Hundreds of feet above the surface of Equestria, Tercio Krosus hung on to his seat for dear life. He held the ornate sky carriage's cushions in a death grip, white-knuckled ever since he'd left Canterlot. The vehicle drifted through the air, pulled by two pairs of gold-clad pegasi who were securely strapped in to the yoke up front. Barely any time had passed from when they'd first ascended, but for Tercio it felt like a very long time indeed.

"I assure you, you're in no danger," Princess Celestia said once again. She had tried, repeatedly, to reassure him ever since they left the ground. It had amounted to little.

"I appreciate the concern, Princess, but until today I had not realized I had a fear of heights." A gust of wind caused the carriage to drop unexpectedly, just enough to elicit a gasp and a surprised swear. "If the gods had intended me to fly they would have given me wings!"

"You know, not many citizens get to see the inside of the royal sky carriage, much less ride in it on an official venture. Just think of it as a perk of the job." Celestia calmly sipped from a cup of berry juice, amused by the usually steadfast human who was reduced to a shaking child.

"Begging your pardon, Princess, but I will happily think of it as such when we are back on the ground in one piece."

Flying across the country was the last thing Tercio had expected to be doing when he checked the duty roster that morning. Guarding the palace doors, maybe, or patrolling the perimeter, but "sky carriage escort"? That was something else entirely. He'd heard of it from time to time -- it came up every so often, typically assigned to the most senior of praetorians when the Princess was traveling away from the security of Canterlot. Being chosen, despite his newly-promoted status, was unexpected to say the least.

He'd asked for clarification, of course. When Imperator Stonewall arrived shortly after he was immediately set upon by Tercio, who insisted it must have been a mistake.

"We don't make mistakes," Stonewall had answered decisively. "The Princess asked for you personally. You will do as she requests. It is not open for debate."

Further questioning did, at least, reveal the reason for Celestia's trip: she was heading north to the predominantly griffon town of Swiftwing, a place that was feeling uneasy about the war, and had expressed a desire to pack up and leave for the safety of near-by Winterclaw, within the borders of the Griffon Empire. Apparently such trips were not entirely uncommon, and were considered "low risk" visits. "You win hearts and minds, you win wars," Stonewall had said. Two hours and a marching pack full of winter clothing later, Tercio found himself speeding into the sky with Celestia and her retinue of sky carriage pegasi.

The bumps and jostles of turbulent air soon gave way to clearer skies, allowing Tercio to calm himself for the first time. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, making sure not to look out from the small windows to either side. Just because he was flying, it didn't mean he wanted to see exactly how far he would fall to his death.

"Feeling better?" Celestia asked. She looked genuinely concerned. "I had no idea air travel would be such an experience for you. I suppose it's something I take for granted after so much time."

Tercio nodded quickly. "Somewhat better. Please do not ask me to watch the ground rush by, however, or I fear I shall empty the contents of my stomach."

"It's a start. Would you care for some blackberry juice to calm your nerves?"

A carafe and cup floated nearly motionlessly in a cloud of yellow magic in front of him.

"No, thank you. I shall be alright, I'm simply going to--" a slight bump bleached his face once more, "--to need some time to adjust." Tercio planted himself in his seat, relaxing his grip slightly. "If you don't mind me asking, Princess, why would you choose me of all people to go with you? Surely you'd be better served by a pegasus. One imagines they would not have the fear of turning into a crater."

Celestia laughed quietly. "Probably not. If you'd like to know, I chose you because you're a fine soldier, and because of what you said some time ago, during our dinner."

"Oh?"

"You'd mentioned that you felt like you were a curiosity, and that your unique form made you stand out as something be singled out and mocked."

Tercio cringed; he regretted saying such a thing, even if it was the truth.

"I do recall something similar, yes," he replied.

"I thought about it for some time, and I came to the conclusion that your apperance and stature could be used as an asset to Equestria, and not just as a soldier."

