Author's Note

Alright guys the prologue is done but the next few chapters will be covering the events that lead Levi to come to Canterlot. He will be mention a lot like this chapter but won't mar a direct appearance. Honestly, this should've been up about a week ago but I had work, working on my car, and a laundry list of other things.

Enjoy.

Alvasa

Friends, new and old

Ten years later...

Celestia sat in her room in front of her sitting on a pillow staring hard sat a little lavender unicorn filly trying to change the color of an apple from red to green as it sat in front of her face on her desk. To her left just outside of the reach of the window behind the princess was a little purple and green bassinet with an amethyst whelp with a bright green spine snoozing as he sucked on his tail. Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's personal protégé, and her adopted son Spike. She has been with the pair for roughly six months now.

"Perhaps we should take a break from magic today Twilight," Celestia smiled while her pupil looked disappointed.

"No I know I can get this princess just one more try," Twilight said as she concentrated and her horn was covered in a lavender aura and then there was a pop and as the apple change color from red to purple. "Awwwww..."

"At least you got it to change this time," Celestia giggled. "But that is enough for today. How about we go outside for some tea and cakes."

"Just one more time..." Twilight let her horn.

"That's enough twilight," Celestia sighed as she picked up the apple in her own magic and moved it off to the side. She then levitated Twilight onto her back and Spike into his stroller. "You need a break my student and Spike needs fresh air." the little whelp giggled as he'd woken up from his nap.

"But.., but .., learning..." Twilight gestures to the table.

"I understand the importance of learning my faithful student, "Celestia said calmly. "But too much of a good thing is can lead to it becoming a bad thing. I know you're eager Twilight but don't let it lead to becoming you sole focus. If you still want to learn then learn other things, like the outside world." She trotted along as she pushed Spike in his stroller he little whelp blowing green flames. "Speaking of Learning, it's good that I had the mages learn how to enchant against dragon fire."

"Princess, I have been wondering something?" Twilight looked up to her mentor. "Why did you keep Spike? He's a dragon. Shouldn't he be with other dragons?"

"Normally yes but Spike is... a difficult case my student," They came to a willow tree and Celestia used her magic to set out a blanket and toys for the little whelpling. "I found his egg on the shores of the ocean the separate our lands from those of the dragons while on a stroll. He was there all alone, not even footprints or signs of any creature around. Dragons never abandon their eggs, they will die defending them until the end," She explained setting the filly and whelp down with her magic on the blanket with a few toys for Spike. "My guess it that he was either thrown from the nest near the ocean or he was stolen by a Firzard who was looking for a meal and was desperate."

"Why we anypony want to eat Spike?!" Twilight frantically grabbed the little drake who was nimble on a gem tooth ring.

"Firzards are animals Twilight, the must eat to," Celestia laid down on her belly. "Zards are common magical animals that are highly adaptive to their environments that they're born into. They are large reptilian frog-like creatures on two powerful hind legs and the breed in great numbers/ Their most prominent feature is their large mouths that take up most of their body that is lined with sharp teeth that can tear through nearly anything except enchanted metal."

"They sound like a decent resource," Twilight pointed out. "Has any pony tried farming them? As for the magic metal thing, I wonder if it's because their own magic allows them to adopted and use natural magic and not refined magic."

"Very astute observation my purple apprentice," Celestia nuzzled Twilight lovingly. "As for the farms, some ponies have managed to tame them but it is extremely hard due to the Zards being predators so one must be stern or they'll be eaten. Firzards a quite common in the Dragonlands due to the Zards being around volcanoes, magma, and most of all fire. They also compete with dragons for food."

"They eat gems too," Twilight raised an eyebrow as she rubbed her chin.

"Hmhmhm... No little one," Celestia chuckled. "Dragons don't only eat gems but also meats, the flesh of other creatures, at one time they also ate ponies," Twilight's fill flat against her head as her eyes shrank. "Don't worry Twilight, Spike will not try and eat you. Those times were long ago, even before my time. But as I was saying, zards will eat most any meats, even their own kinds. Though they rarely go against a dragon unless, in mass, it isn't unheard of one to be stupid or desperate enough to try and snatch a dragon egg. How Spike got here is a mystery, he fell into the sea and was thought lost. No pony has gone to the Dragonlands and returned though. Not in over a thousand years." Celestia laid their content for a while then...

