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// Chapter 11: Two weeks later… 
// Story: The Second Chance 
// by L23 amcom 
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It´s been two weeks since I settled here and honestly, I´ve gained that trust pretty fast and as a result, I have been assigned to watch for the main entrance of Novo´s throne room. 

Because of the awaited train station’s inauguration, today is a special day both for Novo and Celestia. The queen was really eager to finish the progress of those railways and considering that she has been ordering most of her crew to build it, she has managed to end it really soon. However, she hasn´t lost that face of worry and Stella told me that there were rumours about something private around her family. 

Whether it´s true or not, I am simply focused in what I have to do. Nonetheless, watching for this place is far easier than Canterlot and because of this, my age is grateful of that lack of stress, not to mention that moving around hasn´t been a problem at all for me.

While they were visiting Seaquestria and entering together into the throne room, I saw someone who was familiar to me and was getting closer towards my position. I knew that sooner or later this day would come; Cloud Zapper was accompanying the princess.  It doesn´t matter if he appears as a Pegasus, a seapony, a changeling or whatever, it´s the same commander I have dealt with for a long time.

He finished his task of accompanying the princess until the throne room and he stood watching for the entrance as well. It´s time to tidy up the loose ends, even though he has stood with surprise when he looked at me from the distance. Now that he is next to me, he is willing to talk…

“BlueStar! It´s true that you were alive, what are you doing here?” Cloud Zapper asked.

“Hi, Cloud Zapper. You know, I´ve been doing what I used to do Canterlot. It makes no difference, I suppose”. I answered with indifference.

“But, you are not from here. Your horn and lack of wings show that you don´t belong here. Also, you are wearing the same golden armour that you were using in Canterlot” he affirmed.

“I know Cloud Zapper. I perfectly noticed that as soon as I came here. But, what offer did I have back then? Don´t tell me to go to the Crystal Empire…because we both know what have done over there” I answered.

“Well, erm..” He didn´t know what to answer. “Look, we have been worried about you since you left. We thought that you were heading to Ponyville or Manehattan but we didn´t think that you were going for a trip to the south alone” he confessed. “We knew about your state a couple of days ago when Queen Novo reported that there was a guard from Canterlot in her crew” he continued. “I came here with Celestia voluntarily just to see if that was true” he said.

“And they were right. I accepted the charge unconditionally” I affirmed.

“I notice that you have changed BlueStar. You are way more serious than usual, please tell me that this isn´t a personal against me” Cloud Zapper confessed.

“It isn´t, you can be relieved that it isn´t. I will put neither the blame on you nor retaliations because of that reunion we had. I admitted that despite your bad temper and that discredit I received there, I wouldn´t avenge towards you personally. In the end, you were only following the established conditions that justified those consequences” I answered.

“Well, about that…there is something that you should know…” he said.

I was left staring at his face; he was somewhat hurt because of that.

“When The Storm King attacked Canterlot…there weren´t any guards to defend the princesses. They were petrified because they had defended it for themselves in the first line. The guards and I could take action when they almost conquered the entire city and our support was non-existent” he said.

“So, if I had been present there…” I was going to answer.

“…your help would have been as useless as ours.” Cloud Zapper finished. “It was a thorn in the side for me because that gave a really bad image to the army…again. I was fed up of receiving criticism of being useless” he confessed.

“Then, the royal guards of Canterlot are still a joke, right?” I asked him.

“Maybe there will be more mediums for increasing the security in certain passages near the throne but the efficiency…” he took a breath “…is still the same.” He confessed. “Because of that, despite the conditions for the charge, we can readmit you again in the army. We were too strict at applying it” he affirmed.

I was left a little bit thoughtful after hearing that. I´ll have to take care of what I am saying to him right now:

“Cloud Zapper, I have something to confess as well” I affirmed. “I have nothing against you really. However, you had to know that Canterlot was too stressful for me, lots of things were happening in so little time and you know, the guards weren´t all that ideal. The pleasures were alright, but my health and my stability was taken away from me that day” I answered.

“What are you trying to tell me with that?” he asked.

"I´ve almost faced death after going through a vast desert and being carried over by violent waves. You´ll understand that I cannot be the same after having this experience” I continued.

“You were about to die? How did you dare to do such a crazy move like that?” he asked with surprise.

“You know, it isn´t all that hard to see it after feeling unwelcome in Canterlot and my house was taken away from me. Since then, I had nothing left to lose. You knew that I am a one trick pony. This charge is what I have known in my life. I simply took the risk at discovering the south, it almost took my life and now, I am talking to you. I had simply accepted an offer I didn´t have that day. I have been born again” I affirmed.

“I am speechless, BlueStar. That´s why you are so serious now…” he said.

“Indeed. And here I am, trying to prove my loyalty in my charge” I responded.

“So, all this means that we are never going to see ourselves again?” he asked.

“Well, I´ve met someone else here and you should do it yourself” I responded.

“So, are you staying because of a relationship? Are you going to flirt again with the mares again around here?” Cloud Zapper asked.

“I believe that…those pleasures won´t come back. I might have doubts about returning to Canterlot but that one surely won´t.” I affirmed.

“So it´s true that you are being more serious this time” he said.

“Actually, the queen hasn´t been disappointed by my duties yet and for this place, I don´t do need you around. I can handle this on my own” I said.

“Are you going to stay under her rule eternally?” he asked.

“I still serve for her and for Celestia as well because I am working for the defence of Equestria. I don´t know how long I will stay here but I cannot complain about it at all” I affirmed.

“Fortunately you are alright after all. I hope that you can handle it nicely here but we know that someone has been missing in the unit these days” he admitted.

“Considering that the train station is open, it doesn´t mean that we cannot see ourselves. I have no problem with that. The only thing that has changed, Cloud Zapper, is that you are no longer my commander” I affirmed.

“I guess that you are right. It is a nice place, I might spend a few days off here…just like you did, right?” he smiled a little bit.

“Yes” I laughed a little bit as well. “But those were different times Cloud Zapper, just don´t worry about me because I have been fine after that complicated day” I continued.

“And that´s a good thing” he responded.

Both the queen and Celestia were exiting the throne room´s entrance. It was time to go for Cloud Zapper.

“Well, it seems that I am leaving. It was a relief to see you again” he admitted.

“Me too, Cloud Zapper” I answered.

“Just promise me one thing, BlueStar” he said.

“What is it?” I asked with hesitation.

“Make your commander proud” he said to me, while he was shaking his left hoof.

“I will do it, sir” I responded, shaking mine as well.

“I sense that you can do it” he concluded.

We nodded our heads among ourselves like royal guards we were. After that, he and both royal figures were heading to the entrance of Seaquestria, slowly disappearing while there were emerging to the surface.  

So, that was it for my commander. I guess that after confessing my thoughts with him today, given that I am in the mood for it and have my personal doubts of coming back to Canterlot, I believe that she must know the truth…