An Affinity With the Sun: Act II: Chapter IX

An Affinity With the Sun~
{Act II}
[Chapter IX]
|Coming to an End, the Climax!|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>With the mightiest wing beat she could muster, Celestia shot through the air like a bullet
>The speed you were going before could never compare to the speed you were at now
>She carries you back on a near 90 degree angle for Canterlot, the dragons slowly making their way over Ponyville
>As you get closer to the alabaster city, you hear the sound of bells and alarms
>"Luna must have already sounded the alarms!" She calls over the howling wind
>"I'm afraid she may be planning to take hostile action! We must convince her otherwise!"
>You can hardly keep a grip on Celestia's mane and you can barely keep yourself on her back
>The urgency really adds to the tension
>Canterlot grows closer with each wing beat and before long Celestia lands the both of you in the square
>You almost pass out from going such an insane speed, but you persevere to follow her inside
>Guards rush through the halls, carrying weapons and pulling large cannons to the walls
>Looks like Luna has already made her decision
>You and Celestia turn into the throne room where Luna waits patiently
>"Sister, it is as we feared." Luna says
>"Luna, I don't think it'd be wise to engage these dragons head on. We have to try a more diplomatic solution if we want to come out of this unscathed."
>Celestia leaves your side and approaches her younger sister
>Luna contemplates the idea, but ultimately declines
>"There are dragons on our door step. Which means they are declaring war. We doubt there would be any way to avoid this."
>"At least allow me to try. You're always so quick to handle matters by force. Not everything can be won with conflict."

>Luna scoffs at her sister's words, but that didn't make them false
>"These are full fledged wild dragons! The closer the come to Canterlot, the more we endanger the citizens. They won't be swayed by pretty words!"
>"But we've always put diplomacy first. Allow me to do it, not out of necessity, but out of formality."
>Luna pauses to think it over, until finally shaking her head in contempt
>"Fine, but as soon as it goes wrong, we're moving in." Luna says as she passes by Celestia
>"Oh, you make it sound like it's going to fail Luna. Have faith in me." Celestia laughs of the premonition from her sister
>"It almost definitely will." With that, Luna vanishes behind the great double doors, leaving you alone with Celestia
>The look on her face is ponderous, and worrying
"Hey, I'm sure you'll do fine out there." You say as you approach her
>You wrap your arms around her neck and she yields to the hug, she visibly appreciates it
>"I can't say that I'm worried about negotiating. But this entire situation is a result of my errors. And it seems we'll all have to pay for it today. Whether it ends in heavy compromise, or war."
"Well, no matter what, I'll be cheering for you."
>You pat her on her haunches for emphasis

>"Your majesty, Princess Luna request you join her on the wall."
>An unfamiliar guard pony enters the room to deliver the message
>Celestia nods in appreciation for the relay and he promptly exits
"Why is she so bossy? Aren't you older than her?"
>"Well yes but, I want her to feel like she has a bigger role in the kingdom. I could easily bypass her command if I wanted. But that would be rude!"
>You share a fit of laughter at Luna's expense as you exit the throne room
>Now even more guards seem to be milling through the halls, with the inclusion of staff moving to safer areas of the castle
>You hope that fighting doesn't actually break out. It'd would undoubtedly have huge consequences. A hand full of ponies you see now may not be here tomorrow.
>But there was no use getting worried at a time like this, you were starting to lose pace and Celestia was far ahead of you
>That fact that this may turn into a full scale war is a bit baffling
>What could Celestia possibly have done to incite this?
>Was telling off a dragon really such a huge crime, but then again, aren't dragons extremely prideful?
>There was really no point and thinking about it now, thinking in hindsight only gets you so far

