//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Quiet Snow // by EverCloud-Productions //------------------------------// [A year later later] [October] Nightmare Night. I've heard about this holiday from most of the guards around the palace, but then again like anything else here in this world...I don't really know much about it. It has been a few days since me and Celestia first talked on the balcony. Since that day we would go out there together as often as we can, just to forget about the day. We would talk about things that make us happy, sad, funny moments in our lives, etc. I've made her laugh more times than I could count, and the more we've hung out on the balcony, the closer our friendship has gotten. So close in fact, that she stopped using her "regal voice" when talking to me alone sometimes. We're still formal to each other, and we've never strayed from the "professional" behavior when other guards or maids are around us. I walk into the throne room to see Celestia writing on a scroll. She sees me walk in and instantly stops writing. "Ah Adrian! What brings you in here today?" Well considering that I live here sun butt, what else would I be doing here. "Just wanted to check and see how you were doing? You were acting kind of strange this morning." This morning when I had said hi to her she walked quickly past me without a word, but I just brushed it off as her being busy so I didn't really pay much attention to it. But then during breakfast she was just stabbing at her food, which really had me concerned. "I'm fine, whatever are you talking about?" I step closer to the throne, she knows exactly what I'm talking about, she just being stubborn as usual. "Is it because today is...Nightmare Night?" I ask with a straight face. I couldn't tell from how far I was from her, but I could tell that she was flustered now. I step a little bit closer. "Are you scared about Luna's Ret—" "SHHHHH!!" Her voice rang out loudly. She looks around and motions her guards to leave the room. As soon as the door closes....she breaks. "I'm not scared I'm just....nervous ok?" She says getting up and walking towards me. "Might I ask your highness don't you have a pla—" "NO I DON'T" Her unexpected tone makes me step back a little bit. She notices that and takes a deep breath and calms down and heads towards one of the windows. "Princess, you said she could strike at any moment tonight, how can you all of a sudden be so calm about this?" She looks out the window staring at...whatever was out there. "Because I have faith in my student Adrian," she walks back towards me with a calm and serious look, "the best I can do is to make sure I have more guards surveying the area, and more guards around me at all times tonight." I watch as she sits back down on her chair and continue to write the letter she was writing when I walked in. "I know it may not look like it, but I'm worried about you Princess." I say breaking the silence. "Everything will be ok Adrian, trust me." I take her word for it and head out the door. She better know what she's doing. [A Few Hours Later..] I yawn as I sit up in my bed. Something didn't feel right. I look out the window....and it's night time outside. No.... I look up at the moon....the mare in the moon wasn't there anymore. Oh no, Celestia! I try to bolt out of the castle, but the guards stop me at the door. "We're sorry, the Princess gave us specific orders to not let you leave the castle tonight." When the hell did she give them that order? "You don't get it, the Princess maybe in trouble!" Its no use, they wouldn't budge. I tried pleading with them again, but it just won't work. "Adrian, please go back to your room!" There was no way in convincing them to let me out. Defeated, I head back to my room. I pace back and forth in my room for what seemed like hours. Hoping and praying that the princess is okay. Damnit what is she doing out there? Suddenly I hear a loud explosion. I look out the window to see a giant rainbow in the distance, followed by a bright light. Even though the explosion was nowhere near the castle, it feels like the light had an effect on me. Getting blinded by the light, I feel my heart rate increase, my breathing starts to become heavy. Then just as the rainbow fades away, so does my vision. Then, I feel the impact of the cold hard floor as a ring started to feel my ears. My vision started to become blurry. Before I could completely blacked out, I hear a voice cry out my name...or what I assumed was my name. Everything was muffled, and before I knew it...I was out completely. ------- "Celestia knows how long he's been like that. I'm surprised, honestly." I hear a muffled voice, as I'm struggling to wake up. I open my eyes, but my vision was still blurry. One thing I did notice however, was that I was in my bed...with a little bit of a headache. I groan trying to sit up, when a hoof quickly rested on my chest. "Please Adrian, try not to move so much." Cadence? What was she doing here. I look to my right to see that not only was Cadence here, but the doctor and Celestia too. "Ugh what's going on?" I say with a tired and raspy voice. "You passed out," Cadence said moving back to give me a bit of space. "I what now?" A little louder than it was suppose to be. "You passed out," The doctor finally spoke, repeating what she said, "after running some test, we found that there was a lot of magic remnant in the air, which had to do largely to the giant explosion that happened hours ago..." I did not know what he was saying admittedly; after thing about magic remnant I kind of zoned out. But I did get one thing, after seeing that rainbow I did feel my chest get very tight. It was a definite factor of why I passed out. I looked over to see Celestia walking the doctor out of the room, I guess I zoned out through his whole explanation. But I don't think I'll need to remember all he said though. I sat up to get comfortable, but Cadence kept a hoof on my arm to make sure I didn't moved much. "I came to check if you were ok, since you were going to be all alone. And when I opened the door...you were on the ground." She said, her voice shaking. I see tears start run down her face. Throughout my time here she has been here making sure I don't feel lonely at the castle, but really this the only time I actually realized how much she cared for me. I put my hand on her hoof, to reassure her. "I'm okay now Cadence...thank you." I can only gain a weak smile. My head was pounding, and I felt very tired so I was pretty drained both physically and mentally. She smiles back at me. Honestly I can't say how sweet her smile is. It's one that always makes me smile when I see her. "Well I'm off to bed. This whole night has really tired me out." She waves at me and walks out as Celestia walks up to me. A stern look is on her face, but it fades quickly to one of worry. She collapses into my lap with a sad sigh. "This is all my fault. I shouldn't of worried you so much." I stroke her mane, letting her relax. "It's okay, Princess. It was something neither of us could control." After a few minutes, she stands that signature smile of hers. "What happened? I only remember seeing a rainbow before...y'know." "Well Luna did return, but she was defeated as Nightmare Moon, and is now back here in the castle." So that's what that big explosion was. Wait...she's HERE?!?!?! "Will I get to meet her?" She thinks, "Not now, but maybe when she's gotten used to everypony." A disappointed look crawls on my face. I know that Luna needs to get use to everyone before she's back to normal, but it would've been nice to meet her. "Well I'm turning in for the night, you make sure you get some rest to regain your energy." She says opening the door. She leaves sending me a smile, one that return, and closes the door. I flop back down with a sigh, staring at the ceiling. Everything that has happened tonight was still trying to process in my head. But all that thinking didn't do my headache any good. Maybe I should stop overthinking about everything. I've only been here a month, and I haven't had a chance to really relax. I turn off the Lamp and slowly drift to sleep. At least my headache will be gone soon.