CHAPTER FOUR
Royal Approval
Canterlot Castle seemed a lot bigger than I expected it to be, but I put this down to my nerves. The mere fact that Twilight was going to tell Celestia and Luna, whom I realised I had never met, about our engagement was causing my mind to wander.
As we approached the castle gates, the two guards on either side of it barred our approach with their spears, crossing the weapons over each other while staring us both down relentlessly.
"Halt!" One of them said. "Who goes there?"
"I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's protégé and Bearer of the Element of Magic." Twilight replied. "And this is my fiancé, Geo. We are here to see both Celestia and Luna."
The guards posture relaxed as Twilight introduced herself and they withdrew their spears before saluting briskly.
"Apologies, Miss Sparkle." The other guard said. "You may both pass. Princess Celestia and her sister are in the throne room, making preparations to turn over from the Day Court to the Night Court. I trust you can find your own way?"
"I can." Twilight nodded. "Thank you, sirs. Come on, Geo."
I didn't say anything as I followed Twilight into the castle. I was awestruck by the magnificent architecture of the place, but I had other things on my mind at that moment. Twilight seemed to know the place like the back of her hoof, so I allowed her to lead me to a large ornate door, emblazoned with Celestia's cutie mark on one side and what I believed to be Luna's on the other.
Twilight knocked on the door a few times and opened it slightly. I couldn't see past her, but when she smiled broadly and waved I assumed that she had just spotted Celestia. Sure enough, the Princess' voice filtered out through the crack in the door.
"Twilight!" Celestia said cheerfully. "This is a pleasant surprise. Please, come in."
Twilight pushed the door open further and stepped in, followed closely by me. Celestia seemed surprised by my presence, but she wasn't nearly as surprised as the other alicorn who was standing nearby. It could only have been Luna.
"Geo?" Celestia seemed confused. "This is definitely an unexpected pleasure. What brings you both all the way out to Canterlot? Is there something wrong?"
"No, Princess." I replied. "There's nothing wrong. Twilight and I just have something to tell you."
"I see." Celestia nodded. "Well whatever it is, I can tell that you're both eager to sh—"
"Are you not going to introduce us, sister?" Luna interrupted. "I have heard you speak of this human before, but this is the first time I have had the privilege of meeting him."
"Luna..." Celestia groaned. "What have I told you about interrupting? It's not nice. But you're right, where are my manners? Luna, this is Geo. Geo, this is Luna."
"The privilege is all mine, Princess Luna." I said as I held out my hand, which Luna shook. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last."
"Such manners!" Luna replied. "And please, you don't need to be formal with me. You may call me 'Luna'."
"As you wish, Luna." I said with a bow, which got a giggle out of her. "Now, as Twilight said, we have some news. I just hope you don't react the same way her family did..."
Celestia and Luna shared a glance before Twilight, seemingly eager to just get things out of the way, blurted out the news.
"We're engaged!" She squealed, holding up the golden hoofband. "I know that you were already aware of Geo's plan to propose to me, but I felt that you should know he's actually done it."
Celestia smiled and brought Twilight in for a hug with her wings. Twilight returned the gesture fondly, nuzzling her mentor's chest.
"This is wonderful news, Twilight." She said. "I wish you both nothing but the very best for the future."
"As do I!" Luna exclaimed. "But... I'm curious as to how your family reacted. Would you care to elaborate?"
"Take a seat, Luna." I laughed. "Because it's a long story."
***
By the time I had finished telling the story, which included telling Luna how I arrived in Equestria, both Princesses were on the verge of hysterics. For some bizarre reason they found the idea of Twilight's parents passing out funny, though they did express shock when I told them how Shining Armour had rendered me unconscious for a while.
They also had nothing but kind words to say about Cadence, pleased about the fact she was on our side from the start simply because she could feel the love oozing from Twilight and I.
Once I finished Celestia took Twilight aside for a chat, leaving Luna and I alone to have a private conversation of our own. As soon as Celestia and Twilight left Luna's smile faded, replaced by a thin line where her lips should have been.
"Now that my sister and your fiancée have gone, I can talk to you about something serious." She said sternly. "Twilight Sparkle is the first friend I have had in over a thousand years, so you can imagine that I won't take kindly to anypony who would do her harm."
Oh crap. I thought. Here we go again.
"I can assure you, Luna, that harming Twilight is the last thing on my mind." I replied. "I only assume you are doing this because of what Twilight told me about the humans of Old Equestria... and how you and Celestia took part in the last battle against them."
Luna's ears flattened against her eye and her eyes widened. Instead of a regal princess, she now resembled a deer caught in the headlights. A faint whimper escaped her lips as ancient memories forced their way to the surface.
"Idiot!" I chastised myself. "I'm sorry, Luna, I didn't mean to bring up the past like that."
"It's fine." Luna replied. "Really. I shouldn't really be treating you like this, as you did say you came to Equestria from another universe altogether. It's just that... the memories of the past aren't easily forgotten."
"If you don't want to talk about it, then that's fine." I said. "We can always talk about something else. I don't want you feel like I'm pressuring you into doing something you don't want to."
Luna and looked away from me, focusing at a random spot on the wall. She ruffled her wings and sighed wistfully.
"I assume you know of my past as Nightmare Moon?" She asked, to which I nodded. "That happened a few months after the battle. I didn't want to take part, but I had no choice. Once it was over, I was angry. We had a chance to live in peace with the humans and they threw back it in our faces. I felt as though they had betrayed us. My loathing of Celestia's sun had already manifested itself by this point, but to this day I feel as though the hatred I harboured towards the humans acted as a sort of catalyst for my transformation into... her."
She turned to face me again. Not knowing what else to do, I kept silent and patted her shoulder in a comforting gesture. This got a small smile out of the sullen alicorn, and she continued talking.
"During my exile, I had time to think. I mostly thought about how I had let Celestia, and by extension all of Equestria, down with my selfishness and greed. But I also thought about the humans and what they did — and eventually I came to realise that they didn't betray us... because violence and hatred were in their nature. So I taught myself to cast aside my loathing, but seeing you brought it bubbling back to the surface."
"I can see why." I replied. "While it is true that humans have a bad side, there are a lot of us – like me – who strive to show off our good side. If it's any consolation, Luna, then I apologise for what you had to go through. But I assure you that I am not like them in any way, shape or form, and that the only time I would ever resort to violence would be to protect Twilight or my friends."
Luna's smile widened and, to my surprise, she hugged me. I felt her leaning into my neck, and her voice came out as a whisper.
"Thank you for the apology." She said. "But it wasn't necessary. You have nothing to apologise for... except maybe being a hopeless romantic with a heart of gold."
We both laughed at this as Luna moved away from me — just as Twilight and Celestia came into the room. They were talking, but fell silent as they caught sight of Luna and I laughing merrily.
"It sounds like a couple of someponies have each made a new friend." Celestia said with a small grin. "What were you two talking about that was so funny?"
"Nothing much, sister." Luna replied. "Geo was simply giving me some much-needed words of wisdom."
"Say no more." Celestia said. "Anyway, I have given Twilight her new assignment, which is to learn about how friendship can evolve into love, and I have also arranged for a chariot to take you both back to Ponyville. It has been nice seeing you again, Geo, but do remember what I told you while you were in hospital: that my door is always open if you ever want to talk."
"I'll bear that in mind." I nodded. "Thank you, Celestia. Ready to go, Twi? I'm sure our friends are waiting."
Twilight nodded and said her goodbyes before walking out onto the balcony, where a chariot was waiting. With a final wave we got in and took off for home, holding each other close for comfort.
Which was good, because I learned that I really hated heights.