It was a pleasantly warm afternoon at the northern tip of Canterlot's wealthiest district, and Sapphire Quill was deep into a stack of papers that would eventually become the initial draft of her next play. She sat in a comfortable chair on a scenic balcony, her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth in thought. With the idea of a play focused on the human scrapped -- for now -- she had fallen back on her previous project, a drama piece about a pegasus living among griffons. Only upon writing the lines for one of the main characters did she realize she didn't know nearly as much about griffon culture as she thought. Perhaps a trip to the Empire was in order...

"You're tense, Mistress Sapphire. Are you feeling well?"

Sapphire glanced down from her writing tablet, where Ruby Rose had pulled away from between her spread legs, her mouth glistening with wetness.

"It's true what they say: the struggle of the artist, of the creator, is never over."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Mistress. Am I not satisfying you?"

Sapphire smirked and went back to her writing with a wave of her hoof.

"You do nothing wrong, Ruby. Do try to put a little more effort into it, though."

"Of course, Mistress."

The Empire would be busy this time of year, preparing their mountain homes for the long, bitter winters that Skytalon was famous for. She wondered if her contacts on the border were still around, or if they'd moved on. It had been several years, after all. She made a mental note to send a courier out that way.

"Things would be easier if this damned war wasn't getting in the way. Bad for business, I th -- ohh. That's better. Right there, if you would."

At least one thing remained true: the perks of fame and fortune were great and endless. A beautiful place to live, a young mare to satisfy one's every whim, and the pull to get whatever she desired.

A knock on the door frame interrupted her continued writing.

"What?" she asked impetuously, turning to face one of the servant mares who had made herself known.

"My deepest apologies, Mistress, but you have a visitor at the door."

"Tell them they can come back later. I am busy."

"It is Princess Celestia, Mistress."

"Well why didn't you say so in the first place? Tell her I'll be right there."

The servant bowed and left, trotting back through the master bedroom before going out of sight.

"Tia is eager for my company! Wonderful news." She motioned to Ruby, waving her away. "We shall pick up where we left off when I return. I may require use of your horn to finish."

Ruby returned to her hooves and dipped her head. "As you say, Mistress."

Sapphire hopped down from her chair and quickly checked herself in the mirror, fixing her mane and quickly fluffing her tail to give it more volume. Satisfied with her appearance, she cheerfully left to greet the Princess, humming merrily to herself as she went.

"Tia! What an unexpected surprise!"

Celestia bowed gracefully, fully aware that she could not show how she truly felt when others might be watching.

"Hello, Sapphire. How do you fare this fine morning?"

"So far? Quite well, albeit with a bit of writer's block. Entertaining the masses is so demanding at times."

"I'm sure. Do you mind if I come inside?"

Sapphire scoffed playfully. "That is an honor usually reserved for stallions, but I might let it pass this once."

Classy as always, Celestia thought, hiding it behind a smile.

"Please, come in. Would you care for some refreshments? I have a wonderful vintage of honeyed amasec that's simply divine!"

"No, thank you. I've still a busy day ahead of me and I cannot lose any of myself to alcohol. You understand."

"Of course, of course. Opal berry juice, then? Citrus water?"

"I am only here for a short time, but again I thank you." Celestia ordered her escorting guards to remain outside, then entered the brightly lit entry hall of Sapphire's mansion-like home. "Sapphire, do you have somewhere we could talk? In private?"

"You can consider anywhere in my home to be private. My assistants are sworn to the utmost secrecy, after all. But...if you really want it to be just us, there is a room usually reserved for wine tasting down in the cellar. Would that do?"

"That would be fine."

Celestia followed alongside the talkative mare, who was busy excitedly explaining the concept of her newest creation. The Princess smiled and nodded and quipped to feign interest, but the real reason for her visit was the only thing occupying her thoughts. They traveled down a marble hallway, passing a set of bedrooms, then took two flights of stairs to a dark, cool room lined with bottles of red and white wines. It smelled musty and damp, like a cave. Sapphire lit a row of candles and sat on a cushion opposite her guest, beaming from ear to ear.

"Consider me delighted to see you at my humble home, Tia. How is life treating you at the palace?"

"Busy, but tolerable." Celestia motioned to the wine racks, dotted with dozens of holes. "It would appear your party was a great success. The Praetorians speak of it as being quite entertaining, even if they are sometimes a bit too...descriptive, shall we say."

Sapphire laughed. "I like to think it accomplished its purpose. After all, they work so hard and put so much on the line for us. If I can reward them with drink and debauchery, then I will do my part without fail. It's only money, and I do not want for it, as you can see."

"So it seems. While it was an unexpected, somewhat sudden thing, I wanted to thank you for treating them to a night of relaxation. The opportunities are few and far between these days."

