Angel of Nature: Defender of Equestria

Chapter 2: First Impressions

"An Angel? What in all of Equestria possessed you to call an Angel to our world, Aunty?" Blueblood questioned, none too gently either.

"Who or what I call is my own choice, Blueblood. However, it would be in your best interest to show him respect. The Angel of Nature is not to be taken lightly." Celestia warned.

Prince Blueblood simply scoffed in disgust. There was no need for an Angel to be coming to Equestria. Everything was perfectly fine the way it was...well as well as it could be ever since the purple pest known as Twilight Sparkle somehow managed to become Celestia's 'prized student.'

Before either had a chance to say something further, the room was briefly filled with a semi-dark green light that flashed throughout the room. Then there was nothing for a few moments more and just as Blueblood was about to ask something, Celestia spoke up with a serene smile gracing her face.

"He's here."

No sooner had she finished speaking, the top of the room was filled with a glowing ball of green light which then, after hovering for a few seconds, began to descend as a voice echoed throughout the throne room.

"Indeed I have and your Princess is correct Blueblood. I'm not to be taken lightly."

The light touched down on the ground where it materialised into a tall man, roughly 5'9 in height, rather slim for his height but at a healthy stage. Dark brown hair adorned the top of his head, sweeping down to just below his ears. His piercing green eyes were staring at Blueblood as he discerned what the arrogant Prince was like. He was dressed in a simple dark green shirt and brown breeches but around his shoulders was equally dark green and grey mottled cloak with the hood thrown up over his head, but not in a way to conceal his face totally. To complete it all, an oak bow and a quiver of arrows were slung across his shoulders.

However, the one thing that stood out most of all about this man, were the two large, white and majestic wings protruding from his shoulders. A strong amount of magic seemed to roll off of them as they shimmered slightly.

"Everfree, Angel of Nature." Celestia smiled, offering a slight bow.

"Princess Celestia, Princess of the Day and Equestria." Everfree replied, also bowing in response.

Both stood back up straight, facing each other, however, Everfree couldn't help but let a sly smile spread over his face.

"Quite the title you got there, Princess."

Celestia laughed slightly in reply. There was something strange, odd maybe, about the laugh to him. However, he couldn't put his finger on it at this point in time.

Forget it. He told himself strongly.

"Leave us please."

The guards that were around the throne room all bowed to their Princess and then to the Angel who inclined his head in return as a gesture of respect. However, Blueblood refused to leave the room.

"I will not leave while this...this freak of nature is here! His very presence is a disgrace to you, Aunty! Surely you see that?"

Then within an instant, the air seemingly got cold and Blueblood shivered intensely. He also found it strangely harder to breath than what it normally was.

"Freak of nature you say?" Everfree asked from behind, but there was no emotion present.

Slowly, the cloaked Angel began to stride forward towards the arrogant Prince. His footsteps echoing throughout the empty room as they clacked against the marble floor. He gaze wandered all around the throne room as if inspecting it, even resting it occasionally on Celestia.

She knew what he was getting at and wisely did nothing.

He eventually stopped just in front of the now shivering Prince who squirmed under the Angel's gaze that was now locked on him.

"Well, allow me to enlighten you on something, Prince Blueblood." And then to add to the effect, Everfree leaned in closer so that his face was inches away from Blueblood's. "I am Nature itself. I am Nature incarnate. If you have a problem with it, then you'll have a problem with me."

Blueblood shivered again as he gulped rather loudly and backed up slightly, nodding hastily, doing anything he could to get as much distance between him and the Angel.

"Now, do as the Princess asked and leave."

Blueblood nodded vigorously and made all haste to leave the room. Once the door was shut behind him, Everfree heard the voice of Princess Celestia giggling slightly behind him.

"Not how I would have handled it, but it was effective enough."

Everfree simply shrugged. "What's been done is done. Now, onto other things. What is it I can help you with, Princess?"

"Well, you can start by calling me Celestia please, just plain and simple, no need for titles." The Princess started. "Secondly, I wish for you to watch over and guide my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

Everfree nodded. "I was told as much, however, why me? You could have called on Ezra. She is the Angel of Guidance."

Celestia smiled at the confused Angel and inclined her head slightly in a gesture of understanding.

"I can understand why you're confused. However, Twilight seems more focused on her studies than anything else, I suppose you could say that she doesn't get out often. With you being Nature itself, I was hoping you could help her appreciate the outside world and the Magic of Friendship in making friends."

Everfree nodded his head a couple of times in contemplation. "I understand. I'll try, but I can't make any promises."

Princess Celestia smiled warmly. "That is all I ask. Although, you're not going to be able to go about your task the way you are. You'll need a more...suitable form."

Everfree knew what the Princess was getting at. The populace probably would overact a little bit to an Angel walking in their midst. Although, the thought of being somewhat like the arrogant Prince he had just dealt with didn't appeal to him.

"If I'm judging you apprehension correctly, you need not worry, you won't being helping Twilight within Canterlot, you'll be doing it in the small town of Ponyville that isn't far from here."

Everfree sighed with relief. However, he had never heard of Ponyville, plenty about Canterlot, but not a Ponyville.

Ah well, just a new experience for me. He thought.

"Sounds good to me. Shall we get started then?"

Twilight Sparkle was currently wondering through the halls of Canterlot Castle as she made her way to the throne room, where her mentor, Princess Celestia had summoned her to. As she always was, Twilight was curious as to what it was her mentor wanted her for but never argued with her decisions.

It would even give her the opportunity to talk about the prophecy she had discovered.

It didn't take much longer for Twilight to reach her destination, even with how large the castle was. Then again for Twilight, it helps that she has been in the castle nearly all her life. At the far end of the hall were two large doors, with two Pegasus guards standing either side of the doors that led into the throne room. She quickly relayed to the guards that the Princess had asked for her and they opened the doors for her, sparing not a word.

