There was a knock at the door of her study.

“Yes?”

The door cracked open and the helmeted head of a guardsmare peeked in, “Princess; your Cohorts wish an audience.”

“Oh! Please let them in, thank you.”

The door was pushed open and Glitter Shine strode in, her mane combed and tied into a single long braid that hung over one shoulder. She was wearing a neat white uniform with golden epaulettes, on her breast a pin formed of a six-pointed amethyst star. Behind her came Wingsong, in much more common garb that included a rather ratty flat cap perched on his head. It would have probably been in style fifty years ago, and by the looks of it, it may have been around during that time.

“You know, I technically outrank you now,” he was saying to the guardsmare as he passed her. Twilight couldn’t see the guard’s reaction, but it was easy to picture her rolling her eyes so hard they risked falling out of her head. Wingsong was grinning as he closed the door behind him, and Twilight couldn’t help but feel a bit giddy when she saw the saddlebags he carried, both pouches looking quite squared and weighty.

“Glad to see you two! I hope you’ve been enjoying your days off?”

“Haven’t been sure just what to do with myself, to tell you the truth Princess,” said Shine, though she did look quite fresh and relaxed.

“I have. My kids nearly hit the roof when I surprised them with breakfast this morning, and Ivy Glass has pledged her undying fealty for your kindness.”

Twilight found herself blushing, “That is awfully nice of her, but I don’t need ponies swearing fealty to me...”

“I didn’t say she swore it to you, Princess.” Twilight looked confused for a moment, then noticed the grin on the pegasus’ face. She rolled her eyes as he chortled.

“I’m rather impressed with your guard detail, if I may say,” said Shine, nodding towards the door. “Comforting to know you took our warnings to heart. How did you convince a colonel to watch your door?”

Twilight looked taken aback. “A colonel?”

Wingsong nodded, “Golden Gleam. Fourth Colonel under General Black Jack. Certainly an impressive door guard, Princess.”

“Oh dear... I had just seen a pair of armoured ponies in the hall, and the ones that were watching out for me this morning had been at it for six hours. I just asked and they fell into step...”

Wingsong chuckled, “That there is the ‘ol Canterlot discipline. She wouldn’t have questioned you if you had asked her to clean your privy... though she may have gone out of her way to order someone else to do it for her, hah.”

Twilight sighed and rubbed her cheek with a hoof, “And here I thought I was doing well. I didn’t even know she was a different rank; how can you tell?”

Glitter Shine tapped the shoulder of her uniform, “Pattern on the left roundel when in armour. The royal crest with two pips beneath signifies a colonel. Any high officer rank will have the royal crest on it; colonel, brigadier, general, and so on.” The unicorn blinked, “You spent years in the castle, Princess. You didn’t notice?”

“My brother is the military mind of the family. I was pretty much entirely focused on magic, to the point where if I wasn’t studying, it was because I was asleep.” She perked up, “Speaking of studying; have you brought me those lists?”

Indeed they had; two lists were produced for Twilight, and she was quite pleased to see that the one from Glitter Shine was not only neatly collated but contained tidy paragraphs and notes beneath each name denoting their skills and just what Shine thought of them, favourable and not. Wingsong’s list was much more frugal, consisting of a single page with just names and ranks.

Twilight flipped through Shine’s bundle, “Graceful Edge, Rook, Petronel, Northward Star...”

Wingsong eyed his comrade, “Petronel? Really?”

“He is a very skilled magic user.”

“Sputters, on a scale of one to arsehole, he’s a twelve.”

“A talented arsehole.”

“You realise those are only good at one thing, right?”

“Ahem.” Twilight was actually blushing a bit from the candid and somewhat uncouth exchange. “I will certainly take their... personalities into consideration, thank you.”

“Sorry, Princess,” said the two, nearly in unison.

“It’s alright,” she said, turning her attention to Wingsong’s list, scanning it briefly then glancing back to Shine’s. “You both have Rook listed, a... corporal, I see.”

