He’d apparently been lead directly to town hall, a quaint little affair. In what he was quickly establishing as the Ponyville trend, buildings of distinguishable significance stood out from the rest. It was a cylindrical, two storey construct composed of cream timber and a chocolate drop roof. Clearly weather worn but constantly maintained to counter, given the refurbished balconies. Save for the patriotic outdoor tapestries and diamond crossed windows it was relatively plain.

“Here she is.” Applejack came to a stop by the steps leading to the entrance. “You can find yer crates inside, sugar cube.”

‘Between that or Vinny I’d rather have the latter.’

It would be rude, and quite frankly, petty at this stage to point out he should really be addressed in a more formal manner, but seeing as Applejack had helped him he could not justify it. She wasn’t disrespecting him. She’d been a rather good tour guide on the short journey, a pleasant companion. Whether it was the family name or the size of the town, it seemed everypony knew the farmer. He’d let it slide.

“Thank you for your help and company, Miss Applejack. You certainly bring out the warmth in Ponyville.” His gratitude brought another broad smile to her lips.

“Aw, shucks, it’s just ‘cause I get to know my customers well enough to be friends with them is all. Mighty kind of you to say.” She descended a step before gesturing back where they come from. “I’ll be heading back to check on Apple Bloom, stop by if you have time after all this. Be nice to have a friendly face pop by… erm, figuratively, of course. Take care, Ser Knight!” She waved as she walked past and he returned the gesture.

‘I guess Canterlot simply can’t handle your hospitable demeanour, Miss Applejack. Their loss.’

Sometimes the Prince offered insight into an individual Vincent was to encounter one way or another, personality traits of note embedded into an opinion. He gathered the Element of Honesty was rustic, but was greatly pleased to have a met her anyhow. Sparing one last glance behind him, he turned to enter town hall.

Cool. Far from the balmy exterior, the rush of refreshing air filtered through the layers of hardened cloth and metal, making for an invigorating entrance. It was certainly spacious, perhaps twice as wide as the library, then again it did have to accommodate for the forward stage. Four viewing platforms were available on the upper floor, leading to the outside from where the pegasi likely entered from. The wood was stained and polished, the care for the hall shining brightly beneath the light pouring in from the arched windows. Every step echoed, one or two creaking as he ventured further in. It would certainly pack one hundred. He imagined the many scuff marks belonged to chairs that had been stored somewhere.

Vincent spotted a few conspicuous crates nestled together by the stage. Three were as tall as he, broad but lacking in depth. Another was hidden behind, which came to about thigh height and was much fatter than the other. That was the point when the sight troubled him: there were only four.

Upon closer inspection he could confirm without a doubt that these were crates he had been looking for. Each had been branded with a distinguishable symbol: a large anvil with a blazing sun rising over it. The acronym of R.A.F was footed beneath each branding, signifying their origins from the Royal Armory Forge in Trottingham.

He’d have to speak to the one running the establishment. A quick glance around revealed an office door by the stage, the name "Mayor Mare" etched into the window in fine cursive.

As soon as he had seen it the door had swung open. A cyan pegasus hovered out backwards, rainbow tail flicking fiercely to distort the otherwise relaxed, reclined demeanour.

“Look, we’d be doing Cloudsdale a huge favour!” There was a light rasp to her voice, rough but not displeasing. “We take an extra few tier two stratus clouds for the autumn and in return we can ask for more rainbows in the summer!”

A good look as she floated by revealed her pegasi physique to be in prime condition. Generally, pegasi were lithe creatures, multiple times more nimble in the air with their grand wings than on the ground with hooves. Their strengths were in the wings, and yet, she showed signs of athleticism in her toned form.

Perhaps her lifestyle was linked to her cutie mark, a solid white cloud firing a rainbow bolt of lightning. She certainly belonged in the air; there was not a feather unkempt nor a single dip in altitude despite the soft beating of wings. With arms folded beneath her small bust she shot a cocky grin towards the door.

“You can’t go wrong with a little bit more Rainbow, eh?”

“Quite,” came the stoic response of a mature mare elsewhere, “But that aside, the added days of coverage would run into rain cloud run-off days which we cannot afford to give up for safety reasons, Miss Dash.”

In response, ‘Miss Dash’ waved her off with a scoff.

“Oh come on! You gave us a blank day in the schedule!” She folded her arms under her chest, once again shaking her head. “It was one light shower and I even told you it didn’t have to be mi-“

Rather than stepping into what seemed to be weather negotiations, Vincent opted to stay quiet. More out of natural habit than intention. However, upon her striking magenta eyes locking onto his form he required a new approach. He took in her expression, mild surprise written from the tips of her upward pointed ears down to the sharp chin of a short muzzle. Her rainbow mane was jagged and wild.

