Griffon of Canterlot
Chapter 26 – Sunbeam
Standing outside on the balcony Gale watched a set of twenty guards walking up to the castle through the main entrance into the castle grounds. They all were carrying supplies on their backs to two of them pulling a big wagon covered up, he glance back down at the drawing he was doing and continued to do so as they marched through.
A knock came from the door. “Gale, it me Cadance, can I come in?” Gale give a squawk and it opens. “Morning Gale!” Cadance walks in towards him.
“Today marks two weeks since Aunty Celestia found you. How do you feel?” Gale smiled and showed her the picture. “Is that for your mum?” He nods.
Cadance walked out to the balcony standing beside him looking out to the sun rise. “I guess you wanted to do something for her after what happened a few days ago huh?” Gale nods once again looking down at the drawing and then towards the rising sun squinting his eyes.
“I do not know what happened between Aunty Celestia and Luna, but I gather it to do with what you been reading.” Cadance glanced over to the book on his bed stand.
Gale took a piece of paper and wrote on it, still poorly written and large but a bit more readable. “The book of dream magic? Never heard of it.” Gale shrugs and point to both drawings. “You silly griffon.” Cadance ruffled his feathered head with a hoof getting him to push it away as she teased him.
“You have a good heart cousin.” He chirped happily in reply.
Gilda flew into view landing on the balcony. “Morning dweebs!”
Cadance sighed. “Do you ever use Gale's door?”
“In the morning? Nope, it the more direct way to meeting the cub.” Gilda chuckled. “Still can't believe I didn't hear the Princess scream out in horror two days ago.” Gilda walked inside.
Cadance was at Shining Armor's home at the time so neither her or Shining knew till they were told about it themselves. “We didn't either, still I gather Aunt Luna had her reasons.”
Gilda shuddered. “She keep away from my dreams I be fine.”
“Best to ask her then.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Fine whatever... Shall we head to the dining room? Breakfast awaits!” Gilda changes the subject.
Cadance rolled her eyes. “The profile makes her seem like a angel. How do you put up with her?” Gale tilt his head.
Gilda chuckled putting her talon on the door handle. “He knows how I act, the cub not stupid Candy.” She opens it and walk out the bedroom, the guards looked at Gilda walk out but after two days so far of this they gotten use to it.
“After breakfast, off to practice on your writing?” Gale nods putting on his bandanna, hind leg pads, picking up his bag with supplies and one plush with head sticking out the side of it. “Ready and eager?” Gale chirps happily and walk out with Cadance.
Things for Gale fell into a pattern for the last few days, breakfast, writing practice, lunch, learning a bit more about griffons, dinner and reading books in the castle library with noticeable restrictions in place from accessing certain books and spells.
The two days felt as if time just flew by without much of a thought to it, Gale read about if you get into a routine things seem to just whiz by without remember much of it. With how things felt for him it seem to be true, yet some how he could remember every little detail that caught his attention, so maybe it wasn't all true or it just made him that bit more special.
One thing that was different were each dream, he got to just play around with Blue and have fun for how ever length of time each dream adventure last. Gale estimated it felt minutes to hours at times, the dream time lengths were very random.
“Gale stop staring into space and move those legs!” Gilda yelled out, Gale blinked as he realised he'd been standing still staring off into space. “Dweeb sometimes your head really too far into the clouds!” Gale opened his wings and flew right past not only her but Cadance too racing down the hall.
Gilda grins. “Oh! You want a race huh? Your on!” Gilda took off after him.
Cadance watched the two griffons zoom off down the hallway. “Guess I made the right call on Gilda.” She happily walked on after them taking her time till she ran into Shining Armor looking a bit dazed. “Had a fly by action of the griffons Shiny?”
Shining Armor readjusting his helmet. “Yep I sure did.” He finally got the helmet on right. “I told them yesterday not to zoom around the halls like that...”
“Gilda has a rebellious nature and Gale is just being a cub wanting to have a bit of fun.” Cadance giggled. “I do believe you were the same with Twily when she was Aunt Celestia's student all those years ago.”
Shining Armor turn red slightly in the cheeks rubbing his right foreleg over his left. “Hehe... Okay your right...”
“I know I am and do not worry I'll talk to them about it.” Cadance walk on to the dining room for breakfast.
Shining Armor watched her leave and walk on towards the barracks. “Well best to see to the trainee recruits that returned from their two week hike from Manehatten to Canterlot.” Shining Armor trots off in the opposite direction.
