//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: The Psyker And The Pony // Story: Dating Of A Godly Variety // by RainbowBob //------------------------------// “That is quite the crowd the pink one managed to amass in such a short amount of time,” the God Emperor commented, rubbing his chin. “Does she have time-bending powers of some sort?” “Oh, don’t be silly,” Celestia assured him. “Only unicorns can do that. Though it does tend to blow up in your face in a paradox…” “All it does in blow up in your face in my world.” The Emperor glanced at Celestia and winked, his infectious smile making her lips perk up as well. Starting back to the crowd, the entire plaza in the center of town was filled with the citizens of Ponyville, all drawn together in front of Sugarcube Corner. After news had spread about an alien creature performing a magic show with the princess herself, ponies from all around gathered to witness the amazing spectacle. Bouncing with an endless energy about her, Pinkie Pie appeared between the two menacing powerhouses and raised a megaphone to her lips. “Welcome mares and gentlecolts, to the first ever Ponyville Magic Show! Featuring, Princess Celestia and...” Pinkie hopped on the Emperor’s shoulder, taking care to avoid any spikes from his shoulder pads, “The God Emperor of Mankind!” The Emperor turned his head to her, only for his eyes to widen momentarily in surprise at her disappearance. Glancing back down, Pinkie was in her previous position, shouting to the crowd of onlookers. “How did she know my name?” the Emperor whispered to Celestia. Celestia merely shrugged, tapping her hoof knowingly. “I’ve asked my student, Twilight Sparkle about it several times, but even to her that mare is a mystery.” “Is your student here today?” Peering into the crowd, Celestia perked up, waving to a purple pony making her way through the mass of pony bodies. “Oh, there she is! Twilight, Twilight, I want you to meet someone!” Once the ponies in the crowd knew that Twilight was nearby, they instantly parted for her, the alicorn mare trotting at a relaxed pace towards the duo. The Emperor noticed that she too had wings and a horn, apparently royalty indicators along with evident showcases of how power a pony is magic wise. Since Twilight’s horn was shorter than Celestia’s own, the Emperor guessed she was less powerful than her teacher. “Princess Celestia! It’s so good to see you visiting Ponyville on such a fine day!” Twilight greeted her teacher, the two embracing momentarily. Taking a long glance at the Emperor, which was needed since it took her a good ten seconds for her eyes to reach from his feet to his head. “Oh, and is this your friend?” “Date, actually,” Celestia said, her white cheeks blushing a shade redder. “Date?” Twilight’s neck craned once more to properly take in the Emperor’s size. “With… with him? Is he even a pony?” “Actually, I’m a man.” The God Emperor’s smile faltered for a short moment. “Or, well, I used to think I was.” “How did you two even meet?” Twilight asked, her eyes glancing between the two over and over again. Celestia scratched the back of her neck, her blush becoming more prominent now. “Ah, well, we actually met on an online dating website…” “While I was still in a state between life and death on my golden throne.” “In which I helped him stay alive for a prolonged period of time after donating some of my magic to him.” “In which I was reincarnated after my eventual death.” “To stay here, in Equestria, with me,” Celestia said, her face positively red now. “I-I mean, not specifically with me, in the castle. We’ve only just started dating, after all. Taking things slow. I suppose I can get a servant to prepare a guest room—” “Celestia, my dear, please, it’s fine,” the Emperor assured her, bending down on one knee and patting her neck. “I’m okay with staying wherever you deem is appropriate.” Celestia’s eyes closed and a blissful smile spread out on her cheeks, the patting of her neck with the Emperor’s surprisingly gentle hand an absolute dream. That dream was soon shattered by the awkward cough of Twilight Sparkle, who was obviously trying to look as if she wasn’t paying too much attention to the couple. “Well, I’ll be hanging out with my friends then,” Twilight said, pointing a hoof back to several other mares waving to her. “But after the magic show, we all should really catch up! It was great talking to you, Mister God Emperor, and you too, Princess Celestia!” As Twilight trotted away to rejoin her group of friends, the Emperor said, “How strange it is that she didn’t even flinch at my appearance. Even most of the ponies of this town seem largely unaffected.” “The ponies of Ponyville have seen many a strange sight over the years. Nothing they couldn’t handle, of course, but after the daily occurrences of the strange and benign turning up at their doorstep, they have remained amazingly resilient to terrifying foreign factors, and even stay resolute as a close-knit community that help and support one another.” Staring up at him with a sheepish grin, Celestia added, “Plus, I’m your entourage. That pretty much guarantees that you’re not some freaky monster about to munch on their faces.” “Oh please now, munching on faces is too barbaric for one such as myself.” Holding his fist before himself like he had something trapped in his hand, the Emperor made a biting motion and said, “Now, legs, that’s where the good meat is at.” Celestia stifled a giggle, only to be momentarily knocked on her rump by the force of Pinkie’s megaphone voice blast. “Okay, are the contestants ready?” “Ready for what?” the Emperor asked, using one of the claws on his gauntlet to dig into his damaged eardrum from Pinkie’s powerful yelling. “Why, the magic show, of course! Whoever puts on the best performance gets the prize of a super-triple-quadruple-double-decker chocolate ice cream cake with hot fudge filling and an entire layer of sprinkles and whipped cream on top!” Pinkie licked her lips, saliva practically flowing like a river from her mouth. “Not to mention icing.” Looking over the crowd of ponies, most who were cheering for a performance to commence, the Emperor chuckled lightly and crossed his arms. “Well, well, quite the publicity stunt that pink one managed to pull. Ingenius, I have to admit.” “Plus, a good round of fun, don’t you think?” Celestia asked, a confident smile on her face. The Emperor flashed his own smartly grin. “Oh, you know it. It’s gonna be a treat winning that chocolate cake all to myself.” The two were now circling each other, the crowd at a respectful distance to look on in anticipation. Power energies could be sensed filling the air, making it spark and fuzz like the two were traveling through a static sea of power. “So confident so soon that you’ll win it, Emperor?” Celestia asked, her eyes glowing a light golden hue. The Emperor’s eyes flashed bright blue, a golden aurora covering his armor. “It’s not confidence, my dear, it’s knowing a firm fact. That fact being that when a cake made from Pinkie Pie is on the line, I know I’m going to win it.” “Excellent,” Celestia whispered, her horn shining a radiant light as magic poured out of her. “I like a confident man.” “I like a confident woman.” Celestia grinned. “Then let’s see who’s more confident!” she shouted, letting her power set forth a tidal wave of magic. The God Emperor lifted up his gauntlet bound hand, the claw sparking with the fires of psychic might flowing through them. “Yes, let’s!” “Ooooooooh man, this gone be good!” Pinkie said, standing off to the side while munching on some popcorn from her bag.