//------------------------------//
// Chapter 65: Maze Of Life 
// Story: Quest For Equestria 
// by Skyguy626 
//------------------------------//

It had been two days since the battle against Byron, with the last ounces of power left in Unity, Skywalker, McGrath and Phoenix had assured that ambassadors would meet them at the Crystal Empire. In spite of being needed back in Equestria, Phoenix decided to spend a few hours with the girl he loves. So Elsa and him founded themselves in the Royal Garden of Arendelle Castle, sitting under a three, with her on his lap.

"Kyle, can I talk with you about something?", the queens asked making the young man laugh. "You can tell me anything, Mon Cheri.", he said making her blush at her little nickname. "There are some interesting rumors out of the Western Shore. Turns out the aristocracy is unhappy with the king. Some nobles are secretly rebelling.", Elsa explained as her boyfriend listened intensely. "Taxes are the leading cause of rebellions. I bet that's the problem.", the redhead quipped gaining a soft chuckle from the queen. "You have such a wonderfully simple view of politics.", she said placing a kiss on his forehead, "It terrifies me how often you're right. Count Merritt Reginald has requested my presence at a discreet location, the Tower of Fire in Yveltal Bay, at a time of my choosing.", she finished.

"Yveltal Bay?... Why not the Western Shore?", Phoenix asked, giving her a worried look. "Yveltal Bay is neutral ground. Meeting at the Tower Of Fire? That's a gesture of respect. Count Reginald is one of the most popular nobles on the Western Shore. He's also secretly organizing the rebellion against the king. His invitation is addressed to 'Elsa Targaryen, Royal Queen to the Targaryen Dynasty'. He's taking me very seriously.", she finished, a little surprised at her boyfriends jealous look. "Your not thinking about replacing me right? He might be a count, and have lots of munny, but I'm... I'm me!", he said with a pout. The beautiful girl on his lap let out chuckle before placing a kiss on his lips, a warm sensation filling them both. "How can I argue with that logic?", she said as their lips parted, the young couple continuing to cuddle, enjoying the warm sun. Unbeknownst to either of them, up on the castle gargoyles, Mizuki was watching the young couple, "It seems it's true, there is another Phoenix.", she muttered to herself as she disappeared into smoke.


Meanwhile back over at Ponyville, more specifically Fluttershy's Cottage. The yellow mare was busy packing her suite case for the trip to the Crystal Empire, while also taking care of her pets. Just as she was about to feed Angel Bunny, a knock was heard on the front door. Quickly placing the food down, she opened the front door, showing Skywalker standing there holding a paperback. "Good afternoon, Flutters. I hope I'm not interrupting you.", Skywalker asked, taking a quick look inside. "Oh no, your never interrupting me. So why are you here? I thought you were going to Republic City to get help from Korra.", Fluttershy asked as she invited him in.

Skywalker nodded, explaining he had convinced the president of Republic City to send a ambassador to the meeting, though when pressed why he didn't come himself, Skywalker became very secretive. "Anyways, I wanted to give you this.", he said handing her the paper back, inside were a bunch of his own freshly baked cookies in the shapes of butterfly's. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life the other day. If it hadn't been for you, that Byron guy would have stabbed me with that key sword of his.", he said as Fluttershy munched on one of the delicious baked sweets. "Oh, its no problem! I-I mean you do stuff like that all the time and nobody gives you any cookies.", Fluttershy said with a blush on her cheeks.

Skywalker chuckled as he gave a light pat on Fluttershy's head. "You are so sweet, Flutters. Whoever your boyfriend is, he's very lucky.", he said making the shy mare blush even more. "Actually, I don't have one.", Fluttershy told him, gaining a disbelieving look from the young knight, "I haven't even had my first kiss yet.", her eyes widen when she realized what she just said.  "Why would I tell Jason that I haven't had my first kiss yet? Was I hoping that he would kiss me in response?", she thought to herself.

"Would you like your first kiss right now?", Skywalker asked, breaking Fluttershy out of her thinking as her eyes widen even further. "Wait What!? Jason, how could... th... I mean, what!", the yellow mare managed to sputter out, he face almost completely red. "Exactly as I said, Flutters, my offer stands firm.", Skywalker said as he cupped the side of her face, sensing her nervousness. She forced herself to look into his shiny amber eyes as he said, "So again, would you like your first kiss right now?".

