//------------------------------// // As Long As You Love Me // Story: Mi Amore // by Dusk Quill //------------------------------// The night was cooling down with each passing minute. It was still only February, after all. The lingering traces of the coming spring were left in hints of warmth on the breeze, but the overall weather was cold. But between pacing back and forth on the terrace outside Canterlot Castle, Fleethoof didn’t feel a thing. He was too worked up to notice the chill in the air. His hooves clopped noisily against he stone beneath him, taking deep breaths to try and calm himself down. Music played from the ballroom the terrace was attached to, coming from some Hearts and Hooves Day party inside. It looked like a dance. Through the glass wall, Fleethoof could see couples dancing together as love songs and romantic music filled the hall. The panicking pegasus sat down and leaned against the balustrade, staring up into the heavens of Luna’s majestic night. The princess had really gone all out for the occasion. Stars glimmered and twinkled by the hundreds. The moon hovered high in the sky, casting a silvery veil over the land. But what topped everything were the faint traces of celestial clouds and the aurora borealis rippling through the inky blue canvas of the nighttime sky. It took his breath away. Despite gazing at the beauty above him, Fleethoof’s mind couldn’t stop worrying, thoughts buzzing like angry hornets inside his head. What did Cadance do with Shining Armor? Was she questioning him about the letter? Did she figure out he was the one who wrote it? Of course she had to know by now. Shining Armor would have honestly admitted to not knowing a thing about it, and that narrowed the suspect pool just slightly. He was so screwed. What was he going to say when Princess Cadance arrived? Should he play it cool, just brush it off and act like nothing was going on? Should he pretend he didn’t care, or it was a joke? Should he just throw himself at her hooves and grovel for mercy and forgiveness? Maybe she’d make his death a quick and painless one… What if she didn't even show up at all? Or maybe he should be honest with her. Cadance had always pushed him to be open with her, to stop hiding secrets in his life. Maybe this was a good time to practice what she preached. What was the worst thing that could happen if he admitted the truth? She could stare at me in horror, or laugh, or think I’m making a joke, or hate me and never speak to me again and leave me behind while she moves on with her life, Fleethoof thought in a panicked frenzy. Oh yeah, there’s that. But what was on the flip side? What was the best thing that could come from this? His heart flipped about in his chest as he envisioned a scene reminiscent from a cheesy romance novel sold at all the corner stores in Canterlot. On paper, it all looked so ridiculous, cliché, and overplayed. But in person… Are you bucking insane? That stuff only happens in fiction! And this isn’t a story! This is reality! his brain screamed back at him, filling his soul with dark dread again. I’ve gotta get out of here. Bail. Just bail. Make up some excuse. Create some cataclysmic tragedy that you have to go stop with your team, and tell Cadance in a few days! She’ll never know the difference! “Good evening, Fleethoof.” Buck it all to the fiery infernos of Tartarus! Of course that sweet, sweet voice would have to call out now… Fleethoof turned swiftly and smiled meekly at the approaching princess. “Cadance, hi.” “Is something wrong?” she asked casually as she came up beside the now tense pony, sweat beading at his forehead. “No—no! Nope! Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s fine,” he replied, biting down on his tongue before he started rambling like Shining Armor. “How was dinner?” “It was very nice. I got to catch up with Shining a bit.” “Was it like a date or something?” Cadance cast a suspicious, sideways glance at the pony. “Why Fleethoof, is that jealousy I detect?” The stallion snorted once as he choked back an uneasy chuckle. “No! I just thought it would make sense. I mean, he gives you flowers, a card, and a letter that’s obviously so embarrassing you use it as blackmail.” “You have a keen eye for deduction, Fleet,” she said with a nod. “Actually, yes, I suppose in that case it was a date. I mean, he did confess to writing that letter.” Fleethoof’s body straightened up and his eyes widened in disbelief. “He