> Love at Second Sight
>  by Dawnrex15
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: An Average Life
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	The crickets chirped loudly as the wind blew softly in the night. Princess Luna’s moon had begun to set past the mountain horizon, signaling the approach of her sister’s sun. Although the glowing orb in the sky had begun to vanish, the stars high above illuminated the nation of Equestria below. One place in particular was the city of Canterlot. Despite it being large and the capital of the Equestrian nation, home to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the city was surprisingly quiet during the night. The only sources of light that could be seen were the multiple street lights and the buildings that started their daily business early in the morning. The lights glowed throughout the city, but became less frequent as the city limits gave way to the more rural areas of Canterlot.

Here were the homes of many of the city's citizens who preferred quieter living spaces in a more remote community. But even then the houses here were still expensive and looked beautiful. One home in particular definitely fit that description. It was two stories tall and the walls looked like pure white alabaster. The building itself had a simple architecture, as it looked more like a large rectangular cube. The front yard had a small grass field on it with a cobblestone paved path, leading from the front door to the exit gate, running through it bordered by a bed of bushes. The front door itself was colored white with black highlights and the house had several windows adorning it, one of them having a balcony.

If you were to gaze into this particular window, you would find a bedroom of average size. The room held a large queen sized bed, with black bedposts and a dark green comforter, where a certain stallion lay fast asleep. Aside from his light snoring, the room was silent. That silence was soon broken when the alarm clock on the nightstand began to ring once it hit 5 AM. The pony woke up from his sleep, using his tired gaze to try and find the alarm clock. He fumbled with the clock while it continued to bother him with its ringing. After a while he managed to turn it off. The shadowy figure stretched out his body in the faint starlight that was cast through his window, letting out a yawn and scratching his head. He reached for the lamp that sat upon his nightstand and turned it on.

The sudden light revealed a Pegasus stallion of average build with a sepia colored mane, tail, and goatee that blended well with his light brown fur and grayish-green eyes, wearing only a set of pajama pants. Most citizens knew this particular stallion as Caster Forge. Caster was your typical pony and real nice to be around. There wasn’t much special about him aside from his job. He and he alone worked as the Royal Blacksmith for the Royal Army. It was a wonder he was even able to think of having such a position. Caster became a blacksmith at the mere age of twenty, earning him the title as the youngest professional blacksmith in history, and has happily been working for the army for the past two and a half years now.

Although his job brought on new responsibilities as well a high place in upper society, he preferred the simple life. It pleased him to know that he never had to bother being like one of those sophisticated nobles that felt like they had to act superior to everyone around them. Caster only wanted to be who he was and not what others expected him to be. It had been a lonely life at first, but he had managed to make a few friends along the way and that was fine with him. Caster was never very good at socializing and having a small circle of friends made things easier for him. All in all, it was a perfect life for him.

Already feeling wide awake, Caster went ahead and got out of bed to stretch out the rest of his body. He looked across the room and soon his gaze was caught by his reflection in a nearby mirror on the wall. Taking a moment to flex his lean muscular build, admiring the work it took at the forge to get this way. One thing he took special note of were some of the scars that he had attained over the last few years, either from when he was learning to use the forge as well as when he began working as one. Some were small and almost unnoticeable, though one in particular was long and thin, which stretched across his back from his right shoulder to the left of his waist. After giving his arms and legs a chance to stretch, Caster moved to his dresser to change.

The room itself was fairly simple, having only a few pieces of furniture, leaving plenty of walking space, and walls colored with a steel gray finish. Caster then opened his drawer, flipping through his clothing until he found what he was looking for. He pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a sweat shirt, both colored black, and quickly changed out of his sleeping attire into his work out clothing. He didn’t bother putting socks or shoes on, not needing them for what was to come.

As he finished, Caster took notice of the tiny sofa bed nearby that held his pet, Nina, a female squirrel with a crimson red coat, currently still asleep. He couldn’t help but awe at how peaceful she looked while asleep, just like when she was once a baby all those years ago. Not wanting to get too distracted, Caster gave the sleeping squirrel a little scratch on the head before heading to the window paned door to his balcony.

He opened it, letting the cool breeze chill his body. He grabbed the railing and gazed out at the small community of houses leading toward the city. During this time, no one else could see how peaceful things were. Ready to get an even better view, Caster took a few steps back, then ran back toward the balcony, jumped onto the railing, and leaped forward. He quickly spread his wings and took off into the air. This was what gave Caster the most joy in life: going on his daily early morning flights. The thrill of being lifted off the ground, feeling nearly weightless, was a sensation unlike any other.

He always took the time to fly around the city of Canterlot, taking in the view and strengthening his wings. The thrill of flight was always something that made him smile. Truth was that he would’ve been fine if he was either born a Unicorn or an Earth Pony. But nothing could ever beat the feeling of flying whenever you wanted. Caster put that to use as he flew toward the city. Flying lazily about over the buildings, he watched as the many stores and businesses opened for the day. Occasionally, he would fly outside of Canterlot and through the forests. For now though he felt the need for some excitement and dived into the streets. Caster pulled himself up before he hit the ground and began zooming through the streets at an agile pace. He passed a few other ponies, obstacles, and even into a narrow alleyway. It was tricky at first, but years of practice allowed him to make it through all those sharp turns unscathed.

He came to the end of the back alley and quickly pulled up before hitting a large brick wall. Caster ended up getting launched toward the sky, getting several feet above the city. He soon stopped to look down on the city below, admiring its beauty even in the dead of night. The castle even came into his view, though he dared not to fly over there as he did not want to appear as a trespasser. Casters’ gaze then turned to the large mountain, which the city rested upon, that went even higher up than where he was.

“It has been a while. Might as well make a quick stop,” Caster said, in a slightly deep voice, looking at the top of the mountain.

With that he flapped his wings and went up higher and higher. The more he flew up the more the temperature dropped. It didn’t bother him too much of course, being a Pegasus allowed him to endure the cold weather when flying in the sky. It kept getting colder as evidenced by the snow line beginning to form. His wings were getting a little tired but Caster eventually made it to the top of the mountain where most of the snow had accumulated. When he slowly floated down to touch the white freezing snow, his feet were met by the soft feeling of well-kept grass and a rise in temperature that warmed his body.

Caster looked around at the area before him, the starlight allowing him a better view. Rather than being covered three feet in snow, the very top of the mountain was laid with soft grass and beautiful flowers here and there. The area expanded into a large circle with a large, healthy ash tree at the very center of this anomaly of nature. Caster went over to the tree and sat down next to it, resting his head against the trunk. The tree also made it easier to breathe at this altitude as it provided oxygen.

The reason for this puzzling situation was still a mystery to Caster. He had found this place a couple of years ago, when he was about a teenager. When he first found this place he kept thinking of how this was all even possible. He thought perhaps one of the Princesses used their magic to create this beautiful haven so as to get rest from the world around them. It certainly made a bit of sense, but Caster decided to just leave that question be and merely enjoyed this spot. Since then he had kept this place a secret, mostly coming here to relax while other times he needed to think on problems he may have been facing.

Lately he had been facing a problem, not a big one but it still bugged him. Looking down at the side of his waist, Caster slightly moved his sweat pants down and looked at his cutie mark. It was the same as always, an iron shield with two crossed hammers behind it. But what was really drawing his attention was the roman numeral 15 engraved on it, which was well known by other ponies as the lucky mark. The lucky mark was a rare form of cutie mark that gave whoever had it better luck revolving around what the mark signified. In his case, anything that involved the number fifteen.

The reason it was so rare was because no one else has had it for over five hundred years, until now that is. It was quite a wonder as to why this phenomenon occurred but it was still a marvel to see it reappear after all this time. But the enjoyment didn’t last too long, during that fateful night many years ago. A couple of months after Caster had gotten his lucky mark, he had been kidnapped in the middle of the night. The attempt was foiled and the culprit turned out to be a changeling scout. Caster and his family met with Princess Celestia and demanded to know why the changeling tried to take him away.

She wanted to keep the truth away from them at first, for the sake of keeping their son safe. But after hearing of this event, she thought it would be a waste of time to keep the charade going. So Princess Celestia decided to just tell them the truth. She told them all of the hidden power the lucky mark possessed. About the changeling war that occurred long ago. Of how dangerous the power would be if it fell in the wrong hands. And of the true nature of its disappearance. It was all so much to take in at once that Caster couldn’t even accept it at the time. He ran away before anyone could try to calm him down. He just kept flying and flying until his wings nearly broke from exhaustion. It was on that day he found the very place he was resting at.

Caster of course returned home, and was met by support and comfort from his friends and family. They did not know why he was given this power but they promised to help him through it. Since that time he has continued to ponder over the lucky mark he was given. Why he was given it or what he was meant to do with its power, Caster may never know. But he made a vow that he would never abuse its hidden power for his own selfish reasons, even if he did discover its meaning one day.

Caster spent a good half hour thinking about his lucky mark before the sun began to rise over the mountains. He stood up from the tree and walked toward the edge of the grass, watching the beautiful sunrise before him. Whether he found out what his other purpose was or not, it didn’t matter to him. As long as he could continue to be who he was now, he would face whatever came his way. For now though Caster had to be getting to work soon.

So with that in mind, he went into the air again, ready to fly back down. Feeling a bit adventurous, Caster decided to get a little dangerous. As soon as he was a couple feet away from the mountainside, he closed his eyes and folded his wings in, letting his body fall to the Earth below. Casters’ breath was calm and controlled as he felt the wind brush past his body at an immense rate. Free falling was something that few Pegasi ever did out of fear of possible death. But for some, like Caster in this case, it was the greatest thrill you could ever experience. It was only for a minute or two before his eyes snapped, seeing the ground getting closer and closer. He waited for the right moment, spread out his wings, and pulled himself back up to glide over the city.

Caster let out a holler of excitement as he managed to perform that stunt almost perfectly. It wasn’t every day you could cheat death after all. Having had his fun for the day, he flew back towards his home. He soon landed back on his balcony and went into his room. Not bothering to change out of his workout clothing, Caster simply went to the door to his room and out into the hallway. He opened the door quietly as not to disturb everyone else from their slumber and silently walked down the white colored hallway towards the bathroom.

The bathroom wasn’t very luxurious but it was spacious at least, with only a the few necessities such as a single sink with a large mirror above it, the toilet, and the shower. Turning on the light and closing the door behind him, Caster quickly disrobed himself and turned on the shower. He spent a good fifteen minutes washing and cleaning himself before turning off the water and stepping out to grab a white towel. After drying himself, he wrapped the towel around his waist and headed back to his room.

Caster moved back over to his dresser where he pulled out a pair of gray boxer briefs and some black socks. Then he opened the closet door and grabbed a pair of black jeans and a white tank top. As soon as he finished getting dressed, Caster saw Nina slowly waking up in the corner of his eye. And so he went over to give her a light scratch on the belly.

“Good morning Nina, sleep well?” Caster asked, smiling at his little companion.

She responded with a few chirps of gratitude from the scratching.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, ceasing his ministrations. “Well time to get moving.”

At those words Nina climbed up his arm and perched atop his left shoulder. The two went out and back to the bathroom. Caster set Nina onto the sink counter and grabbed her favorite brush. He began brushing out any tangles in her fur without hurting her too much. Nina relaxed into the treatment as it went on for a while before ending. Caster then set about fixing himself up, fashioning his mane into its usual brushed back style and trimming his beard for any unneeded hairs.

After they deemed both of themselves presentable, Caster and Nina exited the bathroom, went down the hall and down the stairs to the first floor. It was divided into three major sections: the kitchen, the dining room and the living room. Though all of them had the same light green painted walls. Caster then made his way into the kitchen, which had brown cupboards, granite countertops, and wood floors that continued into the dining room.

Caster’s family was moderately wealthy thanks to all the business his parents have done as professional jewelry makers. That was fine with him as it kept him from ending up a spoiled child when he was a little colt. Caster brought his attention back to the kitchen and turned on the light switch. Nina landed onto the counter as her owner went to prepare some breakfast, grabbing some supplies from the fridge and pantry.

After gathering some cooking gear, Caster started preparing breakfast. However, his progress was brought to a halt when something snuck up from behind him and covered his vision with their hands.

“Guess who,” a familiar female voice said.

“I’m going to take a wild guess and say it’s my crazy sister-in-law, Hotpop?” Caster said, a small smirk growing on his face.

“Aww, how’d you know?” Hotpop said, teasingly as she moved away from him.

“Probably because you’re the only pony in this house that even does the guess who game,” he said, turning around to see the pony.

“Maybe,” she said, giggling.

The mare that stood before him was his sister-in-law, Hotpop. She had been married to his older brother for the past four years now and had become a lively active addition to their family. She was a unicorn with light blue fur, emerald eyes, and a yellow and green mane and tail that was cut short. Her cutie mark showed a large sun with a smiley face on it. Hotpop had an exceptionally curvy body, with barely any sign of fat, as well as a medium sized chest. She currently wore a plain white t-shirt and a pair of knee high purple pajama pants.

“So where’s Jack? I thought he’d be up by now as well,” Caster said, curious as to where his sibling was.

“He’s upstairs trying to wake Vicente up,” Hotpop, leaning back against the countertop and petting Nina on the head.

“That son of yours really loves to sleep,” He said, returning to making breakfast.

“Yeah, I’d say he takes a bit after his father when he was younger,” Hotpop said, watching him cook.

“Though the rest he takes after you when he wakes up,” a stallion said, coming down the stairs.

They both turned to see two ponies walk into the kitchen. The taller pony was Caster’s older brother and Hotpop’s husband, Jack Spirit. Unlike the rest of his family, he was born a Unicorn and had bright orange fur and a golden brown mane and tail styled into a Mohawk. He wore a thick framed set of glasses over his deep blue eyes. Though he was about an inch shorter than his younger brother, Jack made up for it with his more muscular body built from his time spent in the Royal Guard. But lately he had been acting as the army psychiatrist who helped treat the traumatized soldiers who suffered in battle. His cutie mark showed a red chaise lounge. Jack wore a pair of blue jeans and a black shirt.

Standing next to him at a shorter height and holding his hand was his and Hotpop’s son, Vicente. A unicorn colt of only three years old and certainly took after his mother as he was already wide awake. He had lime green fur, a messy dark brown mane and tail, and bright turquoise eyes. He was currently wearing a set of one-piece pajamas colored dark blue with pictures of fluffy white clouds adorning it. While Vicente was a very active pony most of the time, he suffered from a condition of narcolepsy. Even though it was a minor case, he still randomly fell asleep at times. Yet that didn’t stop him from having a good social life with a few friends.

“Hey Jack, sleep well?” Caster asked, making idle chit-chat.

“Relatively well. How about you?” Jack replied.

“Good I guess. Yesterday was a real busy day for me and I’m pretty sure today will be as well,” he said, stretching his neck.

“You shouldn’t work yourself so hard uncle Cast,” Vicente said, gaining his uncle’s attention. “You’re already an amazing pony as is. And I’m sure everypony knows it.”

“Thanks for the pep talk squirt,” he said, chuckling as he ruffled the colt’s mane. “Just to let you know I’m making your favorite breakfast: blueberry pancakes.”

“Awesome!” Vicente exclaimed, hugging his uncle’s legs as best he could. “You’re the best uncle I could ever ha-”

He was already out faster than a light bulb, still hugging Caster. The three ponies simply laughed as Hotpop picked him up and took him into the living room to rest until breakfast was ready. Said living room consisted of a tan colored rug a few chairs, a couch and a coffee table, a TV set, and a small fire place. Hotpop went back to the kitchen and helped Jack Spirit set up the dining table while their little brother continued making their meals. It was about twenty minutes later that Caster finished up making breakfast, which consisted of blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, small bowls of fruit salad and glasses of fresh squeezed orange juice. It was all finished just in time as Vicente woke up again and Caster and Jack’s parents came down the stairs.

“Hey son, something smells good,” Copper Gold said, noticing the plates of food on the countertop.

“That’s our little boy, always thinking about everypony else,” Amethyst Emberglow said, admiring her son’s culinary work.

“Though I’m not so little anymore am I?” Caster said, giving a know-it-all grin to his parents.

They both rolled their eyes as they helped him bring the food to the table. The stallion was Caster and Jack’s father, Copper Gold. He was the one that started up the jewelry business that today took up half of their home. Like his name suggested his fur was a dark shade of copper gold. A Pegasus like his son, had yellow-greenish eyes, an average body frame, and a curly brown mane and tail with a few lighter streaks. His cutie mark had two gold bars side by side and he had put on a button up long sleeved white shirt, a blue tie, a pair of gray khaki pants and some black polished shoes.

The mare was Amethyst Emberglow, their mother. Like most of the family she was also a Pegasus and had violet fur, blue-green eyes, and a straight crimson red mane and tail. She had a very slim body and her chest was a bit smaller than Hotpop’s. She was wearing a blue blouse with little ruffles, a black skirt that went down past her knees and red high heel shoes. And her cutie mark consisted of three large gems, one red, one blue, and the other green. Amethyst began working at her husband’s shop years ago, offering her services in cutting and fitting gems. Eventually the two of them fell in love and went into business together.

A few years later they had gotten married and, after starting up a full family, moved down from Cloudsdale to Canterlot for better business. Since then their self-run jewelry store has become one of the top rated jewelry stores in Canterlot and very well-known across Equestria as well. Today they hoped business would go well as usual, but for now they needed to eat up for the day ahead of them. So Amethyst and Copper went over to the table and took their respective seats along with everyone else in the dining room that had a large black wooden table, a small chandelier above it, and a few windows across the walls. They all thanked Caster for the meal before digging in, Nina having a small bowl of acorns.

This was another thing that gave Caster some comfort in his personal life: being able to spend time with his family like this. It was nice to see all of them with smiles on their faces and conversing with one another. But the fact that some of those smiles were caused by his cooking made him even happier. The best part was that they all lived together under one roof. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford to live on their own, far from it actually. They just all preferred to stay together as a family.

They all continued eating and having their conversations, with Caster chiming in a few times. As the food slowly disappeared, Amethyst looked toward the clock on the wall to see what time it was. She grew concerned as it was nearly seven thirty and didn't want her son to be late for work.

“Caster, dear, it’s almost 7:30. Shouldn’t you be heading to work by now?” she said, gaining her son’s immediate attention who then looked at the clock.

“Oh shoot, you’re right!” Caster said, wolfing the rest of his meal down as quickly and politely as possible. “Here, let me take care of the dishes and I’ll be on my way.”

“Don’t worry about it Cast. You go, we’ll take care of it,” Hotpop said, wiping pieces of fruit and pancake off of Vicente’s face with a napkin. “It’s the least we can do for this breakfast you made us.”

“Thanks Hotpop, I owe you one,” he said, giving Nina a quick nuzzle before grabbing a pair of dark colored tennis shoes by the front door.

“I’ll see you later at the castle when I’m on break, little bro,” Jack said, waving him good bye.

“See you there, bye,” Caster said, waving back as he closed the front door behind him and locked it.

After heading out the front gate, Caster started to walk at a brisk pace towards the Castle, wanting to keep the rest of his body in shape.


===============================================================


Caster had made it into the city in no time at all and was currently taking in the sights. The buildings all around glowed with a prestigious shine and showed how wealthy the city truly was. The streets were nearly crowded with many other ponies, all of them from different social classes. A majority of them were from the upper class and nobles, though some, like him, were more common folk wearing average clothing. It made him glad to know that Canterlot wasn’t completely populated by snobby ponies otherwise he’d would’ve found it impossible to tolerate this city. Caster Forge also saw all the different businesses that he passed by. One of them being Donut Joe’s donut shop, which had also recently been expanded into a coffee house as well.