Sapphire was practically beaming. Getting in with the Princess was one thing, but getting in with her and her soldiers was above and beyond what she could have hoped for. The connections she could establish!

Celestia suddenly grew very serious.

"Now with that out of the way, there is something we need to discuss."

"Yes?"

"It's about Tercio."

Sapphire's smile immediately faded.

"Tercio? What about him?"

"There have been some very serious allegations brought against you, Sapphire."

Her face went pale, her lip twitching despite her efforts to not show any reaction.

"W-What sort of allegations, exactly?"

"He claims you drugged him with an aphrodisiac, then took advantage of him both physically and mentally. He also says you tried to get him to leave his posting to join you in a 'play based on his life.'"

Sapphire got to her hooves and stood before Celestia.

"You don't actually believe that, do you? Tia?"

"I don't want to," Celestia answered, "but I cannot ignore such a claim. I want you to tell me what happened between you and him, and please, if you respect our friendship in the least, do not lie about it."

Sapphire gathered herself with a deep breath, but she still paced back and forth.

"I...I invited Tercio up to my chambers at some point during the night. We had both had more than our share of wine, but we were, at least, coherent enough to hold a conversation. He told me of how he came to Equestria, and what his career had been like, and in return I told him about how I'd become a playwright. It was pleasant, though I am ashamed to say I let the alcohol cloud my judgment."

The Princess' gaze never left Sapphire's own.

"Go on."

"At some point we grew somewhat close; whether it was due to the wine or actual attraction, I cannot say. Perhaps a bit of both. In any case, I made the first move, as I tend to, and we were soon making love. I do not remember much of it, though I am exceptionally hurt that Sir Tercio believes I took advantage of him. It did not seem that way when we were together."

Celestia was quiet for a time, clacking a metallic shoe on the floor as she considered Sapphire's words.

"And what of the aphrodisiac? You know that such a thing is skirting a very fine line."

"Look, Tia...I might have used just a bit. You know, just to lighten the mood, to enhance our more primal urges. Is it really so wrong to want to share in the pleasures of the flesh?"

"It is when the person you're using it on did not give his consent to such a thing. It is one thing for two ponies to use it in the privacy of their own lives to share their love, but this...this is very nearly rape, Sapphire."

"Rape? I am shocked you would use such a word. It may not have been love, but what is wrong with lust? Have you never wanted to experience the raw, carnal desires gifted to us by the gods without a relationship attached to it?"

"Do not attempt to make this about me," Celestia warned her. "And furthermore, such a question is hardly appropriate."

"Accusing me of rape is also hardly appropriate, Tia."

"Celestia."

"I -- what?"

"You may call me Celestia, or you may call me Princess, but do not call me Tia. That is a nick name that I am not comfortable with."

"Oh." Sapphire looked defeated and disappointed, though whether it was with herself or with the nick name, Celestia wasn't sure. "Very well, then...Princess. You could have told me this sooner, you know." She stopped and scratched her chin with a hoof before continuing. "So, yes, I admit that I did give Tercio a bit of aphrodisiac. It was no more or less than I have used with others in the past. Perhaps he was affected by it more strongly than a pony would be? In any case, I only did so because I thought he was in love with me." She laughed at the idea. "So much for that."

"In love with you. Because he would occasionally glance at the viewing platform? You do realize how that sounds, don't you?"

"When you put it that way..."

"And this love you thought the two of you shared, was that also justification for attempting to get him to abandon his career and his soldiers?"

Sapphire flushed red, flustered. She stumbled over her words.

"I did not attempt to...I mean...it wasn't my intention to make him...ugh!"

"You seem hesitant to answer the question," Celestia said evenly.

"Of course I am! Somehow my attempt to share a night of passion, and nothing more, has turned into an interrogation."

"But you said you thought he was in love with you. That would imply more than simple lust, Sapphire."

"Can't one lead to the other? I admit I am aggressive at times but I never asked him to leave his life behind."

"That's not how he tells it."

"Then he is lying!" Sapphire shouted, stamping her foreleg for emphasis. "Since when does riding a cock make you a criminal and a liar? As if I am the first mare to fuck someone of import! Perhaps I should have aimed lower and gone for a street merchant!"

"Please watch your words, Miss Sapphire. It is only respectful."

"Respectful? There is nothing respectful about the position he has forced upon me."

Celestia lifted a hoof to quiet the young mare down.

"I will ask you plainly: did you, or did you not, ask Tercio to join you in a play about his life?"

"It was an entertaining idea, nothing more. It was something I said in the heat of the moment, in the throes of ecstasy. I did not mean it! I would never try to--"

"Sapphire, do you think me easily fooled?"

