Time Spent with the Sun

The following day after the events that took place on the Royal Training Grounds, Celestia decided to spend a little one on one time with Alex. Up to this point she had kind of been keeping her distance and letting Luna, Captain Skyfire, and the guards escort him around the castle. She still didn’t feel it was quite yet time to introduce him to the Canterlot populace just yet but she felt that the time was drawing near. She had listen to her Day Guards and Lunas Night Guards talk amongst themselves about the human and how fascinating his stories about his homeland were. The fact that his people didn’t have any kind of magic and yet were able to build such a huge and powerful civilization was so fascinating as to be almost beyond belief.

But that was not why she had been keeping her distance.

She had been deeply troubled over his view and fear of her being so powerful that she could easily end his life if he did anything wrong. Add to that the fact that his nightmares of her invading his world and killing his people indiscriminately had troubled her soul yet deeper still. In all her time as princess, she had never known that she could be so intimidating, nay, so terrifying! It had affected her to her very core and she felt that now was the time to at least try to put things right between them and to rest if possible.

Alex showed up in the throne room as he was bidden, at Celestias request, with his personal escorts at his side. “Guards, you may leave us.” She ordered. She saw the apprehension in Alexs eyes for a brief moment as he looked to the guards. One of them also seeing this quietly whispered to him. “Don’t worry Alex. Everything will be fine. We got your back.” To which the two guards both saluted their princess and promptly turned around and left.

“You summoned me your highness?” Alex formally spoke and bowed.

Celestia, looking all regal, looked down upon him from her royal throne. Suddenly she let out a heavy sigh as her head sank and eyes closed. Alex was stunned as she seemed to appear to age right in front of his very eyes. “Is there something the matter princess?” Concern in his voice. He still might be a little frightened of her and her power, but it didn’t stop him from at least being a little bit concerned. “How may I be of service? I’m not in any trouble am I?” She could sense his growing fear.

“Alex, please just call me Celestia. When we are in public, you can call me by my title if you want, but in private, like we are now, there is no need to be so formal. Celestia will suffice and no, you are not in any kind of trouble. She replied.

“Then why am I here?”

Celestia rose from her throne and descended from the raised dais that her and her sisters thrones sat. Alex was somewhat nervous as she approached but tried his best not to show it.

“If you would, please walk with me.” She said as she passed by. Her ever flowing tail gently wrapping around his opposite shoulder and turning him to face the same way.

Princess Celestia was again silent as she walked down the halls of the palace. Alex at her side and flanked by two solar guards once they has exited through the throne room doors. Alex, not knowing if he should say anything or not, continued to walk beside her with his hands in his pockets as he casually looked around the walls and ceiling albeit he was also subtly side eyeing the princess to try to get a feeling as to what she might be thinking. He noticed that she seemed to be lost deep in thought as they came to a glass door with what appeared to be a solid gold frame. The doors magically opened when Alex noticed a golden aura surround them and the same soft golden low emanating from the princesses horn.

Alex took in the sight that lay before him. He had been around the castle for some time now but had never seen this place before. It was a beautiful sight!

“What is this place?” giving voice to his thoughts. “It’s beautiful!”

“This is the private garden of the royal sisters.” She said as she spread a wing and fanned it in a panoramic sweep. “You might view it as our sanctuary for when I and my sister need to get away from the daily grind of ruling. We come here to find peace and solitude. A respite from out daily duties and to just be ponies. To just be ourselves.”

“I can see that.” Alex answered. “It must be hard doing the job you have. It never occurred to me that despite the vast power you and Luna have, that you might need a break every once in a while.”

“Indeed it is.” She replied as they walked further into the garden.

Celestia looked up at the noon day sky and let out a heavy sigh as she dropped her head. Alex, ever alert, picked up on this and asked her if everything was ok.

Celestia was going to say she was but then suddenly said “No. No Alex. I am not fine. I have been deeply troubled for some time now.” She said with a hint of sorrow in her voice. You may have noticed that I haven’t been around you much for a while now.”

“Yes I have. I just figured that you were just very busy with your job and all.”

“Yes and no.” She replied. After that she was silent for a bit longer as they walked along the gardens winding path. Alex took this time to admire his surroundings. The royal gardens had beautiful flowers and blooms everywhere. Alex ran his hand along a flower bush and savored the softness on the petals as he walked past them while at the same time taking in the lush greenery and the birds and squirrels he saw running and flying about the garden. Princess Celestia suddenly turned to her left and continued to walk off the path. Alex followed her off the path as well and marveled at how soft the grass felt even through his shoes.

Celestia suddenly spoke. “Alex, I need to tell you something.” She had been trying to come up with a way to talk to him about her feelings, about his nightmares and the one about her in particular.

“Yes princess? What is it?”

“As you know, my sister has the ability to see into our subjects dreams.”

“Yes. She came to me in disguise and tried to help me with them. She was very kind and I called her Sarah which means princess in my world. I suspected it was her because I could smell the scent of lavender, even in my dreams… I like her.” Celestia smiled at that. It warmed her heart if only a little that things seemed to be getting better. Then her face became more somber once again.

“I have seen the dream you had of me. Luna showed it to me.”

“Oh.”

Alex bit his lower lip. She looked at him with tear filled eyes. “Now, please understand that I am not angry. In fact... I am ashamed that you came to see me as so threatening, so unforgiving. That to think that I would be so cruel and heartless as to kill your people so indiscriminately. Perhaps some of our problems could have been avoided if you had seen me as somepony you could trust instead of such a threat.”

“I was unable understand you then, Princess. After Luna and I talked a few nights ago... maybe I now can see and understand a little bit better.” “Still... I’m sorry for all that happened. I never wanted to…”

She shook her head. “You have nothing to apologize for Alex. We've all made mistakes, suffered from misunderstandings. Me most of all. I believe there is much we could all learn from what's happened, to make ourselves better creatures... and that's a far better result than some others that could have come about. Still, I want to apologize for my mistreatment of you and I just have to ask if there is anything I can do to allay your fears of me and to perhaps in time gain your trust as well.” As she turned her head away from him.

Here she was. The ruler of a vast kingdom. Seemingly humbled because of her misdeeds towards him.

Alex fell silent for a moment. Celestia turned to look back at him as he looked at the grass deep in thought. Then he looked at her with a determined gleam in his eye. Then he spoke.

“Princess. Lay down. Please.”

Author's Note

Time for Celestia to reconcile and to come clean for her part as the instigator of the "First Ever Human Hunt."