//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 (part 2) // Story: An Expression Of Love // by Fluttershy20 //------------------------------// Well that could have gone better, Twilight said as they were led through the streets of the city, flanked on both sides by guards. Despite the cold reception and poor start with the locals, she couldn’t help but be impressed with the city around her. The wide yet nearly empty streets were paved in concrete stone tiles made to look like sand. The buildings and houses around them had looked featureless and plain from afar, but up close, markings or paintings decorated the concrete stone-walls beside the front doors, representing different creatures from birds, fish, reptiles and other mammals. Each one must act like the colours of a banner, Twilight reckoned as she looked at them, or as a ward to hold off evil spirits and keep the family inside safe. What do you think, Fluttershy? She looked at the pegasus beside her, who looked terrified and wanted to scream, yet couldn’t thanks to the knitted muzzle clamped around her mouth. Twilight wished she could comfort her with spoken words, yet couldn’t thanks to the muzzle on her mouth as well. It felt tight against her mouth, as though it was trying to suffocate her, but there was enough space for her to breathe through her nose. She hoped it wasn’t the same with Fluttershy. Maybe it’s the ward theory? Fluttershy suggested, her voice echoing through Twilight’s mind. Before the muzzles had been clamped onto their mouths, Twilight had quickly cast the mind spell on Fluttershy to keep in contact with her, and make sure she doesn’t start to panic. When the ponies came to put them on, Twilight willingly had hers clamping her mouth shut, while Fluttershy started to panic in fear she would not breathe properly with it, and therefore suffocate. Once Twilight calmed her down, the little ponies allowed the muzzle to be fitted with enough space so that Fluttershy could breathe through her mouth, yet not enough to speak. So far, Twilight had done her best to keep her marefriend’s spirits up, saying they would be free of the muzzles as soon as they met the Merchant Prince, as the ponies guarding them called him, but the more times she said it, the less it sounded assuring. How does it feel, anyway? Twilight asked. The muzzle, I mean? Fluttershy’s eyes looked down at the knitted brown thing covering her nose and mouth, and then looked up at Twilight. It’s okay, I guess, she replied. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be, but I still feel like a rabid animal with this on. I know. This feels so degrading, Twilight agreed. She looked up to see a few ponies that were smaller than foals looking down on them from a window with big, curious eyes. How were we supposed to know that the word cute was offensive to them? Twilight asked bewilderedly. It’s not like we’re going to know their language the moment we set hoof on their soil. She looked at Fluttershy again when she didn’t reply, and saw her shaking in fear. What’s going to happen to us, Twily? Fluttershy asked. Could we be executed for this? Twilight wrapped her tail around Fluttershy’s, and moved her eyes to sparkle with assurance. That will never happen so long as I can use my magic, sweetheart. I promised you I would get you back to Ponyville, and I will, even if I have to stay behind for you to get home. Fluttershy wished she could smile at her, but instead she wrapped the remaining end of her tail around Twilight’s. That is sweet of you, Twilight, but I will not leave without you, she said. How could I live with myself if I knew I left you behind when I could have saved you? Twilight wished she could smile at that. I was right about another thing – you are far stronger than what anypony else says. Twilight could see a faint blush appear on Fluttershy’s cheeks. “Halt!” the lead pony commanded. At once, Twilight and Fluttershy stopped, and looked around them, while the little pony walked up the steps. They found themselves in a large courtyard built out of large stone slabs, with a line of several small trees beside them, their bark smooth as though furnished and stripped bare of leaves. At the far end of the courtyard stood the largest building the two ponies had ever laid eyes on – the same one they saw from the other side of the bay. That is certainly bigger than the Crystal Empire’s castle, Twilight commented, pointing at it. Fluttershy nodded in agreement. The palace – so they presumed it to be – was a long rectangular building with thick iron doors the size of an average Ponyville house, and like the rest of the city, the colour of sand. On the doors’ faces, large red dragons stood rearing up and facing each other with their wings spread out and their mouths open, ready to spit flames. Above the doors was a large circular-shaped stained-glass window, with a spread-winged eagle coloured like of the ocean stretching across it. The roof was barely viewable from where they were, but they could make out the distinctive