Author's Note

Hey, folks. Hope you're enjoying the story so far. I do enjoy feedback to improve my writing so feel free to comment if you'd like. One thing I do want to know is your thoughts on the pacing of the story. Should I pick up the pace or is it fine as it is?

The act unfolding

This must be what your Lord is looking for. It’s just a quick little drawing that he made, but you’re confident that this is the one.

You find yourself in the Canterlot Archives of the castle about an hour after hearing out your Lord’s request. Thank Twilight that the new railway systems are way faster than when you were a filly. However, to your bad luck, you couldn’t find anything about it in Princess Twilight’s library, as large as it was.

His drawing greatly resembled something you read about before. After a little research, your theory was confirmed. Well, more like enforced, but you really feel like this is exactly what he wants.

You borrow the book from the librarian just in case you’ll need some more information about it later on. Stuffing the borrowed book in your saddlepack, you notice the book that Princess Twilight gave you. Oh, yeah. You almost forgot about that already.

With a skeptical look on your face, you bring it out just to give it another look.

‘How to make friends!’ the cover reads in big flashy text, accompanied by a colorful background.

You only wish that Princess Twilight had been more specific about her task, ‘Make friends’. You can understand being your Lord’s companion, but making friends? What does that even entail?

You suppose that’s what this book is for. Asking her more about it, all she said was, “Just...make friends!” with an exaggerated wink. Soon after, she left back to Canterlot, leaving you only with this book.

It’s all she left you with, so that’s where you’ll start. However, you do have a more prioritized task at hoof at the moment.

More specifically, where in Tartarus are you gonna find some sea creature’s bones?

It’s a good thing you remembered about your students’ papers hours before your date. Well, you suppose you could still fetch them after your date anyway, but the Pegasi Weather Association announced stormy weather for the rest of the day today at around 1 PM here in Ponyville.

Not that you can’t handle a little rain, but you’d just really rather not when you don’t have to. It’s not like this’ll make you late for your date anyway. Just a quick pick em up and go.

Standing right before your desk, you pull open a drawer and grab hold of a decently-sized stack of teenagers’ creative thoughts.

Well, that was easy. Then again, the faculty did seem terribly empty when you entered. No colleagues around to bother you about what’s going on with your life.

“Mornin’, Anon!”

“Jesus Christ!” you shout in surprise, not expecting the raspy voice to assault your ears from behind.

Turning around, your eyes are met by what they expected, a certain blue Pegasus.

“Was that a swear word in your culture?” Rainbow Dash asks.

You shake off your startled feeling to answer her, “Uhhhh, in most non-dominantly-Christian territories, not exactly.”

In response, Dash simply tilts her head in confusion, “I’m...gonna pretend like I understood that.”

“Anyway, what brings you here on a Sunday morning?” she continues.

“Trying to punch in some overtime or something?” a reasonable guess, but a terribly wrong one.

“N-not really.” you respond in a very not-based manner. Unfortunately, your awful attempt at hiding your students’ papers fails as Rainbow Dash cranes her head towards your clearly suspicious hands.

“Ah, I see you left the homework you were supposed to check over the weekend.” her tone slowly ascends into an authoritative one.

A hard lump builds in your throat as you swallow nervously. You were hoping you wouldn’t get caught working inefficiently, especially not this early.

“Don’t worry about it! I used to mess up like that pretty often too way back when Twilight still ran this place. I always hated it when she gave me a sermon of ‘bEiNG A gOoD rOLe MOdeL tO tHe stUdENtS’ afterwards.” Rainbow chuckles at her moment of nostalgia, a fruitful smile plastering itself on her face. You’re sure she misses those times.

You, on the other hand, are just relieved that you’re not gonna get reprimanded for making a mistake like this. At least you managed to redeem yourself by getting them before the weekend ended.

“Thank you for understanding, Rainbow Dash.” you show her your gratitude.

“Now hold on, big guy. I didn’t say you’d be off the hook just like that.”

Uh oh, an unforeseen consequence. You just hope it won’t be too bad.

“All you have to do for me is just one little thing. One...little...thing…” she accents her words, batting her eyelashes at you.

“A-and what exactly i-is that?” you ask shakily. You really really really hope it won’t be too terribly bad.