‘Can’t have a donut without a cup of joe after all.’ He thought, smiling as he remembered the store's new slogan.

During his walk, Caster even passed by Canterlot University, the very place he learned to become a blacksmith. He remembered that contest he entered in years ago soon after he moved to Canterlot. He had made an almost perfect miniature replica of Canterlot Castle out of scrap metal he had found around the city. It may not have been up to higher class pony standards but the Princess admired the creativity and effort that Caster had put into it. Not only did his entry win him first place and admittance into the school, but it got him his cutie mark as well. His time at the school was definitely well spent, learning all the proper ways to forge metal and even getting the chance to learn the art of fencing as well.

After graduating and becoming the Royal Blacksmith, Caster got the chance to be a guest speaker at certain classes. It was interesting to actually see other ponies wanting to hear about what he had learned in years past. Those times would always remain in his heart, as they were what made him who he was today. He continued his walk toward the castle, passing by other places like Hoity Toity’s dress shop and a couple of his friends.

As he kept going towards his destination, Caster soon took notice of a few ponies whose gaze were directed at him. What made them more apparent was the fact that they were mostly mares. Some were of the common class, others were higher up. Yet they all seemed to carry the same look of attraction as some of them would either give him a slight wave or a flirtatious wink that went almost unnoticed. While their gazes may have appeared affectionate from any other stallion’s view, Caster knew all too well it was not the truth.

Aside from the mystery behind his lucky mark, this was another problem he faced: having difficulty finding love. When he was a younger colt, Caster always used to chase after other mares, trying to find that one true special somepony in his life. But no matter what he tried they would never even bother to give him the time of day. They never bothered to even get to know him more personally. Caster thought of just giving up at one point, but his friends kept encouraging him to keep going. That he’d find that one mare out of all the others.

And so he did just that, though instead of continuing to chase other mares he figured he’d just wait. Wait until the time was right. The only reason that the mares around him started paying attention was because of his fame from being the only pony with a lucky mark. His high position in society as the Royal Blacksmith. And apparently for his natural good looks. All this self-processed information let Caster know that these mares didn’t truly love him for who he was. They only saw him as an object to boost their social status and for their own personal pleasure. So he decided to turn away from these selfish mares and bide his time until his true love would cross his path.

Not wanting to be late for work, Caster sped his pace up a bit. He soon came to the drawbridge of the castle, which was already lowered. He gazed upon the polished gold and white of the castle walls and went across the bridge to find two Royal Guard stallions, one a Pegasus and the other a Unicorn, standing guard at the front gate. They both looked at him with a serious expression and Caster just gave them a blank stare. They all kept this up for about a minute or two before their faces started creeping up into grins. In a flash they were all laughing hysterically, losing their composure as well. The three of them took a moment to catch their breath before Caster spoke up.

“Oh that was priceless, right Swift Wind?” he asked, wiping a tear from his eye.

“He he, yeah it never gets old,” the white Pegasus said, doing his best to regain his composure.

“I swear if this keeps up, nopony will take us seriously,” the gray Unicorn said, sarcastically.

“I doubt it, Spell Weaver. With that new armor I’ve made for you guys, you can be sure that you’ll be given the respect you deserve,” Caster said, admiring his work.

“I must say it is some fine craftsmanship. So light and yet so durable,” Swift said, stretching his arms a bit to test its movability. “Plus with this mark, we’ll always know we’ve got the best.”

Swift Wind turned to show the small, but recognizable, carving that resembled Caster’s cutie mark on the collar of his armor. In recent years Caster had started labeling his work with his cutie mark, though in an inconspicuous fashion. It was mostly a way of telling the guards that he was the one keeping them safe in battle. During his time as blacksmith he had made friends with many of the guards at the castle. They never hung out but they still talked to each other every now and then, usually about any specific gear modifications.

“Just making sure you remember that I always have your back,” Caster said, scratching the back of his head.

“Indeed, by the way I had a favor to ask you, Caster,” Spell said.

“What is it?” he asked.

“My armor is feeling a little sticky in a way. When I tried swinging my sword at practice yesterday, my arms felt a little held back. It was like they slowed down or got stuck or something,” Chuck said, demonstrating the problem by moving his arms around.

“I see. Well then, once your shift ends for the day bring it to my forge and I’ll take a look at it when I can. If I’m lucky I may be able to have it back to you by tomorrow morning,” Caster said, assessing the repair work.

“Awesome, can’t wait for it. Thanks again Caster,” Spell Weaver said, shaking his hand.

“No problem Spell, it’s what I do after all,” he replied, moving past the two guards as the gates were lifted.

Walking through the courtyard, Caster soon made his way into the castle. The next couple of minutes consisted of walking down hallways and a few flights of stairs. With how long it always took getting to his work station, he always thought it was a wonder how rarely anybody got lost in these corridors. Eventually he managed to reach his destination, a large set of wooden double doors with a lock by the handle. Caster dug through his pockets and pulled out a ring of keys. He unlocked the door and walked into the dimly lit room.

It was a masterpiece of a forge if he did say so himself. The room itself was circular with six columns spaced evenly apart from one another. The walls were made of polished marble and the columns had carvings of golden leaves imprinted on them. The room was about a story and a half high, giving it plenty of flying space for what Caster needed. Near the double doors was a rack filled with clipboards and different pieces of armor or weapons. This was where guards would leave their equipment if there were any problems with it and he would take care of them accordingly. Though it was also where they put in special requests for a specific weapon or unique set of armor.

Around the room were the tools and devices that Caster used in his work, such as work benches, grinding wheels, a tool rack, a shelf filled many materials, and a large forge in the center filled with coal, ready to be warmed up.

All around the higher parts of the room were shelves that displayed the many different pieces of work he had completed over the years. Some were pieces meant for soldiers, others were designed by other countries that he made out of interest. At the other end of the room was a large circular window that was open by a crack, which gave the room its dim light. Going over to it, Caster opened it up and took a breath air as he looked down on the city below. Very few ponies got the chance to get a view like this and he was lucky to be one of those few.

But the sight-seeing would have to wait, for he had a job to do. Going back over to the doors, Caster closed them and grabbed an apron, some gloves, and a pair of goggles from a nearby coat hanger. He started up the fire in the forge and saw as the clock had just hit 8AM. Caster contemplated on what to do first with his day. Being his own boss in a way he had his say of what he could do in his own schedule as long as he kept working. He decided to work on a few of the special requests, since they were sometimes the most challenging part of his job. So Caster went over to the rack with clipboards and pulled out the first one. The request was from a mare of the Pegasus division. She had ordered for a blade that was light but had enough durability to survive most fights.

“Heh, and I thought this would be a tough one,” Caster said, putting the clipboard back on the rack and moving over to the material shelves.

He pulled out a long piece of steel and placed it onto the pile of coal in the forge. It sizzled atop the intense heat as Caster let it stay there for a while. During this time he went over to the tool rack and grabbed a set of custom tools he had created. They were a set of wing attachments that he used to handle multiple tools at once. Caster may not have been strong as an Earth Pony or as magically adept as a Unicorn, but he managed to make due and used what had been given to him. So he attached the metal like contraptions near the ends of his wings and fashioned in the tools he required.

When it had reached a yellow-orange glow Caster removed the piece of steel from the heat and brought it over to the work bench. He began pounding the heated material in various places, using his wings and free and to speed up the process. After a couple well placed hits, Caster ceased the hammering and moved the newly shaped steel to the water trough and watched as fire and steam rose from the water. Once it had cooled down enough it was again placed onto the forge where it embraced the coals heat once more.

This process was repeated over and over for a while, letting the material be folded over itself to increase durability but keep off excess material. Caster soon stopped when the steel bar had become flattened enough for the next step. He went over to the grinding wheel, sat on the seat in front of it and pressed repeatedly on the pedal while holding the bar against the now spinning wheel. There were a couple of sparks as the flattened material began its sharpening process. For Caster this was one of the most crucial parts, making sure the blade was evenly sharp on every part. Not only the sides, but from the edges to the very tip as well. He moved the steel back and forth watching as it began to thin out while the material was shaved off.

Eventually he ceased the sharpening and took a chance to examine the newly forged blade. It was nearly flawless as it shined in the light coming from the window, though it was narrower for the sake of making it lighter. He ran a finger gently on one of its edges and could tell, even without cutting himself, that it was as sharp as could be. A few test swings proved that it was also very light. Caster grabbed another steel bar and swung the blade against it, with enough force so that it wouldn’t break. A reverberating chime echoed in the room as he looked to see the blade was intact while the steel bar had a small groove carved into it. At least now he knew it was durable enough for the guards’ request.

All that remained was to make the hilt and handle. So he did just that and grabbed some more materials and going over the same process. Though this time it required more elaborate bending and sharpening.It took a while but Caster had managed to make a brass hilt with some intricate designs carved onto it. The handle was shaven down to meet the grip of a hand, before wrapping it in leather to make it more comfortable to wield. He took the piece to the blade, fit its tang into the small hole of the handle and pressure fitted them together. Ultimately making one beautiful piece of artwork that was both practical and had style as well as being up to the guard’s specifications.

After engraving his cutie mark onto the hilt, he quickly grabbed an already prepared sword sheath from a barrel nearby and put the sword into its new home. Caster put the finished project into an empty numbered shelf, which would be there for the guard to pick up whenever she pleased.

“Phew, I guess that was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be,” Caster said, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead. “Well anyway, I’d best get back to it. It’s going to be another long day.”


=============================================================== 


The rest of his day proceeded as it always did. Ten hours a day with a two hour break whenever he chose to use it. It was always a very busy and demanding job but he had grown accustomed to it. He continued making supply orders, repairs, and requests, which the Pegasus mare had picked up earlier. It kept like this for a while until the clock hit noon, as Caster went on his break. His job allowed him access to the Royal Guard food court, though he never imposed by eating too much. Unless his work got the best of him of course.

Caster found his brother and the two spent some time talking to each other along with some of the guards. After Jack went back on duty, Caster used the rest of his time to walk around the castle. There was never much he could do with his spare break time, so he always tried to find something that would sate his boredom. He was currently walking down the hallway, heading back to his forge. He rounded a corner when he suddenly bumped into something and fell down. Caster looked to see that it was Princess Celestia, covered in a pile of papers that she was previously holding.

“Oh, your highness! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” he said, giving a small bow before helping her pick up the papers.

“It’s quite alright Caster, I was so busy reading these documents that I wasn’t looking where I was going,” Princess Celestia said, using her magic to grab most of the papers.

There were plenty of pages as the two ponies worked to clean up the mess they made. Caster stole a glance at the outfit Celestia was wearing. Like her fur, it was pure white, made of the finest silk royalty could buy. A bright yellow sash wrapped around her waist, which matched the dress gloves that she wore. The whole ensemble clung smoothly onto her body, defining all of her curves and showing a small portion of her noticeably large cleavage. The dress matched nicely with her gold colored slippers, purple eyes, and wavy multi-colored mane and tail. It also went well with the golden crown that rested on her head.

“I assume you remember the meeting we have scheduled later?” she asked, picking up the last of the papers.

“Oh right, I almost forgot!” Caster replied, handing her his stack of papers. “Don’t worry, your majesty, I’ll be there soon. I just need to head back and collect some of my documents.”

“All right then, Caster, I’ll be sure to let the rest of the council know,” Celestia said, showcasing a comforting smile as she held the stacks of paper in her magic.

“Very well then, see you soon,” he said, giving a quick bow before dashing off to his forge.

After gathering some important papers of his own from his desk at the forge, Caster cleaned himself off a bit before heading off to meet with the others. It took a bit of time to navigate through the endless corridors but he finally managed to reach the doors to the inner council chambers, currently guarded by two Lunar Guards. After confirming his identity with them, Caster went inside taking in the view of the marble columns, stained glass windows, and long table with several rows of chairs, where he was met with the faces of many ponies. Some were of noble lineage and well respected, though he only seemed to truly recognize the two Princess’, Celestia and Luna, seated at the far end of the table.

Walking in, Caster took his place in one of the only seats available as the meeting commenced. While Princess Celestia began the usual formalities of starting the meeting, Caster Forge thought about some of the ideas he might be able to propose. As Royal Blacksmith, his opinion in terms of arming soldiers was highest and he was entrusted with finding new solutions for improving the standard equipment of the army. Yet despite being the only blacksmith working at Canterlot Castle, Caster did not truly work on his own. There were many other army bases around the major cities of Equestria and each one had their own blacksmith that took care of their armories.

The Royal Blacksmith, however, provided armor and weapons to all of them, but only when there were times for mass production. This was due in part to the fact that he had to learn more advanced techniques and produce armor at faster rates. And if other bases wanted his more durable armor and weapons, they had to pay a higher price. Needless to say, this earned them a seat on the inner council after a few years of debate and Caster was certainly lucky to be able to achieve such a point in his life. His very first proposal was the opportunity for special requests by guards, which ended up taking off like wild fire. After all, he believed that armor and weapon must match the talents of its wielder. Caster was soon pulled out of his thoughts when someone called his name.

“Caster?”

“Oh, um, yes?” he said, seeing that it was Princess Luna calling him.

“I believe you had a proposal you wished to share with us today?” she said, wanting to see what he had planned.

“Of course, your highness,” Caster said, shifting about a few papers before finding what he was looking for. “Now as I recall we’ve been getting some reports on criminals being able to escape too easily when the guards try and catch them, or that the shackles provided aren’t very effective. With that said, I took some time to work on a new design for some shackles and cuffs to help restrain offenders better. I managed to find some old designs that were pretty effective in the past and by adding some runes and having somepony enchant them, we can nullify a pony’s magical abilities, no matter their race.”

“Hmm, but what of the cost of these things? Surely they sound like they’d take a chunk out of our revenue,” a mare said, who he recognized as the treasurer.

“That won’t be a problem, the texts I’ve read and tests I’ve performed show that these things can be formed with the simplest materials, even iron or steel,” Caster stated, showing the blueprints for them.

“What about public appearance? If they’re being drained or their abilities, they’d be acting zombies when we cart them off. I doubt anyone would feel so cheerful around guards after seeing that,” a stallion claimed, known as the head of the PR department.

“Not to worry, sir. These things work like any other standard cuff without any excessive restrictions. And I didn’t say they drained a pony’s magic, they nullify them,” Caster pointed out. “Meaning Unicorns can’t magic them off, Earth Pony’s can’t break them with strength, and Pegasi can’t fly away.”

“Well, you’ve certainly thought this out thoroughly, Caster Forge,” Princess Luna said, examining the design sheet. “We’ll look it over and see what we can do about your request.”

“Thank you, your majesty,” he said, tidying up his shuffled papers.

And so the meeting continued on, with everypony brining about new topics and proposals, ranging from budgets cuts to public affairs. This went on for about an hour before the Princess’ declared the meeting be adjourned for now. As Caster was getting ready to head back to his duties, he found himself being approached again by Princess Celestia.

“So, you and your family will be attending the coronation tomorrow I take it?” she asked, holding a few documents in her magic.

“Of course your majesty. We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Caster replied, straightening his own stack.

“That’s good, I’m sure that everypony will enjoy the event,” Celestia said, giving him a warm smile.

“Without a doubt. Well I guess I’ll be seeing you then,” he said, getting ready to head back to work.

“Before you leave there’s one thing I would like to ask you,” Celestia said.

“What is it?”

“Cheer up okay?” she said, looking at him sincerely. “I know you’ve been having some personal problems lately. But at least try to be happy for the sake of others. Who knows, the answer may come to you very soon.”

“All right, I’ll try. But I can’t make any promises,” Caster said, chuckling a little.

Princess Celestia gave him a quick hug before they both went their separate ways. She looked back at Caster as some thoughts went through her mind. One of which was of a certain new Princess that reminded her a bit of him on a social level.

“Hmm, I have a feeling tomorrow will be more interesting than expected,” she said, to herself, smiling as she went about her business.

And so Caster returned to his duties, filling out the day’s quota. At one point Spell Weaver dropped off his armor to be repaired as requested. Caster soon found the problem, that being a few misplaced rivets and some pieces of leather that turned out shorter than he anticipated. After rearranging the rivets and replacing the pieces of leather, he put it on a shelf for the guard to pick up. The time ticked by as the sun traveled along its path across the sky. Day soon gave way to early evening and Caster had noticed that it was almost 6PM. He just finished a new set of armor and boxed it up like the rest to be delivered to the supply room. As he was about to call it day, Caster took a glance at a nearby black colored wardrobe.

‘Wonder how my set is doing? he thought, making his way over to it.

He pulled out his ring of keys and fumbled with them a bit before finding the right one. Caster turned the silver key in the lock until the door unlocked with a click. Opening up the wardrobe doors, Caster set his sight upon what was before him. Inside was a set of armor made of reinforced leather with an image of his cutie mark at the center of it. It went up from foot to the neck, no helmet whatsoever, as he didn’t care for them too much. It looked rather light but felt very durable as he ran a hand across it. At its waist was a short sword with a golden bronze handle that had a two onyx’s and a white moonstone on each side, an ebony carved handle, and a pommel designed with a golden star and an emerald in its center. He took hold of the blade and pulled it out of its sheath, admiring its beautiful sheen and razor sharp edge.

This was Caster Forge’s own personal set of armor with custom blade. Like a lot of weapon smiths, he too had his own personal project that was made just for him. It was something he started when he was still enrolled in Celestia’s school for artistic ponies. Even though it was merely meant as his graduation project, which let him pass with flying colors, Caster thought it was meant for so much more. He was allowed to keep it and thus spent the last few years continually improving both armor and blade. But even now he still didn’t think it was perfect, heck, he hadn’t even come up with a name for his sword yet.

But that wasn’t truly important right now. Really the only important thing at the moment was getting home to finish his other project. So putting the sword back in its sheath Caster locked the wardrobe. After making sure everything in the room was back in order, he locked up the room before heading home. Caster once again walked through the streets, as it was a bit simpler than flying, and enjoyed the sunset that was bathing Canterlot in a warm glow. Plus it gave him a chance to clear his thoughts and relax. Unfortunately that didn’t last too long when something caught his attention.

To his right were a mare and a stallion, holding each other close as they walked past him. They were simply talking to each other about little things in life and were laughing like two little school foals. While Caster did find the scene cute and romantic, it stirred up some old feelings. He may have promised himself that he would wait until the right mare came along. Although lately he was hoping that day would come sooner rather than later. Hopefully his day off tomorrow at the coronation would give him a chance to socialize and meet a few new ponies.

Caster’s walk continued on that note until he made it back home. Opening the front door, the familiar smell of dinner greeted his muzzle. Taking off his shoes he went to the kitchen to see Copper and Amethyst making some boiled vegetables and pasta.

“Hello Caster, you’re just in time. Dinner’s almost ready and Jack, Hotpop, and Vicente will be down in a few minutes,” Amethyst said, while she ladled out some white pasta with red and green peppers onto some plates.

“That’s great Mom. But would it be all right if I took my dinner upstairs with me?” he asked, yawning in the process. “I want to put the last few touches on my project before I turn in.”

“Are you sure Cast?” Copper asked, hoping his son would reconsider.

“I’m sure Dad. I’ll be sure to bring down my dishes when I’m done,” Caster said, grabbing his plate.

“Well, all right then. Just don’t stay up too late,” Copper said, giving him a pat on the back.

“We’ll see,” he said, giving both his parents a hug before heading upstairs. 

