".......Never thought living in a castle would be so boring."

Craft was currently laying on her back, paper hat on top of her belly, in her new room.

Earlier the guard, which to her immense happiness was not one of the ones that had chased her, had taken her on a some what long journey from the medical wing to the living quarters. They had made several twist and turns that Craft tried desperately to remember for future reference. Craft felt a bit polarized as they had walked due to some the stares she got, thankfully they were few and far between. They all came from ponies who she either recognized from night court or looked like the kind of ponies that would belong with the ponies that had been at the night court. Maids or other staff seemed to pay her no mind, even if she herself would stare at a unicorn every now and then as they passed by holding something or other in their magic.

When they made it to the living quarters she found that it was a large spiral tower, it's roof reaching high up to the point of almost not being seen from the bottom. Leading to the top was a stair case that held a platform about every ten feet. These platforms lead to another room. Each one either had a name or number. The last feature was what looked to be four ornate 1930's styled elevators but instead of some kind of pulley system there was just a large crystal fastened to their tops. They looked to stop at their own platforms after about every twenty rooms. Craft felt hesitantly excited despite the thoughts still lingering in her mind. While it looked like it shouldn't work she knew that somehow the lift would as the guard walked in and waited on her. Stepping in she saw that it only had a lever on the inside aside from the wallpaper. After she was inside it the guard pulled and latched the door shut before pulling the lever, and then they were off. The cart shot up quickly and was only just slow enough for Craft to make out what levels they were passing. When the guard finally stopped it they were on level thirteen.

Her room was number three-fifty-eight. The guard escorted her the rest of the way, gave her the key to the room, said that until the Princesses said otherwise she could live here and that if she needed anything to just ask one of them, and then left back down the elevator. The inside of the room had been a bit of a trip for Craft. The bed was queen sized, which she didn't like really. She never liked having something that was a chore to navigate and that included crawling three feet to get out of bed, but it looked so comfortable that she decided not to complain. Besides the bed she first noticed that the room looked much larger then how the rooms had been spaced would allow. Taking a quick look back outside she found that at some point the rooms had been spaced out much more as they got higher and most likely bigger as well. Coming back in and taking the room in she began to explore it's various features.

The first thing was two large bookshelves on one wall. One played host to many books with subjects ranging from history to recent magical studies and classical literature while the other was bare for her to fill with her own books of choice. They were stationed next to a door which upon inspection lead to an elegant bathroom. The tub was wide and could very easily double for a hot tub, and to her surprise she found more crystals at the bottom of the tub covered with flat glass. Looking at the wall the tub was on she saw that there were three small switches with a letter over each and an unmarked nob below them. H and C seemed easy enough, hot and cold water presumably would come out of the nozzle mounted at the top or out of the small pipe on one side of the tub depending on rather the knob was pulled out or not, but the last one was a mystery she felt like solving right then and there. She hopped in and flipped the switch. Nothing happened at first, but after a few seconds a soft glow came from the bottom of the tub. Little deduction was needed to figure out that it was the covered crystals. It was rather interesting how they had combined a bath, shower, AND hot tub all into one.

With that done she got out and looked for the toilet. Having already used them while she was still in the hospital she wasn't really surprised by it's design when she saw it. They resembled some Japanese designs she had seen and so outside of getting comfortable using one it wasn't anything too much to understand them. Instead of a bowl to sit on it was a flat cream colored square with a hole in the middle. It was made out of padded material to sit on, with two small polls jutting out at the back. One had a small button that flushed it and the other simply held a role of teepee. Not needing to relieve herself at the moment she went on to the last fixture, the sink. While it certainly was ornately made it was rather generic. It looked like just about any other upper class bathroom sink. Nice big basin, pipe with knobs for hot and cold water, big wide mirror, and the cabinets underneath held every toiletry you could possibly ever need. With nothing left she walked back into the main room.

The room was by all means huge, but it held little else of interest. A side table sat next to the bed, a singular rose held in a vase on top. On the far wall next to some double doors that went out to a balcony was a desk adorned with a few blank sheets of paper, a ink well with quill, and some envelopes. Deciding to go out and take a look on the balcony she noticed there was a white chest at the end of her bed. She made the mental note to check it for anything after she got back in. Nudging one door open she went out and once again started expecting her surroundings. The balcony was small but would likely seat two ponies nicely. She had to take a few minutes to take in the whole view when she looked over the marble railing.

