Chapter Nine: Someone to Lean On

The Draconian general scooted closer to the solar princess until every inch of his side was pressed against hers. Leaning into her, he heaved a content sigh as he gazed over the countryside.

"You truly do have a beautiful country…"

Princess Celestia's smile was still present as her eyes followed his line of vision.

"Thank you, General. I feel the same way… Sometimes I just like to come out and look over my kingdom, watching my little ponies go about their lives.

"I envy them, sometimes. They have it easy…"

"It looks like it." Rhem peered down at a small group of colts and fillies at the bottom of the tall knoll playing with a familiar ball - soon recognizing the poppy red colt and pink filly from earlier. The little ones hadn't even noticed the alicorn and dragon perched upon the hilltop, as they were too occupied in their game, laughing and frolicking among each other. The sight certainly looked like fun. He found himself wanting to join in, but he didn't want a repeat of what happened in town. "Princess Celestia? Do you ever feel the want to join your subjects in what ever they are doing?"

"Almost all the time," she replied, a twinge of sadness permeating her voice. "I may be a princess, but I am a pony, too. There are times where I would love nothing more than to shrug off my duties for the day and spend time with my subjects. However…"

She turned to Rhem.

"None of my subjects would ever treat me like a normal pony. I get looked at and all they see is the princess, deserving only special treatment. If I play a game, my subjects will go out of their way to make sure I win… It's… actually quite tiring. I ever so rarely get a chance to relax a bit ANYWAY, and even if I do, my duties usually will come up with something urgent again." A brief pause elapsed. "Which, I will admit, is half the reason I decided to stay around you as long as I have today. I really don't want to stay in my throne room looking over parchment after parchment of tax increase this or potential law that or something regarding the upcoming budget for next year…"

The mare sighed, a small frown tugging at her lips.

"Sometimes I'd like to play a nice game of hoofball. Get sweaty and dirty. Maybe even a scrape. Give my all without having to resort to using my wings or any magic… and be proud of the game. But…" She raised her head. "My kingdom has, and always will, come first."

Rhem cast his gaze back at the children. A pair of the foals jumped each other and proceeded to wrestle each other to the grass before the rest followed suit, creating one squirming pony pile.

He observed the scene, an idea spawning in his mind before the all too familiar gleam of mischief reappeared in his eyes. Rising up onto his feet, he pounced the royal alicorn, sending them both tumbling down the hill in the opposite direction of the children.

The princess had been about to open her mouth to ask Rhem a question when she was unexpectedly tackled. What ever words she had died in her thoat.

As the dragon rolled down the grassy slope with the equine, he prepared himself for the landing. Once they reached the bottom, he pinned Princess Celestia on her back with a triumphant glimmer in his fiery yellow-orange eyes.

"Then I will treat you like everyone else… Celestia."

The princess let out a grunt and stared up at Rhem in astonishment.

"Rhem! What-" she began, her words catching. Treat her like everyone else? What did THAT mean? "What… do you mean… by that?"

It hadn't escaped her notice that he had failed to use her title, simply calling her by her name.

"It means I will not treat you like a princess. You will be just a regular pony to me," he clarified.

She blinked… before narrowing her eyes lightly and breaking into a grin.

"Well, then, Rhem. I suppose I shall do the same to you."

"I would like that…"

The tiniest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, he lowered his head to nuzzle his nose against her cheek.

Princess Celestia chuckled, nuzzling back. As she did so, a playful glint sparked in her eyes. Raising her front hooves against the dragon's sides, she began to lightly tickle along his scales.

Squeaking in a very un-Draconian manner, Rhem leaped off of the mare, landing on his paws a few feet away. The dragon crouched low with his haunches raised in the air and tail swishing back and forth, expressing his own sign to play. Hoping she would chase him around like he had seen the colts and fillies do with each other, he bounced from side-to-side, encouraging her to try to catch him.

Beaming, she rolled over onto her stomach to take a leap at him-wings flaring to catch herself so she didn't crash upon landing in case she missed.

Rhem was ready. With his lightning-quick reflexes, he bounced out of the way and bounded behind her. Grasping the tip of her ethereal tail in his mouth, he gave it a playful, yet gentle, tug. As he let go, he whipped right back around her with illimitable energy.

Princess Celestia gasped softly at the yank on her tail. A hot flush raced across her face and a tingle went up her spine-though, as she turned to face him, she found he had already made his way around her and she spun back to meet him.

"You're pretty fast for somepony your size," she quipped with a smirk.

"We have to be fast," Rhem stated, running back around to give the mare's tail another tug. This time, he remained behind her, leaping back a few feet to prepare for what she would do next.

