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As their journey to the lands of Equestria to liberate the first element of Harmony is about to begin, our friends are preparing for the adventure at the entrance to the castle of Canterlot. But while they were ready to go, all see Luna accompanying Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst out of the castle to give his last words of support to the Fellowship.
- Spike: Luna! (some community members bow to her)
- Luna: Get up again see (says Luna with a slight smile) All of you who are gathered here have decided of your own free will to carry out this perilous mission in order to find the elements of balance, its representatives, as well as Her Majesty Twilight Sparkle and my sister Celestia. The fate of the kingdom of Equestria rests on you, I wish you all good luck.

Members of the community are motivated after Luna’s pep talk, the band starts to leave, yet Duststrife seems hesitant, Light Raid and Spike approach him.
- Spike: You know, you’re not gonna get another Dustsrife opportunity.
- Duststrife: She has more important things to do than listen to excuses.
- Light Raid: You’re the one who sees Duststrife.

Light Raid passes his friend without flinching, Duststrife doubts a little, Spike leaves the white alicorne and joins Light Raid, the dragon does not understand the attitude of the blue unicorn.
- Spike: Are you sure about Light Raid?
- Light Raid: It is up to him to make his choice, otherwise he will never move forward.

Duststrife turns around and sees his majesty Luna and her representatives leaving inside the castle. Duststrife hesitates to speak with the sovereign of Equestria after the events of recent days. Suddenly he turns around and goes towards Luna.
- Duststrife: Your Highness!
- Luna: Duststrife ?
- Duststrife: I need to talk, it won’t be long!

Luna seems puzzled but accepts
- Luna: I’ll be with you in a moment.

Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst agree without debate, but they stay behind the door and try to listen to the discussion in a discreet way.
- Duststrife: Your Majesty I … I have not yet thanked you for defending me the other day. Now because of me, many representatives are beginning to doubt you …
- Luna: Duststrife … you don’t need to thank me, I doubted you while ponies were willing to put their freedoms at risk for you. You defended little Sky High when that act could have put you in jail for life.
- Duststrife: The boy suffered terrible injuries before we met, notably the loss of his parents. For him I even became his big brother, but even if I didn’t, I would have protected him, it’s just a little pegasus.
- Luna: Of course, to tell you everything about such an act has put me in doubt about you … that’s why … I had made the decision to travel in your dreams and nightmares, in order to understand you, to know who you were.

Hearing that, Duststrife is worried.
- Duststrife: WHAT! But then … You know who I really am, I’m just a … I …
- Luna: No wait Duststrife, please let me finish … Yes, I saw who you are, I saw your past, what you went through in your life. You’ve had a cruel life since birth, you’ve been used as a guinea pig by the Maleficents for forbidden experiments, a life of bloody battle, endless war. From the beginning you doubted yourself, you thought you didn’t deserve to live, that you were an abomination, an outcast, a monster, only you were wrong, I saw an alicorn fighting to survive because he wanted to live, To fight to protect his life requires more courage than death took us away.
- Duststrife: … It is not …
- Luna: but also an alicorn who fought to protect the innocent at the risk of his life, a valiant protective alicorn who defended. You think that you are a tool, that you had no feelings, no family, no past and that you were created only to fight. I can assure you that’s not the case, I, too, would like to apologize for what I’ve just done and all that you’ve been through, forgive me. I hope you trust me again.

Duststrife seems touched by Luna’s words and tries to keep her emotions down for a few seconds. He bows down with a determined gaze and lays his sword always in his sheath.
- Duststrife: … Lady Luna … I swear to you, as a knight in service. Me!, Duststrife, swear allegiance to you. And if the inhabitants of this country are in danger, if your life is threatened, then I will stand in the way of your enemies, even if I must give my life!

Luna is surprised by the words of Duststrife, the latter takes the shoe of the empress of Equestria and embraces her as a sign of allegiance to her. Luna cannot help but blush, Starlight and Sunburst do not know how to react so much they are amazed by the gesture of Duststrife.

Upvotes at import: 62 | Stars at import: 42
Posted previously at: 2020-01-19T07:18:11 | Posted previously by: Mildgyth