Chapters Celestia's look-a-like assistant.
Dear Diary,
I just got you but I should introduce myself. My name is Sun Glow, I'm a Pegasus mare of 23 years of age but well, I know you don't have eyes but everypony else does and all they see is what I look like. See, I'm a doppelganger of Princess Celestia, I look just like her with a few differences: I'm shorter than her by a fair bit, I'm a Pegasus not an Alicorn, my mane does not move like hers does and my cutie mark is a glowing sun whereas Celestia's in just the sun.
I've looked like this since birth, my mother thought it was the best thing ever and my father...he's a guard and he's obsessed with the idea of guarding Celestia so he sees me like her, but other ponies don't see me in a good light. Some have accused me of being a bad changeling after the wedding, some have accused me have been overly fanatical of trying to be Celestia and some have flat out hated me for my look. Wherever I go, ponies just can't see me for anything other than looking like Princess Celestia.
I hated it and when I turned 18, I got out of home as soon as I could, I wanted to leave the town I grew up in that only knew me as the "Fake Celestia" but it turns out, all of Equestria shared the views of my hometown, it became hard to get a job and I ended up getting a job in an office of the weather department in Baltimare on minimum wage. I didn't do any physical work, all I did was rot in an office and was treated like dirt.
I had enough of my look and when I turned 20, I dedicated the next three years doing what I could to change my look. I looked for spells but nothing came close, I looked for plastic surgery but it was way out of my reach and could do nothing and I even tried something simple as dying my coat or cutting my mane but it seems fate wants me like this and changed my appearance back to looking like Celestia within a few hours. Would you believe I tried checking myself for any curses and found nothing? After three years of searching, I was starting to lose hope of ever being rid of this curse.
There was one last hope, the Princess of the Sun, Celestia. If the very pony I looked like couldn't help me then I thought all hope was lost. I came to her for help yesterday and I was so nervous, the guards had their spears ready like I was a Changeling to the slaughter and even Celestia herself had a surprised expression on her face. I was so nervous that Celestia took our conversation the gardens, just the two of us. I felt a boost of confidence, but I told her my story and begged her to change me, into what I didn't care. I admit I'd have happily given up my wings, my cutie mark and everything to look different but she gave me news I didn't want to hear: She couldn't change me. Nopony could change how I looked as it's something you can't change. You can suppress your cutie mark with Dark Magic but never get rid of it, the same is with appearance.
I admit, I hated what I heard but Celestia did something I didn't expect. She showed sympathy and offered the hoof of friendship and a new job as her assistant. I accepted the job as it was offering much better than my minimum wage job in Baltimare and I accepted the friendship of Celestia, I felt she was sincere and I felt the pair of us have things in common. I would have been a fool not to accept her offer.
I've spent all night thinking about it in the room Celestia gave me to stay in while I'm her assistant, and I think Celestia saw something in me and really wants to help. If Princess Celestia of all beings can see me Sun Glow and if there are others than do not see me as the "Fake Celestia" then perhaps, there's hope.
I need to go to bed, it's been a busy Friday and when Monday comes, I'll have to face whatever Canterlot throws at me, I only hope that there are ponies that can see me for who I really am...
Celestia's look-a-like assistant.
Yaaaaawwwwnn! Is it morning already? I slept like a foal on that bed and wait...what time is it? I turn my head to the left to look at the clock to see that it's 7:30am...wait...
"7:30AM!?" I yelled out loud.
I have to be at the throne room at 8am or I'm gonna be late for new job! How did I sleep in late? I could have sworn I set the alarm and...ooooohhhh, there's no alarm in this room. Duh! Still, I have to hurry! I wolfed down a quick salad, quickly showered and as brushed my mane so it looked presentable, or at least I hope so, I don't want to be late for my first day on the job. I immediately got my bag with all the identification and stuff I'll need for the job on my back and went out the door and started bolting towards the throne room.
"Ahem!" I heard a voice clear his throat behind me.
I skidded to a halt as I saw there was a royal guard behind me, he was white coated like all guards that wear the enchanted armor but he's an Earth Pony. Was he outside the door the entire time? Why is he outside the door anyway? Tell me there's not creepy peep holes in the door!
"Um, do you need something? I'm in a hurry" I asked him a tad impatiently.
"You're going the wrong way to the throne room to start with" he told me.
"How do you know where I'm going?" I asked immediately.
"Princess Celestia has assigned me to be your personal guard" he answered.
"Um, are you sure I need a guard?" I asked.
Do I really need a guard following me around? Celestia surely doesn't think I'm going to get attacked, does she?
"Every assistant to the Princess has, Ma'am, it's protocol." the guard answered that question too.
Well, I do need to get to the throne room and if I was going the wrong way, it couldn't hurt to have him show me the way...
"Okay, well, since you know where I'm going, I don't suppose you could...guide me there?" I asked him.
"Of course, it is my job after all" the guard smiles.
"Thanks" I thanked him.
The guard walked forward towards my right and I followed him by his side.
"If I may ask Ma'am, is it true you naturally look like this?" the guard asked me out of curiosity.
Of course that's his question, it always is.
"Yes I do" I answered with a sigh.
"What's it like?" the guard asked another question.
"Wouldn't recommend it. Let me guess, you thought I was either a changeling, a fanatic or something similar?" I answered the question.
"I may have thought the Princess was pulling a prank, she's apparently known for pulling off a few pranks every so often" the guard admits.
So, Celestia's a prankster? May have to be on the lookout.
"So, I realize I didn't introduce myself so you could stop thinking me as the Celestia look-a-like, my name is Sun Glow" I told the guard my name.
"I have been told. My name is Corporal Sharp Spear, a pleasure to be guarding you" Sharp Spear introduces himself.
"Nice to meet you as well" I said politely.
I may as well make nice with him if I'm gonna have a guard following me around the place. Still, I'll save my judgement of him until I've spent more time with him. He's sitting on the "Alright" part of the Love-Hate balance. It would help to know a bit more about him.
"So, have you been a guard long?" I asked him out of curiosity.
"About a year and a half I think, got out of basic right around the Royal Wedding" Spear told me.
"Ouch, were you in Canterlot when it happened?" I asked him about the wedding.
"I was, it wasn't pretty being surrounded by changelings as well as them posing as ponies that I knew in Canterlot. I'm born and raised here you see, so it was quite hard to whack somepony that looks like a friend, how about you?" Spear answered.
"I was in Baltimare, whole town went on lock-down and everypony thought I was one. Have to carry around special I.D to prove I am not a changeling because of my appearance" I told him.
"That must be hard, what's Baltimare like?" Spear asked about Baltimare.
"For me, it was annoying and I hated it, although for everypony else, I'd say it was an alright town" I remembered hating the town.
Honestly, I wouldn't want to go back to Baltimare, the home back there was a hovel of a place and I hated my weather job, I never really liked being an office mare.
"Bad memories?" Spear asked me.
"My appearance is not something that is praised in Equestria, it's surprising how quick ponies are to dislike something, it's fairly often that other ponies see me as an insult to Celestia herself." I explained.
"A shame, I know a lot of models would kill for your look." Spear told me.
"Tell them I'd trade with them any day happily. I never asked for this, they clearly are asking for it and they can deal with the consequences" I scoffed at the foolish models who would want such a curse.
You know, I never considered a body-swap spell but that would be too much trouble and now that I have just thought about it, I feel insulted by the idea of somepony running amok in my body or if they use it for...bad purposes. Great, now I have grossed myself out thinking about it.
"We're here" Spear snapped me out of my thoughts.
I saw that Sharp Spear is correct, the throne room doors are open as the pair of us of went straight past a pair of guards who nodded and also had a surprised look on their faces. I look up to see Celestia waiting for us on the throne and smiling. It was a few days ago that I came to Celestia for help about my look and now I'm her assistant, all of it felt so quick to me but I am grateful that Celestia has pulled me away from Baltimare. I don't think I could stand going back to Baltimare after finding out nothing can be done about my look.
"Good morning Sun Glow, how are you today?" Celestia greeted me.
"I am fine, I almost overslept." I answered.
"Did the alarm clock not work?" Celestia asked me in confusion.
"There wasn't one" I told her.
"Oh...my apologies, I shall have one sent to your room." Celestia realized her mistake.
Celestia looked over to Sharp Spear and then over to me.
"I see you have met your personal guard" Celestia noted.
"I have" I nodded.
"Shall we get the day started?" Celestia suggested.
"I'm ready as I'll ever be, what are we doing first?" I asked.
"We are attending some meetings today, first is with Captain Stone Wall of the Royal Guard. If you are ready, we may head there now" Celestia answered.
"I'm ready" I nodded again.
So, I get to meet the Captain of the Royal Guard? Maybe I can tell his Baltimare guards to leave me alone if I'm ever there again. But I followed Celestia out of the castle as Sharp Spear and a couple of other guards followed us on our way to the barracks.
"How are you liking the castle?" Celestia asked me as we walked.
"Um, well it's more the room, but it's good, it's just more high-end than what I'm used to" I answered.
"I'm glad to hear it, but have you spent the entire weekend in your room?" Celestia asked another question.
"I have, I just got some books and read over the weekend, I didn't think the castle would've wanted your doppelganger running around just yet unless I was by your side" I answered.
"Glow, you mustn't spend all your time reading books, else I may have to dye your coat lavender and change your mane so you look like Princess Twilight instead" Celestia said to me.
"Well, I kind of don't have much money and--" I started.
"Then ask, friends help each other out, you don't need a Princess of Friendship to tell you that." Celestia told me.
"Well, I'll know for next time" I said.
That and I didn't want to answer questions about my looks until today. I found that ponies were looking our way, mainly because of Celestia's presence but also my appearance as I felt the familiar stares that made me uneasy.
"So, what books did you end up reading?" Celestia asked me out of curiosity.
"A bit of Daring Do and The Time Crystal" I answered.
"Ah yes, Daring Do I'm familiar with, although I do not believe I've read The Time Crystal, what's it about?" Celestia asked.
"Well, a mare finds a crystal and discovers she can travel through time with it, so she does what any curious pony does and goes to the future only to be haunted by what she sees in it and attempts to make sure it never happens." I explained the plot.
"Sounds interesting, perhaps I should give it a read" Celestia said with actual interest.
I'm surprised Celestia hasn't read everything, but then again, she's a ruler, she doesn't have to try everything there ever is. I mean, it's kind of assuming a lot about Celestia to think she's tried everything.
"What about you? Surely you've picked up some fiction in all of your time" I asked her.
"I've just about read every genre and you pick up patterns after reading a lot of books, but I do believe I really enjoyed a series of seven books about a colt who attended a fictional school in another dimension and its his destiny to destroy an evil unicorn who acted on a prophecy that the colt was the one to kill him" Celestia answers.
"Don't think I've heard of that one" I answered honestly.
"It's about 600 years old, I did get a chance to meet the author, a lovely mare that unfortunately decided to make edits as her popularity got to her head and started to make unnecessary changes to the series' lore but I do have the originals in my old collection" Celestia told me.
"Did you ever read any really bad books?" I asked her out of curiosity.
"There are a few that get my seal of disapproval. Don't tell Cadence if you ever see her this, but I absolutely despise teen romances and novels that are basically porn. They're poorly written books that too many young stallions and mares have been tainted by and suddenly have weird expectations." Celestia explained.
"Your secret is safe with me, Celestia." I crossed my heart as a promise.
"How about you Glow, what fiction do you despise?" Celestia asked.
"Fictions that have the main character as the only reliable character when they are surrounded by allies. What's the point of having allies if they are all woefully incompetent?" I answered.
"I see" Celestia noted.
We arrived at the barracks, I saw guards jogging around, some in bare coats and some with what looked like heavy gear on their backs. As we entered the building, everything looked neat and orderly, it'd be rather lax of the guard if everything was a mess. We passed a couple of door guards who immediately bowed and we went up to the front desk to a guardsmare that saw us and bowed.
"P-Princess Celestia!" the mare spoke as she bowed.
"Good Morning, my little pony, I am here to see Captain Stone Wall, is he in his office?" Celestia greeted the mare.
"Y-Yes he is, your highness, shall I get an escort?" the mare answered.
"That won't be necessary, my guards here shall suffice" Celestia answered.
"And what about her?" the mare looks at me.
"She is with me, and she does normally look that. Thank you for your time." Celestia answers.
"It's a pleasure to serve, your highness" the mare bowed once more.
I follow Celestia to the left and up some stairs, she clearly knows the way as she's probably been here lots of times.
"Have you ever been here, Glow?" Celestia asked me.
"Never" I answered honestly.
"It's not bad here, it is highly effective. The barracks has been here for 800 years, training generation after generation of guards." Celestia told me a bit of trivia.
"That sounds interesting, although I'd never see myself as a guard" I told her.
"Why not?" Celestia asked curiously.
"I wanted to be a carpenter, remember? And besides, the whole standing still for hours on end and wearing heavy armor thing does not appeal to me" I answered again, honestly.
"Did you know I once wore armor back before Luna's banishment? Equestria was a very different country then, we had wars and monsters alike attacking our fair kingdom. There were days were I didn't take it off at all, not even for sleep, although I believe I am not alone when I say that taking off that armor after a while is a very refreshing feeling" Celestia told me a bit about her past.
We arrived at the Captain's office and Celestia knocked on the door.
"Enter" A voice came from the other side.
"You three, wait out here." Celestia tells the guards.
They nodded as Celestia and I entered the room to see the captain sitting at his desk. He was a big stone-colored Earth pony not in armor but definitely in uniform.
"Good Morning Princess, how are you today?" Stone Wall greeted Celestia.
"I am fine, thank you." Celestia replied.
Stone Wall noticed me as he looked around Celestia to me.
"Princess, you have a changeling behind you" Stone Wall notes.
"I do not. This is my new assistant, Sun Glow and I promise you she naturally looks like this, it was a surprise to me as well when I first met her" Celestia calmly answered.
"Is that so?" Stone wall asks.
"You can see the I.D if you want more proof, I brought it with me" I answered, knowing that he didn't believe this was how I looked.
"I shall, apologies Princess, but I really must check her for security purposes." Stone wall said to Celestia.
I handed Stone Wall all of my identification as he immediately checked it over. I am used to a guard checking it over, they do this a lot, honestly wished that stupid wedding never happened, all it did was make my life worse. That tends to happen a fair bit, I get into high school, it got worse, got my cutie mark, it got worse, ran out and moved to Baltimare, it got worse, stupid wedding happened and it got worse.
Imagine being accused of being a love-sucking changeling every day of the week, wherever you go. You'd think ponies would stop but no, they seem to believe that one day I'll change into one of them, some believe I'm really Queen Chrysalis and this is my signature disguise. Urgh! Idiots...
Stone Wall waved a quick device over my body which checked if I was a changeling but it did not beep which meant I am still 100% pony.
"Everything's in order, my apologies Ma'am, you must understand that security is the highest priority, especially here and around the Princess" Stone wall hands me back my I.D.
"Thank you" I said without tone.
I put my I.D back in my bag and took out my notepad. I always had a distrust of guards, the Baltimare ones treated me like dirt and the ones in my hometown were not much better, and besides, I wouldn't trust them to protect me anyway, they clearly care more about themselves than they do others.
"So, Princess, to business, what would you like to do first?" Stone Wall asked Celestia.
"I should like an inspection to start off with." Celestia answered.
"As you wish, I shall get the troops to fall in." Stone Wall said as he got up from his chair.
Celestia stood back up and I followed Celestia as the guards followed us as well. Within ten minutes, I found myself standing on a concrete area right next to Celestia in front of a whole company of guards all in the same armor and white coat. All of them were at attention as Celestia followed Stone Wall around the whole company, Celestia also told me to follow as I felt eyes on me as I passed them. I was told to make a few notes for Celestia while we walked past the guards and after five minutes of Celestia passing them in silence, we found ourselves back at the front of them all.
"I hope you are impressed, Princess" Stone Wall says.
"I am so far, your guards show discipline, but I think I would like to see how they fight. Send two of your best fighters in the ring, I would like to see their progress" Celestia orders the captain.
"As you command, your highness." Stone Wall did a bow.
"As for you Glow, let us head over, they'll be ready shortly" Celestia pointed to a nearby building.
I followed Celestia again to the building she pointed at, inside was a ring, and seats surrounding it, We took our seats but I couldn't help but notice Sharp Spear is gone...where did he go?
"Celestia, where's my guard?" I asked.
"Oh, Captain Stone Wall chose him for the demonstration, I hear his skill with a spear is exceptional, we will have to wait and see" Celestia answered.
"Oh, okay" I nodded.
"Have you ever seen a spear battle before?" Celestia asked me.
"A few times in my hometown, we had a couple of families that were guard families do an exhibition match every so often. Although they didn't let me attend too much because my appearance caused "distractions" or something" I answered.
"How interesting, perhaps you'll be able to compare those you've seen and what happens here" Celestia told me.
I saw two guards enter the ring in gear designed for the battle, one had a blue helmet while the other, a red helmet. Both of them looked identical in their outfits.
"The blue helmet is Sharp Spear" Celestia told me.
