The Traveling Tutor and the Diplomat’s Daughter
Time
There’s always time.
— H. G. Wells
The suite balcony was perfectly quiet as Green Grass reclined in a chaise lounge, spending his last few minutes of the day looking at the sunset. It always felt as if Celestia appreciated sunsets more than sunrises from the way the sun seemed to pause at the horizon and wreath the world in gold, red and heliotrope smears of clouds. The distant sounds of singing from below had died away some time ago, the unmistakable chorus of six happy friends and one dragon that he could never perfectly harmonize alongside. He no longer felt as if he were attempting to steal Twilight Sparkle away from them, even if it were possible. Instead, he felt a changing in his self, as if there were a square hole that needed a square peg, and the universe was busily squaring his corners and rounding off any bumpy bits that would not fit.
It was probably inevitable. Ponies changed, ponies were born, they lived, they died. Even Celestia was not immune to the forces of change. It was pure folly to think his own shedding green hide would be immutable, although he always had thought there would be some role for his own input into his fate. No, that was not true. In the long river of his life, he had influenced the course of his flow around many turbulent rocks and curves, but when two rivers merged, a different river was formed. If he had not wished for this to happen, it would not have. Quite the contrary, he had fought fiercely for the position he was in now just as Twilight had fought through princesses and chaotic gods for her rightful place in the universe. She had blessed him with her decision; it would be an act of craven cowardice to retreat from a similar blessing on his part, no matter the cost. But just as he would be a coward for retreating, he could not muster the strength to charge ahead. Yet.
Time. It all rotated around time. It would take time for Luna’s changes to the postal service to take place, time should make Twilight and her friends’ frantic trips into chaos more manageable, and both of their lives would become more predictable as time flowed onward. They had time, both to spend together, and to allow the world to catch up with them.
A faint shuffling noise filtered in from the suite behind him, a sound of bags being dragged in and dropped in the middle of the floor indicating the long-delayed arrival of his marefriend. A faint, “Will that be all, Ma’am?” from her guard and the clunk of a door vaguely irritated him in his peaceful moment of artistic appreciation, although the presence that filled the balcony behind him soon after made the emotion vanish away like fog before the sun. Two purple hooves covered his eyes from behind, and a soft voice whispered into his ear.
“Guess who?”
Suppressing a giggle, he responded, “I’m sorry Princess Luna, but we can’t play any more of those games this evening. Twilight will be home at any moment.”
One hoof tapped him gently upside the head as the laugh that he appreciated so much echoed through the balcony. “No, silly. Second guess. Win, and you get a kiss.”
“Well, that’s easy then. Flash Sentry, the best kisser in the entire Royal Guard.”
“What?” The gentle knock on the back of his head was scarcely more than a rustle, and barely parted his mane, although it did knock his hat over his eyes. “Where did you hear that?”
“Would you believe Shining Armor told me? Although I’m not sure if he had it direct from the source, or from secondar—” The kiss that followed was anything but restrained, lasting until the sun had been set below the horizon and the moon raised in its place.
“Liar.” Twilight Sparkle ruffled his mane and grinned while staying wrapped around the trapped stallion, still reclining on the chaise lounge. “Flash Sentry is the second best kisser in the Royal Guard.”
“I am so not touching that line,” murmured Green Grass, kissing her gently on the nose.
“Guess what happened to me in the Crystal Empire,” she implored with an extra squeeze to the hug that concealed a faint tremble.
“Well, I don’t see a ring. Or wings,” he added with a caress across a feather-free flank.
“Very funny. Although,” she purred, curling up in his lap and batting her eyes adorably. “When I was in the Crystal Empire, I just happened to meet the most handsome unicorn stallion.”
“Eligible?” Although he knew Twilight was just teasing him, there was still a small corner of his heart that held fear. A very small corner that shrank every month in her presence.
“Tall, dark, powerful and mysterious. Immortal.” She curled up on his chest, feeling much like Sunny for a moment, only much warmer and without the talons. Until she whispered into his ear. “He has the most enormous—” Twilight breathed the next word as if it were made of pure chocolate “—library.”
Fighting a tremor that raised goosepimples up one leg, he managed to grin in response. “When’s the wedding?”
