The Reluctant Protector

The rest of Day-Court went okay. Honestly, I kind of like it. You meet so many interesting people it’s insane. One conversation you’ll be talking to an old mare about rubbish collection times, the next you’ll be talking to a scientist looking for royal funding.

One conversation took a bit of a darker turn. A middle-aged mare came in to ask – plead, really – for us to change the weather schedule. Weather, at least in the country of Equestria, is made rather than occurring naturally. Factories around the country work day and night to provide the clouds, the wind, the rain and even how cold or hot it is. The sun has no baring over the temperature of the realm. Celestia may raise and lower the thing, but she can’t induce heat waves on anyone but me. Sorry… that was gross.

Anyway, the reason for this mare’s visit was heart-breaking. “But why?” She asked. “Please, it’s only one day. I-It can’t affect things that much!”

Celestia gave a sad frown. “I’m sorry Mrs. Whisk. The weather schedule is determined at the beginning of the year to ensure the optimum climate. Please believe me when I say that I wish I could change it, but this is one of those things that’s out of my hands.”

The poor mare was crying now. “He- He wouldn’t have wanted to have been buried in the rain. Please. He deserves to have the sun on his face one last time.” She moved towards the throne, one hoof on the lowest step. The guards next to it drew their swords half-way out of their sheaths.

“And just what in the bloody hells do you think you’re doing?!” I snapped. Everyone froze in place. The mare looked terrified. This strange being, standing a head taller than her Princess, just exploded at a – frankly – frightening volume. She was trembling on the spot, her knees knocking together. I’m sure she thought I was addressing her, but I wasn’t. “Put those damn things away before you hurt yourselves.” I said to the guards. They looked to each other, then went back to their positions.

“Excuse us, Princess Artemis!” They said with a salute. I ignored them.

Yes, this mare could have been a changeling looking to get close to Celly by tugging on her heartstrings, but if you start thinking that everyone is your enemy, you’ll go mad. You simply can’t afford to think that way.

Celestia gave me a reproachful look. Yeah, I probably could have handled that better. I gave the still trembling mare an apologetic look. “I’m sorry about that,” I said. “Please, continue.”

The mare looked from me to Celestia. “It-It’s just that…” She took a deep breath, held it for a second, then let it out. She wiped her tears on her sleeve. Great… My outburst completely threw her off… She stood up straight and looked Celestia in the eye. You could see she was trying to be strong, to retain some dignity, but her lower lip was still quivering. “I’m truly sorry for wasting the courts time.” She said, her voice hitching at the end. Another deep breath. “Good day.” She then quickly turned and made for the throne room doors.

“Artemis,” Celestia said in a hushed tone. “I think you should go talk to her.”

What? “What?” I asked, turning to face her. “Why? What makes you think she’ll even want to after that?” I turned to look at the mare. The throne room is so big that she was still making her way to the exit. “She looks like she wants to be alone.”

Celestia sighed. “Look, I’m just going to come right out and say it. I feel for the mare. I truly do. But I meant it when I said I can’t change the weather schedule.” She looked from side to side, as if someone was listening and then got a bit closer. “Today has been a day for good optics. You’ve helped with a number of cases, people saw you interacting with that filly, and now, people will see you console a grieving mare.”

I gave her an uneasy look. “Wow… That’s… Pretty devious, Cell.”

She waved her hand. “Oh please, it’s nothing of the sort. Mrs. Whisk is grieving, people get to see you with her, then after, she’ll be feeling a little better. Of course, you can’t erase her loss, but if she goes home today feeling like today wasn’t a total waste of her time, then what’s the harm? It’s a win-win for everyone.”

“I guess…”

“Well, if you’re going to do it, you’ll have to be quick about it.” She motioned to the end of the room. Mrs. Whisk was nearly out the door.

Damn it all… “Wait!” I yelled. Am I really doing this? My voice echoed off the pillars and immensely high ceilings until it finally reached her and she turned. I ran to her, a bit awkwardly since it took a while to get to her, but when I did, panting I asked, “I was wondering if you’d like a cup of tea?”

Her eyebrow raised and she looked around. “T- Tea?”

