>You walk calmly through the familiar halls, avoiding the familiar servants and guards both off duty and on.
>”Oof! Hey, watch where- Oh! Excuse me princess” a maid mumbles hurriedly as she bows repeatedly and begins scuffling away from you.
>Before you can respond to insist that it was your fault for getting distracted the maid gets out of earshot for your indoor voice to do you any good.
>You sigh and return your attention to the source of your distraction.
>A group of stallions out in one of the palace courtyards.
>They’re all talking together, enjoying themselves in the company of their friends.
>Some are in uniform, some have them mostly removed, and one has none at all.
>It is this stallion that has drawn your attention.
>Your reason for dropping by unannounced to Canterlot Castle.
>The stallion’s ears remain sharply perked and rotate to any new occurrences in the adjacent rooms.
>His eyes are bright and cheery like those of his little group, but unlike them, there is something more.
>A fire burns faintly, a confidence you can see even from this distance away.
>HIs withers are square and firm.
>Barrel is tight and expands at a slow and steady rhythm as he makes full use of his lung capacity.
>Even without his outfit you are certain which position he occupies here in Canterlot Castle.
>A position you’ve given little thought to until now.
>Until it has become evident that you need to employ some stallions to that position for yourself.
>You continue on, heading deeper into the castle.
>The stallion, whom you were watching, his eyes quickly flick in your direction once you begin moving.
>You are certain he was aware of your attention on him.
>Both wonder and awe course through you as you travel to the retiring chamber of the castle.
>Beyond the ornate gold and dark blue doors you find the two ponies you were hoping to.
>”Twilight? Doth mine eyes deceive me?” Luna asks aloud the moment you pass through into the chamber.
>Celestia’s ethereal mane twinkles as it flicks across to the other side of her neck when she quickly turns her attention to the door you now stand in front of.
>Her face brightens up into a smile, “Twilight, did I forget a meeting we had scheduled? I could swear-“
“N-no! No, you didn’t forget anything Celestia. I just had a few questions I wanted to ask and was already in town to help Rarity with her boutique.”
>”Oh, good I was starting to worry that perhaps my age was beginning to get the better of me” she responds with a light chuckle.
>Before you can respond Luna is quick to chime in, “Stay thine tongue sister! Thou art still sharper than a scorned colt’s tongue.”
>Celestia waves a wing in her sister’s direction, “I was merely joking sister…”
>Luna’s face gains a very faint blush under the dark coat of her face.
>”Although I will warn you that in a thousand years you will find yourself sucking in your barrel in the presence of some handsome dignitaries” Celestia goads.
>Luna’s mouth opens agape with shock, then closes as she rolls her eyes, “Verily sister, if those thousand years are filled with cake.”
>Celestia’s cool demeanor cracks slightly, a frown begins to form on her face.
>Uh oh.
>Since your ascension, you’ve come to know what those looks on their faces mean.
“Uh, Celestia? Luna?” you call out to them as their little squabble is about to commence.
>They break eye contact with each other and turn to face you.
“I still have some questions.”
>They turn to each other, then back to face you and simultaneously break out into a fit of laughter.
>”Oh goodness, listen to us Luna, bickering like the olden days.”
>She hums contentedly, “A mystery as to how we survived alongside the other is it not sister?”
>For a brief moment, you see a pang of sorrow in their eyes.
>You can only imagine the countless moments that must have passed through their minds in that brief flash alone.
>They clear their throats and turn their full attention to you.
>”So… tea? I could have that one butler with the wavy light brown mane bring it” Celestia says with a light sing-song in her voice.
>You cough to stifle the heat rising on your cheeks.
>You answer to her little game of “would you” once and never live it down after.
“No thank you, this really shouldn’t take too much time.”
>Luna and Celestia both wait patiently for you to continue.
“As you know, Ponyville is really coming into its own now that my friends have begun settling into their larger roles, and Starlight has progressed so much in her studies on friendship that I barely worry at all when she submits a friendship report a few minutes late.”
>Celestia smirks at that.
“It has taken me longer than I care to admit that these changes have happened, and… even longer to come to terms with it.”
>Luna and Celestia both share sympathetic looks towards you.
“I’ve begun drafting down my plans for expansion and upon my third draft I hit a snag.”
>They both raise a curious eyebrow now.
“The guard. They patrol through Ponyville like they always have. They are well trained and respectable mares, reporting any incidents quickly to the officers located in Ponyville Square who then relegate the information to either myself or Mayor Mare.”
>You can see the pride on both of their faces, they themselves hoof select a new wave of guards once a year from the available recruits attending the royal guard academy.
“Unlike the Crystal Empire, Ponyville’s proximity to Canterlot means that I don’t have a need to oversee the selection process for guards coming to Ponyville, and I haven’t had a reason to anyway…”
>”Twilight?”
>You pause and look to your former mentor.
>”You said this would be brief?” she says with a slight goading tone in her voice.
>You clear your throat and jump right to your point.
“It’s your personal guard. Cadance has had travesties befall the Crystal Empire in the recent past even with my brother standing as Prince-Captain. I know the situation for Ponyville is nowhere close but I can’t help obsessing over the process for selecting my own personal guard.”
>Celestia and Luna remain silent, you suspect it’s because they know what your question will be.
