Stepping out of the conference room for a break Celestia heaved a heavy breath of fresh air. At this point she was unsure if the story she had been told was one she should be concerned with or not. She hated to ignore her sister’s emotions but there was not much she could do to change what had happened. Frankly, though she had kept it to herself, she did not find Guardian Angel’s actions to have been as severe as they had been described. Perhaps it was simply her inexperience in dream/planeswalking. After all she had only done such once or twice, and the Astral Plane, that land of dreams, simply was not the real world. Still, she ached for Luna, her sister’s lover should have been more considerate of what he was doing.

“No, that is not necessary.” The surprise of a stallion’s voice drew Celestia out of her thoughts.

“I told you already, Captain. I am not going to explain the details of my personal life to you.” The Princess spied Guardian Angel pacing back and forth across the wide hall that led into the Northern Conference Room. He held a wing to some sort of device that was in his ear, and seemingly talked to himself. Straining, Celestia could barely make out the murmurs of another pony’s voice. Presumably it came from the strange contraption: that made sense, at least if her memory of the recent reports on new inventions held up.

“No. I don’t care if my personal life could cause the end of the world. It’s still not your business until I say it is!” Celestia crept closer to Guardian Angel as he argued with whoever it was on the other side of the communicator.

“I know. I know. You’re only doing your job. I appreciate your concern, but right now this is something only I can handle. So please, continue to oversee the clean-up op.” The stallion rubbed his brow with a hoof, stopping mid-stride.

Continuing, the princess stopped trying to hide the sound of her hooffalls with the now absent but still somehow incessant pacing he had been doing. He looked up at her his eyes meeting hers before he rolled his slitted-irises in mock annoyance. At least Celestia thought it was a sarcastic gesture.

“Two quarts of Serum should work.” The voice interrupted him with several mumbles, his mouth staying open. “It’s a disintegration wound. He needs both if he’s going to make a full recovery.”

By the time Celestia had arrived next to him her ears were trained to listen in on the conversation between stallion and earpiece. There was not much to it at this point unfortunately.

“I guess I better then.” said the voice over the comm.

“Bunker will appreciate it. Thanks. Stormwalker out.” Guardian Angel lowered his wing before pivoting towards a different direction than the princess had expected. Specifically, away from her, “And you. What are you doing this early in the morning?”

Celestia leaned on the edge of her hooves to see around the big stallion. Before them stood a mare of slight build. Her off-pink, more of a faint peach, mane was pulled back into a tight, functional bun. It bobbed in tandem with her frilly maid’s uniform as she looked between the two giants before her.

“My lord...it was my turn to clean the Northern Conference Room, and I like to start early,” the mare hardly balked at Guardian Angel’s presence. Something about her seemed strikingly familiar perhaps it was her beige coat or the strikingly ice-blue eyes.

“You...I know you.” Celestia poured through the list of names and faces in her head trying to divine the correct pairing.

“Chrysanthemum?!” she proclaimed in shock. The thin mare shrugged and gave a small smile.

“That’s me. You don’t have to yell...Princess.” She kicked a hoof at the polished floor.

“I thought you had her executed?!” Celestia snapped up at Guardian Angel. She managed to turn her words softer but the expression was the sort of loud hoarse whisper that really was not quiet at all.

“No. I decided to go with my original arbitration from her first tribunal. You know, the first time we caught she and Zeccaran. A little after we started dating back in the day, if I remember right." He amended with an aside.

"It was to be indentured servitude to the state until such times that her debts are repaid,” He replied putting a hoof up to his face. “Look, we have other things to handle right now. Let’s just send her on her way and get this over with.”

“Get what over with? What on earth is going on in there? I’m supposed to clean it!” Chrysanthemum chirped rather dejectedly. Celestia paused looking between the two of them as her mind traced back to the continually rising emotions in the Northern Conference Room. However, she was mostly still shocked that the mare that had orchestrated much of Guardian Angel’s suffering over the last twenty years could stand before him with such brash confidence.

“You don’t want to go in there. It’s a madhouse.” Celestia warned before the stallion could make a crude remark.

“Well, that’s no fun how am I supposed to run up the rumor mill if I can’t figure out what the local demon-spawn and the three big alicorns are doing?” the ex-priestess giggled. Guardian Angel gave her a hard, rather hostile glare.

