Majesty knew that school wasn’t always going to be fun and games, but she couldn’t deny she was having a good time. Even though her classes were easy for someone as trained and talented as her, she did enjoy them and often was asked to help others with their magic or lessons. Not that she minded. Being a future queen, she was going to have to learn to interact and assist her subjects. Every student of her age, and even some older, kept asking for her help with adoration in their eyes. Sure, they were just doing it to earn her favor, but Majesty was alright humoring them.

Thankfully, Majesty did have friends who did care for her. Ever since she met the twins, Forest and Jade Everbright, her life had gotten a lot happier. She was now able to go to the movies, the shopping malls, the restaurants, and more without being alone or just her bodyguards. She had a friend before in Prince Silversteel, but this was something different. This time she made new friends on her own without her family introducing her.

“Okay, so Jewels walks her dog every eight days in the park, while Total Win walks his dog in the park every fourteen days. Today, both Jewels and Total Win will be walking their dogs together on the same day. In how many days will they both walk their dogs again in the same park on the same day?” Majesty inquired, reading from their school textbook.

“Um, fifty-six days?” Upon getting a nod, Forest let out a relieving sigh. “Phew, okay I think I should be good for the test tomorrow.” He closed his book and rested back on the beanbag chair in Majesty’s room. “Gotta say Majesty, I’m surprised your house isn’t bigger considering your the future queen of our kingdom.”

“Well, there was a bit argument from the other nobles about us outsiders being given so much from what I heard that my father decided to take a less grand home just to appease them.” Majesty took a moment to stare at the photo of Amadeus Blueblood near her bed. “I don’t think it’s a big deal, having a big home and all.”

“Says the one who's going to be living in the palace one day.” Jade chuckled as she laid on the floor, writing her homework assignment. “I think I got this down too. But I know I’ll never catch up to you and Dia.”

Majesty sighed as she thought about her so-called “rival” at school. While Majesty was mostly at the top in everything, Dia Waterblaze was a close second who nearly spent every day glaring at the new alicorn student as if she was sizing her up for a fight. It had gotten noticed by everypony in the school and rumor had it everyone was waiting for a showdown to occur.

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re pretty good at astrology and religious history. I’m not a fan of either of those.” Majesty then pointed to Forest. “And Forest here is better at P.E. then the rest of us.”

“You know it. I’m going to be a soccer star when I’m old enough,” Forest replied, showing off his muscles.

“That’s if you can convince Dad.” Jade spotted Majesty tilting her head at the comment and smirked. “Dad doesn’t approve of Forest trying out for sports instead of going into the family business. I, on the other hoof, don’t mind doing so.”

Forest snorted and crossed his hooves. “At least Mom supports me. She’s always been a softy for me.”

“Unless you do something so stupid it causes her to spank you with that wooden spoon of hers. I swear your butt should be red instead of green from all that hitting.” Jade laughed as she dodged a quick pillow thrown by her brother, but was knocked off her hooves when a second one smacked her in the face. She responded by throwing it back at him, but missed and hit Majesty instead. Pretty soon the three of them were all throwing pillows at each other with laughter abound until a knock on the door alerted them of a presence.

“Come in!” Majesty shouted as a Flutter Pony slave entered, head down low with a smile. She was of a mix of blue and orange coloring with her wings as sparkling as a midnight dew. She didn’t have a scratch on her and actually wore nicer clothes than most of the other slaves in the mansion.

Majesty put her pillow down to address the new comer. “Yes, Sansha?”

“Mistress, you have a visitor here to see you. He’s waiting in the front hall.”

“Oh, thank you, Sansha.” Majesty turned to her feather covered friends. “You want to come to see who it is?”

They nodded before following Majesty out of the room, Sasha bowing as they left, and towards the stairs leading to the great hall. Walking down, the group soon saw their visitors who made the twins gasp out loud while their eyes nearly popped out of their skulls. The tallest one was a handsome yellow coated unicorn with a brown mane and vigilant blue eyes that held a sense of superiority to anyone around him. It wasn’t hard considering he was dressed in an armor everyone in Unicornia knew by heart. It was black obsidian with a blue and silver swirling sphere that was shining in the center as a red cloak wrapped around his neck and rested on his back. Yet what stood out most were two greatswords in twin sheaths that had an unique symbol etched on them. It was a golden sword, pointing downwards with a pentagram in the middle behind the blade and eagle wings spread out from the hilt.