did?” “Mmhmm, every last lovely word.” All at once, Fleethoof felt his heart wrench in his chest. Shining Armor had taken credit for his letter? He didn’t know how to feel about that. Angry? Upset? Betrayed? Shining didn’t know what was on it. Maybe he was trying to protect him? But Cadance looked so happy about it. He was taking the reward for something he didn’t do! Wait—did she just say... lovely? “Well, that’s very brave of him,” Fleethoof stated blandly, trying to hide the scowl in his voice. “What did the letter say that was so wonderful?” “Oh, he wrote the most beautiful words,” cooed Cadance, smiling dreamily as she stared up at the stars. “It made my heart flutter when I read it.” “Did it?” He was grinding his teeth together now, pressing his hooves hard against the ground. “It did! Here, listen to some of it.” With a burst of magic, Cadance produced the letter. “To my most beautiful Princess Cadance. Words cannot begin to describe everything that you mean to me. You matter more to me than the entire world. Without you near me, Equestria feels—” “Equestria feels like the dead of winter: cold, harsh, unforgiving…” Fleethoof said aloud, reciting the words burned into his memory with the princess, not noticing that she had stopped reading now as he stared into dark space. “You breathe life into my winter. You bring light into my dark world. Without you, I would have been lost to the fire and the shadow. You, my saving grace, make me feel like a true stallion—but more, you make me feel like a hero.” Both ponies were silent for a long moment. Fleethoof continued to stare up at the stars, feeling a stray tear roll down his cheek as he released emotions he’d bottled up for so long. He swallowed back a knot in his throat. A soft smile touched Cadance’s lips as she let the words settle into her heart. She folded up the letter and stowed it away again. “Shining Armor didn’t write the letter…” Another long pause. It was a statement, not a question. “Did he?” “No,” Fleethoof finally admitted, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter though. You believed it was him.” A forgiving sigh came from Cadance. “You never learn, do you, Fleet? I knew it was you all along. I just had to hear you say it.” Fleethoof’s brow furrowed as he tore his gaze away from the skies and back down to the mare seated beside him. She had known all along? Even after all the stress and worry she’d put him through? And she’d taken Shining Armor out? Why? All these questions he wanted to ask her, but the stallion suddenly found himself tongue-tied as he stared into Cadance’s opulent violet eyes. Under the starlight, they seemed to sparkle, the way he had noticed long ago, in Saddle Arabia. That moment seemed so long ago now. “You’ve always had trouble expressing yourself, Fleet,” said Cadance, speaking softly, her voice as gentle as silk. “But I’ve learned you after all this time. You just need a little push sometimes to get started. I knew you wouldn’t tell me on your own unless I left you no choice but to tell me.” She was an evil genius. Fleethoof had quickly come to realize this. Perhaps all mares were evil geniuses. It would certainly explain a lot. But even after learning she had tricked him into admitting his authorship of the letter, he couldn’t bring himself to feel even the slightest negative emotion. She made him feel like nopony else. Fleethoof could feel himself beginning to breathe faster, more shallowly. Nervousness and anxiety was taking a hold of his core again. She knew. She knew everything. There was nowhere left to hide. There was no more cover to take. It was just the two of them. “But you did write this,” she continued, musing to herself. “So you have learned to express your emotions, at least in an indirect way. I’m surprised—and proud.” His breathing quickened again. Fleethoof was right on the edge of hyperventilating. Cadance saw this, and giggled softly before gently touching his shoulder, catching his attention swiftly. “Fleet, calm down. Just breathe,” Cadance said, bringing a hoof up to her chest as she inhaled, and sweeping it away on the exhale, miming it for him to follow. Fleethoof took a deep breath with Cadance, repeating her actions while exhaling slowly, doing his best to keep from passing out. “I’m sorry, I just… I feel like I’m in the field, and my cover’s been blown.” Cadance giggled and rolled her eyes. “Do you ever stop thinking about work?” “Hey, that’s my life you’re