December 19th, 1700 AFE

Dusk pulled at the collar of the royal red dress shirt, again wondering if this is what Shining Armor had been talking about all those weeks ago. "Stiff collars and flowing jackets... Such a strange combination; it makes me wonder who originally designed the official uniform to be this uncomfortable?"

The carriage ride from his observatory to the party in town was taking forever, and it made Dusk wonder if it had been a mistake even staying in his old home. It had been convenient; he and Rarity had plenty of space, and lots of time to prepare. However, as they rode into the upper quarter of Canterlot built into mountainside nearly level with the capital and the school grounds itself, they found a massive traffic jam blocking all the roads. Squeezing Rarity's hand, he blushed. "Sorry, dear. I was sure we'd be early enough to avoid this crowd. I suppose it's been too long since I paid any real attention to the nobles’ habits before their parties."

Rarity was too busy admiring what she saw outside the carriage. She only looked at him long enough to let him finish what he was saying before leaning past him, pointing with excitement towards a distant manor. "But, Dusk! That's Sapphire Shores! See? Her regal blue hair?! That means that house must belong to Emerald Lily or Regal Diamond!"

Dusk couldn't help it, Rarity's excitement was a fever he couldn't ignore. Turning to look at the house she'd pointed out, Dusk let his eyes hunt for the little signs that would tell him who really owned the massive mansion. A subtle golden plate by the front gate finally gave him an answer. "It's Hoity Toity's. See the engraved metal plate by the gate?" When she nodded, he continued. "I think he is some fashion guru of some sort."

Laughing, Rarity slipped into his lap and smoothed his hair with her deft fingers. "He isn't just some fashion guru, Dusk! He is THE HOTTEST DESIGNER, five years running! A simple nod of approval from him can insure a designer has months of work from his boutiques!"

With better grounding, Dusk made a quick mental note to do some kind of proper research into fashion and design. "Besides, it means so much to Rarity. It's the least I can do to better understand her world."

As their driver fought to make some headway through the ever-growing crowd of ponies making their way to Fancy Pants' family manor, Rarity filled the air with cries of shock and awe at the sights as they passed. From this, Dusk began to build a somewhat basic system of reference, as she poured out small comments on everything, from what one pony was wearing, to her delight that another celebrity he didn't recognize was bringing back a style in couture she hadn't seen in years, and was doing a smashing job of it in the process!

Feeling somewhat adequately prepared, Dusk waited, nodding along with her until he at last found a combination of pony, style and activity that he could identify that Rarity had not yet commented on. With a gap in the conversation opening, Dusk filled it by gesturing towards a distant mare. “Say, Rarity? Isn’t that Spitfire and Fleetfoot by that fountain? Isn’t Fleetfoot wearing one of those dresses you mentioned before, the umm… the Royal Pin ‘Noble Lady’ classic from a few years ago, right?”

Following his direction, Rarity gasped again, shaking her head. “What?!! Oh my! Dusk, you’re right, it is a Royal Pin! But look at the lace edging and the embroidery across her chest! That isn’t a ‘Noble Lady’! I think she must have hired a Royal Pin to produce that dress for her privately! She must have convinced him to come out of retirement, or maybe she got a first run version of his new line? Ohhh! I hope we have time to talk with her later!”

Dusk couldn’t help but laugh, even if he felt a little embarrassed at her corrections on the small details. Squeezing her shoulders, he leaned in against her, using his thumbs to stroke, squeeze and rub at the muscles around her shoulder blades. “I’ll look into it, Rarity. If there is any chance to speak with her, I’ll see if we can fit it in.”

Rarity nervously fidgeted with the napkin, tugging at the corner and chewing on her lower lip. Things had been so hectic when they first arrived, and the wedding had been so beautiful. Watching the noble grooms-stallions march up the aisle together in time was wonderful, and she'd heard more than a few murmurs of praise from those around her.

When Fleur had entered in her father-in-law's arm, Rarity stopped caring about their words. This was inspiration manifest. Fleur-de-lis was an elegant lady, towering tall for a unicorn, she was nearly as athletic as Rainbow Dash, yet willowy thin. Her wedding dress was a sight that made Rarity jealous, and she spent half the wedding trying to figure out how she had laced together such wafer thin sheets of silk. "All of them look so fragile! Surely she must be some kind of prodigy! An artist too humble to show off her work until the day of her wedding...! I simply must talk with her!"

