//------------------------------// // View From Above // Story: Princess Twilight's Escorts // by FerociousCreation //------------------------------// The streets were filled to their capacity as I tried to wade through the crowd. Even Groak began to drown in the mass of bodies despite his bulk. “Why must everypony in Equestria be on this one street?!” he complained. “Because the concert is being performed this evening,” I called over the voices of ponies. “Everypony wants to listen to Songbird Serenade perform.” I quickly found my body off the ground as Groak wrapped his arm around my barrel. “Forget walking!” “Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait!” My resistance was not enough to be freed by Groak’s strength. The Storm Creature hunched over before leaping high into the air. I yelled at the top of my lungs as we soared through the night sky. “This is so much better than being on the darn street!” Groak said. We landed on a rooftop with a less than comfortable bounce. “Must you always do this?” I complained. “Every time you get impatient, you have to pick me up and take me on a crazy roof-jumping ride.” “Don’t be like that, Caramel. You get to have a better view of Canterlot while we are up in the air.” There was no time to react to the second leap. At the peak of the jump, I did get a good look of the speeding world below me. The city lights were like a top-down view of a Hearth’s Warming Eve lighting ceremony. Only, I couldn’t enjoy the spectacle without fearing for my life. Even after a week of the Storm King’s defeat, I still had not gotten used to heights, or Groak’s fantastic rides. Several long jumps later, we landed at the castle entrance. And I don’t mean at the front. No. I mean on the opening arch that lead into the grounds of Canterlot Castle. “Here we are,” Groak said casually. The Canterlot Guard looked at the Storm Creature with a startled look in his eyes. I didn’t blame him for looking so frightened. If a hulking being lept from the night sky and into the castle grounds, I too would be scared. “Good evening,” Groak waved to the pegasus. “H-hey…” he responded. I still never knew the extent of Groak’s strength as he scaled the wall with one arm while he held me in the other. Even as I tried to remember how he punched me, I truly wondered how strong the Storm Creature was if he could jump so high into the air. Maybe his legs had more power than his arms. Groak placed me down with ease. My hooves were happy to touch something solid, and I was eager to kiss the ground. I ran a hoof through my mane, upset that Groak had to mess up my hair. “Can you for once, not do that to me? I want to make it to the next day without worrying about death.” A hard slap pounded into the back of my neck. “What happened to the enduring pony I knew when I came to Canterlot? You can handle anything!” “Apparently heights is more challenging to get used to…” Unlike the other Storm Creatures, Groak didn’t wear his mask. His smile aimed at me, and I wondered if he still believed that I, as he said, “can handle anything.” But there was only so much I could endure. The crowd of ponies was much less dense than when Groak and I took the streets. That did not mean it was easy to get to the castle square. My burly friend suggested we should jump there, but I managed to talk him out of it. I also didn’t want to draw any more attention to myself. “So tell me,” Groak said as we obtained some snacks from a vendor, “do you plan on confessing your love to Princess Twilight this evening?” My blood went cold as my friend asked a very sensitive question. The mare running the snack stand looked at me and giggled. For once, I wanted Groak to pick me up and take me away from the embarrassing mood he created. “I didn’t say I was going to do that!” I barked as I scrambled to obtain my pretzel and melted cheese dip. Just as I spun around to flee the vendor, she said, “Invite me to the wedding when it happens!” I felt like dying. Groak quickly caught up to me, his arms filled with popcorn, cotton candy, some churros, and a candy apple. His clueless concern for my embarrassment made me aggressively bite into my pretzel; there was no need to dip it into my melted cheese. “But you told me you loved Princess Twilight. Why don’t you go and tell her? All week, you’ve been talking about wanting to see how she is doing. Instead, you have done nothing but volunteer work and help the citizens of Canterlot.” “I think helping lost children finding their parents is much better than confessing my love to a pony I have no solid relationships with,” I countered. “The only thing I have done for Twilight was give her some flowers and tell her she was beautiful.” I took a seat on a bench that was a good ways away from the stage and crowd of ponies. If Groak wanted to discuss Princess Twilight subject matter, I wanted to avoid others from listening in on my discussion with my friend. A large finger wagged at me. “But didn’t you say Princess Twilight invited you herself to the Friendship Festival?” “She invited all of Ponyville, I was just apart of that.” ”That’s not how you explained it before.” Groak was right. I did specifically tell him she wrote a personal letter to me, going into detail about how Twilight loved the roses I gave her. And I also told Groak she wanted some time alone with me. Of course, just the idea of Twilight wanting to share personal time with me was a delight, and I wouldn’t pass up such an opportunity. Even so, I was still not used to Twilight being around me, and I was cursed to be flustered whenever she came to mind. The lights from the stage began to dim, a saving grace in disguise. “The show is starting,” I said while shushing Groak. He didn’t appreciate being hissed at, and Gorak flicked some popcorn at my face. Ponies and even some Storm Creatures from within the crowd began to cheer as Songbird Serenade came onstage. Her voice echoed throughout the square as she began to