(Celestia X Anon) Just a Photograph

Be Anon.
>Lovely afternoon in the castle's courtyard.
>"A-Anon, why is it that you desire me to pose like this?
>you shake your head and sigh.
"I've told you a hundred times, I want to keep you with me always."
>Celestia's face becomes puzzled.
>"But Anon, I'm the princess! I can visit you any time you like."
>you make a mock scowl and she assumes the pose you requested.
"Stay still... and smile!"
*click*
"I know, but there are times when you just need that special somepony by your si-"
>"...Anon...what did you just say?"
>damn it
>you've been so careful.
>do you lie?
>could you lie?
>Honesty might be the best choice in this situation.
>How did you end up in this situation in the first place?

****************

>your room is a lot colder then you remember.
>your bed is a lot harder then you remember.
>you also don't remember feeling an all over pain.
"Christ, what did I do last night?"
>"It talks!"
>it?
>"It's moving!"
>"Princess! Stay behind us, it may be hostile."
>What the serious-
>You open your eyes to see yourself surrounded by gold armoured Horses
"Okay... this is the second strangest thing I have ever had happen to me."
>"Halt creature!"
>Creature?
>Wait did that Horse just talk?
"Wait, did you just talk?"
>The leader(?) speaks again
>"Of course I did, and you are under arrest"
>niggawut?.jpg
"On the charge of?"
>"Trespassing in the Court of Princess Celestia!"
"Princess who?"
>"Celestia! Ruler of Equestria! And by Royal Law-"
>A new voice, feminine stern, almost motherly rings out.
>"You'll do no such thing Captain. The only thing you'll do is move so that I may see our wayward guest."
>As the guards move make way you spit out.
"Stop calling me a creature, I'm a human."
>"Did you say Human? I apologize, our kind hasn't ever seen anything like you before."
>holy shit that is a big horse.
>wait does she have wings?
>and is that a horn?
"What exactly are you? You completely dwarf all these horses."
>grunts of indignation abound.
>"We are not horses. We are Pony, and I am an Alicorn."
> what the serious hell is going on?
"Anon"
>The 'Alicorn' looks at you quizzically
"It's my name."
>"Celestia"
>you take a moment to look her over
>her coat is almost unnaturally white
>her hair... mane? Defied all logic
>her violet eyes seem to be looking over you as well
"Not that I don't understand the need to protect your royalty but can we not all stand and stare at me like I'm gonna stab someone?"
>the guards hold their ground
>"Captain take Anon to my Chambers and see that he stays there. Also send for a maid from the Kitchens. I will deal with this once my sister awakens for the Night Court."
>she shoots you a wink
>do you trust her?
>all alone in a strange place
>the only one of your kind
>in a place populated by pastel ponies
>and their monarch wants you to go to her chambers?
>fuck
>you seriously doubt you'd be able to out run a hors-- pony
>moreover where would you run?
>A bedroom sounds better then a prison cell
"Lead the way."
>yeah this did not seem like it was going to end well

**********************
>to their credit the guards didn't mishandle you
>hell, they didn't even tie you up
>your imagination conjures up an image of one of these guards trying to tie you up with no hands
>kek
>"Here we are. Get inside at stay there. Celestia will be here in a few hours to deal with you."
>without awaiting reply he shoves you into the room and locks the door
"I give the service here a 0/10, surly, brutish and down right useless. Would not visit again!"
>you know the guard wouldn't listen
>he probably didn't care
>what are you going to do to pass the time?
>sleep?
>yeah right
>there is a small stack of books
>how do they even hold books? they have hooves!
>grabbing "Daring Doo" from the pile you sit down on an over sized chair and start reading

