//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 // Story: Pony Veracity // by keithsterling //------------------------------// "Well, princess, it doesn't look like you broke your ankle from that fall. It looks like you badly sprained it." Justice said, reassuring as a towel appeared in his hand. "You know, Staff Sergeant, you could be in some serious trouble for disobeying a command from a princess. I told you to call the royal physician to check my ankle," Celestia said authoritatively as Justice gently wrapped the towel around her sprained ankle. "Am I Princess?" Justice asked as a cold compress appeared in his hand, and he placed the compress on top of Celestia's bad ankle to bring down the swelling on her ankle. "Not at all, staff sergeant…I am grateful for your help." Celestia said, grateful as Justice stood up to leave her chamber to return to his patrol. "If there nothing else, your highness…I must return to my patrol…farewell, your highness.” Justice said politely as Celestia quickly thought up an excuse to have Justice remain with her. "Ow! Staff sergeant, please stay with me…till the swelling goes down on my ankle…I might need your help more. Besides, you won't get in trouble with your commander if you are helping your princess? Who is hurt?" Celestia said, sounding helpless as Justice sat back down on the edge of her bed. "If that what my princess what me to do…It will be done." Justice said, respectful as Celestia's face brightened with Justice staying with her in her bed-chamber. 'At that moment, I just wanted to lay my equine head-on Justice's shoulder and rub my snout against his cheek; very loving! As if we belong together? But I quickly put that thought out of my mind? I was Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, and the Staff sergeant was one of my royal palace guards and nothing more!’ Celestia thought, unsure as her face grew haggard with worry as tears started to form in her light magenta colored eyes. 'Justice remained in my bed-chamber for the rest of that day? Helping me to nurse my sprained ankle! I caught Justice a few times when he checked my bad ankle for me? Reaching over to my unhurt foot with his fingers to tickle inside my arch caused me to yelp with surprise!’ Celestia thought, accepting as she wiped the tears off her cheek with the back of her hand, and memory changed once again. The next memory that formed was once again in the hallway of the Royal Living area of Grand Royal Palace. Celestia figured this memory took place several years later as she talked more casually with Staff Sergeant Silverlight in the hallway of the royal living area. In this memory, she was wearing a beautiful deep sky blue short-sleeve midi length fit and flare dress with gorgeous gold heeled sandals and three fourth-inch heels. A medium gold buckle held the gorgeous gold heeled sandals to Celestia's perfectly shaped ankles. ‘As I got to know the Staff sergeant (a smile form on her snout) or Justice went, I got to know him…I found that Justice was a wonderful listener…he seemed to have this unnatural ability to know went I needed someone to talk to…After a particular hard court session, as I was walking back to my bed chamber…Justice would place his hand on my shoulder and asks, "If I needed to talk." I would shake my head, and he would follow me back to my bed-chamber…By the time we would reach my bed-chamber, all my worries were relieved.’ Celestia thought as she watched her and Justice walk down the hallway to her bed-chamber as a sensing tide of joy washed over the present Celestia. "Tee-Hee, you always know I needed someone to talk to, Justice. After talking with you, I feel so much better…What can I do to pay you back, Justice?" Celestia said in a reassured tone of voice as a knowing smile formed on Justice's snout. 'The moment I spoke those words, "what can I do to pay him back?” I knew what he was going to ask? But I was in such a state of elation that his normal request totally slipped my mind!’ Celestia thought, knowing as she watched the words literally begin forming on Justice’s lips as the memory continued to unfold in front of her. "Well, how about giving you a nice long foot rub, your highness? I bet you could use it!” Justice asked thoughtfully as Celestia suddenly got stabbing anxiety in her's gut. “As my feet are really hot and tired today! And I can use it? The throne room was hot and stuffy today!" Celestia said, her quivering voice raising an octave as it caused more sweat to form on her feet. 'At the time, I didn't know that our Imperial Alicorn bond was still powerful between us! Even those I couldn’t remember having a relationship with him? I felt his disappointment, and it hurt me deeply to think of telling him no!’ Celestia thought lovingly as a feeling of a cold fist closed over her's heart as she clutched the bodice of her jewel neck on top of her dress, watching the memory continue to unfold. “All right! You may rub the feet of your princess?” Celestia said, anxious as the breath came raw in her's throat, and she gently took hold of Justice's hand, leading him to her private bed chamber. ‘As hot and sweaty are my feet were from the hot and stuffy summer heat? Allowing Justice to rub my feet for me? Seemed almost natural to me!' Celestia thought dramatically as she watched the movie in front of her continue to unfold as her memories and feeling were recalled. ‘In my private bed chamber. I walked over to my large bed with a pert wiggle, And sat down with all the grace of royal Alicorn! Once I got comfortable on my bed? I swung my lengthy legs onto the bed! Before I gestured Justice to join me!’ Celestia thought passionate as her blood was set aflame as the majestic and handsome looking dark blue unicorn stallion with short textured cut crimson red mane and tail walked toward her in her memory. ‘I temporarily moved my lengthy legs to allow, Justice? To sit down on the foot of my large bed? Once he was comfortable? I settled my sandal-clad sweaty feet on his lap! I felt his fingers fumbled with the gold buckle on my gorgeous gold heeled sandals?’ Celestia thought with increase passionate as I stared at Justice like a mare in heat and allowed my light magenta eyes to range freely up and down his majestic equine figure. ‘My ears shot up on top of my head! Hearing the soft unmistakable sound of the metallic buckle breaking loose on my ankles! My heart skipped a beat feeling the leather straps slide off my plushy white with a hint of pink luxurious bare feet! Ooh! The gentle touch of his fingers upon my plushy white with a hint of pink creamy soft soles! Was heavenly!’ Celestia thought as she quickly backed out of this memory back into the main area. Before she got any more passionate and had an accident. ‘After that, even those it was against set royal tradition, I started a secret relationship with him…throughout our secret relationship, I never thought the relationship was wrong or bad! It felt just so natural to me!’ Celestia thought as she took a few moments to put herself back together before moving over to the next memory portal to figure out where the memory block was. Once through the last stone portal, she enters another room; the ambient sound changes to the sound of the plushy textured of her plush white with a hint of pink luxurious bare feet walking across leaves and sticks littering the ground underfoot. The ambient temperature seems a little more humid than she likes but still tolerable. Sweat continued running down her perfect equine figure as she tried to figure out what memory this was from her past. As she pushes through the thick bush-choked canopy, a sickening wave of terror wells up from her's belly as she comes upon an ancient pyramid. She knows that there is only one place this kind of building is found in all of Equestria. 'By my light, not this memory! Anything but this memory!? I don't want to relive this memory!' Celestia thought as her face was etched in desperation and scarred as she tried to find the exit portal from this memory before it began. Meanwhile, back in the real world, in regeneration tube rooms in the observatory of the castle of the royal pony sisters, the regenerating Imperial Alicorn mare body of Celestia Silverlight reacts violently inside the tube, putting stress on her heart, setting off alarms and sirens. This quickly brings her husband, Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight, back to the regeneration tube. Within a few seconds of adjusting a few controls on the tube, Justice can bring his wife back to relax, calming the stress on her heart. “Please, my dear mate, you are in the Reverie…our people's version of the dream dimension. This is where all our memories, good or bad, are relived…Our people have lived for many centuries in the Reverie; it helps us make sense of our long life…But for some reason, you have blocked that place from your mind…Now that you have learned what you are…Please, my dear mate, endure." Justice said, his voice edged with tension as he pressed the palm of his hand against the tube and gawked in disbelief went the regenerating Celestia Silverlight pressed her palm of her hand against his from inside the tube. (Back in the Reverie) ‘So it called the Reverie? The imperial Alicorn version of the dream dimension. But this dimension is much more intense than what Luna has told me about the dream dimension! It looks like the Imperial Alicorn species had not only lived for centuries! But lived many lives. Because their many layers of memories in me?’ Celestia thought, surprised as a shadow flew overhead, and she quickly looked up to see her small cruising airship passing overhead, heading to the city of Oataca. (Aboard the Light of Day Celestia's small cruising airship) In the princess's suite aboard the Light of Day, a small cruising airship Celestia attired in a beautiful deep sky blue short-sleeve dress in gorgeous gold heeled sandals with three-fourths inch heels, argues with her personal guard Captain Justice Silverlight. "By your light, your highness! What are you thinking!? Going off without telling me of this high-risk excursion! Especially to the forbidden jungle!" Justice said, angry as Celestia crossed her arms in front of her. “An excursion, Captain! This diplomatic mission! Besides, if I told you? Would you let me go?" Celestia said sourly as she tapped her foot on the ground. “Of course not! Not without pre-planning! Your highness! Those tribes in the Forbidden jungle are not too friendly with Equestria!" Justice said irately, snorting at Celestia. "Well, there we go, Captain! That why I didn't tell you!?” Celestia said sarcastically as she snorted back at Justice. 