As the changeling flies off into the distance, Celestia joins your side. ”I must thank you for your patience Solaire. It is just not in my nature to have a helpless captive executed like that.”

“I do not regard a professional assassin to be helpless… how do you plan on keeping her safe in any case?”

”I have my contacts.”

“I’ll trust that you do. Now, onto more pressing matters…”

”Let us discuss them where there are less privy ears, shall we?”

You nod, and follow Celestia to her throne room, nodding politely to the stationed guards as Celestia dismisses them. “Do you not fear for your security so soon after an attack?” you ask concernedly.

”I very much doubt that the changelings are in a position to mount another attack” She sighs to herself, sitting tiredly on her throne. “But indeed, this mess has just begun.”

“Now, we take the fight back to the changelings?” you ask.

”No, Solaire. I am not prepared to engage in an outright war with a starving nation.”

“If thy memory is eluded, then may I remind you that the changeling attacked us, with the intent to capture you? Are you really prepared to show mercy to these… parasites?”

Celestia responds by staring at you with an odd coldness. “Solaire, you may have had a way of handing matters in Lordran, but here in Equestria we prefer peaceful methods. We’ve had a thousand years of peace, and I’m not prepared to break it.”

“So be it, Celestia. But let me warn you. I’ve faced parasites before… the parasites of mankind, the darkwraiths. Many a time I would be helping a fellow warrior when they would be trespassed upon by these loathsome souls. I have had too many comrades die… I’m rambling, aren’t I? Never mind. I trust that you’ll decide what’s right.”

”Thank you Solaire. I’m sure we’re all aggrieved at the recent events, but there are other ways of handling conflict.”

“I understand.”

Celestia rubs her temples with a hoof, her horn glowing. A scroll pops into existence and she begins to write slowly and carefully.

“So, what is your decided course of action?”

”I am writing to the general of the changelings, so discuss peace talks.”

“Do you even know who this general is?”

”No. I am using magic to try and contact him. I have no doubts that Chrysalis would have appointed a commander to take over in a crisis, and this is our best method of reaching him.” Celestia continues to write, before the scroll vanishes in a blast of green light.

“And I suppose now, we wait?”

”Indeed…” Celestia trails off, looking distantly at the far wall. You bring yourself up her throne and silently lay a hand on her mane, feeling her tense up at your touch, before speaking.

“I will not pretend to know how to run a kingdom, but I am safe in assuming that it is not for the weak-willed…” Celestia lets out a long sigh, her body visibly deflating. “No Solaire… it is not. I have faced many struggles over the years… far too many…” She suddenly begins to cry softly and you kneel down, wrapping an arm around her.

“Now, my dear Princess. There’s no need to be upset like this. You have me by your side now… As long as I am here you have nothing to fear.”  Celestia sniffles. “I’m just afraid. Always afraid…” she whispers.

“Of making the right decision? But why, you've said it yourself that you’ve had a thousand years of peace? Doesn’t that signal that you’ve been doing a marvellous job?”

Celestia rewards you with a small smile. “Yes, I suppose it does… thank you for your patience with me, Solaire.”

“You needn’t apologise, Celestia. I know from experience how crushed one’s spirits can become. If you are upset, seek me out and I will do my best to comfort you.”

”I will, Solaire. I am thankful for the company you are providing me…”

“As I am grateful for you to receive it.” A content silence descends upon the room as you sit there, Celestia in your arms.

Celestia breaks the silence first. ”May I ask a question?”

“By all means do.”

”The lightning you summon… how does it work? Do all humans have inherent magic capabilities?”

You gently break off the hug and fumble for your talisman. “These magnificent lightning bolts are not in fact the work of magic as someone might assume. No, these are actually the work of miracles.” Celestia adopts a confused look. “You summon your power through the Gods?” she asks in confusion.

“In effect, yes. Do you see this talisman? It is a canvas, onto which I project my faith of the Gods. Watch…” You chant the prayer and take a step back, forming a small lightning bolt in your hand as Celestia watches you intently. ”You use your faith to cast these spells? In effect, you believe the spell will work, so it does?” she asks.

“I suppose so. Sorceries require intensive knowledge of how something will work. Miracles… well, they just require that you believe in it to work. Different path to the same destination.”

”I am guessing your faith is very high then.”

“Monumentally so.”

”But why? What provoked such a heartfelt response?”