********************

>that turned out way cooler then expected
>It was like Indiana Jones
>just with Pegasus
>and magic
>and a Cat-monkey thing
>the door unlocks and in walks--trots(?) Celestia
>she spares you a smile
>"Ah Daring Doo. A favourite of one of my faithful student's friends."
"You must have questions."
>"There will be plenty of time for that in a moment. Would you like to come to the balcony and watch the sunset?'
"Sure."
>you lay the book where you found is and follow Celestia to a balcony with a gilded handrail
>Celestia seems to be concentrating and a golden shimmer envelops her horn
>She nods her head at the sun
>you watch in awe that every way she moves, the sun follows
"Did you just... set the sun?"
>she giggles in an altogether far to childish way
>"That's nothing I can raise it to."
>sciences tells you different
>disbelief shows plainly on your face
>You turn to see the sun peek back up over the hills
>it sets again
>this repeats a few times
>Rule #1 Science doesn't work
"Okay, okay! I'm convinced."
>She seems satisfied with that
>"You must also have questions."
>you chuckle
"Just a few."
>The two of you exchange everything you know about your prospective homes
>You must have been at it for hours
>a few particularly odd questions came up though
>you ask Celestia if she was a Goddess
>she laughed at that
>"To some, I suppose. What I am is an Alicorn."
>Celestia asked you what exactly those things on the end of your limbs were
"My hands?"
>Celestia shakes her head no
>"No, the little things on the end"
"Fingers?"
>"And what service, prey tell, do fingers serve?"
>you struggled to answer that for a moment
"They can do a lot of things... like scratch behind your ears for instance."
>her eyes narrow at you
>did you just flirt with a god?
>"Really now, is that right?"
>and you aren't dead
"Really"
>she lowers her head and waits
>"Well?"
>you look confused
>"You tell me that your fingers can serve such a specific purpose, so I'd like a demonstration."
>Well damn
>"If they can't do it Anon I'll-"
>you start scratching
>she's warm
>she's softer then anything you've ever touched
>she coos as you scratch
>"Well... I might just have to keep you around the castle."
>you stop
>"I didn't say stop."
>her voice dropped about an octave
"You want to keep me around as a professional ear scratcher?"
>you start scratching again
>She smirks
>"Among other things, I haven't had a chat like this in ages."
>you smile too
>maybe this wasn't so bad after all
>you mostly made small talk until the topic of age came up
>"Guess my age."
"Considering I don't see any grey hairs, wrinkles, sagging skin or anything of the sort I'd say maybe 28 - 29 plus or minus a few years."
>first, came the light dusty rose blush
>second, came the the laughter
>last came the pleasant smile
>"Aren't you the flatterer."
"What do you mean?"
>"I'm over a few thousand years Anon."
>Whoa
"Whoa, you seriously do no look it."
>she smiles
>"Enough of that, you're just trying to be nice."
>you deadpan stare
"Seriously, unless that is normal for you ponies there was no way I'd ever guess that."
>Her smile falters a little
>"It isn't."
>you feel a lot of weight in those two words
>with the mirth gone from her eyes she looks ages older
>"Eternity is sometimes more a curse then a blessing."
>you nod
"Sounds painfully depressing. Going through life and seeing those you love and care about wither and fade."
>she looks at you
>"For one so young, you certainly know are wise beyond your years."
>coming from a several millennium old pony that had to count for something
>you try to stifle a yawn but it fails
>"Tired, my little human?"
>You gawk at her
>"Don't like my name for you?"
>you want to fight her about it but you are very exhausted
"It's fine. So, where am I going to sleep?"
>Celestia lays down on her bed and motions for you to get in
>that's twice she's got you in such a short time span
>"Get in, it's late and I'd rather not have a maid have to walk up and turn down a room for you."
"Thanks..."
>You gingerly crawl onto the bed with Celestia
>you shiver as the chill in the air starts to set in
>"Come closer to me my little human, I won't bite you."
>you are too cold to not oblige
>Celestia's wing rests over you like a blanket
>fuck these feathers are soft
>"Good night Anon, my little human."
>you still frown a little at the nickname
"Good night Princess."
>all is quiet for a few moments
>a pregnant silence hangs in the air
>"Celestia."
"Hmm?"
>"When we are alone, just Celestia. Please."
"Sure thing Celestia."
>everything feels okay
>you close your eyes
>sleep takes you quickly