“Never! We kicked his flank all the way back into the mountains!” With another brief kiss on his lips, she grinned and waggled her eyebrows. “Did I have you worried?”
“Nope. I’ve got something I know he doesn’t have.”
Kissing her way up his neck, she murmured, “Oh, I’m pretty sure he has one of those too. Just about all stallions have— Phhtft!”
While Twilight tried to get some shed hairs off her tongue, Green Grass struck as heroic a pose as he could while trapped on his back. “I happen to have reservations for the entire evening for the castle Observatory. And supplies,” he continued, reaching underneath the chaise lounge and patting a large basket Friday had put together at his request before retiring for the evening. “Dinner, a bottle of wine, a few small boxes of excellent chocolate…” Spitting out a purple hair, he continued, “and four different currycombs.”
“Oh, you stallion!” Twilight writhed around to lie on her back, causing his stomach to twitch in response as she leaned backwards and tucked her head up under his chin. “Take me, I’m yours.” A subsequent giggle floated loose a few more hairs to drift in the still air of the balcony, both green and purple threads floating in the moonlight.
Wrapping his legs around the giggling mare in perfect contentment, they both looked out at the streams of pastel color in the north painting the stars of the darkening night. Despite her relaxed demeanor, knots of tight muscles rubbed against his chest and a low trembling seemed to encompass her entire body, showing the stress she had been subjected to over the last few days.
Her body pressing against his chest forced the ring box painfully against his ribs, a twinge of pain that would be so easy to relieve. A single question. All he would have to do is ask. All he would have to do is to add one more stressful item to her already overloaded life in this vulnerable time.
“Greenie,” said Twilight Sparkle, pointing out the balcony with one hoof. “If the fate of Equestria depended on how far you could throw me to catch a falling artifact—”
“Hypothetically, right?”
“Nevermind.” She tunneled in under his chin and blew some shed hair away from her nose. “Why in the world did you decide to reserve the Observatory for tonight? You know Luna keeps the telescope there under a dust jacket during shedding season. Hair wreaks havoc with the lenses and mirrors. Besides, you knew I was coming back this evening.”
Green Grass stirred uncomfortably. “Princess Luna granted me a favor for doing a little fledgeling sitting for her today. I thought if you were late returning, I could sit out under the stars, watch the glowing sky, and think of you. And if you were on time—” he shrugged in resignation “—we could watch the sky together.”
“You incurable romantic, you.” Twilight kissed him on the cheek, and promptly spit out another green hair. “I always loved being up at the Observatory with Princess Celestia. It’s quiet. Secluded. Very private. Lots of cushions.” Twilight brushed her tail up his side as she slipped off the recliner, heading into the suite to tuck her limited travel supplies into drawers. Her voice echoed back as he got up off the chaise lounge and picked up the basket.
“The Princess put up all the girls in the surrounding suites until we go back to Ponyville tomorrow, but Rarity and Fluttershy have Spike out for the evening as a reward. You should have seen him, Greenie. He really saved the day for all of us. I want to tell you all about it once we get to the Observatory. Did you find anything interesting to do while waiting for us?”
“Nothing as interesting as what you went through in the Crystal Kingdom, from what you said. It was a very educational two days. I escorted a griffon princess around the city, asked a few questions, did some shopping. ” He sighed, looking out the window at the starlit horizon before closing the door to the balcony. “I bought you a snow globe, but I gave it away.”
Twilight giggled in response, putting her saddlebags into the dresser and pushing it closed. “I bought you a snow globe too, but Spike thought it was an exotic candy. It’s been such a chaotic weekend. I think I’ll just scream if I have one more lump of stress dumped on me.”
The ring felt like lead in his pocket as Green Grass slipped out of his jacket, hanging it up in the closet before picking up the basket and gesturing to the door. “If m’lady would step this way, I would be greatly pleased if you were to join me for a relaxing, dull and uneventful night of stargazing— phutooy!” He spit out another hair and wiped his tongue on a hoof. “And some brushing.”
“Brushing sounds good. Very good,” she added, making one circuit around the tutor while swishing her tail in a motion that reminded him uncomfortably of Princess Luna in one of her fey moods. “I itch everywhere, and I’ve been— Oh!” Twilight dashed over to the dresser, pulling out a bottle and a spoon. Pouring herself a spoonful, she took the medicine with a grimace.
