Helios 8: Is It Cool If I Hold Your Hand?


                                            =Helios 8=


                                            >The sound of boots on stone echoed across the walls.

                                            >Ahead of you, Luna's moon slowly inched its way down to the horizon.

                                            >If you looked behind you, you could see Celestia's sun rays peeking out.

                                            >You were on a run around the castle walls, something you did every morning to ensure that you could spend the entire day in your armor.

                                            >Canterlot looked well underneath you, the week and a half since the invasion being used to repair most of the city.

                                            >Only a few of the taller buildings remained.

                                            >Citizens were a bit worried still, but that was the agenda for today.

                                            >You jumped down the stairs over the main gate, marking the halfway point of your journey.

                                            >This had been your routine since before you even became Celestia's bodyguard, back when you were just another of the rank and file troops.

                                            >Doing it constantly had more or less made this exercise an autopilot ordeal for you.

                                            >Leaving you plenty of time to think about your personal life.


                                            >Celestia had been keeping things mostly tame.

                                            >The most that had happened was a bit of nuzzling, and it was always done out of sight of the public.

                                            >You had reciprocated as best you could.

                                            >Basic training had never covered fraternization with royalty.

                                            >Celestia and you were close, always had been.

                                            >The two of you had become fast friends after you had been appointed her bodyguard.

                                            >Hell, that was probably what made her reach out to you the way she did.

                                            >But for all the rapport the two of you had, you had still yet to talk about that night.

                                            >The night the two of you made life a lot more complicated.

                                            >You reached the tower your room was in shortly after Celestia had brought the sun up above the Eastern horizon.

                                            >Your body toned and exercised for the day, you went inside to don your armor.


                                            -Celestia PoV-

                                            >Okay, it was morning.

                                            >You had raised the sun,  bathed, and fed Philomena who now sat perched near the door.

                                            >Nothing left to do but wait for Anon...

                                            >...

                                            >By the stars, you'd think you would have learned to wait in your life.

                                            >You paced back and forth in your room as the minutes ticked by.

                                            >You had played this slow, taking your time and letting Anonymous and you grow closer naturally.

                                            >Anonymous had always been a pleasure to be around and that had been your lifeline through the last ten days.

                                            >You really, REALLY, didn't want to screw this up.

                                            >Things had changed so much since the last time you did this...

                                            >There came a sudden knock on your door. "Celestia?"

                                            >Alright, deep breath...

                                            "Come in, Anonymous."

                                            >The door opened and your somewhat-more-then-just-a-guard walked in, his armor reflecting a dull shine through the room. "Good morning, Celestia."

                                            "Good morning, Anonymous."

                                            >As Anonymous closes the door, you lean forward a bit.

                                            >Your lips brush up against his for just a second, just as you had worked out.

                                            >At least, just how you worked out was best nine hundred years ago.

                                            >You pull away and smile but you don't think you should be.

                                            >Anonymous' face is one of awkward fear.

                                            >The room is silent for what feels like an eternity.

                                            >Ohnoyouscreweditup.

                                            >You bite your lower lip as you desperately try to get on another topic.

                                            "So! Anonymous! Did you sleep well!?"

                                            >Your nerves are getting through.

                                            >"Uh...Yes Celestia, I slept pretty soundly."

                                            >You reach out with your magic and grab your crown and raiment.

                                            >As you adjust them on your head you magic open the door as well.

                                            "Well then, shall we go!?"

                                            >You groan inwardly.

                                            >Great save, Celestia. You haven't screw up this much since banishing Luna...


                                            -Anon PoV-

                                            >The two of you skip breakfast and head straight out to the city, wanting to drown out what had happened in the room in work.

                                            >Today's agenda was simple, simply walk around Canterlot with Celestia and let the citizens be calmed by her presence.

                                            >The two of you were silent the entire time, condemning you to your thoughts.

                                            >She had kissed you.

                                            >Why did she kiss you?

                                            >Okay, that was stupid. You knew WHY she kissed you, but why did it have to be now?

                                            >You were just getting used to the idea of being physically close to Celestia and now it all got changed up again.

                                            >And that left the question as to what the two of you were supposed to do now.

                                            >How long before things elevated again?

                                            >Would it even be acceptable to elevate things? Celestia still seemed intent on keeping things secret.

                                            >This silence between the two of you was driving you nuts.

                                            "The city looks well."

                                            >"Yes, the engineers did a wonderful job in the repairs." Celestia said without turning to you.

                                            "Some of the buildings needed repairs, if I remember."

                                            >Celestia nods but keeps her head forward. "Yes. Many of the destroyed structures were quite old indeed."

                                            >Yes. Drown the awkward in work. That was the best plan.

                                            >You took a deep breath and kept pace with Celestia as she walked through the streets.


                                            >The day wore on and the two of you were starving.

                                            >You had both grabbed some food from a nearby restaurant and hidden yourselves away near a fountain in a back street.

                                            >Neither of you had spoken in depth since you had gotten out, simply small words between each other like before.

                                            >And it's driven you nuts.

                                            >You had to know, this wasn't something that could be just swept under the rug.

                                            "Celestia, I have to ask."

                                            >The Princess looks up from her hay sandwich at you.

                                            "Are we...going to talk? About that night?"

                                            >The Princess's eyes go wide as she swallows her food. "Well...Anon. I-. The thing is..."

                                            >Celestia's eyes dart around as she trails off.

                                            "Celestia, it's me. You can talk to me...right?"

                                            >You hope this whole thing hadn't ruined your friendship at least...

                                            >That was too magical to lose.

                                            >Celestia releases a deep sigh and finally meets your eyes again.

                                            >"The truth is Anon...I have no idea what I'm doing in regards to...the two of us."

                                            >She shifts on her hooves. "This is the first time in my life I haven't known what I was doing beforehand and that...scares me a bit. courting has changed so much since I last tried it."

                                            "Was...that what this morning was about?"

                                            >Celestia nods her head in affirmation.

                                            >"Ten or so days was the..."traditional" length of time one would wait to expand upon a relationship in the stage ours is in back when I was young."

                                            >You...had a relationship now?

                                            >She sounds like Twilight a little bit...Like teacher like pupil, you guess.

                                            >"I'm...really just going by what feels right Anonymous, I admit that that could be wrong in some regards."

                                            >You crack a small smile. Celestia was ever humble as always.


                                            >Still, you could see that she was just as nervous as you were, simply for different reasons.

                                            >A thought popped into your head.

                                            >A...natural thought.

                                            >You put down your sandwich and place a hand on Celestia's chin.

                                            >A quick peck on the cheek, of about equal timing as the one you received this morning was gifted to the Princess.

                                            >The heat could be felt emanating from Celestia's face as you pulled away, her shocked expression mirroring your own a few hours ago.

                                            >You swallow the frog in your throat.

                                            "Celestia...you seem to be over thinking things a bit..."

                                            "Maybe try a more relaxed and leisurely approach?"

                                            >Celestia audibly gulps before she grows a small smile. "Y-yes Anonymous, that sounds like rather good advice. Thank you."

                                            >You scratch your finger with your chin. [spoiler][/spoiler] "You...can call me Anon if you want to."

                                            >It was only fair, you were allowed to call her Celestia.

                                            >Celestia's smile grows wider and less nervous. "I would like that Anon."

                                            >She levitates her meal up again.

                                            >"Shall we finish here and continue with our day?"

                                            >You grab your own sandwich and throw off a smile.

                                            "Of course, Celestia. I'd love to."

                                            >Guarding her as she walks the streets.

                                            >Not the weirdest "first date" ever.