Chapter 4: A Story Told.

The sun setting over Canterlot is a moment of much needed relief for everypony within the walls of Canterlot. If the sun is setting, then Princess Luna continues to be alive, or that is what everypony tells themselves and their foals as they head to their homes, or in the case of the upper class ponies whatever shelter they are able to bribe or buy their way into.

In a part of the middle-class district, not far from the still smoldering ruins of the once opulent high class buildings, the white-stone walls of an inn named ‘The Gilded Bit’ are packed full of ponies that, on any normal day, would never set hoof or horn within the middle-class. Inside, hushed voices whisper around tables and glasses of the finest wines the owner could find, all voices speaking of their misfortune as they hand over bits like candy. The owner, a rotund unicorn white with a slicked back graying blue mane, is all too happy to take their money as long as it will continue flowing, even if it means he has to put up with listening to a certain ‘prince’ who has taken up holding court in the middle of his taproom.

“I just cannot believe the Royal Guard would bar me from staying in the Castle!” Blueblood whines, loudly, for what seems like the hundredth time that night. “So what if the guest quarters are damaged! I am sure they could find a room! They can house those filthy reserves in the servants quarters, or even in one of the outbuildings! They have no place in the castle anyway!”

“Quite right, Blueblood,” a grey unicorn wearing a dirty white sweater, a green shirt peeking out from beneath it, agrees as he cleans his glasses. “We should be afforded better lodgings than the commoners! And what with all our servants and staff having to find lodgings, there is hardly room for us!”

“I’ve been forced to sleep in my auction house,” a brown unicorn sighs, taking a sip of his wine. “Not that I am complaining… but… it could be better.”

“Jet,” Blueblood says, turning to the grey unicorn, then looking to the brown, “Gavel. Something needs to be done.” He slams a hoof on the table, causing the wine glasses, and the bottle, to rattle and nearly spill. “We cannot allow those… those uncultured swine to tell us where and what we cannot do. We are the lifeblood of this city.” He puts a hoof to his chest, further wrinkling and dirting the wrinkled white tux he is wearing. “We are the nobility, the rightful few who should govern when Celestia and Luna are not able.”

“That’s all well and good,” Jet sighs, gently spinning the wine in his glass. “Especially coming from you, Prince Blueblood. You’re one of the highest ranking nobles in the city.” He points to himself, then to Golden. “What are we, if not minor footnotes in the listings. If you are denied the comfort of the Castle, what chance do we stand? At least, on our own.”

“A very fine assessment,” a rich, deep voice comes from a table nearby. “Because you are quite right, you will never be able to change anything.” A hooded and cloaked figure steps up to the table, having come from seemingly nowhere. “But, I can help you, if you would but hear me out.”

“And just why should we listen to you,” Blueblood grumbles. “You do not look like one of us, for all we know you could just be a commoner hoping to gain the ear of a royal.”

“My dear Prince Blueblood,” The figure says in a hurt tone. “Do you not recognize me?” He pulls his hood back, the smiling face of a dark green unicorn with a salt and pepper slicked back mane. He fixes Blueblood with a friendly, yet appraising look with his teal eyes, moving his glasses back up his muzzle.

“Secure Savings, is that you?” Jet asks with a raised eyebrow. “I thought you were out of the city?”

“I was, Jet,” Secure agrees, with a nod, “but I returned just before the city locked down, I needed to retrieve something from my house, but I dare say that will be impossible now.” He waves a hoof dismissively, then looks to Blueblood again. “But, my lord, you are right. We cannot allow such… barbarians, to run Canterlot! Why, I hear tell that the Princess is no longer on the throne, and that the Royal Guard has deposed of her along with the Wonderbolts.”

“You can’t be serious,” Gavel whispers loudly, leaning forward. “The Guard and Wonderbolts are dedicated to the service of the Princesses.”

“I agree with Gavel,” Jet nods. “The Wonderbolts and Royal Guard might be… brutish at times, but that does not mean they are unfaithful to their vows.”

