Breakfast at Celestia's

by Voss-Corsair

Chapter Two

Identity papers were checked at the main gatehouse by unicorns who were attuned to the magical frequencies of shapeshifting. Everygriff was searched for weapons and handed in a variety of compact pistols and blades. Voss carried a suitably diminutive six point two millimetre FNA model 990. It wasn't a scary weapon like his seven point eight Mouser C89 machine pistol that he had on frontline tours, but it had saved his life during the rise of the Second Aquileian Republic. Thus he was reluctant to turn it in given how Chrysalis herself had managed to infiltrate the Royal Wedding many years ago.

“Sir, your weapon will be tagged and secured. Ammunition too please.”

Voss glanced at the tag the guard was holding, he nodded in agreement upon noting the details it recorded and the numbered chit he would need to get his weapon back.

Once the group of thirty griffons and their new pony counterparts were cleared, they were lead to a large hall with a horseshoe shaped arrangement of cushions with a larger one in the middle. Several creatures began chatting about the warm welcome. Voss stepped towards General Rough Shod who seemed to be less engaged with the chatter.

“Something wrong, General?” asked Voss,

“That was too big for a spontaneous crowd, Corsair.” Rough Shod explained, “We try to keep arrivals of officer delegations as quiet as possible.”

“A security leak?”

“Probably accidental, but I'm having the MP's and Royal Guard look into it.”

“Everyone seems to be here... apart from my adjutant, Bookish Ledger, but she did go off to escort my luggage here.”

“Either way, let's get ready to meet her majesty.”

Despite how little Voss cared for royal protocol, he had made a point of disseminating basic guidelines to all of the inbound griffon volunteers on how to conduct themselves in that regard. They stood to attention in two columns either side of the long rug at the double door.

A soft whisper of magic began to unlock the door.

“Stand to for her majesty Princess Celestia!” Voss called out,

A few griffons almost stood on their hind legs to attention as continental Griffonian armies tended to do, but quickly shifted back onto their claws. It seemed that not many drills had been carried out beforehand since many officers had neglected that to focus on Equestrian military doctrine instead.

The doors rattled a little.

Everyone raised their arms in salute.

The doors flew open to the sound of a panting Bookish Ledger. She hurried through only to freeze in her tracks at the sight of the precession. Many laughs were stifled as Voss frowned disapprovingly.

“Ledger! Get-”

Voss was cut off by the sound of acute laughter from a thoroughly amused Princess Celestia, who was levitating several trays of waffles and tea pots of all things.

“I didn't know we had-” Celestia had another fit of laughter, “- another princess with us today!”

Any sense of discipline broke down as the laughter spread.

“Princess Celestia! I-I'm sorry I messed up y-your arrival!” Bookish trembled,

“Oh don't worry, Bookish!” Celestia giggled and steadied the embarrassed mare with a hoof, “This has to be the funniest breach of protocol I've had at an event for years! Now let's have some breakfast everycreature!”

The delighted Princess set out the numerous trays that were heaped with plates of waffles with all the trimmings and pots of tea and coffee. Everyone gladly tucked in and enjoyed the jovial atmosphere that the blunder had created. Celestia worked her way around the room to introduce herself and made full use of the unintentional icebreaker to present herself as a pony first and princess second.

Even Voss and his overly strong anti-monarchist convictions couldn't stop him from smiling as he feasted on the incredible waffles with real maple syrup – something he had not tasted in years due to the ongoing rationing in the newly formed Griffonian Republic.

He decided to seek out his still flustered adjutant and provide some reassurance.

“Hello, sir.” Bookish said after quickly swallowing a piece of waffle, “I want to apologise.”

“Relax, Bookish.” Voss passed her a cup of tea that she quickly accepted, “You saved us from a lot of boring royal protocol. Even Celestia seems relieved she didn't have to go through with that drivel either.”

Celestia didn't appreciate the 'drivel' remark, but she fully agreed that it was a relief in a way.

“Hello Voss, it's nice to finally meet you.” she smiled and extended a hoof towards him,

“Your majesty.” he went to salute but quickly corrected himself and accepted the hand/hoof shake. He felt a sensation of warmth that made him smile sincerely.

“Please, call me Celestia.” she smiled back,

“Of course your hi- Celestia.”

“Hi Voss.” Celestia chuckled at her own joke,

The General couldn't help but follow suit. The princess was as far as one could get from the starchy and aloof King Moriset Discret that he once had the displeasure of meeting at a formal function. He was glad that he no longer had to fake loyalty to such monsters. However, Voss still felt his republican convictions burn strongly in his heart as he recalled Celestia's blunders handling the Stalliongrad Crisis that almost got his closest friend killed.

They talked for a while longer until Bookish asked to see his medals. Celestia seconded the suggestion. It would be a good way to coax more conversation out of the somewhat reserved General she wanted to befriend.

Voss set off to his room to retrieve his medals as Celestia requested. He heard the clacking of hooves on the marble floors behind him.

“Don't worry, it's me!” Bookish called out,

“You don't have to come with me to get these medals.”

“But I insist, sir. I feel like I ought to make myself useful after running late.”

“Very well, then.” Voss nodded,

They made some small talk along the way that Voss was not overly interested in. Some of it covered questions Bookish had already asked earlier. They soon reached the door to his room.

“Allow me, sir.” Bookish produced the spare key,

“Be sure to lock the door. I don't want anyone coming in without permission.”

She gracefully waved him in and followed her superior in and locked the door. Voss opened one of his suitcases and began rummaging through it.

“Do you have any from the First Republic or the Kingdom?”

Bookish slowly and silently worked the key to unlock the door again with her magic.

“I certainly do - did you hear the door rattle?”

“Sorry sir. I thought for a second it was still unlocked.”

“Ah- woah!” Voss felt the rug he was standing on pull out from under his paws,

Bookish and the uninvited guest leapt on Voss and held his beak shut.

“Shh now.” whispered Bookish,

The uninvited guest summoned a tendril of glowing green magic that went into Voss's eyes.

The General went limp within seconds. The two assailants dragged him to the bathroom. infiltrator briefly shifted back to his Changeling form before adopting his victim's likeness.

They tied him up to the base of the sink and sealed his beak with Equestria's greatest wartime invention that was duck cloth tape.

“Let's tidy up and get on with this.” said Bookish

She grabbed the medal box and the after action reports describing how each medal was earned. She then neatened up the creased rug.

Faux Voss put on a spare uniform and kepi to complete the look. Off they went.

Comments

[Atomic_furry]

Oh my. This will be interesting.

[Godiswithus3]

That ice breaker as good.

[Voss-Corsair]

9673179
Thank you. That part was a lot of fun to write and came together really well. The choice of breakfast was inspired by some lovely artwork.