To Guard The Sun

Vl - OPERATION: Shadow Celestia

Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

*RIIIIIINNNNGGGGGGGG*

Celestia's alarm clock starts ringing only to be silenced by a yellow aura a few moments later. "Shut up, stupid alarm clock..." Celestia grumbled, not wanting to get up but does with a groan. Looking at the alarm clock her face looked as if she was deep in thought for a few moments. Lifting her head from the clock she had a small frown on her face, looking around the room. "Hmmm, Seems as if Sunlight took the day off as I told him to. Although, it was nice having him around yesterday." Pushing herself from the bed seemed to be a little difficult for her but she managed after a few attempts her horn lighting up and the sun slowly rises up into the sky, the sight visible from where I sat out the balcony window. It's something you never get used to seeing and is beautiful to see.

"Another day, another..." Celestia began to say until a pop was heard, making Celestia turn her head to who just appeared in the room, her sister Luna. "Ah good morning Luna. I hope last night was pleasant for you." She states using her magic to pull on her gold slippers and lift her necklace on as well.

"A good morning indeed sister, although... what took you so long to raise the sun this morning?" Luna asked, seeming to find her sister's slight tardiness out of character.

"I just got a little caught up in my own thoughts this morning, nothing to worry about I assure you. Although you wouldn't normally care too much about a minute or two of extra night... So what is on your mind Luna?" She asks her horn lighting up and pulling on her royal attire, the last piece being the Tiara.

"Well for a start I can't help but notice that your new guard is absent... did you remove him from the position already?" She inquires looking around the room briefly. Both of them completely unaware I'm standing in the room listening in.

Celestia simply smiles and shakes her head. "No, I've given him the day off so he can reflect on yesterday... Considering that yesterday was taxing on him with the kitchen staff being hard on him on purpose with that heavy platter was your doing was it not?" Luna said nothing and nodded refusing to meet her sisters eyes. "I figured that out the moment he brought it in and I opened it. While I am unhappy with your course of action against SunLight, I do appreciate your concern and want to test him. I already tested him with a few things, and it seems he's already passed the current one as well..."

Wait did she just...? Did she just glance at me? No she couldn't have... Did she know I was here the whole time? But how? I mean i've been making sure not to breathe when they are looking in my general direction so how could she? Unless she's felt my presence watching over her? Is that an actual thing or..? Or maybe she put an enchantment on the door or the room that tells her where I am? No... I'm definitely over thinking this... Just continue the mission.

"Luna I have court to attend to today... So if you'd excuse me I have to be on my way." Luna nods and bids a quiet farewell before disappearing with a pop sound. "Sister you worry too much for me, I wish you'd worry more about yourself." Celestia shakes her head showing a slight frown but it melts away back to a gentle smile as she heads out into the hall closing the door behind her.

I wait a few moments before following suit being sure to be as stealthy as possible when opening and closing the door to Celestia's room. Then heading off to the grand hall where day court is held. It wasn't too difficult to get in unnoticed, however it's another story to actually get next to Celestia when every guards eyes are trained on the line of ponies and the Princess herself.

It took about an hour, but i managed to get right in the spot Celestia told me to sit in when screening the last of the guard applications about a yard to the right of her thrown. Doing a scan around a room with my eyes keeping my movement to a complete minimum it didn't seem like anyone has noticed me. Good now I can relax just a little bit and actually listen.

"... I know it's a lot to ask Princess but would it be possible to have another patrol or maybe guards be posted so the problem can be completely avoided?" The pony that's currently speaking is one I've recognized from the papers... Fancy Pants I believe I saw in the paper that one of his ware houses got robbed recently and there was an attempt to break into another one just recently.

"Fancy Pants, another patrol or posting guards outside your Warehouses isn't possible, as much as I'd like to help our guards have much more important duties like patrolling the streets and aiding other citizens I cannot delegate guards to protect a single ponies property. I will however have a word with the captain about raising the patrols for the general area due to the robbery and attempted robberies that have been happening. That is all I can do." Celestia explains with little thought to her response as if she knew what to say before she even had to say it.