>The two of you join Luna on the outer walls
>The dragon horde seemingly growing bigger and bigger as they draw nearer
>"We hope you know what you are doing." Luna says as she stares into the distance
>"You worry too much Lulu. Try to relax."
>You notice Luna's expression change to one of annoyance and she's about to give her elder sister an earful
"It's gonna be fine." You interrupt
"Besides, it wouldn't be the first time you've both avoided a crisis right?"
>"We've been lucky over the past millennium. We can only pray it doesn't run out today."
"Jesus, you're grim. You've gotta lighten up if we're going to be related."
>You try to lighten the mood, well, not really trying mostly to tease the both of them
>Luna just stares at Celestia, who pretends she didn't hear a word
>"Perhaps..." Luna says
>It's always so hard to know what she thinks of you, and thinking about her as an in-law was difficult because of that fact
>Does she hate you or something?
>"Your majesties, all arms are prepared. We are at your orders."
>A guard interrupts the moment with the update and once he is relieved he hurries back to his comrades
>Everyone's attention refocuses to the horde, which is in range of the cannon fire
>The sprawling mass of scales and wings flock together near the base of the mountain
>From the horde steps a larger dragon, with terrible black wings and teeth that could rip through steel
>"I'll go and meet them in the mediate" Celestia says as she begins to spread her wings
>Luna urges her to be careful, and to not give into their threats
>You rightfully assumed that you'd be tagging along, but when you move to mount Celestia, she is surprised
>"I'm sorry to leave you again Anon. But I think it would be best if you waited here." she says
>She's of course right, but that doesn't change the fact that you feel that you should be with her when she confronts a mob of flesh eating dragons
"That's bullshit! I get that these guys are dangerous, but that's no reason for you to go it alone! I'm sick of just sitting here and watching. I want to actual -do- something."
>Celestia only sighs, shooting an annoyed look at you
>"I'm trying to keep you safe Anon. You would just be a liability for me, trust me. It'd be best if you stayed here."
>She leans in for a hug, which you almost don't receive
"Fine. Just don't do anything stupid.."
>She laughs and turns from you, leaping off the edge of the wall and gliding downward to meet with the dragons
>It is only you and Luna now
>You try to think of something to say, before the awkwardness can set in
>"You're pretty whiny Anon. Many mares are repelled by that you know?" she says
"Fuck off."

>"In all seriousness. We think you should wait inside with the others. You'll be in the way in the event that conflict arises."
>You weren't going anywhere, and you made sure she knew that
>"It's not up for discussion." she says, completely casting away your argument
>Before you can protest any further, the scenery around you quickly changes in the blink of an eye
>What was once the open sky above Canterlot, was now the ceiling of a damp kitchen cellar stocked with ponies
>It happened so fast, you can't really process it
>But you knew what essentially happened
>Around the dim cellar you can make out the surprised faces of ponies
>But they all fade as a familiar stallion approaches you
>"Anon! Do you know whats going on? All we've heard was that there are dragons!"
>It's Juniper, you can't say you're happy to see him. But you aren't hating the fact that you have a familiar face with you
"Yeah, there's dragons. Apparently things didn't go right at the summit and now Equestria could go to war because of it.."
>The worried ponie's faces grow more frightened at the thought of Equestria ever becoming a battle ground
>More so their homes here in Canterlot
>"Woah, are you serious? How come you aren't out there with them? Aren't you like, the princesses coltfriend or something?"
>Juniper's question gains a curious look from the other ponies
>As inquisitive as their kind are, they're probably only interested in prying more into your private life
>Still, boyfriend? That's still something to consider.
>You knew the both of you were on an intimate level. But she practically lied to Twilight and her friends about you being her husband. But after all of that, it would be weird to just outright say you're her 'boyfriend'
"Yeah. I guess I am. But Celestia has gone down to try to negotiate a truce of some kind. Luna just stuffed me here with the rest of you."
>"Negotiate? These are wild dragons!"
>Juniper, being a bit louder than necessary reals on his hind legs and bares his flattened teeth for emphasis
>It only makes him look like a kid

"I know, which is why I wanted to go with her. But no 'I'd be a liability'."
>Juniper settles down and reassures you that Celestia would probably be fine
>She did run a kingdom for a thousand years on her own didn't she?
>You suppose it wouldn't hurt to put some faith in her
>With nothing else to actually do, you decide to just play the waiting game
>You entertain yourself with more pleasant thoughts
>Some about Celestia
>The conversation you had with Pinkie and Rarity
>Getting out of this cramped cellar
>That vacation Celestia promised you both would take
>But it isn't long before the dark silence is shattered by the volley of cannon fire
"Shit! What was that?" the sound shocked everyone in the room
>"Sounds like peace talks are over..."
>Juniper and the other ponies now huddle together in comfort
>After the initial blast, more follow and shake the foundation of the cellar
>Loose stone and dust trickle down from the ceiling
>A few roars can be heard outside along with pony battle cries
>War actually broke out, just a few moments ago everything was fine
>But now, Canterlot is probably getting leveled
>You desperately wanted to be out there, helping in some way
>Even if it was just cheering Tia on
>Maybe the biggest reason is that you didn't want to feel like a pet
>You didn't want to feel like you were the princess's play thing, you were more than that and you felt you should be treated as such
>"Hey Anon. You got family here in Canterlot?" Juniper asks
>A stupid question, but one you answer any way
"Nah. You?"
>Juniper shakes his head and reclines on a crate
>"Nope. I'm actually from up north. Most of my family is in Manehattan. 'Was supposed to go see them this weekend, but that doesn't really seem possible now."

