Chapter 3: Changing Dreamscape

"Nnnnoooo I prefer apples. I don't like pears at all..."

Defender smiled sheepishly and scratched his head with his good hoof. He was well on his way to a full recovery, but he wasn't going anywhere yet. His wing was still heavily strapped, having been broken in several places and therefore much more severe. Luna was once again at his bedside.

"Truly? I always found pears had a smoother taste and consistency."

"Be that as it may My Lady, I prefer the crispness of an apple to the... Squishiness... of pear."

Luna giggled.

"Suits the guard inside you?"

Defender laughed. He'd come to enjoy these visits greatly. Luna was a brilliant conversationalist and was always willing to talk.

"I guess so. But then, that would mean the guard would be sweet and refreshing. Not like a pear."

Luna simply smiled.

"Perhaps you are sweeter than you believe?"

Defender peered at her.

"A..Are you insinuating something your majesty?"

"Not at all Defender, simply stating a possibility."

This hopelessly confused him and he laughed nervously.

"I'll take your word for it."

The two fell into a companionable silence for a while, neither really wanting to talk, just enjoying the company of the other. Eventually, Luna spoke up and asked curiously.

"Defender... How did you end up here?"

Defender sighed sadly.

"I knew this would come up..."

He looked at her.

"I came from a place called Coltsvale. It's a boring place. How did I end up here? I was exiled."

Luna frowned.

"That doesn't explain why you came crashing through my bedroom roof."

"It doesn't? Hmm, let me elaborate."

He wriggled a bit in his bed.

"When you're exiled, they sit you on this massive... almost a kind of seesaw. One end is heavily padded, the other is flat. They sit you on that part, read out your crimes, let you say something, then a Pegasus flies down at a set speed and strikes the padded end, catapulting you out of the town."

Luna gasped.

"That's awful!"

"When they exiled me... The Pegasus must have gone too fast. I can't tell, see? They blindfold you and tie your wings shut. That's the rope your nurse found."

"That's Barbaric!"

"That's the law."

Luna stared at him incredulously.

"How is it that my sister and I don't know of this?"

"Coltsvale keeps mostly to itself My Lady."

Silence hit them like a hammer stroke and they sat silently for a while before Luna spoke up again.

"You say this happened to you... How?"

Defender sighed.

"I was framed... for a multitude of crimes committed by one pony in particular."

"Framed?"

"Yes. The first few offences... They sent me with warnings. Now, when I was accused of assaulting the nurse of our village, they decided it would be in the towns' best interest to banish me."

It was at this moment that a guard in shining gold armour burst, unannounced, into the room. Defenders' eyes went wide as the guard spoke.

"My Lady Luna. Your schedule dictates that you are late for your regular scheduled visit to Ponyville."

Luna looked at him sharply.

"How long were you at that door?"

"I just arrived now My Lady."

Luna was sceptical of the guards' claim, but as usual he showed no emotion whatsoever. She waved him away. A flash of disgust swept so quickly across his face Defender barely registered it.

"Defender. I'm going to have to leave now, I'm already almost late. I'm terribly sorry, I forgot about the session entirely."

"No need to apologize your majesty... I understand completely."

"I told you to call me Luna! Why are you so stubborn?"

Defender smiled wryly

"Perhaps it's part of my obvious lack of charm your majesty?"

Luna giggled softly.

"Perhaps... you have more charm than you think?"

With that and a wave, Luna departed. Defender waved back and frowned.

More charm... than I think? What the hay does that mean!

---

Talisman smiled at the younger princess lying on his psychiatric couch in his pseudo office in the Ponyville library.

"Now then, Miss Luna. If I recall accurately, we left off last week on the note of me trying you help you figure out your loneliness."

Luna kept her gaze locked resolutely on her forehooves. She was lying on her back and felt vulnerable and shy on this couch, especially considering Talisman's powerful ability to read minds. She knew he could do this, but he chose not to out of courtesy and great respect for the midnight monarch. But that didn't make her feel any more comfortable.

"That fits into my memory of our last appointment."

Talisman paused, peering at the princess.

"... But?"

Luna fiddles with her hooves.

"But I'm not sure that I need your help on that anymore."

Talisman raised one eyebrow in slight surprise.

"Oh? Pray tell."

Luna looked at him pleadingly.

"Only if you promise what I say doesn't go past this room."

"Doctor-patient confidentiality Your Majesty, I won't tell anypony."

