//------------------------------// // Unexpected Love - Ch. 4 // Story: Two Lives Becoming One // by manuccia //------------------------------// Princess Cadence yawned as she trotted into Princess Celestia’s private dining room. She decided to join her aunt for breakfast. Her husband, Shining Armor was away on official business for the royal guard. “Good morning Aunt Celestia,” the pink alicorn greeted. As she sat at the small wooden table, she noticed it was covered with an assortment of pastries, fruit, and a freshly brewed kettle of tea. “Good morning, Cadence,” the white alicorn said pouring herself a cup of tea. “Would you like some tea?” “What blend is it this time?” Cadence asked while she used her magic to retrieve a blueberry scone. “It is a breakfast blend from Maresachusetts,” Celestia replied. Princess Celestia has a different blend of tea every day; it helps her appreciate the diversity of her subjects. “Sounds interesting,” the pink mare said, pouring the expertly brewed beverage into her cup. “Where is Luna?” Cadence asked noticing her other aunt’s absence. It was unusual because her two aunts usually ate breakfast together. “She is preparing for the Winter Solstice,” the white mare said slowly sipping her tea. Princess Celestia suggested that her sister, Luna, should organize a moon raising ceremony to commemorate the longest night of the year. “So, how long have you and my sister been playing matchmaker for my student?” Celestia asked with a sly smile on her face. “Or better yet, you need to tell me about that spell you used.” “Well it was a simple love spell,” Cadence said modestly sipping her tea. “I didn’t know love spells were simple,” Celestia retorted. “Well, spells that create love are very complex, and of course they are forbidden. While the spells I use simply remind two ponies of the feelings they have for each other. The spell I used for Twilight just helped her find love, it didn’t create it. The feelings she has for her stallion are real and if given the time she would have fallen for him without my help,” Cadence explained. “Well I can’t wait to meet the new couple, I’m sure…” Princess Celestia was interrupted by the opening of the door to her private dining room. A brown unicorn guard entered, his head held high, and his golden armor glistened under the warm rays of Celestia’s bright sun. “Sergeant, how can I help you?” “Your majesties,” the guard replied bowing. “There is a pony requesting an audience with you. I told him the day court doesn’t start for a few more hours, should I tell him to return then?” “Who is it?” Celestia asked. She was intrigued because she wasn’t expecting anypony today for most ponies were preparing for the solstice. “Flight Commander Soarin’ of the Wonderbolts Squadron,” the stallion answered. “Yes, send him in.” The guard quickly retreated from the room. It had been a while since she had seen Soarin’, and she believes her student might be the reason for his visit. A navy blue maned Pegasus stallion entered the cozy dining hall. “Princesses, I thank you for this audience,” Soarin’ said respectfully bowing to the two mares. “Soarin’ we are in private and you of all ponies don’t need to bow and grovel to me,” Celestia said waving him to stand up. “Also, you can just call me Celestia.” “Aunt, I thought in these circumstances you went by Rising Sun,” the pink alicorn said slyly. Celestia could still remember the times when she would visit Soarin’ as a colt in Cloudsdale. When she did she would disguise herself as a pink maned Pegasus named Rising Sun because nopony would be interested in an ordinary pegasus going to Cloudsdale. Ever since the colt ran away from his abusive father and neglectful mother, Celestia served as an adoptive mother to the colt. He was the closest thing she has ever had to a son and even though she didn’t really raise him, mainly due to the court’s prejudices and her busy schedule, she always made sure to see him regularly so he knew somepony cared about him. Soarin' enjoyed the time he spent with Celestia. She was the closest thing he ever had to a mother. While she wasn't around as much as Soarin' wished, Soarin' knew that she cared. He remembers after he graduated from the Flight Academy, Princess Celestia told him that even though she felt like his mother. She felt bad because for what she said, 'abandoning him'. Celestia would always be a mother to Soarin' because she was there for him: she took him to the park and