Chapter 4: The Prince and the Guards
It was the morning as I went to fluttershy's place to spend my last night. I woke up from her singing, which was perfect, I walked downstairs to see what she was doing. Being careful not to step on any animal. She was still singing, which made me join in as well, she turned to me.
"What a wonderful voice you have" Fluttershy said blushing.
"Not as good as yours, Its ok, but not as good as you." I said, making her blush a bit more.
"How was the bed? Did you sleep alright? I hope none of my animals awaken you..." She said pretty quickly.
"Good, Yes, None of them did." I interjected before she could ask more.
"That's good... I wanted to be sure nothing happened. Since of Opal, she can be very mean sometimes." Fluttershy said.
"Oh I forgot to tell you, Twilight and Rainbow Dash will be teaching me to use magic and fly." I said.
"I see, I hope you get to fly, It's a wonderful thing." She Stated Smiled.
"I Bet it is Fluttershy, If anyone can teach me it would have to be rainbow dash." I said.
"I agree." She agreed.
"Oh, Twilight getting out of her wheelchair today I believe." I said excited.
"uh isn't your house finished today as well?" Fluttershy asked.
"I almost completely forgot about that." I said thinking, 'I can't believe I almost completely forgot about that.' with a hove on my chin.
"Once I feed all my animals let's go and check on Twilight." Fluttershy stated as she continued feeding her pets.
I walked outside to see the day, I noticed Mayor mare came to see me I greeted her and she stated, "Prince Ethan your house finished here is the keys and a map to its site." as she pulled the items out and I grabbed them with magic, looking into the letter where the map was.
"Thank you Mayor Mare, for your Efforts, I hope to return your kind hospitality someday." I said to her reading the letter.
"The Princess Celestia as also opened a bank account for you in the town and as set money, the details and the money you be receiving will be in the letter. If you need anything you can come to me." She said as she made her way back to the town hall.
'1000 Bits a week?, I understand that I need 25000 Bits to get the house with the needed things to live it seems a bit high.' I thought, then I sent to see Fluttershy.
"I see the mayor was here, anything happened?" She asked me.
"Just the things I needed for my house. It seems to be somewhere on the South East of the Town." I said.
"Those large Town Houses, They were made for Rich visitors to get the town more money. You living there will really help get them traffic. Oh I wanted to ask who made your hat?" Fluttershy asked.
"Oh I did, I am not so great with sewing that it has some holes in.. I was thinking of having Rarity fix it but I didn't ask her." I answered taking off my hat.
"I can help you with that, I know how to sew and be able to make it look nice, but the materials you used are very weak. I would use some stronger material, but I don't have any on hand, the better the Quality ones can cost 10 bits per yard. They be the same color but it would work..." Fluttershy paused. "I love sewing, I know of it ever since my mother taught me."
"That's very neat, I would like to learn how to sow... but how much would it cost to get my hat done?" I asked.
"um, I don't mind but it would cost about 20 bits to get all the supplies." Fluttershy said.
"I can do that no problem." I told her.
"I thought you had no money." Wondered Fluttershy.
"Princess Celestia has set up a bank account for me in ponyville, I get money each week... it seems very high." I informed her.
"How much do you get?" Fluttershy asked.
"1000 Bits a week." I answered.
"Wow, I only make about 186 Bits a week. If I get more things done 260 Bits.. but I normally take care of my pets so I normally have 80 Bits for myself each week." Fluttershy said.
"It did seem very high, Once I know how much a Bit is worth I will get an understanding... I stated though that since I am a prince they will charge me more."
"Some ponies do, like they do to me since I am very nice.. I have to be more assertive but I am not that way." Fluttershy said.
"Well I better get more tips from Twilight about it then." I said, "at least I don't have to worry about guards following me."
"Prince Ethan, we are your personal guard here in ponyville." two royal guards and one that seemed to be their Superior informed me.
"And it begins." I said as I turned around to them. "Hello there... I am not aware I was assigned guards."
"We were assigned to you today, he got here under orders from the captain of the guard Shining Armor. I am Steel Grid, I am a Major in the Royal Guard. These are my subordinates Iron Wall, and Stone Wall." Steel said to me with a salute. He was a Unicorn Pony with Brown fur, with 2 white Pegasus. They must be in the same family.
"I am not used in having Guards... its pretty unlike my environment." I said concerned.
