Chapter 4
All down the line.

In life you had silences and you had silences. Usually, silence didn’t bother Mac. He was comfortable with himself, with his thoughts, with the world around him, content to simply keep himself to himself and observe. But right now? This silence? This most definitely fell into the latter category. It was strange, Mac mused to himself as he turned to again gaze out the window of the train carriage, watching the world rushing by outside, how silence could also be so very noisy. There was nothing still about this, nothing even remotely peaceful, just the silence between him and his travelling companion that seemed to stretch out till it was almost a tangible thing.

Sitting opposite him was Celestia’s personal student, the Element of Magic, town librarian and newest Princess of Equestria, Twilight Sparkle. Mac had never been so aware of just how much their lives differed as each did their best to not look like they were uncomfortable with the situation.

Sharing a train to Canterlot sounded like a good idea but really, what was there he could talk to her about? He wasn’t a great scholar, nor a world-saving, demi-god wrangling hero. He was just a farmer and not a very chatty one at that. The irony of the situation and its comparisons to his relationship with Luna weren’t entirely lost on him. There was, however, one question gnawing away at him that meant he could break this akward silence. “What did y’all say to Mourne?”

“Hmmm? What was that, Mac?” She looked up from the book she was reading, some magical tome that Mac wouldn’t even begin to guess about the contents.

“Mourne,” he repeated. “He came back t’the farm afore we left lookin’ like the sky had fallen on him. He wouldn’t say nothin’ about what had happened, just mentioned that he’d been to see you and we should leave it at that. Then he hid in the barn the rest o’the morning.”

Twilight ah’ed and glanced off to one side, clearing her throat. “We just had a little discussion about his...indiscretion...at the party last night and I explained why he should never attempt anything like that with myself or any of the other Princesses.”

Mac rubbed a hoof against his chin. “That was all?”

Twilight lifted her chin a little. “Why Mac, I’m sure I have no idea what you might be implying by that.” Her voice was prim and proper though if he looked closely he was sure he could detect the slightest twitch of wings and tail. “It was a perfectly civil conversation between two adult ponies. Mourne accepted that he should never had placed his hooves on my person without asking in advance, and he certainly should never have attempted to instigate such an intimate act as a kiss with a mare he barely knows.”

At this point there were two options available to him, Mac decided. He could let the matter rest, or he could press the issue to find out just what went on. Twilight’s particular quirks and proclivities were hardly a secret around town and he was certain that their ‘talk’ was more like a lecture for the unsuspecting bat pony.

In the end discretion won out over curiosity and he left it at a simple. “Uh-huh. Well, long as there ain’t no bad blood ‘tween you two. Last thing he needs is t’be makin’ more enemies.”

Twilight stifled a smile behind her hoof. “Don’t worry, Mac. Accidents happen, and we all had a bit to drink that night. Though as we’re talking about Mourne and the events that lead him to working on your farm, I do have a question if you wouldn’t mind?”

His ears perked as he shifted his weight on the firm bench, turning to fully face the lavender alicorn. “Eeeyup?”

Twilight shuffled her hooves a bit nervously before speaking. “I’d just like to know a bit more about Princess Luna...about what’s she really like now she’s been back for a while. How is she settling in and adapting to life in modern Equestria? She didn’t come back after the whole, well, Nightmare business until after I’d left for Ponyville so I haven’t spent anywhere near the kind of time in her company as I have with Celestia. Other than Nightmare Night I don’t get the opportunity to talk to her unless it’s in some formal function and it’s hard to really chat then with everypony watching.” She paused, her expression turning a little wistful. “I sometimes hear stories about her from Celestia, about the things they get up to, the pranks they play on each other. When we are together we’re more able to talk as equals but she’s still a very private pony and I...I’ve not been a Princess long enough to feel comfortable invading that privacy.”

Mac pursed his lips, then nodded simply. At the same time, a quiet little corner of his mind noted that she’d dropped the ‘Princess’ in front of Celestia’s name. Good to see, she must be settling into her new role at last. “Private’s a good a way as any t’sum her up, eeyup. But there’s so much more to her than just that.” He tapped a hoof in thought, turning to stare out the window as he mulled it over. How to describe the Princess? He was sure she didn’t want to hear about the warm feeling he got whenever he saw Luna standing on his porch, or how she took such pure, innocent joy in Granny’s simple, wholesome cooking. He barely knew where to begin so instead he pushed all that aside and tried to keep it simple.