“You mentioned architecture, Princess. Rook is in with the 3rd Royal Sappers; A big lad with a head for walls and towers, both knocking them down and building them up.”

“He’s been noticed by the brass. Give him a few more years and he will be jumping ranks quickly.”

“Huh,” said Wingsong, rubbing his snout, “Fifteen years service, and I’m stuck at sergeant. This young pup knocks a few rocks together and suddenly he’s getting pips thrown at him.”

“I am fairly certain Rook hasn’t seen the inside of a brig, and certainly not as many times as you have.”

“They never proved that I was operating that still, and you know it.”

“Which one was yours, again?”

He looked smug. “All four of them. My blackstrap rum was actually quite popular.”

Shine rolled her eyes, “That is Wingsong for ‘cheapest industrial degreaser money could buy.’”

“Aww, you’re just mad because I was put out of business before you could try it.”

“Bootleg liquor aside,” said Twilight, “Thank you for the lists, I’ll give them a looking over tonight. I’ll probably have some questions for you tomorrow. Oh, and speaking of tomorrow,” Twilight set the lists onto her desk and pulled out a pair of papers from the drawer, offering them to the two. “New schedules for you. Three hour turns throughout the day, so Wingsong can go home and look after his family more often. Shine, I hope you don’t mind that I’ve given you the late stretches...”

The unicorn shrugged a shoulder, “I enjoy the nights here; quiet and calm. Gives me time to think.”

Wingsong looked relieved, “Thanks kindly for that, Princess. You too, Shine.”

Twilight smiled brightly, “I’m glad it works. If there’s anything you need to adjust, feel free. Now, to that second thing I had asked about,” she said, lifting her chin a bit to peer hopefully at Wingsong’s saddlebags.

“Yes indeed,” said the pegasus, pulling the bags from his flank and setting them down before Twilight. “Four volumes, in fact, but there’s a problem, Princess...”

“Mmn?” Twilight eagerly opened the bags with an effort of will, drawing out four roughly identical books, their covers greying with age but looking to have weathered the time well, no doubt from a keeping spell similar to the one Luna had on her own shelves. She arranged them in the air before her.

Three of them bore the familiar crest of Equestria that had been reimplemented since Luna’s return: the two sisters, stylized, chasing a sun and moon. No mere paint or ink these; the shapes had been picked out in brass, inlaid with pearl and jet, with fire opal and sapphire and tiny, glittering diamonds for their eyes. It made Twilight smile to see that sygil, and to know it was being flown again.

The fourth book was different; there was the same symbol as the other three, but it only took up the top half of the cover; the bottom was separated by a line of tarnished bronze, almost crudely riveted into place with brass tacks.

In the space below the symbol of love and harmony, the still familiar flag that Twilight had known and loved since she was a filly; the silhouette of Celestia, upright, her great wings spread wide, dancing before the brilliant orange flare of the sun. Above her shoulders, a small sun and moon, showing her dominion over the sky...

“This must have been written during the transition,” she breathed, drawing that unique tome close, “She must be in here.”

“That’s the problem, Princess, and that’s why I bribed Sundance with a visit from my kids to let me take the three volumes before it.”

“What do you mean?” said Twilight, and carefully opened the book, listening to the creak of the ancient cover. The smile that had been borne from that sound faded when she turned a page, and grew deeper as she tried the next few.

“What language is this?”

Shine shook her head, “I thought it was Old Equus when Wing showed it to me. I studied Equus a bit during my last year at school. The words are familiar, but the grammar here is strange-- almost backwards somehow-- even though this must have been written well after the tongue fell out of fashion.”

Twilight let out a breath and flipped through a few more pages. The words flowed and twisted and moved in their strange way, telling a story that she couldn’t decipher. The script was tidy and beautiful in the artistic way that the written word can be, but in this case it felt almost like it was mocking her. Page after page of of it, lines and paragraphs of letters and marks...