talking about,” he remarked, smiling nervously. “You can relax, Fleethoof. I’m not going to bite you, promise.” Fleethoof chuckled weakly, and slowly began to relax his posture. He repeated the breathing technique she had just showed him. Then, as quickly as he had eased up, Cadance gave him her best bedroom eyes and smirked. “Unless you like that, of course.” And the stallion’s eyes went wide again, mimicking those breathing techniques as he took several more rapid deep breaths. “Kidding! Kidding!” Cadance quickly interjected, laughing lightly. “Don’t do that to me!” “Sorry, you’re just too much fun!” Fleethoof huffed and tried to get his breathing back under control. “So if you knew it was me all along, why didn’t you just call me out in the tavern?” “Oh, that’s simple. Because then we wouldn’t have gotten this moment.” Cadance waved to the silvery gardens around them, and the starry sky up above. “Plus I thought saving you some face wouldn’t hurt.” Fleethoof smirked a little bit, glad that she had given him that little generosity. He leaned up against the balustrade again, staring off into darkness. Cadance studied him from her position at his side. He was always so brooding. His thoughts were a dark enigma to the princess. Ever since she had met him, she knew there was always more to him to figure out. He was like an ever-changing puzzle that she couldn’t stop trying to put together. “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do now, now that you know… well, everything,” Fleethoof said. “What do I do with all this? I didn’t expect to get this far.” Cadance was quiet for a moment, mulling it over. “Well, I’m here now. What do you want to do?” Cadance had her hoof on his shoulder. The two ponies locked gazes again. Fleethoof could feel his face warm and his shoulder tingle where she touched him. He could think of a dozen different things he could do in this one instance. Several didn’t seem quite appropriate for the situation. Leaping off the terrace was definitely out of the question. “I tried not to love you, but it only went so far... Maybe I wanted to get caught this time.” “So this is love now?” She smirked teasingly at him. “You’re the Princess of Love, expert on all things romantic,” he said in remark. “You tell me.” “And why did you want to get caught?” Her question certainly had merit. But even he didn’t know the reasoning behind that. “Maybe I didn’t want to hide my feelings anymore?” he guessed, shrugging. Cadance laughed. “Fleethoof, you know you don’t have to hide your feelings from me. You really can’t anyway. I could sense everything you were feeling.” He was quiet for some time as he thought this over. “Saddle Arabia?” She nodded. “I definitely felt it then.” “The train station?” “Yes.” “Coming back from the Griffon Kingdom?” A grin touched Cadance’s lips. “That was more like lust. Not as strong, but yes.” “You can sense lust too?” asked Fleethoof, raising a brow in curiosity. “It’s an emotion tied to love and the heart,” the princess pointed out, and said, “So yes, I can.” Fleethoof chuckled nervously and rolled his eyes. “Oh boy, am I screwed…” His comment made Cadance laugh, a proper, light-hearted laugh. It made him smile. As had become his habit, he studied the way the moonlight reflected off her multicolored mane. The way her eyes seemed to shine. The sweet, airy tone of her voice. And her smile that could melt ice and turn nightmares into dreams. “You’re always prying into my emotions,” said Fleethoof suddenly, shifting his weight to face her properly. “Why don’t you tell me some of yours for a change?” Cadance smirked back at him, tapping a hoof thoughtfully against her chin. “Alright, that sounds fair. If you do something for a change too.” “And what’s that?” “In due time,” she hummed. Fleethoof didn't know if he liked the way she had said that. “I like you, Fleethoof. You’re a sweet, caring, devoted pony who gives all of himself and asks for nothing in return. You’re powerful in body and spirit. It’s very admirable. But you do worry me…” The pegasus cocked his head to the side curiously. “I worry you?” Cadance pursed her lips and nodded, tracing a hoof across the thin scar running across his chest. Her touch left electricity running through his body. “I worry that I’m going to lose you too quickly.” Fleethoof’s breathing stopped again. Flashbacks to Saddle Arabia flashed through his mind. Cadance really was worried about losing him. It made his