Title:           A New Dawn (Act I, Part 2)
Author:          Hobbes1914
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/nNv4BrTh
First Edit:      Sunday 21st of August 2016 06:42:28 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Sunday 25th of September 2016 01:39:44 PM CDT

A New Dawn (Act I, Part 2)
 
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“I’m here to report, your highness. I made lots of friends, and am ready to do anything else now. Please.”
>I was in Celestia’s personal office. It was crammed with maps, books, really anything that might help a head of state. The mare glanced up from her desk and looked at me with disapproval.
>”Anon, some members of royal guard petitioned me for help. Something about not wanting to get eaten by the royal bug hunter.”
>Well, that went worse than I thought. I needed to make a mental note that omnivores were considered scum here.
“It was just… a misunderstanding.”
>“Really now.”
“I made a… joke. It didn’t go over too well.”
>The princess sighed, long and deep. “Well, I guess you can put making friends on the backburner.” We’ve reports of some beast terrorizing farmers near the town. I’m dispatching you and a few members of the royal guard to resolve the situation.”
>Hoo boy. I couldn’t tell whether the monster or the guard would be more likely to kill me after our last encounter.
>I got up and started to walk out.
>”And anon… you don’t actually eat meat, do you?”
“No, of course not!”
 
>”Well, there it is.”
>I stood with a dozen guards at the crest of a hill. Down below, a bug like those from earlier was milling around.
>”Huh, looks different that usual. More spikes, red eyes, the whole lot.” A few guards nervously peered at the beast, making sure not to attract its attention.
>The guard captain looked over at me. “Well sport, it’s time to head on down.”
“Wait, you’re not going to help?”
>”Don’t plan on it. We were hoping to learn by watching, if you get my drift.”
>I guess there was still some bad feelings between me and the guards.
>”Now go down, for glory! We trust in you utterly!” I headed down the hill and could faintly hear the captain whisper “five bits on the bug”.
>As I clambered down the hill, the monstrosity looked up
“Some help here would be nice!”
>Before I could look back to the guards, the fiend began to charge It was faster than I would have expected. I sidestepped, but still got a scrape from some spike.
>The bug circled around again, and began another charge. I could now clearly see the guards placing bets on the fight.
>Obviously, they weren't going to help, and I couldn’t dodge forever. As the monster began its approach, I jabbed at it with my spear.
>It may have been hurt, but the bug didn’t stop. The monster bowled me over, and jumped onto my chest. Just as it’s mandibles were about to close around my throat, I jammed my spear into and through its eye.
>The thing rolled over, inky gunk oozing out of the wound. The guards started to trot towards me, and I could hear some complaining about lost bets.
>Killing the beast was satisfying, but there was something more. It was exhilarating. As the fiend let out its last gasps, I felt truly alive. I shivered a bit thinking about it.
>”Well, you actually did the thing in. Made it look easy, too, fifteen seconds flat.”
“No thanks to you.”
>The guard captain shrugged.  “We wouldn’t have helped much, anyway. Following you was more of a formality, protocol and all that.”
>I grumbled, and made a mental note to give the captain a poor performance review.
>”Alright, time to pack it up, I’ll got paperwork to finish. Let’s move!”
 
>As we headed back towards the castle, spirits were high. Guards talked about how we’d be heroes, ponies would throw a parade, the whole works.
>Instead, we were greeted by a ghost town. Doors were barred, windows shuttered.
>Obviously, something was wrong. The captain bellowed “Double time!” and all the guards flew off towards the castle, leaving me to run alone.
>As I headed towards the stone structure, I noticed smoke rising from the courtyard. Probably not a good sign. I broke into a sprint.
>Upon arrival, a few aides ushered me into the courtyard.
>The once green grass was scorched. About half a dozen changeling husks were littered across the place, and a multitude of ponies were scurrying about.
>”Ah, anon, I’m glad you’ve returned!” Celestia stood in the center of the field, a bit bruised yet unshaken. She still had that ever present aura of confidence.
“What happened here?”
>”It, well, seems that you were sent after a diversion. While the guard was out, a few Changelings infiltrated the castle and tried to attack me during my midday stroll.”
