Chapter three

Matthew had been unconscious for an unknown length of time, his head was aching. something fierce, his heartbeat sounded like drums in his skull.

he tried to reach up, toward his head to grab it hoping to ease the pain, before the sounds of irons were heard. And stopped his hand in its tracks

Slowly Opening his eyes, Matthew would see he was in a Dark cell; his sword and dagger along with his shield were gone, and all that was left on him were the clothes he wore.

Looking around, Matthew would see a yellow glow from his left arm; it was on top, and around his wound, suddenly, heavy footfalls came from the left hallway.

"This way, Doctor Quick Healing. The Princess wants him fixed up, and ready, she wants to question him personally." While the male voice spoke, a light was coming closer while Matthew watched as a male pony in golden armor stopped at his cell.

"This is the cell doctor." the second pony, this one being smaller in size along with having a feminine-sounding voice, Matthew watched from the darkness, as the mare moved to the door pulling her keys out, and unlocking the cell door before moving away.

While the Doctor entered the cell, he spoke up. "It's too dark in here, may I get some light so I can work?" After asking, the male pony used his; horn. To shine a light spell, into the cell while the Doctor began unpacking his equipment. "I see you are awake sir," said the Doctor as the Guards panicked slightly.

"How is that possible? The Princess put a sleep spell on him so he wouldn't be woken up unless she allowed him to!" Said the Stallion as his horn glowed brighter getting ready to blast the human. "Guard stand down. I requested her Highness to lift it so I can do my duties properly."

The Doctor said, calming the Guard pony, he turned his attention to Matthew. "I'm here to treat your injury, She told me of. Mind showing me where?" Quick Healing said.

Matthew was finally able to hold his head. "Where the hell am I?" He asked while this Doctor answered. "You're in the Royal dungeons of the Palace in Canterlot."

Finding his answer good enough Matthew began to take off his upper clothing while the doctor hummed.

"I see what concerns her so much. You've been stabbed and the wound has gotten infected. Let's start by cleaning the wound." Said the Doctor as he pulled out a black bottle while Matthew watched him suspiciously, seeing how the grayish-white pony worked.

"Now this isn't going to hurt a single bit," the Doctor said, as he placed the wet gauze; onto the wound, Matthew gritted in pain, as his fist, clenched. "by the seven, what in fuck was that?!" He shouted while the doctor held his arm.

"I'm cleaning the wound so I can bandage it." The Doctor said while pulling the gauze away as he cleaned. What was left, before wrapping it in bandages.

"Your wound is infected. I made it so it won't get worse. I'll give the Princess a letter, asking her to allow your medication to fight your sickness. "

Matthew nodded before reaching over, to put his gambeson on, while the doctor's hoof stopped him.

"I understand you want to be dressed to meet Royalty, constantly sweating, isn't going to help your wound heal properly." Said the Doctor before packing up and giving it to the guardmare.

"Have this cleaned, washed, and possibly fixed. We don't need him walking around topless in the future."

Said the Doctor before leaving, "I'll check on you in the coming week sir to see how your wound is doing. Other than that he's yours." Said Dr. Quick Healing while he made his leave.

The Guards entered the cell, while the Stallion spoke up. "Get up, the Princess wants to speak with you." He said while Matthew got onto his feet;

The mare, sputtered in surprise, seeing Matthews's chest looking down matt was mostly muscle but what most likely caught her gaze, was the scars he had.

"See something you like, my lady?" Matthew mockingly asked while the female in armor blushed faintly, before speaking. "S-start walking!" She ordered poking him in the back with the wood end of her spear.

Shrugging his shoulders, Matthew followed the larger male out of the cell as the female stayed on Matthew's rear to make sure he didn't get the bright idea of running.

Matthew and the two Guards were walking for some time now, through many halls, and up stairways, this Palace was like a massive Maze. entering what Matthew assumed was the main halls above ground, While they walked they encountered a small group of servant mares, roughly three or four of them.

The eyes they were giving him were unnerving, they seemed to be sizing him up, like a piece of meat. 'Can this hurry up? I don't want to sleep with one eye open tonight.' Trying to cover his upper half with his black cloak, from their appraising eyes, until they arrived at two enormous wooden doors.

