Princess Amber couldn’t help but smile as the sun sank gracefully below the walls of the city. The past two weeks had been chock full of adversity and new experiences for the young royal: discovering she had a claim to the throne of Roania, the journey to the capital to lay her claim, the knapping of Opal, meeting Purple Heart and his friends, arriving at Gallopilli in a rather unorthodox fashion, Purple Heart’s fiasco during the ball and the subsequent trial, the bouts that the purple earth pony had to endure, learning of Holdfast’s scheme, and now this. She had to deal with her anxiety and confess her feelings for Purple Heart, all the while hoping that he didn’t despise her.
A knock sounded on the door, shaking Amber gently from her thoughts.
“Yes?”
“My lady,” a voice said from the door. “The gladiator Purple Heart is requesting an audience. Shall I send him away until you are finished with you dinner?”
“No!” Amber barked before changing her tone to a more gentle one. “Ehm, send him in please. I’m expecting him.” The ornate doors to her suite swung open to reveal the purple earth pony. As he walked slowly into the room, Amber took the chance to scrutinize him in search of any lasting injuries. Her brow furrowed when she noticed Purple Heart favoring his right foreleg with a minor limp. She looked up and locked gazes with the purple barbarian. A shiver ran down her spine as his eyes pierced her, lighting feelings within the golden unicorn.
“It’s just a sprain,” Purple Heart explained softly. “I’ll be fine. Gimme a few days and I’ll be right as rain. Now, was there something you wanted to talk to me about?” The golden unicorn nodded numbly, gesturing with a free hoof towards the table.
“Please,” she urged. “Sit.” Purple Heart arched an eyebrow at the request but moved slowly over to the table nonetheless, his eyes on the princess the whole time. Both ponies ignored the door closing softly, leaving them alone in the room together. Apprehension trickled down the purple earth pony’s spine as he moved closer to the table. He didn’t know why, but it had something to do with being alone with the princess. He knew she had feelings for him, regardless of reason and he had to admit she was attractive. That aside, he was nervous as he sat at the table, his eyes flicking from Amber to the table. An uncomfortable silence settled between the pair, neither of them wanting to begin a conversation.
Amber looked at her dining partner with interest. Purple Heart wasn’t usually this skittish when he was with her and his friends. It struck her then that it was the fact that he was alone with her that made him anxious. She swallowed softly, her eyes never leaving the purple earth pony’s face. A sigh of resignation passed her lips. No point beating around the bush. It’d just make everything more awkward.
“Purple?” she asked, her voice gentle. “Can I ask a personal question? Please don’t panic, I just want to ask a question.” The golden unicorn winced at the panicked widening of Purple Heart’s eyes. He ducked his head in acquiescence, almost squirming under Amber’s gaze. An inhalation later and Amber looked directly into Purple Heart’s cobalt blue eyes. Her eyes were soft as she gazed at him, hoping that she could calm him enough so that he didn’t overreact at her question.
“Do you have-,” she hesitated. Purple Heart arched a nervous eyebrow. “Do you… Do you have feelings for me?” Purple Heart blanched. Princess Amber swore under her breath but kept her face blank. She watched as the purple earth pony swallowed, his eyes glazing over as he considered the question. Apprehension began to settle in the princess’ stomach. If Purple Heart didn’t have feelings, she would be in trouble. Sure, they could pretend, but it would be easier if they shared romantic views of each other. Purple Heart closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, drawing Amber from her thoughts to watch the purple earth pony in silence. He exhaled, opening his eyes and Amber’s stomach flip-flopped.
“I have to admit,” Purple Heart mused, his eyes gentle and sparking with something that Amber couldn’t quite put her hoof on, “I do have feelings that might be reminiscent of romantic views.” Amber couldn’t help it. She giggled.
“What?” the purple earth pony asked, his voice changing to one of playful innocence. “Am I grammatically amusing?” Amber’s stomach flopped again when Purple Heart smiled. This was so out of character for the purple earth pony. He obviously kept this side to him hidden as she had never seen it before. She would definitely have to find out why he hid it.
“Yes, you are,” she confirmed, a smile curving her lips. “I’m glad we share mutual feelings for each other. It will make this easier.” As quickly as Purple Heart’s charming disposition had revealed itself, it disappeared behind a mask of hard interest.
“Ho?” he grunted. “Explain.” Amber reeled back mentally at the harshness of his tone. Guilt flooded her as she looked at the purple earth pony who held her interest. The golden unicorn glanced around, sent a pulse of magic out to check for listeners, and when she found none, leaned forward.