"Princess," Twilight called out.

"Yes,"

"Spike is chewing on my tail," Twilight humped annoyed. Celestia raised her head to see the little whelping going to town know in the lavender pony's tail.

"He must be hungry," Celestia pulled a bottle with some blue milk in it out from under Spike's stroller with her magic and a book. "Here Twilight. See if you can find any of the plants in this book in the gardens while I feed Spike. But be careful and try not to get lost. Even the guards get turned around in there."

"Yay, an assignment," Twilight hopped around and grabbed the book in her magic, and ran off.

"Oh dear that filly," Celestia shook her head and then pulled a scroll from her saddlebag. "Let's see what Levi has been up to lately..." She unfurled the scroll and started to read.

Sometime later with Twilight...

"Here's an interesting one, kind of looks like fire," Twilight awed at the pretty flower that had red vibrant petals on the top and bright yellow bottoms.

"Let's see what you're called," Twilight giggled as she flipped through the book. "Ah, here you are," She pointed in the book looking at the flower with excitement. "Hmm... It says... Gloriosa Superba is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. Common names include flame lily. Ha called it," She pointed at the flower in pride. "Urf... Continuing now. The climbing lily, creeping lily, glory lily, gloriosa lily, tiger claw, and fire lily. This species is a perennial herb growing from a fleshy rhizome. It is scandent, climbing using modified leaf-tip tendrils, the stem reaching 4 m (13 ft) long. The leaves are mainly alternately arranged, but they may be opposite, as well. They are somewhat lance-shaped and tipped with tendrils, and they are up 13 to 20 cm (5.1 to 7.9 in) long. The showy flower has six tepals each up to 5 to 7.6 cm (2.0 to 3.0 in) long. They are generally bright red to orange at maturity, sometimes with yellowish bases. The margins may be quite wavy. The six stamens also are long, up to 4 cm (1.6 in), and each bears a large anther at the tip that drops large amounts of yellow pollen. The style may be more than 6 cm (2.4 in) long. One flower may weigh over 2.5 g (0.09 oz). The fruit is a fleshy capsule up to 6 to 12 cm (2.4 to 4.7 in) long, containing red seeds. Cultivars of this popular garden plant may vary from these wild-type characteristics; the cultivar 'Lutea' has all-yellow tepals, 'Citrina' is yellow with red markings, and 'Nana' is a dwarf. Purple forms are also known."

"I wonder if they taste good," Twilight eye the flower, her mother water at the exotic flavor that it held. "No, no non no. Momma and Princess Celestia are always saying don't eat flowers until you know what it is. Besides this the princess's garden, what if she eats these for a snack. I'd been in big trouble then," she started to picture it and freaked out galloping away at full speed crying she was sorry until she ran right into some pony legs knocking them on their rump.

"Oof, hey watch... Where'd ya go?" the old stallion looked around and then heard sniffling. He looked to the source and saw a little lavender filly hiding under a big book and crying. "Oh dear," he sighed. The stallion was a pegasus, he faded dark blue coat with a faded bright orange and yellow striped mane and tail with a solid build and pink eyes and a flattop mane style. "Hey there Twilight. What did you do? You can tell me and then we can go see the princess together okay?" He coaxed the filly out from her booky hiding placed and used a handkerchief to dry her eyes. "There we go all better. You wanna talk about what ya did."

She nodded shakily. The old stallion put the filly on his back and trotted back the way from which Twilight had been galloping. She told him what she was doing and what had happened and that's when he laughed and told her she was freaking out in her mind and Twilight blushed heavily with embarrassment

"HAHAHAAHA..."

"Please don't laugh Captain Tightship," Twilight begged as she turned the book into a shell and it under it like a turtle.

"I'm sorry Twilight that was mean," Tightship caught his breath. "And I'm not the guard captain anymore, remember I retired last month. So it's Mr. Tightship now."

"Okay Mr. Tightship," Twilight acknowledged, popping her head out of her book shell.

"Does anything look familiar to you little one?" Tight ship trotted in a circle and Twilight shook her head no. "In all honesty, I never came to this side of the castle too much in my youth so I'm not familiar with it. No pony ever really comes down this way except for routine patrols. It leads to the old crystal mines under the castle. It's pretty dangerous down there so we never actually went in them. Does this look familiar?"

