While my nap was short -only about two hours in length- it did a wonderful job rejuvenating my body. I was feeling just as I always did in the afternoon. Which now that I thought about it, was not that much different at all. The only plus side was that my eyelids no longer felt like they were made out of lead.
Looking up at the oaken ceiling, I came to see the rusted lantern swaying around on its rope. The path it took was determined by the sway of the ship as it bobbed up and down in the water. It was a nice and soothing rhythm that seemed to put me at ease as I sat up in the thatched bed. Sounds of a quill scratching against a scroll brushed up against my ear. Glancing over at the source I came to see Celestia diligently working on her report.
I didn't know whether it was my fuzzy mind or the atmosphere, but the scene before me looked immensely beautiful, almost like it was like a picture. Since no light poured out of the window, the inside of the room was lit entirely by candle fire. Its warm amber light lazily coated the entire wooden room. To top it all off Celestia’s magic cast its own golden glow upon her face as she continued to write. It was so perfectly peaceful that I felt that if I moved it would all come crumbling down.
“Have a good sleep?” Celestia questioned without so much as a glance my way.
“Good enough,” I simply replied walking up behind her.
Looking down at the scroll, I come to see the familiar symbols of their language. Their combined meaning still remaining a mystery to me. While I should be working on breaking down the language barrier, I was more than welcome to call in my rainchecks today and have a nice evening out with Celestia.
“You mind putting those papers away for a bit?” I asked.
Her quill stopped scratching as she looked over towards me, “You have something in mind?” she pondered. A small strand of ethereal mane lazily dropped in front of her face.
“Well, I was thinking, while we’re still here at the port why not take advantage of it? You’ll have tons of time to work on those papers once were at sea. For now, I’m asking if you would be so kind as to let me have your time this evening?” I asked.
“I would love to, but these papers are really important,” Celestia stated.
I cracked a smile as I teasingly spoke, “A walk down the pier, a nice dinner at a local seaside restaurant, I guess I’ll just have to go by myself.”
“Kenneth,” Celestia whined dragging out the 'e' in my name, “please I really need to get these papers done!”
“Maybe I’ll go to the bakery and sample some of their pastries. I thought I saw some cakes on display through their window.” I was now at the door, slowly turning the handle. Seeing my advance, Celestia stood up in an attempt to stop me.
“You’re not making this easy! What with that silver tongue of yours!” Celestia huffed.
I rolled my eyes, she was already standing so I knew I had her in the palm of my hand, “I heard the full moons going to be out, and the breeze from the ocean is so relaxing it makes you feel 1000 years younger.”
Celestia was now grabbing onto my right leg as I dragged her through the threshold of the door, “Don’t leave me like this!”
I smiled looking down at her, “then why don’t you come along?”
Celestia looked really flustered, almost as if I broke her. I could see the gears turning as she chewed the rewards over the consequences. “FINE!” She all but screamed, “I’ll just move the reports to tomorrow.” She finally caved in as she stood back up onto her hooves.
“There’s my sunny mare!”
Celestia rolled her eyes at me, “you’re nicknames are getting worse every time you say one. I dread to think about the one you’ll actually stick to.”
I let out a small laugh, “I’m sure whatever it’ll be, you won't like it.”
“Now why would you do that?” She questioned as we made our way up to the deck. The rain seemed to calm down to a light drizzle. Perfect for the short walk into town.
Smiling I replied, “Because I have to get you back for the nickname you gave me.”
“I think sunshine is a cute nickname,” Celestia huffed.
“And I think it's degrading to my manliness,” I retorted.
Celestia scoffed, “What manliness? I’m the one paying for the meal today.”
I was at a loss for a comeback, she was right. I was dirt poor here and the only money I earned was from the lab work. Yet even then I left the coin pouch back in Canterlot. Thinking of a way out of this, I quickly tried to even the scales.
“I’m not the only one, remember when I first called you by your nickname? You were all ‘not in public’.” I mocked her royal voice as we stepped off the gangplank and onto the dock.
Surprisingly it was still pretty lively at this late hour. Night fishers were out and about casting their lines into the great blue yonder. Which in turned perplexed me. Ponies don’t eat meat, so why would they even need to fish? For sport? Or Maybe it was some sort of trade agreement with another nation. Tossing the thought aside for another date, I looked over to Celestia.
“I don’t sound like that!” She reassured me.
I raised my eyebrow, “Really? I thought I did quite a good impersonation there.”
Then Celestia did something I never thought I would hear her do. She attempted to mimic me by making her voice go as deep as possible, “I thought I did quite a good impersonation there.”