>I glanced over at the charred forms of the former assailants.
“Well, it looks like you took care of them.”
>”Well, yes.” Celestia muttered. “Unfortunately, the nobility believes me to be in grave danger, and has taken measures to increase royal security. You have another job now.”
>Wait, what
>The mare unfurled a scroll and began to read:
>“Due to current circumstances, this Eighth Pony’s Council of Equestria has seen it fitting that the captain of the hunt, one anonymous, is to be assigned to the personal guard of our just leader.”
>Well, that was certainly… something.
“So, I’m being promoted to bodyguard? You’re sure? I’ve only been here for three days!”
>”You may have failed to make friends in the guard, but the nobles certainly love you. A mysterious stranger, a giant amongst ponies, strides in just as a new threat emerges! He slays what the guard could not and valiantly stands against the forces of the hive.”
>Well, it was better than being called a dirty meat eater.
>“Half the nobility think you’re some hero of legend, sprung straight out of an old fable to come aid us. We both know that’s not exactly true, but if it helps morale...”
>I gulped. Bodyguard sounded like a great assignment, but everything rested on the will of some stuffy aristocrats who were looking for a hero. Maintaining a good image might be something of a problem.
>”Mostly you’ll just need to stand around and look imposing as you follow me around. Now, off you go, your new assignment begins tomorrow!”
>Well, it certainly could be worse. The princess seemed nice enough, and she was certainly popular if the nobles tasked their great “hero” with protecting her.
>The princess could certainly take care of herself in a fight. Who knows, maybe the job would just be sitting near the throne all day. At the very least, it wouldn’t involve any more bugs, right?
>I would be proven wrong of course, but it was a nice thought at the time.
 
>Well, here it was, first day as the royal bodyguard. I glanced over at my bedside clock. 5:00 AM
>Probably time to get up. Sunrise, (and my shift) would be in about forty minutes, and being late on the first day was probably a bad idea.
>I jumped up and got ready for the day, remembering to strap on my royal guard armor. How to ponies made and delivered a fitting suit in less than a day, I would never know.
>It certainly wasn’t too shabby for a uniform, I thought to myself as I headed out into the near empty castle halls. All the ponies were still asleep, save a few guards stiffly guarding their posts.
>It wasn’t too long until I reached the princess’s quarters. Even from down the hall, It wasn’t hard to make out the room’s magnificent golden doors and the giant sun emblem above them.
>The place seemed dead, save for one lonely sentry guarding the royal quarters. He looked familiar, almost like-
“Is that you, Laurence? What are you doing here?”
>The pony remained still as a rod. “Yes, sir. Ready to change shifts, sir.”
“You were… a lot more talkative earlier.”
>”Those were technically off hours, sir. I apologize for any inconvenience, sir.”
>I shook my head. If even Laurence was stiff and uptight in guard duty, I couldn’t imagine how harsh the princess would be.
“You’re free to leave, pal. It’s my shift now.”
>”Affirmative, sir!” The pony began to trot away towards the barracks, armor clanking together all the while.
>I leaned back on the royal entryway and began to think about how much this job would probably suck, when the door that I had been (unwisely) leaning on suddenly flew open.
>I was flung over and landed flat on my back. As I lay there, my cheeks growing red, I could hear somebody giggling.
>I was still sprawled out, wallowing in embarrassment, when that gleaming white face peered into my field of vision.
>”Time to rise and shine, silly.”
>I scrambled up and tried to think of any way to regain composure.
“I apologize, sir! Won’t happen again, sir!”
>Celestia gave a hearty laugh. “Please, anonymous, I’m not a sir! And the royal guard is stern enough for all of Equestria without your help!”
>I began to lower my head and give another apology when she suddenly cut me off.
>”Don’t be so dour, the day’s just begun! Is guarding me really that much of a pain?”
>I sighed
“Your highness, maybe we can move on to your first order of business before I embarrass myself again.”
>The mare broke out into a knowing grin. ”Fair enough anon, let's go. Onwards!”
 
>The first order of the day was some sort of grand opening. Evidently, Celestia’s favorite bakery was opening a new location in Canterlot, and she was to head the ribbon cutting ceremony.
