(This takes place a few weeks after "Growing Pains")
It was a beautiful spring morning in Canterlot. Constell was lounging on a cushion in the study when there was a knock at the front door. It was answered by Iron Hooves, who brought the visitor to her: Luxury.
"Young master Luxury, here to see you, princess." Iron smiled.
"Hi, Connie." Luxury smiled.
"Hey, Lux." Constell grinned. "Care to join me?"
"Try and stop me." Luxury chuckled.
As Luxury went to join his marefriend, Iron Hooves made himself scarce, wanting them to have their privacy.
It was quite an interesting story as to how these two had become a couple.
Weeks back, when the royal dignitaries from neighboring kingdoms were visiting, Luxury, having been invited due to his parents being philanthropist and social climber Fancypants and supermodel Fleur de Lis, had the fortune of meeting Mist, Shine's young and beautiful sister, and was already smitten with her. However, another stallion met her that same night, Blue Blazes, the son of renowned Wonderbolts, Spitfire and Soarin'.
What followed was a love triangle, as Mist had trouble deciding between the two of them, having had equivalent amount of feelings for the both of them. However, it all came to a head when the Changeling Char, Chrysalis's ex-captain of the guard, tried to kidnap her. Blue Blazes and Luxury attempted to stop him, but the brute had insurmountable skills in battle, and both of them were no match for him. It was thanks to Chrysalis' husband, Sleight Gambit, and his expert use of magic and cards that the beast was defeated.
But when things seem to have settled down, Char rose up once more and attempted to attack Mist in one reckless charge. It was then that Mist, standing between her two lovers, leapt to Blue's side. Needless to say, Char was ultimately defeated, and Mist had made her choice: to be with Blue Blazes.
Luxury, while harboring no ill feelings towards Mist or Blue, was disappointed to have lost the hoof of a fair lady like Mist… but as fate would have it, shortly after the incident, he met Constell… and like déjà vu, he was smitten with her.
Likewise, Constell found herself immediately charmed by Luxury. They got to talking after the incident, and realised they had some things in common. They agreed to see each other again the next day, and quickly found themselves overwhelmed by an irresistible attraction. They started dating not long after, and never looked back.
"So, how is everything?" Luxury asked.
"Pretty good." Constell answered. "You?"
"Now that I've seen you, this day is unfathomably glorious." Luxury said poetically. "Your beauty could light up the deepest darkness, my dear."
"Flatterer." Constell blushed.
"But is it really flattery if it's the truth?" Luxury grinned.
"I don't know, I'll have to think about it." Constell smiled. "And you know what really helps me think? A good kiss."
"Coming right up." Luxury beamed.
The two moved closer, their lips about to touch... when Caboose suddenly burst in to the study.
"Totally random room sweep!" He declared. "Oh hey, you two. Having fun?"
"We were." Constell frowned.
"Sorry about that." Caboose shrugged. "Just doing my job."
"Speaking of which, what exactly is it you're 'sweeping' for, anyway?" Luxury asked.
"Anything and everything." Caboose answered, as he sniffed the floor like a bloodhound. "It may take a while. They are very elusive creatures…"
"Come on, Lux." Constell stood up. "Let's go find someplace a little more private."
"Right behind you." Luxury followed.
"If you see anything, let me know!" Caboose yelled after them. "Don't worry about the everything, I have stallions on that!"
Luxury glanced back in confusion.
"What an eccentric character…" Luxury told Constell.
"Tell me about it." Constell rolled her eyes.
Constell and Luxury went out into the castle garden.
"Now this is more like it." Constell smiled. "Nice and peaceful."
"Now, where were we?" Luxury smiled.
Just as they were about to kiss, Hurricane, Pureblood and Vito suddenly rushed by, stopping when they saw what was going on.
"Ew!" Hurricane groaned. "Do you see that?"
"They were about to kiss!" Pureblood grimaced.
"Gross!" Vito spat.
"You mind giving us some privacy?" Constell frowned. "Beat it, kids!"
"No way!" Hurricane shook her head. "We were here first!"
"We were just getting started on the best game of tag ever!" Pureblood smiled.
