Redemption

Reaching the point where I encountered the noble, I vault out the window and spread my wings gliding over the garden with slow flaps in the dead air as I look for the path I followed last night.

After another couple of minutes, I find the door in question and land hastily, taking the shock of impact on my knees, I move into the palace proper as I move to follow the route I did before, and almost run into a crowd of ponies.

Slipping right back into the gardens, I take a deep breath and trigger my helm, or I try to. I forgot I'd removed my armor, well, human act it was. Straightening my stance, I stride back in and past them without a second glance, acting just like another human on an errand, I receive mixed results, while nopony notices me, I stumble slightly as I become aware of a large drain on my stored emotional energy.

Blinking, I set the problem aside for later as I move to answer the Princess's summons. And end up getting distracted again when I get out of sight of the group of ponies, and the drain stops, I shake my head and continue onward.

Reaching the door that I'd gone through previously, I'm met with the sight of several Day-Guard and pause. After considering them a moment I shrug my shoulders and move closer. I don't know why Luna would be awake at this hour, but maybe because she is, it falls to the Day-Guard since it's daytime?

As I approach, the two remain at attention, apparently oblivious to my presence, a charade I'm well familiar with. They saw me the moment I entered the corridor, but appearances must be maintained. I stop immediately before them and stand at attention with a salute. “Private Redemit, reporting as requested,” I state. One of the two, a unicorn, salutes back, and I drop my hand but remain in a braced stance, while the other, a pegasus, cracks the door slightly and pokes his head in. Pulling his head out, the pegasus looks up at me. “You may go in, Private,” He states evenly, I nod my head in thanks and move forward as the unicorn opens the doors wide.

Once through the doors, I find not only Princess Luna inside, but also Princess Celestia as well. I move in several paces and salute again. “Private Redemit, reporting,” I state, watching the two of them curiously.

“At ease, Private.” Celestia's voice washes over me like a warm blanket, I nod my head and drop my hand.

“You requested my presence?” I ask, tilting my head.

“Of course, come now Private, come over, no reason to stand all the way over there,” Celestia states with a warm smile, I just shrug mentally and walk the seven feet to the table.

Surprisingly, or not, considering the subject Princess Luna and I discussed last night, the two Princesses have chosen to seat themselves side by side on the long side of the table, rather than taking the two heads of the table, separating them from each other, it's a sight that brings a certain feeling of warmth to my heart.

I reach the table and give a small smile and a nod to Princess Celestia, before turning my attention to Princess Luna. “Hello Princess, you liked my idea, then?”

She smiles softly and nods, I note but choose to ignore a small amount of wing rubbing between the two of them. Obviously, things were going very well, that brings me a certain amount of joy, an oddity I need to get used too.

“Then how may I be of service, Your Majesties?” I ask, looking between the two of them.

“Well, you could take a seat, first of all. Second, have you been to the doctor yet?” Princess Celestia asks, tilting her head to the side as her ears swivel to face me, I'm now her number one focus for the moment, urk, watch my words.

“Yes Ma'am, I have,” I state neutrally. “Would you like a recount of their findings?” I ask as I pull out a chair and sit in it, she nods amiably. “Alright, my blood work wasn't finished when I left, but their other findings were mostly in a word: inconclusive. They had my age between 4 to 9, rather than 12 years, 4 months. My temperature is apparently dangerously high for your standard run of the mill human, and I seem to be running a protein deficiency, even using twice the amount recommended by the human supplement instructions.” I say, winding down as I believe I've hit all the high points.

Princess Celestia blinks a few times, but appears otherwise unbothered, Princess Luna on the other hand, starts looking worried. I give her a smile. “I'm fine for the moment Ma'am. I was actually about to go out with my Alpha to acquire some animal protein when your summons arrived. After that, they believed simply eating plenty of beans or legumes in addition to my supplements should keep me up, but considering how little they know about me . . .” I shrug.

