofington."

The other red uniformed white stallion—who had a stylized shield with a large eight-point star as his crest—smiled at the mentioning of Chrono. "I know who you two are. You treated my daughter's shattered leg after her training accident. If it weren't for you two she would never even be able to walk on it again, let alone live a normal life. I'll go ahead and see you in." He looked to his fellow guard. "Staff Sergeant, I'm going to take these two to their meeting with Her Majesty. I'll send Second Lieutenant Star Strike to take over for me."

The staff sergeant's eyes hardened as he nodded once. "I understand, sir."

The lieutenant turned to Omni and Chrono with a smile, saying, "If you gentlecolts would follow me, I'll personally escort you to the waiting room, since you're a bit early. You may call me Brilliant Shield, if you'd like."

Omnicron gave a respectful nod of his head as he already had unspokenly declared himself the head of the party. "Very well, Brilliant Shield. Thank you."

Chronoheart gave his own respectful nod as he followed alongside his son commenting, "With pleasure. I'm actually surprised they have one of the Sparkle herd on gate duty; you ponies are usually on inner sanctum duty. How is Glimmering Aegis's health at any rate?"

"Mr. Chrono, you and your son Omnicron here, did amazing work. She's prancing around and going about her training in the magi-bio-hazard squad as if nothing happened. I doubt she'll ever see any duty outside of the squad, but I couldn't be more thankful to you two," Brilliant Shield replied as he started off from the main path to one of the side entrances.

Omnicron felt a bit of pride at this as they traveled through the marvelous courtyard of the castle. It was actually one of his custom transmutation spells that had saved the nerves in the daughter's leg, and afterward, it was one of his only three patented inventions, magitech leg braces, that helped her keep full mobility of her leg without the need for further surgeries later or a knee replacement.

"I really can't take credit for much beyond resetting the bones, and a slight mending spell. It was actually Omniscient's work with his alchemy and magitech that gave Gleaming Aegis her life back, Brilliant Shield," admitted his father humbly to Omni's shock.

Brilliant motioned for them to stop for a moment so he could pass his assignment temporarily to another guard that had a star emblazoned onto a downward facing sword for his crest.

That must be Second Lieutenant Star Strike, observed the brown colt as he made a quick analysis of the guard. Despite the glamour illusion that made all these ponies—both male and female—look the same, something about the second lieutenant rubbed Omni's fur the wrong way, and he had met enough ponies in his life to know this stallion was nothing but trouble.

After a slightly heated discussion, the second lieutenant slowly made his way to the gate while Brilliant came back with an apologetic expression. "You must excuse him. He's not used to late afternoon duty anymore and had to pull a double guard duty yesterday." He gave the retreating fellow guard a withering glance.

Omnicron scoffed, but held his tongue. He pulled enough of those hours at the hospital, and he doubted guard duty was any more stressful than being a surgeon in the city known for having the highest crime rate in Equestria.

His father shared a look with him filled with silent agreement before the trio continued in comfortable silence, stopping again as they reached their destination. Opening the door, Brilliant turned to Omnicron and Chronoheart saying, "In all sincerity, I'm glad the Chrono herd is gaining some well-deserved recognition, despite the hard times your ancestors caused."

Chrono smiled sadly. "I was hoping to redeem this herd one of these days." He nudged his son in the shoulder. "But I think Omni here will be the one to do it." This made Omnicron blush in embarrassment, but he kept himself in check.

The uniformed stallion smiled sagely. "I think you're right Mr. Chrono." Brilliant's eyes turned to Omnicron as he smiled widely. "Young stallion, keep doing your herd proud." With one final respectful nod, Brilliant addressed both of them, "May Her Majesty's eternal sun guide you. I must return to my post."

Both of them nodded in appreciation as they entered the waiting room, and the first lieutenant closed the door behind them. The room itself was much more impressive than the surprisingly utilitarian side passage. The walls were still a white marble like the rest of the palace, but there were tapestries lining the room of the major achievements of the individual families and herds of the pony tribes old and new lining the walls.

This was obviously set up by Princess Celestia to convey a message, but it wasn't until Omni spotted the Chrono herd crest above a burning city with unicorn ponies surrounding it even as depictions of griffons attacked them that Omnicron felt he knew it had something to do with his herd's history. However, there was one twisted looking pony in the shadow of a pony standing above the city, head held high.

Chronoheart trotted up next to his son with a grim expression on his muzzle and his ears laid back in displeasure. "What a smack in the muzzle. It seems the Princess still wants to remind us of what happened over a millennium ago."

