The Knights Trinity

Chapter Eight: New Beginnings

Anthony awoke to a knock at his door.

“Come in.” he shouted pulling a blanket around himself.

The door opened slowly as Twilight poked her head inside.

“I’m sorry, did I wake you?” she asked.

“It’s okay, come on in.”

Twilight walked in and shut the door behind her.

“Dinner will start in about an hour. I also saw Adrian a little bit ago. He said that Luna and Rainbow Dash are watching after Dustin. He asked that I tell you he has two guards posted at the hospital doors and two on roving patrol around the building.”

Anthony remembered what Celestia had said about Rainbow Dash and Luna and it made him smile.

“Thanks for everything Twilight.”

“No, its me who should be thanking you. You earned our victory today.”

“That’s not true Twilight, WE earned the victory today. Come here and sit, I’d like to talk to you for awhile.”

Twilight walked over and hopped onto the bed.

“Would you object if I wished to live in your castle? I will be sure not to interfere with your royal duties and I could even help out Spike every once and awhile.”

“That would be nice. The castle can get a bit lonely at times and it would be nice to have a stallion around....sorry, a gentleman around to talk to.”

“Its alright, we’re here to stay so we better get use to it. Ponyville has three new stallions in town so we need to start figuring things out.”

“Oh, I can make a list of everything we need to do.” said Twilight with a big smile.

“After dinner would you mind coming back here and we can work on that list together? We also need to get a list for Celestia of the things we need here in Canterlot.”

“I’d be more then happy to help.”

“So Celestia said something about Chrysalis raising hell at your brothers wedding. That sounds like a story I’d like to hear.”

“You have no idea.” said Twilight as she rolled her eyes.

Anthony leaned back against the head board as Twilight told him the details of the incident.

“So in the end it was their love for each other that saved the day?”

“Yeah, and the wedding party that night was an absolute blast thanks to Pinkie and Vinyl.”

“Oh my!”, said Twilight as she got off the bed. “We really should get moving.”

“If you would like I’ll get Adrian and we can escort you to dinner.”

“It would be an honor.” replied Twilight with a smile.

“Alright, I’ll stop by your room in fifteen minutes. Does that work?”

“I’ll be waiting.” said Twilight with a wink as she walked out of the room.

Anthony jumped up and ran to the shower. He rinsed off the sweat and put his uniform back on.

“I really need some new clothes.” he said to his reflection in the mirror.

With that he grabbed his weapons and headed to find Adrian. As he walked down the hall Pinkie Pie popped out of seemingly nowhere almost causing him to fall backwards.

“Whatcha doin?” she asked with a smile.

“I’m going to find Adrian.”

“Whoopie. I love hide-n-seek. Is he here, what about here, maybe over there.”

Pinkie Pie appeared and disappeared at random locations throughout the hall almost instantly.

Thud!! She slammed into Adrian’s chest and fell to the floor.

“Hey silly, your suppose to be hiding if you wanna play hide and seek.”

Adrian’s face screwed into a look of pure confusion.

“We’re gonna be late to the dinner.” he said as he picked Pinkie Pie up off the floor.

“What’s all the ruckus out here?” asked Apple Jack as she and Rarity walked out of her room.

“Is everypony okay?” asked Fluttershy peeking out of her barely cracked door.

“We’re all fine darling, come on out.” said Rarity as she fluffed he mane.

Fluttershy slowly opened the door and walked into the hallway. She let out and eep and jumped behind Apple Jack when the door shut behind her.

Anthony walked over and knocked on Twilight’s door. She opened it and walked out.

“I guess we are all going to dinner together.” he said as he gestured to her to lead the way.

The group walked into the banquet hall where they found Celestia seated at the head of a large table. Anthony pulled out a chair for Twilight and helped slide it back in after she was seated.

“Ahem!’