>You move to take a seat next to Juniper, him being the closest thing you have to a friend now
>Various rumbles vibrate off the walls as the two of you talk to pass the time
>At one point, you were so worried about Celestia that you tried to leave
>But a guard stopped you from getting very far
>"All staff must remain hidden until the conflict is over." He said
>Now your once again moping next to Juniper
"I can't stand waiting in here... What if something happened? We wouldn't know because we're all being kept in the dark!"
>"Why would you wanna go out in the middle of something like this? Are you crazy?"
>He stares at you like you have some sort of mental illness, and he could be right
"...Maybe. But how can you stand sitting in here? It's been almost an hour!"
>The air is starting to get to you, your ass hurts from sitting on the floor, and you'd like nothing more than to give those two princesses a piece of your mind
>A moment of silence passes before Juniper speaks up again
>"Hey, you really want to get out of here..?" he says, not making eye contact
>You hesitate for second or two, but nod your head in response
"Yeah. Why?"
>Juniper sighs and rises to his hooves
>"Look man, I like you. You're like, my only friend in this big city, it'd suck if you just up and died on me y'know?"
>You had no idea Juniper actually thought of you as a friend
>As far as you were concerned the two of you were just shooting the shit because you were familiar with each other
>But if he was willing to call you a friend, then you figure you could do the same
"I'm not gonna die. I'm too lucky!" You couldn't be further from the truth
>Juniper smiles and leads you to a corner of the cellar
>"You better be."
>He moves a few barrels and crates to the side and reveals a small trap door
"Woah. Wait, that was there and you didn't show me!?"
>"I'm showing you now aren't I?"
>That was fair enough, and steps aside
>You open the heavy lid and bend down to peer down into the narrow crawl space that seems to go on for a long time
>A cool draft wafts into the cellar, giving everyone some fresh air
>"By the way, I'm coming with you. I found it one day while I was cleaning. I've always wanted to explore it."
>He sounds like such a kid
>But the gesture is still appreciated and you take the initiative and start climbing down the ladder

>Juniper takes his time following, probably reassuring the other ponies in the cellar
>Or telling them to not tell where we've gone
>He eventually climbs down after you, closing the door and leaving you two in darkness
>"Okay, this is already a bad idea.."
>He's right, but just then it hit you
>You start to concentrate all of your will into your left hand
>The darkness is expelled by the light emitting from your palm
>The tunnel and it's passages are revealed instantly when your eyes finally adjust
>"Woah! I didn't know you could use magic!" Juniper nearly slips off the ladder in surprise
"I've been practicing for a while now. I'm not sure how long I can keep this up, so we better hurry."
>Juniper nods and the two of you inch further and further down the ladder until you finally reach the bottom
>The tunnels are lined with stone and built with magnificent arches
>It must be some sort of hidden network of some kind, or some spooky old crypt
>Either way, it was going to lead you out into the surface, or so you hoped
>You and Juniper notice a small indent in the stone, creating a stream of water the flows into the dark
"The water's gotta be going somewhere.."
>Juniper agrees and the both of you head in the direction the water flows
>Your combined steps echo around you, each time you think someone is following you
>Or you could just be paranoid
>Maybe it was just too quiet and unpleasant thoughts were creeping into your brain
"So, what actually brought you to Canterlot?" you ask
>You could tell Juniper didn't expect the question from the look on his face and he considers his answer
>"Well, I guess you could say I wanted to get out of the big city. Plus, I practically see the princesses on a daily basis, so that's pretty cool I guess."
>The answer seems void of any real reason, but you don't pry further. You don't need to.
>"I'm actually kinda working here for the money. My family owns a store and it hasn't been doing so well these last few years."
"Oh? What kind of store" You ask
>"Just a general store. Y'know, variety type stuff."
>The two of you talk more to fill the quietness of the tunnels
>He tells you more about himself, and his family and life in Manehattan, you make a mental note to visit one day