It was hard to recognize them as they had similar bodies but I saw Sharp Spear look our way and so did his opponent as they stood at the center of the ring. Stone Wall was also at the center and stared to speak up.
"Alright gentlecolts, Princess Celestia here wants to be sure that our guard is still up to scratch, her new assistant Sun Glow is also watching, so give both these mares a good show. First pony to score three hits win, battle will reset at each hit, NO dirty play is to be done, is that clear?" Stone Wall told the stallions the conditions of battle.
"Aye Sir!" Both of them answered.
"Are you ready, Princess?" Stone Wall asked Celestia.
"I am" Celestia gave a nod.
"Then...stallions, take ready positions!" Stone Wall called.
Both stallions got in a position of equal distance away from the center, ready to strike.
"BEGIN!" Stone Wall called out.
As soon as the word was uttered, both stallions swung their practice spears around as both attacked and defended with their spears for a good twenty seconds until...
"That's Round 1 to Sharp Spear" Stone Wall called out.
Both Stallions return to their starting spots. I found myself enjoying the brief spectacle that just happened, while it was a bit fast for me, it was clear there was an art involved with every strike. Celestia seemed to be satisfied with the round.
"BEGIN!" Stone Wall started the next round.
Another fight of fifteen seconds happened, this time it went to his opponent, Steady Hoof and the next round proved the same, but Sharp Spear won the next round making it 2-2, whomever won the next round would win the match. Although I did not know Sharp Spear for long, he was my guard and I rooted for him.
"Final round...BEGIN!" Stone wall started the final round.
Immediately, Sharp Spear went on the offensive for a good twenty seconds, before Steady Hoof countered with a jab towards Sharp Spear's chest but it was very fast but when the whistle blew, I saw that Sharp Spear's spear had hit Steady Hoof's chest and Steady Hoof's spear was above Sharp Spear's head. That must have been really fast!
"And the winner of this match is Corporal Sharp Spear!" Stone Wall calls out.
There was applause by Celestia of which, I joined in as I found it very entertaining to watch. Both Guards bowed quickly and departed as Stone Wall made his way to us.
"What do you think, Princess?" Stone Wall asked Celestia for her opinion.
"It seems your guards are doing well, I trust you will keep it that way" Celestia answered.
"Thank you, Princess." Stone Wall did a bow.
I saw Sharp Spear return again to our side.
"Well, I do believe I have seen enough for today, but I will expect a full report for later inspection by this time tomorrow" Celestia told Stone Wall.
"It will be done, your highness" Stone Wall says.
"Come Glow, we're leaving" Celestia says.
I followed Celestia again, this time out of the guard barrack and I let my own thoughts go for a while as I followed her...
"We're here" Celestia said, knocking me out of my thoughts.
"Where?" I asked.
I found myself looking at a doughnut shop, it read Pony Joe's Doughnut Shop but I thought we'd be somewhere else...
"Guards, you may head back to the castle" Celestia said.
"But--" one of the guards started to protest.
"Sun Glow and I will be fine, go take a break and be in the throne room in two hours time, you are dismissed" Celestia interrupted.
The guards clearly wanted to protest but they did as they were told and started heading to the castle leaving Celestia and I to enter the shop. It looked like an ordinary shop, why have we come here?
"Celestia, why have we come here?" I asked her.
"For something to eat, and so the pair of us could talk" Celestia answered.
A pony at the counter immediately noticed us.
"Princess Celestia! Welcome! How are you? And Welcome...Princess...Celestia?" the pony looked confused as he looked between both of us.
"Pleased to meet you" I politely said to Pony Joe.
"And to you as well, Miss Sun Glow" Pony Joe replied to me.
"Is it okay if we take our seats so we can order?" Celestia asked.
"Of course Princess, take your time and I'll be right over" Pony Joe says.
Celestia goes to a table and I sat opposite her.
"So I really got to ask, why this place in particular? I believe we passed by quite a few shops we could've stopped at but you ignored them and went for this one, why?" I asked.
"Tell me Glow, does this place look rich to you?" Celestia replied with another question.
I was surprised she answered that way, but I looked around anyway and the answer was obvious...
"No, it looks basic to me" I answered.
"And what did you notice about the stores we passed by?" Celestia asked another question.
While I was in my thoughts walking around, I did noticed the stores we passed by, they all had one thing in common:
"They all looked extremely high-end" I noted.
"Exactly" Celestia told me.
"Exactly what?" I asked what she meant.
"Remember our conversation when we first met? The part about how you wished ponies would stop seeing you for your doppelganger appearance to myself?" Celestia asked me.
I thought back to that day, it was a common frustration I had for my whole life. Everywhere I went was dictated by my appearance, they only ever saw Celestia in me rather than Sun Glow. I remember Celestia telling me that ponies see the Princess in her and not the Celestia in her, I think that is one of key similarities.
"I do" I nodded.
"Say we went to a rich shop with a doughnut, what would you expect?" Celestia asked me.
"A high-end doughnut" I answered honestly.
"What looks like a high-end doughnut, but with a higher price tag on it" Celestia told me.
"What do you mean?" I asked her.
"Put it like this, that doughnut, it's going to be dressed up, looks like something only a rich pony deserves to eat, yes?" Celestia explained.
"I suppose so" I nodded.
"But on the inside, it's not really a high-end doughnut, in fact, it's about the same as your average doughnut but disguised as something better, something that wants to be appreciated by looking better. But the doughnut has convinced itself that looks are everything and that's why on the inside, it will only ever be a doughnut hiding behind all that fancy icing and decorations" Celestia told me.
I understand what she means by the rich doughnut but where is she going with this?
"But there's a comparison right?" I asked Celestia.
"Yes, the one I'm comparing to is a Pony Joe doughnut, did you see what was on display?" Celestia answered.
I thought back to when we entered, while I was focused on Pony Joe, I did look at the display and I remember them looking...rather normal for a doughnut, it confused me as to why Celestia chose this place. Nothing remotely special stood out to me.
"Pretty normal looking doughnuts" I answered.
"Yes, but do not let that fool you, because it's not what the doughnut looks like that counts, it's how it tastes and when I taste the doughnuts here, I taste a doughnut that's been made with passion, a doughnut that's rich on the inside despite looking normal on the outside and it's lower priced but once you taste it, you wonder why you've been given such a good deal with the doughnut" Celestia explained it to me.
"So, you come here because the doughnut are much better quality and the looks do not matter?" I clarified.
"Mostly yes, but another part to that metaphor is also the ponies themselves, take another look around, what have you noticed?" Celestia asked me another question..
I take a look around, the ponies there seem just...well, they are just average looking ponies. I saw a couple with a foal, a stallion reading the newspaper, a mare and a stallion who seemed like a couple and a group of friends together. But I thought back to what Celestia has been saying, not one of them looked like a noble or that they were doing extremely well for themselves.
"They look normal" I answered.
"Precisely, if we went to somewhere rich, we'd be seeing nobility, rich ponies and all they would be doing is looking like the high-end doughnut, they're looking appealing to one another but truth is, they are naught but normal doughnuts with a few extra zeroes to their bank balance" Celestia tells me.
"So really, coming here is basically being yourself? Not trying to keep up appearances?" I asked.
"Yes, because the 1% refuse to see this place as what it is: a paradise of a shop that makes really good doughnuts. They've seen me in this place and they cannot understand why I have come here, because what they see me as, is an emotionless impartial mare that rules over Equestria. But the ponies here are regulars, they saw me and saw only the Princess yes, but they have seen that I come here because I like this place, because I am not there to disturb them, I'm here as a customer, it's an unspoken agreement we all have" Celestia answered.
I thought again, to the conversation when I first met Celestia, our similarities with ponies failing to see who we really are. I could see how the rich ponies Celestia was talking about could easily fail to see who we are.
"There's another part to the metaphor isn't there? You are saying ponies are like doughnuts" I said to her.
"I am, doughnuts are one of my favorite foods because they are like ponies, they can be so many things but yet, they retain the same shape that identifies them as a doughnut. The high-end doughnuts are the rich ponies and nobles, they hide under fancy icing but they're exactly the same as normal doughnuts as far as their worth is, their price tag is them thinking they're better than everypony else. A normal doughnut is a normal pony, but they have their charm in being normal and some like it that way and there's the Pony Joe doughnut which looks normal but there's something special on the inside" Celestia answered.
"And what do you think I am?" I asked.
"I think ponies see you as the high-end doughnut of the same icing as me, but really you are a Pony Joe doughnut disguised as a high-end doughnut. You didn't want my icing on your doughnut, but everypony seems to dislike that you bear my icing and nopony has bothered to taste you for what you are: a good pony that all she wants in life to see her recognized as Sun Glow and be her own pony, not a Celestia look-a-like." Celestia answered.
"And how do you see yourself?" I asked Celestia.
"Actually, I was wondering how you see me" Celestia told me.
I put some thought into it before coming up with an answer.
"I think you're a Pony Joe doughnut with High-End Frosting attached to you. You clearly have something special in you but ponies see you for your frosting because your frosting is being a Princess and raising the sun. But you've told me that you want ponies to see you for the mare you are but that doesn't seem possible because you're surrounded by high-end doughnuts because they all want to be around you, the best doughnut in the store but the customer only has eyes for you and not the other ones trying to be noticed...that's how I see it anyway." I told her.
"That's...very accurate Glow" Celestia complimented.
"Um, thanks, but all this doughnut metaphor stuff has made me hungry for them" I replied to the compliment.
"And that's why I'm here" I heard Pony Joe's voice.
I looked to my right to see Pony Joe standing next to us.
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked him.
"The whole metaphor Miss Glow. It was a very interesting conversation and I couldn't resist listening in, I hope you don't mind." Pony Joe answered.
"I see" Celestia said.
"So, you two ready for an order?" Pony Joe asks.
In all honesty, I did have a look at the menu but I am unsure of what I want.
"I'll have my usual with a coffee." Celestia answered.
"Very well, how about you Miss Glow?" Pony Joe jots down Celestia's order.
"Uh..." I couldn't really decide.
"You should give her the trial box." Celestia suggested.
"The trial box?" I asked both of them.
"Oh yes, first-time customers can experience a small trial box of six doughnuts. You can choose what's in them or elect to have them randomly chosen" Pony Joe.
"Um...can I just get a random selection please? With a coffee please?" I decide on what I want.
"Sure thing, I shall be back in five minutes" Pony Joe says as he leaves.
There was a brief silence before I started up conversation again.
"So, do you always go this deep with doughnuts?" I asked.
"Not really, but I do love doughnuts, because they remind me of my little ponies, diverse and unique although sometimes, the exact same in some respects." Celestia answered.
I suddenly had a mental image of Celestia talking philosophy with a cake and had to cover my mouth to stop bursting into giggles.
"Okay, so, what's on for the rest of the day?" I asked after I was sure I would not giggle.
"Well, we have a bit of time to set you up for tonight." Celestia answered.
"Tonight?" I asked in confusion.
"Why, you and I will be attending a party in the castle." Celestia told me.
"Party?" I asked in more confusion.
"The Spring Gala. It's a party that I need to attend and I would love it if my new friend was there with me, if only to save me from the high-end doughnuts of ponies that attend." Celestia answered.
The Spring Gala? Rich Ponies? That doesn't sound like somewhere I want to be.
"So I'm there for somepony to talk to?" I asked.
"No, you could have fun if it's your thing, but perhaps you may learn something there. Of course, rich ponies and nobles will be there but also lower-class ponies as well." Celestia told me.
"What do you even do there?" I asked.
"Well, there are drinks, there is dancing and music and also a chance to socialize which I think should do you well" Celestia answered
Socialize? My eyes widened at that, ponies only ever will see me as Celestia and from what I hear, nobles and rich ponies won't do any good.
"Celestia, are you sure this is a good idea, you know what kind of ponies they are and--" I started.
"Glow, you need to get out there. Nopony will ever see you as Sun Glow if all you ever do is hide. Think of it like exposure therapy in a way, you can have them see you as you and not me but only if you let ponies get to know you." Celestia interrupted me.
"But I don't even have a dress, nor the money to afford one!" I protested.
"That won't be a problem, I shall have everything sorted." Celestia said.
I saw Pony Joe arrive with the doughnuts and coffee.
"Here you go, enjoy!" Pony Joe says.
I found six random doughnuts in front of me. A chocolate, a pink, a coffee, a cream, a rainbow and a vanilla doughnut were all in the packaging. I took the chocolate one and took a bite and...by Celestia! This is good! I can feel the chocolate in this doughnut! These flavors are amazing! I felt my thoughts about tonight go away as I experienced...these aren't doughnuts, they're bliss! I look at the pair of them in surprise.
"How is this place not swarming with customers!?" I asked Pony Joe.
"Simple, I keep it this way." Pony Joe answered.
"What do you mean?" I asked Pony Joe.
"Simple Miss Glow, if I were to let this place come popular, more demand would come and these doughnuts need love and time, with high demand you can't do that. So, Princess Celestia here has agreed to keep this place on the down low to the more influential ponies, the fact you're here means she trusts you" Pony Joe explained.
"Oh, I see what you mean" I said.
Celestia trusts me by showing me this place? A weird way to show trust. I drank my coffee and ate the rest of doughnuts as Celestia was finishing hers. A pity, I didn't want the experience of eating doughnuts with Celestia to end just yet.
"Well Pony Joe, they are excellent as always, but it's time to leave" Celestia said to Pony Joe.
"Of course, duty calls your highness, it was good to see you again." Pony Joe replied.
"And to you as well" Celestia nodded.
"Thanks for the doughnuts Mr. Joe." I thanked him.
"Oh it was no problem and call me Pony Joe, everypony does and don't be a stranger" Pony Joe answered.
"I'll try" I nod.
Both Celestia and I got up from our booth and left the store and started heading in the direction of the castle. Once we were out of sight of the store, I turned to Celestia for our next task.
"So, what's next?" I asked.
"Getting you your dress for tonight." Celestia said.
"Oh...right" I remembered about tonight.
"You sound like you have some objection to attending." Celestia noticed.
"It's just...are you sure I should be appearing at the Spring Gala?" I asked.
"I am sure, this to help you Glow, you do trust me, right?" Celestia answered.
"I do, it's just, I'm not sure how I feel about me showing up with you in a party full of the 1%" I voice my concern.
"There will be other ponies of lower class around, it's not the Grand Galloping Gala" Celestia told me.
"That's another thing, I thought the Grand Galloping Gala was the only Gala in the castle" I asked about the GGG.
"There's one Gala every season. The Fall Gala, the Winter Gala, the Spring Gala and the Grand Galloping Gala is the summer one but ponies flocked to that instead of the other three, making the Grand Galloping Gala the big one" Celestia answered.
I never have been to any high society party before, not even normal parties to begin with, and I have to spend tonight with...judging ponies! They'll make fun of me or worse, think I'm Celestia! Oh what can I do?
"We're here" Celestia said.
Wait what? How are we here already!? Surely I wasn't worrying that long?
"Where are we?" I asked.
"An old acquaintance's store, she'll be able to get us a dress fast as it's too late to simply make one, even the best seamstress needs more time than we have, which reminds me, perhaps I need to introduce you to a few friends of mine in Ponyville at some point." Celestia answered
I get the feeling I know which friends Celestia is talking about. Those element bearers in Ponyville, there's six mares and they're basically heroes to Equestria, and one's the Princess of Friendship herself. I actually considered going to Ponyville for a chance to cure myself but there's too much trouble that can happen there so I went straight to Celestia herself as she would have had more answers anyway.
Anyway, we went into the store and it was a mix of high-end and middle-end dresses in here. I saw a green unicorn mare approach us both. She definitely looked like a mare that was fighting the dreaded middle-aged look, it's understandable since mares don't want to let go of their beauty so easily unlike stallions who once they land a mare, they'll let go of all those muscles and good looks.
"Princess Celestia! Welcome, how are you?" the mare greeted Celestia.
"Ah, Green Sew, I am well, how about you?" Celestia answered
"Business is going well and...Princess, did you clone yourself?" Green Sew looks at me.
URRRRGGGHHHHH!! One day, I will meet somepony without them telling me how much I look like Celestia!
"No, this is Sun Glow, she normally looks like that and she's my new assistant. Actually, she's the reason I've stopped by today" Celestia explained me to her.
"Ah, so what can I do for Miss Glow?" Green Sew asked me.
"Um..." I started.
"She needs a dress for the Spring Gala, I may have sprung it on her a bit too late so I was hoping you could help her get a suitable dress" Celestia told what I needed.
"Of course Princess, now Miss Glow, would you go over there for us?" Green Sew points over to a stage.
I made my way to the stage and looked at both Green Sew and Celestia to see what they wanted me to do next.
"Good, now wait there" Green Sew tells me.
Five minutes of waiting and I found Celestia and Green Sew carrying some dresses in their magic, when I say some I mean a lot...do I have to try them all?
"We're back" Celestia said.
"Now then Miss Glow, let's get you into some dresses" Green Sew said enthusiastically.
I was handed a green dress to start off with as I went to the back to get into the dress, it took me a bit to get on but I managed. Once I had the dress on, I called out to the two mares.
"I'm ready" I called out.
"Okay, walk onto the stage Miss Glow" Green Sew instructed me.
