Chapter 25: A Star Revealed
Meanwhile during the 6 months of training
It was a week after Royal had started training the guards when he was addressed by a familure voice that he had missed hearing. "Captain Star and her team reporting for training sir!" Royal turned while trying to hide a smile. He knew she wouldn't recognize him and he couldn't flat out tell her here and now, so he decided to drop hints and mess with her a bit and tell her later that night. "The Captain Star? I have heard good things about you and your team. Especially the latest news about you protecting that creature that Celestia took care of. Am I right?"
Dan expected to see maybe annoyance but not the fire raging in her eyes. "He was not just a creature sir! He was a close friend and I will miss him Sir! So please reframe from insulting him in my or my teams presence Sir." Royal was happy to hear that it wasn't just her but her team as well. "You all feel this way?" they all nodded without hesitation. This made Royal smile. "So be it. now let's get down to training!" He then told them the plan and got them started. But Royal couldn't help but give Star hints to who he was whenever he could. It confused her how he knew these things about her or what happened in Ponyvil with Dan. But she was getting annoyed with it.
Then the long day ended and Star's team was doing pretty well. Partially from the help and advice Dan had given them while he was still around. The guards were going back to the barracks when Royal came walking up behind Star and her team. The others stood at attention while Star turned around and did the same. Royal smiled at them and told them to relax. "This is unofficial business. I have a message for Captain Star. So if you could come with me please?" She looked confused but agreed and followed him into an office he was allowed to use while he was there. Then he turned to Star with a wide smile. "So how was your first day of training? I see you learned to cover your weak spots better than before. But you still have to watch overthinking and reacting hastily."
That was it, she wanted answers. "How do you know so much about me? Have you been spying on me? If so what's your gig?" Royal smiled and got closer. "I will answer your questions with a question of my own. What do you see when you look into my eyes?" Star backed up confused about the question and where this was going. 'Is he hitting on me?' Royal read her face like a book. "Don't worry there is a reason for my madness. And if you look at my eyes you might just figure out this riddle of who I am and how I know you so well." Star was still confused but gave a sigh and did as told. She looked at his eyes for a few moments before something clicked.
'They are eyes, so what? Wait, those aren't like any pony eyes I have ever seen. What's with those things? And why does the red fur make them so much more alluring? Wait! I know those eyes! But they didn't belong to a pony! They were Dan's eyes!' Royal saw the realization in her eyes and smiled wide as he backed up. "I can see you figured out my little riddle Star. Good to see you again after all this time." Star knew that tone he used, that shit eating grin, and those eyes that seemed so happy to see her again. It was, it was Dan. "Dan? Is it really you? But how? We were told…"
Royal gave a devious grin. "That I was taken care of? And very well if I might say so myself." Star's eyes lit up with the realization of the word play. "That Celestia is great at mixing words. And this explains so much! Like why three mares returned to ponyvil happy instead of sad. And their friends weren't sad either. I am so glad you are alive!" She threw herself into a hug around Royal's neck. He returned it happily. "It is good to see you to Star. And sorry the girls didn't tell you the truth." Star shook her head. "They might have tried but I was so busy when I was there to keep the peace that they didn't get the chance, and I tried to avoid them at points to, which didn't help."
Royal looked confused. "Why would you avoid them?" Star looked at the ground. "They reminded me of you to much. And when I thought I had lost you forever I couldn't stand the thought of them being happy or sad even. I just couldn't be a part of that party of guilt." Dan wrapped her in a tight hug that surprised her. "I am sorry you had to feel that sadness. And I will make sure you are there next time I make a large life change. ok?" Star laughed lightly while hugging onto Royal's neck. "It feels good to hug you again after losing you."
Dan was about to respond when something in him clicked. He was thinking about how nice it was to be in her hold after this time away. Then it hit him what she said. It felt good to hold him again. she liked being close to him, cared for him, and was sad when he was supposedly dead. This mixed with the past thoughts about why she didn't like it when Dan went out with the others came to mind. She didn't just like him, she didn't just care, she loved him. Just like Rarity, AJ and Rainbow. They spent so much time together and he hadn't noticed until now. But was it true? So he made the mistake of asking out loud.
"You like me more than I thought don't you?" Star backed up from the hug and looked down. But Dan didn't take that as a stop talking and continued. "that explains why you didn't like me going out or spending that much time with the others. Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Star's eyes started to water, then she snapped at him. "I don't know, first to fall, last to tell. Or maybe I didn't think I needed to! I thought you cared enough to figure it out. Or enough to at least notice me being around! But I guess I was just the invisible one watching from the sidelines, and maybe I should stay there. So you can be happy. Now excuse me Sir, I need to go tell my team the news" Then she turned and ran out of the office.
