The Death of a Prince - ACT IV
Barely a day had passed since Thunderbuck and his protection had arrived in Ponyville, and he already felt like he needed to leave. Usually when he came through performing his music ponies would enjoy his presence. Now he felt eyes on him at all hours, and not those of his guards. He took this as a sign that the ponies in charge were not pleased with his presence and wanted him gone. He would gladly oblige them, had he been able to step outside his room without spotting some pony staring at him.
This was a feeling he was most displeased with, as he normally hated being observed without his mask, now it seemed to serve only as a magnet for the eyes of ponies following his every movement through town. He was having a particularly rough time with it, especially now that he was inside the library. With the presence of only himself and one guard, he thought he might find peace and a chance to research. Instead it seemed that he was being observed more intensely. He took a moment to speak very softly where only his guard could here.
"Step out the door slowly and walk away as if I am walking with you. Just keep walking toward the Inn. Once you are inside I want you to stay there for five minutes and then come back like you are walking with me," his voice was stern as it could be, however it still sounded timid and more like asking than telling. The guard nodded and then moved to stand aside as Buck's horn began to glow faintly. As the stallion's own image stood from his place and the glow attached itself to the guard, it seemed as though the guard were now escorting Buck back to the inn.
No sooner had the guard and illusion left the library than Buck immediately felt the eyes off him, and now it was his turn. He knew a scrying spell was being used, because he had intensely felt them on him before. There was very little his limited training could do to determine where it was coming from, however he had illusions strong enough to make the pony doing the scrying go mad trying to actually find him again. His eyes closed as he conjured his own magic up. A blue flicker of electric energy, tinted green in swirled spots covered his horn, and then his head, slowly enveloping his whole form. He was covered and then, soon enough the bubble of magic faded thin before vanishing completely.
He panted softly as he began to wait, and pray his act of illusion worked. No sooner had he let out his panted breath, however did the door open and his guard stepped back inside. Thunderbuck was confused, and made a hoof motion to his wrist as if asking the time. The guard stallion came over and removed his helm, setting it down softly upon the wooden table and speaking gently.
"Sir. I have been gone a full fifteen minutes. Five minutes to and from the inn, and waiting the five minutes more you instructed of me took the time up. Sir you are sweating heavily, are you feeling ill? Are you panting as well? Should I... fetch a doctor?" The guard grew concerned now as his charge showed signs of serious strain and fatigue.
"No I am alright. I was merely deeply concentrated on the spell I cast. I hope it will be enough to disrupt the actions of any pony spying on us with magical means. I cast a spell over myself, that when somepony attempts to scry my location and activities, will hurl the spell to another random pony in a random place and time. I have no idea how random, however it will, at least for a time prevent them from spying on me indirectly. They, whomever they are, have been scrying our activities today," Buck said as his breathing came under control. He stood and moved himself to the bookshelf to begin his research.
"I see my lord. May I be of assistance then?" The guard asked
"Yes. I will need you to help me locate horn mending spells and information. As well it might serve best to fetch us some extra parchment, quills, and ink to allow us to continue working. I have a sinking feeling this will be a few days work ahead of us; at the least four to five days," Thunderbuck said softly. The guard nodded a retrieved his helm from the table, quickly placing it back on his head and trotting out the door now. He would fetch the coin purse Buck kept for such expenses and purchase the needed items, then take a moment to order food for himself and his lord.
Thunderbuck himself was slowly stacking books on the table with his magic, making them into neat piles of organized titles in the hopes of keeping them straight to return them to the shelves properly. He pondered to himself if he could actually perform such magic spells, as healing was notoriously difficult and on a unicorn's horn it would be doubly so with her own magic leaking out and possibly fighting back. Then there was the other matter to contend with, being purification of her from the darkness she had within herself. Thunderbuck knew of little that could be done for that. Usually such matters were left to mystics and priests of one kind or another.
