Aura of Burning Protection

Burning’s eyes traced Glitter pacing back and forwards, he understood that she was nervous meeting a princess was a big deal. But since her surprise appearance in the Great Hall earlier during breakfast Burn had been able to relax.

“How are you so calm at a time like this? We are like ten minutes away from meeting the prince and you sit there like your waiting to watch a play” Glitter announced worriedly “This is the biggest moment of our lives”

“You’re always so panicky in these situations, why is that?” he asked back “Just like when we first met, you worry needlessly”

Glitter blushed at the thought of the night when they met. “I have no idea what you’re on about” Glitter stated

“I doubt that, I remember a young mare on night duty shaking in her greaves almost three years ago” He teased

A deep blush covered Glitter’s face  “That’s an understatement” she blushed

“You were so embarrassed and worried” He giggled “I thought you needed a friend and a friend I was”

“Y-you were so kind” she blushed “Everypony ignored my nerves and expected me to just do my job. Except you, you brought some logs and made a fire” She remembered the warmth and light the fire brought. “Y-you were different I c-could tell”

“See that is what the princess wants” Burn looked her in the eyes “A friend not a guard pony, and to answer your question I am worried I just don’t show it”

Glitter was feeling almost hypnotised looking in his eyes “But, but I… I dunno anymore, I’m a guard pony that’s all I know” She sighed

“Really, is that the truth? How does a guard pony have the name Glitter Shine and have sparkles as a cutie mark?”

I uhhh I” She never finished her sentence as a pony opened the door

“The princess will see you now” He announced, before ducking back inside the doorway

“Oh no oh no oh no” Glitter muttered as she started panicking again before being stopped by Burn

“Calm down, act casual, just stick with me” he smiled “now come on” he carefully opened the door and trotted inside

Glitter was freaking out here she was trotting towards the princess and she was to meet her son. She wasn’t prepared for this or ready for this role. ‘How is Burn so calm, he hides his worries so well’ she thought.

“Burning Trails, Glitter Shine, and Welcome” Aurora echoed as the pair approached “I would like to introduce you to my son Artic Breeze, Artic say hello to our guests”

“H-h-hello” came the squeak of a voice from near the princess

Burning look to the young prince who had a powder blue coat and a royal blue mane and tail, which matched his mother’s coat. Burning was granted with a sudden flashback ‘If he had his mother’s coat, was a unicorn and a red and black mane I’d swear there would be no differences’  He thought.

“Why hello there young sir” Burning said out calmly and clearly, smiling brightly at the young prince

‘Umm, ahhh hello” Glitter replied shyly hiding her head

“Artic, these are the ponies that will be looking after you” Aurora stated in her soothing voice “I’m sure they are going to be very nice”

“R-really mother?” Artic squeaked hiding behind her long flowing tail

“Yes” She giggled

“It is amazing to see such a brave colt” Burn stated as he stretched the truth

“R-really? I’m brave?” Artic enquired curiously

Glitter was amazed at how Burn was dealing with the prince although she still had her head down she could tell progress was being made. She could feel her cheeks burning. How embarrassing she couldn’t even look at the young colt.

“Well you’re doing better than Glitter here, she is so shy, she’s trying to hide from you” Burn smiled as he said the words.

“Why?” Artic questioned “I… I’m not scary?”

“She is shy because your important”

“Im-impot-importent?” the puzzled colt looked from Burning to Glitter

“It means that everyone wants to look after you”

“Oh” The colt giggled “I’m not really”

Glitter managed to lift her head slightly but all she could think was ‘How is he so calm?’ She couldn’t understand how he was calmly talking to the colt in front of the princess.

“Glitter” Burn whispered in her ear “Act casual like when we chat, like at breakfast”

“But” she whispered back “They’re royalty”

“And? What does a three year old colt know of that?”

“S-sorry” She stated louder “I-I wasn’t sure what to expect, b-but I see that you’re really nice”

Artic slowly crept out from behind his mother’s tail and looked at her asking a silent question, to which he got a nod in response

“I… I look forward to spending t-time with you” he said nervously glancing to his mother, who wore a proud smile

“Anytime you need something” Burning replied “Just let us know”

Both he and Glitter bowed to the Princess and her son.

“Your majesty, Permission to leave?” Burning said calmly

“Granted” Aurora peacefully said while eying Glitter

“Many thanks” Burn rose from the bow and pivoted around and began to trot out followed by Glitter. Once out the door she quickly headed for the exit.

“Glitter you okay?” Burn asked with the concern showing in his voice “You don’t seem well”

“I-I’m fine burning” She replied avoiding his eyes “I j-just need to b” her sentence was cut short by the leg around her neck.