I walked out on stage walking normally to Celestia and Green Sew who were waiting for me. Their eyes gazed upon me as I got to the front...but they didn't seem to have approving looks.
"Hmmm, Green doesn't do well with you Miss Glow, it just isn't your colour" Green Sew told me.
"So, a no?" I asked.
"That's a no. No matter, try the red one next" Green Sew handed me the dress.
The thing about dresses is that they take a while to put on and they take a while to get off. But in another few minutes I put on the bright red dress, I can't see myself in a reflection but this dress is actually one I'm hoping is a no. I walked on out to the stage.
"Hmmm, this a no too, it makes you look middle-aged" Green Sew said bluntly.
Wow, that was blunt...and kind of accurate. More dresses were given to try on ranging from: Black, Blue, White, Grey and dare I say it...PINK! Goddesses, I hate Pink.
"Hmm, you are a hard customer to find a good fit on, no matter! We shall find a suitable dress that fits you" Green Sew says with determination.
"Are you sure there's even one here?" I asked.
"There will be Miss Glow, we just need to find it." Green Sew assured me.
"Patience Glow, finding dresses is not a quick affair." Celestia said to me.
Why isn't it? There surely has to be a faster way to do things? I get the feeling none of us are going to be satisfied with a dress and-
"AHA!" Green Sew yelled suddenly.
"Uh..." I started.
"I have found a good dress for you!" Green Sew announced.
I saw a dress with a light blue colour, a green around the hem and a yellow around the chest area to represent a sunny sky.
"Go on, try it on" Green Sew urged me.
I went out to be back and put on the dress, it felt okay to me. I walked out on stage to Celestia and Green Sew who had looks of approval.
"Now that looks more like it" Green Sew said.
"You look wonderful Glow" Celestia was smiling.
"So, is this a yes?" I asked.
"Of course it is, but do you like it?" Green Sew asked me.
"I do" I nod.
It wasn't bad of a dress...I'm not good at fashion or anything despite my look, but the dress was actually comfortable which I liked more than the look of it. I took off the dress and headed to the counter.
"So, how much is the dress?" I asked.
"40 bits for the dress." Green Sew answered.
"Allow me" Celestia said.
Celestia pulled out her bag of bits and paid for the dress, I felt really grateful that Celestia was doing this for me, I don't think I would ever be able to afford dresses or anything but still, I don't think this dress would make me feel more comfortable about going to the Spring Gala.
But for the rest of today, I noticed a similar pattern. We went to greet couple of mayors and a few nobles and they would do the exact same thing. They greeted Celestia formally and then they would notice me and ask if I was some changeling, or if I was a clone or something. They all did the same thing and then I would take notes as an assistant about stuff Celestia has to do tomorrow.
The day ended as I went back to my room to prepare for the Spring Gala with Sharp Spear standing outside. I think I need some time to mentally prepare myself for this Gala I've been thrown into...
Author's Note
Ah, a new story and a sequel to The Celestia look-a-like, which people did like so I thought, yeah, I'll make a sequel. I hope you all enjoy and criticism is appreciated...even the dreaded (Insert thunder and lightning here)...NEGATIVE FEEDBACK!
Also, this chapter was originally 4000 words long but now it's 7000+ on edits. I realize I may have made mistakes in grammar as I am not Twilight Sparkle level of editing mastery. All that aside, I hope you enjoy it.
Celestia's look-a-like assistant.
Dear Diary,
It's me again...at 1 in the morning. Why am I writing in you at 1am you ask? Well, I had to wake up for a bathroom break and I remembered I really should make an effort to write in this daily so here I am, at 1am. I'll get to sleep afterwards I promise, not that it would be hard because it's really dark when there's no lights and it's deafeningly silent right now, except for my own breaths, if I was a mare who was afraid of the dark or hates silence, this would be torture right now.
So, I started my first day as Celestia's assistant and the job itself was alright but the ponies...I kept getting stared at. The guard captain thought I was a changeling (no surprise, right?), the doughnut guy thought I was a clone or something and all those other ponies thought similar things. They all had those judging eyes, you'd think I'd be used to it but I hate it when they do that, all they do is make some assumptions about me and really wish they'd stop!
So I suppose I should tell you about the two ponies I've been around all day. The first is my personal guard, Sharp Spear. Yes, my job requires a guard, it always has and so I got Sharp Spear. In truth, he definitely likes to talk to me in a nice way, already better than the Baltimare guards by a mile, although he thought I was a prank by Celestia. He's also really good with a spear as his name implies, I thought it was cool watching him. Overall, I think I like him so far, he definitely doesn't have the "I want sex with you" eyes or anything like most stallions have.
The other is Celestia of course. Celestia's...different, everypony brought up in Equestria has heard everything about her being a kind and benevolent ruler who is the mother to all ponies. But she's also very deep about things and truth is, I think she's been itching to talk to somepony about some of those things for a while, because most ponies don't seem to listen because they're too busy licking Celestia's horseshoes. What's more is that she seems to like to have fun with her subjects, she told me she purposefully messed up the Grand Galloping Gala to spice it up and my presence at the Spring Gala gave Celestia some amusement.
Don't get me wrong, I think Celestia's my friend for real, but I don't feel comfortable around high society. They all looked at me when I was there, they whispered about me, I heard them and they don't approve. I didn't stay at the Spring Gala long because all I felt when I was not next to Celestia was being uncomfortable and so I decided to leave. Maybe the next party, I'll stick around a bit longer and I feel bad for having Celestia buying me a dress for a party I stayed half an hour at.
Right, I'm feeling tired, maybe we'll talk later but I need to go to sleep and figure out some things tomorrow when I wake up, good night!
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
AH! That's loud! That's loud! Damn alarm clock, it's a confusing invention, I want to break it but I need it. What's the time anyway? 7am? I have an hour before I'm meant to be at the throne room so I took a shower and ate some cereal and within 40 minutes I got out of my room to greet Sharp Spear.
"Good morning Miss Glow, did you sleep well?" Sharp Spear greeted me.
"I did thank you, how about you?" I greeted him back.
"Alright, it is quiet in the barracks when you want to sleep." Sharp Spear told me.
"It's really quiet in my room." I said.
There's lights around at night when I peer out the window but no noise makes it up to my room, it's really quiet. I made my way to the throne room without too much conversation. I don't mind Sharp Spear around, he isn't on some belief I'm something bad and he's not too bad to talk to, sometimes he just stays quiet but not too quiet like he's a stalker or anything. and sometimes it's good to talk to him, like he's willing to do so and isn't like the Baltimare guards at all. I fear I may have had some thoughts when I first saw him that were distrusting because of the Baltimare guards.
In any case, we made it to the throne room with five minutes to spare as I found Princess Celestia patiently waiting for me. She had the usual smile on her face as I came up to her, like she was a ball of sunshine...well, she kind of is but that's beside the point.
"Good morning Glow, how is my mysterious mare today?" Celestia greeted me.
"Fine" I answered.
Wait...
"Mysterious mare? What's that about?" I asked.
"Oh, haven't you seen the newspaper today?" Celestia asked.
"No, I haven't." I shook my head.
"Here" Celestia said.
Celestia used her magic to float the newspaper a few pages in as I caught it in my hooves and found that there was a picture of Celestia and...me? What's a photo of me doing--?
Mystery Mare at the Spring Gala!
What? Why am I suddenly the attention of this newspaper called...The Canterlot Times?
"Celestia, what is this?" I asked.
"Have a look." Celestia instructed me.
I looked down at the writing below the headline and picture, which by the way I look ridiculous in it! When did they even--? Oh right, there were camera flashes...anyway, the writing.
As last night's Spring Gala came to a close, many could hardly fail to notice a mysterious mare at the party that resembled our very own Princess Celestia. As pictured above, this mare bears an uncanny resemblance to Princess Celestia except she is a Pegasus and nopony knows who this mare except Princess Celestia who was unavailable for comment. And...
...Many ponies were interviewed at the Spring Gala to find out who this mare is but nopony but Princess Celestia knows the identity of the mysterious mare. Some have speculated that she may be a changeling, some have also speculated that she may be a massive fanatic of Princess Celestia but some rumors have suggested an illegitimate daughter of Princess Celestia...
"Daughter? What nonsense is this?" I scoffed at the press' stupidity.
Why would somepony make an article about me, have no idea who I am and write all these rumors that have been said? Does Canterlot even have professionalism or something?
"I admit that was very far-fetched but I can see where they might come from" Celestia replied to my annoyance at the press.
"It's complete rubbish is what this is, wasn't there anything more interesting at the Spring Gala?" I asked.
"Truth is, no." Celestia answered.
"No?" I got confused.
"As I've said, the Spring Gala and all these parties are quite boring. But as I am sure you have noticed, there were a lot of eyes on you last night" Celestia said.
"Yes but what they made are stupid guesses. I mean, why in Tartarus would I be your daughter? I'm a Pegasus, you're an Alicorn." I said in an annoyed tone.
"Actually, Alicorns giving birth to Alicorns isn't a certain fact. While there hasn't been a male Alicorn in about...goodness, even I don't know how long. But I am positive that Alicorns don't always birth to Alicorns, if both a male and female Alicorn made a foal it would most likely but I am fairly sure Flurry Heart was a fluke." Celestia explained.
Huh. Learn something new everyday, also genetics makes no sense to me, both of my parents are Earth Ponies, how does a Pegasus get born out of that? Genetics are just stupid, the end.
"Back to the topic Celestia, there's no way I'm your daughter and um, I may have...checked..." I started getting nervous.
"Did you think I may have been your mother?" Celestia asked out of curiosity.
I started hiding behind my mane and started turning red as I spoke.
"It was a stupid idea, but I did DNA checks and my parents are my real ones and..."I quietly said in embarrassment.
"There's nothing wrong with that Glow, I am not mad. I think it would be natural to check and you said you checked absolutely everything you could have thought of, right?" Celestia assured me.
"I did" I nodded.
"Then there's no need to be ashamed of checking, I am a relaxed mare, I don't take offense at the suggestion at the one in a million chance you may be may daughter and you aren't my daughter, rest assured." Celestia told me.
Right, because it was a stupid thought I had when I ran away but I had to check as it would have explained a few things but raise a lot of questions. Honestly, me running away and trying to find out anything to explain my appearance or to change it was one giant waste of time.
"So, what's today's duties anyway? More doughnut philosophy? Meetings with some mayors?" I asked, changing the subject.
"No, today you will need to do some tasks for me while I attend to other matters." Celestia shook her head.
"Really? Like what?" I asked.
"Various messages and tasks I need completed, Sharp Spear will be around should you need anything, is there any problems with this?" Celestia told me.
"No, none at all, so, what tasks are these?" I said that I had no problems with today.
Celestia immediately floated a clipboard with quite a few pages of parchment attached to it. I get the feeling this may take a while, there's a fair few ponies to go to.
"So I do all of these?" I asked Celestia.
"Of course and when you're done, return to me, is everything clear?" Celestia told me.
"It is, thank you." I said.
"Then I shall see you later." Celestia said.
I turned away from Celestia and Sharp Spear followed me as I walked to the doors of the throne room.
"Now let's see, what's first on the list?" I asked myself.
Assist with a Maid Inspection and collect report from Head Maid.
"Okay, Maid inspection huh" I talked to myself.
"You are seeing the head maid?" Sharp Spear asked me.
"Yes, can you lead me there?" I asked.
"Of course I can" Sharp Spear nodded.
I followed him down the hallways of the castle to somewhere a bit less glamourous looking in the castle but still good looking all the same. Both of us came upon a small doorway that looked very unnoticeable, we entered to find a stone room with more doorways with a mare at the desk who noticed me by bowing.
"P-P-Princess Celestia!" the mare said as she bowed.
"I am not her, I look like her, long story." I pointed out.
She looked at me closer and realized I wasn't Celestia.
"Oh wow, you really do look like her" the mare said to me.
"I get that far too often" I said.
"Sorry, um, what can I do for you?" the mare asked.
"I have been sent by Princess Celestia to help with a "Maid inspection" and I was looking for the head maid." I explained why I was here.
"Oh um, yes, just one sec, MRS. DUSTER!" the mare bellowed.
Was not ready for the loudness of that shout, but the results proved effective as I found an elderly mare coming through the door. This mare bore a feather duster cutie mark. and gray colours all around, although I highly suspect the mane and tail is the age talking.
"Looks like the Princess wasn't joking around when she described you to me, you must be Sun Glow, is that right, dearie?" Mrs. Duster looked me up and down.
"I am and you would be the head maid, I presume?" I asked her.
"Of course, I've been head maid for over 30 years I'll gave you know, missy." Mrs. Duster answered proudly.
She seemed very kind, I'm surprised she didn't tell me how much I look like Celestia.
"30? That's a while" I commented.
"It is, now, shall we begin the inspection?" Mrs. Duster said.
"Lead on" I tell her.
As it turns out, a maid inspection is all about checking the standards of maids and how they clean up rooms. As Celestia said last night, maids were often mares who needed the money, whether they had foals or not was irrelevant but those that did had a special area the foals played under the watch of a few mares. Celestia clearly cared about these maids and their problems, and it seems she took many that needed the money into this castle as Celestia's words from last night came back.
"How many maids are in this castle out of curiosity?" I asked Mrs. Duster.
"About... around 200 maids last I checked." Mrs. Duster answered my question.
"That's a lot, do they feel overworked or underworked at their jobs?" I asked.
"Oh, I know all of them and they feel the work is just fine. They were selected by Princess Celestia, they would dare not fail her after she gave them all her generosity, much like she did you" Mrs. Duster answered.
"Yes, she was generous to me, giving me this assistant job." I told her.
"Many in this castle are here because because of the Princess, and nobody would dare go against that" Mrs. Duster said.
"So were you taken by Celestia?" I asked.
"I joined myself, my cutie mark is cleaning. That was about 50 years ago I think with the head maid being a mare named...Polished Grease. Strange stallion but no less effective." Mrs. Duster told me.
"I see, you are clearly a veteran at this Mrs. Duster" I nodded.
"Please, call me Dusty, everypony does." Dusty said.
"So, what's it like, being a maid?" I asked.
"Oh, it's a bit of hard work being one, especially with the more unruly guests this castle can have, but overall my maids are looked after well" Dusty said.
The inspection was overall satisfactory, granted I had no experience in the matter but I know a well-kept area when I see one. It was all very quick and Dusty was very patient as was the other maids present, but it was time to go within another ten minutes after the inspection and after I collected the report of course.
"What's next on the list?" Sharp Spear asked me.
"Collecting the guard report from Captain Stone Wall and getting it back to Celestia" I read off the list.
Yep, back to tall and intimidating, should be in and out hopefully. The less time I spend with ponies that judge me, the better. And speaking of ponies that judge me, can these ponies I'm passing by in the street stop LOOKING AT ME!? Oh, how I wish for a unicorn to make me invisible right now, or I could look like a pony that blends in, white sticks out way too much and my mane colours don't help either.
"Look, it's the mystery mare"
"Wonder who she is..."
"She's even got a guard too"
She really does look like Princess Celestia"
Urgh! Cursed ponies!
"Just ignore them Ma'am" Sharp Spear saw my discomfort.
"Who does she think she is, trying to look like our Princess?"
"The brute with the mud-gobbler guard, fitting."
"Does she think she's fooling anypony with that appearance?"
I felt anger rise up in me, they were rich looking ponies, how dare they!? They don't even know my name and yet they judge so quickly? They called me a brute and they called Sharp Spear a mud-gobbler, bucking unicorn supremacists, why I would give them a good whack in their face!
"Miss Glow, I would calm down, they are not worth your anger." Sharp Spear advises me.
"Grrr..." I growled in anger.
"Trust me, if you get angry with them it will be more trouble than it's worth." Sharp Spear told me.
By Celestia, I hate rich ponies, lazy, arrogant and think the world owes them everything, they don't know the first thing about struggles. Were I a more "immune to the law" kind of pony, I'd show those unicorns what a Pegasus can do and its a Tartarus of a lot more than they can do.
The guard building finally came into sight, I do have a job to do, so I entered immediately and found the same mare from yesterday at the front desk.
"P-Princess...wait...you're that mare that was with the Princess yesterday." the mare almost went really nervous.
"Yes, I am Sun Glow, I am the new assistant to Princess Celestia, I have to see your Captain to collect a report for the Princess, is he around?" I answered.
"Um..." the mare started.
The mare looked at Sharp Spear for a moment and then looked down at some parchment.
"Yes, he should be in his office, shall I get an escort for you Miss Sun Glow?" the mare asked me.
"Sharp Spear here should do, is that okay?" I answered.
"Yes um, go on ahead" the mare says.
"Thank you" I thanked the mare.
I walked to the hallway to the left, following Sharp Spear to the captain's office.
"So, what do you think of the captain?" I asked Sharp Spear.
"He's a good Captain, he's...got big horseshoes to fill after Captain Armor left, it's hard to when Captain Armor was a prodigy guard" Sharp Spear answered.
"Did you ever meet Captain Armor?" I asked out of curiosity.
"I did, he's a very straightforward kind of stallion, doesn't order anything of his guards that he wouldn't do himself. Captain Stone Wall is by-the-book most of the time but again, he has big horseshoes to fill" Sharp spear answered.
