Canterlot Armory, 8:55 AM the Following Morning
Archer

“Alright, get the lead out you pansies!” I shouted over the burbling of idling motors. “We’ve got a schedule to keep here!”

“Is your squad all here Commander?” The Convoy’s Officer asked as he approached.

He actually brought up a good point. “Hey, where the hell is Pumyra?” I shouted. Come to think of it I hadn’t seen the cat all morning.

“Uh, Commander Archer?”

I turned around and had a blast from the past of sort. “Mahan, long time no see! What’s up?”

“Actually, not much.” The stallion admitted. “I got ordered to sub in for one of your operators for the escort mission. Guard Captain Jellico said something about some cat getting pulled by Prince Dusk for bodyguard duty.”

Figures that this is the first I’ve heard of this. “Well that explains where Pumyra is… Alright. Saddle up gang, let’s get rolling!”

***

Canterlot Castle Throne Room
Prince Dusk

“Alright, no pressure… I can do this.” I muttered to myself. I was standing outside the main doors to the throne room, waiting for them to open to let me make the long walk towards the throne.

“Dusk, you alright?” Pumyra asked from off to the side with the attendants.

I shrugged. “I’m only about to make an appearance that the whole world is going to be watching. Don’t worry, no pressure or anything.”

As the doors opened Pumyra returned a smug look. “Well go make a good first impression then.”

As I slowly started walking down the aisle lined with ponies of nearly every class and standing, I kept thinking back to the rather crash-course rehearsals we did long into the night the previous evening. The oath that Luna drilled into my head for hours. Cadence whacking the backs of my feet with a yardstick for walking out of step. If I didn’t know any better I’d say that the three of them got some sort of sick enjoyment out of my discomfort.

Approaching the dias I saw that the castle’s craftsponies had pulled an overnight shift. While there was plenty of room on the dias for other thrones, the respective princess’ seating being removed and rearranged dependent on the function, or if more of the royal house would be in attendance at specific court events, a third one centered the tall staircase. Black and gold, with my rising sun cutie mark carved into it’s back.

On the left sat Luna’s throne, and the right sat Celestia’s. However they were only there for show, at least if what they had told me last night was any indication. Just like I practiced I stopped at the foot of the dias, giving the attendants enough time to bring me a specially embossed sword. Like the throne, it had my cutie mark carved into it. I took the hilt in my right hand, and rested the blade on my open left palm.

That was my cue to start ascending the dias; fifteen steps to the top, stopping shy of the summit to kneel, leaning my head forward on the now-vertical weapon. Any chatter that was going around the room suddenly stopped, and the entire throne room went deadly silent. “Do you know why you are here?” Luna asked.

“I do, Your Majesty.” I replied, pulling the words right from memory. “I, Dusk Light, present myself of my own free will to answer the call of the Crown. I swear to defend and uphold the great nation of Equestria, and to make sure that all those who bask in Equestria’s light are ensured life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The room remained silent, bare the barely audible clipping of heels on the marble of the dias. As the sensation of a cold piece of metal sliding down around the top of my head. I slowly stood up, turned around and took one step back up the dias. The move was met with raunchous applause from every corner of the throne room. “Come now, the people await.” Luna whispered.

Both Princesses swept off to the balcony behind the thrones, with me right on their heels. Celestia led the way, and from my spot at the back of the group I could see an even larger crowd lining the palace grounds. “Citizens of Equestria! I present to you your Crown Prince!” Celestia yelled, her voice amplified by hidden microphones and speakers so the entire crowd outside could hear her.

Stepping up to the podium, with the speech I had planned with Twilight last night sitting there ready for me, the crowd erupted. But I ignored it as I glanced down at my speech. It was the last thing that I did last night before turning in, and I hated it. Since the war ended ten years ago I’ve made plenty of speeches and given plenty of talks. But I’ve always just gone from my gut with some notes on points to cover. But Celestia and Luna both insisted that I write something out, and that annoyed me even further. So when I vaporized the paper with the touch of an magically charged finger that brushed over it, seemingly by accident, I swore I felt the back of my head become incredibly hot under both sister’s glares.

