Since its inception centuries ago, Canterlot Castle's grand dining hall had been a place where the modern world was shaped by careful negotiations and extravagant meals. Countless dignitaries, heads of state, military leaders and land barons had graced its sweeping interior, their minds plied with the most lavish food and drink Equestria could create. It was fair to say that Canterlot itself was merely a backdrop for its tall, stained glass windows that provided unparalleled views of the pristine mountainsides and valleys, and indeed many had come simply to admire the sights. When presented with such marvels, few found it within themselves to deny the requests of the royal sisters.

The war with Whitetail, however, had changed many things. Meetings with foreign leaders were few and far between, many not wishing to be seen as taking the side of one nation or the other, and any deals that did see the light of day were made within the confines of a heavily guarded negotiation room.

The grand dining hall was a shadow of its pre-war self, but tonight things promised to be different. For the first time, Princess Celestia had opened its doors to her most faithful of soldiers, those who were willing to give so much in their service to herself and Equestria, her Praetorian Guard.

Seated along a single long table, dozens of attired Praetorians talked and laughed and shared pre-meal drinks. Officers and enlisted stallions, veterans and new recruits -- all shared in the festivities as equals. Their chatter carried up the arched walls, and festive red and white candles lit the long room with a soft glow, their reflections dancing in the ornate windows that marked some of Equestria's most historic moments, silhouetted against a pristine night sky.

Near the forward third of the ornately decorated cherry wood table, Tercio laughed at another one of Rimeberry's off-color jokes. The big earth pony was full of them, and every time he opened his mouth a riotous uproar soon echoed through the dining hall. For Tercio it was a welcome relief from the day's events; the unexpected conversation with Stonewall had left him feeling better about things, but the bitter tang of lingering resentment over the situation still pulled at him during his quiet moments, and the cold weather hadn't done anything to brighten his spirits. Hearth's Warming seemed as though it was going to pass without much fanfare for himself and the others, and he had consigned himself to an inevitable early bed before getting up the next day to repeat the process. It had been a very welcome surprise when he and the others were invited to dinner by Celestia, though the message had come through Stonewall who, in his usual manner, had said "get your shit together, you're all getting fed."

The old stallion and his wife sat at the head of the table along with the other officers. No one wanted to turn down a dinner invitation from the princess herself, even if it meant coming in on their day off. The only ones not in attendance were away from Canterlot on leave, far away from the city.

The "old guard" were dressed in regal, purple togas trimmed with gold, a tradition that hearkened back to the earliest days of Equestria when purple was worn as a sign of peace, or of the prayers thereto.

Tercio's own outfit was far simpler, consisting of his white toga and matching tunic, the latter having a stripe of purple running over his shoulder that marked him as a Praetorian along with his comrades. It was a comfortable outfit for a comfortable evening, made better by the trio of crackling fires that burned away along the walls in their marble and stone hearths.

"So, Tercio, how'd your leave go?" Polaris, the indomitable unicorn who had remained steadfast in his commitments even after Tercio had nearly taken his life, leaned back in his seat and swirled his silver chalice in a cloud of sparkling magic.

"It was...uneventful," Tercio answered cautiously. He'd made up his mind to not tell the others about what had really happened. Few of them would have understood the reasoning behind his actions, and fewer still could have possibly known what he struggled with -- or against. Only Celestia and Stonewall knew the truth, and he trusted them implicitly. "I suppose uneventful is the best we could ask for, eh? Gods know there's enough going on in this city to present us with a lifetime of troubles in a single day. In any case, spending some time home does wonders for the spirits. Shame I couldn't be there tonight with family, but this dinner is an unexpected surprise." He sipped his wine and hoped the answer was sufficient. "How about you? Did you do anything of import while you were away?"

Polaris smiled. "Not a thing. I spent the entirety of my leave being a layabout and stuffing my face with my aunt's finest food. It was perfect."

Rimeberry stuck out his cup. "To laziness!"

"To laziness!" the others said as one, downing the finest of Equestria's wine with reckless abandon. Tercio was just about to reach for a powdered roll when a commanding voice sounded from one of the officers, a stallion from the 12th known as much for his love of food as his love of duty.

