Faithful Heart had only entered the Royal Day Guard one year ago. For five years, from the time he was fourteen and violent stallion urges had driven him to choose the Guard as an outlet, he had trained and he had grown. Under the guidance of older stallions he had learned to channel rather than suppress his aggressive nature. He would train with the Guard and return home to eat supper with his folks until the day he truly became a stallion and old enough to live in the barracks. The Guard had become his second family, defending Celestia and the Empire his purpose. The Guard was his herd and he would spill every drop of blood in his veins to defend it. He would spill every drop in his veins to defend her.

He had mastered the spear only after hundreds of spars. He had sharpened his Earth Pony instincts to the peak of perfection, spending hours smashing through stones and trees. He had awed his superiors with his mastery of the bow. His discipline and self-mastery was an example for his comrades. His commander had told him so. For his dedication he had been chosen as one of the two guards stationed directly at Celestia's sleeping quarters. No intruder would enter her chambers, not with him standing there with his sharpened spear and fierce scowl.

Dawn had arisen some time ago, but the Princess herself had not yet arisen. He had been standing for two hours. Dawn had been thirty minutes ago. The Princess usually exited her bedchambers immediately after raising the sun. He glanced over at his identical Earth Pony companion Noble Shield. Noble Shield's face was in that strict Guard expression. Stern. Intimidating. No one could tell what was behind his eyes.

It certainly wasn't worry. Absolutely not. Although, it wasn't as if anyone had gone into the Princess's bedchambers to make sure she was actually there between the changing of the guard. Going into the Princess's bedchambers without permission was punishable by having to face an awakened, grumpy Princess.

There were those who would choose wrestling a manticore over such a fate. It was well-known that Princess Celestia was a morning Pony, perhaps the definition of a morning Pony. The later it got, the grumpier she got.

Faithful shifted uneasily and gave another glance at Noble Heart. Noble continued staring out. Faithful looked down the long, white hallway. Celestia was not one to be easily taken. Although there was that one time with Chrysalis. But surely, Celestia would have cried out for assistance.

Unless, some being of legend had managed to silence her. Nightmare Moon, Discord...his childhood stories were coming to life right before his eyes. Who was next? Grogar? Lavan? Catrina? He quickly reviewed his distant memories of childhood tales. Was there any demon or haunt that could attack you while you slept?

Wait. What about the Nightmare? What if Princess Luna had again given into...no, Celestia trusted Luna. If the Day Princess trusted the Night Princess then so did he.

The minutes crawled along as he allowed himself to drift into a trance like state which was indispensable for a guard. Another thirty minutes passed as he counted.

Even Noble began to look concerned, a slight crack in his stern facade appearing. Neither guard said what was on their mind, however. Speaking while on duty was discouraged except for when it was absolutely necessary.

He debated within himself. It was an hour past sunrise. The Princess should have already pranced out with that adorable-

He blinked. Wait. Had he just thought of the Princess as adorable? No, the Princess was not adorable. His three year old niece was adorable. Not the Princess. The Princess should have already hopped out with her majestic expression. She was majestic. Not adorable.

She was behind schedule. That counted as an anomaly, right? Surely, he'd be forgiven for just knocking. There was no law against knocking at least he didn't think there was a law against knocking.

Noble glanced at the door and then quickly glanced away.

Faithful finally broke the silence. "Should we knock?"

Noble, with some clear sign of inner struggle, regained his professional composure. "Let's wait for a few minutes. The Princess may be indisposed in some way."

"Could she be sick?"

"Could be. Or only tired or with a companion."

"You mean her marefriend?"

"Yes. If so, we may cause her undue embarrassment most unbecoming of the royal dignity. So, we wait. Remember, she rose the sun. She must be alright."

Faithful nodded. "Of course. It's not like the Nightmare got a hold of her in her sleep and any minute she's going to march out the door, screech that the day will last forever and set everything on fire."

"The Guard must prepare for everything, but Protocol 4689 is unlikely to come into play this morning."

"4689?"

"A royal has been taken over by a hostile, otherworldly entity. Did you study that protocol book?"

"Of course. Just forgot that one."

"A good Guard knows his protocols just as much as he knows how to thrust a spear."

Faithful shrunk back. Noble rolled his eyes. Both regained their rigid composure. The minutes dragged by. Faithful tapped his back hoof and immediately got that under control. Noble shifted his spear from his right hoof to his left. Faithful began to review the Protocols in his mind. He did know them, all the way up to the three-thousands. It was after 3556 that it all began to get foggy.

He didn't want to ask Noble. That it would only confirm Noble's opinion that he was more concerned with physical training than he was with the more cerebral aspects of guard training. That wasn't true at all. He just wasn't all that into book learning.

Noble shifted the spear back to his right hoof. "Perhaps, we should knock. Our Lady might require aid." He lightly tapped the door. There was no response. He tapped the door a bit more firmly. Still no response. "Your Highness? Are you in there?"

Raven strolled up the hall. "I'll tell you where she's not. The breakfast hall, Parliament or the throne room. The Night Princess opened this session of Parliament, but we are all very concerned."

Faithful banged on the door. "I told you we should have knocked earlier!"

"You told me no such thing!" Noble began thumping away at the door. Then he jimmied at the lock.

Raven slid a key out of her saddlebag and opened the door, pushing it open. The Princess was gone.

...
The Princess held her beloved close to her heartbeat. Twilight had fallen asleep on her wing. She could easily slide the wing away without awakening her. She just didn't want to. She gazed down at Twilight's face. A thin line of drool was hanging from her lips.

