I had awoken rather quickly when the bright light had left my sight, my sword laying on the ground in front of my exhausted hooves. A tune came to my mind as I looked around, noting the change in my surroundings. Instead of a dark and dusty palace, it was now well lit, the moss glistening with the morning sun as it began to rise among the horizon.

Muffled voices rang within my ears as a shadow began to move into view before a dark blue hoof reached out to my own, a singular voice echoed true in my mind as I followed the length towards the owner.

“Raise thine eyes. We would wish to see the fighter who did their best to withstand the nightmare.” Gentle, a soft breeze compared to the higher toned voices around me.

There was a spark in my brain as my eyes met her own, there she stood in all of her glory, the mare who had offered her hoof comfortingly all of those years ago. Lady Luna, Mare of the moon…My mother.

Using the faint amount of energy I had left I grasped her hoof as she began to pull me to my hooves, my armor dirtied from all of the dust, the cloak covering my body clinging ever so tightly.

A silence engulfed the room as we met on equal hoof level, our eyes peering into each other’s. My fang digging into my gum as I tried not to let my strong appearance falter compared to the mess Luna was starting to become.

Her eyes wetted from tears that one could almost never notice mixing with her coat, her lips quivering, her breath hitched as her heart began to race.

“Well I for one think this fighter has other things on his mind-” I began before I wrapped my hooves around her neck, a moment let it sink in before I felt her hooves wrapping just under my forelegs. “It is good to see you once again Mother. Although if you wanted a sweet reunion, was bringing back our old games really necessary?”

It was there that the first sound began to escape her lips, a soft whine as her head buried itself into my shoulder. My eyes peered around the now lit room before they landed on the seven bystanders who were watching such a scene unfold in front of their eyes.

Judging from each of their gazes, one could merely guess what they were thinking. From the bloodshot eyes of Celestia who had just reunited with both her nephew and her blood sister. Rarity, who looked rather excited for some reason, one could almost hear the words ‘formal wear’ coming from her lips.

The bearer of kindness watched with a smile on her face, at least that was until our eyes met where she retreated back into the safety of her bangs to avoid my gaze. The bearer of Honesty seemed to be having a moment of realization about some earlier events from the everlasting night, The bearer of loyalty smugly talking to the bearer of laughter about their new found jewels.

And at the front of each of them, the element of magic. Twilight Sparkle, the one who I was tasked to protect, somepony could sense a dangerous tinge of curiosity upon the air but in terms of preserving the moment she did not speak up.

“Hush, my dear Muse. You certainly have your father’s quick wit.” her wings wiped away the present tears as her smile was becoming ever more present. The rather precious moment was quick to melt away as a pink blur got between us.

“Now that Everypony is awake! Do you know what this means?” Pinkie pie seemed to be bouncing from excitement as she seemed to be waiting for some sort of signal. Almost as if she could see somepony just out of view. “A Party!”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was like there was a moment of blackness, the next thing I knew, we were all back in the town, the various bearers discussing with the common-pony about the events of what had occurred in the Everfree Forest.

A cup resting in my hoof filled with a type of juice, lifting it up to my lips let the fruity goodness down my throat allowing me to finally become aware of my surroundings. Mother by my side talking to her sister. Twilight Sparkle talking with Rusted Steel about what had happened with our arrival into the town, especially considering there were quite a few destroyed buildings from the cart crash.

“Look who is finally back down to Equestria.” A voice snapped me out of my stupor as I looked in front of me to the mare who was approaching, her armor seeming to glean in the morning light. A mug in her feathers, the stern expression replaced with a gentle smile. “Glad to know I am not the only pony who is out of their element.”

Chrysanthemum moved to my side and sat on her flank letting her gaze fall on the sunrise. Her eyes soon moving to meet my own, her lips curled into a grin. I responded quickly, my cheeks heating up.

“I am just not used to being around ponies again. I come from a place where the bond between ponies is rather…distant. Too much wilderness and danger to be able to just walk down to visit one’s friends.” I peered down into my cup once again to admire the stallion looking back, my hood no longer covering my face as I continued. “Besides I doubt the guard get many opportunities to celebrate big events like this.”

She nodded in agreement as the crowds began to mutter among themselves. Some were glad that the sun had returned while the younger colts and fillies who were asleep the whole time were enjoying the entertainment that the pink menace had set for them.

I shuffled awkwardly as I tried to search for a topic to discuss with the younger mare before I found it. “So what are the plans of Chrysanthemum Dreams after this? More guard duty in the palace or perhaps you are a reservist?”

She hesitated to answer before an alabaster shape began to move in from the side. “Actually, Austere, that is something that I wish to discuss with you.” Celestia trotted over to me, temporarily dropping her conversation with her younger sister to intervene on our own.

She was standing in front of us before she beckoned Twilight back to her, a knowing smile on her own muzzle, the purple mare approached quickly at the behest of her teacher. “Aren’t you glad to be continuing your studies, dearest Twilight?”

The purple mare looked awkwardly at her hooves before she spoke under her breath “A-actually P-Princess, I was hoping that I could stay here…In Ponyville. While I will miss studying with you and reading in the library, I have found something here that I want to hold with both hooves." This seemed to make Celestia grin for a moment before her mask fell back upon her face, Trollestia at her finest.

“I suppose I should have seen this coming, but I am sure that Ponyville will enjoy its newest Librarian.-” Twilight seemed to gasp looking up at her teacher before she continued to speak “- And you are to tell me the lessons on your blossoming friendships. Does such a deal sound agreeable, my student?”

It was the moment when Celestia’s eyes landed on both Chrysanthemum and I, that I realised my mistake all too late. By discussing what our plans were in the future, we had just signed ourselves up for what we would not know at the time to be the beginning of our very own tale. Of Love, of never-ending secrets and of protecting the largest headaches in all of Equestria.

“But if you are to stay here then there will also need to be those who look after the common pony, after all the Everfree Forest is a dangerous place. And we would not want to leave the town without protection. And so I must ask-” I gritted my teeth as she began to say the words I was hoping not to hear. My freedom from my duties had only just begun after all “The three of you to look after this town to the best of your ability.”

I could only sigh as Chrysanthemum and Rust bowed down to their solar monarch standing at each of my sides. The latter having come over from where he had stood earlier with Twilight. Our lips parted as we signed our lives away to the endless cause.

“It will be done, Princess Celestia. In your honor, we promise to protect our home through thick and thin.” it was not subtle when a wing from each of the pegasi patted my back in an understanding manner.

Gods, one could almost imagine that the water pit that was my home for millennia was a more forgiving place.

“That is good, my little ponies. For now, rest well and enjoy the party. There is much to do when all is finally settled… And my dear nephew. Do remember to clean up your mess.” her hoof gently pointed in the direction of two destroyed homes and a demolished quills and sofa store.

Have I ever told you that I hate having Princess Celestia as a boss?

It was in that moment that Pinkie pie had pulled us all in for some form of group hug. While I will not complain. It was way too tight!

Author's Note

That is the last of the prologue of Love, Secrets and Protectors. from now on one can expect to see Austere Interact more with the ponies around him as they learn about each other both as ponies and as friends.

This story is following a somewhat loose plan so it allows for subtle changes in case there are plot-holes or changes in the future.

But apart from that, how is the new year treating everyone? good I hope. for the last three weeks since Christmas I have been sick to my stomach but I am feeling good enough to bring this all to you.

feel free to tell me how your holidays went in the comments, any theories you might have so far or any potential things you might have spotted in the chapter!

And with all of that out of the way. stay safe and stay happy until the next chapter. I promise I will try to get it to you all sooner than this one took!