"Well I Apologize Prince Ethan, but its our duty, If I have to glue you to myself I will until I get new orders." He stated with a glue container in his hove. 'Oh very funny' I thought.
"So, its only you and your 2 guards?" I asked.
"there is 6 of us in total." Steel Grid informed
"Have Living Arrangements been setup for you" I said in defeat, 'They not going anywhere until I see Celestia in person to handle this.'
"Not yet ready. We will be waiting until then." Steel Grid said, "Nothing will stop us from doing our part in protecting the royals."
"But...eep!" Fluttershy said but the two guards got around me and blocked her off, which made me mad.
"ONE THING YOU SHOULD NEVER DO IS CUT OFF MY FRIENDS WHEN THEY ARE SPEAKING... DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!" I yelled at them with my horn shining, they backed off. I returned to a normal tone with my hron not shining, "You where saying Fluttershy."
"What about sleep? About somewhere to live?" She said still spooked from my outburst.
"If we need too we will sleep in the mud, we rotate our shifts." Steel Grid said.
"If this is going to work, you guys will have to follow some ground rules, 6 ponies and 1 dragon will be allowed to talk to me or approach me freely. You will only block off if I don't know them and this will change at anytime as they are my friends and I hate people cutting off my friends...I won't allow you or your men sleeping outside, I respect some personal Hygiene, this will only be the case... no more than 2 guards next to me, I hate being crowded by protection, If needed you will keep eyes on me from afar then fine. I prefer people being relaxed a bit around me, I know your on guard, it doesn't matter if your relaxed a bit... is this understood Major Steel Grid" I ordered.
"Crystal Clear Prince Ethan, but we have no arrangements set yet." Steel said.
"Then lets head to my house first, continue our chat there but I need to meet with another friend of mine Twilight Sparkle." I said this, Steel Grid reacted odd to that name but I ignored it.
"Yes Sir." He Saluted. As we head to the Library with them near me. This pulled more attention now since I had guards.
"You three wait out here..." I said.
I walked into the Library, the 3 guards at the door. Spike and Twilight where in the room, Twilight was walking around normally again.
"I see your up and walking." I said.
"Oh hi Ethan, I was getting things done, ready to learn magic?" Twilight said.
"At the moment no, I am going to be heading to my house I just got the keys and place from the mayor." I said, "I am heading there do you and spike want to come and see it."
"I like too, who are those people outside?" Twilight noticing the shadows in the window of the door.
"It seems that they are part of the royal guard that are meant to keep me protected. Does Steel Grid mean anything to you?" I asked.
"... He was one of my class mates in filly school before I became Princess Celestia student. Is he one of the guards?" Twilight asked.
"He is the Major that commands the unit. I also wanted to ask, since my understanding of your currency, I might need help doing shopping. Celestia granted me 24,000 Bits in my bank account and every week I get 1000 Bits?" I replied to twilight.
"Even we don't get that much from Celestia... Well you're a Prince after all. We get about 350 Bits a week for expenses." Spike said.
"I might need to have it lowered... I don't feel I need that much but at the moment I need to get to my house and get everything settled with the guards and see if the house already have furniture and such." I stated.
"Well let go." Twilight walked, spike said to me, "hey can I ride on your back since twilight walks around it be bad for her legs."
"Sure, I have no problem with that." I agreed. As he hopped on, we went to out of the door.
"Ok, This is Spike and Twilight Sparkle, they are allowed near me and talk to me at anytime.. as well as Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Fluttershy." I ordered Steel Grid.
"Yes Sir." Steel said to me, with the other guards understanding.
"Where is your house Ethan" Spike said to me as I give him the letter with the map.
"To what Fluttershy told me its one of the large town houses that what was just built" I said.
"Oh I seen them completed, for any Pony they are quite large. They just started building them ever since of some well-known ponies came here. They were meant as a temporary stay but built every well." Twilight stated.
"Very nice, It doesn't matter to me, A home is a home." I said.
"Take a left here." Spike said, as we went that way.
"My rest of my unit is at the house already." Steel Grid informed us.
"Then it should be easy to spot." I said, and it was, the other three guards where there waiting.
We made are way there as steel informed them about the ground rules I stated to them when I first met them. I walked in to see it was a new house, well made something like Canterlot, the roof was made of roofing tiles than hay. The walls where more structured than normal houses around Ponyville it was like the town hall and like Rarity's shop. It had 2 floors, in total there was over 1500 sqm of space. At least 4 bedrooms, one master bathroom.
"Its empty" Spike stated.