"Which I was gonna win." Vito boasted.
"Was not!" Pureblood yelled.
"Was too!" Vito shot back.
"Was not!" Pureblood snarled.
"Was too!" Vito declared.
"Maybe we should try somewhere else." Luxury whispered.
"Good call." Constell nodded.
As they left, Pureblood and Vito continued their argument. Hurricane was watching intently, eating from a box of popcorn that had appeared from out of nowhere.
Constell led Luxury somewhere she was sure was safe for them to enjoy each other's company without being disturbed: Her room.
"Why didn't I think of this before?" She grinned. "Nothing like one's own room for privacy."
"And a very lovely room it is, too." Luxury looked around. "Is that a real moonstone on your nightstand, over there?"
"Yep." Constell nodded. "A little gift from mom. Being the daughter of the princess of the night has its advantages."
"I'm sure it does." Luxury smiled.
"Come on." Constell leapt onto her bed. "Come join me on my bed."
"Moving a little fast, aren't we?" Luxury joked. "We've only been dating a few weeks..."
"Clam it, funny guy." Constell teased. "Before I forget how wonderful you are."
Luxury sat on Constell's bed with her. They gently nuzzled against each other.
"Now that's what I'm talking about." Constell purred.
"Your mane has the most delightful fragrance, my dear." Luxury sighed. "Like the scent of orchids on a nighttime breeze."
"Really?" Constell sniffed her mane. "First I've heard of it..."
"I could drink in that scent all day." Luxury declared.
"And I just might let you..." Constell beamed.
They nuzzled closer together. For a few brief, shining moments, it seemed like they had finally gotten some privacy... then Luna opened the door.
"Ah, there you are, Constell." She smiled. "Luxury, always nice to see you."
"Mother!" Constell groaned. "Do you mind? We were having a... private moment!"
"Oh, I could see that." Luna smirked. "But I thought you should know its lunch time. You're welcome to join us, Luxury."
"Thank you, your highness." Luxury bowed.
"Please, call me 'Luna'." Luna declared.
Constell and Luxury went down to the dining room, joining the others for lunch.
"You two been kissing some more?" Hurricane asked.
"None of your business!" Constell growled.
"Easy there, Connie." Luxury said warningly.
"Sorry." Constell sighed. "Just a little frustrated, is all..."
"Why?" Pureblood asked. "Is kissing Luxury really that bad?"
"I choose to ignore that." Luxury declared.
"Lucky you." Constell deadpanned. "I wish I could ignore them..."
After lunch, Constell and Luxury decided to try the royal guard barracks, which were likely to be empty, due to the guards all being on patrol. As they entered, they found that it wasn't deserted; Shine and Gothic were having a sparring match.
"Dad?" Constell gaped.
"Constell?" Gothic looked at her, then Luxury. "What exactly are you doing?"
"Um, nothing, sir..." Luxury gulped.
"You'd better be." Gothic glared.
"Dad..." Constell groaned.
"Ah, cut 'em some slack." Shine told Gothic. "Don't you remember what you were like at their age?"
"Yes." Gothic nodded. "Which is exactly why I'm worried.
"Come on, Lux." Constell sighed.
"Right behind you." Luxury slinked away from Gothic's disapproving glare.
The next place they tried was the library. They slipped in between a couple of bookcases.
"Excellent choice, my dear." Luxury beamed. "Nice and quiet."
"Real quiet." Constell added.
"But not quiet enough." A third voice remarked.
Constell and Luxury turned to see Miracle sitting at a nearby table, her horn glowing.
"Do you mind?" She asked. "I'm trying to practice my ambiomorphic spell here!"
"Sorry, little cuz." Constell winced. "We'll go somewhere else. Come on, Lux."
"Coming..." Luxury sighed.
Their next attempt at closeness came at one of the castle balconies.
"Look at that view." Constell smiled. "I never get tired of it."
"It's nice, but it's got nothing on the view I have." Luxury gazed lovingly at Constell.
"You're not so hard on the eyes yourself." Constell chuckled.
