Royal duties · 7:10pm Jun 27th, 2018
“Gosling!”
The sudden, unexpected outburst from Celestia almost made Gosling jump out of his skin and he just about dropped the wine glass wedged between his primaries. Sometimes, a pony could be too cheerful and enthusiastic. At least he hadn’t choked on his wine. Grinning, his teeth a ruddy mauve colour from the sweet, spiced wine, he turned about to address the pony that had called his name.
“Gosling, I need for you to perform your royal duties,” Celestia said, almost breathless.
“Right here? Right now? With everypony watching? Yous wanting everypony to see that face you make? ‘Cause I can make yous make that face right now if that’s what is needed from me. Let’s go. But first I need to find ye olden royal step-stool, ‘cause you’s kinda tall.”
At first, it was only Celestia’s nose that had turned pink, but like a rampaging fire, it spread. The pink blush crept up her muzzle, along her cheeks, gave her ears a healthy glow, and began to spread down her neck. When her wings clapped against her ribs, there was a soft rustle of feathers against silken hairs, and her hooves clicked against the ground while she shuffled in place. Little curls of steam rose from her back and wound their way into the night sky.
“You’re really pink, Princess Celestia,” Twilight said to her mentor in a matter-of-fact way.
“Twilight, please, please tell me that you didn’t hear all of that.” Celestia said this without turning around to face the smaller mare that had crept up behind her, unaware.
“I didn’t hear a thing—”
“Miss Sparkle, it’s impolite to lie.”
“But you told me to tell you…” Twilight held her composure a moment more, but then began to fall apart. She giggled, covered her mouth with her wing, and then giggled a little more while Celestia grew more and more flustered.
“Twilight—”
“Shall I go fetch ye olden royal step-stool?” Twilight offered, still giggling but clearly trying to be helpful.
A half-smile, half-smirk appeared upon Celestia’s face, and then, in an effort to hide it, she began chewing upon her bottom lip. Twilight’s giggles became titters and her wing still covered her mouth in a desperate attempt to be polite, even in these mortifying circumstances. Gosling, feeling pleased with himself, took a careful sip of wine while observing the faint, musky notes that now scented the air.
“Twilight, how much wine have you had to relax your inhibitions?” Celestia asked while the pink inferno raged.
“A half a glass,” Twilight replied, and the sound of her licking her lips could be heard from behind her wings. “It left me lightheaded. Come morning, I’ll probably curl up and die when I think about this, but right now, I’m having the time of my life.”
“Indeed, Twilight. I’m happy for you.”
“So you wanted Gosling to perform his royal duties.” More tittering escaped from Twilight when she attempted to restore the subject of conversation and the smaller mare swayed on her hooves.
“Yes… yes I did.” Clucking her tongue, Celestia nibbled her lip, her sides expanded and contracted like bellows, all while her breath whooshed from her flaring nostrils. “Gosling, I need for you to perform the marriage ceremony. You need the experience and with tonight’s… relaxed atmosphere, any mistakes of blunders you might make can be smoothed over. It’s an ideal time to spread your wings a bit, Gosling.”
“I have no idea what I’m doing. How do I marry somepony?”
“Says the pretty pegasus that married two ponies,” Twilight said, her natural snark escaping through her wine-relaxed lips. “Ah, the look on your face, Gosling. That panicked expression is priceless. So expressive.”
Now it was Gosling that shuffled about on his hooves and Celestia’s tittering joined Twilight’s, forming a harmonious chorus. Putting on a brave face, he glanced at both of the mares having a bit of fun at his expense, and tried to think of some way to get out of this. He didn’t mind public speaking, that wasn’t the problem at all. Rather, marriage was important. It was something of deep, profound meaning to him, and he was totally unprepared for such a solemn ceremony. To wing it was unthinkable.
“I’m a pretty, pretty pony princess!” Twilight blurted out without warning.
“Yes you are, Twilight,” Celestia said in response without a skipping a beat. When next she spoke, her tone was one of foalish baby-talk. “Who’s a pretty pony princess?”
“I am!” Twilight cried out in a sing-song voice. “Woohoo!”
The pressure already settling in, Gosling finished off the wine in his glass with a single gulp.
Twilight is a featherweight...
The morning after for twilight ...
