Author's Note
The main protagonist doesn't have a definite name. That's intentional.
Chapter 1
On the tall white tower decorated with an insignia of the Golden Sun the bell was ringing. Insistent as always, its dull, heavy strikes reverberated seemingly through the whole building, from the roof to the lowest of the cellars. The Lad cringed and opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was dim light, penetrating through the heavy drapes, covering the high, arced windows. It's been morning, the get up time.
Shuffling, snorts and yawns came from around. Others also have waken up and were raising. The Lad also yawned. He got up, took the blanket with his teeth and began to tidy his sleeping spot, helping himself with his front hooves. With his peripheral vision he saw unicorns levitating the blankets and stretching them effortlessly before lowering atop the mattress. 'It's nice to have a horn,' he thought idly, yawned again and went to the door.
The corridor was busy. Cadets were in hurry, pushing and colliding, wanting to do their hygienic routine, and unfortunate ones risked to be stuck in the line and be penalized. Here, his earth pony stature and strength were actually better than anything else. 'But it's good to be an earth pony too,' he smirked to himself, taking his place in front of the long mirror above the equally long washstand in the communal bathroom. He rinsed his face from the faucet, stuck his toothbrush into the holder and began to brush his teeth, against it, looking in the mirror.
The night's dream was still fresh in his mind, he still saw vestiges of it looking through his reflection in the mirror. The shining armor of equine knights, noble and cunning faces of their generals, barbaric leather and metal attire of griffons from the High Rock. Heroic poses of the winning ponies. Pegasi, chasing the griffons down, out of the skies. The griffon warlord, surrendering, battered up, with his spear broken.
Everything like on that huge painting he saw back when The Lad was still a foal. The same painting, that long ago made him dreaming about joining the Royal Guard. And like in that book he have read in the training center's library, when he was supposed to be reading the learning material for the lesson instead.
He was seeing everything like if from some vantage point, a mountain or a hill, the same way the painting was composed. What puzzled him though, was a dark, large silhouette, always seemingly at the very edge of his field of vision. He was sure there wasn't anything like that on the painting.
He sighed, put away the toothbrush and went out of the bathroom.
Everypony gathered on the training grounds. The cadets stood in neat, orderly lines, fetlock deep in the snow. It snowed during the night, and quite heavily. The Lad quickly trotted to his place and stood at attention, because the folks from the music squad have already been producing the first chords of the Equestrian Anthem.
"Attention to the flag!" the officer shouted and everypony simultaneously turned their heads to look at the flagpole. A lean, brawny pegasus from the Third squad pulled the rope with his teeth and the Stars and Alicorns banner slowly began to move up. It reached the top of the pole and unfurled on the wind.
"Listen up, everypony!" A sharp, authoritative voice made the cadets look forward once again.
For some reason, the Commander of the academy himself was at the grounds this time. He was a huge earth pony, aging but still stout, covered in several scars, which were so deep, he hasn't got the fur growing over them. The Lad always thought that the Commander is looking as heroic as equinely possible. Moreover, he wore a Sugarcuban Medal, the Golden Sun raising up out of sugar reeds. Which meant that he actually been in combat, either as a volunteer or as a sanctioned Equestrian personnel, which assisted the locals during the the Sugarcuban National Liberation War, forty years ago. How awesome was that!
The Lad thought it was supremely so.
"Tomorrow is the Heartswarming Eve," the Commander continued, "and Her Royal Majesty Princess Luna deigned to wish to attend the Academy. She will be blessing us with Her august presence during the Holiday activities. I believe I do not need to stress up how important this is. I am sure, everypony will be at their best behavior."
The cadets stood silent. Only the sounds made by the banner, flying in the wind, was heard on the grounds.
Most of the cadets weren't from Canterlot and even those who were have been seeing an alicorn a couple times a year at most, from afar. They knew Princess Celestia always visits the graduation, that it is a grand event... but they were only at their first year! And now they could not only meet one of the eternal rulers, but the one that was the most mysterious, returned after the time so long she was considered simply a legend!
The Lad carefully looked around. He saw faces of his fellow cadets ranging from excitement, bewilderment to outright fear.