played, she helped him with his homework, she licked his wounds, and comforted him when he was upset. “What can I do for you, Soarin’?” Celestia asked. “Uh well, I don’t like asking for this kind of thing… but I need help getting some dinner reservations, for The Sun and Moon.” “May I assume it is for you and Twilight?” Celestia asked with the graceful smile she was known for. “Oh, I guess Twilight already told you about us, but yes, I am taking Twilight to dinner after the gala. The Sun and Moon is the nicest restaurant in Canterlot and I hear Twilight has been there before and really liked it. I want to make sure Twilight’s night is perfect,” Soarin’ said blushing. “I’m sure, Cadence can help. She is taking Shining Armor there after the gala,” the white alicorn said. “I would love to eat dinner with you and Twilight, of course if you wouldn’t mind?” Cadence asked. “I wouldn’t mind, I hear Twilight is very close to her brother and I would like to meet him,” the stallion said. “I’ll fix our reservations. I’m sure Shining Armor will be happy to meet his sister’s coltfriend,” Cadence said. “Just as a warning, Shining might seem a little hostile at first, he is a little… what’s the word… protective of his little sister, but I’m sure once he gets to know you he will like you.” Soarin’ made a mental note to make sure he makes a good first impression for Twilight’s brother.“Thanks, since the Wonderbolt’s are in the off season the Weather Service has me helping plan the upcoming snowfalls, so I’ve been very busy,” Soarin’ said. “Why don’t you stay for breakfast? It has been a while since we’ve been able to talk.” Celestia asked. “I would love to, Celestia,” Soarin’ said looking over the table of freshly baked pastries. He mouth watered as he spotted a few apple fritters, “but I have to get to the Weather Factory in Cloudsdale and oversee the creation of snow clouds,” Soarin’ said with disappointment. This had been the first time in while that has been able to catch up with the Princess, but he has a job to do. “Thanks again for seeing me this early, Princesses. I hope you both have a good day,” Soarin’ said making his way to the exit. “Soarin’,” Celestia called out the stallion. Soarin’ turned to see what the Princess wanted. “I’m glad that you and Twilight found each other, you are both amazing ponies and I wish you both happiness in your relationship. I hope to see you two at the gala. Goodbye, Soarin’,” Celestia said waving to the Wonderbolt. “My son…” she sighed as Soarin’ was out of view. Soarin’ made his way out of the castle grounds and into the skies above Canterlot. He changed his heading to Cloudsdale. Soarin’ thought back to his orders for the day. ‘I need to report to the Weather Factory and oversee the production of snow clouds, and then delivery to Ponyville’s weather team… Wait, Ponyville, hopefully I will run into Twilight.’ Soarin’ soon reached the Cloudsdale. He entered the busy weather factory and gave a heavy sniff of the unique scent of the factory; it was a blend of rainbows and clouds. It reminded him of his days interning at the factory, while he finished his studies at the Royal Flight Academy. He quickly got to work overseeing the cloud production. Throughout the process, a few workers asked him for autographs and he even threw in a helping hoof and formed some clouds. Soarin’ loved working with clouds, he even dabbled in cloud sculpting. After a few hours of work the team had finished the cloud order for Ponyville and after signing all the proper transfer documents, he assembled his delivery team. While the flight to Ponyville from Cloudsdale was usually a short one, Soarin’ took the time to enjoy the winter breeze flowing through his mane, and his thoughts fill with a certain studious unicorn. ‘Hopefully I will get to see Twilight today,’ He was giddy at the thought seeing his marefriend. As the cloud formation approached Ponyville, Soarin’ noticed the group of pegasi waiting in the town center. He sped ahead to the prismatic mare in the center. “Hello, Rainbow Dash I’m here to…” Rainbow turned and her eyes almost popped out of eyes as she saw the Wonderbolt. “Ohmygosh! It’s Soarin’,” the excited weather captain yelled. "I figured you would be used to me being around since I’m dating your best friend, but I’m here to transfer this cloud formation to your weather team,” Soarin’ explained as he signaled his delivery team to head home. “You got it boss,” Rainbow said saluting the