It was a few days since the last real words were spoken to each other, from neither Celestia or Emerald. Mostly it was Emerald's fault, as he'd been quite unfriendly the past 3 days. There was this look to him that Celestia couldn't shake from her mind. It was like he was trapped in his mind and he was trying to free himself to the world.
In a way, he was. What she didn't know was that he was trying to figure out what to say to her. He was too shy and had no experience with women in his present life, though his past life begged to differ.
'What do I say to her?! I-I can't just walk up to her and ask her out!'
As Emerald wandered down the hallway, he unknowingly made his way to the throne room, where a meeting between the royals and nobles and such was taking place. He stopped in front of the doors and stood there, thinking about his choice of words and conduct towards the princess. She loved him, it shouldn't be that hard, right?
That thought didn't make him feel better in the slightest. Suddenly, the doors burst open and the two groups, the royals and the nobles, walked out, their noses stuck high as they looked at him in disgust, despising his presence. These were the same looks he received during that night, their last night.
He shrugged and waded through the crowd to see slightly distraught sister princesses.
"Why, hello Emerald, what brings you here?" Luna said with a stressed smile on her face as he stuck his hands in his pockets.
"N-Nothing, just passing through." He turned around in a discouraged state as Celestia eyed him and stood up proudly.
"Emerald Passion Sky, stop right this moment!" She commanded as he froze. Quite literally. She walked over to him and turned him around to her, her grasp feeling like iron as she stared into his eyes, his heart feeling both at ease and on pins and needles at once.
"For the past three days, you have been avoiding me. Or so I think. Now would you kindly tell me what this is all about?" He quivered as she released her grasp on him at the sight of this. Her love was not scared of anything, and this worried her. Her face contorted into one of concern and care, with loving eyes she probed him.
"A-alright. I'll tell you... p-please don't hate me if you say no. I-I don't want to hurt you or anything." He said and prepared for the utmost worst. He inhaled and looked at her. Suddenly, he lost all hope and his head dropped low to the ground again.
"Not this time." Celestia held his head up and smiled at him but with a hint of concern on her face. She slowly caressed his face with her hooves and smiled warmly to him.
"Just tell me. There are no secrets between us." He inhaled and looked ready to burst as he looked her in the eyes.
"Will you go out with me?" He collapsed internally and propped himself up from his knees, panting as if he'd been on a track team. Celestia gave a look of surprise.
"WAIT WAIT WAIT! I-I'm sorry! I just-" Celestia stopped him with a spell for a moment as she smiled. She hugged him and kissed him softly on his cheek and nuzzled him closely.
"Emerald, I love you. Of course, I would absolutely adore the idea of going out with you." She smiled and kissed him on the nose before looking back at him and chuckling lightly. "Is that what took you so long to tell me?"
"... yes." He squeaked out, giving her a fuzzy feeling inside. He felt so embarrassed, but considering this is his first time asking a woman out, it wasn't at all surprising.
"It is nice to see he cares so much for my feelings..."
She laughed from the back of her throat, almost sounding like a possessed mare in heat, as she threw her head back and looked at him sultrily. "Just a date?" She smirked and wrapped her hooves around his neck and jumped into his arms. It sent a shiver down her spine to know her love was as strong as he was.
"Uhhh, y-yeah, sure." He replied with a nervous bout. Whether he knew it or not, something was happening inside Celestia that only she realized... not even her sister could sniff it out.
"You know, it has been quite a long while since I've felt you..." She traced his neck slowly and glued her eyes on his lips. Emerald, at this point, was unsure what to do. She's not like this most of the time.
"... inside of me." She whispered in his ear in her husky, sultry voice. She had a voice that was like a god. He shivered when she spoke to him like this. He had a fetish for women who were mature. This was like his dream.
His dream.
"What is it, sister? You seem quite happy." Luna stepped down from the throne and walked towards them, as he put Celestia down on her own hooves.
"My little human has been fretting for days, and only just now told me why." Celestia replied with a happy smile. Luna gave her a look of non-amusement.
"And?"
"He asked me out! On a date! Isn't it wonderful?" She twirled around as Emerald chuckled lightly at the ground, blushing while he scratched the back of his head. "He's so thoughtful..." She finished while Luna smiled weakly.
"Yes... I guess it is..." She said softly, with a hint of regret as Celestia kissed him on the cheek quickly.
"Now, I have two more meetings to attend to, and then I'll make myself ready. Where would you like to go?"
"Uhhh... I-I hadn't thought about it... to be honest, I didn't know I'd get this far." He shrugged as she chuckled sweetly.
"You needn't worry, my love, I know just the place we can go for a... romantic evening." She smirked devilishly and turned him around. "Now, run along and make yourself useful while I wrap things up here, hm? The day court should be over quite soon." She said and spanked him on his rear firmly, giving him a slight boost out the doors. He looked back and smiled at the two, but noticed something wrong with Luna.
Something he's only seen before in his memories. It was a serious and engaged look, but hidden by a mask of estranged emotions. Regardless, Michael left quickly, as Luna was starting to notice his staring. He walked away with a stern face, intent with figuring out why she looked so.