The symbol of the Royal Knights of Uniconia. Bodyguards and agents of the Royal Family. The best fighters in the entire nation that were chosen for their skill and valor. Yet only one of them wielded two greatswords in battle.

Sir. Morning Blade! Then that means the little one is... the twins both thought as they felt their jaws dropped.

His silver and purple outfit was the shiniest thing in the room to the point where the light was reflecting off of it. The symbol of Unicornia was patched in golden on his right side, along with the silver pentagram with a red flame in the center; the religious symbol of the Church of Silverflame. A small red scarf was wrapped around his neck with golden dusted edges, and his cuffs were made of jade with jewels attached. His hooves were protected by shiny black shoes and his lower body cloaked with a white cloth. Her silver mane covered half of his face, but what wasn’t covered showed a kind brown eye gazing at Majesty with joy as a smile stretched across his aqua colored coat. “Majesty!”

“Prince Silversteel!” the alicorn shouted as she rushed over and hugged the royal colt.

The two separated yet still held their hooves to each other as the prince smiled brightly. “I came to visit you. I heard you went to school recently, and I wanted to see how it was.”

“It’s amazing! They’re so many ponies our age!” Majesty could barely stay in place as she hopped a bit in excitement during her ramble. “The teachers are wise and powerful! The school’s design reminds me a bit of the palace and the Cathedral of Anointment! The food could be a bit better, but I was warned about that.”.

“I wish I went to school, but I’m stuck learning classes in my room,” Princes Silversteel groaned as he stuck out his tongue. He then noticed the two jaw-dropped twins staring at them. “Friends of yours?”

Majesty nodded before presenting the two who quickly bowed in respect. “These are my friends Jade and Forest Everbright.”

“Oh, they’re Lord Everbright’s children? I’ve met him a few times. He’s a good stallion.” Prince Silversteel walked forward and nodded at the two. “Hello, nice to meet you.”

“Y-y-your Majesty! It’s an honor to meet you!” Jade shouted, lowering her head more.

The Prince groaned and shook his head. “Oh, please rise. I get enough of that back home. You can treat me like any other pony since your friends with Majesty.”

“Oh, great. My back was starting to kill me,” Forest complained as he sat up, stretching his back. He then held out his hoof to which Prince Silversteel shook. “Nice to meet you, Silversteel. I’m Forest, I’m going to be the greatest soccer player in our Empire.”

“Forest! Could you at least address him as ‘prince’?!” Jade hissed before turning to her prince and nodding. “A-And I’m Jade, your Majesty.”

“Pleased to meet you, it’s nice to see Majesty having such good friends.” He then turned to Sir Morning Blade who walked up with a smile. “And this is Sir Morning Blade. He’s bodyguarding me today because before he heads out on another mission.” Silversteel sighed and rolled his eyes. “Mother insisted.”

“Are you heading back into Equestria?” Majesty asked, tilting her head. From what her father’s spies learned at the time, Sir Morning Blade was sent into Equestria to retrieve someone important to Unicornia, but she didn’t know who. Only that he was old and powerful.

“No, I’m heading over to our colony out in Colti. Another rebellion is happening so I’m going to be leading the charge to get rid of it,” Sir Morning Blade answered with a smirk. “I expect to be home in two months.”

“Will any of the other Royal Knights be joining you?” Forest asked with excitement.

“Sir Victus, Sir Ash Shield, and Dame Evening Fury are busy guarding the Royal Family while I’m gone. And Sir Shadow Strife is still on his super important mission that I can’t tell you or else I’d have to kill you.” Morning Blade grinned, showing his teeth as the twins shivered upon his scary glare.

“He’s kidding. Don’t listen to him.” Prince Silversteel punched the blushing body guard in the shoulder while roling his eyes. “He doesn’t know either. None of us known but my Father and our Warmaster. Although it has been years since we’ve seen Sir Strife. I barely remember him from my foal years.” He turned his attention to the other three and smiled. “So what were you doing before I interrupted?”

“We were just having a pillow fight after studying. Wanna join?” Majesty asked with a wink.