“You’ve been keeping to the schedule this time?” asked Green Grass with a curious tilt to his head.
“Yes, I’ve been very good all month. Now let’s get going before the girls get back. When we get tired of watching the stars...” Twilight levitated one of the brushes out of the basket and ran it down his flanks in a loose cloud of green hairs and quivering hide. “We can see about combing some of this loose hair out of every single inch of our bodies.”
The door to the suite closed as the two young lovers departed, the silver beams of moonlight through the suite windows illuminating the bottle of ‘Chill Time’⁽*⁾ sitting on the dresser where Twilight had put the medicine.
And the slightly-damp teaspoon which Twilight Sparkle had just used to take it.
(*) Chill Time Instructions: Take one tablespoon every evening during the month of estrus for the prevention of symptoms and ovulation. Caution: reduced dosage may only mask the symptoms of estrus without providing pregnancy protection. Always follow label directions. Not responsible for misuse.
0_o
Oh no.....nonononono...
Another twilight-gets pregnant fic....?
I do hope that's Not the route you're taking, because it's most certainly implied.....
Just the fact the idea has been extremely over-used.... (the whole premise of an unplanned foal, newly wed, dealing with trials, ect)
'twould degrade the story, in my opinion.
'tis my two bits.
-RB
Well...
Look like Green Grass might uphold the old family tradition yet.
(Honestly said, I can see this going both ways though - with all the foreshadowing it could be played straight or just teased then subverted; though my money would be on the former)
It's funny how many Flash Sentry cameos I've seen in the last few days. That boy gets around.
Looking forward to the next story, especially if it's that Diplomacy By Other Means one that was mentioned in a comment on the last chapter. I'd really like to see where the gryphon storyline goes.
So, was kinda surprised this is now marked complete. I suppose it does sort of make sense, seeing how the Gryphon princess is now gone, and she's part of the title. However, was kind of hoping for a slight resolution, as Green asking Twilight to marry him seems to have been another major conflict point. Anyways, good story either way. Hopefully ya got the next bit already in mind, as I'm looking forward to the continuation of it.
2876713
It's part of a relationship, there's nothing wrong with exploring it. If you don't like it, then don't read it. Personally, I think it's a natural part of a progressing relation, even if it sounds like Green is quite the pussy about popping the question. Not enough authors explore this angle, and this is somewhat of a established relationship already, so it doesn't really fall into the stereotype/cliche you're complaining about.
Oops
Gotta watch those tricky little spoons, all the finicky sizes and such to mix up.
Well, they'll be continuing a Sparkle family tradition at least. Lets just hope Twilight finds out before "Magical Mystery Cure." Or Celestia does and holds off on sending over Star Swirl's diary.
I like the inclusion of the winter/summer coat change, this is one of the only fics I've read that actually consider that aspect of a full coat of fur.
i see the magic of procreation, fatness and hormonal rages in Twis future...
Excellent story, as usual. I look forward to the next.
2876713
Well if it makes you feel any better, Georg has been carefully interweaving Green Grass' story with canon. And Twilight wasn't pregnant in season three.
Edit: I suppose that doesn't prohibit a miscarriage storyline, but that seems a touch dark for this series.
Huh. That was quick. Of course, you did say you had the whole thing written out before submitting the first chapter.
In any case, epic moment on Greenie's part with the griffins. As for Twilight, I cannot believe that her use of a teaspoon was accidental. This is Twilight Sparkle we're talking about. You really expect me to believe she'd mix up teaspoons and tablespoons without meaning to?
Ah well. I hope we get to see the proposal, preferably before she starts to show.
I think our dear Green Grass may have gotten himself into a very sticky situation.
2877442 Or a hairy situation. And his problems will only grow... for eleven months.
2877429 After seeing the explosions coming out of her lab, I think I'm justified in a tsp/tbsp mixup.
2877416 Yeah, she also doesn't have a coltfriend in canon. Then again, *any* fanfic is a violation of canon
2876885 Twilight: Fat! Who are you calling fat? Oh, its true! I'm huge as a whale! I'm such a failure as a mother! I mean I'm supposed to be taking prenatal vitamins but I've missed a few months and I can't just double them up. I'm such a poor mother! She'll probably turn out to be some juvenile delinquent who writes on everypony's house with crayons and she'll even misspell the words!