arch with a smaller stained-glass window between the two ends on either side. “Proceed in,” the leader pony ordered after a moment of confirmation with one of the guards at the door. The two ponies nodded, and walked cautiously forward with their heads held high and trying hard not to show any fear. I wonder how old the palace, or even the whole city is, Twilight said absently, her eyes wandering across the golden structure. Because, nothing here tells me how old this place is. Did they just spring out of holes in the ground or something? Fluttershy shrugged, her eyes staying on the dozen or so pony guards who were pushing one of the groaning doors open. I imagine they aren’t that old, or else we might have heard of them by now. They definitely have sailing capabilities, so they could sail to Equestria. Yes, but remember, the only way those ships can leave here is through that cave and through a lot of dangerous rocks, Twilight reminded her. It would take somepony with a quick reaction time to navigate a ship like theirs through there. Even then, they could get lost on the ocean. We nearly did. Fluttershy tilted her head left and right. I suppose, she conceded. She swallowed the growing lump in her throat as they found themselves under the shadow of the palace, and by the doors leading into the interior. Guess this is it, Twilight. Love you. Fluttershy felt her heart race the moment she thought those words, yet couldn’t understand why. Twilight’s eyes glistened with joyous tears. I love you too. The two ponies looked ahead as they entered the cool, fresh interior, and then looked around as they walked further in. A long blue carpet, wide enough for two ponies to walk side by side, covered the otherwise stone floor right up to the throne at the far end of the hall, where a pony sat awaiting them. Flanking them, cast high along the walls, banners swayed in the faint breeze coming into the throne room, each decorated with the images of rearing creatures: griffons, ponies, horses, dragons, wyverns, bulls and drakes. Flanking the throne at the end were two great bronze statues of rearing ponies, their teeth bared and their hooves lashing out at an unseen foe. “Hold here,” the lead pony ordered, holding out a hoof to stop them. The muzzled couple halted, then looked up at the black throne, and their eyes widened in surprise at the pony sitting on it. He was a light grey stallion with black spots running down his neck and behind his thick, rough-looking golden mane. Across his back and around his chest was a light green toga that draped back across the stallion’s rump and down onto the floor. His bright yellow eyes shone with knowledge and wisdom beyond his years, and on his head was a unicorn horn, which betrayed his Equestrian birth. What is an Equestrian-born pony doing here? And why is he ruling over a group of ponies that are smaller than him? Twilight wondered to Fluttershy, who looked just as shocked. She secretly hoped he wasn’t a tyrant, or else their stay would be brutally cut short. I don’t know, Fluttershy replied, but I think we are about to find out. She gestured with her head to the throne as the pony on it stood up. Across the room, the many ponies walking across it instantly bowed, prompting the couple to bow their heads as well in respect. His eyes bore into their own for long time, before turning to the leader of the group. “Why are they muzzled, Captain?” he asked. His voice was strong like stone, yet there was a hint of benevolence in it. “They call us cute, Prince,” the Captain replied. “They be mean to us. We demand apology.” Instead of yelling at him like any tyrant would, the Prince laughed joyously. The two ponies looked at each other in a mix of confusion, and relief. “I’m sure that where they come from, the word cute means adorable, or sweet, Captain. They did not mean any harm.” He gestured with a hoof wave at them. “Now remove those ungodly muzzles immediately. They are guests under my roof, and shall be treated as such.” Instantly, two ponies galloped up to Twilight and Fluttershy, and removed the muzzles from their mouths. The two took a moment to rub their lower jaws and open their mouths wide to get rid of the feeling of having them on. “That feels better,” Twilight muttered. “Indeed, I can talk and breathe properly again,” Fluttershy mumbled. The two ponies looked up as the Merchant Prince started to walk from the throne towards them. “My apologies, my ladies, for the way you have been treated,” the Merchant Prince said as he descended from the throne down the steps. Twilight and Fluttershy bowed their heads. “No, sir, thank you for having those things removed,” Twilight said kindly. “And thank you for not having us butchered on sight,” Fluttershy added, much to Twilight’s shock. The Merchant Prince chuckled loudly. “You are most welcome, young pegasus,” he said. He lowered his head to make himself eye level with Fluttershy. “So what is your name, fellow Equestrian? I have to say it is a pleasure to see a pony of my breed after so long.