As the couple emerged from the castle’s main doorway, they were confronted with the splendid sight of Celestia’s Royal chariot waiting for them at the foot of the stairs. All their friends had gathered to admire the spectacle and cheered enthusiastically as the couple appeared, Applejack giving a wolf-whistle and Rainbow a suggestive wink.
Starlight tucked her head into Sunset, partly to avoid the sudden glare of attention, but also she recognised something powerful and protective about the flame maned pony that she admired, something that she felt she needed in her current vulnerable state, and just the act of nuzzling her kindled a flame deep within her. Rarity and Fluttershy saw her coyly snuggling into Sunset’s neck and both let out appreciative “aaah” sounds at the same time.
Sunset led Starlight to the chariot and offered her forehoof to assist her date in climbing in, which she accepted graciously and was the first to settle herself into her seat. Sunset walked round to thank the Royal charioteers and confirm they were happy with the address they were going to in town.
“That’s not very far, Ma’am” observed the lead charioteer, “Would you perhaps like us to take a slight detour, such as a tour over Ponyville?
“Thank you, that would be a marvellous idea” replied Sunset with a smile, “We don’t get to fly that often.”
She walked back and climbed up next to Starlight, drawing herself close enough to whisper in her ear that they were going to get a flight as well as everything else. Starlight watched expectantly as Sunset sat down and moved close to her then turned and extended her head. Thinking her moment had come, she turned her head too, closed her eyes, puckered her lips and craned forward to receive her first kiss. Sunset found herself unable to stop in time to prevent her meeting Starlight’s waiting lips, in fact it was all she could do to arrest her own momentum and avoid bumping into her hard as Starlight had closed the gap between them by extending to meet her.
When their lips touched, it was a sensuous pucker from Starlight, but Sunset had more of a frozen “eeek” etched across her face. She listened as their friends once again all joined in with a loud “aaah” sound and knew she couldn’t deny her date this one gesture, so responded to the kiss as delicately as she could. Inwardly, she was fighting it, because everything about her past told her she was not into mares, but the gentle sensation took her completely by surprise.
It was only a quick kiss, which under the circumstances suited her fine, but it still left her speechless as she came to terms with it not being anything like as bad as she had worried it would be. She had kissed guys before, many times, and even though she was now a pony in Equestria, this was way more sensual than any she could remember. She sensed an unusual soaring feeling taking over and stared into Starlight’s eyes, wondering if this was what kissing her was supposed to feel like; then she noticed they were airborne.
They stayed close to each other while the chariot flew out over the Everfree as far as the abandoned Castle of the Two Sisters. When they got there, they orbited around it a few times, marvelling at how spooky it looked from every angle in the last dying rays of the sun, before returning to Ponyville and landing just outside the night club.
The traffic stopped as the Royal chariot came to a halt and everypony strained to see who the privileged passengers may be. Sunset stepped down, offering her hoof to Starlight who took it lovingly. One or two passers by thought they may have recognised Starlight, but the exotic flame maned beauty beside her remained mysterious and enigmatic and both drew gasps of admiration from the forming crowd.
Leading them into the night club, Sunset stood before the Maître d’, waiting for him to look up from the list of reservations for the evening.
“Bonsoir mesdames” he said, finally breaking away from the list of scribbled notes before him.
“Bonsoir a vous aussi, Monsieur” replied Sunset, “Avez-vous une réservation pour nous, s’il vous plait?”
“Enough!” he cried, shocked, “Too fast – I don’t understand you!”
“Sorry” said Sunset, “ It kinda sounded like you were speaking in French …”
“Um, yes” he confided, looking around to make sure he was not overheard, “My father was French, but he disappeared before I grew up, so I never actually learned French. It’s all an act for the customers.”
“Oh, OK then” she smiled, “Reservation for Sunset Shimmer please?”
They could see his eyes running down the list, but became discouraged when they saw his head start to shake slowly.
“Boss! Boss!” came a breathless voice, “It’s Princess Celestia! Her chariot’s outside!”
The Maître d’ looked up at Sunset quizzically and asked simply, “You …?”
She locked him in her gaze, raised a single eyebrow and nodded slowly. Forehoof trembling, he reached tentatively for another book, opening the pages to reveal a single entry.
“Ah, I see it now, Princess Sunset du Miroir de Cristal” he gasped, awestruck, “A reservation made by Princess Celestia herself!”
“Yes, that would be us.”
“Your Majesties!” he acknowledged, bowing deeply, “Clearly you are wishing to remain incognito; I understand entirely. We have a special table for you tonight as our first Royal guests; upstairs where you won’t be disturbed, but with the best view of the stage in the house!”
“Thank you.”
“Would you like us to take care of the charioteers for you?” he continued.
“Yes” concurred Sunset, “Please see to it they are given what they want.”
“I shall see to it personally, Princess” he grovelled, “But first, if you would care to follow me please?”
They ascended a flight of plush carpeted stairs at the top of which the Maître d’ opened a door to reveal an opulently appointed room overlooking a balcony with a picture perfect view of the stage.
“If everything is in order, may I take your capes please Princesses?” he asked reverently.
“Thank you” agreed Sunset, “If you would be so kind.”
He helped them out of their capes which he ensured were hung carefully at the back of the private room and then returned to fuss over his guests as they were seated.
“Please allow me to get your choice of drinks while you make your choice from the menu” he said passing out two gilt edged drinks lists and standing back to give a respectful space for his first vip guests.
Just at that point, a couple of very attractive young palomino mares came out onto the stage to start their act and Sunset quickly placed an order for a bottle of Chardoneigh to which Starlight nodded in agreement.
As they heard the door close behind them, Starlight leaned over and whispered, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Getting Princess Celestia to make the reservation, the flight in her chariot and for speaking French fluently, and …” she faltered, ”Just for being so kind to me.”
Sunset turned to face her and saw deep, intense gratitude written all over Starlight’s face.
She wanted to say how it had been Twilight who had called in a favour from Celestia and how it had never even been her intention to come on a date with her, but Starlight just looked so much like she needed somepony to make her feel special that she didn’t have the heart to. Instead, she just leaned over and placed her puckered lips on Starlight’s. This time, she truly meant it.
A respectful knock at the door announced the return of the Maître d’ with their wine and the two mares slowly disengaged from each other, staring into each other’s eyes for way longer than friends ever did, even good friends. He knocked again, this time suspending the precious bond of magic that connected the two mares.
“Come in” croaked Sunset in a voice she didn’t recognise as her own.
He entered carrying a silver wine bucket which he placed on the table with barely a sound other than a gentle slosh of the melting ice around the wine bottle as it settled within its icy grip. In a single deft movement, he slid in his napkin covered hoof and rescued the wine, uncorking it with a practiced flourish unnoticed by his two guests and poured a soupçon for Sunset to approve. She just stayed riveted to Starlight’s eyes until her date made upward movements with her eyes to prompt her.
“Oh, sorry” she apologised, taking a sip, “Sorry, I was miles away.”
“Do not worry, Princesses” he replied knowingly, “We pride ourselves on being discrete. I will be returning in about twenty minutes with your orders and will of course knock first.”
Before he left, he added one further thing.
“The entertainment gets a little more risqué after 9 pm; if this is not to your taste, you can draw the curtain down here …” he demonstrated, “But if not, I hope you will enjoy the show.”
Then he left, leaving the two young mares alone.
On the stage, the act was drawing the attention of every patron in the house, except for two at a table of their own, who were more intent on sharing each other’s company over a bottle of wine.