Seeing two other Guards, these two were male thankfully, utilizing their magic to open the door. After the door was unlocked the pony leading Matthew entered, while the Ranger was forced to stay on his trail, the doors closing behind them.

The room was massive, his boot falls were different compared to the two ponies escorting him. Walking on a red carpet taking in his surroundings. Massive stone pillars, and glass windows, caught his eyes until reaching the center of the room before trumpets were blown.

"The ruler of Equestria, and the ruler of the day! Princess Celestia! And her sister! Ruler of the night and co-ruler of Equestria!" Said a triumph-bearing pony, everyone in the room kneeled.

Even the Guards that escorted Matthew kneeled except him. Looking around the room Matthew saw who these two ponies were. The taller white-furred one, she almost killed him with the magic she used.

Other than that she did not seem happy about something, looking over while he turned his attention to her sister she, however, had been eyeing him up the whole time, he had been studying her elder sister.

Before Matthew knew it they were walking toward him with such grace that only Royalty could manage, they stopped just before him while Celestia stayed silent until they made it to a respectable distance.

"your doctor patched me up, why?" Matthew said, showing his arm while the golden glow disappeared. "He's sworn to treat all wounded Ponies, friend or foe." Stated, Celestia

Matthew looked towards Princess Luna, who looked down blushing, not wanting to make eye contact with him. "So what happens now, are you going to torture me?" Matthew asked, looking towards Celestia her eyes slightly widened in surprise.

Before shaking her head. "Nopony is going to torture you." Matthew interrupted her, "I almost killed a Royal, your Sister no less, the punishment should be Death or the loss of a hand. Can you stop this Act? How will it happen? Hanging? Beheading? Drop me from the highest point of the Palace?" Matthew asked before Celestia interrupted his listing of ways they could kill him.

"That's what the Royal council said. Thinking of ways to kill you but my Sister, and I denied it."

"We were going to agree to a different kind of punishment, a life sentence in a cell; until we received a report, from my student Twilight sparkle who explained what you had done in ponyville, and she along with her friends begged for me to spare you."

"Your grace, I mean no disrespect when I say this but I did only what my Duties asked of me." This caused Celestia to raise an eyebrow "and what are your duties?" Before he could answer, Luna, answered for him. "Thy male, speaks the truth. When he had the Nightmare moon's gaze he recited a vow."

Celestia turned her head to her flustered younger sister before back at him "is what Luna says true?" Celestia asked before Matthew nodded his head seeing now as a better time than never Matthew removed his mask helmet to get some cool air

After some time, Matthew pulled his mask back down to hide his face before Luna spoke up "you shouldn't hide your face it goes well W-with thy build." Matthew blushed under his mask but kept his cool. "Your Grace, can we focus on the topic at hand other than my body?" He asked

Which made Luna blush even more while she went back to looking at his face even Celestia seemed gitty at her sister's actions. "Forgive my younger Sister, she has never seen a Stallion of your Statue, or Physique before." Hitting at his exposed chest.

"Now you had said before to Luna that you had been at War with the dead?" Celestia said cautiously while Matthew nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, your grace, they aren't something to be trifled with."

"Where is the proof of you fighting the undead? Not to show disrespect but scars don't tell tales" Asked Princess Luna while she asked Matthew answered "I have my memories, your grace. That is all I have." As Celestia nodded "I have a spell for that do not worry I recommend sitting down first sir Matthew."

What Celestia told him, Matthew, while he did what she instructed him to do as She and Luna's horns glowed.

The blackness that was all he could see around him stayed like this for a long time before the two Princesses appeared in his mind while Matthew had the privilege of being fully dressed in front of the two Royals.

"What is this place?" Matthew asked as Luna answered, "this is a shared dream, Matthew I am keeping us together." She said as her horn was glowing a soft blue. "Now; where do I start?" Matthew asked

Celestia spoke up. "From the beginning, as far back as you are willing to go." Nodding his head, Matthew began to Think back to the time he was assigned to the Rangers, his mind transformed the blackness around them, to the courtyard of Castle Black while the two sisters looked about the 700-foot wall caught both of their attention.

"Welcome to the Wall your Highnesses," Matthew said simply while they were too stunned to speak as they both stuttered and had never seen something like this before in their lives. They were about to speak, and Matthew silenced them both, "look below in the courtyard."