“Entrusting my safety and the safety of my castle’s occupants to a group of stallions of my choosing feels…”
>They both share a knowing look with each other.
“I guess I want to know how you choose recruits to entrust with your life. From what my research told me, it has always been male guards.”
>”It has yes” Celestia responds.
>”And forever it shall be” Luna adds.
“But… why? Discussion about this topic usually suggests it is so you both have eye candy or in the event of a terrible disaster it is so you will be able to protect those hoof picked stallions.”
>”Dost thou agree with these assertions?”
>The off-duty guard in the courtyard comes to mind.
“Well… no- I’ve been near a member of the personal guard for most of my life, there is clearly a difference between them and the stallions who enter the regular guard.”
>”You ask why Twilight, but you’ve also done the research before coming to ask us. Were the answers found in your research insufficient?”
“Yes, most texts describe the reasoning behind the decision for an all-male guard to be tradition. But the origin of said tradition is unknown, even when you were asked about the topic” you respond to Celestia’s question.
>Celestia furrows her brow, Luna turns to her sister, “Unknown? Sister, is this true?”
>She shakes her head, “Of course not Luna, He is someone I could neve- I suppose whoever approached me about the subject misunderstood my response. The origin is not ‘unknown’, it is ‘Anonymous’.”
>You scrunch your muzzle.
>Isn’t that basically the same thing?
>You ask that exact question with the addendum that it would be more accurate to say “unrecognized”.
>”It would be, were I not speaking about a person.”
>Oh of course, that makes-
>Wait, what?
“A person?”
>They both nod slowly, you can see that sorrowful look in their eyes.
>”Anonymous. The last of the ancients.”
>Your head buzzes as it flips the archives of your mind trying to link this person to any of your studies but find yourself drawing nothing.
“I-I have no idea who you are talking about.”
>They both hum in response, “Tis no surprise, minotaur history was so poorly recorded back then. Even before our banishment, the few accounts that did survive the test of time were largely considered mere myths or epics rather than fact. We can only imagine how little regard those scraps of history have now.”
>You look from one somber face to another.
“So the origin of an all male guard comes from the minotaurs?”
>”Well… one COULD say that…” Celestia responds.
>”Sister, perhaps it would be best to recount an “epic” of our own?” Luna suggests.
>Celestia nods and her horn brightens.
>The Journal of the Two Sisters appears before her in a flash of bright light, “Twilight? Perhaps you would like that tea now? I know I’ll be having a cup or two myself.”
>”As will we.”
“Uhh, do you think that will really be necessary?”
>”If thou desireth the answer to thine question. For in order to do so, we must recount far into the past, before we had acquired our cutie marks and the positions of Princess had not yet existed in the yet budding Equestria.”
>”This story will take quite some time Twilight, to tell it right we must even go all the way back to the earliest point that we know of, told to us second-hoof by Anonymous himself.”
>You didn’t exactly have any plans, like usual…
>And this prospect of unrecorded knowledge grips at your heart tightly.
“Okay, but can we have a different butler bring us the tea?” you plead.
>The smug looks on both sisters’ faces already inform you of their answer.

>The pre-dawn air is refreshingly wakeful against thine ivory coat.
>Beside thee, thine sister stands. Eyes sharp and determined.
>The call is sounded, wings extend, two sets of hooves leave the firm balcony below.
>Horns illuminate cutting through the obscuring darkness with beacons of sapphire and gold.
>Thine dearest sister soars ever so slightly higher than thee, a smirk spreads along her lips out of the corner of thine eyes.
>Foalish sister, now is not the time for petty squabbles.
>Despite thine objections, however, thou canst help but push harder with thine feathery appendages.
>She struggles to match thine pace, but you are confident that she will not.
>Below, thine ears harken to gruff frustrations.
>Thou rememberest the reason for this endeavor and refocus thine attentions.
>The golden beacon brightens, faint glimmers of sunlight peek over the edge of the horizon.
>Satisfaction fills thine chest with the promising warmth of the sun’s Elysian light.
>Thine eyes squint in retaliation of the bright sapphire light just below thee.
>Luna’s face bears a look of frustration.
>Sapphire overtakes gold in the darkened sky.
>Muzzle scrunched, and efforts doubled- no, tripled!
>The sun jumps up over the horizon, continuing its upward arc in a haggard fashion.
>The moon meanwhile travels smoothly over the two-tone sky towards its destination.
>In a bout of frustration you send a gust of wind down with a forceful push of your powerful wings.
>Luna loses her control in the air and as a result of the moon.
>She counters with a flash of her horn.
>The sun is wrestled away from thine weak magical grip upon its luminescent body.
>Thou strugglest in vain against the magical might of thine own younger blood.
>Frustrations peaking, you respond physically and she returns a strike in kind.
>Thou and Luna both struggle in the open skies, oblivious to the mounting panic of thine instructors below as the sky fluctuates with overbearing darkness and blinding light.

>The head mage of the Spiral school looks at you both with stinging scorn.
>She paces back and forth, her face drawn in the heaviest of scowls.
>”A test, t’was merely to be a simple test. Thou both hath failed miserably at a task mere first years couldst accomplish!” she growls.
>Both thee and Luna wince under her tongue lashings.