I nodded. “That’s right. We have every blend you could think of. What’s your favourite?”

“Um… I… I s-suppose I could.”

“Great!” Putting an arm around her shoulders, I began to lead her off and said, “You won’t regret this, I promise.” I’m ashamed to say this, but Celestia was right. I needed the people to see that I wasn’t some scary monster. Especially if I’m going to be re-integrated as one of their Princesses. So, with good optics in mind, I lead her to a private meeting room…walking past the long line of people outside of the throne room.

I know, I know. But my thinking is this; I lead a grieving mare past all these people and take her into a private room. I cheer her up, then, when she leaves, she’ll do so with a smile on her face. People will see this and know that I was the one who helped her in some way.

Gods I’m a terrible person… No, no I’m not. She needs this. She needs someone to talk to… Just as much as I do.

We entered the room after walking past a lot of staring eyes and I closed the door behind us. “So,” I said, “What’s you poison?”

She gave a hint of a smile after moving further into the room. “Oh no poison for me, thanks. Just a cup of tea would be lovely.” I motioned with my hands for her to continue. “Oh! Um… Chamomile?”

I smiled. “Chamomile it is. Feel free to get comfortable, make yourself at home.”

She nodded and sat in front of a long tea table that was between two couches. I opened a servant’s passage and sent for her tea. After that I moved to a decanter filled with… something, and poured myself a glass. “I see you’re having the poison?” She said and looked to the grandfather clock in the corner. “It’s not even five.” I looked to her. “S-Sorry!” She said and shrunk down. “It-It’s not my place to-”

I held up a hand. “Please. It’s fine.” I moved to the couch opposite her and sank unceremoniously into it. “You’re completely right. I don’t exactly make it a secret that I have this terrible habit.” I took a sip. “So, did you have any plans today other than come here?”

She shook her head. “No, I was just going to go straight home. I might do a bit of gardening, though I’m not so sure I’m in the mood anymore.”

I nodded. “Where do you live, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh, just a small town to the east. Hollow Shades? It’s not too far away.”

“Well, that’s good. I’d hate to think you made a long trip for nothing.” The room was quiet again. An awkwardness that hit me like a sledgehammer. That was the wrong thing to say, I’d just brought up her failure back in Day-Court. Change the subject, Dingbat.

I coughed. “So, what do you do for a living?”

“I work in a little café. It’s okay, it pays the bills.” Despite the aloof answer, I could see the smile forming on her face. Working there was her passion.

I nodded. Another sip. The servants passage opened and a maid came in wheeling a trolley with a teapot and matching cups. She poured and left. Quiet again. We both sipped. Okay, this is terrible, just talk to her about it.

“Look,” I said, wondering how to broach the subject. “I’m really sorry about back there. In Day-Court, I mean. Both for my outburst and that things didn’t go as you’d planned.”

She stared into her cup. “That’s okay. I’m just shocked that those guards thought I was going to do something to the Princess.” Her eyes shot to mine. “W-Wait. That’s not why I’m here now is it? I swear, I’d never to anything to the Princess!”

“Hey, hey, calm down.” I said in a gentle voice. “That’s not at all why you’re here. Those idiots back in the throne room wouldn’t know danger if it came up and shouted, ‘I’m on my way to assassinate the Princess!’” I smiled. “I just wanted to talk, that’s all.”

“T-Talk about what?”

“Well… I don’t know. What do you want to talk about?”

She sipped her tea and looked out of the window. The sun was low in the sky now, but it wasn’t quite setting. “I don’t really feel like talking to be honest.”

I nodded. “That’s okay too. This room is very quiet, soundproofed, don’t you know? I bet a lot of meetings have taken place here. It’s a good place to just sit and think.”

She didn’t respond, just staring out the window. The light reflected off her features. I could see the makings of wrinkles. Crow’s feet beginning to form on the edge of her dark brown eyes. There was no life in them. Deep laugh lines cut through her rosy cheeks. She wasn’t laughing now. Another sip of tea. “Twenty-four.” I didn’t respond. “Twenty-four. My son was Twenty-four years old.” Another sip. This time, from both of us.

