The afternoon was growing late and the sun’s light bathed the richly decorated hallway in a comforting red-orange glow, dappled with bits of color from strategically placed art and the same sunlight through the numerous stained-glass windows.
The comfort was lost on the tall unicorn with a broken horn that was making her way down its length along with three other ponies. Tempest’s ear twitched slightly as it noted once again the noise of slightly ill adjusted armor one of the two guards were wearing. Sloppy. As were their positions just over five pony-lengths behind. If she harbored ill-will to the pony at her side they wouldn’t be able to stop her in time from that distance. Even an attacker bursting through one of the windows they were passing had decent odds of getting a strike in before they could counter.
She shifted her eyes toward the purple alicorn at her side, noting the lack of concern on her face and in her bearing. These ponies seemed so naïve and lax in their attitudes about potential danger. And yet… they had defeated the Storm King’s forces, this young princess and her friends had managed to escape her grasp on multiple occasions, and in the past they’d successfully defeated a number of enemies. Of course, a number of those fights could have been avoided all together with properly handled security.
Another glance at Twilight Sparkle revealed what could be the slightest hint of a smile - though it was hard to tell for certain without turning her head to look more carefully. Returning her gaze to the front, she tried to work out if it meant anything. Twilight had been against punishing her when she had requested judgement from the princesses for her part in the invasion. After all, despite Twilight’s forgiving nature wanting to sweep it all under the rug and just be friends, and despite her own surprisingly intense desire to do just that, the fact remained that she had led the – quite literal – enslavement of the ponies of Equestria. Not to mention all the things she had done in the surrounding lands in the Storm King’s name. She had a lot to answer for.
Eventually they arrived at a large set of doors with a pair of guards at either side. She could hear the slight rustle of cloth and shifting of a helmet as one of the guards behind her motioned for the doors to be opened. As they swung wide, she could see the three other princesses standing at the far end of the revealed chamber. Their faces expressionless as she approached.
Tempest shook the memory off, returning to the reality so similar to – and yet so different from – that past day. Another walk down a castle hallway in the late afternoon with Twilight at her side and two guards following behind. But this hallway was newer and not as warmly colored; the guards behind were closer, more alert in properly worn armor, and so silent that one without her training might forget they were even there; and, as they approached the doors guarded by another pair of guards, it was her nod that signaled them to open it.
She entered the chamber alongside Twilight and scanned it quickly for anything out of place as their escort joined the guards outside the door. The door closed and at the solid thud of it, the memory seized her once again.
There were no guards at all in the chamber. It was just her and the four princesses. As she came to a stop at the foot of the dais, she expected Twilight to join her fellows. Instead she kept to the place at her side. It was comforting, it was confusing. It was distracting. She almost missed it when Princess Celestia began to speak – might have missed it anyway if it hadn’t been the first real noise in better than a quarter of an hour.
“You asked to be punished for crimes despite no charges having been laid against you. Even with Princess Twilight Sparkle arguing against it you held to that request. Unusual though the request may be, we have conferred and together decided on what we believe to be an appropriate punishment. Firstly, we wish to point out that our decision is based solely on the events which transpired within our borders. What happens beyond them is not ours to address, though you will be provided opportunity to seek amends directly with the various factions you have had past encounters with.”
Tempest found that she could not classify her emotions. She’d pushed for punishment, yes, but had hoped for a straight-forward punishment like imprisonment. Something simple, if long-term, so that she could feel she’d paid penance for her wrongs. It wasn’t sounding like they planned to lock her up, but more like she’d be expected to face each wronged group individually. She wouldn’t even know where to start with something like that. And…there was an ache as well. As much as she had pushed for punishment, and as much as she’d been sincere in wishing to make amends, she’d also hoped they might refuse… that she’d be free to explore the possibilities of friendship she’d so long derided. Her eyes flickered to Twilight briefly and she had to fight the bit of heat that wanted to rise as she recalled the various times said pony had bestowed a smile upon her of such warmth she had trouble accepting it.
Focus locking back on Celestia, she caught the tiniest twinkle of amusement in her eyes, despite the rest of her face remaining completely passive. A shiver of something akin to embarrassment passed through her as she got the impression Celestia was aware of the train of her thoughts and she felt exposed.
As though the pause had occurred only for these thoughts to run their course, Celestia finally continued. “Your sentence is as follows: Life… as Captain of Princess Twilight Sparkle’s personal guard.”
A head that had started to fall at ‘Life’ jerked up in astonishment. How was that supposed to be a punishment?
