The Celestial Guard

T-4 hours

The sun rose into the sky and washed the lands of Equestria with its warm light. The night receded into the corners of ponies minds as they awoke for their slumber. However Swift Hooves had not been in slumber at all, he had been preparing for the yearly parade, positioning guards, setting up patrol routes and scouting the path the parade would travel down. He could feel the tiredness in his body and every ache in his muscles. Flash Sentry had convinced him to take a rest and that he would handle the rest., while Swift Hooves did trust his friend, he could help but feel that something would go horribly wrong today.

                                      Bright Eyes walked down the street to the castle, he had his trap to set for his Master. He had been told by his Master that this had to succeed and he was willing to do whatever was necessary. A group of guards stood outside the gate, preparing to be appointed a position by Flash Sentry, but he had other matters to attend to, so they were told to wait. Bright Eyes knew exactly what to do.

"Hey you, Flash Sentry wants you in the barracks! What are you waiting for?, get a move on!"

The guards groaned and headed towards the barracks. They didn't see Bright Hooves smirking, or the black figures that now lurked in the shadows in the barracks. He close the door and said,

"Goodbye now."

They looked at him puzzled, one was about to speak up but then a flash of green magic struck him in the back. The others were also slain by the black figures.

"Good...now hurry up and put their armor on, Flash Sentry is coming back, best not keep him waiting. The black figures obeyed and headed out the door.

                                                    Flash Sentry walked down the corridor, he couldn't understand how Swift had dealt with this pressure, he thought it would be easy, how wrong could he have been. Not all was bad though, he had finally Twilight's affection from last night. He felt drawn to her, ever since he first saw her in the Crystal Kingdom, she had also admitted that she liked him. Things couldn't be going better in life. He exited the castle and went over to the group of guards he had "abandoned" to go on more "important" business, well... it was more important for him, he didn't want Twilight to feel unwanted.

"Alright ponies! Lets get to work, Iron Hide I want you to..........."

T-3 hours

Celestia had been "kidnapped" by her personal beauty assistant, Soft Mane, sadly like any other mare she wanted to gossip, gossip about a specific stallion.

"So Celes? Is he your special somepony?"

Celestia sighed, while she was a great friend, she was quite excitable, especially when it came to stallions.

"No he's not my special somepony, we're just good friends."

"Then what's all this noise I've heard about from the castle? Apparently you were getting intimate with him, even going on top."

Celestia's face burned with greater intensity than the sun which she raised, "I did not, I simply tripped and felt on top of him and he was re-teaching me how to use a sword."

"Yea, his sword.", giggled Soft Mane.

Celestia blushed even more, "Do you want me to banish you to the moon?"

"If I got to the end of this, it would be worth it."

Celestia sighed, "Just get back to work."

"There....., I'm finished."

"What? So soon?"

"Uhhh....., I wanted to interrogate you more...."

The Princess shook her head in disappointment. She walked over to her mirror and admired herself. The image she was stunning. her mane had been combed and conditioner had been added, now an shiny multi-coloured mane flew behind her neck, in its typical rebellious fashion. Her dress was inlaid by diamonds and weaved from silk sourced from Saddle Arabia.

Seems like that trade agreement paid off. I wonder if Swift Hooves would like it?

Recently Celestia had been getting desperate. She felt like it was necessary to find out his feeling for her, if he had any. It would make the Princess feel vindicated.

I JUST NEED TO KNOW, SWIFT HOOVES DO YOU LOVE ME?!

It had really gotten desperate, on numerous occasions she used the magical bond they had to peer into his mind, however he had left his inner thoughts shut from her.

At least he cant read my mind...... yet.

She had forgotten about that, eventually the bond would change from the one way stream it is now to more of a two way road, he would be able to peer into her mind and she knew she couldn't shield herself like the way he did.

I hope it doesn't come to that.

"We must hurry now Celes. The meeting between the organisers will begin soon."

Swift Hooves was pushed put of sleep by Flash Sentry.

"Get off your flank Swift, the meetings in 5 minutes. I'll brief you on what I did while you were sleeping."

The two rushed off hoping not to miss the meeting. They burst through the doors panting.

"You're late Swift."

"Huh?". Swift Hooves looked at Celestia was put in a daze when he saw Celestia in her dress. It was a bit much to bear and his mind got fried. He just stared.

"Are you ok Swift?.....Swift?..SSSSWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTT?"

That woke him up. He shook his head and looked down at the floor, blushing.

"That dress looks stunning on you Celestia."

"Th-Thank you Swift."