Was he overreacting? T'yeah, he really is... maybe.
"Geez, I gotta loosen up 'round here." He walked down the castle proper, noting and enjoying himself the scenery of the stained glass. 'Jesus, how long did this take to BUILD this place?'
"Maybe I could go and cook something? No, I shouldn't bother the royal cooks..." He spoke to himself in a quiet, sublime manner as a maid walked up to him.
"Excuse me, your highness?" She bowed to him as he only took notice of this a few moments later. Looking up, he beckoned her to continue with his hand.
"You seem a bit lost. Is there anything I can help you find, your highness?"
"Yeah, my sanity. That'd be great." He responded in a tired monotone. The maid chuckled as he did as well, although, to be honest, he wasn't laughing because he wanted to. T'was just a nice thing to do to not make another feel any awkward feelings.
"But, honestly, no, I'm fine. What's your name?"
"Cloud Shine, your highness." She smiled and puffed her barrel out and smirked pridefully.
"I'm Emerald. Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Shine." He stuck is hand out to shake her hoof while she blushed heavily and giggled doing so. "Oh your highness..." She breathed as Emerald inwardly quacked. Literally. That was the only sound in his mind for a moment. She looked down at her watch and sighed.
"I must be going, your highness. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Say, is it true?" She leaned in excitedly.
"Uhh, what?" He raised an eyebrow and wondered. She shuffled her hooves and muttered something.
"I didn't hear you, say what?"
"Is it true you and the Princess are...?"
"Uhhh... to be honest, I not sure. I-I think so."
"And is it also true you died 2000 years ago and such?"
... how the hell would I answer that. He thought.
"Sure. I remember some of it, but, not much. Celestia is bound to tell me more, so, I guess later I'll know? I'm still getting to grips with this magic stuff. And love. Love is a big one."
"Oh I'm sure you'll remember at some point, your highness. But, I must be going, it was a pleasure to meet you, sir!"
"Indeed, it was a pleasure to meet you as well." He smiled and waved to her as she walked away. '...Remember to give her a raise...', He thought about Cloud for a moment. It reminded him of his old servant, Robert. He missed Robert. In some ways, Robert was the only friend he's ever had.
And now he was to wait for a while since Celestia is in her meetings, and to his knowledge, probably won't be out for a while...
Time-skip: About an hour...
Em had been sitting on one of the castle's benches for a very long while; to his knowledge he's been there for hours upon hours, and in a dozen different positions on said bench.
"Oh my goodness. How long do these freakin' meetings take!?" Emerald complained loudly as a familiar blue Alicorn walked into his eyesight.
"Luna! You've made it! Hooray!" He threw his arms in the air and grinned, much to the amusement of Luna herself. It was a rare thing for Emerald to be this happy since most of the time he was under some kind of medication. In fact, Robert was the only one to know how Emerald was without medication.
Smiling, she nodded to him,"Yes, we are in fact done with our two meetings. If you're wondering where my sister is, she's freshening up... she was saying talking about a "cute stallion she's been dying to impress" or something along those heavy lines." Luna winked to Em, who at this point was giggling and blushing as if this was the first time he's ever heard those words. In some ways it was.
In some ways, it wasn't.
He stood up and stretched himself out a bit, grooming himself and making sure he was in top shape (after all, he did have a date with Equestria's finest).
Not a moment too soon, Celestia practically sashayed around the corner, looking even better than she did before. 'Woah, she's... something else. Em's jaw hung open slightly at the sight of her.
Every curve and motion was just right; he could hardly believe a creature as beautiful as her was willing to commit her entire being to him. In many ways that surprised him, since back home most of the people he knew only spoke to him because he was rich.
"Like what you see, darling?" Celestia prodded him playfully, as Luna's eyes rolled in conjunction with her soft but signature smirk.
"I'll be off, you two behave now." Giving salutations and leaving, Luna departed for her own chambers.
"Like what I see? I love what I see. You're quite pretty, Celestia. Easy on the eyes, not gonna lie." Nodding and smirking, he looked to the ground and then up to her, her eyes filled with glee but her face radiating a calm joy that he'd not see from her before.
"You know the old Em wasn't as sensitive and aware of things as you are," Luna quipped, "its a nice change from the old you; I'm sure my sister would agree." Looking to her sister, Luna winked at the man.
"I would most certainly agree... now, where are we going, darling? You said you wanted to tour the garden, correct?" Celestia spoke in a tone of pure joy, much to Em's own joy.
"Well, I hadn't pick-"
"Excellent! We shall be on our way. Luna, sister, could you take care of Blueblood's arrangements when he arrives?" To this, Luna slowly nodded. Em had no idea who she was talking about, but he noticed her restraint when nodding. He wondered who the heck Blueblood was. But at this point in time, he couldn't give a hoot in hell; he had a fantastic date with the princess of Equestria and that was all that mattered to him.
Celestia proceeded to literally almost drag him off to the direction of the garden, much to his own surprise even if he was already getting familiar with her kindly bossiness.