>”Hark, Headmage Twinkle-“
>”We shall hark NOTHING! Be SILENT younger thirdborn!”
>Luna lowers in her seat.
>It appears as though this latest squabble will not be brushed away with the week's end’s dust this morn-“
*****
>”Uh, c-could you repeat that?” Twilight asks, interrupting your retelling.
“Prithee repeat thyself Twilight?”
>Her head lowers slightly, “S-sorry, it’s just I’m having a difficult time keeping up when you speak that way Celestia.”
>You blink a few times and come to the realization that you’ve been speaking in the old tongue.
>An airy chuckle escapes your lips.
“My sincerest apologies Twilight, this is the manner in which we recorded our thoughts in those days. For you, I will try to modernize them so there will be less confusion.”
>You flip back to the page you left off at and go over, in light detail, yours and Luna’s scolding and subsequent punishment.
******
“Luna! Come back here at once!”
>She glances back at you over her shoulder, a demonish smirk on her face as she lifts the cloak over her head higher to further obscure her features.
>You roll your eyes at the futility of her attempted “secrecy” in broad daylight, in the middle of a village in Bovinia.
>When your attention returns to the spot your sister was just at, you are both surprised and slightly irritated to find that she has actually gone missing.
>Minotaurs make up the majority of the beings in this port town, with sprinklings of other races here as either traveling merchants or port workers.
>Damnation Luna, where on Terra are you?
>Blacksmith?
>Tavern?
>No and no… perhaps the market stall-
>The Raised Tail.
>… You hope that you are wrong.
>The tauress standing by the door to the brothel sneers as you approach.
>”This is no place for you singlehorn, we don’t house any of your kind within. Try the next town over.”
>Her words sting but this is nothing you weren’t warned of before embarking on your “quest” as given to you by the Headmage
“Please, I merely wish to find my younger sister.”
>”Haven’t seen her,” she huffs.
>The contempt in her eyes gives you no reason to think she would lie to hide Luna.
>You thank the tauress and begin making your way around the building to head towards the market stalls.
>A familiar hum gives you pause.
>You see the faintest shimmer of sapphire blue coming from a window above your head.
>She wouldn’t have…
>You glance around, most are focused on their own lives or engaged in bickering with another race.
>Quickly you free your closely pinned wings from underneath your cloak and thrust yourself up to peer over the edge of the windowsill.
>Inside you find Luna peeking through some light blue curtains into a wider room beyond.
>Your blood boils and you quickly dive in through the open window.
>Luna jumps in place as your hooves touch down on the wooden floor.
>You act quickly to stifle her before she gives away your location in the brothel.
“Luna, what in Tartarus do you think you’re doing?!” you hiss.
>She relaxes slightly and pushes you back with a dim flash of her horn.
>”I would think that is obvious given where we are sister. I am merely taking in the local views…” she coos while parting the curtains again.
>Your muzzle feels hot and you quickly avert your eyes away from the view beyond the opening.
>With a dim flash of your own, and in spite of the resistance Luna’s hooves put against it, the curtain shut much to Luna’s displeasure.
“We are not here to partake in “local views” sister, we are here to accomplish the task the Headmage entrusted us with.”
>She blows a raspberry in response, “‘Task’ please sister, use the true name for it, Punishment. Or better yet, horseapples! I did nothing wrong that morning, it was you couldn’t maintain your composure.”
>This is exactly why you and Luna have been sent to these foreign lands.
“MY composure?! Says the one who goaded me first!” you hiss back.
>Despite knowing this, you can’t help but snap back at your own younger blood.
>”You are delusional Celestia! You think yourself the more calm and rational one just because you are slightly older than I yet you are the first one to perceive a challenge where none exists.”
>With a blue shimmer she rips the curtain open out of frustration and waves a hoof in your face, “Now leave me be. We are not traversing out to find this “seed” the Headmage has punished us with retrieving until we find a guide willing to take us through these divisive lands anyway and no guide is likely to be found with nightfall fast approaching.”
>You physically wrestle the curtains shut, her magic resisting you all the while.
“We must try Luna, the Headmage is counting on us to fulfill this task, punishment or no. She thinks that finding the seed will be the key to us finally ascending to the state the Council of Friendship believes we can. We cannot dally on something so important.”
>Luna rolls her eyes and forces the curtains open with a stronger magical force.
>You force them shut again with greater physical force.
>She pries them apart again, only for you to shut them again.
>This goes back and forth, both of you expending more and more energy to oppose the other.
>Until… *SHRRIP*
>Gasps flood the open lobby, all eyes fall on you and Luna.
>Large tauresses quickly rise out of their seats.
>You and Luna scramble to put up a defense, but have expended your strengths on each other and are made quick work of.
>”Next time we will not be so lenient on you, singlehorns!” one of the tauresses bellows as your face meets the cold hard earth.
>Luna squirms beside you.
>You rise upon shaky legs to your hooves, you can smell the biting scent of metal and a small pool of crimson grows just in front of your forehooves.
>Through aches and pains you help Luna to her hooves as well, she stumbles a few times and has to keep a hoof pressed to her nose but she is soon walking alongside you towards the tavern you passed earlier.
>”Nibe goib Zelesbia” Luna mumbles through a swollen nose.
