//------------------------------//
// The fourth date. Dinner and the Parents 
// Story: Our New Queen 
// by Miner 
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Twilight Velvet was in the kitchen preparing a meal for Night Light, Twilight, and Thorax. She was told earlier that anything she prepared for the meal would be fine for Thorax to eat. She was just excited that Twilight was dating somepony that made her daughter faint at the thought of him. She could see wedding bells in their future. Her husband on the other hoof... He had assumed the role of the overprotective father as he stared out the window. "Night Light I want you to behave yourself."

"What, don't you trust me?"

"I might trust you more if you would stop looking out the window holding a frying pan like some crazy pony."

Night Light looked at his wife as she took his frying pan away. "We don't know anything about this changeling!"

"And I believe that is why he asked for a family dinner with us. To break the ice if you will," Twilight Velvet then searched around Nightlight to makes sure he didn't have any more weapons.

"Why are you so calm about this?!"

"Because with our luck, both of our children are going to marry royalty." 

"What are you talking about? Only Shining Armor is married to..." Nightlight’s eyes widened, "NEVER!"

"Honey, you are getting that crazy eye again."

"I refuse to let Twilight be married to a stallion that’s not even a pony!"

"So you would let her marry a regular pony stallion?”

"No!"

"Honey. Twilight is going to get married eventually. It’s only a matter of time." Twilight Velvet stopped her search and looked at the clock.

"There’s no Stallion in Equestria WORTHY enough to marry My Little Princess!"

"Perhaps if you give him a chance, you may say otherwise."

"I doubt it!"








Shortly after Twilight's heartwarming moment with Spike, Cadence found her in the office. Before Twilight could teleport away, Cadence waved a little white flag in front of her. She told her that Twilight needed to go back to Canterlot for her next date with Thorax. Cadence told her that she didn't mean to scare Twilight back to Ponyville and helped her to get back to Canterlot before nightfall. They met up with Thorax at the train station, and Cadence bid them goodnight and left them be. Twilight was still nervous being next to Thorax, but it was not as bad as it was yesterday. Taking a deep breath, Twilight asked Thorax about their dinner plans.

"Thorax why did you want to have dinner with my parents?"

"I just thought that it was about time they know who is courting their daughter."

"I guess that makes sense," Twilight said as they made their way to her parent's house, "Be careful around my dad. The last time I told him about you, it didn't go well."

"He doesn't like me?"

"He doesn't like the idea of me alone with a stallion."

"Very protective, is he?"

"Yes, he is. After all, I'll always be his little filly. He only wants the best for me. And ever since I became a princess, his standards have only gotten higher."

"I’m sure that I can handle anything that your father has to throw at me."

"You sound very confident Thorax. I thought that you would be at least a little nervous."

"Don't worry Twilight. I’m perfectly fine." Thorax said on shaky legs.

Twilight noticed this but didn't say anything about it. "If you say so."

They both now stood in front of the door of doom as Twilight knocked. The door slowly opened and revealed the beast that lived within. Twilight was the first to greet him. "Hi, dad."

"Hello, my little star," Night Light said, greeting his daughter. He welcomed her in and closed the door on Thorax’s nose.

"Ow, my poor nose!"

"Dad!" Twilight cried as she opened the door for Thorax and saw him rubbing his nose, "Sorry about that, Thorax."

"It’s alright. It’s my fault for not seeing that coming."

"Please come in," Twilight closed the door behind Thorax and met everypony in the living room. Gulping, Twilight moved next to Thorax and began the introductions.

"Thorax these are my parents. Mom, Dad, this is Thorax."

"Hello there. I am Twilight Velvet."

"Hello," Thorax greeted Twilight's mom. But soon everypony noticed that somepony didn't introduce himself. They looked at Night Light and saw him trying to stare holes through Thorax.

"Honey?!"

"Is dinner ready?" Nightlight asked.

"Oh, dear, I almost forgot about it. Be right back."

Dinner was served in silence. No pony said anything mostly because of Twilight's mom’s cooking. However, anypony could see that Night Light didn't like Thorax in the slightest. Thorax ate quietly next to Twilight as her dad kept sending Thorax death glares. Not wanting the meal to be ruined by ego, Twilight Velvet started up a conversation.

"I didn't know changelings ate food like ponies."

"Sometimes we do. We’re still researching what we can and can't eat."

Before Velvet could comment about that Night Light spoke up, "Do you still eat love?"

The mares in the room were shocked by Nightlight’s blunt, not to mention rude, question. "Nightlight!"

"It’s okay Ma’am," Thorax said to Velvet before addressing Nightlight, "No, sir. That’s in the past, thanks to Twilight and her friends."

"What do you plan to do with my daughter?"

Twilight couldn’t believe her Father right now. He had never acted this way before. She tried to get his attention, "Dad," however, it was as if she wasn't there. Her father's full attention was on Thorax.

"I thought that she already told you."

"I want to hear it from you."

"Okay. Nothing at the moment. We are having dinner after all," Thorax’s statement caused the mares at the table to put their hooves to their faces.

"Funny."

"I try to be. But I guess you want to know about something else. Okay then here is the deal. I plan on taking Twilight on a romantic walk under the stars of the canterlot gardens after dinner. Once I bring her back here, I will bid her goodnight and head back to my hive. I’ll return for her the next day to take her to the 'running of the leaves' in Ponyville for a friendly race with her friends. After that, I will take her out for a dinner date at a new restaurant in Ponyville. After we have enjoyed ourselves, I will take Twilight back to her castle, then bid her goodnight once again and return to my hive. Then on the final day of the week, everypony in this room will meet Princess Celestia in Castle Friendship to hear Twilight’s final decision on becoming my wife. If she will have me, then we will be wed, but if she says no, then I will respect her wishes and leave her in peace. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Thorax’s words had left everypony at the table speechless. Velvet was the first to regain her train of thought.

"Did you practice this speech Thorax?"

"No, Ma’am. Princess Cadence and Princess Luna helped me develop a schedule for courting Twilight shortly after she agreed to date me and had me memorize it."

"How thoughtful of them."

"Maybe," Nightlight spoked up. He wasn't done with Thorax by a long shot, "But from everything I have heard, you’re just courting my daughter because you need a wife. Not because you are in love with her," Nightlight then stood up from his seat. "I will not let Twilight marry some stallion that doesn't love my daughter more than I DO!"

Things were starting to escalate more than Velvet saw coming. She looked at Twilight and could see that she was staring at Thorax. Her only guess was that Twilight was hoping that Thorax would tell her dad that he was wrong about him. Velvet then looked at Thorax and was surprised to see that he was calm. Nervous, but calm.

Thorax took a deep breath and looked Nightlight in the eye, "I am in love with your daughter," Twilight started to blush. Velvet looked happy; however, Nightlight wasn't convinced.

"IS that so? Then why are you so willing to give up on her if she says no to you at the end of the week?"

"Because if you truly love somepony, you do what makes them happy. Even if it means never seeing them again."

Nightlight slumped down in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. "I got nothing. Finish your dinner and go on your walk, you two. But be back before midnight."

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't think this is over Thorax."

"I look forward to your next trial of my love for Twilight."