//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Settling Down 
// Story: Uprising 
// by John 117 
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The three of them sat in the room in total silence. Luna herself was dumbstruck. How ponies had gotten the idea of her having a good poker face she would never know, because right now she was sure Celestia and Metiphus knew what was going through her mind. Utter confusion. She finally stammered for a few moments before she let out a complete sentence. 

“My...personal guard? Do I don’t even have a say in the matter? I just met the stallion for Creators sake! We don’t even know if we can trust him!” Luna looked back at the both of them. Met himself was staring at the floor while Tia was looking back at her, annoyance in her eyes.

“Well I had assumed you would say yes; I see no reason for you not to. As for him being trust worthy, I have already told you, I have known Mt for quite some time. He is more than trust worthy.” Especially in your case Luna, Celestia thought to herself. Met cleared his throat and stood up, aiming to leave.

“I see you two have some things to discuss. I’ll just leave you to it then…” He walked for the door before he was stopped by Luna.

“No, stay. We, arg! Confound this modern language…I never said I didn’t agree with mine sister’s decision. I just wanted some input so that I was what I deemed right.” She nodded and turned to her sister.

“He will be my guard, but he will not be part of the official guard. If he is to be my shadow, then no one must know of him, not even the guard themselves.” Celestia nodded, pondering this for a few moments. It made sense; somewhat. Although keeping him a secret would be bit of a challenge…. A thought occurred to Celestia.

“Met, how has your magic come along?” At that Met smiled. Muttering a few words a pouch appeared in front of him, and took it and laid it on his lap and he drew out a long wooden pipe from his coat. Placing it between his lips, and placed a few tabs of tobacco planet (the freshest anypony could buy) and placed a finger to the weed. 

“Brisingr.” With that the planet burst into bright blue flame, but quickly died down. He took a few long puffs and leaned back on two legs of the chair, smiling. Both Princesses had an eyebrow raised.

“Impressive, but how are you on invisibility?” His grin grew even wider. Again he muttered a few words, and he vanished from thin air. The chair he had been sitting on slowly moved back onto all fours, and after that, nopony knew where he was. Then from seemingly out of nowhere a smoke ring was blown onto Luna’s face, making her cough and sputter. Met reappear a foot away, smiling to himself. 

“Does that answer your question Tia?” She nodded, smiling to herself. Still hasn’t lost his sense of humor I see. He chuckled to himself.

Why would I Tia? Just because I’ve been gone a few hundred years doesn’t mean I don’t know a good joke when I see one. Celestia sat straight up when she heard this in her head. She finally relaxed when she saw Met sneer. 

Remind me never to forget you have telepathy. He chuckled again and sat down next to Luna. He sighed and looked out towards the window, his pipe in hand.

“So I suppose I should go and find a closer room to the palace. I have one with a few things a brought, but it’s farther away than I would like.” He frowned and got up. Putting on his coat and hat, he began to walk for the door. Luna stopped him in mid stride. 

“None sense; you will stay here in the palace. If you are to be my guard then you need to be on hand whenever I need you. “At that Luna bid her sister a good night and walked out the door , followed by a confused Metiphus. The two walked down the corridor in silence, glancing at one another then back towards the paintings and tapestries on the walls. It really was quite a sight. Many of the paintings depicted scenes from Equestria’s history; the Windigos, the founding of the full nation between the warring tribes, the banishment of Nightmare Moon (Luna looked away from that one), and several others. They were created out of the most exotic fabrics and paint hues; it truly was quite a sight. Met found himself falling behind Luna from looking at it all. Bollocks. He quickened his pace to catch up to her, only to notice a slight grin on her face. Met coughed and cleared his throat, looking away slightly embarrassed.  

The hallway continued on for a few more yards, only taking a turn or two; in general though it was fairly straight on from Celestia’s room. Where they were headed though, Met hadn’t a clue about. Finally, the two reach a stairwell that led up to a high chamber up above that Met could only guess to be Luna’s bedroom. To the left and right of the stairwell were two doors.  Luna walked up to one, and her horned glowed. With a faint ‘click’ the door up locked and swung open. She stepped inside, followed by a bewildered Met. The room itself was quiet cozy; a small fire place hugged the opposite side of the wall facing the door, while a bed was a foot or so away in a corner. A painting of the night sky hung over the mantle of the fireplace, and a desk and drawer were set up on the left of the fire in front of a window facing the waterfall and forest that Canterlot was set up on. A medium sized bathroom ran off to the right; fully equipped with a tube, shower and sink. Met walked around the room in amazement; he hadn’t had accommodations like this for centuries. Luna walked around and stood in front of the bed facing him.

“I take it thou likes the accommodations?” Met just nodded, running his hands over the mahogany wood finish. 

“It has been a while since I’ve lived this nicely…I can’t take this Princess. Really, it’s too much.” Luna stepped forward and beckoned him further into the room.

“None sense; if you are to be mine personal guard, then you must me here at all times. I will have it no other way.” Met began to protest again, saying none of his personals were here, but Luna interrupted him.

“There shall be no argument; you are staying here and that is final. Now, as for any other items you have in a hotel or inn in Canterlot; I shall send two guards to go and fetch them for you. Just give me the name of it and it will all be here my nightfall.” Sighing, Met gave Luna the name of the inn he was staying at and at once she summoned two guards. Giving them the name of the inn, she told them to go and fetch Met’s things and be back by night fall. They left in a hurry to go and get them, and left the two in the room alone again. Met took off his coat and hat, setting them down on the desk, and looked out towards the waterfall through the window. Luna walked up beside him looked out where he was; finally she turned to him.

“I hope you understand what this will do to you, Met. You will most likely have to sleep during the day now, and you will have to be by me at all times unless ordered otherwise.” He nodded and started to take off the sword and scabbard from his back. He walked over to his bed and leaned it against the wall next to it.

“I understand. I have been doing things like this for longer than you know. While this is still somewhat new for me, protecting people, eh, ponies is what I was trained to do.” He then began to unclasp his belt and holster; lying across one of the bed posts. Luna nodded at him, and began to walk out of his room. She stopped briefly to look at him.

“You and I will have to go over your past some time Metiphus. I am curious to know where you came from.” Met began to protest, but Luna wouldn’t hear it, and left right after. She closed the door to Met’s room behind her, leaving Met himself worried for the future.