The Slumbering Servant.

For Princess Celestia, today was beautiful. Ever since her sister, Luna, came back, the days seemed to be even brighter and warmer than before. She was overjoyed at her sister's return, and glad to put the whole incident with Nightmare Moon behind her. Some have said that Celestia was being too forgiving. She had returned Luna's royal power and even gave her free reign to go about the castle without some one to watch her. Some would say that not watching Luna was downright foolish, but Celestia loves her sister and was willing to have a little faith. If Luna tries something again...well hopefully it will never come to that. The past is the past, and Celestia hoped only for brighter days ahead.

Celestia just raised the sun and was now making her way to her chambers. It wouldn't be long and she would have to go meet the courts and the nobles. ugh, those insufferable nobles. They have so much power and money, and what do they want? More money! She often wonders what purpose the nobles in Canterlot even serve. Seems like all they do is hoard their wealth and boast about it to anyone less well off,

When she entered her chambers, she was about to rest on her bed, but noticed that she received a letter. She went over and examined it. It was from Twilight Sparkle. That made her glad. She loved to read Twilight's letters on friendship. They always put a smile on her face and joy in her heart.

She opened the letter and began to read it. Her emotions went from joy to shock. She quickly put the letter aside and wrote her own and sent it. She then called her guards. Two of them entered the room and addressed her.

"Majesty, you called?" One of them asked.

"Yes, I did. I need you to send a chariot to Ponyville at once. They will be escorting my student, Twilight Sparkle and...a guest to the palace."

"Yes, mam. It will be done." The guards left her.

Celestia turned around and sat on her bed. The letter Twilight sent had said some very interesting things.

"So...it seems that the guardians aren't all gone." She said to herself.

Zakari and Twilight were currently in a chariot, being taken to the royal palace in Canterlot. Last night, when the group got back to Ponyville, Twilight thought it would be best if Zakari stay at her place for the night. The other ponies were so interested in Zakari that they opted to do the same. For hours, Zakari sat on the floor, surrounded by curios ponies that bombarded him with questions. Though the majority of the questions were provided by Twilight. He told them every thing he could. He told them about his people and their ways. His favorite color(yellow). He told them of his interests and hobbies. And yes, he even told them about his views of war and his carnivorous diet. The night would have been perfect if a certain mint green unicorn didn't keep"accidently" bumping his crotch. She said it wasn't on purpose, but he's not so sure.

It was during this time that Twilight also brought up the disappearance of humanity. It shocked Zakari to know that he was the last of his kind. He honestly didn't know what to think.

He also met Spike too. They're buddies now. Spike finally has someone who he can fist bump.

When morning rolled around, Twilight thought it was time to inform the Princess. She wrote her letter, explaining the latest development, and had Spike send it. It was a few minutes later when a reply was sent. It seems the Princess is sending a chariot to take them to the palace post haste. While Twilight believed that the Princess would be interested in the news, she didn't realize how interested. So the immediate sending of a chariot surprised her.

After reading the letter, Twilight went downstairs to wake the sleeping warrior for a second time. The human had chosen to sleep on the floor. Actually, all but Twilight slept on the floor that night. Anyway, she went downstairs and was greeted by a sight that both surprised her...and forced her to hold back a giggle.

On the floor was Zakari...spooning Fluttershy. Apparently, last night, Fluttershy fell asleep next to Zakari, and some time later he turned over, grabbed her, and began hugging her like a teddy bear. All without waking himself up. Fluttershy however...she was awake, but too nervous to make a sound.

Twilight walked over to the sleeping human. "Zakari, time to wake up." She whispered.

His eyes slowly opened and he was greeted to the sight of something light pink blocking his vision. He blinked, trying to correct his vision, but the pink did not go away. He pulled his head back, giving him a better view of the surroundings. He finally realized what the pink was. He had been nuzzling Fluttershy's mane. He quickly let go.

"Oh, Miss Fluttershy, I'm so sorry!"

"T-that's fine. No harm done."  They both got up off the floor. Zakari did a series of stretches and Twilight could hear the cracking of his spine, neck and knuckles. She looked up at him.

"I need you to get your things ready. I sent Princess Celestia a letter a while ago, and she's sending a chariot to escort us to Canterlot. She really wants to meet you."

"The Princess requests my presence? I'm honored. I will gather my things immediately." He walked over to the table, where he placed his things the night before. As he put them on, he made a mental checklist.

"Chest piece, check, gauntlets, check, boots, check, codpiece, check, helmet, check, sword, check...1,500 year old candy bar that I left in my pocket...check. Ok, I'm good!"