Wonderbolt. She turned to face her team and began directing the cloud dispertion. “Ok team we have to get this cloudbank into formation, and we got to do right. That means I need everpony to give 120% and that means you Thunderlane. I don’t want to hear any of your fake coughing,” she ordered. Soarin’ hovered above the town and watched as the team of pegasi got to work organizing the clouds, it was then when he heard a certain angelic voice. “Hey, Soarin!” Soarin’ looked down and saw a beautiful lavender mare waving to him and she was wearing a wool purple scarf. He sped down to greet her. “Hey, Twilight,” Soarin’ greeted, “that’s a really nice scarf,” he commented. “Thanks, it was a gift from my parents,” Twilight said. “What are you doing in Ponyville?” “Delivering clouds for the Weather Service,” the light blue pegasus answered. He noticed a shiver run down the mare’s spine. “Are you cold, Twilight?” “I’ll be fine… I have my scarf,” she answered. It was getting fairly cold and she was beginning to wish she put on something more than scarf. “That scarf might be warm, but I know something that is better,” he said getting closer to the mare and gently wrapping his wing around her back, pulling her closer to him. “Is that better?” he asked looking at the mare with a soft, heartwarming smile. "Yes, but I thought we were going to take things slow," Twilight said. "Ok," Soarin' replied starting to remove his wing from Twilight's back. "No Soarin', you can keep your wing there," Twilight said as she nuzzled into Soarin’s chest and a blush spread across her face. She wanted to say something along the line that she had to form a proper experiment and determine a reliable metric to compare heat retention, but her instincts told her to simple sit and enjoy her partner’s body heat. She didn’t care how long she spent with the stallion, even a few minutes with him was enough to make her happy. She continued to nuzzle her coltfriend’s chest. “Eww, gross,” Twilight and Soarin’ turned to see a purple dragon pretending to throw up. “I get you and Soarin’ are dating, but do you have to be so affectionate in public,” Spike asked. Soarin’ and Twilight looked around in embarrassment, feeling like a couple of teens being caught making out by their parents. They forgot they were in the middle of a busy town and just got lost into their own world. “Soarin’, was just trying to keep me warm,” Twilight said, trying to justify her public displays of affection. “Yeah sure, egghead, and you are going tell me that you weren’t about to lock lips,” Rainbow said speeding over. “Oh, hi Rainbow,” Soarin’ greeted rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. “Don’t you have weather duties to complete?” “Yeah, but I just got a letter from Cloudsdale for you,” the rainbow mare said giving to letter to Soarin’. Twilight used her magic to open the envelope and help the scroll in front of Soarin’ so he can read it. Flight Commander Soarin’, You are directed to return to Wonderbolts HQ for debrief and gala preparation. Squadron Commander Spitfire, Captain, Wonderbolts Squadron Staff Sergeant, Royal Equestrian Guard “Sorry, but it looks like I need to get going,” Soarin’ said. Soarin’ lifted his wing so Twilight can stand. She turned and pulled Soarin’ into a hug. “Bye, Soarin’ I’ll see you soon.” “I’ll see you then, Twilight,” Soarin’ said pulling out of the embrace and waving good bye to his mare. He took off towards Wonderbolt HQ in Cloudsdale. Soarin’ wasn’t sure what Spitfire wanted, because it was the off season and the Wonderbolt’s had no preparations to perform. Only a few moments after leaving Ponyville, the fiery mare flew up next to Soarin’. “Hey, Soar,” the Wonderbolt captain greeted. “Spitfire… I thought I was meeting you at the HQ,” Soarin’ asked, confused by the mare’s sudden appearance. “Yeah, I was flying threw. It’s not like I was spying on you and marefriend,” Spitfire said playfully. “Ok, but what are these ‘gala preparations’?” Soarin’ asked. “Since you are bringing your marefriend to the gala, somepony has to teach you how to properly court a mare,” Spitfire said. She looked over at her friend and noticed his hanging jaw and utter shock and embarrassment on him face. “Oh and don’t think about trying to get out of this, because you are under orders to report to HQ for these ‘preparations’,” Spitfire stated. He continued to follow Spitfire to Cloudsdale. All he knew it was going to be a long and embarrassing day.