Chapter 77

Celestia sighed as she rested in her bed, the thin gap in the curtains allowed a small amount of moonlight to fall across her bed. She rolled over to look at the armoured human that slept on the sofa, his helmet was still on so the princess wasn’t sure if the human was awake or not.

“If you are wondering about Dave’s physical state then I can reassure you that he will be in the same condition as when you last saw him,” Dave turned his head to look at the princess. “And before you ask the answer is no.”

The princess huffed as she folded her hooves, “Well I insist that we help you with containing Harvest, there is no need for you to fight.”

“If you interfere than there is the risk that Harvest will lash out,” Dave stared at Celestia, his eyes hidden by the narrow visor. “Dave needs you more than you know.”

“You know that you almost sound romantic?” Celestia smirked. “You said that you can tell us all about Dave, will you answer some questions?”

Dave was silent for a moment before he slowly sat up, he removed his helmet as he looked over at the alicorn. “Why would you want me to do that?” Dave stared at the princess, “If you truly loved him then you would have no questions to ask.”

“Don’t you dare speak to me like that,” Celestia snarled. “I love Dave with all my heart, and hearing you say things like that makes me doubt that I showed it enough to him.”

“Because I am part of his subconscious you mean?” Dave’s head tipped forward slightly, his eyes showing the burden from lack of sleep. “I do what is necessary for Dave’s wellbeing, I don’t reflect his feelings.”

Celestia climbed out of bed and marched over to the human, “Why did you hide yourself at first before coming clean?”

“Things changed, everypony became curious so I had to ensure that my plans won’t be ruined,” Dave rubbed his eyes, oblivious to the fact his gauntlets left scratches around his face. “I would have informed you if I could have, but I had to be cautious.”

Celestia walked over to her balcony as she sighed, “I just want this to be over, do you think it is easy standing aside and watching you be reckless?”

“No but I know you have the strength to do what is needed,” Dave stepped over to the princess. “You have been through much worse and came through standing tall.”

“Oh why do you have to talk like that,” Celestia noticed a slight confused expression from Dave as she looked at him. “I can’t get over the fact that you look like him, talk like him… but you aren’t him.”

“You will have your fiancée back soon,” Dave sighed. “He misses you.”

Celestia nodded in acceptance, “Just tell me one thing.” The princess fell silent as she looked down at her hooves, Dave waited patiently as Celestia looked the small gap in the curtains again. “Dave is happy right? He doesn’t feel pressured or trapped does he?”

“No,” Dave responded instantly. “Even though Dave has been beaten, torn, rejected, feared and even played with… he wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Ok,” Celestia responded simply as she stood silently. Dave walked back over to the sofa and picked up his helmet and sword. “Just promise me that whatever it is that you are doing… bring Dave back to me… please.”

Dave glanced at the princess before nodding, placing his helmet on and quietly leaving the room and walking past the guards. The human looked at his armour before changing his direction and heading towards the guard barracks, after a few minutes of walking he saw the double doors that stretched onto the barracks, he turned and took a nearby door that lead outside.

Odio yawned as he floated around Dave’s armour, groaning as he saw that they were stepping out onto the training grounds.

“Why is it that the first time I try sleeping that you manage to find something extensive to do?” Odio sighed. “Well if you insist on exercise, can you at least put me aside so I can sleep?”

Dave nodded as he gently removed his armour and placed it beside the tree, he left himself in his dirtied trousers that had sustained slight burns when the armour was made. He saw his breath make a slight mist that only floated a few inches from his face before the wind took it away.

Looking around at the flat land that Dave stood on he slowly moved his head to look up at the moon, his momentary lapse in concentration was quickly forgotten as he took a deep breath and began to stretch his arms around his body, testing his reach.

The next morning…

Flux yawned as she stepped out of the bedroom, leaving Strong Shield in bed as she looked for something to eat. The Pegasus quietly reached the stairs as she opened her wings and allowed herself to float down, not touching a step as she finally reached the bottom floor.

“Hello,” Cadence smiled as Flux turned to face the smiling princess of love. “I am so happy for Strong Shield, I always sensed an emptiness in his heart but you filled it to the point that it might burst.”

The Pegasus smiled before bowing, “It was my honour Princess Cadence, and how are you this morning?”

“I’m fine, and you don’t have to bow,” Cadence smiled as Flux rose. “I wonder how Dave reacts when he finds out that you are his new mother.”

Flux flinched as she looked away, “I am sure Dave won’t want to replace his human mother, he only accepted Strong Shield because he doesn’t have a father.”

Cadence frowned as she saw the pained look across Flux’s face, the Pegasus managed to keep most hidden but Cadence was more than observant enough. “Well we will go see what Dave thinks shall we?”