"What do you mean? Why would you say that?"

"It's as clear as day that you are hiding the truth of the matter, and I do not make that claim lightly. I want to make something very clear: lying about such a thing -- about attempting to draw Sir Tercio away from his duties, nevermind drugging him against his will -- is a very serious offense. You are advocating desertion, a crime punishable by banishment. What's worse, you are doing it under the pretense of a drugged mind and body, in addition to forcing yourself on him without his say in the matter."

Sapphire stood in place, not saying anything, but her jaw trembled like a branch in the wind.

"Let me be honest with you, Sapphire. I think you're a good mare with a lot of potential, and I think that, one day, you will be remembered as one of the great artists of our time. But you are not above the law. I have heard tale of your exploits, and they are sometimes distasteful. But you are young, beautiful, wealthy, and influential. That is a dangerous combination, and I do not believe you fully understand that yet."

Celestia placed a hoof on Sapphire's shoulder.

"None of us can say we are without flaws, or have never made bad decisions. I certainly made my share when I was young, and sometimes still do. But this path you're on will lead you to ruin if you do not change it. Now...there are two ways we can go about this mess. Do you understand?"

Sapphire nodded, no longer willing or able to snap back.

"Good. The first option is that you confess what actually happened. You tell me everything, from start to finish. I want absolute truth. If you do so, then I will ask Tercio how he wants to proceed, and we will go from there. Alternatively, you may continue your ruse, your half-truths and couched lies, and I will be forced to bring in the Royal Guard to speak with everyone who was in attendance that night. If it comes down to that, then I assure you things will not be as easy."

Celestia lifted Sapphire's head and fixed her eyes on the trembling mare.

"Make no mistake: what you have done will end in punishment. It is up to you to decide how severe that ends up being."

Overwhelmed, Sapphire sat on her haunches on the verge of tears, shaking her head as if it were a bad dream she could will away. The thought of giving up everything she'd earned was too much.

"Alright. I'll tell you everything you want to know..."

Sword and shield clashed in a flurry of movement, a lethal dance of steel and iron and wood that had played out a thousand times before. Both fighters looked for the tiniest hesitation, the slightest miscalculation, that would allow them to land the killing blow. Long seconds passed before, finally, a shield parry knocked aside a blade, allowing a gladius to be thrust mere inches from an exposed throat.

"Well played, Krosus! Well played!"

Imperator Stonewall clapped a hoof against Tercio's back, motioning to the blade that had come to a rest just in front of Celestia's neck. Nearly an hour had passed since the start of the day's combat drills -- the very same the princess had so struggled with for several weeks now. She had improved, without a doubt, but extended training still wore her down and splintered her thoughts.

"She almost had you that time."

"Almost," Tercio smirked in Celestia's direction. The princess returned the favor and took a few steps back, sliding her dual long swords into sheathes on one side of her body as she knocked back a crystal glass of flavored water. Combat training, she'd found out, worked up a vicious thirst. "That was quite good, Princess. At this rate we'll make you a world-class swordsmare in no time."

"Easy to say when you are used to such a lifestyle," Celestia retorted.

Polaris, scarred from his encounters with both the cultists and Tercio's then-unknown rage, levitated a pair of his own weapons before him, swinging them a few times to get a good feel for his magic down. Ever since he'd agreed to become Celestia's personal arms trainer things had become much more complicated than being a simple Praetorian; the task of coming up with a training regimen for the Princess of Equestria was a daunting task, and one that had fallen squarely on his shoulders. He relished his position all the same as a chance to prove himself and further his career.

"Come now, Princess, we all had to start somewhere. Learning the trade of lethal defense is not something that can be learned in a day. It takes blood, sweat and tears. Hopefully we can stick to the sweat part and avoid the others."

"If only it had been that easy when I was in training," Tercio added.

"No kidding. Anyway, I believe this is a perfect time for a break. We'll resume shortly, so get your water in while you have the chance. Stonewall, if you would come with me?"

Stonewall nodded and took a place beside Polaris, and together they left through the grand entrance doors with talk of combat details darting between them. Now without someone to watch his every move, Tercio leaned against a carved pillar and eased himself to a sitting position with a sigh of relief, resting his head against the polished marble and letting his sword's pommel clatter against the tile.

"To be eighteen again," he said aloud with a bemused laugh. "I am not getting any younger, or so my body keeps insisting."

Celestia brought over a pair of glasses that bobbed in a shimmering cloud of magic, filled nearly to the top with orange-flavored water.

"When you get to be four hundred years old you can complain about your age."

Tercio grabbed one of the glasses and lifted it in thanks.

"At this rate I'll be lucky to make it to forty."