Shining Armor approached the barrack quarters where the new recruits stayed before being shipped out to Manehatten for their march back to Canterlot, Blue Star stood by the door to their barracks saluted. “Captain!”
“At ease Sergeant Blue Star.” Blue Star eased up a bit. “Are all twenty of them inside starting to feel relaxed after a long march?”
Blue Star glanced over at the door. “Yep, been hearing them chat and glad it's over.” He chuckled lightly. “If we learn from anything by our own experience-”
“-It far from over.” Shining Armor finished and laughed with Blue Star. “I believe it time to drop the ball on them.”
Blue Star nods. “Have fun Captain.” He saluted again and open the door for Shining Armor.
The captain smirked walking inside seeing all the recruits either removing their armour, lying on their backs on the bunk bed or talking among each other. One of them noticed Shining Armor glancing over to the door. “Captain in barracks!” They all quickly moved to stand before their beds in attention.
Shining Armour slowly walks by each of them. “You all have done a great job through out all your training, each of you have shown that you have what it is to be a guard here in the castle and through out Equestria.”
Shining turns around and walking back past them again. “But this isn't over yet, you all have one final assignment.” They all slightly groan. “Yes I know you all are tired but this final task shows even after marching through the country you are able and ready.”
Shining Armor turn around standing back at the start looking at each of them. “You will be assigned to one of the senior guards in Canterlot and do a full shift with them.” Shining Armor looked to his left and right. “Before I assign you all, Recruit Sunbeam step forwards!”
A orange cream Pegasus mare with blonde mane and tail with a three sunbeams coming off a sun cutiemark step forwards with a hoof up in a salute. “Captain!”
Shining Aromr step to the side. “You are to go with Sergeant Blue Star to the Royal Private Dining room to get your assignment directly from Princess Celestia.”
Many of the other ponies mutter to each other.
“Sir?”
“Sunbeam did I stutter?”
“No, I-”
“Don't question and march recruit!”
Sunbeam salute once again. “Y-yes sir.” She quickly leaves with Shining Armor closing the door behind her.
Sergeant Blue Star point a hoof out to follow him. “Come with me.” She still in armour minus the helmet followed close behind him to the private dining room without a word between them.
They arrived at the private dining room with Blue Star saluting to the guards, they opened the doors to let Sunbeam in. “Good luck recruit!”
Sunbeam gulped a bit. “Th-thank you sir...” She walk by the guards into the room followed by the doors being shut behind her.
Sitting at the long table in the middle of the room she saw Princess Celestia enjoying her breakfast, but Luna and Cadance were both there with one griffon Sunbeam seem to recognise from Junior Speedsters but the other was a mystery, he look young happy, a bit of a messy eater that made her chuckle inside her mind at the state of his beak and feathered area around it.
Celestia put down her fork noticing Sunbeam. “Morning Recruit Sunbeam, please come sit down at the table and join us for some breakfast.”
Sunbeam look to the spare seat and back over to Celestia. “Erm... I was told you be giving my assignment personally Princess?”
“Indeed that is correct, I will be doing it while you sit down and eat with us.” Celestia gestured to the seat.
Sunbeam look to it again and back to Celestia. “Is this a t-”
“Oh shut up and sit down already you dweeb! It free food from the princess!” Gilda spoke up glaring at Sunbeam. “I will give you two choices, either sit down and eat the food Princess Celestia made or I will take it right now and chow down on it!”
Sunbeam's stomach growled slightly, she step forwards and took off her hoof shoes before sitting down at the table. Sunbeam with her wings took the knife and folk to each the pancakes. “These are really good princess!”
Celestia beamed with delight. “I do hope so, I made them myself!”
Luna yawned a bit. “Sister please get on with it, I've eaten and wish to get some sleep.” Luna grumbled.
Celestia half looked to Luna. “Fine..” Celestia turn to Sunbeam. “Your assignment will be the personal guard to my son.”
Sunbeam swallowed. “Son? I don't recall hearing anything about you being pregnant Princess Celestia.”
Gilda instantly throw two closed fist talons into the air. “YES SHE SAID IT! HA-WHA!” Gilda screamed out leaning back so much that she and the chair fell backwards.
Luna and Cadance burst out in laughter followed by Gilda afterwards lying on back on the ground, Celestia had a very static look upon her face that was unreadable, but inside she was very red. Gale just sat there chewing slowly with a confused glance at his aunt, cousin and teacher in fits of laughter.
Sunbeam blinked a few times. “I am lost...”