Just as they began their vows, Rarity finally saw it, and couldn't keep her jaw from dropping. She had reached for her magic to help her hear the sound of the distant priestess, an earth mare of the Church of the Light. But just as she did, she finally saw the secret of Fleur-de-lis' dress. Instead of lace or thread, she'd sewn the dress from threads of pure magic, so thin and fine that they were almost invisible. Rarity thought she was jealous before, now she was truly envious of the mare. Her massive wedding before so many famous ponies, dressed in an artwork that most probably couldn't even recognize as art. Finally, she let go and simply enjoyed the rest of the wedding ceremonies, and soon servants had appeared from somewhere hidden, serving drinks as quiet conversation began to spread as the official part of the night ended, and the ball began.

It was during appetizers and drinks that the first pony came to talk with Dusk. She was an official-looking old mare, wearing a fine ruby dress and with a golden emblem on her necklace indicating her as some old teacher from Starswirl University. While they talked, another quietly lined up behind the first, and before he'd finished with the old teacher, two more had joined the quickly-forming line.

As salad arrived, and servants refilled the wine, Rarity listened in on Dusk's conversations, shocked at the broad variety of questions and concerns that ponies had as they came to him. "Three have asked him to speak with Princess Celestia on their behalf. The rest all seem to just be hunting for favors. Poor Dusk, does he not know how to handle so many fawning fakes?"

It was when the fourth gently pressed Dusk for the third time to speak with Princess Celestia on her behalf that Rarity had finally had enough. She cleared her throat as she spoke up. "Forgive me, dear mare, but Dusk has yet to touch a meal today. You know how it is, so busy helping out others, he forgets to think of himself. Maybe during the dance we might spare time for more conversation?"

The mare looked incredulous, but backed down when Dusk realized what Rarity had said and politely excused himself. The rest of the line picked up that his time was now being claimed and moved on. Some returning to their abandoned tables, while others went to join different lines that had subtly formed by many other prominent ponies about the room.

Resting a hand on her own, Dusk leaned close, so he could whisper without others at nearby tables overhearing. "I'm sorry, Rarity. I guess after Amber Firefly's visit, I just got caught up in answering ponies’ questions. But why the lie? We ate a good lunch."

Rarity squeezed his hand back, shaking her head as she laughed a little. "Because, Dusk. It's been two hours since they started lining up. It's nice of you to talk to strangers, but there is no reason to spend your whole night doing so! Now come, did you see the fantastic sewing work on Fleur-de-lis' dress. I just HAVE to ask her how she figured out how to do that! I've never heard of sewing with threads made of pure magic!"

Rarity blushed as Fleetfoot squeezed her hand and spun her around on the dance floor. The Wonderbolt mare was a fantastic dancer and dipped Rarity low, her fingers squeezing on Rarity's shoulder to keep her from tipping too far back. Then as suddenly as she'd dipped her, they were off again, swirling through the dance floor. A little drunk, but delighted at the chance to dance with the famous mare, Rarity had nearly forgotten why she'd asked Dusk to introduce them.

When at last a new song started and Rarity could catch her breath again, she moved in close with Fleetfoot as the slower song encouraged a more intimate kind of dance. Reaching up to lay both arms across Fleet's shoulders, she rested her cheek to the graceful pegasus’ neck. "Now is as good a time as any..."

"Fleetfoot, I'm sorry, but I had a more personal reason to ask for Dusk to introduce us."

Fleetfoot laughed, resting her cheek atop of Rarity's head. "You're kidding right? You wound me, noble lady! And here I thought it was my charming smile alone that brought such an elegant mare to keep me company while Dusk steals my date and talks about boring politics and how they both hate to dance."

Rarity couldn't have missed the dripping sarcasm in Fleetfoot's words, but her smile and the way she kept laughing made it clear the mare wasn't bitter, and perhaps even liked the fact they were busy dancing, not sitting like Dusk and Spitfire. Losing her train of thought to a question begging to be asked first, she gave in. "Dusk’s suggestion wasn't unwelcome?"

Fleetfoot grinned and lifted their linked hands high over Rarity's head, twirling her about once despite the slower nature of the song before pulling her back in close again. "Spitfire is a good commander. I'd follow her any day. But she's two left feet on the dance floor, and I, for one, enjoy the company of a pretty mare, most of all one who can dance. Now what was your real question, sweetheart?"

