Storm of Feelings

With big effort I manage to suppress a loud yawn. Since my rude awakening I was listening to the filthy democracy speeches between Luna and some senators. As usual I was wearing the Royal Canterlot Armor, which represented my status and confirmed that I was on Royal Duty together with the Princess. Even though it was a wonderful piece of craftsmanship, I deeply despite to wear it, but because of the fact that I was representing Equestria I had to do it.

The armor would not find any kind of use in open combat, because its true purpose was only to look good, at least it was my opinion. The entire remarkable item reminded me of a saddle but instead of comfortable cloth or leather, the wearer receive rather heavy plates. The biggest issue, that was deeply bothering me, was the incapability of scratching the places, that started to itch under the armor. And don’t even make me start to complain about the sounds while I move…

Right now we were in an audience chamber, where we have been welcomed by several senators that were expecting our arrival. Once the introductions have been left behind, the democracy has started with the highest standards. As usual Luna was handling the complex speeches with grace and perfection. She was wearing an impressive gown, a gown that was reflecting her personality and love to the night.

The most interesting thing about it, besides the fact that it hugged her body tightly, was the constant color switch. The enchanted silk was the reason why it was happening in the first place, a very expensive kind of silk but it was surely worth every spend Bit. The constant switch between the colors of the night sky was a wonderful sight for a sore eye, but for me it was Luna that remained the most beautiful.

While she continued to speak at the old stallions, that were literally penetrating her with their greedy eyes, I remembered our first encounter. A thing I would never forget.

<  I have been attacked by marauders and bandits during my journey through a mountain pass. My warnings have been ignored even if I tried to reason with them more than two times. I killed two of them after that I simply ran away, not because I was afraid… I was in hurry and did not have time for things like that. Eventually I have been forced to kill the remaining bandits, but I was not careful enough and one of the assumed dead ponies, stabbed me with a dagger.

Wounded I continued my journey. The fighting made me lose my orientation, with my bad luck a land slight occurred under my hooves and with a loud curse on my lips I fell down into the nearby forest. Once I regained my conciseness it was already dark, the bandana that I used as a bandage was soaked with my blood. Without any choice I’ve deiced that I had to stay in the forest, look for some healing herbs and hope that my unnatural organism would hold out. If it would not be for the land slight I would have never meet Luna…

I found her in a very bad shape. She has been injured by a Manticore, the marks of the claws told me more than a book could do. Broken branches, countless leafs were scattered around her body, what made me think that she has been attacked in the air. Besides the injury on her back she had a broken wing, many cuts and bruises that decorated her body. I knew what she was and her mere presence frightened me… but I simply could not leave her like that.

The wounds were gladly not infected, but without any treatment it certainly would happen eventually. The herbs I have gathered were a big help but she needed professional treatment. Without any choice I levitated her on my back, and I carried her to the nearest town. The journey was not easy with the extra weigh on my back. The injury and the immense loss of blood were not helping either, but somehow I managed to reach the edges of the city, before darkness shrouded the world around me.

The first thing that greeted me was a long white beard, which was tickling my nose in the most unpleasant way. I knew that pony for it was not my first state in this hospital, the old stallion cried out of happiness after he saw that I came back to the reality.

Unable to talk I groaned forced to listen to my friends voices, which was thundering like mighty bells of a cathedral in my poor ears. We have been found by a local shepherd, who brought us right away to the hospital, saving us from certain death. I asked if the mare was okay. Once I mentioned her Strong Heart asked me if I knew who I’ve been caring all the time long. Completely thrilled he said that I have saved Princess Luna one of the rulers of Equestria, the nearby Kingdom that was being ruled by two sisters. Way too weak to understand those words back then I simply fell asleep.

Apparently I woke up after sleeping through two days. The ugly colored wall, which appeared in front of me, helped me to remember where I was. Maybe it was fate or simply a coincidence, but next to me, in a far more comfortable looking bed, I’ve spotted Luna. Back in the wilds I did not focus on her appearance due her wounds, but once I saw her beauty I could not stop watching her. Eventually she woke up too and for the first time our eyes have meet, bounding our fates together. >

Pain went through my body. It was an expected pain, because that negative effect of the flask usually goes on for several hours. Expected or not I did not manage to suppress it, right away the gathered ponies look at me, surprisingly Luna turned away from them to check on me.

