Princess Celestia

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Her Royal Majesty Princess Celestia, Princess of the Sun, took a moment to consider the individuals before her. Satisfied, she gave a slight smile to them. "Thank you for your update, Chancellor Strings and Engineer Anonymous." Bowing before her was her little pony, Purse Strings, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and her rather larger not-at-all-a-pony and Royal Engineer, Anonymous, who together had just delivered their monthly report on Anonymous' efforts to industrialize Equestria. Having found the report satisfactory, she gave a gentle nod in acknowledgement. "... If there's nothing else, I would like a moment to speak with Anon."

"Nothing at this time, Your Majesty. I take my leave." With another bow, Purse Strings nodded his head and closed his enormous ledger with a resounding thud, then somehow wrangled it into the large saddle-bag strapped to his back before exiting the small Presence Chamber reserved for intimate meetings with Celestia's most trusted ministers and advisers. Anonymous, dressed in his black tailcoat and white shirt, with his elegant red Royal Engineer's sash visible, regarded the princess with a questioning look on his face, still clutching the bundle of papers with his notes on them.

"Anonymous. Your services to Equestria have not gone unnoticed. A growing number of members of the Court have come to appreciate your endeavors. As such, I have the privilege of bestowing on you one of the boons available to those who serve the Crown." On Princess Celestia's cue, a guard pony in officer's regalia entered the room, with three more guard ponies marching in line abreast behind her. Following the turn of The Princess' head, Anon took a step back to regard the new arrivals.

"ATTEN-SHUN!"

The officer, clacking her hind hooves on the floor, saluted the Princess and Royal Engineer with the three guards behind her doing likewise.

"PREE-SENT!"

Another hoof-clack, and the three guards sat their hindquarters down and thrust their chests out. After a moment, Anon turned his head back to look at Celestia, a questioning look on his face.

"One of the privileges granted to Very Important Ponies is a personal detachment of Equestria's finest. You may now enjoy security and dignity wherever your work may take you."

Raising his eyebrows, Anon nodded his head. "Thank you very much, Your Majesty."

Sensing some surprise and reservation, Celestia leaned over a little over and spoke softly. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, I'm honored, of course. But I didn't think there were any kind of safety problems in Canterlot serious enough to warrant bodyguards."

Celestia couldn't help but smirk. His answer was typical of the pragmatic person she knew him to be. "You might be surprised. But you're right; security is only part of the reason for being assigned guards. It is considered a mark of dignity and wealth for Courtiers in Canterlot to have a retinue of Bodyguards, whether needed or not. Normally, those who live outside the palace must hire their own. For guests of the Palace, such as yourself, as well as for recent arrivals who have not yet established themselves in the city, the Royal Guard provides a VIP honour guard service."

Anon nodded his head in understanding, assuaged by the Princess' response. "I see. In olden times, we had similar customs where I'm from. Servants called Footmen were hired almost more as a display of wealth than any practical purpose."

"Of course. But I trust you'll find my Royal Guard useful as well as decorative. Lieutenant Violetta, if you would kindly introduce us...?"

The officer-guardsmare saluted again, giving regard to the pony at the end of the line. "Specialist Sparkshower, PRE-SENT!"

A young pegasus mare with a cream-colored coat and a brilliant-blonde mane took a step forward and saluted the princess, before repeating the motion for Anonymous. "Specialist Sparkshower, reporting for duty, Your Majesty! Sir! By the honor of the Royal Guard, I pledge my life in the service of your protection!"

Lieutenant Violetta nodded, satisfied. "Specialist Sparkshower has volunteered for VIP duty out of the 19D Armoured Scouts. A swifter, quieter, and more diligent scout you won't find in the entire division." Anon nodded in acknowledgement, as the Lieutenant moved on to the pony in the middle of the trio.

