Helios

Chapters

The Old and the New.
Situational Advisement.
Calm.
Storm.
Fallout.
Is It Cool If I Hold Your Hand?
On Loan.
Let's Make This Last Forever.
Prying Eyes.
Detective Work.
Breakaway Orbit.
Getting Away.
Lesson in Love.
Expert Advice.
Warm Reception.
Public Relations.
It Hits the Fan.
Recon Action.
Sunrise.
Bonus Chapter: Seasonal Orbit.
A Day in the Life.
Politics and Poundings.
Taking the Plunge.

The Old and the New.

It was a nice day in Canterlot, the sun was shining and the birds were singing.

And you were stuck inside this stuffy museum.

Princess Celestia had performed the ribbon cutting earlier today, made it a real nightmare to guard her with the gathered crowd.

You did have some help, however... You passed the eighth guard in the museum interior you had seen since you got here.

Shining Armor had virtually flooded the city with them since the High Thane incident. That was probably the reason Princess Celestia had been so adamant on making this public appearance, the increased guard presence couldn't be good for the tranquility of the civilians.

Princess Celestia had been taking a through tour of the museum, stopping every few feet to examine an exhibit. Most of the time, she was reading over the plaques before turning back to you. "Now I can tell them that's wrong. Eternity's Bridge was finished eight hundred and seventy six years ago, far too late for Princess Platinum to commission it." she says.

"Perhaps you should tell them that, Ma'am?"

Princess Celestia looks around the busy exhibit floor before she turns back to you. "No, neither of us need these fuddy duddies keeping us here all day."

You chuckle. "Your wisdom knows no bounds, Your Highness."

Celestia shares your laughter as she heads back into the main foyer. In the center of the foyer was a great dragon skeleton. Perfectly preserved and re-assembled to greet visitors.

Celestia sighs next to you. "Ah...Adamai."

"A friend of yours?"

Celestia nods. "Luna and My foalsitter back when we were young." She cants her head to the side. "He always said he wasn't very good at it, however."

You spread your arms out at the building and city you were in. "I'd say he did a decent job."

Princess Celestia's face reddens as she trots to the door. "Shall we, Anon?"

"Yes Ma'am."

The two of you walked down Canterlot's busy streets.

"The new Magi tower seems to be coming along nicely." Princess Celestia says.

"Now if we can only stop them from teleporting it halfway to Haliflanks, we should be golden."

Celestia chuckles. "Oh but Anon, how can we ask them to perform magical study without that?"

"Heh. You'd know more of that than I, Princess."

The two of you continue walking, the sounds of your armor shifting over you echoing through the street.

That reminds you of something...

"Princess, may I ask you something?"

"Of course, Anon." She says.

"Dragonbone is incredibly rare and hard to get...why turn such a rare resource into a set of armor just for me?"

Princess Celestia's eyes shrink. "Yes, well...you see, we had several bones lying around from ages ago...more than enough to fashion a single suit of armor."

"That's still an immense amount of trouble, your majesty. You can't just smelt Dragonbone in any old fire."

Celestia smiles at you. "Sufficiently hot fire is not a problem for one who raises the sun, Anon."

She had you there.

Celestia looks ahead once more and increases her pace. "Besides...I wanted to make sure you were safe." She mutters.

You were about to ask Princess Celestia about what she meant when a roar filled the street.

Looking up you saw a trio of trails tailing blurs in the sky as they streaked towards Wonderbolt Stadium.

Celestia looked back to you with a warm smile. "Care for a bit of a detour, Anon? I'm sure Spitfire wouldn't mind seeing you."

Oh. Uh...

"N-no thanks Princess. I'm sure she doesn't need an ex stopping by in the middle of the day."

Celestia sighs and continues walking. "A shame. Tell me Anon, have you found another Special Somepony yet?"

"No Ma'am. I have not. But I'm also not really looking right now."

Celestia sighs. "I know the feeling..."

The two of you walk in silence as you mull over the Princess' words.

"Princess?..."

She snaps her head up in attention. "Y-yes Anon?"

"Are you...also not looking?"

The normally white Princess turns pink. "Yes, well. The people of Canterlot wouldn't take too kindly to a monarch with someone special."

"Why not?"

Princess Celestia sighs and lowers her head. "A monarch is supposed to be strong and independent when they lead, a force of nature. If I were to have someone special in my life, that visage would melt away."

Wow...

"Is that a matter of fact?"

"No, but it is a matter of probability. If the public saw I had someone special, it might jeopardize my ability to rule."

The two of you continue walking.

"Well Princess, if I may say so, that sounds horribly unfair to you." you say.

Celestia releases a deep sigh. "It is not an aspect of my life I am happy about."

You and Celestia step into the royal throne room and meet the ponies inside. Twilight Sparkle had been asked to bring herself and the rest of the Element bearers to Canterlot in light of the High Thane situation.

"Princess!" she calls as she run up to her mentor and gives her a hug.

As they separate, Twilight's eyes drift to you. "Oh, and hello to you too Anon."

"Hey Twiley."

Your time with Shining Armor had rubbed off on you.

As Celestia explained the Griffin situation, you looked over the ponies before you. Twilight had visited Shining Armor on occasion and met you when you were new to the guard. The two of you had developed a fast rapport.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash had made a quick first impression when you had met them before by bickering the entire time.

They should probably just screw each other already.

Fluttershy looked to the Princess with obvious concern. Stupid cute pony, you just wanted to pet her so bad.

Pinkie Pie was listening to Celestias words with a smile on her face, brightening up the room despite the grim news.

Rarity remained poised with her friends, her almost perfect demeanor paying testament to her will.

Celestia sighs as she finishes. "And that is the current state of things. The Griffin High Thane has started acting aggressively towards Equestria." Celestia eyes the girls. "I must ask that none of you intervene unless called upon directly."

Twilight and her friends reel back. "Princess, why?! Why shouldn't we help you defend Canterlot?"

"Twilight, I-" Celestia starts.

The unicorn looks at you pleading. "Anon, you don't think we should stay behind, do you?"

Uhh...

"Princess Celestia knows best in these situations, Twilight. You six would have no place in a battle of force."

They'd end up getting themselves killed or something...

The girls heads drop.

"Don't worry, Twilight. We aren't even aware of what the High Thanes plans even are. This may just be one big misunderstanding." Celestia says.

Twilight and her friends are mildly placated as Celestia leads them to the door. "Twilight, you have my word as Princess. If anything comes up, you will be the first to know."

Twilight and her friends trot out of the room and back to Ponyville.

"Do you think we'll need them, Ma'am."

"I hope not, Anonymous. By the stars, I hope not."

Situational Advisement.

"This is a bad idea, Armor." you say.

"Anon, you're not going to improve unless we take off the training wheels."

You weren't guarding Celestia today. Today was training day with Shining Armor

"I still don't see what the blindfold is for."

You hear Shining move around in front of you. "You need to focus more on your other senses. You're not always going to see an attack coming at you."

Muscles tenses as you drop down into position. Come on...just like you practiced.

You close your eyes underneath the blindfold. Maybe if you take one sense as far down as you can, the others will get to the level you need.

You clear your mind as time seems to slow down.

The birds roosting on the walls chirp. Guards behind you talk and walk. And ahead of you, Shining Armor levitates a bow.

You hear the strings strain as Armor knocks an arrow. Time slows to a crawl as you hear the twang of the bows release. You push everything out of your mind. No guards walking around, no birds, not even the pounding of your own heart in your ears.

You feel your hand rush up as you try to focus on the sound coming towards you. The sound of wind breaking as the arrow slices through the air. You try to judge where the arrow is going based solely on the sounds, something you had been practicing for months.

Your arm stops moving in front of your chest.

The cutting sound feels like it's right in front of you now.

You snap your hand closed.

...

...You're not dead.

The guard barracks nearly deafen you as they erupt into cheers. You tear off your blindfold and look down at your hand. Inside rested an arrow, snapped in half by the force of your hand closing.

The other guards rush up and surround you, offering congratulations and hoofs to the back.

You could really do without so much of the latter...ow.

Shining Armor trots up as the guards disperse. "Not bad Anon, I may be able to make a proper guard out of you yet."

"I suppose our illustrious Guard Captain catches arrows all the time, right?"

"Arrows, crossbow bolts, manticore spines. It's all the same."

"And what does your wife think of these activities?"

"Who do you think I'm catching them for?"

"The Crystal Kingdom's are really that dangerous?"

"What can I say? Some mares like a stallion who can protect them."

Heh.

You and Shining take a seat near the edge of the training ring for a rest. You were finally done with arrow training...

"Can't believe you used a real arrow..."

"Blunted ones wouldn't have had the same effect and you know it."

The clinking of horseshoes draws your attention to the entrance of the barracks.

"Princess?" you ask.

Celestia remains stone-faced as she walks over to the two of you, the rest of the barracks bowing before her.

You rise from your seat once she reaches you. "Ma'am, with all due respect, you should have sent for me to come get you if you had planned on walking about."

That incident with the knife was still fresh in your memory.

Celestia gazes down at you, making you feel rather insignificant at the moment. "There wasn't time, Anonymous. I had to see the two of you immediately."

You and Shining exchange a confused glance. Uh-oh.

"What is it, Your Majesty?" Shining asks.

Celestia glances both ways as the guards returned to their duties before she bent down to just the two of you. "Tensions are rising along the Griffin Kingdom border. Our troops stationed there are reporting an increase in the number of griffins massing in their forts." She whispers.

Shit.

"Do you think they're planning an invasion?" Shining Armor asks.

Princess Celestia shook her head. "We can't say for certain. But if the Griffins are planning an attack, you can bet where they're planning it."

"Here."

The three of you nod.

Shining breaks away and walks into the middle of the barracks. "Alright! Enough horsing around! I want all of you at your post or out patrolling the city, double time!"

The barracks became a beehive of activity as the guards ran to put on their gear, with you following suit.

Princess Celestia, Shining Armor, and you had left the guard barracks in a hurry. You were back in your armor now, walking along as you tried to look important. You couldn't quite place why Princess Celestia had brought you along, you were no general. But at the same time, you went where she did and offered the best assistance you were able to.

The three of you made your way to the top of Canterlot's front gate. Shining Armor grabs the sergeant in charge of the gates. "Report soldier, anything suspicious happening lately?"

The stallion salutes as his eyes drift to the Princess. "Uh, nothing to report sir. Should we have found something?"

Princess Celestia steps forward. "Sergeant, you must keep vigilant for any suspicious activity. Monitor everypony who enters Canterlot if you have to."

"What are we looking for, Your Highness?"

"Anything out of the ordinary." Celestia says.

The guard salutes again and walks off.

"Well, that at least ensures that our front door won't be completely wide open." Shining sighs.

"Why not just put up that shield spell again? The one from your wedding?" you ask.

It had done a decent job keeping the Changelings out until their queen had brought it down.

Celestia brings a hoof to her chin. "Perhaps. But I would like to get another point of view on this situation..."

"Who?"

Celestia turns to you, her eyes deadly serious. "Him."

Celestia lead both you and Shining Armor deep under Canterlot. Many ponies had theories about what was underneath Canterlot palace. Some thought it was a portal to another world. Others thought it was where the most powerful of magical research took place. A few just thought it was some sewers.

They were all wrong however.

It was a prison. A prison for only one.

Deep in the center of a twisting labyrinth of tunnels sat a box. A box made entirely of magic reflecting crystal, a gift from the last Grand Magister before his death.

Inside this box, a blue ram sat chained.

"Grogar." Celestia says.

Grogar the Necromancer had tried to invade Canterlot centuries ago. When the Magi of that time tried to kill him, they were shocked to see him simply get back up. Grogar had vowed that he would use his eternal unlife to wreak havoc upon Equestria. So the Magi did the next best thing. They bound Grogar; Body, soul, and black sprit to the city of Canterlot. Never able to leave its walls.

Grogar's eyes snap open at Princess Celestias words. "Ah...My dear captor. How good of you to join me today."

Grogar doesn't move an inch. He can't with the chains around his limbs.

Celestia approaches the crystal cage. "Grogar. The Griffins have become more openly hostile towards us in the recent weeks. Considering that the city's wellbeing is just as important to you as it is me, I ask what you would do in this situation."

That was right...Grogar -felt- the city as a result of his binding. Knocking down walls and killing civilians was a fast way to get on the necromancers bad side.

Grogar chuckles in his cell. "Princess, I have lived for eons. I have endured every horror this world can produce as well as some that it indeed cannot." his mouth turns up into a foul grin. "To suggest that I cannot endure the sacking of this city is sadly mistaken."

You take a step towards Grogar as his laughter fills the room. "Maybe you and I can think of some new horrors."

You weren't gonna let this idiots insanity deny Canterlot a defense it needed.

Grogar stops laughing and smiles up at you. "I don't believe I've seen you before, boy." his eyes drift over you. "Strong and stern but with a hint of fiery passion behind those eyes of yours..." he says.

"As if there aren't millions of those out there already." he jokes.

You're about to try and slice Grogar's cage open and turn him inside out when he speaks again. "However. This lamb's foolishness has lightened my cold dead heart..."

Grogar casts his red eyed gaze back to Celestia. "The Griffins are able to interact with the clouds in the same way Pegusi can. If they were to attempt to attack this city, it would be from high cloud coverage to hide their numbers."

Shining Armor nods with a hoof on his chin. "That makes sense...They could hide an entire army in the sky over us without our knowing."

"Indeed." Grogar coos. "Also, know that they would not risk attacking your city without a way of standing up to your magics, Celestia."

Celestia nods.

"Now. In return for your new information, I would like a moment alone with this guard of yours." Grogar says, his eyes drifting up to you. "And I do believe that he would not mind a word with me either."

-Music-

Celestia and Shining Armor retreat back to the tunnel entrance as you stand alone with the Necromancer.

He was just staring at you with those red eyes of his...

It was kinda creepy.

"Don't try it. That cage you're in keeps a lid on your magic." you say.

Grogar releases a single laugh. "Do not flatter yourself child. You would make a poor vessel for my magnificence."

"If you're not trying anything than why ask for me?"

Grogar's grin returns. "I have never met one such as yourself, an ape that walks around as if it were something special. And guarding the Princess no less?" Grogar shakes his head. "My, but how things have changed."

"What is it you want from me?"

"I could ask you that very same question."

Hmm...He had you there.

"Fine. I want to know why someone who tried to burn this city is now helping defend it." you say.

A low chuckle escapes the ram. "An un-aging wizard who has seen sights unknowable by mortals offers you a single question and you ask that? Children..." Grogar sighs but retains his smirk. "I help because it no longer matters to me what happens anymore."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that in all my years I have begun to see the patterns emerging. A great civilization will rise, and prosper, and be swept away by those stronger than it."

"And you think the Griffins are going to do just that."

"Do not presume that you can comprehend what I think, it is simply within the Griffins power to do so."

"And that explains your interest in me how?"

Grogar stares at you for a full half minute. "Great civilizations are at rare times saved from their annihilation by greats residing inside them. It has been done in Equestria twice by the bearers of the Elements of Harmony." Grogar's ever present grin turns into a full fledge toothy smile. "Fate has shined upon you Anonymous of the Queensguard...There may come a time soon when you will carry Equestria into a future that those in power do not desire."

Okay...Creepy.

"So I'm some sort of superhero now?"

Grogar guffaws in his cell. "Nothing so brash, child...Go. Leave my home, you have begun to bore me..." he says as he closes his eyes and resumes the trance-like sleep he was in when you arrived.

You silently make for the tunnels when a voice springs from behind you. "And Anonymous, do feel free to stop by whenever you please...I do so love company."

You split off with Shining Armor after you left the prison. You had told him and Princess Celestia that Grogar had simply wished to know more about you.

Not technically a lie...

You were now taking Princess Celestia back to her room. As soon as the two of you were through the door, she levitated her crown and raiment off her and released a deep sigh.

"Is something wrong, Celestia?"

She turned back to you, her features fallen. "I'm worried Anon. The Thane could hurt My Little Ponies and I'm not too happy about him aiming for a method of countering my magics."

That was natural...you guess. At least for normal ponies.

"Are you afraid?"

Celestia walked over to her balcony and looked down at the gradually setting sun.

"I'm afraid of dying. Dying without being able to protect my people from those like the High Thane." she laments.

The silence is palpable as Celestia continues to stare out at her city.

"You won't." you say.

She turns back to you.

"You won't die. I protect the Princess, that's my job."

A smile finally graces Celestia's features as she shakes her head. "Thank you for that Anon, it means more to me than you can imagine right now."

"Freely given, Celestia."

Celestia smile widens and her features soften. "Well...I won't keep you any longer. Good day Anonymous."

You place your hand over your chest and bow. "Princess Celestia."

You left the room and made way for your own. The entire time, you thought about Grogar's words. Carry Equestria into a future, huh?

You just hope Equestria HAD a future...

Calm.

Shit but was it cloudy today. Shining Armor had the guards out in droves, heeding Grogar's words. You were inside the castle with Princess Celestia. She wasn't particularly busy today, simply seeing to a stack of papers that needed her signature. Still, that left far too much time to think about the clouds above you.

"We could get the pegusi to clear out the clouds, ma'am. Lighten the mood."

Celestia continued to pour over the papers before her, her eyes serious behind her glasses. "Would that I could, Anon. But we need the rain those clouds are carrying."

You walked over and leaned against the windowsill. "I really don't like this."

"Waiting is always a terrible experience, I've found." She says.

"Not that. Well, a bit of that." Your gaze drifts over the city below. "I just don't know if we should be trusting the word of that old ram."

Celestia continued working. "Grogar may be mad and malicious. But he has never lied in the thousands of years he has been here."

"Then this would seem like an excellent time to start, ma'am."

Celestia sighs. "Always so guarded, Anonymous?"

"Comes with the territory, Princess."

The rest of the day was rather uneventful. No mysterious sights were reported on clouds and no feathers had fallen from the sky. With your mood lightened, you, Celestia and Shining Armor were seated in the royal dining hall for dinner. Princess Luna had taken an early breakfast, citing research she was performing.

"No way you can beat me, Armor."

Shining Armor takes a swig of his wine with a grin. His face contorts as he tries to bend his body to his will.

After a few moments, a resounding belch fills the dining hall.

"Four. At best."

"Oh come on, Anon. five." He says.

"Fine, you're still a notch below me."

A high protein diet does wonders for burps.

"That point is debata-"

Another belch echoes through the hall next to you. You turn to see Princess Celestia tactfully dabbing at her mouth with a napkin.

"So, how did I do?" She asks.

You and Armor exchange disbelieving glances.

"Uh...That's about a six."

Celestia smiles and forks more salad into her mouth.

"Princess, how did you do that?"

Celestia chuckles. "Anonymous, I have learned many tricks in my years."

"And gastric distress was covered in your schooling?" Shining asks.

"I haven't always been a Princess, Shining. I know my way around a hole in the wall or two." She says.

"Our fair Princess, sticking around till last call."

"A bit after sometimes too."

The three of you share another laugh.

"Hey, Anon. I'll be needing your help with something." Shining Armor says.

Your mouth is too full of food to talk, so you tilt your head to the side.

"I'm headed back to the Crystal Kingdom next week. I'll need you to take over the defense of the city while I'm away." Shining says.

You half choke your food down. "Acting Captain?"

"Just for a week. And only in regards to this Griffin situation, I'll be delegating the rest of my responsibilities to my lieutenants."

Shining looks at you pleading as you think about yourself as an acting Guard Captain. "Come on, Anon. I really need this and you're the only one who knows what Grogar said."

You alternate between looking at Shining and Celestia.

"Who am I to deny somepony time with his wife?" you say with a sigh.

Shining pumps his hoof in the air and Celestia smiles.

"Anything important I should know now?"

Shining shakes his head. "It'll all be delivered to you once I'm gone."

"Great. More paperwork."

You take Princess Celestia back to her room after dinner. She once again wastes no time removing her royal attire.

"Is it that uncomfortable?" you ask.

"It is the most restrictive garment I have ever had the displeasure of wearing."

"A headpiece is restrictive?"

"Not physically, at least..."

Celestia looks at herself in the mirror. "Anonymous. What do you see when you look at me?"

Whowha-

"I'm sorry?"

She locks eyes with you. "When you look at me, what do you see? Ruler? Goddess? What?"

Okay...

"Uhm. I see...a friend of mine ruling Canterlot?"

Celestia sighs with a small smile. "To all the rest of My Little Ponies, I am simply "The Princess" or "She Who Raises the Sun". And all because of that crown I wear..." She says.

"It's hard, Anon. Hard to go through your life with everypony expecting so much of you... Never letting myself slip up. Or to...seek out the things that I want the most..." She says as her head falls.

Well...now the mood is all weird.

"I think...You should go looking anyway?" you find yourself saying.

Celestia looks up at you.

"I think...that you're a pony, just like everyone else in this city. You shouldn't be thought of any differently because of what you want to do with your life."

A smile breaks through Celestia's face. "Thank you Anon, I value your friendship very highly."

"Any time, Celestia." You point to the door behind you. "If that's all, I'll be going."

Celestia silently nods as you step out the door.

Celestia and you shared a common habit it seemed. The two of you both removed your uncomfortable attire as soon as you got to your rooms. Of course, hers wasn't heavy armor.

Your mind was dominated by the next week as you shed.

You. Acting guard captain. In charge of the defense of the entire city.

To say you were a bit nervous was an understatement.

You could guard Celestia, sure. That was something that was only dependent on your body and will, both of which you kept in the best shape you could.

But guard captain...delegating orders and splitting attention. That was something you weren't too sure about. And you couldn't just tell the city to fly off if things got too hot.

Ponies would die if you didn't handle everything in the exact right way. You sweep your hand across the top of your head and try to push your doubts out with it.

No use just worrying about it...

You drop down to your shorts and climb into your bed. Sleep had always come fairly easy for you, the benefit of an intense job.

The sounds of the city out your window helped lull you to sleep. The clip clop of ponies walking the streets... The air whooshing through the castle spires... The screaming.

Wait, screa-

A blast of sorcery blows out your window and throws you out of bed. You hear your heartbeat in your ears as you scramble to your feet and look outside.

Dark figures were darting down from the sky and clashing with the golden armor of the royal guard. Some were skirting over the city and dropping something, sending explosions up shortly thereafter.

And on an outcropping below you, a guard shouts to all of Canterlot. "The Griffins are attacking! The Griffins are attacking!"

Oh. Fuck.

Storm.

Sitrep: Griffins are attacking. Canterlot is on fire. You're in your boxers.

Crap.

You run and throw your armor back on and run back to Celestia's chambers in the time it takes you to think about it.

"PRINCESS!?" you call out.

Celestia is watching wide eyed out her window. "Anonymous, the griffins!"

"Stay here, Princess!"

"I can't stay with my city in peril!"

"And your city can't be saved if you go out there and get killed, not truly!"

Celestia glares at you.

"Stay here...please."

Celestia continues to stare for a moment before her head falls. "Just...please Anonymous. Save my city."