‘’ I am sorry that I’ve interrupted that debate.’’ I said with a weak voice and smiled at the old stallions, trying to hold out the worst part of the side effect.

‘’ Is everything alright Ambassador?’’ Asked one senator that had a name I could simply not remember. ‘’ You look sick to me. Shall we call a medic?’’

‘’ It is not a surprise that he looks sick my friend’’ said Lord Solitaire and pointed at me. ‘’ Didn’t you hear what our guest has accomplished? He killed the beast that was dwelling in the sewers’’

‘’ By my monocle! These are truly great news for our glorious city. Your deeds shall not be forgotten Mr. Corvus but I will ask once more, shall we call a medic?’’

‘’ There is no need for a medic my lords… the pain will pass on its own, but I am really thankful for your concern. Please don’t mind me and continue the debate’’

‘’ Indeed I agree that a medic is not is required.’’ I was not sure who was talking now but I did not like his tone. ‘’ Not that our medic would help a Lesser One in the first place’’

A loud gasp went out of the gathered ponies behind us, all of them rich and probably very substantial in the city of Marehime. My eyes narrow slightly after I heard one of the ponies calling me Lesser One, Luna was speechless for a short while but right away she hit the marble ground with her hoof, damaging it like it would be made out of thin ice.

‘’ This is outrageous! How dare you to call him like that?!’’

‘’ I will not allow racism within those halls! Guards! Take that pony into custody!’’

‘’ His kind is a disgrace for the great pony folk! ‘’ Were the last words of an old looking pony, that has been taken away by two mountains of meat.

‘’Please Princess Luna ignore that old fool’’ said Lord Solitaire with a slow headshake. ‘’ I ask you for forgiveness Mr. Corvus…’’

‘’ There is nothing to apologize for My Lord’’ I interrupt him roughly what unleashed whispering behind my back. ‘’ I will not deny it nor I intend to do so’’

‘’ Ambassador you have proven that inside of you lies courage, that does not exist in everypony. I have seen others who abandoned their true identity, only to save their skins from meaningless gossip. But you had the guts to stand for who you are, even if we all know that your heritage is not an easy one. You have earned my respect. ‘’

The ponies started to hit the ground with their hooves and the typical ‘’Aye’’ filled the air, for the first time in my life a pony has spoken words like that to me.

‘’ I feel ashamed, that you had to experience one of our main political problems on your own skin Ambassador.’’ It was the senator who was wearing a monocle on his left eye. The pony that had a name I really could not remember.  ‘’Since the death of our old king, may he rest in peace, racism, rebellions, riots and any other pestilences have spread around like a wild fire. Our Kingdom has been divided, we are afraid that a civil war is at hand.’’

I was always wondering how Equestria could be so peaceful, while the world around it was dark, full of cruelty. The meeting with Luna freed me of the grasp of this dark world, I have been accepted for what I am, and for some unknown reason I started to show signs of feelings. A Lesser One that was capable of showing feelings…

The tense atmosphere was gone, the debate continued at the point where I have interrupted it and while I was massaging my temple I recalled my memory once more.

< Our recovery went on impressively well, thanks to the skilled hooves of Strong Heart and soon we were allowed to walk on our own. During this time we slowly started to get known to each other. I have to admit… it was a nice change to have a pony I could talk to. A time I really enjoyed but eventually it had to end, and it was about to end after Princess Celestia arrived at the hospital.

I went out of the room, gave the sisters some privacy and went over to the small garden that was at the back of the hospital. I was not sure what was going on with me. The thought that our paths would separate, that I would not see her again, simply hurt me inside. But then the two sisters appeared together with the old doc, he could not stop a grin that has been announced by his lifted beard. As usual he did not hold his mouth shut, what was the reason the princesses found out what really happened.

‘’ Why didn’t you tell me, that it was you who saved me?’’ Asked Luna, came closer to me and once I we established eye contact I was trapped within its ban.