Then she noticed something curious; here the words ended, with fully half a page of space left beneath the final line. When she turned to the next, Twilight found a symbol carefully painted into the old parchment; a stylized hammer standing upright, its head a rectangle painted in grey and decorated with angular designs. The haft of it was a simple, but furled around it was a flag in brilliant blue lapis paint, checkered with flaking gold leaf.

“I wonder if this is the same...” Twilight mused aloud. She remembered that there were other ponies in the room when Glitter Shine leaned over her shoulder to peer at the design.

“What do you mean, Princess?”

“Luna showed me something in one of her journals...” One of her journals that stretched back a thousand years.

Twilight was suddenly up on her hooves, staring hard at the curling, flowing script. She only caught a glance of what was in Luna’s book, but there was no denying that the script in the two were at least similar, if not the same. Twilight starting flipping through the pages. After half a dozen more, the script ended with another large point of empty space, and on the next facing page it began again, this time under the symbol of a cluster of seven stars centered on a blue circle.

“These are cutie marks,” she said, searching in earnest now. The next was a spear crossed before a shield, then an array of three tall trees, then a cloud raining arrows.

Rising sun, falling star, a cracked shield, a single maple leaf all in green... Some of the entries spanned several pages, while others were only a few paragraphs in total, with a number of blank pages following after, no doubt placed in the optimistic hope of being filled. Twilight paused briefly at one such short entry; a mere two paragraphs worth of neat script set beneath the silhouette of a bird in flight, with what looked like a flower clutched in its feet. She wondered what twist of fate would have cut short that pony’s service in the Solar Guard, wondered what tragedy was spelled out in the enigmatic text.

Twilight very nearly dropped the book when she turned the page.

It was not an entry, but rather a painting in watercolours there upon the old parchment. A pony, all in brilliant white and armoured in gold with a halo shining in orange and yellow about her head was standing upon shattered stonework, head raised majestically. Above her, a darkened sky flecked with stars...

The sun, eclipsed.

“I wonder,” Shine had opened one of the other tomes, "Without a doubt Princess Luna could read this. Do you think she might be willing to help?”

Twilight shook her head, coming out of a reverie of a dark night lit by burning fires. Her eye was drawn to the image on the opposite page, a tall mare in every way the opposite of the beautiful Celestia: armoured in star-iron, snarling, about her head a halo of living midnight...

As Nightmare Moon, I slew my sister’s lover, then laughed as she wept over the body.

“No,” said Twilight, slowly. “I don’t think that would be polite... actually, it would probably be cruel.” She closed the book and set it carefully upon her wide desk, amidst the other books she had been studying. “Do you think you could translate it, Glitter Shine?”

The unicorn looked pensive, “It might take some time, and it might not even be accurate; grammar means a lot in Equus, enough to change the meanings of some words.”

“Maybe try the college for some linguistics professors?”

“That’s an idea, certainly.”

Wingsong made a sound, “I am surrounded by eggheads.”

“Just because some of us can think and breathe at the same time, you get jealous.”

There was another knock on the study door, though instead of Golden Gleam peeking through to inquire for permission, the door was pushed open entirely, revealing the shining form of Celestia.

All three ponies in the room bowed to the Princess as she entered. “Hello, my little ponies.”

“You are much too kind, Princess; I ain’t that little anymore.” murmured Wingsong.

“Not with that gut,” rejoined Shine.

Twilight was horrified for a brief moment, but Celestia’s cheerful laugh brushed it away. “Now now; he hasn’t gotten that fat. I’m certain the effort with the sandbags after the little faux pas instilled a need to keep in shape, hmm?”

“Ahh haaa,” said Wingsong slowly as they all straightened. “I see how it is. I got hired to be the butt of everyone’s jokes, right?” He glanced to Twilight, “Princess, I humbly ask that the next cohort you select be dumber than me.”

Shine seized the moment. “We can’t induct a cabbage, Wing.”