He could see her in his mind’s eye, see the way she tossed her mane back as she posed for him, hear her rich laughter, see the fury in her eyes at the thought that Mourne had tried to kill him, feel her tears of frustration soaking into his coat as he held her close. How best to describe a pony like that? “Well….she likely said it best herself on our first date. Mercurial. Ain’t a word ah’m much used t’using but it sums her up. Luna’s the kinda pony could bawl ya out till ye’re standing there wishin’ the ground would open up and swallow ya, and the next she’ll be off pullin’ faces at one of the Solar Guard, tryin’ to get them t’crack a smile.” He leaned in a little closer, motioning Twilight in as he whispered conspiratorially, “She’s got a bet goin’ with Celestia that she can get one of’em to laugh out loud in the middle of court. So far it ain’t goin’ her way.”

Twilight giggled, then blushed, glancing quickly left and right to make sure no-one could see them gossiping like a pair of schoolfillies. “Celestia never told me about that. Do you know what the stakes are?”

Mac shook his head. “’Fraid not. Mebbe Celestia can tell ya, Luna’s been real tight-lipped about it. Anyway, as for the rest? Luna’s been coping’ pretty well all in all, ah think. We’ve been takin’ the time to get her back into music an’culture when ah go to visit her in Canterlot. Works good for her, she can start t’be seen as a patron of the arts again, strikin’ out on her own with somethin’ Celestia ain’t much involved in.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Twilight agreed, smiling widely. “Celestia will sponsor events and lend her name to buildings and things but she simply doesn’t have the time to really get involved. I’m guessing you mean that Princess Luna has more direct contact with the artists and musicians?”

Mac nodded, a wide smile on his muzzle as he remembered their last visit to a small jazz club in the back streets of Canterlot to see a particular trio of musicians perform. He had no idea the Princess was a fan of jazz music, but apparently she appreciated the sometimes discordant, free-flowing pattern of it. The looks on the trio’s faces as they found the Princess of the Night waiting patiently at the bar for them to turn up was something he’d treasure for a long time to come, and their expressions when she’d asked them to come to the Palace specifically to perform for her? You would think the heavens themselves had just opened before them. “Luna’s a much more…hooves-on kinda Princess,” he sums up. “We thought this was a good way t’get folks used to seein’ her, to bring her a little closer to them and get them to see that she’s more than just the stories.”

“It’s funny,” Twilight said as she sat back in her seat. “You’re probably the only other pony I could talk to about this, about the Princesses. You get to see them the same way I do. In fact, I think this is the most I’ve ever heard you say in all the time I’ve been in Ponyville. You’re surprisingly easy to talk to when you open up, Mac.”

He returned the smile, adding a hint of a shrug. “When it comes t’being out in public, ah keep mahself to mahself. Folks around Ponyville ain’t afraid to flap their gums every chance they get. Ah’m content to just watch’an’listen. As for whatcha said about the Princesses? Well, Luna yeah,” Mac agreed. “But Princess Celestia? Ah ain’t had much t’do with her other than the occasional hello’n how ya doing when we’ve bumped into each other when ah’ve been up in Canterlot before. So far she’s been real good about me datin’ her lil sister. We ain’t had to have The Talk yet. Ah’m guessin’ in the absence of any parents, it’ll be Celestia that does the honours there.”

Twilight blinked. “The talk?” she echoed, her confusion plain to see.

“Eeeyup. The “what makes ya think y’all are good enough for my sister” talk. Usually it’s the filly’s da’ would take care of that, make sure t’chase off any colts just lookin’ for a bit of a tumble in the hay with their daughters. Ah know AJ’s already put the fear o’Nightmare Moon into a couple of colts that tried t’coax Applebloom into a little bit of ‘ah’ll show ya mine if y’all show me yours’ behind the barn.”

Twilight’s muzzle had grown increasingly scrunched up as he spoke, thought at that she paused, her head tilting to one side. “But aren’t we more or less always on display, Mac? I wouldn’t have thought there was that much more to see.”

