Author's Note

Howdy-do Neighborinos

Next installment of our story. Not much to report, just a standard chapter.

Arm update, starting to move it well again with no pain. Physical therapy has done wonders to get it moving again. Should be getting back to regular updates.

Leave a comment if you liked this or if you didn't. I'm sure not ever chapter is a banger and if there's some issue in the story, I'd love to learn from any mistakes I might make.

Alright, here's the chat with Celestia some of you have been wanting.

Ch.16: A Fireside Chat

Ch.16: A Fireside Chat

It was starting to become cold now, much to James dismay.

Now that wasn't to say that he completely disliked the cold. Snow was fun for the first few weeks that you saw it. The fluffy blanket of warmth-sapping crystals gave a quiet ambiance to the environment which he found extremely pleasant. But when there wasn't any snow, he found the cold to be more of a pain. The hassle of wrangling a jacket every time he wanted to go out peeved him, if however minor. Kentucky autumns weren't the worst; he could survive that. But the Equestrians, when they brought late fall in, they brought it in hard.

The air was no longer the crisp, gentle warmth of September and early October. For now it was frosty, nipping at his cheeks and skin with the ferocity of a snowstorm and reddening them like Santa in those old Coca-Cola ads he saw back in '46. His mountain trail "sidewalk" was wet with a sprinkling of snow, the late fall weather freezing much of the condensation higher up. A harsh cool wind blew his light scarf to and fro as he carefully stepped around wet mud spots on his road. His hands were freezing with frost-nip biting at the tips, the cloth gloves doing little to protect his white, lithe hands from the soft dusting of snow and wind around him.

Just a month ago, the mountain was teeming with colors; oranges, yellows, reds, all expected of an October day. Such a quick switch to the miserable November cold.

Maybe he was just a wuss. Yes, James decided he had a certain displeasure for the cold here in Equestria. But whatever sort of vendetta he had against the brazen, unforgiving cold of the nation could wait. He wouldn't want to keep Tia too long.

"Left on Hoof St and should be there," he muttered to himself.

He found it quite silly she even gave him directions in the first place. It certainly isn't hard to pick out the building the entire city was made for in the first place. Equestrians spared no expense on the extravagance of their palaces and government buildings. The damn palace practically screamed at him to stare at it, much like "an attention starved valley girl with a fat check from her dad" as Mad Dog used to joke of his hometown women. Its tall spires resolutely stood over the city, keeping watch like a sentry back on Peleliu, and weren't hard to miss at all.

He slipped a little on some clear ice blended onto the sidewalk, almost loosing his balance like a dunce.

"Ah, don't blow it in front of the guards. Lord knows they'll never let ya live it down, Jim," he mentally berated himself, adjusting his coat and striding towards the gate.

"Halt, state your business!" came the call down from the twin guard towers.

"I'm here for tea with your head of state!" he cupped his hands around his mouth as he shouted.

"Come on in James!" the gruff, feminine voice yelled back.

Soon, the strong, heavy metal gates swung open, slowly collapsing in towards the palace. He gave a salute to the guard on the right in thanks and took a nice stride into the courtyard. He heard the BANG-CLANG of hoofsteps on marble battlements clambering down stairs to his left. Turning to it with a knowing smirk, he was greeted by one of Canterlot's finest, huffing and puffing in front of him like she'd ran a marathon.

James hadn't known Corona for long, but she could only be described as... well, brash, impulsive, uncouth, the complete opposite of a proper lady.

"So got anything for us?" the solar guard huffed as she continued to catch her breath.

"Oh, I don't know. Seems my coffers are running a little dry from all these visits we've been having," he smirked playfully.

"Aw come on Jamesy. You don't got anything? We're bored to death up there!" she pouted playfully back at him, sticking her lip out a little to seal the deal.

"Ah ah'm just kidding. Course I got some stuff for 'ya," he fumbled into his coat jacket, his hands shaking from the bitter frostnip taking hold on the tips.

His hands slipped over the packaging a little, the cloth glove fingers sliding all over the plastic wrap, but soon he fished out his 'goods' for the two guardsmares.