He turned to see Rarity staring at her chair. Anthony bowed and pulled the chair out for her. He looked up at Adrian and saw him doing the same for Fluttershy and Apple Jack. Apple Jack blushed at the gesture. When everyone was seated several ponies came into the room carrying large silver platters heaped with food. They placed the trays on the table and asked everypony what they wished to have to drink. Once they all had a drink Celestia stood holding a glass up with her magic.

“A toast to the Knights of Equestria and to the victory against Queen Chrysalis.

Anthony stood and raised his glass as well.

“To a new beginning and to friends both new and old.”

“May friendship and harmony reign eternally over Equestria.” added Twilight.

With that everyone took a drink. Celestia sat down and looked around the table.

“I have been informed that Dustin appears to be doing fine. The doctor believes he will make a full recovery.”

Looks of joy crossed everyponies face at the good news.

“Now I am sure you are all hungry so eat and enjoy.”

Adrian looked over at the princess.

“What is it Adrian?” she asked.

“Can somebody please take some of this down to Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna at the hospital?”

“It is already on the way, Sword Dancer asked to do it himself.”

“Thank You.” said Adrian as he started to pile food onto his plate.

Sword Dancer walked into the hospital and found two of his guards inside talking to a pair of nurses. The nurses stepped back trying to conceal a plate of food. Sword Dancer looked the scene over carefully.

“Rune Heart.” he said eyeing one of the guards. “Come here please.”

The guard walked over and saluted.

Sword Dancer drew both his swords with his magic and drove them into the ponies neck. The force of the attack nearly cleaved his head from his body. The fresh corpse dropped as a pool of blue blood quickly spread across the floor.

“Next time you decide to mimic my guards you should learn their names.” he said turning his attention to the other guard.

One of the nurses dropped the plate and ran towards the door. As she neared Sword Dancer she changed direction and lunged straight at him. He spun to the right bringing his swords in and across the pony’s back. She screamed as she fell, her facade clearing away in green flames.

“Rainbow Dash stay here.” said Luna as she opened the door.

Luna turned the corner into the adjoining hall and found Sword Dancer in close combat with two changelings.

Sword met horn and magic met sword as he maneuvered gracefully through the fray. After clearing some room he stepped back from his opponents creating some distance to attack.

That was the opening Luna needed. A blue burst of magic streaked down the hall slamming into the changelings. She held them pinned against the wall as she approached. The pair struggled to free themselves but soon found their efforts were in vain.

“Where is your Queen?” asked Luna her eyes ablaze.

“We tell you nothing!” said the changeling on the right.

“Very well.” said Luna as the aura around the changelings thickened and compressed. “Why are you here?”

The magic field squeezed tighter and tighter around the changelings.

“Either you answer my questions or I will force my way into your minds and gather the information myself. I promise that it will be a most unpleasant experience for you both.” she said, her horn mere inches from the right changelings face.

The changeling swallowed hard.

“She is not here. She commands we kill the humans that foiled our attack.”

“I see, so you chose to start here?”

“Yessss.”

Sword Dancer’s other two guards came galloping into the hospital, spears at the ready.

“Stand Down.” he ordered as they approached.

“Sorry Sir. We saw Rune Heart and Silver Shield were missing and feared the worst.

“Princess Luna and I have it under control. You can clean up this mess.”

“Right away Sir.”

They grabbed the nearly headless changeling and dragged it out the door.

“Princess Luna what’s going on?” came Rainbow Dash’s voice from down the hall.

“Fear not Rainbow Dash, the problem has been taken care of.”

Luna turned back to her captives.

“So exactly how were you planning to carry out this attack?”

“We put poisons in the food.” sneered the other changeling.

“Rainbow Dash come here quickly!”

Rainbow Dash flew down the hallway and gasped at the bloody mess.

“Rainbow Dash, you must fly to the castle and warn everypony. Changelings attacked and were planning on poisoning our food.”

“Right.” she said, disappearing in a blur.

“Now as for you two.”growled Luna looking back to the changelings.

“We are not frightened of your dungeon. You will not harm us we know you are.... soofftt.”

