//------------------------------// // Beauty and the Beast Part 3 // Story: Life in the Fast Lane // by TheAmazingMe //------------------------------// Div's duty for the night would end just after the party began, so I would wait in Corona Plaza outside of the palace proper. My invitation was safely pinned in the folds of my toga. Div and I walked by the Wonderbolt and Royal Guard campuses before turning towards the plaza. The Parliament, Supreme Court and the Palace lay before us. At the fountain before the steps of the Palace, Div and I embraced. "You're sure you don't want to just come into the palace? I'm sure there's a waiting area." I shook my head and pecked him on the cheek. "I brought a book, it's a beautiful day, and this is my first time really getting a look at the heart of Canterlot. I'll sightsee and if I get tired, I'll just sit by the fountain and read my book." He sighed. "Meet you back here in a few hours, then." We kissed again, then he turned and cantered up the steps to the Palace. Anxiety, my old nemesis, reared its ugly head in full as soon as Div went to work. I sat beside the fountain almost instantly and tried to calm my breathing. Pulling out the book I'd brought, I hid my face behind it to keep my freak-out as private as possible. Luckily, ponies passed by without even glancing in my direction. My imagination ran wild with all sorts of nightmare scenarios. Would we have to move my whole family? Would my parents even agree? Would Div's parents? Would Bruiser take it well? Would he be so upset to be uprooted again? I'd almost finished Colteau's biography. His premiere was coming up soon and it needed to be at the printers within the week. Could I work and pack and move within that timeframe? Would Erede make another move on my family? Who would end up in the hospital this time? Or...even worse... Wrenching myself from the spiral of negative emotions, I stood and tucked the book next to my invitation. Walking back parallel to the Parliament building, I saw information placards along the way. I committed myself to reading every one of these. Spotting a palace guard standing on duty, I made my way up to him. "Excuse me sir, how many of these information boards are there?" He blinked at me, looked at the nearby informative sign and looked back. "In total around the main government buildings and the military complex, there are about a hundred and forty-four. I...had to clean them all once." He shrugged sheepishly. "Oh." That was an odd duty. I wondered how often cleaning was a part of a guard's duty. Then it hit me. His sheepish grin, the oddly specific number. The cleaning must've been a punishment. "Oh! Uh. Thank you." He nodded and cleared his throat. "Here for the costume party? There is a waiting room if you don't want to go through the Royal Reception line without your spouse." I shrugged. "That's fine, I'm a little nervous is all. I've only been here a hoof-full of times." "Well, enjoy the sights while you can, I guess." "Thank you, I will." *** "You read all of the tourist info signs?" "As many as I could find, yeah." "We are going inside. We are getting through the line. And then you are sitting down and eating whatever I put in front of you until you either burst or pass out." Div said, his humor lightly spread over the threat. "Lead the way, dear husband." The reception line was long, but it was moving. Any pony taking too long was hurried by the Princesses or the guard on duty. At the end stood the two sisters. Luna had gone blonde somehow and was also wearing a Daring Do outfit. She seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. Celestia was...a banana. Growing up in Canterlot, I guess you get images in your head about what your first time meeting Princess Celestia would be like. Not even in a fever dream had I imagined I'd be meeting... "Princess Banana." I blurted out as we shook hooves. My eyes went wide and I'm sure I blushed, given the heat burning my face and neck. To her credit, she swished her tail and laughed. "Glad to make your acquaintance, fine Roaman citizen. We have a fine feast prepared; one that would rival any that Saturn ever laid out." I smiled and nodded, too stunned to say anything in return. Div steered me over to Princess Luna. "Two Roaman citizens in our palace. I'd never thought I'd see the day. Roam fell a bit before our time." Luna said, smiling. "Div, please do introduce me to this charming stallion." "Your Royal Highness, allow me to introduce my husband, Life Story." Div said. She held out a hoof. "A pleas..." Curiously, she stopped as my hoof made contact. Suddenly uncertain, I looked at Div, who seemed as confused as I. Looking back, Luna's face went through a few different, inscrutable iterations