Caster entered his room to find Nina resting on his bed. He went over and petted her as she woke up. She chirped a bit before Caster took a seat at his work desk, setting his dinner plate down. This was where he occasionally partook in his hobby of building miniature figurines out of the scrap metal that his parents left behind. It was a simple hobby, but one that managed to get him into Canterlot University. But for right now, it would be used for a different purpose.

Turning on the desk lamp, he brought out some materials, tools, and what looked like an unfinished amulet, beneath the light. After taking a few bites of his food, Caster went over to a shelf where he kept some comics and book, some of them romance novels. Currently he grabbed a small book on craftsmanship and flipped it open to a bookmarked chapter. He then moved a desk magnifying glass in front of his face and set to work. This little project he was currently working on was meant for tomorrow’s coronation. The coronation of Equestria’s newest Princess.

It had been a little over a year since the incident with Tirek and already Equestria was getting a new Princess. Apparently this mare was a personal student of Princess Luna. Caster did not know all of the details, but the point was that tomorrow was a very special day. So he took it upon himself to make it even more special. The amulet he was in the midst of making was meant as a gift to commemorate the Princess’s ceremony. It was also technically a way to promote his family’s jewelry store. What better way than to give a new Princess a gift such as this. Caster may not have been as skilled as his parents when it came to jewelry, but he knew enough to help them in the shop when he had the time.

Night began to descend upon the land as the moon rose into the night sky. By that time, Caster had already completed his little gift. It was an oval shaped, silver amulet with elegant carvings and a long, thin chain. The front of it was circled by tiny, finely cut sapphires and had a large ruby in the center. It was simple, but for a Princess sometimes simplicity was all you needed. Caster scrutinized his creation to make sure there were no flaws. He turned it one way and another and watched as the jewels caught fire in the light. After a half hour of studying the amulet, he felt it was worthy of a princess. Once he deemed it relatively perfect, he grabbed a small box, some white wrapping paper, and a red ribbon.

After finishing up his project, Caster decided it was time to get some shut eye. So he brought his dishes back downstairs and then made a quick trip to the bathroom to brush his teeth and take care of other business. He then headed back to his bedroom, shut off all the lights, tucked Nina into her little bed, and rested onto his own after changing into some PJ's. As he stared out the window and at the countless stars in the sky, he wondered what tomorrow would bring. Would their new Princess be a kind ruler? Would he be able to make one or two new friends at the coronation? One thing was certain for him, after tomorrow he would go back to the same routine. Another average day, in an average life.
> Chapter 2: Unexpected Friendship
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The few clouds that dotted the sky did little to keep the sun's rays from shining down on the world below, bathing it in warmth. The place that seemed to take in the most sunshine however was the city of Canterlot and currently many ponies basked in its light. Like any other day of the year, the streets were packed. Several ponies were walking through the streets though there weren’t too many for it to be considered overcrowded. Normally this would appear to be an average thing to expect in city life. But today was much different as everyone was heading for Canterlot Castle. Today was the coronation of the new Princess of Equestria, Anima Memoriae. It was a momentous event for many, seeing as how Equestira would be getting a new ruler. One thing most ponies did know about her was that she was the personal student of Princess Luna. It came as a bit of a surprise since very few had ever heard of Luna having her own student.

But regardless, what mattered now was seeing how well this new Princess would play out. Ponies from all across Equestria had come to witness the coronation. Many ponies were looking forward to getting the chance to meet her in person. Some for simply seeing what she was like, others for personal reasons. The latter could be said for Caster Forge as he made his way through the crowd along with his family. In his coat pocket he held the neatly wrapped amulet that he planned to give to the Princess. Both to celebrate her coronation and to promote his parent’s business. For a moment he wondered if she would even notice him or even accept his gift. But those thoughts were quickly dispelled, knowing that someone who was about to become a Princess would never just turn him away like that. At the very least Caster could get a word with her.

So with a slight skip in his step, he continued forward, confident of what was to come as he brushed his suit a bit to remove any excess lint. Like everyone around him, Caster had gotten dressed up for the occasion, sporting his best suit. His suit consisted of a black coat and pants, a white undershirt, a beige tweed, an emerald green tie, black polished shoes, and a set of cufflinks resembling his cutie mark. His family also wore their own formal attire. They all walked close together, but didn’t squish next to each other, so as to not be separated in the crowd. Amethyst Emberglow had an arm wrapped around Copper Gold’s as they cuddled close. Hotpop and Jack Spirit held onto either of Vicente’s hands, making sure he wouldn’t wander off or fall to the ground if he fell asleep again.

“So Vicente, are you excited or what?” Hotpop asked, acting like a child herself.

“You bet I am, mommy!” Vicente responded, jumping up and down.

“Well it isn’t every day you get to see a new Princess after all,” Jack said, trying not to let go of his son’s hand.

“Indeed, if we’re lucky we may get the chance to actually meet her up close,” Caster said, hoping that would be the case.

“I take it you’re still planning on giving her that amulet you made?” Copper said.

“Of course. I worked really hard on this so I’m not just going to back down now,” he responded, clutching the gift in his coat pocket. “Besides it’ll be a good way to promote your business, Dad.”

“And probably a good way to promote yourself huh, Cast?” Hotpop said, nudging him with an elbow and wearing a sly grin.

“I-it isn’t like that at all, Hotpop!” Caster said, his cheeks turning red. “I just want to do something nice for her, that’s all.”

“Sure, whatever you say, Cast,” she said, giggling.

Caster simply sighed as he tried to rid the blush from his face. The truth is the thought had crossed his mind once or twice. But he never really thought it would happen of course. After all this was a Princess they were talking about and he was just a blacksmith. He shook those thoughts out of his head, not wanting to continue on the matter. After all, Caster promised himself that he would wait until the right mare came along and would never use a situation like this to his advantage. His family could tell the topic was bothering him and decided to talk about other things. And their conversations went on until they reached the castle and made their way to the ceremonial chamber.


===============================================================


Much like everyone around them, Caster and his family waited intently as the voices of the crowd echoed throughout the ceremonial chamber of Canterlot Castle, which was decorated very festively for the occasion. Many ponies from both nobility and common status talked among themselves of what was to come from this coronation. Some ponies were still piling into the room, the sound of their footsteps on the tile floors mixing with the voices still echoing across the room. Caster couldn't get a good view from where he was standing, being too far from the platform at the end of the red carpet that divided the crowd. As he pondered how he’d greet the new Princess, Princess Celestia spoke from the platform. The clamor of many excited ponies quickly changed into silence as all eyes focused on her.

“Mares and gentlecolts, thank you all for coming here this day. Today is a truly momentous occasion. Not long ago we were all here before, celebrating an event much like this one. We came to celebrate the crowning of my most faithful student, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” she stated, addressing her former student who stood to her side accompanied by the other Elements of Harmony. “She had accomplished what many ponies believed to be impossible. At first I thought that it was only Twilight that was destined to discover this new type of magic. But now I see that is not the case.”

“It appears that somepony else in our kingdom has learned the true meaning of this magic as well. A pony who has been guided under the teachings of my sister, Princess Luna. This is a day not only for our newest Princess, but for all of Equestria as well. She has shown us that anypony among us can have the courage to believe in others and draw strength unlike any other. I hope that in a few years’ time you all too can see the joy in being with and helping those around you. But I digress, it is time for what we all came to bear witness too,” Celestia said, moving to the side to let her sister speak.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, it is my honor to introduce to all of you, Princess Anima Memoriae!” Princess Luna said, signaling the guards at the large double doors.

They opened the doors and in walked the Princess, with a couple guards behind her carrying banners with her cutie mark, a collection of yellow and pink flashing stars with what seemed to be a pink reel surrounding it. Everyone in attendance was awed at seeing Princess Anima Memoriae. Though from Caster’s position he couldn’t get a good view over the crowd. All he could make out of the Princess was a white Unicorn horn and the top part of her pink mane. She walked briskly across the red carpet toward the platform, excited to begin a new stage in her life. Once Anima reached her destination, she gave a little curtsy to Luna before her teacher spoke.

“Anima Memoriae, you may have been the only student I ever took under my wing, but you have shown that you were capable of so much more than I had expected. Your skills in magic are unparalleled and the love you show for others, even those beyond help, is inspiring to us all,” Princess Luna said, turning to Anima’s friends nearby, one of which held a golden tiara with three rubies embedded in it. She levitated it in front of her student in her blue magical aura.

“My faithful student, I see it only appropriate that you take on the title that most befits you. Will you accept this symbol of authority and take on the duties and responsibilities of your new role in Equestria?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes I will, your highness,” Anima said, lowering her head slightly.

“Then I officially decree you, Princess Anima Memoriae,” Luna said, placing the tiara atop her students’ head.

Anima turned around to face her audience as their newest ruler. They all clapped and cheered for her, some shouting a few words of encouragement. Though Caster could still not see her, due in part to a couple of ponies blocking his view. So he merely applauded along with everyone else. When the cheering had died down a bit, the Princesses announced that it was time to move on to the castle ballroom for the party. And so the crowd dispersed, making their way to the aforementioned location. Caster tried to see if he could meet up with Anima, but she seemed to have disappeared amongst the crowd.

“Hey, Caster come on. We don’t want to miss out on the free grub,” Jack said, trying to get his brother’s attention.

“Huh, oh right. Listen, you guys go on ahead I’ll catch up with you later. I’ve got some business to take care of,” Caster said, looking nervously at his family.

“All right then dear,” Amethyst said, giving her son a quick hug. “Just remember, when you do meet the Princess, let us know okay?”

“Mom!” he stated, blushing profusely.

They all gave a little laugh before they left with another group to the ballroom. Shaking off his embarrassment, Caster set off for the ballroom.


===============================================================


The hallways of the Castle were flooded with ponies, making their way to the ballroom. Many of them were eager to get a chance to meet the Princess, yet Caster Forge proved to be more so than the rest as he gracefully maneuvered through the crowds. All the while he was clutching the gift held in his coat, protecting it from harm.

Once he got to the ballroom, Caster surveyed his surroundings. All around him were ponies conversing with one another. Some talked about how well their businesses were holding up, while others conveyed juicy gossip. The whole room looked festive as streamers and balloons decorated the upper walls and ceiling. Many of the tables were covered with a fine white linen while horse d'oeuvres and multicolored beverages glinted in their glasses. The bright rays of the sun shone through several windows with multiple tiled pictures adorning them, covering the room in a transparent rainbow of color. While the room looked lively and active, it presented a problem for Caster. And that was the crowds of ponies made it difficult to find Princess Anima. It was almost like trying to find a needle in a haystack. But he wasn’t going to give up now, he was determined to deliver his gift after all the effort he put into making it.

So he dove into the ballroom, hoping to find the Princess. He pushed past a couple of ponies, excusing himself so as to not appear rude. When he thought he saw her at times, he went straight for it only to find it was either a Pegasus or Unicorn who only looked slightly similar. The more the party wore on the more difficult it seemed to locate Anima. After about fifteen minutes of searching, Caster decided to take a break and grab some refreshments from one of the tables. He grabbed a small white plate with pink edging and piled some of the asparagus and lentil hors d'oeuvres onto the plate. Then he picked up a bottle of champagne and poured some of its golden contents into a delicate fluted glass.

As he poured more of the golden drink, Caster gazed out at the ballroom and the many ponies adorning it. If he was lucky, he could manage to spot Princess Anima. While taking a bite of one of the delicacies, he watched as all the other ponies that were near him kept talking with each other. Caster remembered that he also came here in the hopes of socializing and making new friends. Although from the looks of it, no one around spoke of anything that he could relate to.

His gaze then shifted over to a certain group of ponies, which he recognized as the Elements of Harmony. They were all seated at a nearby table each of them with a special somepony. One of them, a white Unicorn with a purple mane, was even paired up with a dragon of all creatures. Though that was a bit of a surprise to him, Caster wasn’t going to judge the two of them. While it looked sweet seeing them all with somepony they deserved, it still reminded him of his own love life and how long it would be till he found his own special somepony. His thoughts kept trailing on before he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Caster ol’ boy, good to see you again,” a stallion said, in a familiar Canterlot accent.

“Good to see you too Fancy. You as well Fleur,” Caster replied, turning around to face the older pony and his wife, Fleur De Lis.

Fancy Pants was an old friend of the Forge family. Soon after Caster was admitted to Canterlot University, Fancy had met his family to get to know two of the best jewelry artists as well as the up and coming colt who managed to gain admittance. At first Caster was a bit hesitant with meeting him, due to how many ponies in Canterlot acted. Over time, after receiving orders for jewelry and visits, Caster could see that Fancy was warm hearted and caring. He also was quite good at telling jokes too. And since then Fancy and Fleur had become a part of the family.

“I say, this truly is a marvelous party for such a grand occasion, don’t you think?” Fancy declared, taking a sip from his glass of champagne.

“Yeah, it sure is,” Caster said, half-heartedly as he stared into his own glass.

“Whatever is the matter, dear boy? Something on your mind?” he asked, wondering what was up.

“I guess you could say that,” Caster replied, scratching the back of his head.

“Would it have to do with waiting for your special somepony?” Fleur said, with an innocent grin.

“Huh!? W-what makes you say that?” Caster asked, his face turning a crimson hue.

“You can’t fool me Caster,” she said, giggling. “I noticed you were looking at that table over there and I saw your expression just before we came to you.”

“Fleur, honey, don’t push the young man too far,” Fancy said, trying to get his wife to ease up. “He doesn’t have to tell us if he doesn’t want too.”

“No, no, it’s all right Fancy. She is right, the subject has been on my mind a bit lately,” Caster said, looking down.

“I’m guessing the right mare still hasn’t come around yet?” he asked.

“Nah, just more and more mares who see me as nothing more than eye candy and social advancement,” Caster said, his expression turning sour.

“I see. I remember my younger years when all the ladies only seemed to care about my money. That is until I met my lovely Fleur,” Fancy said, Fleur nuzzling him in response. “She actually shared my personal interests and there were some parts of her that intrigued me as well. Needless to say we were practically meant for each other.”

“That’s a very sweet story, Fancy. I just hope the same thing can happen to me soon. Though the way things are going lately I doubt it’s ever going to happen,” Caster said, trying to get in a better mood.

“Trust me, my good lad, you’ll find your special somepony when you least expect it. When the time comes you’ll know,” he said, holding Fleur’s hand.

“And remember, Caster, if you ever need somepony to talk to come see us. Our door is always open to our friends,” Fleur added, showing her kind nature.

“Thanks, Fleur, I’ll be sure to take you guys up on that offer,” Caster said, a smile finally adorning his face.

“So, Caster, is there anything else you would like to talk about?” Fancy asked, hoping to change the subject.

“Actually, if it’s all right with you two, I’d like to go and get some fresh air. This place is getting a bit too crowded at the moment,” he said, feeling a bit suffocated when he realized how cramped it was getting.

“Of course, I understand. Go ahead and take some time to reflect on what we’ve talked about,” Fancy said, with a hearty laugh.

“I will, Fancy Pants. See you around,” Caster said, moving past the crowds.

After some navigating and handing off his plate to a butler, Caster Forge found himself standing outside in the private castle gardens. Even though the flowers weren’t in full bloom the whole area still looked beautiful. The sound of multiple conversations coming from the ballroom became mere muttering as Caster focused his attention on the soft breeze and the chirping of nearby birds. The large hedges that covered the garden made him feel like he was cut off from the rest of Equestria. It was all so serene that one would almost think that.

Continuing his leisurely stroll, Caster thought of what Fancy and Fleur had taught him. Fancy had gone through nearly the same problems when he was younger. Yet despite all that he still managed to find comfort in the arms of a lover after some time. It was inspiring to see even the wealthy suffer the common problems and still bear through them like anyone else. It gave Caster a rising sense of hope. He felt more confident now, that if he just kept waiting a little while longer he may find what he has been hoping so long for. Thinking back on it now, Caster found it a bit amusing that he got all worked up over nothing.

“I mean it’s not like my special somepony is just going to fall from the sky after all,” he said, laughing sarcastically.

“LOOK OUT BELOW!!!” a voice rang out from above.

Caster quickly turned around and looked up, before his vision was blocked and something heavy slammed him into the ground. He groaned from the sudden impact, his mind becoming a bit dazed. A similar groan reached his ears, coming from whatever had landed on him though this one was more feminine. He lifted himself up slightly to see who it was and saw that it was a mare. Caster noticed she had wings, which would probably explain why she came down from the sky. He was about to help her up when something else caught his attention. That being the Unicorn horn protruding from her forehead, her pink mane, and the golden tiara that rested upon it. The sudden realization made him freeze up. Caster then completely panicked as he backed away quickly, got onto his hands and knees and bowed his head low.

“Your highness, please forgive me! I did not mean to impede your path!” he exclaimed, not daring to look her in the eye.

Caster waited for the chewing out he would most likely get. He didn’t know what the new Princess was like but it was better to be safe than sorry. The silence lingered for a while before the sound of laughter rang out. Confused, Caster moved his head up to find Princess Anima Memoriae sitting down and laughing as she held her hand to her mouth.

“Don’t worry about it, it was accident on my part anyhow,” she said, smiling at him.

Anima started dusting herself off a bit while Caster simply sat in front of her in awe. Just one look at her told him that she definitely deserved the title of Princess. Anima’s fur was one of the purest shades of white, second only to Princess Celestia herself. Her mane and tail were long and poofy, almost like clouds. Both were a bright shade of pink with a few magenta streaks, which matched well with her pink dress, which went down to her ankles, and her pink dress slippers. Anima’s body looked very lean, from her arms to her legs, and curved into a nice set of hips. She had an above average bosom that was well-rounded. Her light green eyes turned their attention to him, snapping Caster out of his stupor. She squinted her eyes at him before speaking.

“Would you mind helping me find my glasses? I seemed to have misplaced them,” Anima said, feeling embarrassed as she searched the ground.

“Oh, yes of course,” he said, aiding her in her search.

They both searched through the grass, looking for Anima’s glasses. Caster occasionally shot a glance over at her, watching her fumble along the ground. It was kind of amusing to see a Princess go through such a petty matter, though he wasn’t going to make fun of her of course. That being said, Caster kept on looking until his gaze fell upon a small set of blue glasses. He grabbed them and brought them over to Anima.

“I found them! Here you go, your highness,” he said, being as polite as possible.

“Thank you kindly,” Anima Memoriae said, putting on her recovered glasses. “And for the record please just call me… Anima.”

As soon as she regained her vision, her words got caught in her throat as she stared at the pony before her. One thing she immediately noticed about him was that he was tall, about more than half a foot taller than her to be precise. And his broad shoulders gave evidence of his muscular body. Though the stallion’s stature and figure did appear somewhat intimidating, those thoughts were dispelled when she looked up at his humble and gentle expression. The small smile that adorned his lips calmed Anima enough to let her get a better look at him. Such as the few scars adorning his face, the small tuft of hair on his chin, and his deep green eyes, which she found herself staring into longer than she intended. Caster had realized that Anima had been staring at her for a while now and his cheeks began to blush, along with Anima’s.

“Heh heh, um, nice to meet you. My name is Anima Memoriae. Though I’m sure you and everypony else here already knew that,” she said, feeling embarrassed.

“Yes I did actually, heh. It’s an honor to meet you in person your high- I mean, Anima,” Caster said, correcting himself. “My name is Caster Forge.”

“Caster Forge?” Anima asked, remembering the name. “The Royal Blacksmith, Caster Forge?”