The stallion was so absorbed in his thought he failed to hear the gentle tap of yellow hooves behind him until they were almost on him. His muscles tensed, his mind racing to cast a teleport spell and yet he had used too much magic already. He had nothing left to cast, and turned sharply. The loud 'eek!' that escaped both Fluttershy and Thunderbuck scared them both witless as she shot up into the rafters and he dove under a table for cover. This left both panting and afraid to look to the other for some retaliation or the other. Yet the seconds ticked by and all that could be heard was the rapid panting of each other. Slowly, Thunderbuck peeked out from under the table as Fluttershy looked down from the rafters quietly.
They stared at each other for a few moments before Fluttershy slower lowered herself down in a gentle gliding decent, and Thunderbuck slowly pulled himself out from under the table with a slow movement to keep from bumping his horn. Now on even ground they merely looked at each other in silence, both pondering what to say before Thunderbuck found a few words.
"Can I help you miss?" He asked though almost in a whisper. Fluttershy was caught off guard, having not expected him to speak, let alone in such a melodic voice that he almost sounded to be singing when he spoke.
"Um, well I was... wondering if I could help you. I mean... n... not that you look like you need help... I was just thinking that... you are new and oh...I should go." She turned to leave quietly and walked for the door slowly. Much to her great surprise, he said nothing and merely let her leave of her own accord. Normally when she tried to leave, ponies would stop her to try to make her explain what she meant, however this stallion had not moved or spoken anything to stop her.
She turned to look toward him, and was surprised to find him slowly removing that mask of his. As he pushed it up over his horn and off the back of his head, she found he had a very young face, likely younger than herself. She surmised that he might even be young enough to actually be just out of school, if that was possible. Her mind was managing the possibilities when the door opened next to her slowly. Her eyes flew to the door, and realized that the guard was back. Fear gripped her as he stepped in, levitating a large bag of supplies beside himself, and she shrank away from his rather imposing armor and scowl.
"Leave her be, she was just looking for a certain book," Buck said. The guard instantly disregarded her presence and moved to join his lord at the table. As he was unpacking the bag, Fluttershy made her escape and flew away into the clouds to hide for a bit. There she panted as she thought about what had just happened.
The pony under that mask was younger and likely just as frightened as she was, possibly more so if he wore that mask just to go out in public. He had a soft voice, and a gentle tone. That she could be comfortable with, however his protection guards were hard ponies to not be frightened of. Rainbow Dash was even slightly intimidated by them, though she would never openly admit to it. Those unicorns were quick on their hooves, and near silent when they walked. Fluttershy could barely imaging how to picture a Pegasus in such armor, and ow strong they would have to be to maintain flight while wearing all that heavy metal and weapons.
As she let her heart come back down, she spotted Applejack down below. Flying down slowly, she landed a few feet ahead and started walking beside the farm mare. They said nothing at first, but Fluttershy could tell that AJ was indeed very irritated about something. Once they were mostly alone, Applejack sighed and opened up about her anger.
"Fluttershy, I appreciate everything you done for me and the family. But I gots to get rid of them vampire fruit bats. They started in on the cider apples, the good ones and no less than three trees last night. I've never known them bats to eat like that, but they didn't even leave us the cores for fertilizer this time." The farm mare was calmer now, having vented her frustrations and taken a deep breath. Fluttershy put aside her other matters for her friend, noting several things that stood out as uncommon, or nearly impossible.
"Applejack, um, vampire fruit bats can't eat a whole apple like that. They just drink the juice. If the apples are totally missing, is it possible you already harvested them and forgot?" She suggested gently, hoping not to anger the hefty mare again.
Applejack opened her mouth to retort but then closed it and began to think. Fluttershy was the most knowledgeable pony when it came to animals and certainly the local authority on animal behavior and ability. If she said that the bats couldn't eat a whole apple, then they couldn't do it. That itself presented a new problem as this mean a new critter was getting into the farm crop and making a mess of things it had best be leaving alone.