"Praetorians! Redi -- laxate!"

The old Equestrian orders brought every soldier in attendance to a formal rest with their backs straight and their heads facing front. Tercio scrambled to put his chalice down and quickly joined them, keeping his arms straight against his side. The hall was suddenly silent, with only the sound of metallic shoes clacking on the polished tiles near the front of the room. Out of the corner of his eye Tercio saw Celestia enter through a tall door, dressed in full regalia.

"Salutare!"

He placed his fist over his chest in the traditional Guard salute and shouted with the others.

"Honor to the Princess! Honor to Equestria!"

Celestia smiled and bowed her head once she took her place near the officers.

"And honor to you, my friends. Please, be seated."

As he sat back down Tercio was finally able to see the princess in all her splendor, and the sight of her caused his breath to catch in his throat. She was dressed in a traditional stola, an outfit not entirely unlike his toga, but far more opulent. Instead of cloth, layers of sheer, shimmering white silk caught the light from a nearby candelabra and showed the faint image of the stylized sun underneath. Embroidered patterns of gold traced an intricate line from her neck down to the hanging hems of her dress. A clasp at her shoulder had been moved slightly to the side, revealing the soft curve of her neck. Across the other shoulder a shawl of delicate, bright red silk hung down to her knees, where it met the thin braids of her leg wraps.

Instead of her usual tri-pointed crown, Celestia's sparkling, flowing hair was decorated with a wreath of golden olive leaves. As a final touch, a single short chain, ending in a glinting ruby, hung from the base of each ear.

"Thank you all for coming tonight, it means so much to me." Celestia's words were sincere and comforting, and Tercio found himself entranced by her beauty, as if seeing her for the first time again. He doubted he was the only one. "Last year, before Hearth's Warming Eve, Princess Luna and I discussed this very thing -- bringing you all together, that we might show our gratitude. Unfortunately, nothing came from it due to having an exceptionally busy schedule, a fact that Luna very much resented. We promised each other that the next year would be different.

By now you all know what happened to her. It is a bittersweet feeling to be here, in front of all of you, yet I hold my head high. Those of you fortunate enough to have met her before her fall will remember the caring, understanding soul who was always available to speak with her subjects -- even if her demeanor could sometimes leave a bit to be desired." She smiled as some of the older officers agreed.

Tercio thought back to the cave, where Luna's insistence on ending his 'threat' before it could take hold played before his eyes all over again. Had Luna truly been so hostile in the years before her coup attempt? Were the smiles and well-wishes to Equestria's citizens merely a facade? He hoped such was not the case.

Celestia continued. "I choose to remember my sister as who she was, not what she became, and I hope you all will, too." A gilded chalice floated in front of her. "To Princess Luna."

"To Princess Luna," the soldiers echoed, taking a commemoratory drink.

"Thank you. Between Luna's fall, the misguided souls who follow her dark teachings, and the war with Whitetail, things can seem bleak at times, I know. Believe me, I know all too well. These long months have been the most difficult I've ever endured, but it is thanks to you and your unwavering dedication, care and ability that I find the strength to carry on. Were it not for you, the attack on Canterlot would have likely cost me my life. I cannot thank you enough for all that you do." She bowed her head in respect. "Equestria has not seen prolonged conflict for many an age, since the time of my mother and father. Many look at our great nation and see it as weak and self-important -- a glorified band of artists, poets, farmers and lovers. Because we are not outwardly hostile they expect us to fall, to lay down and die in the face of aggression. I believe we have proven them wrong."

Shouts of encouragement went up from the dining table, and Tercio raised his drink in a cheer as a smile tugged at the corner of Celestia's mouth.

"Gonna take more than some tree-rutting deer to bring us down!" Rimeberry said over the raised voices.

"Even as we speak, Whitetail is on its last legs. It is unfortunate that they continue to fight us, for I wish them no more losses and hold no grudges against their citizens, but war is not a pleasant thing. I have tried to contact their leader, Chancellor Vinawyll, every day since the outbreak of hostilities. My pleas fall on deaf ears. It is immensely frustrating. Pride, I believe, keeps him from answering. Nevertheless, I have not given up hope of seeing the war end without a prolonged siege. It would be costly to both sides, both in coin and lives. I am not a conqueror, and I will not see Whitetail razed to the ground. Some of you have asked why I do not march into the capital of Evinwiir; now you know my answer."

