//------------------------------// // Chapter XIII - Beating Heart // Story: The Monster and the Crystal Prince // by Revenant Wings //------------------------------// That afternoon, Douglas ended up spending most of his time in the Prince’s suite. Tempo had pulled that book with the manifesto out from his office and spent nearly an hour pacing back and forth across the room, mumbling furiously and with such intent that Douglas wanted to know what was said. Not that he could have understood it if Tempo spoke aloud; it was written in that strange language that made no sense to him. At a certain point in the book, Tempo paused and stopped as though he’d hit an invisible wall. His eyes lit up and any tiredness or stress that was left in his face vanished. He reread through the same point in the book, or at least it seemed that way to Douglas since he appeared to be mumbling a whole lot without turning the page. He stopped again, and a more determined look suddenly crossed Tempo’s face; his eyebrows creased and he had a rather focused look in his eye. Tempo closed the book with a sense of finality before heading over to his vanity and putting it away. ‘What time is it?’ he asked, his first words spoken in hours. Douglas looked over to a clock on the Prince’s nightstand. ‘Eleven-ish? It isn’t quite lunch yet, if that’s what you’re wondering.’ Tempo nodded. ‘Come; we’re going out. I have an errand I want to run before lunch.’ Douglas nodded, thankful at least that the Prince was starting to resume a normal schedule. They went to the lift and went down to the city. They headed down one of the main spokes and arrived at a large restaurant colored a fine orange on the outside and contained a mixture of deep yellows and blues and brilliant purples. It had a quiet but welcoming atmosphere but it seemed relatively quiet. Tempo tested the door. When he found it unlocked, he stepped inside, Douglas following him. A pony in a fancy vest was standing at a small pedestal and smiled at them as they entered. Douglas saw a few ponies scattered about and assumed this place was more well-known for lunch and dinner than it was for breakfast. ‘Table for two, your majesty?’ the maître-d asked. ‘Yes, but not tonight,’ Tempo said. ‘What day is it? Thursday?’ ‘Yes, sir,’ the maître-d said. ‘If you wanted one I assure you I could make room.’ ‘It’s not a matter of room,’ Tempo said. ‘It’s a matter of time. I want a reservation for Monday evening at seven o’clock.’ ‘Of course, my Prince.’ The maître-d flipped a few pages and wrote something down in his notebook. ‘And, uh, do you have any preference as to where to sit?’ ‘Main room with the classical set. Towards the wall, perhaps under the painting by Chiaroscuro. And don’t draw too much attention to it.’ ‘Of course. Monday night at seven o’clock reserved. Do you want candlelight or the chandelier?’ Tempo took a look at Douglas almost as though he was asking for his opinion. But before Douglas could even say anything for or against – or against the whole thing, as his mind was currently leaning towards – he turned back around to face the maître-d. ‘Candlelight with dimmed chandelier.’ The maître-d penciled a few more things in his notebook. ‘Alright, your majesty, your reservation is set. We shall see you on Monday.’ ‘Thank you.’ Tempo walked out and back into the main city, Douglas following him. Tempo didn’t speak until they were almost under the legs of the Crystal Palace, heading off towards the market spoke again. ‘Any preferences for lunch?’ Douglas shrugged. ‘Not particularly, no.’ ‘Then we shall go to the café.’ They went to the same café and sat down right where they had the first time. Douglas ordered a glass of water and Tempo ordered a tea, the waiter came around and they ordered lunch – Douglas had a noodle soup and salad with toast – before leaving them alone in the sunshine. ‘I want to apologize,’ Tempo said. Douglas shrugged. ‘For what?’ he asked. ‘I might have been a bit hard or overbearing,’ Tempo said. ‘That night in the mirror room, the last few times in my suite. Or all those other times where I’ve pushed you a little too hard, and I know there’s a lot of them.’ ‘Look,’ Douglas replied. ‘I understand the general purpose of it. It’s just the methods were a bit strange. Again, it’s not something I’m used to.’ ‘I know.’ Tempo smiled. ‘Again, I blame myself for not taking such things into account.’ Douglas shrugged and threw up his hands in a “oh well” gesture. ‘You could have asked.’ Tempo took a sip of his tea. ‘Would you have said “yes” in some of those situations?’ Douglas thought about it. ‘Some of them, given time. Like dancing at the gala.’ Tempo nodded in amusement. ‘Why is that?’ Douglas found himself chuckling despite himself. ‘Because I never had before. And I guess the evening was pretty nice, even if it was a little...’ Tempo smiled knowingly. ‘...a little forward.’ He chuckled as well now. ‘Quite an apt description of it. But now? If I had to admit that the dinner I arranged was for you to come along with me, what would you say?’ Douglas had his suspicions about the reservation, and to hear them confirmed nearly made him go pale again as though Tempo had immediately forgotten their last conversation. ‘You know I’m inclined to say “no”, right?’ ‘Figured as much. But I want you to understand I mean for this dinner purely to make up for what I did; an apology, nothing more. You’ll work your normal time then meet me and then we’ll go out.’ ‘That seems fair,’ Douglas said. ‘Dinner every once in a while to talk things over is fine. Just... just so long as it doesn’t become a frequent occurrence.’ Tempo smiled. ‘What say we make it two months after this time before the next time I invite you to dinner?’ Douglas looked around awkwardly. ‘Uh... how about four months?’ ‘Three and you have a deal.’ There was a moment where they traded glares for a while trying to see if the other would budge in either direction. And then Douglas started cracking a smile, and Tempo followed afterwards, and by the time the waiter brought round their food, they were laughing heartily at one another. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday passed as normal as Douglas could want. He went to school Friday evening and Saturday morning, guarded Tempo as he walked around on Saturday afternoon, and went to school all of Sunday. He settled himself into his classes and did his homework in his spare time, chatting and getting advice from the other Guard as he did so. Douglas’ mood improved noticeably. Between easier and more casual conversations with the Prince and getting into school again, Douglas became easier to talk to and the Guard no longer asked about either the night at the mirror or Douglas’ time spent with Tempo. He even managed to balance his homework with playing cards with the others. Monday morning provided little actual disturbance despite the ending being a little different for Douglas. He was fresh off a weekend of school and actually enjoyed the day “off” from the faster pace of University as he walked around the various departments and then going around town with Prince Tempo. They walked around for a few hours before returning to the Crystal Palace. They were ascending to the top floor in the lift when Tempo asked Douglas what time it was. ‘By my guess, it’d be close to five. You said you had that reservation for seven?’ Tempo nodded as the lift reached the top floor. ‘Go down and put your armor away, then come up to my suite.’ Douglas bowed as the Prince exited, heading down to the main floor via the lift. Once back at the main floor, he placed his armor into the glass case where it belonged and placed his spear with the others. After which, he took the long staircase up to the top and back to the Prince’s suite. When he returned, Tempo was at his vanity and Douglas noticed the formal attire he had worn out the night of the gala was out on the bed. Tempo motioned for the bathroom. ‘I’ll need you to shower again, but this time because the restaurant is somewhat fancy.’ It was much the same as before. Douglas turned the water until it was pleasantly warm, then stepped in. First came the rough green soap, then the pink soap for his body, then the blue soap for his hair. Douglas wasted no time, wondering if he could make the evening end quicker by speeding himself up. He got out of the shower and dried off, leaving the towel around his waist as he went out to where the clothes were. He quickly jumped into the pants before Tempo could see him and placed on the shirt and vest soon afterwards. Tempo wore the same outfit he had during the gala, as well, though this time there was no boutonniere to pin to their jackets. ‘Lighten up, Douglas,’ Tempo said upon noticing the worry and trepidation come back to Douglas’ face. ‘Sometimes we need to do things just because it’s available to us.’ Douglas did not quite understand. ‘If there’s one thing that I don’t like about you, it’s that you must always question. Sometimes it’s good, but sometimes you just need to take things in stride.’ Tempo started to lead Douglas out of the room, prancing and taking rather graceful steps out into the hallway and towards the lift. ‘Release it. Let yourself be taken away.’ If Douglas didn’t know any better, he would have thought Tempo would burst into song right then and there. It was then that Douglas found himself surrounded by a blue aura. The aura lifted him up and onto Tempo’s back, who was now turning around in the hallway despite being a few feet away from the lift. Douglas was set on his back and he instinctually grabbed onto Tempo’s neck, afraid of what would happen next. ‘Because sometimes life is a little more fun with a little spontaneity.’ Why didn’t I just jump off while I had the chance? Douglas thought. Before Douglas could say anything in reply, Tempo started bolting down the hall and he had to grasp onto the Prince’s neck to avoid falling off. Tempo took a surprisingly agile turn around into the double doors of the suite and tore off for the balcony. The wind was already whipping Douglas’ hair as Tempo launched himself off the balcony and spread his wings. But instead of rocketing towards the ground, Douglas felt their pace slow down and they began to gently sail down through the evening sky. Douglas saw the curve of the earth and the ponies below looking like miniatures as they went in a wide, swooping curve as they soared over the streets. The alicorn didn’t even flap his wings. He simply lowered himself and tightened his wings as they glided past the palace, over the roofs of the crystalline city. Douglas felt the wind begin to pick up around him, and yet he released Tempo’s neck and pushed himself to sit upright. Despite the lack of response from the alicorn telling him to possibly hold on tighter, Douglas found himself able to sit on Tempo without fear, spreading his arms like he had done so many nights before. Tempo evenly came out of his dive and began to soar upwards again. There was a moment where Douglas felt himself pushed into the alicorn’s back by the force pushing down on him, but Tempo had come out and started going through another even arc. Douglas found himself becoming weightless once again, feeling the wind coursing through his veins and finding himself grinning despite himself. ‘Afraid as I am,’ said Douglas, ‘I still have not felt a sensation quite like that of flight.’ Tempo turned around to face Douglas and smiled. ‘Do you trust me?’ he said. The alicorn had straightened himself out and was now flapping his wings, a still a fair fifty feet above ground. For a moment, Douglas hesitated. But only for a moment. He nodded. ‘Don’t grab hold. I won’t let you fall.’ Tempo pointed himself upwards and took a few gentle flaps as they rose in height. They passed over the edge of the city and found themselves overlooking the plains, stained the orange of flowing wheat with the light of the evening sun. Douglas thought it awesome, the way they were looking over the entirety of the crystal city from such a vantage point that few ever saw for themselves. Slowly, Tempo dived. He slowly pulled himself down, then went further and further and further. Douglas wanted to grab hold as they tilted down ten, twenty, thirty degrees, but he held his arms out and braced himself. Eventually they were speeding downwards at a fifty-degree angle, Tempo’s wings slightly folded inwards so that they were rocketing towards the ground. It was almost like freefalling. Douglas felt the wind rushing past him, feeling a sense of dread as they practically fell towards the earth. And yet there was something in him that told him this was the single most thrilling thing he had done in his life. And as Tempo pulled out of his dive and gently arced upwards, there came the sound of a fearful yet excited laugh that filled him and surrounded him. Tempo went around the entirety of the Crystal Palace in his arc before turning around when they were across from the balcony. He ever so gently began to drop into a glide once again, letting them soar under the legs of the palace before pulling into an even path down the main street, passing over the heads of ponies that turned to follow the prince slicing through the air above them. Towards the end of the main road, Tempo tilted himself down again and gently lowered them to the ground, flapping his wings as they came close. Douglas felt himself gently pulled backwards as though Tempo was rearing before Tempo gracefully landed on the ground. ‘I should have done that with you the first day,’ Tempo said, ‘instead of making you black out with something that intense.’ ‘But this time I wasn’t afraid,’ Douglas said, getting off Tempo and walking up so that he could see the Prince’s face, that handsome face… ‘It couldn’t have gotten worse.’ He smiled at Tempo. ‘You wouldn’t have let it.’ Tempo shook his head. ‘It’s always worst the first time. Not knowing what is going on. But after that, it just comes easier.’ Tempo had brought them to rest in front of the restaurant. Now there was the faint talking in the room without being too loud, and a four-piece band played lively classical music in the main room that whispered and pranced around the guests without disturbing any of them. Tempo approached the front desk and towards a smiling pony in a tuxedo. ‘Hello, I have a reservation for tonight. It should be under “D’Amore Temporus”.’ The stallion looked down at his notepad for a second before nodding. ‘Table for two? You’re just on time, your majesty,’ he said easily. ‘Your table is ready. Please, follow me.’ Tempo and Douglas were taken to a corner of the main room. They were sat in comfortable wooden chairs with plush blue seats at a table with a clean white table cloth and a set of three gently flickering candles in the center. Two menus were presented to them before the maître-d retreated with a bow. ‘Please,’ Tempo said, ‘feel free to choose whatever suits your fancy.’ Douglas looked at the menu. ‘It’s pretty expensive,’ he said. ‘Eighteen bits for their entrée’s is a bit much.’ ‘They cook everything to perfection,’ Tempo said. ‘It is hard to find better cooks anywhere in Equestria except for in Canterlot’s kitchen.’ ‘Still, one of the places the guard talks about does good food for around seven bits.’ ‘I personally enjoy this place,’ Tempo said, not seeming to mind Douglas. ‘I simply wanted to spend an evening out. I can afford it, and this place always has my patronage.’ By the time the waitress came around, Douglas had made up his mind. They started with a basket of small, almost bite-sized bread pieces made with cheese and garlic baked into them. Douglas soon ordered a noodle soup and light salad with balsamic dressing, a plate of marinated soy beef with diced russet potatoes and asparagus garnished with a light honey mustard demi-glaze, while Tempo ordered a vegetable chowder and a similar salad with soy chicken and rice pilaf with a side of a cheese-filled tomato in a light, sweet sauce and garnished with a side of crystal berries. The mare nodded politely as she took their order and bowed as she retreated. ‘You’ve chosen some of their best,’ Tempo said as the waitress mare left. ‘I have yet to find a place even in my travels across Equestria that can match the soy beef with the demi-glaze.’ ‘You told me to pick whatever suited my fancy.’ ‘And you did. That’s what matters.’ ‘...still surprises me that this place would have a meat substitute.’ ‘I find the taste is quite alright. It’s the guilt that’s the problem.’ The waitress soon came around with a basket of eight rolls and two bowls of soup. The bread was the softest that Douglas had eaten with the perfect amount of cheese and garlic, and his noodle soup was flavored with so many different herbs and spices it was hard to tell what was coming in strongest yet they all blended together expertly and filled his mouth with flavor. ‘So,’ Douglas said in between bites of his soup, ‘how did you expect to patch our grievances up over dinner?’ Tempo took a bite of his chowder and delicately padded his mouth with an available napkin. ‘Air your grievances at me,’ he said with something of an air of confidence. ‘I want to know what exactly I did wrong so I don’t make the same mistake again. I know the culture thing, but I want to know what specifically you had problems with.’ Douglas looked back in his memory. ‘Well, if we’re talking specific to me, there were two things,’ he said, but hesitated to continue. Tempo nodded. ‘Well, what were they?’ ‘There was the time you kissed me after that gala, and the time you took me to see the exhibit about… humans,’ he said in quiet voice, ‘…at the museum.’ ‘Alright. Easy enough. What offended you about those two events?’ ‘I’ll start with the museum because it was most recent. I just felt awkward because you showed me something that said I belonged, and yet it made me feel more alone because it reminded me I was the only one here like that.’ ‘I simply wanted to remind you of your heritage,’ Tempo responded. ‘Perhaps Princess Celestia didn’t tell you that even though it is a part of our history that you were once here, that humans once ruled and that was why she wanted you here and took an interest in you.’ Douglas nodded. ‘Alright, but what about the kiss? Where I come from, kissing is a rather intimate gesture. So is most physical contact, for that matter. Matter of fact,’ he said, setting down his spoon in an empty bowl, ‘it’s usually reserved for when two people are… bonded together. And not typically done between two males, at that,’ he added. ‘Two explanations. One, this place is much less restrained about public displays of affection than your old home, I’d wager; a nuzzle between two ponies is quite common. Secondly, perhaps I felt that bond in that moment; I was caught up in the emotions of the gala.’ Douglas nodded and thought about it. Certainly emotions had run high that particular night. It appeared a satisfying explanation, but there seemed to be something behind it. Something that told him the prince wasn’t exactly— ‘You think I’m not telling the truth?’ Tempo commented. ‘It is as plain as the look on your face, the intent stare as though trying to analyze and break apart my words. Look at me, Douglas. Have I lied to you?’ ‘Oh, I do not question the veracity. I question the intent. There’s no doubt in my mind you’ve been telling me the truth in some fashion at any point in time; it’s why or for what reason you tell me things that I have trouble figuring out.’ The waitress came around and took away the empty soup bowls. They were quickly replaced by another unicorn pony bringing around two salads, which they immediately began eating before Tempo responded. ‘I like you, Douglas. It has been a while since I could divulge my feelings into someone as I have you. I believe I remember telling you the joking we did about my job was my actual feelings on the position of Prince. But with you I find my spirit lighten. I have heard it said when someone finds a soul mate, they feel their heart jump. I felt it the morning of your first official day in the castle, where I found you staring at the window, that you were another lost soul with a missing piece.’ ‘Now do not mistake me,’ Tempo continued, ‘as there are many meanings for soul mate. In the sense I mean, it is of someone who I could find myself with and feel at ease. Someone who I could drop this façade I have of being happy all the time. What good is a prince of love if he cannot find something or someone to love himself? Oh, it’s platonic only, but I still have found something that fulfills that part.’ Douglas looked around the room nervously, wondering if anyone else had heard the Prince’s impassioned speech. Yet he surprised that not a single other diner was looking in their direction. And yet it made him feel even more awkward about the situation. He felt his face get hot and he found himself failing to look straight at Tempo. He instead settled on looking at the base of his horn. ‘I… it’s been a while since anyone thought of me in that way,’ Douglas said. ‘I’m not quite sure what to think, or how to respond.’ Tempo smiled gently at him, and there was a lightness in that face that Douglas had seen only once or twice. It was, Douglas now recognized, a feeling of having found peace, a sign that Tempo was where he wanted to be. The only other times he had seen it were at the gala and during their first flight. ‘You don’t have to respond directly,’ Tempo said, his voice seemingly placing more emphasis on his words than he ever had while speaking in a quiet whisper that could barely be heard above the crowds. ‘Show me. Show me you feel at least something of the same. Your words have not always stated your true feelings, so let your actions speak for themselves, because they have been kinder to me than any pony.’ Their dinner came around. Douglas found himself more relaxed and took his time eating the soy beef and thinly-sliced potatoes in olive-oil and the demi-glaze. Him and Tempo exchanged a bite of their meals, each tasting the others plate. They talked about the little things and sometimes about nothing at all. Sometimes they looked at each other, and sometimes they would look around at the other patrons and Tempo would get them laughing doing various impressions of customers that came in or poked fun at their outfits. No one bothered to speak up. No one dared speak up when the Prince was in the room, even more so when he was the one doing it. Which was a fact that Douglas found amusing in and of itself in a different way. After they had finished their dinner, Tempo and Douglas walked back to the palace. Tempo had offered to fly, but they were both feeling full enough they agreed that flying would quite probably make them sick. Despite this, it wasn’t that long before they were back at the palace, taking the lift back up all those stories to Tempo’s suite, where Tempo started to take off his formal clothes and encouraged Douglas to take off his own. Douglas started changing out of his formal attire and had gotten back into his pants before Tempo came over and tapped him on the shoulder. Douglas turned around and looked at Tempo, noticing the handsome face staring at him with that look of peace and satisfaction. ‘Now that you are more aware of the conventions here,’ Tempo said, ‘perhaps you won’t run away this time.’ ‘Run away from what?’ Douglas tried asking. But before he could complete it, Tempo had come up and kissed him, once again on his lips. Douglas was first frozen. He wasn’t sure what to do. The kiss was electric; he had felt quite happy and content as they walked back to the palace, but as Tempo’s lips touched his own, he felt something jolt him back into consciousness. Tempo’s eyes had closed as they touched his, but Douglas’ were wide open and questioning everything. What was going on? Why did Tempo do this to him a second time? Why did he do it knowing that it had made Douglas feel uncomfortable last time? Why did he do it without waiting for him to put on a shirt and make himself feel more decent? ...why was it still going? ... ...why did he not mind it? Show me. Show me you feel at least something of the same. Tempo’s lips only broke contact for a moment, but in that moment Douglas found himself relaxing. He let his eyes close and reconnected with the Prince, allowing his arms to find their way up until his hands were resting on Tempo’s shoulders. He found himself sitting on the bed as Tempo’s warm body touched his, feeling the soft pink coat of the alicorn touch his chest. And for just a moment he felt he knew the peace and satisfaction that the alicorn seemed to know so well. Douglas was not aware of when he returned to the common room. Yet when he returned, pants still intact and his shirt now on, he felt himself in a state of bliss as he climbed into his bed and fell asleep facing the deep blue crystal ceiling.