Peace at Last Side Stories: Back in Neighpon

by Prince_Staghorn


The Double Date: Part Two/Twilight and Cerci

Neighponese

Poatsi

It was going good so far. Double and Hope had finished getting ready hours ago, and both mares and their respective stallions were now seated at a table in a local restaurant. While they waited for the meal, Stag talked about various topics, boring Red and Hope to the point where their eyelids were drooping.

"...and furthermore, it's remarkable that ancient changelings not only took the time to domesticate them, but actually went to the addition of breeding several strains of Message Raptor..."

Double spoke up. "Our food's here."

No expense had been spared when the chefs heard that three members of the royal family would be eating there tonight, and they had gone all-out. There were traditional foods, including bowls of rice, cooked meat of various animals and hot, delicious bowls of glowing pink love soup, as well as a modern spread which included the kind of foods that would be eaten at Canterlot Castle, like toast, fruit, cakes, macaroons, pastries, etc.

But the pièce de résistance were several live creatures bound and gagged, struggling on their silver platters. On the whole, they resembled tortoises, save for the fact they were a bright shade of pink. Red poked the hard shell of one questioningly.

"Ezemars," Hope explained. "They're just little reservoirs of love and affection."

She bit onto the turtle, fangs sinking slightly into the semi-soft shell without breaking it. Red was... admittedly slightly put off^, and simply settled with eating the meat first.^^

*

After the meal, it was a leisurely stroll through town for the rest of the date. It was nice, and nothing could possibly...

"Turn around and hand over the..."

The Kitsune didn't get to finish as Red became a blur of green, front and back hooves delivering a few blows to the assailant before his wings glowed, four or five feathers falling out as a turquoise burst of energy fired from over his head, knocking the Kitsune into the nearest building.^^^

...Nothing could possibly ruin this date.

Stag and Double eventually left Hope and Red alone, going off on their own path. the Pegasus and the Princess soon found themselves back in the royal garden, under the cherry blossoms.

"I had a wonderful time, Red."

"So did I, Hope."

They stood silent for a few minutes. Then they kissed.

It seemed to last forever. Then it ended.

"Goodnight, Red."

Red smiled s she walked off.

"Until tomorrow, my dear Hope."

***

Twilight was unconcerned that Red had seemingly decided to guard Hope instead of her. He was a grown stallion. But still, she wasn't sure how she had ended up going night-shopping with Cerci after the guard had come back from his date.

The Neighpon Night Market was abuzz. Twilight was looking over some jewelry in a booth.

"See anything you like?"

Twilight looked up at the reindeer doe running the booth.

"Not yet, I'm just browsing."

Cerci, for her part, had found exactly what she was looking for: a new set of colored pencils and paper for Pupa. she went to find Twilight.

*

The pink-haired changeling found Twilight at the Tarandoland Jewelry booth, talking to the old doe who ran it.

"Hur mycket är detta?" Twilight asked in Poatsi, pointing to a nice-looking gold necklace.

"Sextioåtta yen."

Twilight considered before her eyes caught something else.

"Hur är det med den?"

The doe looked. It was a silver necklace with the symbol of the crescent moon, the symbol of Hrimfaxi.^^^^

"... Fyrtiofem yen."

Twilight set the coins on the counter and bought the necklace. "Tack, jag vet att min dotter kommer att älska det här!"

The doe nodded. "Ingen orsak. Jag alltid älskar att göra en kund nöjd."

Twilight smiled and walked away, bumping into Cerci.

"...So what was that about?"

Twilight smiled. "Oh, nothing, just buying a souvenir for Nyx."

"Who?"

"My daughter."

"Oh."

With that, the two went back to the palace.