The Celestial Guard

Princess Luna walked through the corridors, engrossed in thought. The more she tried to forget about the recent event the more she thought about it. Celestia had never raised her voice to her, not about anything or anypony, not even when she had banished Luna to the moon.

                                                   She turned left and headed into the dinning hall and made a beeline to the table where Cadence and Shinning Armour sat.

"Something wrong Aunt Luna?", asked Cadence, seeing the distraught face that Luna wore.

"Yes, it seems that we may have angered our sister by asking about the stallion," replied Luna still in deep thought.

"Told you so honey, you should just forget about this and move on, Celestia is unwilling to talk about it and she just shouted at her sister because she asked", Shinning Armour said

"I will not be defeated so easily Shiny, I MUST find out who this stallion is," replied Cadence in an irritated tone.

"Why is our niece so interested in the past of Celestia? Even we are kept in the shadows concerning this,"

"I just want to learn more about my aunt Celestia and I already know a lot more than I should know about you. Celestia seems so closed and shy when it comes to her own agenda and feelings."

"That's because she is busy serving the needs of her kingdom, it has to be done, otherwise we would descend into anarchy."

"I know Shiny, but at the pace she keeps going how long will she last for? It seems her entire life revolves around making treaties with neighbouring countries and helping the problems of her ponies. She has no personal life, and the only connection we have seen her had with a stallion is on a coloured window. Doesn't that worry you?"

"Our sister has been tending to the needs of Equestria for over a thousand years, and she still hasn't broken."

"Who says Aunt Celestia won't break down tomorrow? Can you even begin to imagine the consequences if we leave this issue unresolved? Equestria could be plunged into wide spread anarchy!"

"We never thought of this like that, but we understand your concern. If you truly desire to, I can give you access to the royal library, maybe some light can be shed on this stallion there."

"No, thank you Princess Luna, I think I and Cadence will just forget about this whole thing", Shining Armour said, with a face of even more concern appearing

Cadence looked at her husband and said, "No Shiny, we are going to do this together, even if I have to embarrass you in front of your precious "Royal Guard".

"Fine", replied Shiny, preparing to leave and finally meet those new recruits who he had failed to meet yesterday.

They planned to meet up tonight, outside the library. Twilight was returning from Ponyville and Luna would tell her that Cadence wanted to see her, as she had to return to the crystal empire soon. In fear of Twilight revealing their plans to Celestia, they decided to tell her the truth that night.

Meanwhile in Ponyville,

The mane six sat in a field, enjoying their picnic, all questioning Twilight about her new duties as princess.

"Dear, you must introduce me to some of the prestigious ponies you have met. They would simply adore my new range of clothes."

"Ah'm sure that they would love those clothes Rarity, but even ah have better questions than those."

"Twilight, we have to try out those new wings of yours, we could be the best flying partners ever! Even if you are an egghead."

"OmagoshTwilightweshouldhaveapartymaybeaTwilightisnowaprincessparty?Yesnoyesno?"

Fluttershy attempted to say something, but it couldn't be heard. Twilight was unable to speak over the intense bickering and Spike was too shocked for words. Twilight attempted to speak, but was again shouted down by another of Pinkie's questions. She looked over the field and looked at the town clock. It was half past twelve, the time her train to Canterlot was due.

"Sorry, I have too go, come on Spike", said Twilight

The others groaned and said goodbye in a chorus, as Twilight flew to the train station. Showed her ticket to the conductor and grabbed a seat in the royal carriage, sighing in relief. Suddenly a green flash of fire burst out of Spike's mouth and a letter from Celestia. There was something peculiar about it ,but Twilight couldn't put a hoof on what it was, never the less she still read it,

"Dear Princess Twilight,

I hope you had a good time on leave, you friends probably asked you a lot of messages. I have sent this letter as a welcoming you back to Canterlot, because I am currently very busy, and will lock myself away in my study for the time being. However, your brother, his wife and my sister, Luna will be there to greet you upon arrival. I regret being unable to greet you on your return.

Best Regards,

Princess Celestia."

Twilight was a bit discouraged, however her BBBFF, sister-in-law and fellow princess were there to greet her, so it was better. She hadn't seen Cadence since her coronation and as she was visiting, she may as well spend some time with her. Of course, Twilight had no idea how many rules and regulations they were going to break that night. As she drifted into sleep, she couldn't help but ponder about the way in which Celestia had written the letter, it seemed full of sadness and despair. But Celestia doesn't have those feelings....does she?

                                                                        The sound of a dragon bumping around the cabin, the sudden stop of the train brought Twilight out of her slumber. As she disembarked, she could see a group of Royal Guards, with her BBBFF there.

"Hey little sister! Over here"

Twilight rushed to her brother and hugged him, almost crushing his ribcage in the process.

"You can let go now, Twilight, otherwise I'll have to get a medic."

"Sorry, just haven't seen you for a while."

Shinning grinned, "You saw me three days ago, when you went on leave."

"For me, that's too long"

One of the guards interrupted them, "Captain Shinning Amour, I advise that we should get a move on, your wife and Princess Luna are also interested in seeing Princess Twilight."

"Of course"

At the castle(at night),

(Spike had long left Twilight and was now sleeping in his guest room.)

"You want me to do what?!"

"Don't worry Twilight, Celestia won't catch us", replied Cadence, becoming slightly more desperate.

"But what if she does? She could banish us to the moon!"

"Do not worry Twilight, our sister would not be so impulsive.", said Luna with an assuring tone.

"What if she was, from what you have told me so far, if we delve into this matter, she just might!"

"Relax sister, if you just calm down and trust us, we might just get out of this unscathed.", Shinning said, receiving dangerous stares from the other two mares.

"Ok, but what are we looking for in CELESTIA'S PERSONAL READING WING!"

"Relax Twilight, all will be revealed in due time.", responded Luna

"Alright."

Then Cadence spoke up, "We are looking for any information on the stallion in the stained glass window."

Twilight sighed," Well then, lets get down to it."

For three hours the four ponies searched through every book, every word and every full stop that there was. Twilight in a frustrated sigh threw down a book, one that she thought could have the information they needed. Then she saw something which caught her interest. It was a chapter in a book called "A History of Celestia", the chapter was called "The Celestial Guard". She began reading it. After reading through it, she found a description of one the Celestial Guard Captains, it matched the stallion exactly. It even mentioned an unusual closeness between this stallion and Celestia. It also talked about Celestia's informal state, whatever that meant.

"Hey, I think I found something!"