“Play Hoofball with us!” Rainbow happily tells you. “I was just on my way to the field to help train the Hoofball varsity team. They practice early in the morning even on the weekends.”

You let out a sigh of relief. So it’s just that, huh? Well, unfortunately…

“Sorry, Dash. I probably would, but I’ve already got plans for the day.” you excuse yourself. You’re not particularly excited about your date either, but you’ll need to bear with it for now. It’s not like you have anything better to do anyway.

“Whaaaat? Why don’t you cancel it instead to come play with us.” Rainbow jokingly suggests with a chuckle.

“Well, I would, but…it’s kind of...a date…”

“A DATE!?” Dash zooms in real close to your face, locking eye to eye with her in a serious atmosphere.

“Well why the heck didn’t you say so, sport? Forget the Hoofball! Go go go and get ready for that lady, mister!” she enthusiastically cheers you on. What’s with the change of pace? She must’ve taken after her mother.

“T-thanks, I guess.” her eager demeanor contrasts greatly with your lack of excitement.

“Wait, hmmmmm…” she eyes you up and down curiously, as if there’s something off about you, “Say, you don’t seem very gung ho about your date later, Anon.”

“I mean, I guess I’m looking forward to it. I’m just not that crazy about it.” you explain.

“That’s crazy! Young love is something worth crowing about! It’s beauty comes from the security of companionship. Despite of everything that might happen, you’ll always have a loved one by your side every morning you wake up. You gotta have a positive mental attitude about these kinds of things, Anon! Who knows? Maybe the next lady you’ll meet will be the lady you’ll spend the rest of your life with.” Rainbow scolds you with a PEP talk.

However, you’ll have to admit that her little speech rekindled a flame inside of you, even if it’s just a little bit. That fresh sense of romance blooms once more with the ideals of a life full of love. You don’t know how long it’ll last, but you’re certainly pumped up now for your date later.

“Holy smokes! Thanks, Rainbow! Now I feel like I can take on the world!” you shout at the top of your lungs, your booming voice echoing throughout the room. Hopefully, no one heard that.

“That’s the spirit! Now go and give that lady a good time!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Let’s see, Canterlot Museum of History?” you read the big words by the entrance. Sounds boring, but it looks like it’s the right place. Though there doesn’t seem to be that many visitors, even for a Sunday. Nevertheless, you step right in.

There are multiple different exhibits in the museum that you trot through; the civil war exhibit, the sports exhibit, the art exhibit. There’s a bunch more lame ones until you reach your destination, the marine biology exhibit.

Seeing the many different fossilized remains of the once great Gods of the sea, you settle for a rather large bone statue.

You approach the bony statue, eyeing its structure all around.

“Admiring our marine biology exhibit, ma’am?” a male Unicorn employee of the museum approaches you. Actually, now that you look at him, he’s probably the guy running this place. You peer at his name tag, confirming his position as the manager as clearly stated by the plate on his tuft. Almanac, huh? What a weird name.

“This right here’s one of the earliest forms of the Scirrius Nautillus. A branch of sea mollusks that have slightly evolved over time by- hey! Hey!!!” during his proud, boring trivia of the specimens before you, you take one of the bones and begin to trot away. It’s no sea God’s bone, but it’ll do. Mission complete!

“Ma’am! You can’t bring that with you!” Almanac plants himself in front of you, blocking your way.

Okay, mission not so complete.

“Sorry, buddy. I’m here on official business and I’m taking this bone to go.” you firmly stand your ground.

“Please don’t make me call security, ma’am.” he warns, sounding like it’s your final warning.

Good grief. You didn’t want to have to use this, but it looks like you’ll need to at this point. With determination and pride, you pull it out from your saddlepack.

“T-That’s…!”

“A Catalyst Sigil.”

These crests bear the magical signature of Twilight. They practically make your words Twilight’s words.

Of course, not just any creature has them. There are incredibly few of them throughout the entirety of Equestria, given only to those that both require it and are trustworthy of handling such an item. The trustworthy part flatters you a lot, but you were only handed it because Twilight said you may need it in your time as your Lord’s companion. When that time ends, it’ll most definitely be revoked from you.