‘’ I’ve done something that everypony would do on my place. Why should I brag about it?’’

‘’ Modesty is a very rare attitude in those times.’’ Said Princess Celestia and took her place next to her small sister. ‘’ But there is something that I would like to know’’

Somehow I managed to look away from Luna, what was indeed a very hard thing to do, and I face her sister with growing tension.

‘’What would you like to know your highness?’’

‘’ I am sure that you know my question already.’’ Her horn started to glow and everypony that would be looking at me would see that my *appearance* was blurring. She knew that an illusion was hiding my true form.

‘’Your selfish actions saved my sister, for that you have my gratitude… but I would like to see your true form Corvus.’’

My ears went down as did my head after I hear what she was asking for. I could not say no to them for it would be against my nature, I hid my face with my shaking hoof trying to avoid eye contact with them, but eventually I gave up and nod.

‘’I will do it only in a secluded place’’

‘’Follow me then’’ said Strong Heart, right after that I felt his hoof on my shoulder. I looked into his eyes that were telling me that everything would be fine. The old doc was the only friend I had in this city, hell he was like a father to me. Only few ponies knew my secret, my burden, and now my secret would be revealed to two new individuals, individuals that were Alicorns…

After a while we entered Strong Heart’s private observatory he used for star gazing in his free time. He closed the door behind us, turn on the lights because of the closed dome of the observatory, which did not let through the shine of the sun and once he checked everything he said:

‘’Nopony should disturb us now boy.’’

I turned around to the Princesses that were waiting for the inventible. Once more I looked at the old doc who nod at me. I sighed loudly, my horn starts to glow with its barely noticeable shine, which started to shroud my body till I look like a living light beacon. The illusion has been dispelled with a blinding flash that revealed my true form to the royal sisters. >

The debate ended several hours later, ending in the same way as did the other meetings during our long state in Marehime: Fruitless. Luna was moving constantly though the room, from point A to point B, complaining about the lack of Order in these lands. Her bad mood was understandable. The effort she put in those debates was far beyond ordinary, but I knew the true reason why she was angry.

While she continued to complain about everything, I scattered special weapon powder over the blade of my sword, which was levitating in front of me. After that I soak a piece of rice paper with rose oil, and with big pressure I polished the powder away till it was completely gone. I examine the blade that was made out of Moonshine Metal; pleased with my work I was about to put it back into its stabbard but before that I saw my own reflection on the surface of the blade.

I mumbled something in a foreign language, put the blade where it belonged and with noticeable hesitation I move towards the mirror. I watched my own reflection with big detestation that came deeply from the inside. Luna saw what I was doing; she moved towards me and took her place on my side. She leaned against me, smile and watch our reflection: oh how I cursed the armor I was wearing now… I could not feel anything!

‘’ You look smashing while you wear that armor Corvus.’’

‘’ You better watch out or I might outshine you.’’ We both chuckled, but right away I stop to laugh after I saw myself again

‘’ We will leave Marehime soon I promise.’’  Her troubled facial expression was one of few things I could not stand. With some effort I managed to open my wing, which has been hidden under the armor. Not a standard feathery wing of a Pegasus or Alicorn, more like a dragon wing.  I pulled her closer to me, touch her cheek with my nose, what brought for the smile that could outstand every jewel hidden under the earth.

‘’Once we go back home I expect you to do some Luna muffins’’

Luna laugh hearty after I mentioned her famous muffins, she once baked for me.

‘’ Last time I made those muffins you were grounded for a entire week’’

‘’ Yeah but they were still tasty’’

‘’ I will think about it’’ She touched my horn with hers and send some energy into it. As usual it caused an uncontrollable laugh attack from my side, what have been always abused by her. Even if sometimes I really hate it, this time I welcomed the sudden change of humor that made me forget what was bothering me. She finally stopped *teasing* me and joined my laughter that went on for quite a while.

Once more I looked at my reflection. Even if many would say that we are a weird couple, we were happy with each other.

