Icy Wastes

Celestia’s smile was beginning to fade completely. “Come, sit.” She lead him to sit down at the table. Luna and Chrysalis staring wide-eyed at the massive stallion, who was big enough to tower over Celestia by at least a full foot.

“I’m in need of help… so, so badly…” Tharian began quietly. “I…”

“Tharian. Don’t.” Celestia assured, “You’ve been here when I needed somepony to speak to, when I felt at my most alone, you’ve defended Equestria for no reason other than our friendship. My ponies and your horses can’t even speak to each other, yet they’ve come to our aid time and time again. I couldn’t ask anything more from you.” She stated, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Tharian smiled slightly.

“I was already in the process of getting Cadance and Shining to send scouts out to make sure you and your tribe were alive, knowing that you are, but in danger… I’ll have food and whatever else you need gathered and brought to your tribe.” Celestia stated. “Just tell us what you need…” She motioned to Luna who had straightened up now, as she had realized how much Celestia trusted him.

“Thank you.” Tharian said, looking over at Luna and Chrysalis. “And you both too.”

“I have nothing to do with Equestrian politics in this regard… though, I will also help in what ways I can.” Chrysalis said.

“Of course, any ally of Equestria, or friend of Celestia’s, is a friend of mine. I’m sure my bat ponies will be more than willing to help in whatever ways they can.” Luna nodded.

“Now that the true dangers are cleared up… Chrysalis, Luna, I’d like to introduce you to one of my oldest friends, this is Tharian. Tharian, these are my sister, Luna.” She motioned to the lunar princess who waved at Tharian, “And Queen Chrysalis of the…”

“Now Everfree Hive. It’s a pleasure.” Chrysalis shot him a sly grin. “Stud.” She teased.

Celestia glared at Chrysalis for a moment, “You must have traveled quite some time…”

“I’ve been on the road alone for several weeks, yes.” Tharain nodded.

“Come, I’ll take you to a room and have some maids lay out clothes for you… you… haven’t grown much in the past three years, have you?” Celestia asked.

“Oooh, even if I have, I wouldn’t mind g-”

“I know.” Celestia stifled a laugh. “But, the nobles would, at least they wouldn’t want their wives fawning any more over you. And, I highly doubt my sister or should Cadance and Twilight’s Foals make a sudden apperence… well I doubt they’d want to see you in the buff.”

Tharian laughed, a booming and truly happy one, “Yes, I suppose so.” He stood up, “And truly, thank you all… you honestly can’t understand how much this means to me… and how much it hurts to have to ask…”

“Tharian, you’ve done so much for us, the least we can do is ensure your horses don’t starve. Now, I have courtly duties to attend to today… tonight however, after dinner, why don’t we start a new game?” Celestia offered, leading him out of the throne room.

“That’d be wonderful.” Tharian said, readily following her out.

Now Luna and Chrysalis were left alone, and without the once intimidating stallion in the room they truly relaxed, both staring wide-eyed at each other.

“He… took the door nearly off it’s hinges… w-with one swing…” Luna scoffed, “And t-that thing, it looks straight out of myth… i-it can’t be physically possible to lift, let alone… carrying it for several weeks?”

“How is h-he so damn big? H-he’s larger than even minotaurs! I-it’s like he’s almost the size of a smaller dragon!” Chrysalis stammered, the two mares staring at the axe he had left in the ground, two guards struggling to pull it from the stone it was lodged in. “H-heh… if one of them managed to pull it completely out without magic… I guess we could name them king…” She joked.

Luna laughed quietly. “I… I guess so. It’d be a feat if they could even lift it with magic too…” She slowly stood up and walked over to it.

“Gods… the last time this happened…” The first guard grunted.

“I know! We won’t get it out before he comes back down! It’ll be Princess Celestia who gets it again!” The second guard retorted.

“I don’t want to buy rounds for everypony again! The two of them drunk the bar dry last time! I would have been broke for two months had Princess Celestia not reimbursed me!” The first guard growled. “I won’t lose again!”

“You’re bitching about buying rounds? The castle gets destroyed when he decides he wants a party! We were cleaning the whole place up for a full week!” The second grumbled, “And there were triple the workers from all over helping!”

Luna paused, her sister, drinking? Allowing a castle trashing party to take place? “Excuse me?” Luna asked, startling the two guards.

“P-Princess Luna! We’re so sorry we didn’t notice you there!” The first guard saluted.

“We’re trying to get King Tharian’s axe out of the ground before the nobles show up!” The second stammered.

“No, you’re doing it because there’s some sort of bet going on when he shows up, isn’t there?” Luna inquired. “I’m not angry, mind you. I’m curious.”

Chrysalis had likewise joined in. “What was this about Celestia drinking a bar dry?”

