"The princess will be with you shortly."

The same guard that had come to his bedroom door, and had guided them through the rather large and maze-like style that this castle shared, stated curtly before taking his station in a corner of the room.

Offering a quick thanks to the stallion, Hollow, who was now fully dressed and had adorned his mask before leaving his room, walked alongside Marble had also dressed in her darkened robes as her saddlebags sat snug on her back. (Said mare had used the silence of the walk to the dining hall to recover from the ''payback'' the doctor had delivered back in the room for her, but hadn't been able to look the man in the face since out of embarressment of the situation.)

Marble was also quite grateful Isaac hadn't judged her for her use of the horrid giggle-snort she had released back in the room during said payback. Celestia knows her sister Limestone always gave her Tartarus for it.

Looking around the rather expansive room, Isaac wondered if the castles back home could hold a candle to the level of regality that was being shown during his time at this palace. Even the lesser rooms like his bedroom had fancier beddings, exotic furniture and pillars lined with the finest stone and gold at the top and bottoms of them. Not to mention the fanciful tapestry and what had to be chandeliers made of crystal above.

Taking in his surroundings, Hollow acknowledged that the room he was currently in was no exception. The table just ahead of him was long and narrow as to support a large dining company, and at the opposite end stood a rather large chair that made no question to whom's rear claimed such a spot. The table itself bore silver candle holders spaced evenly among decorational greenary and plating that bore either gold or silver tint depending on how close they were to the royal seat.

Taking small strides, Hollow took in the regal atmosphere as much as possible, a small part of the man enjoying being surrounded by such things, though all it took was a mental reminder of the purpose of him being in such halls to curb that growing excitement.

Finding a suitable seat three chairs down from the lft side of the royal chair, Isaac found the chair was suprisingly capable of holding his weight, being able to sink into the chair without any creaks or broken legs from the seat.

Must get a lot of visitors that aren't ponies. The thought came to Hollow's mind as a brief recollection to something he had picked up from a rather studious mare in ponyville after a visit to the towns local library...something about multiple different species that made their home in Equestria and how the mare had never seen something like him before. Quite the odd pony, that one. Though she did have that combination of wings and horn that Marble had told the doctor was unique to pony royalty, so he had made sure to humor her questions for a few hours on the promise that if he did return he would answer more questions.

A quiet laugh escapes Isaac as the image of the excited royal flashes in his mind, earning a questioning glance from his partner as she takes the seat to his right.

"It's nothing, just recalling our time in Ponyville." Hollow explains, watching a smile adorn on Marble's face at his words.

"It's a really nice town." She began, shifting in the seat to get more comfortable. "Smaller than cities like Canterlot but big enough to have more than a couple families in it, it was wondeful."

Seeing the shy mare get excited was a rare sight, something Isaac had learned quickly after she had agreed to accompany him. While Marble did have her bursts of energy her and then, it was mostly done in private (the little sneak had quite the playful side to her) she wouldclam up in public and it would cause the mare to become as talkative as the corpses Hollow used to work with back home.

Smiling at her enthused state, Hollow felt that spark inside him well again, though this time he was more hesitant to suppress it this time. Just before the doctor could give it more thought the big doors they had entered through swung open once more, this time allowing the princess entry as the sun monarch's eyes landed on the two of them.

"Good morning, Doctor." Princess Celestia said as she trotted to her seat at the end of the table and elegantly sat down into the confines of its cushions. "Did you find your chambers to be adequate?"

Giving the princess a quick nod, Hollow straightens out his back with an audible crack (something that sent a shiver down Marbles spine in the process, though the princess seemed unfazed by the sound) and placed his hands on the table in a folded manner.

"Some of the best sleep I've had in months...barring your sister's invasion of my mind during such a rest." Isaac pressed calmly while ignoring the shocked look from his companion. "I wasn't under the impression that first time guests were to be subject to a sort of magical mental probe, but I would ask that it doesn't happen again if possible."

The doctor had to give the princess credit, she managed to keep that smile on her face after the man had said his piece, though Hollow could tell it was a bit more strained than before thanks to the small tug the princess gave to her cheek bones to keep said smile intact. Turning her gaze to the guard at the door, all it took was one quick motion of her head to have said guard leave the room quickly, giving them the privacy needed for whatever was to be spoken of next.