There was murmuring among them, but most seemed to understand her stance. No one doubted that Celestia was a merciful soul, and her long life gave her a unique insight into politics and international relations that most could only begin to grasp.

"Finally, as we enjoy our meal tonight on this most celebrated of days, let us not forget those who cannot be with us. Thousands of soldiers, just like yourselves, sleep in the cold of Whitetail's harsh winter tonight, with nothing more than canvas tents and fire pits to keep them comfortable. For every stallion on leave, ten wish they were home with their families." Celestia took a moment to compose herself as a tinge of sadness crept into her voice. "One thousand, four hundred and fifteen. That is how many lives we've lost since the outbreak of this war with the deer. Every day I am briefed by our senior officers, and every day I read the names of those who have given everything in service to Equestria. From the attack on Canterlot, where many of you lost good friends, to the taking of Quillyyn Keep, soldiers just like you have fought and died for something greater than themselves. Good stallions to the last. A moment of silence for those we have lost, please."

Along with the others, Tercio dipped his head and said a quiet prayer for his comrades in arms: Strata, who had been brutalized by a spell from Nightmare Moon. Morning Star, the first to fall to the blade of Lacertus the assassin. Venerin, Centus, Frost Wind, Iron Thresh -- and many others he had hardly known.

"As we drink and dine tonight, let us celebrate not just the unification of pegasus, earth pony and unicorn, but those who are no longer with us. Celebrate their lives, my friends, and all the joy they brought to us." Celestia raised her chalice one, last time. "To the fallen."

"To the fallen," the crowd said.

"I know I have already said it, but I will continue to do so: thank you for everything you do. I am honored to share this night with such good company." Celestia stomped her hoof twice, and the side doors swung open to reveal a line of ponies carrying silver trays on their backs. A trio of unicorns floated dozens of bottles of various shapes and sizes, drinks from all across Equestria and beyond.

"Please, enjoy your meal, my friends, and happy Hearth's Warming to you."

"Good evening, sir. How fares your night?" A royal guard of modest rank saluted as Tercio passed, clearly struggling to keep himself from staring at the tall human that still looked so strange to those who were new to Canterlot.

Tercio returned the salute and kept walking, offering as polite a response as he could manage. Odd looks were the least of his concerns, and he was in no mood nor condition to speak with another soldier at length. His head ached from the after effects of festive wines and his body screamed for the sleep it could not get, though it was not for a lack of trying. For what had felt like hours he had lain in his bed and attempted to rest to no avail, so preoccupied were his thoughts. He could not sleep, would not sleep, until he had the chance to speak with the mare who had brought him more joy and pain in a short time than anyone else he'd known.

The familiar hallways and marble corridors leading to Celestia's chambers were cold and unwelcoming in the middle of the night, with hardly a torch to be seen. Chilled tiles bit at his bare feet with teeth of frost, and he clutched his tunic and cloth winter wrappings close to his chest for warmth. Another guard, a Praetorian veteran, saluted and let him pass, opening the door to the royal quarters with his magic.

With every step Tercio drew closer, unsure of himself even as he rounded the final corner that led to the princess' room. The curved double doors loomed before him, imposing in their grandeur, and he stopped and listened for any sign of movement within. It was late, but perhaps Celestia was still awake. After a moment he heard the sound of hoofsteps and the quiet, tinkling chime of magic, and with a deep breath he rapped thrice.

There was a pause, then the hoofsteps came closer. "Hello? Is someone there?" Celestia called out hesitantly. Such intrusions in the night were rare.

Not wanting to alarm her, Tercio stepped back from the door. "It's me. I couldn't sleep. I know it's late, but..." The door unlatched itself and slowly swung open as Celestia took a half-step out. "Forgive me, Princess. I considered waiting until another time, but thought it best to come to you now. I can leave if you would prefer -- come back in the morning."