“Ah, but they have been, and I have proof!” Secure declares in a conspiratorial whisper. Waving a hoof for the other ponies to lean forward, he places his arms around Gavel and Jet’s necks, and looks at Blueblood over his glasses. A pink glow flashes in his eyes and a slight glow appears around his hooves and horn. To anypony but the three at the table, it looks like a mere trick of the light. To the three at the table, it’s a blinding flash followed by a sense of confusion followed by profound clarity of mind.

“Yes, yes thank you for sharing this information with us,” Blueblood says slowly, his eyes narrowing. “I do not know how you came about it, but I cannot allow this to stand!” He slams a hoof against the table, the wine bottle this time actually falling over. “But, you still haven’t explained how you will help us.”

“As the current chairpony of Equestria’s National Bank, I… shall we say come into contact with some less than reputable characters and organizations,” Secure starts, pausing a moment to look around, as if expecting somepony to leap from the shadows. “I know some ponies who can help you, for the right price of course.” He releases Gavel and Jet, sitting down between them and waving the server over, “Could you please bring me a glass so I might partake in the fine vintage my fellows are drinking?” The server nods and goes off to get the glass.

“And what organizations would this be, Secure?” Gavel inquires, looking at his ‘friend’ intently. “As we would need a strong mercenary company, or perhaps even a group of deserters, to match the Guard…”

“Oh, but my contacts are quite capable of taking on the Guard.” Secure states proudly, holding a hoof out as the server returns and gives him the glass. He balances it delicately upon the flat surface of his hoof. “You see, you are going to require a group that won’t ask many questions.” He tilts his hoof to one side, the glass sliding a little. “But, also a group you really don’t care if a bunch of them say… die a horrible death, they must be expendable after all as I have no doubt you won’t want to give them much in the way of a reward after you take power.” He then levitates the wine bottle and his glass up, pouring himself a healthy share before returning to talking. “But, I am sure you are quite capable of such things, my dear Prince, after all you are of royal blood! And those of Royal blood are natural leaders.”

“Of course I am,” Blueblood agrees, holding a hoof against his chest before looking at Secure with a blank expression. “And it sounds like we need to talk to your ‘friends’, Secure. When can we meet them?”

“Soon, my Prince.” He raises his wine glass and smiles brightly. “First, let us toast! To a new, and better Equestria beneath the rule of you, Prince Blueblood.” He then whispers softly. “May your reign be short and painful.”

-----

Yawning heavily, Dawn makes his way down the corridor of the Castle leading towards the barracks for the Day Guard. As a Commander, he doesn’t need to sleep there, and in fact he actually has an open invitation from the Princess’ to use a spare guest room should he desire. But, with all the Reserves in the Castle, not to mention the large number of support staff and now homeless High Class citizenry taking shelter here, he could not take a bed for himself in one of the guest rooms and oust a civilian. At least, not if he wanted to live with himself.

He could also have returned to his home, but knowing his daughter is out there, somewhere, makes him feel as if he can’t leave the Castle in case word comes from the Wonderbolts or even the Renegades.

Snorting and stopping by a window, Dawn cannot help but shake his head. The Renegades, former Shadowbolts who had left their corrupt brothers and sisters to join forces with Princess Luna. He would think it insane, if he had not met their ‘captain’ himself! And what a leader that pony was, even if he will not openly admit himself as being the leader, Dawn cannot help but admire and respect the stoic and somewhat ruthless pony he had seen in Decent. Hopefully, he and his fellows were alright, especially the former Wonderbolts, and were helping to keep the Wonderbolts and their apparently flying compound safe.

Continuing on, Dawn also wonders if that strange Changeling is alright. Talon had been a surprise, but a welcome one in all the chaos. He seemed determined to make amends for the sins of Queen Chrysalis, and was fighting with all his heart to protect ponies. Dawn would hate to hear the bug had gone and gotten himself squashed, as he really had grown to at least respect him.