"O-Okay, I guess...", Fluttershy said, not believing something she has been dreaming about for so long was about to come true. "Alright then. Close your eyes, then slowly lean forward.", Fluttershy did as he's told, and shut her eyes, then she slowly leaned forward, and he does the same. There lips soon meet in the middle, and surprisingly, Skywalker pours so much passion into the kiss, obviously wants her to make this kiss something to remember. As his lips break away from hers, she slowly open her eyes to see him smiling warmly at him. "You're a great kisser, Flutters.", Skywalker said with a faint blush of his own. A strange feeling beating in his chest, something he had only had ever felt two times before.


Meanwhile over at Canterlot Castle, Celestia woke up from her afternoon nap, as she shot up in her bed, drenched in sweat. "It was that blasted dream again!", the sun princess shouted as she laid her back down and hit her head against the pillow. "A few weeks after the wedding. I started to have those disgusting dreams of ravaging him. Why do I keep having these dreams? I can't possibly want to do that with him!" she thought to herself as she started to drift back to sleep, but her door opened as Luna entered holding a turtle, "Hey sister look! I found this nasty creature in the garden and immediately I thought of you.", the moon princess said in a teasing manner, but to her surprise her older sister was holding her face under her pillow.

"I was just kidding. Sister what's wrong?", Luna asked as she sat down at the edge of her sister bed. After a few minutes of silence, Celestia finally cracked, she had to get this of her chest, one way or another, "Well... you see... Im... I'm in love.". Luna got a big smile on her face as she pulled her sister into a hug, "Marvelous! Who is the lucky stallion?", she asked excitedly. Much to her surprise, her sister pulled herself from the hug as she casts her face down, "Well, it's not, a stallion...", she said pulling her pillow over her face.

Connecting the dots in her mind, Luna asked slowly, "So... Its a mare? Like yourself?". Fearing her sister's reaction, Celestia kept her head under the pillow as she muttered, "No... It's... It's Griffifth.", the sun princess could feel the pillow being removed from her head as her sister started to stock her mane, "Well, you didn't laugh when I admitted that I was in love with Skywalker. And Griffifth has a nice ass, and I know someone who can help you.", the younger sister said, gaining a puzzling look from the younger sister.

A few minutes later inside Celestia's study, Celestia was waiting for the one who her sister said could help her. Someone who could according to Luna, could see, hear and smell everything, even Celestia was puzzled by the smell part. Another minute past before a knock was heard on the door as Skywalker came in. "You wished to see me, Tia? The preparations for the meeting are going smoothly.", Skywalker started but the sun princess interrupted him. "Jason, I need... a favor that I can only trust to you.".

"Oh, this should be good.", Skywalker said crossing his arms, giving a amused grin. "It should be a small matter, but I worry. I need you to give something to Griffith. No questions, and he is not to know it's from me.", Celestia ordered him as she levitated a small package into his hands. "Griffith? Why?", he wanted to ask but Celestia interrupted him again, "You're doing very badly at the 'no questions' part. This is... strangely difficult. Please, hurry back with his reaction. I appreciate this, Jason. I really do.", the princess said before Skywalker flew off towards Ponyville.

About five seconds later, Skywalker found Griffifth sitting in their shared living room watching some TV, with a bag of chips on his lap. After greeting each other Skywalker handed him the package. "I have it on good authority that you are going to like this.", he said as his blond friend opened the package, revealing a small copper statue of marigolds. "Well... How crafty. Is there a meaning to this that I should know?", Griffifth asked his friend. "Possibly 'here you throw this away'?", Skywalker suggested which Griffifth agreed to.

Again five seconds later, Skywalker arrived back at Celestia study who looked up stunned, "You're back? Of course you are. You're efficient. Get things done. Good or ill. So, how did Griffith react?", Celestia asked nervously. After a brief explanation which pretty much came down to that he found it garbage. The princess sighed deeply, "I thought it was clear. Metal is strong. Copper ages well. Flowers are soft.", she muttered to herself as Skywalker looked on confused, "I've clearly gone about this the wrong way. Don't talk to him again.", she ordered making him shake his head. "That's going to be difficult. As we are house mates.", he said as the princess started to pace around the room, lost in her own thought. "All right, I can fix this. I need... I need three goats and a sheaf of wheat. You'll take them to his mother.", she said, gaining another puzzling look from the knight. "It's a dowry tradition. Maybe it will smooth the process.", she explained.

