Love and War

Chapter 8

One Month Later

Celestia’s Chambers (9:00pm)

“Stop it.  I'm warning you, I said stop it... HELP!” Celestia yelled, being chased around the room.  I quickly tackled Celestia to the floor and began to tickle her.  She continued to cry out for help, laughing at the same time.

“Thorn, stop it,” She playfully demanded between laughs.  I smiled and continued to tickle her for another minute or so before stopping.

“Ok, I think I'm done,” I said, getting off of Celestia and helping her to her hooves.  She glared at me for a moment before a small smirk crept across her face.  I noticed this and took a step back.

“Celestia, why are you staring at me like that?” I asked, unsure of her intentions.  She continued to smirk and took another step closer.

“Oh, would you look at the time, I think it’s time for me to go,” I said, quickly racing towards the door, only to be caught in a levitation spell.

“That’s not fair,” I playfully yelled, Celestia still smirking at me.

“I know just the punishment for your little charade you just pulled on me.” Celestia then levitated me towards her bed and as soon as I felt the aurora dissipate, Celestia quickly pounced upon me.  She started to tickle me with her hooves as I yelled out with laughter.

“Celestia... Stop... you know... I was joking...” I cried out in-between laughs.  Celestia shook her head and continued her onslaught of tickling.

“Alright sweetie... stop... you made your point...” I blurted out.  Celestia slowly stopped tickling me and I was panting, out of breath.  I looked up at Celestia, who was still on top of me, and smiled.

“And what have we learned here tonight?” she asked, waiting for my response.

“That it’s always the beautiful mares that are the most devious,” I said, a smirk on my face.

“And?” Celestia added, waiting for me to finish my answer.

“And that I should always do what you tell me, or else I will end up regretting it in the long run,” I said, Celestia smiling at my answer.

“Very good Thorn,” Celestia finished.

“And what do I win?” I asked, as Celestia smiled seductively at me and bent down so that our chests were touching.

“You get the best prize of all,” She said, leaning her head towards me.

“Me,” She seductively whispered in my ear.  This sent chills down my spine and I quickly nodded my head.  The next thing I knew, my lips were locked in a passionate kiss with Celestia, my hooves moving up and down her back, towards her flank.  She let out a low moan as I continued to caress her flank with my hoof.  After a few minutes of passionate kissing, we pulled away from each other to catch our breath.  Celestia had a seductive smile on her face as her horn started to glow and the candles that were lit in the room began to go out one by one.  I looked around the dark room and then back up at Celestia.  She still had a seductive smile showing on her face.  She leaned in close to me and I could feel her hot breath on my neck and muzzle.  She slowly started to kiss down my neck and chest.  I let out a slight moan of pleasure, while Celestia worked her way closer to my member with each kiss.  She was only an inch or so away before she took the member in her mouth.  I let out a gasp of pleasure, as she started to move up and down the shaft, playfully massaging my member with her tongue.  A minute or so of this went by before she repositioned herself on top of me.  I looked up at her and noticed that she was waiting for my response.  I knew what was about to happen and slowly nodded my head as she positioned herself above my member, letting it slowly slide into her while eliciting a loud moan of pleasure from both of us.  She continued to work her way up and down my member, moaning every few seconds.  I placed my hooves on her flank and began to rub her cutie mark as she moved faster and faster.  It was only a few minutes later that I felt myself about to release.

“Celestia... I'm about to release,” I said, as Celestia smiled and thrusted her hips down on me as far as she could.  I let out one last moan before I felt myself release inside of her.  I was panting hard, trying to catch my breath.  Celestia got off from on top of me and gently nuzzled my face as she laid next to me so that our faces were touching.  I smiled and nuzzled her muzzle before I felt myself wrapped in her wings and hooves.  We continued to lay next to each other, the heat of the other’s body radiating close to each other.  I leaned in and kissed Celestia on the muzzle before pulling away and smiling.

“I love you Celestia,” I spoke in a soothing tone, stroking her back with my hoof.  She shivered at my touch and pulled me in closer to her.

“I love you too Thorn,” She said before closing her eyes before both of us quickly fell asleep in each other’s embrace.

Guard Mess Hall (9:00am)

“Why the hell are you still eating this kind of food Thorn?  You could be feasting on some of the best cooked dishes Canterlot has to offer,” Frost boldly asked, watching me as I took a bite of a plain muffin.

“Because Frost, I don’t want to be treated any differently then you or any other guard here.  I may be dating the Princess but that doesn’t mean I should receive any special treatment.” I said, finishing the muffin in my hooves.  Frost let out a heavy sigh.