They both saw a large gathering of apes "do you want a closer look?" He asked while Luna moved them down, not waiting on her sister's Answer while they were able to hear a man speaking more clearly.

"What are the apes talking about?" Asked Luna before Matthew interrupted her "your Grace, we are not apes where humans are. Now please listen."

"Some of you came to the wall as outlaws, murderers, poachers, some came here in chains, others from low-born families. Even a few here with the name of proud houses, or no names at all. You might have traveled to the wall, with no friends or honor. It does not matter now, all that is in the past here on the wall. We are all one house."

After giving his speech he backed away from the wood stage and began making his way down the steps.

"Who is the older human male?" Asked Celestia while Matthew responded, " he is the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch." Meanwhile, the Lord Commander continued his speech this time being ground level with the new night watchmen.

"A man of the Night's Watch lives his life for all the realms, not for a king, or a lord, or the honor of one house or that house, not for gold or glory or a woman's love. But for the realm! And all the people in it. You've all learned the words of our vow, think carefully before you say them. The penalty for Desertion is death; you can take your vows here tonight at sunset. Do any of you keep the old gods? In your prayers?" The lord commander asked while most of the men stood.

"You'll find a Weirwood tree a mile north of the wall. But in the meantime, you all have been assigned an order according to our needs and your Strengths."

After listening to a few hundred names Matthew was called "Matthew to the Rangers." After that two Rangers came walking out into the courtyard carrying a large wooden box. "I've heard rumors that many of you don't believe that what we fight is out there lurking, beyond the Wall. So I've had the rangers bring back proof."

He said while they hooked a long chain into a metal holder that was bolted down before opening the box and pushing it over.

After it fell over while one Wight came barreling out screaming and yelling as loud as possible while it ran at the new Watchmen intending to rip apart the living men the undead was stopped by the collar around its neck while it did its best trying to go for anyone close enough.

"You see this? This is the enemy to the North! This is what you are protecting the realms from. If we fail then that is the fate of every person in the world! We are the only thing standing between the realms and what lies beyond! " Said the Lord Commander, he drew his sword and brought it down on the Wight's head.

"Anything else, you'd like to see your Highness?" Matthew asked before Celestia spoke up. "Please call us by our first names, Matthew." Said Celestia while the area faded to black.

"Do you believe I've shown enough?" Matthew spoke while Celestia and Luna moved a good ways away to speak to one another.

After about twenty minutes of hush conversion, the two Royal sisters returned to Matthew, Celestia spoke up. "How many of those things are there?" She asked while Matthew brought his hand to his chin in thought.

"Before I left the most recent reports said roughly around 20,000 Wights including undead Giants and Wildlife." Celestia hummed at the answer before speaking.

"You're saying these Wights are not living? and they have undead Giants?" While Luna seemed a little bit amazed by the wall and its architecture.

"Yes, Celestia but I'm unsure if their numbers have tripled in that time. the White Walkers will recruit any fallen that isn't burned the more they kill, the more they can recruit ."

"Then how do you kill these White walkers?" The younger Sister asked while turning back to look towards the two.

"I'm not sure about the books I've studied, suggested Dragon-glass, others say swords made from dragon's fire but no solid solution."

Unsatisfied with the answer, Luna nodded her head going back to looking at the wall, her Sister tried to grab her attention however Luna's full attention was glued to the wall.

"Sister, we should leave our Guest's mind. We spent enough time here." The older Sister said before Luna snapped out of her state "O-oh right!"

Suddenly Matthew awoke back in the non-dream world while Celestia and Luna made their way back to a single throne Celestia sat down leaving Luna standing the elder Sister began to speak.

"Sir Matthew I hereby pardon your crimes of attempted murder of my sister and Desertion, from your Post. However, I will not allow you to leave the Royal Palace, till the end of the month to see how much of a threat you are to my little Ponies. Along with that, you have my Forgiveness."

"Thank you, your Grace but I sadly do not need your Forgiveness, only you're younger Sisters. I did try to end her life after all." He said turning to Luna her blush left her face while she nodded "thy is forgiven." After that Celestia used her magic as a bell floated up and began to ring for a short moment.