The insistent sun pulled at her, tugged her towards duty. There were things to be done. Duty called. A growl came from her stomach. Her hunger called her too.

She traced Twilight's face and placed a kiss on her cheek. Twilight stirred, but did not awake. She could send a letter to Luna. She could spend all day with Twilight.

Rays of sunlight filtered through the windows and shone down on them. Celestia drew the blanket over their heads.

...
Raven sighed. "No need to sound the alarm. The last time she did this, she was out frolicking with Lady Twilight. I ought to give her a curfew."

Faithful blinked. "You can give the Princess a curfew-ow!"

Noble put his hoof back down. Faithful glared at him. "When should we start worrying?"

"If it's noon and we haven't heard from her we should send out someone. She'll probably sail on that balcony any moment now."

They waited.

...
Celestia and Twilight slept tangled up together. The heat of the sun beat against the blanket and provided a warm spot to nap in. Celestia had found Twilight's closeness and the comfort of her presence far too tempting and had been lulled back to sleep.

Insistent thoughts pounded against her mind. She was the Princess. There were petitions to review and Parliament to attend. She'd just gotten back from vacation. She should go.

Twilight nuzzled against her neck. Her eyes fluttered open. "Good morning, Princess."

"Good morning."

"You wanna know reason 353 that I love you?"

"What?"

"You're always there in the morning when I wake up after snuggling you all night."

Celestia pressed her muzzle against Twilight's. "I really do have to go."

"I know." She brushed a hoof through Celestia's mane.

Celestia buried her muzzle in Twilight's neck, inhaled her scent. "Really, I should leave. I've probably worried half the castle to death."

"Um-hmm." Twilight levitated over a hairbrush and began lightly running it through Celestia's strands which had returned to their full array of colors. "But first, you do want your mane to look presentable."

Celestia purred in contentment. Twilight laid the brush aside once she was done. "There! Now you look like your regal self."

Celestia raised the hairbrush and ran it through Twilight's purple locks. Twilight laid on her tummy and enjoyed the sensation of the bristles tingling her scalp. "There, now you look presentable."

Twilight stretched her front legs and then her back legs and yawned. "I suppose it's time to start the day."

"I suppose so."

Celestia put the brush on the bedside table and stood.

Twilight bounced off the bed. She sashayed over to Celestia and flicked her nose with her tail. "Actually, you know what? You simply don't look presentable. You need a shower."

Celestia pulled her close with her wing. "Yes, I suppose you're right. An unwashed princess simply wouldn't do now would it?"

"And you're always talking about how everypony needs to conserve water."

"I suppose I need to be a good example and take a shower with a friend."

They exchanged a glance and then raced towards the bathroom.

...
The warm water spilled over the two Ponies, one of which had removed her glamour so she could fit in the tub. Pink strands hung to her back. Twilight used her hooves to scrub the soap into her fur and deep into her skin. Celestia, in turn, soaked shampoo into Twilight's mane.

Twilight trailed Celestia's cheek with a soapy hoof. They moved beneath the water and shared a kiss.

Celestia groaned as the soap being held by Twilight's magic teased intimate places. She nuzzled Twilight's ear and picked a second bar of soap up with her magic. She slid the soap beneath Twilight and watched as Twilight squirmed, jerking around, squeaks escaping her lips.

...
Celestia sailed upon the breeze, exulting in the fresh morning air. Finally, she landed on her balcony and paraded out the door. "Good morning, Everypony. I hope I didn't worry you."

"Yep. Didn't I tell you?" Raven asked the two guards who promptly saluted upon seeing their princess.

Raven glanced down at her clipboard and then back at the Princess. "Might I assume you spent the evening with Lady Twilight?"

Celestia grinned. The guards tried not to stare. "Yes, I did."

Raven glanced back down at her clipboard. "In any case, you didn't miss much. Just the opening of the Parliament. Your presence shouldn't be required there today in any case. There's nothing more controversial scheduled than debates about public library funding."

"Oh my. If that doesn't get through, I'm going to be in trouble. Maybe I'd better just make a royal order on that one."

She began walking in step with Raven who smirked at her. "Might I say, you're absolutely glowing?"

"Am I now?"

It was true. The majestic Princess of the Sun did indeed look positively radiant this morning as the sun shone down on her flowing, multi-colored pastel mane which eternally floated in the breeze. A few water droplets yet clung to her mane and fur which was sparkling clean.

Raven smirk softened into a smile. "She really makes you happy, doesn't she?"

"Yes she does, Raven. Yes, she does."

Raven lapsed into silence, a pensive expression on her face. Celestia tapped her shoulder. "Raven? Is everything well?"

Raven bit her lip. "Princess, may I speak freely?"

"Always, Raven. You know that."

"No matter how happy Lady Twilight makes you, you can't neglect your duty. Your disappearing act caused some distress among the castle staff and guard."

Then Raven saw something she rarely saw. Celestia hung her head. "I know Raven and I do apologize. It's just these feelings for her overwhelm me at times."

"I understand. You held them back for so long and now it's all coming out as one big rush."

Celestia raised her head back up and put what Raven called her princess mask back on. "Yes, that's it exactly. If I hadn't suppressed it, allowed my heart to fall in love every few centuries...in any case, you're right. Next time, I will inform everypony."

"Good. Otherwise, I really would have to give you a curfew."

They both burst out laughing. Celestia turned a corner and Raven followed. "Anyway to breakfast and I'll be just in time to see the petitioners."

Author's Notes:

If anyone wants a very boring description on how I think the Equestrian political system works, check out my blog.