The war hero's shadow

Cecil had a fairly easy day at work as he walked back to his apartment. The walk back and forth to work had been getting easier and easier to navigate. The work was nothing like the sweet apple acres labor and when he left he still always felt energized. Getting home he quickly showered changed clothes and grabbed his hat and duster. With his bag over his shoulder, he started the walk to the castle. The walk was peaceful and by now the news of the human in a duster had spread like wildfire through the city. Ponies looked at him with curious eyes and some with fearful ones. Cecil could have cared less what they thought of him right now he was happy minding his own business, enjoying the sights the city had to offer.

He arrived at the Castle and the guards immediately recognized him. They met him halfway with smiles and cheerful tones. He felt more like a guest then a friend visiting. They lead him inside the castle where a butler escorted him to the royal floors. The walk up to the floor reviled marvels of art. Even the walls inside the castle seemed to shine brighter then the sun with the intercut crystal themed designs carved into them. Opening a door and allowing Cecil to step in he was slightly surprised to see a large room with high ceilings. Scattered across the floor were pillow islands with small stuffed animals as inhabitants. The room had a large oak desk and chair with papers scattered across it. More than likely her own study place. In the back was a small island and kitchen with the fresh smell of chocolate chip cookies filling the air. The room had other things like a bookshelf filled with mostly sappy romance novels. A small table for chatting, and a hoofball bucket.

“Princess?” Cecil called out as he scanned the room. His eyes darted to the kitchen when he saw something coming fast at him. His reaction time was faster then expected when his hand raised catching a red rubber ball in his hand.

“Nice hoof eye coordination. Have you ever played before Cecil?” Came the calming smooth voice of Flurry from the kitchen.

“It was more like doge ball. Don't move fast enough and you get one of these to the face.” He chuckled lightly as he walked over to her setting his bag on the floor. “So is this your room or just a remodeled playroom?”

Flurry rolled her eyes as she leaned up on the island “It was my room and playroom when I was a filly but mom decided when I was big enough I needed a more adult room. So they turned it into a study room when I enrolled into middle school.”

“My old man just tossed a desk in my bedroom and said make the most of it.”

The two shared a small laugh as a timer dinged. Flurry lit up and walked over to the oven. Her horn lit up and soon magic engulfed the oven handle pulling it down while she used the same magic to pull the cookie tray out. A dozen steaming golden brown cookies spread even on the tray made their way over to a bowl. Carefully Flurry dumped the cookies in the bowl and went back to turn the oven off and set the tray on top to cool. Cecil kept eyeing the cookies and Flurry gave him a sly look.

“Down boy, you can have as many as you want once they cool. I don't need to take you to the infirmary because your stomach overtook your brain.”

Cecil gave her a innocent grin as he folded his arms on the island “And what makes you think I would ever do such a thing?”

She laughed as her eyebrow shot up nearly to the top of her head. “Really? Did you already forget you walked from the main street to the castle with no coat on? You looked like a frozen dinner my father keeps hidden away in case mother bans him from the kitchen. I would say that wasn't the brightest move on your part but the cookies are a way of saying thank you.”

Cecil smiled already trying to reach for one only to have a wooden spoon crack across his knuckles. He pulled his hand back rubbing the spot where she had smacked it. He looked at her and saw her frustrated look while she waved that wooden spoon in the air like a sword.

“I said wait, mister.”

Cecil tried to give her puppy dog eyes and plead but she just deadpanned and rolled her eyes “I swear mom was right when she said stallions lose their ability to think when food is in play.”

“To be fair I had to skip lunch and breakfast today so I'm famished.”

Flurry gave him a worried look as she pulled down a cookbook “Well if you can wait for the cookies to cool, I can make something fast for you. I have plenty of ingredients and cooking skills to make nearly anything.”

Cecil smiled as he felt his stomach growl while his mouth salivated just thinking about what he wanted. “Two grilled cheese sandwiches and a bowl of tomato soup please.”

Flurry slammed the book closed as she stared at him with a unbelievable look on her face. He just smiled back and after a minute she rolled her eyes smiling a little. “You never do change, do you? I have to ask is your request because you really want it or because you want me to have something easy to cook?”

“A little of both if you must know. Thats honestly my favorite food. Dad got so sick of cooking it for me that he forced me to eat other things or he used it to bribe me into eating other things as a desert.”