Turning the final corner and walking into the common courtyard that the Night and Day guards share for training and other practices, Dawn slows to a stop. In the center of it all are rows, upon rows, of Royal Guard helmets mounted on swords driven into the dirt of the practice yard. Not a single helmet does not bear scars, from scorch marks that mar and at times even obscure original gold or azure, to deep dents and rending scratches that speak of quick deaths for the previous owner.

Sixty-Two in all, every single Guard they had lost today was represented before him. And one helmet, above them all, sits on a sword in front of the first row.

Walking over to it, Dawn pauses and sighs, his ears going back against his head and his shoulders slumping. The helmet is gold, much like his own, and has a mowhawk-like plume of royal blue and dark purple, the colors of both the Day and Night Guard. The otherwise immaculate surface is marred by a large dent, and, though it has been polished, there is blood along the lower part of it near where the muzzle would have been.

Snapping to a salute, Dawn stares at the helmet that represents his Captain. He had never expected, all those many years ago, that the scrawny unicorn who had walked into the recruitment office with him would one day outrank him. Hay, when they had trained together, Dawn had never for a moment suspected he would be standing here, saluting his long time friend’s helmet as it stands its eyeless vigil with so many other friends.

Lowering his hoof, Dawn sighs and reaches out to touch the helmet. Lowering his eyes, he whispers softly. “Aegis… if you… see my wife over there, can… could you tell her I love her, and miss her with all my heart? Tell her that… I’ll keep my promise. As soon as Canterlot is sorted out, I’ll go find our daughter, and I’ll make sure she and all her friends make it back safely.”

Lowering his hoof he stands, and nods to the two Night Guards currently on duty at the memorial, they subtly return the nod as Dawn crosses over towards the barracks that houses the Day Guard. The building is a large ‘U’ shaped building, four stories, and built of solid stone like the rest of the castle. Normally at night, the windows would be dark, and all ponies within sleeping, but as the night before all the windows are lit and activity can be seen within. It’s not that nopony wishes to sleep, far from it, many are in fact seeking comfort from their fellow guards now that they are off-duty. Stories, and mugs of cider and cheap ale are flowing freely, but not so freely as to encourage hangovers or drunken brawls, as many a pony offer thanks and toasts to those who no longer sit beside them.

Striding through the front door, Dawn is met by the sight of many a somber pony sitting in the common area doing just as he had expected.

“I remember when I first joined,” a dark-grey earth pony says loudly, holding up his mug of cider. “I was scared to death of the Captain! But, he was a Commander back then, and he was tough as steel on the recruits.” He looks to all the other ponies, many devoid of their armor. “A toast, to our glorious Captain! May heaven tremble beneath his hooves! May he sit at the right side of the Creator and share in the just bounty that all who fall in battle receive!”

A chorus of agreements fills the common room as ponies lift their own mugs in salute, save one.

Walking over towards the downcast and sad looking mare sitting beside the stallion who declared the toast, Dawn smiles slightly as he nods to both the mare and the stallion. “Evening, Chaser, Summer.”

“Commander!” Dusk Chaser declares loudly, his cheeks warmed by the glow of the cider. He wraps an arm around his superior officer’s neck and pulls him close. “Come, sit, and raise a mug in memory of all those we’ve lost!”

“I’ll pass, Chaser,” Dawn chuckles, gently removing his second’s arm. “And I think you’ve had enough.”

“You’re not the boss of me,” Chaser starts, then blinks, “oh… wait you are…” He sighs and shrugs. “Can I finish this mug?”

“Yes, you can finish that mug.” Dawn says abently as he turns to Summer. “Hey, you alright Summer?”

“Yes, sir,” Summer mutters, staring off into space.

“Summer, you don’t seem alright.” Dawn presses, sitting down beside her.

“I’m fine, sir.” Summer deflects again.

“Well, alright, I guess I’ll just have to give your week's pay to Chaser,” Dawn says slowly, looking at Summer from the corner of one eye. “He looks like he wants to buy more cider.”