Far below she could see more of the castle, it's expansiveness solidify what she already knew: She was indeed now living in a true castle that could easily go one on one with some of the greatest structures back on earth. While many of the spires and domes that made up the kingdom were simple in appearance, having no overly complex decorations, the simple ingenuity that went into keeping it all attached to the side of the mountain and to every other part of it's whole was astounding. Further out from the main castle itself she could see the city of Canterlot if she remembered it's name right. She saw blimp like aircraft floating in and out from large ports all around the outer edges of the city. Many towers and more spire reached out from the buildings, as if to try and emulate the castle for which they surrounded. Many a manor dotted the city, all of them with a garden to accompany the many open to all ones already placed about. Nearly every building within eyesight was colored in some combination of gold and white, with small occasions of light and dark blue ones or even the very rare uniquely colored homes that wanted to express themselves apart from the others. Past the castle or the city was a great valley that spread great and far along the land. It was home of one small town there could barely be made out as anything more then a dot from where she stood. All in all it was a breathtaking sight to actuality see the world Craft now lived in.

After a good lengthy time she tore her vision away from the painting like land and walked back in. She felt calmer now, but it was still heavy on her heart what she knew she needed to do. Taking a quick look inside the chest to find nothing before hoof she sat herself at the desk and began to work on her letter to Luna. It still took her a considerable amount of time to write it, and also a considerable number of papers, to write out exactly what she wanted to say but after an hour or so she had gotten a letter felt would do the job.

Dear Luna,

Luna, it's been some time since we've been able to sit down and really talk as you know. I'm very glad that you still think of me as a friend after all the trouble I've caused in the short time I've been here. I'd like to apologize to you personally, but that's not the reason I'm writing to you. There is something personal I'd like to talk to you about as soon as possible. Please understand though that it's no emergency, don't feel you need to take time out of your extremely busy schedule to come see me. Especially since I've likely added to your load with my antics. Sorry.

Your (thankfully) friend,

Art Craft

She quickly folded it and sealed it in an envelope, marking it appropriately like she had seen with other letters (She put "From Art Craft" were she would have put her cutie mark). She took the letter with her back down to the base of the tower and looked for a guard to ask about how she could send it. She didn’t want to stray too far from the tower in fear of having some other romp in the castle halls and so was grateful when she saw a guard milling about in front of the doors outside of the tower living quarters doors. He looked to be getting off duty as he wasn't marching about tall and stone like, in fact he looked as if his armor was going to crush him any second now. His dark gray coat was marred with sweat as he leaned against the wall and rested. Craft hoped he was going off duty because he was going to have a stroke at this rate. She really didn't want to bother the guy but really REALLY didn't want to go further then she needed to and so approached the poor stallion.

"Um, excuse me?"

He apparently hadn't noticed her before and jumped. Quickly turning her direction he came to attention and saluted. When he saw who was in front of him he calmed down visibly but still held his posture, to the great protesting of his shaking legs.

"Ye-yes ma'am?"

His voice was softer than the other guards she had meet but she paid it little mind.

"Well, first off you don't have to worry. I can understand having a hard day, you can relax for now. Or at least until I can stop hearing you knees click together when you stand."

The guard was at first stunned, go through a small bit of anger, calmed himself, looked like he was preparing himself to argue, then just slumped to the floor in defeat and exhaustion.

"Thanks I guess. I'm off work and was heading to the barracks to put up my armor, but until I have it off I need to do my job. That means as long as I have it on I need to keep up my appearance, even in front of civilians, so if you could-"

"Keep this between us?"

"Yeah."

Deciding that she wouldn't have anything better to do with her day after she got this letter sent she sat down next to the weary guard.

"My names Art Craft, nice to meet ya."

"Oh, um...I'm Iron Boot. And it's nice to meet you too."

"So Ron, if you don't mind me calling you that, can ya tell what's got you so beat?"

"If you want to sit here for a while."

"As long you tell how to get my letter sent because I just got moved in I sit here all day."

"Sounds like a deal to me."

Ron got into a more comfortable position then spoke.

"I'm a fairly new recruit to be honest. I've gotten used to the daily in and outs of guard life, but when I'm called in to actually do something hard I can get my flank handed to me from time to time and the last few days have been nothing but hard. There's this mare that's come to the castle recently who has caused a political NIGHTMARE. While the full details about her haven't been let out to the general public it's still obvious that for some reason shes important 'cus both the Princesses have personally involve with this."

Craft's pupils shrunk tremendously but she looked out a window before he could notice and nodded for him to go on.

