Close to Home 11

>A wave of hot air slams into you the moment the doors of the Royal Guard Hall open, prompting you to grimace and wipe your forehead miserably as beads of sweat start to form.
>Despite the city's perch at the edge of the Stalliongrad Mountain Range, the midsummer Canterlot heat is oppressive.
>You look up at the sky and groan before setting off towards the Council offices. As you walk the cobblestone path, you think on the progress of the investigative team so far.
>Shining Armor gave his fifth weekly status report to you this morning. White gave his yesterday afternoon. You take out the folder given to you by the Captain of the Guard and skim the documents briefly as you walk.
>There isn't a lot to go on. All of the leads the Guard has found have ended up being dead-ends. White's reports haven't been especially enlightening either.
>You hope it's because Blueblood has backed off following your message through Silver.
>As you walk into the Council offices, you catch more than a few senior councilors shooting you sidelong glares and glances. You do your best to ignore them and carry on your business.
>Before you can duck into your office to file away the folder, you hear a familiar voice call to you.
>”Anon, glad to see you came in!”
>You turn from your door to respond to Granite's greeting.
Yeah, yuh know I had a meetin' earliah. What can I do fuh yuh, Granite?
>He seems to catch your guarded attitude, but ignores it.
>”I was wondering if you'd come to my office? I'd like to discuss something.”
1/

Can it wait? I got a lotta work ta do.
>Granite pauses and frowns slightly, the jovial tone dropping from his voice.
>”Wasn't really a question. Follow me.”
>You pinch the bridge of your nose and walk after the old stallion in silence.
>Upon entering his office, Granite shuts the door and circles back to his desk with a tired look on his face.
>”Let's get to business, shall we?” he says flatly. “You've been avoiding me. Haven't given me a report on your investigation in weeks, you stalk out of Assembly the minute we adjourn...”
>He rests his front hooves on his desk. “You missed Her Highness Princess Luna in the morning meeting today, incidentally. She was asking for you. I won't pry as to why. What I will insist on you telling me is why you've seemingly gone back to your old quietly-antagonistic attitude here.”
That really yaw business, sir?
>”You're right; normally it wouldn't be my business. But I asked you to keep me in the loop regarding your investigation and-
It's nawt my investigation. If yuh recawll, you put me in chahge.
>”Yes, for a reason, Anon. I thought that much was clear. Did I make some kind of mistake in doing so?”
>You frown and take out the folder.
Aight, you wanna know what's been goin' on the last month?
>Papers spill out onto the desk as you slap the folder down.
Fuck awl, that's what. The team's found jack fakkin' shit connectin' any noble investigated so fah with any kinda 'abuse of powah.'
>”So why do you sound so annoyed about it? Surely it's a good thing that nop0ny has been abusing their station?”
That isn't what bothahs me.
>Granite leans forward.
>”So what does, Anon?”
Why the hell was Blueblood at the Hen's Roost when yuh took me theah?
2/

>Granite looks shocked at your sudden question.
>”What do you mean? I invited His Highness. Many seats on the council count him amongst their allies.”
>A faint twitch in his eye and an ever-so-slight scowl on his face reveal him. You slowly squint and place a hand on the folder, pushing it towards the stallion.
I need ta know where yuh stand 'fore I do a damn thing heah.
>”What? Where I stand? Do you think I'm-” he stops himself and leans in towards the desk. “Walk with me.”
>The stallion gets up from his seat and walks to the door, beckoning you to follow.
>You rise hesitantly and again walk after him as he heads down the hall towards the exit.
3/

