//------------------------------// // Chapter 19 // Story: My Dearest Dusk // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// “Presenting the Duke of Baltimare, Lemon Lime,” the page announced as the doors to the throne room opened up. In walked a stallion with a yellow coat, a green mane that was pulled back, and an expensive white suit with a document in his aura. The Duke paused for a moment when he found that Prince Solaris wasn’t alone. Sitting next to him on a dark violet cushion was the new Prince Dusk Shine. Solaris gave the new visitor his warm smile. “Duke Lemon Lime, long time, little see. Do come in,” he gestured for the stallion to approach. The unicorn did as he was told with a look of confusion on his face. “It pleases me to see Your Majesty once more,” he said as the Duke bowed, “but may I ask why Prince Dusk Shine is here with you? I don’t think I’ve heard from anypony that he’s been taking up politics, has he?” “Actually,” the lilac Prince told him, “I’m here to get some experience in how politics in court work. Prince Solaris here is giving me the chance to help decide things so that way I would have a good idea in what to do.” “Oh, I see,” Lemon Lime turned to the Sun Prince. “This does sound reasonable to me, Sire. It does sound like good practice for the young Prince for the future when the opportunity calls for it.” “That’s the idea,” the white alicorn nodded. “So Duke Lime, what brings you to Canterlot today?” “Ah right, down to business,” he said as the unicorn unrolled a scroll. “I’m here on behalf of Baltimare. You see, the citizens there have agreed that some remodeling for the schools should be done because they’re close to falling apart. While the plans are drawn out and many are willing to lend a hoof to the project, however, we found that our budget is a little too low. So I’ve come here in hopes that your Majesty would sign this to agree to send some funding to this project. I think that I speak on behalf of the city that future generations of Baltimare’s citizens would benefit from these updated schools.” “May I see the document?” “Of course, Your Grace,” the unicorn gave the elder alicorn the document, where both he and Prince Shine took a look at it. “Hmm… Thirty-five hundred bits in funding… Dusk, what do you think?” “I think it’s a good idea,” the lilac Prince said, pointing a hoof at some of the writing. “Look, it says that the money would go into improving the safety of the buildings, giving students more room, and expanding the libraries, too. You know that I’m always a supporter of improving and expanding education. If the funding is sent, the educational value for foals and future children will benefit from it.” Solaris looked at the document once more, then he nodded. “I agree.” He took out a pen, already dipped in ink, and signed his name on it. “I’ll make sure that the funding will be sent to Baltimare as soon as tomorrow.” “Oh, thank you, Sire,” the Duke said with a grin as he took the document back. “Prince Shine sounded very wise in helping with the decision. The citizens and foals of Baltimare thank you,” he said, ending it with a bow, walking backward away from the throne. Dusk looked around the room that was surrounded not only by the Solar Guard, but groups of advisors, nobles, and a hoofful of reporters that sat in a corner, looking completely bored out of their minds. Meanwhile, Solaris called one of the maids over, asking for a drink of water. “How are you holding up so far?” the solar alicorn whispered. “I think I’ll be okay,” Dusk replied, “So far, I haven’t run into anything that I couldn’t handle. Is Day Court always like this?” “It depends on- oh, thank you,” Solaris said as the maid came back with a glass of ice water with a sliced lime on the cup. “It all depends on what’s going on today. Sometimes it would be petitions or a few minor complaints that would be sorted out easily. Other times it would be snobbish nobles asking for the impossible, and that’s where the real stress of the job lies.” “Presenting Princess Bluebelle of Canterlot,” the page cried on the other end of the room. The Sun Prince sighed. “Speak of which.” He put down the glass and told them to let her in. As the double gilded doors opened up, in marched a very annoyed looking mare with a newspaper in her aura. The blond unicorn stopped as she saw who else was next to the throne. “Ah, just the Princes that I needed to speak with,” she said as she approached the two stallions. “Uncle Solaris,” she said, “out of all the press scandals that have ever mentioned your name, I think that the vermin of this paper has officially reached rock bottom.” “What’s the problem now Bluebelle?” the Prince of the Day asked in a monotone voice. “The problem,” she pointed to him and Dusk Shine, “is the