Her expression softened as she opened the door the rest of the way. "No, no, it's alright. Please, come in." She stepped aside and let Tercio pass, then shut the door behind him. "I'm surprised to see you up and about at such an hour."

"I could say the same for you," Tercio replied. Celestia's chambers were surprisingly warm despite the open entrance to her hanging balcony, with a crackling hearth casting long, flickering shadows across the walls.

"Just because it's the holiday, it doesn't mean any less work, unfortunately. There's still a world outside these walls that calls upon me for more than I can reasonably hope to address. On nights like tonight, I'm often up late making sure I can take care of the important matters." Her ruby-tipped earrings swayed as she floated over a scroll and rolled it up, then sealed it with a wax stamp.

"You still wear your formal attire?" Tercio asked. All but her crown remained just as he had seen it last.

"As I said, I've been quite busy since the conclusion of the meal, but at least it's comfortable. It's a lot of work to get ready for such an event. Such is the price of appearances."

Tercio ran his fingers over the soft, silky fabric. "Well I think you look beautiful. I doubt there was a single set of eyes not staring in awe when you entered the dining hall."

She laughed in that way that he was so fond of, playful yet refined. "You're too kind, Tercio."

"It is my pleasure, Princess. After such an extravagant meal, a compliment is the least I could do. I've never had such fine food and drink."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's not often I get the chance to spend time with everyone. We should do so more often."

"You would get no argument from me." His smile faded as he looked around the room, as if someone was going to be lurking in the shadows to overhear his conversation. "I will be honest with you: I did not come by simply for idle chatter."

"I figured as much," Celestia said, then sat on the edge of her bed. Tercio took his place beside her. "What is on your mind?"

"Many things."

"About your past?"

He nodded. "For days I have avoided speaking to nearly everyone. I wanted to tell them all what I found out, but there would be no purpose in doing so, and it would only raise more questions. I couldn't very well begin ranting and raving to the first stallion I came across, lest I appear on the edge of lunacy, and so all of my conflicted thoughts and feelings were left bottled up inside. I feared it would drive me mad. Imagine someone had told you that everything you knew was a lie, and that everyone but you had known the truth all along. Wouldn't you feel betrayed? Angry? Even if your past had been hidden for your own sake, with the best of intentions in mind, it is still your life that has been toyed with."

"I would, and you have every right to be," Celestia said.

"But then, earlier today, I finally had the chance to discuss it with someone, albeit someone entirely unexpected: Stonewall."

"Stonewall? That is a surprise. How did this come about?"

"I was at my post when he and his wife came up the path. He was looking for some keepsakes or something similar for a family member, and he requested that I help him reach a box that had been stacked in his duty quarters. At some point I simply came out and told him that I knew about his involvement in my rescue. He kept quiet as I recounted what you had shown me in your memories -- the humans, the battle, the ley line cave, all of it. He did not seem particularly surprised at what I had to say."

Celestia floated a length of chopped wood into the fireplace. "What you saw was true. Stonewall was there that day, and he did find you. He saw Luna arguing that we should end your life before you could become a threat. But I asked him, and the others, to not say anything to you or anyone else, because I knew that your life would be fraught with difficulties simply from your appearance. Growing up as the only one of your kind in a pony-dominated land was never going to be easy." She placed a hoof on his leg. "That's why I came to your adoptive parents. No one is perfect, but in Grace and Roughshod I saw a kindness and acceptance that few could match. They grew to love you like one of their own."

"And I am thankful for that, despite what has been kept from me, but I would be remiss if I didn't ask: was my joining the Equestrian Guard some sort of plan that you, Stonewall and the others had all along? Perhaps to keep a closer eye on me?"

"Of course not," Celestia said adamantly. "You have always been free to choose your own path. It is your own morals and experiences that brought you to the Guard."

Only a few short days ago, the thought of being kept in the dark about his own life had filled him with a poisonous mix of anger and sadness, yet as he looked into Celestia's eyes he could not find it within himself to blame her for the choices she had made. Her decisions had been made with the best of intentions, as had those of his family. How could he let pride continue to cloud his judgement?

"I'm sorry," he said after a pause, "for how I reacted in the library."

