- =Helios 5=
- >Shit but was it cloudy today.
- >Shining Armor had the guards out in droves, heeding Grogar's words.
- >You were inside the castle with Princess Celestia.
- >She wasn't particularly busy today, simply seeing to a stack of papers that needed her signature.
- >Still, that left far too much time to think about the clouds above you.
- "We could get the pegusi to clear out the clouds, ma'am. Lighten the heart."
- >Celestia continued to pour over the papers before her, her eyes serious behind her glasses.
- >"Would that I could, Anon. But we need the rain those clouds are carrying."
- >You walked over and leaned against the windowsill.
- "I really don't like this."
- >"Waiting is always a terrible experience, I've found."
- "Not that. Well, a bit of that."
- >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."
- >Celestia continued working. "Grogar may be mad and malicious. But he has never lied in the thousands of years he has been here."
- "Then this would seem like an excellent time to start, ma'am."
- >Celestia sighs. "Always so guarded, Anonymous?"
- "Comes with the territory, Princess."
- >The rest of the day was rather uneventful.
- >No mysterious sights were reported on clouds and no feathers and fallen from the sky.
- >With your moods lightened, you, Celestia and Shining Armor were seated in the royal dining hall for dinner.
- >Princess Luna had taken an early breakfast, citing research she was performing.
- "No way you can beat me, Armor."
- >Shining Armor takes a swig of his wine with a grin.
- >His face contorts as he tries to bend his body to his will.
- >After a few moments, a resounding belch fills the dining hall.
- "Four. At best."
- >"Oh come on, Anon. five." He said.
- "Fine, you're still a notch below me."
- >A high protein diet does wonders for burps.
- >"That point is debata-"
- >Another belch echoes through the hall next to you.
- >You turn to see Princess Celestia tactfully dabbing at her mouth with a napkin.
- >"So, how did I do?" She asked.
- >You and Armor exchange disbelieving glances.
- "Uh...That's about a six."
- >Celestia smiles and forks more salad into her mouth.
- "Princess, how did you do that?"
- >Celestia chuckles. "Anonymous, I have learned many tricks in my years."
- >"And gastric distress was covered in your schooling?" Shining asks.
- >"I haven't always been a Princess, Shining. I know my way around a hole in the wall or two."
- "Our fair Princess, sticking around till last call."
- >"A bit after sometimes too."
- >The three of you share another laugh.
- >"Hey, Anon. I'll be needing your help with something." Shining Armor says.
- >Your mouth is too full of food to talk, so you tilt your head to the side.
- >"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."
- >You half choke your food down.[spoiler][/spoiler] "Acting Captain?"
- >"Just for a week. And only in regards to this Griffin situation, I'll be delegating the rest of my responsibilities to my lieutenants."
- >Shining looks at you pleading as you think about yourself as an acting Guard Captain.
- >"Come on, Anon. I really need this and you're the only one who knows what Grogar said."
- >You alternate between looking at Shining and Celestia.
- "Who am I to deny somep0ny time with his wife?"
- >Shining pumps his hoof in the air and Celestia smiles.
- "Anything important I should know now?"
- >Shining shakes his head. "It'll all be delivered to you once I'm gone."
- "Great. More paperwork."
- >You take Princess Celestia back to her room after dinner.
- >She once again wastes no time removing her royal attire.
- "Is it that uncomfortable?"
- >"It is the most restrictive garment I have ever had the displeasure of wearing."
- "A headpiece is restrictive?"
- >"Not physically, at least..."
- >Celestia looks at herself in the mirror. "Anonymous. What do you see when you look at me?"
- >Whowha-
- "I'm sorry?"
- >She locks eyes with you. "When you look at me, what do you see? Ruler? Goddess? What?"
- >Okay...
- "Uhm. I see...a friend of mine ruling Canterlot?"
- >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..."
- >"It's hard, Anon. Hard to go through your life with everyp0ny expecting -so much- of you..."
- >"Never letting myself slip up. Or to...seek out the things that I want the most..." She says as her head falls.
- >Well...now the mood is all weird.
- "I think...You should go looking anyway?"
- >Celestia looks up at you.
- "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."
- >A smile breaks through Celestia's face.
- >"Thank you Anon, I value your friendship very highly."
- "Any time, Celestia."
- >You point to the door behind you.[spoiler][/spoiler] "If that's all, I'll be going."
- >Celestia silently nods as you step out the door.
- >Celestia and you shared a common habit it seemed.
- >The two of you both removed your uncomfortable attire as soon as you got to your rooms.
- >Of course, hers wasn't heavy armor.
- >Your mind was dominated by the next week as you shed.
- >You. Acting guard captain.
- >In charge of the defense of the entire city.
- >To say you were a bit nervous was an understatement.
- >You could guard Celestia, sure.
- >That was something that was only dependant on your body and will, both of which you kept in the best shape you could.
- >But guard captain...delegating orders and splitting attention.
- >That was something you weren't too sure about.
- >And you couldn't just tell the city to fly off if things got too hot.
- >Ponies would die if you didn't handle everything in the exact right way.
- >You sweep your hand across the top of your head and try to push your doubts out with it.
- >No use just worrying about it...
- >You drop down to your shorts and climb into your bed.
- >Sleep had always come fairly easy for you, the benefit of an intense job.
- >The sounds of the city out your window helped lull you to sleep.
- >The clip clop of ponies walking the streets...
- >The air whooshing through the castle spires...
- >The screaming.
- >Wait, screa-
- >A blast of sorcery blows out your window and throws you out of bed.
- >You hear your heartbeat in your ears as you scramble to your feet and look outside.
- >Dark figures were darting down from the sky and clashing with the golden armor of the royal guard.
- >Some were skirting over the city and dropping something, sending explosions up shortly thereafter.
- >And on an outcropping below you, a guard shouted to all of Canterlot.
- >"The Griffins are attacking! The Griffins are attacking!"
- >Oh.
- >Fuck.
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