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened when she realised he was talking to her. She took a step back and covered half of her face with her mane. “Oh, m-my name is Fluttershy…” she replied, though not loud enough to hear. “I’m sorry, but can you repeat that?” the Prince asked, tilting his head to hear a bit better. Twilight couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she remembered the same scenario happening next to her played out with her three years ago. Fluttershy took another step back, and looked away shyly. “I-I’m F-Fluttershy,” she said inaudibly. “Didn’t quite catch that,” the Merchant Prince said, smiling patiently. Fluttershy squeaked in fright and took another step back. Twilight hated seeing Fluttershy so uncomfortable, so she stepped forward. “Pardon me, sir, but please forgive my friend. She is just very shy when it comes to meeting new ponies. Right, Fluttershy?” The pegasus looked through her mane and nodded in confirmation. The Merchant Prince nodded. “Fluttershy? What a lovely name,” he complimented warmly, making Fluttershy blush. He turned to Twilight with a friendly smile. “And your name, miss?” “Oh, I am Twilight Sparkle, your highness,” she introduced herself, bowing low. The Prince chuckled, then gestured with a hoof for her to rise. “There is no need of that here, Twilight Sparkle. Here and now, I am just an ambassador for my people.” He bowed his head. “So let me be the first to welcome you both to Esperius.” Twilight’s eyes widened in shock, and her mouth opened a little. “You mean the ancient Golden City of Esperius?” she asked. The Prince nodded. “The very same,” he answered. Fluttershy flicked her head back and forth between the two, confusion etching across her face. “You know this place, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked. “Not by memory, sweetheart, but by legend,” Twilight replied. “Once upon a time, a great golden city used to exist in Equestria, a city of light and beauty nopony has ever seen the likes of which since. Its streets were the cleanest, and its riches were beyond count. However, over time the ponies ruling the city became greedy and wanted to keep the gold all to themselves. So, using great magic, they managed to rip a huge chunk of the continent, and then carried it across the ocean so nopony could get hold of their wealth.” Fluttershy’s eyebrows disappeared under her mane in disbelief. “That sounds… uh… ridiculous,” she said. The Merchant Prince chuckled once more. “It is very ridiculous, and basically impossible, even for the most gifted mage,” he said. “No, I am afraid the city is known by less conventional means. I could tell you about the history of this city right now, but you both must be tired after a long voyage. Come, I shall walk you two to your rooms.” He turned around and headed towards a door to the left of the throne. The couple looked confusedly at each other. “Um, excuse me, sir, but um…” Fluttershy said quietly. The stallion stopped and looked back. “Could we just have one room? It’s not that we’re ungrateful you’re giving us accommodation, we are very grateful, but since, well, we are sort of, um…” She latched her tail around Twilight’s, and draped a wing across her marefriend’s back, bringing her in closer. Twilight’s eyes widened in surprise when she felt Fluttershy’s wing drape over her back, but quickly relaxed and smiled as she started to enjoy the wing hug. The Merchant Prince’s eyes widened in surprise, and his jaw slackened as he took what the pegasus was implying. “Oh, of course! Forgive me, but I didn’t think you two were together that way. Come then, I will take you to your room.” He turned to a small brown fluffy pony beside the throne. “Take care of any problems for me in my absence, won’t you, Welara?” The pony named Welara nodded with a grin. “Sure thing, my lord,” he said in an excellent Equestrian tongue. With that settled, the two smiling yet cautious ponies followed the Merchant Prince through the door and headed left down a long corridor with arched windows looking out at the vast city beside the Palace. On the left of the corridor, hoof-knitted tapestries with various creatures upon them and different colours hung loosely along the golden walls. “Please forgive my soldiers for putting those awful muzzles on your faces,” the Merchant Prince said as they walked. “The word cute to them is something very offensive – so offensive that I dare not say it aloud. You two were lucky you weren’t killed on sight after saying that; they don’t take such offence lightly.” Twilight and Fluttershy looked at each other with wide eyes. “I suppose we were very lucky then,” Twilight said, “and I suppose we have you to thank for that, your majesty.” “Oh please, call me by my real name,” the Prince insisted. “I am Grey Spot, Merchant Prince of Esperius, and ruler of the forth kingdom of Abyinisia.” “Oh, um, excuse me, Mister Grey Spot, if you don’t mind me calling you that,” Fluttershy said politely. “But, uh, about that, being a Prince I mean. If