“It was his second job. He hated his first, working at our café, he only had that to save money so he could move away to his second. It was his dream.” She snorted, but there was no humour there. “His second wasn’t even really a job. He was an artist. Talented too. He moved further east to Silver Shoals. Always loved the seaside.” She said, wistfully. “He’d live off of commissions from the locals. I was so proud. How could I not be? He was living his dream. Isn’t that what every parent wants from their child?”

I nodded, despite the rhetorical question. She never took her eyes off the window. Her teacup was drooping in her grip. “One day, he went up to the cliffs to paint the sunset,” A single tear rolled down her cheek. “It was his favourite time of day.” The sun outside the window was low in the sky now, painting the room in a golden-orange light that was darkening by the minute. “He was a little too close to the edge. It gave way and he just-”

She dropped the teacup and it cracked on the ground, spilling the rest of its contents. Her hands shot up to her face as if embarrassed and she sobbed. I ran to her and cradled her into my shoulder as she wept. “Oh, Darling.” I said as I rocked her. “I’m here. I’m here.”

The sun finally dipped below the horizon, and the enchanted candles came to life. “I-I just- I can’t bare it. Oh gods. My boy. My son, he’s-”

“I know,” I said. “I know.” What more needed to be said? What more could be said? This mare has gone through a terrible trauma. No parent should outlive their children. But some do.

We stayed like that for a while, me holding her. Until she finally pulled away. She took a deep breath and wiped her face on some napkins that were provided with the tea. Then I saw her eyeing my drink. “Do you mind if I…?” She gestured to it.

“Hmm? Oh, um, go right ahead.” I leaned over and passed her the glass. She gave a wordless nod of thanks then filled it almost to the top with the liquid from the decanter. I watched in shock as she gulped the whole lot down, then reached to refill it again.

My hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. She looked at me. “Listen, just…” I could see the pain in her eyes and sighed. I know that feeling. “Just go easy. Yeah?” She didn’t respond, just filled the glass again, halfway this time, and took a small sip. I relaxed a bit and watched her. She was staring into the glass. Yep. I know that exact feeling.

I sat up a bit. “Listen, um… It’s getting dark. Do you want to stay the night? I’m sure you don’t want to be travelling right now.”

She thought for a moment. “Are- Are you sure?”

I smiled. “Absolutely.” I stood and held out a hand. “Come on. Let’s get you settled.” She put her glass down and I helped her stand. Her hand was warm. The line to the throne room was gone now. There was about two hours before Luna would be down to start Night-Court. The hallway was empty, save for a maid replacing a vase of sunflowers with nightshade. So much for optics…

After a couple of minutes of walking, we arrived at a guest room. “This is you.” I spoke. She nodded and opened the door. “If you need anything, just call outside your door and someone will take care of you.” She nodded again and walked into her room, then stopped. She turned and quickly enveloped me in a hug.

“Thank you.” She spoke. Muffled by my cloak.

I hugged her back. “You’re welcome.” She let go and turned to go back into her room but I reached a hand out and stopped her. She gave me a confused look. “Listen,” I said. “I know how you feel. Believe me, I do. I know the world seems grey right now. No, not grey. Dark. Hopeless.” She looked to her hooves. “But people care. I care. Salvation doesn’t lie in bad habits. It especially doesn’t lie in the bottom of a bottle. Please, promise me you won’t try and find it there. I made that mistake. Don’t make the same.”

She said nothing. I pulled her into another hug. “I’m going to make arrangements to send you home with a special candle. It burns with dragon-fire. Whenever you want to talk, doesn’t matter the time of day, write me a letter, think of me, then burn it in the flame. I’ll get it.”

She stared at me, wide eyed. “Are… Are you su-?”

“Ap, ap, ap.” I said and put a finger on her lips. “I’ve made my decision and I’m pretty stubborn, so don’t try and change it.”

She sighed and looked down again, then smiled. “Okay.”

I smiled too. “Go get some rest, Mrs. Whisk.”

“Copper.” She said. “It’s Copper Whisk.”

I smiled again. “Goodnight, Copper.”

“Goodnight, Princess.” Then her door closed.

I sighed and left for Celestia’s room. Optics.