"Yes, Ma'am."

You'd sure try.

Running out the main castle entrance, you saw Shining Armor exchanging magical blasts with the airborne griffins. Crossbow bolts bouncing off small shields he summoned.

"Shining! Wings!"

Shining Armor responds to your call by trapping the Griffin wings in a magical aura. The griffin squawked as Armor's spell robbed it of its flight and it crashed to the ground. He clutched his head as he rose from the ground, only to shriek in horror as your sword swept across his neck.

The griffin fell to the ground as Shining resumed his attack on the fliers. You scooped up the griffins crossbow off the ground and leveled it against the airborne targets Between Armor and you, the griffins fell in droves and were eventually routed.

"Anon, what are you doing here!?" Shining yells.

"Defending the city?"

"What about The Princess!?"

An explosion echoes off in the distance.

"Celestia is safe in her room."

Another explosion comes from the side of the castle. This one followed by a pastel colored trail. You and Armor watch in awe as the griffins are blown away by the force.

"Well, she WAS in her room."

The muted streak that was Celestia crashed into the city a few blocks down.

"Anon, we have to get to her." Shining says.

"Damn straight."

She was the Princess. It was your job to guard her.

You and Shining run through Canterlot's streets. The griffins are trying to regroup from the wave of force Celestia caused as she flew out, but it looked like this was the break the guards needed. Pegusi were back in the air and unicorns were shooting down stragglers By your approximation, you were close to where Celestia landed, Canterlot General. Your suspicions were confirmed when a griffin was tossed out the third story window into the pond below.

"Come on." Shining orders.

You and Shining burst into the hospital to the sound of screaming patients. And the sight of broken and burnt griffins. You followed the trail up and up, into the third floor rooms.

Inside was not the Celestia you knew. This Celestia was holding a Griffin in her magic.

"There were women and children here." She says.

The Griffin struggles in her grasp. "Servants of the weak. Victims of the delu-"

He got no further before Celestia tosses him out a window.

Just as soon as you saw this new Celestia, the old one comes back. "Anon! Shining! Are you two alright?" She says as she trotted over to you and began inspecting.

You decide to file away this new Celestia for later discussion.

"We're fine, but what are you doing here? I told you to wait in your room."

Celestia's face becomes slightly more serious. "Anon, I cannot sit idly by in my castle while my city is in peril!"

Shining rests a hoof on your shoulder. "Anon, she saved all these ponies."

As you look around at the faces of the mares with blankets in their arms, all you could do is sigh. This is the maternity ward...

A sound interrupts your chastising yourself.

"HEED MY WORDS, PONIES. HEED THE WORDS OF THANE WEISSHAUPT." a voice says over the din of battle.

Your bodyguard senses tell you to sneak a peek out the window. You see the Thane flying in formation with four heavily armored griffins as he shouts over Canterlot.

"KNOW THAT THIS IS YOUR FINAL NIGHT, CANTERLOT. FOR THE HIGH THANE AND HIS DEATHGUARD HAVE COME TO CLENSE THIS LAND OF YOUR WEAKNESS."

"Where do you guys think he's headed?" you ask.

Celestia scoffs. "Weisshaupt has an ego the size of a mountain. He'll head straight to the throne room."

"What were those four griffins I saw flying with him?"

Shining brings a hoof to his chin. "Four griffins? Sounds like his Deathguard. Think of them as a griffin version of the royal bodyguard."

You glance between Celestia and Armor "There's an army of griffins between here and the throne, do you think the three of us can get there?"

Shining Armor looks over the relieved mares and their newborns. "We have to try, Anon."

Celestia walks to the window and looked over her burning city. "Weisshaupt must be stopped, no matter the cost."

-Music-

You step out into the hospital square. You, a guard captain, and a sun goddess. Not the most likely of city defenders. The griffins take notice of the three of you and begin to circle around you like vultures.

"Princess?"

"Shield your eyes." She says.

You barely get your arm up in time to block out whatever Celestia casts, the light still almost burns into your retinas.

Amidst the surprised squawking of the griffins, you call out. "Now!"

Magical blasts streak out from your companions as you fire off with your crossbow. As the last griffin falls, Shining Armor runs ahead.

"Come on! I'll take the lead!" he shouts.

Griffins continue to try to harry you as you ran through the streets, Princess Celestia knocking most of them out of the sky before they could get a bead on any of you. Shining Armor was using his trademark shield spell as a battering ram, rushing the griffins who tried to land on the ground and tossing them behind him.

Once they landed it was your turn. Griffins drop by the dozen as you took advantage of their momentary confusion at being tossed to cut them down.

As you enter the castle courtyard, you see the High Thane smash through one of the stained glass windows you knew was near the throne. A shame, you liked that representation of Discord.

What guards were left on the castle walls were being routed by griffins.

Shining stops at the grand steps and turns to you. "You two go ahead, I'll keep the door secure!"

"We can't let them separate us!"

"And we can't let them get behind us, either! Now go! Celestia has the best chance of beating the Thane and it's your job to protect her!" he barks.

Dammit. He's right. He's right and you don't like it.

You leave Shining at the stairs and made a beeline for the throne. The Thane was inside, hacking apart the banners that adorned the walls.

He lands as you get inside. "I sent my Deathguard away, I will not need them for this." he teases.

Celestia stomps her hoof. "Why are you here, Weisshaupt?"

"I am here to take your throne, Celestia! And you will address me as Thane in my court." he shouts.

Your hand straightens your sword. "This isn't your court yet, feathers."

The Thane scoffs. "Impudent whelp, you will be first."

"How are you gonna stand up to us? Princess Celestia raises the sun every day."

The Thane raises a gauntleted hand. "This is how. It allows me to cast spells with such ferocity that even your feeble Princess cannot stand against me."

He flares his wings and grabs his axe off the ground. "I posses both might and magic, form and function. The two of you are nothing to me."

"That a fact?"

"Undisputable."

"I doubt that."

With that you rush him.

You hear the rush of wind as Princess Celestia takes to the air and throws fire at the Thane. The Thane, to his credit, simply tosses a spell at Celestia's to intercept. He also flips his axe to you as you get close. Axe and sword meet in a loud clang as you begin your dual.

You remember what Shining Armor taught you. Keep a firm-ish hold on your weapon. Watch your footing. Use your whole body, not just the blade.

This Thane however has been fighting all his life. Even on his hind legs, he is able to hold his own against both you and Celestia. He catches you in surprise however, when he crosses his arm over and blasts you with his gauntlet.

Your world becomes one of ozone smell and bright lights as you are thrown back.

You bounce off the floor and land in a heap.

"Anon!" Celestia shrieks.

"M'fine! Armor got it!"

Enchanted armor kicks ass.

"Hmph! Weakness!" The Thane says as he raises his hand.

The gauntlet glowes as the windows in the throne room cracked. Glass from the windows rocketed from its resting place and began to orbit the Thane.

"I will snuff it out!"

The Thane throws his hand down and sends the blizzard of glass at the two of you. You're forced to jump and weave as Celestia erects a barrier.

The Thane decides to keep talking. "YOU PONIES SIT DOWN HERE AND REST ON YOUR LAURELS, SO INTENT TO LET THE WORLD PASS YOU BY! THE GRIFFIN KINGDOM HAS DEALT WITH DRAGONS AND DIAMOND DOGS AND ALL MANNER OF TERRIBLE THINGS!"

Was this about jealousy? Really?

You continue to bob and weave towards the Thane.

"I HAVE MASTERED SWORD AND SORCERY! YOU PONIES RELY ON JUST ONE! THAT MAKES YOU WEAK!"

You're almost there when he goes wide eyed. The Thanes gauntlet glows a maddening white as he begins to cast more spells. You jump over a fireball and duck under an ice lance.

"I WILL USHER IN A NEW AGE OF STRENGTH AND MARTIAL PROWESS FOR THIS WORLD!"

Celestia is still under assault by broken glass.

You find yourself unable to move, your arms and legs not responding to you in a red glow.

"STARTING WITH YOU!"

The Thane keeps his gauntleted hand up as the hold on you tightens. With his other hand, he winds up with his axe.

"Anonymous!" Celestia screams as the axe flies from his hand.

For the briefest moment, you think of this as your end.

That is, until the red glow on your arms and legs shits out along with the Thanes gauntlet

"WHAT!?" he cries.

Time slows down to a crawl as you drop to the floor. This axe isn't too different from the arrow. It's going slower.

And it's nice to be able to see. Your hand wraps around the handle of the axe and spins with the momentum as the Thane rants.

"I WILL NOT BE DENIED WHAT I WAS PROMISED! I WILL NO-"

The Thane falls back against the floor as the axe buries itself in his neck.

Celestia lowers her shield the instant the shards of glass drop and runs over to you. She extends her wings and wraps them around you once she gets close.

"Are you okay?" She asks pulling away.

Okay, that's new.

"*ahem* I'm fine, ma'am."

The two of you walk over to the dead Thane and examine his gauntlet. A black and silver creation, fizzling with dead magics.

"What do you think caused it to short?" you ask.

"Let's just be glad it did when it did." Celestia says.

You finally start to catch your breath as the sound of an explosion comes from the main gates. You and Celestia rush to the castle entrance, prepared to take on another wave of griffins.

What you see isn't a griffin army however.

But it still causes your stomach to drop.

Laying in the middle of a crater, still smoking with magic, was Shining Armor. The corpses of the Deathguard surrounded him. Some were crushed, others stabbed, one had its face burnt off.

What scared you the most was that Armor wasn't moving.

You dropped your sword and ran up to him.

"Is he!?" Celestia shouts in fear.

"I don't know!"

You drop you your knees and cradle his head. He wasn't breathing.

"Armor! Armor come on, wake up!"

You slap his face with your gauntlet a few times

"Cadence still has to see you Armor! Wake up!"

You hear a faint "No..." from Celestia behind you.

Dammit!

"MEDIC!"

You were at the hospital now. The same one Armor had helped you save. Celestia had flown him over in a mad dash for help. The Doctors were a bit shocked, but they took him back almost as soon as you started shouting.

The two of you now sat in the waiting room, you still in your armor.

It was kinda numb...

"That could have been you..." Celestia says.

It almost was. You were planning to take his place.

"It could have been you too." you say, the events of the day wearing on you.

Celestia would have had the best odds against the Deathguard.

The doctors walk out of the room, a somber look on their faces. "I'm sorry. There was nothing we could do..."

Your head plummets.

"The Guard Captain is dead." they finish.

You drop your head into your hands as the doctors walk away. You can feel the tears coming.

"Shining...Cadence...I'm so, so sorry..." Celestia says through her own sobs.

"It's not your fault. Shining knew what he was doing."

The two of you sit in silence for song long that time itself seems to become irrelevant.

"We all did..."

You just...left him there...

"I'll do better." Celestia says. "I failed Shining Armor and I won't let it happen again. Not with any of my ponies..."

Her eyes drift over to you. "And not with you, Anonymous. Never with you."

You look up to Celestia. She was crying freely, her mouth contorted into a frown that made you want to weep harder.

"Anonymous...I want you to do something...with me. It may seem odd. But...I think we both need this now." she chokes out

You're feeling miserable. You need your best living friend.

"What do you have in mind?"

-Music-

You burst through the door to Celestia's room, gripping her flank tight as she wrestles with your tongue in her mouth.

She was surprisingly light.

Your foot catches on the rug and you fall back first onto the bed. Celestia wastes no time in moving up to your ear as she pulls your armor off with her magic.

You use your now free hand to scratch behind her ear, eliciting a moan from the monarch. Celestia jumps back into your mouth as her wings grow ever higher.

You place a hand on her chest as she goes. "W-wait."

You break away from the kiss.

"Princess, are you sure thi-"

"Anon, if you call me Princess one more time, I'm sending you to the moon." she interupts.

You blink at her sudden change in tone.

Celestia lies her head on your bare chest. "I have known you for years and taken you into my bed...Just Celestia is perfect."

You feel your arm loop around her.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" you ask.

Celestia keeps her eyes closed and brushes a pair of tender lips over yours. "Anon..."

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life."

You pause as she goes back to your ear.

After everything that had happened, not just today but over her life...she needs this...

You...need this.

"O-okay."

With that Celestia magics out the candle light and the two of you begin to comfort each other.

Fallout.

Canterlot had been recovering from the attack by the griffins. By the grace of all that was good in the world, the damage was mostly superficial and casualties were low.

Less than a hundred citizens had lost their lives. Most of the city infrastructure was intact.

The guards had been helping refugees from their damaged homes and setting them up in shelters across the city. Another lucky break was that the platform suspending Canterlot above the valley below hadn't been broken. A bit shaken up from the explosions, but not broken. The masons were repairing it now.

If that was a lucky break, then you had also caught a blessing. By some miracle, Grogar's cage hadn't been damaged at all. If it wasn't for him being bound to the city and feeling everything it felt, the Necromancer wouldn't have even known there was an attack.

You walked through the city, helping direct reconstruction efforts.

Next to you walked...another matter.

t had been three days since you and Princ- Since you and Celestia had spent the night together. You had almost been caught by the morning servant, but Celestia was able to teleport you back to your room before she got in.

What followed were the two most awkward days on the job you had ever experienced.

How do you go about guarding someone who was moaning your name the night before?

You remember asking her where this was headed, just as you remembered her almost sad response. "I...don't know, Anonymous. I'm not too certain about much these days. But...I know that I would like to...continue to be close to you, if you would have me." she had said.

Of course you had said yes.

You had to stay close to her. It was your job.

Celestia and you continued to walk through Canterlot, helping rebuild where you could.

There was hardly a need for a bodyguard today, not with the city still on high alert. Today you would help build.

Sometimes you would secure an overhang as Celestia held it up. Other times you would be the one holding things up as Celestia reached inside a broken structure to retrieve a filly that had been caught in it.

What seemed to help the most however, was simply her being there. You could see the looks of adulation and thanks pouring out from the citizens as Celestia did everything in her power to return them to their way of life.

You had been seeing many different sides of Celestia recently...

You had almost seen a furious Celestia when she made an emergency trip to Gryphus to confront the new Thane. Fortunately, he was quick to declare his predecessor a madman and promise to keep his distance from Equestria as a whole.

The two of you were now in the southern plaza near a relief cart. You were handing out food, water and blankets to everypony who wasn't in a shelter yet. There were reports of things getting rather hectic at some of the other relief carts, but not here. Here, ponies were lined up in an orderly fashion and were content to wait their turn for food. You chalked it up once again to Celestia's presence.

"Here, this should help you through the night, please be safe My Little Pony." Celestia said.

"Bless you Princess..." The mother said as she trotted back to her children.

The last of the supplies handed out, Celestia trotted up next to you. Out of sight from the refugees, she leaned forward and nuzzled the side of your face. "Thank you Anonymous...I couldn't have done this without you."

"O-of course, Celestia."

Celestia lead the two of you out of the plaza.

You turned your thoughts inward.

You really weren't too sure about this... She was your boss, the pony who not only paid you, but dictated what you did with your time on the job.

Hell, she was your monarch! She had the ultimate power over if you could even live here or not!

And you had slept with her.

Celestia had said that she could not be in a relationship. She had said that the citizens of Canterlot and possibly all of Equestria couldn't accept a monarch

Why would Celestia risk her reputation over you? You weren't that special, just a bodyguard. Was she really risking her reputation?

Maybe this was just a night of casual sex and there was nothing to worry about.

You admit Celestia is...attractive. Any hang-ups you had about species had long since been left behind, she was just another person now.

Another immortal, sun raising, royal person...

You weren't really helping your nerves here.

Celestia had also said that she was going to do more for herself and "never let you down". But what the hell did that even mean? She had never let you down before.

And why should she worry about you?

She was the sun. You were just a guard.

You sigh.

A guard...

You start to wonder on the significance Shining Armor played in your current situation. Celestia had taken you into her bed just after Armor had died. There was no doubt that the two of you were just trying to make each other feel a bit better in such dark times, but was that it? Was Celestia's current mood towards you affection that had always been there? Or was it just a response to losing someone dear to her and trying to fill the void?

It was absolutely no secret that the two of them were close, they were family. Hell Shining had been close to almost everypony in the castle. Celestia had said she failed him, you figured she blamed herself for what happened. But she also said she would never fail you, and that was more interesting.

Was she only doing this because she thinks she MIGHT one day fail you? Is she trying to give you what she thinks you want before it might happen? And why the hell is sleeping with you the first thing she decided on?

You're so wrapped up that you don't notice Celestia has stopped until it's almost too late.

She was staring up at the gradually setting sun with a mournful expression on her face.

"Celestia?"

Her head lowers and her eyes flick over to you. "It's time, Anon."

-Music-

The sun was setting over Canterlot's walls, casting the area in harsh shadows.

The perfect setting for a funeral.

Princess Cadence was there, but she refrained from giving a eulogy. You and several of Shining's friends in the guard had each given a short one, detailing his strength and heroism in the attack.

As shining was lowered into his plot in the royal gardens, another stallion took his place next to the Celestia at the podium.

"And so it is that with great honor that I name Dapper Thunder the new Captain of the Guard." She said.

Dapper was a good guy, he'd take good care of the guard. Seven unicorns took position and fired off bursts of magic into the sky as the casket was lowered. As the bolts passed through the air, three streaks flew out of Wonderbolts stadium and passed over the ceremony.

As the guests began to file out, you were able to catch Princess Cadence before she leaves.

"Princess..."

She turns to you, her eyes red and puffy from tears shed and her lip trembling. Anything you could have said then just seemed so...pointless, making the words die on your tongue.

"I'm...so, so sorry..."

Cadence shook her head. "It's not your fault, Anonymous...The griffins attacked and Shining tried to defend the city..." her head perks up a bit and she now wears a teary smile. "I know that Shining would have been proud of his final act..."

"What...will you do now?"

Cadence looked out over the city. "I must return to the Crystal Kingdom...But I may decide to take some time to myself soon."

"You deserve it, ma'am."

Cadence smiled at you. "Be safe, Anonymous." she said before she turned and walked away.

You stare at her for some time, eventually hearing the sound of hooves behind you.

"I weep for her." Celestia said.

"I can't imagine what she's going through..."

You bristle as Celestia rests her head on your shoulder. Cadence vanishes into the castle tower, leaving you and Celestia alone in the garden.

Is It Cool If I Hold Your Hand?

The sound of boots on stone echoed across the walls. Ahead of you, Luna's moon slowly inched its way down to the horizon. If you looked behind you, you could see Celestia's sun rays peeking out.

You were on a run around the castle walls, something you did every morning to ensure that you could spend the entire day in your armor. Canterlot looked well underneath you, the week and a half since the invasion being used to repair most of the city. Only a few of the taller buildings remained. Citizens were a bit worried still, but that was the agenda for today.

You jumped down the stairs over the main gate, marking the halfway point of your journey. This had been your routine since before you even became Celestia's bodyguard, back when you were just another of the rank and file troops. Doing it constantly had more or less made this exercise an autopilot ordeal for you.

Leaving you plenty of time to think about your personal life.

Celestia had been keeping things mostly tame. The most that had happened was a bit of nuzzling, and it was always done out of sight of the public. You had reciprocated as best you could.

Basic training had never covered fraternization with royalty.

Celestia and you were close, always had been. The two of you had become fast friends after you had been appointed her bodyguard. Hell, that was probably what made her reach out to you the way she did. But for all the rapport the two of you had, you had still yet to talk about that night. The night the two of you made life a lot more complicated.

You reached the tower your room was in shortly after Celestia had brought the sun up above the Eastern horizon. Your body toned and exercised for the day, you went inside to don your armor.

-Celestia PoV-

Okay, it was morning. You had raised the sun, bathed, and fed Philomena who now sat perched near the door.

Nothing left to do but wait for Anon...

...By the stars, you'd think you would have learned to wait in your life.

You pace back and forth in your room as the minutes ticked by. You had played this slow, taking your time and letting Anonymous and you grow closer naturally. Anonymous had always been a pleasure to be around and that had been your lifeline through the last ten days.

You really, REALLY, didn't want to screw this up.

Things had changed so much since the last time you did this...

There came a sudden knock on your door. "Celestia?"

Alright, deep breath...

"Come in, Anonymous."

The door opens and your somewhat-more-than-just-a-guard walks in, his armor reflecting a dull shine through the room. "Good morning, Celestia."

"Good morning, Anonymous."

As Anonymous closes the door, you lean forward a bit. Your lips brush up against his for just a second, just as you had worked out. At least, just how you worked out was best nine hundred years ago.

You pull away and smile but you don't think you should be.

Anonymous' face is one of awkward fear.

The room is silent for what feels like an eternity.

Ohnoyouscreweditup.

You bite your lower lip as you desperately try to get on another topic.

"So! Anonymous! Did you sleep well!?" you ask in as friendly a tone as you can.

Your nerves are getting through.

"Uh...Yes Celestia, I slept pretty soundly." he says.

You reach out with your magic and grab your crown and raiment. As you adjust them on your head you magic open the door as well.

"Well then, shall we go!?"

You groan inwardly. Great save, Celestia. You haven't screw up this much since banishing Luna...

-Anon PoV-

The two of you skip breakfast and head straight out to the city, wanting to drown out what had happened in the room in work. Today's agenda was simple, simply walk around Canterlot with Celestia and let the citizens be calmed by her presence. The two of you were silent the entire time, condemning you to your thoughts.

She had kissed you. Why did she kiss you? Okay, that was stupid. You knew WHY she kissed you, but why did it have to be now? You were just getting used to the idea of being physically close to Celestia and now it all got changed up again and that left the question as to what the two of you were supposed to do now.

How long before things elevated again?

Would it even be acceptable to elevate things? Celestia still seemed intent on keeping things secret.

This silence between the two of you was driving you nuts.

"The city looks well."

"Yes, the engineers did a wonderful job in the repairs." Celestia says without turning to you.

"Some of the buildings needed repairs, if I remember."

Celestia nods but keeps her head forward. "Yes. Many of the destroyed structures were quite old indeed."

Yes. Drown the awkward in work. That was the best plan. You take a deep breath and kept pace with Celestia as she walked through the streets.

The day wore on and the two of you were starving. You had both grabbed some food from a nearby restaurant and hidden yourselves away near a fountain in a back street. Neither of you had spoken in depth since you had gotten out, simply small words between each other like before.

And it's driven you nuts.

You have to know, this wasn't something that could be just swept under the rug.

"Celestia, I have to ask."

The Princess looks up from her hay sandwich at you.

"Are we...going to talk? About that night?"

The Princess's eyes go wide as she swallows her food. "Well...Anon. I-. The thing is..." Celestia's eyes dart around as she trails off.

"Celestia, it's me. You can talk to me...right?"

You hope this whole thing hadn't ruined your friendship at least...

That was too magical to lose.

Celestia releases a deep sigh and finally meets your eyes again. "The truth is Anon...I have no idea what I'm doing in regards to...the two of us."

She shifts on her hooves. "This is the first time in my life I haven't known what I was doing beforehand and that...scares me a bit. courting has changed so much since I last tried it."