Green Grass: Don't worry Twilight. Now come over here and untie me before Applejack and Big Mac get back with the shotgun and the deacon, please.
2876830 I've always wondered why shedding never seemed to be covered. I have a cat, and shedding season is very apparent.
2876812 'Diplomacy by Other Means' is already roughed out, I just need to fill in the gaps. I have two major fights, crippling (short-term) wounds, and hopefully a plot inversion nopony sees coming. Plus you get to see Luna and Pumpernickel face off in the training ring at the Royal Guard gym in a full-contact match.
2876784 I have an exchange roughed out for the third story between Celestia and Papercut, her appointment secretary for the day.
Celestia: We shall need to find a proper date to have the wedding.
Papercut: Perhaps since Princess Cadence was wed in the summer, we could arrange for a winter wedding for Princess Sparkle.
Celestia: (brief chuckle) No, I don't think so. After all, we don't want her going into labor during the ceremony.
Papercut: (quiet) It does seem to be an earth pony tradition.
Celestia: (cold gaze)
Papercut: (taken aback) I mean, have you considered perhaps marrying her to one of the more noble families at court instead, Your Highness? Excellent breeding, fine bloodlines, a very fine bunch of stallions. I could provide you a list of names to select from, if you wish.
Celestia: All unicorns, I presume.
Papercut: Of course. (long pause) Well, I suppose a few pegasi stallions could be added to the list, to appease the Cloudsdale factions.
Celestia (long cold glare)
Papercut: Your Highness? You can't seriously be considering marrying Princess Sparkle to a...
Celestia: (thin lipped) Teacher? The last son of a low-ranked Baron? Am I getting warmer?
Papercut: (sweating) You are serious.
Celestia: Deadly serious. Now, is there any room on the schedule in two months time?
Papercut: (with great difficulty looking at the schedule) N-no.
Celestia: There is now. Do it.
2877759
Bah. That's just what she wants you to think. No one can be Celestia's student for that long and not develop some skill at manipulation.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some tinfoil hats to pick up from the dry cleaners. Can't trust washing machines, you know. They use dihydrogen monoxide of all things.
2877759
Maybe they just keep forgetting to mention GG? I mean for two season she forgot she had a brother.
But seriously, you've done a nice job weaving Greenie among canon events in a believable way. Like the fact that his job means he's not always hanging around Ponyville, hence why he's never in the big crowd scenes.
So, any chance of an epilogue?
2876820
I'm betting that Greenie asking Twilight is going to the focus of its own story, or at least a central focus. Anyway, I'm not surprised that it isn't happening here, when most of the story was devoted to something else.
Also, I'm wondering, is there any chance Green Grass might decide to show Pumpernickel Morning Glory's diary?
2877807
It could very well be its own focus, however everything BUT asking Twilight has now been accomplished at this point.
Although, there is potential conflict, given that his side of the family is in the dark from what little I can recall. He has both Celestia's and Twilight's parents blessings, and at this point Twilight would most definitely say yes.
I'll also admit I'm looking forward to the pregnancy bit. With what Georg did here, I'd be extremely surprised if that wasn't a part of the focus there. Either way, I just hope he has something in mind already, and is planning to write it sooner rather than later.
2877835
Then again, his side of the family probably assumes that this is in the works, given his parents personalities and that they were invited to tea with Celestia, and 'asked' not to interfere.
Also, Georg, may I suggest making a blog post or group or something that lists or compiles all the stories in this particular continuity?
Edit:
Also, I JUST noticed this, but shouldn't the title be "The Traveling Tutor and the Diplomat's Daughter", with an apostrophe in "Diplomats"?
Oh dear. The things that could happen for want of a tablespoon. Things like, say, a bun in the oven for the next eleven months...
Was slightly surprised to see that the story is now marked as complete with all the loose ends still left, but that leaves plenty of room for a sequel. If that's the route you take (and I'm hoping you do!), I know I'll be eager to see the surprises in store for Greenie and Twi! I just love how you weave these stories with canon so that they can believably fit right in with the events in the show! Seriously. You do an amazing job with that!