While a single servant mare entered the throne room kneeling before the two sisters as Celestia spoke to her "make sure sir Matthew is given proper quarters and his clothes along with his kit."

While the maid bowed, the stallion from the dungeons walked over holding Matthew's Wrists; he unlocked the Cuffs; they soon fell off as the maid approached him. 'Crap she's one of the Ponies from the hallway!' just as she got any closer.

Matthew used his black Cloak to cover his body as she kneeled in respect before him. "This way sir~," the pony said in a sing-song voice, while she made her way out of the throne room Matthew unwillingly followed the Servant.

After Matthew had left the throne room Celestia leaned over toward her younger sister, giving a sly grin, while Luna watched him leave. Celestia spoke up the moment he left the throne room.

"I saw the way you were eyeing him up, dear Sister. not even back a day as the Princess of the Night, and you're looking to court our new guest, to warm your bed during the day." The older sister teased as Luna's face became redder than an apple.

Luna's blush continued before she finally spoke. "If you'll pardon me S-sister I have my duties to perform," Luna said before going down the white marble steps and leaving the throne room threw the hidden exit Celestia began to laugh hard from her Sister's reaction.

Meanwhile, back with Matthew, the maid had taken him to the nicer side of the Palace, For Guests, Matthew assumed, and other important people that visited the Palace; stopping before a door. The maid used her magic to open the door and stepped aside.

"Once your clothes are ready, I'll return them to you please, by all means, Relax and freshen up."

Once entering the room, Matthew couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing, there was way too much White. Everywhere though he didn't mind the color, just the fact was Matthew was too dirty to be in a room like this. Peeking his head out towards the pony "is there a bath? Where can I clean myself?"

While the mare nodded her head. "Certainly, next to your bed on the wall, there is a door, that has a bath for you, sir." Pulling his head back inside the room Matthew closed and locked the door not trusting the mare on the other side while he made his way to the door she spoke about.

Opening the door Matthew was greeted by a fairly large room that had a Sink, a few Mirrors, a Window, and a Bathtub and Shower.

Locking the Bathroom door, and closing the Window, so none of those flying ponies could get in. Even covering it with his cloak while Matthew began trying to understand the concept of a Shower and Bathtub made of Ceramics.

After some time Matthew had managed to get the Shower to work these ponies had made a system that can give cold or hot water on demand. That level of technology kinda surprised Matthew but stayed focused on the task at hand while only being allowed to use his other free hand.

Once getting clean enough Matthew washed off for the last time before turning the water valve completely to the position it was last in while the water slowly turned off.

Once feeling clean, and refreshed, after fighting Wights then fighting Nightmare moon and a night in a cell was making Matthew's body felt a lot better and less sore; making his way to the wall and grabbing a Towel. He wrapped his lower half in the Towel to hide his 'private area' while collecting his Clothes along with his cloak and taking them to the bedroom.

Unlocking the door and finding the maid from before was still there. Matthew caught her attention by unlocking his door.

"Excuse me, do you mind having these cleaned and dried and then brought back here for me?" He asked, peeking his head out not trusting the female pony.

"Why of course! you're the guest of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna! Anything for you~" tossing his clothes at her seeing this as the best time to stop interactions with the mare.

"Y-yes thank you, please when they are done please return them immediately." Matthew finished, closing the door he could have sworn he heard her giggle gently before leaving.

Now having the room to himself, Matthew began to explore the decent-sized room there was a Bed, two Nightstands, a Desk, and more Windows, thankfully most of which had their Blinds closed so none could see inside, and Dressers.

Opening a few of the Dressers he would find a few Clothes seeing if they would fit him, Matthew tried a few Clothes on and shockingly enough they did. 'Maybe they had magic in them?' the Ranger thought before shaking his head.

"Magic hasn't existed for thousands of years," Matthew said before someone spoke up. "Yes it has," turning around he would see a male Guard standing there before Matthew blushed.

"How much of me did you see when you walked in?" Matthew asked while the pony shook his head "only your back and from what Celestia's sun showed me no one wonders why the mare Guards and Servants are talking about you." This caused Matthew to blush while the guard laughed.

