"Meet me in Canterlot, I need to talk to you big bro."
The message had been short, but it's purpose was painfully clear, even to a simple Gemcutter. True, he may not have been the one stallion in the family blessed with the wings inherited from his great uncle, but he was still a successful tradesman out in Fillydelphia.
Watch out, mares. He's single.
The stallion, appropriately named Gem Cutter, had simply received a short message from a high priority mailmare. He was summoned to Canterlot by his dearest friend, and little brother, to discuss what he had known would one day be an issue on the table.
"I can't believe he's finally gonna make his stand. NOW, of all times. He's got a flair for the unpredictable, that Goldiebutt."
The stallion mused to himself, a trait that his little brother had most likely inherited from the childhood years spent almost inseparable. It had always stung, that his little brother had abandoned their plan to run a jewelry store, but he knew his brother had good reason. The untimely death of their parents had filled the young colt with a fierce desire to ensure that the ponies of the world lead happy lives. Particularly fillies and colts. Goldrush had always been good with the kids. Provided he wasn't in a sour mood, then he could get pretty sarcastic. Typical Colt Cuddler.
The train would have likely been a much faster alternative to the air-carriage Gem sat in now, but at this time in Fillydelphia? Good luck on securing train tickets, to the royal capital at that. He just hoped he would get there in time to talk some sense into Gold Rush. The poor colt had always had a tendency to get wrapped up in his emotions.
~
Gold stepped off the train, the familiar smell of perfume in the crisp mountain air filling his nose and muzzle. He was home.
"Do I wait for Gem? Nah... If I wait, Shiny might get carried away in something... I want to talk to him with full attention."
Gold kicked himself mentally. "Here we go", he thought, hasn't even seen his crush's reaction to the confession and he's trying to be possessive.
"Darn man, I'm going to end up just like a mare if i keep this up."
Gold walked off of the platform, his rump bobbing with every step. The scenery of Canterlot hadn't changed much, except that It was the middle of summer and the place was sweltering. Gold smirked discreetly as the noblemares tried desperately to hide their sweat patches from potential suitors. Life was the as ever here, it seemed.
Little by little, the palace came into view. More specifically, the guards' tower. It was there that the guards had their breaks, and at the top was where the captains office was situated.
"Man, I hope I can still get in. It's been a while, the roster could have changed completely."
Gold's worry was quickly dispelled. As he reached the gates of the palace, one of the guards on duty stepped out in front of him.
"Where do you think you're going without saying hello?"
Gold looked up. It was the smiling, joking, tall and lanky stallion who had made all those training exercises and nighttime shifts bearable.
"Hey Palomides. Is the captain around?"
The tall stallion looked dejected.
"Aw, cmon. We don't see you for months, and you just walk through here straight to the captain? You always were his little pet, I suppose. Yeah, he's up in his office, working late on the paperwork."
Gold nodded with a smile on his face.
"Thanks, pal. First round of donuts is on me If I end up back on active duty."
Palomides patted Gold on the shoulder.
"I'll be holding you to that, buddy. Good luck on the grill."
Gold gulped.
"Thanks. Feel free to hold me to that, if I don't die of mortification here tonight."
With that, Gold began to walk away.
"Hey Gold! Don't do anything you would normally do."
Gold scoffed.
"Thanks but no thanks, that's exactly what I'm here to be doing."
Palomides smiled knowingly.
"I look forward to hearing the shouting!"
~
Gold trotted up the stairs, through the different levels of the tower. The place was just about deserted, but the musky smell of the training rooms was certainly still present. It took a while, but he managed to reach the top of the stairs without tripping over even ONCE.
"Stairs 12, Gold 8. We'll finish this later."
Gold muttered, as he approached the door.
He heard exclamations coming from the room on the other side.
"For the love of Celestia, please don't let that be who I think it i-"
Gold tripped and tumbled through the door, knocking it open and landing in a sprawled heap on the opulent rug inside.
".....is."
Gold's arrival was met with mixed reactions. Shining Armor beamed, delighted to see his best friend.
Cadence however, glared bloodstained daggers straight at Gold.