"Is he always intimidating, though?" I asked.
"He has to be, it commands respect among other things" Sharp Spear answers.
We reached the door as I knocked on the door.
"Come in" I heard Stone Wall's voice.
I opened the door to find Stone Wall sitting at his desk and staring straight at me.
"Well, if it isn't the mystery mare herself" Stone Wall said to me.
"My name is Sun Glow" I gave him a deadpan look.
"I know Miss Glow, I've heard you have made quite a splash at the Spring Gala last night by simply existing there. Gave those rich ponies something to talk about other than themselves for once." Stone wall told me.
"Uh huh. Well, I am here because Celestia needs the guard report from you and I need to give it to her." I told Stone Wall why I was here.
"Of course, but before I do, won't you sit down with me?" Stone wall points to a seat.
I hesitated, why does he want to talk to me? I looked over at Sharp Spear who just shrugged.
"I don't bite you know, sit down" Stone Wall said.
I sat down in the seat, I waited for him to speak.
"As you know if you've read any newspaper, you've made a bit of a splash at the Spring Gala just by being there and--" Stone Wall started.
"I know, they think me as some "mystery mare" or something" I interrupted.
"Indeed, but you are new to Canterlot Miss Glow, and as a guard, especially as the captain, I know Canterlot and how its ponies act, although truth is, there's not too much to learn about Canterlot. But, Canterlot is different than Baltimare, Canterlot gossip, while never the front page, will always matter more to the nobility, the influential and the rich ponies and you have just been advertised to all of them" Stone Wall said.
"Where are you going with this?" I asked him.
"Straight to the point, you're very striking resemblance to Celestia and appearance here in Canterlot has not gone unnoticed, there are already many rumors around Canterlot as we speak about you. Some think you are secretly Princess Celestia's daughter for instance, some think you are some imposter that is threatening to take over as Princess and some think you're some fanatical mare that's trying horseshoes too big for her" Stone Wall said.
"And what do you think?" I asked.
"Me? I think that these rumors are just typical noble pony stupidity. Nobles tend to overreact or make stupid assumptions about anything. Canterlot is a city based on such things unfortunately, gossip is how things get influenced around here and that includes who they want around. I won't lie to you Miss Glow, they don't agree with you, they think you some sort of "Fake Celestia" who is allowed to stand beside Princess Celestia herself as her assistant and friend." Stone Wall said his mind about the opinions.
When he said "Fake Celestia", it felt all too familiar as it was something I've been called many times before.
"That said, some of these ponies may get some...less than ethical ideas about what to do with you. Whether they see you as a threat to whatever goes on in their head or some prize to be won remains to be seen. But what I do know is that they won't leave you alone for long, right now they don't even know your name and what your whole deal is but rest assured, they'll find out and when they do...it'll depend on the pony on what they think about you" Stone wall warned me.
"But I'm just a pony that looks like Celestia, not some replacement or something" I protested these over-the-top ideas.
"That won't matter, I've seen it before, when Captain Armor decided to marry Princess Cadence, the nobility didn't like that, tried to get rid of him, didn't work but it was still brutal. All I'm saying is to be on your guard, Corporal Sharp Spear will help you anyway he can but if any of them try anything with you, feel free to tell Corporal Sharp Spear and myself, but for now, keep a sharp eye out. The more power a pony has in Canterlot, the less rational they become." Stone Wall warned me.
He reached for a folder with papers in it and slid it over to me.
"This is the report to Princess Celestia, I recommend you give it to her immediately and head to your next to your next task, you are dismissed" Stone Wall told me.
"Thank you Captain" I thanked him as I stood up.
I put the folder in my saddlebags and left the office with Sharp Spear. I guess there's going to be a bit on my mind...
After a quick drop off to Celestia, I found myself in the hallways of the castle again.
"Alright, the last thing Celestia wants me to do is to organize a lecture at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns" I read the last thing off the list.
"Ah, the school, haven't been there in a while, I'll lead on." Sharp Spear said.
Thankfully, the school is nearby and is just outside the castle so I don't have such a long walk to get there. Walking is nice exercise but my hooves are getting tired walking everywhere like I'm some sort of fetch quest. When I went in, the first thing I was greeted with was a fountain with a Princess Twilight statue.
"I've heard that Princess Twilight once studied here." I mentioned.
"Yes, she has, she's basically the school's pride and joy to have had her as a student." Sharp Spear said.
"My question is why they only make a school for Unicorns?" I asked.
"Well, Pegasus ponies have flight schools, don't they?" Sharp Spear asked me in response.
"Yeah, most places but I had Earth Pony parents and sort of had to pick up things from other Pegasus ponies and books." I replied.
"Well, the flight schools are like that. Earth Ponies don't need schools and Unicorns have the most complex magic of all three races. I've heard it said that Princess Celestia likes to teach gifted Unicorns and help them learn control of their magic which is why she made the school." Sharp Spear explained.
"I suppose that's fair. So, let's organize this lecture with the Headmaster." I said.
Sharp Spear lead the way through the halls, thankfully I didn't have to bump into students as there was an entire admin section including the headmaster's office. I did notice staff around and a lot of paintings of ponies I had no idea who they were, but they were all unicorns (It's a school of Unicorns, what did you expect?) and there was a large one of Celestia with the usual smile on her face, the artist did a good job.
KNOCK KNOCK.
"Come in." I heard a male voice through the door.
I went into the headmaster's office and it was about what I would expect from the headmaster from a prestigious school in Canterlot. It had polished wood, paintings, books and the like in the room. The headmaster was a dark blue unicorn (Again, of course it's a unicorn, see the name of the school!) who wore robes I can assume only the headmaster could wear. He had a grey beard and looked like he was about...in his 50s maybe?
But he looked at me with the look all ponies did...
"Princess Celestia you should have...wait a moment, you're not the Princess..." the headmaster spoke.
Thanks for noticing.
"Wait...you're the mystery mare from the newspapers, the one that showed up at the Spring Gala last night." the headmaster said.
"Um, that's me. I'm surprised you know this, I thought you would be a "I only deal in facts, not gossip" kind of stallion." I said in response.
The headmaster laughed.
"Of course I deal in facts, Miss Mystery Mare. But Canterlot thrives on gossip and even an academic such as I indulges in a bit of gossip. After all, you're a mare who stood beside the Princess and not a single pony knows your name, how is that not interesting?" the headmaster said to me.
"I don't think it's that interesting personally, I'm just a mare that looks like Celestia and nothing more." I said.
"I can tell you are new to Canterlot. A lot of ponies take interest in gossip around Canterlot, I'm afraid you won't be able to escape gossip. But, enough of that, I don't believe we've introduced yet." the headmaster noted.
"I am Sun Glow, I am Princess Celestia's new assistant." I introduced myself.
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Glow, I am Headmaster Wordy Scroll, I am in charge of Celestia's School of Gifted Unicorns, second only to the Princess herself. Now, I am guessing that Princess Celestia sent you?" Headmaster Scroll introduced himself.
"She did, she wanted to organize a lecture that she wants to give and um, hang on..." I told him why I was here.
I went through my bag to find the page with the times Celestia was available for lectures. I then gave the page to the Headmaster.
"These are the times Celestia can come if any of these are okay." I told the Headmaster.
"Just a moment, I'll need to check these times." Headmaster Scroll said.
I watched as Headmaster scroll took out some timetables and double checked the timetables. I looked at Sharp Spear who seemed to be looking around the room to try and entertain himself while this is happening.
"Hmm, this Friday at 1pm-3pm is good, as well as next Monday, anywhere between 9-12pm. But every other time will have conflict." Headmaster Scroll told me.
I wrote down this information on a piece of parchment.
"Thank you Headmaster, I will send this along to Celestia." I thanked him.
"It's no problem, is there anything else the Princess requires of me?" Headmaster Scroll asked.
"She also wanted to ask for some details on the next monthly meeting with the school board." I told him.
"Ah, just one second." Headmaster Scroll got up again.
He duplicated a piece of parchment with his magic and gave it to me.
"This has all the information needed, I assume that's everything?" Headmaster Scroll said.
"Yes, thank you Headmaster, we best be heading back to the castle." I thanked him.
"No trouble Miss Glow, although before you go, may I ask one quick question?" Headmaster Scroll asked.
Here it comes...
"You may." I nodded.
"Is all of...that...?" He asked, referring to my body.
I let out a sigh, this question is asked too much.
"Yes, all of this is real, it's been that way since birth and trust me, I've tried to get rid of this look." I answered.
"I see, forgive my curiosity." Headmaster Scroll said.
"Um yes, see you later." I say as I leave.
I closed the door behind me. If what Captain Stone Wall and Headmaster Scroll said is true, then I am going to get some attention, attention that I don't want. It's always this way, it's always unwanted attention and about the same thing, I don't remember the last time I was given attention for an achievement or anything.
"Miss Glow, are you feeling okay?" Sharp Spear asked me.
"I'm fine, it's just...do you really think I'll get that much attention as much as they say I would?" I asked.
"...yes, yes you will for a time, but it will die down. Just keep your head high and your hooves on the ground and you'll be fine." Sharp Spear smiles as he answered.
"Thanks, um, we should probably get back to Celestia for our next tasks." I said.
I started my walk back with Sharp Spear doing his job guarding me as I walked down the Canterlot streets. The stares were still there and I still wish they would stop but I know I can't stop them from staring, but still...let's just get back to Celestia and find out what I have to do next.
While the end of the day approached, by the time Luna's moon came up, gossip from the Headmaster had reached other ears and before long, all those who were curious about the mystery mare who know was known at the very least as Princess Celestia's assistant, now has a name: Sun Glow.
Although, what the ears will do with that new information is anypony's guess, only time will tell...
Celestia's look-a-like assistant.
I walked in the green grass fields outside a town...it was not a town I was familiar with, I don't even know its name of all things. But I didn't care, I didn't care where I was going or what I was doing, all I was doing was walking and I didn't seem to be getting anywhere in particular.
But after a while I noticed the Sun was getting really bright and I started to sweat, really sweat and the sun is really really bright now, what's going on?
"Celestia, can you tone down the sun please?" I asked Celestia as though she could actually hear me.
No response but the Sun got even brighter...if that's even possible, I had to cover my eyes and I couldn't open them without having to close them again, even looking at my own shadow was too bright.
"Awaken..."
"Wha--?"
"It's time for you to awaken Sun Glow, your destiny awaits..."
The Sun's brightness made everything go white as I felt myself burning and--
I immediately sat up in my bed as I recalled the...dream I just had, I wouldn't call it a nightmare but...it was a very strange dream I just had. What time is it? 6:30am? Well...there's no real point getting back to sleep so I may as well get up and...why is there a letter on my bedside table?
I rub my eyes just to make sure I am not imagining it and I saw it was still there. It was a midnight blue envelope with Princess Luna's cutie mark as the seal...this is from Princess Luna? Why would she send anything to me? Well...there's one way to find out. I open the letter to read it...
Dear Sun Glow,
I apologize for burdening you with this letter the first thing this morning but I must request to speak with you in my chambers as soon as you are able. I am aware this may seem a strange request since you and I haven't met but rest assured that this may be important for you.
Please come as soon as you are able, I will explain everything once you arrive and don't worry about being late, I will explain to my sister that you are with me.
Signed, Princess Luna.
Um...okay, so Princess Luna wants to talk to me? About what? What could Princess Luna possibly want to talk to me about that's so urgent? A think-over in the shower didn't get me anything in the way of answers, nor did any breakfast. I just can't figure out why Princess Luna would want me.
I opened the door to see Sharp Spear standing outside at his post as he looked towards me.
"Good morning Miss Glow, off to the throne room?" Sharp Spear greeted me.
"Morning, and um, no. I need to go to Princess Luna's chambers." I told Sharp Spear.
Sharp Spear had a look of confusion on his face.
"Why?" He looked to me for an answer.
"Princess Luna wants me there for some reason." I shrugged.
"Very well, I shall lead on." Sharp Spear said,
I followed him down some hallways as I found myself still wondering what Princess Luna could possibly want. Maybe it might be about the Spring Gala or my friendship with Celestia, who knows? But in no time at all, the hallways turned darker as the moon themed hallways replaced the Sun themed ones and we arrived outside Princess Luna's chambers where two Night Guards stood guard.
"Miss Glow, her highness is expecting you, go in. Your guard is to wait outside." One guard spoke up.
I looked towards Sharp Spear who just nodded at me. I opened the door to find a much darker room as the whole room was the night sky but in front of me stood Princess Luna, once Nightmare Moon, the mare is the tales everypony was afraid of, this is the first time I am meeting her.
"Ah, Sun Glow, welcome to my chambers, I apologize for such an early summons but it is necessary at this time. Please, take a seat over there" Princess Luna spoke.
I took a seat to my left as Princess Luna closed the blinds and started lighting up her horn.
"Counter-eavesdrop measures. Can't afford the paparazzi snooping in this conversation, in my day, they learned not to meddle in private affairs but it is no longer the case these days." Princess Luna explained as she saw my confused look.
"Um, Princess...?" I started.
"Just Luna here Sun Glow." Luna said.
"...Luna, what is all of this about?" I asked.
I watched as Luna took a seat opposite me.
"I need to ask you some questions, and I need them answered honestly, do you understand?" Luna told me.
"Yes but what does this have to do with--?" I started.
"Just answer them and if I'm right, there may be some change about to happen." Luna said impatiently.
"What change?" I asked, hoping for an answer.
"Have you ever had that dream before?" Luna asked.
Like I have a record of all my dreams...but still...
"I don't think so, but I don't remember every dream I have ever had." I answered honestly.
"Next question, have you ever heard the voice before?" Luna asked as she wrote down some notes.
"Uh...no." I shook my head.
Luna wrote down some more notes as she looked me up and down.
"Luna, what is this really about?" I asked.
"Something confidential, you may be tied to it but you might not, I need more information before I can tell you." Luna answered.
Well, that told me absolutely nothing at all.
"Why can't you tell me?" I asked.
"Because it's something only a few should know about, the information that I may have to tell you can be misused with the right circumstances. I want to tell you Sun Glow, but until confirmation that you are what I think you are comes, I can't tell you." Luna explained.
"That I'm what?" I asked.
"Something important is all I can tell you, but for now, have you ever experienced anything strange that definitely shouldn't have happened?" Luna asked.
"...um, I don't think so?" I shrugged.
"Hmm, still doubtful. But I think I need more time with you Sun Glow, I would like to spend the day with you so that I may determine if you are really the mare I think you are." Luna said.
What is Luna searching for in me? Why is the voice so important to her? It's just a dream, nothing more.
"Don't worry about Celestia, I will inform her that you are with me, she can do without you for a but." Luna told me.
Well that helps. I saw Luna pull out some cards...what? Are we gonna play poker?
"Now Sun Glow, I am going to hold out these cards and I want to see how you react to them" Luna instructed me.
"Okay" I nodded in understanding.
I saw Luna's horn glow as the cards shuffled and she looked at the cards and then she showed me the first card: an Alicorn.
"It's an Alicorn Luna, like you and Celestia are." I told Luna.
The next card showed Luna but...there was a few inaccurate details, there weren't any wings or a horn.
"It's you, although not a great artist about it." I said my answer.
Next card was a sun but it...it looked like my cutie mark...
"It's a sun." I said.
"Is it only the sun? Your expression said that there was more to it, be honest Sun Glow." Luna said to me.
"It...looks like my cutie mark, but I am sure that's just a coincidence." I said what I thought.
The next card I couldn't deny had to do with me, it was a Celestia card, but there were only wings and looked normal pony sized, it had to be me, but why is there a card of me? What is Luna's game here?
"It's Celestia" I lied.
"You lie Sun Glow, I can see it in your eyes, you know full well who it is." Luna immediately told me.
"But the question is, why is there a card of me? Why is there a card of my cutie mark and why is there a you with no horn and no wings. What is the meaning of this game?" I demanded answers.
"We shall see, I'd like for you to see three more cards Sun Glow." Luna said to me.
Luna pulled out another card, this time a picture of a temple of some kind with the Sun burning brightly above it.
"I don't know what this is." I told her.
"You may find out soon." Luna said.
The next card was me in front of temple with an arrow to the sun. I didn't react but I saw what clearly looked like me going into the sun...was I gonna burn into the sun!?
'Uh...am I gonna be tossed into the sun?" I asked out loud.
Luna looked confused for a moment before giggling.
"Oh, no Sun Glow, rest assured my sister nor I would throw you into the sun, that is inequine. But I cannot say for--" Luna started.
"You say that too much Luna, and what was the deal with those cards?" I asked.
"It's something similar to Tarrot Cards only, it has accuracy in predictions rather than blind luck and pointing out the obvious. It's something from the Pre-Unification days where Unicorns would let the cards help see the future. Of course, we shouldn't take such predictions as 100% set in stone, knowing the future is a dangerous thing and can easily change." Luna explained.
"Why is knowing the future bad? Can't it be useful?" I asked.
Luna gave me a serious look.
"Such reliance on future events is dangerous Sun Glow, that is why Time Travel and foresight magic is classified as Dark Magic and looked down upon unless special circumstances call for it. Take it from me, it gets you in messes no amount of foresight could ever have you see coming." Luna said.