“Pardon me, I don’t mean to interrupt,” he began with raised hands, “I’m merely looking for whomever is in charge.” She perked a brow before Vincent’s attention was drawn back to the door.

“That would be me then, ah… Mister?”

The earthpony that stepped out of the doorway reeked of small town bureaucracy, which was not necessarily a negative in his mind; her coffee latte fur coat was adorned with a business skirt, splitting to reveal a scroll bound in sapphire ribbon on her thigh; the white button-shirt was snug, the purple ascot tie reaching down the hem. A silver mane curled over to the left of her face, her ear twitching as she pinched the arm of her glasses and pulled them down under her analytical stare. He could smell ink conflicting with a sweet perfume.

“Ser Vincent, of the Solaris Knights.” He straightened up and bowed his head. “A pleasure.”

“Mayor Mare.” Though pleasant, her voice revealed some scepticism. “Excuse me, but you don’t seem like a knight.”

“I’ll say.” Miss Dash’s interruption marked her sure-hoofed landing and drew Vincent’s and the mayor’s attention. She eyed with blatant cynicism, honing onto his mask. The knight retrieved his orders and handed them to the elder mare, never letting his hidden gaze leave Dash.

“As it will state, I am here to organise the retrieval of these lost crates of arms and armour.” His tone was calm and warm like the sun soaked sea – had to be, to follow his secondary directive of being the face of the Solaris Knights and to placate the spying mare.

“Is that all?” She queried, maintaining her apprehension and stepping closer.

“Actually, with only four being here, and five being needed, I must now locate the fifth.” She was trying to look under his mask, to peer through his eye holes. It wouldn’t work, of course. She reached shoulder height and he could simply look away and have her glare at the cloth and plates obscuring him.

“Hold on, Ser Knight…” With his mask already turned to face Mayor Mare he spotted her look up from the letter to him. She raised her dainty hand whilst backing up into her office. “Please wait here whilst I verify the authenticity of the letter through an aura glass. I hope you understand, given the nature of the circumstances.”

He witnessed her both gesture the crates behind him whilst her eyes quickly scanned him. Between her and the leering Dash, he guessed they didn’t believe him. A temporal problem, recurring but easily fixed in moments.

“Whatever eases your mind, Miss Mare.” He dipped his head and moved towards the crates as she departed into her office.

An aura glass was a basic tool used by government officials to test the authenticity of documents they received. It bore a resemblance to a magnifying glass, save the lens was rose hue and did not enlarge whatever it was aimed at. Peering through would cause the silver boarders of a royal message glow with a runic code unique to the royal family. Very difficult to replicate, costly in both wallet and punishment too for those who'd try.

He stopped before the crates, turning to fold his arms at the sight of Miss Dash hovering by. This time she was studying the bite mark that had pierced through the shoulder of his coat. He didn’t like it.

“Is there something I can help you with?” Being polite was always a good start.

“Okay, so, you look like you could be a knight, sound like it, but I don’t get it.” Her response drew a pregnant pause. She simply landed by his side and brought a hand to her chin. “Like, why would a knight be picking up a few boxes?”

“These are guard-standard weaponry and armour, Miss Dash. The crown has decided that they should not be left out for anypony to acquire.” He kept his tone official, allowing his arms to fall behind him rather than continue to hold the crossed-arm stance. "Miss Applejack can attest to that, and were she not the Element of Honesty I would have her detained under suspicion of harboring military equipment. As is, I believe when she stated that she thought all the crates, and all their contents, were brought here."

“Yeah, that I get but why a knight?” she pressed, raising her brow. “Seems a bit much. Those guys fight all kinds of monsters and bad guys, big scary dudes with attitudes that a good kick from Equestria can fix.” Then a cocky grin sprouted all too naturally across her muzzle. “Of course, not every knight gets to tango with Nightmare Moon, Discord, and King Sombra and win.”

Miss Dash then inspected her knuckled with extreme indifference, despite the remaining presence of smirk.

“Yup, got those three under my belt: helped save the world not once or twice but three times.” She then waved him off. “I’ll admit Twi’s big bro and foal sitter totally won at the royal wedding but that’s only because they beat us to it.”

This was certainly a claim to fame worthy of boasting about and certainly put his achievements into an uncomfortable perspective for comparison between him and a civilian. The fact that she referred to the princess so casually meant she was close and that’s when it finally clicked.

“Name’s Rainbow Dash.” She took to the air and completed a swift summersault, keeping airborne to strike a pose. “Fastest Wonderbolt recruit in all of Equestria, Element of Loyalty, and the only pony to complete a sonic rainboom!” She swiftly grounded herself and shot out her hand. “Sup?”