heart skip a beat. “I’ll stop risking my life then.” His smile was all too genuine and willing. “I’ll resign, walk away from Skyfall.” “You’d give up your entire career and life for me?” asked Cadance, an incredulous look in her eyes. “If you asked me to. I’d fight to the ends of Equestria or stop fighting for the rest of my life for you.” The mare slowly let her hoof fall away from him. “I couldn’t ask you to do that… You love what you do too much.” “You’d be the expert on that.” Both ponies laughed softly. Silence settled between them for a moment. Fleethoof looked between the two roses still set in her mane. She really did care as much as he dared to dream. “I was worried you’d run away from me when you found out,” Fleethoof sheepishly admitted. “That’d you’d… I dunno, abandon me, I guess?” The mare sighed and shook her head. “As long as you love me, I’m never going to abandon you, Fleet.” Their heart-to-heart had gone well so far. Fleethoof felt less and less anxious by the minute, and Cadance was getting everything she had hoped to from the young stallion. "Anything else you want me to admit?" Fleethoof cocked a half smile. "Well, I know you're an immortal Princess of Love, so it makes me wonder how many lovers you've had before." The mare batted her eyelashes innocently, smirking at the pony. "Do you want to know that answer?" The pony hesitated for a moment, and then shook his head. "No, I guess not... Not right now, at least." “Alright. Now, it’s your turn,” Cadance said. “I opened up to you, now I want you to do the same.” Fleethoof was confused. “I thought I did already?” “I want you to act on your emotions,” she continued, noting the scared expression in his eyes. “You’ve always had a problem opening up, but you also don’t act emotionally unless forced to. I want to see something genuine from you, Fleethoof. That’s all. No bars, no holding back. Give me something earnest I can believe.” Another tense silence filled the air around the two ponies. Fleethoof didn’t know what to do. He felt trapped between a rock and a hard place. Celestia knew there were so many things he could do—so many things he wanted to say and do. He wanted to whisk her off into the night and travel the world with her. He wanted to sweep her off her hooves and kiss her beneath the silvery moonlight. But he couldn’t bring himself to move. He could face an entire army without blinking an eye, but facing Cadance felt like the most difficult thing he could ever do. Cadance’s purple eyes stared deeply, longingly into his, searching for something. She was pleading with him to do something—anything. Anything to prove her right, and that he could act on his own heart. It was his fatal flaw that always proved to be his undoing. But after many long moments had passed, Cadance had begun to lose hope. Her eyes dropped, and she sighed softly. A strange sensation of disappointment settled over her. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand you, Fleethoof,” she murmured softly, giving him a small, sad smile and a quick glance up before turning and slowly walking away. Fleethoof could feel his heart racing and aching at the same time. He tried to call after her, but couldn’t bring himself to produce the words. This was his chance, his moment. And he was losing it. After all that work, he wasn’t about to let it go without fighting for it. Inside the ballroom, distant applause was heard. The band was preparing for the next song. A singer took to the stage. This was his last chance. “Dance with me!” Cadance stopped dead in her tracks a few feet away. She turned to look curiously at him, not sure she had heard him correctly. “What?” “I said, dance with me,” Fleethoof repeated, smiling as he trotted up to her and offering his hoof. “Cadance, let me show you I can act impulsively.” Feeling her hopes rise from the ashes, Cadance took Fleethoof’s hoof as the music began to start up in the hall. He bowed to her, smirking as she laughed at his ballroom etiquette. And then he pulled her close and took the lead as the music began. “Did you really mean all those words you wrote?” asked Cadance, inclining her neck against his slightly to whisper into his ear. Fleethoof smirked to himself. “Every single word. Especially the way you’ve made me a better stallion.” Fleethoof leaned back enough to lock gazes with Cadance again. The stallion and mare smiled at one another. Cadance was happy, content to be dancing with a pony