"I assure you, my sister entering your dreams was not done out of any lack of trust or a means to violate your privacy willingly, it is purely her job and special talent to walk the dream world and watch over our little ponies." The princess stated, hoping to disperse the ever-growing tension that had began to drain the merry atmosphere from the room. This was not how she had wanted her first actual conversation with the creature to go, considering how much of a help he could potentially be for her citizens if the princess played her cards right.

"Even so, as someone who is only recently becoming accustomed to this world, I ask that Princess Luna ignores my dreams for now, at least until we are more than strangers to one another." Isaac responded, pulling a hand back to adjust his mask slightly before continuing, as said article had became uneven as he had sat down. "Now then, before we continue to discuss things of a more important note, could we perhaps get some breakfast? I know hunger calls to me and I'd rather not let Marble listen to our ramblings without something to fill her stomach with."

Feeling the princess turn her way, Marble gulped nervously before shrinking in her seat slightly, letting out a barely audible "Mmm-hmm." in agreement with Isaac.

"Very well." Celestia agreed, her horn lighting for a brief moment as a earth pony stallion quickly made his way into the room with a conga line of maids holding dishes behind him. In the blink of an eye, the once barren table now had multiple servings of steamed pancakes, varying toasts and oats, multiple syrup canisters that each bore a different color top and a rather large pitcher of orange juice at the epicenter of the breakfast buffet. Celestia always took a certain level of pride when it came to her kitchen, as her chefs never pulled their punches with any meal they delivered, regardless of who she was dining with.

Looking at the spread in awe, Hollow couldn't retain the hungry growl his stomach let out as almost all his senses were assaulted with the divine meal in front of him. Peeking over at Marble gave the doctor confirmation he was not alone in these feelings, as the mare went from leaning into her chair to hide to sitting straight up and looming aggressively over a bowl of oatmeal.

"I knew you were royalty, but this is maddening! I've never seen such a spread before!" Hollow exclaimed, earning a giggle from the princess the second the chef and his maids left the room.

"My little ponies do try their best to spoil me, regardless of how much my advisor states otherwise." Celestia sheepishly remarked, remembering the last time she had guests over the chef had outdone himself with a twenty-layer surprise cake, earning the princess her first sick day in decades due to the stomach ache that followed. "Ms. Inkwell has accused the head chef multiple times of planned assassination by confectionary assault, though it usually just takes me offering Raven one of his creations to keep her satisfied whenever she decides makes a fit of it."

"Sounds like an addiction to sweets on both of your accounts, princess. Not my first time handling someone with such a craving, nor hearing about the body of said individual begging for mercy in return." Hollow remarked, his body seeming to droop for a second before returning to its straight posture, something that went noticed only by Marble, who had lifted her oats-stained mouth from her bowl in time to see the nonverbal shift in his demeanor.

I'll ask him about it later. He's already tense from Princess Luna entering his dreams after all, and I'd rather not press him with Princess Celestia here as well. Marble tasked herself, wondering what the princess of the night had seen in Isaac's dreams to make him react the way he did, especially if it was hurting him somehow. Even back in the room Hollow had seemed more distant than usual, as if he was remembering something that kept his mind miles away from the present.

"Is that so, Doctor?" the princess responded, an impish grin adorning her features. "Tell me, are you insinuating that I eat too much?"

On hearing princess Celestia say that, Marble turned quickly to Isaac and waved her hooves frantically, but to her horror the mare was ignored as Hollow leaned in slightly, rotating his hand around in a circle as he responded all the while ignoring his panicking friend.

"While I am no expert on your kinds biology and how a healthy Equestrian should look, you must agree that even for your size you carry a bigger flank than any creature I've seen. And considering your role as a princess its hard for me to believe that all of said flank is purely muscle."

Blinking a few times, Celestia was caught off guard for what she could say was the first time in a few months at least (Twilight ascending to alicorn status was hard to beat in the shock department, even if it had been planned). Any physician in Equestria would tell her that her body was the epitome of pony design, and any doctor would commend her for her habits rather than dare say their princess was doing something wrong. Even Inkwell hesitated now and then to tell her to pull back on the sweets depending on the day the princess was having.

The doctor in front of her, though? Celestia had a feeling when she locked eyes with him that the man would not hesitate to say what was on his mind, especially if it could potentially help someone feel better or correct something that was wrong, and that royal instinct of hers had once again proved true.

