- Written for a Prompt thread... that completely disregarded the Prompt. Recently ascended Teen Cadence & GuardAnon have a little chat
 - >Another day, another podunk town
 - >Such is the life of her Royal Highness' guard
 - >You sigh and turn your eyes to the sky as the carriage rumbles beneath you.
 - >The stallion beside you holds the reins in his magical grip, though there isn't really much need for them as the ponies pulling know where they're going.
 - >Taking a few moments to soak up the sun as it peeks through the verdant canopy, you give another sigh and tap your fingers on the wooden roof.
 - >After a few seconds, a cool, if sightly strained voice calls out from inside the carriage.
 - >"Anonymous? Do you mind?"
 - >Whoops.
 - >With a nervous cough, you right yourself and respond
 - "Sorry Princess, I suppose my attention slipped."
 - >A silent huff follows soon after.
 - >"Well we can't have that. Come inside, I've got a few plans I'd like to go over before we arrive at Haymouth Rock."
 - >Double whoops.
 - >The guard driver gives a small chuckle as he smirks at you.
 - >Still, you don't pay him any mind, swinging your legs over the seat and dropping onto the lip off the carriage.
 - >Working your way along the side, you work your way over to the door and slip inside.
 - >Cadence glances up over the rim of her glasses from the small stack of papers in front of her and gives you a wry smile.
 - >"You could have told Stern to stop..."
 - >You shrug and pull up a seat across from her.
 - "We're already running behind. Maybe we can make up a little time this way."
 - >The pink Princess giggles, before setting aside her work and her glasses.
 - >"I'm not too concerned about being prompt. We can take all the time we need."
 - >You grunt and cross your arms over your chest.
 - "I disagree Princess. As a member of the Royal Family, certain expectations are placed upon you, and you must do what you can to meet them, regardless of personal feelings."
 - >The mare gives an indignant huff and puffs out her cheeks before rolling her eyes.
 - >"Well, I never asked to be a Princess; doesn't that count for anything?"
 - "Afraid not."
 - >The pretty pink pony gives a short whine before sinking deeper into her seat.
 - >You take a moment to look her over.
 - >Cadence is still young, not even out of high school and already with the weight of Canterlot bearing down on her.
 - >A pretty thing, but with an adventurous streak that tends to get her into trouble.
 - >And put you behind schedule.
 - >You tear your eyes away from the alicorn and click open your pocket watch, gritting your teeth as you note that you're still behind schedule.
 - >Up until you were assigned to the newly ascended Princess, you never had to deal with these sorts of shortcomings.
 - >"Hey."
 - >Snapping the watch cover closed, you turn your attention back to Cadence.
 - >Her purple-grey eyes seem to carry a slight hint of distaste as she glances down at your hand.
 - >"You're not still worried about when we get to Haymouth, right?"
 - >Trying to cover up the flinching of your lip, you pocket your timepiece and snort.
 - "It's my job to worry about these sorts of things, Princess. Someone has to."
 - >"Ugh."
 - >Cadence sighs and pouts.
 - >"I already said I was sorry."
 - "Even if you are, starting a frosting fight with a bunch of foals is not behavior befitting a Princess."
 - >The mare seems to shrink a little at that.
 - "And besides that, it held us up for twenty minutes when you insisted on helping to clean up."
 - >With another heavy sigh, Cadence glances out the window and scowls.
 - >You suppress your smile as she mulls that over.
 - >Perhaps you're finally getting through to the willful Princess.
 - >"So what?"
 - >You balk at the blunt response of Her Perpetual Pinkness, who carries on without noticing.
 - >"Just because I'm a Princess doesn't mean that I can't have fun. I don't want to be cloistered up in Canterlot, waiting to get married off to some stallion in a political power play. I want to have a life too."
 - >She smiles and shakes her head.
 - >"I want to be able to go out in the world and find my own place. To have adventures and see the world, so that when I have foals of my own to care for, and they ask me if I ever lived, I can say, 'your mom did all that and more'.
 - >The words hang in the air for several seconds before Cadence turns to you.
 - >"It's not wrong of me to have my own hopes and dreams, even if they might never come true, right?"
 - >A thin bead of sweat trickles down the back of your neck as you gulp and gather your wits.
 - "O-of course not. It's perfectly natural for a mare your age to have thoughts about life and romance..."
 - >Cadence cuts you short with a laugh.
 - >"Romance?"
 - >She smiles, shaking her head.
 - >"Sorry, I just think it's funny, because I'm totally inept in that department; you know, I've never even -kissed- a stallion? What kind of Princess of Love is that? When I'm up at Canterlot High, I feel so out of place because it's all the mares talk about, who's sucking face with who."
 - >Flicking her mane, the pink Princess smiles.
 - >"Sorry, I guess I got a little wrapped up in everything. It's just, I don't really feel like this is, me, you know?"
 - >You respond with a cautious nod.
 - "I believe so. You were thrust into this position unexpectedly after all."
 - >"Mm. And to make matters worse, there's not anyone who I really 'like' either. I'm not even sure I know what romantic love is, but mares keep coming and asking me to help them keep their stallions in line."
 - >Wetting her lips, the Princess giggles.
 - >"Sometimes? I just want to tell them that I have no idea what they should do and that I'm just as lost as they are. Wouldn't that be hilarious?"
 - >You give an uncomfortable cough and meet the Princess' eyes with the most level stare you can manage.
