=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.