She also said to only use it in case of emergencies. This is an emergency, right?

As Twilight told you, “The sigil is an overruling symbol meant to be used by the possessing individual to swiftly achieve a necessary and beneficial goal.”. Well, you really do need this bone right now, so…

“Sorry mister, but I really need to have this bone.” you try to settle down the tension, despite your use of the Catalyst Sigil.

“I-If I may ask, what do you need the bone for?” he queries you anxiously. Ah, right. Improper use of the Catalyst Sigil could still be reported to authorities for investigation. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.

You opt to tell him the truth, “It’s to comfort my Lord, Anonymous of Ponyville. He seems to have some sort of connection with this bone.”

You told him the truth. You told him YOUR truth.

“Wait, Anonymous? The foreign creature that showed up a while back?”

Stories of your Lord have been roaming around Equestria since his appearance. Many of his public breakdown, few of what he’s like, and everything in between.

Almanac closes his eyes for a second, rubbing his chin in deep thought.

“You’re protecting Anonymous under Princess Twilight’s order, aren’t you? And that’s why you have that Catalyst Sigil?” he couldn’t have worded it better. Well, maybe he could’ve. You wouldn’t know, you’re no English teacher.

“That’s right! My duty is to bring my Lord at ease with his residence here. The unfamiliarity of our world has left him sorrowful as of late.” you haven’t even formally met him for a day yet, but the reports on him from Starlight indicated depressed behavior. You even saw it for yourself when you were spying on him. Your poor Lord drank his sorrows away. You’ll make right out of your Lord soon, it’s your duty as his designated companion! But, for now…

“And I presume that’s why you need this bone. That Anonymous, he’s certainly an odd fellow, isn’t he? Needing a bone to quell his blue emotions.”

“Yeah, he even bought two ice creams and gave one of them to me, FOR FREE! What a weirdo, right?” you chuckle by yourself, the only response received from Almanac is a confused stare. Huh, maybe he’s a weirdo too.

“A-anyway, it’s not my place to judge his customs and feelings. Equestria has been changing rapidly over the years after all. So, if it’s for your Lord, then I suppose I could let you have that bone.” Almanac finally lets up.

“Really!? Ummmm, err- I mean, really?” you pipe down your surprise realizing that you’re still in a museum. You’re one step closer to fulfilling your Lord’s wish. This Almanac guy, he’s not so bad, especially for somepony from Canterlot.

“Your reason seems just, if a little odd. Also, the bone of this species you’re taking isn’t extinct, nor is it endangered. I’ll have to pull a few strings, but I could get another bone like that before tomorrow, Monday.”

“Thank you!” you flash him a wide, blinding smile of gratitude.

“S-sure thing.” he cheeks turn a tinge of crimson.

You pull out a checklist from your saddlepack and write off the acquired bone. Only one thing left! You’re blasting through your list so fast!

“What’s that?” Almanac asks curiously.

“The list of things I need to ease my Lord.”

“Fish blood!?” he questions in shock.

“Yes! Could you help me get some? And by some I mean a lot!”

“Fish blood huh? Hmmm...” he enters a state of thought once more.

With a cheeky smile, you hold out the Catalyst Sigil in front of his face.

With a sigh, he tells you, “I might have an idea. Hold on.”

You follow him, bone in hoof, as he goes to his office in the museum. Dialing a number on his phone, he waits patiently for the other line to pick up.

“Hey, Amazone? You up yet? Well, I guess you would be. You’re about to go to your Sunday-morning-grocery-shopping, right? Could you meet me there? I’ve...got a favor to ask. What!? Nonono! It’s not that kind of favor! Just...be there by the fountain!” he hangs up with his face almost as red as the shiny rotary telephone.

You can’t help but smirk at his reaction.

“C-c’mon, we’ve got someplace to be at.” he gradually brushes off his embarrassment.

“Yes, sir!”

Boy oh boy do you have a pep to your step. After that little talk with Rainbow, you feel the flames of life within you. Maybe it’s even showing a little too much.

“You sure seem cheery today. Anything new?” Starlight asks you from across the hallway in Twilight’s former castle.