“Hmmm, this will bear further study, but if plant sources of protein prove insufficient, let one of us know, and we'll see about getting you a license to purchase meat from Equestrian providers. Otherwise, you'll have to go through the Gryphon traders, and their screening is more . . . lax than our own.” Princess Celestia states thoughtfully, Princess Luna just nods in turn. Princess Celestia then turns her head to Princess Luna and nods it at me.

Princess Luna nods in return, her smile never dropping, and turns to me. “We... I have given your... alternate training idea some thought, and I believe it should work, in fact, the scale you were thinking on is actually rather small. If, as you say, you received the information you needed to utilize your gear in a prepackaged form, it should be possible to 'recover' that package, yes?”

I open my mouth, and then close it, I have no idea. I finally settle for a small shrug and a shake of my head. “I guess it would be possible, but it'd require rather a bit of memory sifting to go back to the exact point of transference, and the recipients will still need to work on their actual muscle memory, but if you can drop the theory portion of the training and stick to the physical regimen, then yes, you could easily grow the class size exponentially, space and recruits permitting” I state as I start arranging points and thoughts to assemble a clearer picture in my mind.

“But do you really want a large force with this equipment?” I ask, causing Princess Celestia to tilt her head at me inquisitively. “Secrecy-wise. This gear is going to take crack troops to the ascendant level, if my performance is any meter stick, the team you have me training is going to be some of the meanest bolts in your quiver,” I state shaking my head. “If Staff Sergeant Rock Slide had been outfitted with Heavy Armor as befitted the point position, well, I would have lost, combining his mass with a strength rune will make him insanely powerful, in fact, you may want to trade off the strength for a speed in his case.”

Princess Celestia nods her head approvingly, and I find myself giving her a deadpan expression. “Did I just pass a test I didn't know I was taking, Your Highness?” She just laughs.

“Oh, very good Redemit, very good. No, for our purposes, as small a group with access to these weapons as possible, the better. Which isn't to say we haven't been . . . accelerating our own civilian infrastructure with some of the information your monarch was intelligent enough to send through. Some of your agricultural methods will certainly help to increase yields.” Princess Celestia says with a smile.

I nod my head, then freeze, I don't honestly care, but what she said sparked some memory I had, something about food and culture . . . what was it. Oh, buck, most civilizations tend to turn empiralistic directly following increases in food production, allowing larger standing armies and with the proper logistics, said armies can be used on surrounding territories. “Does this mean you'll be able to increase your standing army?” I ask curiously.

Princess Celestia blinks at me a few times and sighs, I think I just failed another test. “No Redemit, that will not be necessary,” She says in the same motherly tone, I can still feel the disappointment. I bow, feeling strangely . . . I don't know, I think I actually want her approval.

I stay silent after that, fighting my own feelings of not quite shame and wrestling with my own outlook, trying to figure out what I did wrong. Princess Luna chooses to step in at this point.

“If you had a . . . team with this gear, assuming mediocre skill, do you think they could take on say... an alicorn?” She asks, her point clear, I feel adrenaline hitting my system as my heartbeat accelerates and my vision turns green.

“Not while I live!” I snarl, Luna only cocks an eyebrow at me. “Yes, yes they'd stand a very good chance against you,” I state tersely, addressing my response to Princess Luna. “A lesser one against your Sister, but no chance against my Queen,” I bite out, rage still curling its way through my consciousness at the thought of someone trying to harm Luna or her sister, I won't fail again.

“Explain?” Princess Celestia orders softly, staring at me evenly, her smile gone.

I nod my head. “Princess Luna has had the last thousand years to go mad in, she then had part of her essence ripped away to purge said madness, her power levels are drastically reduced, I think, and her . . . manner, her experience, is low,” I state, trying to do my best to remain impartial in the face of her annoyance, she's not going to like the next part. “I'd lay good odds she'd make a dangerous mistake in any engagement, letting her emotions get in the way of her killing instinct, or something of the like sort,” I say shrugging, I then turn my attention to Princess Celestia who in turn watches me impassively.