Shocked at the mare's husky words, the way she openly flirted and her strong hands gripped her, Rarity let herself relax and enjoy the attention. "The truth? It was your dress. I know a lot about dresses, but yours begs me to ask: did you convince Royal Pin to come out of retirement?"

Fleet threw back her head, laughing warmly and shaking her head in delight. When she caught her breath, she squeezed one of Rarity's hands. "No, no, darling. So before you make me laugh any harder, stop. Now, first, can you keep a secret?" Rarity had to nod, she'd agree to almost anything right now to hear the truth of the second best dress at this ball. Fleetfoot watched her for a while before giving in and continuing. "Royal Pin is a gelding, hun. A handsome and noble fellow and my father's lover. Last year he started teaching me to make a dress, and together we came up with this lovely alteration of one of my favorite designs of his. I'm glad you like it, Spitfire and Blaze both told me it was fantastic, but I'm glad to hear from somepony with your skill likes it, Rarity."

With that mystery solved, Rarity felt an uncontrollable swell of pride. "Thank you, Fleetfoot, that was fascinating! How do... how do you know of my work? I'm hardly half as well known as the least popular pony here."

Fleetfoot shook a finger before her eyes. "The grooms-stallions’ uniforms are simply fantastic. They are regal, noble, and lordly, yet the men move with grace. They already can't stop gushing about just how comfortable their new suits are. Don't be surprised if you start getting requests left and right."

Giddy at the thought that her suits had been good enough that the noble stallions liked them so much that they had been gushing about her work to anypony that would listen. "I- well, thank you for sharing, Fleetfoot. I do enjoy new challenges, and these suits were a great one, figuring out how to get them to bend and stretch while still looking official! It was a thrill!"

Fleetfoot laughed, and spun her again, before pulling Rarity in close again. "Hmmm. Maybe we can get together and trade tricks sometime. Really, I don't have many I can talk about sewing with besides uncle Pin, of course." Then together, she guided them off across the dance floor, arm in arm and cheek to cheek.

Dusk winced as Rarity poured him yet another glass of the nearly silvery clear wine. It tasted so fine that he'd been struggling with resisting another glass and now it lay before him, the tiny bubbles frothing in the crystal glass. Feeling a trickle of sweat run down his cheek, Dusk wiped it away and began to reach for the glass.

Sudden joyful voices that rose above the din of the crowd snapped Dusk's concentration away from the all-too-tempting glass of wine. "Magistrate Dusk Shine! What an absolute pleasure to have you here! My love, you remember hearing about him, right? His brother Shining Armor was the stallion who forced a draw when our school challenged the universities to a tournament five or so years ago."

The bride held her stallion very close, respectfully bowing to Dusk, before joining the conversation. "It's my pleasure to meet you, dear magistrate. I'm honored to have so many royal dignitaries come to my humble wedding. Your teacher, Princess Celestia, said we simply had to come talk to you when we had free time, and how could we refuse a royal command."

The laughter that danced in her eyes was playful, and Dusk suddenly felt far more comfortable being himself with the couple. “Well hello, Fancy Pants, Fleur-de-lis. Tonight has been a real eye opener! I never really attended any kind of functions like this, but it’s been a lot of fun, I got to meet some of the Wonderbolts who were friends of Shining Armor, and I haven’t had a chance to just talk with Spitfire in years.” Turning to Rarity, Dusk gave her hand a squeeze. “Plus, Rarity got a chance to talk with some rather fashionable people tonight. It’s been a very nice change of pace.”

Rarity took a sip of her wine as Dusk talked, but as soon as he finished, she sat up, grinning at the couple who stood before them. “He is right, it’s been a fantastic night. The wine, the company, the food. It’s really been delightful!” For a moment, Dusk thought she looked hesitant, but she leaned forward, her voice low and more cautious. “And… Fleur? If you don’t mind me asking? How ever did you come up with an idea so marvelous as sewing together a dress with threads of pure magic? It’s simply wonderful, and so nearly seamless I must have spent half the night trying to figure out how you did it!”

Fleur rested a hand upon her slender chest, her palm out as she laughed, shaking her head with quiet delight. “What? Oh, no, no Rarity! I love the attention, but I promise, this was just some trick I came up with. I really didn’t think it was all that special or creative. I’m sure somepony with flare like you could do something far more impressive than what I came up with!”

