Author's Note

BEHOLD THE CHAPTER OF EXPOSITION *Dramatic music*

Chapter 5: The Man's Late Night Stroll

"Princess, may I ask what that was?" Fixing me with her gaze, visibly annoyed.

"That." She says with a tired sigh. "Was Discord." Returning to her throne she looks over the seven of us before looking at Twilight for a few seconds and sighs again. "Perhaps... He holds a valid point. I will withhold further questions, for now. Day court is almost over, and Luna will take control and she's expressed interest in meeting you tonight. You may either tour the castle or stay in one of our guest rooms until she does. Dismissed."

"Thank you." We all walk out of the main chamber and as soon as the large doors close Twilight chirps.

"See, that wasn't so bad now, was it?"

"She doesn't trust me in the slightest."

"Well, judgin' by you're body language you don't seem to trust Celestia all that much either." Turning to face me, Applejack shoots a deadpan stare.

"There's very few I actually trust. And I suspect that she is in the same boat as I am in that regard."

"What makes you say that?"

"How long has she been Princess?" Returning the deadpan stare not expecting the answer I receive.

"A few millennium." My eyes shot open as she said that. A few millennium. That cant be possible. Noticing my confusing Twilight speaks up.

"Alicorns have a shocking lifespan, Princess Celestia and Luna have ruled for since before the Crystal Empire went missing and got forgotten by history." Chuckling while hiding her mouth with a hoof. "I can't imagine living that long. But with age comes wisdom they say."

"So they say." I grumble. One thought weighing on my mind. This ruler who's been in power for thousands of years and only two guards in her main chamber and the occasional one or two on patrols. This is the lightest security I've seen, and factoring in that they're guarding a millennium old ruler... This security is an embarrassment. Hell, the guards don't even make it a point to conceal the fact that they're watching me, It's like she's asking for someone to sneak in.

"Um, Edward?" Fluttershy's words snap me out of my criticising thoughts, her hazel eyes meeting mine.

"Uh? Oh, yeah what is it?"

"We're at the guest rooms, yours is right down here." She floats over to one of the many doors and lands. Walking over to her, she casually opens the door and trots in with me close behind. "Here's the bed, bathroom. Oh! And a mini fridge!"

"Thanks for the tour, Fluttershy." She nods in accomplishment as I say that as if helping me get acquainted with the room was a feat worth boasting about. Add another check to the cute list.

"No problem. Remember, if you need anything don't hesitate to come to me or the girls." I nod in response as she leaves the room and closes the door, I take it upon myself to sit on the bed as I continue my earlier contemplation.

---><---

The chiming of bells broke me from my thoughts, looking out the window I notice the sun setting and make my leave for the main chamber. I notice the guards' numbers stay the same but the armor changed, once golden now deep blue with patterns etched into them, with the pegisi having wing guards that resembled bat wings, none follow me, but their eyes lock onto me as I pass. Finally, I come to the golden doors of the main hall, gripping the handles I slowly open the doors, and I'm greeted with the Lunar Princess sitting on the throne.

"Ah, we see you found your way here. Come." Walking forward I come to the base of the stairs, I begin to kneel. "Oh, no no no, there's no need to be so formal." Stepping down from her throne she raises my head with a hoof. "We're not meeting as acquaintances after all. Tonight, you're our guest, so stand." I do as she requests, standing at full height as she trots past me. "Come, let us walk. Follow us." She leads me out into the corridor in a similar path to when I first arrived, Luna staying silent as she walks and we pass the stained glass windows and the same one catches my attention. I stop, looking at it.

"Luna, can I ask a question?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Whats with this window?" I gesture to the stained glass portrayal of Luna getting blasted with magic from the six.

"Oh. That." Tapping her hoof to her chin she ponders telling me. "Would it be alright if we told you after our walk?"

"You don't have to, I was just curious is all." Nodding she turns back around and begins walking, noticing that some of the hallways were gone and we take turns that were previously non-existent until we exit the castle into the gardens. Bushy walls line the fences that enclose around a pure white bench looking at a tree surrounded by marble statues depicting ponies playing instruments ranging from bass to piano. Luna gestures for me to take a seat as I do she nods to the tree itself.

"Does that tree look familiar to you by any chance?"

"No, not really why?"

"That is the very same tree you sit under every night we speak."

"How can you tell? It looks just like any other old tree."

"Oh, Edward, dreams are a powerful force here in Equestria, We're unsure about your realm but here dreams and the things inside of them hold a lot of power and being the pony in charge of the dream realm it is my duty to find those things and help our subjects to understand them."

"Comes with the territory then."

"Precisely."

"So uh, what does this tree have to do with me and my dreams?"

