CHAPTER 5

Hello everypony. My apologies to all of my readers who expected this chapter to be posted much sooner. I struggled a bit with this one. There was once scene in particular that gave me fits trying to get it right. I literally wrote two pages of this chapter, changed it several times, then did a complete rewrite of the whole scene twice. I think it turned out for the better in the end. I would be loathe to give my readers anything but the best I can write. On top of fighting with a sub-plot, there's been a bit of turmoil in my own life lately, and It's all leaving me struggling with an existential crisis. With family matters eating at me, and financial problems rearing their ugly heads, I'm actually two steps shy of just taking my stuff and moving into my off the grid cabin deep in the woods, and just staying there. But anyway...here is chapter 5, finally up for your reading pleasure, what few there are of you still reading it. Enjoy, and please review.

After several boring hours aboard the train, Budder and I arrived at the Canterlot station just before five in the evening. Once again back in the town we were both born in, we silently collected our saddlebags, and stepped off the train at the crowded stop. On the platform were dozens of Canterlot ponies waiting for the train, some of them the exact type of pony I didn't want to associate with here: stallions and mares wearing suits and gowns, their muzzles stuck up into the air. Seeing the snooty, upward-turned heads of wealthy Canterlot dwellers always made me think of turkeys and the old myth that if they look up during a rainstorm, they're too stupid to keep themselves from drowning. I looked over at my sister and nudged her gently.

"Glad to be home?" I asked softly. She looked me in the eyes.

"This ain't home." She responded. I looked up the the multi-tiered city of tall elaborate buildings and the imposing facade of the Royal Palace and sighed.

"I know what you mean..." I said. "Come on. Let's go see Princess Celestia. I wanna get to our hotel room or whatever and get something to eat."

"Me too." My sister agreed. "I wanna eat and crash a little before we have to work."

"By the way, have you ever seen the way I walk into the palace?" I asked as we started walking down the street away from the train station.

"Noooo..." Budder replied curiously.

"Heheh. Dashie was tied up in knots the first time she saw me do it. The guards have a harder time getting through security than I do." I explained. "The law says that you have to have to be cleared to enter through the front gate, you have to have an appointment to be allowed beyond the public areas of the palace, and it's strictly verbotten to enter the day court unless you are summoned by one of the princesses themselves. Now, those regulations don't extend to your dear old brother. Celestia herself said I was allowed in to see her anytime I needed to, and let all the guards know that I was on some kind of top secret, high-clearance in-list or something."

"Woah." Budder replied. She grinned. "I have the most awesome big brother in the world."

"Heh...Keep saying it and it might come true someday..." I said. She always seemed to put me on a pedestal, and forget that was only a pony, and that I could make mistakes. True, I knew I was good to Budder. In fact, her well being and happiness always came first to me, but I never believed that I was the best guardian in Equestria like she always said I was. I wished I really was though. That would mean that my little sister was getting the life I thought she deserved.

As predicted, when we got to the main gate of the palace, I stated my name, and the two sentries allowed us by. At the entrance to the castle itself, the two guards crossed their spears as we approached, but after hearing my name, rank, and that I was reporting to the princess as ordered, the guards uncrossed their lances and let Budder and I pass into the palace. We practically waded through ponies on our way to the princess' court. It appeared that to put on something like the Grand Galloping Gala took the combined efforts of hundreds, if not thousands of ponies. I hated being in such a crowd, the sights and sounds overwhelming my finely-tuned senses, but at least in such a mass of officials and decorators, nobility and workers, few ponies looked twice at a stallion in a uniform walking down the hall, and we made our way to the large golden doors of the throne room without having to talk to anypony.

The day court, usually a quiet and dignified setting, was now a madhouse filled with party planners, cooks, businessponies and decorators, all vying for Princess Celestia's attention. In one corner of the large throne room, a group of designers or decorators or whoever they were argued over a large roll of red fabric. On the elevated dais, Princess Celestia sat in her throne like a bored and annoyed teenager, one foreleg propping up her head. Once she saw us enter, she immediately excused herself and walked across the room, the busy ponies parting to let her pass.