you’re an Equestrian like us, how did you become–” “The leader of little ponies like them?” Grey Spot finished off. Fluttershy nodded meekly and lowered her neck as though she expected him to shout at her, which, if she was honest, she was. However, much to the two ponies’ relief, he laughed. “It’s a good question, Miss Fluttershy, and one everypony asks me when they come from outside Esperius. You see, in Esperius, we believe that every one of us is capable of rising to greatness, regardless of their age, or background.” He stopped and pointed to a large area of densely packed buildings to the east of the city that lay hidden behind the domed structure. “See that? I was raised there, in the slums of Esperius, with very little food to live on and little warmth.” Twilight and Fluttershy walked up to the window, and looked down in horror at the state of the slums. Even from their position, they could see it wasn’t a good place to live in. “That must have been horrible,” Twilight said. “Oh, I hope everypony is okay down there,” Fluttershy said, fidgeting in place. “I’ve been ordering a restoration plan on the slums to make them look as good as the rest of the city,” Grey Spot answered, smiling proudly at himself. “I’ve been giving the ponies that live there better homes, and a better chance of living longer. However, it will be a long time before they can be no longer viewed as the slums of Esperius.” The three ponies broke away from the window and continued walking. “When I was ten,” Grey Spot continued, “I started a cleaning job here at the Palace. From a cleaner, I went on to a cooking job, and became the best chef in the palace – I was so good, that the old Prince came down and thanked me personally for the food. “After a few years of going through jobs, I moved up in the world as one of the Royal Guard of the Prince. When he realised how intelligent I was, I became his personal advisor. And when he died five years later, he passed his Ring of Authority to me, saying I was the son he never had. At just twenty-five, I became the youngest pony ever to become the Merchant Prince of Esperius. Have been doing this for nearly ten years now. Does that answer your question, Miss Fluttershy?” The two ponies looked at Grey Spot with wide, astonished eyes and open mouths. “Wow,” Fluttershy oozed. Her look of surprise gave way to a smile. “That must have been something to tell your parents.” Grey Spot’s smile faded, and he bowed his head in sorrow. “Not really, for they died a year before I got the job at the Palace. The only reason I kept going at the jobs I was made to do at the start was because I had nothing left behind me.” Fluttershy covered her mouth in shock, while Twilight looked at him with sympathy. “I’m sorry, Grey Spot,” Twilight said gently. “That must have been hard on you.” “Oh, it was, very hard, but look at where I am now. At the head of the richest city on the continent,” Grey Spot said, grinning like a spoiled child. He paused as they turned a left corner to see the corridor split into two ways. One side led up to a long flight of stairs, while the other continued down the corridor, then veering off in two different ways. “Follow me,” he said, and then he sprinted up the flight of stairs. Fluttershy and Twilight looked at each other for a second, before sprinting after him in a rush. By the time they got to the second level, both were breathing heavily, and their knees felt weak from a long day of running, swimming, jumping, flying and walking. “Are you two okay to carry on?” he asked with a tilted head. Twilight looked up, breathing heavily, and nodded. “I think so,” she said. “What about you, Fluttershy?” The pegasus leaned against Twilight for support as she breathed heavily, her eyes speaking of her exhaustion. Nevertheless, she nodded. “Okay then, let’s go,” Twilight said. With Fluttershy leaning against Twilight for support, the couple followed Grey Spot right from the stairs and made their way down another long corridor, this one with plain golden walls and several bronze chandeliers suspended above them by iron chains, flickering with light. “Anyway, enough about my country and myself, let’s talk about you two,” Grey Spot said as they walked. “Tell me of your adventures and how you both came to be here.” With a nod of confirmation from Fluttershy, Twilight began to tell Grey Spot about their encounters with sirens, krakens, pirates, gorgons and how her and Fluttershy came into a relationship together. “You make it sound like you had one heck of a journey,” Grey Spot said as Twilight finished, his eyes wide in surprise as they turned a corner into another corridor, this time shorter than the last. “Oh, it wasn’t as bad as what I make it sound like. I do tend to exaggerate things a bit,” Twilight said. Fluttershy looked at her marefriend, and smirked. “Really? What gave you that impression? Enchanting a doll and making a town fight itself so you could write a letter about friendship, or turning the library inside out so you could be ready for a little test?” she teased. Twilight looked at her with narrow eyes, and a small smile. “You know, you are not old enough to be free from a smack bottom.