Hey everycreature! What's up!?
So yeah, just another random idea I had for a quick one shot, which I do hope you enjoy!
Without further ado…
It has been a few days since both Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor have retired from leading the Crystal Empire, turning over the throne to their daughter, young princess Flurry Heart, who they felt was now more than ready to take care of things by herself. And since Shining Armor was also the leader of the Crystal guards, that left the spot open, needing to be filled, fortunately Flurry had the right recommendation for the position…
"Come on Grace…" A light purple feathered female griffon wearing the armor of a crystal guard, told herself, looking into the mirror, seeing her reflection. "It's just a simple ceremony, what can go wrong?" The griffon trying to sound calm, but inside she was panicking as a knock came on the door, which caused her to jump up a little.
"Sweetie, you okay?" The voice of a adult male griffon sounded as the knob to the door turned. "You been in there for a long time now, do you need help putting on your armor?" The adult male, who was none other than the guard captain of Canterlot, Gallus, continued as he came in, seeing the female griffon staring into her reflection, as he was a little concerned. "Sweetie, what's wrong? Everyone's waiting for you to come."
"Oh… Hey dad…" Grace replied, sounding very timid. "Nothing's wrong, just checking my feathers…" Grace lied, which Gallus saw right through as he sat next to his daughter, his reflection appearing next to her.
"You know I can tell when you're lying sweetie." Gallus reminded his daughter. "Now come on, tell me what's wrong."
"I'm nervous and scared dad…" Grace admitted. "I know I wanted this ever since I was a little girl, watching you, then you training me until I was old enough to join the Canterlot guard, and finally joining the ranks. But I never imagined I would be asked to be a leader, I'm not sure I'm ready or I'll do a good job."
"It's okay to have these fears sweetie." Gallus spoke. "But I watched you grow up from a little girl to a strong griffon, who's very capable of one day being a leader, you're ready to take on this task."
"But I'm not you dad, I'll never be as confident and strong as you are…" Grace sighed, keeping her head down.
"Sweetie, let me tell you, when I became captain of the Canterlot guard before I married your mother and had you, I had no clue how to do my job, I was sure I would fail right away and the princess would pick someone else to take over." Gallus explained. "But instead she held onto me and over time I figured out what to do and made things work and I know you can too."
"You really think so dad?" Grace asked.
"Absolutely." Gallus smiled. "I know Princess Flurry Heart well enough to know she's going to help you just as much as you'll help her and you always have your mother and I in case you need anything."
"I guess so…" Grace feeling a little better. "Thanks dad."
"You're welcome sweetie." Gallus pulled his daughter in for a hug. "Now, lets get out there and give you the most important day of your life."
"Right, don't want to keep the princess waiting." Grace realized that it has been awhile and it wasn't right to keep royalty waiting. "Lets go." Grace got up and was just about to leave the room, only for Gallus to stop his daughter.
"Captain, I think you're forgetting something…" Gallus cleared his throat to get Grace's attention as she turned around, Gallus holding onto her helmet as Grace then felt the top of her head with a claw before laughing awkwardly.
"Sorry dad, I mean sir…" Grace corrected herself quickly before going back and with her father's help, got the helmet on. "How do I look now?"
"Like a leader." Gallus replied as his daughter was now ready, the two leaving the dressing room to the throne room where the ceremony would take place, the two coming in front of the doors as Grace took a deep breath.
As the throne room doors were opened, trumpets sounded as forming an alleyway to the throne were two rows of crystal guards, who saluted right away and held it as Grace slowly trotted froward to the throne, on which sat the ruler of the Crystal Empire, Princess Flurry Heart. Meanwhile Gallus went to the side, where his wife, Silverstream, was, happy to see the two came for she was getting worried herself.
"What took you two so long?" Silverstream asked. "Was Grace alright?"
"She's okay honey, just a bit nervous is all." Gallus smiled to reassure Silverstream as he gave his wife a kiss on the cheek before the two turned their attention to the ceremony as Grace finally got to the princess, kneeing and bowing her head as she was supposed to, Flurry then speaking.
"Today is a very special day, as the new ruler of the Crystal Empire after my parents, leaving me in charge of this kingdom, I have been tasked with taking care of everypony here." Flurry began. "However I cannot do it alone and one of the most important jobs is the guard captain in charge of the protection of not only me, but the entire kingdom."
Flurry getting up from her throne and coming down to stand in front of Grace, who kept her head bowed until told to rise as her father told her to.
"And I cannot think of a better choice than the very daughter of the current esteemed royal guard captain of Canterlot, to take the role." Flurry spoke, speaking of Grace, then directing her next words right at her. "Rise Grace."
Grace rose slowly, standing up tall and proud now, but still having a little fear as she was now looking right at the princess' face, but tried her hardest not to show it as Flurry placed one of her front hooves on Grace's shoulder.
"Grace, I now proudly proclaim you as the new guard captain of the Crystal guards, I entrust the protection of everypony here to you and wish you the best of luck with your new role."
"Thank you, your majesty." Grace replied, trying to sound as confident as she could. "I promise to do my job to the best of my ability and not disappoint you and everypony in the kingdom." Grace swore.
"Of that, I have no doubt." Flurry smiled. "Now, lets celebrate this special occasion in the main hall." Flurry declared.
Meanwhile, with Gallus and Silverstream, they were just watching the moment play out in front of them, proud to see their daughter move up higher. Silverstream started to shed tears, which rolled down her face as Gallus helped wipe them away and embrace his wife.
"Well done sweetie." Gallus said inside his head as they, along with everyone else present, went to the main hall, where a small party was held for Grace, Grace getting to meet the guards who she would be leading, knowing their names.
"Oh sweetie, I'm so happy and proud." Silverstream said loudly with joy as she hugged onto her daughter tightly.
"Mom…" Grace blushed. "Not too tight and in front of everyone…" Grace said, feeling a little embarrassed, but this was her overly energetic hippogriff mom she was talking about.
"Sorry sweetie." Silverstream apologized after spending another minute hugging her daughter. "So, how do you feel?"
"Honestly, now I feel alright, I know I felt extremely nervous and terrified before, but luckily dad said the right words to me and that made me feel better about things." Grace smiled.
"Yeah your father is very good at convincing, that's why I said yes when he asked me to marry him." Silverstream chuckled. "And now we have you."
While Grace was sharing a conversation with her mother and the other guards, Flurry and Gallus were together, watching Grace start to fit into things. The two life long friends happy that this day came.
"Thanks Flurry for giving my daughter this responsibility, it means a lot." Gallus told her.
"It's the least I can do my friend." Flurry returned. "The most I could do is give you the job, but my auntie beat me to it." Flurry joked to which Gallus laughed at that.
"Well, maybe I could ask for a transfer, but I don't think Princess Twilight would accept it." Gallus joked back. "I just hope my daughter's really going to be okay here, away from Silverstream and I, taking on this task…"
"She'll do great Gallus, I will make sure of it." Flurry reassured her friend. "You made the right choice for her when we first discussed this."
"I know…" Gallus let out a deep breath as he turned his complete attention to his daughter, who was still interacting with the crystal guards. "Good luck sweetie." Gallus wished his daughter as he took a sip from his drink, smiling as he looked froward to what the future will bring for his daughter.
And there we go! I hope you enjoyed this one shot and with that…
See everycreature later!