The pegasus hung his head and let out a slow sigh. “Walked right into that one.” He grinned sheepishly as Celestia gave his shoulder a friendly pat with a hoof.

“If it makes you feel any better, Cohort Captain Threetrees doesn’t get a reprieve either, even with the rank.”

Wingsong thought a moment, “Well no, it doesn’t, really.”

“Ah, I see your point,” said Celestia, giving him a second comforting pat on the back. “Might I have a moment with Princess Twilight, please?”

“Certainly, Princess. With your leave?”

“Of course,” said Twilight, “Thanks for everything, and enjoy the rest of your day, you two.”

Celestia looked on as the two off-duty guards left. She was smiling faintly, “I’m glad to see you getting along with them.”

“Oh, they’re a lot of fun! I felt so bad about ignoring them.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I did have faith in you.” Celestia lifted a hoof and grinned at the shiny solleret upon it. “And don’t you find Cadence’s polishing quite lovely?”

Twilight giggled, “You won the bet, I take it?”

“In a way. As it happens, she isn’t quite so talented at baking, so I did have to suffer a bit in victory, as it were.” She thought a moment, “Not often you find a cake that is burnt and undercooked at the same time. I was actually impressed, though that may be the wrong word.”

“Mmn. I will say though that burnt gingerbread is actually not bad. Cadence is kind of the reason I ask Pinkie to overcook mine during Hearth’s Warming now.”

“I will put that to being an acquired taste,” said Celestia, smiling and giving her favourite pupil a hug. “Speaking of Pinkie Pie, I have received a message from Spike.”

Twilight had left Spike in charge of the library and hired on Roseluck as a temporary helper. Between them and Owlowiscious, she couldn’t imagine there’d be a problem there, other than controlling her number one assistant’s chronic need to sleep in until the late afternoon. “Oh dear, is it serious?”

“Well, it did raise a question.” Celestia drew out a rolled piece of parchment and set it on the little table at the center of the study. “Twilight; how long has it been since you last saw your friends?”

The younger pony sat down beside her mentor, her brow furrowing a little as she stared at the paper. Two weeks now, maybe a little more? She had been so busy that the days just seemed to fly by, but remembering their names now, it felt like forever. “There’s been so much to do,” she started, prodding at the floor with a hoof.

The elder’s voice was gentle, one snowy wing lifting to rest across the younger’s shoulders. “Twilight; there is nothing here that hasn’t been handled before. I welcome your efforts to help, but your old life didn’t end just because you have been crowned. You are still the librarian of Ponyville, with all the responsibilities that entails. You have friends and family to see to and a life to lead.”

Twilight sniffled faintly and brushed the back of a hoof across her eyes, trying to stifle the tears before they started. She felt silly; it had only been two weeks, and she was ready to fall apart? It was embarrassing...

Celestia drew Twilight close and pressed as gentle a kiss as could be to the top of her head. “Now now, don’t fret. They understand you’ve been busy; they just want you to know they love you and miss you, and hope you will be down to see them again soon.”

“It has been a little too long,” Twilight agreed, “Would I be able to have some free time next week?”

Celestia laughed a little, “Twilight; you aren’t on any schedule. I asked you to handle some affairs for me last week just to put on a show for some of the stuffed shirts. You can come and go as it pleases you, now. If anything, I would insist that you take your leave and return to Ponyville for a few weeks. You are always welcome to come back, of course. Having someone else to do some of my work for me has been rather refreshing.”

“Mmn.” Twilight leaned against Celestia, letting her thoughts drift for a moment, simply enjoying the warmth and closeness.

It was the Princess who eventually broke the silence, “Oh, I had almost forgotten to mention; I’m having your parents over for a dinner again this evening. Shining Armour and Cadence will be there as well, so I hope you’ll join us.” It was practically a tradition now. A lot of ponies thought that Twilight had pretty much just abandoned her family when chosen to be Celestia’s pupil. While certainly she had to accommodate a new life of study away from them, her parents had become honoured guests at the castle and visited often, even after Twilight had gone to Ponyville.