As the mares started talking, Fancy Pants walked around to Dusk’s side, and grabbed a free chair so he could sit down beside him. Leaning in closer, the stallion idly tapped two fingers on the golden pommel of his dress rapier. Something was clearly on his mind, but he wasn’t quite yet ready to broach the subject. In hopes of making things easier on the older stallion, Dusk lifted the bottle of silvery wine from the ice bucket with his magic, pouring a fresh glass for the groom and pushing it into his hands. “In all seriousness, though, Fancy, did you two really talk with her majesty? I saw her here for a while, but I couldn’t get away to talk with her.”

A look of shock shot over Fancy’s face and he looked torn for a moment, before accepting the offered glass of wine and taking a heavy pull at the silvery liquid. “The truth is, magistrate… the… Princess Celestia has asked me to assist a few others in teaching you and the other Elements of Harmony some basic self-defense. I know that Rainbow Dash was first in her class in combat arts, and Applejack has proven to be a very strong mare, but even with your own magic, the truth is, she’s worried you all could use some proper training.”

Dusk digested the stallion’s words, trying to stay calm and impartial. His mind, however, shot straight to the obvious. “She never said anything about this after Gilda or Trixie. But she’s been thinking about this all along, hasn’t she… like with the Dragon and the Wonderbolt Cadets. Or Zecora and the Royal Guard. She’s been worried we can’t protect ourselves without using the Elements of Harmony.” Then a guilty second creeped forward from a corner of his mind. “Is that why she kept sending poor Bronze Feather to help too?”

Instead of blurting it all out, Dusk picked up his own wine and took a swift pull on the fine silvery wine, letting it burn down his throat while he hissed a happy breath between his clenched lips. Hanging his head, Dusk finally pulled together an answer. “I’m guessing that you’d suggest swordplay? I know it’s what most of the noble unicorns take up, and I know SSU is more famous for teachers of magic.”

Fancy laughed, draining the rest of his glass and set it down on the table once empty and waved off Dusk’s offer of a refill. “You’re just right, magistrate. I could probably find a few minor things I’ve learned about magic that you don’t yet know, but none of them would be as effective as simply teaching you how to use a blade properly so you can defend yourself from creatures when your magic is not an option.”

“I can’t argue with you, Fancy. After...” Dusk couldn’t help it, he lifted a finger, stroking with great care at the scarred line on his horn before sighing. “After what Gilda did to my horn, I can see the value of a weapon to protect ponies I care for, besides my magic.”

Balling his hand into a fist, Fancy gave the tabletop a light blow, grinning wildly. “Right! That’s that, then! I’ll contact your secretary and look into some time to come visit you in Ponyville. We will show her majesty how well you can handle a sword!”

Dusk drained his own glass, and placed it beside Fancy’s nodding sharply. “Thank you, Fancy. But please, in the future, call me Dusk. First of all, you’re going to be my teacher, and secondly, I’ve never been fond of the overuse of titles. I’ll happily call you teacher, and show you all the respect in the word, but we are both ponies, and there is no reason to treat me as somepony greater than anypony else.”

Fancy pants laughed, and gave Dusk a sharp nod. “I’ve no problem with that request, Dusk. I know most think that the noble families are inconsiderate, but Fleur introduced me to the foals at her mother’s nursery, and once I met them, how could I ever look down on another pony ever again?”

Dusk leaned against Rarity for support, but found her leaning against him at the same time, supporting one another as they staggered back to their carriage. Blood warm by the exquisite wine, it took real effort to keep his eyes focused and his mind straight. With an arm around the mare’s hips, he did his best to guide them. Thankfully, a guard came to their rescue and helped them inside without ever commenting as Dusk failed twice to climb the steps, and in the end needed to be helped up the last two.

With a jostling and rocking motion, the carriage began to move away, and Dusk found his head resting in the crook of Rarity’s arm. Nuzzling into the sweet-smelling mare, he gave a happy sigh, and pulled her hand to rest upon his chest. A nagging memory from hours before crept up though his half-drunken mind, and he kissed the mare’s cheek before letting it speak its mind. “I thin… I think I should try visiting Cadence and Bronze in the morning. Something in… in what- what… Fancy Pants said. Made me think … made me worry that Princess Celestia… well? She’d put herself in danger for me so many times. Makes me wonder, you know?”

Rarity squeezed him tightly as he settled down, and finally spoke up as he finally came to the end of his rambling speech, her voice silky in his ear as she cooed at him. “That’s a good idea, Dusk, hun. I hope she’s feeling okay, the poor thing was so sad last I saw her…” she sighed and squeezed him tightly holding him close and nuzzling his head with her cheek. “I hope she’s doing better now, with all of Cadence’s help.”