>As we headed to the market, various townsponies looked over at their leader with pride. Surprisingly, none of them gawked. All I could figure was that royal appearances in public were something common.
>I could make out a large crowd in front of the market, all centered around the a sparkling new bakery.
>Sunhorse strode up through the crowd to the bakery’s entrance. Townsponies cleared a path for her out of reverence, and I followed through her wake.
>The princess waltzed up to the bakery, used her magic to open the front door, and walked in. The door slammed shut before I could catch up, and I reached out to open it.
>Locked
>I ran around back to find some back entrance. Luckily, one was open, and I dashed into the store.
>I barged into the lobby, and found myself face to face with a very undignified looking mare, her muzzle coated in icing and crumbs.
>”There you are anon! Care to join me?”
>It had taken one minute for the princess to dig into the pastries. She had made serious progress on what looked to be at least three different cakes.
“Princess, don’t you have to go out for the grand opening?”
>”Yes, but we have a couple minutes.”
“You can’t go out looking like that!”
>The princess smirked, causing a crumb to fall from her muzzle. “And why not?”
“It’s improper! You’re royalty, you’re supposed to be dignified!”
>”Well, if it means so much to you, then go cut the ribbon yourself. I’ll be back here.”
>I sighed, and walked out the front doors to face a now quite large crowd.
“Due to unfortunate circumstances, the princess will not be appearing today, sorry about that.”
>Silence.
>I fumbled with the scissors, and reached out to cut the ribbon. The crowd was still completely quiet.
>snip
>As the ribbon fell, a lone voice cried out: “I didn’t come for this guy! We’ve been gypped!”
>Uh oh
>The now quite hostile crowd began to lumber toward me. Somepony threw a doughnut at my head, missing by inches.
>Things were looking grim. Even with a natural height advantage, I doubted that I could get away from the mob. Maybe I could-
>The door behind me busted open. ”Surprise!”
>Celestia, goddess of the sun, burst out from the bakery with icing and crumbs smeared across her mane.
>The mob, which had formerly been out for my blood, was immediately pacified at the sight of their ruler. Everypony broke out into cheers and excited chattering.
>Celestia waved towards the crowd for a while, and then the two of us headed back to the castle through the jubilant throng.
>As we finally reached the castle gates, Celestia gave me  a smug grin.
“Thanks for bailing me out there. Sorry for, erm, being a snob.”
>Sunhorse grinned. “That was the best laugh I’ve had in awhile.”
“So, you actually enjoyed that debacle?”
>“I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
 
“Morning, Laurence.”
>”Morning, sir. Ready to change shift?”
“Of course; you’re dismissed. See you around.”
>”I’ll take my leave. Good day, Sir.”
>As the guard pony walked off, I took position the the side of the two golden doors, and began to think.
>It had been about… two weeks since I had been drafted as “Her majesty’s royal bodyguard.” Outside of day one’s angry mob, the job had been mostly quiet.
>Really, there wasn’t that much to do besides tag along for the day’s events. There was really nobody to guard against. At least I served as a good conversation partner.
>Each day the princess would have a mix of different activities, but for me it became a routine: wake up, stand nearby the monarch all day, sleep, repeat.
>And worry about monstrous bugs. Can’t forget that.
>I waited for a few minutes at the entryway to Celestia’s quarters, but she still didn’t come out.
>Odd, Sunhorse may not have been prim, but she was always on time.
>I gingerly pushed the door open, and peeked inside.
“Hello? Everything all right?”
>No response. Celestia had at least a couple personal rooms behind those doors. Yelling wouldn’t do much good past a stone wall, it was time investigate. I briefly wondered if alicorns could have a heart attack before stepping inside.
>Huh. It was the princess’s personal office. Wondered where that was. I had even been here before, just a day after arrival; though at that point I had been more preoccupied with survival than learning the castle floor plan.
>Just then there was a low, almost pained voice. ”Anon…”
>I swiveled around, to see the mare slumped over, head laid low against her desk. I ran over as fast as I could.
“Celestia, what’s wrong! Are you hurt?”