A few minutes and a few tantrums from Em later, they arrived at the entrance to the garden, the garden itself only blocked by one door. The door, by comparison of other doors in and around this castle, was quite small. Em, being the gentleman he is, grabbed the door for the mare he was with kindly.
"Thank you, Em." She flashed him a warm smile and proceeded on through, looking out upon the royal garden.
Em was shocked. He could hardly believe his eyes; he'd seen things like this only in pictures and even then, they were nothing compared to this. "Its like the Garden of Eden." Breathlessly, he let out as his eyes met with the flowers and the life of Nature around him, the way trees blew in the gentle breeze and the streams which zigged and zagged thereof. In his shock, he sat down abruptly and merely sat in silence in awe.
"Beautiful, isn't it, darling?" Celestia sat down next to him and extended her wing. Em nuzzled closer to her subtly (which did not go unnoticed), and drank in the scenery. The air was crisp, cool, and clean.
"I've... how..."
Celestia turned her head, "Hm?"
"How did... do you know God? Are you like good buddies with him? Did he literally just give you blueprints for Eden or somethin'?" Em's face accented his brain's What in sam hell moment.
"I do not know of this 'God', nor am I familiar with this 'Garden of Eden' you speak of... but, in answer to your question? I suppose so." She smiled coyly before continuing, "No, no, I myself planned this garden and planted most of it myself..."
Em's jaw dropped at the knowledge of this; How in the world could she have done this?! This place is like ten or eleven football fields' worth of square feet!
"How did you do it? This place is huuuge!" He spread his arms out as far as he could, but even that could never encompass this place's magnitude.
"Well... when you have around a millennia, you get big ideas. You end up having quite a bit of time on your hooves." She smiled and put her head on his and sighed.
The two sat there in a quiet embrace for a long time; what felt like just mere moments lasted almost twenty minutes. To Em, her scent and close proximity calmed him inside, and made him feel very safe. He wondered why; he hoped he would find out soon enough.
"I've... been wanting this for a very long while, Emerald... being here, knowing you are close, gives me peace... a peace I've not felt in many, many years. Thank you, my love." She cooed to him.
Emerald looked down in thought before replying, "Honestly I... ever since I was a child I... I wanted someone to hold, to love and to cherish, to treasure and call my own... I never thought I'd find someone like you."
Hearing this stole Celestia's breath away; to her, it was like falling in love all over again. He was not the bold, brash and arrogant man he used to be, rather a shy, gentle, sensitive and caring man who adored her silently.
"Really?" She choked out, trying to calm her emotions.
"Yes, Celestia... I have. While I've not been alive nearly as long as you, it still means much to me that you are who you are, and who you are to me... even if I don't know you like you may know me, you've given me a chance to be something for someone that I've always wanted. I always yearned to find that special someone." He finished, noticing he had been petting her hoof for a while without even realizing it.
Leaning down, Celestia kissed his head softly twice, pulling and holding him close. This is what she wanted, for so many years she longed for this; to be with him once again. And she was... it was a dream come true for her.
As she began to stand up, following with her was Em, her horn lit up softly with her signature yellow glow, paralleled quickly by a soft glow from withing Em's eyes. At this instant, he began to feel some pain within his own head; he felt it in his own mind.
"Ahghh... Dang, not again." He held his head and pleaded silently to any deity which would relieve him this pain. He so desperately did not want to ruin this moment for Celestia; he knew she needed this.
"Darling are you alright?" She came to his aid and caressed his cheek, his expression not changing from the wincing, contorted mess of pain that it was. He nodded slowly, trying his level best not to let the pain get to him.
"I-I'm fine... I think. Just give me a moment." He grunted out quietly, whispering while quivering slightly. He was not cold; merely angry at the pain. It helped him more than people realize.
"I will remain with you until your pain subsides." Celestia stood her ground and hugged her love tightly. A few minutes went by, and his pain had left him (mostly) and he left her embrace and nodded,
"I think I'm okay now," He began, "sorry about that... kinda ruined the moment, didn't I?" He chuckled nervously, receiving a smile and a shake of her head.
"Not at all, Em, nothing could ruin this for me. I am content where I am; with you, and your heart." She smiled and kissed him on the lips softly, giving him a shock to his brain. 'She's electric!', Emerald thought to himself mid-kiss.
This lasted for a little while, before she motioned to a small table about sixty yards away; a small table for two that was lavishly decorated; the perfect table for a date. There was a pony standing by the table patiently, minding his own business; Em concluded that was a waiter or butler of some kind. Em walked ahead; he knew the desire of Celestia's heart. She wanted to sit down with him. It was a wonderful thought and he felt special for realizing this.
He pulled out her chair, to which she gladly took advantage of with a very lady-like smile adorn on her face, "Thank you, darling.". He nodded and smiled sweetly back to her before sitting down on the other chair himself.
"Good afternoon sir and Princess, what can I get for you both?" The waiter who was present smiled to them.
They did order their food... took a little while before they realized someone else was even there and that it wasn't just the two of them.
Love can do that, I suppose.
End of part 1