"What?" Umbra's food fell to the plate, her magic faltering in her surprise.
Cadance inclined her head left and right. "We're going on a date. I refuse to marry anypony I haven't been on some quality dates with. Are you available this evening?"
"So fast!"
"This entire engagement is fast," countered Cadance. "Consider it revenge, if you prefer. Now, do you have any other commitments this evening or not?"
Umbra considered her plans for the day. "There's Anik's cutie mark cenera, but that's in the afternoon. Nothing planned for the evening time."
"Wonderful." Cadance brought her hooves together quietly. "Then I will expect you to be in the front room at around six. I'll pick you up and we'll have a lovely time. Any food allergies I should know about?"
"The few I knew I had..." Umbra thought back to a life ago. "They seem to have been blasted away with a new body. A whole new immune system to get it right this time." That did not get much of an understanding look from Cadance. "Complicated stuff, but no, no allergies."
"Then I don't need to plan for that." This seemed to please her. "Anik got his cutie mark? How delightful. I'd love to attend, but I'll be busy performing royal duties this afternoon, and I can't... quite justify making a break for that. Still, be sure to tell him congratulations for me. What is it, if I may pry?"
"A cheerful little camping fire." Umbra clapped, thinking of it. "And he's so proud! My little fire wizard son. Way more focused than I am, and that's fine, but he's eager to master fire magic, and he and Morning are so cute working on it together!"
Cadance skewed an ear off. "That sounds violent. He seemed so nice."
"Don't be like that." Umbra pawed at Cadance. "I'm a shadow wizard of nightmares!" She flashed her best smile. "But I'm not violent, and neither is he. He'd rather chase away a wintry day or cook something tasty. Think of him like a friendly little sun. You wouldn't call Celestia violent, would you?"
Cadance sat up tall. "Hm, you have a point there. If he takes after auntie, calling him violent is a disservice. I hope he can bring some light and warmth to all the ponies he deals with then. Is fire his only specialty?"
"Yes... but no? His real specialty is light." Umbra pantomimed in the air as best she could. "Turning light to heat, and fire, is just where he started. He's not a wizard like me though. He hasn't shown any interest in learning proper unicorn magic. Anik's also not a unicorn, so there is that."
"There is that." Cadance slid to her hooves. "Still, congratulations to him. See you, and just you, this evening." She strolled off towards other business.
Umbra had her own business, and a party, to attend. She got off to start handling that.
That evening, Umbra showed up and waited in the entry of the palace, waiting patiently for what felt like forever. But then she came, but she wasn't alone.
There was Cadance, dressed exquisitely, with Shining Armor next to her, also dressed to the nines, both looking like proper state figures ready to hit the town. Shining waved as they came closer. "Hope you're ready to have some fun."
Umbra took an unsure step back. "I didn't know this was that kind of dinner! I feel naked." She had her cape and tiara and such, but she was not dressed for a fancy dinner.
Cadance reached up to tap at Umbra's plated chest. "You, my dear, look like a dashing shadow monster, and that's exactly who we want tonight. You're dressed just fine."
Shining whispered from the other side, "She wouldn't let me give you a heads up, sorry."
Umbra patted him as she turned, enough so he knew she wasn't cross at him. "If you're sure. So, where are we headed?"
Cadance strode for the door, head held high. "We could have dinner here in the palace, but that lacks that special touch. We're here most of the day." She started down the steps towards the street. "So, first step." She raised a hoof at an ornate carriage that waited for them. "We ride."
They all piled into the carriage, Shining and Umbra across from the smiling Cadance. "This place is one of the best in the city. I would know, I patronize it. I may have also bribed them into carrying some real feel good classics from Equestria proper."
Shining nodded from aside Umbra. "We've been there more than a few times. Great food! Good atmosphere too. Upperclass without being stuffy, you know?"
Umbra let out a releived sigh. "You have no idea how much pressure you just took off."
They arrived in front of a glittering eatery with a small lit fountain in front. A smiling stallion dressed as a proper servant greeted them, there even as the carriage slowed. "Excellent to see you today, Your Highnesses." He spotted Umbra. "And you, Great and Glorious!" He dipped his head at each of them in turn, each equal in depth. "Please, come right in."
Cadance pointed behind her as she emerged. "You can refer to her as 'Your Highness' as well. Hm, no, that may get confusing... Do you have a preference?"
Umbra twitched up her ears. "I hadn't given it a lot of thought... Umbra's nice." But that felt improper for the situation. "Mmm, Wizard then. You'll never offend me calling me that."
"Wizard!" agreed their greeter. "I've heard tales of your magic. Is it true, are you watching over our sleep now?"
Umbra started. She hadn't really tried to spread that rumor around... "Oh, um, yes... I am a creature of nightmares, so I know them well, and do my best to keep everyone safe."
"How curious!" If he had any opinion other than that, he didn't reveal it, leading them inside and getting them to a table. Soft music played, not by any magic or recording device. A band was actually playing the pleasing jazz-like tune for the enjoyment of the diners. "I'll be your waiter today." Just like that, the greeter became a waiter, offering menus and filling glasses. He was their one stop contact for all their needs. "If you want for anything at all, I will circle back around, or you can ring the bell. Cadie knows the one."