To be honest, I really wanted to laugh in her face, but at the same time, I needed to be considerate of her feelings. So, I settled with a small chuckle as I responded, “I’m flattered that you think I sound that sexy.” Seeing the perfect segway I rolled into a more appropriate topic for a date, “So why did you fall for me? I doubt it was my looks.”
“Getting to the big questions this early on?” Celestia questioned as looked up towards me with a contempt smile, “It all started from the first day we met. I may not have looked like it, but I was really nervous greeting a new species. So many things could go wrong that I was up all night thinking about what to say. Yet I knew the moment that you pushed the tiara off my head that you were not like any pony I have ever met.”
“Maybe that’s because I’m not a pony,” I corrected with a small nudge.
“Maybe, but I didn’t have noticeable feelings till we went out on our first outing.” It was then that Celestia magicked up the midnight sun into view, “When we were laying in the field I was overcome with joy, yet I didn’t understand why. I had done it so many times before, laying in the gardens gazing up at the night sky. It wasn’t till you helped me up, stuck the midnight sun in my mane and looked me in the eyes that I knew it wasn’t the flowers that were making me happy, it was you.”
My mind was rolling its eyes at the sappiness of it all but my heart was melting from the words. I didn’t know whether to kiss her or hug her. Nevertheless, Celestia spun the tables around on me as she fired the same shot towards me.
“So how about you? What made this human from another world fall for a 2000-year-old mare.”
“First of all, you don't look a day over 1499. Second of all, it was when I was in the hospital after the lab accident. I had thoughts before, but the idea was so far-fetched that I tossed them aside. What changed my mind was when I noticed just how much you cared for me. Every time I was down you were always there giving me support. I could always count on you to be there when I need you.”
I had to stop for a moment as my mind questioned itself. Have I really told her everything? About my lingering guilt? My sorrow I held for passed brethren and family? Would it be okay to even talk to her about that? My burdens are for me to carry, but would she be willing to lend her aid with my shattered frame of mind? The questions kept swirling around in my head and before I knew it, Celestia was shaking me out of my stupor.
“Kenneth, you alright? We’re here.” She said.
Shure enough when I pulled myself away from my thoughts; I came to see a cute little restaurant laying on the side of the pier. Its open dining area covered with a light brown canvas, decorated with small lights. Once again, it would seem Celestia knew all the best places. Almost as if she planned to take her significant other there before.
It dawned on me as we walked in and got seated that I knew very little about Celestia. In the time I’ve known her, all I knew for certain was her personality. When it came to matters of the past I was left in complete and utter darkness.
Nevertheless, we were on a date, and it just so happens that these are the type of things you talk about on dates. In turn, it took no time at all for us to get seated, have the waiter listen to Celestia speak for me and start to get into the meat of the date.
“I was wondering since you’ve been to earth and got to know a little bit about my past self. I couldn’t help but wonder what you were like when you were a kid.” I commented as I watched Celestia’s smile grow.
“Are you sure that humans don’t read minds?” She questioned.
I shook my head before stating the exact same thing I said to her the first time she asked this question, “nope,” before continuing to get back on topic, “So tell me, what was the young Celestia like?”
“My mother and father always told me I was a hoof-full to deal with. While my sister had the same silly side as me, she mostly kept it under check. I was always up and about chasing animals and breaking things. I really don’t know how they put up with me.” Her voice took a softer tone as she continued, “Those were the good days. The days I didn’t have to worry about anything.”
This was the first time I had ever heard Celestia talk about her parents. The revelation seemed to raise more questions than it answered, enacting me to ask, “What were your parents like?”
“‘Are like’ you mean,” Celestia corrected.
I almost spat out the complimentary water, “Your parents are still alive?”
“Yes, they both are still alive and well,” She said with a smirk, “maybe one day I’ll introduce you to them. They don’t really have much time on their hooves, but I’m sure they can make arrangements.”
“Then why aren't they the ones ruling? I don’t me to say you and your sister aren't doing a good enough job, but wouldn’t it be wise to let the more experienced rule?.”
“Their time of rule is over. When I and Luna became of age to rule the titles we switched over. They thought it wise to have us gain our own experience while they were still around. Now the two now live their lives seeking out the mysteries of this world. Jumping from one plane of reality to another. They were never the ones to sit back and relax.” She then leaned in close, “If you ask me, it’ll be their downfall.”
It was hard for me to wrap my head around her parents still being alive, let alone jumping through space and time. Then again, I guess I asked for this when I started on the topic of her personal life. Thankfully, a little break in the conversation occurred as the waiter came back to give us our respected meals.
Pasta with a salad on the side for me. While Celestia herself ordered just the plain salad. The meal both enabled me to sate my appetite and mull over the information.
“What about you?” Celestia questioned as she finished off her salad.
With a mouth full of food I questioned back, “About me what?”