"Was...that what this morning was about?"

Celestia nods her head in affirmation. "Ten or so days was the..."traditional" length of time one would wait to expand upon a relationship in the stage ours is in back when I was young."

You...had a relationship now?

She sounds like Twilight a little bit...Like teacher like pupil, you guess.

"I'm...really just going by what feels right Anonymous, I admit that that could be wrong in some regards." she says.

You crack a small smile. Celestia was ever humble as always.

Still, you could see that she was just as nervous as you were, simply for different reasons.

A thought popped into your head. A...natural thought.

You put down your sandwich and place a hand on Celestia's chin. A quick peck on the cheek, of about equal timing as the one you received this morning was gifted to the Princess. The heat could be felt emanating from Celestia's face as you pulled away, her shocked expression mirroring your own a few hours ago.

You swallow the frog in your throat "Celestia...you seem to be over thinking things a bit... Maybe try a more relaxed and leisurely approach?"

Celestia audibly gulps before she grows a small smile. "Y-yes Anonymous, that sounds like rather good advice. Thank you."

You scratch your chin with your finger. "You...can call me Anon if you want to."

It was only fair, you were allowed to call her Celestia.

Celestia's smile grows wider and less nervous. "I would like that Anon."

She levitates her meal up again. "Shall we finish here and continue with our day?"

You grab your own sandwich and throw off a smile "Of course, Celestia. I'd love to."

Guarding her as she walks the streets. Not the weirdest "first date" ever.

On Loan.

You absentmindedly stab at your hay sausage over breakfast. Celestia is sitting next to you, telling a story of ages ago.

"And so Adamai and I had to take to the forest in search of Luna, little did either of us know that Luna had learned to meld with the shadows cast by the trees." she says.

You softly chuckle "I suppose Hide and Seek is an entirely different game when magic is involved."

Celestia chuckles with you. "You have no idea."

The two of you laugh a bit at the idea of a dragon sifting through a forest looking for a hiding filly. A filly who harrumphs at the end of the table, sending the mood barreling out of the room.

Great...

First an awkward breakfast and then a day with the prince.

Prince Blueblood had requested additional guards for himself today, and with Celestia not having any out of the castle duties, your name was first on the list.

You can't say it was your most wanted assignment...

At the edge of the table, Luna hops up out of her seat and walks towards the door.

"Goodbye, Sister. The court is yours. Please do not damage it." she says as she leaves.

Once Sunshine was out of the room, you turn to Celestia "Is she alright?"

Celestia shakes her head. "We have been disagreeing as to the proper response to the situation with the griffins, Luna is taking it a bit personally."

Some ponies...

The clock against the wall strikes the hour.

You rise from your seat. "Well, I better be off to go see his majesty."

Tardiness on a new assignment was never good.

Celestia rose from her seat and pressed her lips against your cheek. This was one of the few situations where she could get away with it, when nopony was around.

She pulls away and smiles at you. "Don't let my nephew tire you out too much Anon."

You walk along Canterlot's streets to Blueblood's estate. Prince Blueblood had a...reputation in Canterlot.

For being a bit of an ass.

Rude comments, selfish behavior, a bit of a temper when he could get away with it. All that made the list for his personal guard applicants rather low.

Still, you had met Blueblood. When he wasn't out of his element, he was just a normal stallion. Rude at times, but never malicious. Of course, you wouldn't know that now. Blueblood didn't know the torture of walking to the complete opposite side of Canterlot in full armor on your own.

When you were on guard duty, you could at least distract yourself by watching out for threats.

But now...

Everypony knew you were Celestia's personal guard, seeing you without her was a bit of an oddity.

As you pass through the gates to Bluebloods home, you took notice of the various arcane devices on the front lawn. That was right, Prince Blueblood was up to his horn in magical research...

A servant greets you at the door and took you up to the princes room.

Blueblood is talking to a dull blue pegasus with a midnight blue mane, "We'll talk again later, Miss Nightshade."

The mare nods and trots out the door...but not before throwing you a wink first.

Okay...

Blueblood walks up to you, a small smile on his face. "Hello again Anonymous, I take it you are the guard chosen to follow me today?"

You nod. "That I am, your majesty, may I ask what it is you need to do?"

He signals for a servant to tail him out the door with saddlebags. "Oh, just a few errands, now come. We have much ground to cover."

Blueblood leads you through the city and to a small reagent shop. Inside he orders some standard magical tools, astrolabes, some Ankhs, a few scrolls.

As the clerk went into the back to retrieve things, Blueblood approached you. "Tch...common shops..."

"It's not so bad."

"There's dust."

"It's homey."

Blueblood sighs. "So, Anonymous. I hear you and my aunt helped defend Canterlot during the attack."

You think back to that night...

"Yeah...Along with Shining Armor..."

Bluebloods face falls a bit. "Yes...Shining. He was...a good friend."

"Yeah, he was..."

Blueblood and you are silent as the clerk comes back with Bluebloods supplies and the two of you are out the door.

Blueblood turns to you as you walk down the street. "So, how is Aunty coping?"

Easy Anon. Don't mention your...whatever it is with Celestia.

"She's doing alright. Concerning herself with...other matters."

Blueblood nods his head. "Good..."

As you walk down the street, a pair of mares approach from the other direction. Your bodyguard instincts tell you to step in front of Blueblood, ushering them off to the side. They almost try to make it difficult, trying to slide past you to Blueblood.

You eventually get them behind the prince. They wink and blow kisses as they walk away.

"Is that common?" you ask.

Blueblood flashes a small smile. "Wealth and status elevate a stallion, Anonymous."

Your second stop was the Arcanium. As the home to the Royal Magisters research, it was kept in the main castle compound. It had also had some..."trouble" staying in one place, so it was in a tower of its own. No one wanted the roof being stolen. Again.

Once you were in the Arcanium proper, you just sat back and let Blueblood talk to the magisters. This was all way too far over your head. You weren't a magician, you were a guard. Protecting people and hitting things was your job.

As Blueblood collects his borrowed tools, he turns to you. "Anonymous, is there a reason you appear to be ready to slaughter this room of magisters?"

"Magic isn't really my element, Bluebl-"

"Your Highness." he corrects.

"Your Highness. Half the things in this room could probably evaporate me."

Blueblood taps his hoof on his chin as he looks around the room.. "Not half, I'd say a third at the most."

Oh. Great.

Blueblood taps a hoof on your chest plate. "But fear not, Anonymous! By the grace of the royal family, your armor would protect you from almost all of the magical effects!" he declares.

Well that was kinda cool.

"So I'd be alright?"

Blueblood shakes he head. "No no. You would most certainly perish. But your corpse would be in pristine condition!"

The prince trots out of the Arcanium. "Come now, I must return to my home!"

You follow blueblood down the stairs. You also make a note to get a matching helmet for your armor.

Blueblood practically gallops back to his estate and dumped the contents of his servants pouches onto his work desk. The servant looks happy to be dismissed. No doubt not used to carrying reagents and instruments all over the city and back.

You look over Blueblood's shoulder at his desk "What's all this for?"

Blueblood levitates and sets the Astrolabe. "A magical experiment, one that will resonate through all of Equestria and make it a much better place."

"I didn't know you were so into magic, Prince."

He chuckles. "I'll admit that casting magic isn't my forte, I still understand and appreciate it and it's applications."

He starts leafing through his collection of ankhs. "Equestria could always use more magic, don't you agree Anonymous? It helps everyone."

"I guess, if you say so Prince."

Blueblood turns to you. "A man cannot be unsure of things of this level of importance, Anonymous. This spell is going to change the world."

"I just really don't know enough about magic to form an opinion, your grace."

Blueblood sighs and turns back to his desk. "Ignorance..." he mutters.

The silence hangs for a bit.

"If...that's it your grace, am I relieved?"

Blueblood waves a hoof to you. "Huh? Yes, go to the rest of your duties."

You leave the Prince to his toys as you let yourself out.

His words ring in your head. You really shouldn't be unsure about this...

Did you care about Celestia? Of course you did, but was it...like that?

You look up at the rapidly descending sun.

Hmm.

Maybe it's time to go get sure.

Let's Make This Last Forever.

Canterlot was bathed in the orange glow of a setting sun by the time you got back to the castle.

Spending the day with Prince Blueblood had been...new. He certainly attracted more direct attention than Celestia.

You chalk that up to ponies being a bit too nervous to approach one of their reigning monarchs. You had given thought to Bluebloods parting words with you, about being unsure. Talking to Celestia seemed like the best option, and you knew just what to talk about.

You head up to Celestia's room where she had told you she was working today. As bodyguard, you needed to know where she was at all times. Celestia was in her room doing what else? Hunched over her work desk going through forms. She must have heard you enter. "I swear, Anon. Sometimes it seems like this city can't do anything for itself."

"Citizen complaints?"

Celestia sighs. "That, zoning permits, court issues. There isn't much NOT here."

"Isn't there an office for this kind of stuff?"

"Only the big things come to me. Additions to Wonderbolt stadium, alligators in the sewers. Things like that."

Waitwhat?

Celestia rises from her chair and removes her reading glasses. "But, I appear to be just about..." she places a final paper on top of a large stack "...Done!"

Celestia smiles and looks out her window at the setting sun. "And not a moment too soon, it seems."

Her horn glows as she casts her daily spell and lowers the sun for Luna.

You clear your throat "Celestia, can we...talk?"

Celestia looks to you, a hint of concern in her eyes. "May we...talk over dinner? I'm famished."

Dinner...did sound nice.

"Yes Princess, I'd like that."

Dinner was in the Royal Dining Hall again. You were having some wild boar, a gift of reparations from the new Griffin Thane. To your surprise, it was actually Celestia who had recommended it.

She knew how much you enjoyed meat. You appreciated the understanding as you dug into your meal.

Somepony who didn't understand however was Princess Luna.

She sat in her usual spot at the edge of the table, occasionally eyeing you when you took a bite of your food.

As Celestia ate, she spoke up. "So Anon, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

Okay...break the ice first.

"I...just remember you bringing up courting rituals back in your time and it caught my interest, what can you tell me about them?"

Celestia's pupils shrink a bit and drift down to you. "Yes...Well. Normally there would be a period of...closeness. Some time apart was customary to see if feelings bloomed..." A serene looking face graces the Princess. "If they indeed had...the two would spend more time together in...intimate situations. Those would continue for some time, and if the couple deemed it appropriate...they would wed..."

A sharp laughs echoes through the room from the end of the table.

"Such traditions are just as well forgotten, Sister." Luna says. She continues to eat her food, seeming to want to finish quickly. "We are the only ones whom that would apply to, and neither of us shall be marrying any time soon."

You glance between the sisters. "Why is that?"

"For similar reasons why neither of us could enter into a romantic relationship, Anonymous. The populace would not take well to a leader who is tied down." Celestia says.

More of that unfair crap...And you don't just say that as her "boyfriend" or whatever the proper title was.

Luna rises from her seat. "As they should. Leaders must be concerned with the welfare of their kingdom, not flights of fancy."

The Night Princess finishes her meal and rises from the table. "Farewell Sister. I have much to do."

As Luna and Sunshine left, you heard Celestia rise from her own seat. "Well Anonymous, with that I think that I too shall bid you good day..."

Shit. Now or never.

"Uhm....wait."

Celestia pauses mid trot as you get out of your seat. You rub the back of your head as you check for anyone else in the room and think your words through.

"Uhm. Celestia? Would you...like to spend the evening together?"

Celestia's coat turns to a bright pink around her cheeks. "Uhm...Anon...I don't-" she coughs out.

Shit!

"N-no! Not like that!"

You breath deep and try to recompose yourself. "It's just...that we never really get to be around each other when we're on the job, not really anyway. I thought it might be nice..."

The silence in the room is deafening as your words just hang in the air.

Eventually, a small smile curls across Celestia's face, under the blush of course. "I'd like that Anon...very much."

You took a detour back to your room after dinner to change. Spending an evening with somepony in a suit of armor didn't sound like fun. Your normal clothes didn't get worn much, but they still fit. For the first time in your life, you walk the halls to Celestia's room without the weight of armor on your shoulders or a sword at your side. It was a bit disorienting. You felt too light to be in this room.

As you get to the room, you notice something. The normal guards on duty, Brawny and Diamond, aren't there. Your bodyguard senses tingling, you open the door to Celestia's room.

To your relief, she is standing by her beauty desk.

She looked...wow.

The only time you had seen Celestia out of her jewelry was when you came to get her in the morning and that one night.

Here in the light of the fire, you could truly appreciate her form. They say that Princess Celestia was the pony form perfected.

They do not lie.

She turns to looks at you. "Hello Anon, please come in."

You shut the door behind you as you approach Celestia. She gives you a peck on the lips and a chuckle at your confused face.

"Where are the guards? Shouldn't they be out there?" you ask.

Celestia walks to her bookcase behind you. "I sent them off early tonight. No need for them to stay here when I have my personal bodyguard, and I'm sure their families will appreciate the extra time."

You sigh. This Princess... Luna was wrong in one regard, somepony could have someone special in their life and still worry about the others in their kingdom.

An "Ah!" escapes Celestia behind you.

The princess pulls out a record sleeve from inside her bookcase and smiles. "Would you believe your monarch was a jazz mare?"

-Music-

You and Celestia were curled up on a couch together. Well, not a couch, a "chaise lounge" Apparently Rarity in Ponyville had gotten her into them.

Celestia was leaning against your chest as you ran your hand through her mane. The constantly flowing nature of it was...odd. It sort of felt like water slowly running over you.

Celestia was rather engrossed in her story.

"And so after I see Pinkie Pie parade herself through town with all of those instruments, I get called to Fillydelphia and what do I find?"

"She didn't..."

"She did. An entire swarm of Parasprites pushed away from Ponyville."

You pinch the bridge of your nose. "Oh no..."

Celestia sighs. "I love all of My Little Ponies...but sometimes a few of them can become..."

"A bit grating?"

"Only a bit."

You hear wings flap behind you as a red figure enters your peripheral vision and lands on an arm of the lounge.

Celestia chuckles. "It seems that Philomena likes you."

The phoenix coos as you stroke the plumage on top of her head. "She should, I only see her almost every day. Where was she, anyway?"

Philomena had disappeared one day, gone from her usual perch.

"Molting." Celestia says.

Ah. Rebirthing.

Celestia's eyes drift to a collection of photos on a wall. Each featured a group of ponies smiling, at the end was one of Twilight and her friends.

Celestia's old apprentices...

Celestia sighs next to you.

"Are you alright?"

"Just...thinking."

"What about?" you ask.

Another sigh. "Someday, all of this will be gone. Twilight. You. Maybe even this kingdom..."

Well shit... Now you kinda feel bad for wanting to take it slow.

Celestia yawns next to you. The late hour catching up to her.

That seems like your cue.

"I should go. Let you sleep."

You're about to rise when Celestia pushes down with her legs. "No...Stay. I can sleep on the lounge."

Uh...

"I don't...know if I should stay..."

Not after the last time you spent the night here...

Celestia yawns again and pulls herself up to your upper chest. "Nothing needs to happen, Anon...I know you want to take our time." She sends a happy yet exhausted smile your way. "But I would love it if we could just lay here together."

That...didn't sound so bad.

But one thing.

"What about in the morning? We can't let the maids see us like this."

She chuckles as she nuzzles your chest. "Anonymous, you have the good fortune of courting a teleporter and a very good one at that. I can have you back in your room by the time the maids get the door all the way open."

Her smile is infectious.

You tighten your grip around her neck a bit as you relent. "Alright fine, I can see I'm not going to win this argument anyway."

Celestia scootches herself up and presses her velvety lips against yours. "Thank you Anon...that means a lot."

That was...nice.

"Now if we could just get that fire-"

Celestia flaps a great wing at the fireplace and snuffs the flame inside with a burst of wind. Plunging the room into darkness.

"-I see you have it handled."

Celestia chuckles and nuzzles your arm again as you begin to drift off to sleep.

Prying Eyes.

You and Celestia walked through the evening streets. It had been late in the day and Celestia's rounds through the city had been completed when the guard found the two of you.

Apparently, ponies had been disappearing.

This had been the sixth and they were at their wits end, so they called on Celestia and asked for her insight. And where Celestia went, you followed. That was your job.

The two of you approach the scene, a small alley off the main road. Guards surrounded the area and set up crime tape.

The officer in charge approaches the two of you. "Princess Celestia, we're honored that you offer your help." he says with a bow.

Celestia nods. "Of course sergeant, I will help any way I can. What do you have?"

The stallion leads you inside the tape.

Circled in chalk on the ground were scrapes and scratches in the stone.

"All we have here are these...they appear to have come from hooves..." he says.

Morbid...

"So whoever this was got dragged away?" you ask.

"So it seems. But we have no leads."

Celestia brings a hoof to her chin as she looks around. "Sergeant, do you have scrying tools at your disposal?"

The guard raises an eyebrow. "We do Your Highness, but we never use them. Scrying has too low a success rate for us to rely on it."

Celestia lets loose a small smile. "That will not be a problem for me, Sergeant."

The guards collected and set up their old scrying equipment as Celestia surveyed the scene.

Once it was set up, Celestia came over and began casting a spell.

The perfectly still waters of the scrying pool ripple as the spell took hold. Slowly, images began to form inside the waters.

You see an earth mare, trotting down the road with a smile on her face. Suddenly the image darkened as if it had become night. The shadows on the walls start seeping down onto the ground. Dark tendrils form as the shadows coalesced and grew. You could see the mare screaming as the tendrils wrapped around her and pulled her towards an inky abyss.

You were lucky there was no sound...

As the shadows were about to snap down on the poor mare, Celestia ceases her spell. The scrying waters returning to normal soon after.

Everyone present simply stares in shocked silence.

"What...was THAT?" The sergeant asks.

"Bad. Whatever it was."

Celestia is lost in thought next to you. "It can't be the Vashta, there are no remains..."

"Princess?"

Celestia blinks and returns to the conversation. "What? Oh. Nothing Anonymous, just...something I hope it isn't."

She stares at the scrying device for a few moments more. "Sergeant, I must leave you now. But I will attempt to return with answers shortly." she eventually says.

The guard shakes his head in bewilderment. "Uh...of course Princess..."

Celestia nods and walks back down the alley. "Come Anonymous."

You scramble to catch up to her as she practically runs down the street. "Where are we going?"

"To get another opinion." Celestia says.

Celestia leads you through the familiar underground hallways to the prison.

There, sitting in the exact same pose he was in the last time you came, is Grogar the Necromancer. The fact that he hadn't seemed to move at all put you on edge, you admit.

Just as before, Grogar's blood red eyes snap open as the two of you get close. "Princess Celestia, and Anonymous. So good to see you both again..." his says in his too-deep-for-his-age voice.

The ebon black pits that passed for pupils in those eyes shot up to look at you both. "Hmm...and where is Captain Armor? If I remember, he was present the last time we spoke."

You and Celestia's faces fall.

"Oh...It seems I've hit a sore spot. And with the recent Griffin invasion, I can imagine the good Captains fate...A shame. He seemed to know what he was doing..."

The room is silent as you remember your fallen comrade.

"Why are the two of you in my home again?" Grogar asks.

Celestia steels herself. "We need your input on a matter of grave importance."

You swear you can hear the muscles in Grogar's lips strain as he smiles. "But of course, you know how much I value the lives of Your Little Ponies."

Celestia casts a spell and conjures images from the scrying ritual in front of Grogar. "These tendrils have abducted a citizen from above, and we have reason to believe that they are responsible for other disappearances as well." Celestia says.

Grogar watches unblinking as the images pass before his eyes. "Shadow magic. A long unpracticed form of shadow manipulation. In theory, your culprit could be any unicorn with access to a Shadow Grimoire."

You cross your arms. "Can you give us more than that?"

Grogar sighs and re-examines the images. "Magic of this scale would need to be cast in proper phase with the moon, along with several stabilizing agents." his eyes snap up to the two of you again. "THAT is all I can give you on this matter."

Celestia sighs next to you. "Well, at least it's something. Come Anonymous, we should look into-"

"Wait."

Celestia turns back to Grogar.

"I wish to speak to your guard alone again." he says with a smug grin.

Celestia huffs. "You do not get to make demands, Grogar."

"Consider it my price for my information. If you do not wish to pay, then you may consider our business together forever concluded."

The tension in the air rises as they try to play each other out.

You put a hand on Celestia's neck. "We need Grogar's information from time to time, even if he's slimy."

Celestia's eyes soften as she looks at you.

"Go. I'll be fine."

Celestia sighs. "Very well Anon...Be careful."

As Celestia turns out of the room, you walk back to the caged Ram.

Grogar stares at you in silence, a small smirk on his face.

It's really unnerving... Do you...leave? He was sort of wasting your time, leaving would be understandable.

"Look, if you're just gonna star-"

"Exactly when did you bed Celestia?"

I- Wha-

You stand there for a moment as your brain tries to play catch-up on what it was just asked.

A low chuckle comes from Grogar. "Oh come now Anonymous, it was written all over the both of you when you entered into my domain."

The smirk on Grogar's face grows to a full on smile. "The way she let you touch her, the fact that you thought you could, the pet names and the soft eyes. All of these point to two beings who have spent a considerable amount of time together. And at least some amount of time conjoined."

He shifts a micro-inch. "So I ask again, when was it that you joined with Celestia?"

...Stupid immortal necromancers.

"I-It...was right after the invasion..."

Grogar arches an eyebrow.

"After Shining...died. The two of us were just trying to...comfort each other."

"You are unsure of your current course..." he says.

You look down, that damn smile hasn't budged an inch.

"This is...new to me, yes." you say.

"Tell me...where do you see yourself headed?"

Uh...

"I don't know? I'm taking this slow."

Grogar's chuckles fill the room. "Of course..."

"Right. Whatever. Is that it?"

Grogar closes his eyes. "It is."

You turn and make for the door but get stopped on your way.

"And Anonymous, remember when the time comes, I am an ordained cleric."

...Fucking Rams.

You and Celestia were at dinner now. Oddly, Princess Luna wasn't there eating her breakfast. You were actually almost done your meal and she had yet to make an appearance.

The room was mostly silent as you and Celestia ate.

Mostly.

"What did Grogar want with you this time?" she asks.

Shit... Honesty would be best here.

"He knows."

Celestia closes her eyes for a moment. "I can't say I'm surprised. Grogar always did know too much for his station."

"Will he tell anyone?"

"Even if anyone saw him, he wouldn't. It's far too much fun for him to torture us with knowing."

Celestia puts another fork of lettuce in her mouth. "Besides, he has no reason to."

She was right. Grogar didn't seem to have a reason to do anything.

Through the doorway walks a dark blue Alicorn, her bat-winged guard taking position near the door.

"Hello sister, sleep in?" Celestia teases.

Luna rolls her eyes. "I had a matter to attend to on the moon, sister. In fact I had to wake up early to see to it."

"Anything important, your highness?"

Just because you were "courting" Celestia didn't mean you could get chummy with Luna.