“In your case, it'd have to be a surprise attack, you'd disengage or seek a position of overwhelming superiority if you saw them coming, and would likely find it. But assuming surprise is total, you again, would hesitate, letting your empathy get in the way of your fight or flight instincts unless you bore them a very great grudge or ulterior circumstances. While an alicorn, I don't think you're at the peak of shape either, which while not a bad thing, is not good either, it simply changes the scope of the engagement, I'd lay good odds on a physical attacker being able to engage you, Alicorn perks or no,” I shrug.

“Okay, Private, why would your Queen win then?” Princess Celestia asks calmly, I raise my eyes to meet hers and smile, something in my gaze makes even her flinch ever so slightly, barely a tightening of the eyes, but it's there nonetheless, and I feel shame for it, and then irritation at the shame, why does it MATTER?

“Because, Your Majesty, I was made in my Queen's image, and I am but an imperfect tool,” I state with a hungry tone to my voice. “Take me, and remove the emotional trauma, remove the empathy, but leave the emotion, and add a pit in the heart like unto Tartarus. She lived for two things. Revenge, and to carry on her sister's legacy, and she felt worthy of neither. I never saw the pain she felt, I never understood why she did the things she did. Why I was her constant companion, though she gave every sign of not liking my presence in the least,” I say softly my gaze softening as I look up at the ceiling without seeing it. “She still felt, she still cared, but it hurt her, every moment of every day. I was a wreck, but I wanted only one thing, Vine's safety, and she could could provide that, as much as anyone could. So she did provide it, and in return, she molded me,” I state with a smile.

“It was only after, when I had all that time to think while under the care of your Protege, Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic. That I truly realized what I was, I was her avatar, her . . . familiar? I was her personal weapon, I smote at her command, and she could in turn watch through me, and rejoice. Through me, she struck back at them, the ones who took EVERYTHING from her.” I look at the two princesses with tears in my eyes. “I still can't imagine how she must have felt, but I think you come close, Princess Celestia, you were just lucky enough it never escalated that far,” I say with a shake of my head, rubbing the tears from my eyes.

“To be so important, you must send others in your stead, but to want to strike back, to leave your personal note, to scream defiance in their face. Was she right? Was she wrong? I don't know, but I can't imagine myself any other way,” I say sadly.

Princess Celestia nods her head, her smile gone. “Alright, Redemit, how would you handle our protection?” She asks, tilting her head to the side.

I just chuckle. “Find some murderers, earn their loyalty and surround yourself with them, let them strike where you cannot, if it will ease your conscience,” I shrug.

Princess Luna sighs, rubbing her face with a hoof. “Are you sure about this, Sister?” She asks, I look between the two of them as I sense a side conversation coming to light.

Princess Celestia shakes her head. “No, dear sister, I am not. But it is better that we should be prepared, than that we be blindsided." She turns to me. “The times before us will not be easy, there is... strife coming. This period offers many opportunities, but also many pitfalls. If we navigate it successfully, there are many rewards, but if we fail, this land will be buried in shadow,” she says in an ominous voice.

I nod my head. “You see them coming then, see how much you can accelerate the production of the suits, I'll . . . push the training regimen.” I turn to Princess Luna. “How soon can we begin the memory scan, Ma'am?” I ask, thoughts and ideas running through my head.

Princess Celestia just shakes her head and smiles warmly again. “Relax Private, we have time, time enough in fact, that your schooling which has been dreadfully neglected can be addressed.”

I go quiet and try to give a smile in return, admittedly a weak one. “What?” I ask, if this entails a royal instructor, I'm hiding in the belfry for a week, at least.

As if reading my thoughts, Princess Celestia gives a dry chuckle. “Do not worry, you have been handling your literacy training acceptably well, though if you require additional assisstance, I can get you a tutor at your request. However, I've noticed you've also started trying to write, but subject matter seems to be somewhat of a problem,” she says with a grin that on anyone else I'd call impish, on her, it's terrifying.

