Blind Faith Ch. 3

>The morning light streamed through one of the castle windows, warming your face and waking you from your sleep.
>You sit up and yawn, stretching your tired joints, before feeling around for your sunglasses.
‘Where are you ya stupid son of a bitch?’ you grumble.
>As your hand finds your glasses, there is a knock at the door.
‘Who goes there?’
>’Anon?’ comes a soft voice.
‘Ah Feather. It’s good to hear you.’
>’I hope I am not waking you.’
‘Of course not. The sun did that to me, and I doubt you can control that.’
>You swear you hear her mutter “Not me personally…”
>’Can I come in?’
‘Yeah, sure. ’
>You hear the door open and close, followed by the soft hoofsteps of Feather Duster.
’What can I do for you?’
>’Well, I was asked to follow you around for the rest of the day.’
>You can’t help but to smile at Feather’s tone. She seems confused over the request.
>’Anon? You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?’
>Oh crap, she knows.
>You stand up from the bed, grabbing your cane and begin to walk away from her voice.
>’Anon~’ She said in an annoyed tone.
‘Yes Feather Duster?’
>’Answer my question.’
‘I don’t think I should.’
>’ANONYMOUS!’
>Screw walking, you ran what you hoped was a clear path.
>’GET BACK HERE YOU!’
‘NO! YOU ARE GOING TO GET ANGRY!’
>’YOU BET YOUR FLANK I AM ANGRY!’
>As you continue running, you feel her magic wrap around your legs and rip out from under you.

>Blood rushes to your head, and you feel gravity pull your arms above your head.
‘Now that is just not fair. Not only are you picking on a blind person, but using magic?’
>’Well, if you didn’t run away, I wouldn’t have to, now would I?’
>You just hang mid-air in silence, waiting for her next move.
>’Tell me why I was asked to escort you today.’
‘Easy. It’s because you are my friend.’
>’Anon! Why is it that after one day of knowing you, I get roped into something like this?’ Feather pleaded.
>You take a deep breath and nod your head.
‘Okay, I can explain everything. Just put me back on the floor.’
>Your body spins around and your feet find the flood.
‘Last night, after you left, Celestia came to visit me.’
>’Oh my, I hope you weren’t in trouble.’
‘No, not really. But she told me that today she would like for me to-‘
>There was a loud knock on your bedroom door, and you spun your head to hear better.
>’Anonymous the Hayman?!’ came a loud voice.
‘Uh, yeah?’
>’May I enter?’
>You lean over to Feather and whisper in her ear. ‘Who is that?’
>’It sounds like one of the guards.’
‘Is that good?’
>’Well, I don’t know. Did you expect one to come here?’
>Another  knock.
>? ‘Anonymous?!’
‘Hold your horses!’
>FD ‘Anon, what the buck did you say that for?’
‘What do you mean?’ you whisper.
 >You realise what you just said and you facepalm.
>? ‘WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?! DO YOU REALISE WHO I AM?!’
>An idea comes to mind, and you place a hand on Feather’s mouth.
‘Forgive me for what I am about to say.’

‘NO! DO /YOU/ REALISE WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO?! I AM ANONYMOUS!! VISITING DELIGATE FROM EARTH, AND YOU THINK SOME GUARDS PONY CAN TALK TO ME LIKE THAT?! I CAME HERE TO ASSIST YOUR PRINCESSES WITH A SEVERE PROBLEM AND YOU THINK YOU CAN ORDER ME AROUND BOY!’
>You stomp heavily over to the door, swinging it violently open.
>Immediately you hear the small gasp of a pony, and you scowl in that direction.
‘YOU DARE TRY TO ORDER ME AROUND, WHEN YOU, A SIMPLE GUARDSPONY, KNOWS NOT OF WHO I AM! YOU ARE LUCKY I DO NOT HAVE YOU EXACUTED RIGHT HERE AND NOW WITH MY IMMENSE MAGIC PROWESS!’
>’S-s-s-so-‘
‘GET OUT OF MY SIGHT BEFORE I DISINTERGRATE YOU!!’
>Fast hoofsteps run down the hallway, and you let out your breath before backing inside.
>’Anonymous!’ Feather hissed.
‘I’m sorry, but he started it. I made a faux pas, and he decided to pull rank.’
>’Anon…’ Feather sighed and began to walk towards you. ‘I am not angry, but I wish you didn’t do that.’
‘Why?’
>Before Feather could answer you, there was another pounding at the door.
>? ‘Anonymous!’ came a younger, male tone.
>FD ‘Oh crumbs… It’s the captain of the guard.’
‘That’s bad, right?’
>FD ‘If you yelled at his guards, it is.’
>You shake your head before walking back to the door.
‘Please follow my lead.’