“You really are something else Thorn.  Anypony would jump on the opportunity to be treated better than other ponies, but not you.  You my friend are a very strange pony indeed.”  I let out a laugh as Frost finished his little spiel.

“Come on Frost, don’t be like that.  Besides, you like the fact that I'm very strange.  Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here talking with you right now.  I would be out enjoying myself and relaxing like a high class noble.”  Frost nodded his head in agreement.

“True, that is very true Thorn,” He said.  Before he could say anything else, a messenger pony burst through the door of the mess hall and bolted straight towards me.  As he made it to me, he panted heavily out of breath.  He then held out a letter and gave it to me.  Before I could properly thank him, he was already running out the door.  I looked at Frost and then at the letter that now lay before me.  I hastily opened the letter and began to read it.  I had a solemn expression on my face as I finished reading.  I got up from the table and with one look at Frost, made my way out the door and towards Celestia’s chambers.

Celestia’s Chambers (9:20am)

Celestia looked at me with a shocked expression on her face, but after a moment or so, she regained her composure and began to speak.

“Thorn, I have grave news.  The Griffons have been advancing through our borders for the last week or so.  There were only two lines of defense that the Griffons could not pass, Hide’s Hill and a small town named Hoovingston.  This morning, Hide’s Hill fell to the Griffons.  The last line of defense is Hoovingston.  I am afraid that if we can not hold that town, then many ponies will be endangered.”  Celestia looked up from the ground and stared at me.  My facial expression didn’t change the entire time I was listening.  I took a moment to let the news sink in before I knew what had to be done.

“Permission to speak Princess?” I asked.  Celestia looked at me and let out a sigh.

“Thorn, we are alone.  No need to address me so formally,” She said, as I still held my guard posture.

“Ok Celestia,” I said, before continuing.

“With your permission, I would like to be immediately transferred to Hoovingston,” I requested.  Celestia was speechless at the request and took a moment to snap out of her confused state.

“What do you mean you want to be transferred to Hoovingston?” Celestia aggressively asked.  I still stood at attention and nodded my head.

“Thorn, I can't let you go.  It’s too dangerous for you.”

“Celestia, we all know that if that line of defense falls many innocent ponies will lose their lives.”

“Thorn I can't let you go.  I... I wont...” Celestia stuttered.

“You have to Celestia.  If you don’t, there is no telling what could happen.  I am one of the best Captains and I am all too familiar with war.  Please Celestia, you have to let me go.”  Celestia was in tears once I finished.

“Thorn you can't go.  What if you die?” she yelled.  I slowly walked over towards Celestia and pulled her into a hug.

“Celestia, I love you with all my heart.  But I can't allow anything bad to happen to Equestria.”  I started to get teary–eyed myself.  “And I can't allow anything bad to ever happen to you.  I will fight and die to my last breath knowing that I did everything in my power to keep you safe.”  Celestia was now crying profusely as I shared in the tears.

“But Thorn, I want to be with you forever,” Celestia yelled aloud.  I held her as tight as I could in my hooves.

“I want to be with you forever too Celestia,” I said, as Celestia’s tears drizzled down her face and landed on my fur.  I continued to hold her in my loving embrace before she managed to refocus herself.  Her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying she had done.  She looked into my eyes and all I could see was sorrow and regret.  I pulled her into another hug and gently rubbed her back with my front right hoof.

“It’s alright Celestia.  It’s ok, I'm here,” I said passionately to her, calming her down as I continued to stroke her mane and back.  An hour had passed before we finally let go of each other again.  I looked at Celestia, who still had her eyes facing the ground, and gently nuzzled her to get her attention.

“I promise Celestia, nothing bad will happen to me.” I wholeheartedly tried to convince her, even though I knew I was probably not going to be making it home.  She nodded her head and nuzzled me under the chin.

“At least stay tonight.  Please?” she begged.  I quickly nodded my head as Celestia casually rested her head on my body.  I smiled and started to softly sing to her.

**Little Bird wipe your tears**

Little Bird have no fears

Little Bird I’m always here

Little Bird I’ll keep you near

Little Bird please don’t cry

Little Bird I try and try

Little Bird I don’t know why

I always want you by my side

Little Bird please don’t fright

Little Bird I’m in your sight

Little Bird I’ll hold you tight

All through the stormy night

Little Bird I’ll hold you close

Little Bird I love you most

Little Bird you know its true

Celestia, I LOVE YOU

Celestia was now completely asleep.  I looked at how peaceful she was before closing my eyes as well.  I soon felt sleep take over me as I spent my last few hours with the mare I was hopefully, going to see again.