Fancy Pants didn't seem to like the answer that was given and simply bowed his head and made his way out after bidding the princess a polite good day but I could swear I saw him say a few things under his breath as he left.

Court went on like that for about 3 more hours and honestly it was rather boring. All it was was listening to a bunch of ponies gripe about their problems or complain about land borders. Little did I know I was going to be in for quite the fiasco.

A light blue colored stallion wearing a tux stepped forward, he had a dark brown mane and cream colored eyes. He is quite build a bit more so than your average earth pony and easily double my size. "Princess Celestia, my name is Gallant Radiance, and I hope you'll allow me to speak my heart." The room got extremely quiet at those words. "I've been very quiet about my feelings for years now but I'd like to put them out there." Celestia nodded and he continued. "Princess, I'd like to ask for the honor of courting you."

Celestia was silent I even turned my head to look at her for her answer. I've never heard of this happening before. Somepony asking to court her? Just what is going through her mind at this moment? The whole room was so silent you could hear a pin drop from the other side of it. Not only that, it had a feeling of tension to it, almost eerie feeling.

"Gallant," Celestia began her smile no longer present on her face. "Are you certain you want to attempt at courting me? Every day you will live with the eyes of the public on you. You will no longer have the luxury of privacy and all of your movements and actions will be judged not only by the public but by me personally. So I will ask once more... Are you certain?"

Gallant seemed to hesitate, and that's when I noticed how scary my position is as well... I am in a position very close to Celestia myself, my every move and action is noticed and reacted to by the public and Celestia as well. My job is much more than I've come to realize. Everything that I do will be watched and judged by every single individual including Celestia. It's a lot of pressure, and I'm just her guard. Courting is a whole different situation, you wont be with Celestia every second of the day that's for sure, but every action you take will be a direct reflection on Celestia and she could face political back-lash for it.

After what had felt like quite a few minutes he responded,"Yes. I understand the gravity of the situation but I still want to court you."

Celestia seemed to sigh softly shaking her head no slowly. "Gallant while brave and honest you may be, I have to refuse. I am not convinced that you understand just how heavy a burden it is. Not only that, but I believe that if you had thought about the true gravity of your words and actions you'd have been much more private about a matter such as this. Now..." She stands up from her thrown and looks to the lieutenant across the room. "Valoran... Escort everyone out, court for today is adjourned." After that she left the room with a dignified walk however her signature warm smile was absent from her face.

I watched as everyone was escorted out leaving me in the empty room and my thoughts, however I have no time to be sitting around thinking to myself. I have mission to complete, even if it means telling Celestia I've been around all day. I have to make sure she's okay. Heading out the same door that Celestia made her way out of and looking down the hall I see her sitting by a window looking out at Canterlot. I made my way over careful not to make a sound.

Celestia sighs lightly her mood bordering what looks and sounds like depression. "SunLight.... You're here aren't you? If you are speak now. I have felt your eyes on me the whole time during court and this morning while talking with my sister. I need somepony to talk to right now."

"Yes I'm here," Celestia's head turns towards me here eyes seeming to lock onto mine as i sit down. "I've been here the whole time... Just as I should be." Her horn lights up and my body lights up in a yellow glow and when I look down I can once again see myself. Seems she dispelled the effects of the potion. It will make this part much easier.

"So it seems that you disobeyed me, and didn't take the day off. Did I not make myself clear that today was for you to reflect on yesterday and everything that had happened?" Was it just me or did she sound saddened that I disobeyed?

"I can't say that I didn't disobey your order to take today off... but, I'm glad I did. If I hadn't I wouldn't have understood exactly what you were trying to get me to understand. That's not important right now though... You wanted to talk.. So right now, I'm not here as your guard, I'm here as your friend." Celestia sighed and her smile started to show back on her face even if it was half of what her usual smile is. "Now lay it on me I'm ready to listen."