Chapter six: Betrayal

Heartsworn lay next to Defender looking rather annoyed. The Pegasus lay with his hooves around her, looking a little uncomfortable.

"Well... that was... disappointing."

Heartsworn had spoken, still looking decidedly irritated. Defender snuffed a laugh.

"You didn't actually think I'd engage in that sort of activity with you when I barely know you did you Heartsworn?"

Heartsworn pouted.

"Don't wanna talk about it."

"Hey, be glad I've let you stay in here with me rather than kicking you out on your rump okay?"

She grimaced slightly and nodded meekly.

"Yes Defender... I'm sorry."

"... It's alright Heart. It's alright."

Defender woke up some hours later. It was his 'day' off, but he'd gotten so used to his routine, he was, once again, awake at the beginning of the evening. Heartsworn was asleep, laying next to him with her hooves around him, looking very peaceful. He smiled at her sleeping form.

She is cute, I'll give her that. Maybe a bit overzealous though.

He gently lifted her hooves back and over from around his neck and repositioned her into a more comfortable position.

Well, at least she'll sleep easy now.

He sat by the bedside for a while before growling in frustration and beginning to pace back and forth through the room. He wasn't used to inactivity, and this was beginning to drive him crazy after only a few hours.

Rrgh... I need to do something! Anything!

He growled irritably and looked over at his armour. Surely Luna couldn't punish him for doing his job... right? He'd never heard of a guard being punished for being devoted to his service or his charge. Never. Although...

"You're to take tomorrow off Defender, you've been up every night and I know, so don't try to tell me otherwise, that you've stayed up that late that many times that you've literally fallen asleep in mid stride towards your quarters. So you take tomorrow off okay? That's an order."

Would she punish me? Could she? Is it against the rules to do so?

He spared another glance at his armour, polished as he had made sure it was each day. And internal battle was raging in his head. Would he risk punishment and go to his post on the day he'd been ordered to take off? Or should he find something else to do? It's not like he had anything to do really...

He looked over at his armour again.

Aw hay, I may as well.

---

Luna was bored. Very bored as she awaited her guards. She hated being surrounded, but Celestia seemed to think it necessary for her to always be accompanied by a guard, or two if her preferences were to be considered. The younger Alicorn sighed.

Tia... you're smothering me... Sometimes I need some time alone as well, and being flanked by guards is not helping.

She could hear them now, the steady rhythm of metallic shoes on stone as they pair approached. She loathed that sound. It resonated in her mind as oppressive, the sound of a controlled oppression. She hated it. She sighed again and looked over at the approaching guards. As usual, their faces were blank of all emotion. One had wings, the other a horn.

Typical of you Tia. Magic and speed. Of course you'd try to go with every contingency.

"You're late you two."

The pair stopped short and the Pegasus saluted smartly.

"Apologies ma'am! We got caught up ma'am! Not used to night time duty ma'am! Won't happen again ma'am!"

Luna rolled her eyes at the guard. Just like Defender... Much more enthusiastic, but like him none the same. But unlike him, she couldn't joke around or play with him. She knew it would only lower their respect for her more than it already was.

"See that it doesn't then."

The Pegasus nodded again, the unicorn following suit straight after.

"It won't ma'am!"

Luna spared a smile at the Pegasus.

"I know. I appreciate all your work. Now then let's go. I'm due in the throne room."

"Of course ma'am!"

The trio began on their way through the familiar corridors of the Canterlot palace to the throne room. It was silent, save for the sound of metal shoes on stone. A sound that constantly grated on Luna's nerves.

Just ignore it Luna, just ignore it.

She did eventually reach the throne room; seconds away from ordering the guards to take off their shoes to stop the sound of metal on stone. She sat on her throne rather aggressively and looked out at the empty room.

Again.

Why do I even bother to come out here?

She had no idea why. Nine times out of ten there was nothing to do all night, and she simply got bored and returned to her room. Celestia seemed to think Luna couldn't handle any real paperwork, which left her mind to wander for the sake of amusement. If it didn't, she was sure she'd have gone completely mad a long time ago.

Her mind was so preoccupied by her thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to her guards. Not that she really should've had to, they WERE guards after all. The Pegasus guard was standing tall, at attention as his duties demanded. The perfect guard.

On her right side, the unicorn's face distorted into an expression of disgust and there came a very, very faint glow encompassed his horn, spreading onto and around the hilt of a thin blade hidden within the engravings of his armour. The padded sheathing forged into the armour silenced the normally loud rasp of metal upon metal. The shiv floated into the air and made its way silently around behind the other guard before a little and...

Luna's ears perked up and she turned to look at the Pegasus guard as he collapsed with a pained cry, her eyes wide in shock. There was a small stab wound in his neck. The few other guards in the hall almost were instantly wary, two of them making their way up to the throne. This time, Luna welcomed the pair being so damnably close. That was, until they both drew small, sharp shivs from their armour, both (coincidentally?) being unicorn guards, and smiling evilly at the younger princess.

"guards! What in the name of Eqestri-"

She was silenced with a yelp as one of the turncoats brought the blade across her cheek, scoring a shallow cut. The other guards around the throne room spun to meet the new threat, only to freeze as one of the traitors held his blade to her throat.

"Don't move! Don't fucking move or we'll kill her right here, right now!"

Faced with no other choice, the now helpless guards held back, a few of them angry, most of them shocked that their fellow guards would even think to attempt such a heinous act.

Which is precisely when Stalwart Defender trotted into the throne room via the side door.