Helios 17: Taking the Plunge.

=Helios 17=

 

>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 power 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."

"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?"

"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: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYidb1LvMs8-

>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..."

>"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 everyp0ny knows each other."

>"Ah...that small town feeling."

"Certainly a positive aspect of my sabbatical."

>"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 glances 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."

>Celestia's head turns to you so fast you hear the sonic boom.

>Her eyes are wide. "If you want to stop or slow dow-"

>You shake your head.

"No...No I want this."

>You feel 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 smiles and rises 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 stops eating and looks around the room.

>"Guard. Where is my sister?"

"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: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLGSpyz_BmU-

>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.