I trotted into the dining hall, reminding myself that my role here was to provide a discreet threat analysis, but not to interrogate or antagonize him. I glanced at the tables occupants. Celestia was, as expected, seated at the head spot, daintily nibbling her way threw a slice of buttered toast and to her left sat the entity I could only assume was King Sombra.

As far as first impressions went, he gave the sort of sinister vibe that I would have found clichéd had it not been staring me in the face. Between the black assemble of armor, his slitted red eyes, and the wicked curve of his crimson horn, he practically shouted ‘I’m evil’. Needless to say, I disliked him immediately.

His guards told a similar story. They each wore dark armor with small spikes protruding along their spines, shoulders, and the fronts of their full faced helmets. But it was the narrow, glowing slits of their eyes that bothered me the most. It reminded me of that one time I saw a golem, obedient and mindless.

Reaching the head of the table, I halted a few steps from Celestia’s seat, averting my eyes the whole time and bowed before her. “Princess, please forgive my tardiness. May I humbly request to be seated?”

“Please, rise and be seated,” she stated in a kind, yet authoritative tone.

I pulled out the seat on her right and across from King Sombra. A server stepped forward and began to heap generous portions of my choosing onto my plate, murmuring the occasional “Very good sir” at my requests. The whole time though, I could feel Sombra’s eyes on me.

“I do believe some introductions are required,” Celestia dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “King Sombra, this is Captain Waxing Crescent, my Night Warden. He is one of my most trusted advisers and I asked him to join us.”

“I see.” His voice was more a guttural growl than an actual speaking voice. Whether it was by choice or nature was impossible to tell. “And what exactly is a Night Warden?”

Celestia looked to me to explain my roll and I cleared my throat. “Simply sir, I coordinate the night shifts, respond to any report deemed important enough, and-” I pondered at the ceiling, pretending to search for the word I was looking for. “Deal with the things that go bump in the night should they prove themselves much too bothersome for the ordinary guard.”

He raised his eyebrow, grinning like a cat that ate a canary. “And how do you deal with these creatures that go bump?”

“Permanently.” At that moment I took a solid bite of bacon.

Sombra seeing this, grinned a toothy smile, baring his own set of fangs. He turned to Celestia. “Princess, given your gentle nature and advocacy for all things peaceful, I am surprised to find such a…’warrior’ amongst your inner circle”

I imagined what it would have be like to rip his throat out with my fangs right then and there. It’s been far too long since they had a good excuse to get bloody.

Celestia must have been reading my thoughts or just knew me too well, because I felt her poke me with a hoof under the table. She addressed Sombra, keeping her tone even and factual. “Not all creatures can be reasoned and talked with. It does nopony any good to try and negotiate with a hydra or cockatrice.”

“So he is nothing more than your attack dog?” His eyes glinted at me. “To be brought to heel once the problem is dealt with?”

Good behavior now Wax. Throat biting later. I reminded myself and continued to work my way through my breakfast.

“His role in the defense of my country cannot be trivialized so easily. Regardless, I doubt you came all this way to discuss a member of my court.” Celestia deflected. “I must say it was surprising to hear on such short notice that you were arriving and can only assume you need some sort of aid or help.”

“The Crystal Empire stands strong and self-reliant.” He scowled. “How has Equestria fared since you banished your sister?”

I paused chewing. That was low.

“While her presence is dearly missed, Equestria is faring well in her absence.” Celestia kept a cordial tone but I could see the blow had been dealt. It was the little details that most would miss. Like the way her wings drooped a hair bit more. Or how the wave of her mane waved a little less energetically.

I reached out under the table with one of my rear legs and touched Celestia. It was a small comfort but I could see it reach her eyes. I wanted to reach across the table and hold her and tell her like I had so many nights before, that it’s okay; that it couldn’t have been helped and that she did what was necessary. I also knew however that exposing any weakness of hers to Sombra would be unacceptable.