“Oh, not to worry, I'm sure you’ll get your scoop.” The Princess turned her head to the stallion in an effort to distract him. Just from his posture she could tell he was quite short on patience. He acknowledged her interest in him, tilting his head inquisitively.“All things considered it is fortunate that I found you so quickly.”

“Gusty and Luna are...for the lack of better terms, increasing each other’s potency in bed.” She explained. Chrysanthemum gasped and Guardian Angel groaned.

“Great. Now they are both horny and angry. The perfect combination! Ugh. It’s barely six in the morning and this day has already turned into a real bitch.” He commented with his usual pessimism when things did not go the way he planned. Celestia suppressed a giggle it was surprisingly pleasant to have him act so candidly. She was fairly certain she was starting to blush...

“Frankly, I’m just happy you showered. I actually ditched for a minute to get some fresh air under the pretense I was searching for you. And...well...not to intrude into your relationship but I’m not sure how Luna could be upset with you. You did give her plenty of fair warning. Speaking of which, since when can you just project your mind into other ponies’ consciousnesses? Oh-don’t-worry-about-that-right-now-I’m-getting-ahead-of-myself!” She just narrowly stopped the word vomit from continuing.

“Not you too, Tia.” Bags seemed to appear underneath Guardian Angel’s eyes as he spoke those words.

“I’m fine. Saved only by a thousand years of practice.” She cast a strong hormone reduction spell and then something to prevent her nose from picking up any more of his scent. “And magic, of course.”

A long excited gasp escaped Chrysanthemum. “Oh. My. Gosh. You have your own royal harem! I knew it! There’s no way a stallion like you could be satisfied by only one mare. I mean, you’re Shadow-kin, and a normal Shadow-kin has the sex drive of at least ten demons! But you also ate Nyx, and you were no slouch before that either! Oh! So much power and desire! I bet even these three even have trouble keeping you...tamed. Now, I wonder who will believe me? Oh I know! Mrs-”

“ENOUGH!” Guardian Angel bellowed in a burst of flame and anger. The small mare he directed his ire at lost all color in her fur and her eyes went wide with terror.

“I’m dating one mare! A mare who I cherish greatly, and deeply regret hurting. She has been an integral part of my life since I met her twenty-seven years ago and I will not have you spreading ridiculous rumors about my comings and goings! Luna has already had enough trouble for today. And, I don’t want to have her to start hearing ponies saying that I’ve: quote, ‘been bedding her sister and her rival!’ So why don’t you shut the fuck up and get the hell-out-of-my-sight!”

To her credit Chrysanthemum did not faint. She stood in place trembling in fear, unable to make her hooves move away from him. Celestia momentarily felt the urge to scold him for losing control, however that passed. His words were honest and fit the brevity one should have while addressing a mass murderer like the small frightened mare before him. While it was clear that Chrysanthemum had made some real progress and was very happy with herself because of it, it was equally certain that Guardian Angel had as well. Contrary to her sister’s beliefs, Celestia could see it. Where once one had been ripped out, a new heart filled the stallion with emotion something she had not seen in over a decade. A pang of regret made the Princess look at him more closely.

He did not move to strike Chrysanthemum, and as he stood before her, slowly his inflamed visage died down to nothingness. Stoically he lowered his head, heaving a calm, but overtly long sigh.

“Just go,” he murmured.

“Yes, my lord. I-I a-apologize my lord. I’ll clean that room later. I’m s-sorry. I had no idea anything serious was going on. Forgive me.” The thin mare bowed low and backed away from Guardian Angel as she stammered. Eventually she righted herself and made a hasty retreat down the hall. Silence took over as the clop of her hooves died down after she turned into a room and disappeared.

“I’m surprised,” Celestia stated after moment. She sought to strike while the iron was hot. “You must truly be worried you’ll lose Luna over this. Is there more to what happened than she is telling me?”

Guardian Angel turned and met her eyes, his look a tempest of self-contempt colored red. “I don’t know what she had told you. But, I can assure you she does not mince words or hide truths when she speaks of what happened.”

Celestia waited, letting her gaze do the yearning for more words for her.

