//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Royal Romance // Story: Son of the Sun // by Buckeye49 //------------------------------// *Revision take: 1. So far today was going well, with my meeting with my mother and my step-dad just answering small questions and chatting small talk, she explained why I was adopted, facts about her life with Sombra, the fact Sombra was my real father, and facts about my sister and me; but now comes a cute story from Celestia, the story how she met my step-father Jesse Sterling-Silver. "Very well, this is what happened after Jesse here made a fool of himself" Celestia giggled while my dad pouted in embarrassment. **A year earlier** "Oh my goodness! Are you alright?" Celestia asked. "Uh-uh-uh y-yes! Yes your majesty! I-I am fine Princess," Sterling said. "Here let me help you," Celestia chuckled. "No-no...I got it..." Sterling said standing up and dusting himself. Celestia chuckled but tried to stifle her laugh. "I guess I will take another seat," Sterling said. "Oh please, don't; take a seat," Celestia said gesturing toward the seat he had before he fell off. "Thank you Princess," Sterling said. "Please, call me Celestia," Celestia said. "Sure thing, Celestia," Sterling said. "What is your name?" Celestia asked. " 'Jesse Sterling-Silver'," Sterling said. "Oh! Of 'Sterling-Silver Silver Mining Co.'; a pleasure sir," Celestia said. "The pleasure is mine Celestia, what are the chances I sit next to you?" Sterling said. "Not as rare as you think but I would doubt it," Celestia said. "Indeed; so what brings you out and about?" Sterling asked. "Oh....just trying to be in a better mood...it is nothing to smile about being alone on Hearts & Hooves Day," Celestia said somberly ears flattening backwards. "I agree...I know what you mean Celestia, as the news mentioned about me states..." Sterling said imitating Celestia's expression. "I heard...sorry about your loss," Celestia said. "I feel someway it's my fault...." Sterling said resting his head on his hands while his elbows rested on the table. "How so? She died due to a carriage accident did she not?" Celestia asked. "Yes but I was supposed to meet her for our wedding anniversary dinner....but a meeting kept me and I forgot..." Sterling said, he groaned loudly and then near shouted, "Why did I go to that damned meeting?!?" Sterling said burying his face in his palms. Celestia just sat and looked at Sterling as he was regaining his composure, but still was visibly upset. "I apologize...that was rude of me..." Sterling said. "No you're alright, everypony takes lose differently," Celestia said. "I guess...Did you have a stallion?...You seemed to know what I am feeling," Sterling asked. "He....was a secret...I was going to reveal him and other things to Equestria in due course..." Celestia said. "Oh well, then I will not ask anything more," Sterling said. "Thank you, well anyways I loved him alot and...we were married but eventually due to some complications, I never saw him again..." Celestia said. "I am sorry about," Sterling said. "It is getting better but...whom am I trying to fool?" Celestia asked rhetorically. "I am of the same opinion...but then I have just recently lost my love so it is not the same," Sterling stated. "Actually...it is, I lost him just 2 months prior; so I think we are the same here," Celestia said. "Perhaps...." Sterling agreed but had opinions on the matter. "True I knew him and was married longer than anypony can live to say, but you too had a long enough marriage; you were 20 years married?" Celestia asked. "Yes...it was 20 years....married her at age 35, she was 30," Sterling said. "Ah" Celestia responded respectfully. "I remember you when you started out, quite an important business to the economy, then when you married it was a big deal," Celestia said. "Yes...I tried to keep it low-key but it got attention," Sterling said. "You seemed very happy, very cute wedding," Celestia said warmly. "Thank you....we planned it together but she let me make some key decisions," Sterling said. "Aw!~ Cute," Celestia said genuinely, "Many seemed to like Amy right away too," Celestia said in addition. "Yes, Amy got along with others often like she was not even trying..." Sterling sighed. "And that was how she met you I believe," Celestia giggled. "True; she saw me attempting to be social...and failing...." Sterling said. **Present Time** "Huh...what are the odds he would be awkward at socializing?" I asked. "I know...funny but at the same time cute...often there are funny coincidences in life, believe me I received that joy in my 1,055 years," Celestia chuckled. "Oh come on! I was not that hopeless!.....Maybe...just a little..." Sterling said blushing. "May I continue dear?" Celestia asked smiling an amused manner. "Go ahead Tia," Sterling said. "Good, now...where was I?" Celestia asked herself. **A year earlier** "Oh? Really?" Celestia asked with one would say an adorable curious expression. "Yes...I may have been less than graceful when talking with other ponies...been that way since I was a teenager," Sterling admitted. "Aw~ I take it your did not have many marefriends huh?" Celestia asked sympathetically. "Yes indeed, I was single as I was the day I was born...and a target for bullying," Sterling said. "You were bullied too?" Celestia asked, "Talk about a major change of status in life, you are the complete opposite of that now," Celestia said in addition. "I suppose, but now I am trying to get my life back in order, things naturally were hectic after Amy's death...nothing made things worse than going through her things...and