before settling back into a more polished, reserved look. "A pleasure, I'm sure. Mr. Story, what is your trade?" Blinking rapidly, I got my brain working again after a delay. "Oh, uh. I'm a writer. I've worked as an interviewer for several magazines, mostly Celerity. Currently, I'm working on a biography for Jaune Colteau." She nodded briskly. "I see. You find work rather easily, I assume. To be in such high demand." Frowning, I felt like that was much less innocent than it seemed. "Um, somewhat. Celerity's former editor helped me get more exposure and even lined up the job with Colteau when he decided to sell the magazine." "And you've known Sogni diVolare for some time, I take it?" She asked. I couldn't follow her line of questioning. She definitely had some intention, but I couldn't fathom it. "Since we were foals, Your Highness." Div answered. "I see. Did you study magic formally, Mr. Story?" She asked, taking a turn down another avenue of questioning in this maze of confusion. "Yes, Your Highness. I studied here, at the School for Gifted Unicorns." I answered. "And was the Ethics in Magic course compulsory at the time?" She asked. "Um, I'm not sure. I know the higher-level magic students took it at the time, but my talents were in tethering and levitation. There weren't many ethical questions to ask." I said, my defensiveness finally beginning to kick in. This wasn't idle conversation. It felt more like an interrogation. "I see." Luna said, looking over our heads. "Gentlecolts, I will require your presence later tonight. For now, we are holding up the line. Please, enjoy the festivities." Dismissed, Div and I frowned at each other and walked by. Div lead me to a large group of tables and we sat towards the back, away from the receiving line. "What the hay was that about?" Div asked. I shrugged. "I was hoping you could tell me! What just happened? Was I just interrogated by a Princess? What did I even do? Does she not like being touched? Was there something I didn't know about how to speak to her?" Holding up both hooves, Div pushed against the tide of words. "Okay. In order; I don't know, probably, I don't know, I've never heard about a touching problem, and I've never heard of her having actual rules on how to speak to her. Both sisters are usually very informal." "Then what the hay just happened?" I nearly shouted. Thankfully, the party around us covered my voice. "We'll find out later." Div said, with annoying calm. "She wouldn't have told us to enjoy the party if it was something bad. And, besides, we wanted to talk to her anyway. Now we have a private audience with her." I rested my head in my hooves. Why couldn't everything just be normal? "Oh I do not believe this." Div said softly. If he hadn't been so close, I wouldn't have heard him. "What now?" I muttered into my hooves. Div tapped my shoulder. "Remember when I told you about the lieutenant?" "Silent Knight? Yeah what about him?" I asked, lowering my hooves. "Look." Div said, pointing. Princess Luna walked around the party. I groaned, not wanting to deal with her highness so soon. But then it hit me. There were way too many ponies in line for her to be done so soon. And...last time I saw her, she was a golden blonde. Was she smaller now too? No. Somepony had actually shown up to the Royal Nightmare Night party as Princess Luna. But what did that have to do with Lieutenant... Lieutenant Silent Knight. Dressed as Princess Luna. Complete with wig, horn, and cutie mark. "Oh, this is totally worth Luna giving you a hard time." Div said. Given the general description of the usually no-nonsense lieutenant, I had to admit, "I agree." "Oh, what I wouldn't give for one of Colteau's cameras right now." Div said, grinning wickedly. "He's coming this way." I observed. "This is too good." He said, standing. "Just don't do anything to get yourself fired." I said. "I'll be incredibly respectful to Her Highness." Div replied. Just to make sure he behaved, I followed after him. When Silent Knight noticed Div, Div bowed low and said something I didn't catch in the bustle of the crowd around us. The face! Oh, Silent Knight looked caught between wanting to deck Div in the nose and laughing along with us. Instead, Lieutenant Knight scraped together the dregs of his dignity, nodded at us and walked away. Div collapsed against me and guffawed. I couldn't help but join in. *** "Her Royal Highness would like to see you both in the drawing room, if you please." A royal attendant said primly. We followed the attendant to the door of the drawing room and stepped through. With a jolt, I realized I'd walked through a magic-suppression portal. A flash from my forehead confirmed the sensation. The door clicked shut behind us. "My apologies for the extra measures." Luna said, her eyes focusing on my horn. Div looked at me. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine; I just can't use my magic." I answered. "Okay, I'm a little scared." Div rounded on the princess. "What is this all about!" "I am sorry, Sogni, but I have a concern about your husband." Luna answered. Looking at me, her eyes hardened. "Are you aware of what you're doing, Mr. Story? Please, do not lie to me." My eyes widened. I sucked in a breath and let out the anger building in my chest. "What I'm doing? I've not done anything! Just tell us what this is about!" "I promise to do so. Please give me your hoof again." Luna said calmly, holding out her hoof. Biting my lower lip, I stepped up and looked her in the eye. Reaching out, I gave her my hoof. "Curious." With a wave of her own hoof and a flash from her horn, I felt the suppression spell dissipate. Div stepped up between us, his eyes fixed on Luna as well and his face at least as indignant as my own. "You promised." "I am sorry to you both. At first, I thought it was intentional. When your hoof first touched mine, I could sense it. Now that we've ruled out your horn, I know that it must be natural." Luna said. "What?" I asked. "You've studied magic, Life. You know that unicorns channel magic through their horns. But you also know that Earth Ponies and Pegasus Ponies have magic as well." I nodded. "Earth Ponies have a connection to the earth, which helps them grow things better than the other two tribes. Pegasus Ponies can manipulate clouds and weather patterns. What does this have to do with me?" "Those special abilities are channeled through their bodies, just like unicorns do with their horns. They aren't spells, exactly, but they are magical. Earth ponies, pegasus ponies, even some creatures possess these auras. You have an aura as well, Life." Princess Luna said. "It is a very weak field around you, imperceptible when you are calm. But when your emotions are heightened, it activates." "What does this aura do?" Div asked, confused. "It can influence the emotions of ponies around him. It seems to work so that when you are anxious, it influences another pony to help you." I felt a weight in the pit of my stomach. "You mean, like controlling another pony?" Luna thought about it then answered. "Only very subtly. It is a weak field, so it would not work on everypony. Have their been any moments when ponies have opened up to you unexpectedly, or comforted you, or given you something you needed?" A thought occurred. "Opened up to me unexpectedly?" I looked at Div. "Genuine." His eyebrows shot up before gradually lowering. “Well, that explains that. But how has nopony else noticed this?” Luna interjected. “It is a very faint aura when you are calm. Most ponies would not expect a unicorn to even possess an aura when not casting a spell. Were it not for an alicorn's innate sensitivity to magic even I would have missed it. And had I not touched your hoof, I wouldn’t have even had a guess as to its nature.” I sat down where I stood. Hard. My brain overheated, consumed by one enflaming thought; my life was a lie. Had anything I'd ever done been on my own merit? Or had I just influenced ponies to my own benefit? Worst yet, I looked at Div and had a horrible thought. "Div." The edges of my vision blurred. Div's eyes widened. "Life, no." I put my hooves over my eyes. "You agreed to be my boyfriend, then husband, really quickly.' "Life, I knew I loved you when you weren't even here. You couldn't have influenced me then." "Or had I already influenced you so much by that point? How do we know that I didn't make you love me?" "Life, please. I--I can't live without you again. I've had to do that once already." Div said, choking back a sob. "Luna, please tell him he's being ridiculous." "Magic can replicate many emotions, but it cannot mimic true love. You can't force a Pony to truly love you." "See!" "You two must decide whether or not what you have is real." "Is there any way to...turn off this aura?" "Regular magic suppression doesn't work that way. That only stops intentional use if magic. But, there might be a way, although I've only heard of it being done in the Crystal Empire." "Princess Luna, we need your help." Div announced. "Given what you've just told us, it makes a bit more sense why it happened, but it doesn't change what happened. Now, we might be in danger." "Whatever I can help you with, I will. Just..." A knock on the door interrupted Luna's reassurance. Frowning, she lit her horn and opened the door. "Speak." It was Astral Bolt. "Sorry, Your Highness. Div, it's your parents. They were attacked." Div and I turned to Astral in time to see his face drop. "Your son is missing."