Stepping aside, Celestia made a little bit of room on the balcony for Gosling to land. She watched him drop in with practiced ease, his wings folding in against his sides, and he landed upon the stone floor with a minimal clattering of his hooves. In the daylight, he was an even more impressive specimen. Long black legs, so black that they appeared to be blue down near his hooves, and growing lighter as one went up, until he was charcoal grey along his belly and his sides. His wings were also charcoal grey, but his feathers had silver highlights. His back, all up and down his spine, was the colour of thunderheads, pregnant with the promise of rain. She noticed a detail that she did not see last night; there was a patch of white on his head, just between his ears, and it was almost covered by his mane.
“You do wonderful work,” Celestia said for the lack of anything better to say. She was still unsettled, still out of sorts, and embarrassed to be seen in the state she was in. She understood what she had done; she had sabotaged herself with the hopes that Cadance would take pity and allow her to hide.
Cadance had not been merciful, and for this, Celestia was glad.
“Are you okay?” Gosling asked as he studied Celestia.
She looked at him and Celestia saw his rubber ducky cutie mark. It had an orange beak and it was a vivid, all too bright shade of yellow against his darkened pelt. She saw him blinking at her. All she could do was stand there and drink him in like a thirsty pony led to water that decided stubbornness was a bad idea and drinking was a good idea. He was very, very drinkable.
“My Auntie has had a very rough day,” Cadance said in a low voice to Gosling. Cadance lifted her head and looked over at her aunt. “Private Gosling, the first thing that you must learn about my aunt is that she isn’t perfect. She is strong, she is independent to a fault, she is stubborn, strong willed, and she doesn’t like being helped.”
“And those are my good qualities.” Celestia spoke with a sheepish, wavering voice. She felt a strong breeze blow over her extended wings and her whole body quivered as she experienced the wonderful cooling sensation.
Gosling, unfazed by all he heard, nodded. “That is to be expected.”
“Just to let you both know, I have raised the white flag of surrender. I’ve given up on resistance.” Celestia let out a huff. “I have submitted. The ponies of Fancy have a ceremonial cheese dish that they serve in times of surrender. I wonder if anypony is in the mood for cheese—”
Cadance’s eyebrow raised and she regarded her aunt with a concerned eye.
“—I could go for a little cheese.” Celestia blinked. “I’m so lonely that it hurts.”
Her ears perking, Cadance’s gaze refocused upon Gosling and her brows furrowed as she looked down at him. She saw a worried look upon his face, but he didn’t look like he wanted to run. Nope, he looked like he planned to stay. Something about Gosling’s mannerisms reminded her of Shining Armor.
“I want to love somepony,” Celestia said in a quavering, reedy whine, “and not have it end in disaster. I don’t want the headache, the hassle, or the heartache.” She shook her head and the corner of her mouth jerked downwards. “I don’t want to abuse my authority just so I can be left alone. While I understand that I am one of the ruling monarchs of Equestria, I am more than that. I’d like to be a mother and not have to worry about my foals being mugged by the press or set upon by an irate public who takes their differences with me out on them. I’d like to give them a normal life, but I don’t even know what normal is anymore. I live in a fortified dwelling surrounded by guards. Every move I make is watched. My neck has grown weary from the weight of my crown.”
“So… what you need is a pony to rub your neck?” Gosling asked.
“Yes!” Celestia blurted out in a voice that had a bit too much volume. “Maybe?”
“What you need is some time to sort out, deal with, and heal up from past hurts.” Cadance held up her head as high as possible and tried to look at her aunt eye to eye. Celestia was still a bit taller than her. “A little therapy would do you good. It’s sorted Gosling out and made him a better pony.”
“It sure has,” Gosling admitted. He turned and spoke to Celestia. “When I first asked Cadance for help, I had no confidence to speak of. I still have some confidence issues to be honest, but Cadance taught me to fake it until I can make it. So I act confident even though I don’t feel that way on the inside. Ponies think I’m confident though and that helps me project a better image of myself.”
Tilting her head to one side, Celestia stared down at Gosling with wide, unblinking eyes. “You lack confidence? You are one of the boldest ponies I have ever seen. I don’t understand. You’ve even flirted with me and you tossed yourself into the pond without hesitation.”
“I was so nervous that I was almost positive that I was going to spew. I even tried telling Cadance that I was going to hurl.” Gosling paused for a moment and averted his gaze away from Cadance, staring down at the ground. “Cadance told me to blow chunks if I had to. She said that if I blew chunks and tossed my cookies everywhere and you didn’t run away, then it had to be true love. But if I spewed and you bolted, then you clearly weren't the sort of pony I needed in my life and good riddance.”
Celestia cleared her throat and turned to look at her niece. She saw that Cadance had a serene, wise smile. Celestia blinked, first her right eye, and then her left eye a half second later. After a moment, she turned her manic gaze back to Gosling. Somehow, she knew that if she blew chunks at this moment, the colt wouldn’t bolt. She had to look hideous right now though in her current state, with chapped, raw lips and her mangled, grotesque wings.