“It would be different if it wasn’t the thing we always fight over. Maybe if it was something I’d done for the first time, or felt for the first time, it wouldn’t be a problem then, I guess,” he continued.

“You mean about Gusty?” she asked. With a slight tilt of her head she motioned for them to start moving back to the doors into the conference room.

“Yes. But, more so about how she's the consistent sticking point she has been in Luna and I’s relationship. Luna understands how important it is to keep Gusty stable, especially now but…” He trailed off for a moment turning his body to face the door at the end of the hall. “She does not appreciate the lengths I would go to ensure that this Curse is destroyed.”

“And why do you want to go so far as to sacrifice everything around you for the sake of a mare that besides the last two months has wanted to kill you? The answer eludes me as well,” Celestia questioned.

“Because I can’t-” He cut himself off with a quick click shut of his teeth. “This is an explanation that is owed to all of you. Let’s get inside the room.”

“What makes you think they haven’t been listening? Especially since you shouted. We both know my sister is a chronic eavesdropper.” She turned and gave him a wry smile.

“Oh, I know they’ve been listening in. But, this is something I should do face-to-face.” He opened his wings and with a quick little hop he became airborne silently gliding his way to the door of the conference hall and opening it.

Both Gusty and Luna tumbled out onto the marble floor. Each spat a series of choice curses as they stood, and each pulling a hoof back as if to slap him. Celestia laughed at them and it killed their collective angst leaving them to block the doorway out of spite.

“Just because you feel so bad doesn’t mean you are off the hook, big boy,” Luna snarled up at her stallion.

“Yeah! This explanation of yours had better be pretty good. I didn’t exactly give you permission to start digging around in my head especially if it's for some great big scheme to turn us into your own little alicorn herd!” Gusty shouted.

“Stop yelling that!” Guardian Angel hissed. “And if I had wanted to do that I would have already done it! But I’m not that sorta scumbag and as you most definitely just heard, I'm trying really hard not to be that sorta scumbag.”

“You had better! So enjoy this test of your restraint and good will, in the room. Now.” Luna ordered before stepping aside. Guardian grumbled his agreement and strode inside.

“I think you two need to settle down some. He hasn’t done anything that would warrant-” Celestia was stifled by a gag. The Northern Conference Room reeked of heat. It was the sort of concentrated aroma that could only come from mares in their prime; the kind that left weak stallions unable to escape their clutches.

Hopefully, Guardian Angel had his act together, she still wanted to hear what he had to say. Haphazardly, Celestia entered the room after Gusty. She quickly found a seat on the biggest chair and wrapped her tail underneath herself regardless if it was uncomfortable. Likewise she cast another nasal blocker and another hormone reducer spell on herself. Somepony here needed to keep their wits about them after all. Even with her magic, it was only a matter of time, until she would fall prey to the natural course of herd instincts. Guardian Angel needed to get his story over with and quick.

He had taken his usual spot on the giant sofa and laid out flat on his belly. He closed his eyes, his big wings partially unfolding. If he was being influenced by the smell of the room she could not tell. It felt sort of like years before, when he was her personal guard and she used to tape enchanted and moist panties inside his helmet. Celestia blushed hard at the thought, this might be harder for her than it was him!

“Alright, everypony comfortable?” he asked after Luna and Gusty had finally sat down.

“Yes. Now please. Continue with why I’m less important than Gusty,” Luna seethed.

“It’s never been about Gusty exclusively, Luna. She might be the catalyst to this whole thing but not my end goal. That you know. Or at least I thought you did.” He turned with his eyes wide, their pupils so expanded they split the color of his irises.

“That is what you have always said. And, recent events would suggest you aren’t lying. But, without the details on what you really want, how can we trust you?” Gusty took her turn to ply a question.

“Well. I’m trying to get to that. I just...I just don’t have all the right words, so this is going to sound like I’m talking out of my ass. Just listen to me okay? That’s all I can ask…” Celestia leaned forward in her seat as he finished that request. Both Luna and Gusty silently nodded after giving each other a long look.

“Thirteen years ago I had my life taken away from me. I lost everything. My fiance. Most of my closest friends. My heart. My equinity. It was a terrible moment that led into years of darkness and a hunger for revenge so powerful I threw away everything I once loved and cared about to instead seek what I ‘wanted.’ What I believed I wanted anyway.”