“There is a plotting pony that wants the throne,” Amber whispered. “I am in the way. Somepony told me that they need to kill me to help this other pony but they don’t intend to. Instead, they want me to draw as much attention to myself to occupy the plotting pony so that they don’t see the counter move against them from the pony sent to kill me.” She half expected Purple Heart’s eyes to cross in an attempt to decipher the explanation she gave. To her surprise, he merely nodded and gestured for her to continue.
“To draw attention to myself, the pony who had to kill me suggested I get several rumors started about me as well as take excursions out into public and make alliances with the royals in court,” Amber continued.
“Hence your request to know my feelings,” Purple Heart muttered. Amber nodded, her eyes averted. Her head lifted, Purple Heart’s uninjured hoof under her chin. She stared into his eyes, entranced by the wisdom and passion in those blue orbs. “Know this: we will try to make this real. I will not operate under the thought that I will be cast aside like some broken toy if we survive this. We will either make this work, or agree that it won’t.” Tears formed at the corners of Amber’s eyes. She nodded in agreement, a smile forming on her face. A sigh passed her lips when she felt Purple Heart’s hoof brush them away before leaning back, a handsome smile on his own face.
“So,” the purple earth pony smiled. “Shall we eat?” Amber nodded and clopped her hooves together. A side door opened to reveal several ponies laden with platters of food. A basket of bread when betwixt them while bowls of fruit and plates of vegetables went directly in front of the diners. Rounding off the meal were several layers of assorted pastries and two glasses of tangy juice. As the ponies departed, Amber and Purple Heart sat silently, waiting for the servers to leave. Neither diner noticed the pink-haired head that peaked passed the swinging doors into the room as the servers left.
Amber took a chance. She used her magic to lift a slice of fruit and brought it close to Purple Heart’s lips.
“Open,” she ordered gently, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Your leg is in no state to hold food, so I’ll feed you.” Purple Heart smiled cheekily and opened his maw only to close it on the fruit slice.
“I could get used to this,” he chuckled as he chewed, “darling.”
Pinkie Pie blinked and bit her tongue, trying to keep silent as she slid away. Things would be getting interesting now. Of that the party pony was certain.
* * *
“Did you hear about that new arena fighter?”
“The purple earth pony? I heard he got the living crap beaten out of hi-”
“Not that! About him and the Princess!”
“Who? Amber Glitter?”
“I heard he saved her from bandits on the road.”
“I heard he and the young princess spent some time together after his last fight.”
“So?”
“They spent time together alone.”
“Oh? ...Ohhhhhhhh.”
“Wait, Amber Glitter’s in love with her gladiator?”
“I heard-”
“My friend said-”
“What do you think, Chancellor?”
Chancellor Holdfast kept a calm smile on his face as he listened to the nobleponies around him. “I make it my policy not to make judgements on the goings-on of Princesses.” He added an extra bit of smirk. “Or that of arena fighters, for that matter.” Somepony like him had no reason to engage in unfounded rumors with no value to them.
If they are entirely unfounded, he thought, his mind driving away from the idle chatter of those around him. It wouldn’t be entirely unheard of for a patron to have some form of feelings for their fighter; especially for a young mare like the Princess. Gears turned inside the snow-colored stallion’s mind, with more and more focus being pulled away from the conversation. The question, in that case, is why? Simple puppy love? Or something perhaps a bit more than that? A small frown worked its way onto his face. Perhaps I should look into these rumors further…
“Chancellor?”
Holdfast blinked, bringing his attention back to the current situation. “My apologies, my mind was elsewhere.”
“What do you think of the rumor’s about a monster being in the city Chancellor?”
“A monster?” Holdfast thought for a moment, the image of Wits End’s face popping unbidden into his mind. He and his friends used a Timberwolf to fight bandits, he thought. Could that boy have gotten himself found out? “With so many rumors in such a short time, I’m afraid I’ll need a little more than that to go on.” Holdfast resumed his smile. “A supposed monster could just as easily be an excuse for somepony’s mistress running out of them, after all.”
“I’d heard that it was stalking the town during the recent ball.”
“I’d heard it stood on two legs! What manner of creature stands on two legs?”
Holdfast frowned again. If it happened that early, it’s unlikely that boy was responsible. Which means something is happening I’m not aware of. “I’ll certainly look into it as soon as I can.”
“That is much appreciated Chancellor, I for one will rest more comfortably knowing you are on top of this as usual.”
Holdfast bowed his head slightly. “Of course. One of my duties as Chancellor is to root out any dangerous elements.” Somepony skulking around could mean a spy in our midst, he thought to himself. Or worse: the scouts of a Changeling hive. Best to deal with this mysterious creature before anything else. “After all,” he continued with a chuckle, “we wouldn’t want anything to happen to our dear King, now would we?”