“Subject matter?” I ask, I could tell you what each word meant, but what she means is beyond me.

“You want to learn to write, but you have naught to write about, and you have a lot to learn to function in society, species aside. I see two problems and one solution,” she says in a voice that definitely turning mischievous, I narrow my eyes before I catch myself and relax my face. “You know about the lessons on friendship my student sends me, yes?” she asks, I nod my head mutely, my right eyebrow starts twitching, she wouldn't. “I think it'd be an excellent way to practice you quillmanship!” she says with a sunny smile as I feel my self wither a little on the inside, she just did, darkness as my witness.

“Uhhh, are you sure that's a good idea, Your Highness?” I ask desperately trying to think of legitimate reasons to say no.

“Absolutely!” She replies with that same motherly smile on her face. Evil.

“I... I'm not sure anyone else could even read my handwriting, Ma'am,” I stutter out, it's true, my handwriting looks like a beach full of dead squid.

“Why, then you could come and read it aloud!” She responds cheerfully, too cheerfully. EVIL!

"But-but... but you're busy! You have your court to handle... plus you already have to deal with Twilight's letters!” I strangle out, my face going red as my diction deserts me.

“Hmmm, you have a point,” Princess Celestia says thoughtfully tapping her chin with a hoof, I start to feel a glimmer of hope. “Which is why you should send them to Luna!” she announces cheerfully, and any hope I had dies a cold lonely death.

I turn numbly to face Princess Luna, only to find her staring incredulously at her sister as well. “Tia... what?” she asks, obviously almost as shocked as I am, please say no.

“Well? I have a student already!” Princess Celestia states cheerfully. “And you've freed up so much of your day by suspending Night-Court and doing the paperwork during the day with both of us conscious has accelerated the pace so much!” she continues happily, Luna starts looking too much like a choking pony for my comfort, her mouth opening and closing, but nothing coming out. “As much as I enjoy spending as much time as possible with you, you still have a large portion of time free from obstructions, and what better way to fill it up than by taking a student of your own!” she adds the final nail to the coffin, and I feel my own shoulders slump at the same time as Princess Luna's do.

“We... I... oh alright,” Princess Luna concedes defeat with a pout, I just feel my blush pale as the blood decides to visit the rest of my body for awhile. I can only stare at the both of them in mute horror.

“See?” Princess Celestia says to me with that same warm smile. “Everything's taken care of! I expect you'll have something to report by the end of the week?” she asks, I just nod my head mutely, still numb from the mental clubbing I just underwent. “Excellent!” she says happily clapping her fore-hooves together. “And now, I'm afraid I have to go, I've delayed my Day-Court as long as I could. Remember Redemit, write it out, even if you end up reporting it orally!” I nod my head with a weak smile as she cheerfully trots from the room.

My smile drops as soon as she's out the door, as does my head, to the table. I give a small groan. “Princess? What just happened?” I ask weakly.

I feel another thump and find Luna resting her own chin on the table. “We really don't know.” she says tiredly. Yawning, she picks her head up and gives me a smile. “So, what hast thou been doing this fine day?” She asks warmly, obviously, she's going to make the best of it. I give another weak smile and start talking.

…

“She did WHAT?!” Luna booms, I flinch, but hold up a hand nonetheless.

“I asked for her help, you see,” I state hurriedly. “Fairy Dancer thought this was the best course of action! She's doing it to help, she truly believes that!” I say pulling back in my chair as Princess Luna turns a burning gaze on me.

Luna stands and tries to move towards me only to find the table blocking her path, one burst of magic later, and I find the table getting shoved aside once again, that poor table. She walks up to me, and I find myself looking up from my seated position at a still mildly irate alicorn. “Thou art one of our Night-Guard, not some animal needing a leash!” she snarls, I open my mouth to agree, but then stop, I can't.

