The quarters were less like a set of rooms and more like a mansion set of rooms built into the pyramid with windows towards the outside.
“Well, this is nice,” I said and looked around.
Sunset nodded in agreement, “It is,” and removed her cloak, starting to unbutton the uniform, “Tomorrow while you do the entire political talk thing, I’m going to check out the city.”
“Bring a couple of guards,” I told her and started to do the same, “For the image if nothing else.”
Trotting over to the couch, I jumped up and gave it a bit of a try, “Hmm. Not bad. Bit soft.”
Sunset finished undressing and shook her hair back before she put the uniform on the table for a maid to collect before she trotted over to check out the balcony.
Closing my eyes, I sighed and leaned against the couch, slowly relaxing.
Nothing had even started yet and I was exhausted. Smile, look comfortable, confident. You’re representing Equestria. All you have to do is be perfect.
Celestia, this is the last time I’m letting you talk into any kind of official work. Next time, I’d take the damn maid uniform for a day.
I just found this kind of stuff so exhausting.
Stretching my wings, I opened my eyes and jumped off the couch, heading for the balcony to join Sunset looking out over the city, “Pretty.”
“Strange,” Sunset disagreed, “The buildings are so… square.”
They did look rather boxy and a lot more uniform than pony buildings. I can’t imagine that those were individually planned and constructed.
Very different from how ponies do things.
I nodded, “Very different,” I agreed before I looked at her, “Speaking of which, reception tonight. Dinner.”
Sunset nodded, “Formal?”
“As formal as pass for griffons, which mean yes, dressing up.”
She nodded, “Dress it is.”
“And uniform for me,” I agreed and shifted my wings, “Could be worse. Besides, if I’m to suffer through these things, then so are you.”
She shot me a look, “I like ‘these things’! How often do I get to wear a dress that cost more than I make in a year?”
I paused at that before I frowned at her, “…What do you get paid for anyway?”
“Same as Twi,” Sunset explained, “An educational stipend. More than enough to live on.”
“Especially when staying at the castle and eating for free.”
Sunset grinned, “That too.”
I nodded, “Well, that’s go…” before I frowned at her, “Wait, how do you have a dress worth more than you make in a year?”
“You bought it for me. Thank you by the way.”
“Huh, that was nice of me,” I teased and poked her with my wing.
That got a laugh from her and she shook her head, “I actually got it from Rarity for free. When she heard we were heading here and there were going to be formal events. She was outraged that I was going to bring my own dresses. She went into a couple of all nighters and got me a couple of new ones.”
“That does sound like Rarity,” I agreed with a smile, “Well, there’s going to need a dinner in a couple of hours, I’m going to take a long hot bath and try to relax.”
“Mmm,” she agreed, “That would be nice. But I need to get ready. Just a short bath for me and then I need to start getting dressed. See you in a couple of hours.”
With that, she headed for her room.
I glanced after her before looking out over the city again. Sun was slowly setting in the distance.
Back in Canterlot, Celestia were standing on her own balcony, slowly lowering the Sun. Luna would be getting out of bed around now.
Getting ready to raise her moon.
A couple of weeks and I’d be back there. I’d just have to do my best not to disappoint them.
That was not helping my stress levels but a bath might. At least a little.
Heading back inside, I looked around, “Uhm… Amber?”
“Bath is to then right, sir. I turned on the water while you were outside, should be full by now,” she answered from where she was lounging on one of the comfortable chairs, forelegs hooked over the armrest.
I blinked at her in surprise, “You didn’t need to do that.”
She buzzed her wings, “The Princess tasked me with your protection, sir. Had to make sure there were no dangers in there, all I did was turn on the water.”
Crossing the room, I gave her a quick hug, “Thank you.”
“Very welcome, sir,” she answered with a smile.
Changelings was the absolute best.
Which I suppose is a survival trait for them now.
Changeling bodyguards are adorable
9156082
Between Amber and Idol Hooves, I have to agree.
its not a bug, its a feature
9156288
*rimshot*
A lot of grammatical errors in this chapter.
I like the story a lot, but i have to say that i personally am not a big fan of this super-short chapter format. Frequent updates is nice, but it leaves a lot of the chapters as purely filler. You can easily skip a chapter like this and not even notice, since nothing important has actually been said or done, and the story hasn't been moved forward in any way. That's a bit of a red flag, in my opinion.
Was the "you bought the dress for me" "that was very nice of me." a reference to iron man 1? pepers birthday gift.
Page.... you just doomed yourself.
Hm. No fuel this time... Strange.
Continue. My balls are ready.
I'll believe that when i see it
Page: "Umm--Amber?"
Amber: "Yes, Lord Page?"
Page *soaking in bath tub*: "This water is hydrochloric acid."
Amber *blinks*: "You know, now that you mention it, it did have a familiar feel about it. We've got a few pools back at the Hive filled with such."
Page *settling down into it*: "Actually, feels kind of nice. 'Bit tingly."
Sunset Shimmer: "Oh, you've got the bath going! Mind if I join you? "
Amber: "Better not. This was an assassination attempt on Lord Page."
Sunset Shimmer: "what? "
Amber & Page: "Hydrochloric acid."
Sunset Shimmer: "WHAT!? "
Page *lifts a hoof to look at his bleached fur*: "Actually, I'm beginning to think this is hydrofluoric..."
Sunset Shimmer: ""
Having a bodyguard/caretaker/butler/secretary/scout/spy/cuddle-bug working for you sure is neat.
Changelings are very muti talented.
Changelings really are the best friends. Love them, and they will love you. Not just because they want to, but because it’s in their nature too.
9157835
oh, this reminded me of an OLD book by Piers Anthony, part of a series called "bio of a space tyrant". at one point someone tried to kill him with a poisoned soap, a special poison that would ONLY KILL MEN...AND an electrified urinal...he faced a LOT of assassination attempts.
(note: book one is REALLY depressing, he loses his whole family one by one to different groups of pirates)
9156764
You didn't notice? She spent years in a human world yet is comfortable getting naked in the same room as him. There is some fuel there.
9909615
3 years of at minimum 20 years of life lived. Where her most formative years are as a pony in Equestria, then living in another place with other social standards. I for one find communal cooed baths, saunas and changing rooms to be natural. Getting naked around literal strangers of both genders and not caring much at all. I find it strange how prude a lot of the world actually are. And while I do not mind changing in front of others I do know how uncomfortable that can make others and am being mindful of it.
So no, its not weird or world shattering to question why Sunset don't mind or care. While it is established quite hard that Page still has to remind himself how stuff function in Equestria compared to how he learned how things should be. The only reason why ponies talk about him being involved with Sunset is purely on how familiar they are with eachother. They act like close siblings while being perfectly aware they are both attractive to one another, but has decided mutually that they are not interested (at this point) to pursue any deeper relationship.
Changelings are best Ninja maids, Infiltrator's, Assasins, Spy and Snuggelbuddys ♡
10969348
Snugglebugs*
Damn... Something will happen, everything is running to smoothly
11321251
Indeed ♡
Changelings make great:
Bodyguard
Guidance systems
Cuddle mates
Conversation partners
Cute distractions
Some comments go very creative.
For better or worse.