Guardian Angel paused. His brow pinched forward as sweat rolled down his cheeks. He pulled several haggard breaths, looking down at the floor his eyes showing a strange, painful emptiness. Celestia stayed her tongue waiting for him to finish his introduction, they had all heard this story before.

“And so I fell prey to the classic lust for power, using my suffering as an excuse. And so it came to pass that Gusty, on the fateful tenth anniversary of that night, chose to get in my way. It was like she held up a mirror to my face and I didn’t recognize the creature that stared back at me.” He fell silent again, his voice hoarse as he went quiet, but only for a moment. “And as Nyx dolled out punishment upon me, I realized that I didn’t want to die. Not particularly because I was afraid of death, but because I couldn’t stand the thought of dying a monster.”

“Guardian Angel...it took all of that for you to realize? I spent those ten years doing anything I could to help you! A-a-and you just ignored me! This time you aren’t but it’s the same thing. I don’t even know if you ever stopped walking down that path at all. Think about this from my perspective please!” Luna sniffed. She did well to hide her tears from her voice but could do nothing to stop them from rolling down her face.

Celestia furrowed her brow. Would any of this matter to Luna if their plans had proven successful this morning? She made her opinion known.

“Sister, I don’t want to demean your emotions, but would you care at all if what he did had worked and the Curse was destroyed? In this situation he did try to take into account how you felt, even before attempting the plan. Short though your contact was it’s not as if he’s ignored you. And in the end we all know he’d never trade you for Gusty. He might play tough but guilt is what motivates this stallion and he could not live with that sort of guilt. Especially if he was to devour your soul and leave your body alive in a permanent coma. On top of that he’d have me to contend with for doing such things!” The Princess of the Sun did not try to restrain her concern for her sister nor her desire to understand Luna’s true feelings.

“I don’t know sister! I just feel betrayed! He’d go that far for another mare?! I can’t tell if its jealousy or if maybe he’s just playing us all and I finally got a moment to think about it.” Luna stood up from her seat, beating her head back and forth as she spoke.

“You’d trust the machinations of a creature like the Curse over me? It was that thing that said those words Luna, not I. And why wouldn’t I agree with the most terrible thing it could divine? If I didn’t I couldn’t have fooled it as well as I did. You even played along for it. Your fear is ultimately what led us to failing. Why? Why would you ever think I would do that to you?!” Guardian Angel’s gravelly tone grew even rougher as he tried to restrain his voice and feelings.

“This isn't about how I feel, yet. Finish what you started first.” Luna sat back down and turned her gaze away from them all. Celestia looked at her sister in dismay. She was starting to understand why Guardian Angel was so concerned with what had happened. Her younger sister no longer trusted him for reasons that seemed petty. If only she knew more about this problem in their relationship and how it developed she might have more to say, but since she did not she remained silent.

“You lied, Guardian Angel. This is exclusively about me.” Gusty’s voice cut over the soft sobs of Luna and the eerie pressure of the stallion’s silence. Celestia looked at her friend waiting for her to continue.

“It’s not about romance, or who you would choose. It’s about control. That’s what it is, isn’t it? Why else won’t you give up on me? You want to see if you can resist the same temptation your ancestors fell prey to; this whole situation...you want...you want to prove to yourself that you’re in control, right?” She asked firmly. The question hung in the air grimly waiting for a response with the sort of presence an upset mother had for her misbehaving foals. Luna even made a more sizable sniffle and turned back to look at them her face shocked and still.

“You’ve always known that haven’t you? Ever since that day in this very room, those three years ago.” Guardian Angel stood up. He cast his gaze up at the ceiling and the crystal chandelier that resided there. Everypony waited for him to continue, this was the real material now.

“I took my chance and changed what I could. Our future is not yet written, but when I think of the past, everything I've done, I know I cannot go back to who I was. I have to fix what’s happened. I have to renounce all that my ancestors once did. I have to be better. I can’t let things be the way they are supposed to be, with me the villian and the world my oyster. If I do that, if I give into the same feelings my past lives fell prey to then the cycle will only continue.” He shook his head violently, hissing breaths out of his clenched fangs.

