Chapter Two:
A Surprise Guest
The morning sunlight shone through the closed window into Fluttershy's cottage, the animals waking to Celestia's morning glory as Fluttershy came down to feed her animal friends, humming to herself as she came into view.
"Good morning!" She called causing the animals perk up to her gentle voice. She started by giving the chirping birds their feed, then she gave the squirrels some nuts and the bunnies got lettuce and other veggies. The animals all ate their food happily after Fluttershy fed them all. Fluttershy was enjoying taking care of the woodland critters so much that she did not notice Petunia coming down the stairs until she coughed making Fluttershy jump and whirl around to find the source of the sound.
"Oh! Petunia, you startled me." Fluttershy said. The white alicorn filly ducked her head down, giving her an apologetic look before letting out a big sneeze. "Oh my. You're still not feeling well, are you?" Petunia gave her head a slight shake as her answer before looking back up at the yellow mare.
It had been two days since Fluttershy found Petunia laying at the edge of the river all cut up, covered in her own blood, her tail was singed and she was running a high fever. Twilight said that she was fine, apart from her cuts and fever, and somehow she gave life to plants around her. This had grown apparent as all the plants in the house looked better then ever with the natural help of her animal friends and Petunia's presence. Since then Petunia had gotten better, she still had a sore throat and sneezed every now and again, but she was better then when she was found.
Fluttershy gave her a smile as she trotted over to pick the filly up in her forelegs. Petunia wrapped her forelegs around Fluttershy's neck as she nuzzled her mane, humming happily as she did. Fluttershy found herself feeling content in this situation. She had never cared for a filly before, unless you count the times she watched over the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Finding Petunia gave her a chance to care for somepony who needed a family. Just then a hint of concern filled her thoughts. She hasn't spoken a word since I found her in the river. She observed. Can she talk at all?
A grumbling sound drew Fluttershy from her thoughts as she nuzzled the filly in her forelegs. She pulled away and they both looked down, Petunia placed her hoof on her belly then she looked up at Fluttershy. "Oh my," Fluttershy said, "...you're hungry, aren't you?" Petunia nodded with a faint smile mixed with a pleading look in her red eyes. "Well then, let's get you something to eat."
With that, Fluttershy carried Petunia over to the dining table and set her on a chair, then trotted into the kitchen. Petunia watched Fluttershy until she vanished out of sight then turned her head to find Angel sitting on the table looking up at her. She smiled at the white bunny as she reached a hoof up to pet him he pushed his head into her hoof.
"Hello Angel." She whispered faintly, even more faint then Fluttershy on her best. Angel looked up at the filly in shock. She had never spoken before now and her voice, even when it was quiet and hard to hear, was sweet and gentle. After a minute, Angel gave a great smile and began to hop off towards the kitchen only to be stopped by a white hoof. He looked back questioningly at Petunia with a bit of a gentle glare that said 'what'. She raised her other hoof to her lips making no sound like she was shushing him while she shook her head with a pleading gaze.
A few minutes past by before Fluttershy came out to check on Petunia, who was holding Angel in both hooves. "Aww," she said as she smiled at the two. "You like Angel, don't you?" She asked. Petunia nodded and Angel hopped out of her grasp and bounced away. Fluttershy watched the bunny hop away before turning back to her charge. "Your food will be ready in a moment." Petunia nodded, then let out a big sneeze again. "Oh, bless you." Fluttershy said before heading back into the kitchen.
A few more minutes passed before Fluttershy came out with a bowl in both her fore hooves and carried it over to the table. She sat the bowl on the table in front of Petunia, who looked into the bowl to find steaming soup within. She looked up at Fluttershy and gave her a faint smile before she grabbed the spoon next to the bowl and began eating.
Fluttershy watched happily as Petunia ate. It filled her with joy to know that she was looking and feeling better since her arrival. Petunia finished her bowl and looked up at Fluttershy thankfully. Fluttershy took the bowl in her fore hooves and carried it back to the kitchen. When she came back out, a knock came from the door that made Petunia jump and run up to Fluttershy and hide behind her.
"It's okay Petunia." Fluttershy re-assured. The knock came again and Fluttershy looked up before calling, "Just a minute, please," and trotted up to the door with Petunia on her back and opened the door to find a bright orange mare with yellow mane and tail wearing a hat standing next to a little yellow filly with red mane and tail and a large pink bow in her mane.