Gold gulped, but remembered what his Mom had once told him.
"Just take a deep breath hunnybunch, and take the plunge!"
Gold stood up tall, straightening his scarf.
"Shining Armor, I have returned to confess my hidden feelings for you."
Nailed it.
Cadence looked disgusted.
"Get out. We don't need you here right now."
Shining Armor furrowed his brow.
"Why don't you leave us alone, Cadence? We evidently have a lot of speaking to do."
Cadence whirled around, pointing the stab-o-vision at Shining.
"Why don't YOU kick him out and make sure he stays out this time?"
Gold frowned. Cadence had never liked him very much, but this was a new level of animosity.
"Wait," he thought to himself. "I sorta just did confess love to her husband. Go figure."
Shining stood up, and barked at Gold.
"We have a 4-11 at X027m Y0362m. All units converge and meet up there immediately."
With that, he strutted out with his head held high. Even if it had been a while since those orders were given, Gold would always remember exactly what the code meant. "We have menstrual mares attacking. Disperse, disappear, and meet at Pony Joe's for donuts."
Gold turned wordlessly, with intent to follow his captain and finish what he came here to do. As he approached the door, it slammed shut so intensely it just might've fallen off of its hinges. Gold turned, already knowing full well the situation he was about to face. Gold met Cadences cold, daggery stare with his own fiery, indignant one.
"And who the buck do you think you are, hotshot? He's a married man, married TO ME. I don't get why you'd bother putting yourself in more hot water with us. He never got over you leaving!"
Gold didn't flinch. If there was one thing he had learned out in Apploosa, it was never to show weakness towards the pony you were arguing with.
"I came here to settle my affairs. You and I both know he won't act on anything I've just said. He'll understand."
Cadence looked ready to crash the crystal empire into the office.
"NO. You don't understand it at all! There is a hole in his heart, Gold Rush. A hole that I cannot fill, and now that you've gone and inflamed the whole situation, he might..."
Cadence paused. Gold raised an eyebrow.
"He might...?"
Cadence raised a hoof and slapped Gold. Within moments, his composure had returned and he was staring again.
"He might actually begin to act on the feelings that I were never able to quell."
With that, Cadence stormed out of the office, her tail sweeping in wide arcs behind her. As she left, Gold became aware of the prickling, stinging sensation on his arm. He raised it to look, and almost had the breath taken out of him. On his arm, a very intricate pattern had begun to glow through his fur. There was no denying what they were. Wings.
Gold blinked. This time it was alright to show weakness, right? It's not like his arm is going to jump off and kick him in the-
The mark began to resonate, and glow. A powerful force began to emanate.
"Goddamnit, can't I just derail a marriage without this kind of stuff happening?"
Gold leapt out the window just in time. As he entered the night air and his wings spread, his arm exploded with fire. Gold tried his best to maintain his flight pattern, knowing full well that the ponies down below could see him seemingly being eaten alive by a fireball. The sensation was overwhelming. It wasn't pain, it was like something else was coming out of his arm.
With a blast, the fireball detached from Gold's arm, throwing him back. He fell. Desperately, he tried to regain his flight, but was to no avail. He was plummeting down the tower, half numb, and all dead.
The fireball dissipated, and something shot out of the sky and caught Gold as he fell.
Strong arms held Gold as he was carried down into the large courtyard of the palace. They were orange, scaly, and he could definitely discern wingbeats. In moments, he was placed gently on the ground, as the creature returned him to his senses with grace and poise. Gold turned, his eyes wide.
Before him was a majestic creature. Draconian in appearance, yet far too small to be a dragon. Gold focused on its face. It had a fierce visage, yet its expression was gentle. Its strong wings folded, and it bowed. Taken aback, Gold took on his royal guard training and returned the bow. As the guards drew near, the creature extended a claw. It pointed directly to the now very clear orange mark on Gold's arm, before becoming a pillar of flame and being absorbed into the mark once more.
Gold heard the shouts of royal guards as the night watch approached.
"Guess this calls for donuts."
Gold took off silently, slinking around the guards and out of the palace grounds.
And boy, was he confused.