It had been a week since Celestia had met the daughter of Sunset Shimmer and in that week she had let Luna take over court as her emotions were taking hold of her for the first time in a long time. She had isolated herself once more within the castle walls but this time it was not to close herself off to everyone. It was to mourn the loss of her own daughter without ever getting the chance to truly have time together. She had always been on the fence with the fact that she considered Sunset as such due to her need to treat every one of her ponies equally.
Though, with the knowledge of her passing and the confession that the letter revealed to her, it became harshly apparent that she considered her once misguided student more than just another one of her ponies. She was, in fact, the daughter she had always wanted and the pain of her loss made it abundantly clear for her to accept it as such. It wasn't until she received a letter from Twilight about Dew coming for a visit that she felt the need to control herself once more.
She wanted to show the young mare? womane? Nothing less than the picture of regal authority her mother had painted in the stories she'd often tell her. Unfortunately, the fact that Dew herself wanted know more of the mare Sunset considered family, made her unable to mask her obvious enthusiasm from everypony. The castle staff found it unnerving that their ruler was constantly jumping from place to place with enough energy to rival that of the element of laughter in order to prepare for a visit. Many thought the visitor, who was still unknown to all save a few, was a long lost lover with the amount of effort their Princess seemed to put in to impress them.
Theories and rumors were constantly floating around within and outside the castle walls as the residents of Canterlot caught wind of the actions taken by their Sun Princess. Throughout it all Luna and Guard Captain Svalinn were the only two that understood her actions. While Luna had come to see the effect her banishment had on her sister within the years of her return, she more readily noticed the effect Sunset's actions had on her usually emotionally steeled sister. Whenever the subject of Sunset Shimmer came up, whether by accident or choice, Luna would be witness to her sister immediately closing her heart and wondered if Celestia even noticed it herself. She, much like Captain Svalinn, felt a seemingly untouchable burden lift once Morning Dew had paid a visit.
Guard Captain Svalinn had been a witness to many of the Princess' life events in the years he'd been part of the royal guard. He was present when Celestia took in Sunset Shimmer and watched throughout his time in service as the two grew closer. He took part in the chase after the unicorn mare when she rebelled against the alicorn and stood by guarding outside her highness' room during her period of grief. He watched silently as Celestia was reunited with her sister Princess Luna after so long and smiled at the thought of her finally having a happy ending. However, that too, was short lived; he had heard of the incident between Sunset and Twilight days after their return from the Crystal Empire. He didn't know what to make of it all, only that it had surely hit Princess Celestia hard.
The rumors of Sunset's reform were nothing but rumors until he chose to confront Princess Twilight soon after her second trip through that looking glass. It gave him hope that the once bright young mare that brought happiness to Celestia would one day return. Unfortunately, the day of Dew's visit was one he could not have foreseen happening. The moment he met with the pair outside the throne room he noticed the connection between the pegasus and Sunset immediately. One look towards Princess Twilight and his fears were confirmed that the visit was not to be a happy one. Yet, once everything was said and done he would always remember that day as the one when the sun seemed to shine brighter than ever.
"Miss Morning Dew?"
"Y-yes?" the mare in question replied nervously at the rather imposing unicorn stallion in gold and silver armor waiting in front of the castle gate.
"Relax ma'am. I just wanted to introduce myself before I bring you to her Majesty." He took off the helmet to reveal a rather old and robust looking stallion whose mane was in the process of turning fully grey. Scars from either battles or practice lined his features but did nothing to detract from his overwhelming aura. "Captain Svalinn of the Royal Guard, personal protectors of Princess Celestia. I knew your mother."
Dew shook the hoof that was extended towards her and took a moment to look at the bottom of her own wondering how such a thing was even possible without hands. "You knew my mom? Like, when she was still a talking horse?"
"Pony."
"Right, sorry. I forget you guys are oddly sensitive towards that."
"Quite."
The two walked away from the front gate where the carriage that carried Dew had dropped her off. She followed him through a winding path of hallways and out a doorway into what had to be the most beautiful garden she'd ever seen.
"Your mother had the same expression the first time she came here as well." Svalinn laughed as he motioned at a bench.
"How did you know my mom?" she asked trying to mimic the way he was sitting only to slip and have him use magic to help.
"I was the guard assigned to her during the time the Princess found her. At first, I had thought it was another one of her Majesty's well intentioned whims. Taking on a student that seemed to be worse off than most and I thought Sunset would more than likely be run out by nobles seeking such a position for themselves. Imagine my surprise when I witnessed the same frail, thin, sack of nerves become one of the most confident mares I'd ever had the pleasure... and displeasure to know."
"Displeasure?"
It was a moment before he began once again as his mood stiffened. "Did your mother ever tell you about her life in the castle?"
"Only about what happened between her and Celes-"
"Princess Celestia."
"Right."
"In short, she went from being cute and shy to the biggest brat I'd ever had the misfortune to look after."
"No way."
The smile on the captain's face from that comment was all he needed to keep going. "When I first got put on guard duty for her she used to hide behind me and my partner whenever we had to take her anywhere. It was the damn near cutest thing you'd ever did see. She wouldn't open up to anyone other the Princess and a few of us guards. Her tutors had a hard time trying to make her come out of her shell the most during lessons due to the fact she was so meek."
"You're lying." Dew tried to hold back her laughter at the thought of her mother being shy about anything.