“So this too was my doing? Because you were acting as a paragon of integrity yourself?”
>”No, bub I wasn’d goib to be caugh by byself” she snaps back.
“You are always doing thi-“
>”Ho there sisters!”
>Both you and Luna turn your attention to the gryphoness approaching you both.
>She raises a friendly claw as she nears and looks at you both intently.
>”Whoa-ho, took quite the number there didn’t you sisters?”
>You both clear your throats and mutter something about it not being as bad as it looks and an ambush.
>”Was this done by hands?” she asks in a low tone, looking around for any other nearby presences before returning her full attention to you both.
>”Yes actually it wa-“
>You nudge Luna’s injured side to silence her.
“No! Uh, just two mares settling our differences out like marely mares do!” you quickly cover.
>The gryphoness eyes you suspiciously for a brief moment then breaks out into laughter, “Ah yes, of course of course. One piece of advice, however, keep those kinds of settlements outside of the more populated areas. The biped guard is thirsty for any excuse to lock up us non minos.”
>You thank the gryphoness for her advice.
>”One last thing, the church up on the hill is likely to help dress up your injuries for free. No questions asked or anything. Far as I’m concerned they’re the only good ones in these lands.”
>Again you thank her as Luna is almost recovered from the blow you gave her.
>”Anytime! We of the Quadruped must keep an eye out for our fellow brothers and sisters no?”
>The gryphoness continues on her way while you and Luna turn your direction towards the church she mentioned.
>”What was that for Celestia!?” Luna growls.
“You heard her, the Quadruped? We have no need to get involved in the politics of these lands sister. We are to fulfill our task and return to Equestria.”
>Luna grumbles the rest of the way to the church and even continues within.
>The main room of worship is vast.
>Ornate figures depicting a bipedal being you are unfamiliar with and a cow is commonplace in this room.
>The room is devoid of other people, and beyond the scent of blood a refreshing scent fills your nostrils.
>You feel a sort of peace flowing through you despite the circumstance, and-
>”Hello! Anypony here?!”
>Damn you to Tartarus Lu-
>One of the doors on the left wall of the room opens.
>A tall burly minotauress lumbers through it sending chills down your spine.
>Behind her a shorter cloaked being emerges.
>The shorter one peers over at you both, you can see a faint glint of emerald in its eyes brought about by the candles in the room.
>It hurriedly returns to the room it just left and comes back a moment later carrying a small satchel in its grasp.
>The figure, led by the tauress, approaches you both, “Oh hello, I am terribly sorry to keep you waiting.”
>The voice is an elysian ring to your ears, such a lovely tenor that you can feel travel deep into your core.
>His scent matches that of the room but feels slightly more pronounced in certain ways.
>Before you can begin a response you are sweetly silenced by the cloaked minotaur and ushered into a room opposite the one he came from.
>”Please, you have no need to explain yourselves. We of the Ancient’s Children will gladly tend to any who requreth aid.”
>His gentle hands touch, caress, prod, and soothe the aches and pains present on your face.
>The minotauress who accompanied you three stands at the door, arms crossed and face firm.
>”Oh, don’t mind Kriemhild. She is my dear companion tasked with my safety on my pilgrimage.”
>He leans in close, you can feel his hot breath on your ear, “She’s also grumpy because your arrival awoke her during her nap” he adds with a light giggle.
>Your heart skips a beat as his airy bit of joy rings in your ear.
>He turns his attentions to Luna.
>Now that you are apart from him, you have a moment to drink this young monk in.
>It doesn’t take you very long to notice a few things.
>His hands are lithe and lengthy, allowing them to gently probe around Luna’s injured face with a dexterity you didn’t think possible for minotaurs.
>A quick glance at his companion, ‘Creamhilt', or something like that, confirms your suspicion.
>He also has an extra digit on his hands.
>”Are you okay? You still seem to be in distress.”
>Luna is trying to keep a straight face as the pain that must be building in her barrel grows.
>”I am…” a hiss of pain cuts her off.
>”You are injured still! Please remove your garb so I may attend to those wounds as well.”
>Fear courses through your body, and judging by the surprise in Luna’s eyes, it would seem the same is happening to her.
>”N-no! There is no need for tha- HA!- aat” she groans out, trying to keep the minotaur away.
>You attempt to rise but the sudden pounding of hooves and rumble accompanying them give you pause.
>The tauress that was keeping watch is now suddenly in between both the minotaur and your sister.
>The minotaur is insistent on helping your sister even going as far as to push the tauress back.
>Your sister is trying her best to keep the cloak in place with her magic all while fighting the ache present on her body.
>And you are frozen, unsure of what to do.
>And for the second time, the sound of cloth tearing gives everypony pause.
>Luna’s form is almost fully exposed, the minotaur is holding tatters of Luna’s cloak in his hands, completely dumbstruck.
>The tauress puts a hand to the minotaur’s chest and steps back with him cautiously, her eyes fiercely locked to Luna.
>Not a single sound comes from any of you.
>All you can hear is the blood pounding in your ears.
>The soothing voice of the minotaur speaks up,”I am so sorry” he mumbles meekly while holding the tatters out towards Luna.
>You and Luna share a glance that carries the same thought, “Has he truly not noticed?”