Blue flames erupted in Luna’s eyes as she smiled wickedly.

“I was once known as Nightmare Moon! You shall never forget that.”

The changelings eyes grew wide as the magical field collapsed in on itself crushing them both instantly.

Sword Dancer stepped away from the Princess of the Moon in shock. Luna turned to look at him as the blue flames in her eyes faded away.

“I’ll uh I’ll have my men clean this up at once.” he stuttered.

“Very well, in the mean time you will protect Dustin with your life, I must return to the castle. And be sure your guards locate the hospital staff at once.”

“Yes your Highness.” he replied as he headed to Dustin’s room.

Rainbow Dash crashed through the doors of the banquet hall and slid to a stop on the floor.

“Changelings attacked the hospital!” yelled Rainbow Dash trying to catch her breath.

Before she could finish Adrian and Anthony dropped their plates and ran out the door.

“They were trying to poison the food, but Sword Dancer and Princess Luna stopped em.”

There was a collective gasp as everypony looked down at their plates.

Celestia stood and raised the table cloth wrapping it around the food on the table and tying it shut. As guards started pouring into the room Rainbow Dash turned and flew out the door as quickly as she had come.

“Guards search the castle for changelings and send a detail to the hospital immediately.”

The guards split up into groups and spread out throughout the castle. Luna ran into the banquet hall to her sisters side.

“I trust from the looks of things Rainbow Dash made it here in time?”

“Yes my dear sister, are you okay?”

“I am, the changelings at the hospital have been dealt with, Accordingly.”

A scowl crossed Celestia’s face as she realized what Luna had done.

“Awe and I was super hungry.”whined Pinkie Pie as the guards hauled away the tainted food.

“Yes my friends I am sure you all are quite hungry. Please follow me.” said Celestia with a smile.

She lead them all into the large kitchen as her horn glowed brightly.

“Everything here is safe to eat so please help yourselves.”

The ponies scrambled around the kitchen preparing food.

“Twilight would you mind making something up for our friends at the hospital. We can all take it there together when it is finished.”

“Great idea Princess. Anypony wanna give me a hoof?”

Apple Jack and FlutterShy walked over and started discussing dinner plans with Twilight.

As Adrian and Anthony got to the hospital the guards were carrying out two mutilated corpses which they place into a nearby cart. They announced themselves to the guards and were allowed immediate entry to the building. The staff was standing in the lobby discussing what had happened.

They ran down the hall and rounded the corner running into a surprised Sword Dancer.

“What the hell happened?” asked Adrian pointing down the hallway.

“Princess Luna that’s what.”

“Anthony please remind me to never piss her off.”

Anthony and Sword Dancer looked at him and nodded.

“Likewise.”, replied Anthony.

“Four changelings where trying to send poisoned food back to the room. I happened to walk in at just the right time. I finished two of them, and Princess Luna obviously handled the others.”

Sword Dancer pushed the door to Dustin’s room open with his magic.

“As you can see, Sir Dustin is fine.”

The three of them walked into the room together.

“By Luna’s order I have stayed here to personally see to his protection.”

Anthony looked around the room and walked over to his friend. He watched Dustin’s chest rise and fall. Then he heard a familiar voice echo down the hallway.

“What do ya mean I’m not allowed in. Get outta my way.”

Adrian ran into the hall and saw Rainbow Dash fighting to get though the guards and several nurses.

“Let her go.” he yelled. “She’s here with us.”

Everypony stepped aside and let the pegasus though.

“Thanks Adrian.” she said as she flew into the room and landed at Dustin’s side.
Anthony pulled Sword Dancer out into the hallway.

“Can we get a couple of chairs brought in here? Adrian and I will stay here for the night.”

“Right away Sir.” he replied as he turned and walked over to talk with the hospital staff.

The nurses pushed two over sized chairs into the room and asked if there was anything else they needed.