"I'm surprised I haven't dropped dead from exertion from Polaris' teaching methods, so consider yourself blessed, my friend." Celestia tugged at her jeweled breast collar that had long since become uncomfortable. Sweat had made it chafe something fierce, much to her annoyance. A pink cushion levitated over and she took a welcomed seat next to Equestria's resident human-turned-sparring partner who was still recovering from the great effort that combat, even training, required.

"You do well," he said cheerfully despite his exhaustion. "Polaris' methods may be demanding but I have already seen a marked improvement in your performance; I used to be able to best you without effort. Now I have to pay attention as if I was fighting for my very life. You've even out-fought me a few times! Soon I will have to rely on you for protection, instead of the other way around."

Celestia laughed, then drank from her glass until it was nearly empty.

"I will gladly change you places if you take this ornamental pain in the neck. Remind me to drop the breast collar before engaging in combat." A pitcher of citrus water levitated before them, and she refilled their glasses. "I have not had a chance to speak with you in a few days. How have you been?"

"I cannot complain, really. We've been so busy that I've hardly had time to think about, well...her. I should call that good fortune."

"Do you still believe you made the right choice?"

He nodded. "I do. That first night after the party, I felt so damned angry. Admitting all of it to you was the best thing I could have done. When you later said that she had admitted to what she'd done, and asked me how I wanted to proceed, I wasn't sure what to say. Perhaps I've grown soft in my years, or maybe I remember what it's like to be so sure the world could do you no wrong."

"You surprised yourself, didn't you? I could tell."

"I suppose I did. I thought about it for a long time. I asked myself, 'could I really ruin this young mare's life?' In the end I realized that no, I could not. Distasteful and misguided though her actions were, I could not very well see her banished. She has much to learn about the real world. Perhaps now she realizes that."

"Sapphire is no longer welcome in the castle, at least. You won't have to worry about running into her again. She's also volunteered to donate the entire earnings from her next tour to the Equestrian treasury on my word that it will be used to buy food and supplies for our soldiers. The latter, I think, was less of a gesture of generosity and more of an attempt to make an apology in the only real way she knew how."

"She could have apologized to me personally," Tercio grumbled.

"She still might, but pride is a strange thing. She is ashamed of how she's acted. This is her attempt at correcting that, small start though it may be."

"'Everyone deserves a second chance,' eh? I guess all of that talk of mercy and acceptance in your speeches has rubbed off on me."

Celestia smiled warmly. "It's one of our founding pillars, after all, and actions speak louder than words."

"As you say. Truthfully, I am glad to be done with it; I can return to focusing on the important things, rather than some misguided mare's attempts at one-sided romance."

"Like...?"

"Like, oh...not getting shown up by the Princess in single combat?"

"I don't think you need to worry about that too much, Tercio," she laughed in amusement. "I must look like a foal flailing her legs about compared to you, or really any of the Praetorians."

"Come now, you've improved a great deal! It's a wonder I can keep fighting for so long against you, really. You're stronger than you know. Consider yourself lucky: not everyone can be gifted with great beauty and great prowess."

Celestia smiled and put a dramatic hoof over her chest.

"Sir Tercio, flattery will get you nowhere."

"Oh I don't know," he replied, standing back up with a grunt, "it's gotten me this far. If flattery means less sword strikes to watch out for, then you'd best prepare yourself for an onslaught of compliments."

With a stretch of her wings Celestia returned to her hooves, working out the kinks in her neck that had developed from the weight of the twin swords tugging at her. For a time she studied Tercio with an inquisitive eye, watching him practice a few strikes with his weapon and readjust his armor's various straps and fittings. She enjoyed his company the more she knew of him, though she couldn't quite pin down why.

The creaking of the throne room's double doors echoed loudly, drawing her attention back to the moment.

"Looks like we're ready to go, Princess," Tercio said with an amused look. "Do try to avoid falling on your own blades."

Celestia slid the twin swords from their sheathes and flashed a wry grin.

"If I didn't know any better, Sir Tercio, I'd say that's a challenge."

"More of a challenge than you'll be?"

She took a ready stance and levitated her weapons before her, peering between the sharpened blades.

"We'll just see about that."

Getting away from Canterlot was a rare treat in the Praetorian Guard, unless one happened to be part of the pegasus retinue that pulled Celestia's royal sky carriage. Doubly so when it meant visiting somewhere new. For Tercio, getting picked to be part of the Princess' official escort meant a trip to the distant eastern shore of Equestria's borders, a place called Wither Shoals that hugged the coast of the Sea of Lights, famous for its white cliffs and colorful scenery.