>The minotaur steps ahead of his guardian and approaches your younger sister, “If you would give me the rest of your cloak, I can repair it for you. I-it’s not as good as what a tailor would do, but it will return it to it’s former-”
>His plea trails off as his eyes fall to settle on Luna’s wings.
>”By the ancients!” he gasps.
>You prepare yourself for the worst.
>”Your wing joint is swollen!”
>Your eyes part and you see the minotaur kneel and inspect your sister’s injury closer.
>”Kriemhild, I require the frostrose salve please.”
>The tauress looks from Luna to you and back, her eyes are unreadable to you.
>They’re also a color you’ve never seen before.
>Piercingly blue.
>”Kriemhild!” the minotaur calls louder, snapping the minotaur out of her guarded trance.
>She hands a small bottle from the satchel to the minotaur, who then quickly applies the clear liquid to your sister’s wing joint.
>Luna hisses and her uninjured wing flares out.
>”Please bear this for just a moment longer, your joint is hot as a result of being injured and attracting blood to the location to cause the swelling. This cold salve should disperse the swelling and see that your joint recovers much faster, though you should expect not to use it for a few days.”
>Luna’s breathing slows as the minotaur is finishing his explanation, she nods in understanding.
>The minotaur smiles, you can see the whites of his teeth reflecting the candlelight even through the shadow of his raised hood.
>The minotaur stands and turns back to face you, “And you? Are you injured elsewhere?”
>You want to say yes.
>To feel his gentle touch on more places than just your face.
>The cold look of the tauress behind him gives you pause and reject that fantasy outright.
>”Let me go and fetch my needle and thread” the minotaur announces as he departs the room.
>Now it’s just you three ladies.
>The tauress uncrosses her arms, her massive chest drops slightly and jiggles as it settles after the loss of support.
>”You” she addresses Luna with a commanding tone in her voice, her eyes slide over to burn into yours, “And you, I can see the bulge of wings under your cloak. That makes you the same as her, yes?”
>You swallow nervously and nod when you find your voice uncooperative.
>She blows air out of her nostrils, “So many years spent traveling, and still this world has something new to introduce you with…” she muses quietly to herself.
>”I care not what you are, or how you came to be injured. My only concern is his-“ she nods to the door, ‘-safety. So if either of you are thinking of trying something known only to your kind, I’d suggest otherwise. It will not work, I will protect him, and I will not be gentle. Understood?”
>This one tauress is merely warning you is far more frightening than the group of brothel personnel who attacked you.
>Both you and Luna nod just as the minotaur is reentering the room.
>He asks Luna for the torn cloak still on her body and happily settles himself on the table with all the bits of cloth.
>The minotaur gets to work with the needle and thread, humming a tune as he does.
>You find yourself enraptured in his sound.
>Luna too seems to be listening intently.
>”-ave wings too?”
>You shake yourself from the soothing state you found yourself in and realize that the minotaur was asking you a question.
>”Do you have wings too?”
>You clear your throat.
“Y-yes.”
>You turn your attention to the tauress, who is watching you intently, and slowly spread your wings free from under cover of the cloak.
>The minotaur gasps and a smile spreads across his face, “How amazing! Isn’t that amazing Kriemhild?”
>The tauress grunts in response.
>”So… and I’m sorry for being so unlearned, but what kind of ponies are you?”
>You turn to your sister who shrugs in response.
>Not like the secret isn’t out already.
“We are thirdborns. We possess traits from all three pony tribes.”
>The minotaur remains silent for a moment. His hands clench the fabric of Luna’s cloak, “Third…borns. Not a very pleasant sounding name I think. Pegacorns sounds much better to me.”
>He smiles at his own musing and returns to his work.
>Luna seems to be less pained, and her joint does indeed seem to have reduced in size.
>”So… are there more of you? Thirdborns I mean.”
>You and Luna look to each other once more, unsure of the answer yourselves and uncertain as to how much to divulge regardless.
>”Oh, forgive me for prying! It is not my place…”
“N-no no, it’s okay…” you quickly respond while Luna looks over at you like you are mad, “We are the only two we know of.”
>The minotaur stops his stitch work and raises his head, “Only you two?”
>You nod silently.
>The mino lowers his head, “How sad… though I suppose it is nice to have someone like yourselves to confide in no?”
>That very notion never occurred to you before.
>It’s not like you didn’t know, but rather never focused attention to that fact.
>Luna seems to be feeling the same way.
>Her eyes look softer upon you than they have since arriving in Bovina.
>”Pray tell, are you starting a journey? Your cloaks appear to have little wear upon them-“
>”Anonymous” the tauress says with a warning tone to it.
>The minotaur jumps in his seat, “Right, apologies again for my prying. I am almost done with the repair.”
>Anonymous.
>That is his name.
>How curiou-
>”We are embarking on a new journey actually” Luna responds.
>Both you and Anonymous turn to face your sister.
>A coy smile spreads across her face, “We are adventurers after all my sister and I. Having just wrapped up our last one, we are on the hunt for an all new adventure.”
>What is she doi-
>Anonymous gasps, his hands cover his mouth and he regards your sister with wonder, “Adventurers! You both are adventurers? Truly?!”
>Luna basks in the adoration of the young minotaur while you fume after realizing her goal.
