-
1.
=Helios 5=
-
2.
-
3.
>Shit but was it cloudy today.
-
4.
>Shining Armor had the guards out in droves, heeding Grogar's words.
-
5.
>You were inside the castle with Princess Celestia.
-
6.
>She wasn't particularly busy today, simply seeing to a stack of papers that needed her signature.
-
7.
>Still, that left far too much time to think about the clouds above you.
-
8.
"We could get the pegusi to clear out the clouds, ma'am. Lighten the heart."
-
9.
>Celestia continued to pour over the papers before her, her eyes serious behind her glasses.
-
10.
>"Would that I could, Anon. But we need the rain those clouds are carrying."
-
11.
>You walked over and leaned against the windowsill.
-
12.
"I really don't like this."
-
13.
>"Waiting is always a terrible experience, I've found."
-
14.
"Not that. Well, a bit of that."
-
15.
>Your gaze drifts over the city below.[spoiler][/spoiler] "I just don't know if we should be trusting the word of that old ram."
-
16.
>Celestia continued working. "Grogar may be mad and malicious. But he has never lied in the thousands of years he has been here."
-
17.
"Then this would seem like an excellent time to start, ma'am."
-
18.
>Celestia sighs. "Always so guarded, Anonymous?"
-
19.
"Comes with the territory, Princess."
-
20.
-
21.
>The rest of the day was rather uneventful.
-
22.
>No mysterious sights were reported on clouds and no feathers and fallen from the sky.
-
23.
>With your moods lightened, you, Celestia and Shining Armor were seated in the royal dining hall for dinner.
-
24.
>Princess Luna had taken an early breakfast, citing research she was performing.
-
25.
"No way you can beat me, Armor."
-
26.
>Shining Armor takes a swig of his wine with a grin.
-
27.
>His face contorts as he tries to bend his body to his will.
-
28.
>After a few moments, a resounding belch fills the dining hall.
-
29.
"Four. At best."
-
30.
>"Oh come on, Anon. five." He said.
-
31.
"Fine, you're still a notch below me."
-
32.
>A high protein diet does wonders for burps.
-
33.
>"That point is debata-"
-
34.
>Another belch echoes through the hall next to you.
-
35.
>You turn to see Princess Celestia tactfully dabbing at her mouth with a napkin.
-
36.
>"So, how did I do?" She asked.
-
37.
>You and Armor exchange disbelieving glances.
-
38.
"Uh...That's about a six."
-
39.
>Celestia smiles and forks more salad into her mouth.
-
40.
"Princess, how did you do that?"
-
41.
>Celestia chuckles. "Anonymous, I have learned many tricks in my years."
-
42.
>"And gastric distress was covered in your schooling?" Shining asks.
-
43.
>"I haven't always been a Princess, Shining. I know my way around a hole in the wall or two."
-
44.
"Our fair Princess, sticking around till last call."
-
45.
>"A bit after sometimes too."
-
46.
>The three of you share another laugh.
-
47.
-
48.
>"Hey, Anon. I'll be needing your help with something." Shining Armor says.
-
49.
>Your mouth is too full of food to talk, so you tilt your head to the side.
-
50.
>"I'm headed back to the Crystal Kingdom next week. I'll need you to take over the defense of the city while I'm away."
-
51.
>You half choke your food down.[spoiler][/spoiler] "Acting Captain?"
-
52.
>"Just for a week. And only in regards to this Griffin situation, I'll be delegating the rest of my responsibilities to my lieutenants."
-
53.
>Shining looks at you pleading as you think about yourself as an acting Guard Captain.
-
54.
>"Come on, Anon. I really need this and you're the only one who knows what Grogar said."
-
55.
>You alternate between looking at Shining and Celestia.
-
56.
"Who am I to deny somep0ny time with his wife?"
-
57.
>Shining pumps his hoof in the air and Celestia smiles.
-
58.
"Anything important I should know now?"
-
59.
>Shining shakes his head. "It'll all be delivered to you once I'm gone."
-
60.
"Great. More paperwork."
-
61.
-
62.
>You take Princess Celestia back to her room after dinner.
-
63.
>She once again wastes no time removing her royal attire.
-
64.
"Is it that uncomfortable?"
-
65.
>"It is the most restrictive garment I have ever had the displeasure of wearing."
-
66.
"A headpiece is restrictive?"
-
67.
>"Not physically, at least..."
-
68.
>Celestia looks at herself in the mirror. "Anonymous. What do you see when you look at me?"
-
69.
>Whowha-
-
70.
"I'm sorry?"
-
71.
>She locks eyes with you. "When you look at me, what do you see? Ruler? Goddess? What?"
-
72.
>Okay...
-
73.
"Uhm. I see...a friend of mine ruling Canterlot?"
-
74.
>Celestia sighs with a small smile. "To all the rest of My Little Ponies, I am simply "The Princess" or "She Who Raises the Sun". And all because of that crown I wear..."
-
75.
>"It's hard, Anon. Hard to go through your life with everyp0ny expecting -so much- of you..."
-
76.
>"Never letting myself slip up. Or to...seek out the things that I want the most..." She says as her head falls.
-
77.
>Well...now the mood is all weird.
-
78.
"I think...You should go looking anyway?"
-
79.
>Celestia looks up at you.
-
80.
"I think...that you're a pony, just like everyone else in this city. You shouldn't be thought of any differently because of what you want to do with your life."
-
81.
>A smile breaks through Celestia's face.
-
82.
>"Thank you Anon, I value your friendship very highly."
-
83.
"Any time, Celestia."
-
84.
>You point to the door behind you.[spoiler][/spoiler] "If that's all, I'll be going."
-
85.
>Celestia silently nods as you step out the door.
-
86.
-
87.
>Celestia and you shared a common habit it seemed.
-
88.
>The two of you both removed your uncomfortable attire as soon as you got to your rooms.
-
89.
>Of course, hers wasn't heavy armor.
-
90.
>Your mind was dominated by the next week as you shed.
-
91.
>You. Acting guard captain.
-
92.
>In charge of the defense of the entire city.
-
93.
>To say you were a bit nervous was an understatement.
-
94.
>You could guard Celestia, sure.
-
95.
>That was something that was only dependant on your body and will, both of which you kept in the best shape you could.
-
96.
>But guard captain...delegating orders and splitting attention.
-
97.
>That was something you weren't too sure about.
-
98.
>And you couldn't just tell the city to fly off if things got too hot.
-
99.
>Ponies would die if you didn't handle everything in the exact right way.
-
100.
>You sweep your hand across the top of your head and try to push your doubts out with it.
-
101.
>No use just worrying about it...
-
102.
>You drop down to your shorts and climb into your bed.
-
103.
>Sleep had always come fairly easy for you, the benefit of an intense job.
-
104.
>The sounds of the city out your window helped lull you to sleep.
-
105.
>The clip clop of ponies walking the streets...
-
106.
>The air whooshing through the castle spires...
-
107.
>The screaming.
-
108.
>Wait, screa-
-
109.
>A blast of sorcery blows out your window and throws you out of bed.
-
110.
>You hear your heartbeat in your ears as you scramble to your feet and look outside.
-
111.
>Dark figures were darting down from the sky and clashing with the golden armor of the royal guard.
-
112.
>Some were skirting over the city and dropping something, sending explosions up shortly thereafter.
-
113.
>And on an outcropping below you, a guard shouted to all of Canterlot.
-
114.
>"The Griffins are attacking! The Griffins are attacking!"
-
115.
>Oh.
-
116.
>Fuck.
by Mandroid
by Mandroid
by Mandroid
by Mandroid
by Mandroid