"But like some nobles I could name shes more trouble than she's worth. Twice in one day she runs around like shes headless and then that same night crashes Princess Luna's night court which is when the trouble really began to snowball. Now every reporter from here to the freaking GRIFFON KINGDOM is trying to get a scoop. Most of them are being stopped at the castle doors and after being told no enough time go away, but then there's the ones that try sneaking around and getting inside the castle. We've found them as far as the Princesses rooms. They all want to get that big interview with this weird new mare, especially now with what the newspapers been saying about her."

"Heh heh, yeaaah. I've read some of those. It seems that their trying to say that shes in a romantic relationship with Princess Luna...."

"Yup, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to her being at that night court everypony's got a pretty good idea for what their looking for. The biggest thing is that she doesn't have a cutie mark for some reason. It's insane, but everypony that was there says it's true, so I don't know."

"You don't, do you. It's kinda weird that don't now that I think about it. You're part of the royal guard too, shouldn't you know?"

"Unfortunately no. Only those picked by Celestia or Luna themselves for a job involving her know anything about it, and even then they get told to keep it completely secret until the media get over it."

"...So you you're not exactly a fan of her then?"

*sigh* "I can't say that I am, but I've heard that she went through some really bad surgery or something and that she was still going through recovery at the time. It makes sense with the fact that Steel Will and Fire Shot were posted at the medical wing a few days ago went everything went to tartarus. As long as she stays out of trouble then I won't care either way."

"Alright, so you've been having to be on the look out for rogue reporters, and probably have had more as of recently too. Anything else?"

"Just that the nobles have been freaking out, but that's nothing new. They go into hysteria if Celestia so much as try a different hair style for a day."

"Ugh, and they wonder why it is I wouldn't want to be famous."

"Tell me about it."

Craft stood up and smiled at Ron.

"Don't worry, I sure things will clear up soon, it's seemed calm around here the last two days. At least no ponies running about anyway."

Ron smiled back and was getting up when voice boomed from behind them both.

"PRIVET IRON BOOTS, WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE TWO SISTERS ARE YOU DOING LAZING AROUND IN YOU MILITARY UNIFORM!?"

Craft felt as though she could have touched the ceiling if had gotten a few more feet off the ground. Ron was up in a statue still salute before she was back on solid ground with another pony garbed in a guard outfit in his face.

"Sorry sir! I was heading to the barracks Sir! General Armor Weight has relieved me of my duties today Sir!"

"And does that explain why it is you, in your full armor, were sitting about in this hallway like some punk teen!?"

"That would be my fault General."

Ron's eyes went wide as the General turned around. By now Craft had gotten her bearings and made a hasty decision. It was truly her fault that Ron had been slacking off, even if he technically was done with work today, and so went to amend the situation. That was made a more daunting task when she found that the guard in question was none other than one of the ones that had been posted at the medical wing.

("Well shit on a stick and call me fucked.")

The Generals eyes went ever so minutely wide before they narrowed in frustration.

"Oh for the love of Zacherle, what are you doing here?"

Craft held a deadpan stare of her own, even as she fought the strange new urge to put her tail between her legs.

"Well if you must know, I was trying to talk with Iron Boots, but then you came yelling around like a mad guy."

"Hmph. Regardless he has to maintain his role as guard until he takes that armor off no matter what. I'm not sure why it you're trying to defend him but it's not going to work."

"I'm defending him because one, it's not his fault, two, rather you believe it or not I won't let others get in trouble for my mistakes, and second, I asked him to sit with me."

"You asked him to sit with you?"

"Yes, yes I did. I got lonely and with no one else to talk to I figured I talk with him. He was an unbelievable good listener for that matter."

The General and Craft had a few seconds long staring contest before looking back at Ron.

"Is this true private?"

Ron felt paralyzed under the unrelenting look of his superior officer, but still found the courage to speak up.

"Yes Sir. She asked me to sit with her as she talked Sir."

The feeling of palatalization came in handy has he remained still and let the General glare at him. With a "humph" he turned back to Craft.

"Very well. But don't go requisitioning my privates again just to alleviate your loneliness. Understood?"

"Yeah, I got it."

One more cold stare later the General marched off, Ron nearly collapsing as soon as he turned the corner. Craft laughed and sat back down next to him.

"Pewh, I really owe you for that."

"Ah it was nothing. He's got something up his bum anyway. Besides, I couldn't let you get blamed for me asking you to take a load off."

"Even still, thanks. I need to repay you."

"No ya don't. It's just what anypony with some sense of good in them would have done. You don't have to do anything special."

"Well...maybe, but I still want to return the favor...Wait, you said you needed to get a letter sent right?"