"Howdy, Fluttershy." Applejack said with a bright smile.
"Hey Fluttershy!" Applebloom added.
"Hi Applejack, hi Applebloom." Fluttershy replied to the two farm mares. "Do you need help with anything?" She asked.
"Nope," Applejack replied, "we just heard about the new filly and Applebloom here wanted to come see her."
"Is she here?" Applebloom asked. Fluttershy looked back to Petunia on her back with a smile. She looked both afraid and curious about the new faces coming to see her. Applebloom caught sight of the white filly and a broad smiled slapped itself on her face. "Hi there!" she chirped. Petunia ducked back behind Fluttershy, not sure about the farm filly now. "Did ah say somthin' wrong?" Applebloom asked with a sad look on her face.
"Oh, no." Fluttershy replied. "Petunia's just a bit shy." She looked back to Petunia with a re-assuring nudge of her muzzle.
"Petunia?" Applejack observed. "That's a pretty name." She looked behind Fluttershy, who turned enough to show the nervous filly on her back. "Nice ta meet ya Petunia. Ah'm Applejack and this here," she pointed a hoof to her little sister, "... is Applebloom. Big Mac's our big brother." Petunia poked her head slowly from Fluttershy's mane and looked at the two.
"Ya wanna come ut and play, Petunia?" Applebloom asked hopefully.
"Oh, I'm sorry Applebloom, but Petunia is still a little sick and needs to get better before she can go out again." Just then, Petunia let out another sneeze confirming Fluttershy's words to the Apples'. Applebloom let out a long disappointed 'aww' as she let her head drop, her ears pinning back. Applejack reached over to her sister and ruffled her mane up a little.
"Don't be upset, Applebloom, ya still got some chores ta do anyhow." She said.
"Yeah, ah guess so." Applebloom replied. Applejack pulled the filly in and tickling her a bit, earning a fit of laughter from her sister.
"C'mon, Applebloom." Applejack said. "Let's go get things done. Bye Fluttershy, bye Petunia."
"Bye Petunia." Applebloom chirped as she waved her hoof. Petunia slowly raised her hoof at the yellow filly as they trotted off. Fluttershy closed the door after saying her goodbyes and trotted off with Petunia on her back, who was nuzzling the back of her neck happily.
Fluttershy stopped when she heard something like a faint gentle voice coming from Petunia and looked back to her in slight shock. Petunia looked up at her, her eyes shining with multiple emotions before they became filled with a thankful, loving look toward Fluttershy.
"Did you say something, Petunia?" Fluttershy asked. Petunia said nothing, she just sat on her back staring at Fluttershy with a thankful expression. Can you even say anything? She asked silently. Petunia finally just smiled and pulled Fluttershy's head in, hugging her muzzle happily. Fluttershy gave in and leaned into the filly's embrace, humming happily.
Nearly half an hour later, Petunia was fast asleep on a large cushion next to Fluttershy, who had a book opened up in front of her that she read to the alicorn, who fell asleep in the middle of her reading. She continued to read the book quietly to herself when another knock came from the door, making Fluttershy jump and look down at the still sleeping filly before she got up and went to see who it was. She opened the door to find two white unicorns, one with a highly styled purple mane and tail, the other with a two toned pink and purple mane and tail.
"Hello Rarity and Sweetie Belle." Fluttershy whispered.
"Hi Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle chirped with a happy smile.
"Hello darling." Rarity replied. "We heard about your new alicorn friend and simply had to come and see her for ourselves. I've got some things for her from the Boutique." She reached back with her magic and pulled out a small box from her saddlebags.
"Oh, well that's nice of you, but Petu-..." Fluttershy was cut off by the very filly she was talking about cuddling up to her hind leg.
"Is that her?" Sweetie Belle asked as she trotted up to Petunia, who back away behind Fluttershy.
"It's okay Petunia." Fluttershy said reassuringly. "These are more friends of mine and Sweetie Belle here is a great friend of Applebloom's." Petunia poked her head out from behind to get a better look at the white filly, who smiled and waved a hoof at her. Petunia slowly raised her hoof and waved it faintly at the white unicorn before looking up at Rarity, who smiled at her.