“It did not matter which one of you I chose as a mate, our children would inevitably consume me for the evil I was and assert their rule which in time would become as cruel as my own. And on, and on, and on, and on for all times!” Guardian Angel shouted his eyes waxing red again and his skin cracking to reveal the boiling magic in his body.

“The world can’t keep living through the constant bickering of its gods-or demi-gods. Whatever we should call ourselves! Just look at Equestria! Since Luna’s return nearly every year for the first decade she was back megalomaniacs spurred on by the ghosts of the past have nearly brought it to destruction! I could have done something about it but I never did. Celestia could have done something. Luna could have done something. But we all sat on our asses and argued with each other or took interest in less important things. We are supposed to be this world’s protectors!” He looked around at all of them.

Celestia could not help but feel a sense of both anger and guilt at his words. By the look on Luna’s face she felt the same way. None of them were omniscient but they did all certainly had the power to influence the world around them to a great effect. What would have happened had she not cursed herself with that memory-charm? Could she, Luna, and Guardian Angel have done something about Chrysalis or Sombra? She would have never had to ask Twilight Sparkle and her friends to endanger themselves. That made her feel particularly stupid.

“What are you saying?” Luna found her words first and pulled Celestia out of her self-pity.

“I’m saying that if I don’t see this through. If I can’t save Gusty then I’ll fall. And I’ll bring the whole world with me when I do. Then after regular folks rebuild the world just like they have after every generation of Shadow-kin has past, my descendants will do it all over again,” he replied with a certainty that made chills rush up and down Celestia’s spine.

“Such evil is a part of the world, a part of each of our souls Guardian Angel. You seek to change the very fabric of reality if you want to destroy that balance.” Gusty looked like she was about to sob right alongside Luna.

“True...but no such evil shall come from me or my blood. I’ll die before I let that happen. The Shadow-kin shall be a force for good in the future or they shall die with me.” No longer worked up, Guardian Angel’s voice was stern and even, a reflection of his conviction.

Gusty looked away. For the briefest moment before her mane covered her face from view, Celestia caught a glimpse of her reaction. She wore a sad smile, her cheeks bloomed with a blush and her eyes sparkled and then it was gone. The white alicorn was left wondering if Guardian Angel had seen it and if he had not why did Gusty feel like she needed to hide it from him. That was something that she would be getting to the bottom of quickly.

“You selfish bastard!” Luna leaped out of her chair at him. Throwing her hooves around his neck, she cried into his shoulder. “How I am supposed to forgive you for something so stupid!?”

“Hey, I’m not dead yet.” He nuzzled into her mane. “And that’s last resort remember, if we fuck up and there’s no other option to help Gusty besides kill her.”

“What!?” Celestia and her teal counterpart shouted in unison.

“What do you mean what? It’s a worse case scenario, can’t do anything else option. We still have like eleven other things to try before it comes to that!” He answered snidely.

“I’m upset it’s even an option!” Gusty cried.

“Are you...like are you really? You’d rather be a prisoner in your own mind for all eternity as you watch an alternate version of yourself murder innocent ponies and slowly bring about the destrcution of the world? Better that than death, huh?” Guardian Angel did not play ball. He never had. Celestia both admired that in him and was intimidated by it.

“Well when you put it that way…but still. I can’t believe you even thought of it,” she replied. “I mean you of all ponies, ya big softy, came up with that?”

Celestia cocked her head. Gusty had just called Guardian a pony. That was something she had never done. Much less blurted out in front of witnesses. However, she played along not wanting to spoil the advantage when she caught her friend outside the conference room.

“Indeed. Seems you are on a roll with these ruthless plans today. Come Gusty let’s let these two have a chance to continue in private. There’s nothing more for us to discuss anyway.” Celestia stood up from her chair and made for the door, passing by her sister in an effort to grab her friend and pulled her along.

Luna continued to whisper and whimper into Guardian Angel’s shoulder her face angry. She momentarily looked up from where she pushed her snout. Her teeth were gritted shut, and her eyes hard and hurt. For a moment they waxed sad and lonely, before they flicked towards Gusty with cold determination. Celestia nodded knowingly this one was not over yet. The main fight was between those two now, but she had been requested to gather intel for her sister. The Princess of the Sun continued her retreat wrapping a wing around Gusty as she maneuvered around the furniture.