>Your talks are interrupted by an impact that shutters through the tunnels, followed by more
"Holy shit, things are really heating up!" you turn to Juniper, he oddly isn't there
>Instead he is bolting ahead of you screaming "RUN!"
>Behind you, the tunnels start to collapse and you break into a sprint
>Even though Juniper had a head start, you catch up to him pretty quickly
>The stone and debris falling behind you is nipping at your heels though
>And your legs are already carrying you as fast as they possible can
>Same can be said for Juniper
>The light in your hand beings to flicker on and off
>The worst possible time
>But as the light begins to fade, you spot the shape of a small door just ahead of the both of you
>You a Juniper both come to the same conclusion and sprint to the door as if the devil was nipping at your boots
>Closer and closer you get and with each step the door grows bigger
>The two of you slam into the door, only for it to not budge at all
"Shit! It's locked!"
>"What!? Don't you have some fancy magic you can pull out of your ass?!" Juniper yells into your ear
"Of course not!"
>The rubble grows closer as the arches begin to cave in
>"Get out of the way!"
>Juniper hurls you to the side and begins to furiously buck at the door
>It's loud thuds echoing
"Hurry up! Hurry up!"
>Just in the nick of time the door flies of it's hinges and reveals the bright light of the sun and open air
>You both hurry to the other side right before the tunnels could be completely destroyed

>On the other side, you both catch your breath on the mountain side, silently celebrating the two of you cheating death
>You seem to have emerged out into a forest right outside Canterlot, the door Juniper kicked down was covered in moss
>The small stream of water leading further down into a small brook
>You pat Juniper on the back for a job well done and the light from your other hand completely goes out
>"I thought. We, were going to die." Juniper says, panting
"We were..."
>But your reprieve is broken as a large dragon flies over head
>It almost slipped your mind that there was a war going on and the two of you recover at that moment and get moving
>The sound of cannons and dragon roars are the only thing thing in the sky right now
>You both run along the forest trail and through the tree line you can see some of the action
>It doesn't look pretty, you just saw a dragon's face collide with a cannon ball
"I hope she's alright.."
>"Shut up, she's a princess. I'm sure she's fine!" Juniper reassures you that you're just being a worrying idiot
>It makes you glad to have a friend like him
>But it just occurred to you that you're on a live battlefield
>You were in the middle of a war between dragons and Equestria, you'd have to be really careful
>You exit the forest and are now able to see most of the battered landscape
>A lot of dragons lay on the grassy hills, either wounded or dead
>You scan the skies for Celestia, but she is nowhere to be found
>Juniper is hesitant to step out into the open, but as you lead, he follows
>You navigate through the maze of dragons, some large some small
>A few more steps will bring you to the top of the hill and as you reach it's peak you witness a ferocious battle between ponies and dragons
>It's enough to make shell shock you
>You have the thousand-yard stare and you can't look away from the carnage
>For every dragon, at least 5 ponies die trying to take it down
>But in the middle of it all, in the center of the chaos is Celestia
>Weak and battered

>Celestia staggers in her movements but fights on
>Sparks fly from her horn with each blast it produces
>A heroic, yet demonic sight
>Though she was exhausted, she still somewhat managed to move with grace and the skill of a dancer
>Around her lay many dragons, slain by her power
>But also her fellow countrymen, scattered among the battlefield
>You knew it was a bad idea for her to go alone
>But what help would you have been anyway?
>She'd probably would be in worse shape had she been trying to protect you
>But she is still fighting to protect you and the kingdom
>The scenery just seems to play in slow-motion as everything around you acts on itself
>You can only focus on Celestia, fighting a nearly losing battle
>"Anon! Snap out of it!" Juniper tugs on your sleeves to get your attention
>You snap out of the trance to see a very large dragon falling from the sky above you
>"Anon we gotta move!"
>Juniper pushes you downhill and your sent rolling downward
>The dragon's impact sends you both flying and kicking up dirt
>You hit the base of the hill among the battle, ponies clash with dragons and magical projectiles zip through the air
>Juniper recovers and witnesses everything
>"Holy shit.....what am I doing here. Anon! Why'd I let you talk me into this!?"
>You ignore him, through the mass of steel and gleaming armor you can make out a ragged Celestia in the center
"Juniper, I want you to get out of here!"
>"What?! What about you!?" Juniper is more than willing to leave, but he probably doesn't feel right just leaving you by yourself
"I'll be fine! Get lost!" You shout
>Juniper takes his sweet time making up his mind before nodding and making you promise you won't die
"I promise!" you reply
>And with that, he takes off in the direction you both came
>Ahead of you, was a more or less clear path to the epicenter of the battle
>Where she waited for you