Mac resisted the urge to smack himself in the face with a hoof. Alicorn she might be, but apparently there were some serious gaps in her understanding of what could go on between a colt and a filly away from the watchful eyes of adults. “There’s lookin’ and then there’s lookin’.” he explained. “And sometimes lookin’ leads to touchin’, which leads to all kinds of other things that youngsters shouldn’t be gettin’ up to.”

Twilight blinked, her ears pinning back. “Wait. Ponies DO that?”

He grinned and shrugged. “It’s more common than ya’d think. Kids get curious is all, but ‘Bloom’s far too young for that kinda thing so AJ and I keep a close eye on her. She’s got her fair share of admirers, that girl, not that she seems aware of it with all the crusadin’ she gets up to with her friends."

“Huh,” was all Twilight could find to say. “Wait. If that…then that means…” Her eyes suddenly widened in understanding, then narrowed in rage, her ears pinning back. “So that’s what Flash Sentry meant! ‘Check out his his sword’, my flank! The next time I see him, I’m going to shove that stupid helmet of his where even Celestia herself couldn’t find it!”

The ice between them now broken (and once Twilight had calmed down again), the two spent the remainder of the journey to Canterlot trading stories about their respective Princesses and by the time they parted company at Canterlot station, Mac was left with the distinct impression that Twilight was more than a little sweet on her mentor. Well, it was none of his business and he was sure the poor girl would get enough of a grilling from AJ and the rest without him prying into her affairs. Like his Momma always said, there was trouble enough around without going and borrowing more of it.

Making his way along the streets he kept his head down, hunching his shoulders as he walked to try and make himself look smaller as he moved through the crowd, trying not to draw too much attention to himself. One thing he’d quickly learned was that there were frequently roving reporters on the streets and his stature made him far too easy to spot. Okay, their relationship wasn’t hot news like it had been, but there were still plenty out there looking for some dirt or gossip or to try and boost their own profile by scoring an interview with the “royal coltfriend”. Luna had offered to send a chariot or escort to collect him but he wouldn’t skulk about like they’d done something wrong. He just didn’t much like folks badgering him about things that were none of their concern, or tryin’ to ply him with free things so he’d put in a good word at the Palace for them. Most of the upper class ignored him, of course. He passed them by and their noses shot up so fast and so high you’d think someone had attached their chins to an airship. He might be dating one of the Princesses, but some prejudices died harder than others.

The rest of his trip to the palace was, thankfully, quiet and uneventful on this particular warm, sunny day. The obligatory security check at the palace gates was completed without incident, though he swore that the magical scan to ensure he wasn't a Changeling Infiltrator always set his teeth on edge. He could feel it crawling along his nerves as the unicorn cast the spell, the light enveloping him, sweeping over and permeating deep inside him till he was sure he could feel it brushing against his heart, making it tingle unpleasantly. He wondered if everypony felt like that or if somehow his being more aware of himself and his surroundings made him even more aware of how invasive such a spell actually was.

He trotted quickly through the marble halls of the palace, exchanging nods and greetings with some of the staff and functionaries he'd got to know in his time with the Princess, dodging neatly around Celestia's aide, Kibitz, as he rushed down the hall, no doubt to quickly usher the alicorn off to yet another ever so important council meeting.

His first surprise of the day came even before he'd ascended the steps to Luna's rooms, a guard at the base stopping him and, instead, directing him to a private garden round at the back of the castle. He did as he was told and a few moments later he was approaching the high, thick green hedge that surrounded the secluded spot when his ears perked. He could hear shouts, cries from up ahead and what sounded a lot like the impact on hooves on armour and flesh.

He picked up his pace, already beginning to puzzle over just what might be going on. It couldn’t be an assassin, could it? Surely not here, in the heart of Canterlot. The unicorns at the gate would make sure no infiltrator could get in but there was never any guarantee of complete security. Pushing the wrought iron gate open with a hoof he carefully peeked inside, keeping his head low to avoid being spotted till he could take stock. Rather than any attacker or assassin he instead found Princess Luna herself, surrounded by four earth ponies, most of whom were already sporting a variety of bruises and the occasional cut. All four were breathing hard, their manes in disarray, weapons lying twisted and broken on the grass around them.

