When I returned inside, I wasn’t quite sure what had happened out there. Everything out on the balcony just kind of passed in a blur.

I was so focused on looking calm and relaxed and doing what Celestia told me to that I didn’t really pay attention to anything else.

“Easy. Breathe,” Celestia said from next to me, putting her wing across mine, slowly pushing them down. “Deep breaths.”

Swallowing, I nodded and closed my eyes, doing as she said. “Celestia?”

“Yes?”

“Never doing that again.”

“You never need to,” she promised and gave my ear a quick nuzzle. “Go rest. You’ll feel better tomorrow. I’ll talk to the press, you don’t need to be there for that.”

That sounded like a great idea. Actually, I had an even better idea, I was going to grab Swift and Cloud and then get completely fucking smashed.

Nodding, I looked up at her, giving her a small smile and a nuzzle. “Thank you.”

She gave me a quick hug with her wing before leaving. I sat down and closed my eyes. Calm. Relax. It’s over now.

Well, the worst part I think, at the very least. Stretching my wings, I gave them a flap before folding them again and opening my eyes. “Amber?”

“Yes, sir?” she answered just behind me and to the side.

I turned to smile at her. “How did I do?”

She smiled back. “I think you did fine, sir. You looked calm.”

“Thanks,” I said and then got up. “Mind going to ask Cloud if he wants to get fucking drunk? Swift is still outside the door, right?”

“Yes, sir.” She nodded and buzzed off out through the window.

Heading for the door, I pulled it open to spot Swift standing guard outside it. “Hey Swift.”

“Went well?”

I nodded and shrugged my wings. “I think so? Come on, let’s get drunk.”

He frowned. “Not sure I can, I’m on duty.”

“You have the next 24 hours off. If that won’t work, then you are hereby suspended for the next 24 hours,” I said. “Amber can cover for you.”

Swift flicked his ears and then nodded with a grin. “Hey, who am I to argue? As soon as she gets back, I’m off then. So, what are we drinking?”

“Expensive stuff.”

“Awesome.”

I nodded and started down the hallway. “Amber is off to find Cloud right now, see if he wants to join us. Come on, let’s see if we can find Sunset and Twilight too.”

Swift trotted up to move next to me. “Princess Twilight?”

“Yep. Maybe Skitter too if she is still with them.”

“I have the best job,” Swift said with a grin.

“No, your job sucks,” I countered with a grin. “You have the best friends. There is a difference.”

He seemed to consider that for a moment before he shook his head. “Nope. I’m pretty sure it’s my job.”

I just laughed and shook my head with a grin.

Man, I was already getting more relaxed. The question is where to go. Out into Canterlot was just out. The tower?

Yeah, the tower seemed like the best idea.

“..You do realize you are going to get it from Minuette for not telling her I was an alicorn, right?” I commented as we headed for the room where I knew they would be waiting.

“Oh yeah,” Swift answered with a small cringe. “Yeah, that’ll be a fun conversation.”

“Sorry.”

He shrugged. “Comes with the job. She knows I can’t tell her everything. Still, something like this… yeah, she’ll be pissed.”

I nodded and frowned. “To be honest, I should likely have told her myself. I’ll apologize to her later.”

Silver too. I really should have told her about it, she was one of the first ponies I got to know. Ah crap, now I felt bad.

Okay, I’d go talk to her tomorrow. Then stop by and apologize to Minuette on the way back.

Shaking my head, I pulled the door open with my magic. “Hey guys, you wa…”

I froze at the sight that greeted me before slowly and carefully closing the door again, as silently as I could. Not that anypony was likely to have noticed if I just slammed it shut.

Swift frowned at me. “What?”

Oh yeah, he had been on the other side of the door.

I shook my head. “Nopony there, they must have gone somewhere else. Knowing Twilight, all three went to the Library or something,” I said with a shrug. “Guess we have to make do without the eye candy.”

“Eh, happens,” he said with a shrug before he flicked his ear in thought. “…Do you have some cards? We should play cards.”

“Oh fuck no. One, you don’t have any money; two, I know better than to play with a pair of guard ponies! I have heard stories!”

“Oh, come on, we’d go easy on you! Besides, Cloud is awful at it! It’ll be fun!” he said with a grin as we headed towards the tower. “Did I ever tell you of the time that…”

I glanced back across my shoulder.

Wow.

That’s an image I wasn't going to forget anytime soon.

Author's Notes:

As people don't seem to be able to figure out what happened, this part has been adjusted.