“If I may,” I spoke up. I needed to take the heat off Celestia for the moment. “I was admiring the armor of your guards. Most notably the helmets. It is so unusual to see a full faced helm, and I’m left confused as to why the eye slits are enchanted to glow green.”

I found myself the sole subject of his glare. “I will only say the enclosed helm is warmer in the cold and the enchantments serve to strike fear in the hearts of our enemies. And that is all you need to know.” He forcibly spat.

Strike a nerve there, did I? I smirked inside.

A few ponies from the wait staff came forward and began to clear the dirty dishes from the table.

“Ah, I suppose that makes sense. After all, you have your fair share of dangerous creatures up there right? I’ve heard stories of windigo herds soaring overhead preying on helpless travelers, or yetis smashing trade caravans.” I watched his eyes narrow. “I think the most interesting one was of a great horde of wights rising up recently and killing a whole group of bandits. How do your forces train for that, because, I mean I know we don’t face those sorts of threats here, but it sounds like they might need a few pointers.”

He let lose a threatening growl which spooked the poor unicorn mare who was collecting his dishes, dropping them in his lap. They clattered everywhere as she cowered before him.

“I’m so, so sorry, your h-highness.” She began backing away from the looming unicorn king as he towered over her, thin wisps of purple beginning to float from the corners of his ears.

He snarled as I watched him take delight in her fear. Celestia’s horn preemptively lit up. I flared my wings from my side a little, ready to jump across the table and extract the waitress so Celestia would have a clear shot, should anything happen. From the corners of the room I saw the royal guards tense up leveling their spears; ready to jump into action. Tension in the air was ripe. I could taste it, and after the all his posturing in this meal, I was hoping for any reason to come unglued on him.

The poor mare was sniffling and pleading as she continued her backwards retreat as rapidly as her legs would carry her. Right back into a decorative pillar. I watched as the marble structure wobbled left. Then right. Back left. It teetered, defiant to the end before succumbing to gravity and crashing down on one of Sombra’s guards.

Seeing the opportunity, the waitress fled the room, scared and crying. A few of our guard members stepped forward and rolled the pillar away.The red crystals on top of the helm had shattered under the blow. The green glow of the eyes faltering and fading.

“AUGH! MAKE IT STOP!” The guard ripped the helm from his head and curled up into a fetal position on the floor. “Get out my head.” He desperately pulled on his ragged mane, ripping it out. “Get out of my head!”

Sombra now looked nervous, any joy he took in terrorizing the mare had vanished. He stepped towards the downed pony, sickly red magic engulfing the crystal pony’s head.

“No! No!” he wailed, kicking away from his liege. “Get out! G-get o-o-out!”

Sombra’s horn grew brighter, the wailing guard’s eyes took on a similar sheen as the magic took hold. “Reeeeeest.” Sombra breathed.

The pony twitched on the floor and muttering gibberish to himself.

“This visit is over. We are leaving.” Sombra called over his back, and scooped up the battered helmet and crystal shards in his magic, setting a brisk pace for the exit.

“Wait a-” A golden glow surrounded my muzzle. Celestia shook her head. I pointed at the retreating black figure, my eyes pleading to go after him.

“Now’s not the time.” Her magic dissipated as the door slammed shut.

I opened my mouth to argue, managing to draw in a deep breath when she interrupted me.

“Do you trust me?”

I deflated. “Yes. Of course. You know that.”

“Then wait.” She revealed a small fragment of the shattered crystal from the helmet, held in her magic. “I hope that this can tell us more about what is going on.”

Okay that was sneaky.

“Meet me in my chambers in an hour. I need to study this.”

“As you wish.” I said defeated.

She cupped my chin with a hoof, making me look her in the eyes and I softened up a little. “Thank you,” she whispered, her wing brushing my side as she teleported away.

I sat there as the servants cleared away the last of the dishes. I looked at the remaining strips of bacon.

Best not let those go to waste.

I snapped them up, much to the staff’s disgust. They never said anything, but I could see the way their mouths would downturn a little. Seeing little else on the table I really wanted, I left for the exit. I had an hour to kill. I headed for my office in the guard wing, returning the salutes of those stationed in the hallways.

