The sun shining in the bright sky signals the dawn of a new day as Princess Celestia lowers the moon and raises the sun.
Within a chamber on a small cushion lays the creature the princess and her guards had encountered last night. He was not restrained as per Celestia’s orders.
Celestia sits upon her throne in Canterlot Castle, around her stand the royal guards who escorted her through the Everfree Forest just hours ago.
“Princess, with all due respect, this creature is a wild beast that was able to best this forest’s most deadly of predators in mere seconds. That’s not even mentioning what it could have done to all of us had you…” Captain Goldshield gulps as Celestia carries herself with her regal demeanor towards the small creature.
“If I hadn’t intervened captain, this creature as you put it would have likely escaped after making short work of your soldiers after it’s display of strength.”
The captain looks down and says nothing.
“Do not fret, you served me and your soldiers admirably this night and for all your efforts you should be proud as I assure you I am.” Celestia smiles warmly.
The captain raises his head and gives a small smile in thanks.
“If this creature... We will have to categorize it soon so as to address it with better conversation.” Celestia began.
“Pardon my abruptness princess but it sounds as if you are treating this thing as if it was a thinking, intelligent pony?” One of the guards spoke up.
Celestia turned her gaze toward him. “We do not know that it is not. If this creature can indeed think and talk, we owe it at least the chance to defend itself in it’s own way. In addition, if it had escaped, not only the villagers but also all our guards would have likely been caught in the flurry of its passing through the town."
“But your highness, what shall we do with it in the meantime? Shall we confine it to Tartarus?”
“I believe a different course of action will be far more enlightening." She said before gesturing toward the doors. "Bring me the soldier that attacked without prompt earlier.”
The guard in question went pale as a ghost and trembled forward.
“Please, your name if you would.”
The guard shivers with fear.
“Answer the Princess when spoken to private!” The captain raised his voice.
“Please Captain, you are making him more nervous." She said shifting her gaze upon the subordinate. "If you would state your name, we can continue this conversation.”
“L-L-L-Leafy… y-y-your highn-n-n-ness. Leafy... B-B-B-Breeze.” Leafy responds. His voice shaking.
“Well then Leafy, to make up for your brash behavior earlier, I would like you to prove yourself to your captain and take care of our guest. It may even be no older than a foal. Will you take this charge Leafy?” Celestia spreads her wings.
Leafy gasps and looks to his captain who smiles and nods his head. He takes a deep breath and exhales.
“Yes princess! You can count on me!”
The new day’s sun beams on the creature. It’s tail twitches and it bolts awake as it opens it’s eyes.
It growls and looks around. The wind blows the curtains gently.
The creature pounces upon the curtains and wraps itself around them until they tear. He wears them as if they were his trophy for defeating a monster.
“Well you seem energetic today little gUUYYYY!! WOAH!” Leafy opens the door and greets the creature when it rams through both him and the door, knocking it down on top of Leafy.
“Mmmornning to you too.” Leafy's muffled voice mumbles from under the door.
The creature looks around and smells something. Beside the broken door was a plate. It had oats, bread, and other vegetables.
It smells them, looks away to Leafy under the door and touches the food to its tongue.
In almost an instant, the food is gone.
“Guess you were hungry huh?”Leafy groans.
A loud growl comes from the creature’s stomach. He jumps off the door to lick the plate clean, allowing Leafy to get up.
“Well now, if you’re still hungry, why don’t we take a trip down to the cafeteria? I’m sure we can rustle you up something there?” Leafy smiles.
The creature growls but follows.
“This…… may have been a mistake.” Leafy looks on wide eyed at was once the kitchen, cafeteria and an unconscious cook who lay on the floor.
Fruit cores, pastries, vegetables, grains. All of it gone in an instant.
“Sweet Celestia what am I going to do! How do I explain this?! We have to clean this up!” Leafy frantically tries to clean up and gasps.
He notices the creature is gone.
“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!” Leafy curses and cries.
The creature climbs the pillars of the castle but stops to rub it’s head. Something was hurting it. It felt really bad. It jumps down and rushes back to the cafeteria to see Leafy being scolded by the captain.
“And where exactly is he now private!”
Leafy backs away, stumbling his words.
The creature rubs his head , grits it’s teeth and runs between the captain and Leafy. It lets out that roar akin to a child pretending to be a lion (it was rather cute in all honesty), and the captain backs away.
“Well then, at the very least it’s here. Clean this up before lunch and we’ll forget this happened private. I came by to let you know the Princess wanted to speak with you privately tonight after sunset. I expect you to not keep her waiting. Dismissed!” Goldshield says before walking away.