Dan stood there silent. Confused, but more he felt like a heart less ass. 'why didn't I see it sooner? And why was I such a fool? How could I ignore the one that was closest to me for so long? Even before the others, she was there. I can't believe I just hurt my knight in tan armor.' Dan couldn't find sleep that night. And the training the day was just as hard. Star wouldn't get near him and was pure formal. Dan couldn't get the guts to talk to her either. The rest of her team was happy he was alive but wondered what he did to make their captain so upset.
It took the entire training for her to even talk to Royal again. then one month before he was to leave he was confronted by her once again, but this time it was in the middle of a training session. Dan was training with a female guard when that same voice came from behind him, but this time it was harsh and accusing. "why do you treat us mares so differently? Your fighting is defensive with us compared to the males. Why don't you stop treating us like we are weak and the mares you love and start treating us like soldiers?" there were a few female guards agreeing when Dan spoke.
"I guess you are right as usual, Captain. I need to stop taking you girls for granted and start treating you like you deserve. You want to be treated like a guard, then fight me. You and me and no holding back. You want a fight, then let's see what you have for me." Star gave a grunt of anger and with the next few words the others knew this was no longer about male or female treatment, but something much more personal. "Fine! I will teach you why ignoring me will hurt you just like it hurt me." Dan gave a sigh. "it already has, but let's get this started." They both took their fighting stances and things went silent.
Then Star charged at him. She was throwing attacks at him with no mercy. Dan dodged and attacked with the same furry. Star landed an attack to Royal's side and he stopped and stood his ground. "that's more like it! show me why never to take you for granted again. give me a reason to remember everything you are and why you are a true night in tan armor!" This seemed to annoy Star even further into attacking him. Royal didn't hold back, just like he said. He made a few hits that even the males were scared to receive, but she kept going without changing her attack patterns. "now you notice me! Now can you see how I feel?"
Royal nodded and spoke words that few expected to hear. "yes I can! And I will never forget or ignore them ever again!" Star's face changed from pure anger to the start of realization. 'maybe he finally understands. Maybe he does care enough to show everypony here.' Star was wearing down as Royal was as well. But by this time they were both smiling at each other. Finally understanding each other after a long fight and talk. But now it was time to end this moment so they could move on. "Ready to end this fight and start something new?" Star smiled and nodded. "it's about time we do."
Royal smiled wide and started the attack. He went low and tried to get her on the defensive, but she knew this tactic from watching him and was ready to deflect it. she went high and after a few maneuvers and trying to counter Royal ending up on his side with Star's horn to his throat. Royal was smiling from ear to ear as he was told to yield by the mare above him. Then he did something that shocked both Star and everyone watching the fight in silence. Royal teleported a foot to Stars left and then raised his head to her. Then came a small and quick kiss on the cheek.
"I yield, and will never take you for granted or ignore your feelings ever again. you are in my heart and will never be left out again." Star stood there with wide eyes. She was staring at the ground where Royal had been. There was a start of a smile forming. One that was happier then Royal had ever seen. But the blushing was hiding it from most in view. Then there was a flash and she was gone. Royal stood up and brushed himself off. Then he stood tall, still with a smile, and told the others to get to attention. The guards, who were still stunned, started to get back into the stance as Royal told them to get back to their training. They all did so without saying a word, just knowing smiles as they trained a little happier than before.
The next day Royal looked for Star but was informed that her and her team were sent on assignment that morning. After some research he found out that Star had asked for this reassignment. It hurt him to find this out, until he found out when she had asked for it. she had asked for the reassignment two weeks before yesterday happened. And he even found out that she tried to have it changed last night. But it was already done. So she would be gone again, at least for a month. But by then he would be gone. "damn this timing. But I will write to her and tell her what is on my mind. Then I'll ask Celestia to send it."
And that's what Royal did. He wrote a letter that said few things but ended with "I will miss seeing you and I hope we will be together soon. Until I see you again, With love, Royal Truth." Before that he had told her to think about being in a heard, and that was pretty much the entire letter. Then he had Celestia send it for him. Dan thanked her and all she said was about time. Dan had to laugh at her reaction and how everpony but him seemed to know. And that made him think of Luna again. 'I am going to have to ask her about her feelings as well. I just hope I can be better about it with her than I was with Star.' Dan sighed and went back to training.
The next day Royal received a letter from Star. It read: "Dear Royal Truth I have some time off coming my way, and am looking forward to seeing you again on a more personal level. And please don't tell the rest of your heard about us until I get there in a month and one week. I want to know how they react and what they say with me there. Until then with love, your knight in tan armor." Royal couldn't help but be happy and smile. Thought he wondered why she wanted to see how the others reacted, he figured it had to do with how she acted around them when he was dating them.. but it did make it easier for them both to know about it now than later.
It wasn't as long as he thought it would have been, a simple 6 months of training. And now a Star was Revealed to him.