“But Ma'am, that's how I was raised.” I state quietly, Luna falls silent watching me, I shake my head. “I was an animal, it was the best way to counter the swarm, if I thought, I was dead, I had to be part of the pack, we all did. You couldn't plan your moves, you had to be part of the greater whole, you had to KNOW where your pack would be to cover them properly. When you were outnumbered fifty to one, you had to be naught but a creature of instinct. And if you think I'm bad, imagine a pony in my situation, you're herd animals, but also herbivores. You're prey first, not predator, the mental training for them was worse, much worse. I had less to 'unlearn' as it were, now I just have it in reverse,” I say with a sigh.

Luna still looks upset, but nods her head and drops her hindquarters, taking a seat facing me. “Thou coulds't have come to me, We would be happy to assist, or find someone who can in our stead, someone we trust,” she says evenly, I smile weakly.

“If I'd known what I needed, sure. But I didn't I was running blind here, I don't WANT to be part of a pack anymore, but I don't know how to function outside one. It's . . . it's comforting to be part of one again, you know? I . . . “ I trail off and shake my head as I run out of the proper words to describe what I feel.

Luna sighs and shakes her head, then stares at my eyes a moment. “Redemit,” she says softly, her voice becoming tense, I freeze, my senses overloading as I try to detect everything in my surroundings, besides several guards on both sides of the door, I don't feel anything else. “Why... are your eyes gray?” she asks and I let my breath out in relief, which earns a burning stare from her. “Why. Are. Your. Eyes. Gray?” she asks again her horn lighting up.

“It's an illusion,” I stare hurriedly, Luna watches me impassively a moment. “I was about to go out with my... with Master Sergeant Fairy Dancer to get some protein, and I don't like changing my eyes, so I asked her to disguise them, this was the best she could do on short notice,” I explain, Luna watches me a few more seconds before nodding her head. “Actually, on that subject, do you think I could get some of my enchanted collars? They're designed to disguise my eyes as well,” I state, watching her hopefully, only to sigh when she shakes her head.

“That's not the only thing they were designed to do," she warns with a shake of her head, I just roll my eyes.

"Which other function do you refer too? The tracking spell, the zapping one, or the death spell?" I ask, causing her to do a double take. "What? I'm the one that had them made, the zapper as I call it, or the shock spell, whichever name you prefer, stopped working on me . . . well, before I even had them made. The tracking spell, well darn, I didn't know you cared about my privacy that much, I sure as heck didn't. And the death spell, or charm or whatever you care to call it, please, not much chance it'll work on me, it has to draw in a large amount of power, if it activated, I could 'deactivate' it on a whim, no, that was my own insurance." I state quietly, slumping down in my chair.

Princess Luna reaches out and rests a hoof on my knee, I raise my eyes to meet hers with a faint smile that quickly fades. "I had those spells placed on them for three reasons, the tracking was for Vine, or any unicorn that I showed it too. It's got a really faint signature but surprising range. The zapper, well, it makes a fair bit of noise, just incase I needed to play the part of a dangerous human for Vine, that was her job description after all, and it came in handy a time or two. The death spell though, well, if I was ever taken, they'de have a certain period of time to find me, but once the collar was disabled or removed, it would trigger," I utter hollowly, watching Luna evenly. "I was not going to be taken alive," I state with finality.

"Who did you have to fear?" Princess Luna asks incredulously, I just give a half grin.

"Everyone except Vine and a select few in the Night-Guard. I was terrified the scientists... the 'doctors' would return, I didn't trust the population not to take their fear and anger out on me, I even had doubts about my comrades. But unlike them, I chose to take my frustration and fear out on the enemy. Surprisingly therauputic killing bugs when you can put a face of somepony you hate on each one." I give a dry chuckle, then shake my head with a sigh. "That aside, I'd appreciate those back if at all possible, this buisness of asking a unicorn every time I need my appearance changed gets old," I say with a shrug.