**********************

>"Anon..."
>A quiet female voice rouses you from your slumber
>your eyes up to the feathery blanket of Celestia's wings
>still in Ponyworld
>the sun isn't even up yet
>"Anon..."
>maybe because the Sun God-Alicorn was sleeping with you
>that sounded way better before you thought it
>groaning you answer
"I'm up Celestia."
>"I was wondering if you'd like to watch the sunrise."
>well you were awake anyway
"Sure thing."
>just like yesterday you followed her to the balcony
>the orange rays slowly began to streak across the land
>it was beautiful
>this place was so different from home
>was that place ever really your home?
>You blink away the tears that start to fall
>your life back there was not pleasant
>Celestia turns her to you and as her magic fades and she her polite smile falters
>"Anon are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
>you sounded so scratchy and raw
>"Anon, it's clear you are not. Have I done something?"
"No, you haven't done anything. I am just remembering, the sunrise just reminded me of where I came from."
>"Your home?"
>She is trying to sound even but there is a hint of confusion
"Where I come from... I'm not sure home is the right word for it... it's just a place were I lived for a while."
>Celestia nuzzles you
>"I understand. Tell me when you are ready. Breakfast is being served so we should head to the dining hall."
>you nod and follow your friend down the corridor towards the start of your day
>this became a routine for you
>Each day Celestia would wake you up to watch the sun rise together
>Each day you'd go to breakfast
>Each day you became more and more like Celestia's shadow
>Some days you would go to her room and read
>Others you would join her in the Day Court
>Man, some of these ponies
>Bitching over the stupidest things
>Celestia had told you the clothing was something that the upper class enjoyed lording over each other
>Usually the ones in the fancy clothes bitched the most
>The others that came from smaller places always seemed to be more respectful
>Today however, was a particularly bad pair of upper class jackasses
>They haven't stopped bickering since you've got in here
>Simple body language says that the guards want to throw them out
>Celestia's impassive face is even twitching
>Fuck it's over an hour past lunch and these bastards can't pull their heads out of there asses to just say what they want
"Okay, fuck, it's been like an hour. Both of you shut the fuck up!"
>They stand stock still
>The guards are snickering
>Celestia's face has the slightest of grins
>You regard her for a moment
"If I may."
>She nods
"What exactly is the problem?"
>both of them open their mouths
"No, one at a damn time. Didn't your parents teach you manners?"
>The one on the left explains that apparently they both went to the same social function wearing the same outfit and because he bought his first the other pony should be punished
>The right one explains that he had no foreknowledge that the other was going to be wearing said suit
>you look incredulously at the high-society ponies
"Are you fucking kidding me? A suit. You came to get mediation by the Princess of the Sun over a fucking suit?"
>they seem hurt
>fuck them it's an hour and a half past lunch and your patience is gone
"The Day Court is suppose to be to help set disputes that multiple parties can not solve without some form of mediation with, ultimately, a verdict."
>Celestia smiles
"But since you're here and you already wasted so much fucking time, I'm gonna give a solution."
>The castle staff is very amused
"First off, you are both going to drop it. It happened in the past and there isn't a damn thing either of you can do about that now."
>the left pony opens his mouth
"Shut it, I'm not done. Second, whenever you fancy folk want to organize one of these things take a picture of your outfit and post it at your clubroom or wherever it is you all congregate. That way no pony wears the same thing as another pony."
>Celestia stands and moves beside you
"Is this agreeable, Princess?"
>Somehow managing to keep the smile and irritation out of her voice she speaks
>"I am in agreement with my Vizier."
> Did you just get a promotion?
>"Henceforth, it is decreed that all formal parties shall require a pictograph from each attendant to prevent any further incidents like this from happening."
>they bow and leave
>Celestia stands and watches after them
>Amusement is clear on the faces of the guards
>you turn to Celestia
"Vizier?"
>"It seemed appropriate."
"How do you handle things like this normally?"
>"They would have tired themselves out eventually. Lunch?"
>you shake your head and follow her to the dining room