He and seven others had arrived mid-day in a pair of sky wagons that had taken up flanking positions alongside the royal carriage, and from his seat he was able to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of a place he'd never seen -- air sickness not withstanding. The towering mountains of central Equestria had given way to endless forests of red, yellow and orange trees, and the vast, endless waters of the sea stretched out to the horizon in shimmering, cool waves of deep blue.

The others had rumored that the eastern expanses were suffering from decreased trade with the nation-state of Zevran across the ocean, and, as such, were throwing a fit about not getting the supplies they expected.

"It can never be bandits or deer raiding parties," one of the others had said, "it's always trade disagreements or political tripe."

Tercio reminded the young Praetorian about the attack on the castle grounds. It was not an experience he was eager to repeat.

The trip had its perks, of course. Whatever their view on the current situation, the trade guilds were still as awed by Celestia's presence as anyone else, and that translated to piles of gourmet food and extravagent gifts for all involved. Tercio himself ended up with a carved trinket made of ironbark dotted with tiny rubies; a stylized image of B'wu'ale, the zebra spirit-god of prosperity and bountiful harvests. He later regretted not being more thankful for the gift, but eating enough food to kill a manticore had made him concerned more with rest than gifts.

As escort duties went, it was relatively uneventful. Even the town of Swiftwing had broken out into politicos bickering back and forth for several hours. But Wither Shoals? It was practically a paid retreat.

The Praetorians made camp half a mile inland, setting up their large tent where a thick copse of trees met the rocky outflow of a narrow river that spilled into the ocean. The season had conspired to turn markedly cold, but not unbearably so. Thankfully, the requisition officer had seen fit to give them all suitable winter clothing, and Tercio and his companions remained relatively comfortable during their hours spent at Celestia's side or on guard at the camp site.

Night fell without incident and the Praetorians prepped their bonfire, stacking chopped wood so that the stallion on duty could simply toss a log onto the flames. Standing beside it and rubbing his hands for warmth, Tercio looked forward to curling up in his bed roll and getting a good night's rest -- or at least as much as he could until his shift started. He looked to the horizon to try and judge the time, but the moon was hidden by obscuring clouds. He hoped the others would wake him up at the appropriate time.

The fire crackled and popped as he stirred the coals. Behind him he could hear several of the stallions laughing over some tale or other, but he was content to stand near the warmth and comfort provided by the flickering flames. He'd always found them to be relaxing, a reminder of many nights spent out in the fields with his father and brother as they'd watched the stars rise. He sighed, wishing he could visit them again. Time away from the military was hard to come by.

The distinctive flapping of wings and the sound of a someone landing on the hard-packed earth turned him around just in time to see Princess Celestia folding her wings in, a pair of gold-clad pegasus guards at her side. She dismissed them with a few words and was soon surrounded by Praetorians eager to talk about the day's events. Ever the compassionate leader, the princess spent the better part of half an hour chatting and laughing with her soldiers over hot cups of tea and small treats left for the Praetorians by the locals. Tercio sat off to one side with Rimeberry and simply listened, making idle conversation with the big earth pony as he wrote a letter to his sister in the north.

Tercio was nearly ready to turn in for the night when Celestia approached him. An embroidered saddle bag around her waist filled with gifts bobbed as she came over, and he and Rimeberry saluted and bowed their heads in respect.

"Good evening Tercio, Rimeberry. How fares your night?"

"Uneventful, just the way I like it," Rime answered, tucking his helm against his side.

"Similarly, I cannot complain," Tercio added. "And you, Princess?"

"I am well, thank you, though somewhat tired by the process of negotiations. You'd think I would be used to it after so long." She briefly adjusted the fitting of her long, gilded robes that doubled as formal winter clothing.

"I would have given up a long time ago. You couldn't pay me enough to stand around and mingle with self-important ponies for hours on end." Rime shook his head. "I don't know how you do it, Princess."

"Mostly by day-dreaming," she joked. "I saw you both didn't join in with the rest of the Praetorians. Is something the matter?"

"Not in the least. Sometimes you just need to have a little peace and quiet when you write. I hope there was no offense taken, Your Highness."

"Of course not. I can understand the value of privacy more than most." She looked at Tercio. "I assume you would say the same?"

"Sort of," he replied. "I've been surrounded by stallions all day. Call it a break. Current company not withstanding."

"What, I don't qualify as a stallion?" Rimeberry asked mockingly.

"Well you do look quite good in a dress, my friend."

"We were supposed to keep that between us."

Celestia laughed with them, then reached into one of the many pockets of her saddle bags, floating out a scroll wrapped in green ribbon.

"I'd nearly forgotten: I have something for you, Decanus Rimeberry."

"You do? Is that from who I think it is?" His eyes seemed to light up in recognition.