>”Anon… just five more minutes.”
>Really? All that over sleeping in?
“I was worried you died and you're just taking a nap? Did you even raise the sun yet?”
>Alarmed, sunhorse jumped up, sending papers flying everywhere. In a matter of moments she was at the window and beginning the sunrise. I still didn’t understand all of the ‘glowy horn stuff’, but it seemed to work pretty well.
>We both stared out the brilliant display. A red-orange sun slowly ascended over the far hills, basking the land in light and warmth.
“Somewhat late and a bit rushed, but great coloration. I’d give this one an eight out of ten.”
>”Ha ha, very funny.” Celestia slowly walked towards her desk, magically picking up scattered papers along the way.
>Still… there was one thing that I couldn’t make sense of.
“Princess, any reason why you were sleeping out here?”
>”Oh, just working on… things.”
>Celestia sat back down and began writing on a sheet. I looked over at the now foot high mound of papers beside her.
“So, may I ask what was important enough to make you work until you dropped?”
>The princess didn’t even look up from her paper. ”Just some papers for a meeting today, that’s all.” Her voice sounded uncharacteristically… nervous.
>Something was up. I gently picked up a couple papers from the stack and skimmed through the first one quickly.
“So, your meeting has to do with military buildup and strategic theory?”
>Sunhorse swiveled around faster than I had previously thought possible. “Anonymous! Don’t look at that!”
“So, the meeting is about invasion plans?”
>”No, absolutely not! I’m not some bloodthirsty-”
“But then what’s all this for?”
>Celestia sighed. “It’s preparations for a defense of the realm. Changelings have been assembling at Equestria’s borders, and we can’t sit back while they prepare an attack.”
>As the princess talked, I began looking at the other documents.
“But, these other pages have to do with ruins, ancient symbols-wait, this one…”
>The paper was completely filled with arcane scrawls. I couldn’t understand what the runes meant, but the whole page seemed eerily familiar.
“This… these symbols are the some ones I saw at the ruins. The first day I arrived.”
>”Fine. You deserve the truth.”
>That… didn’t sound very good. Celestia had a hint of uncertainty in her voice. She turned, and stared right at me with sunken, tired eyes.
>”As you know, the ritual that was supposed to ensure peace for the next hundred years… did not work. It failed. I failed.
>”As a result, there is to be a two day meeting between me and the three other princesses of Equestria. There, we will decide how to respond to everything that has resulted from the, well, situation.”
>There was something ominous about the the princess’s low tone and downcast expression.
>”The primary area of interest will be dealing with the reformed changeling hive, but there are some other hotly debated topics that we need to confront. One in particular, really.”
>My blood ran cold. Suddenly it made sense.
>”Very few ponies know about the ‘unfortunate’ method of your arrival, but I did have to inform the other princesses.”
“I’ve done nothing but serve you and Equestria, surely they can see that.”
>”Let me be blunt. You arrived through a ritual meant to summon the darkness of this world, for the purpose of sealing it away. It looks really bad.”
>The words stung, but she was right.
>”Anon, I can tell that you are not some fiend. Your heart is not evil, but it is… slightly flawed. Unlike the purehearted ponies, your heart is not predispositioned towards peace and kindness. Unlike the forces of darkness, you do not gravitate towards hate and malice. Simply put, you are the only creature that does not naturally ‘swing’ towards one side or the other.
>”You are completely free to make your own path, whether it is for good or ill. In the other’s eyes, you could just as easily chose to become anon, savior of Equestria… or anon, butcher of the innocent. They don’t simply hate you. They fear you.
>Ah
>Well then. It probably was too much to expect complete trust after about two weeks of bodyguard duty.
>Still, the idea that I had risked my life for the crown and I still might get banished stung.
>I’d miss this place. I’d miss the ponies. Probably, I’d also really miss being alive.
“So, that’s it then? I’m just out of luck?”
>The mare walked over and put her wing around me. ”Anon, It’s not over yet. I believe in you.”
>Huh. I guess I’d really miss the princess too. She wasn’t exactly prim and proper, but nobody else had been so kind to me during my stay.
