Ryuji walked down the corridors of the castle as himself so that the guard and everyone else could know who he was. He waved and smiled to any one of them who gave the same gesture. Though, some actually did a double-take at him and blinked a few times. As if they couldn’t believe he was walking in front of them or passed them. He wondered why they looked at him in such an...awe-inspired manner. Sure, he saved the groom from an evil changeling queen. But that was nothing to look at him like he was some kind of hero or savior….right? He was just doing what he felt was right, that and to mainly protect Celestia and the others.

He finds his way to the throne room after opening two large fancy doors. He walks along the red carpet as he gazes around the room admiring all the stained glass windows that appeared to depict important events of history. One window instantly caught his eyes when he saw what looked to be Hydroid and the dark version as well clashing blades with the snowy night sky in the background. Was this...really preserved for so long after he had traveled back through time?

“Well look at you, kiddo. It seems like you were remembered for your heroic deed of saving Equestria’s rulers from certain death all those years ago.Maybe that’s why they were all looking at you in such a way.”

He said as he pointed up at the window. Ryuji looked up to see...his real self on the right-hand side just above Hydroid with a fierce look on his face and his hand held outward as if he controlled Hydroid with puppet strings. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Was that really something to really put up in a castle though? It’s not that he wasn’t honored by it, he just didn’t seem to think it was worth doing. But now he knows why others have looked at him the way they have today. His thoughts were disrupted by the sound of hoofsteps coming from the top of the stairs where the thrones were. Both his and his doppelganger’s eyes shift to see Celestia staring at them both like she was wondering if anything was wrong with her own eyes.

“R-Ryu…? How are there two of you and…”

“Aah, there she is. The sun princess that fell in love with the tenno that saved her and her sister’s life. I can see why you like her yourself, kiddo.”

He slowly approaches the princess as Ryuji watches him carefully. It’s not that he could really hurt her. But compared to Ryuji, the doppelganger was ten times more sinister than himself, as demons would be. But the demon knew not to upset his host.

“I am the one who gave Ryuji his power in the first place. Because of me and my power he is able to do the things he does. And in return, he is my host. Who I have become very fond of over the years he and I have been together. That still won’t stop me from trying to take him over and turn him into a monster, however.”

“That’s enough. She doesn’t need to know everything about our past. What happened with the orokin and on the Zariman ten-zero needs to remain secret. Especially from her. The last thing I need for her to do is worry for me any more than she already does.”

The doppelganger just laughed lightly and shrugged his shoulders before walking away from Celestia and back to Ryuji. Celestia was still caught off guard that she could see two of him. But lets out a sigh of relief when the demon vanished leaving Ryuji alone with her finally. She quickly makes her way up to him and wraps him in her arms. Ryuji just sighed a bit and returned her affection with a smile. She could lift him into her arms and cradle him like a child should she want to. And he had no issues with that. Feeling ehr warmth and smelling her scent put him in a state of ease. Especially now that he no longer had to hide his feelings from her nor deny hers.

“Did you sleep well last night, handsome?”

She asked as she leaned in and pressed her nose against his in a nuzzle before setting him down. He gave a nod and rubbed the back of his head with a slight blush as he was still getting used to this...affectionate behavior. Not that he didn’t like it. That was far from the truth.

“Y-yeah, I slept pretty well, especially with you at my side. Never before have I shared a bed with anyone. It was..nice.”

He said as he averted his eyes from her as his blush intensified after he said that. She lets out a quiet ‘Aaaww…’ as she feels her heart flutter in ehr chest. She just wanted to pick him up again and smother him in her arms and breasts.

”I don’t care what he has done in his past. He is just so cute and I love him so much!”

She was just about to do just that until she noticed his attention returning back to the stained window that showed the event that happened the night he saved her. She walks beside him and gazes upon it herself. A fond memory returning to her when she had spoken with him that night before he parted all those years ago.