Flux gasped as Cadence used her magic to turn her around and began walking back up the stairs. “Are you intending to use Dave’s fragile state to your advantage?”

“No,” Cadence smiled innocently. “But I don’t want Strong Shield unhappy again, he was dragging the mood down every time he was around.”

Flux hummed as she walked alongside the princess, she used a wing to sweep her mane back again as she walked. Cadence saw Flux’s habit and attempted to stroke her own mane with one of her large wings.

The princess accidentally knocked the tiara from her head and it fell past her eyes. Flux dashed forward and her wing shot ahead to catch the regalia. Cadence breathed a sigh of relief as Flux placed the tiara back on her head.

“You have excellent wing control,” Cadence complimented the smiling Flux. “What kind of job do you have?”

“I was a guard here,” Flux’s smile slipped. “But that was before the Unity incident.”

Cadence saw another pained expression on Flux’s face so she decided to leave the subject and walk in silence. The pair of mares walked quietly until they reached the training grounds, their jaws opened as they saw a group of unicorn guards using their magic to flick playing cards at Dave, the human effortlessly grabbed the cards in mid-air and threw them back at the group.

“What is going on?” Flux called, the guards froze at the sight of Flux and Cadence. The cards were all stuck in the guards’ magic. Dave looked over, one foot extended to the side to catch on card that had gone wide.

“Wow,” Cadence stared at Dave’s seemly impossible pose. “If Shining was that flexible then I would never leave the house.” All the guards gulped as Flux’s expression of confusion turned to one of aggression.

Flux slowly rotated her head to stare at the blushing princess. “That is my son.”

“Hello everypony, what is going on… out… here?” Luna and Celestia stepped out onto the training ground and saw Dave’s elevated leg, the floating cards, a group of slacking guards, a blushing Cadence and a growling Flux.

“Princess Cadence finds me sexually attractive,” Dave sighed as he lowered his leg and pulled the card from between his toes.

Luna and Celestia both joined Flux in silently staring at Cadence, the princess of love stared at the ground as she whistled innocently. Celestia shook her head as she turned to look at Dave, “So this is where you have been all night?”

“Mainly yes,” Dave nodded. “I had to go to Odio’s room to pick up his laptop for him.”

Everypony looked over at the base of the tree, a black laptop was being gently tapped by a pair of silver gauntlets, Odio’s fog gently streamed out from the openings as he typed.

“What’s up noobs?” Odio waved as he continued typing. “Dave? It says here that Wilhelm Schulz’s son disappeared after marrying a gypsy woman.”

“Nationality?” Dave looked over as Odio typed furiously.

Odio hummed as his fingers tapped the floor. “Doesn’t say, she could be from anywhere in Europe and could have gone anywhere.”

“Ok,” Dave nodded. “But are we sure about Wilhelm Schulz?”

“Positive,” Odio said happily before gasping. “OH MY GOD!”

Everypony looked over to Odio as he began panting. “What’s wrong?” Flux ran over to look at the screen. “Who is Sly Cooper?”

“Only the greatest thief since Thief!” Odio exclaimed. “Oh there are some good games coming out soon, shame we can’t go to Earth and get them.”

“You managed to get the internet to flow through your portal so just download them,” Dave suggested as he began to put his crystal boots back on.

“B-but that’s illegal!” Odio stammered before gasping. “Oh wait, I just remembered that I don’t give a fuck!”

The ponies all exchanged confused looks as Dave finished putting his armour back on and Odio seeped back into the chest plate, humming happily.

The guards used the moment of distraction to leave, taking their cards with them as they snuck past the confused princesses. Luna walked over to Dave and passed him his helmet, “So we have one more day until Harvest gets here.”

“Don’t worry, I will make sure that everypony is fine after all this,” Dave gently took the helmet and nodded to Luna. “Am I correct in assuming that you have a question that you want to ask me?”

The princess of the night nodded, “Who is Wilhelm Schulz?”

“Due to having Dave’s emotions taken away, I have… remembered a lot more,” Dave scratched his head. “I can remember everything from Dave’s birth up to right now.”

“Sounds boring,” Odio groaned. “The first few years of being pushed around by parents and then a few years being pulled around by teachers then a year and the most recent memories of just getting into trouble and falling in love.”

Dave shrugged, “Your opinion, but I have a few small details I need to go over with Celestia and Luna.”

Cadence stepped forward with a smile, “Is there anything I can do?”

“Yes, stop thinking of Dave in sexual manners otherwise your husband my start getting concerned.” Dave walked past the blushing princess of love as he entered the castle.