//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Coming to Terms // Story: Love Among Princesses // by Betty_Starlight //------------------------------// I stared at the white alicorn mare with her lavender and neon green mane as she stared at me with her robin’s egg blue pupils and angrily declared, “You’re a lesbian now!” “Why are you dressed like a cowpony?” I ask her with a wide gaze as I also can’t help but notice that she’s wearing a dark brown Stetson hat with a darker brown duster style jacket over her back… She blinked from where she was standing in the middle of my throne room, “Uh, never mind that!” “You rule over Appaloosa and now you have to dress like that?” Her face shakes slightly, “Look! You’re a lesbian!” “And you’re dressed like a cowpony!” “Um,” she shakes her head. “Well, yeah! It’s my new princess attire you might say?” “You look like you’re about to conquer the badlands!” She blinks, “Okay, maybe I’ll talk to them about getting something more feminine? But uh…” “I was a lesbian?” She nods, “Yes! That!” “Well, right! The truth is, I never had any intention of getting with Celestia…” “So she came onto you then?” She asks with her right eyebrow raised. I nod, “This is true!” She frowns, “And you didn’t say no?” I frown as well, “Was I supposed to? I mean, she was really cute there with those sparkling eyes of hers and…” “She’s Princess Celestia!” “This is also true!” “And you’re the Princess of Love!” “That is also correct!” “Don’t you see the problem here?” My eyes widen, “There’s a problem?” She finally widens both her eyes to me vibrantly as she shouts, “You’re a lesbian!” I blink and nod, “Well, you keep saying these things that are true, but I don’t see the issue here?” She sighs out her mouth before looking at me and saying, “So you, the Princess of Love, are gay?” “Well, I’m a mare right?” Her eyes normalize and mouth scrunches, “Well, yes!” “And I’m dating a mare, yes?” She blinks, “Well, right! But um…” “Then I, Princess Cadance, the Princess of Love, am now gay!” My face raises and my voice becomes cheerful as I grin widely, “Was there anything else I could help you with?” and I smile. “Or were you about to hit that dusty trail again?” She stares at me with earnestness in her eyes as she says, “Mother, after I started classes, we never exactly had um, the best relationship, but uh…” I widen my gaze as I boldly yell, “You were screwing stallions in the locker room!” “We just did that one time!” “And what about that time near the White Tail Woods?” She gulps and stares back at me, “Okay, maybe I was a bit of a slut?” I frown, “A bit?” She sighs, “Okay, fine! But that’s behind me now and I’m dating somepony!” “A stallion!” She blinks, “Um, right! And you’re not!” I adjust my gaze to her, “No! I’m gay and am dating a mare!” She sighs deeply from her snout while staring back at me with those cute eyes of hers… I frown and finally just say the obvious, “Flurry, don’t you think you’re overlooking the most important thing here?” “And just what would that be?” “My happiness…” At that point, Flurry stopped to eye me carefully… She finally asks, “Well, are you happy with Celestia?” “Yes Flurry Heart, I am very happy with my marefriend, who happens to be none other than Princess Celestia!” She stares at me for another moment before asking, “Well, what do you think dad would think?” I frown, “Don’t you believe he’d want me to be happy after he passed away?” She nods, “Well, that’s true! But uh, you really want to be with another mare?” At that point, my resolve only galvanized in my mind as I furrowed my brow and said proudly in defiance, “Yes, Flurry Heart! I want to be with another mare!” and then I smile. “So, was there anything else?” “Ugh!” She angrily growls while rolling her eyes before focusing them back on me. “This isn’t over!” “Well, at least you’re talking to me again?” “That’s not the point!” “Oh? Well, what is the point Flurry Heart, because all I’ve heard is you complaining, ‘Oh, my mom is gay!’ And, ‘What would dad think? He wouldn’t want you happy if you were with another mare!’ Blah! Blah! Blah! Do you honestly have a complaint that actually matters or are you just wasting both of our times, again?” I say before giving my obstinate daughter a piercing glare from my eyes. She eyes me carefully before finally saying, “She’s Celestia!” I nod, “And retired! And I, Princess Cadance, the Princess of Love am single and therefore, free to date whomever I wish! There really isn’t a problem here!” as I eye her and decide that it’s not so much the gay that bothers her as the fact that it’s Princess Celestia… I know my daughter… I smile and finally ask the burning question, “So, tell me Flurry Heart! What is it about Princess Celestia that you don’t like?” She’s silent again before eventually saying, “She’s not dad…” I frown, “I know that baby, but you gotta understand that my beloved Shining Armor can no longer be with us!” She nods, “Because he was mortal!” “That’s right… But Celestia is not Flurry Heart… If we could ever just begin talking again and make amends where we left off, I think you could start to see a new side of her that you would actually enjoy!” She grimaces and huffs before turning to trot out of my throne room wordlessly… I raise from my throne to call to her! “Flurry Heart! Wait!” She magically opens the door to the throne room and trots out quickly as I sigh and lower my head at yet another failed attempt to reach my daughter… <*****> I sat at the blue table in the backroom behind the throne room and solemnly breathe out through my nostrils as my love stared at me with those lovely amethyst eyes of hers and declares, “So it didn’t go so well?” I sigh and look down before back up at her from the other side of the table, “Well, not exactly, no… She’s just so stubborn!” Celestia raises her right eyebrow, “And you’re not?” I stare back at her, “What do you mean?” She smiles, “Usually, when others are contrary like that, it’s because something is upsetting to them. I’m sure if you just figure out what that is, a resolution can be reached…” “Yeah! Us being together is what upsets her!” She frowns, “Why?” “Because you’re not Shining Armor…” “But he’s dead!” I widen my eyes, “Well, I know that, you know that, and she knows that, but it doesn’t seem to matter as I’m somehowstill with him now, even though I could’ve sworn the original vow I took proclaimed til’ death do us part!” She gazes at me carefully, “He’s dead now and you’re ready to move on, but Flurry Heart is not?” I sigh and gaze at my love carefully, “Well, yeah! That’s pretty much it Celestia…” She smiles and nods, “I will talk to her…” I frown in uncertainty, “Are you sure that’s such a great idea?” She snorts slightly, “Well, if she’s going to accept me as being with you, it would make sense for her to get to know me?” I stare at her carefully, “Right, but I keep thinking that if you go at this alone, she’ll just get more disobedient?” Celestia looks at me keenly and smiles, “There’s that word! Disobedient! That’s the sort of word you’d use to describe an obstinate foal!” I nod, “Well, right! Isn’t that what we’re talking about here?” “We’re talking about the current ruler of Appaloosa…” I stare at her carefully before smirking and giggling slightly under my breath, “Alright my love! You can talk to her!” She frowns, “I was not aware I needed permission?” At this point, I can only smile at her wit as my eyes grow shut in amusement, “Sh-shut up Celestia! Just go talk to her!” She chuckles and says, “As you wish!” before I feel her nose touch mine followed by a brief peck on the lips… <*****> I stared at the other princess from behind the table at the sleepy Canterlot restaurant, “Okay, so you wanted a neutral location, yes?” Celestia smiles back at me, “Well, that’s right!” I frown, “But why Donut Joe’s?” “Think about it! You’re in the Crystal Empire to the north!” I timidly reply, “Well, yes!” “And she’s in Appaloosa now, far to the south!” My eyes widen, “Oh! You wanted a place in-between!” She smiles, “Exactly!” “Okay, that explains Canterlot! But why here?” She continues to grin, “Well, I kinda have a sprinkle addiction!” I smirk and chuckle under my breath, “Okay, I need to know about all your addictions Cele! Uh, you’re addicted to cake?” She nods, “Most definitely!” “Anything else?” “Well, you know what pony smack is?” I frown as panic begins to surge through me, “Um, yes?” “Well, I’m not addicted to that!” My heart attack averts itself before I irately ask, “Then why even mention it?” She snickers, “To mess with you obviously!” her gaze raises to peer over me. “Flurry Heart! Over here sweetie! We need to talk!” Dread begins to set in again as I suddenly wonder what in Equestria I’m doing to say to her? I hear her shrill feminine voice yell from behind me, “What are you doing with my mother?” Celestia smiles, “Well, we were just having donuts and wanted to know if you’d like to join us?” I hear Flurry’s voice get closer with the faint clacking of her hooves behind me as she says back, “That’s not what I meant!” Celestia’s eyes widen, “Oh?” I can hear Flurry stop trotting from about 10 feet or so behind me in the tiny diner…. (To be continued…)