She peered at him and he laughed softly.

"Or anything, I promise. Now, what is it?"

Luna returned her gaze to her hooves, seeming to shrink shyly.

"Well... There's this stallion see.."

Talisman leaned forward on his chair.

"Go on."

"Well... He sort of fell into my room one night through the roof."

"He fell... through the roof?"

"Yes."

Talisman frowned.

"Strange, but possible. Please continue."

"Um, his name is Stalwart Defender. It's a big and clumsy name, but it somehow fits. He's quite the pleasant conversationalist actually..."

"I see. How often are you in contact with him?"

"Every night and sometimes early into the morning."

"He's an adviser then?"

Luna squirmed uncomfortably.

"Well no... He's... well, he's a roof crasher."

Talisman looked over his notepad, one eyebrow raised.

"A... roof crasher?"

Luna nodded.

"Well, he crashed through the roof to my room a little while ago and he's been in the medical wing ever since. I guess you could call him an adviser though... I find myself seeking his council an awful lot."

"I see... and how exactly did he end up crashing through your roof if I may ask?"

"Well... He was banished from his old town."

Talisman frowned.

"I still don't understand. How does one crash through a roof by being banished?"

"It's the method they used. See, he came from a place called Coltsvale and they have a rather interesting punishment system. But... if you're banished, you, and forgive me if this is vague, are basically catapulted out of town, blindfolded and wings tied down."

Talisman paused, unsure as to what to say to that. Luna sighed.

"Yes... that was our response as well. Or rather... my response. Sorry, I suppose I'm still working out a few kinks from the old tongue."

Talisman waved a hoof dismissively.

"Not to worry about that. Tell me more about this stallion."

---

Defender was bored. No, more than that, he was dead bored. If he was any more bored, he'd probably be made of stone. His hooves were on the mend, his forehoof having healed up being the least damaged limb. Unfortunately, his hind leg and his wing were still healing, so he wasn't allowed to walk around.

Well, I guess it gives me time to think right? Ugh, but my mind fights against such stagnation! This is torture. I should be out at Coltsvale catching the real criminals, not rotting in some hospital bed. But I can't go back there either, banishment is serious. Maybe I can pick up a job around here. At least it'll get me food when I'm back on my hooves.

He looked at his still bandaged leg.

Literally.

He heard the familiar sound of perfectly filed hooves coming down the hallway and he looked up from his leg to the familiar face of a pretty young nurse. As usual when she checked up on him, she was blushing quite hotly.

"I trust you're okay Mr Defender?"

He smiled at her.

"yes, thank you Heartsworn. But, please, may I ask something?"

Heartsworn giggled and nodded.

"You already did, but go on!"

Defender chuckled a little at the joke.

"Is there any way to tell when I can start walking?"

The nurse let herself smile.

"Oh! The senior nurses estimate about another week or two at most. The wing however will take significantly longer to heal. Maybe another four to five weeks. Wing bones are very, very fragile and very delicate to work with."

Defender nodded.

"I understand. Thank you miss."

She giggled, blushing still.

"I told you! Call me Heart, not miss."

Defender shrugged.

"If that's what you want Heart."

She smiled brightly.

"It's precisely what I want, thank you."

With that, she leaned forward, gave him a light kiss on the cheek and bustled away, her face burning red.

---

Luna sighed at the end of her recount as to how she met started talking to Stalwart Defender. Talisman was frowning slightly, not from being angry, but from listening for so long, trying to make sure he got all the details.

"so um... yes, that's it."

"I see... so you've been talking to him about matters of state?"

"Yes... but Tia said-"

"It's alright, I'm not scolding you your majesty. I was simply clarifying."

Luna nodded.

"Okay..."

There was a short silence before Talisman spoke.

"You don't want him to leave."

Luna looked at him sharply.

"You promised not to read my mind Tal!"

"I didn't have to Majesty."

Luna went to talk and stopped herself, then looked at him sheepishly.

"Was I that obvious?"

"Nah, I just know how to read ponies. But that isn't important. It's time to go Luna."

Luna sighed and rolled off the couch, hugged Tal and started to walk out. Talisman smiled.

"Luna."

She stopped on the threshold of the portal out of his office.

"Yes?"

"Don't let him go."

---

It was approaching dawn when Luna revisited Defender. He was preparing to sleep when she trotted in.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is this a bad time?"