“And miss out the chance to beat the feathers out of your flank? Not in this lifetime! Let’s go!” The prince shouted as the four cheerfully headed back upward toward the stairs.

***

Morning Blade watched them leave with a smile, but when he turned to hang up his cloak on the coat rack, he froze upon seeing Nazo staring at him with his glowing purple eyes. Smiling, he looked at Morning Blade with a small nod. “It’s nice to see you again, Sir Morning Blade.”

“Nazo...” the knight slowly drew the blade on his right side just a little bit.

Nazo looked at the slowly drawn sword and snorted. “Still wishing you could slay me? You know that if you try, then her fate is sealed.”

Growling, the Royal Knight hung up his coat and turned to the grinning deer. “I wish I never found out you existed, monster.”

“Come now, you know that I searched for you instead.” Nazo continued to smile sinisterly as he slowly walked away. “It’s amazing how calm you can retain your emotions when moving around this place. Especially in front of young Silversteel. How would the young prince feel of your inner desires to kill everyone in this household?”

“If he understood what I learned, he would all but give me the gratification,” Morning Blade stomped forward and stared into the eyes of the seer. “The only reason I still continued to ‘work’ under your hooves is that the prince still likes Majesty. As long as no harm comes to him, then I shall... live with this alliance.”

“I believe the word is... obey,” Nazo slowly lifted his hoof to raise the knight’s chin. “You were ordered to search anything about us by the Queen to see if she could break up this little arrangement her husband made regarding the children. Of course, you found out a lot of things you weren’t supposed to, but only because Amadeus and I wanted you to. After all, didn’t always coming here help you find the so-called love of your life?”

“Damn you for finding out with those eyes. And damn Cern as well,” Morning Blade cursed. It had been those damn visions that lead him into the trap he found himself in that now threatened his loyalties. “Wanting to become a queen is one thing, but to go to war against Equestria and later the whole world? That’s madness. Unicornia won’t be able to do it, even if they have an alicorn queen!”

“She won’t be an alicorn queen. She will be an alicorn goddess,” Nazo answered as he walked away.

Morning Blade shook his head in disgust. “You’re insane.”

“That’s what all the other deer called me, but I find myself not caring anymore,” Nazo stopped before glancing back at the furious knight. “Don’t worry. We won’t do anything to the prince. It’s not us who you should be worried about, but those around him back home.”

This made the unicorn knight freeze up. “What do you mean?!”

“You will find out, in due time,” was all the reply he got before Nazo disappeared into another hall.

Morning Blade was about to chase after him when a soft and yet angelic voice called out to him, “Morning?” He turned around and saw Sansha looking at him with happiness in her eyes and uncertainty in her voice. She looked around but saw nopony around. “Who were you talking to?”

“N-nobody, Sansha,” he whispered as he gazed upon her. Just like the first time he gazed upon her, he found himself barely breathing as his eye worshiped her beauty. There were often stories of how knights fell under the power of love from bewitching ladies. Stories he pushed aside as fiction. That was until he met Sansha during his search for evidence of treason against the Bluebloods. He didn’t know if it was some kind of spell or just her natural beauty, but he had fallen for her all the same leading to his current torn fate. His prince or his love? “I... I was just... thinking about things...”

“Are you... free?” she nervously asked. “I... I have a room I have to clean... but it doesn’t need to be done so soon.”

“... I believe the prince will be... busy for at least an hour...” he muttered as he moved in closer, their heads nuzzling slowly before walking together side by side. He cursed Nazo and the entire Blueblood family. But more importantly, he cursed himself for falling in love.

No, don’t think about that for now. Just spend time with her, he thought as she opened a door to an abandoned room. A quick soundless barrier from his horn was cast before he was all over her and his armor lay on the floor, forgotten.

***

“How long will Sir. Morning Blade be under our control?” Augustus Blueblood looked outside this window in the office that had once been his brother’s while watching. The children were playing outside in a two on two soccer match between the boys and girls with the former winning. His heart weighted heavily to see his niece so happy while ignorant to the fact that he was planning her fate from behind her back. In front of his desk was Nazo, chewing on an apple he levitated lazily into his mouth.