"Okay, if I ever magically gain magic powers, I'll keep Time Travel and Foresight stuff out." I said quickly.
"A wise choice, but these cards predict you are something special Sun Glow. Of course, I have been wrong which is why I would like further proof that you are what I think you are." Luna said.
"And how would I do that? I don't even know what you are talking about." I asked Luna for more information.
"Nothing you can do intentionally nor something I can force an answer out of, time will tell, for now, take this." Luna said.
Luna handed me a bracelet with a sun symbol on it. It had a rather bright gold colour with the sun being a...well, sun colour.
"Um, Luna? This is a nice piece of jewelry but--" I started.
"It's enchanted, Sun Glow. Should you have what I am looking for appear, this bracelet will glow and let me know immediately. I would like for you to wear it for a week, if no glow appears for that week than you aren't what I am looking for." Luna told me.
"And if it does?" I asked, curious about the answer.
"Then there is no doubt you are who I think you are, and my sister and I shall then reveal all to you but only if that bracelet glows." Luna simply answered.
"Okay, so I just...do...whatever?" I asked Luna on what to do.
"Yes, you may do "whatever" for a week. There is however, one condition to this arrangement." Luna answered.
"What?" I wondered what condition this could be.
"Tell nopony of what has happened in this room. My sister will know but you must not speak of this in public, not even to your guard and not to my sister in any public setting, if this conversation must happen, it must happen in private. What we have discussed here is merely an atom of knowledge and if you are what I think you are, you will soon enter a whole new world of secrets." Luna told me the condition.
This is all so strange, this whole secrecy thing about something I don't even know and the only way to know is if I'm something I don't even know what I am meant to be anyway, does that even make sense!? Because it sure doesn't right now! But...
"I agree" I nodded.
"Excellent, now, you may continue your day, if my sister asks, just tell her you were with me." Luna said.
I walked towards the door and as I put my hoof on the door, I heard Luna call out.
"I mean it when I say don't say a word, the consequence is very severe." Luna said in a tone that suggested I better keep this secret.
I nodded and left Luna in the room behind me and I saw Sharp Spear waiting for me.
"You look troubled Ma'am, is everything okay?" Sharp Spear asked me.
"Er...yeah." I nodded as I spoke.
"Are you sure? What was that all about in there?" Sharp Spear asked.
"Sorry, I can't say. It's...a secret." I replied.
"If you insist Miss Glow, are you heading to the throne room?" Sharp Spear asked.
"Yes, lead the way." I said.
And with that, I started walking to the throne room...
Back at Luna's room...
Luna was watching the door which Sun Glow had left. Luna was fairly certain that she was the one that has appeared at last, and if that's correct, there's another pony to find as well which Luna must seek out personally.
"How strange, there is one more card left and I forgot to show Sun Glow the card" Luna said to herself.
Luna looked at the card, it had a picture of a Sun that was neither Celestia's nor Sun Glow's cutie mark, but it had an arrow pointing to the right above the sun and with a clock on the right of the sun. Luna had a look of confusion on her face.
"I don't understand what this card is meant to symbolize, I have never seen it this way before. What could it mean?" Luna said out loud.
Luna decided it wasn't important, what was important is confirming Sun Glow is the same mare that Luna thought she is.
9:00pm the same day...
Well the day with Celestia was uneventful, but then again, who knew Day Court was actually so boring? I sat and listened to rich ponies complain and various ponies trying to get what they can out of Celestia with a side of some legitimate concerns.
But this morning was downright weird and confusing, Luna knows something and thinks I am some mare she's been looking for, but that's crazy talk, I've only ever been some mare that looks like Celestia and nothing more and that's all anypony ever cares about. I look down at my bracelet and it hasn't glowed at all yet but I need to wear this for a week so whatever Luna is searching from in me could still show up.
KNOCK KNOCK!!
"Hello?" I called out.
"It's me." Sharp Spear calls out.
"Come in." I called back.
I watch as Sharp Spear comes in.
"I am about to head back to the barracks, do you require me for anything before I leave?" Sharp Spear asked me.
"No Sharp Spear, but thank you, we both should get some sleep." I replied back.
"Indeed, I shall see you at 8am sharp." Sharp Spear said as he turned away.
"Goodnight" I said.
"Goodnight to you also Ma'am" Sharp Spear said.
I watch as he closed the door behind him as I turned off all light sources in my room and decided to go to sleep, maybe whatever weird thing Luna thinks will happen tomorrow or maybe Celestia could tell me as soon as I get her alone. Yaaaawwwnnn, Day Court made me extra drowsy, time for sleep...
Back to Luna...
Luna stood in a green field that was inside Sun Glow's dream, there wasn't any sign of what she was looking for yet but Sun Glow seemed okay despite the dream seeming to confuse the Dream Sun Glow.
"I know it's there, why will it not show up?" Luna muttered under her breath.
Luna shook her head, there were other dreams calling to her and she could not abandon her duty for long and after all, as ponies said nowadays: A watched pot never boils. Besides, Luna reasoned to herself that the bracelet will let her know if Sun Glow displays any activity that proves she's the one, even in dreams.
"Rest well Sun Glow, for I am sure I will find what I am looking for soon enough" Luna said as she left the dream.
The rest of the night went uneventful but elsewhere, plans were being made, but what those are won't be found out until tomorrow when the new day comes...
Author's Note
So I know it's been a while and I kind have to blame playing Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled and a bit of my own laziness on that. You'd think being on uni break would get me to write more and you'd be wrong, oh well, here's a chapter, enjoy!
Also the plot kinda of thickens...just a little bit.
Celestia's look-a-like assistant.
Author's Note
Warning: This chapter is a bit weird and kind of experimenting here...yes the dialogue Sun Glow says is meant to be bad, it's kind of like the "Hearts and Hooves Day" Love Poison where Cheerilee and Big Mac said really cheesy romantic lines to each other.
The Poison.
Yaaawwwnnn...by Celestia that is next to me, Day Court is so utterly boring! Here I am sitting next to Celestia listening to the mayor of Manehattan going on about some new bridge that the Mayor says Manehattan needs in excruciatingly boring detail and here Celestia is, just soaking it up without a crack in her expression, how does she do it? I quickly checked my own expression with a hand mirror to check I didn't look uninterested and thankfully I didn't look bored.
If Celestia can stand this, then so can I! I'm sure there's something interesting to learn from this...
"...will increase tourism by 22.2123% on average..."
Nope, still boring, just keep the expression up, it's not like they're paying attention to me, they want Celestia not me but still, they could notice: the mayor, Celestia, Sharp Spear and the other guards and I can't look ungrateful for this job, I don't wanna go back to Baltimare! The apartment back there stinked, the job sucked and the ponies were rotten to me there, I can't afford being back there.
"Thank you for your time Mayor, I shall take this into consideration" Celestia spoke.
The Mayor bowed but the way I heard Celestia said it seemed to doubt she'll actually do such.
"I think it's time for the lunch break, I am quite hungry." Celestia said to me in a more enthusiastic tone.
"Sounds like a good idea." I said, doing my best not to sound too desperate for lunch.
The Day court closed for lunch as Celestia got up from her throne with a short stretch, it didn't look too comfortable to me. But I followed Celestia outside when she beckoned me to do so.
"Celestia, I must ask, you aren't planning to consider his bridge are you?" I asked.
Celestia stopped and turned to me.
"Of course not, that bridge of his entirely unnecessary and a waste of money that others need around Equestria. That was just the Mayor's attempt and making it look like he's making progress to his city so he can be re-elected in the upcoming Mayoral election." Celestia explained to me.
"Is that why it was so boring?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Oh no! I didn't meant to say that out loud!
"It was boring as our mayor was hoping I'd skip over the finer details." Celestia said.
I looked directly into her eyes before she laughed.
"You don't have to pretend, Day Court has always been boring but it is informative to me but to others, it's naught but noise. I will not punish you for finding Day Court boring. Unfortunately, ponies have taken Day Court as a method to get their own way, I can see through them of course but all the same, they all think they are clever and their tactic is original" Celestia said as she started walking again.
"How do you even deal with all that?" I asked her.
"...Well, I'd say I am a patient mare most days, and I guess it's nice to know that while some of my ponies aren't the best ponies they could be, they are at least, predictable and I could be dealing with worse." Celestia thought for a moment before saying how she did it.
"What could be worse?" I asked.
"Imagine if all of those petitioners had Discord's personality, that day is not one I wish to repeat, took a good few weeks for the staff with some of my help to clean all the mess up. Sometimes I really give the predictable things a bad name but they do have benefits" Celestia said.
We arrived at a table in the gardens, it was the same one I was here at last week when I first met Celestia, has it really been a week? Well, we are alone and there's something I must ask..
"Celestia?" I got her attention.
"Yes Glow?" Celestia gave me her attention.
"I wanted to ask about this." I asked.
I showed the bracelet Luna gave me, Celestia's expression didn't change.
"You wonder what Luna and by extension, I, am looking for aren't you?" Celestia asked.
"I am" I nodded.
Celestia let out a sigh.
"I want to tell you Sun Glow, I really do. But it's a secret that must be kept secret unless they have what it takes to know the secret. I want to tell you but I must be sure it's really you I must tell, I have made mistakes with this sort of thing before and the information can be misused in the wrong hooves." Celestia explained.
"And mine could be the wrong hooves?" I asked.
"I am not implying you would do something bad, I am implying that this is information that could turn Equestria upside down if ponies knew, rest assured it is not a secret that deliberately causes harm, it is much like the Elements of Harmony, they can be misused with the wrong ponies touching them." Celestia said.
"Why do you think this pony you gotta tell may be me?" I asked.
"A few reasons, but I cannot say now and I think we should drop this subject, if you are the one, it will be made clear, if not, that will also be clear." Celestia finished the conversation.
I got nothing out of Celestia, I suppose I'll have to wait until this bracelet lights up...if it even does. I heard a waiter come near and he came into my view from behind.
"Princess, will you be needing anything?" the waiter asked.
"You know what? Surprise me today, Dish." Celestia said.
"And what about Miss...Sun Glow?" Dish asked me.
"Surprise me also." I decided.
"I will return shortly." Dish said as he left the gardens.
I still want to know what Celestia and Luna could be searching for, I can't get what it could be out of my head. What could it be? Is it because I am a look-a-like? Do they have some theory as to why I look this way? I noticed Sharp Spear in the corner of my eye arriving at the gardens and taking a position nearby. He's lucky, he gets to be a guard, just a normal guard while I'm stuck wondering if I'm some special pony and dealing with the fur on my body. What I'd give to have his life, or anypony else's life where they at least have something OTHER than their fur on their body being the only reason anypony would look at them.
"Here you go" I heard the waiter.
I found a small dish with a drink that looked like a light alcohol (You can tell because the bottles are always lighter colours), the dish had a pasta bowl while Celestia got some creamy dish I had no idea what it was.
"Is this to your liking, your highness?" Dish asked.
"It is, thank you. You are dismissed" Celestia said with a smile.
I dug in to my pasta and found it delicious, it would be weird if the food at Canterlot actually tasted garbage. I drank some of the light alcohol which wasn't too bad and thankfully seemed to be actually light, I know better than to be smashed with my body around, there's a fair share of Celestia worshipers who take it to the sexual level, don't ask me how I know that.
But strangely, I feel like I need to go back to my room, I have no idea why but I really really want to go there and bring Sharp Spear along.
"Hey Celestia, I need to go back to my room for a bit" I said.
"Oh, is everything okay?" Celestia asked.
"Of course I think I need something from there and I'll be back in time for resuming the Day Court." I said.
"Okay, I will see you there." Celestia smiled at me.
I got up and left the gardens with Sharp Spear following me...that stud...woah! Where did that come from? It can't be heat season yet...just ignore it. I'm almost back at my room, what do I even need from there? Why am I going there? That sexy stallion stood guard outside while I went in to get...what? What am I getting? I feel like there's something but now I feel it's outside the door and oh my Celestia I hope he's good.
What!? What the Tartarus am I thinking right now! I'm thinking about getting a rutting from Sharp Spear and getting the most pleasurable experience of my life. Okay! Stop Sun Glow! I don't know where this is coming from but this stops now! I am a better mare than that and I am no whore...but I want him to treat me like one. GRRR! STOP THAT!
"Stop it Glow! Stop it!" I growled to myself.
"Miss Glow? Is everything alright?" Sharp Spear's voice called out
Perfect, I'll get him in there and I'll give him the best ride of his life, oh I want him so bad! So very bad!
"Yes, but I could use your assistance Sharpy" I called back in a seductive tone.
I shook my head, why am I acting this way? Maybe I should go to bed and rest...while he pounds me haaaarrrd! Oh no he's coming in, run you fool, RUN!
"Miss Glow, is everything alright? You look stressed." Sharp Spear asked me.
No! Don't come any closer!
"Oh I am fine Sharpy, I was wondering could a strong stallion like yourself help with a problem I have?" I asked in a very seductive tone, giving him constant winks.
Ohhh, look at his face, I am so kissing that! And when he's done kissing me, I want him to lick my...NO! What is going on? This isn't me! I don't do this! It's like something is controlling me and I can't resist this...urge to pounce on him anymore! I want him inside me so BADLY! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMOOOORE! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF BEING A PATIENT MARE!
"Anything you need" Sharpy said.
"Anything?" I smiled at him.
"Uh, are you sure you're okay?" Sharpy asked again.
"Fine, just sit down on the bed." I said
I quickly ran to lock the door, can't have anypony interrupting me and my absolute hunk of stallion's session. And then I returned to Sharpy who was such a patient stallion, I need to reward him, should I go straight for his little spear first or maybe he should polish his spear in me, ooooh, all those choices are all so good.
"Well Sharpy, it's just you and me now and I must say that you are quite rude for making a mare wait so long" I started walking seductively.
"Uh...what do you mean?" Sharpy started blushing, he's so hot when he blushes.
I sat down next to him rubbing his sides.
"Here I am, a sexy mare and you haven't tried anything with me yet, I know you want me Sharp Spear, I've seen the way you look at my flank when you think I don't look. I know your dreams must be having your way with me." I told him with a knowing look.
"Uh..." Sharpy didn't say much else.
"Oh don't worry, I won't tell anypony that you were looking at my flank and dreaming about me, after all, who can blame you? But in exchange, you have to do something for me" I said.
I start feeling up his chest and his muscles and oooh my Celestia I want him NOW!
"W-What?" Sharpy nervously asked.
I put my mouth next to his ear and whispered: "Me"
"W-what!?" Sharpy almost yells.
"Yes, I know you want to do me and good news for you Sharpy, I want you as well, I want your little spear to do me hard and long...starting now!" I talked to him as I moved my lips towards him.
Sharp Spear immediately tried to bolt towards the door before I flew in front of him, my little boy toy isn't getting away that easily.
"Where are you going Sharpy? Do you not like the bed as a place for sex? I can be done on the table or even on the ground, I don't really mind where, I'll do it where you want to, you'll find I am quite...flexible." I walked slowly towards him like a tiger ready to pounce.
"Miss Glow, stop this at once! This isn't proper and you can't just go doing this!" Sharpy protested.
"Why not Sharpy? I want this, you want this and you know it. And you can tell your friends about how you banged this hot Celestia look-a-like mare named Sun Glow, and they'll give you respect and you can tell them she's willing to give you a round 2 as well and they'll look at you in jealously. Don't deny it, I know you think it Sharpy, I am pretty hot and I can't blame you about wanting me, so why resist me when you can have me all to yourself? Gain the envy of your friends, and have really good sex, I'll be yours forever!" I tried to convince me to bang me.
"It isn't like you!" Sharpy protested again.
"How do you know? Maybe the second I saw you, I wanted you. And who could blame me with you being an absolute hunk of a stallion? You make a mare all hot and bothered." I said as I got him a corner.
Sharpy was sweating, oh he's such a gentlestallion trying to restrain his desires but he needn't do so, he's kept his mare waiting long enough. I pounced on him ready to give him the good time he deserves as I got on top of him, almost in a ready position as his eyes were wide in panic but he'll soon enjoy this as I will and I can't wait to get...
BANG!
I looked around to see Celestia had entered.
"Celestia! Oooh, Great Idea! Let's make this a thr--" I started.
My mind went white...
Sun Glow fell on top of Sharp Spear as he put her off him.
"P-Princess Celestia! I-I can explain!" Sharp Spear started stuttering.
"No need Corporal, are you alright? Did she do anything to you?" Celestia asked.
"Other than her about to have forced sex with me, no." Sharp Spear answered.
Celestia levitated Sun Glow onto her bed and helped Sharp Spear up who tidied himself up.
"I didn't mean to--" Sharp Spear started.
"I know, Sun Glow wasn't herself, you weren't to blame for her actions, neither is Sun Glow." Celestia said.
"But I don't understand, why would she do it? We've hardly even know each other!" Sharp Spear asked.
"Because she's under the effects of Sex Poison and that's a banned potion to make. It was in the drink." Celestia explained.
"But...I saw you--" Sharp Spear started.