Marble, however, was currently fearing for her life. She knew Isaac was blunt, tartarus it was endearing when he was direct in his approach to help others. But to call the princess overweight to her face!?

"You know, doctor. Many who share your title in this kingdom would not dare to tell me that I am potentially overweight." Celestia stated, using a stern voice she had used when twilight was young to see if the man would back down from his claim or not. After all, if Hollow truly wished to help those that weren't capable of being helped he would be essentially starting a medical war against the Equestrian Healthcare System tself, as they would see his aid as encroaching on their talents and jobs and would try to suppress his efforts... something that had led Celestia to make Hollow start up in smaller towns first to avoid the bigger names of the industry for the time being until he could prove his words.

"If I wanted to flatter you or give you compliments, I would've became a governer instead of a doctor." Hollow shot back dryly, his voice coming off as almost bored. "And potentially probably doesn't cover the issue, as if I was to collect a census on this city's population alone and compare your sizes to the average number of theirs, I think even factoring in your alicorn status you'd be considered on the plus side of the scale."

Leaning back in his chair, Hollow unbuttoned his coat and reached into its folds, producing a hankerchief shortly afterwards that was then raised under the doctors mask to cover a sneeze, in which said cloth was quickly put back into his coat to hopefully be discarded later as a quiet "Bless you" was spoken by his companion, who had began to calm down when princess Celestia hadn't immediately banished the doctor to the moon.

"Apologies." Hollow said quickly as he readjusted his mask again. "But keep in mind my goal is to save lives and heal your people as needed, not be your or anyone else's personal trainer, so my advice can only be taken so seriously."

With that last sentence, celestia decided it was time to stop beating around the bush, as the doctor truly seemed capable for the job both withen his morals and his worth ethic.

"While I can't say I'll be acting on your advice anytime soon, I do respect your candid approach to telling it straight." Celestia began, taking a moment to eat a pancake whole before continuing. "It will be something you'll need when your stationed in ponyville, as the citizens in that town can be quite stubborn at times and tend to listen to the firm approach more often than not." Celestia told Hollow, magicking up a hooveful of papers from who knows where as she passed them telekinetically to the doctor, who laid the documents out in fromt of him.

"What are these?" Hollow asked as Marble got up from her seat and looked in close, looking over the leftmost paper in particular with a concerned stare.

"Those four documents are about your current assignment from the crown." Celestia explained, nodding to the paper on the far left of Hollow as her smile at last fell from her face. "That first page is from an agent of mine in town. They recently suffered from an attack of black vines from the everfree forest, and while the Elements of Harmony managed to pacify the threat, some of the citizens who came in contact with the vines are now suffering from an illness the doctors in ponyville can't explain. The document given will have more details on the illness itself and its contagibility, though an in-pony check up will be required of you to discern fact from falsefied rumors and superstitions."

Moving to the next two pages, Celestia's grim expression perked up somewhat. "On a lighter note, the second document is your place of residence, which will be an open building that recently became vacant. The mayor of ponyville was more than happy to lease it to the crown, stating that if we could help her citizens get better then the building would be yours free of cost, though bills such as water and utility will still have to be paid monthly to the government as anypony else would."

"I am surprised your giving me a place at all, I was certain I would be working from a inn or a tavern of sorts." Hollow remarked, a hint of relief in his tone as he picked up on the worried look of his companion. "Quick interruption, princess. Of those who are sick, would a overly joyful pony coated in all pink be among their numbers?"

Shaking her head, Celestia noticed the young mare beside the doctor breath out harshly as she spoke. "I assume you speak of young Pinkamena Pie? From the last letter my student sent a few hours ago to me, the mare and her friends are doing well, even if they are concerned about the possible spread of this illness to their friends and families."

"Thank you, princess. My partner here was worried, though she would've never braved to ask herself." Hollow replied, using a gloved hand to rub the top of Marbles head, helping to calm her down as she let go of the worry that had been building up from looking the papers over. The mare had only recently gotten over the stress of Limestone being at deaths door, the idea of her twin sister (by a few minutes) being sick as well was close to sending the shy mare into a state of hyperventilation...though Isaac's ministrations were doing a good job fighting that feeling, even if the feeling was dulled by the gloves he wore.