Luna eyes you a bit, but doesn't say anything particularly cold. "No. Simply adjusting its face a bit, Bodyguard."

You and Celestia exchange a glance.

Finishing her meal, Celestia rises from her seat with you soon after. It took practice to figure out how to finish meals at the same time.

"Good night Luna, the court is yours." Celestia says.

Luna nods her head at the end of the table as she begins to eat.

Celestia walks out the door, but you grab Sunshine on the way "Watch out, alright? Ponies have been vanishing in the shadows. Nobody wants a shadow-beast eating the Princess."

Sunshine rolls his eyes. "First Griffins and now living shadows. You're making the rest of the guard look terrible Anonymous."

You pat him on the shoulder as you step out to take Celestia to her room.

Detective Work.

You sat in your room at your table, hands digging into your hair as you worked. You weren't guarding any bodies today. Today you were solely focused on trying to solve these disappearing citizens.

You sat at your desk with a book on magic laid out in front of you. All of this was so far over your head it was in orbit. But you had to power through, this was the only way to make sense of what Grogar said and what he said was the only way to find the missing ponies.

Okay...so the phases of the moon would pull mana around the world like it would the tide...and that was fed through a magical array...which was stabilized by...

Crap.

This wasn't working to well.

The sound of hooves knocking came from your door.

"Come in."

The door magic's open and a tall white alicorn stepped in.

Wait, alicorn?

"Celestia?"

The regal pony glances around your spartan quarters. "Anon, I can get you a picture if you want, it's not trouble." she teases.

You turn back to the book "Unless that picture can give me enough magical understanding to solve these missing ponies reports, don't bother."

You hear Celestia walk up behind you before you see her head peering down at the book over your shoulder. "Hmm...If you're having trouble with magic circles, simply remember that the magic flows along the path of least resistance, meaning that the denser inscriptions will be the first portions to activate."

You close up the book and rise from your seat "That'll have to do, I need to start pounding the pavement if I'm gonna find these ponies."

You feel a pair of soft lips against your own. "Please be careful, Anon." Celestia says.

Y-yeah. Right...

You left your room and walked through the castle. A bit flabbergasted, mind. Celestia had never come to your room before...

You would have prepared if she had said something, royalty always warranted preparation. Grogar's other words creep into your mind...

Celestia doesn't know where this thing is going, she said that. You have no real idea either. That absolutely frightens the hell out of you. It might be just nerves, but it still messed with you. Were you and Celly really that obvious?

Crap! Why were you calling her Celly suddenly?!

CELESTIA and you were getting a bit too close for comfort lately.

The kissing...the nuzzling... That night in her room...

You hate to admit it, but that night felt good. It felt almost right. Which sucks because there's still so much you have to work out! You weren't a hundred percent sure about that night, it was by some miracle that it worked out.

Grogar didn't get a clear answer because you didn't have one. You had NO IDEA where this was headed or where you wanted it to go. Yeah, you liked Celestia. Even had affection for her. But at the same time, you were wondering if this entire relationship was just a band-aid that needed to be ripped off.

People didn't understand time from an immortal perspective. They thought that they would be at least a footnote on the page, but they normal people weren't even drops of ink in the grand scheme of things. You had heard Celestia talk about ancient civilizations like they were yesterday. To think that you were really as significant as an entire civilization was egocentric and nuts.

You breathe deep once you get outside the castle.

Think about this later. It's time to play detective.

-Celestia PoV-

You stepped out of Anon's room shortly after he left. He really should get a plant in there or something... But at the same time...he may not be staying there much longer.

You suppress a giggle as you pass some saluting guards.

"Gentlecolts."

Still...

You were a bit worried about Grogar's words getting to him. Grogar had always been a chess master of sorts, and that had only intensified after he had been detained. You weren't lying when you said you couldn't see a reason why Grogar would want to drive a wedge between the two of you, not entirely. You really couldn't see much from Grogar's perspective.

This magic business was something new entirely as well. Anon had always worried whenever somepony was reported missing. He had said that he understood the fear of being completely alone in the world and that no one should have to go through that.

Still, you were worried.

This headfirst rushing into things of his would end badly and you really didn't want your boyfriend to die.

It was clear that Grogar said SOMETHING to put him off a bit.

True...your kiss was a bit sudden... But the two of you had done if before and spent an entire evening together, and that was after you both SLEPT together. A little more of a show of affection was fine...right?

You really hope so.

You have enjoyed the time you had spent romantically with Anon immensely, and you were excited to try and see it through to the end. You take silent pride in the fact that something you hadn't planned out in advance has worked so well.

Never let it be said that Princess Celestia Lulamoon couldn't adapt to the times.

No relation.

Still...You were worried about Anon.

-Anon PoV-

"Alright, thanks anyway."

Damn...that was the third shop you had visited this hour and still nothing. You had been going to every magic shop in the city. The plan was to get a copy of their manifests and look for anything suspicious.

It...wasn't going too well.

You already didn't know much about magic, but throw in ingredients? It was like your first day in boot camp with the guard all over again...

Okay, try to put this thing together. They needed to cast in phase with the moon, so they'd need an astrolabe. The problem was that astrolabes were fairly common purchases, most of the students at the Magical University had to buy them for classes. Slightly less common were stabilizing agents, those being bought only by those involved in magical research. Unfortunately, there were dozens upon dozens of different agents that you had to sift through.

It had to be someone in the city itself casting this shadow spell. Canterlot was protected from outside spell casting by wards at every tower on the wall.

You explosively sigh and gather up the manifests you had and begin walking. The park was your destination, somewhere quiet you could pour over this stuff.

You unfurled your half dozen manifests on a large table in the park.

"Alright, let's see what we have here..."

Anyone doing this would need lots of equipment.

Your eyes shift along each manifest.

Astrolabes, mana batteries, conduction cable. Platinum wiring, gear works, an Orbitron. Micro Wrenches! Anemometers! Microscopes!

None of this was connecting!

You slam your head on the table. "Dammit..."

You NEEDED to help. All those ponies would be scared witless if they were still alive... And they needed justice if they weren't...

You groan and place your hands over your head. All this crap...With Celestia and now citizens missing.

"Gonna get an ulcer..."

Look, you were already talking to yourself.

Grogar said that it needed to be cast in phase with the moon. Celestia said that the magic flowed along the path of least resistance.

You lift your head up again.

Alright, they'd have to track the moon to cast in phase... And the stabilizing agents would have to work with the circle. What works with lunar circles? Totems mostly... They'd need space if they were casting any lunar magic, as well as power. It was probably underground...

Your eyes darted around the manifests as you tried to build a rudimentary magic array in your head. Factor in reach as well as power needs and the items required were...

You drop your quill as you come to realize the truth.

"No friggen way..."

Astrolabes, ankhs, and scrolls for power. All of those items were bought recently, in bulk. Some of them were bought by someone you know. You were even there when they were getting purchased.

"Blueblood..."

Breakaway Orbit.

You were Princess Celestia. You were currently reading a report from your star pupil Twilight Sparkle.

"Dear Princess Celestia, today I learned the importance of dental hygiene." it reads.

"Oh boy..."

This was going to be a memorable one. The report read and filed away with the rest, you stepped out onto your balcony and began the process of lowering the sun.

You were just about to sit down and relax to some Wing Crosby when a knock came at the door.

To your relief, the one outside the door was just who you wanted to see.

"Anonymous! Good to see you return safely..."

You had been worried.

He peaks his head in and glances around. "Celestia I need you to stay here."

You are slightly taken aback by the seriousness in his voice. In the hall behind him, you see guards running to and fro with a sense of purpose.

"Anon, what's going on?"

Anon sighs. "We found the shadow caster..."

You perk up. "That's great news Anon!"

Anon shrinks a bit. "Yeah. We're going to go apprehend him now, so can you stay here? I don't want to get worried about you too."

You look into his eyes. There's...hurt inside them, sadness.

Anon wasn't telling you something.

You...weren't telling him something either.

"Y-yes Anon. I'll stay in tonight."

Anon sighs. "Thank you. I'll check in when I get back."

With that one of the most important people in your life shut the door and left.

"...Be careful." you say.

Please.

-Anon PoV-

You walk through the city streets with a contingent of royal guards at your back. They turn quite a few heads. Walking in formation, golden armor glittering in the last vestiges of sunlight.

No chances tonight.

You cup your gauntleted hand over your mouth and call to the masses. "Everyp0ny return to your homes please! Official guard business, move along!"

You throw a silent thanks to whoever may be listening when they gallop off the street.

This serves two purposes. It allows your guards to move faster and ensures that they would not come to harm in the event there was a confrontation.

You pass through the gates to the Blueblood estate and turn to some of the guards behind you.

"Fan out and secure the area, we don't want them slipping away."

Due to the size of the estate, a considerable amount of the guards were needed to secure it, the remainder of you heading inside the house.

You storm your way up the stairs, intent on disrupting anything they had going on.

In the same room you found Blueblood in when you first came here, you found a butler.

"My word! What is the meaning of this? Why are you here?" he asks.

"To arrest Prince Blueblood for using ancient magics to kidnap citizens. Where is he?"

The butler scoffs. "I have absolutely no idea what you-"

You lift the butler up by the scruff of his lapel. This was no time for games.

"You're lying. I smell it on you."

You bring him a hairsbreadth away from your face.

"Where. Is. He?"

You drop the trembling butler on the ground with a resounding thud.

He shakily walks over to the piano in the corner and presses three keys, sending scared looks back at you the entire time. At the third key press, a door in the bookshelf swings open, revealing stairs spiraling down.

"Bookcase hooked up to the piano..."

Cliché much?

You and the guards you didn't have securing the house descend the stairs. The quarters were cramped, the walls no more than a few feet across. It was clear that not too many ponies came down here.

"Everyone stay close, and call out anything out of the ordinary."

Your words echo up the stairway as you descend deeper. And deeper. And deeper still.

The farther down you go, the less sounds come from above. The songs of birds of the night, or of the guards patrolling the house. Instead all you heard was your own footsteps and the sounds of those behind you. Beyond that, a maddening nothing.

It really wasn't helping your nerves.

Both you and your men's breathing had quickened to an almost frenzied pace. You could feel the sweat start to form on your palms, and your feet were a little shaky.

A door appears at the end of the stairs leading into a small and poorly lit room. You inch yourself through the doorway, keeping a hand on your sword and an eye open for trouble.

The room was...empty.

You turn back to the guards in the stairway. "Alright guys, it looks like we're alone do-"

The familiar spark of magic echoes from inside the room.

You dive back on instinct just in time to dodge a wall of stone shooting up from the ground, sealing the other guards in the stairwell.

The pounding of the guards on the other side of the wall mix your own and echo through the room.

Until another sound overpowers them.

"Anonymous."

-Music-

The clip clop of hooves comes from the center of the room towards you. You draw your sword and toss the sheathe on the ground, it would only slow you down.

"I suppose I should have expected someone." a voice says as it trots into view.

"Blueblood...you look like hell."

The Princes' bloodshot eyes have bags under them and his normally perfect hair hangs in his face in strands.

He sighs. "Yes, I suppose I have been overworking myself lately."

"Using shadow magic to kidnap citizens?"

Blueblood sighs again, deeper this time. "Yes...that was me. But I did what I did for good reason."

You scoff. "What reason could justify that?"

Blueblood stares at you with an almost bored face. "This."

His horn glows and brings light to the room.

You wish it hadn't.

Clamped to steel beds at the rear of the room sat the kidnapped ponies. They had various magical instruments nearby them and coils of pulsating energy behind them. And each of them had their skin hanging in bags and ghastly white hair.

"Wh-what is this?"

"This is sacrifice Anonymous. Using the life energy of these ponies, I will create a cure-all." Blueblood says.

"A what?"

"A cure all, please try to follow along." he says as he trots to the captives. "I will create a spell that will wipe out everything bad. Disease, aging, unhappiness! I will bring Equestria into tomorrow as a true utopia!"

You laugh a shrill laugh. "Oxymoronic! A utopia built on the broken lives of others!"

Blueblood glares at you. "I knew you wouldn't understand."

His horn lights up, swinging open doors at the back of the room. "And I won't try to make you."

Through the doors come ponies in familiar armor.

That of the royal guards.

You brace as the colors of the royal guard and night guard slam into you. A kick to the head leads to a quick slice across the neck for the lead. You hate the idea of killing other guards, but you had no mercy for traitors.

Another, a pegasus, charges you from above. You're able to twist yourself in such a way that it lets you grab him and throw him back. Hours of practice with Shining Armor had taught you about the weak spots in the guards' armor.

Above the knee. Near the tail. The fact that the entire suit would fall apart if you snapped the strap under the chin.

One guard was feeling just that as his armor slid off him like water. You took advantage of his shock to slam him in the face with your gauntlet. Suddenly, you find yourself floating in the air, a blue glow surrounding you. A hand slips into your boot and pulls out a long dagger. With a flick of your wrist, you send it flying towards the offending unicorn with practiced aim. You hit the ground as the dagger imbeds itself in the neck of the spell caster.

The remaining guards didn't like that, rushing you as you tried to climb.

Blueblood rants as the guards pile on. "You stand in the way of progress Anonymous! These ponies would have died and been honored martyrs in the eternal empire that followed!"

A guard kicks you in the chest and sends the wind out of you.

"All you needed to do was to stay out of our way!"

You crumple to the ground.

"But now -- You die!"

The guards prepare to smash your face with their hooves, but never get the chance. The ceiling above you explodes in a shower of arcane magic, revealing a pure white pony in the middle as it dissipates.

"No. He will not." Celestia says.

Whatever resolve the guards had evaporated in sight of the Princess.

Celestia looks over to you in concern as they piled off and ran back through the door they came out of. "Are you okay Anonymous?"

You spit a bit of blood from a split lip out of your mouth as you regain your breath. "Yeah, just gimme a minute..."

Celestia turns back to her nephew and hardens her face. What passes is the most awkward moment in family history.

"Stop this Blueblood, before I make you." Celestia says, ending the silence.

Blueblood scoffs. "And how would you do that Aunty? Hold me down and spank me like a child?"

That actually didn't sound so-

No. No. Stay focus.

You get to your feet and start to inch your way to Blueblood, making use of his back to you.

"Aunty, with the power you hold, you could have fixed everything ages ago."

"I would not have done it like this Nephew! This is monstrous, barbaric even! You don't even know if it will work!"

"So you would have us not try!? To deny ourselves certain avenues over others is to limit ourselves! Or worse, to condemn us to never having known fruits for our labors!"

"What fruits!? All I see here is a madman willing to sacrifice his own people for a mad grasp at power!"

You were close now, within feet.

Celestia obviously saw you, but to her credit she did not so much as glance at you lest she give you away.

Blueblood's breathing grows heavy as he lowers his head. "You have gone soft. You are unwilling to sacrifice even such a minute amount to save countless others." he says through gritted teeth

Bluebloods horn glows green as he charges a spell and draws from the nearby mana batteries.

Almost there...

"In time, you and everypony else will serve the One True Qu-"

Blueblood doesn't finish his sentence and wheels around to face you.

You smell ozone as the spell fills your vision.

You feel the magic surge through your chest as you get thrown off your feet.

"Anonymous!" you hear someone call.

You land on your back with a thud as your breathing seems to just stop. You feel your arm lock up as you are sent into the familiar sensation of neurological shock. There is no physical pain, you don't feel any cuts or broken bones, but your mind is screaming. Lights and sounds break through the agony, but you don't register them.

As suddenly as the million pinpricks of pain came to you, they stop. For a moment, your relieved that the pain stopped. But then you begin to worry as the comforting sensation of nothingness continues to spread. You try to move, to get yourself back on your feet and get back into things, but it doesn't happen.

Your limbs won't move.

Your fear of what is happening melts away. It doesn't leave you, it's just gone.

That scares you more.

Something is very wrong. You register yourself being picked up by a magical grip. You feel the wind against your face as something happens to your body. Words break through the haze of what's happening, or at least try to. You're almost certain you hear your name. Blackness creeps at the edge of your vision, trying to take you away.

The wind on your face stops.

You wonder what happened to Cele-

The darkness went out in every direction. You floated in that darkness. Everything was nothing.

No sight. No sound. No feeling.

It was...peaceful, this place you called death. You had heard of Tartarus and Elysium, but you weren't there.

Guess you just didn't belong.

And then, just like that, your darkness was not. There was light inside you. Bright light. Bright light that made everything start.

The sight of blackness, not just nothing. The sound of the world. The feeling of softness on your back. And the sensation of something, something warm and sad inside you.

You follow that feeling. Follow it back to wherever it is. As you do, your senses return to you.

And you are greeted with the sight of a ceiling.

You groan as you wake up.

"Anonymous!?"

"Wha-"

Soft lips push your words back down your throat as they greet you. The sadness you felt washes away, replaced by the warmth that accompanied it magnifying a hundredfold.

Celestia breaks away from you and places her head on your shoulder, tears forming at the edge of her eyes.

"Wh-what happened? With Blueblood?" you ask.

Celestia exhales a deep breath. "I defeated my nephew, he is currently at an asylum in Detrot. I flew you here as fast as I could."

You rub your head. "What happened to the citizens?"

Celestia chuckles and caresses your head with a wing. "Always concerned for the people...Doctors at Canterlot General looked them over, as well as the Royal Magisters..." Celestias head fell a bit. "They were aged prematurely by the siphoning of their life energy...they may recover and they may not..."

"But...they're safe?"

Celestia smiles and nods. "Thanks to you."

You try laughing only to groan when your chest starts to throb.

"NNngggg...I feel like shit...how long was I out?"

"Two days. You were here for all of it."

You look around the room. Circular bed. Big fireplace Chaise Lounge...

You were in CELESTIA'S room. She had kept you in her room.

"Uhh...Wow. Thank you."

Celestia smiles.

"So, how bad of a hit did I take?"

Celestia's eyes shift from relief to concern.

"Anything broken?

Celestia sits up on her bed. "Anonymous...Bluebloods spell...you suffered no physical damage."

What?

"But...why did I go into shock? Why am I aching?"

"As I said...there is no physical damage..."

You were starting to get worried, Celestia looks it too.

"Celestia, what happened to me?"

She sighs. "Anon, Blueblood destroyed part of your soul."

"...What?"

That was... What!?

"It was only by a miracle that I saved you." Celestia says.

"How?"

Celestia shifts on the bed.

"I...bound your soul...With... mine."

...WHAT!? You needed to breathe...

No! Fuck breathing! You needed answers!

"W-what does that do?" you ask

Celestia looks a bit nervous. "I-In simple terms; I am a part of you, and you are a part of me."

You place a hand on the bed to calm yourself. You were bound, by the SOUL, to Princess Celestia.

"Why do all this?"

Celestia snaps her head away from you and mumbles something.

"I'm sorry?"

Celestia slowly turns back to you, her eyes on the floor. "I said...I did it because...I...I think I love you Anon."

You hear glass shatter in the distance.

It all made sense now. Those warm feelings, feeling more scared or embarrassed than you should. Those were Celestia's feelings, coming through to you through the link. You hear Celestia start talking, but not what she says.

You grip your head a bit.

What thoughts were yours!? Which ones were Celestia's!" And what's up with Celestia?! Just a bit ago you were just spending your first non-sexual evening together and now she loves you!?

All of this was causing an unbearable strain on your head... But you were just so happy to have him back wi-NO!

YOU'RE STILL YOU!

You come back to yourself as Celestia is nuzzling your face. "I'm so glad you're alright Anon..."

You're both silent.

This...this was too much.

"I have to go."

"Wh-why? Celestia asks as you rise from the bed.

"I-it's too much, too fast. I can't be here."

Celestia jumps off the bed. "A-non, whatever is wrong, I-I can fix it!"

"No, you're the problem."

You don't see your armor or sword in the room. Oh well, can't stay to find it.

Too fast.

You open the door and rush past the guards. A Princess shedding her first tear of the night behind you.

Getting Away.

"You can't do this!" she shouted.

"Yes I can."

The dust crunched underneath your boots as you walked to the edge of town. Your "companion" wriggled and wormed herself in your grasp, but couldn't get her way out of your grip.

She sprawled on the ground after you tossed her through the air at the town limits.

"Get out."

She gathered up her wizards hat and tossed it back on her head. "Trixie should have known that such common fold would not appreciate her! Why, Trixie has performed for the Princesses herself in Canterlot castle."

Tch...

"I doubt that."

The magician leered at you again.

"Honestly, tossing somepony out because of a little mishap on stage? What happened to your famous hospitality?"

"The offer is voided when the mishap involves summoning Duneworms."

You turn around and start walking back to town.

"W-wait! How is Trixie supposed to survive with these...CREATURES out here!?" She asked worriedly.

Oh please...She summoned them. There weren't even that many...

You call back over your shoulder as you leave "Walk without rhythm."

You head back to town and smack a sign along the way, flipping the numbers on it back to their level from before Trixie blew in.

It read "Appleoosa. Pop: 140".

-Music-

You sat on your favorite barstool. Most of your shifts revolved around you sitting here. That was what you did as Appleoosa's sheriff.

It had been a couple weeks since your...departure.

You had bolted out of the castle as fast as you could, not even bothering to grab any of your gear, just a bag of bits. You just had to get away from the city...away from Her. Away from the constant influx of thoughts that came from Her head. And that day in particular, away from the soul crushing sadness.

You had hopped on the first train you saw and ridden it West. And West... And West some more.

You got off when the track had ended.

Appleoosa. By some miracle it had been far enough away for you to not hear Celestia's thoughts.

Just you... Alone...

Oh well, you needed it. Needed time to think, to work things out. Or at least drown things out with your new job.

Appleoosa had needed a sheriff when you arrived. You had volunteered. Maybe this time when you signed up to protect ponies, you wouldn't end up courting royalty or having your soul decimated.

You took a sip of your drink.

Dammit...you shouldn't blame Celestia. It wasn't her fault that all this happened...

Voices from bar patrons behind you suddenly became louder and more angry. It wasn't long before one of them was tossed over a table.

You sigh and finish off your drink. The more things change...

You throw the brawlers out of the bar by their manes the same way you had done with Trixie.

"Come back when you can throw a decent right hook!"

They try and crawl to their feet. "This aint over!"

One of them falls to his face.

"Yes it is."

You glare at them as they limp away, taking notice to the sound of someone approaching you from the side. "Well darn Anon, first you run that showboatin' street magician outa town and now your clearin' out The Applebarrel?"

"Just doin' my job Braeburn."

Probably time for the rounds... Appleoosa was a fairly small town, you liked to take a patrol every so often to make sure everything was good.

You start walking down the road with Braeburn keeping pace next to you.

"So, how're ya takin' to your job Mister Sheriff?" he asked.

"It's a good fit."

A good distraction too.

"Why, I'd say that any crime of roughousin' we had out here dang near evaporated once you showed up."

General store was clear.

"Yeah, I'm good at protecting people."

Braeburn chuckles "That must kill with all the ladies."

Dammit...

"I wouldn't know." you say.