"I think I came in from that way," She pointed with a tiny hoof. "I can see sunlight!" she hopped down and gave a slow trot toward the light.

Tightship checked his surroundings and started to recognize them, "Ah I know where we are now," he said as he grabbed Twilight by the scruff of her neck and placed her back on his back. "Stay there this time. I don't need you getting lost in the statues. I'd never hear the end of it from my wife or the princess."

Tigthship took a little time doing his best not to get turned around. He wanted to go by a certain statue. One that he often came to see every time he came to the castle. One of an old friend. Tightship was always careful when making these trips to the statue you as he never knew when the princess would be here. He knew she did mind his company but sometimes he felt it was just wrong to intrude on her time with the piece of ornamentation. Celestia knew it was just a hunk of rock and so did Tightship but it still helped being able to talk to it.

"There you are you old bastard," Tightship smirked. "Don't tell any pony a cursed in front of you Twilight," he whispered to the little filly.

"Daddy and momma do it at home too," Twilight said. "They say as long as I don't repeat their words in front of other ponies I'm okay to hear that grown pony language. Shiny used one word one time and momma washed his mouth out with a bar of soap. Shiny was burping bubbles all night," She giggled. "but I don't want to have to have to eat soap so I don't say the words."

"As long as you don't same them," He patted her head with his wings and she giggled. "No, I wanted to come to say hi to an old friend." Tightship looked up at the statue in front of them.

"Can I see? I've never been in this part of the statuary before," Twilight asked sheepishly.

Tightship sat down and let the filly slide off her back. She shed her book shell and looked up to see a statue of a strange two-legged creature that resembled pictures of minotaurs she'd seen in book but with the face and similar build of Centaurs, she's also read about. His legs were strange though. They were completely straight and his hooves were completely flat. It also appeared as if the creature was wearing clothes from the pieces of flat stone protruding out in the area and he was pulling a cloak or a flag of some kind to him. Twilight was leaning more toward the flag due to the over-lapping winged symbol engraved in the stone.

"Mr. Tightship," Twilight looked up and the statue with sparkles in her eyes. "What is this thing? I've never seen any creature like it before?"

"That's understandable little one," Tigthtship patted her head again. "This is what's known as a human."

"A human, as in the old stories of two-legged things that wore clothes all the time?' She looked to the old captain totally perplexed. "This is what somepony thought they would look like?"

"I can guarantee you Twilight that this is what most would resemble if they were real," Tightship pointed at the statue who's eyes stared at you with and unwavering gaze.

As soon as Twilight saw them she was confused. "He looks so unfeeling, mean, and cold.." she shied away back behind Tightship and quickly went back inside her book shell. "He's scary..." she shivered.

"HAHAHA... He won't come after you. Come on silly filly," Tightship put the cowering filly back on his back. "The princess is probably very worried about you. Seeing as you've been gone for a long time and you ran off from where you were supposed to be." He trotted off to meet with Celestia, along the way Twilight managed to fall asleep

It did take long before they heard a familiar voice calling out, "Twilight where are you!" Celestia called out then a few more along with her.

"Twilly!" came a young colt's voice.

"Twilight come out!" Cried a young mare.

"Over here everypony," Tightship called out.

Everypony rushed to see Tightship. "Oh Tightship thank Faust you found her, Where was she?"

"Running through the has at full speed like she'd done something wrong," Tightship chuckled. "She worked herself up in her head and sprinted up and would've kept going if she hadn't knocked me on my butt. I would've had her back sooner but I got lost myself. Luckily she found the back way to the Statuary."

"You took her to see our old friend didn't you?" Celestia gave a sly smirk.

"What's going on?" Shining Armor spoke up.

"Ah, Shining Armor I should introduce you to one of the Academies' best graduates from nearly fifty-two years ago," Celestia motioned to Tightship. "Former Captain of the Royal Guard and a very close friend of mine Tightship. Tightship, this is Shining Armor, Twilight's older brother. He plans on joining the guard academy in about eight months".

"SIR!" Shining Armor quickly popped to attention.

"We're not in the academy yet son so don't act like your a guard," Tigthship scolded. "I appreciate the enthusiasm Shining Armor but I have had enough of that for now. I'm on vacation for the next several months."

"Sorry sir," Shining flattened his ear against his head.

