//------------------------------// // Until Death Do Us Part // Story: A Story Told // by Lil Penpusher //------------------------------// Edmond turned his head, staring out to the sea, seeing how the sun began to set on the horizon. He could hear the calm, quiet sound of waves hitting the docks from where he sat. He faced his front once more, eyeing his beloved Shycedes who sat in front of him. She looked back at him, seeing those beautiful eyes that she first fell in love with. It was not until the waiter arrived at their table that they were interrupted. “Your tea, sir,” the waiter said to Edmond as he put down a cup of tea in front of him. “Ma’am,” he said to Shycedes, putting down a cup of green tea in front of her as well. With that, the waiter left the couple and moved on. The two ponies smiled, eyeing each other still. Shycedes’ hooves moved to the cup in front of her. “You picked such a lovely spot for us to dine, Edmond,” the mare said, taking a sip from her cup. “I know how much my mare enjoys the view,” Edmond replied, also taking a quick sip himself. “What can I say,” Shycedes replied, “the sea is beautiful and mysterious, calming yet so dangerous.” “True, true.” The couple’s heads turned towards the docks and sea once more. “You still require telling me of your recent journey, dear,” Shycedes said with a smile, still watching the sunset on the horizon. “I wish I was able to say it was not of importance or troubles,” Edmond replied, “but that would be a lie.” “Whatever happened, dear? Tell me.” Shycedes now at last turned her attention back to her lover. “We left Baltimare to pick up goods in Fillydelphia as you know.” Shycedes nodded silently. “The way to Fillydelphia was of no trouble, and we even arrived there slightly earlier than planned, due to favourable winds.” “Then what happened?” “After we picked up the goods and left Fillydelphia, the captain fell ill,” Edmond told her with regret. “Captain Fleclerc?” the mare asked. “What happened to him?” “Surprised by his sudden sickness, me and the rest of the crew attempted to do all we could to help and save him. But it was no use, and he took his last breath in the captain’s quarters, on his bed.” Both of them fell silent for a brief moment before Edmond let out a deep sigh. “I sat there next to him as he passed away, as his body went numb. I leaned forward as he began to whisper me his last wishes, his last words. He asked of me to travel to Griffonstone and tell the Count there that ‘his dear friend has passed away’. The count would know what I meant if I told him this.” Shycedes gulped at hearing all this. “The captain was friends with the Count of Griffonstone?” “So he told me, yes. The count himself later explained to me that the two of them met in the war, and that Fleclerc had spared the life of the count during a battle. After the war, the count told Fleclerc that he would always be welcome at his court, and as such they met whenever the captain was not on a mission with the Venturer.” “And nopony else knew of this?” Shycedes asked. “No, and I was not supposed to tell anypony else either.” Edmond became visibly uncomfortable, realising that he had spilled the secret and broken his promise to both the captain and the count. “My dear Shycedes, you must promise to me not to tell these things to anypony else, under no circumstances.” The mare nodded and happily agreed. “You know I would never do anything that could hurt you, dear,” she said, “Whatever hurts you will hurt me, too. This is the nature of true love.” “And how lucky I am to have you, Shycedes, in my life; a pony more beautiful than I could yet even describe, a pony so kind that she possesses the power to turn enemies into friends, and a pony that managed to steal the heart of a simple sailor.” Shycedes blushed, grabbing both of Edmond’s hooves with a charmed smile. “And how lucky I, a small, shy orphan, am to have you, Edmond. How lucky I am to have a stallion by my side that would wipe off my tears in times of sorrow, a stallion that would fight wars just to protect me, a stallion that would travel across all of Equestria, just for me.” Once again, the two ponies went silent for a moment, their eyes completely locked onto the other’s, their heart yearning for what was to come. Without a single word spoken, they both leaned forward, their lips meeting in a long-lived kiss. How long had they both waited for this moment, how much their hearts had ached to see each other again. “I love you,” Edmond said as their lips parted again. “As do I, my beloved Edmond,” Shycedes replied, blushing. “Please, Edmond, do not leave me alone ever again. Whenever you are gone, I feel incomplete, as if some part of me is missing.” Shycedes suddenly began to tear up. “I beg of you, my beloved Edmond, do not ever leave me again, for I need you; not as