His curiosity piqued, he motioned for her to continue.

"You see, Tercio, the town of Swiftwing is very different from Canterlot, or Marestopholous, or even Summervale. It is a place where griffons from the north have made their home, mixing with the local Equestrian population. It is an icon of the very ideals Equestria holds so dear -- equality, tolerance, love, respect. It is one of a hoof-full of such places, and I value it and its citizens greatly. But Swiftwing is scared. They're scared that the Griffon Empire will soon join the war, and, as a mixed population, they fear that they will end up being on the wrong side of the conflict no matter who they ally with."

Celestia finished her cup and gently placed it down beside her before continuing.

"I do not think such a thing is remotely possible, but I have insight that they do not. That is why I've brought you with me. If they see you among us, speak to you, perhaps, then it could go a long way towards easing tensions not just here, but across the area. The griffons have voiced concern that we're only looking after equine troubles. They feel like strangers in their own homes. I thought that you, being not just physically different, but the only one of your kind, could help convince them that we seek to take care of all of our citizens, regardless of race or species. Think of yourself as a representative of all non-pony beings. A diplomat."

Tercio tapped a foot as he considered her words.

"So you want me to, what, tell them my life story?"

"Nothing so sweeping as that, no," Celestia clarified. "Truth be told we'll be improvising, but I'm confident in you. You're a born leader, they'll listen to you."

"Or at least have someone else to stare at in slack-jawed surprise," Tercio added. "Very well, if you think I can be of assistance, I will gladly do whatever it takes. Although I am not exactly a public speaker, much less an impromptu diplomat," he laughed to himself.

"I'm sure you'll do fine. Just be yourself, Tercio."

A chance to help others who felt like outcasts at times -- it was something he couldn't possibly say no to. He only hoped he could be as sure as Celestia seemed to be.

Swiftwing was unlike any place Tercio has ever seen; serene, strikingly beautiful -- and dreadfully cold. Despite it being early autumn the ground was already coated in a thin layer of snow, and a chill wind gently rustled the bare branches of the tall trees that dotted the outlying area of the small town. Tercio found himself exceptionally thankful for the winter clothing he'd brought along: snow boots that went up to his knee, treated to be water-proof, thick tunics and outer garments of fur and cotton for his chest and shoulders, woolen pants and hand wrappings, and a standard-issue snow cap, thankfully without the holes for a pony's ears. Fully bundled up, he almost felt warm. Almost. No amount of perimeter patrol seemed to be enough to fight back the biting cold. He envied the pegasi and griffons who made up the majority of the population, both of whom were immune to all but the most severe of temperature swings.

Celestia's meeting with the village leaders went on far longer than expected; morning turned to afternoon, afternoon to evening, evening to night. A few times he'd been called upon to speak with a griffon or pony, and he'd always introduced himself and smiled and made himself sociable, but the day seemed to simply drag on. His attempts to relate to the villagers seemed to fall on deaf ears, and while none of them mocked him directly he could still catch whispers and back-handed remarks whenever he was leaving.

The pegasus praetorians were no friendlier. Even among praetorian ranks the fliers in charge of Celestia's sky carriage were considered to be in their own league, an exceptionally tight-knit group of no more than a dozen pegasi who rarely conversed with outsiders. An entire day's worth of security and patrol had resulted in merely a handful of words exchanged between them. Conversation, it seemed, was not their strong point.

As the sun finally set over the horizon and the sky grew ever darker, Tercio was finally relieved of his duties by a pegasus who simply nodded as they changed post. Cold and hungry, he headed for the large tent that had been erected to shelter him and the others, a steady stream of smoke billowing from the center. A fire pit blazed away as he opened the canvas flap, warming him and filling his lungs with the scent of a hearty vegetable stew cooking in a large pot over the flames. He quickly made a bowl for himself and stepped into the overhang that doubled as a look-out post, finding it empty except for a mat of straw and furs. A small camp fire crackled and sparked as he took a seat, enough to keep away the cold breeze that played through his short hair and prickled his cheeks whenever it gusted. Thankful to be off his feet and with a warm meal in his stomach, Tercio ate in silence, leaning back against a stack of winter coats that went unused by the pegasi. It did not take long for his eyelids to grow heavy, and soon he slipped in and out of consciousness in a peaceful fit of half-asleep haze.

