The sheets beneath Golden Dream felt like heaven. Soft and cool, sliding soothingly over her uncovered hooves as she shifted in the bed. She hummed softly despite herself. One of the boys must have gotten her back to the room, though she didn’t remember the sheets feeling this good…
“I think she’s waking up, Shiny.”
The young pegasus’ eyes snapped open in a panic at the familiar female voice, scrambling to sit up- only to be quite unable to move, a glimmering pink field around her. Princess Cadence was settled beside the bed, completely bereft of her royal regalia and her mane hanging loose, wet from a recent bathing. With the pink of the magic and the light from above, it was like staring at a goddess herself.
“P-princess…” Golden managed, trying to speak past a suddenly dry mouth, “Where… what’s going…”
Cadence smiled at her, negating her magic and leaning over to nuzzle a flattened ear. Golden shivered softly, closing her eyes as she leaned into the intimate act. Strawberries filled her strangely sensitive nose. This had to be a dream.
“Welcome back, Golden Dream,” Cadence whispered, leaning back on her haunches and still wearing that gentle smile, “You had us worried.”
“Knight tore you up pretty good.”
Golden peeked sheepishly to the side as Shining Armor trotted over to the bed, wearing an amused smile of his own, eyes kind and warm.
“How’re you feeling?” he asked quietly, settling down beside Cadence and leaning into her side, “The healers said everything was fixed up, or healing correctly.”
Instinctively, Golden flexed her wings, finding them bound to her sides; aside from the expected soreness, there was nothing that struck Golden as immediately wrong.
‘Thank Eros.’
“N-no sir, I feel okay,” she replied, only to blush at both pony’s scrunched muzzles.
Cadence shook her head quickly, reaching up to gently take Golden’s firm forehoof.
“No titles, no honorifics here,” she told her quietly, giving a smile to ease the sting of the admonishment, “You won the tournament, after all. You’ve earned this.”
‘Now. Do it now.’
Golden Dream shook her head quickly, ears perking up as she stared intensely at the two royals.
“N-no, Pri… no, Cadence,” she managed shakily, “I-I don’t… I don’t want your love because I won the tournament. That’s not… real.”
Golden’s free hoof pawed nervously over the silken sheets, hoping her expression would portray what she meant to the two, as she took a moment to steady herself. Shining was nodding, the smile having not left his handsome jaw for a moment.
He waved a hoof, “Take your time. Tell us what you need to.”
“Heh, it… will sound pretty cheesy.”
That got a smirk out of Cadence, who ran her feathers up Shining Armor’s back and neck.
“If I didn’t like cheese, I wouldn’t have married him,” she explained with a wink, “Tell us. Please.”
Golden Dream nodded, sheepishly draping her hoof over Cadence’s, while she stared down at the sheets.
“My family is focused on history, ever since our banishment. Keeping it, holding it, reading it. I’ve read every book there is on knighthood and its history, and its myths. That… that includes many of the old romances, and the tales of marriage-alliances.”
Amber eyes flicked up- but neither pony had cracked a sardonic grin- their expressions were merely curious.
‘Huh.’
“When I heard about the Changeling attack, I… I heard about you two. Your love alone threw the Changelings out of the city! You defeated a Queen, without every lifting a hoof. You… I…”
“You’re Erosian, right?” Cadence asked softly, tilting her head, “We saw the tattoos.”
Golden’s cheeks lit up intensely with a blush. Her toned barrel was entirely covered in fur and skin tattoos, the sweeping patterns colored a soft pink and running from the top of her chest, down to her stomach, and along each leg.
“Y-yes,” she whispered sheepishly, “M-most of my father’s side is Lunarian, but all of my mother’s side is Erosian. The uh, tattoos are-”
“Poems.”
Golden stared up at Cadence wide-eyed, her blush slowly rising, “Y-you can read…”
“Old Imperial script?” Cadence was grinning cheekily, and blushing somewhat herself, “I can. The tattoos are all poems from ‘The Tale of Crystal Heart’ epic, with mine and Shining’s names added in place of Lady Snowswirl and Sir Guardian close to the climax of the poem. Hrm...”
Shining Armor was blinking, a slow grin rising on his muzzle and Golden ducked her head.