Flurry let out a giggle as she started working on the food. “Your father sounds like my own. I refused to eat those disgusting vegetables called broccoli. So when my mother ran out of ideas my father started bribing me with cookies. He would let me have one and then quickly sneak the plate of vegetables in front of me saying..” She changed her voice to mimic her fathers “If you eat the entire plate you can have all the cookies.”

Cecil laughed as he had the image of a pouty Flurry angrily staring at the plate of food while her father sat across from her with a plate of cookies.

“My father took the same approach sometimes but other times he would just leave the plate of food out. Once it went bad he would throw it out and later when I wanted something because i was hungry he would say you should have eaten what I gave you and refuse to cook anything else.”

Flurry shrugged her shoulders “A bit harsh but I understand the lesson. Did you learn from it is the better question?”

Cecil smiled brightly at her as he rubbed his stomach “After you go to bed two or three days hungry you learn to eat anything that gets put in front of you. This stomach of mine is made of iron by this point.”

Flurry giggled “I bet its bottomless as well?”

“Don't ever invite me over when I'm actually hungry. I will eat enough to feed four families. One day for hearts warming eve my dad cooked three pounds of mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. I ate all six pounds and then had to go and buy more begging the store owner if he would just let me buy some.”

Flurry looked shocked at his story “My goodness did you really eat six pounds of food and then eat more that same night?”

Cecil nodded his head with a proud smile “Oh yeah I was one eighty five before I started eating. When I got done I was two hundred pounds on the dot.”

“Your right, I'm never inviting you when your hungry or there won't be anything left for us to eat and I can only imagine how you would leave a bathroom.”

“A disaster zone. So are you really sure you want to help me with chemistry? It's not the easiest subject considering theres a lot of math involved.”

She gave him a confident smirk as she set his food down in front of him finally taking a seat next to him. “Are you doubting me?”

“Well uh, no I just...you said math wasn't your strong suit.”

She giggled lightly placing a hoof on his arm “Relax, I'm only playing with you. I know math is not my strongest subject but if you have flashcards or a study guide I can help.”

Cecil looked away and his nervous actions made her squint. She knew something was wrong and more then likely he was going to get a lecture out of her for it.

“See princess I kinda just read from the book and force the knowledge in and well wing my way through the test.”

Flurry took in a breath of air trying to calm herself down. After a second she looked at him with leveled eyes saying in a clam quiet voice

“Cecil, you need flash cards or anything other than just reading from the book and hoping you pass the test."

Cecil rocked his head back and forth trying to think of a reason why he didn't need to use the flash cards but she was right. Pulling his food up he took a few bites and swallowed.

"I mean it's worked so far. If it ain't broke don't fix it."

Flurry shook her head as she got up and grabbed his bag much to his surprise. She started sifting through until she pulled out his chemistry book. Opening it she was assaulted with a wave of graded papers casually stuffed in the front.

"Twilight would have your head if she saw this."

Flurry muttered as she pulled the papers out and flipped through until she found the chapter with a ungraded page of homework. Leaning back down she pulled out his notes and once again her nose seemed to scrunch at his organization skills. Finally, she found the page with his notes that barely covered the chapter other than a few key parts.

"Cecil, do you honestly believe you can pass the semester like this?"

He shrugged as he wolfed down the last sandwich followed by him chugging the soup. He got up and started washing the plate and bowl.

" It's worked so far. You can see the grades at the front. I have A and B average grades for the class."

Flurry sighed as she rubbed her temples "The point of school is to retain the knowledge not memorize it long enough to pass a test."

Cecil smirked as he dried his hands off with a towel before taking his seat back. "What's to say I haven't retained the information?"

Flurry grabbed a random page of homework and read off a question. Cecil casually answered it correctly. She grabbed another paper repeating the process several times each time Cecil giving the correct answer. It infuriated her that his method actually worked while she had to sit for hours making the stupid flashcards and study guides.

"So can I still have a cookie?"

Cecil asked causing Flurry to set the paper she had in magic down. Leaning back in the chair she waved her hoof as the other rubbed her temple.

"Are you okay?

"I'm trying to suppress the building anger I have for you."

Cecil took a cookie and took a seat next to her. He tried to think what he could have done now but nothing came to mind.

"What did I do now?"

"I'm a little jealous that you can remember things by simply looking at the book while I and most of the school have to rely on self made study guides or flash cards."