"I am immune to such things, even if I desired a roll in the hay it wouldn't work. I am afraid I would have to use my old-fashioned charm to get that. But, I knew when I registered the Sex Poison in my body and its effects being rejected that Sun Glow was under the effects of Sex Poison and immediately came here and it appears just in time" Celestia explained.
Celestia went over to Sun Glow as her horn lit up and was pointed towards Sun Glow's head which now glowed a pink colour and went to white.
"The Sex Poison is out of her body, when she wakes up, I will have her take an antidote just in case, it is much more effective than my magic and I would like to make sure." Celestia explained what she had done with Sun Glow.
"Well, that's a relief. But what about how the Sex Poison was in the drink? They had to target you, to humiliate you but it didn't work." Sharp Spear thought about who could have done this.
"I don't think so Corporal, they weren't aiming at me. Anypony that has been around me long enough knows about my immunity to poison and the things that can affect me I can get out in time easily." Celestia shook her head.
"Then they were after Sun Glow, but why?" Sharp Spear realized.
"To humiliate her, to probably get you to charge her with rape, hoping I would kick her out and the Canterlot public would cry for her being put in jail once they hear of this. Whoever sent the Sex Poison wants her out and it's because she's friends with me. I have a few ideas what kind of ponies would do this, but I have to narrow it down. But unfortunately, we will not be hearing the last of this incident." Celestia looked at the window.
All the windows and curtains were open and they had plain view of the bed which could mean...
"Somepony set this up to this happen! Why those little--!" Sharp Spear angrily said.
"Calm yourself, thankfully, you had all your armor on which means the enchantment will make you very hard to identify from any photos, did she ever say your name?" Celestia interrupted.
Sharp Spear thought back to the whole scene.
"She always called me Sharpy." Sharp Spear remembered.
"That's good, not a proper name and it could easily be a nickname and Sharpy's and anything similar are common in the guard, there may still be a chance your identity is safe, but unfortunately, Sun Glow's isn't." Celestia said.
"I feel bad for her, she didn't mean to do it Princess." Sharp Spear said.
"I see you don't blame her." Celestia noticed.
"Of course I don't blame her! I blame...myself...I could have stopped her from doing--" Sharp Spear started.
Celestia immediately went in front of Sharp Spear and went eye level with him.
"Listen to me, you are NOT to blame for this, neither if Sun Glow. In fact, I think holding her off that long is an achievement, very few stallions do well against a rather crazily horny mare under the effects of Sex Poison. Believe me, far worse fates have happened with that potion." Celestia assured Sharp Spear.
"Ugh..." Sun Glow's voice was heard.
"Look she's waking up now." Celestia noted.
Ooooh, my head. What happened? Last thing I remember was...no...
"Good afternoon Sun Glow" I heard Celestia's voice.
Celestia!? And Sharp Spear are in my room? I'm on my bed on top of the blankets but I don't remember ever getting on them, what I do remember is...I think my face is now red.
"Celestia, please, it wasn't what it looked like!" I tried to convince Celestia I didn't mean what I did.
"Relax, I am aware." Celestia said.
"Y-You are?" I looked confused.
"You were under the effects of Sex Poison." Celestia explained.
"Sex Poison?" I asked.
Celestia cleared her throat as she started to explain.
"In another time it was a potion designed for less confident couples to get a foal, it was nicknamed "The Foal Maker" but the uses of the potion got too Dark. It is very much like Love Poison but instead of lovey-dovey romance, the pony would become extremely horny towards a suitable partner and would not stop until their urges were satisfied for a time until they'd go again, the drinker saying extremely cringy lines to try and make love to the object of their desires. The potion can last a month in the pony system and ponies have misused this potion so much that it's original intended use was very rare and I had no choice in my early days as Princess to outlaw the potion completely due to a lot of dark outcomes from the use of Sex Poison. Thankfully, I am immune and recognized the Sex Poison immediately and I had to knock you out so I could cure you before you did anything." Celestia explained about the Sex Poison.
Then I could have...? I could have...? I lowered my head in shame.
"You are not at fault Sun Glow, you could not control your own actions, nopony can once under the effects" Celestia assured me.
I felt Celestia sit down next to me and put a hoof around me.
"I-If it was outlawed...then who could have made it?" I asked.
"I don't know but I have a few ideas and believe me, there WILL be an investigation, nopony drugs one of my friends, especially with Sex Poison of all things and gets away with it." Celestia said with anger in her voice.
I saw Sharp Spear in the corner of my eye but I couldn't look at him, all I remembered was me trying to get him to have sex with me in the most seductive tone while he resisted, I felt like there was some strange monster in my body controlling me. I have never felt so ashamed of myself in my entire life.
"I think I need to be alone for a while, Celestia." I said sadly.
"...I see, come Corporal, let's give her some space." Celestia left my side.
The door closed and both Sharp Spear and Celestia left me alone to my thoughts for the rest of the day...and for the weekend for that matter because I felt so ashamed of myself for acting like that. I think no humiliation will ever top what has happened today...
Celestia's look-a-like assistant.
???, Friday Night...
A cloaked figure approached another cloaked figure in a Canterlot alleyway.
"Is it done?" the taller pony asked, a gruff male voice coming out.
"Yes, Sun Glow has been administered the Sex Poison and the photos have been taken." the smaller figure said quietly.
"Good" the taller pony smiled.
"About the payment..." the smaller pony said.
"The photos first" the taller pony said, making a motion for them to be handed over.
A folder full of photos were taken out of Sun Glow trying get on top of her guard, this satisfied the taller figure as he brought out the bag of bits.
"Here you go, and of course, I shouldn't have to say to keep quiet about all this." The taller figure said in a warning tone.
"Of course, I do not plan on ratting out those that pay me." the smaller figure took the money and left.
Soon after, a few choice newspapers got the photos and got to work on an article that will humiliate Sun Glow and drive her away from Celestia's friendship. On Saturday it was released and the whole of Canterlot saw Sun Glow as some mare that took advantage of guards.
Saturday Night, Royal Guard Dorms...
Sharp Spear was furious, Canterlot newspapers had photos of Sun Glow trying to have sex with him under the effects of Sex Poison and now the whispers on the street are condemming a mare whose will wasn't her own. Somepony planned all of this and had somepony around to take photos.
"So, somepony's been busy, why didn't you tell us you had the mare all for yourself?" Dark asked from one of the beds.
"I didn't do anything with her!" Sharp Spear growled.
"Hey, relax, I was joking, I know you wouldn't force yourself on a mare like that ever, and from the way it looked, she started it, always the hot mares that are like that." Dark said with his hoofs up defensively.
"What Dark means is that we know you aren't to blame." Cloud gave an annoyed look at Dark while speaking.
Sharp Spear looked around for any ponies listening in.
"Sun Glow was under the effects of Sex Poison." Sharp Spear said.
"Sex Poison? What, she have STDs?" Dark asked.
"No you idiot!" Cloud smacked Dark in the head.
"It's a potion that apparently makes the drinker really really horny and cannot control anything about what they're doing. Princess Celestia said that Sex Poison is outlawed and there's an investigation going on about who could have made it and given it to Sun Glow." Sharp Spear explained.
"Dude, that's bucked up if somepony made Sun Glow try to bang you." Dark shook his head.
"Says the guy who talks about banging every hot mare he sees or hears about" Cloud rolled his eyes.
"Hey, I'd bang mares WITH consent, even I know rape is a no-no and basically somepony mind-controlled that Sun Glow mare into trying a mare on stallion rape on Sharpie over here, that's bucked up!" Dark said
Everypony agreed on that point.
"But they didn't mention your name, did they? They have no idea who you are?" Dark asked.
"No, but I don't think it matters, they were out to humiliate Sun Glow, I don't think I've heard a word from her since the incident, I hope she's okay..." Sharp Spear said, worrying about the mare he was assigned to guard.
"Awww, Sharpie does care about Sun Glow, those two are totally gonna bang for real soon enough" Dark gave a snicker.
"I'm about to bang you with the blunt edge of my spear if you keep it up!" Sharp Spear gave a threatening glare.
The conversation turned to other things as the night wore on but still, Sharp Spear hoped that Sun Glow was okay...
Monday Morning, 8:00am, Sun Glow's room.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
I don't want to get up! I don't want to face to the world, my name is tarnished and nopony can humiliate me underneath this blankets! I can't believe them still! They took photos of me, and now it's on the front of every newspaper!
"Sun Glow?" I heard Celestia's voice.
"Go away..." I groaned.
"Glow, you can't lock yourself in there forever, it's not healthy." Celestia said through the door.
"Like Tartarus I can't...sniff...." I said through some tears.
"Glow, sure you were humiliated in a newspaper but in the end, you have to be the bigger mare and stand up to it and stand tall!" Celestia tries to encourage me.
"Easy for you to say, nopony is basically making you out to be a whore" I said.
"560 years ago me would have to disagree." Celestia replied to my comment.
"Just leave me alone" I said.
"Very well..." Celestia sighed.
Good, she's going away, now I can continue to wallow in my own--
BANG!
Celestia had entered the room and pulled the sheets off...nooooooooooo...
"Now listen here young lady, you have locked yourself up in this room all weekend and that is simply not good for you. Just because some ponies don't have a sense of deceny doesn't mean you should hide under the blankets until the end of time. You aren't any good to yourself being a sobbing mess, you aren't good to yourself for blaming yourself for somepony else's actions and you certainly won't be doing yourself any favors staying in this room!" Celestia lectured me.
I felt myself being pulled up into a sitting position.
"It wasn't your fault, Glow." Celestia said.
"It...is...I remember everything and--" I started.
"You blame yourself. But to say it's your fault would be like punishing Luna because she was under the influence of the Nightmare. But, rest assured that whoever did this will be punished and I've made it clear to others that the article was nothing but lies." Celestia said.
Maybe it isn't my fault...but I can't just let it go...
"I'm sorry..." I apologized.
"You have nothing to apologize for Glow, even the best of ponies let things out of their control get to them." Celestia smiled.
I found myself in a hug which I returned.
"Hmm, I believe you need a shower, I don't think you've had one all weekend." Celestia gave me a sniff.
Oh my Celestia, I do smell!
"You do that and I'll clean this room, sobbing messes tend to leave quite a mess." Celestia said.
I looked around and there was chocolate wrappers, depression ice cream, and other boxes of food...I did leave quite a mess, didn't I? I got up and made my way to the shower and started cleaning myself up.
Five minutes later...
I came out of the shower to find Celestia waiting for me with a suitcase next to her...why does she have a suitcase?
"Celestia, what's with the suitcase?" I asked.
"Oh this? You're going on a trip." Celestia answered.
"Where?" I asked.
"Ponyville, to Princess Twilight. This is so you can be out harm's way while this investigation goes on." Celestia explained where I was going.
"But why? Surely I am fine here." I protested.
"Glow, trust me on this. It is my suspicion that whoever is behind this may be a noble or someone of high status and once they see you are still by my side, they will try again. You will stay in Ponyville with Princess Twilight for a week until the heat dies down and it will be a great way for you to make some more friends" Celestia smiled.
"But what if the pony comes after me?" I asked.
"Which is why we'll be monitoring any and all trips to Ponyville, you'll be more safe in Ponyville than in Canterlot at the moment." Celestia assured me.
I mean...I don't want to leave Celestia but...whoever did this could make me do what I did on Friday again and I won't stand doing that again. I guess I'll have to go...
"Fine." I gave in.
"I promise you'll do fine and it's only for a week, now you'll be taking a chariot to Ponyville and Princess Twilight will be waiting for you, also Corporal Sharp Spear will be coming along." Celestia said.
"He will?" I asked quietly.
"Yes, he doesn't blame you and in fact, he's been worried about you. In any case, you two should get going, Princess Twilight is a bit...obsessed with everything being on schedule" Celestia said.
I followed Celestia out the door who was levitating my suitcase and found Sharp Spear waiting for me.
"Hello Miss Glow" Sharp Spear greeted me.
"Um...hello..." I said extremely quietly.
I hid my face behind my mane as I tried to greet him, all I saw was memories of the Friday where I...moving on from that. I followed both of them to the chariot but when I passed by ponies I saw them give me looks of disgust, they clearly saw the newspaper as I felt anger in me, what I would do to the pony that dared to humiliate me should I get my hooves on them.
And also, I still wonder about the bracelet I got from Luna, what does she and Celestia expect to happen? No straight answer seems to come out of either of them...oh well...
"We're here." I heard Celestia's voice.
I snapped back to reality to find we were at the place where Chariots take off from, what was it called? A Chariotport? No, that doesn't sound right. In any case, I was lead over to the chariot we were using which had two guards ready to take off.
"Your highness" both guards bowed and said.
"At ease." Celestia nodded to them.
I always wondered how ponies can pull chariots the way they do, I once saw guards pulling Celestia's carriage along back when I was a filly. These guards look strong and maybe they have to be to fly this thing.
"Are you ready Glow?" Celestia asked.
"I think I am" I nodded.
Celestia opened the chariot door for us and floated both mine and Sharp Spear's suitcase in the loading part of the chariot.
"Now, it's time for you to go and time where we say goodbye for now" Celestia said with a smile.
"Um, well um, see you later Celestia" I said goodbye.
I found myself in a hug as Celestia's hooves were wrapped around me, I returned the hug.
"I'll see you in a week" Celestia smiled at me as she waved.
I got in the carriage with Sharp Spear and after a good five to ten minute check up of everything, the carriage took off and we took to the sky towards Ponyville...
Ponyville, 10am...
I don't think I've made contact with Sharp Spear's eyes at all the entire trip, every time I try to, I get embarrassed and remember Friday, I try not to blame myself but I just can't let it go right now. I felt the carriage land as I saw a castle that I've only ever seen in a newspaper to my right and in front of that castle was Princess Twilight and the Elements of Harmony. Wait, I think that's also her student isn't it? And her dragon assistant too.
I got out of the chariot and they're all staring at me...do they expect me to say hello first? Wait, they are noticing I look just like Celestia and they have those stares, oh what do I do?
"Hello, you must be Sun Glow, right?" Princess Twilight spoke up.
Princess Twilight was walking up to the both of us, I was only a tiny bit shorter than her and she looked so much more casual of a Princess compared to Celestia and Luna who screamed royal about their appearances.
"Um, yes I am" I replied.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, I'm--" Princess Twilight started.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic, saved Equestria several times and Headmare of a Friendship School...sorry, that was rude of me." I interrupted.
"It's okay, and just Twilight will do. Celestia told me about you and I have to say she was definitely not kidding about you looking just like her." Twilight noted.
"I get that a lot." I groaned.
"In any case, welcome to Ponyville!" Twilight shook my hoof.
"Um, thanks?" I replied back.
Suddenly, my eyes were filled with Pink.
"Hi there! My name's Pinkie Pie and weeeelllllcooooome to Ponyville! I have just one question: Do you like parties?" Pinkie Pie said in what must be the most enthusiastic tone ever.
"I...um...I never really...been to a party" I answered slowly.
And then the world exploded!
"WHAT!?"
I then watched her speed off at some insane speed into town...what just happened?
"Uh...is she okay?" I asked Twilight.
"Oh that? She's usually like that, word of advice, don't try to figure her out, I tried once and lost my mind, just let Pinkie be herself because of the law of physics does not apply to her." Twilight advised me.
"Oookaaayy?" I didn't really know what to say.
"Please allow me to introduce the rest of my friends starting with Applejack." Twilight started.
I was introduced to Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Spike and Starlight Glimmer who I have heard about through newspapers and through word of mouth, it's hard to not hear about them these days. But that's a lot of ponies to meet in one go and now they're staring at me, expectantly.
"Um, I'm Sun Glow, assistant to Princess Celestia and um, yes, I naturally look like this. And this is my guard, Sharp Spear" I introduced myself with a polite bow.
Sharp Spear nodded, electing to stay quiet.
"So Sun Glow, why don't I show you and your guard around where you'll be staying?" Twilight suggested.
"Um, sounds good" I went along with it.
I started walking into the castle with Sharp Spear behind me...I suddenly remembered something I said while under Sex Poison and suddenly I became really self-conscious, just ignore it, focus on the present...
Back at Canterlot with Celestia and Luna...
"So, you've sent her off to Ponyville?" Luna asked about Sun Glow.
"Of course, it's safest for her there rather than here." Celestia answered.
"You do realize trouble follows Twilight Sparkle and her friends around like a lost puppy, I fear that trouble may find Sun Glow there, and we still don't know if she's truly the one. Shouldn't we have her here to study if she's who we are looking for?" Luna made a fair point.
"She doesn't need to be stuck in Canterlot like a rat, Lulu. The nobles are hunting her and we know a watched pot never boils, Twilight and her friends will keep her safe even with Ponyville's...habit of attracting trouble. Have you had any luck finding your one?" Celestia asked.
Luna looked out the window of the room they were in and shook her head.
"No, I have scoured every dream, every corner of Equestria, constantly been on the watch and nothing, we don't even know for sure if Sun Glow is the you need." Luna said.
"If Sun Glow is the one and I think she is, then your one will not be far behind, they tend to appear in close proximity of one another." Celestia assured Luna.
"We will see Tia, but if my cards are correct, I have narrowed my search down a bit" Luna sat down.