After the flag raising there was a short warm up. Then the breakfast. Since it was already the holiday season, there weren't any classes. And yet, the regular chores remained, including the groundwork. Moreso in the light of the visit of the Princess.
The weather pegasi promised a clear day, so everything on the premises must have been tidied, organized and swabbed.
The Lad readily volunteered for the snow cleaning duty. To his earth pony self the physical work have been a welcome distraction, calming even. He and others went to the storage, to get the various appliances and then headed to the training grounds. When he and his friend were exiting the storehouse, a large lump of snow pummeled into the ground just about a few inches of them.
"Hey, watch it!" The Lad shouted, looking up. Several pegasi cadets looked down from the roof. They were cleaning the snow up high.
"Sorry 'bout that!" One of them answered, a filly. Her face was anything but sorry. Suddenly, an enormous blue fir which grew near the storehouse shuffled its snowy branches slightly, as if from a gust of wind, and the whole avalanche of snow descended on the roof. The pegasi jumped into the air, cussing.
"A pity." The Lad's friend, a unicorn, commented. His tone naturally contained no regret. The Lad snorted. He noticed how his friend's horn blinked a moment before the avalanche.
They went their way, to the grounds. The Lad, already dressed in the heavy duty tack, approached the lone dozer blade sitting on the ground in the corner near the academy wall. "Help me to hitch that up!" He called for his friend. Together they quickly adjusted the tack and attached the blade in front of The Lad. He then leaned on the pushing bar and the blade gnawed into the thick snow cover.
The Lad went forward, slow but unrelenting, scooping the snow. His unicorn friend, levitating a smaller shovel, helped to distribute the snow into neat piles, so the other group of cadets could collect it afterwards.
"Oh, dude, I still can't believe. The Princess is gonna visit us! And it's not even the graduation. A Hearthswarming present, alright! Can't wait for the winter leave after the exams, to tell my folks about that!" The Lad told, when they stopped to rest for a bit.
"That is exciting, yes." His friend agreed.
The Lad squinted at him. "You sound more worried than excited."
"Perhaps."
"But why? Do you think we will buck it up and will look like idiots?"
The unicorn looked up, into the grey sky, as if trying to discern the stars.
"No," he sighed, "That's different. We are a fine bunch, even those who-", he stammered, "Well... all of us, we are a fine bunch. But its not the graduation yet and that's not Celestia who visits. That's Her sister."
"So what? If Her Majesty has no problem in ruling alongside Her sister, why should it bother us?"
The unicorn smiled. "Luna is an enigma, as my mother says. Think about that, for centuries Celestia been consistent with what She wants from ponies who are going to take our chosen path of the equines at arms. But now with another alicorn by her side, to provide an opinion... Who knows how that visit will affect our carriers?"
The Lad scratched his nose against the tack rope. "When you put that like this..." He muttered.
They continued their work.
"You think the times gonna change?" The Lad asked after a while.
"I don't know for sure," the unicorn shrugged, "neither do my family. Although some try to theorize."
"Your family, you are a long line military nobility, right?" The Lad said to the unicorn, "They think it's been to quiet for too long?"
"Everything is in Her grasp." The unicorn answered with piety, then winced momentarily, "Their grasp, I mean. Now that Equestria is a diarchy again."
"Do you want some action?" The Lad smirked.
"I don't know."
"Well, I want."
"Still can't get over that one battle, thirteen hundred years ago?"
"You bet, dude! I even dream about it! What a time that was, what a ponies! The giants, dude, the giants!"
The unicorn sighed, unsure.
In the evening there was the time for the holiday dinner. Everypony were back into their dress uniform, the athletes took their time to thoroughly bathe. All of the staff and cadets gathered up in the banket hall.
The walls were decorated with frescoes and mosaics of ancient battles and other heroic endeavors, including The Lad's favorite one. From the ceiling the Golden Sun and Silver Moon looked at the gathering, depicted in their eternal cycle.
The huge hall, however, was only about half full, indicating that in the past the need for officers was, apparently, much higher.