Cecil munched on his cookie and reached over to grab another one to give her. She eyed it and then looked to his genuine smile. The subconscious feeling from when she was a child came over her as all the negsalgia from that memory washed away her negative feelings. Accepting the cookie she took her own tiny nibble and smiled.

"Thank you." she gently told him.

Cecil finished his cookie and grabbed another one "I should be the one thanking you. These are delicious."

Flurry smirked as she felt some small pride from his praise. "Thank you as mom always said if you make them with love everything always tastes better."

Cecil shrugged as he finished off the cookie in his hand. "I don't know much about that but I'll take your word for it."

Flurry got out of her seat and flopped down on one of the many pillow islands inside the room. She let her body relax as it seemed to sink further into the pillows. She saw Cecil's look of bewilderment and giggled

"Don't judge me until you try it for yourself just make sure your shoes and coat are off."

Shrugging Cecil kicked his boots off laying the duster on his bag. Walking over to one near her he slowly squatted down until his body tipped and he landed in the pillows. He fought against them trying to find a ballast point all while Flurry giggled and laughed at his fighting. When he finally gave up Cecil was folded I half and had to be saved by Flurry's magic.

"I have never seen anypony have this much trouble laying in pillows. You have to spread out and let the pillows hold you up."

Cecil furrowed his brow and took a run go at the pillows. He jumped and they made for a good cushion before they scattered across the room leaving him on the floor holding one under his head. Flurry rolled her eyes giggling at his silly attempt. She used her levitation to pull all the pillows back and drop them on top of him.

Cecil fought to get out of the pile and when he did he was met with a laughing princess holding her stomach. Getting his own evil grin he picked one up and threw it at her. The pillow sailed through the air nailing her in the head. Her shock and surprise was enough to make Cecil crack into a fit of laughter. Flurry narrowed her eyes as she grabbed a pillow in her hoof throwing it back at him. The pillow hit him in the face and he shook his head looking at her now competitive smile.

"You sure you really want this?" He asked as he stood up with two pillows in his hand.

Flurry got to her own hooves with four pillows in her levitation. "Oh I am so ready to get this started. You've never had a princess pillow fight have you?"

Cecil cracked his neck "First time for everything right?"

"Indeed." Flurry threw her assault of pillows at Cecil who gracefully dodged the attacks and threw his pillows back at her. She caught the two pillows and casually brushed some of her mane away like he was no challenge at all.

"I thought you would be better than this, I'm barely breaking a sweat."

Cecil dodged the pillows thrown back at her while he grabbed one off the floor. He swung and she dodged it but Cecil spun on his heels and sent the pillow back to her face. At the last second, he let it go sending the pillow slamming into her face.

Flurry glared at him before she grinned and lit her horn up. The sea of pillow islands glowed as they all levitated into the air. Seemingly hundreds of pastel colored pillows wrapped in bright pink magic floated effortlessly in the air. Cecil had just enough time to gulp as she flung the pillows at him like a machine gun at him. Cecil's reaction time and awareness kept him from being hit but she was making him work for as he ducked, rolled, and spun across the floor. When she was done with her massive volly attack they were both breathing heavier with massive smiles on their lips.

"I gotta say princess your better then I thought for your first time with a human."

"And I have to admit your skills are impressive makes me wonder if you have been with other princesses?"

Cecil winked as he picked up a pillow. Flurry grinned and let her wings carry her to the ceiling where nearly all the pillows came with her again. Cecil shook his head as his feet got ready for another burst of energy. She winked back at him and let The rain of pillows fall on him tracking him like a bloodhound. All he could do was run and dodge. He managed to send a few back her way but she only caught them and flung them back. Cecil was running out of options and energy as the second attack never seemed to cease. He would dive for cover but it was only a brief pause as more pillows rushed at him. Cecil took a run go right at the princess who sent pillow after pillow his way.

Cecil only managed to be missed by the onslaught by inches. He ran past her and to a support pillar. He jumped and used the inertia to spring himself off the pillar into the air where he grabbed the bottom of her legs pulling her out of the sky. Flurry yelped in shock at the sudden stomach sinking feeling hit her as if she was taking a dive on a roller coaster. When they landed Cecil managed to keep both feet planted on the ground while holding her bridal style. She had a hoof over her chest and a wild ear to ear smile as her brain finally caught up to the amazing feat Cecil just performed.

"Cecil….that was amazing!"

He grinned in pride as he held her "I know I'm awesome."

She leaned her head on his shoulder smiling at his dorkeness. "you are, but…" a soft pillow hit the back of his head "I still win."