"They will come soon, I am sure of it and when they do, we will be ready to pass what we know onto them." Celestia said confidently.
The both of them stared out the window for a moment before Luna continued the conversation.
"I am troubled however Tia, somepony has made a point of humiliating Sun Glow and I saw a card in my session with Sun Glow, I have no idea what it is or what it could me but it troubles me." Luna expressed her worry.
"I am investigating who wants to hurt Sun Glow. Whoever it is will NOT get away with it, what I would also like to know is how they got their hooves on Sex Poison, it was outlawed all those centuries ago and its knowledge was destroyed and the only book that has it is safe with no signs of removal." Celestia wondered out loud.
"Somepony wants Sun Glow out of the picture, is it pure petty arrogance? Or could it be something more? Perhaps somepony may know our secret?" Luna said.
"Impossible! I have guarded our secret for generations upon generations never telling a soul, not even Twilight Sparkle knows. That secret is locked under the most powerful spells, enough power to level Canterlot and Ponyville with the sheer power of it." Celestia immediately denied that possibility.
"But yet Discord has passed through your most powerful spells and it can't be denied out deterioration has made our best not good enough. Chrysalis even with all of her love would not have defeated you in your prime, she wouldn't have lasted a second, Tirek wouldn't dare touch us and any other threat would never dare to touch us Celestia. We have to accept the fact that our power counts for less these days and ponies are starting to notice, Tia." Luna made another point.
Celestia sighed, it was true. Both Celestia and Luna's powers have became weaker and weaker over the years to the point that mortals and even weaker immortals can surpass them. Given time, Equestria's future will become very dire if nothing is done.
"You know it's true Tia, we aren't the invincible sisters anymore. We aren't the ponies even the bravest and the most powerful have come to fear anymore. We're old mares even though our bodies look otherwise, the world will soon decide that it doesn't need us anymore. Twilight Sparkle already seems to be destiny's poster mare with her spreading her Friendship teachings to all across the world. I know you think it Tia, but I feel that right now, we are breathing our last century, the moon is waning on our lives and soon a new one must happen" Luna continued.
"I know Luna, which is why I will not let the nobility whether they have found out our secret or not stand in the way of Equestria's future. I know our lives are at a close, but I am not ready to throw in the towel until I am sure we have a legacy to pass on. I have worked tirelessly to make sure Twilight Sparkle is my successor along with Cadence, they will rule Equestria when it's time for us to leave and nopony is going to stop that." Celestia said confidently.
Another pause happened while both mares seriously thought about the future.
"Are you really certain it's Sun Glow we need?" Luna asked.
"I am, but I must make sure, the future of our kingdom is not something I will gamble on unless there is no other way." Celestia made it clear.
"And if she's not?" Luna asked.
"I will continue searching as will you" Celestia said.
"So you're going to toss her out of Canterlot if she's not?" Luna asked.
Celestia stood up quickly.
"I will not Luna! Whether a great destiny revolves around her or not, she is my friend." Celestia said, annoyed Luna would suggest such a thing..
"Tia, are you intending to hurt yourself with ANOTHER daughter figure in your life?" Luna worried for her sister.
"I am not hurting myself, Luna. I see myself in her, more than Twilight, more than Sunset--" Celestia started.
"I noticed, she looks just like you" Luna rolled her eyes.
"Very funny Luna, but she's more than just her appearance, her life has been dictated by what she is on the outside. I want her to see she's more than that, I want ponies to see her as more than that, I see potential in her and that potential isn't a clone of me, and I know with my help, she can find it." Celestia said.
"Methinks you have adopted one pony too many" Luna said, doubtful of Celestia's words.
"Luna, you may doubt me but you said it yourself, our time is short, another blink and it's time to go. I want one last pony to mentor and guide, the show them that their potential is something they can unlock, the erase all the doubt that blocks them, to light the path. Is it so selfish of me to want one last pony to guide? One that could be one of the most important mares of this millennium?" Celestia argued.
Another pause as Celestia walked around.
"Let's discuss more later Lulu, our ponies still need us" Celestia ended the discussion there.
"Very well, but, I warn you Tia, we must tread lightly the situation, too much is at stake here, if we mess up, Equestria, nay, the entire world may feel the repercussions of our mistakes." Luna said.
"Is it ever any other way?" Celestia asked rhetorically.
Both mares left the room, Celestia was to go to the ponies that needed her, Luna was to rest in preparation for her duties in the night time...
Back to Ponyville...
"Remind again, why I am doing farmwork?" I asked Sharp Spear.
I was currently walking with Twilight and Applejack towards Sweet Apple Acres, the farm that makes the apples. The Apples are a well-known family that are the biggest producer of farms all around Equestria, it's actually a pleasure to meet one of the most well-know Apples in Equestria and the Element of Honesty no less.
"Because Princess Celestia said you are to help out while you are in Ponyville as part of your assistant job" Sharp Spear answered.
"Oh..." I remembered now.
"Cheer up, Sun Glow, farm work builds character" Applejack said in her southern accent.
"I guess it could be better than boring paperwork" I shrugged.
"That's the spirit!" Applejack smiled.
When I reached Sweet Apple Acres, there were so many apple trees everywhere, everywhere you looked, apples! There was a barn and a house and a few other things around but it was mostly the apple trees, lots and lots of apple trees, I don't think I've ever seen so many in my life.
"Are you ready for Apple Bucking?" Applejack asked.
"Apple Bucking?" I asked in confusion.
"It's an Apple family technique to get down Apples from the trees using the hind legs." Twilight explained it for me.
"Why, it's been perfected over many generations of Apple Bucking, while it's best with Earth Ponies, any race of pony can do it." Applejack told me.
"It doesn't sound too bad." I said, being confident this won't be too bad.
I mean, it's just exercise, surely nothing bad of it can happen?
3 hours later...
Oh Celestia my hind legs hurt! Why are trees so hard here? What are they made of? Pure hurt-ium?
"Sun Glow, you okay there?" Applejack asked above my head.
"I think I will be lying down on the ground for a while, I'm so exhausted that the ground will henceforth be my bed" I groaned.
"It's not that bad" Applejack brushed it off.
"Tell my hind legs that" I groaned again.
"Well, I did see you get frustrated with Alice over there" Applejack told me.
"Alice?" I asked in confusion.
"You know, that tree you call "A monstrosity that Celestia needs to burn at the first chance" as you screamed it in more anger than Rainbow Dash being told she can't attend a Wonderbolt show." Applejack clarifies.
"You name trees?" I asked.
Oh Celestia, she's one of THOSE ponies.
"Why of course! Like there's Felicia, Mark, Daryl, Doyle, Sebastian, To-" Applejack started naming the trees.
"Okay I get it!" I interrupted her.
"Not to interrupt you two but Princess Twilight wants us back at the castle." Sharp Spear added in.
Oh thank Celestia! Maybe I can sit down at least until my hind legs stop hurting! Although Sharp Spear didn't seem hindered by any of this work, maybe it's the Earth Pony in him or he's just strong?
"Okay, we should get going, thanks for having me Miss Applejack" I said as I left.
"No worries, but let me come with you, I need to head in anyway" Applejack said.
"Okay" I nodded.
So Applejack, Sharp Spear and I were walking from Sweet Apple Arces to back to the Friendship Castle or whatever it was called. I was walking at a slower pace because my hind legs hurt a bit.
"So I wanted to say, thank you for the help today" Applejack thanked me.
"You know I had to do it as part of my assistant job to Celestia, right?" I denied the thanks.
"That may be but you sure didn't complain about it." Applejack said.
"I am sure my back hind legs would disagree." I replied.
"Yes but that's the after part, most ponies get that on their first time. I'm talking about during, I've seen my fair share of ponies helping out and there are some who complain the whole way, you did practically all that work without too much complaint and to me, that matters. It shows good work attitude and a good attitude goes a long way in life" Applejack said.
"Well, it would hardly do for the assistant to Celestia to be complaining about the work she is given, no matter if it's work for Earth Ponies, high in the sky or in Celestia's own throne room." I replied back.
"That's fair enough" Applejack nodded her head.
Within another ten minutes, the castle was once again in view and I will never get used to how out of place it looks compared to the rest of Ponyville. But I suppose I am not the architect of the castle, that honor belongs to harmony itself apparently.
When we got to the throne room, the lights were out, strange, I thought this place can't get dark but apparently it can even in the shiny castle interior and--
"SURPRISE!!"
I completely became frozen...
Celestia's look-a-like assistant.
I found myself staring at a mirror in my room. I was thinking about the Spring Gala tonight, I am going as Celestia's assistant and I didn't even know about it until earlier today, but I am coming face-to-face with the nobility with Canterlot and those of high-class and I'm nervous about their reactions to me.
I was applying make-up on. I didn't need much and I was not trying to look the best but presentable enough. I, after all, am not a fashion expert, I do not follow what dresses are trendy, I don't care what makes a mare attractive all that much because the only look taht ponies care about on my body is the Celestia look I have. I put on red lipstick on my lips and checked my face in the mirror to see I looked alright.
I was wearing a sky blue dress with a bright sunny yellow colour at the bottom to represent a sunny sky pattern on the dress. it wasn't the best but I didn't want anything sex appeal-ish or something that made me look a millennium old and it was the only one in the store that seemed to fit me. I already think it's creepy getting hit on and I don't want to be Celestia and that includes the fact she's millennia old but she still looks beautiful, I imagine if I were a mare caring more about my beauty, I'd kill for genes from Celestia so I wouldn't have to worry about the dreaded middle age.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!
"Come in" I call out.
I checked myself one more time to see I was good to go before heading towards the door. The door opened and I found my guard, Sharp Spear in his armor waiting for me.
"Hello Miss Glow, you are looking stunning." Sharp Spear told me.
"Thanks" I blushed a bit.
"Are you ready to go?" Sharp Spear asked me.
"I am" I nodded.
"Very well, let's go" Sharp Spear turned to the door.
I followed Sharp Spear through the hallways, my dress was slightly brushing the ground as I walked. I am very unaccustomed to wearing dresses, I am not a tomcolt but I just don't like dresses too much, I just don't like formal things, I'd rather have something to show for myself that isn't make-up and fabric. That said, it would be highly inappropriate to show up to the Spring Gala without anything on.
"So um, you attending the Spring Gala as well?" I asked Sharp Spear.
"I am, as your personal guard Ma'am." Sharp Spear answered.
"Have you ever been?" I asked.
"A couple of times, word of advice, don't expect too much in the way of entertainment." Sharp Spear advised me.
"Is it really boring?" I asked out of curiosity.
"It can be." Sharp Spear said.
Great, not much to look forward to. Still, I should look at this in a positive way as possible...or at least as much as I can, and there's the door to where the Spring Gala is. I saw Celestia there waiting for me next to the guards guarding the door. She was wearing her normal royal regalia, looking her usual Princess self.
"Good evening Glow, and to you Corporal." Celestia greeted us.
"Hello Celestia." I greeted back.
"Shall we head in?" Celestia asked me.
"We should." I told her.
All three of us enter to find a room full of ponies in suits and dresses mingling, as soon as Celestia entered, ponies noticed and quickly were bowing.
"Rise my little ponies" Celestia spoke to the room.
All the ponies went back to the way they were but they were all paying attention to Celestia.
"Welcome to another Spring Gala, I thank you all for attending and it is my hope you enjoy tonight. Now, do not let me stop your enjoyment of this evening, please continue" Celestia speaks to the room.
All the ponies in the room went back to what they were doing. Both Sharp Spear and I went up to Celestia to speak to her.
"So, what do you want me to do tonight, Celestia?" I asked her.
"Enjoy yourself, it's usually a quiet night for an assistant but I will let you know should I need anything" Celestia told me.
"Okay, any recommendations on what to do here?" I asked Celestia for advice.
"Why not socialize with the other guests or perhaps go for a dance?" Celestia suggested.
"I might try." I told her.
"Wonderful, I'll leave you to it, I must talk with some of the other guests but I will be close should you need me" Celestia smiled.
I immediately made my way into the depths of the room, I passed ponies that saw me and immediately turned their heads to see if they were seeing me properly. It's that kind of looking I've seen before plenty of times and I get uncomfortable every time it happens.
"Is that a changeling looking like Celestia?"
"The nerve."
"She is strutting around like she's welcome here?"
I did my best to suppress my anger as I passed the nobles, what do they know!? They wouldn't know what it's like to be oppressed, they never work a day in their life for anything other than themselves! It's like money got rid of anything that made them tolerable.
I walked past more ponies and don't they ever stop looking? Maybe coming here was a mistake, all this staring makes me uncomfortable and...there's a bar, good! I can drink for a bit.
"Excuse me." I said to the bartender.
"Why hello Miss, welcome to...welcome to the bar, um, what can I get you?" the bartender hesitated as he noticed me.
"Whatever is light will do." I told him.
"Coming right up" the bartender replied.
I watch as the bartender looks under the bar for a drink to take out while Sharp Spear came to my side.
"Everything okay, Ma'am?" Sharp Spear asked me.
"Yes, I'm getting a drink, it is what one does at a party, right?" I answered.
"Forgive my bluntness but it's either what ponies with problems do when they want to drown themselves in drinks, or it's because they don't want to be there." Sharp Spear told me.
"Here you go." the bartender hands me a drink.
"Thank you." I thanked the bartender.
I took a gulp of my drink, it was...alright.
"Parties aren't my thing, especially high society parties." I told Sharp Spear.
"It's a Canterlot elite thing or somepony dedicated to being elite that enjoys these parties." Sharp Spear explained.
"My look isn't doing me any favors, they're staring at me." I pointed out.
There were those pretending to not look at me, but some were gawking at me, whispering to their friends while looking at me, it made me uneasy.
"It's an unfortunate part of who you are Miss Glow. Although, I am guessing were you a mare of different looks but similar levels of beauty, you'd enjoy the attention." Sharp Spear said.
"Maybe, I'll never know though" I shrugged.
Sharp Spear laughed, I found it confusing.
"What's so funny?" I asked him.
"I'm sorry Miss Glow, it's just that...so many mares would tear Celestia's coat off for her look and the one mare that has her appearance naturally is the one mare that doesn't want it. It's almost like a story of sorts, where heroes are those who never asked to be one, that sort of thing." Sharp spear explained.
"And?" I asked.
"Miss Glow, again, do your realize how special you are? You're rarer than anything, a duplicate Celestia in a Pegasus package. You're literally what most mares want to be" Sharp Spear continued.
"Of course they do. That's why they hate me, because I'm what they could never have no matter how hard they try" I remember many mares expressing their jealously and hatred.
I once tried going into the fashion industry for a brief time as a model but it's a mare dominated place and all of them were ponies jealous of my looks, and the stallions were creepy ones who only would look at my way because they wanted sex with me. I remember when I asked why, mares would say they hated me because they were jealous of my appearance, it was jealously that they discriminated against me. It felt so...irrational, I wondered for a time if maybe my cutie mark was sparking jealousy but it doesn't seem possible, and why would a cutie mark work against its owner?
"Do you attend these often?" I asked after a while.
"Only a few and all of them were guard duty. Although, if I'm honest, you're a better pony to guard than the last two I had. One was drunk in ten minutes and the other would not stop bragging." Sharp Spear answered.
"You sound like you've had way too much guard duty for a Corporal." I said my mind.
"You sound like the Captain, and truth is, I've got no place better to be. Why waste time guarding doors, when you could be guarding somepony like you right now?" Sharp Spear said why he prefers guard duty.
"Not even a family to go see?" I asked.
"Thing are...complicated, Ma'am." Sharp Spear hesitated to answer.
I could tell his relationship must be shaky with his family...just like mine are. I don't want to see Dad but I feel bad for leaving Mom the way I did, but I had to go. Maybe at some point I'll go make it up to her, so long as Dad isn't around.
"I understand that feeling, my parents and I have a...complicated relationship as well" I consoled Sharp Spear.
"Thank you. Oh and Princess Celestia is calling for you" Sharp Spear pointed out.
I looked to my right to see Princess Celestia was beckoning me to come over to her. I took one last gulp of my drink and started making my way through the crowd of ponies towards her. Once I reached her, I stood on her left as she finished talking to another pony who was just leaving.
"Hello Glow, are you enjoying this evening?" Celestia greeted me.
I am being watched with eyes the entire time, parties aren't my thing and I don't think rich parties look even a tiny bit entertaining, but Sharp Spear is nice to talk to.
"Yes" I lied for the most part.
"That's good to hear, have you ate anything yet? I am actually quite hungry myself" Celestia asked me.
My stomach decided to answer for me.
"I am" I nod.
"Let's head over to the food table" Celestia said.
The food table was thankfully a short trip as I laid eyes upon the most dressed up foods I ever saw, if I thought mares and stallions were the only things dressing up, then I was dead wrong. There was everything fancy and nothing simple, I almost feel impure being next to so much fancy stuff. I took a slice of strawberry cake as it seemed the most simple to me, simple as in it had the food version of something simple wrapped in a dress and makeup.
"Ah cake, they do know me well" Celestia said to herself.
I watch as Celestia also takes a strawberry cake slice and I follow her to a table with Sharp Spear not too far behind us.