>The Chairpony leads you out of the Council offices and into the streets of Canterlot.
Where ah we goin, Granite?
>”Do you know how long I've been on the Royal Council, Anon?” he asks, ignoring your question.
No.
>”Forty years. Celestia personally appointed me after I negotiated the opening of an Equestrian embassy in the Ibex Empire. I took the Chair ten years ago after the previous Chair retired and moved to Hoofington.”
Yuh gonna say I've gawt the same attitude you did?
>”Just the opposite. It was an honor for me to be on the Council at such a young age. I treated it as such.”
>Granite leads you through the streets as he speaks, looking back at you every so often to punctuate his sentences.
>”Blueblood came into the picture five or six years ago. Started making donations to Council members' pet projects, meeting for drinks, business dinners, that sort of thing. Very low-impact. He's amassed a nice little following that way, though, and it worries me. I've been keeping tabs on him for a few years just to make sure he doesn't try to pull anything, but he's been distancing himself from me as of late. Now you start acting strangely and I can't help but wonder if these events are related.”
Why're yuh just telllin' me this now?
>”Because you've been avoiding me, Anon. I haven't had the chance. I had really hoped when I put you on that investigation that you'd use your head. You and Blueblood have some prior history and with the way things have been going with you I'd be careful. Something's afoot. Keep me in the loop.”
>Granite dismisses you once he's said his piece and sets off towards the offices. You decide to head home for the day.
4/

>”...Coming up the center past Chara, past Boychuck, it's a clear shot at the goal...could be the tie-breaker right here, folks! He shoots...”
>The announcer pauses as the puck screams towards the net.
>”...And it's deflected by Thomas! Boychuck coming around the net passing to Bergeron...”
>You glance at the game timer as the announcer continues the play-by-play. Celestia sits next to you staring at the crystal ball in which the Bruins game is playing.
>The sun is down. No doubt Luna is in the watchtower viewing the game as intently as you are.
>Suddenly the announcer begins to yell. “And it's Seguin breaking off from the pack with Bergeron behind! A quick pass to Bergeron...takes the shot...and scores!”
>”That's what I'm tawkin' about!” the Princess yells, leaping into you excitedly.
>Your vision is obscured by the pair of snow white forelegs now clamped around you as you flop to the floor under the unexpected weight.
>”And the Bruins run out the clock leading by one after a pair of very rocky starting periods. What a comeback! I tell you, the boys in Boston'll be...” the announcer's voice dies down and the ball goes dark.
>Celestia props herself up and stares down at you. There's a long period of silence during which you cock your head to the side and knot your brow.
>The Princess's cheeks are flushed and you notice her slowly inching towards you.
>You already know the answer, but you ask the question anyway.
Waddaya doin', Celly?
>It seems to stop her in her tracks for a moment. “What's it look like?” she says matter-of-factly.
Looks like yuh drunk.
>She casts a quick glance at the pile of empty cans behind her before turning back to you with a grin.
>”Huh. Looks like I am...”
5/

>You manage to get your hand between your face and Celestia's incoming lips.
>Her eyes, closed mere moments ago in anticipation, open wide in confusion when she finds her advance stopped.
>As she slowly pulls back, you can sense her disappointment. “What's wrong? As I remembah, this i'n't ah first...an' you instigated.”
That i'n't it. Don' get me wrong, I like ya 'n all, but--
>”But what? I thought we wuh pretty cleah what was goin' on?”
We ah, but I--
>”Then how come ya keep pullin' away?” Celestia's voice begins to fill with indignation.
...I just dunno what's gonna happen wit' us.
>”Waddaya mean?”
>You turn your head and stare at the crystal ball.
I mean what's gonna happen when I'm old 'n' gray an yaw still...you?
>The Princess's face softens before she says “Whaddoes it mattah?” She lowers herself onto you and rests her head on your shoulder. “You'd rathah just walk away 'causa some weahd hang-up yuh got than let someone in?”
I jus' don't want you gettin' hurt on my account.
>Celestia gives you a look telling you to shut the hell up.
>”Don' gimme that crap, Anon. Doesn't fly when yuh got ponies carin' 'bout yuh. Especially nawt me.”
>She pecks your cheek lightly.
>”We'll figure it out. But tuhgethah...right?”
>You feel a kiss on your neck and turn to her.
How can I ahgue?
>Slowly your lips meet and you close your eyes, forgetting everything for the moment.
>You pull away after a few seconds and look at the Princess intently.
Yuh mouth tastes like a brewery. Just sayin'.
>”That a complaint I heah?”
>You think for a second, squinting.
...No...
>”Shuah know how ta' talk to a lady, don't ya?” Celestia smirks.
Got you, di'n' I?
>”Shut up.”
6/

