The morning of the wedding and I was bone dead tired. So much, in fact, that I went down to the castle kitchen and got some coffee. Tea just wasn't strong enough today.
Back home on Earth I would have used an energy drink. But this wasn't Earth, so I would have to make due with as strong coffee as I could get my hooves on, mixed with with enough sugar to make it count as syrup, not coffee.
I hate coffee.
But I didn't want to fall asleep during the ceremony.
In retrospect, staying up with Luna for most of the night might have been a bad idea. But she was unable to come to the wedding, so the least I could do was to keep her company. I did get a couple of hours of sleep, but nowhere near enough.
Raising the cup, I took a sip at the disgusting liquid, giving it a dubious look. Maybe it would be better to just gulp it down, get it over with. Like ripping off a bandaid.
“Sir.”
Man, I really must be out of it if I didn't detect a batpony approach across the garden. They kind of stood out.
“Yes?” I asked, putting the cup down.
“I'm here to serve as your personal guard, sir. On orders from Princess Luna.”
I... didn't think that she would actually do that. Well, if it made her feel better, I suppose I could put up with it
He looked the same as any of the other pegasi in Lunas service. Dark grey coat, almost completely black mane, tail and black batlike wings.
Large, catlike eyes and fangs.
Of course, it was all an illusion. If he removed the armor, he would return to looking like a normal pegasus. It kept them all looking the same for security reasons.
I nodded. “What's your name?”
“Reliant Frost, sir.” He answered, shifting his wings.
“Reliant Frost.” I said. “Sorry about this. I suggested it to Princess Luna as a way to ease her mind during the heightened threat level. I didn't think she would actually go through with it.”
He smiled at that. “Don't worry about it, sir. It beats standing by a door.”
“I wouldn't count on it.” I countered before forcing myself to take another drink of the coffee. Better get it done before it went cold or it would be even worse. “Can I get you anything?”
“Not while on duty, sir.”
Nodding, I finished the cup before putting it down. “Well, we'd better go get my suit then, we have a wedding to get ready for.”
“Yes, sir.”
XXXXXXXXXX
This entire 'being guarded' thing ended up being way less intrusive than I thought it would be.
Reliant Frost was good at what he did.
Hell, I knew he was there and I barely noticed him most of the day. Two steps back and one to my right, he stayed where he could keep a eye on things while staying out of my direct field of view.
Finishing adjusting the suit, I turned to my shadow. “How do I look?”
“You might want to adjust the collar, sir.”
Frowning, I checked and then folded it back down in the back. “Better?”
“Yes, sir.”
Nodding, I sighed. “Kitchen now, I think. Another cup of that accursed liquid. It wouldn't do to fall asleep during the wedding.”
“I would imagine not, sir.”
“How do you handle it?” I asked as we exited the guestroom, heading down the corridor. “Switching to the day, I mean?”
“I didn't, sir.” he clarified. “I was always on day duty. I previously patrolled Princess Luna's tower during day time.”
Oh.
Well, that made sense. Even during the night Princess Celestia's guard patrolled her personal wing of the castle.
It made sense Luna would have the same arrangement on her tower and grounds.
...Swift better hope he ends up on day duty or Minuette won't be happy with him.
Finding the way down to the kitchen, I found it about as busy as I expected. Most of the castle was, in fact, there were ponies running around everywhere trying to get everything ready in time.
As I didn't really have anything to do, I did my best to keep out of everyone's way.
Not that I always succeeded.
I just barely managed to get out of the way of an orange earth pony, taking a cake out of one of the ovens.
“Careful there! I almost got the cake on yer fancy suit.” She said and quickly put it on the counter. “What can ah help ya with?”
“Oh... uhm... I'm just trying to get to the coffee? Things got a bit late last night and I don't want to fall asleep during the wedding.”
She grinned. “I'll get ya a cup.”
I nodded and then frowned. “I recognize you. Applejack, right?”'
“That's right. You are Twilight's friend, right? Page, something? Sugar?”
“Yes please. Some coffee in the sugar.”
She returned with the cup and I caught it in my magic, looking around the rather busy royal kitchens. “A bit stressful today, is it?”
“Yeah, no kidding. Trying to get everything ready in time and ah still need to go get changed.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Can't have ya mess up your fancy suit, now can we.” she answered and shook her head. “We're about done, about to go get ready. Now drink yer coffee and make sure ya don't fall asleep.”
“Yeah, that would be bad.”
With that, I thanked her for the horrible fluid and retreated from the kitchen so that I could stop being in the way.
