Heavenly Crusaders

True Heart watches the exchange between Luna and Marougeka with a smile as the two catch up, then move onto discussing what happens next. He is happy when he hears that her, and all the other thestrals can be her royal guards once again, saying, "I am glad things are going well for you Marougeka, but I will miss you occasionally sneaking into my room and tormenting my sleep with the tips of your long mane."

The mare giggles and sidles up beside him, saying, "You do the very same thing to me with that accursed feather! You don't need to worry about being lonely, because even though I love being a royal guard for my lunar princess, I have come to enjoy the soothing sounds of mass every Sunday morning. Sorry to dissappoint you, but I shall be sticking around a while longer to keep tormenting you." Turning to look at Luna, she walks up to her and gives her a firm hug, saying, "I will miss being a royal guard my queen, but I know the others will be very happy to have something to occupy their time at night."

Luna hugs her back with tears in her eyes, saying, "We will have to visit each other regularly to stay up-to-date with whatever has happened. I will see you again soon, Mara." Stepping back from her personal body guard, she turns her eyes to True with a overjoyed smile shining in them and saunters up to him, then bends down and pulls him into a fierce hug with her wings, saying as a few tears streak down her cheeks, "Thank you so much for finding and rescuing the thestrals from their foul treatment, True Heart." Placing a light kiss upon his lips, she holds it for a few moments before returning to her sister's side, saying to her, "Let's go back home, sister, we both have studying to do for this coming Sunday mass."

Nodding her head, Celestia smiles and says, "Indeed we do, I sure hope I remember all the words right..."

Watching the two mares walk back up the way they came with a speechless look upon his face, he feels the thestral mare bump his shoulder and looks over to her, asking, "What was that for?"

With a small giggle, she makes her way up the stairs, saying, "Oh I don't know, perhaps that was for finding us a purpose again rather than just going through life keeping the insect's population under control. Or maybe I was just thanking you again for saving us, there are countless reasons that I could be thanking you...but let's head up to bed. I'm still tired and I don't feel like hanging from the roof since you woke me up."

Nodding and heading up the stairs as well, True makes his way upstairs as she retires to his personal quarters and looks out the back window to see the sun sinking lower in the sky, saying, "Well, I better get started on dinner."

When he wakes one morning, a few days later, he goes through his morning ritual and heads outside to find something to do when he spots Twilight heading up his path and greets her, saying, "Fine morning to you, Twilight."

Smiling and stopping right in front of him with a smile, she says, "It is a very fine morning. Are you busy?"

Shaking his head, he says, "Not at all, I was just heading out to find something to do, what do you have going on this morning?"

With Spike asleep on her back, she says, "I am heading over to Applejack's to help her harvest apples, do you want to come along?"

True thinks it over for a moment before nodding, saying, "I will take you up on your offer, thank you for asking." He then heads outside as Twilight heads down the steps.

When she reaches the wall, she stops and waits for him to catch up, then asks, "Do you think that you could teach me that spell you used against Nightmare Moon?"

With a light chuckle, he nods and says, "I don't see why not, but it burns through your magic like you wouldn't believe." Then he begins to tell her more about the spell as they head down the road to Sweet Apple Acres. However, they reach their destination before he can get to teaching it to her.

Spotting a few of her friends heading up the road, Applejack smiles and trots toward them, saying, "Well howdy yall! How are ya this wonderful morning?"

After chatting for a bit, they head to the orchard beside the driveway to pick apples, which takes them most of the morning as True watches Spike dig around for a snack and picks up the ones that fall off Twilight's baskets or he discards. Chuckling lightly, he spots a certain pegasus flying through the sky and says, "Uh-oh, here comes trouble!"

Making a beeline for her brother, Derpy wavers from side to side and tackles him with a hug, shouting, "BIG BROTHER!"

Twilight turns her head with a chuckle as she sees Derpy atop her brother's stomach, holding him tightly with her wings, saying with a smile, "It is quite clear she thinks the world of you True."

Rubbing her nose against his for a few seconds while oblivious to the fact she is straddling her brother's abdomen, she squeals and wraps her forehooves around his neck and twists to and fro, saying, "Oh, I missed you so much big bro! How long have you been in Ponyville, are you going to stay?"

Even though his sister rubs against him, his body still reacts as he says, "I missed you too, Muffins, but think ya could get off me now? You're bouncing a little too much."