“Don’t run too far off. I’ll be along shortly to make sure our patchwork is holding. I don’t want to be so rudely interrupted during my private time by you blowing up half the Palace in a repeat episode, Gusty.” Luna’s voice came strongly from behind them. Her tone determined.

“We’ll just be outside in the hall. Why don’t you two cuddle for a minute. It seems like you could use it,” Celestia commented over her shoulder.

“More like a big fancy dinner alone, and two weeks vacation without having anything come between us,” Guardian Angel replied, just as she opened the door and pushed Gusty on through.

Laughing to try and cover up her sister’s growl, she told him that it sounded like a good idea before slipping out and closing the door. Immediately, Celestia fired off a cautionary sound dampening spell just in case Luna could not hold Guardian Angel’s attention. Gusty looked at her in confusion before they met eyes in a squinty stare off that Gusty lost much quicker than she expected.

“What is it?” she squeaked sheepishly.

“What’s going on between you and Guardian Angel? I want to know, just to be certain that he’s not going to suddenly break Luna’s heart for you.” Celestia put a hoof on her friends chest. Gusty’s heart hammered against her hoof. However, after they stared at one another for a moment the teal mare’s face slowly became less flustered and her racing heart slowed down to normal levels.

“Nothing. And honestly, I think that’s my problem,” Gusty replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Since we got back from the Frozen North, I’ve felt differently about him. I’m not going to admit anything but over the last week or so he has been trying to put distance between us. Just yesterday he and I broke down the mental link that had bound us for so long. That’s what caused all this trouble, well at least that’s what I heard Luna say once...I think. Or maybe I just felt her think it...I don’t know. You try having multiple other beings in your head while you are still partially awake!”

Celestia paused trying to draw conclusions from everything that had happened and how Gusty had reacted before. There was surprisingly not much to work with as she quickly eliminated various pieces of evidence based on circumstances. However, after a moment it came to her.

“You miss him. It has barely been a day and you miss the mental bridge to a stallion you never liked in the first place.” Celestia raised a brow waiting for Gusty to respond. It was not a sarcastic remark, at this point she was really beginning to question how exactly the relationship between the two functioned.

“This stays with us and goes no further, I will never speak of it again. I’ve already screwed too much up.” Her friend leaned closer, her teeth gritted. “Everything we’ve been doing to see less of each other has only made it go from bad to worse. It's like I'm his little sister’s goofy friend, and I’ve had a crush on him since I was a little filly! And now we’re both all grown up and suddenly I don’t know how to act around boys! I feel so incredibly stupid!”

Celestia instantly burst into laughter. There was no holding her composure for something like Gusty’s admission of “feelings.” It was simply too hilarious. The poor mare should have known that was how she and Luna felt every single time a summer month’s heat cycled through. Gusty had spent a surprising amount of time far, far away from that stallion this year and suddenly Celestia was truly thinking that had been done on purpose. In fact the year before, he had taken Luna on a bit of an extended vacation. Before that, the first summer Gusty had spent in the Palace, with a few exceptions he spent every moment researching every last thing possible about the mare. He had kept himself cooped up libraries all over the country until mid-winter. The thought knocked her out of her laughter.

She grew more certain as she caught the furious blush on her friend’s face. He had not been pushing her away for just this last couple of days. It had been for almost half the year. It had been subtle, masked behind other events. Who had organized Gertrude’s extradition to Equestria? Guardian Angel had. Who had disappeared to the Frozen North for what was set to be for much longer than Gusty’s return? Guardian Angel had. And when Gusty just started to take the slightest interest in him, who broke that fated mind-to-mind connection? Guardian Angel had.

He had even convinced Gusty that it had been for her own good. That was what her friend had said just now as she struggled to describe her feelings. This morning would not have happened had he not made those decisions. And to think they came within inches of destroying the Curse as a secondary outcome. Celestia’s mind raced trying to understand the game he was playing. If he truly was not doing what Luna had previously accused him of, what could he be doing?

“Hey, you alright? At first you were laughing at me, but now you’re-you look super upset.” Gusty placed a hoof on her shoulder, the mare’s face was lined concern. Still, it was not enough to stop her out of control thoughts.