That made sense. Speed and agility were top qualities in sentries. The faster and stronger, the better. All in the name of better and more efficient machines to handle the job better-only one of the reasons why Princess Celestia detested war, but incorporated into her army's regimen on the off-chance Equestria would need her forces. After the war with the griffons, it seemed fairly evident that was indeed the case. Though, she figured the soldiers deserved the peaceful rest that had been obtained.

She gasped again, feeling another rush of heat come to her face. That felt… rather awkward, though she wasn't entirely sure why. It just made her feel a little embarrassed that her tail was being played with.

He was quick, that was for sure, and there was no way she could match him in speed…

… Unless…

She gave a smirk, glancing over her shoulder to stick her tongue out at Rhem before her horn glowed and she suddenly vanished with a flash. She almost immediately re-materialized behind the draconic being, swooping down with her mouth to grab his tail and return the favor.

Rhem's eyes went round in shock when Princess Celestia disappeared, a look of worry gracing his facial features, only to be surprised and relieved when he felt the pull on his own tail. Yanking it free, he spun around to face the mare before heading around her once more. This time, he slipped right underneath her, crouching. Poking his head through her front legs, he tilted it back to meet her eyes. Straightening his legs again, he ended up lifting the princess right off her hooves.

The mare planned on using her teleportation spell again when her companion disappeared from sight, only to feel something slide underneath her. She blinked as she stared down right into his smiling face. As the dragon stood up, she faltered as she was lifted up-laying on her stomach on his back.

With the alicorn on his back, the winged reptilian broke into a fast gallop. He raced along the wide open field with nothing ahead of him but rolling hills and the hairline that made up the border of the Everfree Forest. He ran and ran, making sure he had the equine perfectly balanced. Occasionally, he leaped into the air just for fun-especially when he reached the top of the knolls he cleared. He was in a state of happiness he had never felt before! Streaking down the countryside with Princess Celestia on his back with nothing to stop him…

He felt so free…

Princess Celestia released a cry of surprise when Rhem took off. Her eyes wide, she clamped her hooves down on his shoulders as best as she could. Laying there in shock for a good moment, the princess found herself taken completely off guard. She had never once expected she would experience something like this.

After a few minutes, and the second jump, she began laughing-even going so far as to outright cheer and whoop.

The equine's laughter was infectious and encouraging. Awkward huffs that resembled laughs rolled out of him with every leap he made. There was no hint of exhaustion in his breath-his endurance and stamina had been brutally crafted so masterfully by the instruction and guidance of his superiors. His heart soared with them, feeling as light-weighted as he did when suspended in mid-jump.

He eventually slowed to a stop, spinning his body in continuous circles, but not fast enough to send the pony on his back flying. As dizziness overpowered him, he stumbled sideways and collapsed onto the soft grassy earth with more full and mirthful laughter.

The Equestrian monarch hollered. Even as they came to a cessation, she continued giggling-feeling her stomach rise up in her body as they span. Keeping her wits about her-at least long enough to jump off of Rhem's back before he crashed onto his side-she realized she had never felt more alive than she had in the past few centuries. Peals of laughter echoing into the early evening, she laid down on her back against the dragon.

"Heh… You know, it's almost too bad you're not a pony, Rhem. I'd almost say you were a good candidate for the Element of Laughter!"

Rhem's laughter diminished as the adrenaline died down to a moderately low level. With a satisfied sigh, he glanced over at the alicorn, his face alight with bliss.

"I… never thought such fun like that… could even exist! That was incredible! And I hope that was enough to last you until next time you get the chance to have fun." He nuzzled against the princess, his rib cage heaving as he regulated his breathing. "Think… we can do it again?"

Princess Celestia's sides were hurting somewhat from all the laughter she and Rhem had shared for the past several minutes. Smiling, she nuzzled him back as she rolled over onto her belly.

"We could, I suppose. But, give me a brief moment, young Rhem."

She got to her hooves as she reached out with her magic. Closing her eyes, the mare felt the power of the sun fill her and she guided it down from the heavens to let it sink below the horizon far off into the distance. At the same time, she branched out with another tendril of magic to summon the moon, pulling it up over the opposite edge of the view, it slowly creeping skyward at the same time the sun was setting. Now with the celestial bodies on their proper course for the night, she turned back to the Draconian.

Sitting upon his haunches, the general watched in amazement as the sun sank and bathed the surrounding land in an artful display of warm colors. As the moon was brought out, everything was coated with various blues and violets and highlighted with white. Rhem's eyes flickered brilliantly and pierced the night, fiery yellow-orange orbs flashing like the sun. He took a few moments to admire the glowing ball in the sky and the stars.

"It is a beautiful night…"

The princess' eyes were wide with a sort of sad pride. While the night was indeed beauteous, she felt as if she could never match her sister's splendor in that regard.

"Luna always made her nights so much more prettier than I ever could. You could see the stars for miles upon miles." She shook her head, turning back to her companion. "But, I can honestly say I try my best."

She went silent again, looking up at the night sky.