sing. The words coursed through my very soul as I related to every word she exclaimed. And as she began the chorus, the eyes of Princess Twilight entered my mind. “I can see rainbow in your tears as they fall on down,” Songbird sang to the world. I vividly remember how Twilight cried when Grubber gave me a few hits to the face. And even though she wept for my pain, I could not deny how lovely she managed to look. My eyes closed, and my body swayed to the wonderful performance. The song continued with wonderful grace as I ate my pretzel. Groak was making a bit of noise as he chewed on popcorn. I took a final bite out of my snack, and I opened my eyes to look at my neglected cheese dip. Part of me wanted to lap at the cheese, but that might make me look weird. A pony from the crowd flew into the air, away from the performance. I was curious as to who would want to leave during such a wonderful song. Then I saw who it was. “Caramel!” Groak nudged into me. “Look! It’s Princess Twilight!” “I see that, but… where is she flying off to?” I asked as my eyes followed her. When she landed, Twilight approached Tempest Shadow who stood by the square’s ledge. I didn’t even notice Tempest standing alone or know when she got there. Leave it to the Princess of Friendship to notice a lone pony. “Tempest...” Groak said in a low tone. “She’s been quite beaten up even though there is peace among ponies and my kind now.” “Do you still care about her?” Groak nodded. “Even though she had her moments of bitterness, Tempest knows she regrets her decision to become allies with the Storm King.” “At least the other Storm Creatures seem to like the change of being treated more kindly,” I said with a smile. “All thanks to Princess Twilight.” “Yeah…” I said like I was lost in a dream. “All thanks to her.” A magical missile fired from Tempest and soared into the night sky before exploding in a wonderful burst of color. One after another, the missile darted here and there, blasting into different colors every time it changed direction. “So, Caramel,” Groak said as he placed a paw on my shoulder, “Since the Princess is over there, how about you go over to her now?” “I don’t think that would be a good idea,” I said, looking away from the two mares. “Twilight is talking to Tempest. I wouldn’t want to interrupt their conversation.” “Hmm… I see.” Against my will, Groak picked me up while still managing to hold onto the remaining of his snacks. “What are you doing!?” As I pointlessly tried to free myself, Groak replied, “I know you don’t want to interrupt Twilight and Tempest. So I will be doing the interrupting.” Groak’s heavy steps shook me as he walked. Both ponies noticed his approach, and I flushed with horrible embarrassment. Tempest’s brows twitched with confusion. “What are you doing to that pony? I thought I did a speech to the other Storm Creatures that taking ponies is now a crime.” “Sorry for interrupting,” Groak said before gesturing a paw at me. “But my friend here needs to speak to the Princess. He keeps telling me he wishes to talk to her, but can’t seem to muster up the strength to do so.” A sweet smile was sent my way as Twilight took a few steps toward me. “Caramel, why do you look so nervous?” “I uh…” I leered up at Groak, still displeased with being held like a child. “Please put me down…” It was as simple as lifting an arm for Groak, and my friend let me catch the ground on my own. “Let's just say that when someone lends you a helping hoof and they give more than what was asked for, you might become a little overwhelmed.” “I have those moments with Pinkie,” Twilight laughed. “But I don't understand why you have to look so nervous around me. I told you before, I'm just a pony.” “Who happens to be a princess,” Tempest added. “Don't be surprised that a common pony would behave nervously around you, Twilight.” “Thank you!” I exclaimed. Even though I had a short moment with connecting with Tempest, my mind quickly recalled the past about her; how she called for two ponies to haul Twilight to the castle. I couldn't look at Tempest for very long, and my ears fell back. “It’s okay, Caramel,” Twilight said. “Tempest has changed dramatically since the Storm King’s defeat.” It was no surprise to how transparent I was behaving. It would be hard for anypony to trust an old oppressor if their intent was to harm just for their personal pleasure. Groak was different. Tempest herself shied away from me. “If you despise me, I understand.” My ears twitched, her words stinging my head. “N-no! I don't hate you!” I swallowed, walking carefully to not upset Tempest. “It’s just… things are just very recent. I'm sure you yourself are adapting.” “I am,” Tempest nodded. “And it seems you have done a great job with adapting with Groak, as he is with you.” Groak shook his head, “Caramel doesn't need to adapt. He is naturally good at many things.” “He's very good with words, so you are not wrong,” Twilight said and winked at me. Thankfully, the Princess didn't delve too deep into what she meant. She could tell I was still nervous around her. “So, Caramel, since your friend brought you over here, why don't you tell me what you wanted to talk to me about?” A smile grew on Tempest, one that had to be witnessed to believe she actually could appear happy. “I see you two need time alone.” She turned around and said, “Come, Groak. Leave them be. And don't bother trying to pick me up.” It did make me feel a little guilty to have stolen Princess Twilight’s attention away from Tempest. Then again, the blame was not in my hooves, thanks to Groak. Just as Groak and Tempest were about to walk away, a voice called out, “Yoo-hoo! Prince Caramel!” Oh no... That voice… that great and obnoxious voice. I didn't want to look behind me, hoping my sanity was starting to crumble and play tricks on me by hearing noises. However, the world wanted to be cruel and be very real. In her signature cape and cap, Trixie began to make her way toward me.