Taking a sip I grimaced at the taste before I sighed and glanced at Reliant Frost. “Come on, let's find somewhere to stay out of everyone's way until the wedding starts.”
“Very well, sir.”
I guess the royal library would be empty. We could go there.
Gratz on your fiftieth chapter. It takes some cereal dedication to get this far
Also, FIRST!!!!!!!
Congrats on being featured Hiver!
6384406 here here!
6384406
And that's why I drink iced coffee all the pick me up and a better taste then the warm veriaty
Applejack! Woo hoo!
Okay: Here's my general feelings about the story so far:
For a human-turned-pony it's not very intrusive with the "humanness".
There is some general usage of cliché ideas of the genre but they're not
too in-your-face.
I don't mind the romance between the character and Luna, it's cute.
There's a big difference between "your" Luna and "my" Luna, but that's
to be expected, what with so many different head-canons and whatnot.
But I really really wish you didn't imply Twilestia, I'm a bit sore about that...
I'll just have to bear with it, I guess...
The chapters are a bit short, but they don't feel so. The're written in such a way
that makes it easy to just read one after another. Though, this is at chapter 50
and we're still just at the second season finale.
Yet, I don't mind that. It's good that you're keeping the story away from the canon
events. It's nice to read a story where the main character doesn't always participate
in the happenings surrounding the M6, but merely hears about it.
There were a few mistakes in the earlier chapters but they weren't obstructive enough
to break up the reading rhythm. I have to ask though, why didn't the main character
comment about Luna's change from S1 look to S2 look? Or did you just skip that change?
Best regards!
I'm here!!! Great story so far mate can't wait to read more.
Also I liked the Gurren Laggan reference In chapter 24.
6386600
Making grown Anakin less of a selfish, angry brat, killing Jar Jar Binks in the first scene... you know, little things.
Uhm...I though the wedding passed already...And he kinda felt to the darkside when he was captured by the changeling and start rageing rampage against changeling?
6387673 He was flipping out over nightmares about xenomorphs--Ripley's sparing partners from the Aliens series. An entirely human thing he was dealing with at the time.
He'll be needing that can of RAID before the day's done here, though
I can't wait till he gets's his position in the castle, having some sort of awesome destiny there, not needing to run always from everything and only that.
6385865 late answer but whatever. The OC actually comments about her mane changing in the earlier chapters.
6385865
Agreed.
8073344 Remember how Luna had her tea?
8073344 If you think those need to be swapped, you're clearly a heathen who likes coffee.
8205186
You dare to call us heathens? BLASPHEMY!!!
8073344
dude, that’s comedy that anyone and everyone uses. You seriously... nevermind, im not going to go there.
8670397
Exactly as a heathen would be expected to respond, defending their heretical ways.
9133303
8670397
8205186
8073344
Your all heretics. Plain coffee is disgusting. Putting coffee in my milk and sugar helps keep me awake though. It is useful. A necessary evil, if you will. Working on a farm with medical conditions making you rest less would make you sacrifice comfort for function as well.
9361793
Yes, yes. Let the hatred flow through you. Embrace it. Mwahaha
*sips mocha frappuccino*
All these comments debating coffee and tea . . .
It's simple. start the day with a teaspoon of matcha powder mixed into one cup of milk, and then mix in two cups of hot green tea. If you need more caffeine past that, or you're on a coffee date, then you get coffee.
9361793
Then there is me I start my day with coffee (milk and 2 sugar) drink tea as needed throughout the day and my nightcap is decaf coffee (milk and 2 sugar)
You uncultured beast.
I have so many versions of this event in my head...
Wonder what Pages was..
10954181
I strongly disagree with your opinion.
10954181
Black coffee is disgusting
9486624
Mochas are amazing.
It's like chocolate milk that keeps you awake.
10988323
Never tried it
Now i'm curious
In retrospect unless you have the privilige of living in a coffee paradise like Italy or Australia (like me), you probably only know black coffee, or the sugary shit they sell at Starbucks.
If you ever get the chance (unlikely in plague times), come to a cafe down here in Aus. You will not be disappointed.
I feel called out.
11315509
Why?
11143969
Honestly I prefer my Coffee Black. The bitterness is nice. No Cream or Sugar for me!
Fun times incoming, let's hope the guard isn't a Changeling that is to foal napping Blank Page to keep Luna occupied!
We will see what a royal guard is worth, stay safe Blank Page 👍
Time to shine or will Blank Page be the next target by Chrysalis the stallion stealing mare