“Our- My sister doesn’t drink. I would know it.” Luna crossed her arms. “You’d better not be spreadin-”

“We’d never spread rumors or lies about either of you!” The first guard stated. “It’s the truth! W-when he showed up here… o-out of the blue nearly four years ago now…”

“He shattered the door on contact! It just gave way, and he slammed his axe into the ground. I-it’s always been a bet that whoever can pull the axe out of the ground doesn’t have to pay for any rounds if he decides to go out drinking… and he usually does. It’s always been to specific bars and taverns in the city…” The second guard explained.

“They hold it as an honor when he and Celestia show up. They take over the bar and try to out drink each other for a full night…”

“They’ve drained all the good places in town before… Leaving Canterlot dry for a full week!”

“S-somepony had the courage to ask her why she only drinks like that when he’s around… and she said, that she feels more sure with herself around him, just… letting go of all pretenses. When they’re together, she always comes out so much happier for so long… t-though it wasn’t nearly as happy as she was when you returned Princess! It’s just… she doesn’t feel as constrained, as he’s always wanted honesty in the way others treat him…”

“Just wait until you see how he reacts to the nobles.”

“They despise him to the fullest.”

“My… I can’t wait.” Luna grinned, she glanced to Chrysalis.

“Mmm, it should be fun.” Chrysalis laughed.

Luna’s magic surrounded the axe and she attempted to shift it enough for the two guards to get it out.

The guards looked at each other, “T-thank you Princess!” They saluted.

“You’re welcome.” She smiled, “Now… when my sister comes back down, do tell her that I went to my room. I need a bit of time to think on all of this.”

“We will!” The guards nodded, hefting up their prize and victory, a gleeful look on their faces.

“So… this is just normal?” Chrysalis asked.

“We were trained to deal with him… it’s been part of the Guard culture for hundreds of years now.” The first guard said.

“Prince Shining took him on in a wrestling match just for the hell of it.” The second said. “Of course he lost…”

“It’d have been a story never let down had he won.”

“But, it definitely raised his status when he was hauled around with Tharian for his entire stay.” The second finished.

“My, I’m surprised I’ve never heard about him until last night…” Chrysalis hummed.

“He shows up on a whim, and he hasn’t let Celestia come to his castle…”

“He didn’t want her getting caught up there if a massive blizzard tore through. Or gods forbid a Wendigo decided to rear its’ ugly head.”

“So, you’re saying he shows open care for her?” Chrysalis asked.

“Of course! They’re close friends!”

“Alright, thank you for the information.” Chrysalis said, walking back to her chair to wait for Celestia to return, with or without Tharian.

Meanwhile:

Celestia had taken Tharian up to her room, allowing him to use her bath and shower as it was outfitted for a large alicorn, it fit him a bit better than the smaller showers and baths in the castle.

“Aaah… it’ll be nice to bathe.” Tharian stretched, letting his snow white mane down from the confines of his helmet. He threw it to the ground and stepped into the bathroom.

“Your clothes will be waiting out here for you, once you’re dressed please come back down to the throne room.” Celestia said, turning around.

“I will!” Tharian said, the clanking of his armor hitting the ground was nearly music to Celestia’s ears.

She was used to him being immodest, never being a prude, it wasn’t an uncommon sight in the early days for him to be in the nude. Despite her reaction to Chrysalis’ statement about him, in all definitions of it… he was a stud. It made her quiver a little, thinking that he was nude, just a wall between them. Hell, there was less than that… she could just peek inside and get a glimpse of his masculine form, the body that was tempered and forged in battle… scars and muscles intertwining across his chest, legs, and arms. Some of which were there because of her, which made her want him even more.

Yes, here in Equestria she could have any stallion, who wouldn’t have desired to be with her? But, Tharian had always been there for her, when she needed him, he’d come, when she felt alone, he’d be there… He was unlike any stallion she had ever met prior, at least for her he was.

Sadly, she had resigned herself to not being with him, neither would abandon their subjects. It was a harrowing feeling, knowing that such a caring and strong stallion was alone most of the time. At least, alone in a more intimate sense… for her, she didn’t care about sex, she just wanted to be close to him and never leave.

Chrysalis had been right last night, her heart had been beating much faster as she thought about him. Everything pointed to her being in love with him, and she was sure he felt the same way…

“Gods… Tharian…” Celestia muttered, unknowing that Tharian likewise was waiting with bated breath.

Hearing his name, his ears perked up, “Is something wrong, Celestia?” His voice caused her to jump.

“No! No, nothing’s wrong…” She replied, “Just lost in thought.”

“Ah…” He mumbled. “I’ll talk to you again when I’m finished.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting.” Celestia sighed, walking back down to the throne room.