She could not stop her mind for one reason: she had to trust he was doing the right thing. That meant that Guardian Angel, a stallion with a special talent for saving others’ lives, was devoting his entire being into helping Gusty. If he was doing that he would do anything. That meant he would even sacrifice himself without so much as a thought. The halo and shield that adored his flanks seemed to flash before her eyes and her chest tightened. She now understood Luna’s frustration, only much more acutely.

“I’m fine. I just thought of something different.” The Princess put on her best diplomatic recovery smile. Gusty fixed her with a hard stare but did not say anything else.

“Don’t worry,” Celestia winked. “It wasn’t about you or how I could tease you about this for the next four months.”

“Tiaaaaa-aaaa!” her friend was quickly distracted by that idea and stamped her hoof. It gave her time to finish the thought and keep her rage under wraps.

Guardian Angel had once saved her life. Years ago, several years before even Luna had returned when he was a very green officer in her Royal Guard. The action had not been what struck her, it was how he did it. The perfect assassin, a Nyxian Cultist, was a mare who had masqueraded as a merchant for ten years. She was a pony Celestia had known, a pony she had trusted, a good friend. The mare had never been suspicious not even in the slightest. On one ordinary day she made a move one out of the blue in a short little private meeting.

For months Guardian Angel had insisted on accompanying her to such meetings. Like any other occasion she had denied her personal guard, citing that her guest was a loyal subject and well-vetted. But that day was different he ignored her orders and shadowed her into the meeting, unbeknownst to either her or the assassin. Had he not been there she would have died. It had been perfect, there was no dodging the throw of the short spear the mare had produced, her mind simply was not ready, not even the natural instinct to teleport had triggered. But he had put his body between them somehow nonetheless

Sorry for disobeying orders, Princess...I just couldn’t let it happen…never did trust her, he had whispered into her ear from atop her. Celestia shuddered at the memory of how hot his blood had felt as it fell onto her chest. For years she had felt responsible. He may not have died, though any other fool would have, but having a pony so willing to give up their life for her even after she had ordered them not to had shaken Celestia.

He had seen it coming months before it happened. This was no different. He knew something big was going to happen. Celestia almost suspected that he intended to force it. This morning would have been a good example of that. Perhaps that gave him too much credit, he was far too surprised by the turn of events. No, today was a fluke. But, would the next round be that way? Even if it was not, she knew he was willing to go further than he had before. Guardian Angel might just die for Gusty’s sake. However, unlike Luna who only suspected that idea, she knew he would. She had to tell him she knew. It might not stay his actions, but it was the only thing she could do. Telling Luna would only make her sister suffer.

“Gusty.”

“Y-yeah?”

“You should go get some Funny Belle’s for your husband. It might help him keep up with your little problem.”

“That’s not funny! And what are you gonna do? Spy on your sister while she makes out with Guardian Angel?!”

Celestia did not respond and instead just raised a disappointed eyebrow at her friend. She motioned sharply with a hoof that Gusty should leave. Her friend pouted.

“Oh don’t be such a baby. I’m not doing anything fun. I’m going in there to make us all do more work to help you. You’re that one that is going to be having fun!” She complained.

“Okay. Fair enough. I’ll see you at afternoon court.” Gusty quickly beat a retreat down the hall. Her friend did not look back, leaving Celestia to smile triumphantly.

Turning back to the conference room she whipped open the door and stepped past the point she had cast the sound dampener. Immediately, her ears were assaulted by Guardian Angel and Luna bickering. She was not surprised by their continued argument, but by their passion. Neither seemed to have budged on their line-of-thought and it was nearly a yelling match of yes/no. Neither even acknowledged her presence in the room as they stood right in front of one another.

“Look. I don’t know what you expect. I did what I had to do. In fact I think ‘Tia called it right earlier, if it had worked would we even be fighting? Or would we be having celebratory sex?” Guardian Angel hissed.

“I’d still be angry! I just...I just want you to recognize that you hurt me, Guardian Angel.” Luna pouted.

“I have like seven or eight times already. Luna how much worse do you want me to feel? Look...I-I-I don’t know what to say, how am I supposed to work with this?” he shot back.