“I know you probably thought I was just a filly who was swooning over a brave warrior who saved her from death. And that i was only saying those things because that is what some young fillies dream of. Finding their knight in shining armor to come and save them. I...I won’t lie. I had this put up for mainly sentimental reasons. So that I could always see you each time I was in the throne room. But, believe it or not, Ryu, you became a legend when this was made known public. I am sure on your way here, you got some rather interesting looks from a few guards and staff.”

Ryuji just continued to stare up at the window for a moment more, than down at his arm that had the ever coiling energy flowing around it with that far off thinking gaze. Celestia could tell he had something on his mind when he did that.

“Tia..it’s not that I haven’t accepted my life as of now. I just wish I knew why. After all, your creator could have picked anyone else but me. She could have even picked another tenno. But she chose me.”

Celestia reached down and took hold of Ryuji’s hand and gave it a loving squeeze. He shifts his gaze up to hers. She had such beautiful magenta eyes. And the way she looked at him made him feel warm and fuzzy all in his body, especially up and down his spine. She got on her knees so that she could be at eye level with him as she laced her fingers into his. She brings her free hand up and gently caresses his cheek

“I do not have the answer for you, Ryu. And I wish I did. But, one thing is for certain, we will find out together.”

Ryuji takes her hand that is caressing his cheek and suddenly get a serious look on his face. Celestia is a bit taken back by this as she sees it in his eyes.

“Tia...I know this will be hard to do. So I will tell you now before this relationship goes any deeper. Both for your sake and everyone else’s. The clone of me you saw. He’s more powerful than you think he is. Should he ever gain full control of my mind and body, and there is no chance of me returning to myself. Please...end my life. I don’t care who you do it. Just make sure it is done.”

Celestia’s eyes widened as tears nearly start to form within them. She squeezes his hands and shakes her head a bit.

“No...no I won’t..there is always a way/ I will not allow you to be taken away from me by some...demon.”

“Tia, please. The fact that i one day could be responsible for hurting the ones I care about. Hurting you. Don’t make me live that nightmare…”

She could feel him shaking suddenly. The imagines of causing pain or even death to those who he loved plagued his mind over and over, all while hearing the demon’s laugh.

“...I am begging you…”

Celestia could see that the possible outcome terrified him. And the fact that he was begging ehr to do so only showed how serious he was. But she wasn’t going to let that happen to him. She’d find a way to make sure he’d stay the way he is. And if the demon ever did take him over, she’d bring him back. She leans in and presses her forehead against his.

“I won’t let it happen regardless. I will not let you go through that pain. After all, you have me and the others to help you. And if things get out of control, we can always use the elements to at least return full control to you.”

“That may be the case, princess. But you can’t always be there for him. There may be a time when he has no choice but to let me take over. And I will be waiting for that chance. After all, I have been with him for over a thousand years. I can wait longer.”

Celestia got a chill when she heard the doppelganger’s voice in her ears from over her shoulders. She instinctively takes Ryuji in her arms and holds him in a protective manner. Even going as far as wrapping a wing around him.

“You won’t get the chance. There is no way in Tartarus that you will ever claim him for yourself. And nor will you ever take him from me.”

“The doppelganger laughs lightly as he walks over to the throne and sits upon it. He rests his elbow on the armrest and leans his head on his fist with a wicked smile.

“Oh, princess. It’s not a matter of how I will take him. It’s just a matter of when. Perhaps a stressful moment in the future will cause his mind to unlock or even a moment that will shatter his heart. There are so many possibilities to attack him when he is vulnerable mentally or emotionally. I just need to wait. Should that day come, you needn’t worry. As a last request from the kid, I will not harm you, your sister and the six ponies that reside in his memory. Now, should he destroy me and take my powers for himself indefinitely. Then you have nothing to worry about. In fact, I would be proud of the kid if he managed to do that. But as a demon, I have to do what I am bred to do.”

Ryuji stood up and walked toward the doppelganger and grabbed him by the collar and brought him face to face. A look of anger forming over the tenno’s features.