 - "I believe it would do more harm than good. The ponies trust Princess Celestia to make wise decisions, and your breaking out of the mold might call her competence into question."
 - >Cadence stares at you for several seconds, before puffing out her cheeks and turning back to the window.
 - >"You're no fun..."
 - >Smirking, you get to your feet and ruffle her mane.
 - "That's my job, Princess. You may be able to tear through the sky as quick as you please, but it's my responsibility to keep your attention grounded."
 - >The pink pony grunts, which you take as a sign to leave.
 - >When you reach for the handle, she calls out to you again.
 - >"Anonymous?"
 - >You glance back and see a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
 - >"Do you think there's an adventure waiting for me?"
 - >Not even a second ticks by before you smile and nod.
 - "I do, just not today. But keep your eyes and ears open, you're a long way from being married yet."
 - >Cadence nods and smiles.
 - >"Well, when that call comes, I hope you're still with me."
 - >Seeing your raised eyebrow, the Princess giggles.
 - >"Sometimes it's nice to lose sight of the ground."
 - >Chuckling, you nod and open the door.
 - "Rest up, Princess. We're only a short while out from Haymouth."
 - >With a grunt, you pull yourself back onto the seat of the carriage, knocking the door closed with your foot as you do.
 - >Staring up through the green canopy again, you smile.
 - >That mare, she's going to be a handful.
 - >But a little adventure every now and again is nice...
 - Breakfast of Champions
 - >Day Eggo in Equestria
 - >You wake up at six in the morning with a grumbling in your tumbling.
 - >...tumbly, grumbly in your tumbly.
 - >But not for shitty cereal.
 - >Ever since you arrived in Equestria it's cereal this and cereal that.
 - >Fucking herbivore ponies.
 - >Staring up at the ceiling, you struggle to figure out what to eat for breakfast.
 - >And then it hits you.
 - "Waffles."
 - >A smile spreads across your face and you leap from the bed.
 - >Bypassing your usual routine, you hurry down to the kitchen and begin getting the supplies together.
 - >Before long, you're clattering your whisk through the batter as loudly and as obnoxiously as possible.
 - >You are, after all, a bachelor and so can do whatever you want.
 - >As long as it doesn't, you know, irritate the neighbors.
 - >Placing the batter aside, you make a move for the waffle iron.
 - >...that you don't own.
 - "Fucking ponies and their primitive waffling."
 - >Scratching the top of your head, you feel your lips contort until you're hit with an idea.
 - >After rooting through the pans for a while, you find what you're looking for.
 - >A grill pan you can use on the stove.
 - >Your eyes linger on the ridges which will provide you with your delicious breakfast event as the batter oozes across the bottom of the pan
 - >This is going to be awesome.
 - >A short while and a few flips later and you have a plateful of three waffles.
 - >With a song in your heart, you shove the skillet into the sink to take care of later.
 - >A deluge of syrup later and...
 - >Wait.
 - >Wait...
 - "Fuck."
 - >You forgot the butter.
 - >Opening the fridge you find
 - >No butter
 - >There's a note though
 - >"Sorry Anon, needed to borrow your butter and cranberries. -Pinkus"
 - >Fucking Pinkie Pie.
 - >Sighing, you give a long look back at your waffles.
 - >Well now they're ruined.
 - >Into the tr-
 - >KNOCK KNOCK
 - >A quick glance up to the clock on the wall has you sighing.
 - >It's time.
 - >You grab your boot and shove your foot inside as you move to the door
 - >Flinging it open, you see Cream Mumble looking up at you with hopeful eyes
 - >"Um, good morning Anon."
 - >You sigh and give a flippant flick of your wrist
 - "Yeah, yeah, no it's not my fetish, yadda yadda, time to boot!"
 - >Fluttershy squeals and drops to the ground, giving you a perfect chance to boot her hindquarters.
 - >As you rear back your leg however, you come to a startling realization.
 - >Fluttershy...
 - >Her coat is yellow.
 - >A creamy, milky kind of yellow.
 - >Your booted foot hangs in the air for several seconds before it drops back to the ground.
 - >After a moment, Fluttershy turns.
 - >"A-Anon?"
 - >You give her a small smile and take a step back.
 - "Sorry Shy, would you like to join me for breakfast?"
 - >The pegasus mare's eyes widen in confusion, but after several seconds she gives a small squeal and bounces inside.
 - >You smile after her, then close the door with an audible clack.
 - >
 - >After breakfast you're reclining in your chair when there's another knock on your door.
 - >Forcing yourself over, you see Pinkie on the other side.
 - >She gives you a wide smile.
 - >"Morning Nonnapuss!"
 - "A good morning indeed."
 - >You smirk, taking the butter as she holds it out to you.
 - >"Sorry for sneaking in and taking your stuff, but I didn't know who else would have any at three in the morning. I hope you didn't need it for anything."
 - >You give a small wave and shake your head.
 - "Don't worry about it, everything worked out in the end."
 - >Pinkie giggles and nods.
 - >But as she turns, you see her nostrils flare.
 - >Her eyes widen and she looks up at you.
 - >"Wow Nongobongo, something smells good! What did you eat?"
 - >Patting your stomach, you chuckle.
 - "This morning? Waffles."
 - >You can't stop yourself as your tongue flits out and brushes your lips.
 - "With a whole heaping pile of butter..."
 - >Today was a pretty delicious day.
 