my son being in grief over his mother's death added to the stress," Sterling listed off. **Present Time** "Wait!....I have a step-brother too??" I asked. "Must have slipped my mind..." Celestia said looking embarrassed. "Yes, you have a step-brother, his name is 'Joshua Sterling-Silver'," Sterling said. "Alright...continue," I said eager for more. "Of course," Celestia said. **A year earlier** "I can imagine that Joshua would be so grief stricken over this...especially since he is going to be married soon," Celestia said. "As terrible as it is to say this, don't remind me," Sterling said running his fingers through his hair in a stressed manner. "My apologizes," Celestia said. "It's alright; Joshua's wedding was postponed on account of Amy's death but will happen once the chaos is over..." Sterling said. Just before Celestia could say anything the waiter arrived, looking stressed in a different way and seemingly afraid. "My deepest apologizes your Majesty, sorry for the delay," the waiter said. "That's quite alright, thank you," Celestia said taking her tea and sandwiches. "Can I get you something?" Celestia asked. "Really?" Sterling asked looking surprised. "My treat," Celestia said placing her hand on her chest and half-bowing. "Thank you Celestia," Sterling said smiling warmly. "Most welcome," Celestia said. Sterling then made his order and Celestia made the payment for both of their items, they then engaged in conversation once more. "If I may ask," Sterling said looking around for eavesdroppers, "Did you have children with this mystery stallion?" Sterling asked. "Yes, I did...a son and daughter," Celestia said. "Oh, how nice; may I know their names or I must wait?" Sterling asked. "I would like to wait on that," Celestia said. "Very well, that is fine with me; so I can guess you know what it must be like," Sterling said smiling. Celestia then frowned instead, with ears flattening she looked off to her right side. "Oh...w-what happened?" Sterling asked showing sympathy. "I...I had to hide them away because of the Anarchist group attack," Celestia said. "Oh...like the Canterlot Railway Trestle?" Sterling asked. "Yes...that was a large reason why I sent my only two children away," Celestia said, "They were only foals...just months older than newborns..." Celestia said. Tears then built up in her eyes as she thought about the difficult decision she had to make, especially when she did reconnect with her daughter Sunset, things....turn out badly...as you knew Sunset was...to be blunt spoiled, power-hungry, over-ambitious, and demanding...leading eventually to her fate of living in an alternate human world; although she eventually made peace she was still one child short...her son. "I'm sorry, really I am..." Sterling said sitting closer to Celestia. "It's alright, I-I have my daughter again, and I shall soon get my son back, so it is alright...it's alright," Celestia said, she however was looking anything but fine, Sterling then decided to make a rather bold move by placing his hand on Celestia's hand, Celestia was a little surprised by the action but then smiled warmly at Sterling's look of concern. "I feel things are not as alright as you would want however, am I right?" Sterling asked. "Perhaps...maybe," Celestia pulling her hands in while Sterling sat back and gave her, her space. "Forgive me for that, I was out of line," Sterling said looking away in embarrassment. "Oh no no, it was...sweet of you, helpful even; something perhaps I needed all this time," Celestia said softly. "What is?" Sterling asked. "A kind pony to talk with me on this...you would think I could talk with my sister Luna or somepony at all but...I guess it's not the same talking to a stallion...if I may say..." Celestia said looking awkward. "I understand...it is the same with me...I guess a mare was the type of pony I needed to talk with as well," Sterling said blushing deeply. Celestia also was blushing profusely as the two sat next to each other at the cafe of coincidental choice by the Princess and Silver Mining Company CEO, things as awkward as they were were also something perhaps they needed and by chance were sitting next to each other on Hearts & Hooves day with both of them having wounded hearts that needed healing. "So...what are you doing after this cafe?" Celestia asked. "I have a meeting to attend at my company then continue caring for my wife's affairs and possessions," Sterling said. "Can I see you another time? If that is alright..." Celestia asked shyly. "I would love to Celestia, I will write to you often it you would like," Sterling offered. "Sounds wonderful," Celestia said blushing while smiling tenderly. **Present Time** "And that is how Sterling and I met each other," Celestia said. "That was a touching and cute story," I said. "Thank you, I hoped it would fill in the blanks," Celestia said petting Marbles. Marbles then meowed, then meowed some more as he got up to leave for the half-bathroom. "What was that?" Celestia asked. "*Oh, apparently Marble had manners, he excuses himself before he gets up from a nap or just relaxing in here or on you in this case," I explained. "That is adorable!" Celestia said chuckling. "I know...so...since I have a step-brother he will be visiting too? Also what of his wife?" I asked. "Oh he and her will visit with your sister and cousins too," Sterling said. "Cool, I would like to see them," I said. "I am sure they are eager to meet you as well, it will have been a long time and they will have their fair share of stories to share as well," Celestia said. "I look forward to it," I said. TO BE CONTINUED.