Back on Duty

"G'egory!!"

The squeal of delight nearly deafened Gregory. He hadn't heard the young, pink mare enter and looked up just in time to see her practically flying towards him at chest-high. It was a good thing that he was braced against the wall, or the flying Blossom would have knocked him right out of his chair. As it was, the impact drove all air from his lungs.

"Blossom?!" he gasped when he could talk again.

It was probably a dream, Greg decided. He must have fallen asleep on the table in the common room and now he was dreaming about Blossom. Weird, though, why it would be her instead of Celestia. The young mare grasped him around the midriff, buried her muzzle in his chest and squeezed until Gregory found it physically hard to breathe.

"Sweetie? You're choking me..."

It came out as barely a croak, but the mare understood and relented a little. She pulled away, ears folded down and a light blush on her cheeks. "Sorry," she murmured. "I missed you..."

"Yeah, s-sorry," came a voice behind Blossom and Greg craned his neck to see Fluttershy standing in the entrance, too. "She, um, kinda got away from me."

The pegasus walked in the room and then...

It felt as if the world had brightened up a little, as if liquid sunlight was flowing into the room. There were three distinct gasps - one from old 'Gramps' from Greg's left and two from the kitchen door, where Apple Leaves and the cook pony whose name he didn't know smoothly fell into a bow.

"Please, there is no... need..." Celestia began, but fell silent when her eyes met Greg's. Her mouth quirked up in a smile and she walked smoothly across the room to him.

Blossom was forgotten in his arms because Greg only had eyes for the Princess. He found himself wondering how he could ever have mistaken Spring Morning for Celestia. This alicorn was the one and only. No one else moved quite like her, or held that exact expression of quiet serenity. Except her dignified look was cracking now as she approached. Her ears were lowering, like a puppy who's happy to see her master. Her tail swished and she rustled her wings unconsciously. In a few steps she was standing beside Gregory.

"Hey, you."

She brought her muzzle closer, examining his face in minute detail while Gregory did the same. There was no mistaking those eyes. Even if it weren't for Fluttershy and Blossom, Gregory would have known Celestia from some cheap imitation.

"So this isn't a dream?" he ventured.

"I hope not," the Princess said.

As he continued to stare, Gregory saw a few signs that all was not exactly well. A wrinkle, left by long days of worry. A furtive darting of an eye, expecting a trick or an attack. A slight strain on her smile. Her mane was its usual self, billowing in some ethereal wind, but was it slightly more frazzled than he remembered? Was Celestia's fur matted here and there, and her feathers in a disarray?

Possibly no one who didn't know her really well would be able to tell, but Greg's heart constricted when he realized just how much she had worried about him. She brought her nose closer, careful not to poke Greg with her extremely sharp horn. Her breath was warm on his skin, like radiant sunlight, and it smelled slightly of-

"Cherries?"

Celestia's smile widened. "Sister made me eat on the flight here. She said I would need the sugar."

The time for talking and thought was over. Gregory closed his eyes and pushed forward. Their lips met, to another chorus of gasps, which barely registered in his consciousness. He didn't try any fancy tongue-work and neither did Celestia. Both were simply happy to be in each other's presence, sharing this intimate thing and basking in the love it conveyed. At some point, Greg felt Blossom wrap her hooves around him again, but at least it wasn't such a death-grip this time. He lifted up his hand and brushed a stray strand of mane from Celestia's face. She pulled away, cheeks lightly flushed but still smiling.

"I missed you."

"I missed you more."

"Nuh-huh!"

She shut him up with a lick. "You need to shave."

Greg scratched his chin with his hand and was forced to agree. A few more days and the stubble would officially become a beard. "I know. What took you so long?"

Celestia blinked, eyes filling up with tears, and he was immediately sorry for the question.

"Sorry. I'm just glad I'm out."

The Princess sighed. "They were well prepared. They knew our weaknesses and how to use them. They kept you from dreaming. They hid from scrying. I couldn't- I-" Celestia fell silent with a sigh.

"They had a changeling. At least one, maybe more." The words reminded Greg and he tried to push himself up, but with Blossom in his lap he didn't have the strength. "The changeling! Back at the house, with some thugs, you have to catch them!"

Celestia gave a slight nod, but didn't move. "Princess Luna went ahead. She saw the place in your dream, moments before you woke up. We took Fire Fly and all the guards he could spare. Blossom insisted and I didn't have the heart to say no."

The mare in Greg's lap gave an affirmative little squeak at her name.

Celestia sat on her haunches and went on: "Luna took the guards to Silvermane's mansion. Do not worry, most of his... accomplices in Canterlot are in prison."

"You found the rest of the captives? The mine?"