As darkness enveloped him and drug him away into the depths of sleep, Dusk found himself muttering quietly under his breath as he struggled to piece together more that was on his mind. Trying to shake off the weight of drink and exhaustion, he squeezed her hand, and gave a little nod. “Yeah. And after all the danger she’s taken on, I’d feel guilty if I didn’t try to show her I’m grateful…”

As he fell into the darkness, Rarity's lips brushed his head, and her voice whispered something that sounded soothing, but he missed it as he floated off into a deep sleep.

* * *

Dusk lifted a chess piece from the board, turning it around in his fingers and inspecting it from another angle. Two well-dressed swordsmen, one a stallion with azure hair, the other a mare with pale magenta hair. Side by side, they fought as a united figure. Slowly lowering it to the board again, Dusk looked up at his opponent’s pieces across the board, and gasped in shock as a feral dragon roared, snapping its jaw and whipping its tail before charging across the board. Before he could react, a pale mare figure lept forward, her pink hair’s heavy locks violently trailing behind her as she struck the dragon and drove it off, protecting the other figures on her team from the beast’s drooling jaws.

Across the table, his opponent cursed in a language he couldn’t comprehend, watching as the figure of the dragon dissolved away. Immediately another figure was pushed forward, a griffon female with golden feathers. She charged forward, knocking over a figure Dusk could empathise with, a stallion with a scarred horn.

As realization began to dawn, Dusk could see the chess board before him was recreating the last few months of his life. The griffon had to be Gilda, and now a figure of a mare with blue feathery wings was grappling with her, wrestling the larger griffon to the ground and pinning her arms behind her back. There was a sudden violent echoing noise, and the griffon figure moved off the board, standing alone on the sidebar, yet still on the table, unlike the dragon that had dissolved away.

Now Dusk looked up at the shadowy figure on the other side of the table, unable to even see the truth of the figure who opposed him. Hands squeezed his shoulder, and from behind his back, a familiar voice whispered in his ear. “Take care in the piece you choose, Dusk. Sometimes the obvious move is not always the best.”

Unable to move, unable to speak, Dusk sat still as he watched a new piece appear from thin air in the middle of the board. A mare with a blue horn, clutching her head and screaming at the top of her lungs. “Trixie… always, it returns to Trixie…”

For a moment, he nearly hung his head in shame, letting his eyes run down the line of figures before him. His hand lifted, and lingered over his own figure, but he froze up, and his eyes refocused on the line again, unable to help himself, Dusk plucked up the yellow winged figure representing Fluttershy, placing her alone forward, beside the icon of Trixie. There was silence, and the hands on his shoulders tightened up, squeezing down as he moved the figure, and let go. He could hear her inhale sharply, and he wanted to look around, to see who it really was.

As he lowered his hand to rest on the table again, everything was still and silent, and he drew in a sharp breath in anticipation. The figures turned to face one another, and the figure continued to scream, but the figure of Fluttershy winced only once, before stepping forward, and gently hugging the mare. There was silence and none of the figures moved for the longest time, then suddenly the pegasus put an arm around the other mare’s shoulders, and the two figures in contest began to walk off the board together.

Just as they approached the edge of the board, a roar came from the figure across the table from him, and violently, the foe pushed one of its biggest figurines across the board, into the path of Fluttershy and Trixie. A black cloud that pulsed with power, its darkness flared up, and enveloped the sobbing mare, while forcing away Fluttershy’s consoling figurine. The mist and the mare vanished from the board, only to reform again in the line of enemy troops again, this time, the mist’s hand was clearly visible on the mare’s shoulder.

Hands releasing his shoulders, Luna stepped forward, attempting to pull Trixie’s figure from the board. “No fair! That didn’t happen! You can’t change the rules and reshape the game, fiend!”

Instead of reacting, the cloaked shadow simply crossed its arms patiently over it’s lap and stared levelly at them both. Realizing her action was futile, Luna’s shoulders slumped, and she stepped back to Dusk’s side. “They have never played by the rules. I’m sorry, Dusk. I know you’ve enough guilt already. We will try again, when he deals her out again. Just try to be ready when the summer comes. The next hand is about to be dealt.”