"Thank you for coming, my dear Lieutenant." Celestia said with a small smile as she reached us. "I'm so happy you could lend me your aid with this Gala ordeal." We walked to a less populated part of the room so we could speak.

"Well, Your Highness..." I said "...running something like this gala is probably an ordeal on its own. If I can help make it a little more bearable on you, I'm glad to help." She looked at me a moment, then at the throng of ponies hurrying about with bolts of fabric, recipes and pages of notes. She turned back to me and rolled her eyes.

"You have no idea how taxing all this can be." The princess whispered. "You'd think these fair and intelligent ponies could pick out streamers and punch glasses without my assistance." She sighed. "This terrorism threat isn't putting me any more at ease..." Celestia then gave me a smile. "But knowing you two are here does."

"Your highness..." A green unicorn stallion said respectfully, bowing to the floor.

"Yes?" The monarch asked, a little exasperation to her voice.

"I am afraid we've run out of napkins in ivory." He advised in an almost panicked tone. "We may have to start using the...antique white napkins on the guest tables. Would that be acceptable to you, Your Majesty?" Princess Celestia shot me a knowing glance.

"That would be perfectly fine with me." She answered. The stallion jotted something down on a small notepad and hurried off. Celestia huffed.

"You see?" She asked. "I wish I could speak more with you, but I still have much to do. Perhaps I can steal a moment later this evening and visit your room. Oh...that reminds me, I will see to your lodgings now, Drake." The princess looked around. "Topaz?"

"Oh! Yes, Your Majesty?" A light blue mare with a pink mane answered, quickly moving across the room toward us.

"Could you take Lieutenant Drake and his sister to a pair of our best guest rooms in the palace please?" Princess Celestia asked politely.

"Of course, Princess!" The mare replied dutifully. "This way, Lieutenant."

"If you could be here at nine tomorrow morning, we can sort out some kind of plan for how you two will be working security for the event tomorrow evening." Celestia stated. "Until then, enjoy your rooms. My resources are at your disposal."

"Sounds good to me." I said. And if you need us for anything before then, don't be afraid to ask, Your Highness." I smiled.

"Thank you Drake." Celestia returned. She leaned in closer. "What I need right now is a few minutes of peace and quiet...and a chocolate cake." She looked around again. "A big one."

…...

During my time working for Princess Celestia, I'd had the opportunity to stay in a few of the finest, most posh hotel rooms in the country. The guest room at the palace I was given made them all look like shanties. The guest room was actually a large room divided into two areas by a set of small stairs and a decorative railing. Closest to the door was an open living area with two ornate sofas flanking an esquisite gold-leafed coffee table. There was a bookshelf, a fireplace, a small bar stocked with expensive liquors, and even a small walnut table with two matching chairs. Down the steps was the bedroom, which was furnished with a large four-post canopy bed, a matching dresser and chest of drawers, and a small bench at the foot of the bed. Just off the bedroom was the bathroom, complete with a small hot tub. A knock at my door shook me from my thoughts of sleeping on the floor for fear of wrinkling the sheets.

"Hey bub." Budder greeted dryly as I opened the door.

"Somethin' wrong, angel?" I asked curiously. She pursed her lips and wrinkled her brow in contemplation.

"My room's too big." She finally stated. A smile broke across my face.

"Oh?" I asked. "Why's that a problem though?"

"Dude...I can holler in there, and my voice like, echoes and stuff." She explained. "And the bed is like...almost half the size of my room back home, and it has eight freakin' pillows on it." I was grinning widely now, amused at my sister being so flustered by such royal lodgings. "There's one of those hot...jacrusie things in the bathroom too." She was silent a moment. "It's too big and empty. Can I stay in here with you til I got to bed?" I looked back into my own large room.

"It might be a little cramped in here with both of us..." I replied indifferently. Budder gave me a cynical stare. "Course you can. Hang out with me a bit. I was about to send for room service anyway." She smiled and walked past me into the room. She paused and looked around.