Cigarettes, candy, snacks, playing cards. The infantryman's boredom killers for a sucky detail. Her face lit up with glee as she snatched the goods out of his grasp and started stashing her contraband away in the pockets around her armor.

Hey, who said sliding the guards a few things under the table was wrong? Didn't hurt to build some good rep with the only ponies who knew how to handle weapons around here.

"Oh, and for Middy up there, I know she liked those Lucky Strikes last time I passed through, so I figured I'd give her one of my few remaining packs," he fished out the mentioned cigarettes and started to hand it over.

"I've always wanted to try one of those ever since she told me of them back at the barracks! Why don't ya share the first few with us?" she ripped the pristine plastic wrap off and nipped a cigarette out from the rest.

"Eh, sure, why not?" he fumbled through his coat again for his ZIppo lighter from the war, opening it up with the distinct CLINK! Grabbing his own cigarette, he lit hers before getting to his own and took in a big puff, exhaling with a long, contented sigh.

"Never get tired of these," he chuckled in relation to the brand, "So, anyone suspect anything concerning the two princesses and I?"

She let out her own long sigh, the nicotine smoke rising up with the biting November wind and dispersing, "Well, you did shove our immortal sun goddess princess to the ground after grappling with her, so there's always rumors. But, as far as I am concerned, you and Luna are still just that, rumors," she took another puff of her Lucky Strike.

"Good, good. I don't know what kind of trouble our relationship would cause if word got out at the wrong time," he leaned up against the castle wall and folded his arms.

"Eh, honestly, I think no pony'll care, like myself. You worry too much, Jamesy," a flick of the tail as she swatted at some non-existent bug.

"From my limited knowledge of ponies here, Miss Corona, you are most certainly the exception, not the rule," he laughed, fishing out a small flask of whiskey and taking a shot to warm himself. Finishing his swig, he offered it over to the guard.

"On the job, mate," she held up her hand in refusal.

"Suit yourself. It's freezing out here," he shivered a little, as if mentioning the cold would somehow make its effects worse, "Well, we will see in the future. Who knows what the Lord holds in store for us?"

"Never struck me for the religious type, but hey. You do you chief," she started back up to her post, having dawdled for long enough, "Don't bone the princess too hard there James!"

Mama would've tanned her hide so well, she could've been used as a warning to his cows for misbehavior. He was glad for her sake that she wasn't his sister, chuckling at the perverse language as he made his way towards the castle entrance.

Once more, guards pulled open the heavy doors of the castle and allowed him entrance.

A blast of warmth banished the cold at once as the tall doors were closed behind him, the cold wind giving him one last puff on the back of his neck before it went. A large, roaring fire sat nestled in the far end of the foyer, letting off idle CRACKS and POPs from the rapidly burning wood. The smell was immaculate, the soft, pleasant wood aroma reminding him of days gone by of camping trips with Arles to the mountains.

The architects and interior designers seriously should get pensions from the crown, for he was certain that their work could prevent wars with their beauty. It's design struck him as very Roman, but also Victorian in some ways. Ornate enfilades dotted the receiving hall, each with their own web of opulent marble work crafted around the edges. Glamorous, lavish paintings hung high above on the wall; portraits, epics, and histories long since past captured by the brush of a talented Equestrian artist. The room proclaimed the power and majesty of the Equestrian royalty.

Tia sure knew how to pick 'em.

"Mr. Milligan, welcome to Canterlot Palace. I'm here to escort you to the Princess' study for your visit with her."

"Please Sunny, you were there when I popped into this world. I think we can drop the formalities and just greet each other like normal people," the man replied with an amiable Southern smile.

"If you insist, James," the cream pony replied, "Follow me, if you please."

The trip to the study wasn't particularly challenging to the man and today was no different. He'd made the trek aplenty of occasions in his small time here in the Equine nation. He didn't really need Sunny to lead him to her Majesty's study, but it was always nice to catch up with the overworked, cool assistant to the Sun princess.

