Twilight’s Brother

Lucien and Twilight made their way to the Royal Library within the palace grounds, intent on seeing if they could find any further notation on the Dark Brotherhood, or the Dread Father they seem to serve. For Twilight it was a search to discover what could be the cause of her nightmares. Though unknown to her, Lucien had more answers then he let on.

The Dark Pony was admiring the architecture of the city as they walked on, ‘that such intricate buildings were made by pony hands, Er… hooves rather, is amazing, and on a cliff face no less’ he thought to himself as they walked on, ‘Perhaps magic was involved in it.’

He then noticed Twilight stop in her tracks, he turns his attention to her, and then to two approaching ponies, a stallion and a mare.

The Stallion was white coated with a blue mane; he had a smile on his face as he hurried his pace towards Twilight. The mare was a new type of pony for Lucien; she was pink in color with a mane that came over her shoulders in three different colors; purple, pink and a light creamy yellow.

But was most interesting of her, was that she had traits of both unicorns and pegasi. He kept his wonder silent as he watched them greet his travel companion.

“Twily,” the stallion said as he closed in. “What brings you to Canterlot?” he asked, putting a hoof around her and pulling her close, in an affectionate manner.

Twilight, he face flushed, tried to push him away, “S-Shining, please” she said, probably more embarrassed by the fact that her older brother was doing this in front of Lucien than the fact that he was doing it at all.

Shining Armor couldn’t help but chuckle, “what’s wrong Twily?” he asked her, once again using his nickname for her before letting her go.

She narrowed her eyes at him slightly and grumbled, but couldn’t stay mad at him for long, and her frown turned to a smile with a shake of her head, “I honestly wasn’t expecting to run into you two,” she admitted, though she smiled, and Lucien noted that her mood seemed to brighten somewhat. “I was only coming to check on something in the Royal Library.”

Shining playfully acted offended, “what? You were coming to Canterlot and you weren’t going to pay your Big Brother a visit?” he teased. “I’m hurt,” he put a hoof on her head and ruffled her mane some.

The pink pony with both unicorn and pegasi features chuckled, “leave her be, Shining,” she said, coming closer to the two. She gave Twilight an affectionate hug, “but he’s right, you really should visit more,” she told her.

Twilight blushed, “well, I probably would have thought to visit you two later, Cadence,” she said, returning the hug.

Cadence turned her gaze to the dark pony who was only watching and remaining politely quiet, though with a smile of amusement. She tilted her head, “and who is this?” she asked Twilight, who released her embrace as well.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Shining, Cadence, this is Lucien Lachance,” she said, “He came with me from Ponyville, he’s going to help me do some research on a subject he’s familiar with.” She then looked to the dark pony, “Lucien, this is my brother, Shining Armor, and my sister-in-law, Princess Cadence.”

Lucien put his hoof forward, “it’s a pleasure to make both you’re acquaintances,” he greeted, “Twilight has spoken of you before, but she didn’t tell me very much,” he said, as Shining Armor took his hoof into a firm shake.

Twilight’s older brother stared down Lucien, though he kept his demeanor friendly, he was sizing the slightly smaller stallion up. ‘Well spoken, polite, must be smart to impress Twilight enough to help her with something.’ His thoughts led him to one conclusion, “It’s nice to meet you too Lucien,” he said. ‘If he plans on trying anything funny…..’

If Lucien noticed how forced the Captain’s smile was, he didn’t show it.

Shining’s wife on the other hand smiled and giggled lightly, knowing exactly what her husband was thinking at that moment. She cut in and took Lucien’s hoof in a shake as well, “You’re quite the gentlecolt,” she said, “The pleasure is ours. Is this your first time in Canterlot?”

Lucien nodded, “it is, and I have to say I’m impressed, it’s a very beautiful city,” he said.

Shining Armor, still wary of the new pony, smiled. “Thank you,” he said, with no small amount of pride. “The Royal Guard does its best to keep the peace,” he said.

The dark pony nodded, “Twilight told me you’re the Captain, is this so?” he asked. Getting a nod in response, he smiled, “It can’t be an easy job, and you must be very good at it, to keep a city this size safe.”

The Captain of the guard nodded, “it is, and thank you.”

There was a pause as nopony knew exactly where to take the conversation from there.

Twilight was about to excuse herself and Lucien, but the dark pony spoke up first, “If I’m being a bother I can go for now while you two talk with Twilight,” he offered, perhaps sensing Shining’s distrust of him.

Cadence shook her head, “no, it’s fine, right dear?” she asked Shining Armor.

Shining, though he didn’t show it, was still sizing up Lucien, not sure what to make of him. He was polite, and didn’t carry himself in a threatening way, but there was something…. off about him. “Yeah, it’s fine,” he said after a moment.

Lucien chuckled, “no, I insist, a stranger shouldn’t be the center of attention when family sees each other,” he said, excusing himself. “I’m sure I can find my way back here, I’ll just give you three some time to catch up, I’d like to see a bit more of the city anyways,” he said. “If, of course, that’s alright with you Twilight?” he asked her.

Though her expression seemed a little sad, she nodded, “okay,” he face became a smile. “I’ll meet you at the library, just come on in when you’re done,” she said.

Cadence then looked to Shining, “why don’t you show him around?” she asked.

“What?!” Shining gapped.

Cadence giggled at his expression, “who better than the Captain of the Guard to show a new pony around the city?” she asked. “Besides,” she whispered in his ear, “don’t you want to get to know Twilight’s new friend better?” she asked, emphasizing friend in a way to suggest that it was more than that.

Shining shuddered at the thought of what she could have meant. “Alright,” he said, walking up to the dark pony, who looked up at him, and nodded.