Dusk shot up, panting for breath. His body, soaked in sweat, and the piercing line of moonlight that cut through the open drapes offered only enough illumination to see he was in his bed, Rarity’s naked body beside him, breathing quietly in her sleep. Standing up, he paced over to the window, pushing open the shutters to let the cold winter breeze in to cool off his sweating, soaking body. As the wind whipped over his chest, he felt a hand on his shoulder again, squeezing down, and he turned, to see the towering figure of Princess Luna looming high over him.

Shocked, he dropped to a knee, glad that Rarity had only taken off his shirt, and had left him at least wearing his pants. “Princess! I’m sorry, I… I was dreaming about a chess game. But my opponent was…”

Princess Luna’s lips curved into a grin, and she silently laughed, throwing her head back and shaking her shoulders. Yet she made no noise, and put a finger to her lips. Cupping his jaw with a hand, she let her fingers trace the veins of his neck. Whispering in his mind, her voice was tender, and distant, almost echoing in his thoughts. “That is just one small piece of the game that has been fought since the dawn of civilization. You will face many more rounds in this battle, now is simply a brief quiet period between rounds. Enjoy this peace, and prepare any way you can. Study with the the knight, and if you wish to visit the poor mare, know she is still refusing all visitors. She even rejects the gentle dreams I send her.”

Looking up as she held his head, he began to try and form words, but found her fading away, even the pressure of her touch thinned until he could feel it no more. Knowing time was limited, he forced words from his mouth. “I will be ready, your majesty. I will make sure we all are.”

The mare smiled down at him, and whispered something too quiet for him to hear before fading away entirely. The whipping cold breeze shot down his back, reminding him he sat before an open window. Shaking his head clear and standing up again, he closed the window again, returning to his bed. Unable to ignore it, his eyes roamed Rarity’s sleeping form, and he stroked a hand across her jaw. “We will be ready, Rarity. You’ve already shown so much growth. I’ll try to keep up.”

December 20th, 1700 AFE

"Dusk, I don't know if I should even let you in... she... she hasn't even read the letter you sent her. I've been working with her every day, but she still won't talk to me. I don't think a confrontation with somepony so closely related to her trauma will help."

Cadence paced her office, her wings ridged against her back and her arms crossed tightly across her chest. It was rare to see her so stressed. It was rare enough that Dusk began to worry for his first friend.

Crossing the room, he gently squeezed her elbow and put one hand carefully upon her rigid wing. "Look, Cadence, I know I've only started reading those books you suggested, but I want to help. Let me at least try and see her. She might not answer me, but I want to let her know that she has friends waiting for her to get better... waiting for her to come home."

The mare stared out the window in silence as he spoke, but at last turned, letting her stiff back relax a little, and her wings unfold. Suddenly surging forward, she scooped Dusk up into a hug, wings and all joining in and holding him close. "Oh, Dusk! You're just so dedicated to helping her, aren't you?! I'm so proud of how much you've grown since you moved to Ponyville!"

At last releasing the hug, Cadence set him back down on his feet, gently using her fingers to smooth down his mussed up hair. "Thank you, Dusk. I think I will come along, but if she lets you in, I'll give her space."

The matter settled, Cadence led the way from the room. Dusk still longed for a few more hours of darkness and silence, and while the royal hospital was calm on the upper floors, the brilliant light that came from the magic imbued roof tiles reminded him to avoid drinking so much again, at least any time soon. Following her across the floor, past a dozen different patient rooms, Dusk’s eyes picked out the folders resting in each door, and he realized the same pattern of names. "Cadence? Are you and Dr Good Will the only psychiatrists on this floor?"

Following his gaze to the folders on the wall, Cadence shook her head and linked arms with him, guiding him on. "What? Oh, no! No, Dusk! We are just the doctors in charge on this floor. If other doctors send patients to our floor for psychological care, their doctors can still come here, but have to check in with us. Most of all if they are recommending any medication."

"Oh! I think that I understand now. So you get sent the special cases and work together with their normal doctors."

Cadence’s nod and content smile was all the confirmation he needed. The rest of the walk they made small talk, and their arrival at Bronze Feather's room was signaled by Cadence snagging down the folder, flipping through the pages a few times, before pulling out a single sheet, and staring at him. When his patience reached its limit he finally spoke up. "I don't need to see anything confidential, Cadence."

Realizing what he had said, she seemed to see him for the first time, and passed him the page. "No. This isn't like that, Dusk. It's... it is the only thing we've been able to get her to tell us. It's rather morbid, and she feels incredible guilt for even having these thoughts."