"Alright. The chariot will be here in a few minutes. Fluttershy, if the others wake up later, tell them that Zakari and I had to leave for Canterlot."

"Ok." Responded the timid pony."Did the Princess say why she was summoning you?"

"No, only that she really wanted to meet the last of the guardians, as she called them." She looked out the window and saw that the chariot had arrived. "Ok, time to go. You ready?"

"Yes, Miss Sparkle, I'm ready." They left the house.

Which brings us back to them being in a chariot, flying high in the sky. Kinda got off topic didn't I.

Princess Celestia was in her throne room, awaiting her guests. A messenger had just informed her of their arrival, and it wouldn't be long now. Suddenly, she felt a tingle go up her spine.

'I sense something...a presence I've not felt since...' She was cut off in mid thought as the doors to the throne room opened. In walked her faithful student and...him. They walked up to where the stairs form on her throne. Zakari quickly got down on his hands and knees and bowed his head to the floor. To him, this was normal procedure, but it surprised Celestia and Twilight. Celestia  couldn't remember the last time anyone showed her so much respect as to put their head to the floor.

"Please human, rise." Said Celestia "You need not sully your self by licking the dirt."

Zakari did as he was asked and got up off the floor. He looked at her with no expression on his face. Twilight wondered what was wrong, he wasn't acting anything like this last night. Celestia got up off her throne and walked down the stairs. She stood in front of him now.

"I...remember you. It has been so long, and yet I still remember your face as they moved your body out of this very room. The guards told me that you died, yet here you stand."

Twilight stayed quiet and watched. Celestia waited for a response, but none came.

"Why do you not speak?" She asked him.

"You did not say that I could, your highness."

"Why would you need my permission to speak?"

"That was what I was told and trained. When in company of the royal family, speak only when spoken to." He kept his face expressionless, and did not look her in the eye.

"Ah, I see. Those were the rules that my father put into affect. I loved my father dearly, but he was too strict. No one has fallowed that rule for a very long time. Please, feel free to speak as candidly as you wish, I will not punish you."

"Thank you, Princess."

"I only desire the happiness of my subjects, you included. Speak to me as you would any other."

He nodded his head.

"Now, please tell me, how are you alive after all this time. And looking as young as the day I first saw you?"

He told the Princess his story about being in the statue and how it was Twilight who set him free. Zakari wondered why the other guards would tell her that he was dead. Why would they lie? Celestia was surprised that Twilight had taken on such a journey without consulting her first. Twilight's excuse was that she did not want to disturb the Princess if the whole thing turned out to be just a myth. Twilight herself recalled that she was quite reluctant to believe that humans even existed.

Zakari also asked the princess about the disappearance of his people. But not even she knew. Apparently, one day they just vanished. One minute they were there and the next they were not. This just forced more questions into his head. He was the last of his kind, and he didn't even know how or why.

The Princess and Zakari talked like this for about an hour. Near the end, he had only one more question.

What was he going to do now?

"So, what happens now? Will I be returning to my duties?" Zakari asked.

The Princess thought it over for a moment before saying."No, I have something else for you. Twilight, could you please leave us for a moment?" The purple unicorn nodded and left the throne room. Celestia watched as Twilight left, and only spoke when she was sure that the door was closed.

Twilight tried to hold back her tears, but one fell across her cheek. It wasn't fair! She was just starting to form a wonderful friendship with Zakari and now, just as quickly as they met, they must part. She thought back to yesterday, when she first set him free. How he smiled at her, how he treated complete strangers with respect. She admired him, in a away. Sure, they could write letters to each other, and visit once in a while, but it's not the same as if they lived right next to one another.

The door opened and Zakari stepped through.

"So, I guess this is it. It was really great meeting you, Zakari. Once you find a place, write to me and send me your address, that way I can write back."

He smiled at her. She really had no idea.

"Twilight...I'm not going any where."

"W-what? But I thought that you-"

"The Princess has decided that, since you and your friends are the bearers of the elements, you need help and protection."

"Wait, does that mean your coming back to Ponyville?"

"Yes, it does."

She jumped up and hugged him. He hugged her back, then placed her back down.

"There's more to it than that though."

"What? What do you mean?"

"By royal decree, you, Twilight Sparkle, have complete command of one Black Shield warrior."

Twilight cocked her head to the side, trying to understand what he meant. She..was in command...of him?

He got down on his knees again."Mistress Sparkle...what are your orders?"