The two guardsponies caught up to the old man. Side by side they led him through the entryway to the castle, stopping only to speak with the guards at the entrance.

Once inside the castle, everything became a blur of activity to the old man. Maids and soldiers trotting past, the talking of ponies echoing through the halls, and the shiny reflections from the almost too clean floors.

The occasional maid would stop to greet the old man, as well as several of the guards.

“Good to see you again Grandpa.”

“Evening Sauerkraut.”

“Morn’ Pappy, glad to see you’re still kickin.”

“Same to you Spearhead.”

“Good afternoon Grandpa Baccy, it's a pleasure to see you again.”

“Of course, and the same to you Feather Duster.”

As the elderly man continued to greet and speak with every pony that passed by, Shamrock and Clover talked between themselves.

“So, where are we supposed to be bringing him again?”

“Wait, I thought you knew where to bring him?”

“Really? I’ve been following you all this time!”

They both looked towards the frail human leading the way.

“Well, he seems to know what he’s doing. Lets just follow him and see what happens.”

-=- -=- -=-

After a bit of walking, the guardsponies found themselves at the entrance to the large cafeteria.

“Uhh, Mr. Grandpa, I’m not sure this is where we’re supposed to go. The Princess’ wanted to see you as soon as possible.” Clover spoke up.

“Of course, and you know it's about lunch time. I could use with a light snack, and you know who else could do with a snack? Both of the princess’.”

Inside the large cafeteria was an assortment of guards and royals, all enjoying a peaceful lunch. The main attraction was the larger table with two equally large chairs at each end.

“Ah, Baccy, glad to have you join us.”

In each chair sat an alicorn, one alabaster and the other a midnight blue.

“Tia, Luna, the pleasures mine.”

Both guards stood there awkwardly, waiting to be dismissed, until the human spoke up, pulling two chairs out.

“You two, come sit down and join us. I’m sure the two won’t mind a couple more.”

“But Sir, it’s improper!”

“Aw phoey, come help an old man into a seat and take a load off.”

The ‘old man’ pulled his seat out and sat down, waving at one of the waiters lining the outside of the room. To which a finely dressed stallion in a suit and apron trotted up.

“Good evening Sir Baccy, how may we help you this evening?”

“Well I’ll be fluffed and flustered, Gullwing, is that you? Heavens have you grown. I remember back when you were just a foal. You tore through the kitchen trying to get orders through, just like your pa.”

The stallion rubbed the back of his head and shied away. “Baccy, how can you remember stuff like that. Don’t go embarrassing me in front of the Princess’.”

Replying with a laugh and a tossle of the ponies mane, the old man responded. “Ah you know I’m just teasin’. Your pa was the same as you, you know. He never had a knack for waitin’ tho, always stayed in the kitchen, he still here by chance?”

“Yessir! Still refuses to retire!”

“Thatta boy! Tell him ‘the old man’ is here, he’ll know what to get. What about you two guardies?”

The two guard ponies looked to the Princess’ for confirmation, receiving a nod, and ordered themselves. The waiter took their orders and left.

“So, Princess’ sorry for taking hold of the conversation before you two could respond, how are you two doing?”

“Grandpa, don’t you think we should ask you the same thing?”

“Oi!” He said, pointing a finger at them. “No harassing at the dinner table, you both know I’m still alive, that's all there is to it.”

“Yes, we know, right sister?” Celestia said, looking to Luna.

“Yes, we could never forget ‘Baccy’s Seven Rules to Dinner’.” She said, raising her hoofs and making quotation marks in the air as she said it.

“And what was rule three?”

“No harassin’ at the table.” They both said, attempting an older man’s voice and failing.

“Exactly, now how's your day been? I’m surprised to see Luna still up at this time.”

“She stayed up specifically to see you, you know.” Celestia said, causing her sister to blush.

“Sister! I’m just worried about him after all!”

“Yes, enough to stay awake I see, you’re barely holdin on too, after we eat you get some rest, take a nap and I’ll have ‘Tia wake you up before we talk.”

She looked disappointed, but nodded, knowing she couldn’t argue with the elderly gentleman.

“If it helps, I’ll tell you a bedtime story, for old times sake.”

“Prithee?” She asked, suddenly enthusiastic.

“Aye, but only if you’re a good girl for the rest of the day.”

“Yes!”

Both guards looked between themselves, shocked to see such a change in the Princess’ they are used to protecting.

At that point, the waiter came up with several plates, all with a different assortment of foods for the human and two guards. The Princess’ themselves already ordered their food earlier and were eating.

“Thanks Gull, just how I like it.”

On the plate was a pile of mashed potatoes, with broccoli and what looked like a burger. To which the human took a bite.

“Hmmmm, its a vegan alternative, but tastes good enough. Tell your pa I said thanks.”

“Of course grandpa, let us know if you need anything.”

“Oh, actually, could you bring me a coffee? Black with a packet of sugar and a cup of milk.”

“Certainly.” The stallion said, returning to the kitchen.

“Now, you two never told me how you were doing. Don’t go trying to dodge the question, and no half truths, you know I’ll know.”

