Equestria 1940 - On the Eve of Nightmare Moon's Return · 12:57am Aug 23rd, 2018
Here we see the human friendship advisor in consultations with the Monarch of the Equestrian Principality on the eve of her sister's return. Just a little something to show I'm still working, and that poor Jon Walthers can stick his foot in his mouth just as well as Twilight Sparkle.
“Thank you, Doctor Walthers. You know, of all the humans I’ve dealt with over the years, I do believe that you are the most… comfortable I’ve been with.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” said Jon while surreptitiously letting out his held breath. “I’ve found you to be quite comfortable too. Although not in the same way as Nightshade. Oh, God that came out wrong. We’re not sharing a bed. Well, we are sharing the bed I suppose since her work hours run counter to mine and it cuts down on her commute but I don’t want to share a bed with you and oh God what—”
The bottom of Princess Celestia’s bare hoof felt warm across his upper lip, a hefty chunk of equine weapony placed across his mouth as delicately as a butterfly might land on a flower, matching the quiet giggle she was sharing at his expense.
“Mister Walthers,” she started, “we’re not that kind of friend.”
Jon nodded, although the gentle pressure of the hoof remained.
“And when my sister returns, she’s not going to be that kind of friend for you either.”
Jon nodded much slower.
“Although when things all work out,” continued Celestia in a more serious tone of voice, “I believe I will introduce you to her as a friend. Would you like that, Mister Walthers?”
“Yes, I would,” said Jon once the sun princess removed her hoof. “So I take it you still have faith that your student will be able to free Luna?”
“Faith… is a poor description. I have confidence that my student will make the correct decisions, and that Harmony will emerge victorious.”
“And…have I helped?” It was strange how much Jon wanted the approval of the pony princess, much like something of Twilight Sparkle’s had rubbed off on him over the last week. Still, there had not been any rubbing the other way, because even though Jon had picked up more friends than he had ever expected, Twilight had possibly even lost ground in the friendship competition.
“You’ve helped,” said Celestia. “And if things do not turn out as I believe, I would appreciate it if you would continue to help as long as possible. Come, walk with me.”
The study had a back stairwell that ascended up the tower to a chamber far above the city. There was a broad balcony sweeping across most of one side of the bedroom, with curtains and sliding doors to maintain a certain sense of privacy in a city where pegasi treated open windows as an invitation to stop by and chat. Night spread out across the city now, leaving small flecks of light in the darkness both below and in occasional places in the scattered cloud cover overhead.
And true to his ongoing slide into the world of pony, the first thing Jon did when entering the divine sanctum of Princess Celestia’s bedroom was to look up at the ceiling and note where the plaster was slightly discolored from Wrong Way Corrigan’s crash. Naturally, his eyes took in all of the wall hangings and cloth drapes around the room afterward, a wealth of many nations that was heavy with gold and precious gems in exquisite patterns and yet perfectly mundane against the simple magnificence of her huge bed.
Which Jon suddenly realized was large enough for two.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” It took Jon a moment to find where Celestia had gone, because she was not in the bedroom any more. Instead, she was out on the balcony, looking up at the patchy clouds and beyond. Jon cautiously moved up behind her, well aware of the precipitous drop just a few steps away and his lack of wings.
“I see more stars. It’s a lot more… darker than Washington’s sky,” admitted Jon. “Less pollution. Discounting the cloud cover and the volcanoes, of course. Which seem to be ongoing. So…”
“Yes,” said Celestia, sounding very much like her immense age was weighing on her. “Soon. Very soon. And I will be powerless to assist my student in any way. Other than your example, of course.”
“I didn’t think I had much effect on Twilight, actually.” Jon took a deep breath and edged a little further forward, near the edge of the balcony. “Other than stressing her.”
“She looks up to you. She values your advice, and will do anything to please you. She may not relate to you well, but she doesn’t relate well to most ponies, even her brother.” Celestia heaved a deep, exhausted breath. “Even if she were a twin, I suspect she would find it difficult to relate to her counterpart.”
“Not quite. Twilight must learn how to relate to dissimilar peers,” said Jon. “She has a good start with Spike and yourself. She is not trying to change us to match her own personality, but accepting us for what we are.”
Celestia nodded. “When I spoke with her this evening, I was impressed with how much she was interested in what I thought of you. She’s gone from a general disdain for humans to acceptance in a few days. I think she’s starting to like you.”
“I…” Jon considered his words. “If I had met her at my work in Washington, I don’t think I would have struck up a friendship. It took your pressure to bring us together enough to stick.”
“Pressure.” Celestia bowed her head. “You may experience more pressure in the next few days than you wish, Mister Walthers.”
“It is for a good cause.” Jon stood there in silence, waiting for a response that seemed as if it would never come. After listening to the gentle breeze and the general silence from the sleeping city below, he eventually put forward, “I’m glad you think I’m helping Twilight. I really want her to make friends. She deserves to grow.”
“Growth and progress is part of what I stand for also.” Celestia straightened up and looked out into the dark city. “Let me strive every moment of my life to make myself better and better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it. Let me think of the right and lend all my assistance to those who need it, with no regard for anything but justice. Let me take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let me be considerate of my country, of my fellow citizens and my associates in everything I say and do. Let me do right to all, and wrong no living creature.”
“That’s… very thoughtful, Your Highness.” Jon wanted to ask the next obvious question, but while he was trying to figure out just how to phrase it, Celestia’s horn lit up and Jon’s paperback copy of Doc Savage floated out of his leather satchel and over to her.
“Of course, Lester Dent said it first,” she admitted. “If only I had a Man of Bronze to send against my foes. He could solve all my problems in the span of a paperback book. Might I borrow this? I do not believe I will be able to sleep this evening, and I find that anything titled The Awful Egg piques my curiosity.” She flipped the paperback over and checked the back. “Dinosaurs. Interesting.”
Quashing an urge to inquire if Celestia knew about the prehistoric lizards first-hoof, Jon swallowed and asked, “Will there be anything more, Your Highness?”
“Far more than I would burden you with.” One wingtip gestured at the Royal Bedroom door. “Please, leave me, Jon. I wish to be alone for a time.”
“I could stay if you wish,” said Jon. “You sound like you could use a friend.”
“Would you tarry here and watch?” She turned just enough for Jon to see her inquisitive expression with one eyebrow quirked upwards. “I assure you I have no delusions about praying to have this cup taken from me. Go to your bed and rest so that you may face tomorrow.”
It was a very long and dark walk back to his suite.
Damn, sir, that's some quality writing, sir!
4924335 Yeah, Lester Dent cranked out one of those puppies every few months. An awesome job, even after he brought in a couple of pinch hitters to write too. Doc Savage was amazing.
4924349
I have to ration your writing otherwise I'll binge it and have no more to read. These blogs are a great ration of Georg writing.
"Daring does her best, but she's only equine."
"Who?"
"Ask Twilight. She'll probably bury you in Yearling's work. She's not quite at Dent's level, but she's astonishingly prolific."