“That’s fine, sir,” Summer sighs.

“No, it’s not,” Dawn sighs, reaching out with a wing and draping it over the young unicorn’s shoulders. “Summer, what’s wrong?”

Shaking her head, Summer tries to get up, but stops as she looks over at Dawn as he removes his helmet. Sighing she sits back down and scoots over towards her CO, thankful the wing is covering her so others can’t see her shivering. “We… lost a lot of ponies, sir.”

“That we did, Corporal,” Dawn agrees, looking out over the other Day Guards in the room.

“I… it didn’t hit me until I was able to sit down in here,” Summer continues, “I’ve been on my hooves for nearly three days now, doing my best to make sure we did… that we didn’t…” she trails off, covering her face in her hooves, tears starting to leak from her eyes. “That’s… that’s more than my entire recruit class… I… I knew more than half of them, too... “

“I know, Summer,” Dawn agrees. “I lost a lot of friends too, good ponies all.” He leans down and whispers into the sniffling Unicorn’s ear. “Go ahead and cry, all of us want to, but none of us have the courage to. We’re all afraid if we start, we won’t ever stop.” Summer turns and looks up at Dawn, tears starting to fall freely. In a fit of fatigue and mourning, Summer quickly wraps her hooves around her commanding officer’s chest and sobs into a shoulder. Dawn, not missing a beat, wraps both his wings around the sobbing unicorn, and gently rubs her back like he used to do with his daughter. “Shhh, it’s alright. Let it all out.”

A short distance away, an earth pony lieutenant wearing a bandage around his head picks up a violin from near the chair he is resting in by the fireplace. Lifting it to his chin, he plays a long, mournful chord. Chaser, picking up on the song, raises his voice and his glass of cider.

“Of all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company.” He smiles and nods to the violinist, who starts playing the song slowly, the music filling the room and causing all heads to turn towards it. “And of all the harm that e’er I’ve done, alas it to was but none to me.”

“And all I’ve done, for want of wit, to memory now I can’t recall.” a unicorn mare with her arm in a sling joins in, raising her glass to Chaser - who returns the gesture - her voice rough with fatigue but sounding like crystal glasses. “So fill to me the parting glass.”

“Good night, and joy be with you all…” Chaser and the mare sing in unison.

The music then picks up as more guards join into the singing. “So fill to me the parting glass. And drink a health whate’er befalls. Then gently rise, and softly call…”

“Good night, and joy be with you all!” all the guards in the room sing, drinking or not. The violin is joined by a flute and soon it picks up into a more joyous song.

“Of all the comrades that e’re I had, they’re sorry for my going away,” Chaser starts the next part of the song, raising his glass again, and putting a hoof on Dawn’s shoulder.

“And to all the sweethearts that e’re I had,” the mare picks up again, winking to Dancer, “they’d wish me one more day to stay.”

“But since it fell unto my lot,” Chaser sings, standing and crossing to stand in the center of the common room’s floor, “that I should rise, and you should not.”

“I’ll gently rise, and softly call,” the mare continues, rising and standing beside Chaser.

“Good night, and joy be to you all.” All the guards sing, this time including Dawn as he continues to comfort Summer who has stopped crying and is listening to the singing as she sniffles.

“So fill to me the parting glass,” Chaser and the mare singing in unison, “and drink a health whate’er befalls!” They both raise their glasses in their hooves and continue on with smiles on their faces. “Then gently rise, and softly call.”

“Goodnight, and joy be to you all!” The guards, including Summer now, sing.

“But since it fell unto my lot, that I should rise,” Chaser sings, staring into the mare’s eyes.

“That I should rise, and you should not,” the mare finishes.

“I’ll gently rise and softly call,” they sing once more as one. “Good night, and joy be to you all.”

“So fill to me, the parting glass,” the entire compliment of guards sings, their voices growing somber, “and drink a health whate'er befalls.” The flute stops, leaving the violin to shift back to a soft and mournful tone. “Then gently rise, and softly call; Good night, and joy be to you all.”

