After the scare of their six months of being together she never let him even get somewhat close to the edge. Even though he had managed to cast a spell that gave him wings for a week, he could only cast it once. He did at first protest, but when he saw the concern and fear in her eyes he made sure never to go even five feet close to the edge. So they had their usual picnic a little closer to the wall, though it may ruin the view that she came to appreciate a lot more, it was worth it if that means she wouldn't have the fear of losing him.
"So tomorrow night is the Gala, are you excited? I mean i know that this will be the first one you've been to." He asked.
"Hmm, oh yeah as long as you will be my date." She asked giving him a small joking smile.
"Don't worry i will be your personal knight for the night, my lady." He said standing up and bowing.
"Oh how chivalrous." She said, and they both looked at each other and laughed.
"But i am serious when i say that i wouldn't miss tomorrow night for the world. That and, umm, after that night i don't think i would have a choice." This made them both blush.
"Yes, well i just wanted to make that night special for you. I mean you were going to lose your wings at dawn." She replied looking at something in the ground. "But just don't tell my sister okay? I do agree with you that i wouldn't miss tomorrow night either."
"So i'll see you tomorrow then, in front of the palace?" He asked trying to shake the red from his face.
"Yes i will, my knight." She said giving him a small kiss before flying off.
-----------------
"Uhhh, sister please i look like a complete mess." As she ran around the room trying to find any small problem that was wrong, then having her stylist fix it.
"Luna just calm down. You look beautiful and i'm sure he doesn't care if one strand of hair is out of place." Her sister said in a calming voice. "Now come here and look at your self." She heard her sister say in a little bit of a commanding voice.
"Okay." She said knowing there was no arguing. "Now what am i looking at?" As she asked her sister just pointed to the mirror.
"Just look at yourself in that wonderful dress." Her sister said, and when she looked in the mirror she could see her in the dress that the one called Rarity had made.
For the most part it was the same color as the night sky, with a star design around the skirt. There was even some glitter to make the dress actually look like it was sparkling like her stars. She looked at herself with a little doubt about it, for she thought that she still needed a little bit more time to make sure everything was perfect.
"Don't worry, everything does look perfect." She heard her sister say, which she gave her a look of surprise. "Your concern is written all over your face. Now you'd better go meet him before your late." That's when she finally looked at the clock to see what time it was.
"Oh no, no, no. I still need more time." But before she could say anything else her sister started to nudge her towards the door.
"Like i said you look perfect, and i'm absolutely sure he will agree. Now just remember that i have invited Twilight and her friends so you two might want to leave before everything goes haywire." Her sister said pushing her out of the door.
"What do you mean before things go haywire?" She asked, but she knew she wouldn't get an answer.
"Just trust me on this okay, when the six of them arrive leave." Her sister replied, she just gave a nod in response. "Now i want you to go out there and have a little fun with, oh what do you call him? Your knight? Is that right?" This had brought warmth to her cheeks, even though she's been calling him her knight ever since that day her sister had caught her over at his house, that first time they were together. "Oh now just go and dance with him, and don't worry i'll handle all of the greetings. That and I'm sure Twilight is looking forward to spending time with me anyway."
She decided to fly out of the window as it was faster, and after landing she made sure she didn't mess anything up by looking into a fountain in the courtyard. Using her magic to brush a couple of strains back into place. That's when she heard somepony cough behind her, and she could recognize the voice as it brought a smile to her face.
"Hey, are you ready for tonig...." He started to say, but when she turned around his mouth fell open causing her to blush. "Y-y-you, umm, uhh, look umm, very beautiful." Stammering out his words. She looked him over and he wore a black tux, with a star design similar to her's, Rarity had even put the same kind of glitter that she had used on her dress.
"You look very dashing yourself, my knight.Or should i say my prince?" This made his blush that he had himself deepen. "Aren't you going to escort me in?" She asked with a teasing smile.
"Oh, yeah." He then quickly bowed. "After you my princess." With the wave of his hoof.
"Ooo, you are the gentlecolt." She said walking by him, and he caught up to her and walked with her. Though she could see that he was just as nervous as she was, and he kept looking at her with admiring eyes which brought back her blush.
This would be the first time since Nightmare Night that they really went anywhere since they had become a couple. Not because of their different statuses, but because they preferred to only have the company of each other. So even though they knew about the rumors, about the young Stallion who had won the heart of the night princess, or even the rumors about their most recent event on the cloud. Though this was of course just disregarded just as petty gossip from some Stallions who thought they be a better suitor than Song, but even with those rumors or the stares they didn't care.
After all she a princess, and she had every right to fate anyone she thought would be best suited for her. If she wanted to lay in bed with them, then so be it. The one opinion that she valued was the one of the one right beside her, the one who had brought her so much happiness over the last six months. When they got inside, they had to greet a few ponies who had wanted to talk to her, but they were quickly ushered away to her sister.
