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// 150 - Perfectly Formulated Dinner 
// Story: Putting on a Silver Robe and Wizard Hat 
// by David Silver 
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Silver trotted quickly through the city towards the castle. The guards saluted as he approached and one of them directed a hoof. "Princess Celestia awaits you."

That confused him a little. "She is?" The guard simply nodded as if it were obvious and Silver trotted past to find the large mare that was his employer and brief courter.

His thoughts drifted through their relationship. Outside his vision, dream, or whatever else it was, she had been kind and welcoming. She was also formal more often than not, even in her smiling way. The only hint of coldness was how she broke things off, but...

Silver grasped the doorknob in his magic and entered the spacious dining hall that Celestia was already seated within. He nodded to her as he approached the long table. "Good afternoon. I'm guessing you figured out why I was called away from the castle?"

Celestia smiled at him, as was her habit. "I did, in fact. Did everything go well, and are you safe?"

Silver tilted his head a little. He was clearly in one piece, though he quickly guessed there were other ways a pony could be hurt. "She didn't hurt me. She has what she needs to do what she wanted to do in the first place, but it didn't go nearly the same as last time."

"It almost never does." Celestia gestured with a wing to a seat near her. "You never see exactly what you need to see alone. Contaminated with your own thoughts, desires, and so much else, such things become sometimes hopelessly clouded. You've had a taste of what I've learned to live with for some time."

When Silver settled, a cookie in golden magic lifted to his snout. A glance showed Celestia's horn was glowing the same shade and he took it into his mouth, chewing lightly. "In the vision we started as enemies, then became cautious allies. Towards the end, more than that, but the reality is something else."

Celestia's wings folded atop her back as she nodded. "Do you wish to share?"

He did. With a slow breath that tasted of the cookie he had just finished he continued, "I think she trusts me, to a limited extent, but I was nothing but a tool to get where she wanted to be. With hope, she'll learn what she needs to learn and turn towards brighter paths." He flashed a little smile. "She may even come back around to apologize for some of what she's done, but that will be that."

"Do you wish for more?"

He frowned a little at the question. Did he? No... "She turned out to be perfectly lovely, but it's probably for the best that my sticky web of a family life not ensnare any more ponies in passing." He leaned forward a little, looking at Celestia. "Why did you break off so suddenly? I mean, it's your choice and all."

Celestia tilted her head a little. "Must you know?"

The new question made Silver tense. It was phrased... dubiously. "I have a few theories already. Lovers or not, Celestia, I do like you a lot, and just like you asked me to speak freely to you, that goes the other way. I already know you're not just a 'Perfect Princess'. You have cracks, faults, and there is a living mare here that deserves to be seen as such, not just an infallible goddess above all such concerns."

Celestia raised a brow faintly. "Bold words from a pony trembling ever so faintly."

It was true, he had been. "It's been a busy day, but that doesn't make what I said less true."

Celestia leaned in suddenly. Her long neck let her touch her snout to his gently. "You don't want that pressure."

Silver reached up and touched Celestia's nose with a silver-clad hoof. "I'm already tied up with you. I choose for that to be a relationship that isn't a stiff formality of Queen and Dignitary. Now, what's bothering you?"

She was quiet a moment. Her golden magic lifted a glass of tea to her lips. "I have seen to it my former-student will be tried sorely, possibly to fail, possibly to doom the entire kingdom, and the world beyond it. I could have saved her this. I could have stopped it long before it reached such a dire moment, and yet..."

"Here we are," completed Silver, nodding. "I can see how that would be rough at best."

Celestia's mouth twisted into a bit of a smirk. "Rough may be somewhat understating the situation. Destiny seems to enjoy testing my resolve. I must play my part, the 'Perfect Princess', as you title me. Riding down from on-high, fire and fury washing over the troubles of Equestria..." She glanced away a moment. "It's tempting, sometimes."

He slid to his hooves and circled the table. She was watching him, but didn't stop him as he leaned in and nuzzled her side. "You are a good pony. You've practiced it, but you're not a statue." He nipped through her thick fur and received a sudden swat with a wing for the boldness.

"Enough, for now... Thank you."

He was dismissed. Silver trotted from the room without further testing her. Baby steps.





Night was returning from the office, where she had been handling the correspondence that arose from Silver's position, but she was finished with that for the day. As she approached her room, she slowed. There was no light coming from beneath the door. That was a bit odd for the time of day, unless somepony was taking a nap? With Trixie and Rough with them, such was far from impossible.