The tables were covered with pristine white cloth trimmed with gold, on which there was lined up and arranged heraldic silverware. The winners of the day competitions got to sit by the staff table, with Luna herself at the head of it. The academy Commander sat immediately to the right of her. Under usual circumstances it was his right and obligation to tell the opening toast. But now he bowed to the Princess, looking at her expectingly as she must have been in command. Luna smiled at him, "We await your word, Colonel."
"As you wish, Your Majesty!" The Commander stood up. Everypony stood up too. "To Their Royal Majesties, Princess Celestia and Luna!" He proclaimed, "May they reign forever!"
"We thank thee, Colonel! Happy Hearths Warming, Our little ponies! We are glad that we are all together." The Princess answered.
Everypony sipped from their goblets. The Lad honestly disliked the extremely sour red wine, which for some reason, not readily clear to him, was considered expensive and luxurious. Much more he liked the sweeter and stronger golden varieties, or even cider. He rushed to eat something to erase the "luxurious" aftertaste as soon as possible.
Here he had an enormous selection, the tables were full with beautifully served dishes. Only in his immediate vicinity there were mushroom-parmesan tarts, a huge plate of brassica gemmifera sprouts roasted with pomegranate and walnuts, baked mushroom risotto with carrots, cauliflower with pistachio pesto and several dozens of other delicacies. He dug in vigorously, the busy day encouraged the natural earth pony appetite even more.
From time to time one or other officer would say another toast to Luna and The Lad had to sip the sour wine again and again. Eventually, the first part of the dinner was finished and the attendants relocated to the dance hall. It was decorated as lavishly and was truly enormous, comparable to the sports grounds. The whole music faculty has already been here, tuning their instruments.
The Lad never been big on dancing, so he slowly made his way to the table with refreshments and stood there, near the wall.
The musical company started to play. Officers and cadets split into pairs, meticulously respecting the rank order and the waltz has begun. Luna chose the Commander as her first partner. They were dancing in the center of the hall, have been given a wide field of operation by all others.
The Lad has been looking at them and felt slight envy. 'Welp,' he thought, 'maybe when I will get myself a combat decoration I will have a chance to dance with the Princess too...'
As the evening went on, Luna honored several other officers with a dance as well.
The air in the hall have been hot from the hundreds of ponies and thousands of candles, so The Lad decided to go to the balcony. He stood near the rail, looking into the night sky. Princess Luna must have raised the moon at some point, because it has been reigning up high like a silver roundel, shining brightly. The Lad marveled at it, thinking. He was recollecting the day, the fun he had at the competitions, the unbelievable fits of excellence by the Princess. His thoughts invariably were drifting towards Her. He even was frightened a bit: could thinking so much about only one of the diarchs be considered a treason? But then again, for centuries they had only Celestia to admire, wouldn't ignoring the other Sister now be a treason as well? He sighed, scratched his nose against the railing and let those thoughts slide, not knowing a ready answer.
The Lad thought instead about the historic battles, imagining himself as either a valiant knight, receiving a laurel wreath from Luna's telekinetic grip, or as a cunning victorious general, entering Canterlot with a triumphant procession, like in those ancient unicorn city-states on the coast of Sea of the Mare.
"How dost thou find Our moon, young one? Thou hast been admiring it for a quite some time." Luna's voice made him jump, almost going over the railing.
The Princess was standing near him. He could have sworn he wouldn't miss hoofsteps of somepony that large over the marble floor and yet she approached completely unnoticed.
He bowed deeply. "It- It's beautiful!"
'Like you' He added insolently in his thoughts. Luna's piercing gaze, penetrating his soul reminded him that alicorns are telepathic and he panicked, dropping his ears and trying to bow hastily.
But the Princess' face has been amused rather than angry. She laughed softly, her voice like a ringing of a silver bell. "We appreciate a compliment, young squire." She answered with a smile
"I'm very sorry, Your Majesty-"
"We permit thee to call Us 'My Princess', if thou wouldst like." Her tone was amiable.
"It's an honor Y-your- erm... my Princess! I am very sorry, I am not a nobleborn..."
Luna looked at him for a moment, seemingly puzzled. "Oh, We need to remind Ourselves that Celestia changed quite a few customs since the ancient times." She looked at The Lad with sudden appreciation, which unconsciously terrified him, "Although, We must admit those changes are rather welcome, as they opened the road to the higher echelons of military for such fine studs."