Just as they were about to kiss, there was an explosion nearby. Caboose ran by with his cannon.
"Gangway!" He yelled.
"Caboose, what's going on?" Constell asked.
"There's a pesky fly buzzing around!" Caboose yelled. "There!"
Caboose fired the cannon, sending the ordinance over the balcony and into the horizon.
"No, there!" He turned the cannon, Constell and Luxury ducking as it swung by.
The cannon blast missed the fly and blasted away part of the castle, revealing Blueblood in his private bath.
"What in blue blazes?!" Blueblood stammered.
The floor of his now destroyed bathroom began to slant, and the bathtub began to slide off…
"No, no, no, no, no, NO!" Blueblood yelled as his bathtub slipped off the floor and landed with a big crash. "I've got to stop taking my baths during Caboose's shenanigans..."
"Is this... normal?" Luxury asked worriedly.
"As normal as it gets for Caboose." Constell sighed. "Now, let's just back away slowly."
After leaving Caboose, Constell and Luxury wandered down the corridors.
"Any more ideas?" Luxury asked.
"The ballroom." Constell smiled. "There aren't any royal functions coming, so it'll be deserted. The perfect place to finally get some privacy."
"Great idea, honey." Luxury beamed.
They quickly made their way to the ballroom, which, as Constell had predicted, was empty.
"Finally." Constell sighed triumphantly. "No more distractions. Just you and me."
"Ah, this takes me back." Luxury smiled. "The night we met. Blue Blazes and I had just saved Mist, and she had made her choice. I don't mind admitting I was a little downcast. But then I met you, and all those feelings just vanished. The worst moment of my life suddenly gave way to my best. Each day since, I've thanked whatever higher power saw fit to pair me with such an angel."
"More flattery, I see." Constell grinned. "Not that I'm complaining..."
"Care to dance?" Luxury held out his hoof.
"I'd love to." Constell took his hoof.
The two entered into a waltz, each mirroring the other's moves perfectly. They leaned in for another kiss, when... Mist and Blue Blazes suddenly entered the ballroom.
"Oh, come on!" Constell groaned.
"...Well, hello to you too, 'Stell." Mist said humorlessly.
"Sorry, Mist." Constell apologized. "It's not you. It's just... Luxury and I have been wanting some private time all day. But somehow, somepony always seems to show up and ruin everything!"
"What brings you here, anyway?" Luxury asked.
"That'd be me." Blue answered. "My dancing a little rusty, so Mist said she could teach me some moves. Didn't think anypony else would be here."
"It's not your fault." Luxury said fairly.
"So, having trouble getting some alone time, huh?" Mist asked. "Well, we may know just the place."
"Oh, yeah." Blue smiled. "For sure."
"Really?" Constell smiled. "Where?"
"Just follow us." Mist grinned.
Mist and Blue led Constell and Luxury into the deepest part of the garden, stopping at a large hedge.
"This is the place?" Luxury asked. "A hedge?"
"Not quite." Blue smiled, pulling aside some of the greenery.
Mist and Blue slipped through the hedge. Constell and Luxury shared a look, then followed. On the other side, they found a small, untouched portion of the garden, with a gazebo in the center. A tall tree created a natural canopy, shielding the area from detection from above.
"Voila." Blue declared. "Instant privacy."
"Wow." Constell looked around. "How'd you know this was here? I've been living here longer then you, and I never knew about it."
"I got lucky." Mist shrugged. "Stumbled onto it one day, figured it'd be a great place for two ponies in need of privacy."
"Use it in good health. I know me and Mist did." Blue saluted with a cocky grin, prompting Mist to blush. "Now, let's get back to that dance lesson, babe."
"You got it." Mist smiled.
"Thanks, you two." Constell waved.
"Yes, much appreciated." Luxury added.
Mist and Blue waved at them before disappearing through the bush.
"Alone at last." Constell turned to Luxury, eyes sparkling with allure. "Ready to pick up where we left off?"
"Try and stop me." Luxury purred.
Their lips met, and they entered into the most satisfying kiss they had ever had. It had taken a lot of strife to get there, but good things were always worth waiting for...