"Yep. Same as mine." She concluded. My sister walked to one of the couches and plopped down lazily.

"Anyway...what do you want for dinner?" I asked, walking to the pull-cord that rang the bell for the servants.

"I dunno." She shrugged. "What do they have here?"

"It's a palace...I'm sure they can make just about any fancy dish you can think of...creme brulee, crepes, fresh breads...you can get some real Canterlot cuisine here, whaddya say?"

"They have hayburgers and fries?" She asked.

"You've been hanging around Dashie too much..." I muttered, giving the bell a couple rings.

I was sitting at the small table, reading a book I had brought about famous assassinations. I figured that I'd might as well study what I might be up against. Without taking my eyes off the page I was on, my hoof grasped the cup of coffee on the table and brought it up to my mouth. There's nothing like enjoying a nice cup of coffee before bed. As I sat the mug down, there was a knock at my door. I looked up at the clock on the wall to see that it was ten o'clock. My sister had already retired for the night, and was either asleep or drawing before bed. Celestia had said she would try to come visit me when she got the time, so I assumed that the solar princess had come to speak with me now that she was officially off duty for the day.

"Coming." I stated, walking to the door. I unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door. Standing there at my door was not Princess Celestia, but rather her sister Luna.

"Drake." Luna smiled. "I am glad you are still awake. When I heard that you were staying at the palace, I just had to sneak away from my duties for a while to come see you. May I enter?"

"Of course Your High...um...Luna." I replied, remembering that she seemed to act offended unless I called her just by her name and dispensed with honorifics. The princess of the night stepped into my suite and looked around.

"Is there anything you need? If there is, all you must do is ask, and I will see to it." Said Luna graciously.

"I'm fine, just reading a bit before bed." I answered.

"Ah. I do the same on occasion." She said.

"Oh, would you like a cup of coffee, milady?" I asked. "It's a good blend. Came with the room." I added with a smile.

"I would like that." Luna replied. "My night has just begun, and there is much to do. Too much, really...what with the Gala tomorrow eve. Being a princess can be so stifling sometimes."

"I imagine it can." I agreed, pouring a cup of coffee into a mug. Princess Luna sat at the table, and I sat the mug in front of her before taking my own seat.

"Sometimes, I do wish I could be just a regular mare, Drake." She confessed. "I know my duty is to the ponies, and my sister and I are the only alicorns who can rule Equestria and rule over the sun and the moon...it is a great power as well as an immense responsibility." She sighed and took a drink of the coffee. I was somewhat surprised that the princess was opening up like this. Maybe she really was lonely, and just needed a good friend to confide in.

"But you're the princess of the night..." I argued. "The princess of the moon and the stars, and the protector of the dreams of everypony. You're loved and respected by so many..."

"Yes...you are right...but also incorrect, my dearest friend. My subjects respect me for what I am, not who I am. Nopony loves me for my art nor my poetry, and nopony speaks to me as if I am their equal. Most of them only see my power, and judge me because of that. 'Tis that power that separates me from the common pony. 'Twas that power which once drove me to darkness. And it is my lofty position that disallows me from making many true friends...or finding love." As she said the last part, she looked away sadly. I reached across the table and placed my forehooves on hers.

"Don't say that, Luna." I whispered. "I admit that I still see you as a superior in rank and privilege, but you're still one of my best friends." She smiled a little. "I don't judge you because you're a princess. I like you for who you really are. I look at you and I see a...really smart, sophisticated and compassionate mare who has an eye for beauty."

"Really?" Luna asked self-consciously.

"Yep. If you weren't the friendly and caring pony you are, I would tell you. You know how I am." I smiled. Luna smiled back.

"Thank you, Drake." She said. "For being my friend...and my equal." We were silent a moment, and sipped from our mugs. "You know...despite being two thousand years old in body, I am still just an eighteen year old filly in mind and at heart." I grinned.

"You're only as old as you feel." I commented humorously. Luna giggled, then her smile fell away.