Post office and train station were fine.

Braeburn half-smiles up at you. "Not lookin'?"

How the hell do you put this?

"I got out of...a kinda weird relationship before I came here."

Braeburn slowly nodded as his understanding grew. "She a clingy gal?"

"That's...not too far off."

You retreated into your home after you completed your rounds and sat around looking intimidating. It was a modest home, rather similar to your room back in Canterlot. You sat yourself down by the small writing desk.

Damn...that got you thinking...

You hated abandoning your post. You had always laid into the other guards that you caught shirking their duties, stepping out to a tavern during early morning hours or leaving without notifying someone. It irritated you that you had just LEFT in the state of mind you were in.

You let out a deep sigh.

Then again...it was a pretty weird situation...

You just...It was too much to take!

The fight with Blueblood...Your soul...Having someone else's thoughts in your head was just...

It sent shivers up your spine at the time.

You had FELT Celestia's thoughts. Felt her dreams and ambitions, her wants and desires. And you had felt that she was telling the truth about what she said.

The Princess really did love you.

You...didn't know how you felt. You just knew you couldn't decide with her thoughts impacting your own, bluring the lines between where you began and she ended.

Your hand runs through your hair. This was all way over your head... Just...Just focus on the next few hours Anon and in a few hours, you'd still be the sheriff of Appleoosa.

It was your job.

-In Canterlot-

It had been some time since the incident with Blueblood. He was doing as well as you could ask given his current situation. You only wished you could say the same about yourself... Things had returned to normal all too fast once Anonymous left you that night. You had hoped that a night of tears alone in your room would have helped.

They hadn't.

This room had become your only environment the last few weeks. You had slept here, ate here, and done your royal duties here. The official reason was that your replacement bodyguard had yet to be chosen. The real reason was because you had refused to get another bodyguard. You couldn't replace him...not so soon.

Why!? Why did you say you loved him!? Anon could have possibly taken the news about his soul well enough but to be told that his monarch loves him? You've been alive for so long you've forgotten what it's like to have news like that. And in your ignorance, you had scared him away.

You had scared away the first man you've loved in CENTURIES because you were out of touch with reality.

You laid yourself down on your bed for the umpteenth time. And your tears stained the sheets.

-In the nearby hills-

You came. You came in small numbers as you followed the scent. It radiated off of this town like that of a warm meal. You had traveled for miles, crossing the Leylands and the entirety of the Mild West. Harried by vultures, sandstorms and worse. All just to follow this scent.

And now you found it.

Hiding in this little town of Appleoosa.

The salty-sweet taste of it.

Anguished love.

Lesson in Love.

-Music-

Thursday The sun was high in the sky as you walked down the street. For a moment you wondered if She could see you from it, if she was watching you still. Those thoughts last about as long as you let the other thoughts you have of Her last.

Gone in an instant.

You adjust the shovel on your shoulder as you walk. They didn't have traditional weapons in Appleoosa so you had to improvise. There had been reports of a few "undesirables" in town lately, you were gonna root them out. You walked around the town, asking anyp0ny if they had noticed anything suspicious about their neighbors. Based on their information, you went around town and gathered up who you thought fit the bill. Chasing down Blueblood wasn't the only detective work you had ever done.

You lead your posse of five to the outskirts of town, wanting to avoid any scene. Once you reached the town limits, you turned back to everyone.

"Afternoon everyone."

Mayor Buckington stepped forward. "Anonymous? What is all this about?"

"Glad you asked sir."

You plant your shovel on the ground.

"A while ago an army of Changelings tried to crash the Royal Wedding, as I'm sure you all know."

They all nod.

"When they got thrown out, they got sent back to the wastes where they came from. But here's the deal, I've gotten word that some of them may have snuck into town and disguised themselves."

You take a few steps toward the group.

"So I'm gonna be asking ya'll a few questions, how you answer will determine your authenticity."

You grab your shovel and spin it around onto your shoulder.

"Ya dig?"

Alright, let's do this.

"At the Mild West Dance last Sunday, Sandy Shoes drank too much cider and fell into the trough, right?"

Your entourage nods.

"Fell right in." Buckington said.

Tornado Dancer nodded "Like a lummox."

"One Tartarus of a date..." His sister Twister said.

Rawhide and Saloon Scalper nodded as well. "I remember that." "That was a hoot."

Hmm...

"And when we had to repair the engine of the train before the next one came in, when was that?"

"Last Wednesday."

"Round Noon Ah think."

"Powerful hot that day."

"Yeah."

"Close call that day."

It's like they don't even try...

You step towards them. "Where were ya'll 4 days ago?"

"Goin' over plans for the new water tower."

"Ah was workin' the Orchard."

"Tch. Drinkin' ta ferget."

"Spent all day with Sandy."

"Paintin'"

Paydirt...

You stepped closer to Rawhide. "Raw, Sandy was at the Mild West Dance, he passed out in the trough and had to be pulled out."

His face plummets.

"How could he be with you?"

The others back away from "Rawhide" as he stammers. "No- I was- Me and Sandy were-..." he glances around. "Aw, horseapples!"

A small green pyre ignites around the pony before you and a black chitinous bug leaps out-

-Right into your shovel.

As it hits the ground twitching, you press your knee to its neck. "Alright, we found him. Can I ask you guys to head back to town now?"

The assembled ponies watched with a mix of shock and fear. "Y-yes, of course Anonymous. Come on everyp0ny, let's leave the Sheriff to his work..."

You had dragged the Changeling to the edge of some rocky hills outside town and dumped him there.

"Don't let me find you in here again." you said.

It had scuttled off into the hills without a word and you took that as the end of it. You were walking back into town now, intent on going about the rest of your day.

Braeburn it seemed had other plans. "Hey, Anonymous! Ya got a visitor in your house!"

What?

"Who?

Braeburn shook his head.

"Didn't say. She just stepped off the train a while ago n' started askin' for ya."

She?

She...She wouldn't...

"What did "She" look like?"

Braeburn looked over his shoulder back at your house. "Can't rightly say, she had this real fancy hood up 'round her head."

...Great.

You sigh. "I'm gonna be a bit Brae, think you can hold down the town for me?"

You catch his concerned glances as you walk down the street. "Uh, sure Anon. Expectin' trouble?"

You don't know. Never dumped a Sun Goddess before.

You cracked open the door to your house and stepped in. Standing by your desk was a pony in a regal looking cloak. Whoever it was, they were too small to be Celestia. But that cloak was definitely Canterlot...

The hood was pulled up, hiding their features. You were about to confront them when they spoke up.

"Hello Anonymous."

Oh hell...you knew that voice...

"Hey...Cadence."

The Crystal Princess lowered her hood to reveal her dour face. Cadence had more or less ceased her intermittent trips to Canterlot after what had happened with Shining. Last you had heard she was peacefully tending to her own kingdom, trying to heal the hole in her heart her husband had left.

And now she was here...

"You look well Anonymous." she says with a small smile.

How the hell do you handle this? You had hooked up with Celestia only hours after you got her husband killed...

"Thanks. I feel...well."

The smile evaporates.

"I came here to speak to you...about "that"."

Oh hell!

"I don't want to talk about "that"."

"It's important Anonymous."

"I left to get away from "that" Cadence, don't try and drag me right back-"

"Princess Celestia has been rendered lethargic by your leaving, I'm only hear to give you the full story."

-Music-

You stop with your door handle in your palm.

"Celestia was crushed after you left. She locked herself in her room for who knows how long and only recently started leaving."

Aha!

"There, see? She's fine. I'm fine. We're both fine."

"She has been leaving without a bodyguard, Anon."

Your bodyguard senses start to tingle.

You wheel around and face Cadence. "What!? That's idiotic! Why is she doing that?"

Cadence shakes her head. "She says that she cannot get another bodyguard. Not after what happened with you." Cadence looks out the window as the sun moves across the sky. "When my aunt goes on her rounds of Canterlot on her own, all anypony says is how sad she looks. I asked her and do you know what she told me? She said that there is nowhere in the city she cannot go where she isn't reminded of -you- Anon. Even back when you were just friends, I don't think you understood how much that meant to her."

"And I don't think you understand what happened Cadence. I FELT her thoughts in my head. I could FEEL her affection for me and it...I-I don't think I can do that..." you say.

It was Cadence's turn to sigh. "Anonymous, did you know my aunt was in love once? EXACTLY once? It was back when she was young. He died before she could confess to him. You can imagine how that would affect a young immortal."

You ran your hand through your hair as you thought it through. That's one hell of a way to end a first love story...

"For the longest time, Aunt Celestia played the part of the dutiful queen caring about only running her kingdom and the subjects in it." a smile tugged at Cadence's mouth. "But...then you showed up Anon."

"Celestia talked with you Anon, not to you but -with- you." Cadence's grin grew. "She saw another oddity in the world and she latched onto it. Over time, you became the first real friend she had had in eons."

Whoa.

"What about Twilight? And all her other students?" you ask.

You remember that big wall she had.

Cadence shook her head. "They were just that Anon. Students. Dear to Celestia's heart, yes. But the Student/Teacher relationship was still an impenetrable wall on their path to true friendship."

"Then why me?"

Cadence smiled. "You met my aunt as a true person Anon. You didn't see the immortal sun bringer or the head of state, you saw the pony underneath all of that. At least...before you entered the guard."

"Whoa, are you saying that my JOB is what caused this?"

Cadence nodded. "A part of it yes. Once you became my aunts guard, you began to only see her as your charge and not as just her. That did not stop her, however. You were still her friend and now you were just closer. Over time the affection grew, especially after you would protect her from something."

You remembered some of the times you stopped an attempt on Celestia's life.
"Are you trying to talk me into going back?"

Cadence sighs as she heads to the door. "All I came here to do is tell you what was happening with Celestia and to hopefully shed some light on her reasons for doing...what she did."

She stops at the door. "All I ask that you do Anonymous is think on your own feelings."

"What, you're trying to make me feel love now?" you ask.

Cadence lets out a small giggle. "Perhaps I don't need to?"

With that she walked out, leaving you alone with your thoughts again.

Expert Advice.

The spittoon rings out through the town as your Taffy Tobaccy lands in it. You sit with your feet propped up on the railing outside The Applebarrel. They didn't really have a sheriff's office here, and you did most of your thinking at the bar anyway.

It was the day after your meeting with Cadence.

You had spent the entire night thinking about what she said afterwards...

"Perhaps I don't need to?" and all said with that smile of hers. She had been talking about you and Celestia, if there was any mutual love between the two of you.

You admit, you cared about Celestia, and you were worried about her not using a bodyguard. But still... Your SOULS were linked, that was weird even by your standards and you slept with a horse who raised the sun. You had spent the entire evening just sitting on your bed, trying to figure out what your tipping point was.

Would you go back if you realized you were wrong? What if the griffins attacked again? Or Blueblood got out? Would you need to save face?

Would Celestia even take you back?

You lean back in your chair and blow a raspberry. This was harder than it was last night... The rapid sound of someone galloping down the street caught your eye, it was Saloon Scalper.

He looked nervous...

"Changelings! Out back by tha' General Store!"

Oh hell!

-Music-

You dash down the main road to the general store. Peeking through the window you see Mayor Buckington and Tornado Dancer staring down a trio of Changelings. They couldn't take them on their own, you were the only one who knew how to fight in this town.

Not to mention it was your job.

You hop up on the railing outside the store and pull yourself onto the roof.

They were talking.

"Where is it!? Where do you keep it!?" they ask with their flanged voices.

"What in tarnation are you talkin' 'r you talkin' about!?" Tornado shout.

You hear what you assume was a grunt from another Changeling. "They don't know! I say we turn this town upside down to find that reservoir!"

Not on your bloody watch.

"Here's your reservoir!" you shout.

You leap off the roof of the store, hoping that the sun behind you will give you an advantage. Fist meats exoskeleton as you land in front of the first Changeling, the other two looking on in surprise.

You turn back to Buckington and Tornado. "Go! Get out of here!"

The two stallions ran off as the other changelings lunged at you. You sidestep and grab it by its horn.

The Changeling spins around and around as you pivot on your foot, eventually flying through the air and hitting the side of the general store with a loud "WHAP!" when you let go. The third Changeling jumped onto your back as the first one recovered and latched on to your leg. You lifted and stomped your foot rhythmically, hoping to catch the first Changeling under your boot. At the same time, you yanked and pulled the Changeling on your back off, it's hooves wrapped around your neck tight. The Changeling was finally caught underneath your stomping boot, sending teeth and spittle onto the ground.

At the same time, you reversed the headlock the last conscious Changeling had, putting him in a sleeper hold so he could join his fellows. His limp body hits the ground and you look around.

"Huh. Not too bad for being out of practice."

Two of the Changelings are over your shoulders as you drag the other one along the ground. You had started to book it once you heard them waking up, you were gonna make it to the edge of town just in time.

They flop over the ground near the hills as they regain consciousness.

"Howdy."

The lead Changeling is the first to his feet, instantly taking in his surroundings before glaring at you.

"Why were ya'll in my town?"

Silence.

You spit. "Whatever. Show up again and I won't be bringing you back here, least not alive."

The other two Changelings get to their feet and begin sniffing at the air. "This guy is the reservoir! We can take him here!" one says.

"Be my guest. I don't want to get stomped again!" says the other.

Okay...

"Reservoir?"

The Changelings stop their bickering and glare up at you, their anger barely contained.

That was creepy...how they did that in unison... These Changelings were pretty creepy in general. They seem to always move in unison and they were constantly drooling some translucent liquid.

The lead one steps forward, only coming up to your calf. "We Changelings feed on love, as you are no doubt aware."

You nod.

"The three of us abandoned our hive after Queen Chrysalis' failed attempt at the Equestrian throne. We came to this place on the scent of a mass of love the likes of which none of us had ever seen...and it seems that you are the source of that love, biped." he says.

You...? A love repository...?

"Uh...love for who?"

The three of them close their eyes for a moment. "We...cannot tell. All we see when we look into your heart is a rather blinding light."

That...didn't make your day any easier.

The sun is high in the sky as you sat back out front of The Applebarrel. You have your feet planted on the ground and your chin in your hand, lost in thought.

So...apparently you loved Celestia...The mare who linked her mind with you and let all of her overwhelming affection in...

Uhg.

The bar doors open up and a familiar stallion trots out. "Hey Anonymous,...Y'all okay?" Braeburn asks.

You keep your gaze affixed straight ahead. "Hey Brae. Just thinking."

"What about?"

"...Remember the reason I told you I came here?"

Braeburn's face falls a bit. "About that wizard? And your soul?"

"Yeah..."

Braeburn knew that someone who loved you bound your souls and scared you off. What he didn't know was that it was Celestia.

"Well what's up?"

"I...think I love her."

Braeburn's smile explodes. "Well shoot Anon! That's great news!

"But what about..." you point to your head. "That?"

Braeburn scrunches his face. "...Does that matter?"

Wot?

"What."

"Well...Yeah. It's pretty obvious you care, and that she cares, and if you both care and both feel it then it's just a big ball of care aint it?"

That was...certainly a unique way of looking at it.

"But...am I still me? If the link is going and stuff?"

Braeburn shifts on his hooves. "I didn't know ya before ya came here Anon. Do YOU think you're the same guy?"

You felt like you sat there for an eternity.

"I...don't know."

"Well...I think you should go to her Anon..." Braeburn turns and trots away. "Y'all won't feel any better till ya do."

You were on the train.

The scenery outside was speeding by too fast to see. On the horizon the sun was beginning to inch its way down.

Your mind wanders back, way back. About how melancholy you had been these last few weeks. You thought it was just because of how mad the situation was when you left, not because of heartache.

Uhg. You had uprooted your life over this mindlink... Life in Canterlot was one of chaotic routine, one with friends and warmth and direction. Even when you were new to the guard, your day was always comfortably scheduled to the second.

But all that had changed with Celestia...

Suddenly your days could be spent either walking around the city or on diplomatic missions to Zevera and suddenly your training got put more to use. The Princess had many enemies.

You sigh and lean back.

It was hard for you to imagine your Equestrian life without Celestia. She had been a constant. From when you first appeared here and she deemed you safe to when you had left for Appleoosa.

Even in the guard there wasn't a day you didn't see her around the castle or performing her sun spell.

You cherished those memories.

But...

Was that simply devotion talking? Or was it affection?

You sigh against your seat. You don't know anymore... What did Celestia say she was doing? "Going with what felt right?"

Can't hurt...

You stood just inside the castle gates. It was past dark now. You had...no idea what you were doing...

...Fuck.

You slide your hands in your pockets and start walking. You walk and walk until you find yourself in the castle gardens. Up above you on the side of the castle hung Celestia's balcony. The place where she rose and lowered the sun every day. You knew that balcony well, you saw it almost as much as she did.

Any plans you had to make this right didn't seem to amount to much...

You sit down on a nearby bench and tried something... Reaching out with your link to see what you could feel.

There was... Sadness...the crushing sadness that came with loss. Following that came the inky blackness of depression brought on by helplessness. You felt terrible for causing that feeling.

Dammit, all of this was your fault.

The blackness gave way to the cool blue of...intrigue?

"...Anon?"

Shit.

-Music-

You opened your eyes just in time to see Celestia jump off her balcony and land some feet away from you in the garden.

"W-what are you doing here?" she asks wide eyed.

You scramble to your feet. "I...decided to come back."

Celestia cants her head to the side as a smile tugs at her mouth. "Why? I-I thought you had made your choice..."

"I thought about it...our "situation" that is."

Felt a bit awkward, either from the link or just yourself. You didn't really care...not after all the crap recently.

Celestia trots over to you, talking the entire way. "Anonymous I understand why you left an-"

Your words come pouring out as well "I shouldn't have left like I did, it was stupid an-"

"Telling you how I felt right after the other news-"

"Stupid and immature of me."

The both of you snap your mouths shut.

Celestia clears her throat. "We seem to be..."

"Tripping over each other."

The silence stretches from here to Appleoosa.

You flex your fingers at your side.

Celestia shuffles on her hooves a bit.

"I-"

...Oh...

"Fuck it."

You gently place your hands on Celestia's face and pull her close, satiating the hunger for her velvety lips you had felt since you saw her.

The two of you stand unmoving save for your mouths for a while. When it's finally decided that you want to breathe more than kiss, you break away from each other.

Wow...

That felt...Good.

And not just because of the link, even if that was nice too.

"I enjoyed that..."

Celestia's cheeks take on a rose hue. "Likewise Anon..." she says with a smile.

Well...

"...Now what?"

You admit you were at a loss here.

Celestia continues to stare at you with eyes unblinking. "I...don't know Anon..."

"I guess...we could do what you want?"

Celestia almost barrels over your words, leaning her head forward. "Anon, I have everything I've wanted for a while now." she says faster than you have ever heard.

Heh...that was pretty cute.

You look around the garden as the moon moves across the sky.

"We should probably avoid being seen. Is your room-"

A bright white light took your vision from you, returning it to show Celestia's room greeting you. The Sun Princess hadn't moved an inch, her face still almost brushing up against yours.

"-an option?"

You meet Celestia's eyes again...And the two of you stand there together.

You felt...apprehensive, the both of you. You may have to wing this again. Your hand on Celestia's chin, you guide your mouths together once more.

The kiss before had been one of hunger, the result of not seeing each other for so long. This kiss was far more tender. Celestia and your lips in constant motion as you both tried to take as much of the other in as you could.

You break again in the harsh shadows of the fireplace. "Shall I stay with you tonight your majesty?"

Celestia flicks her wing and sends a rush of air to the fireplace, extinguishing it.

Heh...

"As you wish."

Warm Reception.

-Music-

You ran along the East wall. Not how most spend the morning after they get married, but you were fairly non-traditional. You and Celestia had stepped out of the catacombs and into your new lives together.

One of secrecy.

None could know of what happened down there. The only ones who did were those directly involved.

You jumped up some stairs as you ran.

The only outward clue of your change in status was a small sun pendant you now wore around your neck, indistinguishable from the rest of your uniform. Wedding bands would be a bit obvious. Celestia had a similar pendant incorporated into her crown jewels, if you played your cards right no one would notice.

Still, there was the problem of your minister talking. You and Celestia were the only ones who visited Grogar, but you didn't put it past him to find a way of blabbing.

You'd pay him a visit soon to ensure he kept his mouth shut.

The sun rose to meet you as you got back to your room. It was fast becoming your second favorite sight.

You got a quick shower and started to dress yourself.

It was high time that you went off to see your favorite sight of all.

You armored yourself up and went to Celestias room, not even bothering to ask Brawny or Diamond if she was in.

The link had matured over time, you could now feel the distance between the two of you. This was the second time in two days you caught Celestia coming out of her washroom. She looked out her window. "Is it safe?" she ask.

You peek out the windows and examine the grounds below.

Sighting no one, you turn back. "Looks clear."

Celestia wordlessly half-galloped over to you and wrapped you in her great wings, pulling you close to her and locking your lips. You run your hand through your wife's ethereal mane as you kiss her. You look down at the single shield attached to the front of her raiment, her symbol of your marriage.

Celestia brakes away from her kiss and places her forehead against yours. "Having to meet my husband this way the morning after our wedding..." she sighs.

"You know why."

"I do. But a wedding night would still have been appreciated."

"Come on, you can imagine the scandal if we slipped up just once and someone saw us in here..."

Celestia nuzzles your face. "I could get you out in time..."

"We can't risk it. Call it bodyguards intuition."

Celestia grows a mischievous grin. "Perhaps I should change my plans...Stay inside and see what can be done in here today?"

Heh.

You run your hand over her perfect face "As much as I would enjoy helping you in your..."duties"...we can't let them get suspicious."

Celestia lets out another deep sigh and walks to her beauty desk. "I'm going to need a vacation soon if this keeps up.

You and Celestia are in the magisters tower. You sit off to the side of the table Celestia was at and mostly just tried to stay out of the way of the acolytes. They carry potions and arcane devices to and fro, planning to do unknowable things with them.

And it was still miles over your head.

"No no no, we need to move it slower here." Celestia says.

She's standing around a table with the Grand Magister and several others. Laid before them was the plans for the upcoming solar year. As the warden of the sun, it was Celestia's duty to plan out the appropriate orbit every year. The paper on the table in front of her is covered in calculations and astrological markings.

You frankly couldn't make heads or tails of it.

"No. The equinox will have to be on this date."

The Grand Magister sighs. "This would be far easier if Princess Luna were here."

Where the hell WAS Luna?

"My sister needs her rest. We will do her calculations tonight." Celestia says.

Celestia bends over the table and looks closely at the charts.

She releases a heavy sigh. "You forgot to take into consideration the passing of Starswirl's Comet and its effects on our magic. These calculations will have to be redone."

The collected magi groan at their oversight.

You however, have something else in mind.

"Princess Celestia."

She turns to look at you.

"I have to go see..."someone". Can I trust you to stay here?"

Celestia arches an eyebrow. "Who Anonymous?"

"A Prisoner."

Celestias eyes widen momentarily as she begins to understand. "Of course Anonymous."