"I suppose I do, Doctor Chronological Heartbeat of the Chrono herd," said a majestic, airy, but stern voice from behind them.

Omni and Chrono turned to see the Princess of the Sun standing not more than a few lengths away with a neutral expression on her regal visage. Both of them bowed instantly.

"Your Majesty! Please forgive my harsh words," said the senior Chrono herd member as he kept his eyes on the floor.

Though Omni could barely see it, he was sure he saw Celestia's tail flick in dismissal … or possibly amusement. He could not tell which without looking up though.

"You may rise, my little ponies. I did say this was a casual meeting after all, so you may call me Celestia."

Both of the unicorns stood to see that a gentle smile had replaced the neutral expression of her arrival. It seemed to lessen to a sadder expression though as she too shifted her gaze up to the tapestry. "However, that depiction also shows your herd's last stand to save the citizens of an obviously doomed city after all the others had fled the field. Your herd's bravery saved thousands of ponies that day, despite what the noble ponies of the age thought."

"Then, why ban us from the military back then? If we were saviors, why were we punished, Prin … I mean, Celestia?" asked Omnicron—his voice holding no bitterness or anger, but only confused curiosity.

Celestia shook her head as her ears folded back slightly. "The nobles of the age needed a whipping pony for their troops' failure." All eyes shifted to the pony at the center of the burning city's depiction. "Unfortunately, the Chrono Herd Betrayer, Ashen Time was her name, made the Chrono herd the perfect target, and I'm sure you're aware that without Hoofington your herd held no power to fight back with, and my sister and I had not had time to properly cement an overarching government yet."

"So why back them?" demanded Chronoheart as he turned to Celestia with a hint of underlying bitterness. "Why let them turn us into such if we were the final defenders?"

The ethereal wind that ever-presently shifted the goddess's mane and tail seemed to pause momentarily as she looked down upon the floor. "It was a mistake to do so. I should have never allowed it to be done, but I did not realize my error until the Chrono herd sided with Nightmare Moon." She glared at Chrono as she stood back up to her full height. "Then, I had no choice but to damn your herd, Chronoheart. You had all betrayed Equestria for your own ambitions and pride, and I could not let that stand. I had to make your herd an example … just as I was forced to do with my sister."

Chronoheart seemed saddened by that, but there was more fire and bitterness in his eyes as he stared at the monarch.

Omnicron nodded at the reasoning. "I always figured it was something of that nature. Nothing is infallible after all, and the Lunar Rebellion was a prime example of such. Meaning no disrespect, but both you and Princess Luna were at fault for it. I've read the Minotauren scripts about it. My only wonder is why you have kept the punishment up for so long. There are very few of us now, and we are all upstanding citizens—more so than most actually."

Chrono was surprised at his sons outspokenness about the matter, but Celestia's smile only widened.

"Well done, my little pony. Not many think to even see me as anything less than perfect. I was right in inviting you," said Celestia as she turned and beckoned them to follow. "Come, it is nearly seventeen thirty, and we must make to our private dinner. We shall resume the discussion then."

Omnicron relaxed visibly with a small nod and a smile, but he noticed his father was still scowling. He knew that his father never thought very highly of Celestia, and he could only hope that his patriarch would not cause trouble.

The private dining hall itself was quite the sight to see—much like the rest of the castle—but the lacquered, gold-leafed mahogany table seemed more than a bit excessive for a PRIVATE dining hall for a CASUAL dinner. To Omnicron, Princess Celestia had not seemed like one of those excessive types, but again, it could be to send a message or to get under their skin. The latter seemed more likely in colt's opinion, but he could tell his father was silently stewing under his calm facade.

The table itself was set with three small appetizer salads along with the accompanying forks that unicorns often used for eating them and to compliment them were a series of toppings, a bowl of fruit, and three glasses of water.

"I wished I could have brought in a table more … appropriate for the situation, but our young Prince Blueblood seemed to think it was alright to use the former table as a telekinetic practice object," said the monarch coolly as she turned to them. Omnicron noticed one of the maids wincing off to the side. She must have been here during the incident. "We almost had to use the West Wing's private hall, but we were able to maneuver one of the smaller ballroom tables in here for the occasion."

This made Chronoheart's ears perk up some. "Why couldn't we have used the West Wing's table? Is there a problem with it as well?"

"I don't think the Night Guards would have liked it if we took their table from them. The private dining halls are also used by our respective private guards." Celestia paused for a moment before continuing, "I'm sure you're aware the West Wing was my sister's portion after all, and while I could indeed use it however I wish during her exile, I think it would be a significant slight upon her. I'm sure you would agree being a part of one of the core families that made up her supporting factions."