Into the throne room she walked and although Princess Celestia was sitting at the far end of the room on her throne, it was the silver furred stallion standing not far from the Princess that caught her attention. She hadn't seen this pony around before and was, therefore, curious about him.

"Ah, here she is now!" Princess Celestia said, a large smile adorning her face.

Momentarily forgetting about the stallion in the room, Twilight perked up when she realised the Princess was talking about her. She stopped just before the Princess and bowed out of respect to her.

"You called for me, Princess?" She asked after standing back up straight.

"Yes, I did. As you may well know, the Summer Sun Celebration will be happening the day after tomorrow, and as I'm sure you also know, one of the towns throughout Equestria hosts this event?"

Twilight simply nodded. She was throwing glances at the stallion, who she now knew was a Unicorn, out of the corner of her eye. Just who was this Unicorn?

She quickly turned her attention back to the Princess when she started speaking again.

"This year it is going to be held in the nearby town of Ponyville. Now, I would normally send a group of representatives to oversee the preparations, but they are otherwise occupied at this current stage, so I wish for you to go and oversee the preparations."

"Me?" The Unicorn mare asked in disbelief.

"Yes, you. I have every confidence in you, Twilight that you will be able to get this task done." Celestia calmly responded, her smile still ever present.

"Yes, Princess! I won't let you down!" Twilight exclaimed, a smile now also gracing her muzzle.

"I know you want." Celestia said as the two of them shared a nuzzle before turning her gaze to Everfree. "Allow me to introduce the other pony here who I'm sure you're curious about."

Indeed she was as she remembered once more that he was here, despite having been throwing glances at him moments ago. She turned to face the Unicorn, a smile still present on her face as she attempted to be friendly, but that was the least of her worries at the moment.

"This is Silver. He will be accompanying you to Ponyville simply because he needs a 'change of scenery' as he put it."

Well played, Princess. Everfree thought, mentally applauding her.

Twilight simply shrugged. She didn't care if he accompanied her, she was simply here to tell her mentor what she had discovered then go complete her task as quickly as possible so that she may continue to look for ways to combat the evil to return, should they return.

"Ok, well nice to meet you." Twilight said as politely as possible before turning back to Princess Celestia. "Can I talk to you please, Princess?"

Knowing that this mostly would be his cue to leave, Everfree spoke up. "We were pretty much finished here anyway, Princess?"

"Yes, indeed. You may now leave and I wish you all the best in Ponyville, Silver."

Everfree bowed to Princess Celestia for the second time inside the time span of two hours, turned on his heels and proceeded towards the double doors. When he got halfway, he heard Twilight speak up again as she must have assumed he wouldn't be able to hear what she was saying from where he was.

"I have come across a prophecy that may very well leave Equestria in ruins if we don't do something to prepare!"

"And what is this prophecy you came across in those dusty, old tomes, my faithful student?"

And just like that, Twilight began reciting the exact prophecy and then followed it up with some pretty damning reasoning.

"'The Mare in the Moon, myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.' Princess, that is the day after tomorrow!"

Princess Celestia simply laughed at Twilight's statement. "Twilight, you simply must stop reading those old books. The Mare in the Moon is a ponytale, nothing more. Now, while you're Ponyville, I wish for you to also make some friends. Do this for me?"

Twilight sighed. "Yes, Princess."

Celestia gave a nuzzle to Twilight. "It won't be so bad. Now go get ready."

Twilight turned to leave pretty much at the same time as Everfree looked back at the Princess despite having supposedly left. However, Twilight walked straight past him without noticing or if she did, she didn't care. Now, that she was gone and his curiosity peaked, Everfree walked back over to Celestia.

"Is it true? Is Nightmare Moon, or rather, Princess Luna due to return?"

Celestia's smile had faded seconds ago as she nodded with what was obviously a heavy heart. Everfree knew vaguely what had happened, but he never knew the full story of what truly happened and given how Celestia was taking it at the moment, he didn't want to.

"Yes, the day after tomorrow marks the thousandth year...the day I had to banish my dear sister."

Everfree changed back into his Angelic form and moved over to the Ruler of the Day. He gently placed a hand upon her shoulder after noticing a stray tear run down her muzzle. Said Princess looked up at the Angel and smiled gratefully, although, she was slightly surprised when Everfree took it a step further and hugged her, both arms and wings.

It was only in a friendly manner though.

A smile wormed its way back onto Celestia's face as she returned the hug simply by wrapping her wings around Everfree.

"Thank you, Everfree. It would seem I chose correctly in requesting your aid. You seem to understand me well."

"Well, I'm not the Angel of Nature for nothing you know." Everfree smirked.

Celestia giggled slightly and again there was that strange, or odd, feeling. What made it all odder was that the Princess seemed to have her gaze locked on him, his eyes specifically. It was as if she was lost in his eyes.

"If that is all, Princess, I will get going now?"

Celestia simply nodded and watched as Everfree simply backed away, changed back into a Unicorn then left her in the throne room.

Many thoughts were racing through her mind. She's had a millennium to contemplate emotions such as what she had just experienced with the Angel, but she knew full well that he wouldn't be able to engage in a romantic relationship, that is if he even had feelings for her. She also knew that, like herself, a powerful being such as the Angel of Nature would be capable of suppressing his emotions.

The other thing was that it was simply the rules of the Angels and she had, to be honest with herself, it did hurt her that the one pony, or Angel in this case, that would be able to understand her, care for her and potentially love her, could possibly not have the chance to love her or anypony else.

Princess Celestia simply sighed as she accepted this fate.