He shook her hand but his mind was elsewhere.

“Miss Rainbow Dash. Boastful, brash, and complete glory hound; her patience and tact, or lack thereof, did contribute to the destruction of the Gala. Still, we cannot choose an element bearer, and as such, the Element of Loyalty has put herself in harm’s way and stood by her peers’ sides time and time again. I guess one would need some positive aspects to outweigh high levels of arrogance.

…

…

If you’re going to look at me like that then please put your mask on already.”

“Well Miss Dash, I--”

He was going to thank her, express the gratitude of an elite regiment and a country for its protection. He was going to be sincere and let his honest admiration of a civilian taking on such an important role in multiple end-world scenarios.

But she had to flip his arm over and pull up his sleeve.

“AHAH!” Her cry was for nought. Her confused stare lingered on the odd sight. The mouth of his glove had engulfed half his forearm over his scaled armour. A bracer of battered silver and dirtied copper clamped over the seam and up to the wrist. “There’s more? What you hiding?”

Rainbow attempted to release her grip, but hadn’t noticed the subtle snaring of his own, trapping her wrist. She looked up to see him burning a stare from beneath the mask, an indignant gaze that passed through the metal and conveyed a simple message for a passing heartbeat. She felt her ears wilt and throat tighten as she saw… something under the mask. Not clearly enough to identify but enough to know something was off.

“Please. Do not… do what it is you are thinking of doing.” Vincent tone was cold, having scared off the warmth when his mood dropped a few pegs. Such was the waters below the warm surface. What was with this town and the invasion of one’s personal space? He released her before peeling his sleeve back further. Vincent raised his armoured arm, drawing it to him but reaching her eye level.

Her eyes narrowed at the sight. The bracer had a badge of sorts socketed into it, pinned under four claws, a golden sun with a platinum guard’s helm facing back at her, empty but vigilant, ready and waiting. Gashes and scrapes had chewed at its edge but the core was unblemished.

“Do you believe me now?” His inflection made sure that there was no question about it, and Miss Dash nodded and took a step back. That was the badge of a Solaris Knight, her majesty’s seal guarded by whomever could wear the mind-set of a vigilant warrior. Equestria’s elite. “I’d prefer to be treated with the proper respect, which does involve not attempting to handle me.”

‘Face of Equestria’s finest.’

He huffed at the thought that crossed his mind, the act startling Rainbow slightly as she rubbed the back of her head.

“Woah, uh, hehe, sorry dude.” Her sheepish apology caused his head to tilt as he rolled his sleeve back down. He observed from the tilted angle as she shrugged. “You’re not exactly guard-ly looking so I thought you were just trying to swipe some loot.”

“And why would you think that?”

“Well guards are, like, all shiny and buff so I thought knights were supposed to be shinier, tougher and awesome… you look tough, I’ll give you that.” Her explanation into what standards she held her countries guardsmen rendered him speechless. That ‘shiny’ aspect of guards was an enchanted gold coating used to ward off telekinesis spells being used to sling soldiers about. Good for practicality and aesthetics in the capital, not so much in the Equestrian wilds in the undergrowth.

“I’m sorry it took so long,” said Mayor Mare upon return. She was reading the scroll with a peaked brow, “His Majesty’s signature seemed to outshine the magic of the identification boarder when looked through the glass, but I managed.” She handed him back the scroll before tidying her ascot tie. “Like looking into the sun,” Vincent heard her mumble.

“He’s the real deal,” Rainbow Dash commented, glancing between the two, “He just showed me his badge.” Vincent bristled beneath it all, his free hand balling up as he pocketed his orders. He really hated it when ponies tried to mess with his attire, and tried to maintain a minimum exposure policy unless it would downright unhelpful. Rare cases if things went his way.

Having Rainbow Dash ‘succeed’ almost made him feel like he…lost? He shook his head as Mayor Mare groaned, blaming the petty feeling on an encroaching sense of weariness.

“Rainbow, please tell me you haven’t been a bother to him, have you?” There was a slight sense of desperate pleading in her voice.

“What?! No way.” Dash shot him an uncertain look, noting how he was massaging the wrist of the arm she exposed as he stared blankly back. “Well I said I was sorry and we’re cool now right?” He kept quiet, noting the vials poking out of his belt pouch. “Right?”

There was, to his surprise, a large amount of concern in her raspy voice. He had hoped to tease her little but not worry her. He pushed the vials into the pouch until they were secure and put on a warm voice.