"Well, aren't you just beautiful." She chimed. "I am Rarity and this," she gestured to Sweetie Belle, "... is my little sister Sweetie Belle." Petunia took a step out from behind Fluttershy to see the fashionista smile growing when she came into full view.
Rarity levitated the box up with her magic and opened it to reveal five items inside. Among these items was a sky blue scarf, a deep blue vest for a pegasus, a simple dress, a set of horse shoes and a pink bow. Petunia looked inside the box curiously for a minute before looking back up at Rarity, who smiled at her.
"These are for you, darling." She said. "I know it's hardly the time for scarfs at this time, but I thought it would look smashing on you." Petunia looked back into the box to the scarf in question. Rarity thought for a minute she was going to grab the scarf until she turned her attention to the pink bow. "Do you like the bow?" She asked. Petunia looked up with a nod of her head. "Would you like to try it on?" Petunia nodded eagerly. Rarity looked up to Fluttershy with a hint of concern. "Can she talk, Fluttershy?"
"She hasn't said a word yet." Fluttershy answered. "I don't know if she can or not." Fluttershy and Rarity turned their focus to Petunia, who had grabbed the bow from the box and admired it in her hooves. Sweetie Belle trotted up to Petunia and held out her hoof.
"Do you want me to tie it on for you?" She asked. Petunia thought about it for a minute before looking up at the two mares then back at the filly and gave it to her. Rarity began to intervene when a yellow hoof was placed at her chest to stop her. She looked down at the hoof and followed it to its source, Fluttershy, who watched intently at the two fillies as Sweetie Belle began to tie Petunia's mane up in the bow. Petunia winced and pulled away from Sweetie Belle when she pulled to hard on her hair and ran up to Fluttershy, whimpering at her forelegs.
"It's okay, Petunia." Fluttershy said reassuringly.
"What?" Sweetie Belle asked. She looked again at her work on Petunia's bow and saw that her efforts were... not so good. The bow was in an untidy not leaving Petunia's mane going in all directions. "Oh..." She said with sheepish smile.
"Allow me, dear." Rarity said as she approached Petunia, who cringed at the white unicorn clinging tighter to Fluttershy.
"Don't worry," Fluttershy said as she stroked Petunia's tangled mane, "... Rarity can fix your mane." Petunia looked up to the yellow mare then over to Rarity before she slowly walked up to the fashionista and sat on her haunches while facing Fluttershy.
Rarity's horn began to glow and the bow flew gently out of Petunia's messed up mane then pulled a brush from her bag and brushed it through the white alicorns mane. After a few minutes, Rarity gently pulled Petunia's mane back and wrapped the bow and tied it nicely around her mane. When she was done she stepped back to admire her work.
"You look fabulous." She said. Petunia looked up to Fluttershy, who smiled proudly at what she saw. From behind Fluttershy, Angel came hopping up with a small mirror in his paws and held it up so she could see herself. She looked into the mirror, turning her head left and right to better look at her mane and new bow. Her mane was now done up in a straight tail, the bow holding it in place.
"Do you like it?" Rarity asked. Petunia looked up at her and she nodded vigorously with a broad smile. Petunia ran up to the white mare and hugged her forelegs, earning an unsure smile from the fashionista as she looked up to Fluttershy for help only to find her smiling at Petunia opening up to her friend.
Just then, a voice screaming 'Watch Out' sounded just before a crash. Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle and Rarity all looked out while Petunia jumped up onto Fluttershy's back ducking her head into the yellow mare's pink mane as a cyan blue pegasus came crashing, face first, into the grass with an orange filly on her back. Scootaloo quickly hopped off of Rainbow Dash's back and ran up to the open door with an eager smile on her face.
"Where is she?!" She asked. "Is she here? Does she have her cutie mark? Does she wanna be a Crusader?" She was stopped by a blue hoof on her shoulder.
"Slow down, Scoots." Rainbow said to the little pegasus before turning to Fluttershy. "Hey Fluttershy."
"Hello Rainbow." She replied. "Are you here to see Petunia, too?" Rainbow now looked confused.
"Who's Petunia?" She asked. "I came to see your new alicorn friend."
"The alicorn's name is Petunia, darling." Rarity replied with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Oh." Rainbow said as she scratched the back of her neck.
"Well," Scootaloo said, "... is she here?"