"See for yourself."

He snatched the scroll from the air and quickly unfurled it, quickly skimming through what Tercio assumed was a letter of some kind. Whatever it was, it made Rimeberry break out into a broad smile.

"It's from my brother, out in Marestopholous! His wife gave birth during the last full moon! I'm...I'm an uncle!"

Tercio clapped a hand on Rime's shoulder and offered heartfelt congratulations to his friend and compatriot, who was nearly in a state of gleeful shock.

"That's wonderful news," Celestia said. "Congratulations, Rimeberry."

"T-Thank you, Princess! I wasn't expecting such a thing. We'd all thought his wife unable to bear foals; this is truly a blessing from the gods!" The commotion from the usually quiet and soft-spoken stallion had drawn numerous looks of curiosity from the others. Rimeberry waved at them and lifted the scroll, shouting about his new-found family member. They cheered and called for him to come over and celebrate.

"I, uh, think they want me to join them," he said to Celestia with a chuckle. She smiled back.

"By all means, my friend. Enjoy yourself, and congratulations once more."

"Thank you, Princess!" He nudged Tercio's shoulder. "I'm sure it won't be as grand as the party you put on, but hell, come on over."

"I will," Tercio nodded. "Give me a bit."

"Sure thing!"

With that, Rimeberry galloped over to the other Praetorians and was immediately surrounded. Celestia laughed quietly at the celebration and turned her attention to Tercio. The warm, brown furs of his winter clothing stuck out from between the gaps in his armor, leaving only his hands and head exposed to the elements. He looked impressive, she decided, with his tall figure and shining steel armor cutting a respectable silhouette against the night. The tailors had done well with his unique form.

"I hope," he said, nodding in Rimeberry's direction, "that one day that will be me. Mother is always bothering Victus and I for not having any foals of our own -- I likely cannot be a father, as I've explained to her many times, but I would be happy with being an uncle." He shook his head and laughed. "Perhaps mother was right, and I should tell Victus to hurry up and drop the Legionary bit and find a suitable mare."

"I'm sure you'd be a wonderful uncle," Celestia said. She noticed Tercio was studying her, and she cocked her head in curiosity. "What is it?"

"You came here to speak with me, didn't you?" he asked. "I can tell, you have that look about you."

"It's that obvious, is it? I swear, you know me too well."

"I'd say I don't know you well enough! But I enjoy our conversations, so you're in luck."

Celestia pointed toward the ocean. "Come, I won't keep you long."

"As you say, Princess." Tercio took his place beside her, tucking his hands into his pockets for warmth. They followed the river bank over fields of smooth pebbles, stepping around larger boulders in their path. "Quite a beautiful night, isn't it? I have never seen the moon rising over the ocean. For that matter, I've never seen the ocean before today. It's so...large."

Celestia giggled. "It's something, isn't it? Long ago, my family used to take trips out this way during the summer months. We would watch my father paint the sky with countless stars, only retiring for the night when the moon was high above the water."

"That sounds lovely. It's a shame I could not meet him."

"I think you would have liked him...after he got over the fact that you were so different."

It didn't take long to reach the white, sandy shore of the Sea of Lights. Tercio paused to take it all in: the moon peeking between the clouds, casting a shining streak of soft light over the dark, pristine waters. The gentle waves that lapped at his marching sandals and crawled up the shore in foaming babbles before receding into the vast, endless expanse. The fresh, salty air that filled his lungs, cool and wet and invigorating. In the distance, lone spires of rock jutted from the sea floor, where larger waves broke against their bulk in roaring sprays.

"In all my life, I never imagined I would visit a place like this. Between the frozen north and the eastern sea, I've seen more of Equestria in a few months than I have in all of my years prior."

"Another perk of being a Praetorian?"

"Without a doubt," he smiled. "Now I understand why some of my father's friends spent nearly their entire lives at sea. It's hard to put into words what it's like to behold it for the first time. It's..."

"Enchanting?" Celestia offered.

"Enchanting. Well said."

She stepped to the edge of the water, kicking at a wave with a golden shoe.

"Do you know why they call it the Sea of Lights?"

Tercio shook his head. "I cannot say I do."

"Watch." Focusing on a fist-sized, smooth stone, Celestia levitated it before her and tossed it out into the water. It landed with a quiet splash. Tercio looked her, puzzled. "Just wait, and watch."

A few seconds passed, and from the ripples in the water a soft glow began to spread outward, growing brighter in the center until rays of light pierced the surface. They danced over the waves, otherwordly yellows and greens, before slowly returning to the glassy darkness.

"I have never seen such a thing," he said, awestruck.