“Good night, and joy be to you all,” Chaser and the mare singing with him echo, their voices fading along with the violin’s last, soulful note.

For a long moment after the singing and music fade out, the room is quiet. Even the previously loudest of the group stand silent, heads bowed as they remember those that they lost not two days prior now. In his arms, Summer sniffles a little and rests her head against Dawn’s chest, bringing a small smile to the old stallion.

“To those who remain here in memory, if not in spirit,” the mare who had been singing with Chaser says, raising her mug in her magic. “May we make them proud in the days to come, and may we never fail to uphold their memories.” As with the previous toast, there is a chorus of agreements, followed by much drinking.

Rolling his eyes, Dawn releases Summer and looks towards Chaser and the mare who are now sitting over by the fireplace as they lean on eachother. Dawn can’t help but smile slightly at the sight, even with all the devastation out there the ponies of Canterlot, even the guards, are finding ways to move on. He waves a hoof at a guard, gesturing for them to come over.

“Compass,” Dawn says as the pony walks over, “I need you to make sure my second doesn’t drink himself under the table. Again.”

“Yes, sir,” Golden Compass replies before pausing. “Sir, not to overstep myself, but shouldn’t you be doing that?”

“I would,” Dawn agrees with a chuckle, “but I think I’d best get the other member of my squad to her bunk.” He gestures to Summer, who despite everything has started to fall asleep against him. “I think it’s the part of me that is a father, but I’d rather see her safely to her bunk before I do anything else.”

“Understood, sir,” Compass shrugs, sitting down at the table and settling in to watch Chaser.

Nodding with a smile, Dawn carefully collects the worn out unicorn and puts her on his back before heading towards one of the hallways leading out of the common room. The hallway is sparse in decoration as, save for a few banners and tapestries, it’s mostly just bare stone. More adornments would be in the way, and Dawn had always thought it fitting for the barracks to be spartan as they guarded beautiful things all day. And that was only if you counted the Princesses.

Making his way to the end of the hallways, occasionally weaving around fellow guards who are too tired to do more than half-heartedly salute him, Dawn makes his way to a set of stairs and then quickly up to the second story where Summer’s quarters are. The rooms on the second floor are for more permanent residence for guards who do not have their own residence in the city, or those who choose to live closer to where they work. Summer, being of the second group, shares a room with another mare who is of equal rank.

Pushing open the door, Dawn is unsurprised to find the room currently empty and quickly deposits his exhausted medic onto her bed. As she hits the mattress, Summer instinctively wraps her arms around Dawn’s neck and holds on. It takes a considerable amount of strength to pry her arms off of him and get away, though Dawn cannot help but smile.

“Rest well, Summer,” Dawn whispers, gently brushing some of the sleeping unicorn’s mane out of her face. “Tomorrow, we wade back into hell. But tonight, I hope you dream of better days.” he then turns and softly closes the door behind him, leaving the sleeping unicorn to her rest. He then travels down and up the stairs again, to his own room in the officer’s wing.

Opening his own door, he sighs and frowns at the sight that greets him. Piles, upon piles, of paperwork crowd his desk, the floor around his desk, and even a few on his bed! Hunching his shoulders in resignation, Dawn goes into the room, pulls his armor off, and gets to the mountain of paperwork that has been dumped on his desk. His only real, and admittedly dark humored, thought is that the same mountain is awaiting his fellow Commander in the Night Guard, as they had agreed that they’d split the paperwork.

But, at least it can’t get any worse than this…

Right?