“Lead the way, captain,” he said, as the two fell into step to see the city.

The two mares watched the stallions leave, and once they were out of earshot, Cadence looked at Twilight and beamed, “so where did you catch a handsome colt like that?” she grinned with a wink.

Flustered, Twilight gapped at her old foalsitter, “w-w-what do you mean? It’s not like that!” she argued.

Cadence giggled, “of course it isn’t,” she said with sarcasm, “and Pegasi lay eggs.”

Twilight grumbled, “Really, it isn’t,” she said, nervously rubbing her hoof in the ground.

Cadence noticed this, her smile changing from mischievous to kind, as she understood Twilight’s feelings on the matter. “Alright, alright, I won’t pester you about it,” she said. “But please, there must be some reason to bring him along, besides having something to stare at while researching,” she teased.

Twilight narrowed her eyes and pouted at Cadence, but after a moment, she calmed herself down. “I was on my way here on my own at first, but he happened to come by and volunteered to join me,” she said.

Cadence smiled, “sounds like a real nice colt,” she said.

Twilight nodded, “he is, he’s smart too,” she said, a light blush forming, “he’s new to Equestria actually,” she said.

Cadence tilted her head.

Twilight looked to her, and sighed, “it’s a long story actually, he says he’s from a land far away.”

“How romantic.”

The lavender unicorn glared at her.

“I’m kidding,” Cadence said, “I won’t say another word about it,” she promised.

“Anyways, he’s been spending a lot of time at the library, checking out books on Equestrian history and of all things botany,” she said. “I think he used to be some kind of potion maker,” she said.

Cadence resisted the urge to tease her younger friend further. “Speaking of new arrivals,” she cut in.

Twilight tilted her head curiously, “huh?”

“Well, we just found out not long ago, but….. Shining and I…..”

Realization suddenly hit Twilight, and her eyes widened as a smile seemed to take up most of her face, “you’re pregnant?!”

The older Alicorn blushed and nodded, “yes, you’re going to be an auntie,” she said happily as the two of them embraced, Twilight unable to contain her excitement and for the moment at least, her exhaustion and worries were forgotten.

………………….

A fair distance away, Shining Armor was doing his best not to interrogate the dark colt. “So, you said this was your first time in Canterlot?” he asked.

Small talk was painful at times.

“Yes,” was Lucien’s reply. “To be honest, I’m not from Equestria at all,” he admitted as he looked around.

“You’re not?” the Guard Captain asked.

“No, I’m from a place far from here,” Lucien explained. “It’s far different than what I’m used to. Not to say my homeland didn’t have its own amazing sights, but I’m finding myself amazed nearly every day here,” he said, sounding genuinely excited.

Shining let a smile form on his face, as he let his suspicions ease up some. He still didn’t trust the new colt, but he at least seemed friendly. But something still bugged him, “if you don’t mind me asking,” he started. “How did you and Twilight meet?” he asked him.

Lucien looked up in thought as they walked along, “let’s see, it would be a couple weeks ago now. I had wondered into Applejack’s orchard, signed up for work, and she introduced me to her,” he explained. “It was good to find someone with similar interests.”

Shining eyed him, but said nothing as they continued on. “So, why did you leave your homeland?” he asked, hoping he wasn’t prying too much.

Lucien stayed quiet as he looked over the surrounding architecture before answering, “I’d like to keep that to myself for now, if it isn’t too much to ask,” he said, his tone remaining calm.

The Guard Captain was still unsure as to what to make of the mysterious pony. He knew not everypony wanted to share their life story, and it felt wrong to judge someone without getting to know them, but all the same, he felt an air of danger around this Lucien Lachance.

Holding his suspicions in check for the time being, he continued to show Lucien around the city, showing him all the major landmarks.

The museum, the art gallery, the theatre and much more.

It wasn’t long before Lucien pointed out the time, and they made their way back to Twilight and Cadence.

…………………

Twilight and Lucien bid them farewell, Lucien thanking Shining armor for showing him around, and Twilight smiled brighter than Lucien had ever seen since he first met her.

As the two scholarly ponies left for the Library, Cadence looked to Shining and smiled, “So, what was he like?” she asked him.

The guard captain looked to the ground in thought. “He was polite, if very vague about his past.”

Looking again in the direction that his sister and the dark pony left in, he continued, “I don’t trust him,” he said.

Cadence giggled, “I think you’re just being an overprotective brother,” shed teased. “The first stallion to come into Twilight’s life besides you and you’re ready to label him a criminal.”

Shining blushed furiously, “N-no, this has nothing to do with it,” he said, though not sounding too convincing.

Cadence chuckled lightly, “you and your sister both get so flustered, it’s cute,” she said, affectionately nuzzling her husband. “He seems nice, give him a chance,” she said.

Shining nodded and nuzzled her back, “Alright, I’ll try,” he said. He sighed, and thought to himself, ‘I hope she’s right, I hope it is just me being over protective.’

Just then, Cadence spoke up again, “by the way, I told her about our little surprise,” she said.

He pulled away with a pout, forgetting about the dark colt, “What? But you said we could tell her together.”

Cadence giggled, “I know, I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t hold it in anymore,” she said with a smile. “I’m asked her if she could get her friend to throw the baby shower,” she said.

Shining smiled lightly, “I’m sure it will be amazing,” he said, nuzzling her once more before they made their way back home.

Author's Note

Been way way waaaaay too long since I updated this. Hope you all are still interested.

I'm also going through efforts to clean up the rest of the chapters in Dark Pony Brotherhood to make it smoother to read.

Anyways, hope to have more soon.