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t, would you?” Twilight arched an eyebrow, making Fluttershy take a step away from her. It wasn’t much longer until Twilight broke into giggles. “You are right, I wouldn’t…” Her eyes narrowed flirtatiously, a mischievous grin crawling across her lips. “Unless you want me to.” Fluttershy’s jaw dropped and a fierce blush spread across her cheeks. “Oh my,” she gasped. “If you two have finished flirting with each other, we are outside your room,” Grey Spot said, gesturing with a hoof to their door. It was an arched iron black door with golden bolts running diagonally along the edges of the door, and a rearing red eagle spreading across its face. The two ponies looked sheepishly away from the Merchant Prince and blushed in embarrassment. “Sorry about that,” Twilight muttered, rubbing her foreleg. “I just think you look really cute with a blush. I would never smack you. You know that, don’t you? I just remembered reading that line in a book a month back.” Fluttershy nodded, a warm smile on her face as she glanced at her marefriend. “I-I know, and I forgive you. And Twilight? Do not ever take lines from a romance book. Ever.” A fake cough brought the two ponies away from each other and to Grey Spot. “Shall we?” he asked. The couple nodded. The Merchant Prince reared up, pressed his hooves against the door and pushed it open with a great creaking sound that echoed across the entire palace. “Please, enter,” he offered first, gesturing inside as the door opened. Upon looking in, the couple gasped in wonder. The flooring was a tiled marble that shone in the light of the single chandelier that filled most of the ceiling. A large, double bed lay in the far right corner of the room, with a shining golden coloured duvet neatly covering it. Left of the bed, beside a large drawer, was a glass door leading out to a balcony that viewed the entire northern side of the city, and in the centre of the left side of the room was a large round bathtub that reminded the two of the spa tub back at Ponyville. “This room is lovely,” Twilight remarked as they entered. She looked back at Grey Spot with grateful eyes. “I wish we could pay you for this hospitality, but we don’t have any money on us.” Grey Spot discarded the thought with a wave of his hoof. “Do not worry about it, Twilight Sparkle. Though you had a rough start here with my soldiers, the ponies of Esperius are mostly welcoming and friendly to all – it is how me and my parents managed to survive here when we first arrived.” At that, Twilight’s smile faded a little. She was curious as to why a pony from Equestria came to be in Esperius in the first place. ‘It seems strange as well how he didn’t use magic to open the door. Any unicorn can open doors with their magic, no matter how powerful they are.’ She considered not asking in fear of upsetting him and having them both thrown into prison, but she quickly remembered how he reacted to Fluttershy’s question, and decided to ask. “Um, excuse me, Grey Spot, but I am a little curious.” Grey Spot stopped before he reached the door of the balcony, and then turned his head around. “About what?” Twilight pointed to his horn. “I don’t mean to cause any offence for asking this, but why didn’t you use your magic to open the door?” Fluttershy tilted her head, curious as to the reason why as well. Grey Spot’s ears fell flat, and he bowed his head in sorrow. “I can’t use magic, Twilight,” he replied, to the other unicorn’s horror. “And I have never been able to learn magic.” Fluttershy stepped closer, fighting the urge to comfort him. “But why?” she asked gently. Grey Spot looked at her for a long moment in silence, before getting hold of his toga in his teeth, and taking it off. “Because of these,” he answered, revealing his body to the two mares. Fluttershy stepped back in shock, while Twilight could only stare at the blunt stump on his visible side where a wing should be. “I… I’ve heard of something like that happen before,” she said after a moment of silence, “but never have I thought I would see one for myself.” “So you know how much of a freak I am, then,” Grey Spot said solemnly. Fluttershy gave in to the urge she had been fighting back for so long, and leapt forward and hugged him tight. “Oh, no, you are not a freak at all,” she said soothingly. “You are a pony, not a freak, and everypony looks different from each other. Isn’t that right, Twily?” Twilight nodded sharply in agreement. “Fluttershy’s right, Grey Spot,” Twilight said amiably. “Having stumps on your sides doesn’t make you a freak at all. Did… did you have wings as well, or…” “I was born with these stumps,” Grey Spot answered. “My mother was a pegasus and my father a unicorn. It was thanks to both of their genetics being muddled up and confused that they couldn’t decide what I’ll be, so I had a bit of both worlds. Does that sound right