It was only a single minute the Sun had just risen. Markets across Equestria opened up to allow early shopping. Diners opened to serve breakfast. Coffee shops offering a different option for the early meal.
The winds rushed through the valleys, and the Sun shone through the clear sky. For any that enjoyed peace, it was perfect.
Through the towns and cities, different creatures of all sizes and appearances filled the country. From the most peaceful, almost zen-like Changelings, to the fiercest and bravest Dragons. From the strongest and the most loyal Yaks to the graceful and cheerful hippogriffs. Creatures of all species happily received this morning. All in all, it was a simple day.
"You sure you'd be fine with this?" A single mare asked her yellow coated friend.
"Come on, Nightingale. It doesn't matter if you're a bat-pony, having a twelve hour shift is tiring for any creature." The friend said back as he calmly flew through the air. "Besides, you're not that heavy. I can lift any lady!" He proudly proclaimed as he lifted Nightingale even higher.
"I-alright, just don't drop me!" She yelled as she slightly tightened the silver armor she wore. "Seriously, Chivalrous. You should've at least let me leave my armor in the barracks." She said with a slightly annoyed tone.
"But, I'm not allowed in there." Chivalrous replied with a simple smile and head tilt as he lowered her to his chest.
"Right, you've always been a moron." She said with a small sigh as she looked into the distance.
She herself had wings, but Chivalrous was right. Having spent twelve hours, thirty eight actually, As the senior in her group, she was assigned to teach a class of guards in the Crystal Empire. Then she had another shift. Basically a string of bad luck. She wouldn't admit that to him though.
"You said you could lift any girl right?" Nightingale suddenly asked.
"Yes? As a chivalrous stallion, I must be able to assist a lady in anything they may need." He answered with a straight face. "My father always told me to respect and protect my mother, and my mother always wished for me to become a noble and righteous stallion." He was proud of that simple thing.
"Right." Nightingale was not entirely interested. "Can you lift a ship? They are girls, you know?" She suggested with a slightly bored smile.
After that devastating shift, she couldn't exactly think using logic.
"Absolutely!" Chivalrous replied in an instant.
"Wait, seriously?" She couldn't exactly believe it.
"Yes. As long as they are a lady, I will be able to give any kind of assistance!" He proclaimed proudly.
Looking for a few seconds, Nightingale got an idea. "Get to the docks, there should be a few airships there." She told the stallion.
"Sure! Which direction?" He was just happy to help.
"That way." She pointed a hoof.
"But, that's where we came from right?" He asked confusedly.
"Doesn't matter. Just stop a floor lower than where you picked me up." She instructed as a few scenarios played though her head.
"Private! Aren't you early today?" A night guard asked casually as a day guard walked into the hangar.
"Oh, Sergeant!" He gave a short salute with a smile. "Yeah, you know I don't live in the barracks. So, I sometimes get these easy and fast morning." He answered bashfully.
"Agh, don't act like such a newbie. You're lucky the Captain isn't here, or she'd tear you a new one for acting weak." The Sergeant joked as he signaled for the rest to leave. "Well, good luck." He said and left.
Turning to the spacious hangar, the Private didn't say much as he saw a few of them lifting off. Some of them turning invisible, a camouflage to hide whilst they patrolled. Then, two ponies came into the hangar.
*Thud*
"Hey! You're not allowed to-Captain!" The Private instantly stood at attention.
"At ease, private." Nightingale said tiredly as she landed softly. "Any ships that are unscheduled for use?" She asked as she lifted her helmet, her black coat suddenly turning a teal blue.
"Um, yes, ma'am. The Rain Fire unit aren't scheduled for any patrols or trainings today." The Private answered as his eyes kept darting to Chivalrous.
"Good. Chivalrous!" She yelled to her friend, who was happily checking out the different kinds of equipment in the hangar. "That one!" She pointed to one of the larger ships. "Think you can do it?"
"Yes!" Chivalrous replied and flew over.
"Um, Captain?" The Private anxiously spoke up. "We didn't receive any permission slips for a ship. Even though you can grant permission." He said it as he stood as still as he could.
"I'm not riding it." She replied lazily and started to towards Chivalrous as she tossed her helmet to the Private. "Take my helmet to my office." She said non-chalantly.