Luna, in contrast, looked as though she'd just stepped from the spa, her midnight blue coat immaculate, her mane as brilliant as ever, her head high and a look of pure mischief on her face. She’d removed her ceremonial garb, her silver shoes sitting next to her peytral and crown in the grass. She had, instead, wrapped her hooves thickly to help cushion her blows and ensure she didn’t draw blood as she struck. "Oh come now,” she cooed, laughter bubbling in every word. “Is this the best that my Sister's guard has to offer? How can you hope to defend her against all the horrors of this world if you cannot lay even a single hoof on one unarmed opponent?"

The four ponies exchanged glances and a moment of unspoken communication passed between them before, as one, they lunged forward to attack. Mac held his breath, barely daring to move, not even trying to speak, as Luna showed that her skills had not been diminished by her exile.

She didn't even need to use her magic, her horn remaining quiescent even as her wings spread wide and she launched herself backwards with one mighty flap. She somersaulted in midair, her hooves lashing out. One pony went sprawling face-down in the dirt, as her hoof smashed into his forehead, his companion barely able to dodge the second hoof, instead receiving a tail lashing across his face for his troubles. He reeled back, blinded and cursing. By the time Luna touched down, the other two ponies were upon her and if Mac hadn't been watching he would swear she had teleported.

The two lunged, but their grasping hooves found only empty air as Luna contorted herself, slithering between them like water between stones in a river, planting her forehooves firmly down and bucking out hard, sending them sprawling on their bellies in the dirt as well, their startled cries followed by pained groans as they lay there, exchanged another tired glance and both decided that they weren’t in the mood to get back up anymore.

The only pony left standing, a stocky green stallion with a military-regulation length mane, had recovered from the lash of her tail and was now warily circling the alicon, rolling his shoulders slowly as he sized her up. "I read the stories about you, you know. We all did. We wanted to know you when you came back, to see what you were capable of if we had to put you down."

Luna grinned, the alicorn barely even breathing hard after taking down three of her opponents. "And? How does the reality compare to the myth?"

The stallion slowly shook his head, idly rubbing at an angry bruise that was spreading along his cheek. "Princess, I don't think we'd have stood a chance if you’d come back looking for a real fight. So far today you've taken down eleven of us without using your magic or even a weapon." Mac blinked, his ears pinning back in surprise. Eleven? Well, it seemed he'd arrived just in time to catch the end of this curious sparring session. "If you were to really let loose I think only Princess Celestia would stand a chance against you." He stood straight, slapping his hoof to his chest in salute before he dropped back down to a fighting stance again. "But don't think that means I'm going to give up. We are Equestria's Shield. We do not surrender."

"Bravely said, Sergeant." She replied, approval in her eyes.

The stallion blinked, clearing his throat before he contradicted her. "Pardon Ma'am, I'm only a corporal."

"And now you are a Sergeant," Luna replied, with a wave of her hoof. "The Solar Guard needs more leaders with hearts as stout as your own and of the soldiers I have fought today you are the only one who has stood unafraid and even come close to landing a hoof on me. Now, Sergeant. Let us finish this." She looked over at Mac and smiled warmly, "My guest has arrived and I fear he has no great desire to watch his marefriend brawling like a common soldier."

Mac snorted as he straightened up and stepped away from the gate, giving a respectful nod to Luna's opponent. "Congratulations on the promotion, Steady. Helluva way t'earn it, though."

"It's not so bad," Steady Shield replied with a grin. "How often do you get the chance to try and beat up the boss? Er, no offence, Ma'am."

"None taken," Luna purred. "But do hurry up, Sergeant. I have a great many kisses to bestow on my coltfriend and I am sure you do not want to be here for that."

"Uhm... No Ma'am." He left it at that, took a deep breath and again charged forward, his head down low, his eyes narrowed as his hooves thundered along the soft grass. Luna stood as still as a statue, calm, even distant, until he got close enough for her to strike. He reared, forehooves lashing out, and that was when Luna moved. Her legs folded beneath her as she dove forward along the grass, turning her head so that her horn scraped down along the poor stallion’s body, near grazing his groin as he shuddered and tried to jerk away. She took full advantage of the shift of his weight, rolling and bringing one of her wings smashing down against his side with all the force an alicorn could muster. It wasn’t as much as if she’d been in the air, but it was enough to send him sprawling along the grass.

