Helios 7: Fallout.


                                            =Helios 7=


                                            >Canterlot had been recovering from the attack by the griffins.

                                            >By the grace of all that was good in the world, the damage was mostly superficial and casualties were low.

                                            >Less than a hundred citizens had lost their lives.

                                            >Most of the city infrastructure was intact.

                                            >The guards had been helping refugees from their damaged homes and setting them up in shelters across the city.

                                            >Another lucky break was that the platform suspending Canterlot above the valley below hadn't been broken.

                                            >A bit shaken up from the explosions, but not broken. The masons were repairing now.

                                            >If that was a lucky break, then you had also caught a blessing.

                                            >By some miracle, Grogar's cage hadn't been damaged at all.

                                            >If it wasn't for him being bound to the city and feeling everything it felt, the Necromancer wouldn't have even known there was an attack.

                                            >You walked through the city, helping direct reconstruction efforts.

                                            >Next to you walked...another matter.

                                            >It had been three days since you and Princ-

                                            >Since you and Celestia had spent the night together.

                                            >You had almost been caught by the morning servant, but Celestia was able to teleport you back to your room before she got in.

                                            >What followed were the two most awkward days on the job you had ever experienced.

                                            >How do you go about guarding someone who was moaning your name the night before?

                                            >You remember asking her where this was headed, just as you remembered her almost sad response.

                                            >"I...don't know, Anonymous. I'm not too certain about much these days. But...I know that I would like to...continue to be close to you, if you would have me."

                                            >Of course you had said yes.

                                            >You had to stay close to her.

                                            >It was your job.


                                            >Celestia and you continued to walk through Canterlot, helping rebuild where you could.

                                            >There was hardly a need for a bodyguard today, not with the city still on high alert.

                                            >Today you would help build.

                                            >Sometimes you would secure an overhang as Celestia held it up.

                                            >Other times you would be the one holding things up as Celestia reached inside a broken structure to retrieve a filly that had been caught in it.

                                            >What seemed to help the most however, was simply her being there.

                                            >You could see the looks of adulation and thanks pouring out from the citizens as Celestia did everything in her power to return them to their way of life.

                                            >You had been seeing many different sides of Celestia recently...

                                            >You had almost seen a furious Celestia when she made an emergency trip to Gryphus to confront the new Thane.

                                            >Fortunately, he was quick to declare his predecessor a madman and promise to keep his distance from Equestria as a whole.


                                            >The two of you were now in the southern plaza near a relief cart.

                                            >You were handing out food, water and blankets to everyp0ny who wasn't in a shelter yet.

                                            >There were reports of things getting rather hectic at some of the other relief carts, but not here.

                                            >Here, ponies were lined up in an orderly fashion and were content to wait their turn for food.

                                            >You chalked it up once again to Celestia's presence.

                                            >"Here, this should help you through the night, please be safe My Little Pony." Celestia said.

                                            >"Bless you Princess..." The mother says as she trots back to her children.

                                            >The last of the supplies handed out, Celestia trotted up next to you.

                                            >Out of sight from the refugees, she leaned forward and nuzzled the side of your face.

                                            >"Thank you Anonymous...I couldn't have done this without you."

                                            "O-of course, Celestia."


                                            >Celestia lead the two of you out of the plaza.

                                            >You turned your thoughts inward.

                                            >You really weren't too sure about this...

                                            >She was your boss, the pony who not only paid you, but dictated what you did with your time on the job.

                                            >Hell, she was your monarch! She had the ultimate power over if you could even live here or not!

                                            >And you had slept with her.

                                            >Celestia had said that she could not be in a relationship.

                                            >She had said that the citizens of Canterlot and possibly all of Equestria couldn't accept a monarch

                                            >Why would Celestia risk her reputation over you?

                                            >You weren't that special, just a bodyguard.

                                            >Was she really risking her reputation?

                                            >Maybe this was just a night of casual sex and there was nothing to worry about.

                                            >You admit Celestia is...attractive.

                                            >Any hang-ups you had about species had long since been left behind, she was just another person now.

                                            >Another immortal, sun raising, royal person...

                                            >...

                                            >You weren't really helping your nerves here.

                                            >Celestia had also said that she was going to do more for herself and "never let you down".

                                            >But what the hell did that even mean? She had never let you down before.

                                            >And why should she worry about you?

                                            >She was the sun.

                                            >You were just a guard.


                                            >You sigh.

                                            >A guard...

                                            >You start to wonder on the significance Shining Armor played in your current situation.

                                            >Celestia had taken you into her bed just after Armor had died.

                                            >There was no doubt that the two of you were just trying to make each other feel a bit better in such dark times, but was that it?

                                            >Was Celestia's current mood towards you affection that had always been there?

                                            >Or was it just a response to losing someone dear to her and trying to fill the void?

                                            >It was absolutely no secret that the two of them were close, they were family.

                                            >Hell Shining had been close to almost everyp0ny in the castle.

                                            >Celestia had said she failed him, you figured she blamed herself for what happened.

                                            >But she also said she would never fail you, and that was more interesting.

                                            >Was she only doing this because she thinks she MIGHT one day fail you?

                                            >Is she trying to give you what she thinks you want before it might happen?

                                            >And why the hell is sleeping with you the first thing she decided on?

                                            >You're so wrapped up that you don't notice Celestia has stopped until it's almost too late.

                                            >She was staring up at the gradually setting sun with a mournful expression on her face.

                                            "Celestia?"

                                            >Her head lowers and her eyes flick over to you. "It's time, Anon."


                                            -Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA6zTRqKuRM-

                                            >The sun was setting over Canterlot's walls, casting the area in harsh shadows.

                                            >The perfect setting for a funeral.

                                            >Princess Cadence was there, but she refrained from giving a eulogy.

                                            >You and several of Shining's friends in the guard had each given a short one, detailing his strength and heroism in the attack.

                                            >As shining was lowered into his plot in the royal gardens, another stallion took his place next to the Celestia at the podium.

                                            >"And so it is that with great honor that I name Dapper Thunder the new Captain of the Guard." She said.

                                            >Dapper was a good guy, he'd take good care of the guard.

                                            >Seven unicorns took position and fired off bursts of magic into the sky as the casket was lowered.

                                            >As the bolts passed through the air, three streaks flew out of Wonderbolts stadium and passed over the ceremony.

                                            >As the guests begin to file out, you are able to catch Princess Cadence before she leaves.

                                            "Princess..."

                                            >She turns to you, her eyes red and puffy from tears shed and her lip trembling.

                                            >Anything you could have said then just seemed so...pointless, making the words die on your tongue.


                                            "I'm...so, so sorry..."

                                            >Cadence shakes her head. "It's not your fault, Anonymous...The griffins attacked and Shining tried to defend the city..."

                                            >Her head perks up a bit and she now wears a teary smile. "I know that Shining would have been proud of his final act..."

                                            "What...will you do now?"

                                            >Cadence looks out over the city. "I must return to the Crystal Kingdom...But I may decide to take some time to myself soon."

                                            "You deserve it, ma'am."

                                            >Cadence smiles at you.

                                            >"Be safe, Anonymous." She says before she turns and walks away.

                                            >You stare at her for some time, eventually hearing the sound of hooves behind you.

                                            >"I weep for her." Celestia says.

                                            "I can't imagine what she's going through..."

                                            >You bristle as Celestia rests her head on your shoulder.

                                            >Cadence vanishes into the castle tower, leaving you and Celestia alone in the garden.