I still blame myself for not being able to stop what was about to happen. I tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen. I asked myself so many times, “What could I have done differently?” To this day, I still haven’t found the answer to that nearly impossible question. I had thought that I had gotten to him that night, but the next day at the treaty signing, I found out the cold truth that I had no effect on him.
A Cold Truth Revealed
“Your highness, the schedule for tomorrow’s signing has been laid out.” Said Celestia’s advisor.
“Thank you very much.” Celestia responded, rising from her chair as she finished her breakfast.
She didn’t have much to say at the time, her mind was wrapped at where her guest, Galewind, was. She didn’t see him when she came down the stairs, and he never showed up for breakfast. “Luna, have you seen Galewind at all?”
“He said he would take a stroll around Canterlot by himself.” Said Schillman, coming down the stairs.
“Is something bothering him?” Celestia asked, before turning her gaze towards Luna, who looked down, not daring to return her sister’s look of disappointment.
Schillman adjusted his glasses before speaking once more, “He seemed bothered, but the master wishes to be alone. Trust me my dear princess, it is for the best that you both leave him be.” He turned and walked towards the kitchen to gather his own plate of food.
“Sister, I…” Luna tried speaking before being cut short by her sister’s sharp tone.
“I told you to leave it be, now look what you’ve done little sister. Never have I’ve been so disappointed in you, not only did you disrespect our guest, you disrespected me and my authority as your elder.”
Luna looked down at her hooves, tears began filling her eyes as the shrewd words of Celestia began taking their affect. Her ears lowered and she began to sink as a pain in her chest took over.
“Luna, we will talk about this tonight.” Celestia turned her attention to her servants who were cleaning up the breakfast mess on their table, “You there, don’t bother cleaning. My sister Luna will do that, and again for lunch, and once more for dinner tonight, isn’t that right Luna?”
Luna nodded and took the place of the servants who had walked away, to tend to other messes around the castle. Celestia had walked out of the castle and strolled around the courtyard. To say she was upset would be an understatement. She was livid with her sister. Never before had she felt so betrayed and disrespected in her life as a celestial being. She had found a quiet place to lay and enjoy the sounds of her birds chirping and smell the calming fragrance of the many species of flowers she had. For a few hours, she had strolled throughout the castle, running into Luna every now and then, but never even lifted her head in her general direction. Deep in her chest, she knew she couldn’t look at Luna without feeling a deep pain of betrayal. She had finally returned to the dining hall and decided to walk up the stairs to her room where she was greeted by her advisor.
“My princess, we must get you ready for tomorrow. I have brought the local spa’s owners to help prepare you.” She said, before noticing her princess’s sad demeanor. Celestia interjected before her advisor could say anything, “Do not worry about me Penelope, I had an argument with Luna. I’d rather not talk about it thank you.”
The spa owners began working on her hooves, filing them and making them shine as if they were brand new, from behind came a masseuse from their shop, “He is the finest in all of Canterlot your highness, you will feel rejuvenated, 20 years younger.” Said one of the owners.
“My dearest Celestia, I am sorry for being nosey, but I was just curious, are you possibly falling for this Galewind fellow?” Penelope said with a giggle.
“No of course not,” she said, forcing a smile, “even though I am a benevolent princess, there are dark deeds that even I must do for the better of my country and her people. I am merely playing to his liking, to hopefully secure his signature.”
“Your highness, that is so evil, and deviously smart.” Said Penelope, giving a small gasp.
“I know it isn’t something you’d expect from me, but in times like this, we all must play dirty ever once in a while.”
All the girls gave a small laugh as the masseuse resumed massaging the knots from her ruler’s neck and the two spa owners moved up to filing her fore hooves. However, all was not as cheery outside her door as one alicorn stood perfectly still with a pained expression on his face. Inside his chest was a broken heart as he listened to the words of the one alicorn he thought he loved. The amulet that bore his chest glowed with a furious red light before dying down and the torn alicorn turned and began retreating down the hall, leaving only a bouquet of flowers behind.
============== Earlier ===============
Galewind stumbled out of his bed, his mind still wrapped around last night’s confrontation with Luna. He took a long look out his balcony window, turning his attention to the streets below. He wanted to be alone, what better place than in the streets of Canterlot, where he could get lost in the amazement of a city full of beauty that he had only caught a glimpse of the previous day.
“My lord, where are you going?” Schillman asked as he entered the room.