Dusk accepted the single sheet, reading rapidly at the thin, precise script.

Patient Bronze has continued to calm, and while refusing to talk normally, she opened up this afternoon to provide this single memory before asking to be allowed to return to her bed. She has been eating, but continues to refuse all contact. Dusk Shine's letter remains unopened.

Below is a word for word account of her story:

Bronze Feather: I was lost in the forest, Princess. The haze of the drug had washed over me. I couldn't stop thinking about things... things that I'd been daydreaming about before, but now I found myself trying to think of ways to piece together a way of getting it... him. Ways of driving off them... the .... his mares. *sob* I pictured ways of killing them both if they didn't let me have him!

Princess Cadence: Bronze, please. Calm down and take a breath. You didn't do anything wrong. Like you said, you were fighting the drug as best as you could. You ran away from them to try and buy some time to fight it off. You-

Bronze Feather: I remember planning where to hide the knife and how to wash their blood and any traces of magic that might have lingered. I might not have done it Princess, but I did everything short of killing the mares he loves. Can I go to bed now?

Dusk cringed as he read through the report, but the raw guilt in the transcript bled through her words, and he couldn't ignore the sheer horror she felt at what she'd been considering. Passing the page back to Cadence, he made himself relax before speaking. "I see... that is horrible. I'm sorry, Cadence, just sending a letter of support clearly wasn't enough."

Reaching out, she returned the page to its folder and placed it again into the door. She knocked on the door, but didn't wait for an answer. Instead, she pushed the door open, calling into the dimly lit room. "Bronze Feather? You've got another guest. It's Dusk this time. Will you see him?"

Thanks to the faint illumination inside the sparse room, Dusk could only just make out the outline of Bronze Feather’s limp figure in the bed, a thin sheet pulled up to her shoulders, the hint of a white top barely visible. The mare gave no response, only her breathing was loud enough for him to hear. Looking to Cadence, she only gave a small shrug, and squeezed his hand.

Dusk was glad for Cadence’s soft touch, and carefully lifted the wooden chair that rested in the hallway beside the door. Carrying it inside, he set it beside the bed, and sat down, so his knees were an inch from the edge of the bed. Still, Bronze refused to react, staring at the far wall while he settled, and waited to see what would come next.

Twenty minutes passed, with only the distant sound of somepony walking in the hallway to hint that anyone moved. Dusk’s eyes adapted to the dim lighting, and he studied the way Bronze drew her ragged, gentle breaths, still refusing to look at him. Unwilling to break his gaze, Dusk called to Cadence gently. “Can you close the door? I think some privacy while we can talk might be best.”

Cadence’s indecision lingered in the silence between them. Dusk knew she was fighting with the idea of leaving him alone with the unstable mare. At last, she stepped out of the doorway, swinging it closed and cutting out most of the light in the room. Still, Dusk kept the silence, watched the rise and fall of the silent mare. Only the small twitch and shift of her tightly folded wings as she took each carefully measured breath.

When his eyes had finally accustomed to the tiny light that leaked under the door, and the one roof tile that only very dimly glowed at its dimmest setting. Finally, Dusk finished sorting his thoughts, and finally called out to Bronze. “Did Princess Celestia or Princess Cadence ever tell you I died once, Bronze?”

The mare’s sharp inhale of breath told him he had her full attention. She still refused to move, but he pressed on, speaking slowly, picking his every word very carefully. “It was when Nightmare Moon attacked Ponyville. Even as she cut through the guards, I tried to help. I’d been taught a little combat magic by Princess Celestia, and I’d practised even more with my brother occasionally. When I realized no magic I knew was strong enough to break her armor, I pulled at my life force as well as my magic. So many of the royal guard were already dead or dying, I couldn't let their sacrifice become pointless. She cut me down and I passed away into a darkness.”

Bronze Feather’s breathing was totally off time now, her rhythm was lost and she was breathing hard. Dusk worried he might have gone too far, but maybe… maybe he could help. “I… I still remember it. I was in that darkness, and the rest of the world was fading away. But just as I accepted it and stopped fighting, I heard a voice, a whisper calling me, screaming for my help, begging for it. It was a tiny thing at first, and I just wanted it to go quiet, to leave me be. To let me enjoy the peace and calm of the darkness.”

