The Elder Scrolls: Equestria

“…Grover! Grover, wake up! Damn it! Somepony get some healing potions…!”

This was by far the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. And if any of you have been paying any attention up to this point, then you should know how much of a feat that is. As Grover and I walked through the streets of Canterlot, I thought back to everything I’d done since coming here. And nothing. Nothing! Came close to what we were doing. Like I’ve said, I’ve done some stupid things.

But I’ve never attacked royalty.

We passed by many of the Royal Guard on our way to the palace. At the sight of me they scowled and raised weapons but a single look from my companion was enough to send them scurrying. The first time I saw Grover I thought he was intimidating, but that was nothing compared to how he looks now. He stood a clear six inches over me, his eye restored and glowing with anticipation. Every scar on his body had vanished, leaving untarnished coat and muscle behind. He wore no armor, only his blades belted to his waist.

We had walked all the way to the palace gate without anypony stopping us, but we were at the castle. The guards couldn't just run and hide. “Grover, why isn't she in chains..” the first guard asked a fraction of a second before Grover smacked him so hard that he fell to the ground unconscious.

The guards kept their distance after that.

The doors to the throne room opened silently as Grover pushed them inward. “Good work Grover,” Celestia, who was sitting on her throne like she was none the wiser to what we were doing, said as we entered. “You've brought her back.”

“Stop Celestia. I know the guards warned you.” Grover said coldly, his talons gripping the hilts of his swords as he stood on his hindlegs.

“Warned me of what?”

“Don't play cute Celestia. You betrayed me.” He said darkly, drawing each blade silently. There were more than a dozen guards at the entrance and more lining up behind them, so I summoned a shield and blocked the doors. I looked to my right and saw Princess Ambrosia unfurling her wings and her horn flaring with energy.

“How so?” Celestia asked, getting to her hooves and walking towards Grover. “What has the thief told you that made you so sure?”

“I saw you! You said you wouldn't help me, you told that one you couldn't!” he pointed a blade at Ambrosia, who flinched and quickly backed away. Though she still kept her eyes locked on me.

“Don't you think she could have fabricated such a memory? Perhaps to trick you into siding with her and helping her escape? You have traveled with her for some time. I'm sure you noticed her silver tongue.” she said.

“If I wanted to escape I wouldn't be here!” I shouted. This is really, really stupid! I should have bailed when I had the chance. But there was no going back. Grover stood very still and watched her for a good while. After nearly five minutes had passed Celestia smiled knowingly and was about to speak when Grover said the eight words that changed our lives forever.

“I didn't say she showed me a memory.” Celestia eyes widened as Grover lunged towards her, murder in his eyes. Her horn glowed bright gold and a powerful beam of energy shot right at Grover. Princess Ambrosia charged me and tried to blast me with her magic. I countered with my own and watched as our two beams of energy merged and formed into a single sphere between us. I had never been in a duel before and she was damn strong, but I wasn't about to let her take me out so quick. If she and Celestia both fought Grover he wouldn't stand a chance. I shook my head and focused on my foe. More accurately, I focused on how much I hated her.

I poured every ounce of energy I could into my attack and grinned as the sphere shot from between us, struck Ambrosia in the chest and sent her flying into the air. I chanced a look at Grover and watched in amazement as he deflected Celestia's magic with his golden sword. Thank you Platinum! As I pressed the attack on Ambrosia Grover showed once again that his swordsgriffonship was unmatched by anypony. After deflecting or dodging a dozen blasts from Celestia he got close enough to her that she created a bladed staff made of pure energy to block his blows. It's a good thing we were in the throne room. If Ambrosia and Celestia could fly they could leave me in the dust.

Or could they?

Ambrosia flared her wings and blew gusts of wind at me. I thought about for a fraction of a second before surrounding myself in my magic and floating myself off the ground and into the air after her. There wasn't much space to work with, but since I couldn't move any faster than a gallop it didn't really matter. That, and the fact that I was still keeping us all in the throne room with the shield, I wouldn't last very long anyway. If we don't finish this fast...

I never voiced my thoughts though. Ambrosia was no fighter and it didn't take much to get under her skin. “It's good to see that you have a whore's endurance along with her looks!” she screamed in rage and charged at me as I landed on the throne room floor, and just as I had done so many times before, I sat down, pressed my forelegs against her chest, leaned back and kicked her right between her flanks. She screamed hysterically as I threw her into the wall.

“Ambrosia!” Celestia cried, and the guards began to beat on the shield more violently than before. Not that it did anything. While Celestia blocked Grover thrusts and swipes I charged at her from behind and blasted her in the back with my magic. She cried out in pain just as the guards did and with three final movements Grover cut her staff in half, knocked her crown off her head and head butted her right in the muzzle.

Celestia crumbled to the floor in front of her throne and Grover wasted no time in shoving the tip of his new sword against her neck. “Do you have any last words traitor?” What!? This wasn't part of the plan!

“Grover! We agreed not to kill her, we're just here for answers remember?”

“She was willing to let my people suffer. their lives mean nothing to her..” he began, only for Celestia to cut him off.

“I did what I had to to protect my people!” she said, trying to staunch her bleeding muzzle.

“What about my people!!!” Grover screamed so loudly that it felt like my ears popped. “I fought for you! I bled for you! I left my home for you! I killed for you! And you won't help me! Have I not earned your appreciation? Your assistance?”

“My ponies come first! If it were a different time I might have been able help your people, but I can't! Please understand...” he moved the blade closer, its very contact cutting into her flesh.

“Oh I understand, but I do not condone.” he raised his sword and was about to bring it down when I stood between them.

“Grover stop!” Think fast Silver, think fast! “if you kill her every guard in Canterlot will come after us!”

“Then they will die just as surely as she will. If she couldn't kill us what makes you think they could?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing Grover, that's my point. They couldn't best you, or me. We'd waste through them. They wouldn't stand a chance and you know it! But they won't stop trying if you kill her,” I pointed at Celestia. “Is killing her worth killing all those ponies, who just want to defend their country? Their city? Their family? if you think that killing everypony in the Royal Guard is worth getting petty revenge then go ahead!” I stepped out from between them and pointed a hoof at Celestia. "Go ahead!" his eyes softened, and I knew at once that he was thinking about Sapphire and his cubs. Or maybe Rose and Quill and her kids.

“Fine.” he pulled his blade away from her and sheathed it. “But if I ever, ever see you again Celestia, I won't be so merciful.” he spit on the floor beside her and walked to the exit, where nearly fifty Royal Guards stood waiting for us, their weapons drawn.

“Let them go.” Celestia ordered as she got to her hooves. The guards yelled in protest but the Princess silenced them with a raised hoof. “If they ever set hoof or foot in the city again, you may kill them. But for now, let them go.” I never did find out why she did that. Then again I never did ask her. But I've always thought, and still do mind you, that she knew what she did was wrong. That she felt bad about how things turned out with Grover.

As we set out for Fetlock (me riding on Grover's back and trying my best not to look down) I could feel the winds of change blowing through. Things are going to get better.