"It sure is, need to get stuff in here. Steel Grid." I said.
"Yes?" Steel responded as he entered the house.
"Ok, you got 6 guards counting yourself. I will be living in the master bedroom, you will have your room/office the rest can be split for the rest of your unit." I said. "I will need to get the beds needed now."
"Ok, but it would be better..." Steel Stated.
"What am I going to use the 3 extra bedrooms for?" I objected.
"Ok then..." Steel said defeated.
"I hope you get that handled when I get back." I stated "Twilight, Spike and I will need to get extra beds needed and supplies." I said.
"Lets check with Applejack and rarity, they might have an idea about extra beds." Spike suggested.
"Might not be a bad idea Spike." Twilight said as we left the house.
One of the guard went with us, I didn't bother with telling him to stay at the house. We walked to Sweet Apple Acres to see Applejack, sitting against a tree with a a piece of straw in her mouth.
"Hey AJ!" Spike shouted.
"Howdi Spike, what you guys doin?" Applejack said getting up and walking over.
"We are looking to buy beds for Ethan's new place in Ponyville." Twilight informed Applejack.
"I wreck'in there will be a few in Ponyville that people would like to sell, You need one?" Applejack asked.
"I need 1 bed for myself and 6 for my royal guard since they don't have a place since there no rooms open in Ponyville." I answered.
"Now you got part of the Royalty package, you got the Guards, just need the Castle." Spike said.
"Not really liking the Guard thing, nor do I want a castle. No Offense" I said and stating to the guard directly, he shook his head that it was ok.
"You might get charged higher than normal... a bed normally runs for 150 Bits to 250 Bits, don't go too high." Applejack warned.
"Thanks for letting me know." I said.
"I have an idea, why don't Ethan pull out money and we buy the beds apart. So he doesn't get over charged. " Twilight said.
Spike received a message from Celestia it reads:
Dear Prince Ethan
Since you are in Ponyville I went ahead and sent this letter to Spike, I know that your house is finished and the guard went there to soon, I went ahead and got some sent to your house and I also got some furniture sent it should be there by noon.
I apologize for the Guards but its standard thing of being royalty.
Princess Celestia.
"Her Timing is good... Its almost scary." I said.
"She is the co-monarch of Equestria after all." Twilight said.
We went ahead and head back to my house and saw the furniture was already there. The guards already got everything setup. I went to my room and saw that it was...
"Very very pink..." I said as Spike started Laughing.
Everything was very pink, but there was a note in the room. Twilight started to read it.
"Magical furniture... they change color and style by magic. Lets see here." Twilight said as her horn glowed. All the furniture went to a dark oak look, the bedding was green and the walls seemed similar to the furniture. Spike stopped laughing.
"That's better, Thank you Twilight." I said relieved.
"I understand how you feel... this looks so much better... but magical furniture is rare within Equestria. It seems these where enchanted ages ago. " Twilight replied.
"It's good that is out-of-the-way. The only thing I want to see pink in large amounts is balloons, Pinkie and Cake." I stated.
We went and saw the house was already set with furniture. It looked really good, Steel Grid was there looking at me, I went to talk to him privately.
"Prince, It seems everything is set. I will have the guards stay at distance so it doesn't make you feel uneasy. Its our duty to make you feel safe not uncomfortable." Steel stated.
"That is a relief." I said, "It's good that we have an understanding."
"This is my first assignment to make sure a Royalty safety." Steel grid said.
"I see, I do want to ask, when I mentioned Twilight's name you reacted?" I asked.
"Twilight was one of my classmates long time ago, I really liked her but when she became Celestia's student I went ahead and became part of the royal guard. I almost forgot about Twilight Sparkle. Its something I am moved on from since I have Somepony in Canterlot." Steel Grid said.
"Good, I don't want to be questioning your actions to Shining Armor myself. Just do your best." I said to Steel grid.
We moved on from that, pretty much telling each other how to work with each other. How far a guard should be from me. What should each guard flight path should be. When they transferred for leave and so forth, keeping it to the point. Finishing our meeting, I left the office to see the whole gang in the living room.
"Hey Everypony, nice to see you girls again." I welcomed.
"We wanted to see your new place dear, I wanted to say, I wanted to have you visit my shop again, I got some nice clothes made for you when you go anywhere formal." Rarity said to me.
"Its nice but I prefer the farm any day." Applejack stated.
"It's very awesome." Rainbow dash added.