"Well I would rightly remember bucking them trees, I promised Applebloom she could help me buck them this year now that she has some better aim with her hooves. I never would have betrayed a promise to my little sister like that. Which means some critter got in them. Big Mac can't buck them trees, they're too old and he'd break 'em in half just as soon as he touched one." The farm mare said pulling her hat down a bit and grunting in frustration before letting out a displeased snort of pure agitation.
Fluttershy nodded, understanding that sometimes animals new to an area could cause disruptive behavior, and that made ponies upset when it caused them issues. She then had an idea, suggesting that Applejack show her the trees and maybe she could find out what type of animal did it, and how to help her fix the problem without harming the animal or causing AJ any undue stress. The farm mare agreed and said she would meet Fluttershy after dinner that night by the road to the farm, to which the yellow mare agreed and trotted off to get some things ready in the event they found something hungry and in need of a new home.
Thunderbuck had begun his research with his protector, though thankfully with the added benefit of the anti-scrying spell making his distracting follow unable to see him. As the stallion was making notations about fading old scars from injuries that were healed but still achy, his guard was looking into proper horn mending technique and the various supplies needed for such a process. It seemed to the guard stallion that mending a horn was not at all like setting a bone. Small cracks could be tended with low level spells even a novice could cast upon themselves with the aid of a mirror to see how to direct the magic. However the gaping crack in Lady Stromstride's horn would require more than that.
Since it was impossible to recover the lost fragments as they were who knows where, the next best remedy was to create a mixture that would fill the crack and become part of the horn as the magic turned the mix into actual bone that would grow with the unicorn. That took significantly more power than even experienced healers had to offer, so usually being performed by multiple unicorns to share the magical load of converting the mix to bone, binding it to the existing bone and marrow of the horn, and healing the damage to provide it a chance to grow properly.
The only problem with this was, the guard did not know of any unicorns that could do this, even when they worked together. He could only hope that Thunderbuck knew some, or at least had an idea where some might live and provide the help even if it came at a cost.
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The wine tasting was over, and Stormstride had taken First Place in only one competition. The rest of the competition, she took multiple second, third and in a few she did not even place at all. The judges consisted of Celestia, Luna, a few ponies Stormstride had never seen before, and what she knew was Flashfire's father.
Most would call this a striking defeat, however the mare seemed unfazed as she polished her awarded ribbons and smiled while setting them down gently in a velvet lined box. Blueblood was a bit confused, seeing as how others stuck their noses high and trotted off with tail tucked like a dog that was spanked with a paper, barking about the indignation of it all when given such placements. Stormstride was pleasantly enjoying herself and her few small awards. She admired the silky blue ribbon of her single first place win, as her guards packed away the remains of her wines for return to the cart outside the in the courtyard.
"You seem most jovial for only finishing first in the Reserve competition my friend. Is there some method to your calmness or did you just not care to contend?" Blueblood asked her rather bluntly, which got a coy smile from her lips.
"It is easier to participate when you know you will lose to those with the home field advantage and long standing bias within the circle of judges," she said loud enough to catch both Princesses attention. Blueblood knew she had said that intentionally. She noticed immediately that the nearest ponies looked to her with a bit of shock and some of the others with confusion, perhaps anger at such a claim. Blueblood felt a bit embarrassed she would act like that, knowing full well that the contest was judged as fairly as possible in his opinion. He laughed and gently pat her back.
"A quick jest can lighten the blow to an ego indeed. Come, I would like to discuss possibly having a crate added to the palace larders, your wines have a note to them rarely found in Equestrian wines that I have become attached too," he tried to guide the conversation in a direction that would make his aunts think Stormstride had not said that seriously. Unfortunately it was too late, both were walking their way with serious faces, though Celestia's questioning look was lighter than Luna's scowl of disapproval. Blueblood tried to get Stormstride to follow him, but when he looked at her face he saw that maniacal grin and her eyes twinkled in a way he had only seen in a mad pony. He stepped back and turned away, biting his lip as he prepared himself to watch Stormstride be torn asunder.