********************************

>the dining hall was empty save for a earth pony maid doing some dusting
>"Excuse me, would you be so kind as to go to the kitchens and fetch a rose petal salad of me, and whatever it is Anon would like."
>the whole no meat thing sucked at first but you have started to get used to it
"Just a garden salad if you would."
>the maid bows and leaves you both alone
>Celestia seems to stare at you expectantly
"What?"
>"Why were you so upset this morning?"
>this again
"Celestia... where I'm from, things aren't like here. Everyone here takes what you say at face value. Everything is so bright here, the colours are more vibrant, even the air feels different."
>"Anon, my home is not without problems-"
>you cut her off
"Growing up all I had was my Dad. We lived on the streets of a big city and we struggled everyday to eat."
>"Didn't anypo- anyone help you?"
"For the most part, no. Most would see us be just keep walking. A few offered a some coins but most just kept walking."
>Celestia's face drops
"We washed our hair in drainpipe run off and we wore our clothes until threadbare. But everyday my Dad would make sure I would go to school and everyday he would say 'Just like the Sun, you gotta get up each morning and do what you have to,even if people get in the way. You just gotta keep going.' Well, we did that for 17 years"
>Celestia nodded
"We eventually found a closed up building to make shelter in. It was pretty good to have something to keep the weather off me."
>You are wistful
"That night my Dad said 'I told you son, I told you that if we just kept going things would look up.' I even started to believe him."
>A single tear runs down your cheek
"I came 'home' the next day from school, I had won a scholarship to attend a College in the fall, full ride."
>"Scholarship?"
"Someone else pays for you to go to school."
>She nods
"I was so excited to tell my him. Things were finally looking up."
>you choke back a sob
>you really didn't want to go on
>Celestia saw your trepidation and moved closer
>she rests her neck on your shoulder
>"If you don't want to tell-"
>she begins
"It's almost over now."
>the world became blurry
"My... my dad was stabbed. Someone had taken my dad's life over something so stupid. The only thing they took was his shoes. A life for some shoes! Old, worn shoes!!"
>The memory of your father's still body was more then you could take
>the floodgates opened and you grabbed of the closest place for comfort
>Celestia
>you unabashedly cry into her neck
>"Oh Anon.... I'm so sorry...."
> she just kept repeating those same words over and over
>her wings covered over you, shielding you from the world
>gently, she sits to take you in her fore hooves and rock you back and forward
>"Shhhh.... it's gonna be okay..."
>still you cry
>"Everything will be alright."
>the tears stop but still you look down ashamed
>She sees your face
>"Tears are nothing to be ashamed of Anon."
>"I'll take care of you Anon, you'll stay with me here in the castle."
>you don't want to believe it
>but you know she isn't lying
"I tried going to college, and every night I'd wish to be somewhere else. It wasn't fair. After that I can hardly remember anything."
>your breathing begins to slow and the pain and hurt became little more then a dull throb
>still she holds you close whispering reassurance in your ear
>your whole life you waited for the other side to drop
>everything good thing was trampled by something worse
>everything was all going so well for you now
>you even had a friend
>could you let the pain go?
>did you dare?
>Months had past
>Something had changed in the two of you
>You would join her in the Day Court more often then not
>You were officially her Vizier now
>She would do whatever she could to make you smile
>From things as simple as a walk through the courtyard in the early evening to having the kitchen staff learn to cook your favourite meal
>You grew closer
>your feelings bloomed into something more
>but you hid them
>she was a Goddess
>she was a Princess
>she was a pony
>she was immortal
>the first two were easy enough to get over
>the 18 years of being told that liking anything other then what was considered the norm was took some time but it too eroded soon after you realized your feelings.
>Besides she could walk and talk
>She could think for herself
>the last one gave you pause
>it would be painful to know that one day you would leave her
>but you couldn't deny the way that being with her made you feel
>One afternoon before collecting Celestia for your evening stroll, you had ask the castle staff to bring you a camera...