Defender looked over at her and smiled, pushing himself back up into a sitting position.

"Princess! Of course not, it's never a bad time when you're here."

Luna blushed softly and Defender suddenly realised what he said and groaned.

"Oh, that didn't... I mean I... That came out wrong!"

Luna giggled softly and trotted up to the bedside, facing the embarrassed stallion, slightly amused.

"It's quite alright. I think I was due for a little reassurance."

He chuckled softly and looked at her thankfully.

"In that case, I'm glad to be of assistance your majesty."

Luna rolled her eyes, exasperated.

"Defender! I told you, call us Luna! I mean, me. Call me Luna."

She blushed again, embarrassed. He smiled.

"I'm afraid that if I do that, ponies will think I don't respect you as you are."

"We're alone here."

"Except for the two guards outside of the room and the nurse in the next room, I suppose."

Luna frowned.

"Guards..?"

She turned and looked at the doorway.

"You can come in here now. That's an order."

Two guards briskly trotted in, one of them fairly young, the other a grizzled old thing. The younger one was a Pegasus, the older one an Earth pony. They sat obediently in front of Luna and saluted.

"Sergeant Stonewall ma'am." The tone from the older pony was professional and the practiced emotionless way of speech adopted only by the guard.

"New recruit, Private Brave Wing your highness!" The younger guard was excitable and the sergeant nudged him gently and the young stallion nodded and tried to put on the practiced blank face of the guard. Luna rolled her eyes in slight amusement.

"What are you two doing here?"

Stonewall lowered his hoof from the salute before he spoke.

"Ma'am. We were off duty and saw you unaccompanied by your usual guard ma'am! All ponies of the royal line are to be accompanied by at least one senior guard at all times ma'am! Her maj-"

"All right, all right!"

Luna giggled at the pair. Defender simply watched from his bed.

"I get it. And Sergeant, it's alright. Technically I am with a guard right now. Apart from you two of course."

Stonewall nodded.

"Aye ma'am, be that as it may, he's not an official royal guard, and so it is mandatory for one of us to accompany you. The colt here is under my command, and therefore came with me. He was rather excited to finally meet you Ma'am."

The private, Brave Wing, flushed at that and Luna looked at him and spoke teasingly.

"Is that so? Do I live up to your expectations New Recruit, Private Brave wing?"

His cheeks a rosy red, the young guard answered quickly.

"My Expectations it seems, did you no justice ma'am."

"Oh? I like you already."

If it was possible for him to go any redder, he did. Defender chuckled from his bed and Luna looked at him next.

"Adorable isn't he?"

The sergeant guffawed and Brave Wing, to his merit, simply stood firm, although his face was quite red by now. More red than white.

"Don't worry kid. You're doing fine."

The guard looked at Defender curiously, before Luna smiled at him.

"That's right. You're doing great, keep it up."

She gently kissed his cheek before turning to Stonewall. Defender could have sworn the private was going to faint.

"Sergeant, I'm fine. You're off duty, go and rest. That's an order!"

The grizzled old guard smiled.

"Yes Ma'am. Just call if you need us. Or, anypny. C'mon boy, there's sleeping to do."

The pair left quite quickly, Stonewall bullying the younger guard out to get him to move. Luna giggled.

"What a pair those two make!"

Defender nodded.

"Mmm. They're real guards. Off duty and still doing their jobs."

Luna sighed softly.

"Perhaps so, but it's annoying being flanked by guards all the time. Simply because they're all so... stiff! Emotionless! They don't care, you know?"

"I understand your majesty. Unfortunately sometimes it's best to be safe than sorry."

Luna rolled her eyes.

"Oh Goddess, you're sounding just like Tia."

Defender smiled wryly.

"Sounds like your sister is wiser than I've heard."

Luna giggled.

"Wiser than you've heard? What exactly have you heard?"

Defender started to speak but stopped, frozen.

"I uh... wait... Should we really be talking about this?"

Luna almost seemed to bounce back to his bedside and seize his hoof in her own two.

"C'mon! I wanna know!"

Defender hesitated. Luna smiled.

"Do you want me to break out the royal order for it?"

Defender sighed.

"Alright, alright! See, in Coltsvale we had some rather unscrupulous beliefs. I'll have to go back someday and tell them the truth."

"Unscrupulous beliefs?"

