“Look, buddy, we have this under control. We have direct orders from Celestia to guard the palace perimeter.”
“But you must understand, I’m a Wonderbolt Master Sergeant!”
“Sorry, but orders are orders, I’ll let you in if you’d like but you can’t go flying all around the palace. Go check out the archive or the gardens if you prefer.”
“Fine” Comet Chaser had no luck speaking with the two, buff looking, Royal Guards standing at attention at the palace entrance.
He flew past the garden, ignoring the countless rare animals and flowers. A lone gardener waved as he passed but he hardly noticed. He wanted to go to the Royal Guard Memoriam, a list of every deceased Royal Guard who had survived the realm. He wanted to look upon his father’s name etched in the stone pillar next to the guard's barracks. He hadn’t had a chance to visit the site since the funeral, and figured this was the best chance he’d get to pay his respects undisturbed.
On his way, he flew past the ballroom where the ceremony was being held. He nearly crashed into a tree when he saw something he very much did not expect to; the blue and purple mare he’d run into just hours earlier. Stopping dead in his tracks, he stared at the mare, her mane reflecting the dusk light.
She was hovering a few feet above the ground peering through the window at the ceremony taking place. She watched with such intensity and focus that she hardly noticed the dark blue Wonderbolt sergeant walking up behind her.
“Ma’am I believe the coronation is taking place WITHIN the palace,” he said with a smile. The mare whipped around so fast her wing the glass and she fell to the ground.
“Shit”, She said rubbing her bruised rump, “I gotta stop meeting you like this”
“Ha! Hardly, I find it endearing,” He said in his most casual voice so as not to betray his unhappiness. “But I must ask, why are you out here watching instead of waiting in the the courtyard with everypony else?”
“I should ask you the same question. Judging by the medals pinned to your chest and the Wonderbolt uniform I’m guessing you aren’t supposed to be wandering around outside the palace.”
“Why don’t you ask that bitch Spitfire.” Comet Chaser immediately regretted saying that, even though her actions were inexcusable, she was still his superior and it wasn’t right to address your superiors like that. Even when they weren’t around to listen. The blue mare must have noticed the hardened expression on his face because she didn’t press the issue further.
“Back to the issue at hand, what’s a mare like yourself doin’ out here anyways?” He said hastily ending the brewing silence.
“Well you see, I am a professor at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, and while I’m thankful for my job I really don’t get paid enough to afford one of those tickets. Besides, I don’t do well in crowded places. So I just figured I’d hang out here where I feel safe.” She paused for a moment and saw the confused look on Comet Chaser’s face.
“OH RIGHT! Of course! I’ve forgotten to introduce myself properly. My name is Breeze Chaser, I am the professor of Enchanted Object History. You’re Comet Chaser if I remember correctly.” He silently nodded his assent before gesturing questioningly at her wings.
“Ah I see, you wonder how a pegasus can be a professor at Celestia’s school for gifted UNICORNS. Well lemme tell you something, there are a lot more types of magic out there than unicorn magic. In fact, there are a lot more types than pony magic out there.”
“So what do you actually do then?”
“Well I’m curator of all the magical artifacts kept in the school, I give lectures every week about various items and their properties, and on occasion, I do my favorite task: finding new enchanted objects to bring back to the school.”
“That sounds interesting, how long have you been working there?”
“For years, honestly if only I were a unicorn I’d already have tenure and earn three times what I make now.” Breeze Chaser rolled her eyes at the thought of the unicorn elitists who ran the school board. “They would never have even let me in honestly if Celestia hadn’t vouched for me.”
“Wow, you know the princess? How did…” He was cut off by the sound of aahs from the palace and singing from the new princess’s entourage.
“Oh no, you’re going to miss the coronation!” Said Comet Chaser as he made to leave. She looked back up at the window and then down at her newfound friend.
“I believe I have found something far more interesting than a mere crowning.”