(Awkward silence ensues with all its awkwardness.)

"Let's just continue with this please.", interrupted the Parade Manager.

"Yes!", chorused Swift and Celestia at the same time.

T-2 hours

Bright Eyes sent a message to his master with his magic, informing him of what his minion has done. The trap had been set and ready to be sprung....

                                          Meanwhile Princess Twilight had been working in the throne room, as Celestia was at the Parade and Luna had taken some sort of break, she was now stuck with all this paperwork and ponies whining about their problems, hopefully Flash would come in soon. Spoken to soon it seems, the doors opened and Flash Sentry walked in.

"Hi Twilight."

Twilight blushed, "Hi flash."

He walked up and nuzzled her cheek before kissing her there. Then he looked at all the paperwork Twilight had gone through, and what she still had to go through.

"That's a lot of work, I shouldn't distract you from it.", Flash Sentry began to walk out.

"Wait!"

Flash Sentry turned around.

Twilight was about to say something, but blushed at the thought of it.

"What were you about to say?"

"Uhhhhh.... could you sit down next to me?"

Flash grinned, "Sure"

He walked back and sat beside her, their fur making contact Twilight felt his heat and enjoyed it. They both leaned in for a kiss The kiss lasted a few moments but it was everything that she imagined.

"I love you Flash."

"I love you too, Twilight."

Celestia and her beauty assistant were in full panic, Celestia had been foolish enough to sneak a snack and her cupcake had fallen over her dress and it was now covered in icing.

"CELES! HOW COULD YOU, ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME HAVE A MENTAL BREAKDOWN?!"

"Relax Soft, its just some icing,  I'm sure my magic will remove it!"

"WHAT IF IT DOESNT? I WOULD BE THE LAFFING STOCK OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND YOU WOULD LOOK LIKE A FOOL!"

"Just calm Soft, see? I'm going to remove the icing right now with my magic."

Her horn glowed and a bolt of magic hit the stain. A bright flash of light blinded them both, when they regained their, the stain was still there. It was now Celestia's turn to panic as Soft Mane collapsed into a stain induced coma.

"I'M SO SCREWED!"

Just outside the castle gates., the floats for the parade had just been assembled, they depicted moments in the founding of Equestria and the events that followed. The Royal Guards had been assigned to the floats, others were so keep order on the path to the main square. Princess Twilight had to overview the floats and check to see if they were ok, it wasn't exactly hard to do, but she still had a lot on her mind.

T-1 hours

Celestia and her beauty assistant had survived the icing and the preparations were being made. Now Celestia was taking her place on the main float, Swift had to hid in a compartment underneath the place where Celestia would be.

"This sucks...and its dark!"

"Quite complaining you big foal."

"Perhaps I like being a big foal! It is really dark, the only light I get is from these midget view holes!"

Celestia sighed and facehooved," Sometimes I feel like I'm the only pony here who is an adult."

Swift laughed," Really? Mare who stuffed her face with sweets and got a stain on her dress causing a national emergency calls herself an adult?"

Celestia blushed," I-I'm more mature than you!"

"Surrreeeee.", said Swift Hooves sarcastically.

"A princess with a crazy addiction for sweets is defiantly mature."

"Hey, that was you fault!"

"It wasn't my fault that you liked falling into a birthday cake."

"Touché!"

It was Swift Hooves turn to facehoof. Suddenly the floats began shake as Magic coursed through the metal frame, the floats began to move. Swift Hooves was unprepared and feel onto his back and hit his head of the side of the wall. Celestia could only giggle at Swift's clumsiness.

T-0 hours,0 minutes and 10 seconds

The parade had went proceeded without a hitch. No crazy bystanders, everything went as planned. Bright Eyes was standing on the platform behind Celestia, a smile was masking his true intentions, he could feel the excitement in his Tal'Meidir, who were disguised as guards around the town square, where the parade was to stop. This plan was of his Master's design. One thing that stuck odd to Bright Eyes was the fact that his Master insisted on calling his newfound allies "Tal'Meidir" and not the name which was more common to Royal Guards and the general populace. Oh well, who was he to argue with the pony who had tore his soul out from his body!

                                                                              Bright Hooves however did not know  where Swift Hooves was. He had failed to voice his concerns to his Master. The reason was that his Master's nemesis had been killed 2000 years ago. Was his master really that old?

                                        Swift Hooves stood in his little compartment, surveying the town square. It had a large fountain in the centre, with a golden statue of Celestia and Luna.

Damn, even Celstia's statue had a nice flank.