I reached my office and unlocked the door. My office was barren for the most part. The only things to grace its walls were drawings that Breeze had made for me ever since she could pick up a crayon. In the corner, was I couch I had brought in for napping, hidden behind the bulk of my desk. Sitting down at it, I looked at its surface, struggling to see it from underneath all the scrolls and reports.

A lot of work went into making the damned thing. I had gone back to that the tower in the Everfree where it all began. Spent hours picking through the rubble, pulling out whichever roof beams that weren’t too damaged or rotten. It took me the course of several days to haul them back to Canterlot on my own. Iron Oak had offered to help me with that part, but I declined. It was a burden I wanted to bear on my own at the time. I did have him and his son did have to help me with the woodwork though. Iron and Anvil sanded and sawed, hammered and nailed it into existence.

I ran a hoof along the polished surface, varnished and lacquered to a fine, deep sheen. My hoof drifted down, running along the names I had engraved on the side, pausing on Morning Star’s.

“When does a pony truly die?” Celestia asked me. She had a wing wrapped around me as we stared into the fire. Empty bottles of wine lay scattered across the floor marking the hours we’d been there, pondering life’s great mysteries.

“I don’t know. When their heart stops I guess.” I shrugged.

“Mmmm.” She took a long sip from her glass. “I don’t think so.”

“Wha?” I slurred. “How do you figure?”

She downed the rest of her glass and set it aside. “I think for a pony to be truly dead, they first would need to be forgotten. Their works and deeds faded into obscurity.” She lifted a hoof in front of her face. “Just.poof!” Her hoof floated away like something being blown away. “As so long as somepony remembers you, or what you did, your memory lives on in that pony. And so, there’s still a little piece of you left., tiny and fragile, but still here. Nopony is dead until-”

“-they are forgotten” I whispered. I was going to be damn sure they never would be. Don’t get me wrong, I still felt guilty that I was the only one to make it out but everyday it got a little better. And sometimes...sometimes I would think I’d hear my name called out on the street and when I’d turn around, one of them would be standing there, smiling and waving at me like nothing happened. I’d stumble and try and find them, but by then they’d disappeared. Whether I was going crazy, or not mattered little to me. Any closure, trick of the brain or not, was better than none.

I began to take the uniform off, hanging it from a hook I had installed to dry out wet ponchos. Free of that and no longer concerned about wrinkling it, I sat down, and started working through the notes left for me. The first one grabbed my attention. It was a simple notification telling me that Onyx Gale’s body was ready for transport to return to Dusk Hollow. Tonight I’d have to go tell his parents, if they hadn’t heard already, that he was dead, and present them with his body for the funeral.

My stomach felt sick. I’d done too many next-of-kin visits in the past. Each time I hoped that’d be the last one.

Onyx’s parents weren’t the only one’s that would be suffering through his death though. Grabbing a blank scroll, I spread it open and carefully began to write.

“Dear Ms. Showers,

I once again wish to extend my deepest condolences for your loss. I know these words come as cold comfort to you in your mourning hours and I sincerely wish that these mere words could mend your grievances, as to spare you a pain that only time can diminish. I would like to dissuade you from falling into the furthest depths of despair and remind you that you will soon be faced with the joys, and challenges of parenthood as the life within you grows; a testament to the bond and love you and Onyx both shared. As a parent, I can tell you there is no greater labor than that of raising a foal. It is as difficult as it is rewarding, and no words can truly describe the bond forged between parent and child.

I wish to tell you now, that the Nocturne are a tight knit herd, and we tend to our own. On the birth of your child, they will be the newest face to join our lineage and as such, will be loved, celebrated and cared for by us all. You have, perhaps unknowingly, joined a family where you and yours will always be welcome in our homes, and our hearts. It is my solemn hope, that this news may assuage your fears, that despite being a single mother, you are not alone.