Dusk slowly leaned forward, and put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing down and willing up his magic, to let a tiny warmth pour through his hand, into her body. “But the voice I couldn’t place called out again, louder, harder. Aching for any help possible. It roared through me, and suddenly, I knew the truth. It was Princess Luna, begging for my help from her self-made prison of darkness. I came back because I had to tell somepony, anypony, that Princess Luna was alive after all of those years. It hurt so bad, my body was broken. Bruised ribs, broken bones... But when I realized I could help Princess Luna, I knew I had to keep pressing on… To find some way to save her.”

Dusk fell silent again, and Bronze still refused to move. In the growing silence between them, Dusk felt a few tears fall from his cheeks land on the edge of the bed. He ignored his tears, but waited for his breathing to calm, his hand on her continued to pour soft warmth into her body, and her breathing was beginning to slow down. She began to calm. When he knew he could talk again without his voice cracking, Dusk pressed on again. “I still remember that silence, that calm of the darkness. But I don’t want to go there again. Every time I tell a story that makes a filly smile, the warmth and joy reminds me why. The same goes with helping out my friends, the taste of a fresh apple, and the burn of rich wine that trickles down my throat.”

Bronze Feather still didn’t answer, and Dusk let his grip soften, his voice still strong. “I miss you, Bronze. I can’t stay here all day, but I’ll give you every second I can. Think about it as long as you want, and I’ll come back next week and every week after. For as long as it takes. I’m sorry I failed you, Bronze. It’s not your fault you wandered into that patch of Poison Joke, it’s mine. When you’re ready, we can talk. Until then, remember… I’m waiting. And I care for you… Bronze Feather. Come to me, please?”

* * *

December 24th Just before Midnight, Hearth’s Warming Eve.

Cadence pushed the file back into the door, turning the locks in the room and walking swiftly back down the hallway. Unable to fight back a yawn, she covered it with one hand over her mouth, blocking it with the sleeve of her white doctor’s robe. Walking down the quiet hallway to her office, Cadence pushed open the door, and nearly dropped her clipboard. In the chair behind her desk, Bronze Feather sat, her knees pulled up to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees.

As Cadence tried to catch her breath, Bronze turned her head up, her eyes red with tears. “Princess… why does he forgive me? Why does he? After what I almost did? After what I wanted to do... wanted to do so badly?” Sobbing still, she threw Dusk’s letter from so long ago down on the desk, and went back to hugging her knees again.

Cadence struggled to step forward, swallowing back her joy and panic, and carefully picked up Dusk’s letter. It was long, personal, and specific. The last three paragraphs made her blush a little, and yet the final request really made it clear why she was so upset. Folding the letter back up, Cadence put it back into the envelope that lay discarded on the desk before stepping around to Bronze’s side, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Dusk cares because he has felt loss in a way few others can empathise. You are one of the few living mares who can sympathise with him. You nearly lost yourself to a greedy need to possess what you wanted the most.”

Bronze turned, wrapping her arms around Cadence’s hips and hugged her tightly, yet another shock that made Cadence reevaluate the mare again. Stroking a hand through the mare’s hair, she tried again, looking into the pegasus’ eyes. “Bronze, now that you’re talking, you’ve read his letter and are out of your room, I want to ask you something. Would you take him up on his offer? Will you be his Vicarius?” When the mare looked only confused, she tried again. “His Deputy. His second when he must be away. His guard when he needs one. His shield.”

Still holding Cadence at the hips, Bronze never blinked the entire time while Cadence talked to her. “Do… do you think I could do it?... That I deserve it?”

Cadence let her fingers stroke the troubled mare’s hair again, relaxing, letting out a small sigh. “I think you could. But that doesn’t matter. Do you think you can?”

Bronze was very quiet for a long time, and Cadence began to worry the stress had been too much for the mare. Suddenly, a ripple went through Bronze, and her wings unfolded, relaxing for the first time since she had come into Cadence’s care. Staring up at her, Bronze gave a stiff nod. “For him? Anything. His shield, his spear. And if he ever goes into the darkness again... I’ll be the voice asking him to come back again.”

Author's Notes:

Winter begins to draw to a close for Dusk and his friends. There will probably only be one more part, two should I get carried away with myself. [Like I often do >.>;;]

I hope you all enjoy this ongoing story, and sorry for the slow updates. The Witcher 3 had me possesed, and now I battle a new [or rather new to me] foe. Dragonball Z Xenoverse is a heck of a lot of silly fun even with the abysmal drop rates.