"No need to be sorry my boy," Tigthship waved a hoof. "I understand you better than you know. Saw your application after our princess handed to me personally," Shining tuned to Cadence who shook her head. "No, the other one," Ship chuckled as he pointed to Celestia. " 'His shield ability is on par with my own, perhaps even above it,' Is what she said. given who your baby sister is I would think so. I did some digging into your family and you come from a very long line of mages that have served the crown since the founding of this country. So much so that I would have thought your family would be more than just a minor nobility."

"The Sparkle Family has kept their status lowered for a reason," Celestia added.

"Power corrupts sir," Shining put in.

"That I understand." Tightship nods. "Back to our other business Celestia. About our friend," Celestia nods in agreement. "Do you honestly think we can get him to come and stay in the city?"

"I'm sorry to cut this short but I should get Twilight home before it gets too late," Shining picked up his little sister and looked at the older ponies. "I look forward to seeing you at the academy sir. Princess, I would return your book but," He looked at Twilight clutching the book and snuggling in its pages as mumbled books in her sleep. "I don't think you'll get it back."

"Normally I wouldn't say anything but this time I can't let her take this one," Celestia said which utterly shocked every pony except the little whelp in his stroller gumming a sapphire. "Luckily I have this one to replace it," she brought out the book Twilight had got the color-changing spell from. "Allow me Shining," Celestia walked over ad leaned into Twilight, and whispering, "Twilight I have that lesson book from today if you want to practice..."

"Where?!" Twilight shouted as she shut up and looked around knocking her blank book of only for Cadence to catch it in her magic.

"Right here my faithful student," Celestia levitated the book over and Twilight jumped up and latched onto it with all four causing her older brother to catch her with his magic. "Wait what about the plant book Princess? Can't I read that one too?"

"Normally I wouldn't mind little one but this book is from my very personal collection," Celestia explained to Twilight's disappointment. "You see this book was handwritten and illustrated by the one who gave it to me about thirty years ago. It is one of the few things my friend made for me before he left to continue his journey across the land. It is very dear to me."

"Really, is it one of a kind?" Twilight got excited.

"Not exactly Twilight," Celestia shook her head. "There is a version available for ponies in the library and bookstores the had Tightship edit but this is the very first version. The parent novel or rough draft as many say."

"Twilight looked at her hooves, she had touched a book that spawned so many and it was from the Prince's own collection and it made her feel so honored. Sure, she couldn't borrow it but she felt satisfied that the Princess had trusted her enough to let the little filly use the book at all.

"Thank you for letting me use it princess, but if you'll let me could I at least read it in my time here?" Twilight said with big eyes.

Celestia smiled and leaned down, "Certainly my little student," she nuzzled Twilight giggled. "Just ask me. For now, you need to go home with Shining, it is close to dark so I must set the sun for today."

"Bye Princess," Twilight waved from atop her brother's back.

"I must be getting back to my wife princess, here," Tigthship said holding out a hoof. In it was a silver coin and on it a symbol with a white over the blue wing on it. "I was sent a couple of this coin about a year ago with a note that said 'follow the wings and ask for a 'Surprise.' should I need the Survey Corp. The other said to give one to you in a very familiar handwriting. I honestly would've don't but somethin always came up and I'd end up forgetting about."

"I see Levi has been busy since his departure from us," Celestia took the coin in her magic. "I thank you for this Tightship and I hope you and your wife enjoy your much-earned vacation."

"If that is all I shall take my leave princesses," Tightship saluted and then trotted out of the area and castle leaving Cadence with her Aunt and so many questions.

"Auntie," Cadence got the solar alicorn's attention. "Who were you talking about? It sounds like you two were very close if he went through such great length to hand-make such a detailed book. Like in love."

"I know where you're going with this Cadence," Celestia cut off her niece's train of thought. "Follow me to the statuary please." She trotted off to where Tightship had come from with Twilight.

"Okay," Cadence said with a head tilt and raised brow.

They trotted along until they came to the statue of the human. "Sit with me Cadence," the pink princess came over and sat next to Celestia. "This is Levi Ackerman, the Human who made me this book."

"So the legends of humans are real?!" Cadence said in shock.

"Most of the legends the ponies these days know all sprang from rumors spread by others that may have had or seen some form of encounter with Levi," she explained. "As far as he knows and I know he is the only one of his kind to have ever been in Equestria. He came from across the Luna Ocean from a far-off land. And yes I did love him."

