After the announcement that you were to lead the Royal Guards, Celestia turns to you. ”Knight Solaire, my student and her friends are to leave for their hometown now. Do you wish to accompany me to bid them farewell?”

“Why of course I shall accompany you, my dear Celestia. I would never forsake the opportunity to bid friends farewell.” She gives you a wide and warming smile, before accompanying you out of the barracks and back round to the palace, where Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are situated. As you approach they enthusiastically greet you.

”Thanks again for saving my brother’s wedding, Solaire.”

“Your thanks are most appreciated, but I was merely doing what any other honour-bound warrior would do in my place.”

”You don’t have to be so humble Solaire, you’re a hero! Ponies all over Canterlot are talking about you!” Twilight exclaims.

“Words of praise or whispers of doubt and despair?”

”C’mon Solaire, we both know which one it is. You saved us, you saved Canterlot, and most importantly you saved Celestia.”

“Your tongue is true, young sorceress. I wish thee the best of luck.”

”As do we all, Solaire.”

“And pray that I may never have to rely on it. A good warrior relies on himself only. Lady luck is unreliable at best, and merciless at her worst. But do not let my words taint your elation. Go forth, Twilight.”

”I have one more question though. Are you coming with us to see what Ponyville is like or will you remain in Canterlot?”

“I am afraid I must politely apologise. I will stay behind, to gaze upon the sun. The sun is a wondrous body, like a magnificent father. Oh, if only I could be so grossly incandescent…” Twilight looks up you silently, sporting the most tangible of stares, before smiling weakly. You give short goodbyes to the rest of the group, confusion still befalling you as the flying blue one, Rainbow Dash, refers to you as “Brolaire.” She must be hollowing herself if she thinks the two of you are of blood-relations.

As the group departs, you turn to Celestia. “So, what shall we do now?" you ask.

”For now? We wait, we plan, we continue on like we always did.”

“Very well. I for one am not rallying for battle, unless we are provoked into it. I have had enough of that for now… enough for any man…” You feel something on your shoulder, and you see Celestia draping a wing on your shoulder. You absent-mindedly stroke the luxuriously soft appendage as you think back to your struggle through Lordran.

”Solaire, take of your helmet please.” Celestia’s request snaps you back to attention.

“I beg your pardon?”

”Your helmet, can you remove it, for just a moment?”

You shrug, reach up, and pull off your helm, noticing the brilliant red feather that had adorned it for so long was gone.

”Now, kneel for me, please.” Celestia requests. You go down on one knee and stare expectedly at Celestia.

“My dear Princess, is there-“

Celestia leans forward, kissing you lightly on your cheek, and you choke on your words, any semblance of coherence lost at that moment. As Celestia retracts, she giggles, and you feel your face turn as red as the blistering lava of Lost Izalith.

”That is my personal reward to you, Solaire. A token of my thanks, for what you have done.”

“Er… I…”

Celestia giggles again. “Oh Solaire, there is no need to act so bashful. Did you enjoy that little, “token?””

You mouth silently, unable to articulate a reply, before simply nodding, your face flushed.  Celestia smiles devilishly at you. “I am afraid I must now take an absence now. I have royal duties to attend to. You shall find me in the throne room, if my presence is required.”

“I… I shall return to watching the sun…”

”Very well. I shall speak with you again soon, Solaire.” Celestia turns and walks away, and you gape at her as she walks away.

Did she…  did she just kiss you? You could hardly believe it… although you shouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as you did. Celestia may be a sun princess, and she may have kissed you (rather tenderly, as well), but she is not even human…You shake your head in an attempt to clear the disturbing images, before returning to the balcony which overlooked the city. The sun shone from the clear skies overhead, and you sighed to yourself. Now, you could praise the sun without he risk of attack. How wonderful indeed…

A faint buzzing emnates from nearby and you snap back to attention. Using your hand to shield your eyes from the sun rays, you notice a small, dark form flying through the air, landing deftly on the palace wall. It furtively searches for an entrance, before sneaking through an open palace window.

You turn from the balcony and sprint down the palace corridors, headed for the throne room. You had no doubt in your mind as to the identity of that creature, nor did you doubt its malicious intentions towards Celestia. As you make a beeline for the throne room, you encounter a pair of guards lying slumped on the floor. A cursory check reveals they are alive, but unconscious, and you hurry onwards.

You reach the throne room, bursting through the wooden doors, and your heart sinks at the sight before you.

Lying poised over Celestia is the winged creature, baring uncanny semblance to the changelings of not long ago. It had Celestia pinned, her neck exposed to the blade that was being wielded in the creature’s claws. Without a moment’s hesitation you charge forward, grabbing the stunned creature and hurling it across the room. It lands deftly, before leaping into the air and swooping down at you. Lacking the time to properly equip your sword, you bring a fist up into the creature as it charges, feeling your knuckle connect with its jaw. It recoils backwards and you bring a boot up into its face. Quicker than you had thought it capable of, it catches your foot mid-swing, before swiping a claw across your exposed groin. You roar in pain, collapsing backwards.

The creature pounces on you and attempts to wrestle your helmet off with its nefarious claws, and you begin an arduous struggle to wrestle the thing off you.

”Halt changeling!”

Both of you look round to see a trio of royal guards armed with spears, approaching you. You grab the creature while it is distracted, and throw it off you. It hisses, and attempts to take off, but a magical aura surrounds the creature, courtesy of one of the guards. As the creature thrashes, you run towards it and deliver a final, two-footed kick to it, sending it sprawling across the floor, where it is surrounded and apprehended by guards. You lie there dazed on the floor, before a guard stands beside you.

”Are you ok, Captain?”

“Tend to Princess Celestia and the others first…” you mutter, before closing your eyes, the sudden rush of excitement leaving you drained. So much for wishing to be out of battle…

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