"Well you see dear Edward, that is where We run into some difficulty, We contact you in your dreams, and We believe We told you that the ponies We contact create their own pocket in the dream realm for optimal comfort unless it's say a nightmare."

"Yeah, I remember."

"Well We cannot figure out exactly the realm you create is this tree. You've never seen it, never been to Equestria. So why this tree, and why is it in the night on a hill? Perhaps, it's similar to a place you remember fondly. Is there anything you can recall?"

"Well." rubbing my eyes I think a moment, twiddling my thumbs and taping my heel to the grassy surface below me. "The place I was born, it had a hill, but not a tree. At night I'd go out, lay down on the ground and just look out into the night sky. I did it more and more as I grew up and was assigned my first job."

"What was this job?"

"A soldier. I was on the front lines of this war from my world, my confirmed count was above any expectation anyone had for anything, but they decided to switch me into a less... Honorable profession. But after the switch, I started to feel remorseful." Taking a moment to gather my thoughts I look over to Luna, feeling like I'm talking to a therapist I can't help but feel at ease. "I started to feel bad about the killing I was doing. Not because of the killing itself it was because of how I had to go about it. I had to be discreet and not allow them to know that their life was about to end. What really got me was after the first job they inked their name onto my back and they did the same with each and every job after that. They said it was to count the number of accomplished jobs... I saw them as a reminder of the fact that the honor I had as a soldier was gone." Looking back at the ground I sigh. "So every night I was able, I'd go to that hilltop and I'd stare at the moon and the stars and they helped me forget. They brought peace to me and lulled me into a state of remembrance. I'd remember my childhood, my glory days on the field, my family."

"Um, pardon us Edward, but We do not see the difference in the different occupations you've had, in either one you're still taking lives, no?"

"It's deeper than that princess. As a soldier, I could face them, man to man, both of us fighting for what we believed in, both putting everything on the line with just one battle. There was honor in that, and to us humans, honor is just about everything. There's also a moral standpoint, facing another in honest combat or skulking in the shadows with a hidden weapon and striking them from behind."

"And this hill helped you forget this, loss of honor even if for a short time?"

"Yes."

"Is that why you have two brandings?"

"Celestia told you about the one on my back I take it?"

"Indeed she did."

"Well. Our proof of occupation is inked onto a part of our body, when there's a change in occupation they shave off the old one, wait for the skin to heal and then rebrand you. Simple as that."

"We see... Well, We believe that through our conversation We found the reason behind your hill looking at the night sky. Now if only We can figure out why this tree appears."

"Hey, Princ-"

"Luna is fine, as We said you are a guest, there is no need for formalities." She interrupted, looking at me with a soft gaze of sorrow, acceptance, and understanding.

"May I ask a question?"

"Most certainly."

"Why do I find it so easy to speak to you?"

"We are the princess of the night. And as such adopt qualities from that which We govern. Ponies are most often at their most comfortable at night, as We suspect humans are. Perhaps, We make you feel comfortable enough to share about your world." Her tone seemingly happy, with a smile on her face, possibly because she met someone who has a genuine love for the night, she giggles a little while covering her mouth with a hoof as she looks on towards the tree. Her guard is down, there are no guards, and we're in the open. No one from royalty would be this relaxed on their own with someone they barely know.

"Why are you so relaxed?"

"Hm?"

"I don't understand how you can be so relaxed right now. You, someone of royalty, alone with a person you barely know with no guards out in the open. So how can you be so relaxed?"

"Oh, We simply do not need the added protection, the guards are more for the guests and the general populace."

"What." Blinking repeatedly I try to comprehend why that could be...

"You seem confused Edward."

"That's because I am. Why don't you need the guard?"

"Magic dear Edward. We are one of the most powerful ponies in Equestria, few can stand against us."

"Yeah, but what about the ones who can?"

"We have our sister and the elements if We need them. There are more of us than there are of them, so they cannot outnumber us."

"Maybe not but if they're cunning enough numbers or magical strength won't mean anything."

"That remains to be seen."

"Princess I strongly advi-"

"Edward, We very much appreciate your concern but there's no need to worry."

"If you say so."

"Now, We must attend to our duties but before We leave there's one more thing we must discuss."

"What?"

"Our sister requests that you find employment and your own place of residence before the Summer Sun celebration in four months."

"Why...?"

"We've decided to treat you as an immigrant, and those are some of the necessary steps to gain citizenship in Equestria."

"Alright then, I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you." And with that, she leaves in a flash of light teleporting to her balcony to tend to her business, I sit and stare at the tree for a few solemn minutes, thinking about today's events before finally leaving and heading to sleep.