"I could not help but over hear your words my dear guest. Do you truly feel there is some unjust in our judgement?" Celestia asked before Luna could speak. She knew her sister was still a touch prideful and could speak her mind most bluntly, often frightening ponies unintentionally; adding to this the fact that Celestia was well aware of who and what Stormstride was both in their past meeting and the here and now. Damaging relations between Equestria and Maretonia was out of the question until proof of wrongdoing had in fact been found, and as of yet there was none to be had save rumor and speculation.
However it was Luna and Celestia that were quite surprised when Stormstride turned to them with a brilliant smile and a gleaming light in her eyes. Luna's sense of danger flared violently, as she took one single step away to give her sister the room to maneuver since Celestia was closest. Celestia was so startled by the look and suddenness of the turn by the smaller mare she almost jumped into the air, her wings twitched and her horn gave the tiniest spark. The light in Stormstride's eyes danced in delight and Celestia knew that she had gotten the reaction she wanted. The princesses could be spooked, though only subtly enough that the one spooking them would notice. However the words that followed derailed the train of thought in Celestia's mind.
"Oh, not in the sense that you believe. No I am referring that all ponies, even Allicorns are more partial to the familiar and well known. Things that are different are oft exciting, however judged with more critical an eye and air than those one is certainly more familiar with. If one were to examine every bottle as if it were from an entirely different batch, one would fine even subtle differences in the same blend from the same vine. It is just that when we taste something we have become accustomed to tasting, our mind glosses over all the imperfections we have come to expect in such a product, however we instantly recognize the imperfections in things we are not familiar with. You would know my wine by taste alone even if you did not see me pour it, however if I took three of their wines and poured where you could not see, your mind would trick you, leaving you unable to really tell the difference in the oh so familiar flavors. You would confuse them for each other," the noble mare said in that still jovial and near maddening tone.
Luna was utterly confused, her sense of danger was still telling her that this mare was likely to attack them at any second, however she spoke as if she were very happy to discuss the matter with them, even drawing a few nods of agreement from others close. It was an accepted fact that the senses of a pony, even a princess could be fooled if given the right circumstances, and the information provided seemed to suggest that Stormstride believed the judgement was made as fairly as possible, but that they had biased themselves by enjoying something familiar to them less critically than her offerings and thus skewed the end result by pure habit.
Celestia took the words at face value, but she was no fool. The madness in those eyes was completely genuine, and all it would take would be one false step to bring it out fully. This mare was indeed mad inside, and Celestia could feel the darkness creeping up inside her inch by inch. This mare was a skilled combatant, and likely had means of casting spells without giving away she was casting them. Suppressing the glow around one's horn was hard to do, and even Celestia herself could not produce such a feat, but it was possible according to ancient notes left my unicorns of the past.
Or perhaps the alcohol and wide gleaming grin the mare was giving was just fooling Celestia, which the princess had to admit to herself was a possibility in this situation. Stormstride had made not a single move of aggression, in fact she had sat and begun polishing the highly reflective metal shoes on her hooves. Celestia got a good look at them now. Those were combat shoes, thicker and better insulated against hard ground; and it seemed that mounting screws bored into the mare's hooves permanently mounted them. That had to be painful as the initial insertion would force the screw into bone.
Luna saw them as well, though kept herself silent and remained standing just to the side and behind her sister. Both princesses were well aware the room was full of ponies, and anything they did would certainly injure innocent bystanders. The mare before them however was doing nothing, albeit a chatty nothing. An just as suddenly as it began, it was over with Celestia opting to bow out and smile gently.
"I see. Well as long as you are indeed happy with the outcome of this contest I will relinquish the point to you. I trust we will see you at further competitions in the future?" She left it as an open ended question as she turned to Luna and made a simple eye motion that told her sister to follow. Once clear of Stormstride, the solar princess spoke in a very low tone to her sibling.
"We must tread lightly around this one my sister. She is indeed mad, and her power runs far deeper than I had previously imagined. Perhaps I should have sensed this earlier, unfortunately I was distracted by the words of the matter and not the feeling as you seem so easy to find. I will seek your council tonight after the lowering of the sun and raising of the moon. Together we can discuss a means to combat this threat peacefully," came the carefully chosen words. Luna smiled to their guests, nodding as she spoke aloud.