Swallowing, the deer closed his eyes and smirked. “For a few years, long enough so he doesn’t betray us. By the time he’ll make any choice to do so, he’ll be unable to do any serious damage. Just as long as that slave is treated well while also reminding both of them that exposure would be a worse fate than death.”

“How is it that you knew the two would fall in love?” Augustus rubbed his head in confusion. “I understand you saw it, but how did you actually do it?”

“I can see the various paths that one's destiny has instore for them depending on circumstances. I just use that to help us move the right pieces in place to cause the scenario that I want,” Nazo answered, tossing the half-eaten apple away. “My kind are fools. We could have used this power to guide the world in a better direction yet we waste our time in the forest meditating and only interacting when we need to. Hogwash.” Nazo walked forward to where a giant map of the world lay before him. “We could have warned the world about Discord. The Centaur invasions. Seremora’s madness and the deaths of the entire Wolf race. The various disasters, plagues, earthquakes, and slaughters. We could have prevented the death of Princess Twilight Sparkle...”

“You realize you are saying such a thing to one who benefited from her death,” Augustus warned, but Nazo only chuckled.

“Oh, I know. But whatever your desires to rid of me Augustus, know that you need me more to see your precious family rule Equestria and Unicornia.” He turned around and gave a wink. “In fact, it's in my best interests as well.”

Closing his eyes, Augustus took a deep breath and pushed his thoughts away. “Let’s move on to our real problem at the moment. The push to institute the Citizen Armed Forces Draft is currently about to head to the Nobleterium for a final vote in three weeks. If that draft gets pushed, and his Majesty approves it, then everypony who turns eighteen will be forced to go through two years of military training, including the nobility.” He leaned forward, his hooves touching each other as he concentrated on the papers in front of him. “The Military aligned nobles might be pushing for this to add increased troops to their regiments, but we all know that this is just another attempt to stop Majesty from being married to the Prince come her eighteenth year.”

“And this is a problem, how? I thought the law wouldn’t allow the drafties to head into battle unless Unicornia was at war?”

Augustus leaned back in his chair and picked up a few papers, reading the details of the bill that was in front of him. “Because while you are in the service you are denied taking any other vows besides military ones. No marriage, religious, or organizational vows can be taken until the two years are up.” Nazo’s eyes narrowed. “Now you understand? They claim that this is needed to keep the soldiers focused on their duty and training, but we all know this is a delaying tactic to prevent certain marriages from going forward. Marriages make the alliances here a solid foundation of success in Unicornia, and which marriage has everypony been talking about since we arrived here?”

“Majesty and Prince Silversteel.”

“Exactly,” Augustus threw the papers down in disgust. “I don’t know if this was specifically targeted against Majesty or not, but either way this has me, and a few others, up in arms. Marriage agreements can be changed in two years. Accidents can happen. We could even go to war and my niece would have to fight in such a thing. She’s strong, but she knows nothing of combat yet. So if she’s even sent to a death zone for ‘survival training’ there is a chance she can end up coming home in a box. All it would take is the right bribe, threat, or persuasion to do it.”

“And your military connections can’t solve this?” Nazo asked, closing his eyes.

“We’re not the only ones with military connections, besides the most vocal of this change is the one who made it: Winter Waterblaze. That damned fool has been one of the biggest thorns in my side. I’ve tried to get something to use against him, but I have found nothing. He even has the support of the Queen which doesn’t fond well for us politically.”

Nazo chucked. “Yes, she does seem to hate the idea of her little baby boy marrying an outsider, regardless of how pure your bloodline is or the fact that she would get alicorn blood into her family.” He opened his eyes and smiled. “Fortunately, there is a way to prevent this law from coming to pass as well as rid yourself of a powerful enemy.”

Seeing Augustus raise an eyebrow he, continued, “Just trust your niece. I’m afraid she’s about to be dragged into this battle without knowing it. If she plays her cards right, she’ll solve your little problem.”

With that said, Nazo left without a word while Augustus turned around to stare at the little alicorn, wondering what was in store for her in the days to come.

Author's Note

If there are any show and tell issues please point them out. I'd apprcheate it.

As usual, please help out at the TV tropes page at https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FanFic/TheAssassinationOfTwilightSparkle

Remember, to also look at Path of the Dragon as well