>You open the door slowly, hoping to pick up on his mood before having to meet this pony.
‘H-hello? Is there anyone there?’
>The captain clears his throat, and you look down.
‘Yes? Can I help you sir?’
>? ‘You must be Anonymous the human?’
‘Yes, sir. Or just Anon. Who might I be speaking to?’
>? ‘I am Shining Armour, Captain of the Royal Guard. Princess Celestia asked me to escort you today through town.’
‘Oh… thank you? Do… do you want to leave now?’
>SA ‘Actually, I would like to have a word with you. May I come in?’
‘Uh, sure…’
>You step out of the doorway and you hear it swing open, followed by hard hoofsteps walking in to your side and stop.
>SA ‘What are you doing in here, maid?’
>You could hear his voice wasn’t laced with venom or malice, but superiority.
>FD ‘Anon asked for me to-‘
>SA ‘Anon has been asked to venture into town with me by his side. I think you should be leaving.’
>FD ‘Sir, I do not mean any disrespect, but Anon-‘
>SA ‘Duster! He is not your superior, I am. I asked you to leave, so leave.’
>A hard hoofstep rings out next to you, and you hear Feather whimper.
>Shining Armour feels something hit his chest, preventing him to walk forward.
>He looks up to see you holding your fully extended cane against his chest.
>SA ‘Anonymous!’
‘Captain Armour. You are now a guest in my room, and as such your superiority is null and void. If you check with Celestia, you will find Miss Feather Duster is accompanying us today as well.’

>Shining Armour growls and mutters ‘Have to use some creature to fight your battles?’
>You take a deep breath and crouch down.
‘Armour, I may be blind, but I will not overlook your behaviour. I don’t know how things work here, but in my world being a Captain means you look after those below you. That includes those who were chosen to bring us drinks and clean our rooms. I want a nice day with the both of you. If you do not think you can do that, I can tell Celestia and we can do this on another day.’
>Armour growls again before sighing.
>SA ‘Yes Anonymous. I agree.’
>You hear him spin around and walk towards the door.
‘Would you like to apologise to Feather?’
>SA ‘Anon, we have a very busy day planned. We should go.’
>You open your mouth to tell him off again, but feel a hoof on your shoulder, and someone kissing your cheek.
>FD ‘Thank you.’
‘For what? I just met the guy, and he seems like an ass. Friends help friends, right?’
>SA ‘Anon! Duster! Are you coming?!’
‘Hold your-’ you slam a hand over your mouth ‘Yeah, give us a minute.’
>You stand up and walk towards the door, Feather’s steps walking beside you.
‘You know,’ you whisper ‘for someone who sounds like a surfer, he must have a real rod up his butt.’
>Feather giggles, but stops short.
‘Captain? Any reason you are looking back here?’
>The hard hoofsteps stumble before picking back up in a solid march.
>SA ‘For a blind creature, you seem to see pretty well.’
‘Would you believe I felt the air around your head move, brushing past my legs?’
>SA ‘Not really, no.’
‘Would you believe I can smell your breath back here?’
>SA ‘No, I would not.’
‘Well, it’s a mystery then.’

>As you continue walking, you hear small gasps coming from passers-by.
>You turn a few corners before feeling warm sunlight on your skin, and a cool breeze on your face.
‘It is good to be outside again.’
>FD ‘Do you need help down the stairs, Anon?’
‘Oh, yes please. Going down stairs is harder for me than going up them.’
>FD ‘Uhh…how do I help you without…’
>You chuckle ‘Without limiting my freedom? Just give me something to hold on to and tell me how many steps I have to take.’
>Feather directs you over to the side of the steps and your hand finds a smooth stone wall that came up to your waist.
>You place a hand on top and begin to take each step, one at a time, counting as you do.
>Feather follows next to you, Shining Armour walking further in front.
‘So, Feather. What does the captain look like?’
>’He’s a unicorn, like me. He is very strong, and quite young. He is the youngest captain of the guard in Equestrian history.’
‘Hmmm…Another unicorn. I must meet a pegasus or an earth pony.’
>Feather giggles again and you smile.
>’We are coming up to the end of the steps, about 5 more to go.’
‘Thank you Feather.’
>You count down the steps and find she was correct in her counting.
>SA ‘Anonymous, this way please.’
>You turn to Shining Armour’s voice.
>He was probably at an 11 o’clock position from you, but another voice could be heard from the opposite direction.
>One more frantic, more feminine.
>You stop walking, and stand in silence.