"That sounds like a marvelous idea my sister. I have not seen Twilight in some time. I do wish to speak to her again. Celestia took the hint and smiled as well, moving off to mingle with some of the contest winners. Blueblood was not entirely certain what had just happened. Had that act frightened his aunts or had they seen it as something else that was far less threatening than he thought it had been. As he approached Stormstride again, he saw her bringing out a bottle with a ribbon on it.
She levitated it out to him with a smile, making a gift of it. He accepted gratefully and felt relieved that the tension was cleared from the air. Whatever her game, Lady Stormstride played it well; likely because she had written the rules far in advance of her arrival. Blueblood walked with her to mingle with the guests, guiding her away from the princesses and their little group. Her words had stung the pride of a few of the winners, some of them now feeling their victory slighted by being accused of cheating. Others were now eyeing the winners, pondering if it were true and that no judge of any competition was ever truly non-biased.
Celestia could see it on their faces as well, and knew that Stormstride had picked her battleground well. Celestia had received word of what Stormstride was doing, coaxing certain Equestrian ponies toward her lands with a promised free vacation, and then the ponies decided unexpectedly to stay and live there in her town. This had happened before and Celestia felt it warranted a bit of her attention. If nothing more, this proved that Stormstride did in fact have an ill intent toward Equestria in some manner; more specifically toward the upper class and princesses of Equestria.
Luna excused herself from the party, and went to find her way to the balcony for some air. She needed a level head to think properly, and certainly consuming more wine was not the answer. As she came outside, she sat in the air to ponder to herself silently, looking out over the sunlit kingdom of peaceful ponies. She had felt a familiar darkness coming from Stormstride at that moment. Like her own, but twisted and different from Nightmare Moon. The mare possessed a darkness inside her that would consume her one day, if it had not already.
Luna felt a shiver run down her spine, and she flicked her tail to rid herself of that shiver, to little avail. Perhaps tonight she would visit that mare in her dreams and see what darkness truly lay inside, and hopefully put an end to it before it became a true threat. After what felt like an hour, she heard the hooves of her sister approaching.
"The guests noticed your absence my sister. They pondered if you were upset by the light chatter or perhaps that particular mare had angered you," Celestia said with a gentle voice.
"It was neither, sister of mine. I was merely in need of fresh air and the peace of a quiet view after sampling too much wine. I am well enough," came the soft reply. Celestia knew better, and moved closer to sit beside her sister.
"I understand Luna. I felt it as well. She startled me, and I reacted the way she wanted me too. I jumped, not expecting her behavior to be what it was. It made me uneasy, which proves now she has the upper hoof in this matter." Celestia turned her face toward her younger sister, pondering how Luna would respond to her words.
"I jumped as well. I was prepared for attack and ready to strike. Had I, we would have struck and unarmed and innocent pony for making a simple statement. Could that have been her plan all along, my sister? To deface us and bring dishonor upon us?" Luna asked softly, meeting her sister's gaze. Celestia had no answer to give, not yet anyway.
Looking to the sun, her horn lit up in a pale golden yellow glow as her magic reached forth and took hold. Slowly as a bird drifting on an air current, the sun began to set. Luna's horn lit up a beautiful violet blue, harnessing the power over the moon and raising it gently to take the sun's place. As the pair finished their duty, they turned to go have a light dinner together before tending other duties. It was then a heavy green swirl of flame appeared before them, depositing a scroll of fair length upon the floor at Celestia's hooves.
Levitating it up, Celestia opened it as her sister leaned in to see as well. The letter was from Twilight, presenting her feelings on the matter after meeting with Thunderbuck. Celestia pressed her lips a bit, and nodded. Rolling the scroll back up and tucking it away in her mane, the solar princess looked to her lunar sister with both concern, and sternness.
"It was in error to ask Blueblood to invite Stormstride here. We had believed this a political matter, and now she is in the heart of Equestria. Her younger brother has been to both the Crystal Empire and the Castle of Friendship. Luna, I must ask something of you." Celestia said softly.