New chapter new chapter new chapter new--wait. It's complete? No more new chapters?
Now I have to wait until the new story!
There... there WILL be a new story... right?
Oops. Oh well, it seems to be a family tradition to have shotgun weddings so I suppose no-one is going to be too surprised.
2878015
More importantly, look at the timeline: we're at the start of Season 3 here. That means that she's going to be in the final stages of pregnancy when she ascends into an alicorn. Who knows how that might affect the foal? Maybe the first foal born an alicorn since the Times of Legend?
2877429 Hmm, let's see here... between the stresses of dating, a changling invasion that sees her brother nearly MARRYING the head honcho of the bugs while her beloved mentor/secondary-mother-figure gets knocked the f**k out and encased in goo, and then having to deal with the return of a lost kingdom and it's shadowy crystal-fetishist of an evil ruler (and as Georg said, given how many explosions usually occur in her lab), it is no wonder that Twilight might've misread the label directions.
2878015>>2878059 Good'ole Georg-ie boy has practically said there is going to be a sequel (just scoll back up the comments and read his response to CharonX).
2879269 No no no... it's a saber wedding, not of the shotgun variety hehe. I am pretty sure Night Light is going to be pulling it off the mantle very soon with a touch of nostalgia as he remembers HIS wedding day to Velvet (and I feel that he will at least be merciful to Green Grass... merciful in that the blade will be sharp enough to cause only mild discomfort before taking off his head should he try to bolt ).
2877759 Oh you tease you! Looking forward now to the resolution to not only "The Monster in the Twilight", but now anticipating both "Diplomacy by Other Means" and "Traveling Tutor 3" whenever you get around to them. Seriously, your works (be they comedic, serious, or sad) always bring a smile to my face. Just look at this smile --->
Great story. I can't help thinking however with how much Green Grass has to worry about Twilight going into danger, and Twilight has to worry about Green Grass becoming his namesake in some crazy unicorn foal magic flare incident that she doesn't create some magic item that can show one how the other is doing. I can keep it out of my mind since I remembered an old episode of "The Familiar to Zero" Epiosde 25 where they introduce an item called the "Éclair D'Amour" a magic flower in a bottle that does just that through the health of the flower.
2879269 Gee, I need to plot out a timeline sometime. Let me scribble some notes here. Remember, events happen OUT of sequence with the airing of episodes. I'm basing this somewhat off Pen Stroke's Nyx timeline
Edit: I have a much better prospective timeline in my blog post here.
2898594
The Changeling actually survives the battle and later writes to Green Grass. In it, he says that he's flattered but that GG isn't his type.
Regarding the foal... maybe she's born special? A metamorph, able to adopt both the alicorn, human and hybrid anthro forms depending on how she feels at the time.
Happy and honored to be of assistance!
Aw, its over! Talk about a way to end my week long vacation, though, returning home to see this finished. It felt way too short to me, but judging my your words and your foreshadowing, you are definitely planning on sequel(s).
And that last little footnote holds some ominous foreshadowing indeed. Can't wait till the next installment!
Will there be MOAR?!?!?! Please tell me yes because if so
Is he really going to puss out on a proposal because of an off-handed comment about stress?
Most of the time that sort of thing is a happy thing, Greenie boy.
3131447 From the alt.usage.english article. When I was writing my historical fantasy novel, one of the*insanely* tough things to do was try for historical accuracy. Eventually I gave in and just tried for reasonable inaccuracy.
3131900 Never been married, have you? I write Twilight from experience, having a wife who was validictorian, has panic fits, and who will sometimes lock herself in the bathroom to finish a book without interruptions, where the only characteristic I really have in common with GG is an aversion to hard work
2990016 That's not a sign of preemptive attack, that's entirely normal Griffon behavior.
2915381 2912265 Yes there will be a sequel for Sunny, and the first rough chapter has been posted on my blog here. It won't be nearly as light-hearted or focused on Sunny, but it will finish off the Griffon arc. The Third Test of Princess Twilight Sparkle (draft title) is the sequel focused on Twilight/GG, and I'm going to be insanely lucky to get it out before Season 4 shows. (Write, Georg! Write!)