Crunching snow startled him awake, gladius instinctively clutched in his hand. He relaxed when it saw it was merely Celestia returning with a pair of pegasi guards in tow. The princess bowed to her escorts.

"Thank you Jetstream, Monsoon. You may retire for the night."

Her praetorian fliers dipped to their knees in admiration, then trotted past Tercio and disappeared into the tent.

"Apologies for the confusion, Princess, I should not have been so lax. The day has been long, it seems."

"No need to apologize, my friend. If anyone can sympathize with a long day, it is without a doubt myself."

She motioned to a spot next to him.

"Would you mind if I share your camp fire?"

"Of course not," he said quickly, moving himself over to make room for her. A thought went through his head of there not being enough cushioning for her to sit down, and he scrambled to find something for her. "I, uh, seem to be somewhat short on royal amenities..."

"Do not concern yourself, a winter coat is quite enough, I assure you," she answered in amusement. Celestia took the few steps over to his side and sat down on her haunches with a quiet sigh of relief, closing her eyes and letting the fire warm her. "Time has a way of dragging on when one spends the day conversing with those who would prefer not to see reason. It is good to simply be off my hooves."

"So I imagine. I must say, I do not envy the politicking and debating that you go through so constantly. Dealing with it day in and day out would drive me mad."

Celestia smirked. "Sometimes I wonder if I haven't reached that point already. There are those who would argue such a thing happened a long time ago."

"For what it's worth, you seem fairly reasonable to me," Tercio chuckled.

"That's good to know. At least someone still thinks so."

He motioned to the distant buildings.

"So the griffon mayor, Gorin. He did not seem to be my biggest fan. Neither did most of the ponies or griffons around here. Am I mistaken, or did our planned ambassadorial duties not go as well as we'd hoped?"

Celestia shrugged. "Gorin and his ilk are stubborn and proud. They do not show it outwardly, but trust me when I say your efforts were not in vain. I saw it in their actions, heard it in their voices; they wouldn't admit it, of course, but you held no small degree of sway over them. Gorin's wife, in particular, was surprised to hear you verifying my claims."

"I'm glad I could be of assistance, but I think I'll stick with being a soldier for the time being. It's far less stressful."

Above them, the night sky sparkled with a million points of light, as clear and crisp as anywhere Tercio had ever been. Vast ribbons of green and blue danced across the heavens in curtains of glowing aether, reflected in the wide river that ran parallel to Swiftwing's eastern expanse. He was struck by how still and calm the night felt, and as he stared into the wondrous night he marveled at the beauty he'd never imagined.

"I'd heard tale of these...winter lights, I think they're called. My father used to talk about how he would see them every night for months at a time when he was working in the northern lands. He said they were like the most delicate silks of green and blue and orange, stretching across the entire sky." He laughed softly and added, "I never believed him until this moment."

Celestia smiled and motioned to the glittering lights.

"Many years ago, when I was still a filly, my mother used to weave the most beautiful displays in the night sky. That was her talent, her calling in life. Brilliant gossamer sheets of the most vivid colors you could ever imagine. It came to her as easily as paint and canvas comes to others. Even something as wonderful as the very sight before your eyes pales in comparison."

It was hard to imagine such a thing. Having never ventured further north than Canterlot, Tercio was astonished by how striking it was. Did the northerners take such a thing for granted? Was it just another part of the night for them? He couldn't picture it ever becoming routine.

"I know 'winter lights' is a common term for Equestrians," Celestia continued, "but Luna and I always called it something else entirely, if only to honor our mother's memory: the Aurora."