Stepping into the room, he bid the assistant farewell, giving a small wave, and walked into the study, the door softly shut behind him.

Rows upon rows of books surrounded the man, the cases growing high up, scraping the ceiling like a New York skyscraper. James was glad he wasn't claustrophobic, for he was sure the oppressive 'gaze' of the sturdy bookshelves closing around him would send him into a tizzy.

A small fire, much more quaint and restrained than that of the foyer, crackled quietly on the side of the room, flooding the room with its warmth as it did. A few feet away lay a ornate, finely crafted wooden desk arrayed with assorted books, papers, quills, and other such office sorts, all neatly stacked and ordered. What didn't match was the simple, plain looking wooden chair that accompanied it. Compared to the opulent, powerful design of what he'd seen, the plebian-looking chair stuck out like a turd in a punchbowl.

Function over form, he supposed.

Tearing himself away from the room itself, his eyes settled on the pony he came to see in the first place. A patient smile rested on her graceful features as she quietly read a book, probably waiting for him to come sit down next to her in his armchair. On a stand next to her lay a silver tray with an equally silver tea set. Next to the pot, as in Celestia's style, two pieces of red velvet cake lay on thin, small plates with similarly small silverware to the right of them.

She took a sip of tea from her own cup, "You're a little late," she chuckled, her eyes not leaving the text of her novel.

"What can I say? Your ponies' weather held me up. It ain't easy walking down a mountain dirt road that's been wet with snow and ice for the last two days," he shimmied himself out of his long coat and gloves, resting it over the chair as he took his seat next to her.

"Oh dear, if only there were some sort of... appendage that could mitigate such a dangerous, uncomfortable plight," she flicked a puff of air towards him with her folded wings.

"Go to hell you big white slut," he swatted at her wings.

He grasped the pot and poured himself a cup of tea while she took the plate of cake into one hand and a fork in the other, "Careful there, Mr. Milligan. My ponies might torch your house if they hear you say such things to their goddess," she leveled her fork at him, a snarky smile gracing her soft, motherly face.

"I'm sure I can handle a few pint-sized pegasi TP-ing my house, Tia," he sipped his tea after adding a few sugar cubes in.

"Heh, I guess you could," she paused as she took a bite out of her cake, "How have you been?"

"Oh, just hanging in there. Not much to report really, just teaching, gardening, seeing your sister, the usual," he grabbed an ottoman and propped his feet up, nestling himself into the chair more as he relaxed by the fire.

"Tell me of the students. How have they taken to their studies?"

He smiled. Of course she would ask about his students, being a teacher and mentor herself. It was always comforting to know that she cared about them, just as much as he did.

"I think Crystal Light and Ironwood are finally a thing. Took 'im long enough to notice the poor girl. They've both been doing excellently and I couldn't be more proud of them. I've been considering taking them under my wing and giving them positions in my lab, once I'm finished teaching the next couple years."

She clapped her hands together, "Aww, I wish them my congratulations."

"They are something, ain't they?" he sipped his tea and set it down on the table, "Otherwise, we've been chugging along. I simply adore my students. Very pleasant to talk with and teach.

He took a pause for a second, "How's ruling the kingdom been?"

She scoffed, smiling and waving her hand down as she sipped her black tea, "Oh, you would not believe the deviousness I had to read through this week. Lord Cloudsmonth of Cloudsmonth Construction tried to sneak a clause into his work contract with the crown asking for an extra 100,000 bits for the community center I commissioned in the West Side borough."

He raised his brow, "Ok. What's the problem then? If the guy believes his labor is worth more, I don't see the problem in asking for a raise, so to speak."

Celestia took a bite out of her cake, "The treasury is already paying him and his workers 1,000,000 bits and providing all the materials he needs to start constructing. I'd say that's more than enough for both his wages and his worker's. He stuck this clause on the 30th page in fine print, labeling it as 'Other Expenses' and dressed in a disguise of more bureaucracy. It may seem like he isn't being sleazy to someone outside of the bureaucratic sphere, but you do this job long enough and you pick up on the patterns."