This evening, I am leaving to go notify Onyx’s parents. I should like to invite you to come. It is never easy to tell a parent that their child has passed on from this mortal plane, but it is my hope that meeting the mother of their future grandfoal, might raise their spirits and give them a ray of light, in what is surely to be their darkest night.

I cannot, nor will I, force you to come. Should you choose to however, please return, or send reply with, this messenger.

Deepest and sincerest regards,

Night Warden Waxing Crescent

Captain, Royal Guard

I watched the pegasus take off carrying my letter away. Having done that, I walked off towards Celestia’s chambers. I hoped Spring Showers would show tonight. She needed a support base, both the grieve and to raise the foal. I would have gone crazy my first month if it hadn’t been for Iron Oak’s, Sunflower’s, and Celestia’s help with Breeze.

The guards outside Celestia’s chambers snapped to attention and saluted.

“Good morning sir!” they greeted.

“Good morning boys.” I returned the salute and they dropped theirs. “How are y’all doing today?”

“Outstanding sir!” they replied in unison.

“I know you’re out here standing.” I said with the mock gruffness of a sergeant. “I asked how you are doing!”

They cracked a smile at the age old joke, laughing politely.

“We’re doing well, sir,” the ranking guardspony said. “It’s been an uneventful watch, therefore it’s been a good one.”

“Very good.” I said nodding. “Is the princess in? She should be expecting me.”

“Yes sir.”

“Alright, thank you.” I stepped past them. “Carry on.”

“Carry on sir!” They echoed as I stepped through the door. On the other side, my face dropped. The gravity of the meeting before me taking hold.

Never let them see you sweat.

I found Celestia further back in her study, behind her desk, the red shard undergoing her intense scrutiny. I tapped the door frame, alerting her to my presence.

“Come in.”

Pins and needles pricked my gut. It was clear, from the furrow of her brow, that whatever answers she had found were not good ones. I sat down across from her, waiting for her to start the discussion. To let her puzzle out what pieces she needed and where to fit them. From the smallest conversations to the biggest battles, she was strategic in everything. Constantly trying to guide ponies and events with the smallest of touches.

Sighing, she released her hold on the crystal letting it bounce harmlessly onto the open book beneath it. “What are your thoughts on Sombra?”

I shifted my wings, getting comfortable. “He’s aggressive, but only when he’s sure of victory. This whole trip felt like a probe. Not so much of our defenses, but our mindsets. ‘Would we respond to an attack?’ ‘Are we willing to get drawn into a war?’ ‘Can we be provoked?’

“From the way he spoke and the way he presented himself, I think he likes to utilize mind games, intimidation, and fear to attack your will before moving to physically strike. This makes him a rather insidious opponent should his tactics take root. Ordinarily, I’d respond with a quick and powerful strike, not only to hurt him but to show that his methods are ineffectual on us and we will not tolerate it.”

“But?” Celestia cut in.

“But, having not seen him, or his guards fight, I can’t speak to whether they’d be prepared for such an incursion.” I popped my neck. “As far as his guard’s go, their training and armor seem to be an emotional weak spot for him. At first I thought it might be because they are inadequate, but after the pillar shattered that-” I pointed at the red gem. “I don’t know if that’s quite right.”

Celestia levitated the cursed thing over to me and I took it in a hoof. “What do you know about magic Wax?”

“Aside from it gives me a massive headache?” I scoffed. “Not much. General enough to understand what the guards can feasibly do, like shields, combat spells, a few healing spells, but no specifics on how they work.”

“Hmmm. Remind me to broaden your knowledge when you return,” she began pulling forms together and a quill in her magic. “From what I have been able to gleen, that gem was enchanted take a pony, strip them of their free will and agency, effectively making them a glorified meat puppet.”

I stared at the red shard in horror, still recoiling over ‘meat puppet’. It took me a minute to realize what she said at the beginning. “Wait. When I return?”

“Indeed.” she said while writing, her quill flying across the scroll. “I want you to assemble a team, head to the frozen north and investigate what is happening in the Crystal Kingdom. I need to know the full size and shape of things there. Additionally, I want you to cripple their operations if you deem them threatening to us. I don't need to remind you that this nation is still recovering and can't stand a new war.”