-------

“Mares and Gentlestallions,” Blueblood shouts over the din of voices gathered in the once grand dining room of Fancy’s manor house. “Please, be silent and I shall call this vital meeting to order!” The large collection of, understandably, confused and grumpy Canterlot nobility in the room all slowly quiet down as their attention turns to the well-dressed Blueblood. Once it is quiet enough, he clears his throat. “My fellow members of the Canterlot Gentry, I have gathered you here to speak on a topic most dark, most sinister! For it has come to my attention, through sources I cannot disclose, that -- “

As he is about to drop whatever bombshell he has gathered them there for, the doors to the room open and a unicorn mare wearing a khaki vest walks in as if she owns the place. She smiles warmly, but not too warmly, as she walks towards the table raising her voice to speak as she gets close. “My, my! It seems I am not too late for this clandestine meeting of my peers! Please tell me I didn’t miss ‘Prince’ Blueblood’s latest conspiracy? Please tell me I didn’t!” She reaches into a pocket on her vest and pulls out a small bag that she bounces up and down, a small crunching sound coming from inside. “I even brought peanuts!” She stops next to a dark gray unicorn with a purple mane. Currently, said unicorn is trying rather hard not to burst out laughing, a task that is made all the harder at Blueblood’s impersonation of a fish at the head of the table.

Closing his mouth and taking a few deep, calming breaths, Blueblood looks at the newcomer. “Baronett, I did not expect you to join us.” his voice is tense, obviously struggling for control. “In fact, I was not aware you were in the city.”

“Oh, well, I am sorry I didn’t come rushing over as soon as I got off the boat,” Distant sighs dramatically. “If I knew your flank needed to be kissed so badly, I’d not have slept so well the past few nights. Can you ever forgive me?” Beside her, the unicorn lets out a loud snort as she clamps a hoof over her mouth to hold in her laughter. Across from them, a black unicorn with a champagne colored mane eyes the unicorn beside Distant. The unicorn instantly starts coughing, or faking a cough, and takes a sip of water from a glass in front of her. Distant reaches into a pocket and offers a handkerchief to the unicorn. “Oh, poor dear, I know the smug in the room is awful. But it is not polite to cough in the company of so many dignified gentlestallions. They might think you’re laughing at them!”

Covering another laugh with a cough, the unicorn stands up, “If you will all... “ she pauses to scrunch her face for a moment, “excuse me a moment… I think I need some fresh air.” She then quickly turns and departs the room, bursting into laughter almost before she can get through the door.

“Do forgive the Viscountess, sir,” the black-brown unicorn sighs. “My daughter has been overwrought as of late.”

“She is forgiven, Earl Velvet,” Blueblood sighs, narrowing his eyes at Distant. “We shall simply have to proceed without her.”

“Of course, your grace,” Velvet replies.

“Now then,” Blueblood speaks up again, looking at all the other ponies and not just Distant now. “As I was saying before we were… joined by our esteemed Baronetess Horizon. I have gathered you all here for a meeting on a subject most dire, and most critical to the continued survival of not only Canterlot, but Equestria as a whole.” He pauses as the door opens and the grey unicorn returns. He nods to her as she takes her place beside Distant and continues. “That subject is that, through sources who have asked to remain unnamed, I have learned that the Royal Guard along with the Wonderbolts through their Reserve Corps, have staged a takeover of the Castle.”

There is a general uproar from the gathered nobility, ranging from outright disbelief to downright outrage that such a thing could happen. Distant simply sighs and opens her little snack bag, and quietly breaks open a few peanuts until the voices start quieting down.

“My esteemed fellow Nobles,” Distant starts, earning a glare from Blueblood and Earl Velvet. “Surely, you can see that this is our dear ‘Prince’ Blueblood’s imagination running wild?” She puts down her snacks and stands up, putting her front hooves against the table, which groans slightly due to being still slightly damaged. “I have been in the Castle, for two days now! I assure you, no such events have taken place! Nor, I would assume, would anyone ever go to Blueblood with such information!”

“I agree with Distant,” the unicorn speaks up beside Distant. “My son is a Reservist working in the Castle, he was injured during the attack that has crippled our city. And my daughter is a trainer for the Wonderbolts! Both are good and decent ponies, if something like this was going to happen, do you not think I would know? That I would not inform you all?”