“Are you asking as to why my faith is so high? Well… without it, I would have gone insane long ago. It guided me, motivated me… and it brought me to you. That makes my faith justified, it seems.”

Celestia blushes. “Ah yes, your quest for your sun…” She coughs. “Did you ever imagine your quest would end in success?”

“I would not have undergone it if I did not believe it would bear fruit one day. I had never supposed my sun would take the form of you though… not that that’s a bad thing, of course!” You chuckle heartily. “Nay, it is not a bad outcome at all. You are wonderfully unique, Celestia.”

”My heartfelt thanks Solaire. I have just one more question for you. Do you have faith in me?”

“My Princess, I would not be speaking to you now if I did not have unwavering faith in you.” Celestia nods, seemingly satisfied with that answer. “Very well. Oh, and one more thing…”

“My, you really are fond of chatting with me, aren’t you? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had feelings for me!” You laugh heartily while Celestia’s cheeks turn fiery red.

”I… um, I don’t…” she splutters.

“Oh my, pretend you didn’t hear that. It was silly of me. What was it that you had planned to tell me?”

”Er… the guardhouse… go there…”

“Anything else?”

”Just go!” Celestia squeals uncharacteristically, covering her mouth with her hoof. You frown at her, roll your eyes and make leave of the throne room.

What on earth was wrong with her? You hadn’t said something to induce discomfort, had you? Well, you had joked about feelings, but it was ridiculous to assume Celesta felt anything for you, right? Of course, you had been here for a brief period of time. You were not even a pony…

As you enter the guardhouse, you instantly spot a large, dominating figure approach you. What in Lordran… You grasp the hilt of your sword as the bull-man reaches you, flinching slightly as it extends a hand.

“Who are you, and why are you here?” you demand.

”How have you not heard of IRON WILL! Equestria’s top motivator and number one body builder!” The bull-man flexes his muscles and gives them a kiss, eliciting a frown from you.

“I am not from around these parts. Before I introduce myself, may I ask what you are and if you pose me or Celestia a threat?”

The bull-man laughs heartily. ”Ah, new guy, eh? I am a Minotaur, a lean mean fightin’ machine! And bud, if I had beef with you you’d be on the floor or six feet under.”

“If I had qualm with you, you’d be on the end of my sword.”

”Hah, you call that iron poker a sword?”

“I’ve cut down far more imposing beasts than you with it. I am comfortable with my chances.”

”I’d tear that tin plating off you and beat you blind, sunny.”

“I don’t need any equipment to match you. My fists are enough.”

”You think those puny things could do anything to me?”

You chuckle. “Well, they seemed to work on your mother last night!” you conclude.

This accusation is met with howls of laughter from on-looking soldiers and Iron Will glares at you for an achingly long moment, before breaking into laughter.

”Finally, someone who can stand up to the Iron Will!” He holds out his fist and you shake it, causing him to groan in frustration. ”You don’t get the gist, return the fist!”

“You want me to…” you ask hesitantly and Iron Will nods enthusiastically. You gently tap the Minotaur’s fist with your arm, feeling an extraordinary sense of companionship.

”Iron Will! Don’t want to die? I’m your guy!”

“I take it you wish to… join the royal guard?”

”Nah bud, just feel like getting some action, putting my babies to work!” Iron Will strikes a weightlifter’s pose.

“I am afraid Celestia has requested a non-hostile approach to the changelings for now. If events take a turn for the worse, be sure to come back and approach me once more.”

Iron Will gapes at you. “You’re bucking kidding me, right?”

“I am not “bucking” you, whatever that phrase means. I can confirm myself that Celestia wishes to explore other options over conflict.”

”Oh… well… if you ever need the Iron Will by your side…” He slouches off and you blink. “Anyone care to explain what just happened? No?” you ask to any of the present soldiers, who shake their heads unhelpfully. They may have approved your temporary appointing as the captain of the royal guard, but given the objection against Ajax, you may have just been the lesser of the two evils…

“Alright men, I mean, ponies! Stand at attention!” The present guards stand in front of you expectedly.

“As your new captain, it is my duty to train you as best I can. That does not mean degrading you. I will treat you with utmost respect, provided you’re ready to return that respect.”

”You’re doing a better job than Ajax already!” shouted a pony from the back.

“Whoever said that, could you stand forward?” you command, and a tan pegasus makes his way to the front.