It was at that moment, as Tempest’s mouth opened and closed a few times with no sound emerging, that Princess Luna spoke for the first time. “To clarify, you are to recruit and train a force which will serve as a local protective force for Princess Twilight’s castle in Ponyville, as well as a smaller group to serve as her personal guard when she travels in performance of her duties. The skills you displayed during the attack on Canterlot, as well as the knowledge you possess of the lands surrounding Equestria, make you an ideal choice to safeguard the princess most likely to travel to those lands.”
“In addition,” took over Princess Cadance, “you will personally accompany her on any assignments or visitations outside Equestria. This will give you the opportunity to right the wrongs you have been part of. Princess Twilight has already stated her intention to help you as she can.”
She was stunned. This was nothing like what she’d expected. Nothing she could possibly have even imagined. Turning her head she found that Twilight was now standing facing her with a smile on her face. But there was also worry in her eyes.
“My brother once told me that the only thing a conscripted guard is good for is watching over a root cellar – and at that, only if someone else is watching him.” Twilight said softly. “They’ve called it a sentence, but you do have a choice. I could use your help, and... I want to help you too.”
As she looked into those eyes, she knew there was only one answer.
“Fizz!”
She blinked away the memory again and found she was still looking into those eyes. Twilight had already stripped off the few bits of royal bling she’d willingly wear during her duties, but Tempest hadn’t moved since the door had closed and now the last rays of the setting sun were shining in through the balcony door.
“Sorry Twi,” she said. “Memory got the better of me.”
Twilight moved forward to tuck her head under Tempest’s chin and looped one foreleg over her withers. “Bad memories?”
“Not really. Remembering my sentencing.” Her own leg wrapped around Twilight and she tilted her head to place a light kiss on the alicorn’s forehead. It was amazing the changes that could happen in a year. Though, maybe she shouldn’t be surprised when it came to Twilight. It took less three days for Twilight to turn her entire world view around. And the list of things she’d done in the year leading up to her ascension still confounded her. So why should she be surprised that it took less than a year for the beginning stirrings of friendship to become a solid bond of love?
Twilight let out a quiet hum of contentment as she pressed into the light kiss. “I’m so glad you said yes.”
“Me too.”
They sat like that for a few more minutes before Twilight began to squirm.
“Ugh! You need to get out of this armor. It’s nowhere near as uncomfortable as Shiny’s, but it’s still not comfortable. And you owe me cuddles.”
She let Twilight pull away and together they started removing the modified version of her Storm King armor she’d had made for Twilight’s personal guard.
“I owe you, do I?” she grinned.
“Yes.” Twilight nodded emphatically, a gleam in her eyes. “Your princess demands cuddles, and as captain of her personal guard you are duty-bound to provide them.”
Now divested of her gear, Tempest strutted over to Twilight before lowering her muzzle so their noses nearly touched. “Unfortunately, the captain of your guard is off-duty at the moment. Would you accept cuddles from your marefriend instead?”
“Hmm…” Twilight pretended to consider. “I suppose that will be acceptable.” She closed the small gap between them to plant a gentle kiss on Tempest’s lips. A kiss that sent a tiny shiver of joy through her, just as it always did. Then she turned away and led the way to the bed.
Once they were both comfortable, spooned together with Twilight’s back pressed snuggly into Tempest’s chest, she squeezed Twilight a little tighter and whispered, “Why?”
“Why? Why what?”
Tempest took a deep breath, letting Twilight’s familiar scent spread a warmth within her as she also absorbed the warmth from the body pressed against her. “Why did you ask me to head your guard? And why did you pick me to love?”
“Because it felt right. To both.”
Tempest could feel the tired giggle that followed the answer, as well as the yawn shortly after. It wasn’t very long after that that Twilight’s breathing and heartbeat dropped into the slow and even pace of sleep. She lay awake for a while longer though, simply soaking in the peace she’d never thought to find. The peace she hadn’t believed could exist. Carefully she disengaged one foreleg from around Twilight to reach down and pull the blanket up over them before slipping her foreleg back into Twilight’s grasp. She had to admit, it did indeed feel right.
As eyes finally closed and sleep began to claim her, she smiled.
Author's Note
Nothing really fancy. Just an idea that popped into mind after watching the movie last month. Was going to do more with it and have a larger lovey/cuddly focus for the CuddleFic contest, but life and time weren't on my side.
I was worried the idea might just get buried and lost amid all the other to-do's I have laying around, so I sat down and threw this together over the last three hours.
I'd like to someday flesh it out fully as I'd originally intended, but for now just assume this is all it's going to be.