Leafy sighs and begins picking up food and grabbing a broom using his horn.
“Hopefully this won’t take too long.” Leafy begins sweeping.
Leafy shakes his head and sighs. "I don’t suppose you’d consider helping a colt out would'ya?”
The creature looks at Leafy’s sad face and to the broom moving back and forth, pushing everything in a pile.
It looks at the broom with a determined expression and grabs it from Leafy's telekinesis. In seconds, the entire room including the kitchen is clean. The creature returns to where Leafy was and snorts, standing the broom up like a flag, as if to declare victory in battle.
Leafy’s mouth drops. He couldn’t believe it. Everything was spotless, save for the huge pile of now manageable garbage that did in fact tip over being too tall, but it was easier than gathering everything until sunset.
After throwing out all the garbage, which the creature took upon itself to lift the entire pile barehooved. Does what he have even qualify as hooves? The guard thought to himself. Questions for later as the hardest challenge yet presents itself.
Leafy attempts to clean the creature off so it will be ready for their meeting with Princess Celestia tonight.
This among many things presents an extremely difficult challenge throughout the day.
Luckily, Leafy makes it out of the ordeal alive and kicking. Well, the creature was the one doing most of the kicking.
Sunset approaches as Leafy guides the creature to the throne room on his back. While difficult, he managed to do so after getting it another curtain to “defeat” and wear. It seemed to comfort him and keep him warm with no apparent coat to do so.
The doors open, the creature scoots back.
“It’s okay, the princess is in that room. I’ll make sure she knows you’re a really good whatever you are. Call it even for helping me out earlier.” Leafy winks and pats the creature on it’s leg.
Leafy puts his head up and marches. The creature sticks its long brown tail in the air and rubs its head again. The tail goes down, the creature hops off and follows Leafy.
“You may approach, Leafy Breeze. I thank you for attending.” Celestia motions to the guards to let them pass.
“Thank you your highness.” Leafy replies.
“I see you’ve had quite the day with our guest. Have you had any difficulties in managing through the day?”
“Difficulties? With this little guy? Naw, I mean, no ma'am- Princess! I mean your highness! It has been no trouble at all!” Leafy composes himself.
The creature then does something most peculiar. Celestia notices it mimicking Leafy’s stance, then snickers as if to play.
She smiles warmly. “Well that is certainly a relief. It seems as though we can also assume to be correct that it is nothing more than a child. Perhaps even an infant in it’s species.”
“I suppose so, Though he’s certainly a very good creature your highness. Wanted to make sure I noted that. Hasn’t threatened me once today.”
Celestia raises her brow as the creature pulls strongly on Leafy’s tail.
“YEEEOOOWWWW! Gggrrr- I mean, that’s a good fella… Eep!” Leafy winces.
“It seems the two of you have gotten along quite well Leafy. I trust you will take care of it going forward?” Celestia says, covering a giggle with her hoof.
“Yes, of course your highness. If I may, I believe it’s a he. He certainly seems like it to me anyway. Strong as any colt I’ve ever seen.”
“Ahem.” A female guard coughs and glares at Leafy.
“Not that mares aren’t of course. I mean look at you- I mean oh sweet ce- sorry your highness.” Leafy said,shifting his gaze nervously between the princess and the guard. A bead of sweat running down the back of his neck.
Celestia's eyes narrowed as her smile grew wider. “It’s quite alright private Leafy. I’ve been most curious about his taking to his new surroundings and would like to be informed as best as you can. Will you do this for me?”
“Yes your highness! You can count on me.” The guard said, giving a sharp salute.
“Excellent. Now one more thing, I do believe a name is in order.”
“It would make keeping track of him a bit easier. Not that I had trouble with that of course. What did you have in mind your highness?”
“Hmm….” Celestia looks at the boy. A hoof on her chin.
He walks around towards the stained glass windows until he approaches one with Luna, Celestia’s sister. The moonlight shimmering through, coating the boy in it’s glow. He stares up at the window, almost hypnotized by both the art and the light behind it.
“Lunar.” Celestia smiles.
“Pardon, your highness?” Leafy asks.
“Lunar Radiance.”
“Well then Lunar, looks like we got ourselves quite the time ahead of us. Starting tomorrow I’ll show you around the castle, maybe even get you in to see some of the other guards and they can show you some cool tricks. How’s that sound?”
Lunar yawns, stumbles around and falls to the ground sleeping.