Sensing her sadness, Rhem nuzzled Princess Celestia's cheek in an attempt to comfort her.

"Perhaps you two can reach an agreement once she returns?"

"I doubt Nightmare Moon and I will ever reach an agreement, Rhem. It wasn't entirely her fault she ended up the way she did. I feel there is an outside force controlling her. To do so, I need to break through to her… And I believe that only the Elements of Harmony would be able to do that."

The dragon sighed deeply, a pang of sympathy dwelling within him as he offered her another nuzzle.

"Is there… anything I can do…? You already did so much for me…"

Lifting a foreleg, he furled it around the regal pony's shoulders and held her close.

She forced a cheerless smile, nuzzling him back.

"I'll be fine. I've already lived through it for over three-hundred years. I'm sure I can push through seven-hundred more." Leaning in closer to the dragon, she shut her eyes. "You're doing more than you think, Rhem… I haven't…" The mare sniffed, tears brimming and her sorrow building. "… had a chance to really… lean on… some… pony…"

Her jaw clenched as her eyelids squeezed together tighter, tears streaming down her face, allowing herself to bring her depression forward. She wanted to hold it down, but she knew bottling her emotions was unhealthy.

To have a shoulder to cry on after going so long of crying into a pillow late at night… Just by being present, Rhem provided so much more for Princess Celestia that she did not have for centuries.

"You… can lean on me all you want… And you do not have to… hold back anything with me… If you… need to cry, you can. I will not tell anyone…" Rhem offered, his own sadness increasing. The young dragon hardly knew anything about comforting other than what Princess Celestia had shown him. Though, as he felt an unexpected impulse, he obeyed it and leaned in to lick the rivulet of tears from one of the equine's cheeks.

Princess Celestia took hi suggestion and did so - letting it all hang freely, she poured her heart out onto his shoulder. Eyes that she had sworn had long ago dried up and had no more tears to shed suddenly found themselves in a veritable deluge. Choking and sobbing, she cried for a good, long while.

"… I… I'll be alright… Thank you, Rhem…"

Rhem held her tighter in his one-armed embrace and placed his head upon the crest of her neck, the equine's billowing mane tingling the nerves beneath the scales it touched. He remained that way as she openly cried and released the emotional pain weighing upon her.

As she settled down, he removed his head from her neck. Touching his nose to her cheek, he lapped up the fresh tears. He didn't say anything. He figured his actions would do all the talking for him.

The mare chuckled a bit, finding his actions touching. Nuzzling him softly, she blinked once to clear her eyes, though her face was still tear-stained.

"Thank you, again, Rhem… For everything…. I needed this. For a long time. Too long a time."

Rhem drew his head back to smile at her, his eyes burning in the darkness like live embers. Leaning in again, he resumed licking the tears off of her face.

The mare giggled at the dragon lapping up what few tears she had. Shaking her head, she smiled.

"Do my tears taste good to you? That tickles!"

It did feel a little ticklish. She had never been licked by a sentient being before, let alone by a dragon.

"Kind of. They probably taste better than they should since I am hungry."

Her own laughter inspired the playful spark back in him. Unfurling his arm from her, he pinned her to the ground, still licking her face.

A pang of guilt hit the mare's bosom as the draconic being mentioned he was hungry. Biting her lip, she decided that maybe she should go behind King Talonblaze's back - after all, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

She was somewhat surprised when Rhem pinned her. Letting out a yelp, she followed it with laughter, and tried to move her face out of the way.

"Now, Rhem! Knock it off!"

Her tone and laughter, however, suggested that… no, she actually didn't want him to stop.

Despite his growling stomach, the dragon relented to the surge of playfulness. Noting the princess of the sun's intonation, he shook his head.

"No."

With a wicked twinkle in his eyes, he continued licking her face; running his tongue over her cheeks, nose, and the bridge of her muzzle.

Princess Celestia giggled as she twisted her face back and forth from Rhem's tongue while squirming underneath his legs. This tickled so much! He was kind of like a dog, she decided. A big, red, scaly dog. Her eyes suddenly brightened, coming to an amusing mental image. Maybe if she threw a stick, he would run off and fetch it for her. It actually made her laugh even harder.

Rhem kept this up for a few minutes before permitting the equine a break. Ceasing his licking, he began nuzzling her again, the look of bliss painted across his visage. Despite its low points, it turned out to be the best day of his life. After a few nuzzles, the dragon sighed contentedly and touched his nose to hers in an affectionate gesture. It was an entirely innocent and chaste gesture, but affectionate nonetheless.

The princess sighed, giggling again as she opened her eyes to meet his. A bit surprised from the affectionate display, she returned it with gusto. Today was a wonderful day for her-the afternoon meeting with King Talonblaze could have gone a tiny bit better, and the situation in town could have definitely been handled differently, but all in all, it could have been worse.