>”Indeed! We have faced danger myriad times and laughed in its face just as many- AH!”
>She winces during her little display of bravery, “We… just happened to get unlucky earlier today” she adds trying to save face.
>She does going by the look of sheer awe on Anonymous' veiled features.
>Anonymous and Luna discuss at length of your “adventures” while you hesitantly agree with Luna’s tall tales.
>Kriemhild regards you both with disinterest the whole time that Anonymous is repairing Luna’s cloak.
>He returns the garb, looking almost like it was before, to your sister.
>”You know, we are going to be traveling towards the next town further inland. The next stop on my pilgrimage. Kriemhild and I could use-“
>”Anonymous” she warns him again.
>He stamps a… hoof? down at her guardian, “Kriemhild, they are adventurers, we could do well with them at our side. And they are the only two of their kind, Kriem…” the young minos pleads with her tauress companion.
>The tauress’ response is cut off by your sister, “Actually, I’m afraid we will have to decline your offer. Our next adventure is already in our sights. Thank you for everything sweet Anonymous and… towering Kriemhild. But we must be off” Luna says pulling you along in her magical grip.
>Surprise courses through you, and judging by the look on Anonymous’ face, him as well.
>”Oh! Ah- but…” he follows you both out into the main room with his guardian right behind him.
“What are you doing?!” you hiss only for your sister to hear.
>”Getting us back on track like you said dear sister. We cannot afford to dally remember? Not even when a handsome young bull is practically clay in ones hooves” she says with a goading tone.
>Your face burns hot.
>”O-okay… Please be mindful of your wing for the next few days!”
>You watch as the minotaur’s head lowers, his voice becomes soft and breathy, but with sincerity behind it, "May the ancients guide your way.”
>The church doors shut behind you and you wriggle free of your sister’s grasp.
>She continues on down the path back towards the tavern.
>You stand firmly planted between her and the church.
>The distance from you to your sister grows, and you imagine the smugness of her smile does too.
>She is right, you have no obligation to help that young bull, but…
“Okay!” you shout.
>Luna’s hooves stop crunching the gravel walkway, you can hear her turn around to face you, “Okay what?” she asks.
>You mumble a response.
>”I’m sorry? What was that sister?”
>You mumble again, slightly louder.
>She trots closer and placed a hoof to her ear, “One more time? I couldn’t quite catch that.”
“Maybe we don’t have to completely prioritize the seed…” you mutter.
>Luna’s smug hum makes your blood boil.
>She slaps your flank and trots back towards the church doors.
>”Plus, I think I may have found us not one but two guides who won’t cost us a single bit!” she chirps.
>You rush to catch up to your sister.
>She leads you back into the church and over to the door where Anonymous and Kriemhild first emerged.
>Before you can stop her, she places a few gentle raps on the door.
>”Coming” Anonymous’ muffled elysian voice calls back.
>The door opens, “Did you need another sleep aid Priest-“
>His response stops when his eyes lower and fall upon you forms.
>Your eyes try to make sense of the scene before you.
>Anonymous is…
>His horns aren’t present.
>Ears are small and round.
>Face is flat and smooth.
>Eyes are wide with shock but even still the most mesmerizingly handsome shade of green.
>His soft looking lips part and even the panicked shriek escaping his mouth is like music to your ears.
>The charging tauress coming from behind him doesn’t even phase you like it should as you look upon Anonymous' startled form.

>The sun is shining brightly, illuminating your way as you all travel inland.
>All being yourself, your sister Luna, your former attacker and now current traveling companion Kriemhild, and…
>”Oh? Yes, good day fellow travelers!” Anonymous chirps to the party traveling past you, they stopped when they saw a monk and asked him to do a quick prayer for them.
>Kriemhild steps over to Anonymous, her broad shoulders loaded with equipment, most of which you recognize save for one particularly large bundle of cloth and rope.
>While you are curious to know what is in that bundle, more pressingly you wonder how the tauress appears to be completely unencumbered.
>You fancy yourself to be stronger than Luna and even you are feeling quite exhausted by the pace you all are traveling at.
>During your musings, Anonymous has crossed over and now kneels with the other traveling party, Kriemhild stands just behind the young mino, her piercing blue eyes scan over the travelers as Anon begins his prayer.
>”Blessed art thou who walk under the loving gaze of the Elysian creators. Koh, the holy father, assist your sons and daughters most kind with thine favor. Keep cheerful winds upon their backs so they may faster reach their destination-”
>Koh, one of a small group of beings they refer to as Ancients.
>”And Waimoo, great all-mother, shoulder the world for these devoted. Raise the roads to meet their weary hooves so they may walk with confidence, secure in their faith upon thee."
>Waimoo, a cow so great in her time that she caught the affections of the Ancient Koh. Together they are referred to as the creators. They were the ones who are claimed to have given rise to the minotaur race.
>At least that’s how you remember hearing it from yesterday.
>While Anonymous was tending to your bruised neck from the swift action of his companion Kriemhild.
>Having finished his prayer, he bids the traveling group well and makes his return to you and your sister.
>Kriemhild stops him and they begin speaking amongst themselves.
>You can’t really make out what they are saying, but Anonymous is clearly displeased with what Kriemhild is saying.
>You are better able to pick up their conversation as they approach.