Celestia coughed slightly into her right hoof. “Private... The son in question is my adoptive son sitting just beside me.” She gestured with a wing to Gale.
The Pegasus quickly looked to Gale. “Adoptive? When did this happen?”
“While you began your march from Manehatten your home town to Canterlot.” Celestia said keeping a calm neutral look as the others still laugh. “Gale I like you to meet Sunbeam she be the guard keeping you safe during the day.”
Gale raise his talon waving to her with a happy squawk, Gilda slowly calmed down and stood up putting the chair back up on it legs. “Oh boy... That was awesome!”
“Care to share this with me?” Celestia asked.
Gilda chuckled. “Sure thing, it was a bet made by me and Candy. I told Luna about our little bet before you showed up.” Gilda explained. “Simply put it Blue hooves proposed to Candy and I get to say it cause I won the bet!”
“I watched Blue Hooves on his back knees with both front hooves out holding out the box looking like some pony praying.” Gilda grinned. “Candy said yes and span him around in the air, never saw a unicorn turn so green so quickly!”
Gilda shrugged after a short laugh. “It didn't seem to bother them, they happy hugged and kissed with all that mushy stuff.” Gale stuck out his tongue in response to the kissing. “Yeah I am with ya on that one Gale.”
Celestia warmly smiled. “Congratulations Cadance!”
“Thank you aunty! I wanted to tell you in a better way but a bet a bet. I lost it fair and square.” Cadance gave Gilda an amused look.
Celestia had to admit hearing it from the colourful names Gilda gives them was unique. “I have to say in all my years never heard quite the revile of a proposal in this manner.”
“Was that bet to do with me asking that question?” Sunbeam asked.
Gilda grinned. “Oh it was and you did us proud! Not only we got a awesome funny moment that will last forever, but I got to be the one that broke the news!”
Celestia shook her head slightly. “What am I going to do with you three?”
“What the matter? We bested you?” Gilda countered.
“Indeed you did, well played. I didn't see this coming at all.” Celestia accepted defeat to her sister, niece and Gilda.
Sunbeam slowly went on eating her pancakes bewildered by this causal interaction between princesses and Gilda no less. “I'll tell you all about how it went down with Shining later Aunty.” Cadance said.
“I be happy to hear about it.” Celestia now turn her attention to Sunbeam. “Now Private Sunbeam...
“Private?”
“Yes your no longer a recruit but now a fully fledge guard.”
Sunbeam salutes. “Thank you Princess I will do you proud!”
Celestia turn to Gale as she responds. “I know you will Private Sunbeam, I read up about you being in the same club as Gilda and that you understand Griffish. I thought it be good to have a guard that not only keep my son safe but also help Gilda out to better understand Griffish writing.”
Gilda sat back down at the table. “Sure I'm good with that, it be good to have a guard that doesn't get stiff neck and go into 'Yes Sir, Prince!' mode around Gale.”
Sunbeam looked a bit confused. “That standard for us guards, we serve the crown.”
“Yeah yeah I know.” Gilda gave a dismissive wave. “But as I said to Blue Hooves and Flash, his a cub.” Gilda stated.
“So... I don't take orders from him?” Sunbeam asked for conformation.
“No, you take orders from me, Luna or Cadance. Gilda is teaching Gale to write, speak and to be a Griffon to a certain degree.” Celestia still so ever calm explained to Sunbeam.
Sunbeam turn to Gale as he eats the last of his breakfast. “Princess I thank you for this great opportunity and this position! I will not fail you!” She said to Celestia with determination.
Celestia turn to Gale and Gilda. “Why don't you take Gale to start his lessons in writing and studying Griffish, I will tell Private Sunbeam everything need to to know to do her job as guard to him.”
Gilda drunk the last of her tea. “Sure whatever you say.” Gilda got off her chair. “Come on featherbrain, time to get those talons writing!”
Gale put all his plates and cups together in a neat pile, before he joined Gilda the teenager gave Sunbeam a quick hug. Gale soon followed Gilda out of the dining room. “As for I, I am getting some sleep.” Luna yawned. “Good night sister.”
“Sleep well Luna.” Luna leaves the dining room.
Cadance pour herself another cup of tea. “I'll stick around, I like to hear what my cousin been up too since I've been away.”
“Very well...” Celestia turn to Sunbeam. “Listen carefully cause I am only going to tell you this once Sunbeam.”
Sunbeam salutes. “Yes princess, ready when you are.”