"Ethan, you still want your hat redone?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yes I still do, I really need to get those materials... why don't we go get them now?" I asked.
"um... we can, if you don't mind and not busy" Fluttershy said.
"Not busy at all, let's go and get those materials" I said.
Fluttershy and I went to the marketplace, the rest of the gang went back to what they where doing before. Heading to the bank we enter, seeing some traffic we get in line.
"Prince Ethan!, Why don't you come this way?" One of the bank clerk asked.
"You sure, I'd like to wait my turn." I stated as the rest of the ponies where more than happy to let me go first. "Thank you." I said with me and Fluttershy move up to the clerk, the clerk was a mare yellow earth pony with a mathanical Pi sign cutie mark.
"How can I help you? Prince Ethan" Asked the Clerk.
"I would like to withdraw 100 bits form my account." I ordered.
"Very well." The clerk pulled out a large bag. I grabbed it with my telekinesis with my horn.
"Thank you." I said walking out.
Fluttershy then told me where to head too to get the materials. We entered the marketplace and it was about noon. There was some activity there, A guard was spotted in the distance behind us to make sure nothing went wrong.
"Where too now Fluttershy?" I asked.
"There that stall there has the material needed to make a better hat." Fluttershy told me.
We walked up and saw an old mare at the stall with some fabric. The old pony made a joke about Fluttershy and I being dates. I went along with the joke, which made Fluttershy blush. We got extra fabric for a deal also buying a saddlebag for myself to carry my items we went on are marry way.
"I think Rarity would like any extra fabric that we don't use since we got a whole roll." I informed Fluttershy.
"I think that be very thoughtful of you. Rarity doesn't have much of this type." Fluttershy told me.
"I still have about 30 bits left on me, you want to get something to eat?" I asked Fluttershy.
"I don't want to have you go out of your way..." Fluttershy said as her gut started to Grumble making her blush.
"I think the gut says otherwise." I said chuckling.
"Well, there is a good place there that mades very good potato pie" Fluttershy said pointing to that place.
We went there and a waiter came up to ask was for what we want to eat. Getting a Potato Pies, we got to talk about how we where doing.
"That was very nice of you what you did my house." Fluttershy told me.
"No Problem, Its something I do for my friends, as I had done for me before. Even if that person was royalty. I don't respect someone who cuts off my friends." I said to Fluttershy.
After eating I walked with fluttershy to her place since we got the fabric, we used some of it and she took my hat redoing it with the new fabric. It was like watching a master, skilled and quick, it almost seemed she took a few minutes to finish my hat. Her pets all over the place, still making sure not to step on any of them.
"With that, it will be very strong and hard to ware out" Fluttershy said as I placed the hat on my head as I looked at the mirror.
"Its amazing Fluttershy, thank you." I said.
"Its nothing." Fluttershy said. "Lets go and get the extra fabric to Rarity."
"Not a bad idea, she did say she had some things for me to try on." I said. "It would be a good thing to give her the extras now and..." 'DO NOT USE THAT SAYING, ITS HORRIBLE!' "get two things done at once." 'Good Pony'
We made our way out and made it to rarity's Boutique, It was getting dark.
"Hey Rarity, You here?" I said.
"Hello, what do you got there?" Rarity said.
"Extra Fabric I bought on a deal to make my hat stronger.. Fluttershy said you might need some more."
"This is very expensive fabric, Thank you Ethan and thank you Fluttershy. Like I said before I got some clothes I made for you for any formal places you goto lets you try them on." Rarity said.
With that Rarity sent me to a Fitting room, the first once was a Black Tux, It was really fitting. I came out and showed them.
"This really works for me, I really like it." I said to rarity, Fluttershy seems to like it as well.
I went back in and changed into the next set, this time it was more of a long jacket, seemed to work when for when I was outside.
"Rarity, this is good as well, If I had sunglasses this would be perfect." I said.
Rarity had some Sunglasses and gave them to me.
"Perfect, Now I can..." I paused placing on the sunglasses, "Make it 20% cooler."
which made Rarity and Fluttershy Giggle.
Rarity said, "That's all of it for now, at least you look fabulous when you go out to any formal party."
"Thank you Rarity, this will make me feel more relaxed if I ever go to any event, like the Grand Galloping Gala." I said.
I placed the Clothes away, Rarity is planning to make them finished. After that we all went home as it was getting late. I said my goodbyes to them both as I walked home to head to bed. Today was a great day.