It took another few seconds for the crowd to finally calm down, but once they did I knew it was time to go for broke. “Now I suppose now is the time for me to say something profound?” I said, making it sound like I was directing the statement as a question to the crowd. “Well I’ve got nothing, so this speech will have to do.” Throughout the crowd I heard chuckles, giggles, and a few laughs. A good sign all things considered. “If any of you knew me when I was a child, and asked me where I thought I’d be when I grew up… Well, standing here addressing the entire world wouldn’t have even made the list of likely outcomes for me. To be honest until the last few years I didn’t really appreciate, let alone recognize, the importance of my heritage. For most of my life I was raised in the halls of a military family. I grew up a soldier, and for the longest time I never knew anything else. But if the events of the last few days mean anything, it’s that my Grandmother was right. There was never going to be a right time to spring this not only the public, but to myself as well. And if the events of yesterday morning are any indication we now stare at the beginnings of another crisis. One that no one could’ve hoped to predict, given the ancient nature of the threat we now face. But it isn’t some army, some fleet or some aliens that scare me. It is the chance that we forget what makes our society great. But I promise you that I will do whatever is necessary to protect the liberty of our great experiment, and no matter what Equestria will never fall so long as I still stand!”

Now when I first took the podium there had been applause, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the absolute roar that slammed my ears once I finished speaking. It was almost like the entire city erupted into cheers and applause simultaneously. As I turned to walk back into the palace, Luna nudged me. Once we were inside and the doors closed, the roar was deafened enough where I could hear her. “Under any other circumstance I would’ve gutted you for that stunt you pulled out there.” She scolded.

“But neither of can complain with the results.” Celestia added. “That was… Significantly better that what you had written.”

“What can I say? I specialize in doing things off the cuff.” I offered as I started to descend from the dias to the now-empty throne room. “So… I believe that the luncheon with the nobles is next?”

***

Canterlot Castle Guest Quarters, Five Hours Later
Dusk

Royalty. For my whole life I’ve been taught to defend it; that the Equestrian Crown must be protected at all costs. What had been left out of those lessons were my connections to the crown. See, almost fifty years ago at this point my grandfather, Meteor Shower, and the solar diarch herself decided that a bareback bump-and-grid would be a good way to kill time… Admittedly that’s a gross oversimplification, but that’s also a line of thinking that I’m not all that keen to explore. Also worthy of note is that my excellent ‘selective hearing’ skills must come from Celestia, because when she said that I was going to FINALLY be coronated, she obviously didn’t listen when I said keep it low key. Either that or a few thousand ponies and diplomats of various species from across the face of Equis is her definition of low key.

Honestly I didn’t bother asking, but this whole little shindig made great cover so Archer could take the rest of the team out of the city and head to the old Enclave outpost in the Badlands. What a better time to leave with all of the equipment needed to get it up and running when every other living being for miles is too busy with the spectacle of a coronation? Maybe that’s why Celestia seemingly went overboard… Hell if I know. The only thing really bugging me right now is the need to change into a THIRD set of clothes for this gala that was being thrown.

“You still haven’t said why you wanted me here.” My bodyguard piped up from behind me as I finished straightening out the crimson vestments that I had been given.

I finally turned away from the mirror I had been staring into to face my armored bodyguard; the Thundarian member of the reincarnated Blaze Squad, Pumyra. “Wait, I didn’t give you the file to read?” I asked.

Pumyra shook her head. “I didn’t know there was any reading involved.”

Looking off to the side I saw the manila folder with Thunderian lettering on the corner tab. “My bad…” I admitted as I grabbed the document and handed it to the cat. “Now that’s a translated copy I had done up for you, but Captain Jellico made it a point to give me the original this morning.

As the two of us started making for the door I saw Pumyra flipping through the pages of the report. “I didn’t know that the Royal Guard had an issue with petty grudges…” She murmured.