"You don't have to be sorry, Tercio," Celestia said. "Anyone in your stead would have reacted the same way, perhaps harsher."

"No, I shouldn't have let my emotions get the better of me. Such is the reaction of an adolescent, not a grown man. I spent my days and nights angry at everyone I knew, everyone I cared about, as if they had wronged me in some way. Stonewall was right when he said that telling me sooner would not have helped anything, and would likely have made my life worse. I can only imagine what course I would have taken had I found out as a child that I exist in this world due entirely to the workings of foul whitetail magic, meant only to be a weapon of mindless violence." He rubbed the scar over his chest that was still mending, a permanent reminder of the battle that had occurred within himself. "I am fortunate to be alive and in good health, back with my brothers in battle. I have a family that loves me and took me in out of the goodness of their hearts. For those things I am thankful."

"And they are thankful for you." Celestia smiled comfortingly and asked, "How do you feel now? Do you still have doubts?"

"Only about one thing, Princess. I am ashamed to say it, but during my self-loathing I lost sight of the one thing that mattered to me more than anything else: you. I feared that you'd somehow see me in a different light, as I saw myself."

Celestia's smile faded. "You didn't truly think I would do such a thing, did you?"

"I don't know," Tercio said honestly. "From my point of view, you had no reason to stay with me now that I knew the truth. For a while I even entertained thoughts that the time I spent with you had been nothing more than an attempt to keep me close, just as I imagined my military career was a foregone conclusion. It was a stupid, selfish reaction." He grew restless and had to stand. For a moment he stared into the night sky, leaning against the arch that led to the balcony.

"You were frightened and confused by what you'd learned. There is no shame in that." Celestia rose from the bed and stepped over to him. A gust of cold wind billowed her hair and shimmering fabric. "The fact that you are still here, and that you felt you could speak to myself and Stonewall about it, shows the strength of your character."

"Be that as it may, I must still apologize for my actions, as a soldier and as a man."

Celestia placed a foreleg around his waist, her soft pink eyes shimmering in the light of the moon. "If it will make you feel better, then I accept your apology. But Tercio, I want you to know that I fully expected you to feel hurt and afraid after I shared my memories with you. I debated taking that step for a long time, because I knew it would change your life forever. After your mother broke down before me, shouting that I could have prevented you from possibly dying on that table, I knew we had waited too long." Gingerly she touched his chest. "This wound is as much my own fault as it is the very blade you held in your hands."

Tercio took her hoof in his hands and held it against him. "No, it was entirely my decision. I trusted Nocturne to destroy the dark magic that resided within me, but I had no idea it was so strong."

"Yet you wouldn't have had to take such a drastic measure if I had told you sooner. You deserved to know the truth, even if it meant that I might lose you." Celestia nuzzled his cheek and kissed him gently. "You are more than just a human displaced in our world. Whatever the whitetail may have brought you here for, you have surpassed anything they could have hoped to achieve, and you have done so entirely of your own volition. You should be proud of who you are."

For the first time in what felt like too long, Tercio embraced her. He'd almost forgotten the simple joy that came from the warmth of her touch, the softness of her skin. All of his doubts seemed to melt away when she was close, and in that moment he swore that he would never let his past get the better of him again.

Milites Amberstone's lungs felt as if they were on fire, and the muscles in his legs ached with every step as he raced through the long corridors of the mountainside cave he'd chased the whitetail messenger into. Every twist and turn brought him closer to his target. He could hear the messenger swearing in deertongue as a green torch burned at his side, his only source of light. Together their hoof-falls created an echoing cacophony that mixed with their heavy breaths, deadened only by the brief shouts from Amberstone ordering the deer to stop.

The young soldier wondered if he would be disciplined for running off on his own. He did not mean to leave his squad behind, but spotting the whitetail hiding just beyond the trail had left him little time to react. Surely they would forgive him if he brought back valuable information!

After several long minutes a light appeared at the end of the cave system. The deer was making all speed for the exit, slowly putting distance between them in that loping run that looked so strange to Amberstone's eyes.

