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- Part 1 - http://pastebin.com/8ph0WgV2
- >The next day is probably the longest rotation you ever had
- >Your mind is racing as you stand guard
- >On one hand, any unicorn who eyes you for more than a moment makes you wonder if they're the mystery mare
- >On the other, you have a meeting tonight after work
- >And you have no idea what to talk about
- >What do you talk to the goddess of the sun about?
- >Heck even 'how was your day?' is practically a loaded question
- >"Hey, beanstalk, shifts up"
- >You snap back to Ea...Equestria, whatever
- >Stonehoof is there to relieve you
- >"You daydreaming on watch?"
- "No, sir, just focused"
- >"You must be thinking about that ridiculous letter I had to bring you. Heard she stood you up. Why I married this job instead of a mare."
- >He scoffs and you and him exchange positions
- >You don't bother to argue with him, it never goes anywhere
- >And once he's in position he takes his work very seriously
- >You bid him good day and start for the west balcony
- >The sunset is more brilliant than yesterday
- >Red color leaps from the horizon and overhead the sky is a canvas of orange and gold
- >Celestia really out did herself tonight
- >Something nice must have happened to her
- >Maybe you can get her to talk about that?
- >You arrive at the balcony
- >The air is just as cool as last night
- >The sunset still bathing the world with color, now more blues and purple as the sun slips past the hilltops
- >It must have been a really nice day for her
- >You smile and make your way to the bench you sat on last time
- >Odd
- >The balcony is empty
- >It's a huge observation area, and even on a slow day there are usually a half dozen ponies out to watch the sunset
- >Not today though, you're the only one there
- >Maybe there was a speech or a festival you didn't hear about
- >You shrug and take a seat
- >Its not long after you hear the familiar sound of gold horseshoes on marble
- >When they approach you, you stand and turn around
- >Like last time, she stops you before you can do more than lower your head
- >Princess Celestia is before you, her expression bright as the sun she controls
- >Her regalia sparking in the light of her sunset, they look freshly polished
- >Her mane blowing calmly, her eyes meeting yours with their usual tenderness
- >You can feel event he cool night air warming in her presence
- >"Good Evening, Anon."
- >She smiles
- >You smile back
- "Good evening, Princess Celestia. You outdid yourself tonight, the sky looks gorgeous!"
- >She laughs gently, looking to the sky
- >Even her laughter is a soothing melody
- >"I may have placed slightly more effort into it tonight. I'm glad you appreciate it, Anon."
- >She says something else, but very quietly
- >Far too quiet for you to hear
- >Before you have a chance to ask her what she said
- >A small basket levitates from behind her and sets down on the bench
- >You look tot he basket questioningly
- >"I had a light lunch and felt we both could use something to eat. Care to join me, Anon?"
- >You nod and follow her to the bench, sitting down after she does
- >Her magic is as graceful as she is, the basket unpacks itself slowly, and a small plate is filled with a few pastries before it floats to your lap
- >She does the same for herself, taking an identical assortment of goodies from her picnic basket
- >Her plate floats to herself
- >You and her both seemed fixated on the other's dish
- >Neither of you are actually eating anything
- >Oh no, you're playing polite chicken...
- >"Try the dark chocolate one, it has coconut in the middle"
- >She wins
- >You smile and nod, taking the chocolate from the plate and having a bite
- >Its as good as she says
- >Like a mounds bar back home but all the ingredients taste fresh and delicious
- >You find yourself chewing slower than normal, just to enjoy every bit of the sweet
- >She smiles and takes the same candy, eating it in a similarly slow fashion
- "That is very good, do they make them here?"
- >She nods, not one to speak with her mouth full
- >You're still happy she didn't take the candy with a fork
- >Especially after you snatched it up with your hands
- >"So, Anon, how was your day?"
- >You think for a moment before you reply
- >It would be a little awkward if you complained about your job, considering its entire function is to serve her
- >And she had been the one to insist you were allowed to join
- >But how much can you really talk about standing at attention with a spear in your hand?
- "It was....OK. Normal day, nothing big happened"
- >You quickly grab another pastry and munch on it before she can ask for more specifics
- >"I'm glad to hear that, Anon."