"I've heard that you really like cake, is that true?" I asked Celestia.
"Oh? I love cake but not as much as the media would say that I do. There are other foods, I am not addicted to cake after all. Besides, this is a normal cake, nothing more." Celestia replied.
"Is that implying there's much better cake around?" I asked.
I got a nod from Celestia, I went to try my slice of cake and I found it pretty normal actually, despite all the work on its appearance. I was actually reminded of the doughnut conversation earlier, the cake is like a high-end doughnut, all dressed up but at the end of the day, the same as a normal slice of cake.
"Do you attend every party that Canterlot holds?" I asked Celestia out of curiosity.
"Hmmm, not all of them. I always have to attend the Grand Galloping Gala though, and believe you me, those Galas needed spicing up" Celestia responded to my question.
"It's true then? That you purposefully sabotage the Gala to go wrong?" I asked her about the rumors that Celestia messes them up on purpose.
"Yes, they are." Celestia said.
"Why? Why would you purposefully sabotage something like that?" I asked.
"Because the truth of it Glow, is that Grand Galloping Gala is a rather boring party that only rich ponies, lucky ponies or those who have saved up enough but have the wrong idea, oh and the lucky few I send tickets to, attend the Grand Galloping Gala." Celestia told me.
"And it's boring every time?" I assumed.
"Indeed. When you get around my age you start to notice patterns and some are so incredibly dull that they need something to shake it up, which is why I've started sabotaging the Grand Galloping Gala so that it goes wrong. Everypony is under such high expectations of it being the best night ever that it's become the exact same gala for every year with absolutely no deviation from the last. I'd say Twilight Sparkle and her friends have done a wonderful job the past few Galas, although with a few prods from myself." Celestia explained.
I remember hearing about the Grand Galloping Gala being a disaster the last two times in the newspapers, Canterlot ponies are really panicky about the whole thing. But one thing suddenly got my curiosity...
"Why haven't you tried to spice up this Gala?" I asked once I realized everything was normal.
"Who says I haven't?" Celestia replied with a wink.
"I...don't see anything out of place?" I said in confusion as I looked around.
Everything looked normal to me, I don't understand it. Celestia was implying that something was about to go wrong.
"I don't see any sign of a bunny stampede or some creation of Discord's around. Did you actually even do anything?" I asked in more confusion.
Celestia started giggling, I looked at Sharp Spear who shrugged as well.
"I haven't done anything to the Gala, but you have" Celestia told me.
"I have?" I express even more confusion.
"Your very presence is noticed in this room. Just look at their faces when they see you, they're racking their brains figuring out how and why there's another "me" walking around and especially in my presence. If I'm honest, their faces are priceless." Celestia pointed out while giggling.
"But they don't approve of me, I've heard their whispers as I passed by." I replied.
"Well, who cares about what they think? Those high society ponies don't care for anypony but themselves and the fact that you are in the company undermines what they've been working for: my approval and that I cater for everything they want. They don't like you because you bear resemblance to me and not only that, you are my friend and assistant, something they would kill for in the former" Celestia said.
"Now that you mention it, what's the deal with the assistant thing anyway? You gave a mare that you don't even know her qualifications the job, a job that's important" I brought up something that was bothering me.
Celestia again, giggled. Is...is she taking this seriously?
"Glow, I gave you that job because I wanted to help you and I have seen that you aren't lazy, you do not come straight to me whenever you don't know something, you search for it first. If you look around the castle, save for the guard, most workers are those that aren't particularly special or anything at their jobs but are willing to do their jobs because they must. You'll find most of my maids are single mothers or just single mares, both of whom need money, do you really think their vision in life was to be one of my maids? No, I give them that job because they can't get employment or their current conditions are quite honestly, poor, so I help them out" Celestia explained.
"So, I'm a pony that had your pity?" I asked.
"No, there is much more to you than that. While I did give you the job to help you financially, I also knew you would actually do the job properly, and that I see a fair bit of myself in you, which is a reason we became friends. But I think the thing that sold me into not giving you a maid job and instead, a job as my assistant is that you are willing to try everything before coming to me, you think for yourself. If you hadn't, you would have immediately asked me for help as soon as you were able and that makes all the difference to me." Celestia told me.
"But doesn't being your assistant require actual skills?" I asked.
"Like what? A Bachelor in Princess assistance? Glow, being my assistant is not the same level of skill as a physics professor, in truth, anypony with enough dedication is qualified but if you haven't caught on, I prefer ponies with the right attitude, not by how many qualifications they have. Of course there are some limitations to that line of thought but let me tell it you straight: you are not under-qualified, I think you are good for the job and that's what matters to me and if anypony has a problem with that, they are welcome to bring it up with me." Celestia puts it simply.
In truth, I thought Celestia was going easy on me today because today seemed...easier than I thought it would be. I stood next to Celestia, took a few notes, got a dress and ate doughnuts with her, I feared that I may have taken today for granted.
"I guess I can live with that, I'm sorry if I appeared ungrateful for your help Celestia." I apologized.
"You didn't appear ungrateful, in truth, many ponies find it natural to feel inadequate when they are by my side. Unfortunately, I never quite managed to get that trait out of ponies" Celestia assured me.
I took another look at the crowd of ponies, ponies were still staring our way and I thought I saw a few flashes from cameras. I thankfully wasn't camera shy, but I don't like the idea of a photo of me being taken without me consenting, especially around here.
"Well, I do believe my time here is up" Celestia said.
"It is? Surely it hasn't been that long?" I asked, looking at the time.
"Oh yes, I never stay too long, unless it's the Grand Galloping Gala in which case I must stay the entire time. I need my rest as it is a Monday and well, this party is a bit boring." Celestia said.
"It is fairly boring, I think I will go too" I agreed.
"Glow, you should stay and mingle with the--" Celestia started.
"I know but I don't want to, not tonight, tonight was unplanned and I don't feel comfortable around here right now." I said my honest thoughts.
"...very well, I cannot force you to do something you do not enjoy, but I want you to try make some friends here" Celestia sighed.
"I will, I think I will go now" I nodded.
"I will as well, I shall accompany you back to your room." Celestia agreed.
Celestia, Sharp Spear and I headed to the exit with eyes following us until we were out of their sight. I felt something of relief as the noise and eyes were gone as all I heard was my dress touching the ground. Truthfully, it is a good dress but I just don't feel comfortable around these sort of events.
Within no time, we all reached the door to my room and this was where goodnight was going to happen.
"I believe this is goodnight, Glow. Thank you very much for coming, however short it was." Celestia said.
"It is, um, goodnight Celestia, next time I'll stay longer." I said goodnight.
I felt myself wrapped in a hug.
"Goodnight Glow, I will see you tomorrow morning...oh and there's an alarm clock this time." Celestia said goodnight.
"See you in the morning." I said as she leaves.
I watched Celestia go down the corridor until she disappeared and then Sharp Spear got my attention.
"Is there anything more you'll be needing Ma'am?" Sharp Spear asked me.
"No, I think I'm going to go to sleep." I answered.
"In that case, I will take my leave and report to the front door at 7am." Sharp Spear said.
"Okay, I'll see you then, goodnight Sharp Spear." I wished Sharp Spear goodnight.
"To you as well Ma'am." Sharp Spear said with a quick salute.
I watch him leave as well as I entered my room and closed the door behind me. I got my dress off, put it away neatly and then went straight to bed. That was a bit of a long first day but this is my future now, no longer working off my flank for minimum wage in an office but for a mare who genuinely cares for me.
After a good while I felt my eyes get heavy as I fell into dreams...
Elsewhere in Canterlot...
"So kiddo, what did you get for me from that Gala?" a stallion asked.
The scene was an office with a dim lighting as a brown Earth Pony stallion was sitting behind a desk with a cigarette in his mouth. The younger stallion was a Unicorn with dark blue colours on his coat.
"You won't believe me, but there was a mystery mare next to the Princess at the party" a younger stallion answered.
"You're right, I don't believe you and who cares? I want newsworthy stories, not some mystery mare. If I wanted to care about mystery mares, I'd be a paparazzi reporter. " the older stallion answered.
"But Sir, take a look at these" the younger stallion slides the photos over.
The photos had Princess Celestia and a mare that just so happened to look like her but a Pegasus, some shots had her just by herself and with a guard in some of them. The older stallion clearly had a curious look on his face.
"Who is this mare?" the older stallion demanded the identity of the mare.
The younger stallion held back his tongue to stop him asking why he suddenly cared about the mare now.
"Nopony knows Sir, that's the thing. Besides Princess Celestia and probably the guard next to her, nopony has a clue. But she's attracted the attention of the nobles as their eyes were on her the entire time" the younger stallion replied.
"This is very interesting kid, we have ourselves a mystery mare doppelganger lurking around Canterlot Castle whom the Princess is keeping close, we have ourselves a story" the older stallion was rubbing his chin.
"But Sir, we have no inform--" the younger stallion started.
"Silence kid! Readers love a mystery and soon we'll get it solved, but for now..." the older stallion interrupted.
The older stallion wrote a quick note and handed it to the younger stallion.
"Take this to Quill, we have a story to make! We'll get it in the gossip section." the older stallion instructed the younger stallion.
Without further ado, the younger stallion left as the older one looked out the window. There was a mysterious mare around looking like Princess Celestia and soon, the public will know who this mare is exactly...
Canterlot Royal Guard barracks...
Sharp Spear was getting ready for sleep, he had the golden armor off which revealed a brown colored coat with a silvery mane. But before he could get to his bed, there were two stallions who seemed to be waiting for him. Giving a sigh, Sharp Spear addressed them.
"What do you two need?" Sharp Spear sighed as he asked the two stallions.
"We just wanted to ask about that mare you're guarding" a white (real white not enchanted armor white nor human white) Pegasus asked.
"What about her?" Sharp Spear asked, knowing full well what it was about her.
"She looks just like Princess Celestia! We saw you around with her, don't deny it." a black Unicorn said.
"And? Why do you want to know about her?" Sharp Spear asked.
"Because she's turning heads is why! What's her name? Why is she here? And is she single?" the black unicorn answered with more questions.
Okay Dark, her name is Sun Glow, she's Princess Celestia's friend and newest assistant and while I cannot confirm for sure, yes Dark, I'm 99% sure she's single" Sharp Spear answered the questions.
"Awesome, how does she look up close? She looked hot from a distance." Dark said.
SLAP!!
The white stallion had hit Dark in the face.
"Ow! What was that for Cloud!?" Dark angrily asked as he rubbed his cheek.
"You were thinking pervy thoughts about her, don't you have any restraint with mares on the "Hot" scale?" Cloud rolled his eyes.
"Well you're no fun Cloud, no wonder you're a virgin." Dark shot back.
"In any case, I don't think she'd be up for dating stallions right now" Sharp Spear said.
"Why not? She a fillyfooler?" Dark asked, hoping she wasn't.
"I don't think so, it's just she's got a lot of problems to deal with. She definitely looks like she wants to get some off her back and then maybe she'll consider dating." Sharp Spear replied.
"Yeah, maybe I can get some problems off her and--" Dark said in a tone suggesting nothing innocent at all.
"Dark, stop picturing yourself in bed with her, don't you ever think with that brain of yours instead of your dick?" Cloud scolded Dark.
"Come on, did you even see her? She looks like Princess Celestia, she's got an amazing figure and you're telling me you don't want some of that?" Dark protested.
"Not every pretty mare has some maddening desire to have sex, and she wouldn't have it with you Dark. She'd probably smack you silly out of the castle. Actually I hope she does do that." Cloud argued.
"Maybe not now but when that heat season rolls around, she'll be wanting that itch scratched and yours truly will be front of the line" Dark said as he was imagining waiting for Sun Glow.
"Urrggh!" Cloud groaned in frustration.
Sharp Spear was imagining that Sun Glow was in heat prowling the castle after him. It wouldn't be the first time that Sharp Spear had to run from a mare, but Sun Glow is his charge so it would be very hard to avoid her. Besides, Sharp Spear thought that perhaps if that was the case he could always...no, he wouldn't, not even for that.
"So Sharpie, how do you feel about her?" Dark asked Sharp Spear.
"I am her personal guard, I will maintain professionalism at all times in her presence." Sharp Spear answered.
"Yes, but what's in that head of yours? How do you feel about her?" Dark got more specific.
"As a pony? Sun Glow is...alright. She definitely has issues, most of which come from her appearance, in fact that's her core issue in life. Uh let's see, what else? I think she's too quick to judge things, probably because so many ponies have judged her and with that said, she's a nice mare overall, she's definitely already better than the last two guard duties I had." Sharp Spear described his experience with Sun Glow.
"Bah! Boring!" Dark complained.
"Is that all? I'd like to get some sleep as I have to be at her door at 7am." Sharp Spear said just before a yawn.
"Aww, is somepony already wanting to be at a mare's door?" Cloud teased.
"Shut up the both of you!" Sharp Spear growls
"Alright fine, I need to get my sleep anyway, and we best pray Princess Luna doesn't see Dark's perverted dreams" Cloud said.
All three stallions started to go to sleep. In the guard life, you cannot afford to waste too much time awake when it could be used sleeping, especially if you work all day like Sharp Spear. Soon the barracks were filled with snores while an unlucky few guards that were not Night Guards were awake and on patrol.
Again, elsewhere in Canterlot at a rich looking mansion...
A noble mare and a noble stallion were just sitting down in the living room of multi-million bit mansion. The pair of them were Unicorns (Big shocker, am I right?), the stallion was a white unicorn with a black mane and a moustache and the mare was a dark blue unicorn mare that definitely looked like she was struggling to fend off the dreaded middle age. The pair of them were about to discuss a certain mystery mare who showed up at the Spring Gala.
"Did you see that mare with Princess Celestia?" the stallion asked the mare.
"The one that looked just like Princess Celestia? Of course Right, who didn't see her is the question?" the mare answered.
"I think the question my dear, is not who didn't see her, but who is that mare to begin with? I can say for certain I've never seen that mare in my life and I've lived in Canterlot my whole life." Right asked the real question.
"Nor have I, Birth Right, nor have I. She looked just like Princess Celestia but was a filthy winged pony" the mare noted.
"So that begs the question, just who exactly is she? Nopony I spoke to knew the mare and yet she's in Princess' Celestia's company, is she some kind of changeling?" Birth Right said as he thought about the mare.
"Perhaps some failed clone reject who thinks she's better than her betters" the mare said.
"But who would make a clone of Princess Celestia? A poor one at that? She doesn't even have a horn!" Birth Right asked.
"I don't know but what if...somepony is trying to replace Princess Celestia with her?" the mare spoke a theory in her mind.
There was a short pause while both ponies thought about it, who would clone Princess Celestia though? Who besides a changeling would want to replace Princess Celestia?
"Star honey, I don't think she's a replacement" Birth Right decided on what he thought about it.
"Then what?" Star asked.
"I don't know" Birth Right admitted.
"You don't think maybe..." Star started
"What is it?" Birth Right urged Star to continue.
"...maybe and I say maybe because it disgusts me to think that Princess Celestia would have her like this but...she may be Princess Celestia's daughter." Star said hesitantly.
"What!? But we've never seen her before!" Birth Right protested the idea.
"I know but what must have happened is that the mare is her illegitimate daughter, you know the rumors that Princess Celestia has had some favors done in the bedroom, right? What if one of those stallions knocked the Princess up and had a filly" Star said her theory.
"And why haven't we seen her until now? I don't think anypony ever saw her get pregnant or anything, somepony would have noticed or let it slip before now" Birth Right asked.
"I don't know Right, perhaps the Princess was so ashamed she gave birth to a non-unicorn and hid her away or maybe she doesn't want to admit the rumors are true about those favors. Besides, it's the Princess, if anypony could hide a pregnancy, it'd be her." Star thought up a reason.
"And now?" Birth Right asked.
"Princess Celestia must have been tired of hiding her, simple as that" Star said.
To Birth Right's mind, the idea that Princess Celestia got pregnant and had a filly seemed preposterous. Who would've been the father? Did the father even know he has a daughter? But none of these questions got anywhere closer to who the mare was, and all anypony besides Princess Celestia knows is that there is somepony in the Princess' company that looks like her and nopony knows a thing about her.
"You don't think she's the Princess' daughter do you?" Star asked Birth Right.
"I find it hard to believe but the resemblance is uncanny. But if the Spring Gala was her reveal, why didn't Princess Celestia openly announce that the mare was her daughter?" Birth Right answered.
"Who knows? Maybe she forgot, or that wasn't the big reveal and it's going to come later. Princess Celestia has a plan for her, but mark my words, I will find out who that mare is." Star promised to find out the identity of the mare.
"You do that dear, but I think it's high time we got to sleep isn't it? We don't want tired eyes trying to find this mare" Birth Right spoke about sleep.
"You're right, let's go" Star stifled a yawn.
Both Noble ponies went to sleep as most of Canterlot went to sleep, tomorrow will bring a new day and light on just who this mysterious mare that showed up at the Spring Gala is.
Author's Note
Another chapter is out and our dear Glow isn't much a social butterfly...who could have guessed? But now that the Uni Semester is over, there shall be more chapters coming out, yaaaaaaaaaay!