"No problem, Doctor. It pleases me to see your concern for your dear...friend's family." Celestia trailed slightly before finishing her sentence, unsure as to what the relationship between the two were, but deciding to take the safe route for now to avoid stepping on any hooves. "The third and fourth pages are files from our military, and pertain to the two guards being assigned to you. the situation in ponyville has only recently calmed down, and its citizens are even more riled up than usual, so they will act as both your and the towns protection if the need arises."

"So, just in case I'm not who I say I am, you have chosen guards that could worst case detain me or best case keep an eye on me." Hollow summarized with a neutral tone, finding no issue with having a bit of protection or possible aids to help when needed. "I respect the decision, princess. I am an unknown factor after all, and having the extra muscle couldn't hurt if trips into the neighboring woods are needed."

Looking the two files over, Hollow found his gaze brought to the third document first, sporting a picture of a cheerful stallion who seemed to look quite young even for Equestrians.
_____________
Name: Holy Lance
Rank: PFC
Age: 23
Classification: Stallion (Silvery coat/burgundy mane and tail) Unicorn bearing a spear piercing clouds as a cutie mark
Notable traits/actions: Enlisted in the Solar guard for 4 years and recently renewed his two contract for another 4 years of service. Notable fanboy of Element of loyalty and has gotten into several fights with other guards 'defending' her honor.
_____________

Turning his gaze to the mare and her document, Hollow realized he wasn't sure what he was looking at as it was no pony, though the moon sigil on the creatures armor gave him an idea about who she served.
_____________
Name: Eclipsa
Rank: SG
Age: 28
Classification: Female Harpy (dark blue primary feathers with red hair and tail feathers) Bears an aged tattoo of the eastern coasts pirates on her left thigh)
Notable traits/Actions: Enlisted in the Lunar guard for 10 years and has 2 more years before her contract expires. Rated top in her unit for tactical prowess and espionage missions for the crown.
______________

Placing the documents down, Hollow pointed to the last page with a finger, tapping the picture of the harpy twice.

"I have heard of several species living here during my time in this realm...but harpies?"

Celestia sipped from her tea as she regarded the last document, pursing her lips slightly as she nodded once.

"Indeed, there are many denizens both inside and outside of Equestria's borders. My sister was the one who picked this guard for your job, though I believe she might have picked an overqualified soldier of hers to make up for entering your dreams, as I recieved this from her not just before arriving here today."

Sighing, Hollow leaned back once more and lifted a hand beneath his mask, rubbing his eyes as he let the royals words sink in. Was this mare actually apologizing, or was this a ploy to get on his good side again to allow access to his mind once more? He certainly wasn't in a position to turn down the added help of an experienced soldier, but Hollow would have to keep an eye out for the lunar princess from here on out, in case Celestia's words didn't stop the mare from using her powers.

"Very well, regardless of the reasons I thank you both for the aid. When do you think we'll be ready to head to ponyville?" Isaac asked, eager to both put distance between himself and Luna and get a handle on the situation in the town as soon as possible.

Marble, having finished looking over the documents, picked them up and carefully placed them in her saddlebags before returning her gaze to the doctor as she silently sipped from her tea.

"Well, as the two guards would need to be briefed and there are certain supplies and legislative measures to take regarding these sort of actions, I would say be ready to recieve train tickets to Ponyville three days from now." Celestia informed the two, mkaing sure both of them acknowledged her words before letting her smile return. "Now that we have business out of the way, shall we finish breakfast? I've barely ate during our talks and am now rather famished."

Shaking his head with a chuckle, Hollow raised his hands up and took off his mask, setting it to the side as he began to eat his own servings of toast as he pointedly ignored the not so subtle staring of the princess.

Let her stare if she wants. Let my scarred face prove to her beyond a doubt that I am willing to put my body through hell itself before I let anyone else in my care fall to disease and plague alike. The thoughts echo through the doctors mind as he swallows his toast, downing a glass of milk poured by Marble to help it go down. I don't care what happens to me anymore. As long as I breath I'll make sure what happened to them never happens to anyone else.

Author's Note

huzzah! look whos alive!

Sorry for the VERY late chapter. Life got busy, but I managed to get past that and my writers block to pump this baby out. With things less busy for a while (at least until June) I'll be able to write more and get more chapters out.

Also, I write like 2 chapters and almost get a thousand views?! yall, that actually means a lot, and I thank everyone whos put time into reading this story so far! as usual, please comment or point out errors if you see them, as this experience is much better if its legible. Thanks again!

Edit: Sorry, forgot to post a chapter title