“Okay. Back it up a second.” She stopped writing and looked up at me. “Why me though? I mean, I’ll go if you need me too. And I agree that Sombra needs to be investigated. But why me? And not to mention that you didn't even ask! You didn't ask if I would take a mission!” I put a hoof on my chest. “I’m not the only one capable leading a squad there!”

I realized by now I was yelling at the princess. My wings were flared and I was practically standing on her desk. I looked down embarrassed and reigned it in.

“Sorry.” I stepped back onto the ground, slightly ashamed. “The point is, I’m not the stallion I used to be, Celestia. And it’s not just me I have to think about anymore.” I scuffed my hoof with the other. “I have a daughter now. I can’t just strap on my blades and armor and charge off like I did when I was a young officer.” I sighed and closed my eyes. My explosive blast of anger coupled with being awake when I had no business being left me feeling like I needed a nap.

I heard her step around the desk and wrap her wings around me, hugging me tight. She rest her head on top of mine. I leaned into her. No matter my frustrations with her at the moment, she was still my friend.

I sighed into her chest. “If this was an Ursa, or a dragon, I’d be less hesitant. But this time, if everything you told me about those helmets is true, then there is a fate worse than death here. Breeze has lost enough parents already.”

We sat there on the floor like that for a minute, before Celestia sensed I was done.

“I should have asked you, instead of assuming you would go as you have before. It seems that despite my mistakes with Luna, I have not yet entirely learned to stop taking those closest to me for granted.” She sounded hurt as nuzzled my withers, breathing into them. “For that I am truly sorry.

“And I know how much Morning Breeze means to you, and I am so proud to see the relationship you two have forged. She is very lucky to have you as a father and I would not dream of separating her from you needlessly so.”

She craned her neck up as to look me in the face. “If you still do not wish to go, I will not fault you. You are right about needing to look after her and that she has already lost more than any filly so young should. I only ask that you consider this from my view. There are few ponies in our guard experienced enough to lead such a mission. The only other one that readily comes to mind is Captain Iron Oak.

“The biggest reason he is not my top pick, despite having served so faithfully as my Guard Captain for so many years, is that his strengths come from large scale, defensive battles. He wins through sheer stamina, numbers, and attrition.”

I nodded. It was true. Even when I was fighting him, my forces had to work and bleed for every inch we gained when facing his blockades.

“If I were to send him, I imagine he would want to take the entire guard, build a wall around the Empire, and lay siege for months on end, with his only observations being the ones from atop his wall.”

I snorted, trying not to laugh. "Yeah, that would be him."

“So you see, the reason I need you is because you are different. You strike hard and fast where the enemy is weakest, disappearing into the dark before they can regroup. You work best in small, nimble groups. You understand the advantages of using stealth, shock and fear to your advantage. And that’s what I need here, stealth.”

A nostalgic smile lit across her face. “That’s why Luna favored you, you know. You were always the careful aggressor.”

I buried my head against her chest, indecision plaguing me. My heart felt ripped between my love for Breeze and desire to stay with her, and my duty to protect Equestria and its inhabitants. Right now, I really wanted a nap.

“Celestia, could I sleep on it first?”

“Sure. That sounds like a wise idea.” She leaned down and kissed me between the eyes.

I muttered my thanks as we broke away, her going to her desk, no doubt to prepare whatever edicts necessary for either side of my decision, and I left for my office.

I doubt remember much of the return trip, just unlocking the door and crashing on the sofa. The medals on my uniform glinted in the soft light coming through the cracked door and the drawings my daughter drew fluttered in a passing air current. I stared at them until my consciousness slipped away.

Author's Notes:

Well, I'm not 100% satisfied with everything in this one, but I've spent too much time writing and rewriting sections that in the interest of moving on, I need to get it out there. Maybe I'll come back and give it another crack at a later date.

Prereading done by stanku. Check him out!