Chrono opened his mouth, but quickly shut it again. The sun monarch was, of course, correct, and there was little he could say in the argument to begin with. To Omnicron, this momentary silence of his father was the perfect opportunity to change the subject to something more comfortable whilst they seated themselves around the table—his father making sure to sit between his son and the Princess.

"Celestia, if I may, um," started the colt a bit nervously. "While I am quite honored to be here, I happen to wonder why you sent for me. Surely I am not so special as to garner such attention." He fidgeted on his maroon velvet sitting cushion quite excessively. He knew he was supposed to keep this casual, but he did not know how else to act around authority figures or those of higher status than him.

Celestia, turning her attention towards him now, smiled in a way that reminded Omnicron of how his grandmother used to smile at him. It was a bittersweet experience. "My little pony, I believe you are indeed worthy of such attention. Not many have done so much in their lifetime as you have—the last being the late Star Swirl—but before I continue, would you prefer me to call you Omniscient Chronicle or Omnicron?"

Omni felt some of the nervousness ebb from him at the asking of his preference in naming, but he was surprised to be compared to his distant ancestor. Taking a few bites from his salad, he felt a small smile grace his muzzle before he said, "I prefer Omnicron, thank you. Am I really that well known?"

"I would hope so," scoffed his father immediately as he added his toppings to his salad. "Between being my son and your own achievements it's a wonder you don't have fillies all over you."

"F-Father! I told you I'm not even thinking about that stuff yet! Why are you trying to embarrass me in front of the Princess?!" stammered the youngest member of the table with a bright red blush starting to grace his features.

Celestia raised a hoof to hide her widening smile as she put some fruit on her own salad, but Omni quickly noticed that meek display as well. So, she lowered her hoof, letting herself chuckle lightly. "Omnicron, this is a CASUAL event, and I admire your thoughtfulness about how serious relationships are. Besides, despite your father's teasing, he is quite correct. You do have quite the attention of the tabloids as of late with your latest leg-brace patent. You should be very proud of yourself." Then, she let the smile fall some as she gently asked, "How many of your peers do you know though?"

Taking another bite of his appetizer salad, Omnicron actually had to think about that before answering, "Well … There's my co-workers and family, of course—"

"Omnicron, that's not what I'm asking," Celestia gently cut him off swallowing her bite of salad. "How many fillies and colts do you know that you can call friends?"

"Well … there's my neighbor Cheerilee, but—"

"Celestia, what are you asking, exactly? Maybe I can answer better?" offered Chrono as he shifted slightly forward to put more of himself between the Princess and his son's line of sight. While the tone in his voice was fairly neutral, there was a noticeable edge to it.

The Solar Goddess sighed as she set her fork down. "Doctor, I appreciate you wishing to help your son, but you must let him answer this question. Surely you know not every facet of his life like he does?"

Chrono was about to retort, but Omni put a hoof on his father's shoulder and eased him back so he could see the Princess better. "I see you noticed how … uncomfortable I am in casual conversation, Princess. I'm sorry, but I must switch to formalities for a moment," said the youth with the practiced ease of his profession as a mask of neutrality overcame his features. "I despise having to say, but I have no other friends my age aside from Cheerilee per se. I would call several of my co-workers—such as Liver Well or Herb Spinner—my friends, however. I seem to just have trouble connecting with others my age."

Celestia smiled warmly. "I must say, if this is you being 'formal' you may have more in common with a particular pony than you think. If I might be so bold, how often do you spend time with your friends?" She gave Chrono a slightly smaller smile. "The latter question can extend to you too, Doctor, if you feel so inclined."

"It is not of anypony's concern, but my own, thank you," announced the middle age stallion with a huff.

Omni even raised a brow at this. "She was only asking a question, Father." He turned his eyes back to Celestia and attempted to be informal again. "Celestia, I …" His ears flattened some as he realized that the latest Herdsday get-together with Cheerilee's family was the first time in nearly a year that he had actually spent time with any of his friends outside of lunch breaks. "I-I can only say rarely."

This truth seemed to hit Chronoheart particularly hard, and he seemed ashamed as he rose and excused himself, "I shall meet you back in Hoofington, Omniscient. Have a pleasant time, but I need to sort things out for myself."

"But—"

Chrono shook his head and gave a respectful nod toward Celestia, "I am sorry, but I must depart, Your Majesty." There was a hollow resentment still clear in voice, but it had none of the fire from before. "I'll show myself out."

