[Hemera] Queen of the Castle: Final

FYI: This chapter was written after I received some much needed feedback from a kind critic and contains some of my first attempts
at implementing his advice. To that end the format, pacing, characterization, and dialogue have all been subjected to a bit of a change
from previous chapters and stories in the hopes of improving my storytelling. I hope you enjoy it!

--oO(Queen of the Castle: Final)Oo-

>You are Gray Scutum
>You take up position in the gazebo overlooking Celestia's Magical Menagerie in the East Gardens.
>Hemera insisted that it would be impossible for her to so much as sneak up on a rock with you clodding around after her,
>so you were to take up a watchful position at the top of the little hill and observe.
>It's nice to be out and about this late at night again.
>The Moon casts a glow that sets everything in sharp relief, lit softly at one angle and deeply black at the other.
>The cool night air fills you with energy and sharpens your senses.
>It also calms the worries at the back of your mind as you consider your decision before arriving.
>It had taken almost two hours for Hemera to finish her contraption.
>The thing was pretty complicated, but it was far and away simpler than the massive Rube Goldberg undertaking she had planned originally.
>Your badly forced acting back in the 'War Room' had managed to convince her that something quieter, sneaker, and altogether more personal would be a better solution,
>but she still managed to come up with an idea that was decidedly overkill.
>She had constructed a large shoulder-mounted tube that was supposed to erupt a massive load of cake icing, whipped cream, and batter all over whomever she was pointing it toward at a range of nearly twenty feet.
>You aren't sure on the physics of it, but you're not entirely convinced that a bunch of her favorite magic-start fireworks taped together and shoved down into a large cardboard tube will produce the desired results.
>Okay, you have to admit she worked hard on it and that it's a little more complicated than that, but not much.
>She was so proud of it when she was finished.
>Much of the time was spent carefully painting and detailing the outside of the thing to look as 'Awesome' as possible.
>You shake your head remembering how she looked cramming it and herself under her big cardboard box.
>She spent some time enchanting the box so that if anypony noticed they'd just ignore it.
>You don't know how much stock to put in that since it seemed to have no effect on you, but whatever.
>No, even if you ignore the many, Many problems with this farce and how it could go wrong there is still plenty to have you worried.
>Not the least of which is what could happen if it all goes off without a hitch.
>Blasting a sleeping Phoenix with a gallon of baking material while it's deep asleep seems like absolute foalishness, and that would be betting a lot on Philomena's ability to take as much as she can dish out.
>It's a bet that, in all honesty, you couldn't allow yourself to take.
>Befriending Hemera was a necessity for your job as her bodyguard, since trust is key to such a close relationship.
>But there are times when your duty to protect her has to come first, and that's true even if it means losing a bit of that trust.
>As you left the War Room to head to your position you made a quick stop by Princess Celestia's apartments.
>It didn't take long to explain the situation, and the Princess was very quick to understand.
>Besides, you had plenty of time as Hemera planned to shuffle along the longest, least populated route to the gardens as possible in her box.
>Her Majesty was sympathetic to your situation, and asked Princess Luna to watch over the event from a distance for everyone's benefit since Celestia needed her rest.
>Luna was only too happy to oblige.
>You were starting to come to understand that when the pony in your charge is a young, high-strung, unstably magical alicorn your ability to defend her is almost entirely physical.
>Her mental, emotional, and magical defense and maturity is something that has to be guided and safeguarded by others.
>You rest your forelegs on the railing of the gazebo and lean outward looking toward the softly lit mini habitats down the way.
>Dozens of magical creatures from all corners of Equestria were snoozing peaceably.
>Blissfully unaware of the small cube-shaped shadow whispering softly across the grass in their direction.
>Okay, game time.
>You'd already made two circuits of the perimeter making mental note of every nook and shadow that could possibly contain a threat.
>And you had seen the familiar ghostly shadow of a winged unicorn flit across the moon soaked ground.
>Everything is in place and as it should be.
>You watch as Box Hemera quietly slides over the lawns toward the center of the Menagerie.
>Philomena's luxurious nest was situated in the branches of a beautiful sculpture of a large leafy tree made from wiry strands of every kind of metal that the artisans could get their hooves on.
>They all arced up from the 'roots' in the ground and rose weaving and twisting upward into the trunk, limbs, branches, and even the leaves of the rest of the tree.
>These days you are reminded of it sometimes when you see Hemera's mane and tail shining in much the same way.
>You have to wonder how this dramatic scene is unfolding in Hemera's head as you watch her ease from shadow to shadow closing in on her prey.
*crshshr*
>She's stepped on a small fallen branch from one of the surrounding real trees, the leaves gently rustling.
>You watch Philomena carefully, but the Phoenix still has her head tucked under her wing breathing deeply.
