Amethyst’s Christmas Tales 2025

Fireworks

Written by Arian Mabe (Amethyst Mare)

Commissioned by Falco_1701

Darien sighed, the griffon swaying a little. The clamour of Canterlot Castle was a lot to take in at the best of times, but when the grand hall was full of ponies and visiting dignitaries, it was difficult to find his place and space in there. The griffon, at the best of times, hardly felt like he belonged.

It didn’t help that it was the end of the year and the celebrations came with a certain aura of relief to them. There were an awful lot of trials faced by Equestria that last year and everyone, to say the least of it, was simply glad they had come through as they had. Still, Darien was hardly comfortable in his suit, tugging at it as it pulled uncomfortably at his brown feathers. He would have been better off in his dress uniform at the very least, though armour would always be the most comfortable for him. His bare feathers almost didn’t feel natural anymore either.

“Excuse me… Hello… Yes, what a lovely evening… Hello… Excuse me…”

The griffon slowly made his way through the crowd of mingling ponies, many with drinks at the ready and some a little more inebriated than they should have been. Canterlot Castle was as safe a place as any for a pony to let loose, though it was at least a little amusing to see those of a so-called “higher class” getting ever so slightly sloppy. It was not something the griffon wanted to embody, if he was honest, but it was a little funny to watch from a distance.

He scanned the crowd, apologising to those he jostled, though most let him through. Some of the stubborner, more ignorant ponies blocked his way, forcing the griffon to go around him with a roll of his eyes. It wasn’t worth him making a point of it in the moment, however, so he moved on as if he was invisible to them. With his usual work, it was a benefit to be invisible just like that.

And then Darien’s eyes landed on Celestia – the princess, of course. She stood tall and regal at the back of the grand hall, the ballroom, her rainbow-like mane and tail flickering faintly. He’d always wondered just how the magic that breathed life into both her mane and Princess Luna’s worked, but Celestia had never let on that sliver of information.

The princess… Well, to say the least of it, she appeared bored out of her mind as she stood there, even if she had a fake smile painted over her pretty, white lips. The griffon jolted lightly. Since when had he thought her pretty?

Ah, but she was – beautiful, in fact. Her coat was a pure white, just like the snow that topped the mountains, and the pastel hues of her mane and tail caught the eye of many. It was impossible not to admire her even then, though he had not had the chance to speak with her in great depth. He had spoken with Celestia, of course, though even how the mare had asked him to use her given name and not call her “Princess” was almost uncomfortable to him.

But he managed – and, so, they talked and conversed, developing a light, friendly relationship. The griffon’s eyes still roamed over her body, though they lingered on her face, where her eyes looked a little more tired than he was used to.

Ah, he couldn’t bear to see her like that and he clicked the edges of his beak together in the griffon version of a grin as he slipped through the crowd. Making his way fluidly towards her, no one else noticed him as he darted to her side.

“Princess Celestia!”

He slipped easily back into his guard persona and saluted, drawing the pony’s attention. She raised her eyebrows at him, though allowed him to continue.

“Yes – what is it?”

“There’s official guard business to discuss – immediately, Princess,” he said, fudging his excuses. “Um… It has to be right now, Princess. I’m dreadfully sorry for disturbing the party.”

Although the ponies lining up to greet and speak to Celestia appeared disappointed, exchanging looks and mutters, the guard was not to be argued with. They’d learned that with all the threats Equestria had faced and the role the guard had played there, after all.

“Of course, at once.”

She extended a wing out gracefully, her horn glowing yellow gold, as she backed away, leaving the room gently. Darien trotted behind her, his leonine tail flicking quietly, though he could never hold as much grace as she did.

Princess Celestia… Well, she was something else.

They slipped out the back door and Celestia cast him a look once they were in the hallway.

“There’s…no important business to discuss, is there, Darien?”

He smiled, tilting his head.

“No, but you looked so bored in there I thought you could use a break,” he said lightly. “A breather, maybe out in the gardens, might fortify you for going back in there.”

Princess Celestia shuddered, folding her wings in against her back.

“Oh, I don’t know if I’ll have the energy to head back in there,” she admitted. “These parties… Well, this is not the worst of them, but they are so dull. Ponies need a chance to relax, to enjoy the festivities, but I understand everyone has their best polite face on. If they’re not passing underhand comments, that is…”

Darien grimaced.

“Yeah… Some of them can be really cutting while still wearing a smile. Griffons aren’t quite like that. They dance around the point or be too direct. We don’t have a middle ground there.”

“From what I hear, many are direct to the point they are considered overly blunt,” Celestia commented, shooting him a sly look from the corner of her eye. “Perhaps not yourself though, Darien. You are quite diplomatic when it comes down to it. And observant too. If anyone else noticed my state in the hall, they said nothing or make any moves to rectify it.”