Finally got through this! Looks like Twilight didn't bring him a father's day gift after all... not yet, anyway
The word for soaking tea leaves to release their flavor is "steep", not "seep".
Seep is what liquid does with a faulty valve - it seeps through.
3269877 Fixed three of them in there. I love your username, Bob Dole used to be our Senator here in Kansas.
3184083 I gotta write it first. Got two stories standing in the way.
3285674 Well, there's a Prequel that made it to EqD, and the sequel to this from the batpony/griffon point of view will be "Diplomacy by Other Means" which is about 1/3 of the way done at this moment, and has a teaser chapter here with some links. Warning: it will be less sunshine and rainbows and more blood and feathers.
3289164
Well, get on with it! (...says the author who's spent... uhhh... *checks fic* 5 months mulling over the scaffolds of his current WIP chapter without any decent progress )
Well, the sequel may follow Sparkle family traditions after all!
Well, assuming they get that far before Twilight sprouts...er, wings. What'd you dirty people think?
(I'll go polish the sword, just in case.)
Thank you. I now have a beautiful idea for a comedy that I'll call "Shedding Season".
3590741
I just re-read that a few months ago. You'd think I would have remembered that.
2898594
Can't wait for this story
Just checked all the comments, can't believe that I am the only one to spot the Daisy Cutter and Plowshare reference. Love it.
And so the plot thickens! I'll be waiting in tears for the sequel and more "Green Grass is the Royal punching bag and everyone else gets a few swings too".
Or 5, maybe. Reread this story too. Now ready for your march madness.
The story Green Grass told to Sunny, ending with the Griffin and two Unicorn descendants as friends, that was one of the most touching scenes ever. It was simply beautiful.
5713246 Someday, someone is gonna have to animate all of your works lol
There is a great story by Skywriter called Marital Bliss that I'll just leave here. It very easily explores the possibilities of such a situation.
2877794 (checks date on comment) Three years. You know, I still hope to someday see a green earth pony with a hat and wearing a foal carrier in the background of one of the episode shots. I would be tickled 47 shades of pink.
5764992 Heh. A little late, but I do want to point out that Green Grass gets to actually use the skill 'Throwing (Alicorn)' in the sequel much like his brother in law.
"I'll be where I'm supposed to be on time, dear," said Green Grass, bracing himself in the throwing stance that Spike The Brave And Glorious had told him about. He had practiced the technique with Rainbow Dash several times, although he tried his best not to think about any weight disparity between the two ponies as he hefted up his hefty wife-to-be.
One of the reasons we keep a dosage cup with specifically measured products. Leave nothing to chance!
You know, I only just caught the bit in the instructions about THE month of estrus, as opposed to something like a monthly estrus period like real mares go through. Would have thought that mares would at least deal with one week a month through spring and summer.
Midwives and OB/GYNs must get really, really busy during the same month every year.
9830258 If handled like regular horses, births are timed to spring when you can, so the foal has most of the year to grow before winter. Horses are actually able to 'hold' a birth for a week or two from what I understand, for cases where they are traveling to a safer location. I know from experience that cows can do that while waiting for a rainstorm, preferably with hail at midnight in the most brush-ridden section of the pasture.
I have to admit that while I've definitely enjoyed this story and its predecessors (and what I've read of the sequels so far), I find myself somewhat put off by the notion of Twilight and GG having (less-than-safe) sex before marriage. I think it's mainly that it feels somewhat out of character for the (future) Princess of Checklists to do so, especially without using at least two non-interfering methods of birth control. ("No glove, no love, Greenie. Sorry, but the Princess was very clear on this in our lessons at CSGU.")
Mistaking a teaspoon for a tablespoon also seems a bit unlikely for Little Miss OCD, honestly. I intend to continue reading and enjoying your this series and the rest of your work, but I felt like I needed to say it.
Edit: Come to think of it, without estrus symptoms, would they even do the deed? Isn't interest in mating one of those primary symptoms of estrus?
Eh, teaspoon, tablespoon. How different could they be?
9830278
ain't it the truth
think the worst I ever had was a midnight pull where the bullheaded heh girl decided pushing over the fence into the neighbors partly wooded land in a nasty thunderstorm was brilliant idea
horses? nah, come to barn, humans'll help, is all good
still midnight, but eh