"Yeah, I just moved in today and I'm not sure how to send mail yet."

"Then let me help. Normally you'd have to get up early in the morning to give you mail to the delivery pony, but I know some ponies that work in the castles personal mail office. I can it sent in today."

"But your beat, it's honestly fine. I can just get up tomorrow."

"Come on, let me at least do this. Steel Wool would have had me running until next month if you hadn't helped me. Besides it'll just give me a chance to hang out with some friends."

Craft wanted to protest, the fact that he looked as though he could quite literally fill a bucket making her want to argue, but just let it drop after she figured it would just tire him out more.

"Okay, you win. But you better grab an ice cream or something on your way."

"Hey, your not gonna hear me fight with that idea."

Just grinning at the sweaty guard she pulled the letter from it's resting place, tucked behind her ear, and hoofed it over.

"Thanks for doing this, it's going to help me a lot. I've got to go, somethings I need to get ready for, but don't be afraid to come see me if you want to talk."

"I'll be sure to keep you in mind."

They smiled at each other and Craft turned to leave. Ron looked at the letter, being careful not to get it wet, and was surprised to see it was addressed to Princess Luna of all ponies. He looked back over to where Craft was going and only got a glimpse of her very clearly blank flank as she walked back into the living quarters and shut the door behind her. He was left to stand there opening and closing his mouth in stunned understanding. He finally just shook his head and walked off towards the barracks deciding he'd definitely take her up on that offer to talk more.

After the short ordeal Craft quickly got back up to her room and went about her favorite activate to do when she was thinking: walking about in loose formations of circles. Not much of substance was thought of but she couldn't stop herself. There was a tight ball of energy in her stomach thanks to the ever growing nervousness of what may come.

("What if I'm being too paranoid? Luna and just about every other pony I've meet has been nothing but kind to me, or if they haven't it was because of something that was partially my fault. But again what if I'm right to be paranoid? How can I fight back against an ancient powerful moon controlling being? What if-")

Her train of thought went on like this for some time. Craft had burned a good chunk of her day away doing this and felt a deep burning in her legs when she was rid of the feelings that had been hanging over her. With that out of her system she came to a troubling new realization. She had nothing to do. She had done what she needed today and was now left with free time and no idea how to use it. She thought about exploring the castle but thought better of it. With reporters still about and her most likely guide that she would need being another guard she threw that off the table until she could talk to Luna. That just left the books on her shelf. And it was then that she found that they were pretty much as dry as a bone in a dessert in the middle of summer at the peak of global warming. Even the history book that had been given to her in recovery had at least made it interesting. Every book on that shelf made her want to eat the cardboard so she could get something less bland.

This is how she came to be laying on the bed mid day with nothing more than a paper hat she made herself in the hopes to try and use her imagination to help fight the solitude and silence of her room while laying on her belly as she was on her back at the moment.

"Stupid reporters...stupid books....stupid nobles...stupid........everything."

As she laid there condemning all to their stupidity she got a glimmer of an idea that would help to pass some time. A small grin graced her face as she got up, letting the paper hat fall to the ground, and walked to the bathroom.

"I have a freaking hot tube now. Hell yeah!"

Walking in she went to the sink first and got a few bottles of bath salts and two towels from the cabinet, put them on a rack next to the tub, plugged the drain pipe, turned the water on nice and hot, and jumped to let the slow rise of the steamy liquid relax her. She felt her new body relax as rolling little waves massaged the tension out of her muscles. She slowly slid her body down further into the ever rising water until her back hooves hit the other side of the tub ,trying to speed up getting more of her inside it's soothing warmth. When it was just an inch away from spilling over she move as little as possible to turn the stream off. She felt better than she had in all the short time she had been here. The water seemed to be able to touch her just in all the right ways to-

"UGGGGHH!!!!"

Craft threw her head back in frustration as she felt something she had very pointedly made great efforts to try and completely ignore and forget about ever since she came to find out she had it. With no way to run from herself and knowing that for at least now she had complete privacy she looked down at herself and said what she had been avoiding even trying to so much as have a thought about a thought about it. Something that she decided that in the luxury of true solitude that ironically she had been fighting off before she would explore in the hopes of coming to terms and understand it.

"I have a vagina."

Author's Note

Again a little short on this one. Some times I just can't think of much to fill the whole 5'000 word minimum I've set for myself, but that's bound to happen from time to time I suppose. I still hope you enjoyed it regardless of it's length. As always rate fairly & freely and thanks for reading!