slander, no, the disgusting lie that they’ve published on the front page. I mean, have either of you taken a look at the Manehattan Times lately? It’s positively revolting!” At the mentioning of this, Solaris stiffen up. “No, why,” Dusk inquired, “What do they say?” She hoofed over the newspaper in question, both Solaris and Dusk looked at the pictures of them flying around the city, and an even bigger picture of them dancing on top of one of the metal spires of the Manehattan Bridge. An Imperial Romance in Manehattan? Manehattan, Equestria. Last night, the city received an unexpected, surprise royal visit by Prince Solaris and Prince Dusk Shine. At around after eight thirty, the two royals were seen flying through the streets, (see lower left) and dressed in formal wear instead of their crowns. It was around this time that our journalistic team started its investigation into this surprise visit. Starting at the top of the Mustang Building, where a small airship, the E. A. S. Compass Rose baring the stately seal of Equestria, was parked for hours, waiting for the two Princes to return around midnight. “We’re waiting on the Princes,” Captain True North said. “They’ve been gone because Prince [Dusk] Shine has an opening of a library in his honor, so Solaris has gone with to support him.” However, our sources indicated that there was no library opening that night, nor were there any plans to open one. In fact, there was no reason for either Prince to come to the city that night that required their presence. No schedules were made for such a visit, so why were the two in Manehattan to begin with? Our investigation team interviewed some ponies off the street. One eyewitness was interviewed by us not a few minutes ago after saying that he saw them. “I was on my way home when suddenly I saw them flyin’ overhead, side by side,” said Pen Stroke, a tourist from Applewood. “They went down there to Eleventh Street before they made a sharp turn. Ya know, there was something funny about those Princes… it’s like they flew kinda close with no personal space.” At Sweet Tooth’s Cheesecake on Sixth and Willow St, Screw Driver, age 16, was working on the evening night shift when the two Princes came into the Restaurant. “It was so weird,” he told us outside of the establishment. “Those guys came in, and they, of all things, order take out… I did notice that neither Prince left the other’s side while we were getting their to-go. Even weirder still, there were no guards anywhere. Isn’t that odd?” Our investigation team couldn’t determine where Prince Solaris and Dusk Shine had gone during their visit. Nopony could figure out what they had been doing until one of our photographer journalists (who wishes to remain anonymous) said that he followed the Royals to one of the spires of the Manehattan bridge. According to him, he was there to witness something staggering. “I was at a distance, and even though I couldn’t hear what they were sayin’. I could see them… For the most part, they didn’t do much except talk and eat something. But just when I was about ta get up, I saw them kissing on the lips. Twice. I was so shocked that I almost let my camera fell into the water below. But once I caught it, I tried to set the thing up, puttin’ the film in and unscrewing the flash bulb so I wouldn’t be seen. And when I got up there, I took this.” (See larger photo above.) So what does this mean? Is the Prince of the Day in a relationship with the Prince of Friendship, or is there something else to this story? The Manehattan Times can’t confirm if they are a couple since there’s no evidence to support this claim except for the photograph that was taken of the two dancing. Until Solaris or Dusk Shine comes forward to prove or disprove the claim, last night’s visit will remain a mystery to the citizens of Manehattan, if not to the rest of Equestria. Dusk looked over to Solaris, his eyes wide and had a look of nervousness after he read the article. “Uncle Solaris,” Bluebelle said, “You’ve got to tell them this is completely untrue and punish those that would paint you and Dusk in such a disgusting perception. This has to be some huge misunderstanding, right?” The solar alicorn didn’t reply. “Uncle Solaris? It is completely untrue, isn’t it?” The bookworm stood up, “May I have a private word with-” he was cut off when a white hoof was lifted before him. Dusk glanced at the elder alicorn, and he gave him a questioning, uncertain look. In that moment of silence, both stallions took a look around the room, at the guards turning their heads, the nobles, advisors, and the small group of reporters with curiosity. “Solaris,” Dusk whispered, “please remember, I’m right here for you.” “Well?” Bluebelle said, “Are you going to denounce this?” The Sun Prince paused for a