“Or perhaps you would, my dear niece” a white unicorn with a graying black mane speaks up from closer to the end of the table Blueblood is sitting at. “You and your… spawn. are hardly decent. You already sullied the family bloodline by marrying an earth pony, it would not be hard to believe you would attempt to reach above your station by supporting the Guard and the Reserves if they took over.”

“Please, Lord White Tie,” Velvet says flatly, “There is no need to insult Viscountess Fine Brew.”

Shaking her head and turning to look at Blueblood, Distant gestures with one hoof. “Well, if they have taken over, which they have not, what did they do with Princess Luna? What of Celestia?”

“My source confirmed a dreadful, and sad truth, in regards to Princess Celestia,” Blueblood says slowly in a mournful tone. “My Great-Aunt… is dead. Murdered in her sleep by those she trusted most, and made to look as if she died peacefully in her sleep.” He holds up a hoof to silence the furious uproar from around the table, Distant and Fine Brew not among them. “I know, my heart grieves beside you all! My dear aunt, a mare who has shown me nothing but kindness and love, did not deserve such a fate!” There is a murmur of agreement from around the table, a few of the mares, and some of the stallions, wiping tears from their eyes at the news. “But, there is yet hope, my dear friends. Luna yet lives! My other aunt is held hostage, and I intend to get her back.”

“And how, pray tell, are you going to do that?” Fancy Pants, who had until now been silent from where he is sitting beside Blueblood, speaks up. “I do not believe the Guards are capable of such things, nor the Wonderbolts. So, unless you wish to open a line of communication and go about this peacefully…?”

“I do not,” Blueblood states firmly. “I will not, shall not, stand idle and trade words with those traitors while my last remaining aunt, the last of the Celestial Sisters, awaits her death.” He pauses, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. The next words out of his mouth sending a chill down everypony’s spine. “I intend to bring unto them what they brought unto my Aunt. I have put forth the bits, and hired on those who would lend their blade to my cause. In a week's time, I ask of you all, my dear friends, to stand beside me and help cleanse this city of the traitors that have stained it.”

“That is absolute horse apples!” Distant shouts, pounding a hoof against the table, the table actually shaking violently beneath the force. “You are asking for us to stand in open rebellion against the Crown of Equestria!”

“WRONG!” Blueblood shouts, his patience with the unruly Baronetess finally running thin. “As the Arch-Duke of Equestria, I am calling you to arms for the Crown of Equestria!” He make a sweeping gesture with one arm, taking in all the assembled nobles. “You, all of you, represent the purest of the bloodlines, the families of Canterlot who founded this proud city! And by the power given to me by the monarchy, I hereby call you to arms!” He then points to Distant. “And you, should you continue to defy that call to arms, you will be considered a traitor along with those who have killed my aunt!”

“Then call me thus,” Distant spits cooly. “I would rather stand beside my god-child than by your side.”

“And I beside my daughter and son,” Fine Brew says in calm tone that carries through the room, causing her father, the earl, to frown deeply.

“And I with them,” Fancy adds, pointing towards Distant and Fine Brew. “Besides, I do not need to heed your call, I am not of the nobility. I am here because you needed my house to hold this meeting.” He then looks to Blueblood, a frown forming on his face. “Which, you will no longer need. I suggest you take this… farce to somewhere more fitting? May I suggest the waterfall? The water should cool your head.”

Narrowing his eyes, Blueblood growls at Fancy. “Are you kicking me out?”

“Yes, Archduke,” Fancy replies with a straight face, “I am.” He points to the door, a smile forming. “So, there is the door, my lord. Please, do not let it bite your flank on the way out.”

Leaning over to Distant, Fine Brew puts a hoof to one side of her mouth and whispers. “Though, we could use the laugh if it did.” Distant smirks slightly, and offers her fellow unicorn a peanut.

“You deserve a reward for that one,” she comments in an equal whisper. “But, yes, we really could.”