>FD ‘Anon? What are you doing?’
>SA ‘Anonymous! This way!’
>You shake your head and wait.
‘Now…’
>You push your cane out along the ground and feel someone trip over it before tumbling along the ground.
>SA ‘ANON!’
>Fast hoofsteps approach, and Shining almost knocks you over.
>SA ‘What the buck did you do that for?!’
>You don’t need to answer as light hoofsteps run up to you.
>? ‘Thank you Captain Armour. You stopped that thief from stealing my purse.’
>There was a groan from the pony you tripped.
>SA ‘He…you… Ma’am, I cannot take credit for this. Mr Anonymous, a new foreign delegate, was the one who stopped this stallion.’
>? ‘Oh, thank you sir,’ the woman says frantically. ‘Thank you so much.’
‘It was nothing, Miss. Just an accident.’
>Shining calls down a few guards who drag the criminal away, and the mare, as Feather says, gives you a hug as thanks before walking away.
>Shining walked up to your other side and asked ‘Anon, how did you do that?’
‘I just heard it all. She screamed for help, and he ran this way with some coins jingling in a sack.’
>FD ‘And claiming it was an accident?’
‘I don’t want to be the centre of attention. I was just helping out a mare in need. Can we… kinda get going before more ponies notice me?’
>SA ‘It’s funny Anon. A guard came running up to me this morning, saying you were a monster who was going to disintegrate him with your magic.’
‘Must be stress. Feather was my only other guest this morning.’
>SA ‘Is that true, Miss Duster?’
>FD ‘Yes and I was the one who woke him.’

>The three of you walk around the streets of…
‘Hey, Captain?’
>SA ‘Yes Anon?’
‘Where are we?’
>SA ‘Trotting Way.’
‘No, I mean the city. I know we live in Equestria, but Celestia never mentioned the city.
>SA ‘Canterlot.’
‘Wow…’
>FD ‘What is it?’
‘Nothing. Just… kinda over doing the pony puns.’
>SA ‘we are here?’
‘Where?’
>SA ‘The princess said you would require custom made clothes, since you are… human, was it?’
‘Yes. Well, that was very nice of her.’
>FD ‘That is our princess for you. She trusts everypony at first.’
>SA ‘So don’t do anything to screw that up.’
‘Armour, don’t try to fight me. I wouldn’t recommend it.’
>SA ‘I could take you down.’
‘Exactly, but how does it look to others? Unicorn beats up a blind creature with no potential to fight back.’
>SA ‘You took down that thief pretty well.’
‘Element of surprise. In a one-on-one, I’m screwed. I think I even said that to the princess when I met her.’
>SA ‘Quite humble, aren’t we?’
‘Not really. But that might make me more humble. I don’t really know. Let’s go get me some clothes.’
>You wave your hands forwards, and Shining Armour sighs.
>He walks forwards and you hear a door open, the tickle of a bell ringing overhead.

>You follow him inside, Feather picking up the rear, and you hear the sound of a man humming.
>? ‘Ooo hello Captain Armour. What can I do for you today?’
>SA ‘Cross Stitch, this is Anonymous. He is a new diplomat from another land and he will be needing some new items of clothing.’
>CS ‘Ooo a new creature. I have never seen one like you, Mr Anonymous.’
‘I can honestly say the same, Mr Cross Stich,’ you say with a chuckle.
>CS ‘Pardon?’
>FD ‘Anonymous is blind. Please excuse his terrible jokes.’
>CS ‘Oh, I see.’
>Before you can open your mouth, you feel Feather kick you in the shin.
>CS ‘Well, let’s get this young stallion into place and we can create some magic.’
>You shift over to Shining Armour, and crouch down.
‘Captain?’
>SA ‘Yes Anon?’
‘Can you do me a favour?’
>SA ‘Possibly.’
‘Please don’t allow him to dress me like a… a mare, I guess. Simple colours and simple styles.’
>SA ‘And what would you do for me?’
‘I can owe you one. I can give advice, I can try to do manual labour, just nothing too dangerous for my health.’
>SA ‘I have an idea.’
‘I don’t like the sound of that.’
>SA ‘Good.’
>CS ‘Are you coming you two?’
‘Yeah yeah…’
>You and Shining walk towards Cross Stich’s voice, your heart beating faster.