>Boxhorse has slowed, but continues forward doggedly until she finally pulls up near the base of the tree sculpture.
>A bead of sweat trickles down your forehead.
>This is actually kind of exciting.
>The box slowly lifts upward revealing the shadowy hooves underneath...and then stops.
>You watch as the box shifts and pushes upward but doesn't really get any farther off.
>You hold your breath realizing it's caught on something.
>You hear some whispered mumbling that you could guess is probably rather impolite and the box begins to gently glow with a fucshia light.
>It lifts upward and strains a bit as you see her hook a hoof under the edge and begin to push.
*shLUF-WHUD*
>The heavy cardboard box pops up and away suddenly and bumps to the ground next to her.
"horseapples!"
"Wark?"
>Oh this is about to get interesting!
>You watch transfixed as the tree sculpture and its surroundings are lit with a flickering golden light as Philomena wakes from the noise and notices Hemera.
"TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, PIGEON!"
>Hemera heaves her tube contraption up onto her shoulder with her hooves, her magic flashing over the fuses sticking out about halfway down.
"Scraw!"
>Philomena flies up out of her nest, hovers a moment, and then rushes straight toward Hemera.
>You twitch at the sudden apparent attack, and begin to gallop toward the two of them.
>You trust Princess Luna to make sure nothing goes amiss, and you're pretty sure Philomena isn't trying to hurt Hemera, but you'd be remiss if you didn't try to intervene at this point.
*BLOOORFTOOOOOOOM!*
>You skid to a stop halfway down the hill as the miniature explosion rocks the small clearing.
>Globs of sticky, cream colored goop rain down around you coating you from nose to nethers.
"Ew! Yech! What in Equestria?"
"G-graww?"
>You wipe the muck from your eye and look down towards your ward.
>You think you may herniate from holding in your laughter.
>Princess Luna is taking no such risk.
>The Princess of the Night touches down to the ground amid the pastrified disaster, filling the air with musical laughter.
"Mugh! Princess Luna! It's not FUNNY! For pony's sake, could someone get me out of this stuff?"
>The Phoenix and the Alicorn sit struggling at the center of a large ring of sugary debris.
>The two of them practically glued together by several layers and strands of rapidly hardening edible cement.
>Even Philomena begins to laugh her weird chirpy laughter as you trot down towards them.
"And just what do YOU think is so funny, you overcooked chicken?"
>Philomena just continues laughing and flicks a crusty wing in your direction.
>Hemera's eyes meet yours and her struggles cease for a moment as a look of pure wonder falls over her face.
"Erm, if you'll just give me a moment *Sir* I'll help you find your way back to your bed."
>You cock your head staring at Hemera in confusion as Luna coninues in her hysterics
>"Hemera, what are you..."
"Easy, Mister. Don't worry. I'm sure you're confused, but >snrk< we'll have you safe and sound once I get out of this mess."
>"Okay what in the name of all that's good is going on here?"
>Princess Luna manages to get enough air in her lungs to stand shakily to her hooves.
"Perhaps we can assist you, kind gentlecolt."
>Her magic envelopes her horn and she generates a reflective surface in front of you.
>"Oh.....of course......"
>The off-white material that sprayed all over the place from the explosion had settled into your mane, coat, and tail aging you considerably.
"We think it makes you look very distinguished."
>The Princess falls prey to another fit of laughter as she speaks
>You give a snort and can't help but chuckle as well.
>It's all just too ridiculous.
>Hemera and her nemesis glued to the ground, you aged a good half a century, and one of the rulers of much of the free world all laugh yourselves exhausted as the moon rides high in the sky.
>After a few minutes of everypony catching their breath, Princess Luna breaks the two troublemakers free, and then has Hemera clean the area thoroughly with Philomena's help.
"Pranks are all well and good, but one mustn't make extra work for other ponies to clean up just to play a game."
"Yes, Princess Luna."
"Craw"
>The Moon Princess insists that you be cleaned up last since she wants to ensure that every detail is memorized for future enjoyment.
"And our Sister insists that all THREE of you join her for breakfast after sunrise to regale her with the tale of this evening's adventure."
>Hemera and Philomena both visibly stiffen at this, but are nonetheless quick to agree.
"She also requested that we inform you that you are both to come to a truce and agree not to continue this prank war within the city limits of Canterlot. We trust you ALL agree?"
"Yes, Princess Luna."
"Craw"
>"By your command, your Highness."
>She looks over the three of you for a moment to ensure you all are suitably chastised.
>You suppose it's only natural that you're included in this, you did let it get out of hand in the first place after all.
"Good, then we expect all of you to go straight to bed so that you are refreshed and ready to attend our Sister in the morning, pleasant dreams to you all."
>She takes flight with a smile and a wink and soars off toward the upper towers of the Castle
>"C'mon Hemera. Say goodnight to Philomena and lets go inside."
"G'night birdbrain"
"Scraw"
"Same to you"
>You shake your head as they grin at each other for a moment before turning away.
>"Alright, lets go. Princess Celestia wont be happy if you're all worn out in the morning."
>You smile inwardly as you notice the predictable reaction the Princess's name gets out of them both.
>It seems there is truly only one Queen of this Castle.
>And everypony knows it.

The End