'We took a few minutes to calm down and began talking calmly, slowly working out our differences. But what next happened to surprise both of us? Demonstrated what lengths one noble would go to seize power in Equestria!’ Celestia thought hotly as she watched the engine on her airship explode and crash in the forbidden jungle. Celestia spread her white with a hint of pink feathered bird wings and glided to the crash site of Light of Day, her small cruising airship in the Forbidden Jungle. She finds it largely intact when she arrives at the crash site, as she remembers from her memories. But beyond that, what happened prior is still a huge mystery to her as she was unconscious went the airship crashed. Without warning, she is pulled into the memory and finds herself looking through the cobalt blue eyes of her Personal Guard, Justice Silverlight. “Princess!" Justice calls as he quickly gets to his feet to check on Celestia, who was buried under some debris from the accident. ‘You better not be dead, my love? Or I’ll kill you myself!’ Though worried as he, Justice begins clearing the debris from on top of Celestia. Once she is free, he gently drags her out from under the rubble and does a quick medical assessment of her condition. He sighs slowly upon hearing the heartbeat and her breathing. ‘She still alive that good.’ Justice thought, relieved as he began tapping her on her cheek, trying to bring her around. "Come on, your highness, this is no time to be sleeping. Wake up!" Justice said as a snarl of agony spread over his face; he touched his side and discovered his hand covered with his blood. Once Princess Celestia Borealis's light magenta eyes open up, the other Celestia Silverlight is ejected from the body of her Personal Guard Justice Silverlight. 'By my light, what just happened?' Celestia thought as a wave of acid welled up from her belly and felt her cheeks bloat suddenly as if holding back vomit. ‘It looks like they’re still a lot for me to understand about being Imperial Alicorn Timekeeper Administrator. (Tears streak her cheeks) But I never knew just how badly Justice was hurt from the crash. All I could think of was this put a major wrinkle in my diplomatic mission to the tribes in the Forbidden Jungle.’ Celestia thought as her face was etched with sorrow, not knowing that Justice was hurt so badly. "Come on, your highness, let's try to make it back to Equestria territory," Justice suggested as Celestia tried to yank her hand out of Justice’s hand. "No, Captain! I have a diplomatic mission to complete! That is what is important!" Celestia said bluntly as she pulled away her hand to head in the opposite direction. “Forget your diplomatic mission! Your highness! Until we find out who sabotages your air ship! It could have been someone from one of the tribes! Your safety is important!" Justice said testily as he grabbed hold of Celestia and carried her as she fought to break free. 'All my fighting most likely aggravated his injuries more! All I wanted to do was complete my diplomatic mission. In doing so, I almost killed the stallion that loved me!’ Celestia thought as her chin sunk dejectedly into her chest, watching Justice's face dark with pain as she fought to break free. 'I didn't know how badly Justice was hurt until we were just a few miles from the Town of Caracows at the foot of the Appaloosan Mountains, where we could catch a train back into Equestria territory. As he finishes setting up our temporary night camp. I noticed that his uniform jacket was soaked with his blood. My pulse roars in my ears went Justice collapses from blood loss. At that very moment, something broke through my memory block as my face became etched in desperation.’ Celestia thought as tears streaked her cheeks, watching the memory play through. “You’re Imperial Highness! You promised that you wouldn’t die until you married me! A Timekeeper Administrator! Keep your promise!" Celestia is desperate as she places her hands over his wound and begins to heal his wound. 'As Justice came to, I could tell he heard me. Because he asked me went, he could talk. Where did we first meet? I told him we have been colt friends since our mothers have been friends! Which was unique in imperial Alicorn society, a royal family member friends with the Great library citadel station timekeeper Administrator. His great grandmother the Empress was delighted with that.’ Celestia thought as she stepped out of the memory portal back into the main area. “But that still doesn’t answer why I block my memories in the first place?" Celestia commented as she looked up at her brain floating in the air and gave a startled gasp as that area was getting active.