“Um, yes?” he answered.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it! You’re the pony that they say got the lucky mark. Is that true?” she asked, excited to meet him.

“I guess so, nopony else seems to have it anyway,” Caster said, amazed that a newly crowned Princess actually knew about him.

“Hey uh, I hope this doesn’t sound too imposing. But would it be all right if I could see it?” Anima said, hoping he wouldn’t think she was weird.

Caster was a bit surprised to hear that request as his cheeks started to blush again.

“I mean if you don’t want to that’s fine of course. I was just curious about-”

“No i-it’s okay. It’s just that not many ponies ask me to see it,” he said, cracking a smile despite his nervousness.

Pulling out a bit of his tucked in shirt, Caster slowly moved the waist of his pants down on the side. He managed to reveal his cutie mark without showing his more personal areas. Anima looked at the lucky mark with rapt attention, intrigued by how it resembled the Roman numeral fifteen.

“Wow, so this is the rare mark that everypony talks about. I’m amazed you were able to get one,” Anima said, her tone one of amazement and surprise.

“You and pretty much everypony else in Equestria,” Caster said, tucking his shirt back in. “Even I was stunned when I first got it.”

“So hey, is it true that since you’re a Pegasus, the lucky mark gives you more speed?” she asked.

“Yes actually. Although even with it I have yet to perform a Sonic Rainboom,” Caster said, chuckling. “I doubt that’s ever going to happen.”

“Well you never know. After all Rainbow Dash was able to pull it off like five times already from what I’ve heard,” Anima said, throwing some words of encouragement at him.

“That’s true I suppose,” he said, thinking about the possibilities.

Suddenly all was quiet as the two ponies did not know what else to speak of. The awkward silence got to both of them as they tried to think of something to say. Then Caster thought of how she asked to see his lucky mark and chose to continue the subject. Though with Anima’s cutie mark.

“So I’m curious. What exactly did you do as a special talent before becoming a Princess? And also how did you become one in the first place?” he asked, hoping this would keep their conversation going.

“Huh, I never thought anypony would ask me about all of that,” Anima said, glad that someone was interested in her past. “I should warn you now though it’s going to be a bit long to tell.”

“That’s fine, I’ve got plenty of free time. I’m all ears,” Caster said, standing up and helping her up as well. “But do you mind if we find somewhere more comfortable to sit?”

“Sure, wouldn’t want to get grass stains on my new dress after all,” she said, giggling.

Before they started wandering through the garden, Caster spotted a nearby white wooden bench. He pointed it out to Anima and they both took a seat on it, getting comfortable for the most likely long talk they would be having.

“So, how did it all start?” Caster asked, ready to hear Princess Anima Memoriae’s story.


===============================================================


“To start off I should probably tell you that I wasn’t an Alicorn at first. I was originally just a Unicorn, and the one thing I loved more than anything was taking photos. At first I just drew whatever I saw that seemed interesting. But then one day my Grandmother gave me a camera for my birthday,” Anima said, reaching into one of her dress pockets and pulling out a small red and black camera. “Since then I’ve used this little guy to take photos wherever I can. Sometimes of ponies chatting, playing, sometimes pretty flowers, or even just funny shaped clouds.”

“I see, that’s cool. But how does all of that tie in with your cutie mark?” Caster asked, curious where this was going.

“Don’t worry, I’m getting to it. One day, I and a few others from school went on an outing at the park. It was really nice there, lots of flowers, a playground, and even a cool statue which at the time depicted a mysterious mare that no one knew. Anyway, after a while I saw that the statue was being vandalized by a couple of bullies from my class who were chucking rocks at it. I soon recognized them as Windie Light and her entourage,” Anima said, clutching her hand from the memories.

“I take it you’re not too big a fan of them?” Caster asked, seeing how touchy the topic must’ve been.

“No one was back then. Windie was always mean to everyone for no reason other than thinking it was funny. I used to feel so afraid of her that I could barely stand up for myself,” she said.

“Sounds like it must’ve been tough on you. If it’s any consolation, I know how it feels,” he remarked, remembering his own problems with bullies in the past.

“Thanks, but don’t worry it wasn’t always like that. I may’ve been a coward before but this time I felt Windie and her friends had gone too far. And so I just started yelling at her to stop. I believed that such a piece of artwork is something that needs to be preserved and not destroyed for fun. No matter how something is preserved, whether taking care of it or even snapping a photo of it,” Anima stated, holding her camera close. “The memory is always what’s most important about it.”

“Whoa, wasn’t expecting you to go all deep there just now,” Caster said, admiring her philosophy.

“Neither did I. But anyway, as I continued ranting my horn started to glow and soon a burst of magic shot out towards the statue. That was when the area and everypony in it got surrounded by an image of the night. It was odd at first but suddenly a mare showed up out of nowhere. She was an Alicorn with a beautiful blue coat and looked strikingly similar to the statue I was defending. We all watched in awe as she began to not only raise the moon but also set out the stars in the sky,” Anima said.

‘Huh, I wonder who that could’ve been?’ Caster asked himself, having a pretty clear idea.

“After the image faded, all the other ponies in my class seemed to rally together against Windie and the others. I guess they must’ve felt the same way after seeing something like that. Needless to say, Windie and little entourage seemed to back off, claiming we all weren’t worth the effort or something stupid like that,” She said, rolling her eyes at their past excuse. “Soon after, everyone seemed to stare at me with surprised looks. I followed their gaze to find that I had finally earned my cutie mark. I was so overjoyed that I couldn’t but, obviously, take a photo to celebrate the occasion.”

“Wow that’s really impressive Anima,” Caster said, taking an interest in her story.

“Thanks, but I’m sure lots of other ponies have cutie mark stories that are just as interesting,” she said, blushing a little from the compliment.

“Well don’t tell me the story ends there right?” Caster teased, wanting to hear the rest. “I still want to hear about what lead to you becoming a Princess. Also what lead you to becoming Princess Luna’s own student.”

“Oh right. Well it really continues where I left off,” Anima said, happy that he wanted her to keep going. “When word got out about how I got my cutie mark, not only were my parents impressed but a few of my teachers as well. So much so that they gave me an application for Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. I was to be accepted on the condition that I pass a special entrance exam to test the magic I used.”

“They asked me to use the spell on an artifact that had been used for centuries. It was difficult at first and took a few tries but I eventually managed to project the events and ponies it had been associated with throughout history. Seeing that I had great potential in magic, as well as use in this special talent of mine, the judges gave me a passing grade and welcomed me into the school,” Anima said, remembering how overjoyed she was at the time. “And so I spent the rest of my school days there. Learning new advanced spells, seeing the many mysteries in magic, and developing my talents in what many called ‘Memory Magic’.”

“Then Nightmare Moon returned and the whole ordeal associated with it piqued my interest. When Princess Twilight and her friends used the Elements of Harmony to turn Nightmare Moon back into Princess Luna I was ecstatic to learn that there was also a Princess of the Night. You see I had always been fascinated by nighttime. All the stars in the sky forming dozens of constellations, the moon that gave a beautiful radiance in the darkness, and all the wondrous creatures and plant life that thrived in the night. It also cheered me up when I was little. Back when I was still being bullied around, my mother would bring me out to look at the night sky and tell me the story of the mare in the moon and of the stars. Everything about it seemed so beautiful to me and yet nopony else thought of it that way. That is, of course, until I heard the story of Luna,” she finished.

“I understand how you feel,” Caster spoke up. “I kind of have the same issue myself, though mine revolves around rain. Most ponies seem to see it as a burden aside from providing necessary water to Equestria. However I don’t see it that way. While ponies say it just makes the land look gloomy, I personally think it’s beautiful. Because even something dark like rain can still bring about beauty and light to our world. After all, rainbows always appear after a storm and the land grows and flourishes soon after. But most of all it gives me a sense of peace. Whenever I had troubles as a foal, the rain made me feel at ease because it felt like the world was crying with me.”

“My, you sure sound like a poet,” Anima said, chuckling softly at hearing his speech.

“Uh, thanks I guess,” he said, his cheeks turning red. “But anyway sorry for interrupting. Please continue.”

“It’s all right,” Anima said, brushing it off. “After Luna had returned to her position as Princess of Equestria, I had thought about meeting and getting to know her. But I was so nervous at the time that I couldn’t work up the courage. Yet after hearing what happened during Nightmare Night a few years ago, I felt that maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to talk with her. Yet when I tried to speak with Princess Luna, her guards merely shoved me off saying she was too busy. I kept trying but it always ended the same way.”

“Then how did you manage to speak with her at all?” Caster said.

“It’s a funny story actually. One day while at school, I seemed to bump into her by accident. Apparently she came to read some of the new texts at the library. At first her guards got all on my case again but she moved them aside and apologized for how they acted. I told her of honored I was to finally be to speak with the Princess of the Night and she seemed happy to find another pony who was interested in meeting her. We ended up chatting for a little while and I mentioned how I managed to get my cutie mark and be enrolled here,” she said.

“Really, what did she have to say about that?” Caster asked.

“Well, you’ve probably figured it out by now, but it turned out that the mare I had a vision of was in fact Princess Luna herself. Upon realizing that, she seemed to take a deeper interest in my special talent. So she asked if she could speak with me later and I agreed, feeling ecstatic that someone of royalty would even consider being interested in me. That night I met up with her at her personal quarters and had some tea as we talked about my abilities and how they’ve advanced over the years. Soon I asked Princess Luna about her own abilities and the conversation eventually moved onto our personal interests and hobbies. Soon enough, we ended up becoming good friends over time, talking to each other whenever we had the chance,” Anima said, happily remembering all of her talks with Princess Luna.

“You certainly are lucky to have made friends with a Princess like that. Though I’m guessing that’s not why she took you on as her student,” Caster said, knowing there was more to the story.

“Indeed not. I was nearing the last few days during my last year of high school at Celestia’s school. It was then that I had asked Princess Luna if I could be her student for my next few years. I thought it would be an honor to be able to learn from somepony familiar with ancient magic and shared my interests in the night. She took some time to think it over, seeing all that I’ve accomplished and what I can do. Princess Luna then tasked me with mastering an advanced spell by the end of the year. Saying that she would make me her personal protégé if I succeeded,” Anima stated, knowing how grueling the test was at the time.

“Well I’m pretty sure you managed to pass with flying colors,” Caster said, putting two and two together.

“It took a few tries, but yes, I managed to pull it off. And so Princess Luna took me under her wing, believing I had great potential awaiting me,” she said.

“That’s pretty cool and I suppose why Princess Luna wanted to keep this all a secret. Not wanting to draw too much public attention,” Caster said, beginning to understand the whole scenario.

“Yeah pretty much. Even after over a thousand years she’s still a bit secluded from everypony else,” Anima said, knowing how difficult it was for her teacher at first.

“I see. So now I guess all that remains is how you became a Princess as well,” Caster said, ready to hear the last part of Anima’s story.

“Indeed and that is definitely a story worth telling,” she said, remembering the recent events leading up to her coronation. “It all started about a couple of months ago. I was studying a bit when apparently word had reached Luna and me about a situation occurring within the city. Apparently some mare was going around harassing the citizens, violently lashing out, and just disrupting the peace. Our lesson was put on hold while Luna went with a few guards to investigate the scene. I decided to come along to as I wanted to see what could be causing such a mess.”

“When we got there, I was quite shocked to see who it was. It turned out to be Windie Light, my old bully, and she looked like a complete mess. Apparently she had been drinking too much and just went on a rampage of sorts. But it looked like the guards had managed to subdue her as we arrived and were about to haul her off to the holding cells. That was when I asked Princess Luna if I could have a chance to talk with Windie, to see if I could get through to her. It took some persuading but she said yes and she let me speak with her at the holding cells,” Anima said.

“So what happened next?” Caster asked, wondering had become of Anima’s old bully.

“Well, when I finally got a chance to speak with her, Windie didn’t seem to remember who I was. It was like her mind had become scrambled or something. So I used my memory spell to search through her past. And let me tell you, it was not pretty,” she stated, remembering how horrible the experience was. “Losing her friends, getting fired from her job, and even being rejected by the one she loved most. But through it all I managed to at least find a memory of me and used that to connect my mind with hers. From there I was able to help Windie confront her inner turmoil’s and bring her back to state where she could think properly. And so afterwards I managed to convince the guards into putting Windie in a rehabilitation program. Because even though she was mean to me in the past, I believe she at least deserved a second chance and I knew I was the one meant to give it to her.”

“Wow, that’s really inspiring, Anima. I’d certainly be happy to have received help from somepony like you,” Caster said, seeing this was both a Princess and a pony he could trust to help others.

“I only did what I knew was right. And you’re not the only one who was so impressed,” Anima said, ready to share the last piece of her story. “When word had reached Princess Luna about what I had done, she congratulated me on my achievement and believed she made the right decision in making me her apprentice. Though I could see in her eyes that she was thinking of something else that was important. It was only about a week ago that I was finally called into Princess Luna’s study for an important matter. I didn’t know what it was about, but I could tell she was serious about it from the letter she sent me. When I got there, she told me that my time studying with her had come to an end. I was disheartened when I heard this news but she went on to say it was partially because I had learned everything she had to teach me. But mostly it was because she had much bigger plans for me.”

“What do you mean?” Caster asked, wondering where this was going.

“Princess Luna told me that my time learning from her provided me with more than just knowledge on spells and history. When she heard about what I did for Windie Light, she saw not only the true power in my abilities, but also how much I cared for those around me, whether they be friend or foe. It was similar, she believed, to the heroic deeds of Twilight Sparkle and she became a Princess. Luna thought that perhaps I was meant for more and after discussing it with Princess Celestia, believed that I was destined to become one of them. And so, it was then that she told me that it was time for me to fulfill what I was meant for. With a flash of her horn and a quick trip through some strange vortex, I found myself sporting these babies and my new role as Princess,” Anima said, spreading out her wings slightly.

“Wow that’s one impressive story you got there,” Caster said, admiring her new appendages. “I guess now you must know how Twilight Sparkle felt when she became a Princess.”

“That’s an understatement,” Anima said, with a light giggle. “Already I can feel a new kind of power surging through me. I truly do feel like a Princess, both in title and in strength, particularly with the first part.”
“Oh, and why do you say that?”

“Well, after I became an Alicorn and my coronation was set into motion, I started to think on what my role as a Princess would be. That’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks. My talents have always helped me to see the past and learn about history in new ways, even teaching others on it. And only now have I used my magic to truly help others with their problems in life. And so I came to realize who and what I am: I am Anima Memoriae, the Princess of Memories,” she stated, proudly. “I preserve the past so that the present and future may be enlightened.”

“That certainly has a nice ring to it,” Caster said, liking the concept of her role to come.

“Indeed, I may only be here for a time, but I’m sure my legacy will live on for others to remember,” Anima said, knowing her time would one day come to an end.

“Wait, I thought you were immortal now, like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,” he asked, curious about the subject.

“Actually no, I’m not,” she stated. “You see only Luna and Celestia have the immortal trait in their genes. The reason is because their specific family of Alicorn comes from a more divine heritage. So only members of their family and their descendants can become immortal. That of course means that Princess Twilight is not immortal either since she became an Alicorn through the same means as me. The same goes for Princess Cadence as well. A distant relative in her family was an Alicorn that did not have the immortality trait.”

“I see. That makes sense I suppose,” Caster said, understanding how it all worked. “So now you don’t have to worry about outliving your friends one day.”

“Yeah, that would have been unfortunate. I love my friends so much that it would’ve pained me to live on without them,” Anima said, a frown forming.

Once again the awkward silence found its way into their conversation. Caster always had a knack for saying the wrong thing at times, even if it wasn’t intentional. He needed to think fast if he didn’t want the whole scene to get all depressing. But suddenly a slightly throbbing pain in the back of his head reminded him of how Anima got here in the first place. That being said he was a bit puzzled as to why she came crashing from the sky at all.

“So uh, if you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing out here anyway?” he said, breaking the silence.

“Oh right, I never did explain that did I?” she said, feeling embarrassed. “The truth is I came out here to try out my new wings.”

“Ah, I guess that explains why you came crashing down huh?” Caster said, putting two and two together.

“Yeah I still haven’t gotten used to them yet it seems,” Anima said, giving her wings a flap.

“Well I’m sure that with time and practice you’ll be soaring the skies in no time,” Caster said, putting on his best smile.

“Actually, that’ll be a bit of problem. I really don’t have anypony or know anypony that would be willing to help me practice using my wings,” Anima Memoriae said, rubbing her arm.

“I’m sorry to hear that. But don’t you have any friends that could teach you?” he inquired.

“Yes, I have two friends that are Pegasi. But like most of my friends they’re so busy most of the time that they wouldn’t be able to make room in their schedule,” she stated, seeming more down than before. “I guess it’ll be a while before I can actually fly.”

Caster didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t easy to find a training coach when it came to flying. Usually because they focused mostly on training foals. She may have been a Princess, but it would still take a while to book Anima into a class since she was a full grown mare. So many options flowed through his mind, but they seemed almost impossible for this situation. If only there was something he could do to help her out. Then, forgetting an important detail about his own anatomy, the realization of the most obvious solution hit Caster like a ton of bricks.

“You know, if it’s all right with you, I could teach you how to fly,” he said, trying to give her some hope.

Anima’s ears perked up and she faced him directly as she heard what he just said.

“You, you really mean it?” she said, eyes filled with glee.

“Of course. I mean, not to brag, but I am a pretty skilled flier. If you stick with me you’ll be in the sky in maybe a couple of months,” Caster Forge said, not wanting to sound too arrogant.

“Are you sure about it? I wouldn’t want to trouble you what with your busy schedule,” Anima said, hoping she wouldn’t be too much of a bother to him.

“It’s no problem at all. My job gives me a two hour break at any time and it’ll be a nice way to spend my time. Plus,” he said, as he flapped his wings, jumped up and flipped his body so that he was floating upside down in front of her, staring into her eyes and smiling. “I’m sure you would love to do something like this.”

“Wow, that’s so cool!” she proclaimed, giving him a big hug. “Thank you so much, I’ll be the best student you’ve ever had.”

“Probably because you’ll be the only student I’ve ever had,” Caster said, blushing as he floated back to the ground and sat down on the bench. “So, when do you believe you would have the time for me to teach you?”

“Well first off, now that I’ve become a Princess, I’m to start learning the etiquette and the responsibilities of being one. Things like how a Princess should behave, duties that I must perform, and all of the treaties and laws that have been placed throughout history. I’m supposed to come to the castle five times a week, starting tomorrow, for these lessons and I of course get breaks during the day. So I’ll see what I can do about getting my time frame to work with yours,” she said, wondering if that would work for him.

“All right, that’s perfect for me. I’m allowed to take my breaks whenever I please. So you can just stop by my forge when you’re on break and we can get started. I should probably give directions to where it’s at, I swear somepony’s can get lost in that castle. Here, let me see if I have something to write with,” Caster said, searching through his coat pockets.

“Hey, what’s that?” Anima asked, noticing the red and white gift box in his coat.

“Huh what’re you- Oh right, I can’t believe I almost forgot about this!” he exclaimed, pulling out the box. “I got this for you. To celebrate your coronation as Princess.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet of you Caster,” she said, taking the present. “Thank you very much.”

She quickly peeled away the red ribbon and white wrapping paper and saw the small box it covered. She gently removed the top and was stunned to see what was inside. Her eyes reflected the beautiful sheen from the silver oval shaped amulet, its large center ruby, and the tiny sapphires that circled it. Its elegant carvings were mesmerizing and the thin silver chain complimented it nicely.