"Yes ma'am. The way I understand it, after delving into the older archives, the first mayor of Coltsvale didn't want that plot of land for his town. He appealed to Celestia to exchange and she refused. He had no real reason to do so, so she didn't see any point. Therefore, anypony who lived there since has been told to believe that Celestia is a tyrant."

Luna gasped.

"Tia? A Tyrant?"

The injured stallion nodded.

"Yes ma'am. In fact, there are quite a few ponies, if not all of them at least secretly, that worship the ground you walk on."

Luna couldn't help but puff out her chest with pride. Defender smiled grimly.

"I wouldn't be proud of the New Luna Republic your majesty. They're all very ready and willing to depose of Celestia by any means necessary to replace her with you on the throne."

Luna instantly deflated.

"What!"

"Yes your highness, and depose meaning anything from humiliation, imprisonment or... or death."

Luna frowned thunderously.

"Who are they to believe that my Sister is a tyrant? What gives them the right to think they can depose my..."

Luna peered at him.

"Wait... you're not one of them are you?"

Defender gave her a dry look.

"Me? I'm the one who researched this so I had reason not to believe it. Trust me Majesty, I'd pledge allegiance to you both just as readily as I would give my life for Equestria."

"And how read-"

"Where do you need me?"

Luna blinked. His face was serious and utterly sincere.

"Oh."

"I'd do it in a heartbeat your highness."

Luna smiled.

"Perfect."

---

Luna rushed through the castle in Canterlot, heedless of the guards that watched her as she went. It was almost time for the sun to rise and she needed to talk to her sister privately. She reached Celestia's room and stopped to catch her breath. It felt good to run. Feeling calm once more, Luna knocked at her sister's door. The door opened almost as soon as Luna knocked. She walked in cautiously.

"Tia? Are you awake yet?"

Celestia sat on the balcony on the east side of her room. Her back was to Luna and her mane and tail weren't flowing in the darkness, but rather fell over her shoulders, a light pink colour.

"Come in dear sister. I was just admiring the last of your beautiful night."

Luna flushed as she walked into her sisters' room and the door swung shut quietly.

"Thank you for the compliment Tia, I did try to make it beautiful."

Celestia turned to her sister and her horn started to glow, her mane starting to shimmer with colour.

"You did an excellent job Luna. Now, what is it you wish to discuss? We won't be interrupted here without my calling, so there's no trouble. We can take as long as you need."

Luna smiled and bounced over to her sister and snuggled up to her happily.

"Thank you Tia! So! First I want to know if my night was dark enough for you to sleep peacefully."

Celestia giggled softly and put a hoof around her sister affectionately.

"It was perfect Luna. Thank you. And your time with Talisman?"

Luna blushed very lightly.

"C..Can we please not talk about that?"

Celestia smiled.

"Of course dear sister, I understand. Now, what else did you want to discuss?"

Luna nodded, trying to order her thoughts.

"Right, right yes. Tia, I know you only just sort of replenished the numbers but... Would it be possible that you need a new royal guard for the palace?"

Celestia frowned in slight confusion for a moment before smiling again.

"Luna. This wouldn't happen to be about Stalwart Defender would it?"

Luna started.

Should have seen that coming...

"W..Well, it's just that... Defender has been trained as a guard Tia and he has been ever so helpful to me. "

Celestia smiled.

"Luna, you have to remember that I cannot simply let any pony join the Royal Guard! Especially since they're all guards of the day, and the ones who guard at night don't like their duties."

Celestia let out a small giggle.

"Well, except for Sergeant Stonewall and his student."

"Brave Wing?"

"That's the one. Those two just seem happy to serve."

"Does... does that mean you can't keep him as a guard?"

Celestia smiled.

"Luna, I know you want him to stay, but there is nothing I can do. I don't need more guards right now I'm afraid."

Luna instantly deflated.

"Oh... that is regrettable isn't it..?"

Celestia hugged Luna gently.

"Luna, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do."

Luna frowned. Celestia had put extra emphasis on 'I', and it was bugging Luna.

"There's nothing you can do?"

"No sister, nothing I can do."

Luna smiled.

"Okay. Thanks Tia, you're the best!"

The two sisters embraced for a moment before Luna turned and pranced over to the door, letting it open before prancing out and down the halls, earning smiles from some guards, most of them not even bothering to pay attention. Two in particular looked at her with a mix of hatred and revulsion.

Luna never noticed. She was too happy.

---

Defender sat in his hospital bed, but not in the hospital. He lay on the bed, on the balcony of Luna's royal quarters. He was very, VERY confused.