Celestia stood and gave a respectful nod in turn. "If you need counsel on anything, just ask, Doctor, and I shall give you an ear."

Chrono's dower look became a grimace as he nodded with a huff and a dismissive wave of his tail before leaving out the door they had come through.

"Wait! Father!" called out Omni as he got up to turn to run after his father only for Chrono to use his magic to shut the door in his son's face, knocking him back. Omni rubbed his muzzle as he stood back up trying to understand what had just happened. He expected his father to snap at Celestia or something, but to just get up and leave with such a crushed look? That possibility never crossed the colt's mind. "Father …"

A wing gently folded around him, and the brown colt looked up to see the monarch's countenance soften to a motherly one from a hard expression as she looked from the door to him. "Don't worry, Omnicron. I'm sure you're father will come around. He wasn't always like this, you know. Your father and I used to be friends in fact, but around the time your sister was born, something changed."

Omni tried to think back to around the time his sister was born, but his own emotions would not let him think that clearly. His eyes were already starting to fog. "Why would he just leave me? I-I don't get it."

Celestia smiled down at the distressed brown colt reassuringly and gave a squeeze with her wing. "Your father has a lot on his mind, my little pony. He's not abandoning you, but he needs some time to himself."

"I guess …" relented Omnicron, not wanting to sound whiny. He looked back up to her. "So, uh, should we go back to the table now?"

The alicorn's smile widened some, her pink eyes showing some admiration for the youth's resilience. "Only if you wish, Omnicron."

Omnicron blinked away the tears that threatened to overcome him earlier as his resolve hardened. "I would like to very much, Celestia. Thank you."

Going back to the table, Omnicron noticed something though. His father had left his salad uneaten too. What could possibly going through Father's mind? Why is he being hostile toward Celestia when she was being nothing but accommodating to us. Courtesy goes both ways after all, doesn't it?

"A bit for your thoughts?" asked Celestia with that motherly smile still present on her countenance.

"Fifty bits." Omnicron smirked as he took the last bit of salad. He had always liked that joke, and it raised his spirits some to use the familiar gag.

The monarch blinked a few times before chuckling. "I'm sorry. I had no idea your thoughts were so valuable, my little pony. Would you like that in currency or a royal bank note?"

The unicorn choked on his mouthful of salad slightly as his face reddened in embarrassment. He was used to other ponies like his mother, Cheerilee, or Liver answering him like that, but to think the Princess would? It surprised him. "I … eh …"

Celestia chuckled again. "Your good at heart, Omnicron, and you have a bright mind. It's very refreshing to talk to a pony that doesn't treat me as a goddess, just another pony."

"I, eh, you're welcome?" said Omnicron, unsure of how to answer the compliments and notations on his behavior. However, unlike the majority of the Chrono herd before him, he had a tendency of clamming up when complimented on something other than his inventions or discoveries. "I have been told by a few ponies I'm wise beyond my years, but I really can't see it. All I really try to do is try to understand ponies before I start making opinions about them. Is that so hard?"

Celestia nodded. "You'd be surprised how difficult that really is for most ponies. You have a rare gift with such patience and wanting to understand. I bet your patients love you."

Omnicron beamed, taking full credit this time. "I've never had one of my patients be angry with me, and I always do what I can to make the operations affordable for them. I've even secretly paid for a few of them myself."

Celestia seemed rather surprised by that at first, only to have that smile return. "Your parents must be very proud of you. I know your father is, despite not showing it."

Omnicron nodded as the main entree and side dishes came in. The entree was a vegetable stew with apple chunks thrown in, whilst the sides were baked beets, mashed potatoes with early sweet peas mixed in, and a fruit cocktail. All this was served with rolls of course, but the choice of cinnamon butter or salted butter surprised Omni somewhat. He had always thought of cinnamon butter as a dessert item.

It was about then, Celestia seemed to have an idea and turned to one of the servants. They were civil servants, of course, paid by the crown to do their work, but the title was still there. "Downy Wing, would you fetch Prince Blueblood? I believe there is a pony he would like to meet."

"'Course, Your Majesty," said the elderly servant pony as she finished clearing away the appetizer salads. "Anything particular I should message him 'bout?"

"Just as long as he doesn't come in with his pirate gear on and a wooden sword, I believe the summons is enough."

The servant smiled. "T'aint be a problem then. He got his escapades out of him early in the morn, I suspect. Haven't seen him wear those all day."