>You muster up all your will and courage to take the first step, and that step is a catalyst that sends you running forward into the fray
>Unarmed and unprotected, your drive is all you have now and through the chaos of battle you can feel it pushing you further
>In the air you can see beams of golden light shoot outward from the center
>She's still putting up a good fight
>You're getting closer
>Your advancement is halted however by 3 smaller dragons who bare their fangs at you
>Right then and there, your life flashes before your eyes as you prepare for death
>But a dark blue beam of magical energy carves through the ground and taking obliterating the dragons before you
>Up above, Luna watches you
>A look of absolute anger on her face, you weren't looking forward to talking to her. At all
>"WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE YOU IDIOT!?" her royal Canterlot voice breaks the sound barrier from shear anger
>But that anger distracts her and she is tackled mid-flight by a dragon and slammed into the side of Canterlot
>That was completely your fault
>Though, there were more important things to focus on
>You press onward, to the source of the golden rays of magic
>Celestia is probably getting weaker and weaker with each spell she casts
>But you're stopped once again as you're caught in a charge of ponies
>They jostle you around, nearly trampling you
>This gauntlet was becoming increasingly tedious to run
>But the fruits of your labors bloom as you reach the edge
>You break from the crowds of clashing ponies and dragons and stand on the edge of the center
>Before you can call out to her she's pinned down by two dragons who got the drop on her
>Though she seemingly effortlessly repels them
>But in an instant. One tiny fraction of a second! You saw it.
>One of the dragons dug a claw into her wing, leaving it stained red
>The damage is felt universally as she slowly collapses into the dirt and the once bright light of the sun retreats behind the clouds, casting a shadow along the valley
>The mere sight was enough to crush your heart and shred the pieces

>Everything stops around you as the scene repeats itself over and over again in your mind
>Breaking the cycle of replays, you rush to her side
>The sounds of battle blocked out and the blood in your body nearly frozen
>In the middle of this grand battle, time seemed to stop the moment Celestia touched the ground
>You didn't notice, but everyone felt it
>The very instant she hit the ground, all fighting ceased
>Everyone looked on as you fell to you knees, tears breaking away from the corners of your eyes
>The grounds were silent, so quiet you could hear the heartbeat of everyone surrounding you
>But you weren't sure if you could hear her's
"Tia! It's me, Anon! C'mon....get up!"
>You take her head into your arms and try to jostle her awake
>Only small breaths escape her mouth and you can feel them tickle the side of your face
>She was absolutely silent
>You continued to shake her, trying to stir her awake
>Her name leaves your mouth one last time, and by some greater magic, she finally responds
>Her eyes quiver and slowly part, and a wave of relief washes over you
>She's slow to gather herself but she recognizes you in her cloudy vision
>"Anon..? What are you doing here?"
>Her expression is a mix of annoyance and happiness
>You don't answer her, instead you bring her in close with a tight embrace
>The sun reappears over top of you and illuminates the field around you
>You're so glad she's alright, nothing would be able to coax you out of the despair you would have found yourself in
>Celestia moves from under your arms, breathing heavily
>She again questions you being here and it takes time for you to gather words
"I, don't know.. I guess I just hated sitting around, not being able to do anything. Then next thing I know, I'm watching you get taken down right in front of me.."