She shook her head slightly. "Sorry. Silvermane was not in charge of the operation. Silent Spell is nearing the true masterminds behind this whole mess. We should have them very soon."

"He... wasn't? Spring Morning was taking orders from him, until he was captured..."

Celestia glanced around the common room and sighed. "Perhaps this is not the best place and you do not look well enough to do this now. Come, I will take you to Canterlot and we will talk when you've rested."

Despite having wanted nothing else for so long, Greg shook his head in frustration. "You can't just give me bits and pieces and expect me to rest! Tell me!" He looked around and saw that the barmaid and the cook were still staring. Neither seemed ready to approach, not while Celestia and Gregory talked between themselves. On the other side of the room, Gramps was sitting perfectly still, also looking at the scene in wonder. He doubted any of them had heard a word, despite their pony ears.

Celestia seemed to reach the same conclusion and gave a nod. "If it will make you stop worrying, then fine. Silent Spell believes Silvermane was in charge here in Equestria, but he was taking orders from somepony else. Somepony on Earth."

"Some- pony?" Gregory asked, confused.

Surely there weren't that many criminals among pony kind, and none of them on Earth?

"Some one, then. It might not be a pony. Whoever it was, they came up with the idea of using slave labor. However, it was Silvermane who came up with the notion of an unlicensed, unregistered mine to avoid inspection. He had been bribing my clerks for a while!"

The admission wasn't easy and Greg could see how the knowledge rankled. Celestia gritted her teeth and scrunched up her muzzle in distaste. "I will make an example of him, you have my word on that Gregory, and of whoever is in charge!"

Her explanation didn't answer all of the questions, but when Celestia looked at him with finality, Gregory knew he wouldn't be getting any more. Not until he was back in Canterlot, he suspected.

"Well, maybe Spring Morning and her guys can shed some light on this thing. A changeling would explain how they managed to infiltrate the guards so well."

"Indeed. Now that I know, I will order Fire Fly to use a disruption spell on all the guards when they come on duty and when they are done. You have found one, this Spring Morning, but perhaps she was not the only one."

At least that much was good news. The spying and infiltration would finally stop.

"Now shush!" Celestia said with finality. "Let's go!"

Gregory glanced at the barmaid again and prodded Blossom in her barrel. "Sweetie, let me up please."

The young mare slid from his lap with a small sigh of regret and Fluttershy came forward to put a hoof around her. That solved, Greg pushed himself upright and took a few steps to the bar.

"Thank you again for the room and board. Princess, would you mind paying my bill? I seem to have lost my wallet somewhere..."

Celestia rolled her eyes, but she nodded. "I will have the Castle staff send you the bits. Apple, correct?"

"Yes, P-Princess!" the mare stuttered. "There's no need, Princess. Anything for you and, um, Mr. Gregory!"

"Nevertheless," Celestia countered, "services rendered should be paid for. It is only fair."

The barmaid pony didn't have a reply to this, so she just bowed again. "As you s-say, Princess."

That seemed to settle it and Greg waved his goodbye. "Thanks again. I'll be sure to visit!"

He didn't wait for a reply, but rather made his way outside. Seeing Celestia - the real one - had given him new energy and he found himself able to walk with only an occasional twinge or ache in his legs. Fluttershy held the door open for him, which was a nice gesture, and the sight in the courtyard was a most beautiful one. Normally the man didn't like Celestia's airborne carriages, but now it was a welcome sight. He didn't even care about flying, as long as it would take him back to Canterlot.

"What about Luna and the guards?"

Celestia looked off into the distance, then shrugged. "She will handle herself. She is not called the 'warrior princess' in vain, Gregory. My one priority is getting you safe."

Celestia was probably right. Luna was an alicorn and she had guards with her. The house only had Spring Morning and a few of her goons, and perhaps not even that. One changeling wouldn't stand a chance, not after the stories Greg had heard about their invasion of Canterlot some years prior to his meeting Celestia.

"Okay. Let's get this over with, then."

Here was another proof that it was the real Celestia. She didn't try to keep him in this place but wanted him in Canterlot as soon as possible. Greg didn't need any more proof, but there it was. He strapped himself into the seat and helped Blossom with her buckle as well. Celestia and Fluttershy didn't need the belts, since they could both fly. He gripped the edges of his seat even before the carriage began to move, but when he felt a warm muzzle press against his ear he let go with one hand so he could pat Celestia's nose.

"It's good to see you again, Celly."

"You too, Greg!"

His nickname for the Princess made Blossom giggle and even Fluttershy smiled, even though she tried to hide it.

He gave Celestia a quick kiss on the muzzle, then let her go so he could hold on with both hands as the carriage lurched.

For once, Greg thought, flying wouldn't be so bad. It was taking him home.