"Yeah, she's here," Sweetie Belle replied, "... but she's more shy than Fluttershy."
"More shy than Fluttershy?" Scootaloo repeated. Sweetie Belle nodded her response as she turned to look up at Fluttershy, who turned to show the white alicorn clinging to her for comfort.
"It's okay Petunia." Fluttershy said as she nuzzled the white filly gently. "These are more of my friends." Petunia moved her head just enough to poke her eye out to see the newcomers to their home.
"Awesome red eyes!" Scootaloo said causing Petunia to duck back into Fluttershy's mane. "Wow, she really is more shy then Fluttershy." Petunia let out a muffled squeak into Fluttershy's mane, who's reassuring smile faded instantly at the sound.
"What was that?" Rainbow asked. "I didn't catch that."
"Petunia, did you just say something?" Fluttershy asked. Petunia never made another sound. She just clung to Fluttershy for protection. Fluttershy let out a long sigh.
"Hello?" Rainbow called. "What'd she say?"
"Rainbow Dash, honestly!" Rarity huffed.
"What?" She asked.
"Petunia doesn't talk." Sweetie Belle replied.
"Doesn't talk?" Scootaloo asked. Fluttershy shook her head before reaching back to nuzzle the frightened filly on her back.
"She hasn't spoken at all since Angel and I found her in the river," she explained to the group that came to see Petunia, "... and I'm starting to think she can't talk at all." Petunia finally looked up to the mare, who had been taking care of her for the last few days with a pleading look in her red eyes. Fluttershy smiled at her and gave her nose a gentle nudge before Petunia let out a large sneeze making her jump. "Oh my!"
"Hey, is she okay?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"I'm afraid she's a little sick." Fluttershy replied as she reached back and pulled Petunia into her forelegs.
"That's not cool." Scootaloo said.
"Do you need us to get you anything, darling?" Rarity asked.
"Oh, no thank you, Rarity." Fluttershy answered. "I really should get her to bed." The two fillies let out a long "aww" as their reply to Fluttershy's words.
"Now come along, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said. "... if little Petunia is sick then we really should give her some space." Of course she actually was more afraid of catching whatever Petunia had and wanted her and Sweetie Belle to go wash up after touching her.
"We should be going anyway." Rainbow said to Scootaloo, who looked up at her with a look that asked 'why'. "I told you I would teach you some flying techniques, didn't I?" Scootaloo perked up at this before turning to the others.
"We gotta go!" She chirped. " See you girls later." She hopped up onto Rainbow's back.
"Bye Fluttershy," Rainbow said, "... and Petunia, get better soon." With that, she flew out the open door with an excited Scootaloo on her back as they disappeared into the clear sky leaving a streak of rainbow behind them. When the two pegasi were gone Petunia seemed a little less scared now as she curled up and nuzzled Fluttershy's chest.
"Well, we must be off, too." Rarity said as she began to lead her sister out the door. As she was being lead out the door, Sweetie Belle looked back at Fluttershy and waved her hoof.
"Bye Petunia, bye Fluttershy." She said.
"Goodbye Sweetie." Fluttershy replied. Rarity turned her head back to her friend with a smile on her face.
"Goodbye sweetie," she said, "... and take good care of that beautiful alicorn."
"I will, bye Rarity." Fluttershy said. Rarity closed the door behind her and Fluttershy was left alone with a now calm Petunia in her forelegs. She looked down at the filly with her new bow tying her mane up in a tail, her red eyes beaming at the yellow mare with love. Fluttershy smiled at the filly in her grasp before her gentle voice said, "let's get you to bed, little one," and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom.
She flew into the bedroom and carried Petunia over to the new small bed sitting next to hers on the floor and laid her down under the blankets. As Fluttershy pulled away, Petunia reached out with her hooves in a pleading manner as though asking her not to go.
"It's okay," she said with a re-assuring smile, "... I'm just going to get your favorite story. I'll be right back, I promise." After a minute, Petunia let Fluttershy go and laid down on her bed. Fluttershy gave her charge a sweet smile before turning and trotted out of the room.
She trotted down the stairs and into the living room where she was laying with Petunia before Rarity and Sweetie Belle came to say 'hello' and woke her up from her nap. She grabbed the book off the floor and trotted back up the stairs to her room to read to petunia and help her get back to sleep.