>"Anon..." She starts
>"Nopony expects you to jump into battle on a moments notice. The reason I wanted you to stay was so I could guarantee your safety. And let's be honest, I was careless today if had you been here, worse could have happened."
>She places her hoof on your cheek, slowly tracing your features
>"You haven given me so much these past months. Things that I will cherish forever. But this time, please let me repay you. Let me protect you."
>Her request moves you deeply
>Let's be honest, you're just a human in a world where terrible monsters attack almost on a daily basis
>What be so bad as to let someone protect you from all of it's dangers?
>You stair into her wondrous eyes
>Though you've stared into them before, only now do you truly appreciate their beauty
"Alright." you accept her will and stand
>Looking around, you observe the many muzzles and snouts of the ponies and dragons around you
>Could it be that seeing Celestia in such a weak state swept away their will to fight?
>Her state of being may have shattered all morale for the guards, and maybe the dragons realized that they were just feeding off of mob mentality and realized that this attack was unjustified
>Whatever the case was, they all looked unwilling to raise their hands in war
"I think it'd be best if we all just stopped the fighting. Many have died here today. Dragons and ponies alike. This whole thing was an honest mistake. What ever insult the princess made to your leader, I'm sure she'll apologize for. But for now, please. Just stop the fighting!"
>For a few minutes, no one moves
>But after a while, a spear is thrown on the grassy plane
>The single spear releases a chain reaction of various weapons leaving their masters to hug the ground in the name of peace
>Celestia tries to stand, but you tell her to take it easy as you ask for a team to escort her inside
>The conflict seemed surely over, but from beyond the rows of dragons rises the familiar black drake

>This dragon was by far larger than the rest, at least three times a large
>He was as black as night and his claws and fangs as sharp as finely cut diamond
>His tongue falls from his snout as he gives a distorted laugh of amusement
>"What's this? Brothers, do tell me when dragons were swayed by such honeyed words! Are we not proud beings? I will not stand for such an insult to be gone uncorrected! For what is a dragon without his honor? It'd be the same if I were to lose my horde!"
>The dragons around you begin to consider their leader's words
>Tension begins growing the two factions and conflict was imminent
>"An insult on a clan leader is an insult to the entire house! Such is our way! Don't tell me you'd be coaxed into peace by such a weak little ape!"
>The dragons begin to rally and bare their claws
>And ponies retrieve their strewn weapons to defend themselves
>"No! You sorry excuse for dragons will sit and watch, as I show you what a true, proud dragon looks like!"
>His thunderous claws tear through the ground as he makes his way over to you and Celestia
>Behind you, Celestia tries to rise once more, but fails
>She's too fatigued
>She won't be able to defend herself
>Guards try to surround you, but the black dragon orders the others to occupy them
>It's only you and Celestia in the center
>You're absolutely terrified and you find yourself unable to move
>You're stone cold and unable to pass a single thought

>The black dragon draws closer and closer
>Each step sending a shock wave of terror through your body
>The thought of everything coming to an end frightens you on a whole other plane
>Your life on Earth, in Equestria, in the palace with Celestia
>It was all going to become past tense in this moment if you didn't do anything
>But it was in these times that heroes would do the most amazing things
>Pull a rabbit out of their hat
>This was the climax and you were the final key to open the door to your destiny
>The adrenaline was already coursing through your body
>Giving you a slight high
>Your finger tips tingle and just then, it clicks
>Every single memory you had of your time with Celestia suddenly flooded into your psyche
>So fast and sudden you were sure you'd explode
>But your body had other plans
>As if against your will, your hand rose into the air
>The concentrated thoughts manifesting in the raw power of light in your hand
>Everyone was motionless, gawking at the sight
>A single pillar of light sprang from your hand, resembling lighting
>Without thinking you pull your arm as far back as possible
>Your heart and desires acting as a catalyst and launch the ray of white light forward
>Coursing through the air in a loud, sharp whistle
>Everyone's eyes follow as it spans the battlefield
>Effortlessly, it pierces the heart of the black dragon in mere seconds
>It drove enough force through him to completely exit on the other side before shooting away into the distance
>And for that single moment in time, that single piece of eternity, silence was heard throughout the world!

