Alex and I proceeded out of the restaurant and onto the streets of Canterlot. The human carried his guitars and was beaming as he skipped down the street. I followed him as we headed toward Canterlot Castle, the night sky illuminated by the neon lights.

“Hey, Alex! Wait up!” I called out, galloping after him. Alex turned his head and had a silly grin across his face. He shook his head and jumped in place several times.

“Dude, I can’t believe this!” Alex exclaimed. “I got a gig as a guitarist AND as a vocalist?!”

huff! “For ‘The X-Perience,’ nonetheless,” I confirmed. Alex closed his eyes and laughed, allowing me to catch my breath and slow down our pace. “Please. Can we take it easy for right now? I had too much, and that headache got worse….”

“O-Ooh. I’m sorry,” Alex apologized, walking in tandem beside me. “I just…” chuckle “...I-I can’t believe it! I have another opportunity to continue my career and do what I love!”

“And you seized it again,” I weakly added. Alex nodded in agreement as we walked across the intersection and onto the main street. I looked ahead and noticed the castle’s main gates looming ahead, my mind remembering those words.

“If you find Alexander Walkerson, please bring him back to the castle and to my private study. Luna and I would like to have a quick word with him, Specialist Swift.”

Oh no, my mind thought. Princess Celestia asked me to find and bring him back so she could chat with Mr. Alex. I looked up at the human as his face beamed with glee, my vision returning to the street beneath my hooves. There is no way…th-that might make this night end in disaster. I cannot let that happen!

“Everything alright, Swift?” I looked up and realized Alex had stopped. His concerned look hurt my heart since the human had no idea what I was tasked with. But I decisively shook my head and smiled warmly.

“S-Sorry, just…I remembered something,” I responded in kind. “But it’s not important.” Alex gripped his guitar case handles as he walked up to me.

“Are you sur-”

“Absolutely,” I interrupted. “It has nothing to do with tonight. After all, the newest member of ‘The X-Perience’ has some celebrating to do for landing an incredibly lucrative gig!”

“Mmmm, maybe…” Alex hesitantly admitted. “I haven’t proven anything, Swift.” This time, I stopped and stared at the human with my jaw open.

“Wha-Whu…What do you mean?” I retorted. “I-I…You played one song, and they were sold-”

“Exactly. One song?” Alex asked. “One song lands me a gig on the spot? Seems far-fetched to me. Not even a contract, nothing in writing. Just…” snap! “...like that, I get it.” He walked faster as we passed through the main gate, my mind doing mental gymnastics between arguing his point and plotting a better route. Eventually, as we stepped into the courtyard, it hit me.

“Before I argue against this self-inflicting, harmful take you have about yourself, Alex,” I said toward the human. He turned around, slowing down as I pointed to the right.

“This way first.”

========================================<>=========================================

After navigating the halls of the castle, we made it to Alex’s tower door and silently entered. Climbing up the stairs quietly, I managed to get Mr. Alex to his room and opened the door for him. Alex walked in first and set both guitar cases by the desk, running his hands through his hair and pulling on them.

groan! “Fucking finally,” Alex grumbled. The human didn’t care that I stepped into the room, opting instead to flop onto the bed like a fish out of water. I watched as he struggled to put the blanket over his body, which returned a flurry of kicks.

snrk “U-Umm, Mr. Alex?” I stuttered while chortling. “Y-You okay-ay-ahaha….”

“Mmmmrrr….” Alex’s muffled answer made me laugh out loud. The human stopped moving and began to doze off. “I’m okay…not really. So tirrred….”

I shrugged and yawned. “Well, I hope you get some well-deserved rest, Mr. Alex,” I whispered. “Both of us know you need it, especially with your roles changing yet again.” Alex flipped the blanket covering his head and looked in my direction, furrowing his eyebrows.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he mumbled.

yawn! “Don’t think about it too much tonight,” I resigned, turning for the door. “Just…get some sleep, bro.”

“Huh? Did you call me ‘bro?’” I stopped in the doorway and turned around. My brain realized that word just came out of nowhere, and I was left speechless.

chuckle! “Just messing with you, Swift,” Alex dismissed. “Goodnight, bro.” Alex’s head fell flat against his pillow, groaning as he dragged the covers over his face. Meanwhile, I shook myself out of my stupor and turned for the door again to let him get some res-

“Mmm…thanks, Swift…” Alex muttered under his breath. “Thanks for tonight….” I had barely heard it and turned my head to look at the still human. He hadn’t moved and sighed loudly, my mind deciding not to bring up the previous situation that started this whole night.

“...Hmph. Anytime, buddy.”

========================================<>=========================================

I exited the room and slowly closed the door. I trotted down the stairs and said nothing, promptly opening and shutting the tower door. Once I locked it, I exhaled before deciding to return home.

While I roamed the halls of the now quiet castle, I knew that I was not supposed to leave until I reported Mr. Alex’s whereabouts to Princess Celestia. But the more I thought about it, the more I saw that there was no point anymore. Alex was already asleep, Princess Luna had some new company, and Princess Celestia could assume he was fine on her own.

Everycreature is in a perfectly contemptuous situation, my mind cheerfully thought. Ergo, why should I tell them? I didn’t need to tell the princesses he was back. His attitude from earlier had vanished, and by wanting to see the human now, they would only aggravate him more.

whistle! “Well, time to clock out and head home for the night,” I thought aloud, mentally dozing off as I closed my eyes. “Truly, a dream come true….”

“Is it now?”

I froze in place. That voice, my mind said in fright as I turned my head. Oh please, don’t be her-

I turned around and saw the looming shadow of an alicorn. A wall of white fur was what met my vision, and I gulped as I forced a timid smile.

“Heh heh…g-good evening, Puh-Princess Celestia,” I waved. Her expression told me she was not amused, and my mind buffered as she bent her head down to look at me in my tired eyes.

“Specialist Swift? I gave you an order. You were ‘supposed’ to bring Mr. Alexander Walkerson to my study,” Celestia coldly whispered. I remained frozen as her head shook in disappointment. She tucked a wing around my backside, ushering me back down the hall toward Alex’s tower door. “Come on now…let’s ensure you complete your task.”

gulp!

Oh no…this won’t end well.

Author's Note

As always, feedback is appreciated in the comments below. See you in the next one!

-Harpy