She decided that was the most likely course of events and opened the door gently so as to not disturb any sleeping ponies. Inside the room was a low table with a single flickering candle. Her wings flared out with surprise. That was not normal.

"Your eyes, like two well-cut gems, in lustre, not texture, I hope." Samantha stepped out of the nursery, a bunch of flowers held in her magic as she approached that table. "Welcome home, alpha female."

Night blinked before she removed her glasses and gave them a quick rubdown before putting them back on. Samantha was still there. "What is the meaning of this?"

Samantha tilted her head. "I am attempting to woo you." A book appeared beside her head. "I'm following the directions." The flowers hovered towards Night. "After some research, I determined this was your favorite variety."

Night gave a lone sniff, confirming that Samantha had divined correctly. With a wing, she carefully accepted the bouquet. "Why are you wooing me?" She raised a brow. "What's with the candle, setting a mood?"

"Oh, not just that!" Samantha smiled brightly as two plates appeared beside her, one had a smell that set Night's mouth to watering instantly. "Grilled fish with a seasoning blend I'm told is especially palatable to lunar pegasi." She set the two plates down on the table across from one another. "We can now begin our romantic dinner!" She clopped her hooves with delight.

Night approached the table cautiously and settled down on the side that had the fish. "Samantha, you've been my doctor, but that's not exactly the usual starting point to even thinking about this." She tilted her head slightly. "You do realize how strange this is?"

"No?" Samantha sat across from Night, still smiling. "I wish to earn your favor and prove my sincerity." The book flipped open and Samantha consulted her dating guide. "Do you have a preference in dining music? Musical acc--"

Night held up a wing. "Stop that right there. Put that book down."

"Huh? Was it wrong?" Samantha tilted her head, confusion ruling her features.

"It's fine, but..." Night licked her lips. What was going on? Why were mares suddenly crowding around her? Was this what Silver had felt like? It excited her, and scared her. "Samantha, look at me. Look at me and tell me what you see."

Samantha's ears perked at Night as she looked over her would-be alpha. "I see a lunar pegasus, mother of two healthy foals, mated pair with a unicorn ambassador." She tapped her chin. "I see she's letting her food cool." She pointed at the plate. "Please, try it! I worked really hard to make it."

It wasn't quite the answer she was seeking, but she relented to the request and leaned in, sniffing at the fish. There were imperfections there. She was certain it wasn't cooked all the way through. It was cooked at Samantha's hooves, not one of the castle chefs. A little raw meat didn't bother her overly much, especially with the scent coming from it. She had to have that recipe. She sank her teeth into it and slurped one of the cuts down with a soft gulp.

Samantha clopped her hooves. "Acceptable?"

"Not perfect..." Night watched Samantha for a reaction, and the doctor wore her emotions on her sleeves as she began to look quite worried. "But it's nice, and the effort put into it is obvious and endearing." She reached across and tapped Samantha on the chest. "Now give me a better answer."

"What was wrong with it?"

"You physically described me, and only the most obvious portions. Describe what I am to you." Night rolled a hoof lightly. "Explain why you'd even want to do... this."

Samantha tilted her head. "Romantic dinners display intentions and are an important part of courting." She frowned a little. "As for observations of you, let's see." She tapped at her chin a moment even as the other hoof tapped at the floor. "You are exceedingly aware, displaying an uncanny observational intelligence. You are well-trained and passionate in battle and I know I would be safe with you around."

Night felt her cheeks warm up at the idea of a pony feeling safe beside her. It tickled at the reason she applied to become a guard so long ago. "I'm using that 'observational intelligence' right now." She was peering at Samantha, trying to unwrap her mystery. "You're not courting me just for a safe feeling, I imagine?"

Samantha's subtle expressions showed a thought that she quickly suppressed, and Night jumped on it. 

"There!"

She jumped at the sudden outburst. "What?"

Night pointed a wing at Samantha. "Whatever you were just thinking a moment ago, tell me. No filters."

Samantha looked unsure again before she nodded. "Very well. As alpha female, you are entitled to know. I have failed as a scientist."

"What?" Night blinked owlishly. That was not what she had expected. "How?"

"I watched you progress in the process of reproduction and what started as an exciting scientific endeavor became something more." Samantha smiled, but it wasn't her usual manic smile. "I became biased... Night Watch, I... like you." A tear suddenly ran down her cheeks. "I like you both and I can't stop liking you and it means I'm a terrible scientist but I don't care and I..." She trailed off, looking away and wiping at her eyes with a fetlock. "I'm sorry. I'm ruining this dinner."