“Mmm? Oh, pardon my rudeness.” He turned away from Rainbow to incline his head to Mayor Mare. “Rainbow was simply curious about a few things— one or two I couldn’t answer-- but nothing I’m not used to I assure you.” He saw Miss Dash’s ear twitched at how he phrased that. Not even he knew why a knight was needed for this task.

“So then what will you be doing next?” Mayor Mare queried whilst shooting Rainbow a pointed glare, which was met with a strained toothy grin.

“I’ll have to search for the remaining crate whilst organising a retrieval of the ones in our current possession. For now, I’ll start with the latter.” He inclined his head further, hands behind his back. “Thank you for your help. Keeping these away from others was a wise decision.”

“Oh, it was nothing, Ser Knight,” Mayor replied with a humble smile. “It was hardly a chore, seeing as Applejack was the one who delivered them.”

“The Solaris Knights appreciate all efforts and forms of cooperation, ma’am,” he replied as he came to full height. “No matter how small.” He turned to leave, glancing to Rainbow. “And Miss Dash?” She perked up at him, ears, eyes, and startled expression honed onto him.

Vincent didn’t let his gaze linger and walked. He had taken up too much of their time, something he tried to avoid. He moved on, boots heavy and lightly laced with a sluggishness associated with energy conservation. He couldn’t let it show, though. He couldn’t look weak in the slightest.

“We’re cool.” Vincent finally stated, rolling his shoulder to soothe an itch he would never scratch until he was home. However long that was. Probably an eternity if the past few days were anything to go by.

“Hey!” He was by the exit when Rainbow whipped beside him in a blur of cyan. She hovered as she held a guilty look. “Let me help.”

“That won’t be necessary, Miss Dash.” His dismissal earned an irked snort.

“What happened to ‘knights appreciate all efforts and forms of cooperation’, Vinny?”

“It’s Ser Vincent,” he corrected, almost snapping. He kept composed; she was earnest in expression and her eyes were fierce enough to establish she wasn’t taking no for an answer. One could really see the soul of a pony from their large eyes. With a sigh he rubbed his neck, slightly loosening the obscuring cloth.

“Though we appreciate aid, we do not make a habit of requesting it from those we protect. It defeats our purpose. I suppose, however, there’s no harm in borrowing you as a messenger.” An ecstatic smile stretched across her muzzle, eye widening. “Princess Twilight Sparkle offered to help organise the retrieval, so please relay a message on my behalf.”

Rainbow then pushed through the door, her wings beating quicker and resulting in a shaky hover. The prospect of either redeeming herself or helping a knight seemed to be boosting her mood.

“Lay it on me!” she said.

He stepped outside to stand close by, looking up just enough to let the sun light stop before the eyes of the mask.

“Ser Vincent requests a small retrieval team to collect four crates of standard arms and armour from the town hall of Ponyville, south of the Canterlot Gate barracks. He is currently searching for a fifth and will report within the next twenty four hours to verify its location or otherwise.” Vincent cocked his head. “Can you recall that for me?”

“Vincent wants some guys from Canterlot to pick up the goods whilst he looks for more. He’ll get back to you in a day,” she replied instantaneously.

“…Close enough. Perhaps you should let Princess Twilight word it herself.” Rainbow shrugged before giving a casual salute, which earned a huff of amusement.

“You got it. When I get back I wanna hear a couple of stories, ‘kay?” Before he could point out he wouldn’t have time for pleasant conversation, she took off with enough speed to kick up a fierce breeze. She bolted around a corner, the wind vainly trying to peel off his half opened coat by the base. It rode the blast as he stared bewildered at the pace she shot off.

“Wow.”

“She’s dependable, you know,” Mayor Mare said from behind him with pride, “Wonderful pony, reckless and lazy but the best weather pony this town seen in years.”

“No kidding?” he whispered, craning his head over his undamaged shoulder. “Goodbye, Miss Mayor. Have a pleasant evening.”

Slowly he descended the step whilst Mayor Mare returned to work, admiration still gripping him. He barely made it far before another oddity floated past.

A yellow, frilly summer umbrella caught in Rainbow’s wake.

Instinctively he snatched the lost fashion accessory by the handle, his mind temporally taking him to the high society functions Prince Blue Blood attended, in turn meaning Vincent had accompanied him to. If he recalled correctly, these were to be in fashion based on the trivial gossip of nobles.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash!”

Her voice was like the finest of crystal bells. So finely cut it would fit perfectly, and had, in the capital. He recognised that refined, country belle’s cadence, even if it was wailing in dismay. It triggered a memory of His Highness grinding his teeth as he growled out a name.

“Rarity.”

The name of the mare who assaulted the Prince Blueblood whilst Vincent was off-duty.

“Oh… it’s you.”

He turned to face her.