"Hold a moment. You're having a crush on Adam Griffith!?", Skywalker exclaimed, finally figuring out what she was getting at. His suspicion was confirmed by a red faced Celestia muttering, "W-What? M-Me and G-Griffifth?". Skywalker walked over to her and as he placed his hand on her shoulder, "Celestia. You know you can talk to me.", he said with a kind smile. The princess let out a deep sigh as she sat down in a chair, "What am I to say? That a grown mare can't speak her mind? It's been so long since Caelum and I've been focused on being ruler for so long, that's all I know.", she said with a sad tone to her voice.

"So you've been by yourself since you became co-ruler of Equestria?", Skywalker asked gaining a nod from the princess, "I can't imagine you having trouble speaking your mind. This doesn't make sense.", he continued gaining a angry glare from the ruler of the sun.
"If it made sense, I wouldn't need you. I want Griffith know the way I feel...", she told him as he was thinking how to solve this little problem. Skywalker started to pace around the room in his thinking pose before suddenly snapping his finger, a idea popping in his head, "I got it! Your a princess and he is just a citizen, we can't get past that. So we go out. and get him drunk. Shame is a great equalizer!", Skywalker exclaimed, gaining a doubtful look from the princess, "What, just go out somewhere? Like it's that easy?", she asked gaining a nod from the grinning Skywalker. "Yes, it can be. Meet me at Sugarcube Corner at around seven.", Skywalker said as he took off, determent to hook up two of his best friends.

At seven in the evening, Skywalker and Griffifth were sitting at their favorite boot as they gulped down one beer after another. "There were supposed to be others coming, right?", Griffifth asked downing another beer, gaining a nod from Skywalker. "I hope so.", Skywalker thought to himself as he ordered another round. A few hours and 30 beers each later, Celestia still hadn't arrived. "No, Luna's a Pancake. Scrats and Twilight are eggs, Soaring and Derpy are muffins, and Octavia and Trixie are oranges.", Skywalker explained to Griffifth gaining a nod from the blond. "What is Celestia then?", the blond asked gaining a chuckle from the black haired. "Grapefruit.", he stated as the two burst out in laughter. "We are going to hell are we?", Griffifth asked while still laughing. Skywalker suddenly stopped laughing, making his friend stop as well. "Yes. Yes we are... To pony hell!", at that they both started to laugh again.


The next morning, Celestia woke up in her bed, she had been to afraid to meet Skywalker at Sugarcube Corner. And speaking of which, she saw two angry glowing amber orbs glaring at her. "Where the fuck where you?", Skywalker asked sternly, a tone only her parents had ever had taken when they addressed her. "I... I couldn't do it. I'm an idiot.", Celestia said as she looked down at her blankets. "I won't argue with that...", Skywalker thought to himself as Celestia started to state reasons why she couldn't date Griffifth in the first place. "I will not risk...", Celestia said, but she was cut off as Skywalker suddenly started to shout.

"That's the problem! Risk, or so help me, I will do Griffith myself. Arrange a diner party thing or what ever the hell you nobles do for fun. I'll keep the noble's at bay and you'll talk to Griffith.", Skywalker said as he turned around to leave. "This isn't your problem. And you're making my problems worse!", the princess told him, but all he did was scoff at this. "You made it my problem, now I'm fixing it.", Skywalker said as he opened a window and started to clime out of it. "Are you drunk?", the princess asked slowly. Skywalker quickly turned his head around, looking at her, "No! I'm super drunk!", he said before flying out of the room.

That afternoon, Celestia had send an invite to Griffifth for lunch at Canterlot Cafe. Much to hers and Skywalker surprise, he had accepted. So Celestia and Griffifth were now seated at a boot in the corner with Skywalker looking over them from a nearby table. "Thanks for the food.", Griffifth said as their lunch arrived. "No problem.", the princess said as an awkward silence followed. "So... this is pretty quiet.", Griffifth said after a while. "Yes, and it's... a real nice day for an afternoon.", Celestia said as the awkward silence continued. From his own table, he could see and hear everything that was happening, "Yoda, their bad at this.", he muttered as he munched on his sandwich.

