The Book of Ethereal Secrets

Chapter 3

I planned to end my travels by the end of this week. I want to be there for my family and friends, at least what's left of them. Now that Sour and Zylus are in danger, I have to stop The Eyes. Those two are the best friends I could ask for. We suffered together, fought together, and survived together, and I would do anything to help them and they would do anything to help me. I was brought back to reality by Daring clearing her throat.

"Yes." I responded.

"Tell me about your family," She stated with curiosity lacing her voice.

"What about them?" She appeared to think about this for a few seconds.

"Start with your parents?" I thought about where to begin.

"Cheese Cake is my father, and Velvet Silk is my mother. They met and married in Canterlot; then, they opened a bakery in Manehattan after I was born. I have a cousin in Ponyville." I paused as I remembered something I had forgotten. "He and his wife just had foals, I still haven't met them yet. I honestly can't wait."

"You have any siblings?" She asked. I don't know why, but the look on her face was that of one who is intently listening.

"I have a younger sister, she's four years younger then me. Her name is Banana Bread." Daring snickered, "don't laugh at her name to her face, she will break you." Daring gave me a questioning look, "The last pony who laughed at her name had to go to the hospital to get the ladle removed from his rec-" She threw a hand up to stop me.

"I don't need the details. Point taken." She bit her lip in thought. I decided to stare out the window at the passing country side. The train will be coming up on Manehatten within the hour. She appeared to have completed her thought, but hesitated on speaking it.

"Did..d-did you have family in Hoffen." I thought about what I lost. I stared out the window. My silence was all the answer she needed. "oh," she spoke quietly, "sorry." I sighed. It wasn't a sigh of sadness, but with a bit of happiness.

"She was an amazing mare," it's been 4 years since I last talked about her. I don't know why, but I felt that I needed to get it of my chest. "Her name was Morning Joy." I smiled at hearing her name, even if it was myself speaking it. "She was a teacher at the school in Fort Hoffen, and she loved every minute of it."

"Where did you meet her?" I thought back to a time when I was happier. I placed my hand on my chin, unconsciously stroking the scar on my jaw, in thought.

We were marching towards the castle gates from the inside. We were in a block formation with our major at the front. I stood at his left as his lieutenant. As we approached the gate the captain was instructing other blocks of guard of what they were to do today. It was the Summer Sun Celebration tonight, and so the guards were to be on high alert. Not for any attempts against the princess, but because the Canterlot elite 'cut loose' with alcohol. A lot of alcohol.

"Guard, halt, face left." The major instructed us. He was tall and well built with a white coat and blue mane. The captain approached us. He was a bit short, but he could probably carry a bison on his shoulders and still fight off the entirety of the griffin army.

"Major Shining Armor, your unit will keep an eye on the merchant district," Captain Iron Heart announced."Keep an eye out for opportunistic thieves and the rowdy drunk nobles that seem to plague this town on days like today."

"Yes sir," Shining replied saluting. The rest of the block joined the salute in absolute unison. We then continued our march down the streets to the market. I always admired how the ponies of Canterlot can decorate a street to look bigger then it is in reality. When we arrived, Shining gave us our directions and sent us on our way. I was to accompany Shining in patrolling the farmers market and then a few ally ways. The day was calm, but the night was when most disturbances occurred.

We walked through the stalls making small talk with the merchants and nobles who didn't believe they were above talking to guards and the common rabble. Shining and I split up to cover a bit more ground. Passing by a furniture shop, I heard shuffling. I looked in the ally and saw two stallions harassing a beige mare with a curled, green mane. I recognized one of the stallions as a noble that I have seen before. If we had a list if ponies who need to be locked up on occasions like this, he would be at the top.

"Aww, c'mon you should *hic* join me an my friend here for a little fun at my place," the rowdy noble slurred. The mare rolled her eyes.

"Not in your dreams, now if you can excuse me, I have a play to attend." She replied. I just noticed she was wearing a rather beautiful dress. The stallions surrounded her and started to grab her.

"Hey! How many times have I told you guys that 'no' is not a synonym for 'go ahead and take me'." I've had with fools like these. They couldn't put up much of a fight due to their drunken stupor, but I still put the cuffs on them. I saw a couple more from my unit rounding the corner. After catching their attention with a whistle, I ordered them to take the offenders to lock up for the night.

I turned my attention to the lady, who had a flirtatious- although I couldn't tell at the time- look on her face. "Thank you so much officer, would you mind escorting me to the theater?" I couldn't find a reason why I couldn't, so I did. The theater was along my patrol route. we talked along the way. It turned out, the third grade class at Canterlot Elementary were putting on a play for the celebration, and the mare, who I learned was named Morning Joy, was their teacher. We arrived and she thanked me again before going inside. I continued my patrol with a almost unnoticeable skip in my step.

"I was walking by a cafe sometime the next week when she spotted me. How she could recognize me without my armor astounds me. She offered me a cup of coffee, and we hit it off." I finished my story as we got off the train. Daring gave me a scrutinizing look. "What?"

"Just seems a little.. cliche," she stated.

"Well, that's how it happened," we walked down the Manehattan streets for about fifteen minutes before we came across 'The Bun Factory'. I never understood why dad chose that name for the bakery. We entered the shop, and I saw a yellow mare with straight red hair. The bell was over the door to alert any employees that there was a customer. But the mare, that I knew as my sister, just continued reading her book as we approached the counter.

"Welcome to 'The Bun Factory' how may I help you," She stated in a monotone voice, still not looking up from her book. I had to fight back my laughter. If mom and dad saw this, they would give the lecture of a lifetime.

"Yeah, I would like two slices of banana bread." I said nonchalantly. She looked up in noticeable surprise. That, however, was overcome quickly as she seemed to leap over the counter and gave me a bone crushing hug.

"Steel, oh my gosh. Lily, he's here!" A small beige filly with hair as black as mine with deep green eyes, came running down the stares followed by an older couple. I knelt down and embraced the young filly. My dad ,who I was the spitting image of, and my mother joined in on the hug.

"I missed you so much Daddy!" Lily shouted. I laughed and squeezed her tighter.

"I missed you, too, Lily." I kissed her on the head, just above her horn.

"Wait, you're a father?" Daring asked in confusion.