>”-nd you have too little faith in your fellows Kriem. By all rights, Celestia and Luna should have rejected my humble plea for their accompaniment after you so brutishly attacked them. And yet they walk with us still thanks to my “dangerous trust” in others and the benevolent favor of the creators.”
>If looks could kill, you all would have dropped dead from one passing of Kriemhild’s eyes.
>She instead blows air through her nostrils and continues leading the way towards the next town.
>”Quite the odd couple don’t you think sister?” Luna whispers after having trotted up right beside you.
>You watch the two bipeds marching on ahead of you.
>Anonymous’s robes sway with the gentle breeze, their colors are varying shades of blue-grey.
>HIs cuffs dangle low upon his wrist, somewhat concealing the extra digit his kind is born with.
>The edges of his robe are lined with a deep red color, ornate black lines spread through those bits of red.
>Almost as if he knew your eyes were upon him, he adjusts his hooded shawl, of a matching color set, to better cover the distinct features of his face.
>His hands sway as he walks and with each step there is a lightness to them despite the heated discussion he is getting into with Kriemhild.
>The tauress herself is tall and broad, even from this short distance away you can see the muscles on her firmly built body shift with every step.
>Her coat is blue, short and light on her upper half and thicker darker fur on her lower half, with a silvery mane that drapes down just past her shoulders.
>Her horns are a dark grey and rather than the usual nosering, you see only one ring through her left ear.
>That ear is currently flicking with annoyance as she continues her discussion with Anonymous.
>Kriemhild crosses her arms, the muscles of her arms bulge and gently squeeze at either side of the leather chest piece.
>Occasionally when she turns her body to face Anonymous, you can see that her large breasts appear just the slightest bit fuller.
>Before you have even finished looking over your two new companions, you see that Anon has closed the gap between the two of them and wrapped his arms around one of Kriemhild’s.
>The tauress smiles begrudgingly and you can see her shoulders relax.
>Anonymous steps to the side again, giggling as you all continue onwards.
>You realize you have trailed off since Luna asked you about the two.
“We know very little of their lands, it is too early to say that they are the odd ones I think.”
>”Is it too early to say they are a couple do you think?”
>You can’t help a blush forming on your face as your gaze falls solely to Anonymous.
>Now that you know what he really looks like, you can make out some of those unique features even under the shadow of his shawl.
>”-pureborn. Long ago, calves born in the image of the ancients were called pureborns. They were considered beings most blessed and renowned. It has been so long since one has walked these lands, however, that pureborns are considered by many to be but a myth.”
>He confided in you both his origins, you realized then why he had such an aversion to your title of thirdborn.
>Like you, he is uncertain of his place in this world.
>Unlike you, however, he has no other like himself to turn to for comfort.
>Your heart aches for the young bull, and truthfully you would hope that they are not together.
>Kriemhild seems a fine traveling companion, but she could not know what it is like to feel different and alone in a crowd of ‘peers’.
>”I think so” Luna remarks.
>You hum questioningly.
>She nods towards Anonymous before turning back to you, “That it is too early. I certainly hope so anyway.”
>A tinge of possessiveness strikes you, it strikes harder when you realize that Luna’s gaze falls not to Anonymous, but her eyes instead follow the gentle sway of the bottom of his robes.
>You casually step closer to your dearest sister, your saddlebag bumps into hers.
>Anonymous jumps and whips around to face you both, his eyes settling on your sister, “Luna? Are you okay?”
>She hisses loudly in response.
“She is fine, I misjudged out distance and nudged her injured wing with my saddlebags.”
>”Please do be more cautious, Celestia” Anonymous warns.
“Of course” you respond to Anon before turning to face Luna, "my sincerest apologies sister dearest” you say with as sorrowful a voice as you can muster.
>She sneers at you and turns her eyes ahead.
>Anonymous hums contentedly and slowly his pace to fall back with you both.
>Kriemhild throws a quick sideways glance at Anonymous before facing ahead again.
>”Kriemhild says nightfall is coming soon-“
>Luna nods her head, “She is correct.”
>Her connection to the moon has always been better than yours was to the sun.
>”And the next town is yet more time still. Kriemhild says she knows of a small clearing secluded away from the main road-”
>“More ‘trader’s secrets”?” Luna remarks, taking a light jab at Kriemhild’s reluctance for conversation.
>Anonymous giggles along with Luna while you growl at your sister’s foalishness.
>Anonymous must have heard you as he suddenly stops giggling and becomes silent for a moment.
>He continues shortly after, ”I know Kriemhild is not very talkative, but don’t think too poorly of her. She is very knowledgeable, and kindhearted in her own way. I fear I may never have left the safety of the church in Moscow were it not for her willingness to look after me on my pilgrimage."
>You feel vindicated in seeing Luna’s eyes fall while you all continue to follow Kriemhild.
>”That said, she could stand to be more amicable…” Anon muses aloud, “After all, you two are true adventurers!”
>Both you and Luna tense up.
>You share a particularly sharp look with your sister for putting this notion in his mind.
>”Not a trader like Kriemhild, or a hermit monk like myself… No, you both walk where there are no trails. Where danger could overtake you at any moment! Such thrilling lives you both must lead, and at such young ages, barely older than I am…” Anon muses aloud, a faint wistfulness in his voice.