Cadance nodded at him. "Of course I do. Always nice to see you." She waved the waiter away and looked to the others. "Now, today's on me, so order whatever you want."
Umbra examined the menu curiously. There were numbers next to them. She wasn't sure what... Oh. Right.
Those were prices. Very high prices. It wasn't that Umbra couldn't afford it, she could, and Cadance had just said she was treating, still... "A little pricey?"
Shining swatted at the air in Umbra's direction. "They are importing half of it from outside the empire. This is the only place you can get most of this. That, unfortunately, has a price."
Cadance set her menu down, her mind made. "If I could just be anywhere I want, I'd skip over to Canterlot or Baltimare and get them at the source. This is the next best option other than just not having it. I've done my job, I deserve a little treat." She pointed at Umbra. "That goes for you too. Pick what you want."
There was a strong lack of crystal-themed options. Not a single crystal berry was harmed in the making of that menu. "What do you suggest?"
Poor fool, she had summoned Shining. He slid in next to her and began eagerly pointing out various options. "If you like fish--" He tapped one. "This really can't be beat. If pasta's more your thing..." He had an opinion on basically everything on the menu. "But it's all good! Ask the waiter for what he suggests you drink with it, he knows."
Umbra set her hoof on an option and pressed with the same to pin the menu down. "Now! Cadance, lovely thing, you invited me here for a reason, I feel sure. What is that reason?"
"If we are to wed." Cadance leaned forward towards Umbra. "Then we will do domestic things. That is what married ponies do. This--" She twirled a hoof in a small circle, indicating the room. "This is a domestic thing. It is also a thing I enjoy. I hope you enjoy it as well, and enjoy the time with me. Being married is a lot more than the time spent in the bedroom, as fun as that time can be."
Umbra flipped her ears back. "Well, just shoved a hoof right in my mouth there, sorry. I shouldn't be looking for gatchas... I'm happy to be here, with both of you." She tapped the item she had picked. "And thank you, Shining, for helping me settle on this."
Shining clapped his hooves with a big, goofy really, smile. "You're going to love it." He raised those same hooves to clop over his head.
"Dear." Cadance reached back and pulled a rope, causing a bell to jingle. "No need to make a scene."
Their waiter was on them in an instant. "Hey! You're looking ready to get the food moving." He gathered up their orders swiftly. "Can I get any drinks while we're waiting?"
"Lemondrop float, if you will." Cadance hummed with appreciation of the future treat.
Shining giddilly rubbed his hooves together. "Rootbeer fizzy!"
"Alright alright!" chimed the waited cheerfully, noting the order with his mouth-held quill. "And for you?" He was looking at Umbra.
Umbra folded her arms. "I'm not sure. Have any suggestions to go with what I ordered?"
"Of course! Now, I do have to ask, are you looking for something sweet, spicy, or something we shouldn't let the foals near?"
Ah, pony world, where booze wasn't the default assumption. Umbra smiled at the innocence of it. Though that reminded her that she had been without for a while... "Let's go with the 'adult option'." She waggled her brows. "Tonight is a fine night for libations to celebrate domestic life."
"To domestic life." Shining had no drink yet, but he joined the proposed toast.
Cadance nodded. "To domestic life. Thank you." She gently shooed the waiter away to fetch their orders. "Now, tonight, I want to hear what you like. The next domestic evening is on you." She pointed at Umbra. "Then Shining gets to plan one. We have a thing going, and you wanted to join us, so you get to take part. Being part of our union is more than who will make children with who."
Umbra sat up, considering that. "Huh... That's actually... I like it." She sank back into her cushioned seat. "I like it a lot. Alright. Let's act like a family outside of sharing breakfast. I've been focusing on magic, you know that. It's my 'thing'... Would you be mad if I showed off a little? I would be super happy to share some tips while I'm at it. You two could let me rub my magic all over you."
Shining laughed at that. "It's been a while since I sat down to learn some magic that way. Shield magic's the only one I reach for, um, on the day to day."
"You and my son! Branch out a little... Give it a try. If you don't like it, promise I won't try again."
Cadance dropped her head onto her hooves, knocked together as they were. "Oh, no, none of that. If you're doing this, commit. We're learning magic, even if we complain a lot. Learning to appreciate each other's little hobbies and fascinations is half the point. Now, just to warn, eating out is not my only hobby, or I'd be a lot rounder... Expect my nights to be spent enjoying this city we protect, and it has so many wonders to share with us."
Umbra giggled, hooves quivering in the air. "I'm getting even more excited. Shining, what do you like to do?"
"I'm really... eclectic."
Cadance smirked at that. "He dragged me to an art museum so fancy, even he had no idea what the art was trying to say. The time after that was a sports event at the arena." She angled her head in that direction. "Before that, comic convention. I know I won't be bored when Shining's turn comes around. Never the same thing twice." She fixed him with a fond look. "Just 100% Shining being a total dork."