**********************************

>"...Anon...what did you just say?"
>the rush of memories leaves you a little dazed
>"Anon you are looking faint, should I call the doctor?"
"No, I'm alright."
>one thing you learned over your friendship was that use of the word 'fine' was a byword for not being alright
>"Anon...what was it that you had said? About a special somepony?"
>You look into Celestia's eyes
>There's something in them
>is that...hope?
>regardless of what you say the nature of your relationship changes here
"I said there are times when you just need that special somepony by your side."
>"Anon..."
>here was your chance
>you could play out a logic loophole
>you could confess how you feel
>Man this isn't gonna be easy
***************************************************************************************************************************************
Sad ending
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>"Anon... are you aware of what you have said?"
>Of course you are
>You knew it wasn't just a Freudian slip
>you did it on purpose
>but you are too much of a coward to say so
"Special somepony? You are the greatest friend I've ever had Celestia."
>your heart breaks at the words as they leave your mouth
>better she never know
>better she not have to grieve so long after you pass away
>better to break a heart once then twice
>A silence passes between you two
>"O..of course Anon, I am happy you consider me as such."
>you swear that the little light of hope died in her eyes
>what have you done

**************************

>Be Celestia
>87 years later
>"Anon was the greatest Vizier and friend I have even had. Today we inter him into the Equestrian land in hope that he finds his peace."
>After that day in the courtyard you went to being just friends
>Anon never married
>Anon never dated
>You longed for so much more
>You hinted
>For years you hinted
>Why Mother did you never just tell him?
>You always told yourself tomorrow
>Tomorrow never came
>For 87 years, tomorrow never came
>and for the rest of your life it never would either
>You move over to Anon's still body and place something in his hands
>A Photograph
>A happier time
>A Memory
>A Photo of you
>Both front hooves up
>Winking at the camera
>An open mouth smile on your face
>a tear falls on the photo
"Good bye Anon, I will always love you..."
>your bed was ice cold that night

******The End*******
********************

***************************************************************************************************************************************
Happy ending
***************************************************************************************************************************************

>"Anon... are you aware of what you have said?"
>Of course you are
>You knew it wasn't just a Freudian slip
>you did it on purpose
>and now was the time to man up and say something
"Yes Celestia, I know exactly what I said and I mean every word. If you'll have me, I would be more then happy to give you everything I have. I'll understand if you don't fe-"
>you didn't get to finish
>you hit the soft earth with a thump
>Celestia tackled you to the ground and kissed you
>you are stunned
>not from the fall
>but from the kiss
>"Of course I'll have you! So long as your willing to put up with an old mare like me."
"I don't think it's going to be a problem."

*************************

>Be Celestia
>93 years later
>"Oh Anon... you were truly magnificent."
>Your love smiled back, warm eyes still sharp as ever
>you and Anon dated briefly
>you and Anon married
>Oh Mother, you are so glad he asked you!
>Luna caught the bouquet
>All these years together had be magical
>you lay together on your bed
>Anon reached into his pocket and produced an old photo
>it was you
>Both front hooves up
>Winking at the camera
>An open mouth smile on your face
>a tear falls on the photo
>your tear
"You--- you still kept that?"
>he laughs
>"Of course I did, kept it in my pocket for the last 93 years. And I gladly will for another."
"Good night Anon, I will always love you."
>you fell asleep in your lovers embrace
>not even winter's worst could bother you

******The End******
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