"But not the kind of love I was talking about right?" Cadence remarked with a half eyelid stare.

"Yes," Celestia said openly. "I'm not going to deny that he is quite handsome for a none pony but we never feel in love with each other outside of a sort of a friendship love some might call it," she said looking at the statue. "But with that being said he did help me relieve some pent-up urges a time or two but no we never fill in love with each other. He still loved his wife."

"The way you talk about him auntie makes it seem as if you miss him a great deal," Cadence moved closer and rested her head on Celestia's shoulder. "He must've been a very good creature if you let him get so close. I wish I could've met him."

"You still may Cadence," Celesta I looked at the coin Tightship had given her.

Cadence looked at her aunt confused. "Auntie, the events that you and the former Captain were talking about happened over thirty years ago. If a human ages like any other normal creature here would in his seventies or eighties by now."

"No, he'd be much older than that by now Cadence," Celestia corrected her niece. "Levi is no spring chicken but he does have a form of Immortality similar to our own. If my math is correct he should be nearly two hundred years old by now."

Cadence stood there with her mouth open for a bit, "So the friend you were talking to Tightship about was this Levi Ackerman and you were going to try and hire him to train the upcoming group of guards that Shiny will be in!"

"If he does then he will," Celestia said firmly. "The platoon of guards that Tightship headed were the best I have ever had and after Levi trained them I never lost another soldier even to conflicts. Some may have been injured but never seriously."

"Auntie," Cadence was hesitant to ask now. "What did Levi do to make him leave if you two were so close that he even trained the best guard squadrons you had?"

"Nothing," Celestia shook her head standing up. "Levi is a sellsword Cadence, a mercenary to whoever hires him. He doesn't go back on his contracts on those who hire him until his job is done. He left because he felt it was time for him to move on, though I did try and get him to stay. It is time to go, Spike will need to be fed and washed for bed soon and I must still attend to paperwork for today," she said pushing the little whelping along as he below green spit bubbles.

"Why are you bring him back Auntie?" Cadence kept pace with her aunt.

"Because I want to see my old Friend," Celestia said proudly. "I think the guard program has laxed over the last thirty-odd years and I know Tightship would be able to handle it on his own but with Lev there... they'd be the second greatest graduating regiment after Tightship and Levi's 's first trained regiment of the seven hundredth and seventy-seventh." Cadence raised an eyebrow.

"They never lost a soldier in battle Cadence so don't look at me like that," Celestia stuck her nose up. "Now I have to lower the sun and paperwork. Would you mind feeding your cousin and getting her cleaned up?"

"You just don't want me to keep asking questions?" Cadence narrowed her gaze.

"Obviously," Celestia smiled. "But also because I have several very important documents that I need to focus on and that don't need singed or burnt at all."

"Fine," Cadence rolled her eyes as she levitated Spike onto her back. "Come on Spike, cousin Cady will feed and bath you since mommy is too busy, and because she doesn't want me to ask her about this Levi Ackman human creature..." Spike giggled with a clap. "And no pulling my mane this time mister," she trotted out of Celestia's room.

Celestia shook her head going out to the balcony, She let her horn and lowered the moon to reveal a sinister shadow overlooking the landscape below. The princess sighed and looked up as she sat down then rested her head on the railing.

"Oh Luna how I miss you, dear sister," She sighed as a single tear rolled down her cheek. She then recalled the coin Tightship had given her. She pulled it out of her feathers where she'd tucked it away so Spike wouldn't see it and try to have it as a snack. She turned the coin over a few times examining it. "Follow the wings and ask for a surprise. The Survey Corps. Just what have you been up to the past few years old friend?" She looked over the coin as she moved to her desk. "Why would he send Tightship the coin for me. He must've some pony might sort my mail, which he's isn't totally wrong but he has a direct line to me. Hmmm...." She looked closer at the other side of the coin and it had a large red strawberry. "He did say he married into the Strawberry family when he first came to Equestria. If I remember correctly his wife's name was Strawberry Surprise." A light bulb went off. "Well, there's a code word for anyone that wants to speak to the head of his operation if you know him as well as I do. Hmm." she started to chuckle. "I think I'll go the long way to get him to come here. That way I can at least see him if he turns down the job. Now follow the wings... " she levitated an address book of hers over to her. "Where is the nearest Strawberry member and their operation..."