>The moon is hanging high in the sky when you finally reach over the couch cushion and fumble around your jacket pocket for your lighter.
>After some effort you manage to grab it before reaching up to the seat back for the cigarettes in your pants pocket.
>As you flick the lighter open you feel the Princess stir. She looks at the glowing ember at the end of the cigarette and sighs.
>”That's a little cliché, don't yuh think?” she says while floating the lighter out of your hand and examining it.
Ah, sue me. I like it.
>”Wheah'd you even get these?”
Don' worry 'bout it.
>You take a long drag and blow the smoke up at the ceiling. Celestia follows the cloud with her eyes.
...Want one?
>”I'm good.” She shifts on top of you, rubbing her warm soft coat over your skin. In response, almost automatically, you wrap an arm around her back.
>The two of you lie there in silence for a good long while before you speak up.
Hey Celly?
>”Yeah?”
How long's Granite Cliffs been on the Council?
>She looks at you confused.
>”Granite? I dunno, like fawty yeahs uh summin' like that. Why?”
No reasin. Just wund'ring.
>”He's a good stallion. Great judge of charactah.”
So nawt the kinda guy who'd take a bribe?
>”Elysium, no! Why'd ya even suggest that?” The incredulity in her voice is telling. “Theah's summin' goin' on, Anon. Don't think I don't know.”
It's unnah control.
>”Don't screw wit me. What're yuh gettin' into?”
Celly. I gawt it.
>”Yuh bettah check that pride a' yaws. It's liable ta get ya in trouble one a' these days.” She nuzzles your neck contentedly.  “An' I don' want yuh gettin' hurt on my account.”
7/

That's my line.
>”Well I'm stealin' it,” she says before blowing a puff of air into your neck.
Yuh not bein' very princess-like right now.
>She props herself up and looks you in the eye. “Would you rather I act the way I do in the Court?” she says, adopting her public voice.
Nawt on yuh life. I get enuf a' that stuffy cawt talk at work. Speakin' of--
>You're cut off by a sudden yelp coming from the streets below.
The hell was that?
>Celestia lets you off the couch and you run to the window. The sound of armor clanking and the occasional shout the only thing you can make out, the tower being too high up to see anything happening.
>The Princess walks to your side and looks out with you. “I'm sure Shining Armor'll have a repawt fuh me in the mawnin'.” She brushes your hand with her hoof and slowly makes her way across the room. “'Til then, come ta bed. It's late.”
>You turn around and watch her.
That an awdah?
>She pauses for just a moment. “Doesn't hafta be.”
8/

>The next morning.
>On the way down the path from the castle you see a shaken-looking Shining Armor as he hurries past you, flanked by two Guards.
>The Captain, in his haste, pays you no notice.
>You arrive at the Council Offices a few minutes later. The halls are surprisingly quiet for this time of day; usually there are ponies milling around all over the place, but you feel strangely alone as you walk to the Council Chamber.
>Inside you find the assembled Council sitting at the conference table.
>A senior councilor gets up to address you. “Ah, Anonymous. You're here. Take a seat. We were about to vote.”
...On what?
>”Council Chair Cliffs has been taken into special custody by the Guard on grounds of Abuse of Power. The motions are first to relieve him of his office and also to promote somep0ny to fill that office.”
Yuh can't be serious. I wasn' infawmed of--
>”All in favor regarding the first motion?” the councilor continues, ignoring you. The councilors one by one raise their hooves. All opposed?
>You raise your hand angrily. “The motion passes sixteen-to-one. On to the next: The motion to promote Councilor Silver to Council Chair. All in favor?”
You've gotta be fakkin' jokin'!
>Again the councilor ignores you as several ponies murmur to one another before raising their hooves. “All opposed?” You're relieved to see ponies on your side.
>There's a pause in proceedings. You grit your teeth in anger as you see Silver grin at you.
>”The motion passes ten-to-three, four abstaining. Thank you, everyone.”
>Silver walks past you and triumphantly takes Granite's seat. “Thank you all. With everything that's happened today I propose we adjourn for the day. We have a lot to do tomorrow and I want us to be...fresh.”
End