Both Princess’ huffed, and Celestia spoke first.

“It has been a long day, to be frank.”

“And who is Frank?” The old man spoke up.

“...”

“...”

Only to be greeted by silence from the princess while one of the guards almost laughed before coughing on his food.

“Alright, it wasn’t funny a couple centuries ago, and it wasn’t funny now, I get it.”

“Tis true, however, if I was more awake I may have laughed.”

“Anyway, Tia, continue?”

“As I was saying. Today has been quite long. Since this morning I’ve had to deal with several nonsensical requests from the nobles about Canterlot and various other cities.”

“And as for me, as you may have noticed I’ve been practicing my common! I’m close to speaking like a common pony.”

“I have noticed! And I’m so proud of you for it Luna, it's honestly quite impressive! I know it's probably hard on you to change how you speak, but it’ll help you fit in better.”

“Thank you kindly!”

“Of course my little Lulu, I’m so proud. Now, let's commence the lunch, I’ve been starving since I smelled it.”

-=- -=- -=-

After lunch both guards were dismissed and given the rest of the day off.

“Alright Tia, I’ll come sit through court with you for the rest of the day after Lulu falls asleep. That work for you?”

“That does, sleep well sister.”

“And good luck to you too sister.”

The old man walked the younger Princess to her room. Through halls and stairs, they found themselves in front of a long, spiral staircase.

“Hoof, I always hated these stairs. Mind helping an old man up the stairs?”

“Does thou wish for me to carry you?”

“Language, and no, just lemme lean on you for now. I can probably make it up thanks to my cane, but I doubt my strength and its once we get halfway.”

“Of course.”

What felt like hours later, they reached the top and met a long hallway with a double door at the end with two guards standing in front.

“Whew, just… just lemme catch my breath…” The older man huffed, sitting down onto the ground.

“Of course, just take a break.”

They sat there for a bit. Letting the older man catch his breath.

“Hey, Lulu, did I ever tell you the story of my grandson?”

“I didn’t realize I was to sleep out here on the cold floor.”

“Ah, you know I’m just messing with you, trying to remember everything I’ve told you though, it's been a long time since I’ve come up with bedtime stories.”

“You told me of him, yes… you told me of the first time he got a black eye… when he lost his first tooth… oh! And about the time he was dead-set on joining the army after his father deployed.”

“Good, I saved the best for last, I’ll tell you about how I realized he would be like me when he grew up.”

“A grumpy old man who smokes constantly?”

“Close, very, very close. Now help me up.”

The Princess leaned down and held a hoof out, allowing the old man to grab hold and pull himself up.

“Ah, thank you kindly. Now to your room?”

“Yes.”

They both walked down the hall and greeted the two guards, who saluted. Opening the doors, they both walked in. Inside was a large, circular room with the windows covered in blankets.

“Not a fan of sunlight, huh? Wait, is that my blanket?”

The Princess quickly magiced up a large afgan blanket off the bed and threw it into an adjacent closet.

“...no?”

“...I must be mistaken then, my apologies.” He said, before laughing along with the princess.

The Princess used her magic to clear away a lot of the clutter in the room, setting a chair beside the window for old man and making a divet in the blankets for her to lay in.

Grandpa Baccy sat down in the chair and rummaged through his bag, pulling out his pipe and tobacco, and setting it up. The Princess snuggle down into her pile and threw some blankets over herself before laying her head down on the pillow.

“Grandpa, tell me a story about yourself.”

“Huh? But I wanted to tell you about my grandson. He was quite the ladies man too, you probably woulda liked him.”

“Yes, but I want to hear about you! You don’t tell a lot of stories about yourself after all. And I mean BEFORE you came here.”

“That's not true! I told you about the love of my life. Oh Merith, you were such a doll.”

“Exactly! That's not about yourself at all!”

“Boo, I’m the storyteller!”

The Princess looked up at him, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Are you seriously trying the puppy dog eyes on me?”

“Yes, is it working?”

“Of course it is, now lets see… childhood, adulthood, or my senile elderlyhood?”

The Princess giggled. “You wish you were senile, you’re still more spry and lively than Celestia and I combined!”

“Now YOU wish, did you see how much work it was going up those stairs? And I said I was senile, not old you little miscreant!”

The Princess continued to giggle. “Sure, sure. I wanna hear about your adulthood!”

“Alright, easy enough…”

The old man lit up his pipe, sucked in, and blew out a large plumb of smoke which hung in the air. He waved his hand around and pushed some of it away, causing the image of a human to stand in the air.

“I love it when you do that.”

“Yup, I’ve spent years practicing my smoke tricks, woulda made me popular at parties, but I find it best for story tellin. Now lets see…”

He pulled in again, and blew out, blowing the figure away and replacing it with another plumb of smoke.

“Let's tell you about the first time I went camping…”

Author's Note

Part two of your Christmas Present!

Bet you didn't expect that, did ya?

As before, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and expect a New Years present as well. If I can bring myself to stop being lazy and procrastinating another chapter that is.