>He reels up on his hind legs in pure pain
>A gaping whole staring into the sky
>His roars echo loud and wide as the feeling of power courses through you
>The other dragons stare in disbelief as your hand produces another pillar of light
>Your light could out shine the sun as it sprang through the sky
>One after another, lighting leaves your finger tips and strike the dragon time after time
>It came naturally, you wouldn't say it was enjoyable
>But your fear was replaced with motivation
>From the ground, Celestia watched as you launched lighting through the air
>You still had the panic look on your face, but underneath she felt your resolve

//I will protect her no matter what the cost. This is my will!\\

>Your thoughts rang out within her and moved her on the deepest levels of her emotions
>The last bolt would leave your hand, caring your will into the dragon's very being
>And for years to come, dragons will know of the man who slayed this drake with such raw power
>He finally fell, slowly
>The sound mimicking an explosion
>Your breath was ragged, and your vision was starting to waver
>Around you, dragons began to retreat and many rushed to your aid
>You were exhausted, but you felt satisfied
>Slowly, you fell into the soft grass next to Celestia
>The last thing you feel is her wing wrapping around you
>What came next was the best sleep you've gotten in years


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>"I don't think that'd be wise Anon."
"Nonsense. He may be old but his heart is still healthy enough."
>It's been about a few days since the whole incident with the dragons
>You apparently passed out on the fields
>Celestia told you that it was most likely magic fatigue
>Saying that to release that much power in very quick successions of one another was a magical marvel
>The both of you spent your recuperating days together, mostly taking long walks in the garden, or just sitting indoors passing time
>Now, you, Celestia, Juniper, Twilight and her friends all sit quietly in Canterlot's Bread Basket
>Waiting for Mr. Dozen to walk into his seemingly normal shop on a Sunday morning
>"But Anon, what if it -is- too much for him?" Twilight asks
"You worry too much."
>The lock on the front doors jimmy and you rush everyone to get quiet
>The doors open and Mr. Dozen walks in, not expecting anything out of the ordinary
>But as soon as he flicks on the lights, the lot of you spring up and shout "SURPRISE!"
>Mr. Dozen nearly falls over from fright
>And everyone looks at you with a certain 'I told you so' look
"Okay...maybe we over did it.."
>Mr. Dozen recovers with his bout with fright and stands
>He doesn't know whether to curse you, hug you, or bow before the princesses
>"A-Anon, what is all this?" he stutters
"Welp, I heard about you closing down and today was your last day. So, I figured that we'd come and bring you business with our likeness! In a few hours, you'll be swarming with business for years!"
>Mr. Dozen recoils at the suggestion and slowly admits
>"Uhm, gee Anon. I appreciate it. But I'm not as young as I used to be. I don't think I'd be able to manage such a large business."
"Oh...."
>Awkward silence passes over you all
"Well, how about coming to work in the castle?"

>"What? R-really? I'm just a humble baker!"
>Mr. Dozen wipes the beads of sweat off his brow with a handy handkerchief
>"Nonsense. We would love to have you come work in the palace kitchen. It'd be my pleasure." Celestia says
>You can see his face light up with determination
>"Well, I'd better give you a sample of my work then!"
>Mr. Dozen moves past you all and works his way into the kitchen
>Your party settles into the booths and tables as he bakes away
>It'd be nice having him around in the castle, now that you think about it
>Celestia being a sweets lover would probably place him on a pedestal
>You certainly wouldn't put it past her
>All of you sit around, laughing and passing time as the early morning turns into high noon
>Other ponies enter the shop, more than usual and Mr. Dozen has his hooves filled with orders
>Awhile ago Juniper offered to help him and has been busy
>You and Twilight catch up on recent events
>You also talk to her friends, learning more about them and engaging in pleasant small talk
>Looking around you can see everyone's smiling faces
>You could get used to this
>You slip away while everyone is distracted in their own conversations and only Celestia notices your absence
>She follows you outside and joins you
>Ponies wave to you both as they pass by, ushering greetings and bows
>Celestia walks up behind you and covers you in her wings, leaning her head on your shoulder
>"So Anon. And ideas on where to go for our vacation?"
>You take a small moment to ponder the question
"No. Not really. But you know what?"
>She hums her response as you scratch behind her ear
"I don't think we need to go anywhere. I'd like to spend more time with the friends I've made."
>Celestia smiles as the chaotic nature inside the bakery gains your attention
>Thanks to Dash, a food fight had broken out
>You'd rather not get involved, so you and Celestia remain outside, and bask in eachothers warmth