"Countless tiny creatures come to the surface at night and glow with their own luminescence. Imagine being on a boat and seeing your wake light up like a thousand candles. That is why it's referred to as the Sea of Lights."

Tercio picked up a rock and chucked it into the water, smiling as the splash was followed by a dazzling display.

"Victus is never going to believe this."

Celestia began to walk down the shore, her armored hooves crunching through the sand and stones. Tercio followed suit, entertaining himself by tossing several more rocks into the breaking waves.

"Is this why you asked me to join your escort this morn? So that I could gaze upon the sea?"

"Partly," Celestia answered. "I am glad you're enjoying your time here, but there is something else."

"Yes?"

She paused to consider how to ask the question that had been on her mind for some time.

"A few nights ago -- when we walked the palace gardens and you soon after told me about Sapphire's rather misguided attempts at seducing you -- you mentioned that something had helped jar your mind and defeat the influence of her aphrodisiac. Do you remember what that was?"

Tercio looked over. "Of course I do: it was you."

Some small part of her had hoped she'd simply misunderstood. It would have been simpler.

"And you're sure of this?"

"There is not a doubt in my mind, Princess. I would not make such a claim lightly."

Not sure how to feel, Celestia simply looked straight ahead.

"I see..."

An uneasy silence hung in the air as they walked. Tercio was the first to speak up again.

"I realize that saying such a thing could be construed as unprofessional, but...when I'm with you, when I'm in your presence, I feel this sense of calm and comfort that I cannot properly put into words." He glanced over, seeing Celestia looking back at him. "All my life I have felt like a stranger in my own land. I have had to fight tooth and nail to earn my position in the military, to be accepted by the others as more than just some 'monster' or 'freak', as I've heard time and again. Nearly everyone views me, or has viewed me, as nothing more than a curiosity. But when I met you that day, in the throne room, I felt none of the hostility I am so used to. Only warmth and caring. And then, after the attack, when you invited me to that wonderful dinner, I got to know you as more than just 'The Princess'".

"It was a very enjoyable night," Celestia said.

"That it was. For so long I'd dreamt of meeting you, and when I had the chance to get to know you, I found that what was there, what was inside of you, was something beautiful. You were not just the ruler of Equestria anymore; you were Celestia, just as capable of laughter and sorrow as any of us."

He idly kicked at a rock, sending it tumbling through the sand.

"You've become somewhat of my anchor to this world. When I look at you now I feel a connection I have not felt with anyone else. Perhaps it is the fact that we live such different lives from those around us."

They stopped, and Tercio stood before her. Staring into her pink eyes, the moonlight reflected in her gaze, he would not have wished to be anywhere else. He feared he was being too forward, that he would push her away with his sudden confession of how he felt, but he had already begun to bear his heart and soul. Turning back now would be worse than continuing.

"I...I know it is unusual, even unheard of, to admit such a thing, but it is the truth. The thought of never being near you again was too much for me to bear. I know I have only known you for a scant few months, but in that time I have developed a fondness for you that I cannot deny."

Celestia lifted a surprised foreleg and gasped. Her hunch had been true after all.

"That day that Sapphire believed I was drawn to her? She could not have been further from the truth. I was distracted by you, by the very thought of you. You occupied my every waking moment, and not even sparring with the others could stop me eyes from wandering up to you." He placed a hand on her chest, felt the soft material of her robes, heard his heart pounding in his ears. "If it is inappropriate for me to admit these things, then I will go no further. But it had to be said, Princess. I do not care about Sapphire, and I never did. I care about you."

The weight of his confession took to her mind and her chest; for a brief moment in time she found it difficult to breathe, and her head swam with the echoes of his words. She'd been correct, completely and utterly.

"Tercio, I'm...I'm not sure--"

"I know this is sudden, Celestia, but I cannot think of a better place to tell you. I have thought about it for many a sleepless night and many more a sleepless shift. I know it's an absurd notion, but I have too many regrets in life already to spend the rest of it wondering what would have happened if I'd just told you."

Celestia placed a hoof on his hand. "I don't know what to say..."

"You feel it too, don't you?" he asked hopefully. "I see in the way you carry yourself, in how we get along wonderfully even though we are so different. I am drawn to your smile like a candle in the night. You...you give me something to hold on to, even when I am on the edge of losing myself." A nervous laugh parted his lips. " I have not felt this way about anyone in many years. To think that I would feel so strongly about my princess, my most superior officer, a mare most people have never even met and speak about in rumor...well, I may be overstepping my bounds, but such a thing seems nearly an untouchable dream."

It would have been nearly impossible for Celestia to state what she felt at that moment in time, and she searched for the words for long seconds before answering.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't feel some tangible connection between us, but you must understand that this is a very complicated situation. You are one of my soldiers. You are tasked with giving your life for me if necessary. Even if we were together, imagine if word of it got out."