Cocking her head curiously, she feels something hard below her and blushes fiercely, saying, "SORRY FOR GETTING SO EXCITED!" Stopping her body at once, she just lies there, saying, "Don't worry, it is my job as your little sister to protect your decency." Getting back to her question, she asks, "So, how long have you been around Ponyville? Do you have plans to stay?"

Glad that she stopped squirming around ontop of him, he feels himself start to draw back in and says, "Oh, of course I do, I've been around here for the past several years. I live in the south wing of the Celestial Cathedral."

Overjoyed at hearing that, she squeals in delight and squeezes her forehooves around his neck and rubs her cheek against his, saying, "OH, THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT!"

When her stomach rumbles loudly, she looks at Applejack sheepishly and giggles in embarrassment before seeing Spike pull out a huge apple, bringing a smile to her face as she looks at it hungrily, saying, "Wow, that looks really tasty." However, when Spike eats it in one bite, she is mildly annoyed and huffs, saying, "SPIKE!"

Spike looks at Twilight curiously and asks, "What? You took so long picking apples, that I missed breakfast!" when he feels a burp coming out. When the burp comes out, it makes him jump into the air and tilt his head back as a gout of green flame shoots out, then the smoke gathers and swirls round and round to magically form a scroll.

When his member fully retreats, he hugs his sister back and kisses her forehead, saying, "I look forward to spending more time with you later on, don't you have things to deliver?"

Gasping, she realizes she does and says, "Oh silly me, I need to get going!" then spreads her wings and takes off to deliver the rest of the letters.

Getting back to his feet, True hears Spike reading from a scroll when Applejack and Twilight both gasp in delight upon hearing it is an invitation for Twilight plus one guest to the Grand Galloping Gala. Once he hears Applejack talk about the things they could do around the farm after all the business they would get, he watches Rainbow drop in from a tree branch above them and talk about her desires. Deciding that the Gala isn't worth the fussing, he says, "Well girls, I will leave you to your fun."

Taking his leave of the girls as they don't notice him leaving right away, he heads into town to see who all could use a little help. He spends an hour helping Rarity finish up a couple of orders before helping Pinkie Pie make a bunch of cupcakes, then heads off to see if Fluttershy needs help with her animals.

Making his way back to town, he finds Twilight and the girls heading out of her library home to see them all have golden tickets floating before them, saying, "I am glad that you each managed to get a chance to experience something you haven't before."

Twilight trots up to him with a gasp, saying, "OH NO, THERE ISN'T A TICKET FOR YOU! I can write to the princess and ask..." but is cut off when she hears a loud belch accompanied by a green flash from her windows. She then sees Spike rushing out with two tickets in his claws, saying, "Oh, maybe I don't need to write her after all." Then asks, "What do you have there Spike?"

Spike giggles to himself at getting a ticket, which all ends abruptly as he stop beside Applejack as she looks at him with a knowing look, saying, "I mean, gross! I have to go too?" Remembering what Twilight asked, he then hurries over to her and says, "Oh, Princess Celestia just sent True and I tickets to the Gala."

Smiling at hearing that, the ticket floats over to True as she says, "Isn't that great!? Now we can all go together!"

True watches her and Spike join the others as Applejack walks up to him and asks, "Ya don't look too thrilled to attend, pardner. What's up?"

He looks at her and says, "It isn't that I am not pleased at being invited to an annual event by the princess herself, because I am happy with receiving an invite. The only thing is that I just don't have anything to accomplish at the gala."

Curious, Applejack asks, "Well, shoot, ya don't really need a big goal like us. Won't it be enough to just go with friends?"

True then faces her and answers, "I suppose that would be enough to warrant going."

Nodding her head, she smiles and says, "Of course it's enough, so don't be such a stick in the mud!"

He then follows the girls to their destination to feed Twilight's rumbling belly, listening to their conversation and joining in on occasion. When it gets late, he then heads home to do his nightly ritual, thinking, 'Today wasn't so bad.'

One day, True makes his way back to his home when three fillies suddenly surround him and make a big fuss about him not having a cutie mark yet. When they start to panic, he chuckles and then says, "Fret not, young ones, for I believe that the longer you go without one, the more special it will be to you when you do get it. As you are crusaders, you must always help others when you are not out having fun."

The CMC's all nod and agree to remember that, when Sweetie Belle says, "Let's go around town and try to get our cutie marks by helping ponies with their chores today!"

As they all dash away, True chuckles and shakes his head, saying, "Oh to be so young and carefree."