"Careful bud, you're going to run the Stallions and me out of business with those scars." Matthew decided to look at this mysterious Stallion in closer detail. "if you mind me asking who you are? And also how did you get in?"Matthew asked before the pony spoke.

"Oh me? I'm the Captain of the Royal Guard's Shining armor. I'm here to deliver your gear back and if I might say you have a fine sword! And how I got in I used my Magic to unlock the door. I figured you had left to explore the Palace since you have almost full access to everything. And mind telling me what your name is?"

"My name Captain is Matthew and you didn't think to knock to make sure I wasn't in here? "Matthew said an eyebrow raising behind his mask while Shining armor sheepishly rubbed the back of his helmet.

" I wasn't thinking about that sorry about that I do hope there weren't any mix singles I sent you by Matt doing that."

Matthew waved his hand before grabbing hold of his Blade once again unsheathing his Sword. It felt Strange having the Blade in his hands after being parted with it for a night. "What time is it?" Matthew asked before Shining armor spoke, "around midday why?"

"Is there a Training field nearby?" before Shining, nodded, "A training field? Oh! You mean training grounds There's a private area where Royal Guards train if you'd like we can both go there"

"I'm getting rusty sitting here we might as well," Matthew said while grabbing his Sword while beginning to attach it to his side feeling the familiar Weight of his Sword's sheath against his right hip.

"Perfect, let's just see how good you are with that blade of yours!" Shining armor challenged while Matthew chuckled.

"I wasn't the second in Command to the Rangers for no reason. Captain, it will be most wise to think before challenging a Battle-hardened Ranger."

Shining armor grinned, walking out of the room. "Then come on, esteemed Guests, come and make me eat my own words!" Shining said before walking into the exit of the guest room.

Before the door blasted inwards the small group of pony mares from before were currently latched onto Matthews's clothing. "It's mine! He gave it to me to wash for him!" said the maid from outside his door while another spoke.

"No way Marble shadow! I saw him first!" said a Pegasus maid, while the third mare spoke. "Ha! You think he would want a flying mare friend or a magic user?" asked a normal-looking pony before the other two snapped at the earth pony.

While they both shouted. "Shut up Emerald Snow!" before they could go back to killing one another not aware of Matthew nor the Captain of the Guard. reaching up under the Mask to his lips while he whistled loudly, in hopes to stop them oddly enough, it worked as all three of their Heads snapped towards where the source of the noise came from seeing the target of their lust they all blushed before Matthew spoke pulling his hand out of from under his mask.

"My Ladies, I thank you for returning my clothes to me. But I would rather have them all in one piece than in pieces."

"See I told you Matthew you're making the Stallions in the castle look bad!" Matthew walked over and gently took his clothes back from the Servants "ladies do you mind leaving? You as well Shining armor."

Nodding while helping the mares out of the room because they wanted to 'help him change' rolling his eyes at the pass at him Matthew began changing into his freshly cleaned and fixed black Uniform.

Once putting his cloak and boots back on Matthew stepped out finding that most of the ponies had left only Shining and one of the Maids was still there. "ready?" Matthew asked the Captain before he turned to look at him.

"You bet Matthew, let's test our Steel!" the Captain of the Guard said while Matthew just shook his head. "If I kick your ass I don't want to hear you say I Cheated," Matthew said plainly, while they walked to the training grounds. "we shall see and if I win you'll give me that sword for a day!"

Before leaving Matthew turned his head to the last maid standing there "your name was Emerald snow?" he asked while she nodded her head quickly. "Yes sir! Is there anything you need?" she asked while Matthew shook his head. "The only thing I need from you, my lady, is for you to get some Rest. You don't need to stand there all midday and afternoon."

Emerald snow bowed respectfully, before speaking. "Thank you, sir, for giving me the rest of the day off." After speaking her Peace, she walked down the marble to leave. "ready now Matthew? The lover of all mares!" Shining armor teased while the man in black punched him in the side.

"Ow! What are your hands made of Marble?" he asked, rubbing his sides. "That was for telling a bad joke." Matthew said while Shining, spoke up after the pain stopped "if I win I get your Sword and I get to Punch you back!"

Rolling his eyes behind his mask Matthew looked at the Captain "then let's start fighting,

Author's Note

Holy crap third chapter out fourth is on its way shortly do not forget people

'Winter is coming.'