He nodded his head, "Can't argue with that logic. Guy really tried to pull the rug over ya."

She shook her head in disappointment, "If he wanted a raise in the contract, I would've gladly given it to him. But it's the principle of what he did that disappoints me," she sipped her tea and gazed at the fire, "It's disheartening."

He joined her in watching the dance of the flames, shifting his legs more comfortably, "I figured it'd be par for the course when you take the title of princess."

The corners of her lips rose barely enough to be seen, "Oh, it is. Ponies have tried this trick for centuries and thankfully, with the help of my aides or my keen eye, I've not fallen victim to them most of the time. I suppose watching ponies time after time repeat the same mistakes over and over again, watching history repeat itself, it changes your views on pony nature and depresses you, especially when you live as long of a life as I have."

James turned his head and looked at her, her white fur shifting ever so slightly from the heat of the fire pushing against it, "How long have you lived, Tia?"

Her playful smile returned and she gasped jovially, "Now James, hasn't anyone told you not to ask a girl her age?" she finished by batting him on the shoulder.

"Age is just a number, you big white baby," he leveled a finger at her.

"Well, the only answer you're going to get is a long time, James Milligan," she stuck her tongue out at him in a reminiscent way of Luna.

"You look so old, I bet DNA hadn't been made when you were born," he laughed.

That earned him a strong punch to his right bicep, reminding him of that fat alicorn strength he'd felt the day of the fair. He yelped, clutching his arm and massaging it, "I guess I deserve that."

A comfortable silence rested upon the two as James continued to nurse his arm, "How have you stayed sane for all these years? I mean, a 'long time' is a really LONG time, especially when, well, loved ones leave this life without you."

She paused, her face contorted in a sort of reminiscent way, "I guess, you just become used to it, in some morbid sort of way. It becomes a sort of cycle every 80 or so years of friends, students, family, or loved ones passing away and being replaced again with new friends or their kin. I remember those I lost, the wonderful times I got to spend with them, but I move on eventually. I'm thankful that I got the gift to know them in life, but there are always new friends to be made, new skills to be learned, new inventions to make. I try to find something new and exciting about life and I suppose, that's what keeps me grounded. That, and of course, Luna."

He said nothing, gazing at her with a neutral expression, "Were you or Luna ever married in your lives?"

"I was once, I had just ascended. But Luna, no, she was banished too soon to really form any relationships with any stallions of our day," she crossed her legs and sipped her tea.

"If you don't mind me asking, why haven't you married again after all these years?" he asked.

"My husband and I were married when I was 25 and at the time, we were of similar age. But when he passed, I just couldn't bring myself to love another stallion. You lose a lot of attraction for any stallion that you're 1000 years older than. Plus, my mind had been so focused on ruling the kingdom that I simply didn't have time to cultivate those relationships as well I could when I was a carefree, young mare. I guess Luna hasn't become that way, due to her little 'vacation'."

She adjusted her legs and propped her chin in her hand, "Maybe one day I'll marry again, but for now, that's in the distant future. What I don't think is in the distant future is my sister's marriage," she turned to him with a smile.

He chuckled, "Please Celestia. We've only been dating for what, 2-3 months now? Hold your horses there, sweetpea."

"Maybe so, but I think the wedding bells will toll for you two soon, Mr. Milligan. Soon, indeed," she perked up as if remembering something important, "OH, before I forget, I was asked by dearest Sister to hand this invitation off to you in her absence. She's asked you to be her plus one for my niece's wedding."

He took the ornate invitation into his hand and looked it over, "You have a niece?"

"Yes, and she's being married to my Captain of the Guard. She is quite eager to meet you."

"Gotta get myself fitted for a tux I guess. God, it's gonna be sweaty in that tux cause of the summer," he folded up the invitation and put it into his inner pocket, "How come I've never met this niece of yours? Figured she would've popped up sometime in my time here."

"She's out on a diplomatic mission at the moment. They'd made the engagement before she left, but left the planning to me. But I've told her all about you, so prepare yourself James," she laughed a mirthy chuckle.