Why did she request I be brought in here? I don't get it.

It was cool, but not unpleasant. The sheets covering him, however, were standard issue Hospital sheets. Needless to say, they were stiff and irritating. He heard the door open and he craned his neck, trying to see who entered.

Stupid thought Defender. Who else would be in the Royal quarters of her majesty Princess Luna?

Sure enough, he heard Lunas' voice soon after he heard a soft boom as her door closed.

"Hey Defender!"

"Um, Your majesty-"

"Please! I've asked you to call me Luna!"

Defender couldn't help but smile.

"It's not liable to happen anytime soon your highness."

She rolled her eyes, exasperated.

"I will command it you know."

"That's one command I could not follow then."

Luna shrugged and stood at his bedside, looking out at the night sky.

"Beautiful, isn't it? The moon is only a crescent tonight, but I don't think I've ever done a better job with one."

"It's wonderful your majesty. It... I guess it's been a while since I've looked at the night sky from my little room in the infirmary. This is possibly the best night I could have been brought out here to see."

He looked at her seriously and nodded.

"Thank you."

Luna fought down a blush.

I didn't even think of that! Why didn't I think of that?

"That's quite alright. I'd thought you'd like to see the sky, and since my domain is the night..."

Please buy that, please buy that!

He smiled.

"Please, you don't need to explain. It's... I'm thankful that you thought of me."

Luna let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

Oh thank Celestia.

She still found saying, or thinking that, really weird.

"I'm glad you like it. But... That's not the only reason I had you brought here."

He looked over to her, brow raised.

"It's not your highness?"

"No. Defender, I would like to talk about your previous occupation and the verdict of your prosecution."

Defender gulped.

Oh Celestia, she's not... I guess this is where I get thrown out.

"W..What would you like to know Majesty?"

"You were a guardspony before your trial, is that not correct?"

"Y..Yes Majesty, that's correct. I served for ten years."

"Mhmm. And during that time, did you ever face threats?"

His face creased as he tried to remember.

"W..Well, I wasn't really manning the outer perimeter, which was for the younger striplings. I was patrolling the town itself so I did occasionally run into the occasional thief I suppose, yes."

Luna looked at him archly.

"Your talent lies in guard, is this correct?"

Defender felt his heart sink.

Oh Celestia...

He didn't answer, choosing to gulp nervously instead. Luna frowned at him, concerned.

"Defender?"

He sighed heavily.

"I... I don't know."

Luna was taken aback.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I... I never found out. The only adult pony in Coltsvale without a cutie mark... no wonder I was convicted so quickly."

Luna gasped and automatically looked to his flank, remembering at the last second he was covered by a sheet.

"No Cutie mark then?"

Defender nodded, depressed.

"That's correct your Majesty..."

Luna paused, then smiled kindly at him, gently laying her hoof over his.

"Don't worry. I know your mark will be great and noble. Like yourself in some ways."

Defender almost found himself blushing.

"Thank you... your highness... that means a lot."

Luna smiled for a bit more, then blinked.

Don't get off track Luna.

Her previous momentum from her line of questioning having dissipated, Luna coughed softly.

"Defender, when you've healed. Where will you go?"

He shrugged.

"I'm not sure. I can't go home... Exile is permanent and irreversible by law. Maybe I can find some other place to go."

Luna paused to gather her thoughts.

Come on then Luna, out with it. It isn't that hard.

"Defender, the guard stations for the solar guardsponies have been filled for a while now. Nopony has quit nor been relieved of duty in many years. You'll find no work there."

Defender sighed as he felt his heart plummet again.

Brilliant, there goes that idea.

"I see..."

"However.."

Defender looked back up at her.

"However I find myself in need of a personal bodyguard to accompany me wherever I happen to be going. It'll be hard, gruelling work with little time to one's self. There is only one spot open for this. You'd get decent benefits."

Defender smiled.

"And what, pray tell madame, would these benefits be?"

Luna giggled girlishly.

"Apart from being in the presence of a princess for most of your time that is? Well, you get fed without needing to pay for it while you're on duty, which for this lucky stallion would be most of the time, you get holiday pay too, b-"

"I'd like to apply for this potential position."

Luna beamed at him.

"As soon as your hoof has healed okay?"

Defender nodded.

"Thank you... your majesty."

Luna rolled her eyes again and laughed.