Blueblood, eyes still narrowed, stands and looks to his fellow nobles. “It would seem we shall find no support here. Those of you with the will to save this city, follow me! The rest of you? Stay here, and be absent from my sight!” All the nobles but Distant, Fine Brew, and Velvet stand and as one move off towards the door with Blueblood pausing as he passes Fancy. “I hope you change your mind, Fancy. You could be brought into the gentry for service with me.”

“I already have the only title I’ll ever need, Blueblood.” Fancy replies without looking at the noble unicorn.

“And that is?”

“I’m married to a beautiful mare, and I am a fair business pony. These titles are all I will ever care about.” Fancy’s voice betrays a small smile growing on his face. “Next to those, whatever titles and honors you could bestow upon me would be hollow and false.”

“You truly are a naive pony,” Blueblood sighs, walking away and quickly going through the door.

Sighing, Fancy stands and turns to Fine Brew and Distant with a warm smile. “Well, at least not all of the gentry is kissing that blowhard’s flank.”

“Oh, of course not!” Distant replies, shrugging. “Personally, I think it’d taste like over-priced shampoo and snobbery. Honestly, I am not sure which taste would be worse.”

“You should not speak of the Archduke like that,” Velvet says sternly. “He is, after all, the Princess’ nephew.”

“Respect is earned, father,” Fine Brew says, her tone respectful but tense, “and he has earned nothing from me this night.”

“And I find it hard to respect ponies who blow hot air from their mouths and speak through their flank.” Distant shrugs, cracking another peanut open and eating it.

Earl Velvet looks ready to reply, likely with something less than polite, but Fancy clears his throat and smiles to his last remaining guests. “It is rather late, would you all be willing to join me in a late dinner? I fear all the work around my manor in order to make it a little more stable has robbed me of quite a few meals over the past day, and I would be honored to have such esteemed guests join me for a proper one tonight.”

“I fear I cannot accept,” Velvet responds in a stiff tone. “I am needed elsewhere, I fear. Please give your wife my best, Fancy.” Velvet then stands and departs, not even sparing a glance back at his daughter or the host who had so kindly invited him to dinner.

“Well, I for one am starving,” Distant says with a smile. “You’d be surprised how little time there is to eat a proper meal around the Castle.”

“Then, let me go and speak to my cook,” Fancy offers warmly, standing and heading towards the kitchen.

“I think I’ll come with you,” Fine Brew says as she stands and starts after Fancy. “I think after this we could all use a good cup of tea, and I am one of the best at making tea.”

“I shall not argue, Viscountess,” Fancy chuckles.

“Please, just Fine Brew,” Fine insists as Fancy opens the door to the kitchen, gesturing for her to go first.

“Of course, Fine Brew,” Fancy agrees. “And you may as well just call me Fancy, since I have no title to start with.”

The two of them enter the kitchen, leaving Distant alone in the dining room. She sighs, and holds up a peanut at eye level. “Well, it’s just me and you now, peanut.” She hovers the peanut over to an ear. “What was that? I should follow them? And offer to be their friends? Why, Mr Peanut, that is a grand idea!” She puts the peanut down, stands and goes off to join the other two in the kitchen, a warm smile on her face.

Author's Notes:

Blueblood! What are you doing!? No, bad Blueblood, no plotting treason!

So, yeah, no we see that not all threats are absent from the city! Some seem to even come from within! And I wonder what that strange pink glow was. Surely it can't be something Shadowbolt related! Can it?

Anyway, two songs inspired this chapter. First one being the title of the chapter "A Story told" comes from this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGs4jb1pCf8

I like Ink Potts, they do good animation.

The second song is "The Parting Glass", a folk song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcSqI1KZiLI

This song was featured in the end of Assassin's Creed Black Flag, though this video is a preformance of "The High Kings" which I used for the timing of the singing in the story.

And last but not least. Who likes Distant Horizon for quick wit? Because I do xD

Anyway, I have the next chapter finished too, so expect that out sometime next week!

Until then!

~Sylvian