“What’s your name, soldier?”

”I am Lightweight, Sir.”

“There’s no need to call me Sir. We’re all equals here, in this band of warriors. Tell me, why does Ajax receive so much hate amongst you?”

Lightweight shifts uneasily. “I’m not comfortable with telling you, Sir.”

“My tongue is sealed shut, soldier. I’m just curious, that’s all.”

Lightweight clears his throat. “Well Si-Solaire, he sort of just… does his own thing. He never attends training, he never eats or sleeps with us… but he expects to be treated better than us. He thinks he’s better than us.”

“And is he?”

”I don’t know. When we hold mock fights, he always comes out on top.”

“I can respect strength of arms, but if the motivation is lacking, then he has no place amongst our ranks.” You turn to the crowd at whole. “I am aware that Celestia appointed me with haste and that many of you may feel resent. If you could all sit yourselves down and listen to my tale, you may understand her decision better.” The soldiers shift themselves, and you collect yourself.

“My tale began long ago in a world I once called my own…”

“And as I stood there burning, my soul feeding the flame that lit the world, I began to feel myself being pulled somewhere, like I was being summoned. I rose into your world and… well, you know the rest.”

The soldiers stare at you with a newfound respect. They now had an idea of who you are, what you had faced and the sacrifices you had made. You had earned that respect, and it would now be much easier to lead these soldiers in the case of battle.

“Well, as there is nothing more to be said, I shall make my leave. I hope my tale made you think. Goodnight, all of you.” The soldiers bid you farewell and you make your way back to the throne room, noticing the moonlight sky outside. You had talked for hours it seems. Funny how the flow of time distorts when your mind is engaged…

As you enter the throne room you spy Celestia, still alone, sitting glumly on her throne. She brightens at the sigh of you.

”Solaire, you have returned.”

“That I have. Is my presence required?”

”Why yes, actually. I have had an idea.” Celestia seems to have calmed down since the hours earlier, although her cheeks are still faintly rosy.

“What do you propose?”

”You mentioned that miracles work off faith in a higher power, correct?”

“That they do.”

”You also mentioned that you had faith in me, yes?”

“You speak truly.”

”So I supposed. What if you tried to channel your faith in me through the talisman?”

You think for a moment.

“I do not know what would happen. I channel my faith in a nameless God of war to cast the brilliant lightning miracles; I cannot envision what my faith in you would manifest as.

”Well, why not give it a try?” Celestia asks enthusiastically. You shrug, and pull out your talisman, concentrating intently on Celestia, feeling power flow into the hand-painted canvas.

“Here it comes…” The talisman glows and an aura of brilliant white light surrounds you.

”Oh my!” Celestia whispers as the light fades slightly, leaving you surrounded by a circle of permeating brightness.

“A miracle of intense light? I would have assumed that only Oolacilian sorceries could produce such a feat… then again, you are the Sunlight Goddess.”

”I think it’s lovely” Celestia says, a complimenting smile adorned upon her face.

“It’s not over yet. I can feel a different tug of power…” You concentrate once more on Celestia, feeling the power return, slightly different than before.

A purple aura surrounds you and Celestia’s horn fizzles and sparks, causing her to jump in panic. ”What in Tartarus?” she cries.

“Stay calm Celestia.” You say reassuringly.

“My magic… it is gone!” she exclaims.

“Interesting… this miracle is identical to one hailing from Lordran, which stops the flow of magic around the caster. I assure you that is it a temporary effect only.” After a minute of nervous fidgeting by Celestia, the aura dissipates and her horn stops crackling, causing Celestia to audibly sigh in relief. ”That was unexpected.” She mutters.

“You have no cause for complaint, for it is you who requested I do it.”

”I know… your magic is most unusual Solaire.”

“That it may be. But take to heart that I have proven to you my faith in you through these miracles.”

”I will Solaire. It means much to me.” You and Celestia share a smile, eyes locked with each other. She had beautiful eyes… No, stop that! She’s not even a human woman!

She’s still a Sun-goddess though, that counts for something… It’s a good thing this helmet blocks most of your face, and thus your discomfort…

”In any case, your faith in me is most desirable. I must now bid you goodnight, Solaire.”

“May you have pleasant dreams, Celestia.”

”I will.” Celestia gets off her throne and walks past you, brushing against you lightly. That was simple carelessness… right?

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