"How old are you now, Drake?" She asked.

"Thirty two." I answered. "Feel about as old as an alicorn though." I added.

"Hm. My doctor said that he examined you..."

"He did." I replied.

"And that you had a few minor health concerns..."

"That's what he told me." I stated. Luna was looking at me with concern. I sighed. "My heart, I reckon. Said I had a slight arrhythmia...and hypoglycemia to boot."

"I worry." Luna said, averting her eyes.

"I'll live till I die." I quipped, summing up my belief on the matter. Luna sighed and took a drink of her coffee.

"I don't want you to...die..." She whispered. "You know what it is like to lose ponies you care about, Drake. As do I. For you, it is the tragic reminder of mortality. For me, my dear friend...it is the curse of immortality." Her remark bit into me. Luna and I were much alike. We had both suffered, and we both had come back from terrible things in our past. "To be an alicorn...to live forever...getting close to anypony means remaining young as you watch them age and die." Luna continued.

"I'm sorry...milady..." I whispered. Luna wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I do not wish to lose you, Drake." She said. "You are my best friend...and a heart after my own." I didn't know what to say. A couple of years ago, I was alone, and had no family or friends. Then I had found Dashie, then Budder. I had believed that there was nothing for me but a phrase I'd read in a book somewhere 'the cold, dark wasteland of eternity'. Now suddenly I had a family. I had ponies I loved, who loved me. I never knew that I could be a stallion other ponies loved and respected like this.

"Well..." I finally mused, but couldn't find the words.

She finished the coffee and stood. "Ahem..." She cleared her throat, no doubt pushing back the feelings we had just brought forth with our talk. "I must get back to my duties now unfortunately." I stood, and Princesses Luna walked around the table and embraced me in a warm hug. "Thank you so much, my dearest friend...for your words, and your sentiments."

"Thank you, milady..." I returned. I gave her a squeeze. "I don't think anypony could understand me like you do."

"That is because few ponies have walked through fire and darkness like we." She whispered to me. "Drake..." The next thing the princess of the night said was one of the most graceful and enchanting poems I'd ever heard, and was well fitting for my own life:

"We have come through the wilderness of despair,

feeling the bite of solitude's icy air

we now warm ourselves after traveling so far

to have discovered just who we are."

"That was beautiful, Luna." I remarked, ending our long embrace. "Thanks. You need anything, let me know, okay?"

"Likewise, Drake." She said back. "If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to call upon me." She looked back at the door. "I cannot neglect my responsibilities for long. I hope I can see you again before you leave. Perhaps you could join me for a nice dinner, just the two of us..." She was getting back to the basics of flirting now. I had to let her down gently.

"I'm gonna be busy all night with the Gala tomorrow...I really don't think I'll have the time. Maybe a little later when I'm not protecting the country." I said with with a smile.

She looked at me a moment with a look of disappointment, and started to say something, then just smiled. "Very well. I shall hold you to that. You owe me one dinner, do not forget." She flashed me a coy grin. "Farewell for now, my dear friend."

"Don't work too hard, milady." I replied.

"Oh I shall try not to do that." Luna said mischievously. "Good night, Drake."

"Good night, Luna." I nodded with a warm smile. The princess let herself out of my room, and I walked over to one of the couches and fell onto the soft upholstery. "Well...that was interesting..." I muttered to myself. I looked up at the clock, and decided it was time to turn in for the night.

It was the scene between Drake and Luna that gave me so much trouble. I hope it turned out well in your eyes, readers. I rather liked it. The original was far too deep of an interaction between them, and is best reserved for a later volume. As for the next chapter, it's already written (as in on paper), and I just have to type it out. With everything that's going on, I may have it up a little later this evening, or it may be up tonight or tomorrow, I do not know. If certain possibilities occur in the very near future, I'm just gonna have to put this story on hiatus and go Henry Thoreau for a while. I hope things normalize and I can get the next chapter out soon. Hope and pray, everypony. Until next chapter, thanks for reading.