Kings and queens and dignitaries from a dozen lands visited Canterlot castle, sometimes waiting for days for a simple request for a signature. No doubt they would have been a bit insulted at the idea of two normal ponies, one a children’s author and the other a textiles manufacturing supervisor, being granted private dinners with the Solar Princess nearly every week.

“I would be delighted to,” said Twilight, growing happy at the thought of seeing her mum and dad again; she hadn’t even had time to see them, and they lived in the city itself. “Actually, I was hoping to talk with my brother today as well, so that works out perfectly. Formal attire?”

“By the stars, no. Their visits are practically the only time I can get away with taking my crown off; you’ll look silly if you come all dressed up.”

“Casual it is,” said Twilight, grinning.

“Now if you will pardon me, the Zebrican ambassador has challenged me to a game of Go, and she is both a masterful player and terrific hostess.”

The two rose to their hooves, with Twilight leading the way to the door. “What time should I come?”

“Most any time after six. We haven’t really cared to pin it down to an exact time in months. It’s promising to be a lovely evening, so it’ll be in the statue garden.”

“It’s a date, then.”

“Oh my, is it?”

Twilight was about to take hold of the door with her magic, but her magic faltered, with her knees very nearly following suit. She hoped that the sudden blush across her cheeks wasn’t as visible as, say, the glow of the unfiltered sun, which is roughly as warm as they felt. “Uh, I mean to say, yes, I shall certainly be there, Princess.”

“Very good, Princess,” said Celestia, adding a playful curl to her voice as she departed through the door.

Twilight very carefully closed it behind her and let out a slow breath. It took some time for her to gather her wits again, but her mind did eventually sort itself out and get back to the matter at hoof. She started towards her desk, fully intent on taking another good look through those pages to see if she could find any hint as to just which entry belonged to the mysterious Podarkes, when she found her gaze being pulled to the solitary roll of paper sitting on the table.

Dear Twilight;

Hi! How have you been? It’s been like, forever since we last saw you, and everyone was all getting sad and stuff. I’ve been trying my best to keep everyone’s mood up, but you know how mopey they get when you aren’t around! I tried throwing a come-home-soon party at the library, but everyone said it wouldn’t be the same, and anyway, Spike and Roseluck gave me the exact same look you gave me when I suggested we have a pool party in your basement!

Oh wait, Spike says this goes to Princess Celestia, not to you.

Dear Princess Celestia;

Hi! How have you been? It’s been like forever since we last saw you, and everyone was getting all sad and stuff, even though we always see the sun come up every morning. Could I ask you a super-huge favour, please? Could you maybe kinda sorta give this letter to Twilight the next time you see her? I promise I’ll make it up to you next time I come visit or you come visit us; I’ll throw the biggest most super-huge party you’ve ever seen, and it won’t be all stuffy like the Grand Galloping Gala was! I remember how you said you thought that kinda stuff was boring, so I’ll make sure it’s as loud and fun as anything has ever been! Oh, we could invite Princess Luna to sing; she wouldn’t even need a microphone! OH. KARAOKE. That is such a good idea!.

Twilight blinked and unfurled the paper a bit more, discovering nearly a dozen paragraphs, all of which seemed to pertain to planning a thank-you-for-delivering-this-letter party.

An abrupt change in the script drew her attention again, though her smile did not lessen in the least.

Dear Princess Celestia;

Please forgive Pinkie Pie; she had become somewhat excited and ran off a moment ago, shouting something about coffee hats. We aren’t certain just what she meant, but judging by what was written... neither will you.

Could you please give Twilight our kindest regards and love? We all do miss her and hope she is doing well...

There was more, but Twilight found that she couldn’t read it for the happy tears that began to blur her vision.

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Author's Notes:

For you in all its unapologetic, unedited glory.

I do beg your pardon for the wait; I was distracted with drawing and another fic. Things should be stabilizing once again.