With care you inch out of bed, out of Fleur's grasp. She's still snoozing lightly, the early morning light pouring in from the half open blinds setting a pattern on her messy hair. Your plan to quietly leave out falls to pieces, you have no money for a train ticket. Maybe you could get some from Twilight. That didn't even require her to see you, all she had to do is wave her little royal hoof and you'd get a seat in first class. Shaking the thought you chastise yourself. It isn't her fault, it wasn't her choice. She was tossed into all this business, an unintended outcome of a silly spell written by some long dead wizard.
You fall back into the bed, overcome with all the things that could have been if she just hadn't read that book. With a wavering smile you wonder if you would have been wed by now. Three years is long enough to be just a 'couple', you think.
Wed or not you'd have her, not an empty home. Could you even call that dusty dark tree-house a home when she wasn't there? A loud snore from your the not so strange mare next to you brings to light your current situation. Instead of all that good stuff you hoped would happen you're laying in a hotel room with a pony you hardly know. Funny how stuff like that happens. You just lay for awhile, watching her, your emotions stirring like a witch's brew, boiling and bubbling, churning.
"You awake?" Fleur asks sleepily, not moving.
You don't even answer, instead resolving to rub your face. Perhaps if you do it hard enough you'll wake up from this slow nightmare.
"It's still early. Why are you up?"
Fleur slithers over to your end of the bed, gingerly placing her hoof over on your shoulder.
"Are you going to see your marefriend again today?"
"Y-yes," your voice cracks, a momentary stinging shocks your dry throat.
Getting off the bed is harder than you expect, and as you do all that weight lands right on your back. Thick gooey worry and lonesome substance drips from the ceiling on to you. You slouch, shambling to the door, hand knocking against the knob. Fleur jumps off the bed, hurrying to you.
"You're leaving so soon? The sun has just come up. Won't you stay just a while longer?" She looks nervous.
Taking a step back gives you a moment to think. What else do you have to do besides stay here? There's no way you'll get to see Twilight. Not this early, she'd be having a royal sleep now, in her royal bed, royal servants up early to prepare her royal breakfast. Your teeth begin grinding together, and you make no effort to stop them.
Emotions are stacking up again, and you just don't know how to vent them. With Fleur still watching you try and lay back on the bed to relieve the weight. Nothing, in fact, you feel worse. If that's even possible. She trots over slowly.
"Thinking about her?"
Silence is all she gets from you. You wish Fleur would go away. This weight makes you want to take action, makes you want to lay down and give up. There's nothing and everything to do. You wish Fleur would stay.
"Maybe you're right, we should go outside; we could walk around a little and get some breakfast," she grins in a goofy at you, looking self conscious and unsure.
That's the first time you've seen her like that. Her idea isn't so bad, maybe it would help you get rid of this awful backbreaking indescribable thing.
"Tidy up and I'll show you this nice little place not too far from here.
It's nippy outside, tired old grey clouds float wearily above you. A few urbane looking ponies trot to and fro with their snouts held up. They couldn't look more pretentious if they tried. Oh wait, they are trying. Fleur takes the lead down the road, being sure to take her time, as you are treading rather slowly. A part of you thinks you're being too juvenile. The rest of you agrees you have all the right to be upset. Once in awhile your gaze flicks to the tips of the towers in the distance. Twilight's right there, doing god know's what.
"Do you like coffee?"
It takes you a second to realize Fleur has spoken to you.
"Yes?"
She stops and gives you a skeptical look, "Are you asking or telling?"
"Telling. I think some coffee would do me good."
The streets are quiet, you feel the need to speak in hushed tones.
"What are you going to do about your husband?"
She laughs lightly, "I'm not too sure. I don't think he would mind if I simply moved out. Like I said, we haven't seen each other in so long it doesn't even matter. He wouldn't even notice."
She holds a strange false smile throughout, she keeps talking and you just don't listen. You catch something about a new life over in some small little dusty town. Something about books, you can't know for sure. Honestly, you could care less, you're focused on how to get in contact with Twilight again, that's all you can think about.
You arrive at the shop in due time. It's small, mushed between two larger official looking buildings, a blue awning hangs over the door. Opening the door for Fleur, you feel her brush her tail against you softly. She walks to the counter, leaving you to pick a table. You fall into one of the comfortable chairs near the door, just in front of a small window looking out into the street. Fleur places your coffee in front of you.
"You're awfully quiet."
She sips at her own tall steaming cup. You wave her off.
"Sorry, I didn't sleep well."
Her face becomes tight with discomfort.
"Really? Tough night?" she asks, an almost mocking concern as her expression.
You shrug, stirring your cup. There isn't any milk or sugar, you lazily add your own from the supplies offered on the table. A quick glance around reveals one or two ponies who have sneaked their way in, sitting at dark tables in the far corners of the place.
"Are we going to part ways today?"
You look up at her, taking all the time you needed to ponder the question.
"I think that may be for the best."
"It wouldn't be such a bad idea for us to stay in contact through letters would it?"
"No, I don't suppose that would be the worst thing."
A thin smile curls across her face and she takes another sip.