"Sister, I was already planning to look into this mare's dreams. Perhaps a clue to her intent is possible to find. Though we have no access to the Elements of Harmony as it stands, I believe Twilight and her close friends would come to our aid if we called for it." Luna responded as they stood in the hall.
Celestia was uncertain of what course of action to take. Thunderbuck seemed to believe saving his sister was possible, that perhaps one of the princesses knew some spell to use. He was desperate to protect his family, and it seemed to be driving him into confronting his fears of being in social situations. That was good for him, but not the driving force behind it. Stormstride had already demonstrated tactical prowess in her days in the REA.
Upon receiving the reports dating over six months back that guards were abandoning the REA to live in Maretonia, under Stormstride's own banner no less, Celestia had taken time to call for the mare's file. And now she took Luna to see those files in the private library of the sisters. Locking the door to be certain they were not interrupted, Celestia began to explain it to Luna as she showed her all the paperwork. Stormstride had joined the REA while still in school and began training at a very young age. Skipping graduation ceremonies, the pony began heavy training to work their once lithe and subtle frame into a machine of war.
They seemed to have succeeded as the service records indicated that on initial arrival to training, Stormstride had been about the same size as Blueblood, give or take a few measurements, however at arrival to the soldier's initial post they were significantly bulkier, heavier, and with noted attitude issues. Minor reports of training incidents of being harassed were dismissed until the pony began to retaliate against them.
Luna pointed out that the records indicated Stormstride was male. Celestia explained that ponies often had identity issues when imposed under the views and stresses of others, and had only in recent years expressed herself as a mare, rather than a stallion. Continuing, Celestia explained the records further and showed where Stormstride worked her way up to sergeant, lost first spouse as a run away with a Canterlot noble. That was the mare from the court room, Celestia noted for her sister whom had read the court records. The next noted incident was when she was demoted to corporal following insubordination, where Stormstride defied an order to rally at the palace during the initial changeling attack at the wedding. Stormstride had stayed behind to protect a school full of foals and teachers that had no protection.
A bold move that seemed prophetic, as the school was hit not long after. The changelings were looking for easy targets, and Stormstride held them off until the end of the assault. A rather gruesome scene was found on the discovery of the site as well, with multiple dead changelings around a gravely wounded but still standing guard pony. Celestia noticed a notation to the side, and glanced it over. This particular school was where Stormstride's own daughter was attending at the time. Luna commented vaguely on the love of a parent being a powerful factor in decisions made. Celestia agreed with her younger sister, motioning her to look at the next section.
An imposed transfer by her commander sent her to Fillydalphia, where she was to serve as the body guard of the mayor. During a Grand Galloping Gala event, Blueblood had made an off hoof comment about the talent of the Musician, and it dissuaded him from performing further; the young performer in mask and rented tux decided it was best to pack his things and leave without payment for his services rather than stand there and be insulted and laughed at as the initial comment drew others.
Luna remembered the incident, as she herself had intervened in the actions that followed. Stormstride had taken great offense to the matter and publically challenged Blueblood to personal combat over the honor of her brother. Blueblood had blown her off, thinking it was some joke until the pony discharged a spell that caused his wine glass to spell all over his white suit. When Blueblood stood he was slapped across the face with his own glove and challenged again. This time he had to take it, as this particular guard had no intention of letting it go.
Luna had followed and watched a rather impressive display of the pair. Most of the entire duel was for show, casing wind and water about so that it was intentionally blinding for each other. Stormstride blanketed their battle ground in the gardens with snow as Blueblood made ice crystals rise up from the ground under Stormstride's bare hooves. Luna only stepped in when the heavy fog that Stormstride summoned blinded Blueblood to the point it distorted even sound and the prince had no ability to see nor hear his opponent. Clearing the fog herself, Luna stepped in and ordered the guard to surrender, effectively forcing her to forfeit.