to you?” Twilight nodded serenely in agreement. “So how did you come to Esperius?” Grey Spot lowered himself onto his stomach, while the two mares sat side by side. The sight made Grey Spot smile. “Just look at you two. Completely inseparable,” he muttered, making the two ponies blush. “Well anyway, my dad was a historian, and my mum was a geographer, so when dad came up with the idea to explore the western ocean, my mum quickly agreed, and they took me along as well, as I had no other family in Equestria to care for me. “We funded the whole expedition ourselves, and bought a ship big and strong enough to take the voyage. Once that was done, we headed out to sea, and sailed for about two weeks, until we came to the mouth of a cave – the same one you both probably took to get here. Our ship navigated through the cave system, and we came out into the bay with a sinking ship. We were rescued before the ship finally sunk, and taken before the Merchant Prince, who granted us permission to stay in Esperius until we could buy a ship to take us home. Of course, you know the rest.” Twilight and Fluttershy sat in silence, their mouths slightly open and their eyes wide in wonder. “That must have been quite an experience for you,” Twilight said, “and quite sad to know you wouldn’t ever see Equestria again.” Grey Spot shrugged. “Not really. I don’t think I would have ever risen as high as I have done here had I stayed in Equestria. And I live a great life here; one I could never replace if given the chance.” He shifted himself about until he was sitting on his haunches. “Now, I think it’s best if we move onto business, concerning you two.” The couple looked at each other, and then back at him. “What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “I was wondering what brought you both this far out from Equestria. It must have been pretty important for you two to risk life and limb over,” Grey Spot answered. Twilight nodded in agreement. “It is, I believe. I can show you if you’d like.” Grey Spot nodded his consent, and Twilight took out from her mane the scroll with the drawing of the flower. She quickly levitated it over to Grey Spot, who caught it with his teeth. “You’ve kept that scroll in your mane all this time,” Fluttershy whispered to Twilight as Grey Spot unravelled the scroll, her tone indicating her surprise. “My mane is the safest place I could think of to hide such things, sweetheart,” Twilight replied, grinning wryly. “It was either my mane or my tail, and I don’t like to put stuff in my tail, as I learnt one time involving the toil–” “Okay,” Fluttershy sang, stunning Twilight into silence, “I think I’ve heard more than I should have.” She quickly gave the pouting unicorn an affectionate nuzzle, giggling softly. “Try to keep that sort of thing to yourself, sweetie. It’s not something a lot of ponies would like to know.” Grey Spot coughed loudly to get their attention once more, and they both looked at him, to see he was staring at them with wide eyes, and a small bout of fear. “What interests have you in this flower?” he asked, his eyes wandering from Twilight, and then to Fluttershy. Fluttershy looked to Twilight for answers. “It’s mainly academic,” Twilight answered. “Because, you know, such a flower has never been seen before.” Grey Spot nodded in agreement. “Indeed, the Aphrodite Flower is one of a kind, especially a flower that can sing. But I imagine you two already knew that, didn’t you?” Fluttershy’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she looked to Twilight with a look that asked if what they had just been told was true. ‘Oh drat, she knows I didn’t tell her the full truth,’ Twilight thought, shrinking her head a little. The unicorn looked back at Grey Spot, and nodded. “Yes. Yes I do.” Fluttershy’s mouth parted in shock. The Merchant Prince nodded. “Then take it from me that this plant must be avoided at all cost,” he warned them grimly. “For if you two look upon that flower, it will only give you madness in return.” Fluttershy looked back at Grey Spot with fear on her face. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Is it dangerous?” Grey Spot shifted his back end about, and nodded firmly. “It is a long tale, slightly similar to the tale of the creation of Hearts and Hooves day. Do you want to hear it?” Twilight and Fluttershy looked at each other for a moment, and then nodded. “Please, Grey Spot, continue,” Twilight said, gesturing with a hoof for him to tell. “Very well,” Grey Spot said. He shifted himself about until he looked comfortable, and then began to speak. “A long time ago, there was a stallion mage, whose name has long been forgotten in the pages of history. He was one of the most powerful unicorns of his people, and he was in love with the most beautiful and fairest mare he had ever laid eyes upon. Her name was Aphrodite, the head priestess of an old cult of ponies many years ago. He longed to be with her, and for her to love him. So he tried everything to be with her and to win her affections, yet everything he