Mac took a step forward, expecting the fight to be over, but to his surprise Steady wasn’t done. He rolled as he took the hit and in a heartbeat he was back to his hooves, lunging in again before Luna could recover, the alicorn slow to stand as she had apparently also assumed the fight was over. Hooves again lashed out and this time she wasn’t quick enough to dodge. Steady’s hoof connected with her cheek and sent her staggering, head snapping round from the force of the blow. He froze in shock, his eyes widening. “I…I…Pr-Princess Luna, a-are you alright?”

Luna slowly turned back to face him, gingerly rubbing her aching cheek, a rueful smile on her lips. “I am quite alright, Sergeant. I would consider it a lesson learned on the consequences of overconfidence. I did not expect you to recover from that blow and assumed, incorrectly, that you were too fatigued to press your attack. T’was a fair blow, well struck.” She offered a hoof out in respect and Steady, after a moment of hesitation, bumped his against it, his smile almost radiant. “You are dismissed, Sergeant. Please gather the healers for your compatriots and ensure they are well taken care of. You may all dine in the Palace this day, you have proven your worth and earned a reward.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Steady Shield barked, thumping his hoof to his chest in salute, wincing a little as he did. He turned to help his companions up, making sure the other three stallions were at least mobile before he lead them out of the garden to have their bumps and bruises seen to, one of them leaning heavily against Steady’s side, his eyes unfocused, an impressive lump already visible on his forehead. Mac stood aside to let them pass, giving Luna an amused look. She looked so pleased with herself and yet so chagrined all at once, looking for all the world like a filly expecting a scolding.

“We cry your pardon, Mac,” she said at last as she trotted over to kiss him in greeting. “We lost track of time. You were not supposed to see that.”

“Uh-huh,” he drawled once his lips parted from hers, ending it with a gentle nuzzle along her unbruised cheek. He stepped back, tilting his head round to look at the other side, the bruise already deepening there. “Ah thought you alicorns were immortal.”

“Immortal, Mac,” she murmured before losing herself in another kiss. He returned it willingly, pressing himself close to her, feeling the heat that radiated from her, the subtle scent of exertion that clung to her skin, mingling with her natural scent. Their lips parted and she nuzzled against his cheek, then up to his ear, nipping playfully at the tip before she went on. “Not invincible. We can most certainly be hurt. We heal more quickly than other ponies, this is true, and a mortal blow will force us into a state akin to hibernation while we recover. We have never felt the need to test what might happen were our bodies to be destroyed utterly, ” she added as casually as you might discuss the weather. “If we were truly immortal and indestructible, why would we need the Guards to protect us?”

“Hmm. Fair point. Guess ah’d never really thought about it that way. So this…sparrin’. Ye do this a lot?” Mac asked, deciding that was definitely one of the conversations he was in no hurry to have. There was little point dwelling on alicorn lifespans right now. Gods willing they’d have plenty of time together yet.

“Twice a week at least. We, I, have always been the more martially inclined. Celestia fought beside me, once upon a time, when we tamed this land and bent it to our will, but since my return I have found she now prefers the diplomatic path, dealing with conflict with words instead of deeds.”

“Speaking of the Princess, what’s her feelings on you beating up her guards?” Mac asked curiously.

Luna snorted, turning her head to stare up at her sister’s tower. “Tia and I disagree on the level of training that is sufficient for our guards. The Solar Guard are no longer an army, no longer truly soldiers. They are glorified peacekeepers and tourist attractions, trained to look good, not for true warfare. Today’s session only reinforced my belief that things must change. Even as an alicorn, as skilled as I am, to take on so many opponents as I have, I should be showing more than a single bruise. Not once did any of them save for Steady Shield come close to laying a hoof on me. The pegasi fare no better. The unicorns, at least, still have an adequate grasp of combat magic but their strength and focus have waned and their attentions have turned more to scholarly pursuits, even within the guard.”

“It sounds like ya think Equestria should still have a standing army. Professional soldiers.”

“And would that be such a terrible thing?” Luna asked as she donned her shoes and crown, her magic fixing her peytral in place around her neck, settling it against her breast.

“I can’t say it’s something ah ever thought about,” he ventured carefully, not sure if he was treading on dangerous ground. Luna’s relationship with his sister was complicated, this much he knew, their relationship strained and changed by a thousand years of separation. In their dream time conversations, where only the truth could be spoken, Luna had admitted that she still felt eclipsed by her Sister, that in some ways it was worse than it had been since before her fall. Now she not only had to forge her own path, she had to fight the legacy of her past, cast off the shackles of the Nightmare, of the fears that still lingered in the hearts and minds of more than one pony.