“I just got out of a warm bath and I’m well dressed.”. That you are. You’re lookin’ real fresh with...the same clothes you’ve had since your stay here. You wash them everyday anyway, and Starlight helps you dry them fast. At least you’ll get some new stuff from Rarity soon, but you still feel like you’ve got a tuxedo on or something and you’re about to be give a lady the most based date she’ll ever have.

“Aaaaaaand?” the curious mare asks in anticipation.

“I’ve got a date in 20 minutes.” you smile so widely it’s almost blinding.

“Again? You seem a little more...”

“Chipper than usual? Well, I...ummm, had to do a thing at school earlier.” you catch yourself from telling the Head Principal/employer your mistake at your job.

“What were you doing there so early on a Sunday?” she presses on.

“Never mind that! But I came across Rainbow and she got me all motivated for my date.” you explain.

“That’s great! I hope you have a blast today, Anon.”

“Me too, Starlight. Me too. Anyway, I’m gonna go. Don’t wanna be late for my big thing, you know? You take care while I’m gone.” you excuse yourself.

“Wait, Anon!” she calls out to you just as you’re about to turn the corner in the hallway.

“Yeah?”

“I almost forgot to ask you, but you’ve met Shade, right?” you could sense a hint of reluctance in her words.

“Oh, right. Yeah, I did. She’s a bit of a weird one, but I kinda like her, in her own peculiar, bizarre way.” you forgot about her. You still have some questions to ask Starlight, and probably Twilight too, about her, but those can wait for now.

“That’s nice, but do you know where she is?” she seems a little worried.

“Oh, well…”

~An excruciatingly-painful-storytelling-minute later~

“And then she just ran off like that?” you can almost feel her disbelief at the story you’d told.

“Relax. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.” you reassure Starlight. You don’t really see a good reason for her to just leave like that, so you’re not too distressed about it. Still, you do wonder what she’s doing right now.

“You’re...probably right. What did you ask for anyway?”

“Oh, nothing. Nothing big, really.” Now that you think about, could Shade really be trying to get you what you asked for. There’s no way she’ll actually just come back later and have it ready for you.

“...I see…” Starlight’s suspicions are roused, but they remain idle for now, “Anyway, I do wonder where she is right now.”

“...and that’s why I’ll never eat watermelons ever again.”

“That’s the third time you’ve told me that story in the last five minutes and I still don’t get it.”

The Sunday morning streets of Canterlot are pretty vacant, but the journey to the Bargain Market is a little long. Thankfully, the market isn’t too far from the castle, so you can get to work fast after acquiring your last ingredient.

“Why are you still carrying that around anyway?” the big bone on your back does seem a bit...apparent. The odd stares you’ve been getting from the local residents wasn’t difficult to notice.

“Hmmm? It’s not that heavy.” it really isn’t.

“That’s not heavy? I suppose Royal Guards wouldn’t have a hard time carrying stuff like that around.”

Both of you finally arrive at the Bargain Market, waiting by the fountain in the center. It wouldn’t be too hard to notice you two with such a large bone on your back.

“How’d you know that?” you ponder.

“Know what?”

“That I’m part of the Royal Guard.”

“Oh, that. I mean, you have a Catalyst Sigil and you’re serving under a Lord.” he points out to you. It hadn’t occurred to you that he already knows that much about you. Now that you think about it, you don’t know much about him either, apart from his first name and him being the museum’s manager

“Say, what’s your name?” he promptly asks you..

“My name?” the sudden nature of the question throws you off a little.

“Yeah, I realized we haven’t introduced ourselves to each other yet.”

“Introductions? What for?” it’s not like you’ll be working with him for a while anyway.

Almanac turns a little sheepish from your question, “I-I don’t know. It just feels...right to do that, I guess?”

Wait, could this be what Princess Twilight was telling you about? Friendship?

You immediately prop up a salute, “I am Corporal Shade Fieldsworth, specialize in combat and reconnaissance! Currently, I am tasked as Lord Anonymous’ designated companion!”

Did you do that right? You feel like you did that right.

“...And I’m Almanac Trivia. Good to see you.” he raises his hoof to you, to which you respond by staring at it. What’s he doing?

Your intuition tells you to raise your hoof as well, to which you do. He lands his hoof on yours and begins to shake it up and down.

What was that?