tried ended with disappointment. Frustrated with his failures, he turned to sorcery, and fusing magic with botany he created the Aphrodite Flower.” He pointed to the picture of the flower. “This flower, to be precise.” Twilight’s jaw dropped. “He fused magic with nature?” Grey Spot nodded. “Yes. He decided to play with two different elements, and it cost him – dearly.” “How?” Fluttershy and Twilight asked. “After the first creation was successful, he created thousands more just like it and planted them in a great meadow in a valley somewhere, and left them to grow and fester. After a month or so, he came to Aphrodite again, and asked her to accompany him to see a magical flower he had been studying. The mare agreed, and followed him to the valley where these flowers reside.” He paused for a moment to breathe. “What happened in this valley is not known to this day, but what is known is what happened to them. They were found wandering the wilderness with blank expressions on their faces, with no memory of who and what they were – it was as if the flowers had ripped the memories of the two ponies from their minds.” Twilight and Fluttershy looked at Grey Spot in horror. “Many ponies from across Abyinisia – and even beyond – have tried to find that valley; some came back with their minds and hearts dead; others came back fine but with no success, and others didn’t come back at all.” Fluttershy clamped her hooves around her mouth in shock. She couldn’t believe it. ‘Was all of this just a suicide trip?’ she wondered. She looked over to Twilight, who expressed genuine shock on her face at what the flowers could do. ‘Did she know that they did that?’ she wondered. “But how, and why would they do that? That doesn’t make any sense,” Twilight complained, scratching her head in the hope she would think of something. “Many ponies from across the five kingdoms theorise that the flower can only sense true love – love between two ponies that is both strong and true. Anypony that doesn’t go together, or feel strongly for one another, has their minds erased. How the flower erases their minds, and to what purpose, nopony knows,” Grey Spot replied grimly. “So what if… what if there are two ponies that are meant to be together in the valley? What happens then?” Fluttershy asked. Grey Spot smiled. “According to legend, when two ponies that are meant to be together are present in the valley, and the moon is high above them, the flowers start to sing a song for the two lovers, a song that could only be listened by those in love with one another,” he answered. He stood up straight, prompting Twilight and Fluttershy to stand up also. “Well, if you excuse me, it is getting late and I must retire for the evening. I shall call you two in the morning for breakfast.” Twilight and Fluttershy bowed their heads. “Thank you for your hospitality, Grey Spot,” Twilight said happily. “It is nice of you to give it to us for free,” Fluttershy added. “Think nothing of it, ladies,” Grey Spot said. “Here in Esperius, we help each other out, and you two need some help now that you’re stuck here. We’ll talk more in the morning. Sleep well, Twilight, Fluttershy.” With that, he walked to the door, opened it and walked out, not noticing the pleading looks on Twilight’s face for him not to leave her alone with Fluttershy, knowing that she would have to face the consequences of staying quiet. ‘Okay, Twilight, just tell her straight and explain to her why you never said anything about the flower singing. You got yourself into this, and now you have to get yourself out.’ She took a deep breath, turned her head around, and was surprised to find Fluttershy sitting in front of her, looking at the ground between them with eyes that spoke of confusion, and anger. “Oh, Fluttershy, I–” “Did you know?” Fluttershy asked, not wanting to look up. “Did you know that the flower was dangerous?” Twilight shook her head disarmingly. “No. I did not know that the flower was dangerous at all. I only knew that it sings,” she answered truthfully, raising a hoof to emphasise the point. “Yet were you going to tell me that the flower sings at all?” Fluttershy asked, her tone turning harsh by the second. She didn’t want to be angry, but she felt as though she had been lied to by Twilight. ‘No, she didn’t lie to me, just didn’t tell me the full truth,’ she corrected herself. Yet that seemed to her just as bad. ‘I thought we trusted each other to tell the truth now.’ She was brought out of her mind when Twilight sighed. “I wasn’t, no,” she admitted. “But I do have my reasons as to why.” “So why did you not tell me about this in the first place? We are partners in this, Twilight, we are supposed to tell each other everything.” “Because if I told you that the flower sings a song of love, I thought it might give the game away as to why I wanted to find it in the first place,” Twilight answered calmly, and sadly, her ears folding flat in shame. Fluttershy’s eyes widened as she realised what Twilight meant. She looked up at the unicorn. “So, this whole adventure, everything we have done together, everything we have seen, everything we faced, was all to get to this flower so you could tell me that you love me?” Twilight bowed her head shamefully, and nodded. “I never intended for us to go this far, though,” she said quietly. “I thought we would only stay in Equestria, but you wanted to go west and I… I couldn’t say no.” Fluttershy turned her back to the unicorn and sat down, disbelieving of what she had just learnt. ‘Twilight would go this far, for me?’ She couldn’t blame Twilight for this – at least not totally. ‘I am just as responsible as she was. She came up with the idea to find it, yet I was the one who brought us here, and endangered both of us.’ Yet, the whole adventure was just for Twilight to confess to her. She could feel a smile coming, and something coming up from her heart. ‘Why does that seem so like Twilight?’ Twilight sat in silence, waiting for Fluttershy to say something that would help her and give her a reason to breathe normally. ‘Did I just doom our relationship?’ she thought. She looked up when she saw Fluttershy’s shoulders heaving briskly, and thought for a heart-skipping moment she was crying. “Oh, Fluttershy, I am so sorry I didn’t tell you, I just didn’t wan…” She trailed off when Fluttershy turned her head around, and saw she wasn’t crying, but laughing. “Oh, Twilight, you could have just asked me out on a date, yet you decided to go down the most difficult route possible,” she said through her laughter. She clutched her stomach as the laughter became too much for her to bear. “That’s very you, to be honest.” Twilight’s heart relaxed a little, and she got up and walked around the pegasus towards the bed. “I did give going on a date with you some thought – even Applejack thought it was a good idea when I asked her about it, but I didn’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position, so I left that out.” Fluttershy finally stopped laughing, and her wide smile withered a little. “You thought about it, right down to the last option?” she asked, touched by the trouble Twilight went through. Twilight nodded. “Yes. I went through everything I could think of that wouldn’t put you in an uncomfortable position, and this one seemed the most logical option – well, if you could call it logical, considering what we’ve been through.” Fluttershy’s eyes and face softened into the sweetest look Twilight had ever seen. “Twilight, that is the sweetest thing anypony has ever done for me. I don’t think anyone, barring my parents, has ever taken my feelings into consideration as much as you have.” Twilight jumped up on the bed, turned around until she faced Fluttershy once more, and settled down onto her stomach. “You mean everything to me, sweetheart. I can’t stand to see you so afraid or so uncomfortable. It kills me every time I see fear in your eyes. I just want you to be happy, and have that loving smile on your face like you usually have. That’s why I couldn’t say no to heading west; I didn’t want to see you frown.” Fluttershy’s beaming smile returned after Twilight’s words, yet she could think of no words to say of her own for a long time. Finally, she said, “Thank you, Twilight. And I’m sorry I acted harshly at you. I was just annoyed that you didn’t tell me earlier.” Twilight smiled. “I forgive you. And from now on, I am not going to keep any secrets from you.” “Nor me from you,” Fluttershy said, grinning. She lowered her head a bit and rubbed her leg as though she was ashamed of something. “Did we just have a fight? Would you call that a fight?” Twilight shrugged. “Probably a little one, something couples do every now and then. Don’t worry about it, sweetheart.” The two fell silent for a brief moment. Outside their room, the sky began to fade into twilight, and the moon started to rise over Esperius. “So, what do you want to do now?” Twilight asked. She looked up, and started to grow nervous as she saw a predatory grin spread itself across Fluttershy’s face. Twilight leaned back and her eyes widened in fear of whatever the pegasus was planning in her mind. ‘Whatever it is,’ she thought frightfully, ‘it can either be very good or something I am not ready for yet.’ “Cuddles!” Fluttershy proclaimed as she leapt through the air and pinned Twilight to the bed beneath her. When the unicorn gained her senses, she noticed Fluttershy was lying on top of her, nuzzling her chest and wrapping her legs around her, and blushed. “Cuddles?” Twilight repeated. Fluttershy looked into her eyes and nodded. “Yes, cuddles. You know how much I love cuddles, and I love cuddling you most of all,” Fluttershy said, grinning. She leaned forward and kissed Twilight on the cheek. “Thank you, Twilight. Thank you for everything.” Twilight smiled, and gently rolled herself over so she was lying on her side facing the pegasus. “You are most welcome,” she said softly. She kissed the pegasus on the forehead, and after a while of giggling and nuzzling each other, they fell asleep in each other’s soft, loving embrace.