"Would you mind if I walked with you to the castle?"
"Huh?"
"You are going to see that mare today aren't you? I was under the impression she works up in Canterlot Castle."
"She does, but I think this is something I should do alone."
Fleur nods with understanding.
"If you insist. I wish you good luck."
You place your hands on the table and push yourself up.
"I think now would be a good a time as any to head out."
Her face shifts from calm to nervous in a flash.
"So soon? You haven't even finished your coffee yet."
"If I don't leave no I think I may never."
You giver your tell her your address, give her your farewell and then you head out the door, walking rather quickly down street to the castle. New vigor, a bubbling mix of fear and devotion, carries you across the winding streets of Canterlot to the castle.
Your fingertips are cold with anticipation. No way you'll walk away today, no amount of guards will stop you. Celestia will understand if you interrupt one little meeting, won't she? Besides, this is a matter of most importance.
How would you get past the guards. You aren't one for violent actions, and you don't have a silver tongue by any means. Perhaps they'd understand, if you explain to them situation? Yeah, of course they would. The large imposing gates of the castle come into view, grand golden bars are the only thing standing between you and her.
Two likely looking guardsponies stand by them, at attention; they seem new. You approach with your best impression of confidence. Hopefully they'll underst—
"You there," one calls.
"Yes?"
Picking up the pace you clear the ground between the two of you.
"What business do you have in the castle?"
"I've come to visit one of the ponies residing there," you say, trying to sound like you knew what you are doing.
"Have you been invited?"
"No, but if you send them a message-"
"No invitation, no entry. I'm sorry. No ifs ands or buts."
You're about to explain the situation but a soft cough cuts you off. Looking to the side you see Fleur, smiling warmly. She winks at you and comes over.
"I can vouch for him. I was the one who he needed to see anyway."
"Miss Fleur," the guard salutes her for whatever reason.
"If you'd kindly open those gates."
They nod quickly and hop to, in a few seconds the gates are open. Fleur takes the lead, trotting inside.
"Well, aren't you going to follow?"
She leads you across a short bridge. The castle's courtyard is empty, and that only adds to its majesty. Cold, simple, stone walls surround you as you follow Fleur to the large wooden door leading inside.
"How did you do that?" you whisper, shooting a glance back at the guards.
"Fancy Pants knows some ponies here. He can walk in and out anytime he wants. And, being his wife. . ."
"Ah, thank you for that."
"It's my pleasure. Do you know where she is?"
Fleur turns and looks at you curiously.
"No. Not at all. I have no idea."
"Looks like we have a bit of searching do to. It would help if you told me her name. Or at least what she does in the castle."
You stop dead in your tracks, her question halting your advance.
"I was hoping to avoid this."
She turns her head to you, looking surprised.
"What's the matter?"
"Well, you see, she's sort..."
"One of the royals?" she asks in a hushed tone.
"Yes. Sort of."
She nods resolutely, her eyes still wide open.
"Which one, what's her name?"
"Twilight Sparkle."
"Oh."
"Yeah," you shake your head.
"I-I'm not sure what to say," she stammers and takes a half step backward.
"That's part of the reason I wanted to go alone."
"I see. I'm sorry, but let's find her. It seems like a visit is long past due."
"You're right about that."
"I don't know where she would be. Maybe the guest rooms, or maybe the private ones."
"We can just go knocking on doors...can we?"
She gives you a sarcastic look, "I mean, what could go wrong, right? But seriously, we might find her in the dining room. It's early enough for it."
"I'm not even sure where that would be."
"Don't worry, I know my way around here. It's on the ground floor, not too far."
Fleur starts off to the left, silently walking across the red carpet sprawled out in the lobby of the castle. You notice a dark staircase leading up on the right, next to a large open window letting in some weak morning light. She could be up there. Suddenly you're struck with that weight again, slouching your shoulders as if you were a camel, one straw away form breaking. Is it guilt? The strain of being steps away from someone you've 'cheated' on Twilight with. A kiss and a night of cuddling wasn't much, but it could have been something worse.
"Ahem."
Fleur's already down the hall, standing right near a corner.
"It's right over here."
Hurrying to catch up you nearly fall, feeling jittery yet again. You still don't even know what you're going to say to her.
"Looking a little shaken there, you okay?"
"Not at all," you give a wavering smile to Fleur, "I don't know what she'll say, or what I'll say to her."
She lightly hits your arm, "It'll be fine. Trust me."
You nod and turn your attention to the hall.
"Right down there, see those doors?"
She gestures to a set of wooden doors on the left hand side. At the end of the hall you see the end of staircase on the right side, she could be up there too.
"Yeah, is that it?"
"Yep."
She forges on ahead, pushing the doors open a little and poking her head in. Are you even ready to see her?
"I don't see her—"
"You!"
That voice. With a dry throat and wide eyes you slowly look over for the source of the call. There she is. With a dry throat and wide eyes you slowly look over for the source of the call. There she is, in the flesh, Twilight Sparkle. An odd mix of emotions forces you to clench your fists in some poor effort to contain yourself. You hope your face isn't giving away too much.