“Oh my, this is beautiful,” she said, transfixed by its beauty. “You know you didn’t have to go through so much trouble as to buy me something like this.”

“Um, actually I didn’t buy it from anywhere. I-I made it myself,” Caster said, grinning sheepishly.

Anima said nothing as she looked at him incredulously.

“You see my parents run their own jewelry store just outside the city. I may have learned a thing or two from them on occasion, though I’m still not as completely skilled as them. I thought that maybe this would seem like a better gift for you rather than just buying something. If you ever get the chance, I hope you’ll be interested in seeing some of my parents’ work,” he said, hoping he wasn’t pushing it too far.

Though Anima didn’t seem to pay attention to that last part as she was still taking all the previous information in. In a flash she brought Caster in for another hug, this one a bit more affectionate than the last.

“I don’t know what to say, this is just so kind of you to do. You truly are a great friend to have,” she said, smiling widely as she continued hugging him.

“F-friend?” Caster said, curious about her statement.

“Well of course you big knuckle-head,” Anima responded, looking up at him and keeping her smile up. “I mean you listened to my life story, you’re offering to teach me how to fly, and you gave me a beautiful amulet that you made yourself. How could I not have you as a friend?”

“Um, thank you Anima. I’m glad you think of me that way. I just hope this means you’ll be my friend as well,” he said, getting more flustered by the second.

“Absolutely. After all it’d be rude of me to have you as a friend and not be yours back. When I get the chance I’ll introduce you to my other friends as well,” she said, her smile never wavering.

“Cool and I promise I’ll do my best to get you into the sky as soon as possible,” he said, giving her another hug that she graciously returned. “Though I should probably still give you those directions.”

With that he went back to searching through his coat till he found a pen and some small note paper in one of his pockets. It was always nice to have some on hand in case of situations like these. As he wrote down the directions to his forge, he couldn’t help but shoot a few glances at the mare sitting next to him, who had just put on the amulet. To think that he was worried about meeting the Princess and trying to make new friends when he had managed to do both tasks at once. And it was all thanks to this one mare, whom he had learned so much about in so short a time. Caster never would have believed that somepony like her would befriend him so easily, even with all the things he had done for her. And yet she did exactly that; she accepted his friendship and returned it in kind.

Caster blushed a little when he realized he’d been staring at Anima too long, even if she didn’t notice. Her look just seemed so different from most other mares he had seen. Probably because they took to putting insane amounts of make-up just to even feel pretty. Yet Anima’s was much more natural which let him know more about her. That being she was comfortable with the way she looked. Caster had been so caught up in his thoughts that he almost didn’t notice he had finished writing down his information. As he handed Anima the small slip of paper, he was suddenly tackled by something small and full of energy.

“Found you, Uncle Cast!” Vicente stated, hugging him tightly.

“Heh, nice to see you too Vic,” he replied, wrapping an arm around his nephew and giving him a playful noogie.

“Aww, who’s this cute little guy?” Anima asked, giggling at the scene playing out in front of her.

“Oh right, where are my manners? Anima this is my nephew, Vicente. I usually just call him Vic for short,” Caster said, letting the colt out of the head lock. “Vicente I’d like to introduce you to her highness, Princess Anima Memoriae.”

“Wow, so you’re our new Princess?” he asked, his eyes becoming filled with amazement.

“Indeed I am, it’s nice to meet you Vicente,” she said, offering him a warm smile.

“That’s awesome! It’s so cool I get to see you in person as well and also you’re really pretty Ms. Memoriae,” Vicente said, blushing lightly.

“Well aren’t you the little charmer?” Anima said, bringing him in for a hug that the child returned in kind.

The moment was interrupted when they heard someone calling out in the gardens. They turned to see it was Jack Spirit and Hotpop, most likely looking for their son who had run off.

“Vicente, honey, where are you?” Hotpop shouted out, worried for her son’s well-being.

“Over here you guys!” Caster shouted, calling them over.

He got their attention and she and her husband immediately went over to where they were. Hotpop then picked up Vicente and held him as tightly as she could and gave him a serious look.

“Vicente, you know better than to run off on your own! What if you had gotten lost?” she questioned, glaring daggers at him.

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” he said, looking at her with puppy dog turquoise eyes. “It’s just that I saw Caster going into the gardens and I wanted to see him. I’m really, really sorr-”

Suddenly he was fast asleep in his mother’s embrace. Whatever agitation Hotpop held for her son at the moment had disappeared when she looked upon his sleeping form.

“I can never stay mad at him when he’s like this. He’s just so adorable,” she said, nuzzling his cheek.

“Um, does that happen a lot?” Anima asked, curious by this turn of events.

“More often than we’d like,” Jack chuckled, as he petted his son’s mane.

“Soo,” Caster said, gaining his sibling’s attention as he and Anima stood up from their seats. “I guess I should probably introduce the two of you to my new friend. Anima this is my older brother, Jack Spirit and my sister in law, Hotpop. I’m sure you two have already seen Princess Anima Memoriae.”

“Oh my goodness. Your grace, it’s an honor to meet you!” Hotpop said, bowing a little.

“Your highness, please forgive us for any improper acts our son may have done in your presence!” Jack said, bowing as well.

“Please, both of you, settle down. There’s no need to be so formal. You can just call me Anima,” she said, trying to assure them everything was fine.

“Sorry about that your maje- I mean, Anima. It’s just so wonderful to meet you,” Hotpop said, holding out a hand for the Princess to shake.

“Likewise,” Anima replied, accepting the hand. “It’s nice to meet the sister and brother of my new friend.”

“New friend?” Jack said, turning to his brother who was waving awkwardly at them. “I’m impressed, Caster. I didn’t think you’d be able to make friends with a Princess that quickly.”

“Heh, neither did I,” he said, scratching the back of his head and grinning nervously.

“Well when you give somepony a gift like this, you’re bound to earn something in return,” Anima said, showing her new amulet that she was wearing.

“Huh, so that’s what he’s been working on all this time. I’m even more impressed,” Hotpop said, admiring the craftsmanship.

“It really is beautiful isn’t it?” Anima said, admiring it as well.

As the two mares entered into a conversation, that left Caster and Jack on their own away from them.

“So, Caster, are the two of really just friends or are you. You know?” Jack Spirit asked, trying to put two and two together.

“What? No!” Caster exclaimed, quietly so the others wouldn’t hear them. “We’re just good friends that’s all. Besides I doubt she’d ever go for a stallion like me. She hardly even knows me that much.”

“I don’t know, little bro, I’ve seen how other mares stare at you from time to time and they hardly knew you that much either,” Jack said, teasing him.

“Oh shut up. You know as well as I do that those mares don’t care for who I really am. Only for what I possess,” he said, feeling himself getting flustered.

“Okay, okay, just relax you giant spaz,” Jack responded, realizing how serious his brother was. “My point is, Cast, just give it a little time. Whether she likes you or not is completely up to her. Besides she already seems to like you enough as a friend and you are one of the kindest ponies I know. I can tell that something may happen down the line, you just have to wait.”

That last part rang through Caster’s ears. Before this whole event had transpired, he had told himself to just wait a little longer for the right mare to come along. Though the mare in question may have come sooner than expected, Caster still felt a bit uneasy about all this. So now, after listening to his brother, he believed it was best to give it some more time. To see where this newfound friendship would lead; either continuing as it was now or blooming into something else entirely. One thing was for sure though, Caster was glad he was a patient pony. Because it would take a while for an answer to make itself known to him. Caster was then brought back to reality when he heard some voices shouting in the distance. Everyone turned to see a group of ponies calling Anima over.

“Hey Anima, c’mon it’s time for your chariot ride!” a violet Pegasus shouted, full of excitement.

“I’ll be there in a minute Cloud Heart! Just give me a moment,” Anima responded, turning her attention back to her new friends. “Sorry to have to leave so suddenly. Royal ceremonies and all that.”

“It’s all right, it was nice seeing you, Anima. I hope we can meet each other again soon,” Hotpop said, giving the Princess a quick hug.

“It was nice to see you too, Hotpop. I look forward to meeting you and your adorable son again in the near future,” she said, ruffling the mane of Vicente who had recently woken up again.

“Bye, bye, Ms. Princess,” he said, still held in his mother’s arms.

Anima couldn’t help but giggle at the foal’s constant adorableness. She then looked over at Caster who made this whole situation possible. He stared at her nervously, not knowing what to say to her. The mare quickly took care of that as she walked over to him and gave him a comforting hug.

“Thank you Caster, for everything,” she said, as she moved to look directly at him with a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow, k’ay?”

“Yeah, of course. I can’t wait,” he said, smiling back.

Anima felt her face heat up as she blushed. Before the moment could become awkward, she bid the Forge family farewell and rushed over to her friends, for the next part of her ceremony.

“Well, well, seems like you’ve got some plans for tomorrow, huh Caster?” Jack said, curious as to what the deal was.

“Yeah, so what were you two talking about anyway?” Hotpop asked, interested as well.

“It’s kind of a long story, it’s hard to explain,” Caster said, crossing his arms in thought. “All I can say for sure is that starting tomorrow, I’m going to be teaching a Princess how to fly.”
> Chapter 3: First Lesson
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	Birds sang merrily as the sun began to rise over the horizon, its rays warming the land from the cold of night. Their melody adding a natural atmosphere to the city of Canterlot they were currently flying over. The buildings and houses they flew over were neat and pristine, looking like they had only been recently built. Though this was a city of glamor and prestige, some of the buildings, even within the city limits, were of a more moderate design. One such building, was a home that was closer to the side of the mountain and near one of the waterfalls that cascaded down it.

It was two stories tall and painted a peach color. The front yard had a beautiful garden filled with several flowers and a few trees. A few windows dotted the walls of the home, letting the rays of the sunrise filter through. One window, on the upper right floor, seemed to have most of the sun shine into its room. The rays of light brightened the purple walls inside and outlined the queen sized bed that lay inside. Slumbering peacefully on this bed, beneath a blue comforter, was the newly decreed Princess of Equestria, Anima Memoriae. She let out adorable little snores as the light of the sun filled her room. It was then that the alarm clock on the drawer next to her bed started ringing as it hit 6 AM.

Anima slowly woke up and stretched her arms a bit before turning off her alarm clock through squinted eyes. She then reached over for her glasses next to the clock and her vision became clearer as they adorned her face. Even for a Princess she still had her fair share of morning dilemmas. Her mane and tail were a mess, as evidenced by the extra curls and a few knots. Her new wings had some unkempt feathers and her fur was ruffled. Anima looked at herself in the mirror atop her dresser drawer and chuckled, seeing what a mess she was. She got out of bed and gave her body and wings a stretch as she felt the white carpet beneath her feet.

Her room was fairly decent by her standards, suiting only her basic needs. Such as a desk where she wrote important letters and documents, usually assignments from her former teacher, Princess Luna. Her dresser drawer with various makeup supplies and a box filled with jewelry. A large walk in closet that held several articles of clothing along with a collection of stuffed animals. And lastly the several photos adorning the walls around her room, each one of Anima and her friends and family.

She looked at them all, enjoying all the time and effort she spent making all of these memories. Some of them involved only her and one other pony from her friends and family. Others were large group photos, yet all of them had smiling faces. She gave them all one last look before heading to the bathroom to get a quick shower. After a few minutes, Anima came back into the room, her body slightly soaked and wrapped in a towel. Her pink and magenta mane smelled of strawberries, thanks to her favorite shampoo. She closed the bedroom door behind her and went over to her closet to grab her attire for the day, pulling out a small pair of blue jeans and a pink t-shirt with a multi-colored floral pattern.

She placed them on her bed, along with a set of white panties and a bra, and sat down on the stool in front of the dresser. She grabbed a nearby brush and started brushing her mane, enjoying the feeling of it running through her hair. Anima felt happier than she usually was as she thought of what was in store for her today. Now that she was a new Princess of Equestria, she was to start learning all the etiquette, responsibilities, and duties it took to be one and today was her first lesson. But that wasn’t what she was so giddy about. Today was also the first day she would learn to use her new wings. Anima thought that it would take a long time to be able to fly, since it was difficult to find a tutor. But thanks to an unlikely encounter at her coronation she found a pony who was more than willing to help her out.

Those thoughts caused her to look at the small stand on top of her dresser, which held her best pieces of jewelry. The one Anima had her eye on was the silver amulet with a large ruby in the center and small sapphires circling it. As she took hold of it, she thought of the pony that offered her his help. The pony in question was Caster Forge, blacksmith to the Royal Guard in Canterlot and her newest friend. After a failed attempt at trying out her new wings, Anima had bumped into the stallion by pure chance and they soon struck up a conversation. The best part of it was that he listened to her story word for word, always with a look of interest. Caster even seemed to treat her like any other and not just like royalty, even if he was a bit formal at first.

After she had told Caster everything about her, she mentioned her problem about using her new wings. Amazingly enough, he offered his help to her right then and there. Anima could not have been more grateful to him and was even more ecstatic when he gave her the amulet he made himself. It was all so much and that was when she caught herself blushing as she shook away those thoughts. Caster was indeed a nice pony but now was too early and too soon to be thinking about him in that way. Especially since she had just gotten out of a relationship a while ago.

It was only about a month before her coronation that Anima had broken up with her coltfriend, Davey Joe. He was certainly a kind and caring pony and the two of them were together for a while. Though he seemed to care a bit more about his job than their relationship. So Anima decided to just end it soon after. But they still managed to remain friends, which she was eternally grateful for. The point, however, was that now wasn’t the time to be looking into new relationships as she did not want to rush into things. For now, she just wanted to focus on her lessons, both as a Princess and a friend. But the thoughts of Caster still lingered in her mind and left her feeling conflicted. Part of her however thought that a pony as kind and generous as him might’ve already had a special somepony of his own. She didn’t know much about his personal life though, only hearing the small things about him. Though it was best not to address the issue as it would come off as weird to him.

“I don’t know, what do you think I should do Oliver?” Anima said, turning to the cat asleep on her bed.

Oliver just gave his owner an unamused look as he yawned, awaking from his slumber.

“Well you don’t have to be so stingy about it,” she huffed, letting a small smile greet her lips.

Oliver may have been a bit rude at times but was a very affectionate cat. He had brown fur with noticeably darker stripes, light green eyes, and a purple collar with a yellow bell in the front. He was a bit tubby but not completely fat. Anima had rescued Oliver from the pet shelter when he was just a little kitten. She thought he was just so adorable and couldn’t let him stay in a place like that. Over the years the two had bonded quite well and grew more attached to each other.

“Well either way, wish me luck today Oliver,” she said, petting him as she finished brushing her mane. “Today I start learning how to fly.”

With a skip in her step, Anima started getting dressed. After that she went back to her dresser and starting curling her eyelashes and applying a little blush to her cheeks. She was about to declare herself finished when her eyes once again rested on her newly obtained amulet. She thought it would be an insult if she didn’t wear it at least once after all the hard work Caster put into making it. So Anima slipped the amulet around her neck and looked at its reflection in the mirror. All in all it looked very beautiful and its gems complimented her outfit quite well.

“I must say Mr. Forge, you’ve really outdone yourself this time,” she said, giggling as she got up from her seat.

Anima then made her way out of her bedroom into the light green hallway. She then made her way downstairs and to the kitchen to fix up some breakfast. The kitchen was a bit large and had pink and white striped wallpaper, black cabinets, and brown mahogany countertops. Digging through one of the pantries she grabbed a box of oat and raisin cereal and went over to the fridge and got some milk and a freshly prepared fruit salad bowl. She quickly assembled her morning meal and took it to the dining table. As she sat down, she heard a voice call out from the living room.

“Good morning sleepy head, sleep well?” a stallion said, reading the newspaper and sipping on a cup of coffee in a green magical aura.

“Oh, yes I did actually,” Anima said, slightly surprised she didn’t see the pony there earlier.

The pony in question was her father, Zen Wheeler. He was a Unicorn, like his daughter was originally, and had dark brown fur along with a neatly combed black mane and tail. His eyes were the same green as his daughter’s and his cutie mark depicted a wheel from a cart. The stallion was sporting a set of black pants and jacket and a gray button up shirt with a dark blue striped tie as well as a pair of black shoes. Zen was a friendly pony, though at times his work and life in general tended to frustrate him a bit. Though he still loved his family dearly. He ran a large cart rental service that was quite successful across Equestria.

The living room that Zen was currently occupying was somewhat bigger than the kitchen. It had walls that were pale orange and had a couple family photos hanging from them. The room consisted of a large couch, a chair, where Zen was sitting, a TV and a long coffee table.

“So I take it you’ll be heading down to the castle soon?” he asked, moving over to the dining table.

“Uh huh, it’s going to be exciting to learning how to be a Princess,” Anima said, starting on her breakfast. “Plus I’m also going to learn how to fly as well.”

“Oh right, with that Caster fellow I believe he was,” Zen said, feeling a bit hesitant about what he wanted to say. “Anima, are you sure you can trust that stallion? I mean he just offered to teach you how to fly out of the blue after all.”

“Dad, don’t be such a worry wart,” she said, tired of hearing the same thing over and over. “I talked with him face to face and I can tell he has good intentions.”

Zen was always very cautious at times, particularly when it came to his daughter and when she dated stallions. He just wanted to make sure she was safe when she was with the ones she chose. Though that usually resulted in giving her former coltfriends a hard time and always wondering what the two of them were up to. Even though Anima had only been in two relationships where these situations occurred, she was already finding it annoying.

“I’m just looking after your safety is all. And it’s even harder now that you’re a Princess. I'm pretty sure many other stallions may be trying to win you over now,” he said, being paranoid as ever.

“Oh dear, quit your worrying,” a mare stated, giving her husband a slight bonk on the head. “Anima is more than capable at handling herself in a relationship and I’m positive Caster means her no harm.”

Zen Wheeler said nothing as he looked down, a bit embarrassed. Their daughter let out a small laugh seeing her mother, who had come down from the stairs a moment ago, stand up for her like that. The mare that took a seat next to her was Celly Script, a Unicorn like most of her family. Most would boldly claim that Anima got her looks from her mother, as they both looked almost the same. The only differences were that Celly wore no glasses and her mane was shorter with brighter colors than her daughter’s and had more curls. She also had a thin figure and her cutie mark showed a simple contract.

Her mother was a loving mare, who always cared for her husband, children, and her coworkers as well. Sometimes she could get a little moody, as was demonstrated earlier, but her affection and kind-hearted nature always remained the same. At the moment she was wearing a dark green button up shirt with a matching skirt. She also wore a set of black high heel shoes. Celly owned her own real estate agency in Canterlot, helping ponies find places to settle down or start up businesses. In fact, it was that business that allowed Anima’s parents to meet each other. Zen’s business started off with him acting as a self-employed cart repairing pony but he soon expanded his business when he got some help from Celly’s company. Sometime after, the two of them began seeing each other more often, becoming better acquainted and a few years after that eventually got married. It was then that the stallion started his new cart rental service.

“So Anima, what can you tell us about Caster Forge? I hear he’s a very famous pony,” Celly asked, wanting to hear more about the blacksmith.

“Well you would be right. For one thing I got to see his lucky mark, though even he doesn’t know how he got it.” Anima said, remembering that particular moment with a blush. “But anyway, Caster is a very nice pony. He didn’t get angry at me when I bumped into him and he even helped me find my glasses. He listened as I talked about all my experiences in the past and was always interested in what I had to say. Not only did he offer to teach me how to fly because he wanted to but he even gave me this amulet that he made all by himself. I’m just glad to have made friends with somepony who was so nice to me from beginning to end.”