Months pass by with more than a few mishaps, in which True Heart is drawn into, such as an incident where the whole town were fearful of Zecora when she started to come to town, or the parasprite infestation that happened a few days ago as True Heart spends the majority of his day at Rarity's boutique, working on a medallion to hang around his neck for the Gala.

Putting the final touches on the silver medallion, he blows on the glue holding the thin ruby and diamond in place gently to help it dry. Setting it aside, he helps Rarity out with a few orders when he notices the bell over the door jingle, parting the curtain to see who it is, spotting Applejack and Twilight inside. Stopping where he's at, he sticks the needle into the next spot to stitch and heads out as Applejack says hello loudly. Seeing Rarity concentrating on her stitching, he then steps forth to handle their requests, saying, "Welcome to Rarity's boutique, girls, Rarity is occupied at the moment. Is there something that I can help you with?"

After whispering her answer to Applejack's question, she looks up at True and says, "Yeah, I was hoping for a quick favor, that she might be able to fix a button for me."

Growling under her breath, she then puts on a smile and turns around, asking, "I can fix a button faster than I can blink, so hand the garment over, darling."

Knowing that she is putting her friends first, True makes his way to the back room as they start talking about outfits and the gala, thinking, 'I should be able to finish up these two orders today and give Rarity a few days of breathing room.'

Once she offers to spruce up Applejack's work duds, she remembers that there's another who is going and turns to the curtain, saying, "True, what are you planning on wearing to the Gala?"

Pausing where he is, he sees that the paint is dry on the medallion and takes it off the desk, then steps out with it and shows it to them, saying, "I'm planning on wearing this medallion, this is a masonic symbol or talisman from ancient times that means 'Strong Health and Mental Vigor'."

Rarity's eyes latch onto the detail carved into the silver, causing them to sparkle for a moment in awe when she remembers what she was asking, then asks in a different way, "You're not planning on wearing any actual attire to accompany this?"

True shakes his head, saying, "Not really, I have no desire to own or flaunt anything overly extravagant."

Her mouth falls open as she gasps in horror at the thought of yet another pony attending the Gala 'au naturale' and allowing the growing trend to become more popular, causing her to stamp her front hooves, saying, "NO NO NO! I simply cannot allow such a travesty to occur, therefore I shall make an outfit for you out of my own kindness..."

Just then, Rainbow cries out, saying, "Woah! Look out below!" then falls through the roof and hits the floor, stomach first, then bounces backwards and lands amidst a group of mannequins. When she moves to get up, she hisses at the pain in her right wing, saying, "Sorry. New trick didn't quite work out right."

Heading over to his friend as she gets back onto her hooves, he looks her wing over and touches it gingerly, asking, "Sorry to ask something so obvious, but, does this hurt?"

Wincing, she pulls away, saying, "Ouch! Does it hurt being kicked by Applejack?!"

Chuckling, True prepares a mild healing spell, saying, "Alright, you just have a mild sprain, this will take care of that." then casts it and watches the silver aura of his magic sink in and mend her injury in the span of a second, saying, "Try it now, any pain?"

Flexing her right wing a few times, she then smiles and folds it, saying, "Not one bit, thanks pal." Only then noticing that she is a little tangled up, raising her right foreleg and then turning her head to see the green fabric draped over her wing along with the red fabric around her neck.

Something stirs in Rarity's mind as she looks at Rainbow when an idea hits her, causing her to lift her head and smile widely, saying, "IDEA!"

After she decides to make outfits for all of them and hold a fashion show, she then begins to sing about it while she pulls out various fabrics. Realizing that she is lost to her inspiration, he returns to the back room to continue working on the orders, saying to himself, "I sure hope that she doesn't push herself too hard..."

It takes Rarity only a few days to make the outfits for her friends as she leads them into her boutique with their eyes closed, saying, "Now keep them closed, everypony. Don't look." When they are far enough in, she then says, "Okay, stop there and turn your bodies to the right." Once they all turn, she smiles and then finishes, saying, "Okay, you can look now!"

Taking in the beauty of each of the dresses as Rarity goes into a monologue about them, True looks at his outfit to see that it is simple in design, yet elegant in its own way. Having a gentle sheen to it, he notices raised embossing on the pitch black fabric of the outer tailcoat in the shape of crosses with flared ends that can be spotted against the fabric's natural sheen. Looking at how the outfit is only designed with two forelegs like regular dresses, he spots a thin band that would cover the front part of his sheath and smirks at her thoughtfulness. Taking in the front part of the outfit, he sees an underlying silver chest square with a ruby red bow tie within the opening of a light azure vest, causing him to chuckle, saying, "You really have put serious thought into these outfits, Rarity. The clashing red and blue must have caused you quite a few conniptions."