“Thanks, your highness.”
>She gave me a small smile. “You can just call me Celly.”
 
>Man, they were taking a long time in there.
>The four princesses meeting had started almost four hours ago. Nobody else was allowed in on the talks, so I was just stood around outside the room.
>Other than the occasional raised voice from behind the closed doors, it was almost completely silent. I wondered if they’d moved on to my “situation” yet.
>Regardless, there was nothing to do but wait. I frantically flipped through some of Celestia’s books on magic and Equestrian history looking for anything that could potentially help out my case.
>After what felt like an eternity, the doors flew open, and the four royals began to walk out, Celestia in front.
>Following behind, there was the royal sister, Luna, and two other ponies I couldn’t recognize, one pink and the other purple.
>Sunhorse began to walk over along with her sister. The other two didn’t even look over before trotting off down the castle halls.
“So, any news yet, you highnesses?”
>Luna spoke up first. “We need a more thorough investigation of your ‘condition’  before coming to a decision. Due to certain other parties” -this was accompanied by a dirty look at Celestia- “we’ve decided that you deserve a thorough analysis.”
>Well, it was better than a death sentence, maybe it could buy some time and-
>”Do not smile too much, we still decide tomorrow.”
>Well, so much for time.
“How in the world do you expect to learn about me over one day? Surely it would take at least a couple of weeks.”
>Luna glowered at me, obviously running out of patience. Celly gave me a pleading smile before leaving to rejoin the others.
>”It is simple. We, erm, I, shall examine your dreams. I will discover your innermost secrets, I shall know even more about your person than you do. Now follow me.”
>The princess trotted down the castle halls, practically dragging me along. Soon enough she ushered me into a small room, empty save for a few potions and one old, uncomfortable looking bed.
>I got the feeling that no matter what I did, this probably wouldn’t end very well.
“I’m really not feeling tired, maybe we could do this some other time.”
>Luna grabbed a pinkish vial and levitated it over toward me. “Then drink this.”
“Well, it was worth a shot.”
>There was no other option, so I took the vial and tentatively drank the contents. The stuff tasted sweet, and warm, and, and…
>I stumbled around, fell onto the floor, and was out like a light.
 
>After waking, the first thing I saw was a blue face glowering at me. I couldn’t remember the dream, but Luna’s scornful gaze told me it probably wasn’t good.
>”You’re a threat. A menace.”
“At least tell me what I did wrong.”
>Vile beast-”
“Save your speech, and just tell me what you found.”
>Luna sputtered a bit, clearly unhappy by  being interrupted. She ruffled her wings and began to speak, this time in a slower, measured tone.
>“You, anonymous, do not belong in this world.”
“I figured that out out already.”
>”Silence!” The princess stamped her hoof against the floor, hard. The sound echoed through the castle’s empty halls before dying out in some far off corridor.
>”Shall I continue?”
”Certainly, your highness.”
>Luna sighed before beginning once again. “All living things in this world have life, power, even magic. Beings come from nothing, exist, and then disappear back into nothing, taking their essence with them.”
>It was hard to tell if Luna was just raving or actually had some point to make.
“And, your point is?”
>Anonymous, you are not a part of this world but a void, a hole, a leech. Rather than allowing the fallen’s essence to return to the ether, you draw it in, feed on it. Killing makes you strong.
“Or you’re just crazy after knocking back a few too many elixirs.”
>”Fool! When ending the changelings, did you not feel it? The pleasure to kill?”
>It didn’t matter is Luna was right, wrong, or just crazy. I wasn’t going to throw my life away because some ‘dreams’ said it’s  be a good idea..
“I don’t know and I don’t care. Whatever the circumstance, I’ve faithfully served the crown.”
>”Dark times loom ahead of us and your natural appetite for more, for power, makes you a liability. You would be the first to succumb to corruption and turn against Equestria.”
“But I’m innocent!”
>”Innocent? The council does not very much care.”
>Luna turned and walked to exit the room. There had to be something I could do to stop her, anything…
“I would not be the first to fall, Luna. You would.”
>I was just making things up on the spot, but it seemed to work. Luna slowly turned and gave me a quizzical expression.