“Well I’m happy for you darling,” Celly said, smiling. “As long as he can make you smile he’s okay in my books.”

“I guess he sounds all right,” Zen said, trusting their judgement for now. “But if he ever tries anything I swear, he won’t be able to go outside without having to deal with me.”

“Oh Dad,” Anima said, face palming.

“Oh right, I almost forgot,” he added, reaching for an envelope in his coat. “Anima, this came in the mail for you this morning. It’s from your brother.”

“Really? Let me see,” she said, quickly grabbing the letter and opening it up.

‘Dear Anima Memoriae, how’ve you been lately? Ha ha, just kidding I know what’s been going on. I’m very sorry that I couldn’t make it to your coronation, my performances have been keeping me booked and I just couldn’t find the time. All I can say is congratulations big sis! You really deserve such a great honor, both as an excellent student and an amazing big sister. Now while I may have missed your coronation I promise that I will be there for your birthday in a couple of months. I’ll even provide the entertainment myself. You’re the best Anima and I can’t wait to see you again.


With wackiness all around,

Topsy Turbo’

Anima could only smile and shed a small tear after reading that letter. Her little brother was always so cheerful and kind whenever he wanted to be. Topsy was an entertainer that was on the road most of the year, but always stopped by when he could. He always felt the need to bring a sense of thrill to the world around him. One of the oddest qualities about him however was that unlike the rest of his family, he was born as a Pegasus. They could never figure out why he was born like that but just assumed it had to do with a distant ancestor from one of their sides of the family. He was also very hyper and was always flying all over the place like crazy. That usually led to confrontations between him and his sister at times. But the two of them still loved each other as brother and sister and never let anything come between them for too long.

“So I can guess Topsy’s still as silly as ever?” Celly asked, knowing her son was doing well from how her daughter reacted.

“Yeah, he never changes,” Anima said, wiping away the small tear and continuing her breakfast.

“Well I can tell he’s got something special planned for when he returns,” Zen said, taking a sip of his coffee as he read the newspaper.

The three ponies sat at the dining table, finishing their meals and chatting on what they had planned for the day. Anima took her dishes into the kitchen and washed them off as she thought of everything that might happen today. Those thoughts made her wonder what time it was, as she turned to a nearby clock in the kitchen and saw that it was nearly 8 o’clock.

“Oh my gosh! Sorry Mom and Dad but I’ve got to get going,” she exclaimed, rushing toward the front door and putting on a pair of black and white striped slip on shoes. “Can’t be late for my first lesson after all.”

“All righty then, have fun honey,” Celly said, placing some business papers on the table with her magic.

“You take care of yourself out there,” Zen said, hoping his daughter would be safe.

“See you both tonight,” she said, heading out the door and into the city.


===============================================================


Anima went through the city quickly, stopping every now and then to catch her breath. After a while she stopped to take a breather at a nearby lamppost at the corner of a three-way street intersection. As she rested, Anima thought back to her trip up to this point and how it had been different from how she took it years ago. Before, when she was only Princess Luna’s student, Anima would always go through these same streets and no one would really pay attention. She felt like she was just another pony in the crowd.

Now however, nearly everyone around her was giving words of praise for her new position and being more polite than they normally would have. It was so weird, they didn’t even bat an eye at her in the past yet now she felt like she actually had meaning in society. Though that seemed rather mean considering they only cared about her now that she was a Princess. Another thing Anima found a bit discomforting were the stares she received from a few of the stallions along the way.

While she never liked to admit that her father was right at times, Anima was slightly worried about the sudden attention from these ponies. Even back when she was just a Unicorn she was still quite the looker and got the occasional glance here and there. Now that she was an Alicorn she felt like all of the stallions eyes were on her. But Anima was confident and smart enough not to go for any of their attempts at wooing her. If they ever did try she would just let them down gently, saying she just wasn’t interested at the moment. Besides for her she wanted a stallion who would love her for more than just her title.

Speaking of stallions, as Anima was about to turn right to head off to the castle, she looked to her left as she heard something coming from the other street. To her surprise it was Caster Forge, wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans, running at a very fast speed toward her direction. Not knowing why, Anima hid herself behind a nearby newsstand, waiting for him to pass by. It only took a few seconds for Caster to run past her and stop just a few feet away. He didn’t seem to notice her as he breathed in and out heavily from the most likely long distance he had ran. Anima poked her head from behind her hiding place and looked at the exhausted pony.

She giggled slightly seeing that Caster was probably in the same situation that she was. Both were late for their duties and both were running like crazy. Anima was glad that she could get a chance to meet up with her new friend early. It would make connecting with him easier before their actual lessons began. Feeling like being a little silly, she quietly made her way out from behind the lamppost and crept up behind Caster. He had yet to notice her and failed to see the mischievous grin she had on. With ease and grace she jumped up on him from behind.

“Surprise!” Anima said, wrapping her arms around his neck, but not enough to choke him.

“Whoa! Who’s back there!?” Caster said, unsurprisingly astonished.

“That would be me, Caster,” she said, letting go of him so he could turn around.

“Anima?” he asked, surprised that it was her of all ponies. “I didn’t expect to see you this soon.”

“Well I guess sometimes things can happen earlier than expected,” Anima said, laughing slightly.

“I guess so,” Caster said, joining in the laugh.

They both kept laughing for a minute or so. Some bystanders watched as the two laughed like good friends. They all thought it was rather odd to see a commoner socializing so casually with a Princess, even if he was on the council. Others didn’t seem to mind as they saw no harm in a Princess being so casual about talking with others. Either way, both of the ponies realized they were being watched and toned it down a bit.

“So, shouldn’t we probably be heading to the castle right now?” Anima asked, trying to get things moving again.

“Right, I almost forgot,” Caster said, regaining his senses. “After you, Anima.”

With that the both of them set off for the castle at a moderately fast pace. They both were eager to start their daily tasks, mostly so they could get to their lessons later on. But also because they wanted to get to know each other a little better. Anima felt like drawing up a little conversation already.

“So exactly why were you running like crazy back there?” she asked, wanting to satisfy her curiosity.

“Oh that. I just forgot to set my alarm clock and slept in a bit,” Caster replied, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment. “I didn’t even have time to go for my early morning flight.”

“Early morning flight?” Anima asked.

“It’s just something I like to do every morning. It helps me keep my wings and flying skills in peak condition and I can add a bit of excitement to my somewhat boring days,” Caster said, answering her question with ease.

“I see, well it certainly sounds like fun,” Anima said, already imagining how it must’ve felt.

“Yes it is. By the way, I see that you’re wearing the amulet I made for you,” he said, pointing at the piece of jewelry.

“Of course, I couldn’t just leave this hanging around in my room. It deserves to be worn at least once,” she said, smiling warmly.

“I’m just glad that you like it, that’s what matters most to me,” Csater said, smiling back.

“You’re really sweet, you know that?” Anima said, giving him a quick hug.

“So I’ve been told a couple of times,” he said, blushing slightly. “Plus it goes well with that shirt of yours.”

“Thank you. This is actually one of my newer ones,” she stated, pressing away some wrinkles on it. “I had to restock most of wardrobe with clothing that could accommodate my new wings. I never knew having these things could have so many drawbacks to them.”

“Yeah, they can be a little inconvenient every now and then. But considering what they can do for you, I say it’s worth it,” Caster said, thinking of all his time spent in the sky with a goofy smile.

“Indeed,” Anima said, giggling at how silly he looked reminiscing.

The two of them continued chatting until they realized how much time had passed and how slow their progress toward the castle had become. At that point, they quickened their pace so they could arrive at the Castle on time. Anima and Caster soon made it to the Castle gates, where Spell Weaver and Swift Wind were once again posted.

“Morning, Cast,” Spell said, giving a small salute to his friend.

“Morning, Spell, morning, Swift. How’s work going for you guys so far?” Caster asked, doing the same, not wanting to leave them hanging.

“Pretty boring, we just started our shift so not much has happened so far,” Swift said, adjusting his armor slightly. “And I’m pretty sure it will be that way for quite a-”

He stopped talking when he saw who was behind Caster. Both he and Spell were surprised to see the newest Equestrian Princess standing behind him. They thought any mare in general would come off as a shock to them, as they knew of his personal relationship status. But a Princess was something else entirely. Regardless they both stood at attention.

“Your majesty, please forgive us for not welcoming you properly!” the two guard ponies said, bowing respectfully for their Princess.

Anima didn’t know how to respond to their sudden gesture. She tried to say something but the reply came from someone else.

“Hey you guys, relax. She isn’t going to bite you,” Caster said, easing them up.

“He’s right, there’s no need for such formalities. Besides I’m still trying to get used to this whole Princess thing,” Anima said, hoping they would relax a little.

“Um, if you say so, your highness,” Swift Wind said, he and his fellow guard standing upright again.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why are the two of you here together?” Spell Weaver asked, hoping he wouldn’t offend them somehow.

“Eh, we just happened to run into each other along the way. We were both running late so we decided to just walk here together,” Caster said, answering the question with ease.

“Speaking of which, we really need to get going. We’re almost late for our duties,” Anima said, wanting to get a move on.

“Yes, of course. Sorry about that, Princess Anima,” Swift said, opening the gates behind them.

“Thank you very much. Come on, Caster, we have to go,” she said, enthusiastically as she ran through the courtyard.

“Right behind you, Anima,” Caster said, following after her and leaving the guards behind.

“How does he do it anyway?” Swift asked, perplexed by the whole ordeal.

“I have no idea,” Spell said, just as confused.


===============================================================


Anima and Caster went into the castle and proceeded to venture through its many hallways. They went through them as quickly as possible to reach both of their destinations. Eventually they came across a cross section leading in four directions. Though both of them knew that this was the point where they had to split up.

“I guess this is farewell for now. I’ll see you later, just drop by my forge once you get your break and we’ll get started on the basics,” Caster said, making sure the Princess knew what to do when the time came.

“All right then. I hope your work goes well,” Anima said, wishing him luck on the job.

“And I hope your studies turn out good as well,” he said, turning to the hallway on the right. “See you soon.”

“You too,” she replied, turning to the left as they both walked away from each other.

As Anima made her way down the hallway, remembering the directions Princess Luna gave her, she thought of how exciting both of her classes would be. One to become a proper and knowledgeable Princess of Equestria. The other to help her soar the skies with her newly received wings. She was a bit more excited about the latter as it would give her a chance to know her new friend better. The thought gave Anima a spring in her step as she quickly approached her first class of the day. She ended up in front of a single wooden door with intricate designs carved onto it. She waited with anticipation as she was about to open the door. Anima didn’t even know who her teacher was. All Princess Luna told her was that it would be a big surprise.

Not wanting to wait any longer, Anima quickly opened the door. The room was decently large, certainly meant to hold at least a few ponies. It had a u-shaped layout with several small columns lining both walls and a black and white tiled floor. The walls were a dark yellow which complimented the few vases of sunflowers that adorned the room. At the end of the room was a large window, crafted into a depiction of colorful fields and flowers, whose colors radiated from the sunlight. Towards the middle of the room was a medium sized maple wood desk with a matching chair and in front of it was a large chalkboard where a mare was currently writing some lessons with chalk.

Anima immediately stopped in her tracks when she saw the mare in front of her. Her dark blue fur, translucently flowing blue mane and tail, not to mention her wings and horn, made no doubt in her mind who this was. When said mare turned around to reveal her face, Anima’s suspicions were confirmed. It was none other than Princess Luna, giving her favorite student a big smile. She was currently wearing a midnight blue blouse with a white undershirt beneath it and a matching skirt that went down to her knees. All of this shaped her curvy body and chest very well and matched neatly with her black stockings and pumps. Despite all that though, Anima was still surprised to see her former teacher here.

“Princess Luna, what are you doing her!?” she said, running up to her.

“What, I can’t be here to show my favorite student the ropes about being a Princess?” Princess Luna said, giggling at Anima’s astonishment.

“But, but you said my lessons with you were over,” Anima said, confused by what was happening.

“Yes, those lessons are over. Now we can move on to our new ones,” Luna said, stating matter of factly. “Until you’re fully ready to become a Princess, I’ll be by your side every step of the way.”

Anima was surprised beyond words. She felt a rising sense of gratitude for her teacher. Princess Luna had done so much for her in the past and even now she was continuing to do so. There was nothing else Anima could think to do, so she just went up to Luna and gave her a big hug.

“Thank you so much Princess Luna! You’re the best teacher I ever had,” Anima said, speaking sincerely with a smile.

“And you’re the best student I’ve ever taught,” she remarked, returning the hug. “Now why don’t we get started, we have a lot to cover today.”

“Yes ma’am,” Anima said, enthusiastically as she took her seat.


===============================================================


For the first couple of hours, Princess Luna taught Princess Anima all the etiquette and mannerisms when around others. Their lessons started off a bit rough when the younger of the two realized she had neglected to bring any supplies for taking notes and such. Luckily, Luna thought something like this may occur and went ahead and brought some scrolls, quills, and notebooks for her to use. At the moment they were currently going over how to act when eating at a royal banquet or any kind of formal meal. Anima was taking down notes in her scrolls and notebook and paid attention to her teacher’s words. Though sometimes her mind would wander elsewhere, as she remembered events from earlier.

“I think we should take one of our breaks now, don’t you think?” Princess Luna said, putting down a piece of chalk.

“Um, actually would it be all right if we hold off on that for a while?” Anima asked, writing in one of her scrolls.

“Why’s that?” she asked, wondering what her student had planned.

“Well you see, yesterday I made friends with the Royal blacksmith, Caster Forge. After a bit of talking I told him how I haven’t learned to properly use my wings yet. So he decided to teach me himself and we planned on meeting up later today. I was hoping that I could take all my break times and just put them all into one, two hour break so Caster and I can have enough time together. If that’s all right with you of course,” Anima said, wondering if her teacher would understand.

“Hmm, interesting, I never thought he would make friends with somepony so quickly. But to the point, yes that would be just fine. As a Princess you’ll need to learn to use your wings as soon as possible. And I’ve heard that Caster is a very exceptional flier, he’ll give you some great lessons and advice,” Luna said, reassuring the younger Princess.

“Thanks for understanding, Luna” Anima said, focusing on the chalkboard again.

“No problem, Anima,” she said, resuming where they left off.

Now Anima was partly focused on being able to take her break soon, as the nearby clock on the wall showed it was nearly noon. A few minutes passed by before the clock reached its target and Princess Luna spoke up.

“All right, I believe now is the time we took our break,” she said, erasing what was on the chalkboard.

“Awesome, so I’ll see you in about two hour’s right?” Anima asked, finishing up the last of her notes.

“Indeed. I hope you have fun learning from Caster. Also if you can, tell him I said hi,” Luna said, already preparing the next lesson for when her student got back.

“I’ll be sure to let him know. See you later, Luna,” she said, as she headed out the door.

“I wonder how things will go for those two,” Luna said, to herself with a light chuckle knowing how both ponies acted socially.

Anima quickly went down the halls, following the directions Caster had given her the other day. At first she was a bit tired from her lessons with Princess Luna, but now she was more awake than before as she made her way to the Royal Forge of Canterlot Castle. Anima was so excited about being able to use her wings that they started lightly flapping in anticipation. Eventually she found herself in front of the large double wooden doors and was about to knock. Anima stopped however when she saw that that the doors were open slightly. Feeling a little sneaky, she silently walked up to the door and peeked inside.

Anima looked on in amazement, having never seen the forge before in person. It was so big and full of different pieces of armor and weaponry. What really drew her attention though was the pony she was looking for. Caster Forge was currently at the grinding wheel, wearing his work attire and sharpening what seemed to be a short sword with a copper handle and some embedded jewels. He seemed intensely focused on sharpening the blade and did not notice Anima by the door. So she kept quiet as she watched him work, intrigued by the process.

Caster stopped sharpening the sword after a few minutes and examined the blade with a keen eye, giving it a few swings here and there. He then began practicing his fencing with it, as far as Anima could tell. Slowly but surely, Anima stepped into the room, completely unnoticed by Caster as his back was faced toward her. Suddenly, without warning, he turned around and pointed the blade at her. She yelped in surprise as she fell back onto the floor, while her friend regained his senses.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, Anima!” Caster said, putting down the sword and helping her up. “I was so busy with practice that I didn’t see you come in.”

“It’s quite all right, Caster,” Anima said, getting back onto her feet. “I should’ve knocked in the first place.”

“That begs the question of why you didn’t,” he asked.

“I was just interested in your work. I didn’t want to disturb you so I just kept quiet and watched from the door. You seemed to have left it open by the way,” she replied, slightly embarrassed.

“I see. Well that’s all right I guess. It’s nice to know someponies like seeing my work,” Caster said, picking up the blade. “Plus, it’s partially my fault for leaving the door open, that happens sometimes.”

“So, are you ready to get started?” Anima asked, hoping he would say yes.

“Of course, just let me put this little beauty away and we’ll get going,” he said, moving toward the black wardrobe that held his personal gear.

Anima watched as Caster opened the wardrobe to reveal his personal armor set. It amazed her as it looked so different from all the other pieces of armor in the room. She noticed that the suit of armor was about the same size as him. She could only deduce that this was most likely made just for him, as she had heard blacksmiths liked to create pieces for themselves. As the Caster put the short sword back in its sheath and locked the wardrobe, he turned his attention back to his new student.

“Now then, before we get started I suggest we grab some lunch from the guards’ food court for later. Don’t worry, they allow me in all the time,” he said, hanging up his gear and dusting himself off.

“Cool, let’s get going then,” Anima said, walking out the door. “Oh by the way, Princess Luna says hi.”

“Well wasn’t that sweet of her. Tell her I said hi back,” Caster said, closing the door behind them.

After locking the doors, the two of them headed for the food court. Upon arrival, they found themselves with many of the guards standing at attention for their new Princess. Caster told them that this wasn’t necessary as this was only a casual visit for the both of them. They all eased up and the two ponies asked the chefs for two meals to go. The chefs were quick to whip up some boxed lunches in a bag for them and happily wished them a good day. Caster and Anima did the same and went on their way. As they left though, many of the guards were left wondering why those two of all ponies were hanging out together.

The two of them walked down the hallways as they tried to figure out where to go for their lessons. It was difficult trying to think of a place where others wouldn’t bother them and they needed plenty of open space. After a bit of debating, they decided to head for the Royal Canterlot Gardens where they had met the other day. So with an extra boost in their pace they made their way to the gardens. Once they arrived they noticed the bench they had sat at before and chose to use it again. They set the lunches to the side of it before Caster spoke up.

“All righty then, today we will begin with a few of the basics of flying,” he said, in a confident voice.

“Sweet, so what did you have in mind?” Anima asked, eager to get started.

“First off, I will need to see your current technique at flying. I’ll point out any mistakes and we’ll go on from there,” Caster said, starting off easy.

“Okay, I’ll see what I can do,” she replied, standing up and closing her eyes in concentration.

Caster waited patiently as she prepared herself. Ever so slowly, Anima began to spread out her wings until they were at their full length. She then started to flap them up down to try and lift herself up. Though that was when the problems occurred. Caster noticed that Anima wings were off balance, one flapping more than the other. Even more so it looked like it was having a huge strain on her as evidenced by the few beads of sweat on her forehead. Despite all that, she still managed to lift herself off the ground by a few inches. However, due to her irregular flight pattern, she ended up flying side to side in multiple directions. That coupled with the strain on her wings made Anima fall to the ground on her butt. Caster gave a light chuckle as he went to help her up.