Adrian told them they were fine as he sat down on one of the chairs. The nurses left closing the door behind them. Anthony sat down on the other chair and shook his head.

“Well Equestria certainly keeps you on your toes doesn’t it.” he said to Adrian.

“That’s no joke. I wonder if that was the big threat we were suppose to face? It didn’t seem like that big of a deal to me. From what I saw when we came in Luna can handle herself pretty well.”

“I don’t think that was it. This isn’t the first time Chrysalis has tried attacking. The last time Twilight’s brother and his wife beat her. So if today was just a preview of whats to come we have some serious work to do. The city needs to be secured, and the guards need more training. They are far from being ready for a war.”

Anthony’s stomach growled loudly as he adjusted himself in the chair.

“It would have been nice to get something to eat.” said Adrian as his stomach gurgled in response.

There was a knock on the door.

“Now what.” exclaimed Anthony as he got up and opened it.

“SUPRISE!”

Pinkie Pie pushed her way into the room balancing a plate of food on each of her front hooves and one on her head. Anthony grabbed the plate off her head before it fell.

“How is Dustin doing?” asked Celestia as she and Luna followed the other ponies into the room.

“A lot better compared to how he was when we brought him in.” replied Adrian as he took a plate from Pinkie.

Pinkie walked over and placed the last plate on the bed. Rainbow Dash looked at the food and then back to Dustin.

“Rainbow Dash.” said Twilight softly. “You need to eat to ya know. It won’t do any good if he wakes up and your in the room next door from starvation.

“Not hungry.” she replied dismissively waving her hoof.

“Okay we’ll leave it here so you can eat later.”

“Princess Celestia we have a great deal of work to do if we are going to prepare for a war. First off we must secure Canterlot and the Castle.”, said Anthony.

“I know, the Royal Guard is working on that as we speak. I also ordered a full detail here to prevent any further incidents while Dustin is in our care. As soon as the Doctor says it is safe I will see that he is moved to the castle.”

“I appreciate the offer princess but Adrian and I will stay here until he has recovered.”

“If you wish, but I believe you both have much to do in Canterlot and Ponyville, as do the other ponies here.

“That’s right, those apples ain’t gonna buck themselves.”

“I agree.” said Rarity. I simply must get back to the boutique and finish my new line of dresses.”

“The animals need me as well. You know how Angel gets if I’m gone for to long.” added Fluttershy.

“I ain’t goin back.” said Rainbow Dash.

“I’m with Rainbow Dash on that one.” added Adrian. How can we be certain he’s safe.”

“Adrian, Rainbow Dash I understand how you feel. But we need to assess the situation at hand and start making preparations. Celestia and Luna will do everything in their power to keep him safe. This is home now and we need to figure out how to fit in.”

“Do what ya want, I ain’t leavin.” said Rainbow Dash defiantly.

Adrian walked over and sat down next to her..

“Listen, Anthony’s right. We all want to make sure Dustin is safe, but we can’t stay here worrying about him. We have a lot to do, and we don’t lnow how much time we have.. You can stay here tonight and tomorrow we will go back to Ponyville. They’ll tell us when he wakes up and we’ll all come visit him then.”

“Fine.” she replied with a huff.

“Well I don’t know bout ya’ll but I’m plum tuckered out. We best be gettin some rest so we can catch the train back tamorrow.”

Celestia walked over to Anthony.

“We’ll leave you be, enjoy your meal. Twilight and the others will pick you up in the morning on the way to the station.”

“What about our gear? We left it in our rooms.”

“They will make sure your belongings are returned to you.”

“Okay Celestia, thank you for everything.”

With that they left for the castle.

Rainbow Dash pushed the food around on her plate until she found a few fried daisies. She ate them and laid her head down on the bed. Before long she was softly snoring.

“Three hour guard shifts?” asked Anthony as he sat back down and started to eat.

Adrian swallowed the food in his mouth and looked at his watch.

“That’ll work. I’ll take the first shift, get some rest.”