Princess Luna pats my knee a couple times then withdraws her hoof. "Very well, We shall see to it that your collars are returned to you," She concedes, then opens her mouth again. "Wouldn't thou wish a different choice of accessory?" She finally asks, the urge obviously getting the better of her. I hesitate a moment but then rock forward, reaching out and hugging her. She pauses for a moment before wrapping her forelimbs around me in turn.

"Thank you, but no, the collar is meaningless, it is the ones that hold the leash upon it that matters, I don't mind the collars, they're . . . my choice, as it were. Now, I may decide I don't want to wear them later on, everypony changes with time, of course." I hug her tightly a moment before I let go and rock back into my chair. I consider how best I can get myself excused, I still want that meat, but then I have an idea.

"Princess, you watched me eat meat last night, and you didn't turn a hair where most everyone else I've met treats it like a terrifying ordeal, why is that?" I ask, a thought popping up in my head, Princess Luna just stares at me blankly a moment before shrugging.

"... I've been around a very long time, even with . . . that event. I've had numerous opportunities to watch the consumption of various animal products, and I've eaten fish from time to time myself, it's not something I advertise, but the sight of meat doesn't cause me any discomfort," she states breezily, I nod my head, then tilt it mischieviously.

"Have you been to any local resturaunts that serve it?" I ask, she furrows her brow at me then a adopts a look of comprehension and nods at me.

"Yes actually, though you shall not mention it to my sister, she would worry unnecessarily," she warns me with a stern look. "But there are several such establishments in the city that serve fish products as well as a surprising number of rather delicious dishes," she says with a nod.

I smile, now all I have to do is get directions, borrow one of the pegusai, and then I can head out, easy enough, assuming one of the two pegusai is free, of course. I open my mouth to request location and direction, but Princess Luna beats me to it.

"Why don't I show you, in fact?" she asks, my eyes bug out and I sputter a bit before finding my voice.

"But you've already been out and about with a human once, what will they think if they see you in public with that same human, that'll be giving the wrong impression, won't it?" I ask as I pat myself on the back mentally, PR is every monarch's worst nightmare.

Princess Luna gives a giggle that on anypony else would be called cute. "Nonsense, you wouldn't be with Luna, Princess of the Moon! You'de be with Nightshade, a unicorn from Fillydelphia," she states smugly, I just turn pale.

"But-but... you can't be outside without your protection detail, Your Highness!" I state desperately, Princess Luna just laughs.

"Oh? And who would be foolish enough to attack me, hmm?" she asks, I just give her a deadpan look, to which she grins. "Besides, we shall have our protection detail with us, you'll be there, would you not defend us?" she asks with a smirk.

"With my life, but . . . it's still not safe," I say weakly, I think I just lost this argument.

Luna just shakes her head. "Very few things in life are 'safe'. Every year, we hear of our little ponies slipping in the bathroom, or the kitchen, there's even been a drowning in a sink. No, life inside the palace is tedious and boring, a little risk is what we need sometimes, just to know we're still alive." she says solemnly, then perks up with a big smile. "Besides! Your idea, while a little unsettling at first, has excellent merit and I wanted to thank you! This will be two problems with one solution," she states happily, I just nod my head with a smile of my own, I may have lost the argument, but the loser gets fish, and I'm okay with it, but first: my sword.

"Alright, but if I'm going to be your 'escort', I'm going to need my sword back," I state, watching her evenly, ready to make it very plain this is one point I'm not backing down on, she just nods.

"Not a problem, lets go!" Princess Luna states easily, one might even say giddily, if, you know, you weren't talking about a Princess. I open my mouth to illustrate further as I in turn stand, we'll need to find Fairy Danger to reaquire my blade, but I'm cut off by her horn lighting up and unceremoniously teleporting us.

I stand in place, blinking the afteraffects out of my eyes, only to find myself standing in the armory from yesterday. I glance around, looking for the earth pony from before, and see him come out of the back room.

He glances at me, then turns his attention to Princess Luna, which causes him to do a double take before he bows down. "Princess, how may I be of service," He asks, Luna nods her head regally.