“Do you wish to court me?” Celestia asked in a rusty, creaky voice that she did not recognise as her own.
“Yes,” Gosling replied without hesitation. “But I fear I don’t understand what that means exactly. Is this like an engagement?”
“Think of it as an engagement to be engaged,” Cadance said, cutting in with smooth, soft spoken words. “A royal suitor has to be a paragon of virtue, and a paragon of virtue doesn’t date. They commit. They boldly make a promise to commit and forsake the attention of all others. As for the length of courting, it is entirely dependent upon the couple.”
Nodding, Gosling’s ears stood up straight and he looked at Cadance. “I understand.”
“Courting can be called off, but it is a process fraught with danger. The press will have a field day. There will of course be scandal. Celestia will take some of the flack, but you, Gosling, you will draw the ire of the entire nation and they will hate you for dumping their beloved monarch.”
Gosling gulped and his legs shook for a moment, his knees almost knocking together. To his credit, the colt recovered and regained his composure; standing up straight and almost at attention once more. “Well I should hope so… what sort of geldworthy cad dumps his beloved monarch?”
The words spoken by the colt caused Celestia to let out a nervous titter. She felt a growing attraction for Gosling; with a little grooming, with a little direction, he could be the sort of pony that the press would adore. As for Celestia herself, she adored him already.
“So, uh, what comes next?” Gosling asked.
“You do as you are told, follow instructions, and everypony gets through this with a minimal amount of fuss,” Cadance replied. “You have several months left of mandatory guard service. When that is done, we need to get you back into school. It will be good for your public image. I would advise that you stay in the guard—it will be good for your public image and be wonderful for the royal guard’s public image. With university, you could become an officer. That would give the public confidence that you are worthy of their beloved monarch.” Cadance paused, blinked, and then looked at Gosling. “We also begin a positive public relations campaign.”
“Um, that’s all fine and good, but what comes next for Celestia and I?” Gosling’s jaw firmed, the muscles tightening, and he waited for a reply.
An embarrassed grin appeared upon Cadance’s face. “Private Gosling, I have a mission for you.”
Conditioned to respond, Gosling snapped to attention. Doing so caused a delightful tension in Celestia’s wings, but she made no outward indications of her physical attraction. Cadance however, felt it.
“Private Gosling, I do believe I addressed you,” Cadance snapped in a commanding tone.
The colt went rigid, ears up, stiff legged, neck high, his back so flat that one could serve tea upon it and not spill a drop. Cadance smiled and her eyes, glittering with mischievousness, darted over to her aunt for one second. The corner of her mouth turned upwards and her barrel expanded as she held back her laughter.
“Empress.”
“That’s more like it, Private Gosling.” Cadance drew herself up to her full height. “I have a mission for you. Princess Celestia is in need of rest and relaxation. She is going to be taking a week off from her duties. During this time, she will need a private guard. You are going to be this private guard and you will do everything that she commands.”
“Yes, as you command, Empress.” Gosling spoke but did not move.
“There are exceptions though. If she tries to dismiss you, you are to ignore that command. You are to remain with her at all times. Her quarters are your quarters. Sleeping arrangements will be made for you. You are to look after her every need, obey her every command, and see that she is cared for.”
“Of course, Empress.” Gosling remained standing and staring straight ahead.
“Be careful, she cheats at cards—”
“Cadance!”
“—and denies it. You will help her pass the time in a leisurely manner so that she can become well rested, relaxed, and fit for rule once more. You can also use this time to get to know one another. At the end of the week, we shall make announcements to the public, should you decide to go through with this.”
“Empress, I am uncomfortable sharing quarters with the princess. It seems untowards and I am worried about what others might think—”
“Already worried about what others will think, Private Gosling?” Cadance leaned her head down until she was nose to nose, snoot to snoot with the colt. “You’re not going to last very long if you are already worried about what other ponies will think. Do you plan to do untoward things with my aunt, or are you just a namby pamby little pegasus colt?”
“Well, no… I would never do such a thing, and yes, I am a namby pamby! I rather prefer musical theatre and tea to wrestling and slogging through a battlefield! There is a reason why I am in the signal corps! We don’t get dirty...”
“Which is why I am trusting you.” Cadance’s eyes gleamed with mirth and her ears pitched forwards, angling over her face. “Use this time wisely. Get to know one another. This might be the last bit of privacy that either of you have for quite some time. After this, it will get rough. This cannot be kept hidden forever and at some point, the press will find out.”
“I understand,” Gosling said. “I need my mother protected… I can’t have the press harassing her… what do we do about—”
“Arrangements will be made for your mother.” Cadance relaxed her militant posture a bit and looked at her aunt. “I will be extending my vacation for a bit, Auntie. I’ll be coming by to check on you. I promise, I will be with you every step of the way to help you get everything sorted out. Let Gosling look after you and just let this happen. There is powerful love here, do not squander it.”