Omnicron's ears perked up at this. She's bringing in another member of the royalty? Why would she want to do that? And pirate gear? Seriously?

As if reading his mind, Celestia turned to him saying, "Prince Blueblood is a descendent of the old ruling herd of the united unicorn tribes. He's quite the character, but he can't seem to get away from the fillies chasing him." She chuckled slightly. "He seems to think himself as quite the dashing pirate, though I think he originally did it to try to get the fillies to leave him alone."

Omni raised a brow at that. "Funny. All I seem to have to do is scowl and look through ponies to make them leave me alone."

Celestia raised a brow in turn. "I'm surprised you admit that so easily. You'll never make any friends like that you know."

Omnicron huffed and smiled. "I only do it to the ones that want something out of me. If they really wish to talk to me, then I have no problem with them."

"I daresay how can you tell the difference?" asked a huffy voice behind Omni that sounded roughly his age, but distinctly Canterlotian royalty, making the brown colt jump slightly.

Celestia gained a mischievous smirk as she saw a slightly thicker built white unicorn colt with light blue eyes and loose, light amber mane and tail walk into the room from a servant door behind Omnicron. "Been playing spy again, little prince?"

The young prince rolled his eyes. "Auntie, please. How could I not? You have one of the most renowned eggheads in all of Equestria in here." He eyed the similarly aged colt for a moment before commenting, "He's a lot younger than I expected."

Omnicron raised a brow at this. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, 'egghead' does me little justice. 'Mad surgeon with a degree in philosophy' would be better."

Blueblood was taken aback by the rebuttal, but soon enough, he started to laugh followed by Omnicron and even Celestia.

"I like you, commoner. You call yourself Omnicron, right?" wheezed the young prince as he took the seat next to Celestia on the opposite side of Omnicron. It was about this time, the brown colt realized this was indeed the prince spoken of just a few minutes ago.

He nodded in turn with a warm smile. "Yeah. You're Prince Blueblood right?"

The white unicorn colt smiled in turn as he served by the servants as well. "Indeed. I think after a witticism like that though, you've deserved to call me just Blueblood. I usually don't get to meet many good humored ponies around here …"

Celestia smiled as she watched the two colts banter on as they ate. After the departure of his father, Omnicron seemed to had loosened up in his demeanor quite quickly. Her first impression of the colt was dead on, and the fact that he was getting along so well with her 'nephew' was joy to see for her. The brown colt's personality had certainly impressed her as did his wit.

It was around the end of dessert—and several slices of double chocolate cake later—when she finally decided to bring out her true intentions for bringing him here. "Excuse me, Omnicron?"

"… that was when …" Omni stopped mid-sentence at the, by now, unusual address. "Oh, yes, Celestia?"

This drew Prince Bloodblood's attention as well. "What is it, Auntie?"

Celestia took full advantage of the undivided attention and continued in a serious tone, "It is time I told you why I brought you here."

Omnicron nodded in understanding, but kept quiet waiting for her to continue.

"A week before your birthday, my attendance department at my School of Gifted Unicorns got a request from a particular pegasus named Feather Flight to enroll her son into the school. Needless to say, her son was far more then eligible to take the test for entering the school with his own freelance achievements already known. However, because of current restrictions put on his herd in centuries past, he would not be able to enter because doing so would give him a guaranteed title as a royal researcher upon graduation."

Celestia paused for a moment to let the information settle in before she continued further.

"Auntie!" cried out the young prince indignantly in Omnicron's defense. "I can personally vouch for Omnicron here that he is more than eligible for the school and any restrictions upon him should be lifted immediately!"

Celestia's countenance remained neutral as she ignored the outburst and continued, "That is why I brought you here, Doctor Omniscient Chronicle of the Chrono herd. This has been a test to see whether those century-old restrictions should indeed apply to you."

Omnicron looked ready to bolt at this point, but he remained rooted to the spot and eventually croaked out, "And?"

Celestia's neutral facade broke as she smiled widely at the young colt. "You passed with flying colors, Omnicron. In fact, not only am I lifting the restrictions on you, but the entirety of the Chrono herd as well. The time has been well overdue. Congratulations, my little pony!"

The dumbstruck expression on the brown colt's face lasted for several moments before he simply fainted face first into his half-eaten slice of cappuccino and chocolate cake. The last words he heard were, "… Auntie, I think you broke him …"

Author's Note

Enter my take on a young Prince Blueblood. Hate or love as you wish, but expect a lot of him! Also, Celestia and Chronoheart, could there be a connection? Wait till the next installment for more! Please review and rate, thank you all!