She entered her bedroom to find Petunia laying on her belly on Fluttershy's bed looking out the window and smiled. She started trotting over to the bed when all of a sudden there was a loud Crack and confetti started raining from the ceiling while a pink energetic earth pony mare popped out of nowhere in the middle of the room making Fluttershy jump and earning a scream from Petunia, who jump out of the bed and ran like a bullet off the bed to the yellow mare.
"Surprise!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed with her usual fun, party loving attitude. "Were you surprised? Tell me you were surprised. I came all this way to surprise you." She looked over to find the white alicorn she came to see was clinging tightly to Fluttershy's foreleg, who was comforted her with her free hoof. Pinkie's smile faded almost instantly as she saw the two. "Ah oh! Did I scare her? I didn't mean to scare her, I just wanted to throw her a surprise welcome-to-Fluttershy's-family party, not scare her."
"Um, Pinkie..." Fluttershy began.
"I mean, it's no fun to scare other ponies, especially little fillies."
"... Pinkie."
"I'm so sorry, let me make it up to you."
"Pinkie Pie!" Fluttershy actually yelled. Pinkie finally stopped her chattering and looked up at her friend, who looked like she crossed the line and wanted to apologies for yelling.
"Yes, Fluttershy." Pinkie asked.
"Well, um... I do appreciate you coming to say hi and all, but..." she looked down at the white alicorn, who had started silently sobbing at her hooves from Pinkie's grand appearance, "... Petunia is very shy and she needs her rest because she's sick."
"Well, that's no fun at all." Pinkie said. "I should throw a get-well-soon party for Petunia."
"Uh... thank you, but I should really get her to bed... if you don't mind." Fluttershy replied. Pinkie looked at her for a minute before her cheerful smile returned and her eyes closed.
"Okie dokie lokie!" She chirped as she trotted past Fluttershy out of the room. "See ya later, Flutters."
"Thank you, Pinkie, goodbye." Fluttershy replied. When Pinkie was out of sight, yet she did not here the sound of the front door open and close, Fluttershy picked Petunia up in her forelegs and carried her over to her bed, set her down and laid down beside her. As soon as Fluttershy settled herself on the bed, Petunia curled right up against her still softly sobbing from her visit from the wild earth mare.
"It's okay," Fluttershy said as she stroked her back, "I won't let enypony hurt you." Petunia sniffed before a faint sound escaped her lips. Fluttershy blinked and leaned closer as she asked, "what?" Petunia pulled her head up so her eyes met Fluttershy's.
"Thank you." She said in a faint tone. Fluttershy's eyes widened at this. "Thank you." She said again, more clearly. Fluttershy smiled.
~~)oOo(~~
Fluttershy was now teaching Petunia how to care for the animals. Petunia had opened up to Fluttershy a lot more since Pinkie's surprise visit earlier and was now actually talking with her. Petunia liked learning how to care for the animals, especially Angel and a certain white ferret that had grown attracted to her.
There was a knock from the front door that drew their attention from the animals. Petunia hopped onto Fluttershy's back and Fluttershy trotted of to the door and opened it to find Twilight and Big Mac standing on either side of the tall, regal, white alicorn Princess Celestia, who smiled down at her warmly.
"Hello, Fluttershy." Celestia said in her gentle voice.
"Oh! Princess Celestia." Fluttershy said as she took a deep respectful bow to her monarch, revealing the little white alicorn filly on her back, who clung to her.
"Hello little one," she said to Petunia, "I am Princess Celestia." Petunia looked uncertain about the new visitor who looked a lot like her, especially in color. "And, what's your name?" When Petunia did not answer Fluttershy looked up at Petunia with a re-assuring smile.
"It's okay, Petunia." She said. "Princess Celestia is the nicest pony you will ever meet." Petunia looked up to the Princess for a minute before opening her mouth.
"I'm Petunia Snow... P-princess Celestia." She said, earning a look of shock from Big Mac.
"She can talk?" He asked. Fluttershy smiled at him.
"She started talking to me after Pinkie came to visit earlier." She explained.
"Well, that's good." Twilight said.
"Fluttershy," Celestia said, "might I have some time with Petunia?" Petunia ducked down into Fluttershy's mane at the Princess' request. "You have nothing to fear, little one. I only wish to examine you like Princess Twilight did to make sure you're healthy and unharmed."