Celestia bowed her head, then nodded. “Thank you, Cadance.” She looked over at Gosling and felt a tingle of attraction. “Gosling, we have a week that we can be together and get to know one another. I am looking forward to it.”
“As am I.” As Gosling spoke, he remained at attention. “I am looking forwards to sorting you out.”
“Ooh… you are going to sort me out?” Celestia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes.” Gosling turned his head and looked Celestia over as the sky overhead darkened. “You’re a mess and somepony needs to help sort you out.” The colt relaxed his posture a bit and something resembling a smile crept over his muzzle as he gazed up at his monarch, his eyes wide with unabashed adoration.
“I’ll be stepping out now,” Cadance said to both her aunt and to Gosling. “Make the most of your time together. I’ll be around.” Cadance drew in a deep breath and gave Gosling one final warning. “Also, Private Gosling, look out for Luna.”
“What? Why?”
Cadance did not respond, but spread her wings and lept from the balcony. She flapped a few times, gaining altitude, her powerful wings giving her great speed. As she flew away, she watched her aunt and Gosling become smaller and smaller. She felt a swelling in her heart, she was buoyed by love, and as she watched the pair below her shrinking, she knew that everything was going to be fine.
↼Epilogue⇁
Giving her husband a sultry stare, Cadance eased into the bed beside him. She cuddled up against him, rubbing his neck with her wing, and she gave him a quick peck upon the cheek. More kisses would come later, but for now, she wanted to talk. She looked into his eyes as she pulled him closer, and asked, “Was little Flurry much trouble?”
“I don’t know,” Shining Armor replied with a smile. “I let Twily, mom, and dad deal with her. I haven’t seen them.” Shining Armor bumped his snoot against Cadance’s and his pulse quickened as he felt her hot breath against his muzzle. “Did you get Auntie sorted out?”
“I think so.” Cadance continued to rub her husband’s neck with her wing, going up and down with gentle, smooth strokes. She needed Shining to be receptive to what she was about to tell him. She wanted him in the best mood that she could coax out of him.
“How do you think this will end, Cadance?” Shining Armor asked, a trace of fear causing his eyes to darken just a bit. “Do you think this will work out? We put a lot of work into this. I’ve been having Gosling watched over for months just as requested. It’s tricky to prepare a pony without them knowing that they are being prepared. Getting special attention can cause a pony to take notice.”
“Everything worked out, Shiny.” Cadance snuggled up a little closer to her husband. “Everything will be okay. Swans, Shining… swans.”
“I don’t follow.” Shining Armor shook his head.
“Shining Armor, swans mate for life. They are devoted, dutiful mates to one another. Cobs live in noble service to their pens. They rear their young together. Swans continue to romance and court one another throughout their entire lives.”
“Huh.” Shining Armor, feeling amorous, kissed his wife on the corner of her mouth.
“Swans fight together Shining, and there are few animals as ferocious as swans. They protect one another and are fierce protectors of their young. You do not disturb their nests.” Cadance let out a content sigh and gave her husband’s muzzle a nuzzle. “Luna can read the stars, Twilight can read books, Celestia can read the solar winds—”
“And what do you read, Cadance?” Shining asked.
“Signs and portents of romance,” Cadance replied as she gazed into her husband’s eyes. “We shall witness the courtship of swans, Shiny. There’s bound to be lots of noise and honking. They can be quite vocal. Swans are not creatures of restraint. Everything they do is boisterous.”
“Mmm, boisterous… I can’t wait until we get home so you and I can be noisy again. It’s rough trying to take care of things with your sister and your parents in the rooms around you.” Shining Armor rubbed his snoot against Cadance’s neck and let out a pleased wicker when he felt his wife shudder.
“I feel a little bad, Shiny,” Cadance admitted.
“Bad?” Shining Armor pulled back his head and looked Cadance in the eye.
“Auntie thinks I went into this blind and just tossed everything together. She doesn’t know about all of the effort that has taken place to make this happen. She doesn’t know I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. I’ve worked very, very hard to get Gosling sorted out. Truth be told though, she came to me before I was ready for her. I thought I’d have more time to work on Gosling, but she surprised me. I feel bad keeping secrets from her. Doubly so after I chided her to be honest.”
“Alicorns are mysterious creatures and have secretive ways.” Shining Armor looped a foreleg around Cadance’s neck, pulled her closer, and began planting little kisses just beneath her jawline. “Mmm, but I know your secrets inside and out, yes I do.”
“Oh, you say that now,” Cadance replied in a teasing voice. She giggled as Shining kissed her. “But I’ve been keeping a secret from you as well.”
“Oh, we’re not supposed to keep secrets… that’s bad…”
“You’ll have to spank me, Shining, but you’ll need to be gentle.”
“Gentle?” Shining Armor pulled his head back and peered into Cadance’s eyes.
“”Yes, gentle.” Cadance gave her husband a smouldering, sultry smile. “Tell me, Shining, how would you feel about being a daddy again?”
↼The end?⇁