Looking up from my book, I frowned slightly and looked out the window of the train, watching the fields flash by. I couldn't help being worried about Skitter. It felt so odd not to have her around.

But she was likely safer than I was right now.

Swift had volunteered to be my temporary guard until she recovered... if she even wanted the position back after.

When she emerged, she would be a changeling princess. I wasn't sure what that meant really. She used to be a changeling drone. I... I hoped she would still be Skitter. She might have more important things to do then than follow me around though.

I missed my friend.

Turning the page, I looked at the couch across the cabin. Swift was laying there, looking bored out of his mind as he looked out the window, “Bored?” I asked with smile.

He shrugged, “Bit. Well, it's only another day.”

“True but come on, it has to be more exciting than standing outside a door all day.”

That got a snort from him, “I do other things you know. To keep the guards fresh, the guard shift by the doors is only four hours. The rest of the day is patrols and practice.”

I grinned, “Come on, how often do you get to visit the Crystal Empire?”

“Not like I'm going on vacation, I'll be following some stuffy noble around all day.”

I tossed a cookie at him.

He caught it with his magic and ate it with a grin, “So what are the plans for when we arrive?”

Shrugging I closed my book, “Well, Luna is going to be busy for a day or two, but after that I expect things to calm down. I think I'll use those days to explore the city. After that, I think I can give you a couple of days of duty. Four or so.”

Swift grinned at that, “Oh? Not planning to leave the guest rooms after that?”

Another cookie bounced of his armor only to be caught.

“When I do, I'll be next to an alicorn. I won't need a shadow then, even Skitter agreed with that.”

What I didn't say was that he was more right than he thought. Of course, I did also not mention that I had talked to Minuette. His marefriend. I may also have gotten her a ticket to arrive two days after we did and I may also have gotten them a room at the best hotel in the Crystal Empire for those four days he would be there and free to do whatever.

“Speaking of the Princess, when is she getting up now?” he asked and finished off the second cookie.

“Same schedule as in Canterlot. More or less anyway,” I said with a shrug. “Switching things over just for a week just isn't practical. She will force herself to stay awake for the meetings, they are held either very early morning or late afternoon for a reason.”

He nodded, “Must be difficult. With the different schedules I mean. Minuette would kill me if I worked the nightshift more than once in a while.”

I sighed, “Can be. At least I don't have a job with fixed times so I could twist mine to match hers somewhat. Remember I tried to match it completely before? It worked well, but it kept me from doing anything during the day. Besides, she is busy during half the night anyway. But yeah, sometimes it sucks.”'

“Yeah," he agreed before he grinned, “the things we put up with from the mares we love.”

“Hear hear,” I chuckled, wishing I had a cider to salute him with.

The door to the cabin opened and I glanced back to see Princess Celestia enter. Swift slid off the couch and bowed slightly before allowing her inside, leaving the cabin.

“Hey,” I said with a smile as I adjusted my cloak, “Bored?”

She smiled slightly, “A bit. I never did enjoy train rides, there is little to do,” she said as she settled down on the couch Swift had vacated.

“Couldn't you just have teleported or something?”

Celestia smiled at that, “In theory? I could. Would take a couple of teleports, but yes. But that would mean only me and my sister would go. It would leave the hundred or so ponies to take the train in any case.”

“You did once and got chewed out by your guards?” I guessed with a grin.

Her ears flicked in amusement, “Once when I was young. And there was carriages then, not trains. The pegasi guards caught up to me a week later. The head of my personal guard were not pleased,” she admitted before she blushed slightly, “Of course, I made it up to him. We got married a year later.”

I raised a eyebrow at her.

“I was younger then!” she protested and shifted her big wings, “it was before the unification even.”

Chuckling, I shook my head, “I can't help but wonder exactly how much is forgotten from the history books. Because none of them mention your consorts.”

Celestia didn't look happy but sighed, “When I do take a lover, we are discreet about it, even when married. For their safety among other things but things also get lost in time. Luna had been forgotten in a mere thousand years, remember?”

I nodded. That was just sad.

“Yeah.” I agreed.

“It's been almost a hundred years since I found my last consort. Sweety Bell. She was a earth pony mare. So sweet, she started out in the castle kitchens,” Celestia said softly, a small smile on her lips. “You should have seen her. Demure and sweet... unless you made her angry. She was fierce! During a diplomatic function, the griffon ambassador was really rather rude to one of the guests. I don't remember exactly what he said to Lady... hmm, who was it again? Crystal Clear I think. She was very young, I think it was the first one her father took her to... anyway, Crystal Clear was almost in tears, but Sweety Bell wouldn't have any of it. She was just serving drinks, but she walked straight up to the griffon and tore into him. By the end he was cowering on the floor, begging for forgiveness. Her tongue was Sharp. I think that might have been when I fell for her. She was never afraid to talk back to me.”

“I think I would have liked to meet her.”

Celestia nodded with a sad smile, “I think she would have liked you too. But she has been gone for forty years now.”

I nodded to myself as I watched Celestia, her wing tips were drooping slightly. She looked sad, but a small smile was on her lips.

I couldn't help but superimpose her with a mental picture of Luna. Same position, same expression... in a hundred years.

Remembering me.

There was a long moment of silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts before I finally spoke up, “Want to play a game? We can get Swift back in here and try that war game again, that always passes the time. Especially with three players.”

“I would like that.”