"Yes, ma'am!" The Private saluted and left.
"So, you really think you can lift a ship?" Nightingale asked with a joking tone as she stared up.
Skykeeper. One of the current biggest ships belonging to Equestria's militia, consisting of two hundred and twenty cannons in total. It's made of reinforced steel and densely packed wood. Standing at an impressive fifty three meters tall, it was thirty meters in width. Made with the purpose of carrying a small army inside, it was truly one of the biggest objects in Equestria.
"Yep! I'm just admiring the craftsponyship." He said happily before lifting himself to the bottom of the ship.
"Don't strain yourself! She's lifted up by like a million ropes, you'll be fine if you can't do it!" Nightingale just yelled after him.
"What'd you say?!" He innocently asked as he easily rose up.
"Huh?" Nightingale completely froze as she stared.
"Uh? Nightingale? Are you alright?" Chivalrous asked loudly.
Taking a few seconds to take in the information, Nightingale asked a simple question.
"Can you lift it-her higher?" She carefully asked, hoping she had hallucinated.
"Sure!" He answered happily as he rose even higher.
The ropes holding it went slack as the very tip of the ship started to scrape the ceiling.
Looking at the stallion smiling without even a trace of sweat or struggle, Nightingale had a slack jaw. Completely shocked at this, her mind couldn't fully comprehend how it was happening.
Taking her silence as the okay to let go, Chivalrous lowered himself to the ground slowly as the ropes tightened again. With a proud smile, he came trotting over.
"H-how?" She muttered slowly.
"I told you, I can lift anything that is a lady." He gave a ridiculous rule.
"I-wha. I don't. I can't, comprehend this." Nightingale was having a hard time. "You couldn't even hold a dumb box for ten minutes! How did you lift up Skykeeper!?"
"Because, Nightingale. The box was not a lady." He said as if it was a fact.
"By the Princesses, you're ridiculous. What's your secret!?" She demanded as she grabbed him and stared straight into his eyes.
"Simple. It is my duty as a gentlestallion to be as chivalrous as possible." He said without a hint of fear or worry in his eyes.
Sighing as she realized it wasn't working, Nightingale let go as she thought of a plan.
"PRIVATE HOOVES! GET YOUR FLANK IN HERE!" She shouted the order as the Private came running over.
"Private Hooves! Reporting for duty!" He gave a salute.
"Get me a mage that can teleport us to Neigh York!" She gave the order.
"Yes, ma'am!" He said and ran off.
"Hmm, Nightingale? What're we doing here?" Chivalrous asked confusedly. "Also, I got you a donut!"
"Huh? How? We've been here for like three seconds?" Nightingale asked confusedly before shaking her head clear. "Whatever, thanks for the donut. Lift the Statue of Liberty!" She pointed to the green statue and took a bite of the donut.
"You got it, ma'am." Chivalrous gave a bad salute with a joking smile and ran off.
"Um, Captain? Is this really alright?" A unicorn in a guard costume asked.
"It'll be fine. I'll take responsibility if not." She said with a serious face as she glared straight at the statue. "This thing is held up by large columns and the skeleton framework. It should be plenty of times heavier than the Skykeeper." She mumbled out loud.
Suddenly, the sound of metal crying sounded out. Several different sounds of iron snapping echoed through the now quiet streets. Every single creature that could, stared in disbelief as the truly gigantic green statue was lifted off the ground.
"Dear Celestia." The unicorn could only mumble as he stared forward.
"Nightingale! Should I put her back down?!" Chivalrous asked loudly with a bright smile. "I think something big is happening! And I don't want to alarm the ponies!" He said as Nightingale came over.
Inspecting for even a single drop of sweat, she was left shocked once again as she stared at her friend.
"Glitter!" She suddenly shouted. "Take us to the bottom of Mount Everhoof!"
"Uh, yes, ma'am!" The unicorn replied and activated a spell.
*Pop*
Appearing with a flash of light, the three looked around as snow landed on them softly. With the cold winds, Nightingale turned to Chivalrous with a determined face.
"Chivalrous, is Mount Everhoof a lady in your eyes?" She asked carefully.
"Yes? Every mountain is a beauty of nature, and every lady is beautiful." He replied cheerfully.
"Then, lift her." She gave the simple command.