- >She gently wipes her mouth with a silk napkin before returning her attention to you
- >Her eyes are radiating kindness, with a slight hint of expectation, waiting for you to continue
- >You feel bad you gave such a lackluster answer and decide to make up for it
- >You tell much more detailed version of the day's events
- >From the relief of the night watch when you arrived
- >To the conversation you had with Stonehoof before you arrived
- >And every little detail in between
- >Not once did she have a bad thing to say
- >Or anything but a kind word or suggestion sometimes
- >But what really struck you was how much she enjoyed listening
- >As if you were reciting poetry or telling an amazing tale and she wanted to hear every word
- >The pastries went untouched till you finally said
- "...and then I came here and met you"
- >She chuckled and suggested another one of the treats for you to try
- >You nod and take what turns out to be a miniature apple turnover
- >It takes every bit of manners you were ever taught not to gobble it it
- >She seems to notice your plight and giggles
- >Her pastry floats to her mouth and she pops the entire thing in her mouth
- >You follow suit, joining in her laughter
- >She's just full of surprises tonight
- >"So....Anon? Do you agree with Stonehoof?"
- >Not all of them good
- >You swallow, thinking hard about how to answer that
- >She waits patiently, not once giving you the impression she wanted to know right now
- >Her eyes were so gentle, her smile so calming
- >You feel like the worst thing you could do now is disappoint her
- >But the only way you could do that is not to answer her truthfully, you feel
- "I don't think so. That's why I came here last night. If I didn't want a special someone in my life, I wouldn't have"
- >Her smile brightens so subtlety, had you not been paying such close attention you would have missed it
- "I think Stonehoof hasn't had any luck in that department. So he was just annoyed. It was Hearts and Hooves day yesterday, he's probably still a little mad about it"
- >And just like that, her smile faded
- >"That note might not have helped matters. To have to deliver good news to someone else while you remained alone must have been...difficult"
- >She turned to the city, looking away from you
- >"I should...send him something. A reward for all his years of service. Something to brighten his spirits a little"
- >You set your plate down and lean closer
- >Her expression, her tone of voice
- >Like last night, it was hard to pick up when her demeanor changed but
- >Did she feel...guilty?
- >Why would she feel guilty about this?
- "Princess...are you ok?"
- >She closed her eyes and sighed very gently
- >And in an instant, she was back to normal
- >Her features returning to the warm, motherly figure you've known since your very first night
- >"Yes, I am sorry, I was lost in an old memory. I apologize, Anon. It happens from time to time."
- >She turned to you with her usual smile
- >But, for the very first time in the months you've known her
- >You didn't buy it
- >She notices your look of doubt and turns back to the city
- >Her own plate levitates back to the basket, the rest of the food following
- >"My sister has done a wonderful job tonight, wouldn't you agree, Anon?"
- >You don't answer
- >In fact you don't even turn to look to the city
- >You keep your gaze on her
- >She's still smiling, still maintaining her normal composure
- >But her eyes give it away
- >There is a sadness there
- >As if something went wrong but she didn't want to address it
- "Princess?"
- >She closes her eyes and you hear the basket clasps lock
- >She begins to gather herself from the bench, standing with a shaky sigh
- >One by one her hooves land on the marble
- >"I'm sorry to end this abruptly, Anon, but there is something I need to attend to"
- >She's standing, beginning to make her way to the exit
- >Moving slightly quicker than usual
- >You only had a few more seconds before she left
- "Who...sent that note to me?"
- >She freezes
- >Her wings tighten against her body
- >Her head lowers for a second before she makes eye contact again
- >Her features tremble slightly
- >You feel terrible, worried you might be responsible for her sudden change in mood
- >But throughout it all, she keeps that warm, quiet smile
- >"I...I...really need to take my leave, Anon."
- >Her eyes are pleading with you to let her go
- >It was your turn to give a warm, reassuring smile
- >Little by little, the events from last night and tonight connect
- >And you understand exactly what she was talking about the night before
- "Would you like to meet here tomorrow? After my watch has ended?"
- >Her smile changes, from the shaky veil of happiness before to one of relief
- >"I'd...like that very much, Anon."
- >She bows her head to you, and you return the gesture
- >Without another word, she takes her leave, returning to the castle, her basket of sweets floating gently behind her
- >You watch her go, admiring her grace and beauty as she re-entered the hall
- >The guards on the other side of the door see you and you look away, back toward the city
- >That explains why the place was deserted, she wanted privacy
- >Just the stars, the view, and you
- >Clever Princess
- >You hear the doors close behind you
- >The wind from the west blows a gust of cool night air across your body
- >You shiver, suddenly aware of how cold it was outside without Celestia's warmth around you
- >You stay for a few more minutes though
- >Admiring the view from the balcony
- >Watching the ponies go about their nights
- >Seeing happy couples go to and from restaurants on the main streets
- >Another breeze encourages you to head back inside
- >But before you leave
- >You whisper quietly to the city below
- "It's a date, then..."
- Part 3 - http://pastebin.com/TzyyEQ4L
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