Chapter 6

“Well. Good to see you’re back on your hooves, Mr Ambassador,” Snapshot said, grinning.

It still took a great deal for you to have even managed the walk from Toffee’s room over the shop to the train station, and she pretty much had to carry you most of the way there. It had been close to a week since Silverstar had been arrested and most of the guards had already gone home, leaving you with the captain and the other diplomat, who had spent a significant amount of time trying different herbal blends the buffalo had suggested as part of various friendship ceremonies.

You were silently glad that you hadn’t been chosen to experiment with the herbs yourself; the time you had shared with the beautiful caramel mare had been far better than any narcotic experience you could have possibly hope for, and you intended to speak to Princess Celestia the moment you returned home to see if there was any way you could find your way to the town more often.

The nightmare you had had about her and Luna had repeated itself at least once since it’s original occurrence, but you figured that they wouldn’t react too badly should you choose to leave your position. You hadn’t told Toffee about this thought at all, she had encouraged you to keep at your work, promising to spend the weekends together whenever she could, suggesting that you meet at her twin brother’s home in Ponyville.

The two of you had kissed for the last time on the platform before you had gotten on the train. Her father had gotten used to the idea of his daughter finally having found herself a colt-friend, but had quickly moved you to a small and admittedly uncomfortable bed near his forge to prevent any “complications”.

Thinking back on your experiences of last few weeks, you had realised the place you had first woken up after being stabbed had been the inside of the blacksmiths rather than the torture chamber your anxiety and pain had conjured, and this had been a source of great amusement as you recounted the tale to the old blacksmith and some of his friends one night.

You had been relieved when he had told you that he couldn’t think of a better mate for Toffee, but had been saddened when he said he doubted the relationship would go anywhere because of the distance between Canterlot and Appleloosa - you knew that he wouldn’t be able to bear his other child leaving home for some far-off life.

When the train had finally pulled in at the city below the castle itself, you had immediately requested an audience with Celestia, a letter of resignation in the saddlebag wrapped around your still-bandaged side. Judging by the state of the city, Canterlot had recently received a huge amount of rain; certain districts looking like they had been flooded severely, the castle now home to those whose homes had been destroyed.

Picking up a copy of Equestria Daily as you waited for your turn, you caught up on recent events; a new drug craze was sweeping the poorer areas of the city, a serial killer had mysteriously vanished and there had been a prisoner escape from the castle the night before; apparently a gryphon who had managed to assault Princess Luna before evading the guards.

The double doors opened, and a brown earth pony trotted out followed by an orange pegasus, cursing under her breath as she rustled her wings with agitation. He appeared to shrug off whatever was bothering her, suggesting that they head back home and offering to cook her something and suggested she take a swim in the library.

You shake your head, genuinely unsure if you heard that correctly, but decide to wander into the throne room. Celestia immediately rises from her throne and helps you to walk the distance from the door to the foot of the small flight of steps before the towering chair and disappears for a moment, retrieving a large pillow and hauling it to your hooves. She motions for you to lay down, before sitting on the red carpet. She nods to somepony out of your line of sight and you hear the doors to the room close with a bass thud. Seeing you’re now alone with the Princess, she speaks;

“My dear ambassador, it warms me to see you have returned in one piece. Now, a mutual friend of ours informs me that you have something you need to say?”

Still slightly wary of her Majesty, following the nightmares, you shakily opened the saddlebag. Celestia raised an eyebrow, before tugging the letter free using her magic and reading it. She frowned at first, shortly before her usual beaming smile made it’s reappearance.

“I really don’t think you meant to send this.”

“Ma... Majesty?”

“If you were to leave my service,” she began, watching your every move, “How would I be able to appoint you as the full time representative of my court in Appleloosa?”

You gasp as what she said sank in. Celestia smiled.

Everything was going to be alright.