“Gramps didn’t either.” I retorted, referring to the report. “Admittedly it seemed rather odd that the Captain of the Guard would make it a point to give me a nearly fifty year old incident report.”

“And you’re afraid that one of the Captain’s guards will try to off you.” Pumyra offered.

I shrugged. “I don’t think it’s likely, but Jellico handing me that file is enough to make me a bit wary of his intentions…”

“So what do you think he’s up to?”

“Most likely this is some sort of test.” I replied. “As far as Captain Jellico is concerned I’m an unknown quantity, and if he and his staff are responsible for protecting me then he needs to know as much as he can about me.”

A short walk down the hall from the guest room led the two of us to the main ballroom. At the top of the stairs the usher stopped us with his hand. “Announcing his highness, Prince Dusk Light!”

Seemingly the entire room stopped at that and turned to stare up at me. “Gee, thanks…” I muttered as I started down the stairs.

By the time I was at the bottom plenty of nobles and castle staff were already there to meet me, crowding around me like a living wall that peppered me with the occasional whisper or off-handed comment. “Marry me!” I heard one of the mares suddenly yell out.

“Sorry, I’m already taken.” I called back, hoping that the mare would get the message. I had seen similar responses to Blueblood and Shining Armor over the years, but I didn’t expect that to come within hours of Celestia’s revelations and my own coronation.

“At least you’re still honest.” I heard someone say off to my side.

Turning to the right I saw that same green-and-white mane that I had grown very familiar with over the years. “You look stunning as always my dear.” I said as I gently took Dart’s hand.

“Why thank you.” Dart said as she swung herself under my arm. As we kept walking through the crowd she did gently nudge me. “I thought that Blaze Squad was assigned to the escort mission.”

“I’ll explain later.” I quietly replied. “But for the moment, let's just say that I’d rather have someone that I trust watching my back.”

“Your Highness!” Somepony rather familiar shouted from behind me.

“Captain Jellico…” I said as I turned around. “What can I do for you?”

The young guard captain offered a smile in return. “I was hoping that I could borrow you for a few minutes. We really haven’t had a chance to chat at all.”

I glanced around the hall and saw an unoccupied table not far from where I was standing. “Sure thing Captain, come have a seat.”

Jellico’s smile disappeared as soon as we sat down. “Right off the bat, sorry for dropping that report in your lap like I did earlier… Admittedly that’s the best way I could think of bringing you up to speed, although I didn’t think you’d bring in an outside bodyguard because of it.”

“So what were you hoping I would do?” I countered.

“That you would come talk to me so we can have a conversation, and that report was the best way to start it.” Jellico explained. “Look, my concern is that I’m seeing a lot of the same behaviors that predated the attack on your grandfather. Where it’s my responsibility to ensure your safety I want to make sure we get ahead of this and prevent a problem with the guard down the road.”

“What attack is he talking about?” Dart asked.

“When Gramps first joined the Guard, there was an assassination attempt on him and the Princess by the senior leadership. That incident left a gap in the ranks that he was promoted to fill.” I explained. “He essentially went from recruit to head of the Solar Guard in the space of two hours.”

“Was that reasonable?” Pumyra asked, finally adding something to our conversation.

“Not even close.” I admitted. “But it’s not like the Princess had much of a choice. Her entire personal guard’s command contingent went rogue.”

“Your High-”

“Call me Dusk. Until the last two days I’ve never gone by anything else.” I said, cutting off the Captain.

Jellico nodded. “Then where do we start Dusk?”

I shrugged in return, and realized that to best nip this disloyalty problem now I needed to know who I was asking to carry out my orders. “Well Captain… Lets start at the top.”

Author's Note

So... How bout that speech? Admittedly I spent two days writing that a few months ago, and it hit me right after I saw the Prelude to Axanar video on youtube. So kick back and enjoy, I've been slacking on the updates and really wanted to get them rolling.

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-Striker