"What, word of your relationship with someone who cares for you deeply? I would not be ashamed. Let them think what they want. If you're concerned, I give you my word that I can be discreet."

Celestia pulled back, her eyes glistening.

"It's not that simple, Tercio."

"Nothing worth fighting for is, Princess."

She turned to dry her eyes, looking out over the ocean as a thousand thoughts and emotions flitted through her.

"I think you're very sweet for saying such things, and I have indeed enjoyed getting to know you, but this...this is not something I can give a definitive yes or no to. Not right now."

Dejected, Tercio stood with his hands behind his back, casting his gaze at the rocky shore. He still clung to hope; after all, she hadn't turned him down, not entirely. It was, he knew, a lot to think about, made all the more complicated by everything a mare in her position of power had to deal with already.

"Do not think me callous or uncaring," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Please, just...give me time to think on it."

Taking a deep breath, Tercio gained back a small degree of confidence.

"I have waited thirty-two years to find myself here. I would gladly wait another thirty-two to be with you if I must."

Celestia felt his words touch her heart, felt them tug at her and threaten to let him see the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

"I...I really must get back to my quarters." Her great wings unfurled and she took to the sky, hovering in place just above him. "Have a good night, Sir Tercio," she said with a voice barely above a whisper.

Tercio saw her silhouetted against the soft glow of the half-moon, finding her beautiful even as his chest weighed heavily with hope and dread and sadness. "And you as well, Princess Celestia."

She hesitated for a few seconds, and Tercio watched her leave until she disappeared behind the tall, autumn-tinted trees of the nearby forest. For a long time he stood at the water's edge, feeling the cold water lap at his feet. The glow of the camp's bonfire stuck out like a beacon in the night as he regretfully started his trek back, his thoughts occupied, as they were so often as of late, by the thought of her. He hardly heard a word the others said as he entered the camp, and as he removed his winter clothing and pulled himself into his sleeping roll he knew there would be little sleep to be had that night.

From her large, personal tent tucked into the edge of the forest Celestia watched the distant ocean, her hot cup of tea hardly doing a thing to help her relax. By candle light she saw herself in a mirror; she hardly looked, or felt, like the most powerful mare in the known world. The others had seen it, her pegasus guards and her personal assistant, and she had lied and said she was simply tired from the day's events. They would not pry, and for that she was thankful.

Mentally and emotionally exhausted, she began to drift off to sleep. On the edge of consciousness she saw her, the dark-coated mare standing at the foot of her map table. The image of shadow and mist twisted and swirled, coherent yet incorporeal.

"How far Big Sister has fallen." A voice, feminine but harsh, came from all around her.

Celestia shut her eyes and willed the mockery of her sister to be gone, to vanish back to the dark recesses it had come from.

"You knew it to be true, and yet...and yet you denied it."

"I will not be part of your game, not tonight," Celestia whispered, hoping to convince herself. "Leave me be, Luna."

The figure vanished, then reappeared beside her wearing a bent, fire-charred crown and breast collar, flashing a predatory smile.

"Oh, but he loves you, Celestia."

Tercio's silhouette stood beside Luna, and it gazed upon her with empty eyes.

"You may lie to yourself, but never to me. We are one and the same, you and I. Your heart yearns for his embrace and calls out for the first stirrings of love to grace your soul in centuries. Perhaps...yes, there it is. You can feel it, can't you? That black thought that twists and coils inside of you. You remember, and it terrifies you."

Nightmare Moon, Luna, the shadow of Celestia's own thoughts, laughed quietly in her ear. The form of Tercio swirled into a shimmering cloud, then reformed in an instant as the embraced, intertwined shapes of himself and Celestia, her head thrown back in a moment of ecstasy frozen in time. Tercio's shadow pulled a dagger from the mist and held it above her neck.

"Luna, stop this, please..."

"You know...and yet, you still long for him. You fear him, but you fear for him even more. Whose life will you see run to ruin by your machinations? Yours..." The human's shadow plunged the blade deep, and in the blink of an eye held its own beating heart in its hand. "...or his?"

Celestia clapped her hooves over her ears and shut her eyes tight.

"He is a good man. He is a good man! You are nothing but a twisted shell of the sister I loved and cared for!"

"Your love is toxic. A venom that destroys all you touch from the inside. You will see, sister. You will see that I was right..."

"I will not! I will not!"

A shrill, terrible shriek filled Celestia's ears and grew louder until it threatened to drive her to madness, and then...it was gone. She opened her eyes, tears staining her coat and running down her face, and she fell on her cushions and sobbed herself to sleep.