Cecil shook his head and set her down. The two just stared at each other for a moment before busting out in laughter. Once they calmed down from the rediculiousness Flurry had to gush to Cecil about the acrobatics he demonstarted.

"I can not believe you did that! Jumping up in the air, running around dodging all my attacks, you were like a mad stallion!"

While she talked she flew in the air spinning and turning, trying her best to recreate how she saw Cecil moving from her point of view. Cecil watched in wonder as she performed her aerial acrobatics. Finally, landing in front of him with shining eyes and a smile that could melt the snow away.

"You were cool too! Like when you went super princess and brought all the pillows up. I was like oh I'm in trouble now and once you got airborne i honestly had no idea how i was even going to get a pillow near you. You have to admit though that one hit I got on you was clever?"

Flurry rolled her eyes as she shook her head "okay yes that was cool only because I wasn't expecting you to let the pillow go but then again you seemed surprised as well when I got you back at the end."

Cecil just chuckled "I swear magic is cheating but yeah that was a sneaky move but effective."

Flurry Heart smugly smiled at him as she trotted back to the island to grab a cookie.

"And by that logic, it makes the fact you gave me a challenge that much more spectacular considering you don't have magic. You should be proud not everypony including unicorns can keep up like you did and certainly hardly any can leap through the air like that and stick the landing."

Cecil had a light blush forming on his cheeks as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well I had a very adventurous childhood."

He chuckled as Flurry made her way back to the floor after her cookie and levitated enough pillows to make a chair. Flopping down she sighed as she relaxed.

"What was growing up like for you?" Flurry asked as she levitated a cookie to her mouth.

"Come again?"

Flurry raised her head repeating her question with a smile as her hind legs kicked the air slowly.

"Well I grew up in a bar for starters. A lot of dad's old war buddies acted more like grandparents and helped keep an eye on me when I was really young. I guess other then the bar, I grew up like a normal kid."

She seemed to mull it over. Obviously, she wasn't happy with the answer so she decided to elaborate.

"No no I mean what did you do? What was your dad like or your mother? Like what was some fun family moments or funny moments."

Cecil had a sad look in his eye as he walked over to get a cookie. Flurry got a little nervous when she saw the sad look. Cecil was a happy go lucky person so to see him sad she automatically thought she might have said something about a touchy subject.

"I never meet my mom. When I was two she disappeared from the face of the Equestria. Dad spent about a year trying to find her but stopped when Buzzer, a good friend of his, said he had me to raise. Part of me always wondered why she left and what life would have been like with her around. Neither me or dad blamed her since she went to bed with him that night and when he woke up she was gone and nothing in the house was moved."

Cecil poured a glass of water and sipped on it. He sighed and drained the glass dry. The room was dead silent as Flurry tried desperately to comprehend the idea of a life without her mother and the thought just couldn't connect.

"I...I am sorry, I asked about that."

Cecil jerked out of his sadness and rushed over to her.

"Hey, you didn't know and while it's a little sad I never knew her past the stories dad told me. The only parent I know is my father."

Flurry hugged a pillow tight against her chest as she looked at him.

" I know I just feel bad like I crossed a line that I shouldn't have. I just feel guilty."

Cecil sat down next to her and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Like I said you did nothing wrong. The way I see it you don't know till you ask. Besides I have some questions for you."

Flurry perked up when he mentioned questions about her.

"Uh sure what do you want to know?"

Cecil and Flurry got lost once again in conversation and before to long a knock on the door brought them out of thought. The door opened and in walked Cadence. She looked around the room and smiled.

"I see your study time is going well."

Flurry giggled as she got up and hugged her mother.

"Blame Cecil he started it."

Flurry was grinning while Cecil crossed his arms and Cadence looked over to Cecil with a questioning look.

"I'll admit I did start it after she dumped a whole pile on me."

Cadence giggled as she took in the mess one more time. It was honestly a impressive mess of the place. They must have really tried at the pillow fight.

"So I have to know. Who won?"

Flurry raised her chin in pride "why I did of course but I give credit to Cecil. He did put up a valiant effort."

Cadence seemed to relax a little as she giggled and kissed her daughter on the head.

"I should say I'm surprised but you have always had a competitive side. Now then about the mess you made."

Flurry giggled as she blushed a little finally taking in the full extent of the mess. Casually she used her magic to levitate all the pillows back into place. When she was done they looked exactly how they did when Cecil first saw the room. He rolled his eyes grumbling about how magic is cheating.