>For the next few hours, you were prodded, poked and measured by Cross Stitch.
>Every now and then, you would hear him “ummm” or “ahh” or “hmm” over something.
>You could tell by Feather’s giggling, she was having fun with seeing you squirm.
>CS ‘And I am done. You were a good model, even if your sense of fashion is… impossibly bland.’
‘Sir, I thank you for making clothes for me. All I ask is that they look simple and feel grand.’
>CS ‘Anonymous, you will have clothes fit for a king.’
‘I’d settle with clothes that fit a me.’
>CS ‘Ahh, another one of your “jokes” sir.’
>SA ‘If that’s all, Cross Stitch, we should get going. It’s getting close to lunch time, and I would hate for the diplomat to starve.’
>You open your mouth to disagree, but your stomach growls loudly instead.
‘I… I agree with the captain.’
>CS ‘Of course. I should have your clothes ready by the end of the week.’
>You thank Cross Stitch again and leave the store.
>The walk back to the castle was quiet, apart from murmuring from a few ponies.
‘Captain, why do the ponies accept me so… easily?’
>Shining chuckles and you are almost thrown back from the shock.
>SA ‘Anon, the ponies of Canterlot are used to different species wandering the streets. As long as you are walking around with a member of the royal guard, or one of the princesses, you should be alright.’
‘Well, thanks.’
>FD ‘Anon, stairs.’
‘Gotcha.’
>You slowly walk up to the stairs, brushing your cane against the first step.
‘Uhh…which way is the closest side rail?’
>FD ‘9 o’clock.’
>You shuffle yourself to the left, reaching out with your hand, until you once again feel the smooth stone of the wall.

>As you walk up the steps, Shining and Feather walking by your side, you brush the toe of your shoes on the steps.
>SA ‘Is that how you can see?’
‘I guess you can call it that. Because I have no vision, I rely on touch and hearing. It’s amazing what you feel and hear when you stop.’
>SA ‘Really?’
‘Captain Armour. Next time it rains here, stop and close your eyes. Feel the rain hit you, hear the soft splash of each droplet, smell the rainfall.’
>SA ‘Wow… it sounds so philosophical when you put it like that.’
‘Thank you Captain, but this is just life experience.’
>You reach the top of the steps and let out a deep sigh.
’37 steps up. That’s a good workout, I guess.’
>SA ‘Anon, I must leave you here. I need to get back to the barracks.’
‘Oh, of course. Please don’t allow me to keep you.’
>You face his voice and give him a salute.
>SA ‘Uh Anon. What are you doing?’
‘Oh… Saluting? This is a salute on Earth.’
>SA ‘Yeah, I know. It’s the same here. Why are you saluting?’
‘It’s a sign of respect to someone in the military.’
>SA ‘I ask again. Why?’
‘You don’t listen, do you? This is me showing you the respect you deserve. Feather said you were the youngest captain of the guard, which meant you had to work hard to do this. Thank you for today.’
>SA ‘Uh… your welcome Anon.’
>You turn to walk away, only to be stopped by his voice.
>SA ‘Anon, about that favour? Would you like to have dinner with me and my wife tonight?’
‘Uh…really?’
>SA ‘Yes. I know she would love to meet you.’
‘Then I would love to. Let’s say you come by my room at seven?’
>SA ‘I’ll see you there.’

>As you walk back to your room, Feather by your side, you can’t help but to smile.
>‘What are you so giddy about?’
‘I made a new friend today, Feather.’
>’Does that mean I don’t have to see you again?’
>You give her a playful shove and she laughs.
>’How do you know?’
‘He did me a favour. I’m reaching him. And hopefully I can change his mind about hierarchy.’
>’You are a strange one, Anon.’
‘You bet your sweet bippy.’
>’Here’s your room.’
‘Grazie Feather.’
>’Would you like me to bring you something for lunch?’
‘Oh yes please. Do you have peanut butter?’
>’Yes, I believe so.’
‘What about jelly?’
>’Raspberry, Strawberry or grape.’
‘Goodie. Can you get me a peanut butter and raspberry jelly sandwich, and a pot of tea.’
>’Of course, Anon.’
‘Thank you Feather.’
>You place your hand on the door handle and open the door.
‘I’ll see you soon.’
>’Yep.’
>You walk inside and close the door, Feather’s hoofsteps fading outside the door.
>As you make your way to the desk to continue reading, you smile again.
‘This is getting easier.’