You nod to your secret wife and make for the door.

"Anon?"

You look back over your shoulder.

"Be careful."

-Music-

You walk into the secret prison alone. A cautionary glance tells you that the cage seemed the same. No point taking chances...

Grogar's eyes snap open as they always did once you got close. "Ah...Anonymous. Alone are you?" he coos.

"Thought I'd stop by."

"I'm flattered. Coming to see me again so soon after out last visit."

You stand and cross your arms "I'm here for business, not pleasure Grogar."

Grogar slowly shakes his head. "Tsk tsk Anonymous. So dull after your wedding. Attempt to be more like myself, mix the two."

Ignoring the possible come on, you get to the point "You're the only other thing alive that knows about me and Celestia. That means you're the only one who could blab..."

Grogar has a wide smarmy grin on his face.

You rap your finger on the edge of the glass. "And we can't have that."

Grogar's face contorts. "Anonymous I'm hurt. I would never "blab" as you put it. I have been watching you and Celestia through this city since this little romance's inception and I must say you have proven quite entertaining."

Grogar tilts his head up. "And you know I would never destroy something if it was still entertaining."

Hmph...Good.

You stand there, arms crossed as you stare down the Ram. You're about to speak up but he beats you to it.

"Still Anon, I am sorry."

"For what?"

"This."

The glass in front of you begins to glow as bright as the sun. You're flung back as the wall between you and Grogar explodes.

You bounce along the ground a few times before you get yourself into a low crouch. Your hand shoots to your sword as you prepare to attack.

"Oh let's have none of that." came a voice from the smoke.

Your body ceases all movement before you get your sword halfway out.

The sound of old muscles springing to use and hooves on stone fill the room. Grogar steps out of the smoke with a smile on his face.

"Before you attempt to ask and find out that I've paralyzed your vocal chords, there was a hairline fracture in the corner of my cage. I have spent the last thousand years pulling against my chains, making that crack the smallest bit bigger as I did."

His voice sounded senile in the cage, out here it sounded like a coiled viper.

"As the crack grew, I was able to let my magics seep out in small amounts. It was only today that I was able to shatter that infernal crystal."

He bent down an inch away from your face. "How fortunate that my newest friend is here for it...perhaps Celestia had a point about it all?"

You struggle against your invisible bonds, trying to use your armors wards against it.

"If you are wondering, I plan to leave. To where I do not know...In fact, it was your ridiculous little romance with little Celly that inspired me to do so. Thank you so very much Anonymous."

If you could spit you would.

"I have removed the wards blocking my magics from being used and before you ask, no, I will not be causing far too much trouble for our dear monarchs. Simply nudging certain aspects of fate along..."

Grogar releases a chuckle as his horns start to glow a hellish purple.

"Goodbye Anonymous. If I see you again I'll drown you in your own blood."

A flash of light later Grogar vanishes from the room and takes his spell with him, leaving you laying on the floor.

"Well...that was a hell of a wedding gift...

Public Relations.

You lean against the wall backstage. Not much for you to do here but just wait, there was already an insane amount of security.

Today was the annual "State of the Kingdom" addresses from both Princesses. Celestia was out on her podium now entertaining a sea of media as she answered questions about trade with the Griffins or what happened with Blueblood.

But there were some current events that she was leaving unsaid...

Applause from the stage alerted you to her wrapping up long before you saw her step back behind the curtain. She backs in, waving to the crowd until she's finally behind the curtain with you. You feel the relief wash over you as she sighs and lowers the royal smile she had practiced so much.

"Rough out there?"

She puts a hoof to her head. "Exhausting is more like it..."

"Hasn't it been over a thousand years of this?"

"And each time they come up with a new way to stress me out."

"What's next?"

Celestia takes a deep breath and begins walking back to the room given to her. "Luna will be giving her speech on the state of the Night Court, we're done after that."

You look around the area backstage but could find neither hair nor feather of the moon princess.

"Where is Luna anyway?" you ask.

Celestia enters her room and sits at her desk. "I...don't know. She's been gone for a while..." She says with a hint of worry in her voice.

You walk up behind her and rub the back of her neck with your gauntleted hand "Hey, you're doing great. To think that you've done this your entire life is...amazing."

Celestia coos as you rubbed the tension out as best you could. A knock comes from the door, sending you shooting away from Celestia's back and onto the wall.

Through the door came the second mare of the hour, star field mane and all.

Princess Luna stands in the doorway, her eyes shifting between you and Celestia. Shit, did she see you rubbing her neck? Her face was unreadable.

Luna calms your jimmies when she trots up to Celestia. "Sister, may we speak?"

Celestia grows a legitimate smile. "Of course Luna, I always have the time for you."

Luna appears to mull over her words for a moment before she marches up to Celestia and puffs out her chest. "Sister, I wish to make the announcement of my island nation at my speech tonight."

Celestia's eyes grow wide and you feel the surprise emanate off of her. That got you too, Luna wanted to make her own nation? On an island?

Celestia closes her eyes and shakes her head slowly. "Luna the answer is the same as it was a thousand years ago; No. We must ensure that harmony is maintained by ruling together."

Luna's features grow sharp. "And why should you have the final say? I am as much a Princess as you are!" She stomps up to her sister. "Blast it Celestia! We have ruled in tandem for millennia! When will it be time to branch out?"

"Such a schism could tear Equestria apart Luna! Our Little Ponies would have to divide their loyalties among the two of us, that is not how the magic of friendship is meant to be used!" Celestia says.

Celestia tilts her head up. "Luna, I must forbid you to speak of this to the public."

For a second Luna appears about to shout again, but she catches herself and calms down. "Very well Sister..." She turns and walks out the door. "I must go to prepare my speech." She says.

Celestia lets out another heavy sigh. You have the feeling backrubs aren't going to do the trick here...

Could always...

"Hey..."

Celestia looks up at you.

"Wanna get away?"

You're in the gardens looking over the city. It was always calm out here, just you and the quiet. The view stretches all the way from the castle out to the walls and beyond, Ponyville could be seen in the distance as the lights in it shut off for the night.

Celestia stands next to you, a serene look on her face as she listened to the sounds of the birds at night.

"Feeling better?" you ask.

Celestia shushes you. "Lets...not ruin the moment..." She says with a smile.

Heh. It was peaceful out here...

"What's your plan after all this is over?"

Celestia sighs. "Well, considering that my husband will not sleep in the same room as I do, I suppose I'll just have to take a walk around the entire castle."

"I wasn't aware that part of your royal duties involved surveying the castle."

She smiles. "Perhaps I simply enjoy the company?"

You glance to either side of the garden before you shuffle yourself closer to Celestia. It wasn't enough for either of you, but it was all you could afford to give.

The two of you stay like that for a few minutes.

You look over and see Celestia staring off over the mountains.

"Is something wrong?"

"I just...wonder what he's up to..."

Your face falls.

"Grogar..."

"He was always difficult to read...Now that he's out..."

You feel your cheeks darken in shame. "I'm really sorry about that."

Celestia takes a great chance and nuzzles the side of your face. "I don't blame you dear...from what you told me he would have escaped either way."

Well...if she did it for you...

You sneak a quick peck on Celestia's cheek for just a moment. Even at that you already feel the wave of emotion from her.

"Come along, it's time for Luna's speech." She says with a chuckle.

Celestia and you stand off to the side backstage as Luna speaks. Most of it just sounds like political situations and issues within the night court.

IE: Not your domain.

"And the Lunar guards report a decrease in Ursa activity across Equestria, though we will continue to monitor their actions."

You lean over to Celestia "What do you get to deal with if she gets Ursa's?"

"Dragons." She says leaning back.

...Ow. At least Ursa's didn't breath fire.

Luna must have heard you two whispering, because she looks over your way. What alarms you was how icy her stare was.

She took a deep breath and went to her podium. "And now I must report more...unpleasant news."

The crowd silences. Luna looks over the assembled mass. "The ancient ram necromancer and threat to Equestria Grogar is now once again free."

WHOAWHAT.

Celestia had a similar face to you, one where her jaw was on the floor.

The crowd of media stands as the flashbulbs go off.

Luna raises a hoof and continues. "He had been bound to the city of Canterlot after his last failed attempt at its crown so long ago and kept in a prison underneath the city. A prison that now lies shattered and its occupant loose."

The camera flashes pick up in frequency.

"I could not allow my subjects to continue to remain in the dark concerning this matter."

Luna glances back to the two of you, her gaze just as cold. "And that's not all."

...She wouldn't.

Luna takes another deep breath as she speaks the words that change your life. "My sister Princess Celestia has been wed to her bodyguard Anonymous for the past two weeks, and has been seeing him for roughly a month prior to that."

If the media was animated before, they were exploding now. You and Celestia stood in silent shock, your mouths agape.

"The ceremony took place at the same prison that held Grogar with the ram himself presiding." Luna says, her Royal Voice coming into play to speak over the din of reporters. "Even I was not told. It was only by using the Moon itself as my eye that I was able to learn what was kept from you."

You turn to your now publicly known wife. "Orders?"

She just stands statue still in shock at her sister, her pupils the size of pinpricks at what she had done.

"Monarchs should not be keeping secrets of this scope from their people and I will have no further part in it. Let the record show that the slate is now clean between the ponies of Canterlot and their royalty."

Luna shoots the two of you one last icy cold stare before she turns and walks off the stage.

It Hits the Fan.

-Music-

The light seeped in through the window onto your face. You instinctively tighten your grip on what you assumed to be sheets in opposition to being woken. Only to find that it was not sheets in your grip, but fine fur. Your surprise only lasted a moment as you opened your eyes and saw the pure white Alicorn sleeping under your arm.

Right...You were in Celestia's bed.

No need to sleep in different rooms after what happened last night...The two of you had high tailed it back to her room after Luna got off the stage, locked the door and posted guards outside.

You laid your head back down. Still hard to believe that Luna did what she did...

Celestia grumbles next to you and rolls over. Her magenta eyes flitter open and focus on you before she smiles and places a small kiss on your lips.

"...Good morning." she sighs out.

"Good morning. Sleep well?"

Celestia closes her eyes and cuddles into your chest. "I must say that this new morning routine is growing on me."

You grin and pull the blanket over the two of you "Is that so?"

Celestia giggles as you drop your hands down and start tickling her chest. There was a time when seeing the monarch of an entire kingdom reduced to gigglesnorts as you attacked her chest with your fingers was inconceivable, but here it was coming naturally to you.

Celestia eventually calmed down and rested peacefully next to you.

"What's the plan for today?" you ask.

Her eyes open and gain a serious edge to them. "We must go out into the city, get a feel for how the citizens are reacting."

You let out a deep sigh. "I agree. But it's gonna be a bit awkward out there."

Celestia nods. "I know bu-

She is interrupted by the sound of the door opening. "Good morning Princess, I'm here to tell yo-"

The two of you pulled down the blankets and looked at the now blushing maid. Her eyes dart between the two of you in bed together.

"I- Uh- Breakfast is served!" she shouts as she gallops out of the room.

You and Celestia ate a quick breakfast after you armored up and set out into the city. It was...a bit unnerving.

Where before you were content to just let the city folk look to Celestia in the awe you were used to, this time it was directed equally to you. The collective faces of the crowd were...odd. They didn't seem angry, or upset at the deception. Only...curious? Even weirder, some of them started bowing to the both of you. In spite of last night.

You lean in to Celestia "Shouldn't we be getting pelted with rotten food?"

Celestia glances around to the bowing ponies. "This is...rather curious."

The two of you stand in the square, surrounded on all sides by ponies who shouldn't be bowing. Celestia clears her throat. "Rise My Little Ponies! There is no need for that here!"

That sounds a little unsure but it got the point across, ponies start to rise to their feet and continue their days.

"Uhh...thoughts?"

Celestia looks down the road. "Perhaps we should speak to the Seneschal about this..."

If Celestia and Luna were the heads of Canterlot, the Seneschal was the next one in line. He had his hoof on every aspect of the city from trade to defense to the thoughts of citizens. And that was what you were here for today.

The two of you knock on the Seneschal's door. "Yes, yes, come in!"

You step inside to see the graying old stallion sitting behind his desk. His face perks up as the two of you walk in. "Ah! M-my lieges! Please do come in!"

He walks up to the two of you. "What may I do for you this fine day?"

You and Celestia exchange a glance before she leans down.

"Seneschal, could you explain to us what is going on here? Why are the citizens not angry with us?" Celestia asks.

The Seneschal cocks an eyebrow. "Why would they be mad?"

You and Celestia exchange another glance.

The Senechal smiles. "Princess, you have done an absolutely wonderful job in running Canterlot. The citizens love you, why in Equestria would they be mad?"

You finally speak up. "Maybe because we got married behind their back?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" he says.

There is a cracking sound in your ears as your brain snaps in half.

"The announcement was shocking yes, but not horrible. Why, if you had told us about it there might have been a parade!"

Celestia shakes her head. "But...what about the royal duties I am expected to keep up with? They aren't mad about their ruler having someone she places before them?"

The Seneschal chuckles softly to himself. "Princess you are a pony just as we are, you deserve as much a chance at happiness as the rest of us."

You could feel the happiness radiating off of Celestia at the city's approval of your marriage.

"Besides, your Prince Consort seems capable of defending himself. I'd say that there is not much that you would have to defend him over the citizens against." he says with a grin.

Celestia was positively beaming beside you, a feeling you mirror yourself.

"Thank you Seneschal, we owe you a debt." you say.

You and Celestia bow and walk out the door.

"Any time your Highness, any time..." you hear behind you.

You and Celestia walk home now after the sun is set and the moon risen.

Well, you were walking, Celestia practically skipped home.

"First they approve of your wedding and now of you skipping outside? What is the world coming to?" you tease.

Celestia grins a toothy grin as she orbits around you. "I can't help it! For the first time in however many years this crown feels like something other than a burden!"

She snakes around in front of you. "For the first time I can do this!"

You feel your shoulders gripped by magic as Celestia leans in and presses her lips against yours. The kiss is long and deep, the first one in public Celestia has ever done.

Celestia breaks away from your mouth. "And I can do it among the people to!"

She rests her head upon your shoulder. "Anon I have never been so happy in this city in all my life..."

You wrap your arms around her neck "I'm happy for you Tia."

Your wife nuzzles her head into your shoulder as you break out her seldom used pet name.

"Tired?" you ask.

"Exhausted."

The two of you had spent the day walking around the city, hearing firsthand how the people approved of the two of you.

It was nice...to feel so loved.

The sound of ponies grunting to your side alerted you. A group of guards were carrying boxes into the barracks. Heavy ones by the look of it.

You ran your hand through Tia's mane.

"Why don't you head back to the room and I'll catch up with you after I help these guys?"

Tia rubs her snout against your cheek. "Such a dutiful Prince...be quick." she says with a peck.

You are Princess Luna and you are not happy.

You stand on your balcony overlooking the city.

Everything had gone according to plan...until the citizens of this city went and ruined it by siding with your sister.

...You needed to get out, start your own kingdom.

But not with these fools...

You reached out with your senses, feeling the thoughts of all the babes who thought as you did. Yes...they would do.
-Music-

They needed to be young to help you build your new empire, to be molded to the proper way of things.

The guards would not be a problem, a simple spell would put them to sleep. And with the city of Canterlot sleeping, you dove off your balcony and began your work.

You were Anonymous and you just helped some guards carry weapons and armor into the barracks.

You don't remember them being so heavy...

Maybe the day has just been getting to you as well. That was going to be remedied, it was time to head to bed with your wife. You relish the simple joy of being able to do that.

Right before you reach the castle steps, a wave of vertigo hits you. You steady yourself against the nearby wall and wait for it to pass but it...doesn't.

The guards on the battlements and at various doors were falling over too.

Th-this was an attack...

You start crawling up the stairs. Had to...warn...Celestia.

By the time you make it to the third step you pass out.

You were Princess Celestia and you had retired to your chambers after a wonderful day. You had been waiting for your husband Anonymous to return after helping a group of guards before you admittedly fell asleep.

A short lived sleep however.

A wave of magic passes over you and slowly rouses you from your sleep.

Anonymous is not next to you. You reach out, both with your magical senses and the link you shared with him for an idea of what was going on.

You could feel Anonymous...but only faintly, like he were asleep.

And the castle! The castle was bathed in magic!

It felt like...a sleep spell?

You open your eyes as you withdraw your senses and look out your window at the full moon.

"Something is very wrong..."

Recon Action.

Crewmen run to and fro along the bow of the ship, pulling ropes in order to keep the lighter than air craft afloat. Celestia stands at the bow of the ship, her horn glowing as she directs your party ever westward. You stand in the middle of the deck, generally just trying to stay out of the crewmen's way as Captain Fancypants shouts orders.

"Come along lads! Put your backs into it!"

The captain stops next to you and looked to Celestia as she guids the craft you were in.

"Know anything about our destination Captain?" you ask.

He shakes his head. "Afraid not ol' bean. Bad Wolf Bay has always been a bit of a mystery to us sky captains...for the Princess to wish to settle on its shores is..."

"Yeah..."

Celestia had found you asleep on the stairs up to the castle, and that had only been the beginning of your nightmares. She had been alarmed as you both ran through the Canterlot streets, Celestia swinging her horn around rampantly casting detection spells.

Celestia had stopped in the city square, eyes wide and full of horror.

"She took them..." She had said.

You had asked her "Who took who?"

"Luna...she took the foals." Was your only answer.

After that Celestia had teleported you both back to the barracks and woken every guard in it. She placed a few calls and had gotten Fancypants to gather his crew and get into the air. You had even swung by Ponyville to gather Twilight and her friends.

And so here you were, flying at best speed to the edge of Equestrian territory.

Princess Celestia stops casting her spell and trots past the two of you. "Come with me Anonymous."

Just because you were married didn't mean this was a time for pleasantries.

You silently follow her as she heads to the interior of the ship. She leads you into an impromptu meeting room in the bowels of the airship. Assembled around a small table was Twilight and her friends and Captain Dapper Thunder.

"Hello everypony." Celestia says as she takes her place at the table.

Twilight props herself up on the table. "Princess what's going on? Why did you need us..." she yawns a bit. "...in the middle of the night?"

Celestia takes a deep breath. "Roughly six hours ago, my sister Princess Luna stole several dozen young foals from around Canterlot and has fled to an island to the West of Bad Wolf Bay."

The girls react with a mix of shock and horror.

"No way!"

"Oh, those poor foals!"

"Why would Luna do this!?"

Celestia holds up a hoof, silencing the girls. "Perhaps a history lesson is in order..."

"Over a thousand years ago, before Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon, this very same thing happened." She says. "Luna stole several younglings from around the city and took them to found a new nation free of Equestria. I confronted her about it and brought the foals back to their homes...it was one of the catalysts for Luna's decent into Nightmare Moon..."

Twilight speaks up. "And you think that something similar is happening here Princess?"

Celestia solemnly nods. "That is what evidence leads me to believe, yes."

A small chest was levitated onto the table and opened. Inside rested five necklaces and a tiara.

"I intend to try diplomacy with my sister, but we must be prepared to use the Elements on her if she does not cooperate."

The girls stare at the jewelry in the chest for a moment before Twilight nods in understanding. "You can count on us Princess."

You, Celestia and the Girls step off the airship and onto the shores.

Before you stretched an entire city of buildings made of earth with a gargantuan spire in the center of it all.

Everything a worthless piece of rock needs to become the capitol of a new nation.

You turn back to the airship, looking to the guard captain on the deck. "We'll check it out on foot. Keep the ship safe Dapper, we may need to leave in a hurry."

Dapper salutes and heads back into the bowels of the airship.

Celestia surveys the land. "We need to split up Anonymous."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Celestia nods. "We need to find Luna as fast as we can. And if she has countermeasures, we need to avoid being a large target."

You nod. "Agreed."

Celestia turns back to the girls. "I will take Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie with me to the South."

The three of them fall in with Celestia.

"The rest of us will head North. What are we looking for?"

"Any sign of sorcery. Luna is planning something..." Celestia says.

"Right."

"And Anon."

Celestia gives you a peck on the cheek.

"Please be careful."

You, Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Applejack walk through the city streets.

The silence of a city that never was had been getting to all of you. There was just NOTHING here. No ponies, no birds, no tree leaves rustling. Just the howl of wind through the street.

"This place jitters my critters..." Applejack says next to you.

Rainbow Dash was walking next to her, the storm clouds overhead grounding her.

"Y-yeah...Kinda like the Everfree Forest in here..." she says.

You remember hearing about the Everfree, a chaotically natural place in the world.

Twilight looks around the raised buildings. "These look like transmutation marks...but...I didn't know that Princess Luna could do magic on THIS scale..."

You run a hand over the side of a building. Looking down, you see that it is still connected to the ground. EVERY building is like that...

"They all look like they were grown right out of the ground..."

A dark mist began to seep from the buildings

"Just one of the gifts The Queen has bestowed upon us." came a voice from the shadows.

The sound of flapping wings pushed the four of you back into a circle.

Hoofs meet stone in the mist ahead of you. The obstruction parts to reveal five pegusi standing in formation ahead of you. Rainbow Dash immediately went on guard and the rest of you followed suit.

The lead pegasus lifted her goggles and eyes you up. "Well well, if it isn't the Prince's handsome friend~..."

Your face contorts in confusion.

"Don't remember me? I'm hurt...The names Nightshade big guy."

"And these..." The rest of her friends step forward. "Are my Shadowbolts."

"And we..." They take off to the sky, leaving only Nightshade on the ground. "Are gonna put a stop to your adventure here, hot stuff."

-Music-

Four of the Shadowbolts orbit in the air like hungry vultures. One of them, the one with the blue mane and lightning coming off her shot off behind you at a mind-blowing speed, Rainbow Dash right behind her. Two more broke off and begin attacking Twilight and Applejack. The remaining two, Nightshade and a pegasus with a rather scarred face charge you.

You slash your sword in a horizontal arc as they closed, but the buggers were quick enough to dodge. That wasn't the end of your tricks though, you grabbed the male and twisted him into a headlock.

Nightshade darts back just out of reach and started jabbing you with her fore hooves. They clang against your sword as you met each attack and bounce off her horseshoes.

"Oh, you're a quick one aren't ya!?" Nightshade shouts.

The pegasus under your arm bucks and twists, getting to the point where you have to toss him into a building wall.

"And strong too! You'll do great in my room!"

You try to block out what she means as you get back to sparring.

Out of the corner of your eye you spot Twilight trying to blast her magenta maned opponent out of the sky while Applejack got a lasso around hers and was trying to drag him down.

Your two opponents dove back at you as Nightshade kept talking.

"You know, I think I saw you somewhere before!"

She dodges a swing.

"Yeah! You used to pal around with Spits before I got thrown out!"

You really don't know what she's talking about, you blocked out most of your time with Spitfire.

Too much rubber...

Nightshade grows a sick grin. "Imagine that fat slut's face when I steal her ex for my own!"