The Lad gulped.
"Say, what prompted you to pursue the tough destiny of a pony-in-arms?"
The Lad thought for a moment what should he answer, would the usual 'Glory to Equestria!' be more appropriate, but Luna's open, inquisitive, encouraging smile pushed him. He couldn't help himself and told her everything. About his fascination with ancient heroics, about how he thought the times of old had been, in his opinion, much more awesome, about the painting...
Luna has been listening carefully. But at the mention of the painting, though, she frowned, dropping her ears. The Lad froze mid sentence.
"Dost thou mean the Battle at the Clover Creek, the one from thirteen hundred years ago?" She asked.
"Yes, my Princess. Yes. It was a marvel of the military genius!" He continued, encouraged, "Prevailing against the numeric superiority! So much bravery! I wish I could participate in something like that. Our Colonel got his medal on Sugarcuba, forty years ago, and since then- well and before that- there weren't really anything-,"
He fell silent feeling a faint mental touch again.
"Mhm, yes, now We do recognize..." Luna muttered, "Pray tell, has the Colonel ever told anything about the times spent at war?"
"N-no, my Princess, I don't think so."
"We see..."
Luna's horn blinked and the doors to the balcony closed. It occurred to The Lad that so far, even while the doors were opened, nopony still have set a hoof anywhere near the balcony.
"Dear child..." the Princess said to him. He didn't even flinch. After all, for somepony who is eternal even The Lad's great great great grandfather could have been as good as a newborn foal.
"Dear child, " She continued, "We want to tell thee something. But thou must swear, that never, under any circumstances thou shalt not disclose what We have told thee."
Her eyes were a bit sad. The Lad shuddered. Has he really wanted to know? Yet, the circumstances were so unusual!
"Art thou sure thou wouldst like to know? We will accept either of thine choices." Luna followed his thoughts.
He didn't believe the Princess would intentionally bring him onto a harms way, but taking the oath directly to Her would with no doubt make disobeying a treason.
Then he remembered Luna's words about him being an outstanding stallion. Why would an alicorn want to simply flatter an ordinary cadet?
The pride and curiosity took the best of him.
"I swear, Your Majesty."
Luna nodded. "Thus, thou hast entered a covenant with Us."
She turned her head and was looking at her moon for some time.
The Lad marveled how different could the Night Princess be. Regal and Imperious at one time, joyful and boastful like an adolescent filly immediately after, then regal again and now calm, thoughtful and wise.
At last Luna turned back to him.
"The bitter truth is, the Clover Creek would have been a colossal defeat. The three warring pony city-states got struck by the griffons of Cold Mountain, who saw them as convenient prey, through their own fault. We and Celestia been ever preaching about unity and cordiality, but those stubborn- ehm... ponies refused to join the Principality, join Equestria. Every one of the three saw the joining along with the other two as an insult. The griffons were wearing them down for a good amount of time and then came in full force. The one of the cities have fallen the first. The other two were forced to join forces but there was too late. Neither of them were Our subjects still and Celestia couldn't sent the troops to aid them. By her own law."
Luna sighed deeply.
"But We... I... I couldn't stand on the side. Given the griffon eating habits, thou canst imagine what they ultimately wanted to do with those they conquered."
For a moment The Lad saw a spark in Luna's eyes. A spark of ire so fierce, he staggered.
"The Clover Creek was their last stand, when I arrived... Look me in the eye, young one." Luna suddenly brought her muzzle dangerously close. Terrified, The Lad obeyed, careful not to touch the Royal snout.
He gazed into the teal abyss of Her eyes, the world around blinked, disappearing. Only Her eyes remained. Her breath smelled like a mountain lavender...
He came to his senses, not remembering who he is or what's happened. He was flying above, although he was sure he couldn't, mustn't have known how to fly.
A foul, heavy smell assaulted his nose. A mix of sweat, blood, of something else repulsive, of burned metal and flesh. He heard a loud cacophony of clattering, crashing, neighing, some high pitched squawking...
He looked below.