"Don't be a hater Cecil." Flurry joked as she pranced around him.

Cecil sighed and let out a chuckle. He couldn't stay mad at her no matter if she was gloating.

"If I had made a mess like this with my old man magic or not I would be picking all the pillows up by hand."

Cadence cut in before Flurry had a chance to reply as she walked up to Cecil.

"And how is your father doing? I hope he's not to worried about your departure?"

"He's doing just fine, jokes about how he's happy to finally get me out of the house but it's all in good fun. Honestly hes happy I'm doing well and while he doesn't admit that he misses me he always puts in his letters I'll always have a home with him."

Cadence smiled warmly as she looked to flurry with her own proud motherly look.

"I am glad to hear that. I don't know what I would do if Flurry decided to move to the other end of Equestria. I suppose I would have to turn my crown in and move to Canterlot."

Flurry's cheeks immediately heated up in a blush as she looked away in embarrassment.

"Moooom!" She whined which only caused Cecil and Cadence to share a light chuckle at the expense of the princess's embarrassing moment.

"I came to ask if you wanted to stay for dinner. It is nearly seven at night."

Cecil felt his eyes widen in shock. He knew they had killed time but he didn't realize it was that late into the night and he still hadn't done a wink of studying.

"I should probably get going if I want to make it home and have time to actually study."

Cadence placed the tip of her wing on his shoulder seeing the panic wash over him. The soft touch and warm features of her face seemed to calm him down a little.

"Can I give you some advice? Your School is important but your mental health is also very important as well. Take tonight off and relax a little."

Cecil bounced the pros and cons of the offer off his brain like a ping pong turnoment but ultimately it was Flurry's pleading face behind her mother that made him decide. He nodded with a smile and had to hold back a chuckle as he watched Flurry hoof bump the air.

"Excellent I'll inform our cooks that we will be having an extra guest." She leaned in to whisper in his ear "and it will be alright that we do not have meat?"

Cecil nodded again whispering back "I will have whatever the cook brings out."

Cadence pulled away with a relieved smile on her face.

"Excellent. It's been so long since we have had guests over oh I should get out the fine china or maybe the baby pictures of Flurry?"

Flurry went pale and shot her mother a death glare to which her mother winked with a cheeky grin and walked out. Flurry sat down on her pillow island sighing loudly.

"My mother is going to be the death of me."

Cecil leaned against a pillar crossing his arms as he smiled down at her.

"If it's any consolation, if my mom hadn't taken pictures of me my dad wouldn't have any baby pictures, and my aunt made sure to take plenty of pictures of me growing up."

Flurry giggled a little as she craned her head back to look at him.

"If she breaks out the baby pictures you have to promise me that when we have winter break I come home with you to see your baby pictures."

Cecil smirked at her as he leaned down getting a little closer.

"You have terrible diplomacy skills because the answer is a solid no."

She rolled over letting her hooves dangle over the edge. She gave him a pouty face that quickly turned into a smile.

"And why not? Is it because you're afraid of showing me?"

Cecil scoffed "why should I show you when even you don't want your baby pictures shown?"

Flurry sat up with a smile "For one I would like to visit Ponyville again and two I think it's only a fair trade. If I willingly ask my mother to get my baby pictures would you show me yours?"

Cecil had a grin that spread ear to ear. He was going to call her bluff and actually see if she was going to do it.

"I'll shake on that. If you ask your mom to get them and you sit next to me the whole time while she gushes over each one I'll tell my dad to get mine ready for winter break."

Flurry bite her lower lip getting a little nervous as the deal was getting serious. Cecil saw this and put his hand out to shake. He had a grin the devil would be proud of and slowly Flurry took his hand in her hoof but before she let go she looked at him with those big nervous eyes.

"Y-you are sure you will keep your end of the bargain?"

Cecil nodded with a confident look in his eyes and that was when Flurry giggled as her nervous facade crumbled and Cecil realized what trick he had just fallen for as Flurry laughed.

"Then you have a deal sucker! Call my diplomatic skills bad again Cecil?"

Cecil stood there with a shocked expression as his mind tried to recall when she had played him. He knew she was going to walk up to her mother now and beg her if she had to, for those pictures and Cecil was going to have to write to his father about how he lost a bet and now has to show this mare his baby pictures. He could already feel the judging look of his father on his neck.