‘Bed, please be enchanted and swallow me whole, okay? Thanks.’
Golden let out a slow breath, tail swishing slowly over the bed. Despite herself, the pegasus found herself relaxing in their presence, their grins and very nature soothing.
“I took an interest in you both, as did my House. We studied your philosophies and actions, and watched you rebuild the Empire into what it is today. You’re amazing monarchs.”
That got a sheepish look between the two ponies, and the competitive part of Golden gave a little victory dance. Ahem.
“Father wanted to come and beg an audience, see about becoming your sworn vassals, but…”
“The news broke,” Cadence finished softly, ears laying back as Golden nodded in reply.
“I knew exactly what was going to happen,” Golden whispered, frowning at the bed, “Every noble would come out of the woodwork to try to join your herd, no matter what they felt about you two as ponies. I couldn’t let that happen. We’re better than our past, because we can learn from it!”
The last part came close to a shout, Golden’s eyes closing for a moment, regaining her calm.
“But… to the point, of all this.”
Golden Dream pressed her lips together and sat up straight, ignoring the twinge of pain in her back.
“Your reputation and your family has been made safe. You deserved, at the very least, that. It was my duty, as a right and proper knight of Equestria.”
She locked eyes with the monarchs, “I will act in whatever manner befits a consort, and my family will serve you as loyal vassals, always. D-do not feel a need to add me into your family proper, just let me know what I can do to make your lives easier.”
Formality soothed her nerves, and she bowed low, wings twitching in their bonds as she instinctively attempted to stretch them out.
“Is this agreeable?”
There were several heart-stopping seconds of pause, and Golden was severely tempted to break protocol and look up at them. Their twin chuckles, light and almost mischievous, was… not what she expected, though.
“Deal. However.”
Cadence lifted Golden’s chin, and it was all the knight pony could do to not lose herself in their depths.
“You join our lives,” she went on, smiling warmly, “See how we live, meet our family, let us court you. We don’t have to be quick about it; we can take our time. You’ve earned that, at the very least.”
Shining nodded, ears perked forward, “We like you, Golden Dream, and want to learn more about you, and let you learn about us. Does that sound okay?”
Damn right it did. A little spark of hope lit in her chest- only for Golden to smash it down. Deep breaths. These were royals. This… was her duty. She managed a smile up at her princess, tail giving a little twitch.
“Yes, Cadence, Shining. Heh, I can do that.”
*****************
“Ha, there she is!”
Golden Dream looked away from Cadence and blinked as the trio walked out of the bedroom, an embarrassed blush racing up her neck and cheeks. Princess Sparkle herself was waiting for them, smiling warmly- and out of her own regalia. Admittedly, it was a good look for her, much better than her expression while on the ring. Behind her stood another Element of Harmony, Ser Rainbow Dash. She was standing quite close to the princess; Golden’s eyes widened just slightly as she took in their feathers, curled around each other.
‘Wow…’
The baronet began to bow, but the princess quickly shook a hoof, chuckling.
“None of that; we’re both royals now,” she began, then blinked as Cadence twitched an ear to interrupt.
“Not quite, Twi,” Shining spoke up, grinning, “We aren’t doing the wedding for a little bit yet. Right now, Golden Dream is going to be staying with us, in the attached guest room, and coming with us as we live. She wanted to see how our family works, what our lives are like.”
Golden was surprised at the sudden smile that had overtaken both the mares at that explanation, Twilight giving a little happy bounce on all four hooves. Rainbow grinned as she met Golden’s eyes.
“Yeah? Well awesome; when you’re healed up then, why don’t you and me get in the ring?” she asked cheerfully, ignoring the incredulous look from Twilight, “No weapons, no armor. Just two ponies, fighting hoof to hoof. Friendly bout, no honor on the line.”
“Rainbow, are you nuts?! She’s hurt! Can you not compete for five-”
“Of course, Ser Dash.”
Twilight gaped over at the grinning pegasus; Golden like the cut of this mare’s jib, and was grinning genuinely as she nodded to her.
“Give me a few days, and I think I can honor that request. I’ve heard of your battles against the Changelings. It’ll be fun.”
Twilight sighed, and glared over at Shining, “If it isn’t you, it’s her, and now her! I have a medical magic certification because of you all!”