As the lunch was about to come to a close, Skywalker had gone to take a quick trip to the restroom, after washing his hand he bumped into Griffifth. "Skywalker?", his friend asked surprised as Celestia's eyes widened. "Ser Skywalker? What a surprise. What are you doing here?", she pretended to be surprised, but Skywalker had enough of it. "Celestia.", Skywalker said sternly gaining a panicked look from the princess, "You'll thank me later. I think you'll come around once it's all out in the open.", he continued confusing the blond. "Would someone please tell me what's going on?", Griffifth asked, not getting what is happening. Skywalker shook his head in irritation as he exclaimed, "Your a couple of... Should I have Sutakira draw a picture of where she wants too touch you?". This made Griffifth realize what was happening, a faint pink blush appearing on his cheeks. "Uhm... I should go back home...", he said as he quickly dashed off, using his amazing speed and jumping abilities to making his escape. Celestia watched as, he heart skipping a beat, thinking her chance of happiness was gone. She turned around to look at Skywalker, "I thought we were friends.", she said, her voice filled with the feelings of anger and betrayal. "Friends sometimes push.", Skywalker said calmly as he dragged, her out of the restaurant.

16 minutes later, Skywalker and Celestia were waiting in Griffifth room at Shoveitupyourass Street 15. They were hoping to find him there, but they had no such luck as he wasn't there. "Where is he? I need to make a formal apology.", Celestia said in a panicked voice as Skywalker was looking over Griffifth's comic collection. "Try the marigolds again. In hindsight, they weren't the worst option.", Skywalker said absentmindedly. "It's not funny!", the princess said angrily. "I beg to differ.", he said back, turning around to face her. "You'll beg for more than that if you keep this up!", Celestia told him angrily as Griffifth entered his room. "How did you two get into my room?", the blond asked, as his friend raised his eyebrow. "It wasn't locked.", the young knight admitted, making the blond remember that he indeed, hadn't locked it. "Oh, right. Jason, I need a moment with the princess.", he said, gaining a surprised look from Celestia. Skywalker nodded as he left the room, "Have fun you two.", he thought to himself with a satisfied grin.

A few minutes later, McGrath was heading upstairs to his room. The meeting at the Crystal Empire was in a few days and between spending time with his girlfriend, his friends, setting up the MC Enterprises branch in Ponyville, teaching Sweetie Belle self-defense and training his new super form, he hadn't had a chance to pack at all. Though what surprised him was that he hadn't just hired an assistant to do that for him. As he arrived on the top of the stairs, a could hear Celestia's giggle coming out of Griffifth's room. "The neuk?", McGrath said in surprise.

Arc II: Maze Of Life: Completed...

Next time on, Quest For Equestria... In an effort to regain the stolen Unity, Skywalker steps through a magical mirror, into a completely new World where some things have changed, but true friendships remains! Did that rhyme?... Anyways enjoy your crappy trailer.

"Retrieve the Element of Unity. Without it, we won't be able to open the chest and Equestria is left defenseless.", Cadance said, gaining a surprised look from the gang. "How do YOU know that!?", Griffifth exclaimed. 

Celestia looked over at Skywalker before saying, "You understand the importance of your task?". Skywalker rolled his eyes before saying, "Yeah, yeah, balance of the universe, yada, yada, yada. The usual junk.". 

The scene changes showing Skywalker standing in front of a statue, "Where am I? But more importantly... Spike?", Skywalker said turning his attention to his dragon friend, "Why are you a dog?", and indeed Spike had changed from a dragon to a dog.

The scene changes again showing Skywalker and Spike on the school roof, looking over the town, "They do remind me of our Ponyville friends.", Spike said as Skywalker was deep in thought. "You're right, Spike. Looks like if I want Unity back, I'll have to become Ruler of the Fall Formal.", Skywalker said determent, as he clenched his fist. "How do you exactly plan on doing that?", Spike asked, gaining a shoulder shrug from the young man. "I have no idea. It will come... Sooner or later.", he answered, as he looked back to the town. 

The power of friendship doesn't just exist in Equestria. It's everywhere.
"I think I won't leave with my sanity intact...", Skywalker muttered.

Arc III: Soul Phrase