>You clear your throat.
>”Y-yes well, tis not the life for many, and of those it is shortly lived” Luna responds, trying to maintain a cool composure.
>Anonymous hums happily, “Oh yes, I have met my fair share of adventurers back in Moscow. Usually traveling through to reach the port towns, Such worn and weathered bodies with such proud hearts. Daughters that would make the all-mother most proud, it always elates me to see them better under my care.”
>You and Luna share looks of concern with each other.
>Neither of you have the faintest clue where to find this seed you were tasked with retrieving, nor did Anonymous or Kriemhild for that matter.
>You are accompanying them so far because they are going near the capital of Bovinia, Cowstria, where you both are likely to find somepony who may know more information.
>Kriemhild has agreed to give you directions to reach Cowstria once you all arrive in the neighboring town.
>Luna’s tales of adventure were only meant to goad you, but Anonymous seems to have taken them to heart.
>And while you enjoy watching Luna squirm as her lies dig her deeper still, you would rather not be found out before you have to part ways.
>To see disappointment upon Anonymous’ face would surely break your heart.
>”Oh, I believe we are nearing the clearing. And not a moment too soon, these robes are quite stifling under this heat.”
>Anonymous quickens his pace to return to his companion as they begin to veer off the main path.

>Anonymous yaws widely, his arms stretch out far above his head.
>”I am retiring for the night Kriemhild.”
>The tauress grunts in acknowledgement.
>"You needn’t worry about withholding your conversations any longer, my virgin ears shall remain pure in the protection afforded me by my tent.”
>Kriemhild rolls her eyes.
>Anonymous frowns and stomps over to the tauress.
>He crosses his arms over his chest, “Kriemhild. Emelipe, the ancient sister, would cast her disappointment upon your reluctance and so do I.”
>The tauress growls, but the firmness of her face softens, “Fine…”
>Anonymous smiles and bends down to put himself face to face with his companion.
>He plants a gentle kiss upon her cheek, “Thank you Kriemhild. Sleep well, ancients watch over you.”
>The young bull, now donning only a light tunic and trousers crosses past the campfire to reach you and Luna.
>His hands are clasped in front of him, and he bows.
>You can see through the neck hole of his shirt, the campfire sends a faint light through his tunic giving the smallest glimpse at the smooth body beneath.
>”I am quite proud to have finally gotten through to that stubborn cow. Enjoy the rest of your evening and rest well. May the ancients watch over you.”
>You fight the tension in your wing joints first and foremost.
>After that moment of arousal subsides, you focus your thoughts to what Anonymous was saying.
>Gotten through to what?
>”You two, come over to this side” the tauress says, sounding like a command despite there being no forcefulness in her voice.
>Both you and Luna share a nervous look before doing as she says.
>You stand near Kriemhild, looking for a place to sit.
>She takes up so much space on her log that you wouldn’t dare consider sitting next to her.
>Luna resigns herself to her fate first and plants her plot on the cold ground.
>You begrudgingly follow suit and sit down on Kriemhild’s other side.
>”The boy is going to drive me mad if I don’t concede somewhere” she remarks.
>You glance, briefly, at Anonymous’ tent.
>His shadow is faint with the campfire being between you and the tent, but with the moon’s light you can barely make out motion in the tent.
>Anonymous is kneeled in prayer, you break sight with the tent when you see him begin to remove his tunic.
>Kriemhild sighs, “He wants me to befriend you both, the boy knows too little of the world outside the church’s walls to know that such a thing simply doesn’t happen over a day of traveling.”
>She is not wrong.
>Her eyes are peering over to Anon’s tent.
>The elder tauress chuckles to herself, “He is inexperienced, but he is no fool. He is pretending to sleep right now, struggling to listen in on our conversation, convinced that the only reason we are not friends is because we are not free to speak freely with him around.”
>You and Luna join in with Kriemhild’s merriment.
>It is at that moment that Kriemhild’s face lowers, “I know that neither of you are adventurers.”
>Your heart sinks, and the worry spreading across Luna’s face tells you that she is feeling the same way.
>”I know adventurers. Your eyes are too soft. Your gait, too flimsy. Tartarus, you claimed that a Basilisk has only four legs.”
>Do not tremble Celestia, you technically never made any of those claims.
>However if Anon is truly listening in-
>”Don’t concern yourselves with the boy, try as he might, his hearing is very poor-“
>You breathe a sigh of relief.
>”-Concern yourselves with me.”
>And now you are shaking like a leaf.
>”As I said when we first met, I care not what you are or what you plan to do. I care only for his safety and his happiness. And if us becoming friends is what makes him happy, then as far as he knows we are now close friends.”
>Wha- but how?
>"Currently and all through the night after he falls asleep, we stayed up bonding. You both regaled me with your tales of adventure, and I offered you sound advice that only an experienced trader like myself would know."
>Oh thank Elysium is that what she is suggesting?
>”And he needs not know anything otherwise. Tomorrow evening we will part ways and your images will remain intact in his mind. Understood?”
>”Y-yes madam.”
“Yes.”
>The tauress’ grim face lightens to the point that you could almost call it smiling, “Good, now that I am relieved of that burden, I fancy myself a drink.”