“That’s enough. Stop tormenting the ones I care about with your words. You know what I can do if you push me to far. After all, the akstiletto are only a couple feet away when I am with Hydroid. And you and I both know you can’t live without a tenno.”

“You wouldn’t...you don’t have the balls nor the heart to do it…”

He gets face to face with the doppelganger.

“You think I am not willing to?.This will be no different than all those other times. And besides, should I lose you and lose my abilities altogether, it won’t matter. I am a tenno. We adapt. Now, leave us alone.”

The doppelganger growled and knew that Ryuji was right. Without a tenno, the void demon wouldn’t have a proper host. It seemed that Ryuji was more intelligent that he gave him credit for. Celestia didn’t quite understand what Ryuji meant by those words. And that was the whole plan. Had she known that he was talking about offing himself. She would not stand for it. Hence why he was so vague about it. But the doppelganger understood him clear as day. Without another word, he disappears, leaving Ryuji to walk back to Celestia as he shook his head.

“He won’t be bothering us any time soon. Now it can just be you and I.”

Ryuji wraps his arms around Celestia in a warm hug, She wasted no time in doing the same to him. They stood there in each other’s embrace for what felt like almost an hour. Until a guard came in and cleared his throat. Celestia released Ryuji and nodded to him.

“I assume that the train is ready?”

“Yes, your highness. Your other guests are also on the train from Ponyville. All we need now is yourself and Lord Ryuji.”

Ryuji blinked a few times and pointed to himself. A ver5y confused look on his face. Celestia only giggled when she saw his expression.

“Lord…? Since when did I receive that title? And do I have to have that title? Ryuji is just fine…”

“Oh it’s just a formality, Ryu. After all, you are my fiance. It is only natural that my subjects should address you as such.”

“Well, I don’t like it. Just feel free to call me Ryuji. No fancy title needed. But, where are we going exactly?”

“Well, we are heading to a royal summit along the coast. It is being held at a private resort And I...wanted you to come along both as my bodyguard and well...as my fiance of course.”

She said with a blush and smile as she averts her eyes and narrows them with an inner giggle. Ryuji blinked a few times and shifted his eyes with a blush of his own. He vanished into that familiar light. Celestia knowing exactly where he’d end up, teleported at the same time he did. She sees Hydroid moving about and getting ready to make a break for it out the window. But Celestia grabs his hand and yanks him back in.

“Oooh no! You aren’t getting out of this, mister! I planned to have a nice, romantic time with my fiance, and I am going to get it!”

“It’s not that I wouldn’t enjoy that, Tia! But what if things get out of hand when others see me?! They will think you have some kind of secret weapon of some sort if they see me! I just don’t want to cause trouble is all!”

That was only part of the truth. He was actually super nervous about this whole ‘romance’ thing that he had no experience in whatsoever. His feelings for the sun princess were strong, there was no denying that. But the fact he was going to be at a beach resort with her? Faust knows what that would happen. Lewd imagines flashed through the tenno’s mind once they came around. Thankfully he was within Hydroid so it wasn’t visible. As those thoughts distracted him, Celestia smiled wickedly and wrapped her arms around the warframe and teleported them both onto the train. Ryuji blinked and spun around to see that the train was already in motion and they Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity were sitting on the seats of the train car. Each one smiling widely as they saw both of them appear. Twilight got up and ran over to Ryuji and wrapped her arms around Hydroid, he tail clearly visibly wagging as she saw him.

“You are coming after all! I am so glad!”

Ryuji sighs lightly and shakes his head. It’s not like he had a choice in the matter now. All he could do now and just find a place to set Hydroid for the ride and come out. He then plops down face first onto one of the seats and lays there for a moment.

”Well, looks like I am stuck on this trip. May as well make the best of it..”

Celestia and the others giggled as they watched this. She took her spot on the seat in front of him while the others went back to doing what they were doing. One more random thought came to mind though. Where were the other three…?

Author's Note

It seems that beaches are a reoccurring scene in my stories. But I got this one for a good reason. After all, what does Hydroid have the power to control? ;)

May the darkness grant you peace.