Smiling proudly, she sees Opal rub up against it while purring loudly and grins, saying, "Not nearly as much as the conniption I kept having with trying to keep it simple, yet elegant. Isn't it fabulous?" Turning to the others, she adds, "Aren't they all amazing?!"

True is the first to speak, saying, "Even though the silk is more extravagant than I would prefer, it is indeed quite stunning and will look great on me at the Gala. Thank you for all the hard work you put into it."

When the others aren't too enthusiastic, he shakes his head as their responses cause Rarity to give in to their expectations and try again to satisfy her friends.

As True works on another order for Rarity, he sees her working on the girl's dresses. Noticing how they are putting her through the wringer, she works herself to exhaustion, which inadvertently reminds him of the battlefield in a way. In thinking of the battle for Acre before they tried to flee with the grail, he wonders, 'If there is a battle, how shall I protect my body from harm?'

While an idea comes to him, he begins testing various metals for suitability during a sword or magic battle. Upon discovering that a less common type of iron can block magic as well as strikes from weapons, he begins sizing himself for a coat of mail. Using small, tightly interlaced rings of cold iron to craft it.

By the time True makes a small patch of it, Spike taps him on the shoulder, saying, "C'mon True, the fashion show is going to start soon and you're going out in front of the others! You need to get dressed for it!"

Nodding and stepping away from his project, he heads to Ponyville where the show is set to happen when he overhears two mares talking about how a fashion celebrity called Hoity Toity is coming to see the show.

The news causes Spike to gasp and put his claws to his cheeks, saying, "I've got to go tell Rarity about this, she will be so ecstatic to hear the news!" then takes off towards her boutique.

Just after sunset, True stands ready to go out and show off Rarity's outfit when he gets a niggling feeling in his gut that tells him something's wrong, causing him to look at the outfits that the girls are wearing when he realizes something, thinking, 'Hold on...' Looking at a mirror showing how he looks compared to the others, a pit forms in his stomach when he thinks, 'I can't go out there like this, it would only end up in disaster for our friendship.'

Turning to face the others, he steels himself for what must be done and says, "I'm sorry, girls, but you must go on without me as I cannot go out dressed like this. All I can say is that it wouldn't end well for us, so think of me what you will for backing out on Rarity's time to shine."

Twilight stands there with a look of shock on her face as True steps out from in front of her, and walks away as Spike starts giving his speech, asking with a tear in her eye, "Why are you walking out on our friend when she's counting on us most?"

True stops and looks over his shoulder at her, saying, "All will be clear, in time." then starts to remove the outfit when he notices Rarity walk up to him.

Rarity's eyes are full of sorrow at seeing him taking off the outfit she made for him to wear in the show, asking in a trembling voice, "W-Why can't you go out looking so marvelous, True?" Then says in a frantic tone, "Does my outfit need changes If so, I can do that in a flash!"

He smiles sadly at her, saying, "It is perfect the way it is." then hangs the outfit on the rack and hugs her, saying in a low tone only she can hear, "Mine is the only one that outshines the others, and it would be bad for us all if I were to go out before them. Because I care for our friendship, I cannot go through with this." Pulling back, he places a kiss on the left side of her cheek, brushing the corner of her mouth, whispering, "I'm sorry, Rarity, but I believe that everything will work out in the end."

Turning beet red at being kissed so affectionately on the cheek, Rarity puts her hoof up to where he kissed her and smiles softly as he walks away from her while she thinks, 'WHY DID HE FEEL THE NEED TO KISS ME!? DOES HE HAVE FEELINGS FOR ME?' Needing to get out there, she trots to a corner of the tent while thoughts run wild in her mind.

Once Hoity Toity voices his displeasure at the dresses he saw, he watches Rarity walk out shamefully as the girls realize they went overboard. When the ponies all leave, he follows Rarity back to her boutique and stays with her a while.

Inside her room, Rarity throws herself around True Heart as tears ruin her mascara, wailing, "OH WHAT A TRAVESTY THAT SHOW WAS! WAHAHAHHH... NO PONY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND IS EVER GOING TO BUY A DRESS FROM ME AGAIN!!"

True wraps his forelegs around her and holds her as she wails out inconsolably, running his right forehoof along the back of her head and down her neck. It takes a few hours for her wailing cries to quiet down to gentle sobs as he nuzzles his cheek against hers, saying, "Don't worry, things will get better tomorrow. I promise."