“Work with what and how?! Don’t shirk your responsibilities as my lover!”

“What?”

“You can do what must be done while at the same time avoiding making me feel like I’m some sort of two-bit harlot that you’d throw away without regard!”

“And if there is no way to do what must be done without hurting you?”

“You’re you, Guardian Angel. Find a way. You always do. I’m done talking about this for now, the argument is going nowhere just like it always does. We both have work to do, I will speak with you later!”

Luna began to stomp right towards the door and only then did she notice her sister. The mooney mare jumped back a bit in surprise blinking rapidly. She cleared her throat about a dozen times before recovering.

“S-sister, were we taking too long?” Luna stammered.

“No. I just had to speak with Guardian Angel on a matter most important to today’s court and I figured I’d do that now before he runs off.” Celestia let herself slide with that little lie. It was mostly true anyway.

“Very good. I shall go seek out Zeccaran. Meet on Gusty’s balcony in two hours, we have much to do still.” She nodded affirmatively to her sister’s words.

Carefully, Luna flicked her eyes over her shoulder at Guardian and then over Celestia’s shoulder to the door. A motion to suggest anything important should be spoken now before the Mare of the Moon was to depart. Celestia gave her a shrug and a small shake of her head. There was nothing exterior going on as far as she could tell. Other than what she refused to tell her sister anyway. Luna nodded with a sort of grim and satisfied smile. She held her shoulders a little further back and stood up taller as she exited the chamber finally. Then she and Guardian Angel were alone.

“So...what’s actually wrong?” he asked instantly. Of course he had seen through her ploy, just as soon Luna had made her exit he had been focused solely on her. However, Celestia did not plan to answer him with words.

Taking a deep, calming breath she strode towards where he stood in the center of the room. She knew there was a decent chance that she was going to regret confronting him. Still, it was not within her being to back down, not now, not when it could make a difference. His words from before replayed in her head. She had the power, she should use it to the benefit of others. Reaching him Celestia paused, looking up into his eyes.

He searched her with his gaze. She could feel it. For years she had ignored the feeling of power that bloomed from him. These days it was so strong she could nearly see an aura of burning orange and shimmering yellow magic hanging around him. However, Celestia persisted, her heart set on a single motion and few words. Even if he discerned her intention he would not stop her, he was too stubborn to admit he had been searching her mind, even if it was unintentional.

So Celestia made her move. The muscles in her left leg complained as she pulled them back into position to punch. It had been several literal centuries since she had needed to make the motion and as she swung forward the taut tendons made the blow move like lightning. She struck him solidly on his right cheek just below his eye. Thankfully he rolled with the blow otherwise she probably would have broken her hoof. He remained facing away from her his breathing shallow but slow. A bit of red started to discolor the point she hit as she made her statement.

“I know what you are doing. Don’t be such a fool.” Even to Celestia herself her words were cold and stoic, without even the tiniest hint of emotion to them. A true warning for the stallion to heed.

Slowly he turned and met her eyes. His sharp pupils and the predatory glint of his will filed down to razors in an instant. He placed a hoof underneath her chin, reminding her with the body language she was not allowed to look elsewhere. Leaning in closer, Guardian Angel’s gaze darkened further as if he was attempting to crush her will through the icy glare of his yellow irises alone

“If it comes down to me or the world ‘Tia, I guess you have it all figured out already. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that,” he whispered.

“I just couldn’t just let you-I had to say something to you as soon as I realized. Don’t throw away your life again over something you can’t change,” she breathed back trying to not lose her composure. He moved his hoof and face away and broke his gaze, walking away from her. He stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder at her.

“Thank you. I forget sometimes that I still have ponies that care about me,” he said with a tiny affectionate grin.

“I know. I only wish I could do more for you.” Celestia did her best to sound not as sappy as she felt.

“Yeah, me too,” he smiled. “Now go catch up with Luna. The next twelve hours will be critical and she’ll need your help even if it’s just as an extra power source and emotional support.”

“True. What else are big sisters for right?” she gave him a small but genuine giggle. Guardian Angel held open the door for her and let her go. The day was just getting started.

Next Chapter: Act 4: Chapter 10 - Don't Rock the Boat Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 38 Minutes