"You would think so but no ma'am. It was like that for years, it wasn't until she was in her teens that the position of personal student to the Sun went to her head. It didn't help that the nobles who were trying to get rid of her and put their children in that position gave up and decided to nurture that kind of behavior for favors."
The Captain took a moment to stare at some flowers before continuing. The look in his eyes told of bearing an incredible burden. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" the sudden apology was unexpected and caught her off guard but not more so than the expression of utter anguish the strong stallion wore.
"If I had done a better job back then; I could have stopped her from descending into such an awful state. I always wondered, if had I been more strict with guarding her, whether she'd still be here now. In the years I took up this job as a guard I have never married and never had children of my own. The time I spent looking after that girl were among the best I ever had. She brought me so much joy and anger during our time together that I have no doubt that what I experienced was no less than something akin to family. Despite all of that I failed at being a guard, I failed at the task her majesty sought to give me, but most of all I failed her. I'm sorry I couldn't save your mother Morning Dew."
A deep silence grew between the two as Dew wore a look of surprise as the stallion that seemed so imposing now looked as if he was a child awaiting punishment.
"My mother." Dew started before he could say anything else. "She always had a character in her stories about this place that would show up at the moment she needed him most. The guy would be there to pull the girl, who I now realize was her, out of trouble after doing stupid things. He'd yell at her and she'd realize how much of a fool she had been throughout it all. He always brought her back to square one no matter how awful the situation might have been. She described him as thoughtful, brave, determined, and kind; though a little naggy."
"I-"
"I asked my mother a long time ago if there was someone that she modeled him after and she told me that he was someone she had considered the closest thing to an older brother in her life. I may not know much about her past but with what you told me and the stories she had when I was young, it pretty much points towards the guy being modeled after you. Thank you, Captain, for always being there for her and rest assured that she never forgot you nor blamed you for anything."
The Captain took a moment to put on the helmet as he stood from the bench. His face remained stoic throughout it all but Dew could see his body shaking slightly. She followed him back towards the entrance of the garden and he called for another guard to lead her the rest of the way. Svalinn stood there unmoving watching the young mare go who looked more like her mother than she realized. He did not shed a tear at the news that the young mare he had considered family thought of him just the same all these years. He didn't lament the fact that he never had a chance to do more for her. He simply stood there watching the wind blow through the garden and the sun shine down brightly.
"You little brat. You never did let anyone have the last word. Thank you, Sunset."
It had been a multitude of years since Celestia felt the way she did at this very moment in time. There she lay in the middle of her room on top of a luxurious pillow watching the small yellow pegasus mare wandering around to look at the pictures that adorned the walls. Pictures that she had once stowed away due to the pain each accidental glance gave her deep in her heart. However, that all changed after Morning Dew came into her life even if the circumstances were significantly less than desired.
The pictures were now mementos of some of the best times in her long weary life. They showed her at the happiest points during her time with Sunset. The feelings she hid during those moments in her life were now front and center.
"My mom was pretty adorable as a kid."
The statement caught Celestia by surprise and snapped her out the slight trance she didn't even know she was in.
"Oh, yes. I most certainly agree." She responded with a warm smile. "She used to hate seeing these old photos since she thought it made her, as she put it, look weak. So you can guess my reaction to the one in the locket."
"Yea, I did peek inside when it was given to me. Sorry, I was really curious."
"No need for apologies."
"Anyways, you can imagine my initial reaction to it was shock as I'd never actually seen any photos of the ho- ponies here. It was even more of a surprise to see my mom as one."
"I remember you saying she told you about her origins. Did she truly never show you the picture then?"
"No." Dew sat down across from the alicorn trying to find a comfortable position but failing. "I guess she wanted you to be the first to see it. In which case, sorry I took a peek before you."
"As I said, no need for that Morning Dew. I understand your need for answers."
"Dew is fine Princess. It's what everyone back home calls me anyways"
"Then you can just use my name as well."
"Are you sure that's wise? I got scolded by Captain Svalinn for doing that."
"It's perfectly alright. Between you and me, your mother did the same not long after she became my student. I never felt the need to enforce the title between the two of us after that."
"She never told me much else other than her bedtime stories and what happened between the both of you. Can you tell me about her and what she was like here?"
"Of course, what would you like to know?"
"Well, How did you two meet? The story she told was of a unicorn being saved by a beautiful princess from near death."
"S-She said that?"
"Yea, never said much other than that though so don't count on there being more to the story."
Celestia chuckled slightly at the statement. "It's just like her to withhold such information. Nevertheless, I'll be more than happy to shed some light on our meeting." Her horn lit up and after a slight flash a tray of cucumber sandwiches appeared along with two cups of what smelled like Jasmine tea. "It all began when a fire broke out near the southern part of Canterlot."
"Oh man, don't tell me."
"Now, now, don't get ahead of me." Celestia said with a slight grin.
"Sorry, go ahead."
"As I was saying, it began with a fire."
Author's Note
So I've had this chapter done for about as long as the prequel was published but didn't know whether or not to actually publish it as I thought it ended fairly well. However, with me working on stories again with the time that I have, I felt really awful doing nothing for so long. Which is why I felt like it would be good to publish this now as a filler until I finish working on the other stories.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please leave a comment or critique below as any critique helps me as a writer. A like is appreciated and have a great day!