To swear an oath (Patreon)

Princess Celestia topped off her coffee and took a long, slow sip in my Equestria dreamscape. All the while her eyes remained locked on Free n' Clear. In one smooth, motion she returned the cup to its saucer. Arching an eyebrow she tilted her head a looked at the filly.

     "You do understand that your unsuccessful attempt at breaking and entering this morning–" Link 

     "Actually your Highness." The filly interrupted her. "I did succeed at picking the lock. I just didn't....." Free n' Clear voice suddenly tapered as the alicorn turned her head gave the filly a world class, disapproving, motherly stare. The unicorn lowered her gaze and pushed her napkin around silently.

     Celestia resumed speaking. "As I was saying. You were caught attempting to enter the home of a pony without their permission."  She glanced down at the filly. "I'm not familiar with the part of the Royal Criminal Code concerning the ownership and possession of lock picking equipment, but...."

     The princess levitated up and examined the lock pick set that Free n' Clear had used that morning. "But I would not be surprise find that there is restriction on the age that a pony may purchase such tools..." Celestia gave the filly a quizzical look. "Actually that does raise the question. Where did you obtain these?"

     The filly looked away and swallowed. "They, they were my grandfather's. When he, he passed away I figured, that he no longer needed them and so I...."

     Celestia scowled at the filly. "I am beginning to see a pattern forming with you dear. You seem to be struck with a sense of entitlement. That world owes you whatever you want and desire, and if it fails you seemed to think you're in your right to take it. Link Would that be a fair assessment. Dear."

     The filly continued looking at the far wall of the dining room. In the kitchen Heartbreaker silently continued washing dishes. Finally the she spoke.

     "I'm,m,m  s,s,sorry." She said softly with a trembling voice.

     For several seconds Celestia silently stared at the filly. The bungalow had suddenly become eerily quiet. Just the sound of Heartbreaker washing dishes and rhythmic ticking of the clock on the kitchen wall. Then the princess spoke. The words were spoken softly, but there was an intensity to them.

     "Free n' Clear look at me."

     The filly averted her gaze and looked down at table. Suddenly the thought of looking at the princess was the most terrifying thing in the world.

     Gently Celestia reached out with her telekinesis and lifted the filly head. Free n' Clear tried to look away but found herself unable to. Celestia's gaze seemed to have paralyzed her. It was as if the alicorn stare was reaching into the filly's soul laying bare her entire life as she passed judgement on it. Her amethyst purple eyes were as hard as the gems that were the same color. The princess now seemed to tower over everything else in the bungalow. As if the building was struggling to contain her majesty. In the kitchen Heartbreaker had finished washing the dishes and was silently looking at the scene unfolding at the dining room table.

     After what seemed like a lifetime the princess broke the silence. "Free n' Clear listen to me. Listen carefully. I'm not angry at you, but I am disappointed. However I am willing to forgive you if  from this point forward you strive to better yourself and the kingdom that myself and my sister rule. If you're willing to do that then I believe you may be of some use to me."

    The unicorn blinked several times. "Some use to you?"

     Celestia released her telekinetic grip and then proceeded to levitate and study with great interest her porcelain coffee cup. As she did she resuming speaking.

     "Yes dear. I see great potential for you. In time I believe you could help my sister and I continue to make Equestria an even greater kingdom. Even before our meeting this morning Heartbreaker had spoken favorably of you. This piqued my interest so I had my staff look into your grades and academic records, and I will say–"

     "If you're angry about toilet on the second floor bathroom!" The filly abruptly spoke up.  "I swear I didn't know sodium would act like....." Her voice then tapered off as a curious look came over Celestia's face. The filly looked back down at the table.

     "You were mentioning my grades." She mumbled.

     A mischievous twinkle danced in the princess's eyes. She nodded her head and continued. "As I was saying. Your records show that your grades are excellent. In fact your teachers seem to be struggling to keep your mentally engaged due to a lack of challenges for you. I can very much appreciate their predicament. You don't appear to exhibit any tendencies towards bullying or deliberately destructive behavior."

    Celestia gave the filly a surprisingly impish grin. "Although accidental destructive behavior maybe another matter. However that maybe more a case of you lacking sufficient academic and mental challenges in school. That can be dealt with."

     The filly shrank in her chair. "Um, uh your Highness. I, I think my teachers are already giving me more than enough homework."

     The alicorn giggled. "Oh these instructions will not be part your regular school curriculum. They will happen outside of regular school hours, but I think you'll find them to be much more interesting and exciting. However for this to happen I need something from you. I need you to swear an oath. A very special and powerful oath. Besides Heartbreaker you're the only pony knows that I'm in Neighpoles today. This must remain a secret. No other pony can know I was here. Nor can they know that I talked to you. This is a Crown Secret. Therefore I will need you to swear an oath of Royal Secrecy."

     "And if I don't swear your oath?"

     Celestia took another sip of her coffee. She dabbed her lips with a napkin and gave the filly a deadpan look. "Then I will need to cast a spell and wipe your memories of this day." She paused. "Although at that point it might be wise to wipe any memories you have of Heartbreaker as well, but the further one goes back in time to purge memories the greater risk of side effects as result of the spell."

     "What kind of side effects?" Free n' Clear asked sheepishly.

     Celestia casually waved a front hoof in the air. "Oh nothing to severe and rarely permanent dear, but known side effects are uncontrollable drooling, dizziness, loss of color vision, for unicorns loss of their levitation for extended periods of time are not unheard of. Uncontrollable bowels have been noted in some–"

     "So about that oath!" The filly exclaimed. "I, I think I'd like to take it. Sooooo! Um, what do I need to do? Do I need sign something? Say some words!"

     Celestia smiled. "Excellent! Well! It's actually quite simple." The alicorn rose from her seat and gestured for the filly to do the same. For her part Heartbreaker remained silent as she extracted a bottle of beer from the ice box and popped the lid off. A smirk danced across the earth pony's face as watched this.

     The pearl white alicorn moved several chairs out the way and then closed her eyes. Her horn began to glow and an ornate arcane circle formed on the wooden floor of the bungalow as the light in the room seemed to dim. Without opening her eyes Celestia spoke.

     "Free n' Clear I need you step into the circle. Once in it do not, I repeat, do not step out of it, and for your own well-being answer all the question truthfully."

     Timidly the filly entered the circle. A strange, tingling sensation washed over her hide. Now standing in the circle she looked down at the numerous and undecipherable runes and glyphs and muttered. "Um, okay. What now?"

To be continued.