The Convoluted Life of Gleaming Shield

Without her armor, Gleaming felt uncomfortably naked as she made her way through the halls of Canterlot Castle. It certainly didn’t help that her two companions were decked out in their full-plate armor, the white-gold steel clanking loudly as they trotted along. While Daisychain didn’t make too much noise due to her small stature, each step Lilyhammer took caused the marble floor beneath their hooves to shake and shudder.

Flanked on both sides by the intimidating pair, Gleaming would have preferred to have more than her sweater and scarf for protection. Feeling very vulnerable, she found herself longing for her own suit of armor that was currently displaced somewhere in the palace. Not that it would do her any good against the massive war hammer Lilyhammer was still hefting around, but having the familiar weight would at least make her feel a little better.

Only a little.

As the trio made their way down the hall, they were given quite a wide berth. Maids made themselves scarce, ducking into empty rooms or servant’s corridors. Those that couldn’t find hiding spots made futile attempts to appear busy, scrubbing and dusting random items and furniture until the strange entourage had passed.

Guards, unable to move from their posts, stiffened and saluted, holding their breaths until they could relax once more. A few of the lower-ranking ones gave Gleaming sympathetic looks, but the higher ranks just ignored her.

Rounding a corner, Gleaming felt her heart flutter as the grand doors of the throne room came into view before her. Twin massive doors of gold, they were etched with runes and murals of various designs. The trim had been designed to look like a fluttering flock of oddly-shaped pegasi, each grotesques’ eyes embedded with emeralds. And at the top of the door, the keystone had been carved into the shape of a large alicorn’s head, complete with wings flared wide, descending down on either side of the doors. All-in-all, the doors looked much more intimidating in the light of day.

I prefer them in the dark of the night, when the details are hidden, Gleaming mused. Stopping in front of the doors, she gazed up at one of the gilded pegasi only to wince. The mare’s face was contorted in an expression that could only either be extreme pain or extreme pleasure. She wasn’t overly interested in finding out which it was.

She was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of a throat being cleared. Glancing around, she found Daisychain giving her a cold look from a passageway off to the right. “Stop wasting time. The Empress is waiting!”

Gleaming motions towards the throne room doors. “This is the throne room, isn’t it? Isn’t the Empress inside?”

“Of course not,” Daisychain scoffed with a roll of her eyes. “Court was dismissed early today so that the Empress might attend to matters of a private affair. Now, come. Her Blessedness is waiting for us in her private quarters.”

“Oh. Right. Um, lead the way then.” Giving the doors one last look, Gleaming followed reluctantly behind the two as they entered the royal living quarters.

Unlike the previous halls, these new corridors were a little more homely. The floors were covered in velvet carpets of dark red, trimmed by borders of dark walnut wood. Alcoves with gentle oil lamps replaced the brackets of harsh torches. It was also apparent upon entering that a dampening spell had been placed over the hallways; the sound from outside was instantly deadened when one stepped inside. Even Lilyhammer’s hooffalls had become muffled.

Gleaming peered around curiously as she walked behind the Royal Inquisitors. She had never before been inside the royal living quarter; the only guards posted inside were always the higher ranking ones. There was no way in Tartarus that somepony of her rank would ever be posted in these halls. As nervous as she was about her current predicament, she had to take advantage of the situation.

As she passed by the rooms, she couldn’t help but try and catch peeks of what might be inside. Her first few attempts failed, the doors either being closed or not open wide enough. On the fourth try though she caught sight of a small library, complete with a reading corner, a miniature globe, and an orrery encased in a glass cover.

Next came a small kitchen, where two earth ponies work away preparing food. From the smell of it, the Empress was in for a mouth-watering dinner.

The next few doors were closed, but an open door on the left provided a view of an office, the desk overflowing with paperwork. There was a unicorn mare with a shiny black coat and white mane working to sort the piles, her back to the door. A clipboard was held in her green magic, and she ticked off boxes as more and more paperwork disappeared into various files. As if sensing Gleaming’s gaze, the door was encased in a cloud of green magic before closing.

Wincing at the noise, Gleaming glanced ahead, only to find Daisychain glaring over her shoulder at her.

“Kindly keep your eyes away from things that don’t concern you,” she hissed, “lest I find the need to relieve you of them so that you won’t cause any more trouble.”

Lilyhammer glanced back as well, her large hammer glinting in the light of the oil lamps.

Gleaming’s ears folded back and she quickly shook her head.

“Good.” Daisychain returned her attention to in front of her, but Lilyhammer kept staring at Gleaming for a few more seconds, her bright orange eyes burning into Gleaming’s own blue ones. Eventually, the massive mare looked away, but not soon enough in Gleaming’s opinion.

She shuddered The way she looks at me. I’ve seen griffons give cows looks with less hunger in them. Without appearing to do so, she inched her way towards the other side of the hall, away from Lilyhammer.

Reaching the end of the hall, the trio turned down the new corridor only for the two Inquisitors to suddenly pull up short. Gleaming almost ran over Daisychain before catching herself. She managed to back up a few paces before the smaller unicorn turned around. An almost manic grin was upon her face.

Lilyhammer remained facing forward, but immediately crouched into an awkward bow, her armor hindering her.

And at the far end of the hall, a large figure drifted towards them. An intricate cloak was draped about her form, hiding most of it from view. The cloth was a deep crimson while golden flames were sewn about the seams, the material enchanted to move and twist like real, living fire. From her back, twin great white wings emerged from the folds, held high and aloft like twin ornate towers, the feathers of which were pristine and perfect.

She glided forward silently, her hooves hidden beneath the folds of the cloak. A mane and tail of various colors wafted behind her with otherworldly beauty and grace.

As she drew near, Daisychain began to cackle. “Hear me and rejoice! You have the privilege of standing before the mighty Unwavering Sun!”

Unconsciously, Gleaming took a step back and her breathing increased as the figure stopped before the trio. Heavy pressure descended upon her as she stared up at the massive form before her. A heavy veil of gold lay across the figure’s muzzle, twitching and fluttering as she breathed. It hid all but her eyes from view, the magenta orbs staring down at her with a piercing gaze that seemed to cut through all it fell upon.

Gleaming had never felt so small in her life.

Daisychain’s introduction wasn’t necessary. This was one of the few—if not the only—individuals in the world that needed no introduction. Her mere presence was enough to inform any and all souls around her just who she was.

Lady of the Sun, Deliverer of the Day, and sole ruler over all of Equestria and her territories.

Empress Celestia.