“Aww, you’re welcome, Twily. Where’s mom and dad?”
The princess rolled her eyes but tilted her head back towards the door to the far left, “Having tea with the Bolts.”
Golden Dream tensed immediately, eyes widening slightly. Oh. Well buck. She blushed furiously as Cadence’s warm wing draped over her back, sky magic gently sparkling between the feathers, and Shining gently flicked his tail against her flank. Rainbow smiled softly at Golden’s expression, shaking her head.
“Nah, don’t worry about them. Night Light and Twilight Velvet are cool. They approve of me, and I’m some no-name mare from Cloudsdale.”
“And an Element of Harmony.”
That got a little, annoyed snort out of her, “Yeah, well, that doesn’t mean as much as you’d think… come on.”
Rainbow Dash turned to lead them all through, Cadence and Shining gently urging Golden along towards their entertaining room; Twilight’s magic gently opened the twin oaken doors. It was built like an enlarged study, with several bookshelves lining the walls and surrounding three large couches, around a coffee table. Aurem Wind and Aurora Gleam were settled side by side, sipping at tea cups held in their primaries, while Silver Switch and Thunder Clap settled calmly on the other side of the couch. All of them turned and beamed as the royals walked inside, getting to their hooves.
“At ease, please,” Cadence spoke up quickly, grinning, “I hope you all are having a good time?”
“A delightful time, your highnesses,” Aurem replied softly, bowing his head slightly before settling back down, the family following his lead, “How is my daughter?”
Shining nodded over to Twilight, who smiled at Aurem warmly, “She will be fine, Baron Wind. Just needs a few days rest.”
Aurora sighed in relief, smiling at Golden gently before starting to twitch her ears and move her hooves in complicated gestures. A puckered scar could just be made out around the center of her neck, and a small jewel on her ears lit up as a recorded female voice began to speak. Aurora had been mute since before Golden was born, though she had never gotten the story of how or why from anypony in the family. It tended to throw most ponies off, but thankfully none of the royals seemed the least bit phased.
“I am glad you are alright, Golden. We were worried. The Duke sent congratulations.”
Golden flicked an ear in surprise but smiled slightly at that, nodding, “I will be sure to write him a thank you then; thanks, mother. Father, the hammer-”
“Is with your cousins now,” he interrupted with an indulgent smile, “An excellent fight. I am proud of you.”
Emotion welled up in Golden’s chest, and she let Cadence help her onto the free couch; the royals settled warmly on either side of her as Aurem went on.
“But we’ve talked enough. You have new family to speak with, I believe.”
Duke Night Light laughed softly and shook his head; his voice was an ear-pleasing tenor, matching a kind face wrinkled by laugh lines.
“No, no, don’t let us interrupt your congratulations,” he replied quickly, nodding to Golden Dream, “That was an intense final bout, though…”
“The Earth Pony had me worried more, admittedly,” Duchess Velvet added quickly, frowning over at the duelist, “How is your neck?”
It did ache still, especially when Golden shook her head, “It’s fine, Duchess, but thank you for the concern. I apologize that you had to see that.”
Twilight Velvet gave a low snort, and her face was nearly identical to Twilight Sparkle’s with its scowl. Her teal eyes locked with her daughter’s, and she relaxed at a terse nod that Golden barely caught. Cadence cleared her throat softly, wing gently squeezing Golden Dream- her blush and a liiiittle bit of brain splutter banished the dark thoughts.
“Everyone. Golden Dream will be marrying into the family. But before we hold the ceremony, we want Golden Dream and her family to live here, and see what our family has to offer, beyond titles.”
Aurem looked a little surprised, but Aurora was smiling happy, crystal blue eyes sparkling even more than usual. Night Light grinned over at Velvet for a moment before turning back to Golden’s parents.
“Then I think we should show you around the city, while your daughter recovers and is with Cadence and Shining. Trust me, waiting for them to get out of Court can be tedious, and we’ve found a few very nice places around town.”
Shining gave a slight grunt, “Oh yeah, we have Court tomorrow. Lovely.”
Golden Dream had to frown at that, looking between them. Admittedly, she had never gone to a Royal Court before, but with those sounds and looks… hrm.
“May I go with you both?” she asked quietly, and blinked at their twin grins.
Oh dear.