"Um, may I be there with her?" Fluttershy asked. "if it's alright with you, that is." Celestia smiled.
"Yes, you may be there with her." She replied. Petunia lifted her head away from Fluttershy's mane and looked over to Big Mac as she pointed a hoof at him.
"And Big Mac, too?" She asked. Celestia looked over to the big red stallion, who looked pleased at the filly's request and looked up at the Princess, his eyes asking the same question. Celestia smiled then looked back at the filly.
"Yes, and Big Mac, too." Celestia replied. With that, Fluttershy allowed the three to enter into the cottage and lead them into the living room. Big Mac walked alongside her and when they got to the center of the room where the cushion was sitting Big Mac reached up for Petunia off of Fluttershy's back and placed her down on the cushion.
Celestia came up and laid down on her belly in front of the filly, who still looked uncertain about the larger alicorn, and smiled warmly before she gave her reassuring words.
"Don't be afraid little one." She said. "I won't hurt you." Fluttershy reached up and stroked Petunia's back while Big Mac sat down on the other side. It was not until after Petunia calmed down enough to give Celestia the go ahead to begin her examination that Celestia lit up her horn and scanned over Petunia's body. The first spell ended and she began the process again with a different colored beam that scanned over Petunia's body. She repeated this process a few more times before she smiled at the filly.
"You did a good job, Petunia." She said warmly. "You are still running a small fever, but other then that you are in good health."
"Um, Princess?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yes, Fluttershy?" She replied.
"You're not going to take Petunia away, are you?" She asked.
"Oh no, Fluttershy." Celestia replied. "In fact, I'm placing this filly under your personal care."
"Really?" Petunia asked. Celestia looked down at Petunia and smiled.
"Yes, Petunia. Fluttershy has done a great job in caring for you, and I think nopony else is more suited for the task." Petunia turned and leapt into Fluttershy's forelegs wrapping her own around her neck. Big Mac joined in on the hug. As the three were locked in their embrace, Celestia got to her hooves and trotted off to the door and Twilight followed.
They got outside, closed the door behind them and continued over the bridge down the road.
"Princess," Twilight said, "why did you charge Petunia to Fluttershy?"
"I think you already know the answer to that, Princess." Celestia replied.
"Because, you feel like there's something else about her that only the Element of Kindness can control?"
"Because, Fluttershy needs Petunia as much as she needs her." Celestia replied. Twilight arched a brow at this. Celestia stopped to face her faithful student. "In a way, you are right, Twilight. I feel that there is something buried deep inside Petunia that only Fluttershy can contain through her kindness. But, Petunia also needs somepony to care for her since she is just a filly and she trusts Fluttershy."
"So, not only are you trying to keep something under control, you're giving Fluttershy a..." Celestia nodded before Twilight could finish her question. "That's wonderful!" Celestia nodded in agreement. Twilight smiled at her mentor as. "Well, I better get back to the library." Twilight reached over and gave the high Princess a hug before saying 'goodbye' and trotted off into the direction of the Ponyville Library.
When Twilight was out of sight Celestia's smile faded. She trotted over to her carriage and hopped in for the ride back to Canterlot. When she was seated she signaled the pegasi pulling the carriage to take off and immediately the carriage started moving. The trip was rather long and uneventful as they flew through the clouds for several long minutes before coming in for a landing and stopped in front of the castle. She climbed out of the carriage and walked along the red carpet into the castle, through the corridors and into her private chambers where she called for her new captain of the royal guard.
A few minutes after she had sat down on a cushion next to the fireplace, a knock came from the door. "Enter." She called. The door opened and a well built blue unicorn wearing deep blue armor came in. He trotted up to the Princess and gave a respectful bow.
"You called for me, your highness?" He said, his voice deep and serious.
"Yes, captain." She replied as she turned her gaze from the dancing fire. "I want you to send a few guards to Ponyville under cover to keep a close eye on a pure white alicorn filly under the watch of Fluttershy."
"Do you suspect some kind of treachery from this filly?" He queried.
"I'm just taking precautionary measures, captain." She replied.
"As you wish, your highness." The captain gave another bow before trotting off to fulfill his orders leaving Celestia alone to her thoughts. She turned her gaze back to the fire and watched the flames dance before her.
Let us hope I'm wrong.