Beneath the Surface

Ician arches an eyebrow, but says nothing.

"Think nothing of it, Paladin." Princess Celestia chuckles.

Ician's jaw falls open.

"Are you surprised to see me, Ician?"

"Er... yes, actually, my Princess."

She chuckles again. "No need to be so formal. I was just passing by, and I wanted to see how my faithful servants were doing."

"I told you Ician. She doesn't mind me treating her like a normal pony, instead of a god. I am however, surprised to see you how here. I thought day court was still in session."

"It... is, still." She admits. "In a way. But I requested a recess to hear about the mission from my strategist. It went well, did it not?"

"Um... yes, indeed, it did." Ician coughs.

Paladin shook his head, and rubbed an eye, yawning. "I should hope so. I read the causality report. Cell, how long a recess did you call?" He glanced around. "This is unfortunately one of the shadier areas of the city."

"An hour." She replies. "Ician, how many of our soldiers did not survive?"

"About fifty." He replies. "Compared to a number in the hundreds for the enemy."

"Mm." She nods non-comittally. "I must be off now, before my courtiers begin to wonder why I'm missing."

Paladin chuckles. "I could stand in for you, if you wish to remain here. I don't going those nobles what they deserve."

"No, I must be there to run my Court. Although your idea does sound fairly amusing. We should try it some time." She bows lightly to both of them. "Good day."

"Uh, yes, indeed, Princess. Good day." Ician bows low.

Paladin doesn't bow, instead moving to her side. "Then we best hurry back. I'd hate to disappoint anypony." He waved to Ician. "Seeyah round."

"Goodbye." Ician waves to them and waits until they are out of sight, then returns to the others.

Paladin trotted alongside Celestia. "Princess, I was thinking."

Divine whistled. "What did the princess want?"

"Nothing much." Ician mumbled. "Just a status update... and an escape from the Day Court."

"Yes, Paladin?" Celestia asked.

"Well, I'm your personal guard, no?" He glanced at her, eyes still scanning as they passed through the narrow passage ways.

"Are you okay love?" Divine cocked her head.

"I'm fine." Ician mutters. "But, um, I have a... request to make of you, Divine."

"Yes indeed, you are." Princess Celestia looks at him. "Why do you mention it?"

"Because I'm not very good at it, am? I failed to protect you against Discord, changelings, vine things... Any attacker ever that even an ounce of power."

"A request? What is it?"

"Um..." Ician hesitates. "I'm sorry to ask this of you, but... I think it would be better if we kept our relationship... secret. Ish. For the moment."

"Nonsense, Paladin." Celestia reassures him. "They were out of your league. They were the product of ancient and powerful magic, or in the changelings' case, an entire army. What could you have done, by yourself?"

"Protected you. I'm your shield. Or at least, I should be..." He sighed. "Look, if ponies assaulted us now... I don't know whether I could even stop them."

"Why? Afraid of a few rumours?" Divine chuckled.

"Rumours are powerful things." Ician says gravely. "In a place like Canterlot, rumours can almost literally destroy you."

"I have faith in your abilities, Paladin." Celestia says gently. "The least you can do is do the same."

He moaned. "No, I can't. Not when I fail so often." He glanced around again, the walkway having narrowed.

"Fine, I'll keep it a secret. For now."

"Thanks." Ician hugs Divine briefly, then turns back to the ship. "Now we're just waiting for Storm. Again."

"There are some things only I, as an alicorn, am capable of handling." Celestia gazes at Paladin. "You have great ability, Paladin, but when great threats come about you cannot expect to handle them by yourself. "

"And what if you're incapacitated? Am I to rely on your student?" He growled, now pressed up against her side thanks to the narrowness of the passage. "Am I rely on a librarian to save the day again?"

Celestia gives Paladin a disapproving stare. "She may be a librarian, but she is one of the Elements of Harmony, and one of this nation's greatest assets. She is, quite possibly, the most powerful unicorn currently alive. Do not underestimate her abilities."

"The most powerful unicorn alive? Well, she's not a unicorn anymore is she? You took care of that, didn't you?"

Celestia sighs. "She deserved it. She is an excellent student, and I trust that she will be an excellent leader, as well."

Paladin snorted. "I'm sure she will be. I mean, she defeated a dozen threats that I could never compete against. Hell, Daring Do has defeated more evil threats than me."

"That is because you were never meant to defeat evil threats, my dear Paladin. You were always meant to defend against them." Celestia looks him in the eyes. "Nightmare Moon. Discord. They were powerful threats, but in the end I emerged unharmed. Because of you. My defeat at the hooves of Chrysalis was... my fault, really, for acting hastily. I ought to have judged her abilities better before engaging her."