“I… Uh…”

The griffon floundered briefly, shuffling his wings against his back. What was he to say to that?

“It’s my duty, Princess,” he said at last, considering that the best response. “But let’s get some fresh air. I… I find it stuffy in there too.”

Outside, in the Canterlot Castle Gardens, it was much easier to shake off the shroud of “being a guard” and whatever formal air Darien took on. The griffon breathed more easily out there, flanks rising and falling with every breath, shaking out the tension from his muscles.

“It’s beautiful out here,” he commented, noticing Celestia appeared more at ease too. “Do you choose the plants they put out here?”

“Actually, I plant some of them myself,” she said quietly. “Would you like to see my private garden? No one will bother us there.”

“You garden?” His eyes lit up, though Darien did not have a personal interest in such things. “That’s wonderful… Yes, of course! I’d love to see it!”

He grinned openly, eyes softening, and followed Celestia closely as the mare led him through the highly fragrant gardens, late-night flowers still open where the moths danced around them. It seemed the sort of garden there that gathered an abundance of nature, although Darien didn’t know which plants attracted what animals. Still, the griffon appreciated what he could see, the light and life around him making him feel like he was somewhere he could relax a little more.

Still, it would not be like being out on the job, working with the guard. There was a comradery between them all that linked them together, though he was grateful to have easier times upon them too. Fighting and defending Canterlot and beyond was trying, when it dragged on.

Still, it was worth it for moments like those as he stepped into the private garden, edged by tall hedges. They ensured no prying eyes looked into the garden and a shimmer of a barrier, magical, of course, showed that it was also barred from overhead and also any listening ears too.

That was nice. It was a relief, for once, not to be standing to attention, or being watched.

Darien relaxed and shivered a little as Celestia’s side brushed up against him, although the mare was, of course, taller than he was. The princess stood tall and let him take in the garden: from the small pond with frogs hopping on lily pads to the flower beds spilling over with blues and purples.

“The colours remind me of dear Luna,” Celestia said quietly, though there was still a shade of grief in her voice. “I started the garden when she was…away. But I’ll forever be grateful to have my sister back.”

“It was needed, I heard,” he said, yet the griffon didn’t know what else to say. “I can understand how difficult that was.”

“Quite.”

She fell into a soft silence once more and Darien bent to sniff a big, pink bloom with unfurling petals that looked like they were spilling away from the stamen of the plant. It came with an almost spicy tingle to the aroma that danced on his nose and the griffon pulled back, shaking his head to disperse it.

“Oof… That’s really nice – but intense!”

“It’s one of my favourites,” Celestia admitted. “It’s from the dragon lands, though I don’t think they saw much use in flowers over there. Maybe with a touch of horticulture, they’ll find more benefits in them and be able to better use the plants from their land.”

He smiled.

“You’re always thinking of others, Celestia. That’s amazing.”

It was easier, that time, to use her name and not refer to her with the respectful title. The mare laughed lightly and shook her head, though made no comment on what he’d said.

Fireworks exploded above them, heralding the change of the year, midnight passing. Pinks and blues and reds flourished and he tipped his head back as the sparkling lights glanced off Celestia’s muzzle.

Beautiful.

“Happy New Year, Darien.”

And, just like that, the mare was leaning down to his level and kissing him on his lips. The griffon started lightly, wings flaring out, but Darien did not pull away. Her lips simply felt too nice on his beak, his head already nicely tilted back for her as he’d been watched the fireworks go off. They had looked to be magical ones, though he’d seen others before that were designed after some explosives they’d used for other means. It was strange to see something so destructive controlled and turned to prettier means.

He didn’t know what that meant, but he rather liked the soft feel of the equine’s lips on his beak, even though he couldn’t kiss her back in turn. His beak simply didn’t have the functionality for that, though he could still tilt his head a little, letting her lips sit a little more securely against his beak.

It was nice…but he didn’t quite know why she was kissing him. It had to be some kind of tradition, yes – one in Equestria that he didn’t know about. That was the sort of thing that had tripped him up before, so the griffon took care to go along with it.

Then why did his heartbeat feel like it was going quicker and quicker, his body warming? Darien shook off the thought. It would not do to put so much stock in it.

When she broke the kiss with him, her face had softened and the waving motion of her mane and tail seemed a little slower than before. Time stretched out, even though seconds still had to pass at the same rate as before, and he exhaled, hardly even realising he’d been holding his breath.

“Happy new Year, Darien.”

He started, realising she was repeating the words.

“Ah, yes…” That had to be the tradition. “Happy New Year, Celestia. Princess Celestia.”

She smiled and shook her head, her laugh musical in the night air. Yet his heart still beat more strongly, even though the griffon didn’t understand why that was, not yet.

In time, he would understand it was not all about traditional but a little something more too.