They were double teaming you now, leaving you to block the male with your sword and Nightshade with your forearm, and even then a few hits got through. They were forcing you back when something slamms into the male and crashed into a building down the street.

That was accompanied by a laughing rainbow blur that snaked its way into the clouds ahead to avoid a similar fate.

Nightshade looks behind her in horror. "What!? What in Tartarus was thaAAAAAA!"

She continus screaming as you grabbed her mane and spun her around.

Pegusi were always light...

"You."

You smash her face against a rock.

"Talk."

You scoop her up and toss her against a nearby wall, crushing her face against it with your fist.

"Too."

Her leg shoots up in your grasp as you throw her over your head and into the ground.

"Damn."

She almost gets a yelp of surprise out as your boot slams into her face and cracked her goggles.

"Much."

-Celestia PoV-

You and your party had headed the other direction from Anonymous. It wasn't long before you saw two streaks shoot out of the city from the North and clash over the water.

You hope he was okay...

Fluttershy and Rarity notice the oddness about how empty this place was, with Pinkie calling it "Weird with an extra order of weird and weird on the side."

You have to agree with her there.

The four of you approach a large building with a courtyard.

It is hewn out of the same earth as the rest of the buildings, but this looks more finished, as if more attention had been paid to it.

Stepping inside reveals rows and rows of stone pews laid out in neat order, all facing a podium at the back of the building.

A podium which had a small colt sitting in front of it. "Hello everypony!" he shouts.

Pinkie Pie burst into the air. "PIP!

She shoots over to this "Pip" and starts bouncing around him shouting his name.

They exchanged a quick hug as the rest of you approach.

Rarity stepped up. "Darling, what in the world are you doing here?"

Pip smiles. "Princess Luna floated me up out of my house and brought me here! She says I get to be a king!"

What?

"Did she say why Pip?" you ask the colt.

The boy gulps and looks up at you. "S-she said we're gonna start a new kingdom here after she gets all the magic she keeps in the moon."

Your stomach sank. Both you and Luna kept immense reserves of magical energy in the bodies you controlled for use in emergencies.

If she was gathering all that...

Pip shuffles on his rear. "Princess...can I tell you something?"

You shake to clear your head. "Is it about Luna, Pip?"

He nods. The boy looks over his shoulders in both directions, seemingly looking for someone who wasn't there.

"I don't know but..."

He leans in close and puts his hoof to his mouth.

"I don't think it's Princess Luna..."

Sunrise.

You, Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Applejack march through the streets of the almost city. The four of you were getting ever closer to the tower at the city center. It erupts out of the ground and into a jagged point several hundred feet up, with the moon seemingly resting perfectly on the tip. You could feel the thrum of magic in the air grow more and more intense as you drew closer to the spire.

Rainbow Dash perks up in the air next to you. "I see something up ahead!"

You and the rest of your party drop down low in the hopes of avoiding another encounter. It was only after you notice the alabaster white coat of whoever was in the lead that you calm down.

Twilight jumps up and ran to her "Princess Celestia!"

You, Rainbow and Applejack run close behind her as Celestia and Twilight exchanged their usual greeting. "I'm very glad you're safe my faithful student."

Celestia walks up to you and quickly wraps her wings around you. "And you too dear..."

She glances over the four of you. "We assumed the worst when we heard the noise, what happened?"

You point a thumb back the way you came. "Some air brigade of Luna's tried to stop us. We have the four that are still alive tied to a statue."

Celestia's face sours. "Still alive...?"

You rub the back of your head "One of them tried racing Rainbow Dash and crashed into a building...there wasn't much left after that..."

Everyone is silent for a moment at mention of the dead. She may have been the enemy, but she was sill just a kid...

Celestia's face hardens as she faces the spire. "Not one more."

"Let there be no more death this day." she says looking back at the rest of you.

You all stared at the gargantuan spire and then you started marching towards it.

The eight of you make your way through the spire, staying in a group partially as to not get lost and partially just due to the sheer oppressive nature of the building. Pillars shoot up from the ground to support the massive stone ceiling above you. Arcane lines of power thrum and hum as you follow them deeper into the spire.

This was the only building that looked built as opposed to grown, made for aesthetics instead of utility.

Over the thrumming came a new noise. Chanting.
-Music-

That's when you enter into the room and saw them. There were hundreds of people in the room not just ponies but everything else you had seen. Zebras, Griffins, Minotaur, you even saw a few small dragons in the back.

All of them were wearing midnight blue cloaks and they didn't seem to notice you, just continuing to chant as they stood otherwise motionless. You reach out to touch one of them, if only to try and find out what was wrong. Your hand is engulfed in a white aura and stopped in its tracks.

Celestia shakes her head when you turn to look at her. "They don't notice us right now, let's keep it that way."

You keep walking through the massive room of chanters until you reach a raised dais at the rear of the hall.

On the dais was a large crate. Inside the crate were blankets and toys. Asleep in the blankets and toys were the stolen foals.

The eight of you look inside.

They all seem healthy and unharmed, they were just being prayed to by a bunch of cultists.

"The stolen kids...what?"

Celestia's head darts from side to side as she examines the room. "We found another child in our search, he said he was meant to be a king here..."

She looks down at the foals, none of them looked over the age of two. "It seems that these children are meant to be placed in similar roles..."

You reach down and caress a sleeping colt along the cheek.

"How'd she get these kids?" you ask.

Celestia's face fell. "Canterlot has many orphanages..."

...Damn. Stealing orphans.

You hear a gasp from Fluttershy behind the box. "Everyone, come look at this!"

You walk over to Fluttershy and pull back the curtain she was pointing at.

Behind it was a room that put the previous one to shame. You figur that this room was at the exact center of the spire, and the scenery helped that assumption. In the center of the room stood a raised section with a brilliant midnight blue light shooting from above it.

Twilight gasped. "A magical resonator..."

"This is worse than I thought..." Celestia says.

You step behind the curtain and make for the resonator as the chanting in the room behind you seems to get louder. The eight of you inch your way towards the resonator until a growing shadow from the top of it stone cold stops you.

Before you all stood a regal looking alicorn. With a black coat and midnight blue armor.

You and the rest of the girls reel back at the mythical figure standing before you all.

As you do, Celestia calmly walks forward. "Nightmare Moon." she says in an icy cold voice.

The alicorn boogeyman leeps from her perch down to the floor with the rest of you.

"Celestia."

Twilight stomps forward. "That's PRINCESS Celestia!"

Nightmare Moon scoffs. "Be silent knave! What is a Princess to a QUEEN?"

"How are you here?" Celestia asks.

Nightmare grows an evil grin. "Why Celestia, I never left! True your Element bearers managed to do away with me, but there was always that small piece of me that remained...waiting in our dear Luna's mind for just the right moment to make my glorious return!"

"So, you were plotting this from the start." Celestia says as she and her counterpart orbit each other.

"Close to it Celestia...Ever since that faithful night I have been effecting Equestria...The Prince? The Griffins and their magic? Why, the fact that Canterlot has been growing ever more dangerous over the recent months?"

You feel your pulse quicken "You...BITCH!"

Nightmare chuckles. "Angry over the loss of your friend? Why? It was his death that allowed you to bed your lovely wife here!"

That sets Twilight off. "My brother was a brave knight and you...murdered him!"

Nightmare chuckles. "A brave if ineffectual knight..."

Her horn flares. "Allow me to show you a TRUE knight!"

From the darkness above comes the sound of flapping wings and then comes the monster they belong to.

It lands with a tremor that you swear could be felt in Canterlot. It's big, bigger than a dragon. Bigger than anything you had ever seen.

But that wasn't the scary part.

It oozes shadows and had a roar that spilt the sky. It's soulless eyes spoke only of anger as they bored down at you and you alone.

But that wasn't the scary part.

The scary part was the fact that it looked like a pony under all that, simply supersized.

The scary part was that it had thick midnight blue armor.

The scariest part was that it had a crescent moon emblem on its chest that you had only seen once before.

"Dammit Sunshine...I told you to watch out for anything..."

The mutated Sunshine Smiles rears his head back and breathed in.

While you brace yourself for the torrent of magical energy that followed, you knew that the only thing saving you was the golden shield blocking its path.

As Smile's attack ends, Nightmare Moon took to the air.

Celestia lowers her shield and turned to the girls. "We need the Elements of Harmony back on the ship! Rainbow Dash; I need you to fly there and get them!"

The pegasus wordlessly salutes and zips off.

And that leaves the remaining seven of you to go up against the monster that was Sunshine Smiles and Nightmare moon.

You draw your sword and look to Celestia.

"What's the plan?"

Celestia glances your way, worry in her eye. "Try to stay alive."

-Music-

Nightmare Moon shoots a magical blast, surely intended to incinerate you, out of her horn before Celestia shoots off the ground and met her head on.

Smiles spawns shadowy tendrils from his body and shot them towards the rest of you.

You slice through the first few in a single wide sweep before they could get close only for them to multiply and shoot forward for another attack. Your blade becomes a flurry of movement as you continue to try to break the tide of shadow coming at you.

You turn your head back to the girls. "Scatter! I can't hold this forever!"

The girls break and run to all corners of the room just as the tendrils become too much to handle. You dive out of the way just as the tendrils leave a temporary opening. They snake past you and break off into groups to chase after the girls.

Fuck!

You turn to Smiles and release a war cry as you charge him. Your blade sparks against the ground as you swing for his mouth...and bounce off at the razor sharp tongue that shoots out.

"OH COME ON!"

Where does it end?

You dodge and parry the blows from smiles tongue as he pushes you back.

Shit, this sucked!

Smiles lumber towards you, his tongue lashing out and keeping you on the defensive. You risk a glance behind you to see where you were going.

And of course, it's the wall.

You REALLY can't get trapped against this guy. You need some wins and fast.

You twist yourself around and extend your sword arm out as far as it can go, drawing a thin line across Smile's snout and eliciting a roar of pain as a reward.

Ha!

The wound then seals itself up in shadow. Smiles then lunches forward and attempts to swallow you, getting you into his mouth up to your waist.

Motherfuck!

Smiles tries to bite you in half, only being repelled by the wards on your armor. Still hurts like a motherfucker though...

You listen to Celestia and Nightmare argue as you bash your elbow against Smiles snout.

"...NEVER NEEDED YOU! I WAS THE ONLY TRUE FRIEND LUNA HAD AFTER HER "SUBJECTS" TURNED ON HER!

Celestia dodges Nightmares attack delivered a gout of solar fire. "A birth born of ignorance! Luna learned of the friendship all of our subjects freely gave her!" she shouts.

The two alicorns lock horns.

"It is YOU who is not needed Nightmare! Never forget that!"

Nightmare roars in outrage and continues the battle with Celestia.

Meanwhile, you could feel Smiles breaking through the wards on your armor.

Fuckfuckfuckfuck.

"I got 'em!" A voice calls.

All eyes turn to Rainbow Dash in the entrance to the room, holding a bejeweled chest above her head. "I got the Elements!"

Bingo!

"Hold on Dash!" you shout.

You twist your sword around into a reverse grip and drive it deep into Smiles eye. He drops you in pain, but not before clenching his teeth and denting your armor. Smiles begins to rampage around the room, screaming at the sword still wedge in his eye.

Sorry buddy...

The rest of the girls take advantage of the reprieve you bought them from the tendrils and run to Rainbow.

They slip on their Elements and begin floating in the air...

"NO! NOT AGAIN!" Nightmare shouts.

The alicorn slams into the ground, sending waves of black magic over everyone in the room from you to Celestia to Sunshine.

"I WILL NOT BE CAGED AGAIN! NOT BE CONFINED AGAIN!"

You hold your arms up over your face, the wards that still worked glowing bright as they tried to keep the magic off you. The girls and Celestia tried to weather the storm of magic, but there was no way they could cast in this state.

Only you could move...

You look to Celestia, the mare you loved and the wife who graced you when she said yes...You look to Twilight and the girls, the ponies you swore to help protect...

...For the Princess.

"No! You won't!" you shout

You run through the shadowy magic and tackle Nightmare to the ground. The girls and Celestia regain themselves as the spells stops.

"Do it!"

Twilight nods and begins to use the Elements again.

Celestia's eyes grow wide. "Anon, no!"

You don't say anything as time slows to a crawl, just throw her your best smile. The rainbow wave of magic rockets towards you and the still struggling Nightmare Moon. You feel it wash over you as the two of you take the hit that saves Equestria. You feel your consciousness fading as your body grows numb...

And then you feel nothing at all.

Helios: Epilogue.

You float in a shapeless, timeless void. Darkness stretches out all around you. You remember being hit by the Elements of Harmony...but nothing after

...Suddenly, voices.

"...is not taking visitors now." A male voice says.

You grasp onto it and drag yourself towards it. With all your will, all your conviction, you inch towards the voice.

Another joins it.

"Can't stand to see...like this..."

The darkness edges away the closer you get to them, being replaced with a blinding light. The light that becomes your hospital room as you regain consciousness. You look around the room you're in and spot a pegasus and a unicorn.

Both of them you know.

The unicorn, the one you were related to, looked at you and grew a big smile.

"Aunt Luna! You're awake!" he says.

You cough as your nephew Prince Blueblood rushes to your side.

The pegasus, your personal guard Sunshine Smiles, handed you a glass of crystal clear water You notice the eyepatch he now wore...

As you down your drink you look to Blueblood.

"Nephew? Where am I? What are you doing here?"

Blueblood smiles. "You are in the hospital Aunty, they brought you here after the...incident..."

Bluebloods eyes look haggard, as if he hadn't slept in days.

"Are you well nephew?" you ask as you place a hoof on his cheek.

He pulls back with a smaller smile. "I am... doing well at the asylum." He risks a sheepish look in your direction. "Your...other half's influence has been receding by the day..."

Those words are what bring the memories flooding back. All the things you did listening to that voice... The ponies you hurt... You look to Sunshine and Blueblood.

Those you care about...

"I-I..."

"No no no Aunty, it's safe!" Blueblood says as he shakes his head.

You calm down just a little bit.

"The royal magisters have given you every test they were able to in the week you have been asleep...They have found no trace of Nightmare Moon inside you anymore!"

G-gone? She was gone?

"Well? Isn't that great!?" Blueblood all but shouts.

"Yes nephew..."

Gone...after all this time...

She was finally gone!

Your spirit flies, but just for a moment. Your mind suddenly locks on to one event in particular.

"Celestia...-a-and Anonymous! What happened to them!"

Blueblood smiles. "Why, they aren't here right now Aunty."

Damn his ineptitude...

"Where! Where are they!?"

Blueblood looks up to the sky. "Away..."

Moon Palace

You looks down on the planet below.

The endless fields of green and the vast blue oceans...the swirling clouds and the rays of light poking through from the sun behind it.

This must be how she sees things all the time...

You could see why Luna would fight so hard for it.

A lance of pain shot through you, causing you to grab what was left of your arm. The Elements had released a wave of force when they hit the two of you, had blown your arm clean off.

And so it was for the second time that you were saved from certain death by Celestia.

Heh...You were a bit worried. If this was the token of her love, yours would pale in comparison.

You feel Celestia approach into the room the two of you shared through the link. She walks up behind you and places her head upon your good arms shoulder.

"I felt the pain...are you well?"

You grimace a bit as the pain dies down. "Yeah...yeah I'm fine..."

You reach your hand up and stroke her mane.

"Just a little stinging from the magic."

"Re-growing a limb is a long and hard process Anon...I hope you're ready for more of that..." she says with concern.

You take a deep breath in the artificial atmosphere this palace had.

"I feel like I could take on Nightmare, Blueblood and the Griffin Thane again with you around."

You give her a small kiss on the neck.

The two of you look over the lunar landscape.

"It truly is beautiful up here..." Celestia says.

"It is..."

She glances down at your arm. "Anon, would you like to accompany me to the gardens?"

You were wise to this...

"It would be my pleasure Celestia.

-Music-

Celestia stands under the waterfall in the gardens, letting the water cascade over her and wash away all her tension.

You sit back on the edge and took in the view again. And what a view it was...it really was criminal how you never got to take in her beauty like this.

Celestia turns to you with a smirk. "I can feel what you're thinking, you know."

"It's all good, I promise."

Celestia left the waterfall and wades over to you, her eyes half lidded.

She placed soft lips against yours and sat next to you on your good side. "I'll bet."

You reach out and place your arm on her shoulder, rubbing it gently.

She leans over and rests herself against you.

"Will your sister mind that we're borrowing her moon palace?"

"I'd say we're entitled to it for a while longer, considering that we never got a honeymoon and just saved her life." Celestia says, a hint of mischief coming through the link.

"Do you have a sun palace?"

"I do, but it's not a place for a private getaway."

"Rough climate?"

"Loud neighbors."

The two of you sit in the silence for a moment before you partake in a hearty laugh.

Celestia calms down. "Enjoy it while you can Anon...we have lots to do once we get back."

You remember...fallout from this crisis.

"Yeah..."

Celestia pulls away and looks at you, her eyes sparkling in the light of a thousand stars in the sky above the gardens domed roof.

"Can I count on you to be there by my side Anon? To help me bear the load a bit?" she asks.

It flattered you that she still cared enough to ask. You would have said yes for a number of reasons. She was your wife, the love you had befriended and defended for so long. She was the one pony alive that you truly could talk to about anything.

But those weren't the reasons you said.

"Of course..."

You grab Celestia's chin and pulled yourself close, giving her the same tender kiss she gave you a few minutes ago before pulling away and giving a smile.

"It's my job."

-The end.

Bonus Chapter: Seasonal Orbit.

"Alright! We're less than ten minutes out! Everypony put your backs into it!" the deck officer calls out.

You stand on the bridge with your captain as the Delphinus sails through the morning fog. The Crystal Kingdom's were a ways away, you had pushed the crew hard to try and make it home today instead of tomorrow.

You'd have to reward them somehow.

You look around the retrofitted bridge, modified specifically for this mission. It may have been two years since the attempted coup, but you were still busy and the Delphinus was the best ship in the Equestrian Navy. You were glad Mister Fancypants was willing to part with it.

The box containing your prize still rests under your arm, the enchantments on it keeping the power from radiating out and taking hold of you.

"Excited to be home, Your Highness?"

You turn around and face your executive officer for this mission, a bright young colt named Star Shine.

"Star, I told you, while we're on duty you can call me "Anonymous"."

"I'll try to remember that, Your Highness Anonymous."

You roll your eyes and turn back to the windows on the bow of the ship, Star joining you at your side.

"It was touch and go for a while there, sir."

"You held together well, Star Shine. I'm proud of you."

The boy nods. "Thank you, sir."

The Delphinus breaks through the fog and lets in your favorite sight. Canterlot silhouetted by the rising sun on the horizon.

"Prepare to dock at the naval yards. Bring us in, helmsman.

"Yes sir."

You let out a deep sigh. It was good to be back.

The ship lands at the still under construction naval yards on the city's south side. As the crew disembark and start unloading supplies, you make your way back to the palace.

Important mission and all that.

Once you get to the barracks next to the castle, the familiar sound of somep0ny striking a training dummy catch your ear. You look inside to see a familiar blonde mane dressed in familiar armor.

"Well met, Knight Lieutenant Blueblood."

Blueblood turns his head around a smiles. "Uncle! Welcome back!"

He sheathes his sword and delivers a curt bow. Blueblood had been released from the asylum shortly after the incident on Luna's island. He had enlisted in the guard after he had decided that it was the best way to atone for what he did. The structure and simplicity of it did him wonders and he took to his new station like white on rice in a blizzard.

"Was the Crystal Kingdom everything you expected it to be?" he asks.

"It was...unique. But Twilight and her friends took care of most of the hard work."

Blueblood gestures to the box under your arm. "Is that it?"

You look down at it. "It is."

"Was it difficult to obtain?"

"As I said, the girls did all the hard work. We had to pry this out of a tree a good mile away."

Blue now gestures to the arm you're holding the box with. "How is it feeling?"

Your newly regrown arm.

"The magic did a good job repairing the damage, but it's still a bit stiff."

Blueblood smiles. "It doesn't show on you."

You'll take that as a compliment.

"Thank you, Blueblood. Would you like to come with me while I file my report?"

Blueblood nods. "Lead the way, uncle."

You and Blueblood walk through the palace to the area that houses the command center for the Royal Guard. Standing around a map of Equestria were General's Stormwing and Rocketeer and Grand Magister Tinker.

"-hink we should expand our search into the forests surrounding the Graveyard of the Forgotten." you hear Rocketeer say.

Tinker rubs her face and sighs. "You mean the graveyard at the other end of the forest where his city was located? Give him SOME credit."

"Are we...interrupting something?" you ask as you and Blue come up to the table.

"Ah, Anonymous, welcome back." Stormwing starts. "We were ju-

"We're all brainstorming as to where Grogar could have hidden himself away." a voice full of authority says.

The others bow as the sound of golden horseshoes clinks from behind you. It's fortunate they do or they'd have caught the tiny nuzzle you got from the alabaster white alicorn as she came up on your opposite side.

"Anonymous." she says.

"Princess Celestia."

You -were- still on duty.

"Report." Celestia says to all gathered.

"We have eliminated Noveria, Shimmerwood, and Abadon's Fury as places he could be hiding. We are currently considering the idea that we have overlooked some hideaway in a place we have already combed and are as such looking into areas closer to home." Tinker says.

Stormwing snorts. "I still suggest that Gallopfrey would be the ideal spot for him to hide, a dead city for a dead ram."

Celestia shakes her head. "Grogar is not on Gallopfrey, I have it on authority."

The generals take that as fact and shut up, going back to their map.

One of these days you were going to get Celestia to tell you what she meant by that...

After you delivered your report on the situation in the Crystal Kingdom, you, Celestia, and Magister Tinker made your way down to the catacombs underneath the city. After Grogar escaped, these catacombs were converted into a high security vault for various magical artifacts that were deemed too dangerous to be in the public.

You pass by the Alicorn Amulet, the Spear of Tirek, the last drop of Smooze and many more as you walk down the halls of vaults and find an empty one. The guards on duty open the great metal door and usher you inside.

You approach the pedestal and open the chest you had been carrying this entire time. Inside sat a discolored unicorn horn, still smoking a bit from the magic that had come into contact with it.

"This is all you were able to find of Sombra, Anonymous?" Celestia asks.

"We scoured the countryside for three days and this was the only physical remains we found. The rest of King Sombra seems to have gone up in smoke, as it were."

Celestia levitates the horn onto its resting place and lowers a glass dome over it. The three of you step out and shut the thick steel door behind you, spinning the handle and locking it into place.

Tinker seems to eye the horn through the door. "I'll begin an investigation into the Crystal Kingdom's leylines, if Sombra escaped, I want to know."

Celestia nods. "I wish you luck, Grand Magister."

Tinker nods back. "Your Highnesses."

She leaves and the two of you are more or less alone for the first time since you got back.

You let out a deep sigh and stretch a bit. "I'm exhausted..."

Celestia walks up next to you. "I'm not busy today...would you like to rest?"

That sounded like heaven...