Pulling away with eyes the size of saucers, she sniffles and holds her forehooves on his shoulders, asking, "Do you truly mean that?"

Nodding his head, he says, "With all my heart, I mean what I say, Lady Rarity."

Her emotions shift tracks at hearing him say that, causing her sobs to turn to sniffles as she closes the distance and rubs her nose against his, saying, "Oh, you have no idea how much it means to have you here to support me..." A new interest hits and takes hold over her, making her turn her head and open her mouth.

True feels her slip her tongue into his mouth while her forelegs latch around his neck, causing him to need to react swiftly to gain control over the situation, thinking, 'This is a very dangerous situation and it must be handled very delicately, for it could result in many outcomes...mostly negative ones in my case.'

Deciding that it would be best to reciprocate for now and then stop to explain later, he opens his mouth further and feels their teeth brush against each other. When he feels himself walking backwards at her guidance, he soon hits the bed and gets a surprise when she roughly shoves him on top of it.

Stepping over him, Rarity lays down on him and returns to kissing him hungrily, pulling back just enough to say in an affectionate voice, "You are always there for me when I am down, and I like that about you. Perhaps we can see how a relationship goes between us, hmm?" She then starts to shift her body up and down to get her intentions across.

Looking into her eyes and seeing the longing, True doesn't lose sight of his goal and places a hoof upon her cheek affectionately, then press a hoof to her chest in a show of trying to stop her, saying, "I would cherish you like no other would, Rarity, but you are too upset right now and in a vulnerable state. It would be very wrong for me to take advantage of you like this, so we must wait until you are back to normal before discussing a relationship. For now, how about I just hold you close so you can take solace in my presence?"

Feeling his hoof press against her firmly in a request to stop, her mind regains control as she runs his words through her mind again. Hearing what he said makes her desire crumble to ash as she smiles and slips off to the right side, saying, "Th-thank you for offering to stay by my side. Would you mind spooning while holding me?"

He shakes his head, saying, "Not at all, just let me shift to my side first."

Rarity shuffles over to give him room, then hears him shift onto his side and then moves back to be against him, going back to sobbing quietly, mumbling, "Y-You really are a good friend, True."

When True wakes, he finds himself chest to chest with his face against Rarity's. Not wanting to disturb her slumber, he carefully pries his limbs out from under his friend and slips off the bed without a sound. Heading downstairs, he then slips out the door and locks it behind him before heading home.

Once he returns home, True resumes working on his project and loses track of the days that go by until Spike taps his shoulder and startles him, saying, "True! TRUE! You have to do something to help Rarity, she's refusing to come out!"

Thinking it over, he then says, "Well, perhaps I could give you some advice that might help out..."

Panicking, Spike bites his claws nervously, saying, "I'll take anything you can offer if it means saving Lady Rarity!"

Nodding, True says, "Alright then, for one. I do know that Opal would do almost anything for her cat, and maybe her mood would improve if she got a second chance to prove herself? Think on what I said and think of what you can do to help out."

Getting an idea, Spike's face lights up as he jumps up, saying, "The fashion show, that's it! Thanks True, you're a genius!" then runs off to go talk to the others.

Returning to his coat of mail, he spends a few more hours on getting it to form to his body properly when Spike returns panting heavily, saying, "The show...is...back on...You are needed...back...at the boutique..."

Nodding his head, he says, "Very well, climb on and catch your breath Spike, we have a pony in need of our help." When Spike gets onto his back and clings to his mane for support, he then trots off towards town.

The fashion show is a big success the second time, greatly pleasing Hoity Toity. In fact, it pleases him so much that he asks for the honor of showing her couture in his boutique in Canterlot, to which Rarity agrees without batting an eye at the opportunities it would give her. However, he tells her that he needs a dozen of each outfit by next Tuesday, which causes her to have a mild panic attack before setting herself to work.

A few weeks after the show, it is time to harvest the apples. However, regardless of how True offers to lend aid, Applejack stubbornly refuses help throughout an entire week. Working herself to exhaustion and beyond while also helping others, it results in multiple disasters that True has to help clean up until he tags along with Twilight to confront her and get her to accept their help. It only takes half a week to pick the apples and move them to the barn, as cider season will be upon them in just over a month.

Managing to finish his coat of mail, True tries it on and finds that he needs to make a pad for underneath to prevent it from pinching his body. As he makes adjustments to it over the course of a week, Cider Season hits and keeps him busy for a day or two helping the Apples make cider.