Aurora. A fittingly regal name for something so grand, he thought.

"What were they like?" he asked. "Your mother and father, that is. If you don't mind me asking. I wouldn't want to pry on something so personal. I only ask because I've never heard you, or anyone else, bring them up."

Celestia seemed lost in thought for a few heartbeats. Tercio hoped he hadn't overstepped his bounds.

"I'm not sure where to begin," she laughed quietly. "It is a very long history." She spread her large wings out and stretched before tucking them back in. "Aurora, my mother, was as gentle and kind as any mare I've ever seen, and she was ever so lovely. Ponies often commented on her striking looks; she had a white coat, but it was tinted ever so slightly with just a hint or the lightest orange. Her mane flowed with soft pinks and oranges that faded into each other like the gentlest of sunsets. What I remember most, though, is her eyes -- a deep pink that, when they caught the sunlight just so, shined like polished crystal."

"Like yours?" Tercio asked.

She smiled. "My own eyes pale in comparison, I assure you."

"You do yourself a disservice, Princess. I would say they're quite lovely."

Celestia blushed lightly. "Thank you, that's very kind. You would not believe it to see me now, but when I was a filly I had a mane and tail very similar to hers. I looked quite different."

Tercio smirked. "You had a pink mane? Really?"

"I did! As I said, it was a long time ago."

"Curious, I have not heard of someone's mane changing color as they grow older."

"That is a story for another time. It's...complicated."

She pointed a gold-clad hoof at the gently waving lights overhead.

"Just as Luna now controls -- or rather, controlled -- the night sky, my mother once created the sunrise and sunset. The aurora, the so-called winter lights, were of her creation. She said to me once, when I was very young, that even the fading of the light should feel as comforting and familiar as the warmest of blankets. Together, she and my father created beauty that transcends the ages. The lights are a testament to her skill, even after all these years. So long as Equestria lives, so too will her legacy."

"She sounds like a wonderful mare. I only regret having never seen such a thing until tonight. It's simply stunning."

"I think she would be very happy to hear that, thank you. My father often complimented her on it."

"Was he like you and Luna as well?"

"He was. Luna gets her coat and mane from him, though she lacks the shapes of endless, swirling stars that flowed through his hair. Argo Navis, was his name -- very much a name from the old ways -- though everyone simply referred to him as King Argo. He created the constellations that every school filly learns, and he splashed the heavens with the great band of stars that spills across the night sky like a river of milk and honey."

Celestia leaned back and smiled at an amusing memory.

"In public he was the opposite of my mother, self-assured and sometimes boisterous. He was the latest in a long line of rulers that had founded not just Equestria but nearly the entire world. While he was never cruel or unnecessarily rude, his attitude could be a bit...off-putting, at times. Thankfully my mother was there to ease him into a softer, easier way of thinking. It took a long time, many hundreds of years before we were born and nearly a hundred after that, but eventually he became the symbol of Equestria's ideals that live on to this day.

They were wonderful parents. Luna and I were never left wanting for anything; if we were scared or unsure, they were always there for us. If we were curious or eager to learn, they always had answers. I know now we were privileged to have grown up as the children of the most powerful ponies in the world, but we never thought of it that way. They were never King and Queen to us. Just Mother and Father."

A golden-armored pegasus trotted up and saluted smartly.

"Your Highness, perimeter patrols reveal nothing of interest. We are, as of this moment, quite safe."

Tercio respected the stallion's bearing and professionalism, even if his attitude throughout the day had been less than personable.

"Thank you," Celestia answered, bowing her head. "Please, help yourself to a meal and a warm bed roll. You have served well today, my friend."

"Thank you, Princess." He eyed Tercio with caution. "Shall I arrange for a secondary escort until you retire for the night?"

"That won't be necessary," Tercio answered for her, letting his annoyance at such an implication come through. Celestia jumped in before the praetorians could butt heads any further.

