“...carried her by the scruff of her neck all the way back to town!” Night Light said, laughing. “Anyway, the doctors say my eyebrows will eventually grow back.”
“It’s your own fault for teasing her,” Velvet said. “You had to know what would happen.”
Night Light shrugged “I was a little giddy since we actually managed to survive.”
“I didn’t think we’d manage it.” Velvet sighed and leaned back in the hospital bed, closing her eyes. “I still feel like I could sleep for a week.”
“Well, once you’re done, maybe we could go get something to eat?” Night Light asked.
Velvet looked at him, smiling. The stallion’s cheeks were burning red and he couldn’t quite look at her.
Somepony knocked at the door.
“Am I interrupting something?” Princess Celestia asked, one hoof in the room already, her expression difficult to read.
“Princess!” Night Light gasped, bowing. Velvet started to get up to do the same.
“No, please, there’s no need,” Celestia said. She stepped in and closed the door behind her. “I owe both of you a great debt. You defended Equestria when I wasn’t able to. For that, you have my eternal thanks.”
Celestia bowed her head.
“I had trouble beating them myself when I imprisoned them the first time. I can only imagine the kind of difficulty you had. Even my student admitted she couldn’t have done it without your help, which makes me think it must have been a nearly impossible task.”
“Sunset doesn’t seem like the type to shy away from taking credit,” Velvet agreed.
“Indeed. And she spoke highly of both of you.” Celestia paused. “Well, she said you ‘weren’t entirely useless’, which is perhaps the highest praise I’ve heard her give anypony. I’m still working on lessons about humility. She prefers being taught how to blow things up with her mind.”
“She’s very good at it,” Night Light said.
“Interestingly, Princess Cadance has agreed to move to Canterlot after this little mess. Apparently, she wants to be closer to her friends.” Princess Celestia smiled. “I hope you won’t mind that I added you to the guest list for her coronation.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Twilight Velvet said.
“Excellent.” Celestia nodded. “It will at least be a start in repaying everything Equestria owes you for your service.”
“O-oh, no,” Velvet sat up. “There’s no need, Princess. It was just what anypony would have done!”
“The day that anypony and everypony would put their lives on the line for others the way you did is the day that Equestria truly is a paradise,” Celestia said, quietly. “I am satisfied for now that there are ponies as brave as you four were.”
“What’s going to happen now?” Night Light asked.
“Whatever is left of the pookas and the damage they did is being dealt with. Within a few seasons, Veneighs will look just as it used to. Or it will finally decide to sink into the water.” Celestia shrugged. “I’m amazed it’s still standing after all this time.”
“Half of it is, anyway,” Velvet said, feeling a little guilty.
“Ah yes, that reminds me,” Celestia said. “Cadance wanted me to pass along a message. I believe it’s a list of ideas on how a mare and stallion could get to know each other, and some other advice that she felt compelled to pass along.”
Celestia passed a scroll over to Velvet.
“‘Don’t eat anything with a lot of garlic,’” Velvet read. “‘Strong odors are distracting when trying to kiss.’”
She groaned and put the scroll down without reading the rest.
“Princess Cadance takes romance very seriously,” Celestia noted, doing an amazing job of keeping a straight face.
“Too seriously,” Velvet mumbled.
“I’ll let you two get back to what you were doing,” Princess Celestia said. “Feel free to come by the palace whenever you wish as my guests. I know when Cadance arrives, she’ll be glad of the company.”
“Of course, your highness,” Velvet said.
Princess Celestia nodded and paused in the doorway.
“I’ll have reservations made at one of the better Canterlot restaurants for you,” Celestia said. “The bill will go to the palace. Consider it a token of my appreciation, Dame Velvet.”
The Princess smiled and left before either could say anything in return.
“Dame Velvet?” Twilight Velvet asked.
“I didn’t know you were nobility,” Night Light said, surprised.
“I’m not!”
“You might be now,” Night Light noted.
“Urgh…” Velvet groaned, lying back.
“You want me to go ask?”
“No! Just… stay here.” She grabbed his hoof, blushing. “Let’s go over that list Cadance sent us.”
“Right,” Night Light said, picking up the scroll. “Where did you leave off?”
“No garlic.”
“Okay, let’s see…” He leaned into Velvet so they could both see the scroll. “The next part is about how to show affection in public.”
“Let’s go over that in detail…”