After that Luna saw the price of her intervention. Stormstride was demoted again, and suffered an even further cut in pay that resulted in her daughter being taken away and placed in the custody of Thunderbuck. Luna wondered how that was possible when she saw the notation that Thunderbuck was part of a group of traveling performers, who made more than enough to support the foal. Buck was also able to prove he could provide a varied and proper education to CaramelCream. Unfortunately, as foals all do, she got sick and lost her hearing when a serious flu ruptured her eardrums with built up pressure and fluid.
Stormstride went rouge there, and was put on indefinite suspension for an incident involving a fight in the railway station in Manehattan. Luna flipped the page and kept reading, noting that personal logs from Blueblood's one journal were present telling the tale of what happened with the sea ghost. It was from that point that the more recent events began to show. Arrested for causing a disturbance in Canterlot, Stormstride was brought before Celestia immediately, which was unusual except that one mare had defeated over a dozen trained REA. Even if she had the same training as these guards, and given she knew how they would react there was still no possible way one mare could have done so. Especially given that the doctor's reports indicated she was weakened from being malnourished.
Luna began to speculate this may have more to do with a general group of ponies, than certain ponies in particular. Pausing from her reading, Luna set the papers down neatly and turned to look at her sister with a curious look. Celestia had been forming her own opinion for some days now, working out the details in her own mind.
"Sister, is it possible this began long ago? Perhaps....half her life time ago or further?" The lunar sibling asked her solar half.
"My thoughts exactly. As I could find no home town listed, just an address that does not appear on any map. It is likely both Stormstride and Thunderbuck were born into an abusive home. Thunderbuck is the more timid of the two siblings, less likely to have spoken out against any undue punishment. Stormstride strikes me as a pony with a strong sense of justice, though more from a personal view of what is right and wrong. If they feel they have been wronged, they will make it right; possibly even in using force if they feel it is called for. I feel that misunderstanding between actions of others, and the interpretation of the intent toward Stormstride was the largest part of this matter. When I placed her back on duty with her full rank restored I did not know she had just resigned that commission after being demoted to the lowest possible rank in the REA.
"Furthermore, I believe she took it as a personal insult when I dismissed her to speak to the commander. He tried to take responsibility for things I did not understand happened at the time. Had I but paid a bit more attention, I might have understand better at that time," Celestia said as she began to pace.
Luna returned to the papers at hoof, continuing to read. Stormstride's new post was in Fet Loch, as she was acquainted with the Duchess and Captain of the REA there. However that post only served as part time position and still did not earn her enough to get her daughter back in her custody. The post did, however give her access to lore and research of the northern areas; allowing her to discover the proof she needed of the origin of her family. She spent just a year in Fet Loch, saving every coin until she was properly stocked and then took all her belongings to Maretonia.
The mare just vanished there, leaving no traces in the records until the last couple years where she was actively seeking out old friends to bring into her circle of wealth and influence; as well she was also seeking out old grudges to close and doing so at a remarkable pace. Three commanders, two drill sergeants and no less than fifteen actual REA guards went to vacation at her estate and within days of arriving sent letters of resignation stating they no longer deserved to wear the uniform and a list of actions that should have at least earned them some small disciplinary actions. After that they were still in regular contact with their families it seems, having now been placed as common low grade work ponies such as kitchen and post scrubbers or street cleaners.
Luna felt that was demeaning and meant to be so against these ponies that once held a position of power over Stormstride at one point or another. Other ponies she brought in and made them superior to what they were considered here, the princess noted seeing the file's indications of a common REA soldier named Heavyhoof. Earth pony, nothing notable save that his special talent and cutie mark singled him out as a decent soldier whom was calm under most pressure and had level decision making skills based on what he was presented at the time. He was stuck at the rank of corporal because his inability to pass certain tests required for higher ranks.
Luna could see how Stormstride's offer was tempting indeed, as the stallion was now her guard captain and trusted advisor. Her husband was also a former upper-middle class citizen, though it appears he was in Maretonia on unrelated matters when they became betrothed. No real mention of how Stormstride came into such a great deal of wealth, aside from being an exceptional duelist. Impressive, but common enough in the old days that Luna dismissed it easily. Celestia had been watching where her sister was reading, and tapped the page with a hoof.