“Come on we have some talking to do” Burn managed to steer her towards another door

“Where are you taking me Burn?” She sighed

“Well I figured somepony needs a beverage or two” Burn chuckled

“Burn I… I don’t feel like it” She dropped her head

“Okay then, I guess you don’t want to hear about my past then” He teased

Glitter shot him an icy stare “Burn” she whined “I don’t…”

“Ohh well, cya then” Burn teased before heading toward the tavern smiling

“Burning Trails, you are a face that has been in here for a long, long time” The voice of tavern keeper Ginger Ale echoed as the stallion entered

“Hey ginger” he replied “I thought I’d come have a few before my new job tomorrow”

“So I’ve heard” The tavern keeper sternly stated “Though I hear many things these days”

“I’m sure you do Ginger” He said while sliding into the booth closest to the fireplace “I used to own a bar, well a club, once. A long, long time ago almost ten now”

“Really? You don’t seem to be that type of pony” Ginger said apparently shocked at the statement

“Yeah worst mistake I made was buying that place, but I sold it half a year later. I’ll have a mango cider one third whiskey” He said while staring into the fire

“Coming right up, oh and it’s on the house seeing as it was your birthday last week” Ginger said slyly

“How did you know that?”

“Ohh well some letters came through the same time three years ago wishing you happy birthday so I put two and two together”

“Well at least I don’t have letters to worry about thanks to my request to the mail courier”

“Well what request was that Burn” A familiar voice came from the doorway

“Oh Glitter you came, Well I asked the courier to burn any mail that came for me before he gave it to Ginger or you” Burn replied after guzzling his drink

“Why would you do that Burn?” She asked

“Top up please Ginger?” Burn avoided the question

“Okay but after this one you have to pay” he said after refilling Burn’s drink and trotting back behind the counter

“Burn why would you do that?” she asked again

“Well cos maybe ponies get annoying after a while and I was just there for when they fight and get sad and I didn’t want to be that pony anymore” He replied

“You were trying to block somepony out?”

“Yeah” He guzzled another drink while Ginger placed two more mugs in front of him “I guess you could say that, my family our my adopted family didn’t like my choice and my friends that were still around were at each other’s throats and the only peace and quiet I got was with a foal who was like one back then” He slurred out before picking up another mug and inspecting it “I decided that I was gonna leave, hope things got better but nope of course not the problems followed me here of all places, Heh that’s life kid”

“Kid? I’m not that much younger then you” Glitter shot back sipping out of the drink she had ordered “What happened Burn? Out there as a guard your strong, with the princess your strong” She stared and the stallion inspecting the 3 empty mugs in front of him “You’re running from something, what is it?”

Burn reached for the fourth mug only for it to be pulled away by Glitter “Me run? I never run. I used to before I went to that cursed town. Heh friends they love your help but are never there for you are they?”

Glitter eyed the slightly drunk stallion “Your running from your own friends? I’m sure they weren’t that bad”

“Bad no, they weren’t bad just never around so I made new friends they became too busy as well” He managed to slur “Moved to Manehatten made more friends that was the second worst mistake I ever made” He grunted a thanks when she floated the mug over to him, then he quickly put some bits on the table and preceded to chug it.

“Really? Why were they never around?” Glitter asked curiously at the stallion

“How do I know? Work? They moved away? I was never told” he snapped “I couldn’t keep a group of happy friends no matter how hard I tried”

“It can’t be your fault”

“Well it probably was” Came his spiteful tone “I mean why else would I have had such a hard time”

“Burn why now? Why drink now? The day before we start a new job?”

“Because I’m scared” Burn said burying his head in his hooves “I’m scared that I’ll screw this up, like everything else”

“Burn I’m sorry” Glitter replied

Burn silently rose and wobbly headed towards the exit “I think im gonna go fly now kay?”

“Burn don’t” she started to trot after him, only to be stopped by Ginger

“Listen” he started “ I got one piece of mail the courier missed about fourteen months ago, but didn’t pass onto you because I knew of the deal” He quickly retrieved the letter “I think it may be time for him to read whatever it is, but I beg of you not to read it he has been through way too much”

“Sergeant are you okay?” A voice from outside interrupted their conversation

Glitter dashed after grabbing the letter outside only to see Burning laying facedown near the road a couple of feet from her.

“What happened to him?” she questioned a nearby guard

“He trotted outside then just fell and hit his head” the guard replied

“Ahhh this is just great” She muttered before levitating him onto her back “I’ll get him to his bed he should be fine”

This was just great the only pony she looked up to had gotten drunk and knocked himself out. “So much for being smart and responsible” she muttered while levitating him onto his bed, the letter fluttered to the floor.

“Huh? Oh right the letter” She levitated it back up onto his desk ‘I wonder what it’s about, it isn’t mine but I… should leave it be’ she sighed and sat down on a chair across the room and fell into a deep sleep.