moment, then he looked at his niece in the eye and said, “No.” “No?” the aristocratic Princess was taken aback, “What do you mean, ‘No?’” “Bluebelle,” Solaris stood up, “I mean what I’ve said. No, I’m not going to denounce it.” “But Uncle,” she whined, “They’re practically calling you two stallion-stuffers in black and white.” “Niece of mine,” he said, “I… I’m not going to… I-I won’t deny something that is true.” The throne room went as dead quiet as a graveyard. “Uncle,” Bluebelle broke the hesitation, “I don’t understand.” Sighing, he looked at every single pony in the room, all of them mystified in what he meant in that statement before turning to Dusk. He looked at him as if saying that no matter what happens, he would be here to defend him. “The truth is Bluebelle,” he said, looking at her directly. “Is that… I… Prince Solaris Everfree, co-ruler of Equestria… the embodiment of the Sun… the Sole Protector of the Equines; Emperor of the Mohalneigh Islands; the Deliverer of Peace, Reason, and Tolerance for the World; Torchbearer of the Morning; Son of Lawrence Faust, will not deny this because… I’m gay.” Eyes went wide and jaws slammed to the floor. For one, tense moment like the tightening of a spring, Prince Solaris expected a backlash of some sort. He expected the ponies around him would rise up in a riot against him. The first sound to break was Bluebelle laughing. “Oh, I get it,” she said in her laughter. “Y-You’re playing a joke.” While she laughed, Solaris’s deadpanned stare remained unmoved. Her laughter died down as her uncle’s expression didn’t move. “You can’t be serious?” “Why yes, Bluebelle, I am serious. I meant every word of it.” There was another moment of silence as the aristocratic unicorn was stunned by this news. And then, out from the nobles, a mare’s voice declared, “Ha! I was right! You all owe me thirty-five-hundred bits!” This was quickly followed by a collective moan of frustration as they gather around the pony who declared a certain victory. “W-What?!” this time, it was Solaris’s turn to be stunned. “Hold on a second,” Dusk finally said, getting the nobility’s attention. “You guys were betting on him?” “Uh… No offense, Your Highnesses,” one of them said. “Not only have some of us guessed it for a while, but some of us are also surprised that you didn’t do this before.” The Solar Prince blinked. “Come again?” “Oh come on,” another piped up, “By now, it’s so obvious! The fact that your past marriages ended with one disaster after another? Or how you suddenly passed those gay rights laws? That’s not even mentioning you eyeing Dusk Shine here for who-knows-how-long. Did you think that some of us wouldn’t catch on?” “But I thought he was straight,” somepony in the group said. “I thought I was sure of it.” “Too bad,” the mare who claimed victory. “Now pay up!” The lilac alicorn looked over to Solaris, who as far as he could see was trying to process what was happening. “Dusk, I have no idea if I should feel offended, or completely stupid.” “Well, look on the bright side,” Dusk leaned over, “At least nopony’s complaining.” “Um… excuse us, Your Majesties,” they turned to find the small group of reporters was in front of them. A slim stallion with a pencil in his hat asked, “So, does this mean that the article in the Manehattan Times was true?” “It was our first date, to be honest,” Prince Shine confessed, and they immediately started to jot down their notebooks. “I found out that he liked me, so I gave him a chance.” “Is this a one-time thing, or does this make you an official couple?” The two stallions looked at each other, “Well,” Solaris said, “I think for Dusk that it’s a little too early to tell. But as far as I could see, I think we’re off to a good start.” “Prince Solaris, as a gay stallion that has just come out of the closet, do you have any concerns or worries about your future from here on out?” “As of now,” he turned back to the reporters, “I just want Dusk to be happy. But for now, we still have the court to proceed through. But I’ll tell you all that, I’ll invite you to lunch. That way, whatever questions you may have will be answered. That is if there are no objections.” They shook their heads. “Now then, let’s move on,” Solaris announced, trying to bring order in the throne room. “Hey,” Dusk said as he nuzzled up to his side, “I’m proud of you. I guess you do have some courage there after all.” The elder chuckled. “That was kind of terrifying, to be honest, but at least it’s over.” The lilac alicorn nodded. “Yes, from here on out, at least you can finally be open to everypony.” “Speaking of which,” Solaris added, “how do you think your family would react to this?” Dusk’s smile dropped at this sudden realization, and his mind started turning as the next pony was called into the room.