"Stand subject, we are here to aquire weaponry for our escort," She states calmly, pointing at me, the Supply Sergeant looks at my in a confused manner before looking back at her.

"You want to give your human a weapon?" he asks in a confused manner, I just facepalm.

"Ummm, Supply Sargeant?" I ask, causing him to whip his back around to look at me, I give a small wave and a tight-lipped smile. "Hello, good to see you again!" to further illustrate my point, I extend a wing slightly from under the dust cloak, his eyes lock onto it and he nods silently, a flash of recognition appearing in his eyes.

He still stands there for a long moment just staring at me, then in a display of mental flexibility I never thought I'd see in a pony, he shakes himself and turns to Princess Luna as if nothing were out of the ordinary. "All his gear, then?" He asks, Princess luna looks at me questioningly. I find myself torn, on the one hand, I could get all my gear, on the other, I don't need all of it for this mission.

Sadly, the urge to not lie to my monarch wins out and I shake my head. "Just the storm-sword and my dagger, if you would, I'm not going out in full kit," I state, he just stares at me in a confused manner, I look at him. "The . . . you know, the LONG-sword," I state with withering irony heavily laced into my tone. "The purple one, it's enchanted with lightning, thus the storm part," I explain, he nods his head slightly before walking into the locked portions of the armory muttering under his breath.

Turning to Princess Luna, I consider my preperations, rubbing my chest absently, I find myself to be once more without my armor and resist a facepalm. What may work with my Alpha will not work when I'm protecting my Princess, I'll have to drop by my room. "Ma'am, I need to run to my room, I'll be back shortly," I state, before being cut off by a wave of her hoof.

"Nay, Redemit, we can take thee there as well," She states languidly, still stareing off at the door the Armorer walked through, I raise a brow.

"You know where my room is?" I deadpan dropping my formality for a moment, she looks at me with a raised brow of her own.

"Yes, I do, but when you put it that way, it does appear stalkerish, dosen't it?" she asks with a smirk, I just sigh.

"No, Ma'am, I guess not, you would want to keep tabs on your newest recruit," I state turning back to the door the Supply Sargent went through as well to hide me rolling my eyes, Princess Luna just chuckles. I don't exactly CARE as such, it's just odd that she's taking this much interest. She's one of the diarchs of a peaceful, and from what I've seen, thriving kingdom, after all.

"Oh come now, Private, I assure you it was just part of my briefing, I will admit I had my reservations about your condition, but I feel confident you'll do your best to adapt to your new life," Princess Luna states consolingly with a small pat on my shoulder with her fore-hoof.

The armorer chooses this moment to exit the locker, my sheathed sword held in his mouth and my dagger resting on his back. I take the obvious excuse to change the subject and walk over towards the armorer.

I reach out and almost reverently take my sword from his grasp, I stroke the sheath a moment before nodding my head in thanks and grabbing my knife. "Thank you for taking care of my weapons, Sir," I state warmly, he just shakes his head.

"You are just full of interesting surprises, aren't you?" He asks ironically, I refrain from smiling and settle for nodding my head silently as I turn to Princess Luna.

"Shall we proceed, Ma'am?" I ask, she nods her head and her horn lights up.

I glance around and find myself and the Princess in my quarters, I turn to look at her incredulously. "You teleported INTO my quarters? What if I'd moved furniture around?" I ask, my eyebrows trying to climb into my scalp region.

Princess Luna just gives me a deadpan look in response. "Just put your armor on, Private," She states, probably tired of waiting, or my pessimism.

I nod my head and move to my armor rack, I shuck my shirt and reattach my chest piece, I leave the rest of my armor where it is, it'll be hard enough explaining my clothing, seeing as its actual CLOTHING, rather than a fancy sack someone put on me, without the telltale bulges all over my body.