“What was that?”

“A hoofshake?” Almanac asks, unsure himself of whether he’s asking you or telling you.

“Yeah, that.”

“...”

“Well? What’s it for, mister?”

The informational side of Almanac prompts him to answer you, even though he knows this kind of information is more akin to common sense than trivia, “...It’s...a polite way to introduce yourself to somecreature you’ve just met. By tradition, it’s the default greeting of peace, whether it’s towards an old friend or a stranger.”

The only kind of greeting you know is a salute. But he did say It’s a greeting for friends. Maybe it’s a special kind of greeting to befriend others?

“Have you no manners, Almanac? Gentlecolts introduce themselves to others before anything else, especially if it’s to a mare.” a voice from a mare teases, her words growing louder as she approaches the fountain.

“Amazone!?” Almanac is startled by the sudden appearance of his Pegasus mare friend in casual clothing.

“More so if it’s a mare this cute. Nice to meet you, dear. I’m Amazone Box. I certainly hope Almanac here hasn’t been a bother to you.” she raises her hoof to you.

The hoofshake!

Instinctively, you salute back to her. Amazone’s puzzled stare pulls back your salute and raises your hoof to hers.

With your inexperience, you freeze up as Amazone takes charge and shakes your hoof before giving you a genuine smile.

“Amazone, you need stop creeping up behind ponies like that. You scared the Tartarus out of me.”

“Now now, Almanac. Introductions take priority. And besides, it’s a simple pleasure of mine. Let me have my cake and eat it, won’t you?” he just shrugs off her antics, probably him getting used to the dynamic they often have.

They’re waiting for you, aren’t they? Looks like it’s your turn.

You salute once more, “My name is-“ you cut yourself off. Wait, you don’t think you need to salute.

Dropping your hoof to the ground, you start over, “I am Corporal Shade Fieldsworth, specialize in combat and reconnaissance! Currently, I am tasked as Lord Anonymous’ designated companion!”

“I like this one.”

“Amazone. I need your help with delivering a bone to my museum.” Almanac brings Amazone up to speed with the situation, wasting no time at all.

“Is that all? How boring.” she hardly tries to curtain her dull expression, “But that big bone sure isn’t. I suppose that’s why we’re here today, right?” this bone escapes nocreature’s eyes.

“About that...” Almanac starts.

“Save me the story for another time, Almanac. There’s a super sale this morning and I don’t wanna miss it. Eggs don’t come cheap these days.” her casual attitude does intrigue you, you’ve never seen anything like it in Canterlot. Maybe not all nobles are stuck-ups.

“Anyway, I can get some delivery ponies to help you with that, but our hooves are a little tied together right now. How’s tomorrow sound?”

“I don’t mind, but I’d really rather have it done as soon as possible. Is there some way you could get some ponies right away?”

“Hmmm… I suppose I could get some buddies from the Pegasi Weather Association to help you with that, it might mess up the weather schedules of some areas though.” she suggests.

“If it’s not too much trouble, then please do.”

“Is that all? I’d stay and have a nice chat with you two but I’ve got places to be.”

“Well, there’s one more thing...” Almanac trails off.

“And what’s that?”

“Here you go, dear. They were kind enough to hand us two containers of it.” Amazon returns from her regular grocer. There are only two containers, but they do seem large enough.

“Thanks again, Amazone, and sorry for all this. I’ll make it up to you somehow as soon as I can.”

“Telling me how all this came to be should be enough. I bet there’s a wild story behind all this.” her curiosity has been piqued higher than the heavens.

“There sure is. Is this all you need, Shade?” Almanac floats over the containers to you with his magic.

“Mhmm.” you speak up after being silent for a while.

The three of you simply stand there in awkward silence. You feel like you’re supposed to be saying something. Didn’t you hear your Lord say it this morning?

Picking up the pace, you just go for it, “Thank...you?... Both...”

Oh yeah, those are the words.

Quickly, you pick up the containers and start galloping towards the nearby Canterlot Castle. All that's left now is to start working on it.

“Quite the odd one, isn’t she? I hope we’ll see her again.”

“I kinda hope so too.”

“Oooh, into younger mares now, are we?” Amazone teases.

“Shut it.”