"Specialist Glamerspear, PRE-SENT!" Another young guardsmare, this one a pink-coloured unicorn with a teal-and-cyan mane, stepped forward and repeated the ritual introduction, prompting Lieutenant Violetta to present the Specialist's resume. "Specialist Glamerspear comes to you from the 14E Air Defense Company, and brings best-in-class abilities with magical shielding and telekinetic anti-air projectiles." As if to put an exclamation point on that statement, the unicorn's horn took on a teal glow and, for a brief moment, a translucent green hemispherical defensive field flashed above her head. Once Anon acknowledged the flashy display and the flashy mare who performed it, it was time to present the final member of the trio, an earth pony with a brown coat and chocolate-brown mane.

"Corporal Bound, PRE-SENT!" The non-commissioned officer stepped forward, with an experienced soldier's steady gait and a stern gaze. "Corporal Bound is a veteran of the 11B Infantry, and has served all across Equestria, from the Celestial Sea to the Luna Ocean. There's not a single danger situation she hasn't been in, and as the NCO of your detachment, will provide leadership to the other Guards on duty."

All three guards having been presented, Princess Celestia turned her attention back to Anonymous. "Well, Engineer Anonymous, what do you think?"

"I think Your Majesty has overburdened me with her generous gifts. If a portal to Tartarus opened up in my chambers, I feel as though I needn't so much as draw closed my robes."

Before Celestia could answer, Lieutenant Violetta puffed her chest out and spoke up in a proud voice. "That's the idea, Sir!" The gathered individuals shared an expression of mirth, mutually experiencing an internal chuckle at the Lieutenant's gung-ho enthusiasm.

After the moment of levity, Anonymous took a moment's pause before turning to the Princess, lifting an eyebrow. "A question, Your Majesty. I can't help but notice that all three Guards I've been assigned are mares. While in Court, you seem to constantly be surrounded by guard-stallions. Is there some significance to that?"

As astute as ever. It was little wonder Purse Strings spoke so highly of Anon's attention to detail. "As a matter of fact, there is. As an escort of bodyguards is, as I've mentioned, as much for decoration as for security, it is the traditional custom for unattached VIPs to be escorted by guards of the opposite sex, the better to show off their... worthiness." To avoid lingering on that obvious euphemism, and its implications, Her Majesty continued on. "Lieutenant Temper Violetta will be the officer in charge of your detachment, although she will reside in the main barracks. The members of your escort will be housed in the servants' quarters on the second floor, above your chamber."

"And am I to be escorted at all times?"

The Lieutenant piped up. "VIP Guard duty is performed for sixteen hours a day, from zero-eight-hundred hours to oh-zero-hundred hours, with a two-shift rotation. Three guards are assigned so as to accommodate regular Royal Guard duties and leave."

"And if you have any more questions, you may direct them to the Lieutenant. She will also handle any scheduling or special requests you may have."

Recognizing the subtle cue that the Princess' presentation was now over, Anonymous turned to her and bowed once more. "Your Majesty is overgenerous in her gifts. I shall redouble my efforts to bring scientific and industrial enlightenment to Equestria."

Princess Celestia nodded once more, signalling the group's dismissal. As Anonymous, Lt. Violetta, and his assigned guards made their exit through the Presence Chamber's doors, the princess allowed herself a slight frown. More zealous work from Anon wasn't what she'd had in mind with this ceremony. He was a well-adjusted, down-to-earth creature, who'd quickly recovered from the shock at being transported to a completely foreign land and launched himself into useful work. But his frenetic pace was unsustainable without strong bonds to Equestria and its people. Eventually, unless he developed some lasting roots, he would burn himself out, and that would be a terrible waste. It was Celestia's hope that the more she could get Anonymous involved in Court life, in Canterlot society, and in Pony culture as a whole, the better it would be in the long run - even if it meant sacrificing his valuable time to frivolous pursuits.

Next Chapter: Chapter 2 Estimated time remaining: 37 Hours, 20 Minutes