"No, but thank you for the offer."

The pegasus locked eyes with Tercio for a brief time, then saluted once more and disappeared inside the tent. Tercio rubbed his jaw, the rough stubble of two days unshaven hair scratching against his fingers.

"I get the distinct feeling he does not particularly care for me."

"Whirlwind is a good stallion, but he does not trust others easily. While good for his duty, it's not so good for making friends. Give him time."

"As you say." A gust of wind kicked up a light drift of snow, stinging his cheeks. He wished he had something hot to drink. "Thank you for sharing about your mother and father. I know I have no right to ask of such things."

Celestia placed a hoof on his knee.

"Tercio, you needn't worry about upsetting me with something as simple as a question about my family. I may miss my parents and my sister dearly, but they are always with me in my thoughts and in my heart. I could talk about them for days, and indeed, there are so many things I could discuss, but that is for another time." She smiled warmly. "It is not often I talk about such old memories. Sometimes sharing the stories of my mother and father makes it feel like they're still here."

"I understand. To be honest, I asked because I sometimes wonder about my own parents -- my real ones. I wonder if they miss me, or if they're still alive out there, somewhere." He looked at Celestia with a skewed frown. "I don't even know where I come from. I used to ask my adoptive mother when I was younger, but she always said I 'fell from the stars', and that they'd taken me in because they wanted me to have a good life. I'm grateful for them, truly I am, but I wanted to ask...do you know anything more? Do you know who my real parents are?"

Celestia was quiet for what felt like a long time. Tercio prodded further when he did not get an answer.

"Princess? Please, if you know anything..."

"It's been some time," she finally answered, "but I can recall it as if it were yesterday. You're sure you want to know?"

"Of course. Wouldn't you be curious if you were in my position?"

"I suppose I would be. Very well, then." She looked at Tercio with her warm, reassuring pink eyes. "Your mother -- adoptive mother -- found you lying in a field of grass on the western edge of the Summvervale outskirts, late one night. She said she had seen a star fall from the sky, so close she could almost touch it. Something drove her to find out what had fallen so close to her home, and so she discovered you. To hear her tell it, she was terrified at first, as most anyone would have been; you were unlike anything she had ever seen, so different from a foal, or any creature Equestrians know of. She rushed off to bring her husband to see what she had found."

Celestia smiled.

"You were as scared of them as they were of you, and you cried and cried while they decided what they were supposed to do with you. Grace took you into the house, and after a short time they decided that I should know about it. So, a few days later, Luna and myself showed up at their residence after hearing tale of a strange child that had appeared from the heavens."

Tercio thought over what he had been told, imagining Grace and Roughshod scurrying about to find a place for his infant self. He could almost picture the panic on his mother's face, the quiet consideration of his father as he sat in his favorite chair.

"Am I the first human Equestria has seen? Truly?"

"Yes. Luna was the one who thought of it; an ancient word, from before Equestria's founding, that was used to describe exiles from other lands that were taken in by the earth pony tribes. 'Human'. She thought it fitting."

We cannot afford to take the chance.

And what would you have me do? End his life? Cast him out? He is a child, Luna.

He is a child for now. One day he will be an adult, and what then? He is dangerous, sister.

I will not deny him the chance at a good life, nor will I hear objections to such. That is final.

"--when I previously asked. Princess? Are you alright?"

Celestia blinked, jerking suddenly as Tercio's voice brought her back to the present.

"Y-Yes, my apologies. The day must have taken a greater toll than I had imagined. What was your question?"

"I was asking why my mother and father didn't tell me this themselves. They always seemed so hesitant."

"I...I cannot say. If I had to venture a guess, I'd speculate they likely did not want to reveal such a thing until they thought you were ready."

"Ready?" he laughed bitterly. "I have lived in Equestria for thirty-two years. At what point did they think I would be ready?"