“I’m going to explore this city Schillman, if I am going to rule it, I must learn it.” He said with a smile, gazing down at the city of Canterlot once more, “Please, make sure no pony comes after me, not even Celestia. I want to be completely alone.”
“Of course my lord, I will make sure of it.” Schillman said with a bow before walking off.
Galewind knew he wouldn’t make it to the gates without being noticed by Luna or Celestia, so with a glow of his horn, he teleported down from his balcony towards the gates and began his walk outside into the city. Celestia’s sun was shining bright on the land, Galewind looked left and right, browsing the several shops and kiosks around the city. He was so distracted by the views of the city that he had almost forgotten that he skipped breakfast. He was only reminded due to his stomach growling as he soon turned his attention to a local bakery, in the window were what looked like the best crescents he had ever seen. He couldn’t help but enter the shop, and once inside he ordered the sweet delicious pastries that he desired, money was no problem for him, he had royal privileges bestowed upon him by Celestia, giving him the right to anything he wanted with no charge. With his breakfast bought, he levitated the scrumptious treat to his mouth, scarfed it down and quickly went on to devour the second and third.
He was satisfied to say the least, the senses in his mouth were driven wild, “Mmm so flaky and sweet, truly the best crescent in the world if I had to say.” He smiled feeling his stomach filled for the moment as he continued to browse the market. After a while, he finally strolled up to a park. The sounds of small fillies and colts playing soothed his troubled mind and soon he had almost completely forgotten last night’s incident. He found an empty bench to rest on, and began watching as the many residents of Canterlot passing through the park, he noticed how many couples there were. Some kissing, others following close by their stallions’ side, but one thing stood out to him, he saw one stallion propose and another present flowers to his special somepony.
Right there he hatched an idea of what he wanted to do. He got up from the bench and began returning to the market until he found one store that caught his eye.
He slowly approached it and the hazy image of what was inside was now clear, he had his eyes set on a sunstone embedded in an engagement ring. Thoughts of being her true king swirled in his head as a light blush formed on his cheeks and a broad smile soon followed. “I can’t, not yet at least.” He said to himself. He turned away, his smile still glued on his face. He continued to stroll until he found a flower kiosk that he passed earlier, he remembered the sweet fragrance that emitted from it when he walked through the first time.
“What can I get you sweetie?” said the woman at the kiosk.
“I need a dozen circus roses.” Said Galewind.
“Oh, trying hard to impress somepony huh?” she replied with a small giggle.
“I guess so, a certain somepony that has been filling me with so much joy as of late.”
“Who’s the lucky mare?”
“Celestia.”
The mare stood dumbfounded before she realized who she was selling the roses to, “Oh my, Prince Galewind. I feel so honored that you chose my kiosk to visit this evening.” She said before handing him the roses.
“Well, you have a very beautiful arrangement here. Just the smell swayed me into coming over here. So how much do I owe you?”
“No charge sweetie, consider it a gift in hopes that you and her live happily.” She said with a bright smile.
“Thank you, but I feel I owe you something, I promise I will repay the favor somehow. Thank you.” Galewind said as he galloped off back towards the castle.
He stopped to grab his dinner, the sun was setting fast and as night was beginning to approach he had finally entered through the castle gates and rushed up the stairs towards Celestia’s bedchambers. He slowed his pace and began catching his breath as he collected himself, roses levitating by his side. There was a storm of feelings raging inside him. He felt nervous, but happy. Excited, but scared. He didn’t know what to do, his hooves were stuck to the floor, but with every ounce of strength he mustered forward to her doors. He raised his hoof to knock but was stopped by the sounds of her voice.
“No of course not. Even though I am a benevolent princess, there are dark deeds that even I must do for the better of my country and her people. I am merely playing to his liking, to hopefully secure his signature.”
“What…?” he thought, as his magic faded and the roses fell to the ground. The feelings he had before, had vanished, quickly replaced with a deep pain. He felt something sink in his chest that he could only comprehend as his heart shattering. His amulet began glowing and he shook his head and collected what he could before walking away from the doors. He kept a calm look on his face, but deep down, Galewind wanted to breakdown and let his sadness pour from his eyes.
When he finally returned to the sanctity of his room, he had collapsed on his bed, still holding back tears that were trying hard to break free. The cold hearted truth had stunned him, left him broken and shattered. The love of his life, was only using him, for the benefit of her country.