The music that was playing was classical, not really the kind of music to dance to but instead to talk with. So they hung around a small table somepony's still coming up to introduce themselves, though most only did this because she was a princess but there were still a few who actually wanted to talk to them. These ponies were more than welcome to sit with them, and they made small talk until Song got up.
"Hey, i'll be right back." Before she could ask what he was up to, he was already walking toward the stage. Still wondering what he was doing, she got up and kept staring at him as he was now talking to the musicians. After giving them what looked like a nice tip he came back over to her. "So you wanna dance?"
"Dance to what?" She asked curiously, then he turned his head and gave a nod. The music changed to a slow pace, she now realized that he had requested a slow song so that they could dance together.
"May i have this dance, my princess?" He asked bowing again and waving his arms towards the center floor which was empty except for a few stragglers.
"Yes, yes you can my prince." She answered offering her hoof, which he took and they started to dance.
They danced to the slow song gathering even more stares, which she again found that she didn't care about anymore. All that mattered right then was dancing with the one she loved, but eventually others started to join them. They were soon surrounded by other couples, but all they could do was stare into each others eyes and smile. Unfortunately the song ended far to soon, and to top it off a guard came and told her that the six special guest had arrived.
"Don't ask why, it deals with my sister, but i think we need to go." He had a disappointed look in his eyes, but he nodded in understatement and they managed with the help of a guard to sneak out.
"So what's up?" He asked when they were in the clear.
"Well as i said, it deals with my sister. She invited Twilight and her friends to attend the Gala this year." She replied.
"So what does that have to do with us leaving early?" He had a little frustration in his voice, but she thought that was more because he wanted to have another dance with her. With that thought, she blushed.
"I don't know, all my sister told me was that she had a plan to spice things up this year." She replied.
"Oh, i see what she's going for." She looked at him with her own curiosity. "Well think about it, most of those six are from a small town. Which means that they have a different standard for parties. Except for Twilight and Rarity, the other four might end up causing some kind of commotion. Thus making the night fun, at least for her anyway." He said, and it now made more since to her now. Why hadn't she thought of it, this was her sister. Though she was preoccupied with how she looked.
"I should have seen that, but admittedly i was, umm, occupied with getting ready." She had found watching herself kicking a rock more interesting to look at right then.
"Don't worry the only reason why i know what she was planning was because i just knew about the six of them and how their personality's. So don't be hard on yourself." This made her look back at him. "Hey, why don't you meet me at our spot?" He asked.
"Do you mind if i walked with you?" She asked, he just gave her a smile and a small nod in response.
As they walked together they once again found themselves making some small talk. This was now very common for them now, but they were both happy just to be next to each other. Then they started a conversation about the restaurant he was head chef at.
"Oh yeah, we are open all night. Ever since meeting you it seems my food keeps getting better and better, my manager keeps reminding me to keep up what I've been doing." He gave a small laugh. "The last time he actually gave me a compliment like that was the night after we stayed on the cloud..." Realizing what he was saying he trailed off in embarrassment.
"Hmm, so what your saying is that you cook a lot better since you bedded me?" This made him stop trying to form words, but nothing came out as he was now so embarrassed and shocked to form any. Which made her bust out laughing, and though he tried to fight it he couldn't hold it in and he joined her.
"Okay, it looks like we're close to the cave. Why don't you go on and fly up there?" He asked, after they managed to quit laughing and continued on their way.
"But can't i come with yo..." She was cut off by him giving her a harsh stare, which start;ed her because it was the first time he had looked at her in that way. When he saw that he had scared her his expression softened.
"Look, the cave is very dangerous, even to an Alicorn princess. For that creature is know wanting more magic to feed upon, and i just don't want to see you get hurt." He looked at her with tears in his eyes, along with that deep rotted sadness that she had not seen since he had told her his life story the first night they met. "Luna, in order for me to make sure you will always be safe you need to promise me that you will never, ever go into that cave. And i mean it." Though he still had tears of sadness in his eyes the pure concern and command in his voice had told her that he was being serious.
She had almost forgotten about the creature, for she had pushed it deep down into her mind. This would been a good opportunity to talk to him about it, but the look that he had given her just scared her to much to bring the subject up. Then she felt him embrace her in a hug.
"I'm sorry, i didn't mean to scare you. But if anything happens to you i don't know what i would do. I love you so much, that if you were hurt because of me letting you go in the cave then i might lose it, and if something worse happened then i will have no further reason besides the vow i made to your sister, to go on." He was now crying, as she could feel some tears fall onto her neck, she did the only thing she could and just return his embrace and whisper comforting words.
"I love you to, and i understand. I promise that i will not step a single hoof into that cave. You remember what you always tell me?" She asked, and he pulled away giving her a questioning look through sad and teary eyes. "You always tell me that the one thing that absolutely makes you smile is seeing me smile, well it goes both ways you know." He slowly calmed down, and gave her a small smile. This had made her smile, usually it was him comforting her this way.