“What was your foalhood like? I want to hear about the ponies that brought you up?” She pondered, placing her head on her hooves. Her mane covering part of her face as her eyes looked deep into mine. Sure she looked beautiful and the setting was on point - but you have to remember she was looking at a human with his mouth full of spaghetti.
Quickly eating the rest of what was already in my mouth, I replied, “I had a fairly normal childhood. I went to school, had friends and goofed around. My parents were both very kind and supportive. To be honest I was lucky to have them growing up. Once I was done high school I went to college for aviation. I wanted to be a pilot when I grew up. All the traveling I did ignited my interest and I just went with it.”
Thinking back in time, I couldn’t help but smile, “me and my friends were always getting into trouble one way or another. We would like to sneak out at night and play games. In fact, when I got transported here we were doing just that. Taking a boat out on the lake trying to toss my friends overboard.”
My mind continued to tick as I formulated a thought about Celestia, “not to sound rude or anything, but do you have friends Celestia? In my time here, I don’t think I have come across anyone other than your sister that knows you personally.”
Celestia’s head drooped, “Growing up, I and my sister had no time for friends. Sure we would play around in the little time we had, but for the most part, we were being taught how to rule the country. Not to mention that any long-lasting friendship would only end with me outliving them.”
“Why was I an exception?”
“To be honest, I stopped caring when I fell for you. It didn’t matter to me how brief our relationship would last, I wanted what little time there was to be mine. To spend it with the person I cared for.” Celestia commented seemingly embarrassed by her words as a light blush spread across her face.
“Cute, I’m sure if you care that much for me then when the time comes to meet your parents I won't be completely incinerated.”
“Oh, you’ll be incinerated. There’s no avoiding that I'm afraid.”
“WHAT!” I exclaimed.
Celestia started to laugh, “I was just kidding. I’m sure they’ll like you.”
It wasn’t long after till the bill came and Celestia promptly paid for it. Once again leaning on royalty to pay the bills wasn’t really giving me the best of feelings. Nonetheless, as selfish as it might sound, if it was necessary for me to have this time with Celestia then I would do it a hundred times over.
Just like I said in our room, as soon as we left the restaurant we made our way down the moonlit docks and towards the main street. Arriving in the blink of an eye, we wondered from street stall to street stall looking at the various wears they sold. Everything from books to magical orbs was sold here. Yet, one thing held true to both of our worlds and that one thing was making us stop at every stall.
Apparently, most ponies selling here didn’t care for the princess. So, instead, we got the authentic experience of ponies trying to sell us everything under their awning. It was actually a breath of fresh air, ponies actually acting like themselves when Celestia was around them.
As time ticked on, we eventually made our way to the bakery. It’s cakes and pastries lined up against the display window. There was only one problem, however.
“It’s closed,” I read from the front door.
“What?! The main reason for me coming and it's closed!” Celestia exclaimed.
I gave her a sideways glance, “Oh I see, I guess all that earlier stuff we did together was nothing compared to these sweets. Plus, it's like what? 12 am? I’m surprised that the ponies out here are still selling, not to mention the restaurant we went to.”
“Kenneth you know I love you,” She started giving me a one-winged hug, “but not that much.” She continued before releasing me from her feathery hug.
“Oh, thy blade to which thou pierce my heart is as hot as thy sun! If only mine love were to see our devotion...” I trailed off as Celestia gave me the taste of her own ‘really’ look.
“Alright there Casanova, so what do we do now?” She questioned.
“What do we do? We head back before they ship off. Might as well get a couple hours of sleep so that tomorrow we’re not dead beat tired.” I commented turning away from the store. Before I could take my first steps back to the ship, I heard the tell-tale sign of her magic. Looking back towards Celestia I come to see her levitating the cake through the glass and a couple of bits back.
With the cake now in front of her, she turns back towards me with a smile on her muzzle, “Nothing can stand between me and my sweets.”
“It would appear so,” I stated starting the walk back to the ship. Which thankfully was quite uneventful. It was just a nice quiet walk, with me looking up at the stars and Celestia munching on her cake. Before long we found ourselves back in our room.
Collapsing on the bed, Celestia followed in tow. Looking up at her I let a small smile come to my lips. It was nice to have a night just for ourselves, no one there to interrupt us. With an equally as big smile on her face, she spoke, “I don’t want today to end.”
“Well, how else are we going to get to the beaches of the Western Isles. I can only imagine how much better it would be to lay in the sand rather than this bed.” I commented reaching up and letting our lips touch once again.
Pulling back I could see Celestia about ready to pass out. Without any arguments on my side, I let her fall asleep on my chest as I myself slowly succumbed to slumber. Letting my hand dangle freely off the side of the bed I closed my eyes, unaware of the sparks jumping between my fingers.