“Okay, I think I see what one of your problems is,” he said, bringing the Princess back to her feet.

“What would that be?” Anima asked, wondering what she did wrong.

“Well you seemed to be flapping your wings at their own individual pace,” Caster said, using his wings to lift him up to demonstrate. “One of the key components of flying is balance. If your wings aren’t synchronized, you won’t be getting anywhere in the sky.”

“I did notice that too, but I didn’t think that would be such a big deal,” she said, sheepishly.

“Hey it’s all right,” he said, comforting her as he floated to the ground. “I made the same mistake when I was starting to use my wings. It’s a common thing to miss with beginners. For now though, we’re going to focus on keeping your wings synchronized when you use them. So just try your best to make your wings flap together at the same pace. Think you can do it?”

“I-I’ll try,” Anima said, with a nervous stutter.

For a few minutes Anima kept trying to keep her wings steady and in synch. Yet as time went on she couldn’t seem to do it. Every time she moved one wing the other would just move on its own, unable to link with its partner. After a while she decided to give it a break.

“I’m sorry Caster, I just can’t do it,” she said, somewhat ashamed. “My wings just seem to move on their own terms no matter what I do.”

“I was expecting this, many Pegasi often have this problem and it usually takes time to master it. But I found a trick that helped get me in the air a bit faster than the rest,” Caster said, smiling.

“What’s that?” Anima asked, hoping this would work.

“The problem a Pegasus faces is that they have to move two separate muscles at once, making it difficult to concentrate on either one. So instead I thought of using both muscles as one. Get a feel for the part of your back in between your wings. Then visualize the muscle in it extending as a whole to both of your wings. Once you got that just flex that single part of your back and you’ll find your wings moving with it,” he explained, slightly confident by his knowledge.

“I don’t know, it may work for you but I’m not sure it works for everypony else,” Anima said, self-doubt clouding her judgment.

“Don’t worry,” Caster said, taking her hands into his own. “I have faith that you can pull this off. You have the potential to become a great flyer, you just need to realize that potential inside of you. So go on, have at it.”

Anima merely blushed as her hands were held by his. Though they felt firm they also had a gentle and caring feel to them. That coupled with the words he had spoken to her, made her blush intensify a bit. She could see that he truly cared for her and could tell that he was right. After all, she wasn’t given her wings just for looks and was going to make use of them to their fullest.

“Okay, I’ll give it a shot,” Anima said, ready for another go.

She kept holding onto Caster’s hands and had her eyes closed as she focused her mind on where he had mentioned. The wind whistled through the gardens as Anima concentrated in silence. Her wings soon started to move, albeit with the same effort and strain as before, but this time they appeared to be moving in time with the other. They kept flapping faster and faster until Anima felt herself grow lighter all of a sudden. She opened her eyes to find herself floating above the ground, steady and completely balanced.

“I, I did it? I really did it!” Anima exclaimed, feeling ecstatic as she looked back at her wings flying in synch.

“Congrats Anima, I told you could do it!” Caster stated, laughing a little seeing how giddy she was.

“Yes you did, thanks for not giving up on me,” she said, smiling warmly at her friend and tutor.

“It’s what I promised to do,” Caster said, blushing as he looked down at something important. “Um, you know you can let go now right?”

“Huh? Oh right,” Anima said, blushing along with him as she landed. “Sorry, just got in the moment there I guess.”

“No worries. A-anyway, we should move on to our next lesson,” he said, returning to the matter at hand. “There’s still one other problem we need to go over.”

“What else is there?” Anima asked.

“Well, when you were trying to fly, even now, I noticed that you were under a bit of strain trying to make your wings move. I realize that may have been due to the synchronization of your wings but it’s still a factor that cannot be overlooked. The next thing we have to work on now is the strength of your wings. Because even if your wings are fully functional, it won’t mean much if you can’t stay afloat for more than five minutes,” Caster said, matter of factly.

“So what should I do then?” she asked, curious on how to strengthen her wings.

“Wing-ups!” he said, with enthusiasm.

“Wing-ups?” Anima pondered.

“They’re basically the same as regular push-ups. Though for Pegasi, we use our wings instead to lift ourselves up,” Caster said, falling forward to the ground with his arms at his sides and allowing his wings to push him up and down. “It’s a bit difficult, even for ponies who’ve spent years doing it. But once you get the hang of it, you can probably fly for hours on end.”

“That actually looks kind of fun,” Anima said, eager to give it a try.

“Glad to hear you’re into it,” Caster said, pushing himself back up. “If that’s the case then why don’t you go for it? Just start off in a normal push-up position and I’ll guide you from there.”

“Okey dokey!” she said, cheerfully as she did as instructed.

“All right, now place the tips of your wings on the ground. Then apply some force onto them to steady yourself,” Caster said, sitting next to her on the ground.

Anima gave a light nod and flexed her wings out. Focusing on certain muscles, she pointed them toward the ground and placed the tips against it. She made sure to put enough force into them, already knowing what was probably about to happen.

“Perfect, but it’s not over yet. You’ll have to move your arms to your sides, and at the same time focus all of your strength into your wings,” he said, hoping this wouldn’t be too much for her.

With another hesitant nod, Anima did as she was told. Slowly she moved her arms away from the ground, making sure she was pushing with as much strength as her wings could muster. When her arms laid directly at her sides, Anima found herself just barely keeping herself up with her wings. That alone was enough to make her smile with joy.

“Wow, this is awesome,” she stated, seeing the progress she had made.

“Indeed, you’re really starting to get the hang of these lessons,” Caster said, admiring her efforts. “But you still need to actually do a wing-up. So for right now, just try and do one so you can get a feel for how the exercise works.”

“Okay,” Anima Memoriae said, concentrating once more.

She stared at the ground as she focused on her wings. At a very slow pace she began to descend, her wings doing their best to keep her up. Anima soon found herself only an inch from touching the ground with her body. She thought that went by easier than she expected. But now came the truly hard part: going back up. Anima thought it was already aggravating enough just to go down, but getting back up was another challenge entirely. Yet she wasn’t going to give up. If she could make her wings cooperate she could surely pull this off. So with a boost in motivation, Anima slowly started to push herself back up. It was painful, that was for certain, but that was to be expected. So she pushed past it and continued with her exercise. It felt like minutes had gone by before she felt herself reach a stopping point as she opened her eyes. Anima saw that she was back where she started, her wings extended as far as they would go.

“Yes! I did it again, whoa!” she proclaimed, falling back down when her wings lost their strength.

“Heh heh, you certainly are a fast learner I’ll give you that,” Caster Forge said, helping her up once more.

“Well when I have a great teacher like you I’m bound to learn something,” Anima said, dusting herself off.

“I just do the best I can,” Caster said, flashing a sheepish grin.

A sudden gurgling sound was made as both ponies looked at each other. It happened again once they realized it was their stomachs. Needless to say, Caster and Anima blushed a bit in embarrassment.

“Um, do you mind if we take a quick break now? I’m feeling a bit peckish and could go for one of those lunches,” Anima said, rubbing her belly a little.

“Sure, I’m getting a little hungry too,” Caster said, walking toward the bench with Anima in tow.

They both sat down and grabbed the bag with the two lunch boxes. Opening them up, they found various arrangements of fruits and vegetables, some crackers and cheese, as well as some sandwiches and bottles of water. Not wanting to waste these well prepared meals, Caster and Anima immediately dove right in, savoring every morsel. They spent a good ten minutes eating their meals before Anima spoke up.

“Thanks again, Caster, for doing all this for me,” she said, feeling grateful for everything he’s done.

“It’s no big deal, really. I’m just doing what anypony would’ve done. Besides I feel it’s my duty to help you start flying as soon as possible. You’re a Princess now and you should have as many skills under your belt as possible. But even more so, you’re my friend and friends should always be there for one another,” Caster said, sincerity plastered all over the smile on his face.

Touched by his words, Anima gave him a hug, which the he returned in kind. When they separated she let out a cute little yawn as she rested her head against her friend’s shoulder.

“You don’t mind do you?” Anima asked, hoping she wasn’t making the situation awkward.

“Nah, you’re good. After all that effort you put back there you deserve to relax,” Caster said, dispelling her doubt.

With that reassurance, she settled back and simply listened to the calming serene of the garden around them. Caster joined her as he relaxed and watched the area around them. The occasional small chitters and chirps of the creatures that dwelled in the garden echoed around them. The light breeze from the wind sent a chill to the two ponies as the warm embrace from the sun counteracted this. All in all it was a perfect setting of peace and tranquility. This gave them a chance to reflect on their time spent together today.

Anima felt in debt to her new friend. In the small amount of time they had spent together he had done so much for her. All by his own desire rather than just being asked to do so. Plus since their lessons started he had continually kept her going with his words of encouragement. He showed her that he wanted her to keep going because he believed in her. Yet despite all that though she didn’t know how to repay him back for his kindness and felt a little guilty. Anima thought she should at least spend some time with him as thanks. From what she had heard about him she could tell he wasn’t much of an outgoing pony. But she hoped she wouldn’t send off too strong a message, thinking that he may’ve had a special somepony in his life that he cared for. Even though in reality, he didn’t.

Caster, on the other hand, was thinking about his favorite Princess at the moment. Anima seemed so relaxed and it really seemed to affect him. He felt like he could be himself around her and not feel too awkward about it, as she went through the same experiences he did. She also truly appreciated all that he had been doing for her, rather than other mares in the past who would only take Caster’s advice and gifts with a simple thank you and not caring too much for his efforts. But the best part, he thought, was that she enjoyed being around him. Anima made him feel like his presence was actually welcome and did not want to waste a single moment. It warmed his heart knowing that someone wanted to spend time with him, particularly because of how alone he was most of the time. Caster didn’t need to think of any way to repay her. As long as he just kept teaching her how to use her wings, he felt that would be more than enough. And hopefully it might lead to something more one day. Caster was pulled out of his thoughts when he realized they still had some time left before their lessons were over.

“I think we should get back to our lessons now. Wouldn’t want you to miss out,” he said, bringing Anima back to reality.

“You’re right, I want to learn as much as I can!” she said, her eager smile returning.

“My thoughts exactly,” Caster said, as the two ponies got back to work.

For the rest of their break, Caster and Anima continued going over the earlier lessons, trying to get in a few more wing-ups. As well as one or two other things that were essential to flight. After a while they soon realized how late it was getting and decided to call it a day and return to their other duties.

“And that’ll be all for today. Just keep doing a few wing-ups at home when you can and your wings will get stronger in no time,” Caster said, packing up the lunch boxes to be thrown away later.

“I’ll see if I can put a few sets into my schedule. And thanks again, Caster, you’re a really good friend,” Anima said, brushing away some sweat from her forehead.

“So I’ve been told,” he said, feeling a sense of pride overcome him while they walked from the garden through the hallways. “Well I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow then. Same time, same place?”

“You know it,” Anima said, with a sly wink.

“All right, see ya later then,” Caster said, lightly blushing as he walked the other direction of the familiar intersection.

“Bye, Cast, can’t wait for tomorrow,” she replied, making her way back to Luna’s classroom.

As both ponies returned to their respective places within the castle, they thought of what tomorrow would bring. And even more so, what the days of the coming future held in store for them.
> Chapter 4: Temperatures of the Heart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

  	  “Come on, Anima, just a few more and we’ll be able to take a break,” Caster Forge said, giving his friend the support she needed.

“I’m doing the best I can here, buster! You try doing wingups with a blazing hot sun over your head,” Anima Memoriae said, with an out of breath tone as she kept pushing her body up and down with her wings.

Caster simply chuckled, hearing her snap at him like that. He knew she didn’t really hate him for the effort he was putting her through. It was just how she talked whenever she was extremely fatigued during their lessons together. And Caster had been there firsthand to witness such moments in all that time.

It had been about three months since the two ponies began their lessons and their friendship had truly taken a turn for the better. Nearly every day of the week, Caster had been teaching Anima the many ways to use her wings properly. At first it started out with simply getting adjusted to her wings through wing-ups and simple stretches. But as time passed they got into more advanced techniques for better control and navigation. Even as the challenges got harder, Anima didn’t mind. For it was worth it not only because she was getting to use her wings better, but also because it allowed her to spend time with her newest friend.

In the time that she and Caster had spent together they had gotten to know each other more and more. Both about how they did their usual jobs and went about their lives. Though of course some things they chose to keep to themselves. Particularly Caster’s love life situation as he felt it wasn’t something he should bring up. Part of him however felt a bit different. From their time together, Caster had begun to grow small feelings for Anima. She was always so attentive when learning from him and that was something he truly appreciated. And even outside of their lessons she wanted to spend time with him simply because she could. It even gave him a chance to meet some of her friends from time to time. While he had his own circle of friends it was nice to expand and enter someone else’s. Caster was overjoyed to have so many ponies to keep him from being lonely and it was all thanks to Anima, the pony he offered to help on a whim.

But even as his feelings for her grew very slowly, Caster still didn’t know if they were true or not. Many times in the past he had fallen for the charms of other mares only to end up in disappointment and rejection. Plus he didn’t even know if Anima shared his feelings. So he thought it best to simply hide how he felt for now, as he didn’t want what they had to end so abruptly because of his own personal affections. At the moment, Caster only wanted to focus on improving Anima’s wings, which currently involved helping her with her wing-ups.

“All right, one more and we’ll be done,” he stated, encouraging her further.

“All I needed to hear,” Anima replied, preparing herself for the last wing-up.

With an impressive amount of effort she slowly descended, doing her best to ignore the pain her wings were giving off. In only a few moments time, Anima fully brought herself back up again, only to fall back down when she collapsed from exhaustion. Caster gave her a few words of congrats before bringing her up onto her feet. Anima dusted off and wiped a small layer of sweat from her brow before following her tutor to the bench they usually sat upon. Caster reached for some water bottles in a bag the food court gave them and passed one to her. They took a moment to view their all too familiar surroundings of the Royal Gardens. The grass and flowers looked slightly wilted from the intense rays of the sun. The leaves of the few trees were a deep shade of green and they provided an excellent source of shade for the two ponies.

“Geez, why’s it have to be so hot today?” Anima exclaimed, taking a big gulp of water.

“It can’t be helped, I suppose. Heat waves just come and go as they usually do,” Caster said, taking a similar gulp as her.

“Yeah but it’s never usually this hot, even in Canterlot,” she said, fanning herself with her hand.

And she was right. Despite it being Summer time, Equestria didn’t usually face a heat wave like this. Lately most ponies had chosen to stay indoors and do whatever they could to beat the heat. Caster and Anima were forced to wear shorts and shirts a size larger to let in some air. Heck, on the way to the Gardens the two ponies ran into Princess Celestia. Finding her actually agreeing that it was hot. One would think that someone who controls the sun would be used to its radiating heat. But she was still just a pony like everyone else.

“True, I heard that the weather teams had to bring water to some nearby dried up lakes and even to Froggy Bottom Bog. Amazing how much the temperature can rise so quickly,” Caster said, wiping away some sweat.

“I guess. So is there anything else you wanted to go over today?” Anima asked, already feeling a little refreshed.

“Yes actually, I thought I’d show you how to glide,” he said, standing up.

“Interesting, how would we do that though? I still can’t exactly fly up to a proper height yet to get started,” she stated, curious how this would work.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got that covered. Here grab on,” Caster said, holding out a hand for her.

“Um, okay,” Anima said, a bit hesitant as she took hold of it.

Caster then spread his wings and flew up with Anima in tow. While she was a bit surprised at first, she soon calmed down as she let him hold her above the ground. He led her to a nearby tree that had long and sturdy branches. Caster let her sit on one of the higher ones as he let go of Anima’s hand and flew in front of her.

“All right, so for this exercise I want you to spread out your wings and leap from this branch. When you do that you’ll have to keep your wings straight out at your sides. This’ll allow you to keep yourself afloat for a short amount of time and you’ll have to perform your glide as straight as you can. Want to give it a shot?” he asked, hoping she would be ready.

“I don’t know, we seem pretty high up,” Anima said, looking down at the ground nervously. “What if I falter and fall down?”

“You’ll be fine. I’ll be sure to grab you in case that does happen. You trust me don’t you?” Caster said, giving her a comforting smile.

“Of course,” she said, feeling relieved by his words.

“Good,” Caster said, flying a few feet away before he landed. “Just see if you can glide to where I’m at. I promise to catch you if anything goes wrong.”

“Okay, just give me a moment,” Anima said, preparing herself.

She spread her wings out to their full length, like he asked, and took a few deep breaths to steady herself. Anima looked across the garden and saw where Caster was, looking at her, confident that she would be able to pull this off. That was more than enough for her as she flexed her wings slightly. With ease and grace, Anima closed her eyes and leapt off of the branch toward her friend. She expected a falling sensation, but as she opened her eyes she saw that she was moving forward, above the ground as her wings kept her aloft. It was difficult keeping her wings straight out at first but she managed to hold them with the best of her strength.

Anima continued her glide forward, only a few more feet away from Caster, until one of her wings gave out and she fell to the ground. True to his word, Caster flew toward her with incredible speed and was about to catch her. But as he did, the force of impact sent them both falling to the ground and landing on top of one another. They both groaned at the slight pain they received but they shook it off. Caster was the first to recover as he tried to get back up. Though he soon found something soft and round pressed against his face. Looking up he saw Anima sitting on top of him, slowly recovering from the crash, with her breasts pressing against his head. Even though they were still covered by her shirt, that didn’t stop Caster from blushing so hard, his face nearly turned crimson.

Anima soon recovered as well and was about to say thanks when she noticed where Caster was. Immediately seeing the position they were in, both ponies scrambled away from each other, blushing wildly. Anima held her arms across her chest, feeling embarrassed over that accident. Caster just stared off into space, unable to believe that he got so close to a mare like that. After a moment of silence, Anima decided to speak up.

“So, um, thanks for the rescue back there,” she said, facing him after her blush wore off.

“Heh, heh, no problem. I made a promise after all,” Caster said, wiping his own blush away and turning to his friend.

“Yes, yes you did. So is that all for today?” Anima asked, as she stood up with her friend.

“I believe so. Besides I need to get back and fill out some important orders. Plus I’m sure you have some more lessons to go over with Princess Luna,” he said, packing up some supplies in a backpack he brought.

“Yeah, she’s going to be teaching me some spells that Princesses should know about. Some of them are a bit more, personal though,” Anima said, blushing slightly without him noticing.

“I see, well I hope you have fun with that. And I’ll see you on Monday,” Caster said, slinging the backpack over his shoulder.

“Oh actually, there’s something I wanted to give you,” Anima said, digging into her own backpack that Luna gave her.

A minute after digging through supplies, she came back with a small envelope and handed it over to Caster. He looked it over curiously before opening it up. Inside was a letter that had an address, time, and date written on it.

“What’s this all about?” he asked.

“It’s an invite to a pool party I’m having tomorrow at my house. With how hot the weather’s been getting I thought I’d take a chance to just cool down and unwind with some friends of mine. I was wondering if you’d be able to come, but that’s up to you of course,” Anima said, nervously as she held her arms behind her back.

“Hmm, it does sound like fun. And I’ve been needing to take a break from work for a while now,” Caster said, thinking the proposal over. “Sure, I’m game.”

“Awesome!” she exclaimed, excitedly as she gave him a quick hug. “I can’t wait to see you there. I’m sure the girls will enjoy hanging out with you again.”