"As I said, it's merely speculation." Celestia could feel his mood turning sour. "Do not think ill of them, Tercio. They have always done what is best, and I'd say they've done a fine job. After all, it's not just anyone who serves as a Praetorian."

"I know, and I'm glad they did give me a chance, but..." Tercio ran a hand through his short hair and let out a deep exhale. "What happened after you and Luna showed up?"

"We, too, were unsure of where to keep you. Typically, abandoned children are placed with a family of their own species -- griffons, zebras, deer -- but obviously there was none to match you with. It was your mother who suggested you stay with them." She laughed and said, "you should have seen your father's reaction. They had just had a colt less than a year prior, and the idea of raising not just a foal but a human child nearly gave him an anxiety attack right there on the spot. Fortunately, your mother can be very persuasive."

"Don't I know it." He chuckled at the memory of being guilt-tripped into venturing into town for supplies on a regular basis. "She's always had a way with words. The only thing I know for sure from that time is that she named me Tercio after her grandfather, the third-born of his family. Apparently she held him in very high regard. From there, it was simply a matter of adding her family's surname, and thus I was given a name: Tercio Krosus. I've always thought it a good name."

"Indeed it is." Celestia stretched her wing out and placed it around Tercio's shoulders. "I cannot say who your real parents are, or where you were born, and that is something I cannot take the sting away from; but I can, without a shadow of a doubt, say that they would be proud. Your adoptive mother and father did their best by you."

"Considering I'm sitting here discussing it with you, I think they must have done something right." He looked up at the gentle streamers of light that played overhead. "All my life I've wondered where I come from. I may never know for sure, but maybe that doesn't matter as much as I'd thought. After all, if I'd never fallen to Equestria, I would have never had the pleasure of sitting here beside you on such a beautiful night. If I'm counting my blessings, that is surely one of them." He placed a hand on her shoulder and placed the other over his heart. "Thank you sharing so much with me, Celestia. It is not often I am given such courtesy by those around me." Tercio smirked to himself. "And here I used to think you completely unapproachable. Joining the Praetorians was the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Princess Celestia dipped her head and returned his smile.

"You're very welcome. And thank you. It's nice to simply sit down and talk sometimes, especially with such good company."

Late in the night, with the near-by fire crackling pleasantly, Tercio rolled onto his back to find a more comfortable sleeping position. Half-asleep, he cradled his back and mumbled, then drifted off once more. At first, it felt like a dream, something brushing against his shoulders, pressing down on them. Only when it became uncomfortable did he groggily awaken -- and found a pegasus pushing him into the ground with all of its might. He gasped and grabbed for his weapon, but it was nowhere to be found.

"Don't fucking move, human," the pegasus said. In the darkness of the tent Tercio could not make out who it was. Only a silhouette revealed the pony's form, backlit by the fire pit. "Not a sound, do you hear me? Your gladius is in the corner. You may retrieve it once I am done with you."

The pony was strong, far stronger than he looked, and even as Tercio struggled to force himself up the force on his body intensified to the point of pain. He was immobilized.

"What do you want?" he asked in a furious whisper. "You had better have a damn good reason for me to not run you through!"

"Shut up. You are not to speak or I will crush your wind pipe like a straw of hay." For emphasis the pegasus forced his hoof against Tercio's throat, nearly gagging him. "I know what you are. I know what you're capable of. Word gets around; Polaris, in the training ring. Beaten to a pulp. The assassin, down in the crystal depths. We were told you killed him with your blade. But no blade inflicts the wounds that stallion had on his body. Word has it you're some kind of monster, a murderous creature with a hair trigger and no control over it."

"How dare you even--"

"I said, do not speak." The pegasus continued while Tercio gasped for breath. "I don't know how you managed to squirm your way into the ranks of the Praetorian Guard, but know this: I am watching you, and if I think you pose a threat to the Princess in any way I will not hesitate to watch you drown in your own blood."

Tercio struggled in anger, determined to gain the upper hand, before a swift kick to the side of his head turned everything as black as night.