>Well, she seemed to like grandiose old timey speech, so try that?
“Knave! You act the cherub, yet within your bosom lies unfathomable malice! Woe to you, o hypocrite!”
>Luna stared at me, open mouthed. She hadn’t left or tried to kill me, so the plan was working so far.
“You may play the judge, but are naught but a villain!”
>”Speak quickly knave, before I close thy mouth forever!”
>Wow. Stuff escalated quickly when ‘ye olde dialect’ was involved.
“Thy claim that I threaten this peaceful realm, yet your existence creates a far greater peril.”
>”I present a final chance to back your unsupported claims, insolent blackheart. Pray tell, for what reason am I a greater danger than thyself?”
>It was now or never.
“Does not the word ‘sororicide’ hold special meaning to you? Does it conjure up certain memories?”
>Luna was completely silent. I could see the color draining from her face.
”Your silence does you no favors, princess of the night.”
>I… I-
“Or perhaps the term regicide means something more?
>”Twas naught but an attempt.”
“My apologies, I believed thou attempted not once, but twice.”
>Luna again just stood there, frozen. Despite the courtly demeanor, she seemed somewhat… fragile. I would have felt awful for doing this if it hadn’t been life or death.
“Posterior to thine first insurrection, thou was banished to the moon. For one thousand years, a millennium, you could have repented. Twas all for naught.”
>”Yet I-”
“Thou felt not remorse, but anger. For one thousand years, thou ruminated on naught but revenge. Thine heart is far greater a threat than mine.
>”I was forgiven!”
>But in your soul lies the spirit of the nightmare. Little would be required for it to awake; you shall fall far before I.
>Luna was practically crying now. I was about to cry with frustration for having to use this cursed dead language.
>By this point, she even dropped the pretense of ‘noble’ speech. “I can change, I’ll be loyal to the crown!”
>Heh. What was it she had said earlier?
”Dark times loom ahead of us and your natural appetite for more, for power, makes you a liability. You would be the first to succumb to corruption and turn against Equestria.”
>”But I’ve done nothing wrong! I’m innocent!”
”Innocent? The council does not very much care.”
>Luna sat down with a thud and started to sob; it was sad really. Still… it was worrying that the narrative I just made up had driven her to this. There might have been a bit more truth in the story than than I had originally thought.
>I walked over and put a hand on the broken, sobbing pony. She didn’t even seem like the same mare that had been yelling at me some minutes ago.
“So, princess, neither of us want to get bumped off, right?”
>No response
“Well, if I have to get ‘removed’ then I’m taking you with me.”
>Still nothing but a couple sobs. The whole thing felt kinda… wrong. Still, it meant living, and that was better than the only alternative.
“Look. I’ve got nothing against you. I like this place, I like the ponies. I think you’re probably an alright sort, and I don’t wanna hurt you. “
>Absolutely nothing save some tears and muffled sobs. Guess I really had hit too close to home. Still, no point in letting up now.
“But if I lose that ‘termination’ vote tomorrow, I’ll have a quick chat with the council on my way out.  Seems you’ve been hiding some personal secrets that they wouldn’t appreciate. And you know how they don’t want any threats lying around.”
>”Please…”
“Look, I’ll make it simple. I lose the vote, I talk, and you die. Make sure I win that vote.”
>The pony nodded once. I didn’t have any concrete evidence that she had done wrong, but she didn’t know that. Really, whether my claims were even true or not didn’t matter, she thought they were.
“Alright then. See you tomorrow, and good luck with the others.”
>I quickly walked out the room and tried to put as much distance between me and the mare as possible. It was blackmail, plain and simple. Was it nice? No. Was it right? Probably not. Still, it kept me alive.
>Though… it was also, well, empowering. It felt good. Having power, even through a backroom sort of way, was tantalizing. Could Luna have at least been part right about me?
>Nah.
 
“Princess Celestia, I’m reporting for duty.”
>She looked up from her desk and gave me a kind, gentle smile.
>”Anon, you’re back! And you look happy about something, did the examination go well?”
“It went great! The whole thing was quite…
>”Yes?”
“Beautiful.”