"Sure." He said and bent down at the very edge.
And with no difficulties whatsoever, he lifted his hooves up.
*Rumble*
"By The Alicorns." Glitter mumbled a small prayer as the sky became dark.
The mountain moved as the ground rumbled.
"Wow." Nightingale was impressed as Chivalrous lifted the whole mountain.
As simple as that, he held it proudly over his head as an avalanche came dropping from the tips of the mountain. Covered by the mountain itself, they were fine.
"C-captain. Who is this monster?" Glitter asked fearfully as he kept staring upwards.
"Chivalrous Heart." Nightingale muttered without realizing it. "You can put the mountain down now." She said not too loudly as she stared.
It was, in all honesty, ridiculous. Sure, it was impressive. Outstanding, amazing, incredible. Such words didn't do it justice. It was simply, ridiculous.
"Ca-can you lift." Nightingale stopped herself as she feared the consequences.
She'd have a hard time, but she could handle the statue incident. She could deal with mountain, and nopony else would likely believe the truth. But, if Chivalrous lifted what she just tried to suggest, then it wouldn't exactly be a matter of just disturbing creatures. It would just be dangerous, and could cause a nation wide disaster.
"I-actually, no, we should stop now." The logical side of Nightingale finally won over her curiosity.
"Okay!" Chivalrous happily accepted as he trotted over.
Glitter stared at him with complete fear and suspicion.
"Hmm." Nightingale let out a thinking sound as she glance upwards. "Could he? Nah, no way. That's just plain absurd, right?" She asked herself with a slightly crazed look.
"The Moon is pretty beautiful today!" Chivalrous commented cheerfully.
"Beautiful?" Nightingale asked with a nervous tone.
"Yeah! She's as amazing as always, but a full Moon brings out her true beauty, in my opinion." He answered poetically as he gave a satisfied sigh.
"I see." Nightingale commented as she took a deep breath. Thinking, reconsidering more than she's ever done through her life, she finally came to a single conclusion. With a deep exhale, she turned to Chivalrous, who had brought out a chocolate bar. "Chivalrous, is Equestria, a lady in your eyes?"
"Of course! Equestria is beautiful! With so many different creatures living here, it's a vibrant country! Full of happiness and joy!" He praised it happily.
"Then, could you lif-"
"Halt, ye scoundrels! Cease thy misdeeds at once!" A powerful voice resounded through the area.
*BANG*
Landing powerfully, there she was Princess Luna.
"I told you to at least wait for me, sister." Princess Celestia, came through a yellow portal.
Both wore heavy armor, bearing weapons that just looked sharp to the eyes.
"It matters not! I shall take the reins and lead forth!" Luna announced as she instantly prepared to rush in.
Looking nervously, Nightingale gave a single command. "Chivalrous! Lift her!" She yelled to Chivalrous.
"Hm? Sure!" He replied, cheerfully as ever as Luna came flying over.
It all happened in a second. Celestia was prepared to launch several dozens of spells that could erase a creature off of the face of reality. Nightingale was covered in cold sweat as she just knew she was in trouble. Glitter had already fainted.
Luna was the most surprise as her view completely changed.
"Wha?" She was confused as the stallion suddenly changed positions in her eyes.
"Please, your highness. Calm yourself. Such anger does not suit a mare as beautiful as you." Chivalrous said with a soothing voice as he had Luna in her hooves.
"Luna?" Celestia just asked confusedly.
"You, just lifted her like that?" Nightingale asked nervously.
"Oh yeah! She's pretty light!" Chivalrous replied cheerfully.
Luna had a blank face a blush slowly made its way over face.
"L-Luna?!" Celestia was flustered as well as she wondered why Luna hadn't escaped yet.
"Um, I'm not sure if you should keep lifting her like that." Nightingale said nervously.
"Oh, right. Sorry." Chivalrous said as he tried to put her down.
"Who gaveth thee leave to lay me low, thou feeble mortal!" Luna suddenly yelled as thunderclouds gathered overhead.
With glowing eyes that spewed lightning, she held a clean silver sword.
Chivalrous just stood back in position as Luna became quiet again.
Silence enveloped the area. With all eyes on Luna, she slowly became sluggish. Then, her body slumped down.
*Snore*