A large number of ponies were fighting for their dear life against the horde of griffons. There weren't any heroic poses, nothing was conveniently highlighted in golden glow, the scenery was grim and gritty. He thought he could throw up, but suddenly felt like he had nothing to throw up with, strangely enough. Even the fear he felt was more like a distant memory of a feeling, as something he should have been feeling, obligated even, but how to do that he couldn't tell.
Suddenly a loud explosion garnered his attention. The griffons storming a castle tower were thrown away from the center of the explosion with such force many of them haven't stood up anymore.
A large equine figure, clad in dark plate armor, was standing there. Without a word, without a sound the figure opened enormous dark wings and moved forward. He thought he recognized that deliberate, sure, iron gait from somewhere. The figure also had a horn, which shone brightly.
"The Alicorn." The word came to mind. So that was She, he thought. She, with a capital letter.
She was walking forward, and before Her the innumerous hordes of griffons were backpedaling frantically, trying to get away. She strode, and the attacking army was parting itself before Her, like a sea. He couldn't and didn't want to describe, to fathom, to admit what was happening, how the griffons were simply falling like ears of barley under the sickle. And She kept going -- silent, unstoppable, unfathomable power. Without remorse, without regret, reaping, dropping anyone who stood against Her to the ground without even sparing a glance to the side. An eldritch horror in black plates.
The sky was growing darker and darker by the second. Heavy, like chunks of lead, clouds came swirling in a whirlwind above the battlefield. The savage wind grasped thousands of feathers from the ground and tossed them up. The earth shook violently, bringing damaged towers down in an avalanche of stone blocks.
She looked at the sky, unfazed by the earthquake. 'Hmm, it seems enough is too much.' He heard a cold, thoughtful female voice...
He came to his senses because something warm and delicate, smelling of lavender, have been prodding his cheek. He now knew who he is. The Lad jerked upwards, but a gentle yet unrelenting force kept him.
"Shhhhhhh, little one. Tis' just a nightmare." Luna nuzzled him, like a mother would a foal. "Look, how quiet is the night. There is nothing to be afraid of. We shall not let harm befall any of our little ponies. Even those who broke from the herd." She whispered into his ear. Her presence has been siphoning away his fear like a smithing bellows.
The Lad made another attempt to stand up. This time nobody stopped him. He rolled onto his back and using the momentum he stood up. He was unsteady, still shaken by the experience of seeing a part of what an Alicorn can be.
"We... understand Celestia's decision to write that in the annuals exactly as She have done." Luna commented, "That should have answered two of thine questions. How the olden times were and whether it is exciting to have battle scars."
The Lad stood, lowering his head, ears down. He felt embarrassed for some reason.
"But do not fret. Do not despair. Thou knowest now, what is the toll one wearing an armor must pay so others can be spared from paying it themselves. Is that fair? Hardly. Is that a right thing to do though? Thine answer to that is affirmative, if thou hast decided to cross the gate to the Academy. Thine spirit is strong as a rock thine parents have cultivated. We... nay, I! I shall observe thine path with a great interest from now on. As we have peered into the depths of each other."
'A drop and the ocean...' The Lad thought, but Luna's speech gave him confidence.
"Cherish, what Our Sister has built during that millennium. Train, study, be ready and pray thine knowledge better be never needed to its full extent. I would be glad as well, to never again having to don my black armor." Luna continued.
The Lad bowed deeply. She smiled at him.
"But enough! The night is still young. It is Hearth's Warming. Let us have fun! Wouldst thou, perchance, be interested in a dance?" She winked. Suddenly, instead of an eternal Princess there was again a joyful and brash filly before him. A filly, who stood whole thirty centimeters taller at withers than him.
The doors flew open. The dancing ponies in the hall pretended they weren't surprised and everything was as usual. The Lad followed Luna back inside, surprised, flustered, hopeful. Another round of waltz started. They were swirling around the dancefloor and The Lad admired how happy was Luna's smile. He thought how he will tell his foals and grandfoals about the dance with the living goddess. Omitting only the part that the said goddess has been the Goddess of War.
Having glanced down, to make sure he's been moving in a right way, he idly remembered the cracked pavement before the Academy gates and noted that the lacquered parquet under Her hooves is absolutely undamaged.