Left with few options, he focused his mind on the dagger at his side, yanking it into the air and floating it before him, and hurled it at the deer with a grunt of exertion. It whipped through the air, tumbling end over end, and embedded itself above the left rear knee. The messenger gave a shout of pain and stumbled to the ground, cracking his head against a patch of ice at the mouth of the cave and sliding into a snow bank. Amberstone sidestepped the thin trail of blood and came to a halt in the open air, glad to be out of the stone confines and dark passages.

Ahead of him the deer was struggling to get back on its hooves, frantically looking back as Amberstone steadily approached. A shimmering green blade floated unsteadily at its side, rising and falling in stuttering clouds of crackling magic. The emerald torch flickered and died.

"Enough!" Amberstone shouted, pulling his own sword from its sheathe and batting away the deer's weapon. Dark patches of blood tainted the snow around him as his quarry tried to push itself away, futilely thrashing through the snow. Amberstone brought his armored hoof down on the seeping dagger wound, cringing inwardly at the yelp of pain that met his ears. He levitated his sword mere inches from the deer's neck.

"I said enough! Don't fucking move!"The whimpering buck stared at him with panicked eyes, its jaw trembling. "Do you speak Equestrian? Daliith par Equestrii?" He asked, one of the few deertongue phrases he'd bothered to learn. The deer shook his head and scooted back, glancing down at his bleeding wound that was slowly forming into a pool beneath him.

"Nasaliin...need heal. Help."

"Reach for a weapon again and that wound will be the least of your problems. Fucking tree rutter..." Amberstone cut the satchel free from the deer's side and rifled through its contents; a small, wrapped loaf of some kind of seed-bread dotted with dried fruit, a flask of water, a quill and ink well, basic medical supplies, and, most importantly, two scrolls written in deertongue. His eyes lit up at the possibilities. Proper intelligence on whitetail action was hard to come across. He was sure Centurion Long Night would congratulate him for such a find.

"You picked the wrong patrol to spy on, whitetail."

Now that he had what he was looking for, there was the matter of the injured deer beside him. It would be easier and simpler to run him through here and be done with it, he reasoned. Yet as he brought the tip of his sword to the deer's neck, he hesitated. The buck couldn't have been any older than himself, and he didn't have to speak deertongue to understand when someone was begging for their life.

"Goddesses cast me into the pit," he swore as he lowered his weapon. The young whitetail cautiously looked up at him, jerking back as magic enveloped Amberstone's horn. "They'll get more information from you if you're alive, I suppose." He pointed to the dagger wound. "Heal. Heal, kaiyn?"

"Kaiyn," the deer answered, nodding. "Farra'qiin."

"Don't thank me yet. I'm no apothecary." Amberstone quickly inventoried what he had to work with: two rolls of cloth bandages, a poultice for infections, and a small vial of liquid that would relieve pain when drank, if only temporarily. "I hope you're worth the trouble."

Carefully he spread some of the thick, earthy mixture across the bleeding wound. The deer cried out and tried to twitch his leg away, but Amberstone held firm. After a moment he wrapped it tight with a bandage, then pulled the cork from the vial with his teeth.

"Stings like fire, I know, but better than getting the rot. Here, drink this."

Sniffing at the cloudy, green liquid, the deer stopped just short of bringing it to his lips. A flash of pain made him rethink his action, and soon he had downed the foul-tasting solution with a very verbal objection and a fit of coughing.

Amberstone looked over his work. The wound was still bleeding slightly, but not nearly as quickly as it had been. It felt strange, after so many months of combat, to help the enemy, but he knew he could not kill the deer in good conscience.

"Farra'qiin," it said again. Slowly it rose to its hooves and hobbled on three legs, bowing its head.

"Yeah..." Amberstone motioned back to the cave. "Let's go. Long Night is going to flog me for this if I don't get back soon."

In all the commotion, he did not notice the crouching form of an armored stag hidden behind a fallen log in the distance. The tall, strong deer stood as the whitetail and his captor disappeared into the darkness, a light shining from the Equestrian's horn, and he watched them go until he was sure they would not return. Satisfied, he disappeared in a flicker of psuedo-motion, leaving just as quietly as he'd arrived.