she held so close to her heart. Fleethoof was still in awe that he had ever met such an incredible pony in his lifetime. “You look beautiful tonight,” he stated, winking jokingly to her. Cadance laughed and shook her head. “So does that mean I don’t look beautiful every night?” “Your words, not mine,” Fleethoof teased, spinning Cadance around in his hooves as the song picked up. “But not my opinion.” Cadance sighed happily as Fleethoof pulled her back in close. She knew he had been hiding away these intentions and fantasies for a long time. Often she had wondered what he would be like if he actually acted on what he wanted. She wasn’t disappointed in the least anymore. “Your dancing has improved,” she noted as they spun in place. “I’ve been taking lessons, just in case I need to pretend to know what I’m doing again,” said Fleethoof, grinning a little as they dipped down. “I kinda wanted to try and secretly impress you too.” Cadance laughed. “Well, you succeeded. Except for the secretly part.” As the music reached a crescendo again, Fleethoof’s motions became faster, more energetic and passionate. All the while though, he never once let go of Cadance, keeping her held tight at all times. The instruments took over from the vocalist again, slowing the song down. The two ponies returned to the slow, subtle comfort of gentle movements. Their bodies pressed close, feeling each other’s heartbeat against their own. It was intimate, and personal. Cadance loved it. Fleethoof still couldn’t believe he was actually living this. With each of the last lines, Fleethoof would take a sharp turn or spin Cadance in his hooves. Right before the end, they dipped again, and the music held. So did the ponies. Cadance had her hooves wound around the stallion's neck as he supported her weight. They stared into each other’s eyes, deep sapphire meeting rich purple. Their faces hovered mere inches apart, close enough to feel the other’s heated breath on their cheek. The moment seemed to freeze in time. Nothing moved. Everything hung, suspended in this one moment of reality. Fleethoof could have lived this moment forever. They’d been in this position before. Flashbacks to the ball in the Arabian palace blinked before his eyes. He’d had the perfect opportunity before, but he’d let it slip away. Was he going to lose that chance again? Fleethoof pulled back up, returning Cadance back to a more stable stance. They danced close again, swaying back and forth to the music. But something had changed. The princess was gripping much more tightly around his neck, not wanting to let go. Fleethoof felt like his heart might explode if it beat any faster or harder. His chest tightened. He could barely breathe right as it was. The song was speeding up, quickly approaching its climactic finish. So too, did their dance mirror the music. Fleethoof’s moves and twirls became more flourished and elaborate. Cadance smiled widely, having the time of her life. Fleethoof had always had a wild, burning soul. Now she was beginning to see it firsthand. “Thank you,” Fleethoof whispered softly, so much so Cadance almost didn’t hear him, even this close. “For what?” “Giving me the courage to do this...” Fleethoof spun Cadance one final time in his hooves, then caught her by the waist again and dipped down with her once more. The stallion and mare ended up in the same position as before. Close, so very, very close. Nothing left in between them. Cadance holding onto him. Fleethoof gripping tight to her. Their eyes met. There was one last thing for him to do. He wasn’t missing this chance again. Making sure he had a secure hold on her body, Fleethoof leaned in closer. His eyes never left hers, and likewise she never once looked away. Her hoof gently came up behind his head, running through his tousled golden mane. Inches became centimeters in distance, virtually no space left to cross. Electricity ran through the air. Fleethoof’s body felt like it was on fire, even in the cool weather. Years of maddening thoughts and desires all culminating to this one point in time. He closed the distance. Soft, warm lips met his in a gentle kiss. His eyes closed, and in the darkness of his mind, Fleethoof swam in the pleasure, the passion, and all the unknown sensations taking him over. Cadance grasped tighter to him. Fireworks went off behind his eyelids. He suddenly felt dizzy, drunk with victory and glee. In that moment, Fleethoof never wanted the night to end.