Worship the rightful Queen of Equestria!

The Rubicon (Closed RP)

Hippogriff’s eyes brighten momentarily as he looks at immortal beauty of his Lady. “Yes, Your Majesty,” he replies after a short pause, “I’d appreciate to be allowed to choose her lordship, Marquis Avenger, as my patron.”

"Avenger?" Nightmare Moon looks confused for a moment. "Why?... Yes, of course you may."

"From this day forth, we commission you, Sir Vindicar of the Order of the Blackened Star, to go forth in the Avenger's memory, to right wrongs and avenge crimes, as she did in life."

#Vindicar

The Rubicon (Closed RP)

Vindicar squints as Nightmare’s horn touches his shoulders, arcane energies of her body giving him a considerable jolt. Yet, determined not to falter in her presense, hippogriff stands up. “Thank you…” he says, before adding a couple more words he hadn’t addressed anyone with before.

"…my Queen."

"Now, as a knight, you shall have duties. Sir Starbuck, for instance, is assigned the role of keeping Prince Lunar's birthright safe until he comes of age.

In the first Order, a thousand years ago, Knights would often devote themselves to a particular person or place, or to defending against a particular sort of crime. Do any of these seem appealing to you?"

"Very well. Did you perhaps hear the one about the equine who lost his left legs?"

"No, We have not."

Nightmare Moon waits, hoping this is going somewhere. She hasn’t had a good laugh in ages.

#reginald

The Rubicon (Closed RP)

So many times hippogriff tried to play this scene in his imagination, yet when the moment has come, he had to gather his will to say the words that would set his fate in stone. He didn’t know the exact nature of the oath, but he had right suspicions about it.

"I do," Vindicar has replied in even voice, not a trace of emotions on his face.

"Then, by Our divine and royal right as the True Queen of Equestria, We do hereby dub thee Sir Vindicar, Knight of the Military Order of the Blackened Star, with all rights, duties, and privileges due your station."

Nightmare Moon strikes him lightly on each shoulder with her horn. "You may rise."

"My queen. I have a humorous joke to share with you. Are you prepared?"

"We are indeed. Let Us hear it."

#reginald

==><|I===|K^"> -(Hugs. Hugs were, are and always will be my life's goal and primary task.) *Fox offers a hug*

Nightmare Moon rolls her eyes and sighs, but accepts the offered hug.

"Your species’ biology continues to baffle Us. Do you feed somehow upon hugs?"

#anonymous

The Rubicon (Closed RP)

Hippogriff proceeds to kneel, the ends of his robes swiping the floor as he does so. Silently he waits, listening as immortal Queen approaches him.

"Vindicar, do you swear upon your life to serve Us and all ponykind, to uphold all just laws, to punish the guilty and protect the innocent, and to hold yourself pure in all matters of honour both public and private?"

#Vindicar

Here Queen, have a fox. <==><|I===|K^">

Curiously, Nightmare Moon pokes the fox.

"We have not seen you in quite some time, little Vulpes Benignitas. What have you been up to?"

#anonymous

The Rubicon (Closed RP)

Hippogriff squints for a moment, as he phrases his answer. “I do believe that learning never stops, and perfection can and should be pursued during entire lifetime. Yet I do believe that sir Starbuck has taught me as much as it’s allowed for the outsider, and that I can perform the duties he’s told me about.” Vindicar pauses briefly, and adds. “My honor dictates me to protect those who are in need of protection, up and including taking agressor’s life, if such need arises, or sacrificing my own.

Do you approve of my motives, Lady Nightmare?”

Nightmare Moon smiles, and nods. "We do."

Standing, she steps down off the dais. "Kneel, Squire Vindicar."

#Vindicar

The Rubicon (Closed RP)

Hippogriff stops in several steps from the throne and bows. For once, it’s not his usual not-breaking-eye-contact nod, but a full fledged bow. Feeling a bit on edge, Vindicar limits himself to a brief “Greetings, Your Magesty.” as he looks up at the dark goddess, nearly immediately ensnared by her emerald gaze.

"Vindicar," Nightmare Moon begins, "Sir Starbuck has told Us he believes you are prepared. That you have learned all he has to teach, and that you are ready to swear your life to defend Us, to defend all Equestria." She pauses meaningfully. "Do you believe you are prepared?"

The Rubicon (Closed RP)

"It would be most discourteous to keep the Lady waiting," hippogriff replies, as he proceeds do as he’d been told to. It only took him a several minutes, and after that he stood in front of herald, clad in order’s colors. "I’m ready, sir," Vindicar said, suppressing slight shivers of apprehension.

The guards lead Vindicar through a short passage, and into the private audience chamber.

And there she sits. Nightmare Moon, the True Queen of Equestria, sits upon a throne of hewn onyx. She looks upon Vindicar, and smiles.

The Rubicon (Closed RP)

At the set time of night Vindicar had landed in front of Moon Castle and trotted towards the gates. Nearly year of exhausting training and unfaltering determination was now coming to the point of convergence. Soon there would be no way back, and his carefree lifestyle would become matter of sweet memories.

But he was ready to sacrifice that.

Hippogriff sighed as he stepped closer towards the gate, and looked at the guards. “Vindicar, squire of Blackened Star. I have an appoinment with Her Majesty.”

Her majesty's herald nods once to the guards, having been informed of Vindicar's impending visit.

The guards lead Vindicar into the central part of the castle, to a small chamber located outside the private meeting hall. There, Vindicar finds a basin of water (with the moon reflected in it through an open skylight), as well as midnight blue robes sewn with tiny black stars.

"Bathe and dress yourself, squire. Our Lady awaits."