"Lead the way, dear."

Celestia leads you groggy through the halls back to your room. You walk over to your armor stand and casually remove your arms and armor before donning a set of wool clothing. You crawl onto the bed just as your limbs give out and you collapse face first onto the mattress.

Celestia chuckles on the other side of the room before climb in and resting her head on your back. "I trust your trip was eventful." she says.

"We watched the girls defeat Sombra from above, they did a fairly good job."

Celestia nods. "Yes...Twilight and her friends passed the test, I'll congratulate her when she arrives tomorrow."

Airship travel had the advantage in speed over a train every time.

You turn your head to the side. "Think they'll tell you about how they threw Cadence?"

Celestia turns her head to the side. "Threw?"

"Mhmm...They defeated Sombra by hurling Cadence through the air to catch the Crystal Heart before her got it."

Her eyes widen. "My word..."

"It was...unorthodox."

You sigh and lower your eyelids. "Missed you while I was gone."

Celestia chuckles. "I missed you while you were gone."

"Heh..."

Celestia re-arranges herself on the bed and lays her head next to yours. "I'll be glad to have my bodyguard back."

"Feeling that unsafe in your own city, Your Highness?"

You feel her lips peck you on the cheek. "I missed the company."

You smile and stretch out on the bed a bit more.

Celestia drapes a large wing over you and shuts out the morning light, letting you drift off to a much deserved sleep.

It was good to be home...

A Day in the Life.

The halls of the Canterlot royal palace echoed as you walked down them. Damned boots, you were going to have to get them refitted again.

You were Anonymous: Royal Bodyguard to Her Majesty Princess Celestia. And you were currently on your way to another day on the job.

Things had become fairly routine during your time in Equestria. You had come a long way from waking up in a Canterlot alley and scaring the locals. After a night in a cell, they had taken you to see Her. Princess Celestia I, ruler of Equestria and She who controlled the sun.

After a few questions as to what and who you were, she had said she came to her decision. It was rather shocking to most of the assembly that she had decided to let you go.

"It is clear that you were not brought here on your own accord, and it would be wrong to imprison you for the perceived crime of simply being an unknown creature." She had said.

You had enlisted in the Royal Guard the next day; trying to in some way repay the kindness of the being who had allowed you to stay in Her kingdom.

Jeez...that had all been years ago.

You rounded the corner to Celestia's room and stopped in front of the stallions outside her door.

"Anonymous." they say.

You nod to the two of them. "Hey Brawny, Diamond. She ready yet?"

The two of them nod. "Just like every other day."

Of course.

You adjusted the sword on your waist and walked through the door, prepared to greet the monarch on the other side.

Or you would, if anyone were on the other side.

Your bodyguard sense activates as you scan the room for signs of a clue. You're examining the seams on the nearby balcony window when a voice speaks up from behind you.

"Always on duty, aren't you Anonymous?"

You turn to see a pure white Alicorn stepping out of her bathroom and over to her beauty desk.

"A guard must always be ever vigilant, a Royal Bodyguard doubly so."

Celestia smiles in the mirror as she begins to brush her hair. "And I am very grateful for your service."

You make your way over to Celestia's side as she prepares for her day.

"Did you enjoy your evening last night, Anonymous?" she asks.

"I did. A quiet night in my room did me wonders."

Celestia chuckles. "There was a time I remember seeing you go out every night with that mare...what was her name again?"

"It was Spitfire. But no, I haven't been seeing anyone since we broke up."

You had dated the Wonderbolts Captain for a few months before you decided to break it off. She was a great mare, but the two of you didn't share too many common interests.

Also she was like, REALLY into Watersports.

That was not your fetish.

"A shame. You two were cute together." Celestia says as she levitate her crown and jewelry onto herself.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

Celestia glances up to you with a smarmy grin. "Back to "ma'am" now, are we?"

"You know the rules Ma'am, so long as the crown is on."

Celestia rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

"Well then, shall we begin our day?" She asks as she made her way to the door.

"Lead on, Princess Celestia."

Nine out of ten times, your job was simple. You would follow Princess Celestia around to wherever she needed to go and simply try to look imposing. Today, you were tailing her as she was accosted from all sides by advisors before her usual walk around the city.

You caught bits and pieces of the advisors words as you followed along. As you reach the main gate, Celestia pauses and turned to her advisors.

"My friends, I must make my rounds into the city. But I will see to all of your issues in due time." She says with a smile.

You took your place at the side of the Princess as the advisors retreated into the castle.

Celestia sighs. "While I do love all My Little Ponies, I do sometimes wish they would simply wait their turn in certain regards."

"Perhaps you should delegate them to the Royal Logician, Ma'am."

Celestia chuckles. "Storm Flicker would throw a fit if I were to dump those problems on him."

"If I may, what were they asking about?"

"Oh, the political situation up North. The Griffin kingdoms have been going through a rough patch in the last few years and a bit of it is spilling over into Equestria."

That sounded bad...

"Anything we should be concerned about?"

Celestia shakes her head. "Far too early to tell, Anonymous. But something to watch."

"Yes, Ma'am."

The two of you continue down the front steps of the castle and into the street below.

Canterlot was a fairly safe city, it wasn't too unheard of for the Princess to-

Your trained ears pick up something behind you. The sound of steel on leather.

Judging from the length of the sound-

"KNIFE!"

You spin yourself around just in time to dodge the unicorns thrust. He was dressed in street clothes and had a maddened look in his eye. His swipes were also slow and sloppy, you could dodge him even in your mail. You snap your hand out and grab the knife after a particularly wide swing and wrench it away from his magical grip. A mailed fist to his face sends him flying to the ground and a knee pressing on his chest keeps him their until the guards arrive to take him away.

The young vagabond simply glared at the two of you as you waited. As he was taken away, you made your way over to the Princess.

"Princess, I believe we should move you back to the palace. It is not safe out here."

Celestia watches as the boy is hauled away with sad eyes. "No, Anonymous. I cannot be scared away from the rest of my people because of one poor misguided soul."

"But-"

"It's good for the citizens to see me out and about, Anonymous." She says.

Celestia looks over her shoulder as she walks. "Besides, I have you to protect me."

The rest of your day was, thankfully, more calm then the start. You had followed Princess Celestia throughout her walkabout of Canterlot, keeping an eye out for any more threats. The two of you ate lunch at a small deli on the East side before you headed back to the castle to visit the royal Guard barracks.

A familiar unicorn spotted the two of you and trotted up, bowing deeply as he approached the Princess. "Your highness."

"Rise Shining Armor, there is no need for that among family." The Princess says.

The Guard Captain turns to you. "Good afternoon, Anonymous. I heard about your scrape this morning, I'm amazed you can still move that fast."

"Likewise Shining, I find myself in shock that you still remember how to instruct guards despite the weeks you spend at your wife's kingdom."

The two of you smirk and silently bump fist against hoof.

Celestia chuckles as she walks past. "You boys..."

You take the Princess back to her room in the late afternoon. Once she's inside, the monarch steps out onto her balcony and lifts her horn into the air. The glow of magic encircles the horn as Celestia begins the task of lowering the sun in unison with her sister.

Celestia walks back into her room and turns to you, a smile on her face. "Anonymous, I must thank you for your haste earlier today." she says.

"No thanks necessary, Ma'am. It's my job."

"Still, some form of reward is in order..."

She looks off into the corner, lost in thought. "Tell me, were do you take your meals when not with me?"

"Usually in my room, Ma'am. Although I have been known to eat with the rest of the guards at times."

A smile parts Celestia's lips. "Then from now on, you are free to take your meals in the royal dining hall."

What?

Uh...

"I...Thank you Princess, that is very generous of you."

"Think nothing of it, Anonymous." She says as she levitates her jewelry off.

"Can I expect to see you tomorrow at breakfast?"

"You did invite me, Celestia. It would be rude of me not to go now."

Celestia smiles a warm smile at you.

"Well, since you're safe in your room now. Permission to take my leave?" you ask.

Celestia nods her head. "I will see you tomorrow, Anonymous."

"I'll see you then."

You would see Celestia in the dining hall tomorrow, but you would see the hall before that. A quick stop by your modest room to remove your armor and hang up your sword and you were off for a quick dinner. The royal dining hall was hidden off to the side of the hall leading from the throne, letting someone grab get some food in them before a day of delegation.

As you entered, you made a discovery. You were not alone.

Far to the rear of the dining hall, Princess Luna sat eating what appeared to be a sandwich. No doubt in preparation for the night court.

"Anonymous?" came a voice from your side.

"Hey Sunshine." you say.

Sunshine Smiles was more or less your counterpart, serving as the only static member of Princess Luna's guard. Despite her making it very clear that she did not want a bodyguard.

Not that that stopped Sunshine.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"I stopped an attempt on the Princesses' life, she saw fit that I should take my meals here from now on."

Sunshine reeled back. "Someone tried to attack Princess Celestia?"

You nod. "He looked like just a kid, poor too, probably just trying to get the bits to eat tonight."

"Damn..."

"Mhm."

You stop one of the servants as she trots by. "Excuse me, Princess Celestia has deemed that I eat here from now on. Would it be too much trouble to ask for some meat of some kind?"

The girl, to her credit, does not react poorly to your request. "Of course Sir, I will see to it right away."

"Thank you."

The clinking of horseshoes behind you causes you to turn. "Devouring the flesh of others, how brutish."

You about face and bow. "Princess Luna."

Luna had returned to Canterlot some time ago and immersed herself into the history of what had happened since she was gone. She seemed to not like what she found, citing a decline in Equestrian civilization in her absence. Ever since then she had been colder then the stories had said.

Particularly to you.

"My sister allows you to not only eat here, but to eat meat as well?" she asks.

"It assists me in protecting Her Highness."

Luna scoffs. "The rulers of the Sun and the Moon should not need protection." She says as she silently leaves the room.

You let out a low whistle. "Is she like that with you, too?"

"That would require her to either see or talk to me."

"Hiding in the shadows Sunshine?"

He sighs. "It seems like the only way I can do my job anymore."

"Well, keep her safe Sunshine."

Sunshine groans as he walks away. "Were it so easy, Anonymous."

Heh. Silly Sunshine. The life of a bodyguard is never easy.

Politics and Poundings.

You stood silently outside the meeting room. Your duty was to guard the door while Princess Celestia met with the Griffin High Thane inside.

The Griffin Kingdoms had been going through massive political upheaval, with new Thanes and Jarls taking leadership constantly. The current leader of the nation was here in Canterlot today in an attempt to smooth over the frosty relations between Griffin and Pony kind.

Opposite your side of the door stood a member of the Thanes Highguard. Sporting a more impressive and protective set of armor then the rest of the Thane's guards, he stood ramrod stiff and glared ahead.

You clear your throat, no reason you can't try to lighten the mood... "So...does that armor make it hard to fly?"

He glances over to you. "Our armor is based off the Golden Fleece. Light as a feather, yet hard as steel."

You let out a low whistle and lift up your arm. "I'm in Dragonbone Plate, myself. Light, fireproof, and durable enough to keep me whole."

He continues to eye you. "Equestria has the resources to down dragons?"

"Heh. We just had a few bones from a long time ago..."

"Still. Impressive that a monarch would commit such resources to her personal guard." he says.

That...was a bit odd.

Suddenly, the door to the meeting room swings open, almost smashing you in the face. Out walks a Griffin in highly ornate armor. "I will not stay here and be patronized by a child playing at Queen!" he shouts

The Thane to the guard next to you. "Eitri! We are done here, we make for Gryphus at once!"

The High Thane stomps his way down the hall with his bodyguard tailing him. They both take to the skies as soon as they are out of the building, flying North at high speeds.

As they departed, Princess Celestia slowly walks out of the meeting room. Her head low.

"What happened?" you ask.

Princess Celestia shakes her head. "The High Thane refused my peace offering. He says that Equestria is too weak to be allies with The Griffin Kingdoms."

Shit...

"Are all Griffins like that, Your Majesty?"

Celestia adopts a disappointed demeanor. "No...but many Griffins still cling to the old ways. High Thane Weisshaupt is simply one of them."

The two of you stand in the hall in silence for a time.

"What now, Princess?"

Celestia's face grows steely. "I must speak to Shining Armor." she says as she makes for the door.

"Yes, Ma'am."

The guard barracks were located on the opposite side of the city from the embassy. Along the way, you got to play your second role as Royal Queensguard.

Crowd control.

Many citizens tried to get close to Princess Celestia as she walked the streets, it was your duty to ensure they didn't get too close.

This was the aspect of your job you really didn't enjoy. Any of these ponies could be hiding a weapon on them, and when they swarmed like this it made it overwhelming.

Celestia pressed onward, however. Her patience and grace keeping the two of you moving at a decent speed towards the barracks.

You found Shining Armor drilling a few new recruits in the barracks central courtyard.

He turns to you as he dismisses his troops. "Anonymous. Princess Celestia. What may I do for you?" he asks with a bow.

Princess Celestia chuckles. "Rise Shining Armor, there is no need for that among friends and family."

The guard captain smiles as he returns to his feet. "What's the nature of your visit today, Princess?"

The monarch's face falls again. "I recently had a meeting with High Thane Weisshaupt regarding our two nations. It...did not end well."

Shining Armors face hardens. "What needs to be done, your majesty?"

"I need you to prepare the guard for any actions the High Thane may attempt." She turns to you. "Anonymous, I want you to coordinate with Shining Armor. Two minds are better than one here."

"Yes Ma'am." you and Shining Armor say in unison.

"Anon?" Shining asks.

"Hmm?"

The Guard Captain grows a wry smile. "Have you been practicing your combat skills?"

Oh, this again.

"More so than you just standing around looking important."

Now his smile is a full blown smirk. "Care to test that?"

"Any time anywhe-..." your eyes drift up to the giggling Princess Celestia "Uh...That is, if Her Highness doesn't mind."

"Oh no, go on. I know how competitive you two can be." she says.

Your face reddens a bit. "Thank you, Ma'am."

You throw off some of your bigger armor and grab a practice sword off the rack. Shining Armor was easily the best swordspony in all of Canterlot, perhaps all of Equestria. You were good, but you had your work cut out for you.

Shining was still wearing his smarmy grin as he lunged at you, his sword held in a magical grip. You stepped back and blocked his swipe. "On the defensive already, Anon? Not good..."

That was the other reason Shining Armor always won duels, he never shut up.

This jerk had the endurance of a minotaur. His wife must be ecstatic.

You twist yourself out of Armor's assault and begin one of your own. He retains his smirk even as he backpedals against your strikes. You scrape the tip of your practice sword along the ground and toss sand up into his eyes. He erects a shield over his eyes a moment too late as the dirt traps itself in one eye.

Armor smiles through his now closed eye. "Not bad, Anon. But let's see if you can keep it up."

You're happy to oblige as you swing on the his blind side. Shining's sword snaps up to block you, but you don't stop. You continue your assault to the sound of Shining egging you on.

"Faster! Faster! Disrupt my focus!" he says.

You swipe low at his feet before you rocket up, inches away from his face. "You're gripping the sword too tightly!"

You adjust your grip on the sword and swing at Shining's head once more. This time however, he twists his sword around yours and hurls it into the air.

He then emits a short blast of magic at you, pushing you back. You lower your hands from your face to see Shining Armor holding your own sword to your neck.

"Now too lightly." he says with that grin.

You had lead Celestia to her room like you did every evening after the sparring match with Shining Armor. Imagine your surprise when she asked to meet her at the dining hall.

"I was planning to grab some food before I retired, would you care to keep me company?" she had asked.

You were a bit surprised at the request, but you accepted soon enough. Celestia may be your monarch and it was your duty to protect her, but she was also a good friend of yours.

You had removed your armor at your room and found Celestia sitting at the table when you arrived. Princess Luna was also at the table, albeit farther back.

You and Celestia sit at the table as you ate, talking as friends over the events of the day.

"Perhaps I should make Shining Armor my bodyguard after his performance today." she teases.

"I don't want to badmouth a friend, but he cheated."

"Did he now?" Celestia chuckled.

"Shining Armor knows that he can be distracting, and he has magic. Tell me Celestia, how am I supposed to compete against that?"

Celestia releases a laugh as she feeds another forkful of salad into her mouth.

Princess Luna chooses that moment to rise from her seat and walk towards the two of you. "Thy guard should apply himself more, Sister."

Celestia grows an annoyed frown at Luna. "Anonymous has valid points, Luna. He does not have the magical aptitude that Shining Armor has."

You really should figure something out for that...

Luna scoffs. "I had heard that something happened with the Griffin Thane today, is it something I should know?"

Celestia's frown grows more honest now. "Yes. Thane Weisshaupt has declined my offer for an alliance. He says that we are too weak in his eyes to warrant one."

"Arrogant kit..." Luna mutters as she makes for the door. "Fear not, Sister. I shall see to the Thane..." she calls back.

Luna shuts the door behind her casting the room into silence.

Taking the Plunge.

The halls of the Canterlot royal palace echoed as you walked down them. It seemed that they adjusted your boots for your first real day back on the job, they fit snuggly on your feet.

You stopped outside Celestia's door.

"Hey Brawny, Diamond. She in?"

Both of your fellow guards eyebrows arch. "Anonymous, why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?"

They had you there, Celestia rarely left her room without you.

You stepped into the room cautiously, wanting to maintain appearance.

"Princess?"

"In here!" came a voice from the powder room.

You shut the door behind you and waited by the beauty desk. Celestia came walking into the bedroom applying a towel to her head, steam billowing out from the room behind her.

She wordlessly walks up to you and puts a tender pair of lips against your own.

"Good morning Anon." she says.

"Good morning Tia."

The two of you stand there for a time, foreheads pressed together and taking in the simple joy of being able to do this.

"Quite different from the normal start of the day, wouldn't you say?" Celestia asks.

"This past week has been a strange one, yes."

Celestia levitates her crown and raiment onto herself. "But enjoyable all the same, no?"

You chuckle. "More than a bit, yes."

Celestia leads a brush through her hair. "Is everything ready?"

"We just have to be there at sundown."

Celestia wordlessly smiles back to you. The warm kind of smile that makes her eyes glisten.

She quickly recomposes herself. "Well, we must first make it through the day. Shall we?"

"Lead the way Celestia."

-Music-

You and Celestia were finally able to get back to your old routine.

The city rounds.

Neither of you had partaken in the simple joy of seeing the city in the week you had been back. Most of your time had been put to fixing the mess you made when you walked out. As well as certain...other matters. Matters far more enjoyable.

This was also the first time you walked next to Celestia as opposed to behind her, making conversation much easier.

"The city looks well for what happened last time I was here..." you say.

"Yes. We were lucky that what transpired with my nephew was contained to his estate."

"How's he doing?"

Celestia sighs. "As well as can be hoped with what happened. He has his good days and his bad."

"...Maybe I should stop by and see him."

Celestia lowers her head. "Perhaps in time...But enough of depressing things, Tell me about how much different life is in the Mild West."

Heh.

"Well. Guarding an entire town is fairly easy when I can shout from one end to the other, and crime is less of an issue when everypony knows each other."

"Ah...that small town feeling."

"Certainly a positive aspect of my sabbatical." you say.

"How did you take care of your responsibilities there after you left?"

"I mailed all my things back along with a letter explaining the situation. Braeburn is the sheriff now."

Celestia glanced down at you. "Do you trust him to do well?"

"Implicitly."

Later in the day you and Celestia were sitting eating lunch. It seemed that Celestia was feeling nostalgic, she took you to the same fountain where you kissed her cheek. The water gently babbled down from a relief of what seemed to be Starswirl the Bearded and lapped gently against the edge next to you.

Celestia stared ahead as you bit into your food. "Have you thought about it?"

You swallow your food and join her in her far off stare.

"...A bit."

"Everything changes after this..."

"Yeah..."

The full weight of your discussion was dawning on you for the millionth time.

"I'm...a bit worried." you say.

Celestia's head turned to you so fast you hear the sonic boom.

Her eyes were wide. "If you want to stop or slow dow-"

You shake your head. "No...No I want this."

You felt Celestia calm down immediately through the link.

"I want this more than anything right now..."

The momentary biting fear from Celestia's side of the link was replaced with the warm feeling of anticipation that spread throughout your entire body. You finish your meal as the sun inches its way across the sky.

Rising to your feet, you turn to Celestia. "We should get going, we probably have some things to do beforehand."

Celestia smiled and rose to her feet as well, eager to get things taken care of.

You are Sunshine Smiles, only constant guard to Her Majesty Princess Luna. You currently stood watch over the Royal Dining Hall as Her Majesty eats on the opposite side of the table from you.

Your eyes shifted to the windows near the ceiling as you watched for any possible threats.

Hmm...nothing. No silhouettes or mysterious shadows.

One could never be too careful with a pony who was the night incarnate. Princess Luna had awoken early for today. Your duty was to follow her as she saw to some errands in various locals. It was not your place to ask what they were, but they seemed important. Princess Luna had always been opposed to the idea of personal guards, it was only through some miracle that you were allowed this station.

You accomplished this through the Shadow Stalking technique used by the Ibex empire. She seemed to find it less objectionable when she couldn't see you.

The Princess stopped eating and looks around the room. "Guard. Where is my sister?" she asked.

"I cannot say Your Majesty."

She grunted. "Celestia is always present at the evening meal...The only explanation is that Anonymous stole her away again."

"Who knows Your Majesty?

"I had thought we were rid of him...evidently not." She said as she rose from her seat.

Princess Luna exited the dining hall and you melted into the shadows.

She was right though, what in the world could they be doing?

-Music-

The two of you were both in the catacombs below the city. You were both facing each other in front of the crystal cage that held Grogar.

The Ram sat inside as motionless as ever, a wide grin on his face however. "I am truly honored to be performing this ritual. And it is with great humility that I do so." Grogar said.

Grogar wasn't your first choice so much as your only choice, the two of you needed to keep this a secret.

The week between your return and now had been one of emotional talks and planning. You both agreed: You loved one another. The weeks you were gone had made you acutely away of how much you missed just seeing Celestia's happy face in the morning. You never wanted what happened before you left to happen again.

And so here you stood.

Grogar cleared his dead throat. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."

Yes, this was sudden and possibly reckless. But it was also something the two of you had wanted since you returned to Canterlot. Just the time you had spent together, amplified by the link had felt like a lifetime together. You knew Celestia's hopes and desires, her fears and dreams and her most personal feelings. She in turn knew everything you worried over and wanted out of life, as well all of your memories of your life before you came here. Your first kiss, your first great success, everything that followed.

You were as much a part of her as she was you. And this was the most official definition the two of you could come up with.

Grogar clears his throat beneath you and brings you out of the space your head was in.

"Huh?"

"I said. "You may kiss the bride." Grogar said with a shit eating grin.

You pull Celestia close and lock your lips, sealing the marital pact and embracing the wave of emotion that the link is sending between the two of you. You don't care what the civilians think, Celestia was as much a person as any of them and had a right to be happy. Celestia was the most important person in the world to you right now.

And you were going to be as close to her as fate would allow.