As she waited for him she couldn't help but to wonder how she could free not only her kingdom, but also her love of this creature. For it seemed to have plagued this land for centuries until her brave knight gave himself to the beast in order to prevent the suffering that he went through. Though she knew that if she did manage to find out how to rid the creature, she kept thinking that the freedom that would bring to him might not be the freedom that she hoped. The creature had granted him immortality in order to feast off his magic forever, so what would happen if the contract as he put it, had been voided?
Their were only a few idea's that had popped into mine. The first would be that once released he would age rapidly and die of old age, the second was he would still lose his immortality but age normally. But that still didn't settle right, as she was still immortal and she did not think she could stand to watch her love slowly age and die, that thought disturbed her more than him aging rapidly. There was one last idea of what might happen that popped up, and this was depending on how their contract was signed and formed. If the creature had bound the part of Song that it took, could she use that if there was any such thing and use it to continue his immortality?
"Hey, you okay?" She heard him ask.
"Yeah. just thinking." He just looked at her, but decided not to press.
"You know you've out doe yourself tonight with how bright the moon is, and the arrangements of the stars." He said, looking at the stars. "Did i ever tell you what my favorite constellation is?" She shook her head, even though they always talked about the stars and the formations that she had put in them they had not shred which was their favorite. "That one right there." Pointing to some stars, though she did not see what he meant. "Right, i forgot. You see after you left your sister had managed to rearrange some stars in the shape of your cutie mark right next to the moon, so as not to forget who you really were." As he said it, she looked up and saw what he meant. A perfect copy of her cutie mark next to her moon. "When your sister pointed it out a little while back, and told me about you it gave me hope. I can't explain it, but knowing one day that the beautiful young princess of the night would come back just gave me something to look forward to." He once again had tears trying to be released, though these were tears of hope.
"I....i don't know what to say to that." He turned to her and smiled.
"You don't have to say anything, like i said when we met you are the one who saved me from dying. You are the one who always gave me hope, the one who gave me love, the one who now gives me a reason to continue. I really don't think you understand how much i care for you, how much you actually mean to me. For two centuries now I've always looked to the moon and stars for guidance, but now i don't need to look at them any more for i now have the pony who put those stars and moon the way they are. I know i keep saying it, but there is no other moment than right now that i know that i really do love you with all of my heart, for you were always my princess." The tears know running down his face, and she couldn't hold back her tears now. "All i want to do now, the only pony i want to see happy more than anything is y..."
She had onto him, giving him the most passionate kiss she could muster. Though this was just a kiss of pure passion, not one of seductive nature. For the things he had said, though said plenty of times before, had such passion and love in them she could not hold herself back, she had to make him become quite so that he would not ruin the perfect moment that he had just set up. For she knew that without this kiss he would have rambled on just as she would have if she was him.
The kiss was interrupted when they heard somepony clear their throats. To no surprise her sister had showed up, once again showing her great timing. Though their kiss would not have lead down that road, and she knew her sister knew this as well, she knew that she would be teased big for it.
"Well the love birds are at it for a third time are they?" Her sister asked with an all knowing smile. "And don't try to deny it, for it was dawn by the time you two had woken." This brought the already, pretty much red as apples ponies turn even redder. Though it was hard to tell with her dark coat, and his brown coat.
"We weren't going to do anything, i promise you this." He spoke up.
"Oh, with that much passion? Where was it going to lead?" Her sister asked.
"Well, uhh, like i said it would have not lead..." Laughter filled the air, as her sister finally broke.
"I know what you mean, for i am only messing with you. For a kiss like that, you two must have had shared a tender moment. Must have admitted exactly how much you mean to each other." Even though they both knew that she had already figured it out before hoof, both of their jaws fell open a little. This causes more laughter to erupt from her sister. "I only came to tell you that my plan was a complete success. This years Gala was in my opinion the best one, Twilight and her friends learned their lesson, and most importantly you two grew even closer. Maybe even close enough to take the next step and have Song move into the palace?" Though she sounded serious, both of them started to laugh wanting to think it was a joke.
"Are you serious, no offense Princess Celstia but yes we are closer than what we ever been, but i do not think it's time for that step. There is also the fact that you know i can not be away from the cave for more than a week at most." This had raised a question in her mind that she quickly forgot after looking into her sister's eyes.
"Yes i do mean that it is time for you two to take that step. After all not only have you already bedded with my little sister, but as you just admitted you two have never felt closer. Though as for marriage that will be up to you two. As for the cave you can still stay here once a week. And this is not something you two can argue with, i insist, no i order you to move into the palace. You two do not have to share a room, but i'm putting my hoof down and if you two wish to continue this relationship you will follow my order." Her sister now had taken on a lot more of a serious tone, which she does to deal with ponies who she thought would go up against her orders. Though she barley ever used it, but as she thought about it the more she knew the words rang true. But that one week thing still bothered her, but she put it off as more of him renewing a protection spell he used to seal the bottom cave entrance.
"Song, i think she is right. We should move in together, though if it makes you feel better i'll move in with you." This took both her sister and him by complete surprise.