“I fear that Equestria is seen as soft in these times. The Changeling invasion did little to change that view.” Her eyes wandered to the open gate, watching the limping guards as they made their way back to the palace. “Equestria is also seen as too forgiving for its own good following the incidents with Discord. Reformed or not, there are those who would still see him destroyed or petrified once more and they consider our leaving him running free as proof that we lack spirit enough to make the difficult choices. In truth, Mac, I sometimes think my Sister could do with hardening her heart a little. I know she strives to see the best in our little ponies, but then it falls to me to ensure that her kindness is not abused. I must look in the shadows for the hidden blade, see through the honeyed words to scent out the poison hidden within.”

Mac nosed up under her wing, pressing in against her side. She leaned in against him without a word and he curved his neck over hers, hugging her head down against his chest. “But ye don’t need t’do that alone anymore. Ye got me now.”

“A fact for which I am more grateful than you can know, Mac.” She sighed as she nosed at his chest, another kiss pressed there before she let her eyes drift shut and for a moment she allowed herself to relax, to simply be a mare enjoying the company of her lover, nothing more and nothing less and it was enough, so much more than enough.

They stood together in silence, the leaves rustling around them, distant voices filtering through the heavy greenery, their breathing falling into unison, flanks rising and falling in steady rhythm. “So what ya got planned for us?” Mac murmured at last. “Ah’m assumin’ ah didn’t come out here just to see y’all beatin’ up some of the guards.”

“Nay. In truth I had an…ulterior motive, but one which I felt I must discuss with you before we go any further.” She stepped away, fidgeting a little as she looked off to one side, one foreleg rubbing nervously against the other. “I told you that I am the one who must see our ponies for what they truly are, not the idealised version that my sister believes in. Well, tonight I am taking the first steps to try and improve matters and…I will require your assistance. You will be opening yourself up to slander, to barbed words, but I feel it necessary.” She glanced over at him as he sat down, but he simply motioned for her to continue. “Tonight there is to be a party at the palace. Many of the noble houses will be sending representatives. My sister and I are to attend, and I would have you at my side.”

Mac paused, then grunted sourly. “Kinda rubbin’ their faces in it a bit, ain’t ya? Ya know what the Canterlot press has been sayin’ about us.”

“And what you hear and see in the press is not even half of it, Mac,” Luna admitted. “My Sister has been forced to defend my actions and my judgement in open court. She has even had to covertly derail bills attempting to resurrect centuries old legislation stating that the Princess can only marry within the noble houses.”

“Ya must be jokin’.” Mac stared at her, appalled as she nodded slowly. “They’d stoop that low?”

“Like it or not, Mac. What we have done, what we have together, is a slap in the face of many in Canterlot. They cannot comprehend why I would choose to look outside of the pathetic, twisted stump they call their family trees. We need fresh blood, Mac, here in Canterlot. The nobles spend all their time bickering among one another, few of them giving a damn what happens outside the walls of this city. Me and thee, Mac, we WILL rub their faces in it.” Her wings flared wide as she went on, her mane roiling as her voice rose, growing more passionate with every word, her hooves stamping. “We will jam it down their throats, we will hammer it into their thick skulls. We will MAKE them understand that their parties and balls and preening and prancing are not all there is to life! But I cannot do this alone. I need you, Mac. Will you help me do this? Will you help to make things better for all our little ponies?”

He opened his mouth, then hesitated. This wasn’t just about him, though. Life on the farm had already been disrupted with all the press trampling over the fields to try and get interviews, his friends lives had been intruded on, rude questions had been asked…but if he did nothing, then none of that would ever change. Any pony who dared to look above their station would be singled out as an object of curiosity, or a potential threat to the status quo. What if it was Applebloom? What if she’d set her sights on some noble or Prince, only to find her life dragged through the muck? Well, when you looked at it that way…he’d already hitched his wagon to this train, might as well ride it to the end.

“Eeeyup. Alright, Luna. Ah’ll help.” He paused. “I ain’t wearin’ a damn shirt collar, though.”