"Read that again my sister, and consider in what age we now live," the solar mare said softly. Luna looked back, and reread it when it dawned on her that duels were much a thing of the past. So much so that they were often only used in training for guards and protection officers that would be expected to take on an opponent hoof to hoof. She pondered quietly and then came to the same realization that Celestia did.
"She dueled other nobility, and took their fortunes as her prize?" Luna asked, quite surprised Celestia would think of such. Celestia nodded and returned to pacing again, as Luna turned her eyes back to the paperwork. Notes on Stormstride's visits to Equestria and business dealings while here, the most recent being her attempts to market her wines to the lower income district stores and inns. Luna herself pondered just why Stormstride would even bother coming to Equestria at all given she had all the things she may have ever wanted for felt she deserved. Luna rested her chin on a hoof as she stared at the paperwork. There was something she was not seeing. Laying out all the paperwork, she began to look it over without focusing on the information so much as just letting things stand out.
There was a knock at the door that disrupted her concentration, and a servant calling that he had brought them a meal, since they had missed dinner. Celestia opened the door and let the stallion bring the cart inside. Taking a moment to set out silverware and cups, the stallion bowed and left them to continue their matters privately. Celestia locked the door and returned to her sister to continue their work. Nothing came out from the research Celestia had done, and none of the current material provided any insight into the mare's plans. After a moment, Celestia sighed and moved to sit to their provided meal.
The lid came off gently, as she levitated it and smiled at the ample sized salad; which would provide more than enough food for both allicorns as they worked into the night. Luna came over and took her seat as well, pouring water from a chilled pitcher into two glasses for them, as Celestia gave the salad a quick toss and then scooped some into two smaller bowls. As they began to dine, their focus shifted away from the subject at hoof to let their minds rest and enjoy the meal. Most of the discussion was geared toward a few cute guards that the pair had been fond of being around. Though nothing would come of it, the princesses were still mares at heart and enjoyed a little eye candy. Unfortunately their minds were brought back to the topic at hoof, Stormtride and how best to handle her. She posed no solid threat, but given enough time she might. She had brought eight guards with her to a wine tasting and the group were intimidating enough that their very presence caused distress to the Canterlot nobility. The upper class were not used to this, watching ponies in full battle equipment marching about was something for the lower class to see.
That exact moment was when it clicked in Celestia's mind, and right behind her was Luna whom had said it aloud. They stared at each other a moment before some sense of calm came over them. Stormstride was making a display, a show of might and power here and now. She was showcasing a sample of her ability to run successful business and to amass what would be considered professional soldiers into a well-trained force. Certainly these eight would be a good match for the palace guards, if not by superior gear than by training no doubt. Luna set her bowl down gently and moved to the window, closing her eyes as her horn glowed and searched out the pony herself.
Stormstride was in the Inn of her friend Boulder, which was surprising given she was offered a place in the palace to stay. Boulder was counting his coin for the day, leaving Stormstride and her group to eat in peace. Luna could feel how tired Stormstride was and knew it would not be long until the mare went to sleep. And then she could look into those dreams in hopes of peacefully resolving this matter. She would try to present herself as a figment of the mind to Stormstride, and give her the upper hoof as she pleased. That tactic had oft proved well enough in other ponies, and perhaps it would as well here. Returning to her food she sat to eat and speak.
"She lounges with her soldiers at an Inn not far down the hill. They spend the evening taking a simple meal and discussing simple matters of family and business. It will not be long before she ventures to slumber, and then shall I try to enter her dreams. No doubt she will keep guards posted, so I must be cautious." Luna whispered softly. Celestia nodded, knowing her sister was cautious and well skilled in guiding other's dreams in peaceful and happy manners away from the tormenting nightmares that were troubling to them. She felt confident enough that she herself would sleep wake in time to raise the sun the next morning.