"What's she like then? The way you're describing her is making me worry," he smiled slightly unnerved.

"Now now, James, that would be telling. I assure you that you have nothing to worry about," she took a final sip of her tea, setting the cup down on the tray with a soft clink.

"Well, since we're just handing out all sorts of invites," he took a bite out of his cake, setting his fork down on the plate, "I'm having a little get-together at my home to celebrate a holiday and I wanted to know if you'd like to come."

She shuffled in her seat and smiled, "A human holiday? I'd love to be one of the first ponies to celebrate it. When is this little 'get-together'?"

"Last Thursday of this month. Bring a LOT of food with you. We're gonna have a, I suppose, very big feast the day of, so bring your appetite and your sweet tooth," he took the last bite of his cake, finishing it with a satisfying gulp.

"Sounds like my kind of party and it'll be so good to get out of the castle. Of course I'll be there, James."

The grandfather clock in the corner of the room struck 6, the clangs ringing through the room.

"Well, looks like duty calls once more," she said, shoving the last few bites of cake down her gullet to not waste, "Do you need my assistant to show you the way out?"

"By any chance, where's your sister? I'd like to see her if she's available," he grabbed his coat from off the chair and laid it over his shoulder.

"She should be in her chambers, likely lounging until she takes over ruling. I'm sure she'd love to see you," Celestia smoothed out her dress and turned towards the door, "Just head up the stairs over to the left and then take a right when you reach the top. Knock on the door ahead. I'm sure you'll know when you're at her room."

"Well, that's definitely Luna's room."

It certainly was. The marble was replaced with a dark painted wood and was decorated with moon symbols. Two foreboding, beefy looking batmares stood guard outside of the door, ready to spring into action at the slightest movement against their princess.

He would have thought they were intimidating if they weren't a foot smaller than him, the cute little shortstacks.

"Halt, state your business," the lead guard ordered.

"I'm just here to visit my special somepony, no tricks or nothing. My name is James Milligan," he held up his hands and twirled around, showing he had no weapons on him.

"Stay where you are for a moment," she opened the door and peeked her head inside.

"Ma'am, James Milligan is outside your room to see you,"

"Send him right in!"

She took her head out and nodded to him, opening up the door wide for him to enter through.

Stepping through the cramped doorway, he saw the woman of his affections lying on her bed wearing baggy, comfy clothes, reading through his journal.

"Hello, my sweet night flower," he greeted her, hanging his coat up on a coat rack near the door.

"And a hello to you too, you handsome gentleman," she smiled, setting the booklet aside.

He sat himself down on the bed and laid beside her, resting his back against the backboard, "So, what are you up to?"

"Just reading through your entries, as you saw," she replied, tossing a strand of ethereal hair out of the front of her face.

"And?"

"Disturbing, but nothing that isn't expected, I suppose," she paused and twirled a strand of her hair in her hand, "It's good to see you."

"And you as well. How have you been?"

"Well. I haven't had many responsibilities this week and have been enjoying my off time with reading and other hobbies."

He wasn't really paying attention as she began to rattle off the various happenings of her week. He was too captivated by the lethal dose of cuteness he was witness to. She looked positively adorable, all wrapped up in her baggy sweatpants and comfy T-shirt. Her toothy grin, her pleasant and cheery demeanor, the glint in her eyes as she described her passions for her hobbies to him, it made him want to kiss her.

So he did.

He might have cut her off mid-sentence, but she didn't seem to mind as she all but began to fuse herself to him through their mouths, pushing into him with a ravenous ferocity. She pulled him close and held him there for awhile before the two finally separated for air. They smiled at each other, slightly out of breath.

"Hey," James smiled.

"Hey yourself," Luna smiled back.

He chuckled to himself, "I think, we should do that again."

Luna maneuvered her left arm behind herself and took grip of Harold the Manticore laying on her nightstand. She turned him around with a soft twist, his face no longer on the two of them, "That James... is a fantastic idea."

She lunged at him, resuming their lip lock as she took top.

He could get used to this REAL quick.