I take a moment to adjust my armor, and slip the sword on my back, I replace my shirt and inspect my appearance, while it is rigid, my chest plate was also designed for low profile effects, to improve mobility and all that so it hugs my frame acceptably well. I nod my head in satisfaction and turn around to Luna who's staring at me with a raised brow. I tilt my head. "Something wrong, Your Majesty?" I ask, she points at my sword.

"Humans don't wear those," She says in what I think is a serious tone, or she likes bad jokes, I'm taking the former option.

I narrow my eyes in thought. "Not even the guards for nobility?" I ask, Princess Luna just blinks at me.

"Most nobles don't require guards, the threat of royal justice makes Canterlot one of the safest cities in Equestria," Princess Luna deadpans.

I throw up my hands in defeat. "Well... I don't know then! Am I supposed to walk out all but naked when your life rests in my hands?" I ask her, my frustration plain. "I failed my Queen, I don't want to fail you too!" I state, clenching and relaxing my hands. I want to kill something,(Failing that, beat the snot out of something, maybe a training dummy, or a pony if I can trick them into sparring with me.) almost more than I want meat, this price for this little foray is getting higher and higher.

Princess Luna's face softens as she realizes why I'm so high strung and tilts her head to the side consideringly. "We have an idea," She states slowly, obviously deep in thought, I perk up and watch her intently.

"I can carry your weapon upon my person. You'll be by our side anyway, it would be simple enough to aquire it in case the need arose, which it should not," she states with narrowed eyes, I nod my head silently, I won't start anything.

I hand my blade over, Princess Luna considers it a moment before glancing at her own apparel and shaking her head. Once everything else is settled though, Princess Luna gives another satisfied nod and her horn lights up once more.

I swallow a few times from the repeated teleport stress and sweep our surroundings for threats, only to find myself in what I can only assume in Princess Luna's personal quarters. If by quarters, I meant a penthouse with as much room inside as some mansions.

I glance around curiously, seeing many things that speak of my Queen as well as Princess Luna, as if I wasn't already aware that they were indeed doppelgangers.

"Don't touch anything, we shall return shortly," Luna state tersely before disappearing off into what appears for all intents and purpose to be a room devoted to clothing . . . in a land where clothing is optional . . . what?

I shake my head as I ponder the proper name for such a room, was it still called a closet? I shrugged my shoulders and chuckled at the sheer absurdity. Turning my attention back to the room, I start examining it in more detail.

Most of the detailing is various shades of dark blue, which presents a somewhat somber yet soothing atmosphere, cloth curtains line most of the walls, even though they're not blocking windows, I assume it's an aesthetic thing and move on. A bed that even I would consider massive sits against one wall, posts hold up what looks like some kind of shear fabric that has the night sky embroidered into it, rather beautiful.

I'm interrupted from my internal musing by Princess Luna making her appearance from the closet, only I find myself tensing up a moment before I'm sure it's actually her. She seems . . . different, while I can tell her size hasn't actually changed, she seems smaller somehow, much like one of her subjects, I see no wings on her excepting vague ripples in the air as whatever spell she put on them changes its coloration to match its surroundings. Even her horn seems shorter, more fitting for a simple unicorn, completing the ensemble is a rather nice day dress. I'm not sure how she made the color yellow work with her coloration, but it seems too, or I just know nothing about fashion. . . or both. Yeah, both is a safer assumption than insulting her fashion sense, lets go with that. Either way, her rather distinctive cutie mark is covered by the dress, so by all means of measurement, she's a completely different mare. The saddlebags on her sides are almost lost in the plethora of changes she's undergone.

“You clean up well, Y-Miss Nightshade,” I state with a bow of my head, stumbling over my words a bit as I try to come up with the name she mentioned once in idle conversation.

Princess Luna starts chuckling which devolves into a short bout of full out laughter for awhile before calming down and nodding appreciatively. “Thank you, Frix, now, unless there is anything else of import for us here, let us depart,” She says with a touch of 'Finally!' in her voice, I nod my head.

“How are we-” I start to inquire about our exit strategy, only to have her horn light up once more.