< Luna finally regained her sight after the sudden flash, which has blinded her and Tia. Doctor Strong Heart seemed to have expect what would happen; he came by and gave us some eye drops that stopped the unpleasant burn in the eyes. She looked back at the place where the male Unicorn was few seconds ago, but once she saw what was standing not far away from them made her simply speechless. It was a male Alicorn that has appeared out of the illusion, the illusion she did not notice until Tia came by.

‘’Oh how long has it been since I saw a male Alicorn? ‘’ thought Luna with growing excitement.

Corvus sat down on the cold ground; his ears went down once he noticed that we could see his true form. The stallion had a fur that had the purest black color she has ever seen; he did not look old but his mane seemed to be completely white. After a second look though, she noticed that his mane color reminded her of the barely noticeable shine of the moon. His horn had a broken tip, signs of scratches were nearly all over its surface, and as any Alicorn he had wings too but they were different than her own.

‘’Corvus is that really you?’’ She ask and move towards him, followed by Tia and the old doc. Once she reached him she noticed that his right eye did not have any iris, that it was completely white while his left eye was normal. His eye had the same color the illusion has presented: an interesting nut brown color. Besides the hidden eye, he hid his frackles too: frackles on a Alicorn... very unusal. Not that he looked bad with them! Corvus felt really uncomfortable once they came closer to him, nearly all the time he was avoiding eye contact especially with her.

‘’ Stand up Corvus.’’ Said Tia and offered him a hoof. Without any choice he did as she said and stood up showing them his true size. He was a little bit bigger than Tia, with a very muscular body that right now was very tense. Right away Luna noticed the missing Cutie Mark on his flank, realizing that he was not a ordinary Alicorn.

‘’ Now I understand why you have hidden your true form… poor soul’’

‘’ As do I…’’ said Luna that still could not believe that a so called Lesser One was standing in front of her.

‘’ It makes the life a bit easier once you get used to the illusion…’’ Luna has expected that his voice would be different but it remain the same, maybe it was a little bit deeper but it was not really a noticeable thing. The stallion found some courage, looked at her and smile once their eyes have meet.

‘’ What will you do once you will leave the hospital?’’ Asked Tia after she saw what have occurred.

‘’ I do not have any work here… I will be forced to leave this city.’’

‘’ My boy I told you that you can stay with me.’’ Said Strong Heart with a sad sounding voice. ‘’ I will even give you a job at the hospital.’’

‘’ I appreciate everything you have done for me… dad… but I am not made for such life. We both know that.’’

The old stallion sighed loudly and nod. ‘’ I guess that you are right… but if you will ever need help again, you will always find it here my boy.’’

‘’ You have saved my sister from certain death and as I already said I am very thankful for it. Would you like to come with us to our Kingdom?’’

Corvus was shocked by that question. For a longer while he remain motionless, like somepony have casted a spell on him.

‘’ You would really take me with you?’’

‘’ Of course.’’

‘’ Why… why would you offer something like that… to a creature like me?’’

‘’ Why would you ask me a question like that?’’

His ears went down; once more he avoided eye contact with any of us.

‘’ Isn’t that obvious? I am a Lesser One’’

‘’ I am aware of the differences beyond the borders of Equestria, but be assured that we do not hate you for being what you are now. Which is why I ask you again: Would you like to come with us? I am willing to offer you a job as a Guard; of course only if you are interessted.’’

‘’I… I don’t know what to say…’’

‘’ For goodness sake accept it boy!’’ Said Strong Hurt and punched his shoulder.

‘’ You honor me with that offer your Highness. I gladly accept it.’’ >

And so I left my old life behind me. Since then I have been a personal bodyguard of Princess Luna, what in the end brought us together after few years. Luna stroked my leg with hers, got free of my wing and move towards the bed:

‘’ It was a very long day. I suggest we relax on the bed.’’

Once I hear that the weakness vanished and I was about to take off my armor, but I encountered a very persistent problem, that I simply could not handle on my own. I started to despite my *uniform* even more and more.

‘’ Luna…’’

‘’ Yes?’’

‘’ Help me to get rid of this darn thing’’

Luna giggled lovely, went back to me and started to help me to take the armor off.

‘’ Don’t worry I will not allow that some piece of metal interferes with our plans.’’