my lover but to make my life whole and enjoyable. And the mere thought of you being gone and the possibility of you coming into harm’s way and...” she paused briefly, “and perhaps not returning to greet me in your tight, warm embrace scares me. It scares me, Edmond. It’s a fear that lingers in the depths of my heart and shows itself whenever I am by myself, when I think of you and ask myself when you will finally return to me.” Edmond got up from his seat and now stood at the table, Shycedes was still in tears. “I can’t live with this fear anymore, Edmond,” Shycedes said, crying and sobbing quietly. Edmond silently made his way over to her side of the table as she spoke. “I can’t live my life with such doubts and insecurities,” the pink-haired mare said, continuing to cry. “I...” she said, interrupted as Edmond stroked her cheeks, standing in front of her. “I can’t live without you anymore,” she said before pulling Edmond into a tight embrace, continuing to cry as her tears of sorrow turned into tears of joy. “So long as I yet draw breath, I shall be with you, my dear, beloved Shycedes,” Edmond replied. “But what makes you so sure, Edmond?” Shycedes asked in disbelief, breaking their hug. “What tells me this is no empty promise? That you will not leave me alone in the end?” Edmond continued to hold her hooves, never to let go of his beautiful, charming mare. And he realised that now was the time, the time to show her his commitment, to show her that he truly would never abandon her. Edmond turned away from Shycedes, briefly walking back over to his seat before returning to Shycedes’ side, carrying a small, black case with him. “If my words alone do not cleanse you of all fears and concerns, then, may Celestia be my witness, I shall do whatever it takes to be with you, and to show my love and affection to you.” Shycedes listened silently. “So...” Edmond said, kneeling in front of the mare, “I ask you, my beloved Shycedes, do you wish to marry me?” Shycedes gasped at the sudden proposal, staring at the golden ring Edmond revealed as he opened the case on his hooves. “I...” Shycedes stuttered, getting off her chair, “I do,” she said at last. “I do! I do!” she said again, loudly and with joy. “Yes, Edmond, a thousand times yes!” Shycedes once again pulled her fiancé into a tight, loving embrace. Edmond broke the hug after a long silence, finally taking the ring out of its case. Bound to a simple string, Edmond gently put the ring around Shycedes’ neck. The mare inspected the ring for a short while, relief and joy overwhelming her. It was put on her by her fiancé, and it was either him taking it off her or else she would wear it ‘till the end of days. The two ponies looked over to the sea, seeing how the sun had almost completely disappeared behind the ocean. The remaining, now orange light of the sun fell onto the two, and they turned to hold each other’s hooves again. It was as if they had just met for the first time, that same magic, that same strange feeling filling their hearts. And as the sun finally set, the two newly betrothed ponies met in a deep, loving kiss once more. “Until death do us part, my dear, I shall never leave your side again,” Edmond said, breaking the kiss. Shycedes smiled back at him before pulling him into yet another kiss. Both would remember this night until the very end of their days. With the sun gone and the moon rising, the streets emptied. Yet there was still one pony out in the streets that was in a hurry. The stallion dashed through the streets, carrying with him a small oil lamp to light the way. A loud banging interrupted the silence in the Dash household. Upstairs, the snoring of Louis Dash had seized. He rubbed his sleepy eyes as it banged again. He sat on his chair where he had fallen asleep and listened, hoping that whoever was banging on the door downstairs would leave, believing he wasn’t home. It banged again, louder this time. It was no use, he thought to himself, getting up from his armchair. Slowly, with sleep in his eyes, he made his way towards the door, being careful not to trip on the way. Once again, the pony at the door banged against it. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” Louis shouted as he made his way down the stairs. “What is- oh.” Louis was surprised as he opened the door, spotting his guest. “Puncherousse, you? Isn’t it a bit late for a visit?” “It’s never too late to pay good friends a visit, isn’t it?” Puncherousse asked back, “Besides, I just wanted to have a quick talk with you, about Edmond and his new career as captain.” “Oh, well, in that case,” Louis said, moving aside, “please, do come in.” A smile formed on Berry’s face. Not a joyful one, however, but an evil, malicious one. “Why, thank you, Louis,” he said, moving inside, “I can’t wait to discuss your son’s bright-looking future.”