Silky, Guilty Pleasures

Chapter 5: Epilogue

An Alternate Universe Detective Rarity Story

I looked at the paper as I let my coffee cool. I looked over to see Applejack brimming with pride. She’d helped capture a traitor to the crown, stopped the death of a dear friend of hers and one of the princesses, and on top of that The Cider Pit was now officially contracted to the royal palace. It meant more royal guards visiting, and her making treats and catering for events, but it was certainly something I was sure she would absolutely love.

I looked at the paper again. The scandal was minimal at best. Flash Sentry was being held for treason, and he would be tried this week. Discreet Sonar had already been tried, and according to the paper Luna was still trying to decide what would be an appropriate punishment since the death penalty was no longer on the table.

I put the paper down and looked at the stallion sitting across from me. His face looked concerned, uncertain, and I gently nudged him.

“Hmmm?”

“Sound, are you still here?”

He nodded, “Yeah, just thinking that things are going to really change. You know, you don’t have to be with me. I mean, my entire clan is going to be looked down upon.”

“Perhaps,” I smiled and scooted closer to him, “But for the life of me I cannot think of a better stallion to be with. Besides, as I understand you were offered a position, were you not?”

He looked at me, “Yeah, the royal guard. Luna’s Royal Guard specifically. She said she wanted someone she could trust to take over. Everything she did, and she still got her way.”

I knew who he was talking about. Discreet Sonar had wanted him in the guard ever since I’d known him. Everything she did, everything she was being tried for, and somehow it was still working out that he was being offered the position by a princess. Declining the offer could be seen as an insult, even if Princess Luna didn’t see it as one herself, the nobility could certainly view it as a personal insult to royalty.

“Do you want it?”

He shook his head, “No, I still don’t, but not for the same reasons as before,” he breathed out and laid his head on his hands, “Before I didn’t want it because I really wanted to make a difference, and I knew I could do that being a police officer. Now, now I don’t want it because I don’t want her to win. I don’t want her to have the satisfaction of knowing that she won, and I took the job anyway.”

I touched him and he shook his head, “Rares, you don’t understand. She died that night. The mare I thought I knew, the mare that held me when I was still a colt, that used to sing me to sleep, that treated me like her entire world, she died that night. Because I honestly don’t know the mare that could kill a colt in cold blood, no matter what the reasons.”

Everyone grew quiet, and I could hear the sounds of several hoofsteps entering the Cider Pit. After a moment I turned and I saw what the commotion was. Princess Luna and Twilight, were standing in the doorway. The two of them neared our table, and all of the patrons of the Cider Pit gave them wide birth. They took a seat near us, near me, and then Princess Luna was the first one to do anything. She fished a scroll from a small bag she was carrying and handed it over to Sound.

“Sir Sound Ray, thou shalt be knighted on the morrow.”

“T...Thanks.”

“Thou, nay you are welcomed. Mine sister, and fellow Princess Twilight Sparkle have stated that perhaps it is time I begin speaking in a dialect more common to this era. It is difficult to separate the two, but I will do that which I can,” she smiled at me, and then looked back at Sound, “You have not informed my handmaiden of your decision. The position of captain of the lunar guard is yours for the taking Sir Sound Ray.”

He breathed out, “Princess, I’ve talked to Rarity about this already, but I don’t know if I want to take it. I feel like if I did she, my mother, would be getting what she wanted. She wanted me to join… but that mare in your dungeons isn’t my mother. She died that night. I told Rares this, but she’s dead. My mother would sing me to sleep, hold me when I was scared, treat me kindly, but she would never, ever kill a colt for any reason. That mare in your dungeons is somepony I’ve never known before, and I don’t want to give her the satisfaction.”

There was no malice or anger on her face, “I understand. It is a heavy decision, and one that seems to cause great burdens. Perhaps, It would be best if I help thee.”

I watched as she extended a wing, found a feather that was ruffled, and pulled it. There was a moment where she winched, but then it was normal. I watched as she made an inkwell materialize, and she began to edit the scroll itself. For a moment no one said a word, and then she lifted it. “Haha! Mine craftiness has been doubled!”

“Luna?”

Luna looked at Twilight who looked a little concerned.

“I apologize, I was merely excited about fixing the problem.”

She passed the scroll to Sound, again, and he took it into his hands. I watched as he opened it, his eyes widened.

“Princess, this is… There are several of your royal guards that are going to be upset at this.”

I watched as she touched his hand, a gentle smile crossing her face.

“They can learn to deal with it, or they may take retirement. I want to bring my guard into the modern age. I do not want the separation between the police, the military, and the guard any longer. As such, by my royal decree, the Lunar Guard shall become both guard to the Royal Princesses, and the ponies that will keep the police and military honest.”

I could see Sound considering it, and after a moment he nodded, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Huzzah!”

She cleared her throat and smiled softly.

“Twilight, is Lemon Hearts doing okay?”

She looked at me and nodded, “She is. She’s staying with Fluttershy for the time being, and I’m going to be going out there as well. We both need to heal…”

I nodded. Fluttershy was a good friend, still was one, and her therapy and counseling work had really helped so many ponies. “It will be good for you both.”

She nodded, and then reached for my hand. I took it and saw the soft smile cross her lips, “Thank you for finding her. Rarity, it’s not just for the treatment, but please, all of the other girls are going to be coming out tomorrow. To wish me well, to visit, and I would love to see you there too.

“Of course darling, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

I gave her smile, and everything had come into place. I had to wonder what the next job was going to be.

Author's Note

(AN: Wow, first thanks everyone for reading this. And this officially ends Silky, Guilty Pleasures. I'm certainly considering actually getting this commissioned and turned into a full comic. Regardless, thanks everyone for reading.

RJP)