“I look forward to seeing them again too,” Caster said, thinking about that last part she said. “Hey, if you don't mind, would it be alright if I brought a few friends of mine over as well?”

“Sure, I don’t see why not. The more the merrier,” Anima said, packing up the last of her stuff.

“Cool, then I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, smiling as he watched his student head inside.

“Yup, see you later, Cast!” she said, running back to class.

While Anima went on ahead to her other lessons, Caster was left behind to think of tomorrow’s events. He’d be able to get a chance to hang out with friends, beat the heat, and relax from all the hard work he’s done over these last few months. Though Caster’s mind drifted to a certain fact about the party. Anima said it was going to be a pool party. That would mean she and her friends would be dressed in bikinis, one pieces, and any other piece of swim wear his brain thought of. Slowly but surely Caster’s face resumed its former blush, which was stronger than before, and his wings stood up quick and firm.

“Oh boy, maybe tomorrow won’t be as relaxing as I thought,” he said to himself, as thoughts of Anima in a bikini plagued his mind.


===============================================================


As with the day before, the sun was shining brightly in the sky, sending extreme rays of heat down to the world below. Some ponies thought it was hotter than yesterday, as evidenced by the lack of ponies outside, opting to stay indoors until this heat wave eventually subsided. Though the few ponies who were brave enough to venture through this nearly unbearable weather could be seen in the streets of Canterlot. A certain group in particular, all dressed in summer attire, and seemed in a hurry to move along, made their way to one of the remote parts of the city. The streets and buildings slowly giving way to more trees, which provided shade from the blazing sun.

“Thanks again for inviting us with you, Caster, I didn’t think I would’ve survived this weather much longer on my own,” a tan-colored earth pony said, his black mane, tail, and goatee becoming frizzy from the humidity.

“No problem, D3. It’s been a while since we all got a chance to hang out together. So I thought this would be a nice way to unwind,” Caster said, shifting the backpack on his shoulders.

“That’s definitely one thing I needed. I’ve been up to my flank with deadlines from my publishers that I’ve barely gotten any time to myself,” a dark-orange, brown-maned Unicorn said, letting out an exasperated sigh.

“Heh, you think you’ve got it rough? Try dealing with the generals during training drills. They make us work almost night and day to keep us in shape, and even more so just to learn strategies and tactics,” a Pegasus with light-brown fur and brown and white mane said, pushing up a pair of glasses on his nose.

“Well not all of us have to work night and day, defending this country like you, Yoshi,” Caster remarked, chuckling at his friend’s comparison on stress.

“True, speaking of which thanks for the gear upgrade in our platoon. The boys and I really appreciate it, Caster,” Yoshi replied, showing his gratitude.

“It’s nothing, I’m just doing my job,” he said, glad to know his improvements were being praised.

“By the way, how’s work been for you lately?” a red earth pony with a brown mane asked, wiping away some sweat with a towel.

“Things have been going well, Glitch. Just been filling out the usual orders and making special requests. Which strangely enough has become my favorite part of the job,” Caster said, thinking back on all the unique weapons and armor he was asked to build.

“Sounds like you’ve been quite busy yourself, Cast,” a brown-coated Unicorn said, his spiky teal mane moving from a light breeze. “Though from what I’ve heard you’ve been even busier as of late.”

“Well when you’re teaching a newly-crowned Princess how to fly, it’s impossible to not ‘not’ be a little busier,” Caster said, rolling his eyes slightly. “I’d like to see you try it, Gadget.”

“I think I’ll pass. As fun as it sounds I wouldn’t want to get in the way of your guy’s ‘relationship’,” Gadget said, with a sly wink and a light chuckle.

“For the love of- how many times do I have to keep telling you guys? It isn’t like that between us!” he retorted, blushing slightly from his sudden outburst.

The rest of the group followed swiftly with the Unicorn and soon broke into fits of laughter. Caster simply gave an annoyed sigh, but turned it into a smile as he looked upon his fellow compatriots. The ponies beside him were the very few friends that he had. They had always been there for him through thick and thin, usually when he was feeling down. And of course he did the same whenever he could. All of them were close like brothers, and even though they rarely hung out anymore they still cared for each other.

Glitch, for one, was usually a hyperactive pony, always trying to find some game to play. Mostly because he wanted his friends to have as much fun as possible when they hung out, even if it was only for a little while.

Bard was probably one of the busiest of their group, spending most of his time working on his novels. But when he got a chance to spend time with his friends he always made the most of it. He was considered the ‘peacekeeper’ of their inner circle, breaking up and resolving any arguments the best he could.

Yoshi Ringo, a member of the royal guard, was there for both his fellow soldiers and his friends. Whether it be for keeping ponies out of danger, or helping them with problems they faced in their lives, he was there to help them out.

Digi Doodle Doo, or D3 as his friends liked to call him, was the shy one among their group. He usually preferred staying home and working on making art. But years of time spent with his friends helped him break out of his anti-social shell. He was always kind towards his friends and did his best to keep their spirits up when they hung out.

And finally, Gadget, the slightly geeky one amongst them. He was sometimes preoccupied by his inventions, reading, and anything else in pursuit of scholarly interest. While he spent the majority of his time in libraries and labs, he would try to find time to spend with the few friends he had. And whether it be with his friends or his work, he managed to find enjoyment in almost everything in his life.

They were all a varied sort of companions, each with their own unique traits. But that was what Caster liked about them. After all variety was the spice of life. Besides on occasion they taught him valuable morals, which helped make him into the stallion he was today. He didn’t want to trade any of those moments away for anything, that certainly went for right now as well, as he focused once more on reaching their destination. They all took in the scenery around them, as it faded from city buildings to more comfortable residencies. After a few more minutes of walking they came upon the appointed peach-colored house mentioned in the invitation. Not wanting to prolong their walk further, the ponies went up to the door as Caster rang the doorbell.

“So, Cast, you’ve met Anima’s friends before right? What’re they like?” Yoshi Ringo asked, wondering about them.

“They’re alright I suppose. They all have their differences at times but they still manage to get along just fi-” he said, before the door swung open and he was tackled by a figure with lavender fur and a braided tan and lavender striped mane.

“Hey, Caster, it’s so good to see you again!” the mare said, wrapping him in a nearly bone-breaking hug.

“Nice to... see you too, Cloud Heart,” he said, straining to get the words out. “Would you… mind letting me go? You’re kind of... crushing my lungs.”

“Oops, sorry I tend to get a little carried away,” Cloud heart said, pulling away with a goofy smile.

“Yeah, you’ve certainly made that clear before,” Caster said, chuckling as he tried to catch his breath.

The lavender ball of sunshine before them, Cloud Heart, was one of Anima’s close friends. Pretty much every time he met her she was always in a good mood for one reason or another. One of her trademarks was her ability to talk for who-knew-how-long about any subject, to the point where ponies would consider her to be a tad crazy. But she was always full of energy and fun to hang out with. Cloud made the former known as she zipped back into the house, to the living room where the rest of her friends were. Caster and his friends followed swiftly.

“There you are, Caster, I’m glad you could make it,” Anima Memoriae said, walking up to him and giving a hug that was gentler than Clouds’.

“So am I, Anima,” he said, returning the hug before turning toward the ponies behind him. “These are my friends I mentioned yesterday.”

“Nice to meet you all,” she said, giving them all a timid smile and a wave.

All of the stallions simply smiled and waved back, saying their own greetings. It seemed a bit awkward, not knowing what to say to a Princess that they didn’t know personally. Wanting to ease the mood a bit, Caster decided to introduce them one by one.

“I guess we should start off with introductions. This here is Glitch, he’s been my friend here in Canterlot for as long as I can remember. I met him at the arcade where he haggled me out of ten bits,” Caster said, remembering that day.

“Hey, it’s not my fault I rock at playing video games,” Glitch said, with a cheesy grin.

“Well to be fair nopony else can exploit glitches in nearly every game like you can,” he retorted, with a grin of his own.

“Eh, you have a point there,” Glitch said, as the two of them started laughing.

“Sounds like you two had a fun childhood. Though if you don’t mind me asking, what’s with the cape?” Anima asked, pointing to the small green cape tied around Glitch’s neck by a gold medallion.

“Oh that, well, that’s a story for another time. Let’s just say that Discord has rubbed off on me a bit,” he said, not wanting to explain himself too much.

“Um, okay?” Anima said, confused by what he meant.

“Anyways, over here is Digi Doodle Doo, or D3 for short. We met a few years after I got into the University, where he was studying painting. The same goes for my friend Bard right here, who was more into the works of literature,” Caster said, introducing her to the earth pony and the Unicorn.

“Nice to meet you both,” Anima said, giving the two of them a quick handshake. “So what was the school like?”

“It was all right. The teachers were always making us do the best we could and the results certainly showed,” D3 said, thinking of all the drawings he’s made since graduating.

“Though I have to admit, the lessons were difficult at times. Sometimes I thought my brain was going to explode from all the studying I had to do,” Bard said, shivering slightly after remembering those days.

“But hey look on the bright side. You’ve become a writer of some of the best novels out there, a few of which I own,” Caster stated, reminding his friend of his work.

“True, I guess it was worth it a bit,” he said, being reminded of one of his more recent pieces.

“I think I may take a look at some of them when I get the chance,” Anima said, wanting to support Caster’s friend.

“I’d like that your high- I mean, Anima,” Bard stuttered, remembering what Caster said about no formalities. “I’ll introduce you to a few later.”

“Awesome, thank you, Bard,” she said, turning back to her flight teacher. “So who else is there?”

“Well over here is Gadget,” Caster said, introducing her to the other Unicorn. “I ran into him at the library when I was studying for one of my tests at school. If it weren’t for him being so strict about the study routine, I don’t think I would’ve been able to pass.”

“Excuse me for always wanting everything to go just right for once,” Gadget said, smiling at his own small flaws. “Besides you’re the one that nearly begged me for help after seeing how organized I was.”

“Point taken, but that’s one of the things that makes you awesome, Gadget,” he said, giving him a fist bump.

“Indeed,” Gadget said, returning the gesture.

“Well it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Gadget,” Anima said, lightly giggling after hearing their story. “I hope we can become friends as well in the future.”

“Same here,” he replied, smiling.

“Hey now, don’t forget about me,” Yoshi stated, gaining their attention.

“Don’t worry, Yoshi, I was just about to introduce you too,” Caster said, bringing his two friends together. “Anima, this here is Yoshi Ringo, a member of the Royal guard. We’ve been friends ever since I became the Royal blacksmith.”

“Yeah and since then I’ve gotten some of the best armor and weapons for me and my fellow soldiers,” he said, complimenting Caster’s efforts.

“I can certainly tell he’s done some great work from the armor I’ve seen all the guards wearing,” Anima said, knowing how much her teacher worked to make his creations near perfect. “I’m sure you all have the best of protection.”

“That’s an understatement. But moving past that, it’s an honor to meet you in person, Anima,” he said, shaking her hand.

“Likewise,” she said, shaking his hand as well.

When they all finished their greetings, a Unicorn mare with a short pink mane and purple fur stood up from the couch in the living room and walked up to where the group was standing.

“So Anima, who exactly are these new friends of yours? Don’t you think you should introduce us?” she said, staring at the ponies before her.

“Oh, yes of course. Sorry Mia, I got a little carried away,” Anima said, blushing a little in embarrassment. “Come here guys, I’d like to introduce you to my friends now.”

Caster went with his friends over to the living room where they all took their respective seats and greeted one another. He listened as Anima’s friends told of how they all met, though he already knew a lot about them having met them a few times in the past. And just like his entourage, they too were an interesting bunch.

The mare that had introduced herself earlier, Mia Hairspray, was a renowned beautician in the world of fashion. Like her idol, the fashionista Rarity, she strived to make everything she worked on beautiful. That included fights between friends, as she would always be there to sort out any ugly disputes.

There was also Spring Sunglow, an earth pony with white fur and a bright yellow mane, whose name seemed to match her personality. She was always so cheery and loved spending time with any of her friends. Caring for them as much as she did for the flowers she grew.

Two mares Caster recognized were Pegasi, one with hot pink fur and a messy purple mane, Skull Candy, and the other with a flowing amber mane with golden fur, Ivory Dancer. They were well known for being mischievous in the group, even sometimes being a bit aggressive. Though they always looked out for their friends and kept other ponies from messing around with them. The fact that they were also in a band helped keep others off their backs, not wanting to mess with stars after all.

Then there was the other earth pony, with a dark and light red curly mane and red fur, who he knew as Strawberry Rose. The mare was almost always in the fields on her farm, picking some of the best strawberries Equestria could grow. But she would still find time to be with her friends, as she enjoyed their company.

Then there was a Unicorn with gray fur and a violet and blue mane fashioned into a pony tail, whom Caster recognized as a rather new addition to Anima’s circle: Windie Light. It was only about a month ago that Windie had gotten out of rehab and started the difficult task of making amends for her actions. It was tough at first, but Anima helped her through it all, wanting others to see how much she’s changed. While everypony was hesitant at first, they all welcomed her into their lives, doing whatever they could to make her feel better. After all, if it wasn’t for her, Anima would have never discovered her destiny as a Princess or even her special talent.

Caster considered himself lucky to have made so many new friends so quickly. Even better now that his own circle of friends were getting along with them as well. As the conversations continued on, two ponies, a mare and stallion came out from the kitchen nearby and caught their attention.

“Hello everpony, I’m glad you all could make it. It’s good to see so many of you could attend this little get together,” Celly Script said, smiling at the group of ponies that had arrived.

“As if I’d miss a chance to hang out with my favorite student,” Caster Forge spoke up, flashing a smile as well. “Besides we all needed a chance to cool off.”

“Ah, so you must be the one Anima has told us so much about. Caster, was it?” she stated, walking up to him.

“That I am, and I must say it’s been an honor teaching your daughter how to fly. She really is a fast learner,” he said, making said mare blush.

“I see, nice to know she’s doing well. I guess she really picked a great teacher, especially one as handsome as you,” she said, teasing Caster a bit.

“Mom! Don’t say stuff like that around my friends!” Anima said, her blush intensifying.

“What, I can’t pay him a compliment or two for his efforts?” Celly said, chuckling at her daughter’s embarrassment.

“It’s okay, Anima, it’s not like I haven’t gotten comments like that before,” Caster said, a light blush appearing on his cheeks as well. “Either way, it’s nice to meet you, Ms. Script. I’ve been looking forward to meeting the parents of our new Princess.”

“It’s good to see you too, Mr. Forge. Her father and I have been waiting to meet you as well,” she said, turning to her husband beside her.

“So, you’re the royal blacksmith right?” Zen Wheeler asked, wanting to know him a little more.

“Um, yes I believe so. Why do you ask?” Caster pondered.

“I’ve just been curious, why exactly did you offer to help Anima learn to fly? I’m sure as a blacksmith you’re already very busy from your own work,” he said, hoping his question would be answered.

“It is true that I have my work cut out for me and yes teaching Anima has been a bit challenging. But I say it’s worth it not only to help a Princess but a friend as well,” Caster said, making a few of the mares in the room ‘aww’ at his words. “Plus my break times were a little boring so I thought this’d be a fun way to pass the time.”

“I see. Well thank you for taking the time to help her, it means a lot to us,” Zen said, shaking his hand.

“No problem, it’s been my pleasure as well,” Caster said, returning the gesture.

“Enough with the mushy gratitude stuff already. Let’s get this thing going already,” Cloud Heart said, cheerfully bouncing up and down on her seat.

“Don’t worry, Cloud Heart, we’ll be out of your hair soon,” Celly Script said, turning her attention to the group. “We just wanted to let you know that we prepared some drinks and snacks in the kitchen in case any of you get hungry. So please help yourselves.”

“Oh right that reminds me, Yoshi and I brought some food over as well,” Digi Doodle said, he and Yoshi breaking out platters of food from their bags. “We didn’t know what the food situation would be with so many ponies so we thought we’d bring something with us.”

“Thanks, I’m sure everypony will enjoy that. So now that that’s taken care of, Zenny and I will be heading out. You kids have fun and try not to get into trouble,” Celly said as she and her husband closed the front door behind them.

As soon as they left, everyone in the room started getting ready before heading out to the backyard. Yoshi and D3 began setting up the food they brought in the kitchen, which consisted of sandwiches, tacos, and various assortments of snacks. While they did that, the rest went off to go change into their swimming attire. They all found their own rooms and changed in privacy. Caster was the first one to return to the living room, wearing black swim trunks with a gray stripe on each side, a white t-shirt, and a towel slung over his shoulder. He then went over to the back of the room and opened the glass screen door that led to the backyard.

Big was certainly one word Caster could use to describe this place. While about half of the area was taken up by the large pool, the rest of the place was covered with either concrete pavement or bushes and flower groves. On the far side of the pool was a diving board about ten feet high. Off to a corner was a set of white chairs and a table with a large blue and white striped umbrella set in the middle. And around the edges of the pool were a couple white-painted lounge chairs for tanning. Caster made his way over to one of them and set his backpack and towel down as his friends entered the backyard.

Everyone was wearing their own swim gear, the guys just wearing swim trunks while Anima and her friends wore either one pieces or bikinis. Anima, in particular, caught his attention with her red, two-piece bikini, which showed off her ample cleavage and the curves of her hips and waist. Needless to say, Caster felt himself grow hotter and couldn’t tell if it was from the rays of sun beating down on them or from what he was seeing. Feeling the need to cool himself down he stripped off his shirt, it wasn’t going to be necessary.

“Whoa, I can certainly see why Anima enjoys hanging around you, Cast,” Skull Candy stated, noticing his toned upper body as she walked by.

“Oh please, Skull, you know full well that she hangs around me because I’m her friend,” Caster said, blushing a little from her statement.

“Right, and not because you’ve got such a killer bo- ow!” Skull exclaimed, as her ear was pulled by Mia.

“Skull Candy, that is not how we act with our guest, let alone one of our friends,” she said, chastising her.

“Come on, Mia, you know I was just teasing him. Besides how could I possibly ignore a gorgeous hunk of stallion like him? Especially those kick-ass scars of his,” Skull said, eyeing him up and making him blush more.

“It’s called having self-control. Perhaps you should look into it sometime,” Mia said, grinning as a thought popped into her head. “Besides, I remember you saying you had the ‘hot’s’ for that little fan of yours. Snow Wings, I believe he was?”

“Hey, you swore you wouldn’t tell anypony about that!” she said, her face growing pinker as she blushed.

“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed,” Caster said, making a gesture of zipping his mouth.

“Thanks, I guess. It’s just I don’t know if I really like him or not. I mean he’s a nice guy and very good looking as you just heard. But I don't know much else about him aside from the times we occasionally hang out,” Skull said, seeming conflicted with her feelings.

“Hey it’s all right. I felt the same way in the past when I had crushes,” he said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “My advice to you, just try to hang out with him a little more. See where things go and if it seems like it could go somewhere, take the initiative and see what happens.”

“Huh, that does sound like a good idea actually, I think I’ll give it a shot. Thanks, Cast,” Skull said, appreciating the advice.

“No problem, Skull, I do what I can to help ponies in these matters,” Caster said, looking a bit bashful.

“Well I can certainly tell your heart is in the right place,” Mia said, admiring her friend’s knowledge in relationships. “Perhaps I can put some of that advice towards adorable drummer of yours, Skull.”

“Wow, I did not need to hear that,” Skull Candy said, surprised her friend was interested in one of her band members.

“What, I can have fantasies too you know,” she said, her cheeks reddening from her crush. “Either way, you enjoy yourself while you’re here, Caster. You certainly deserve a break from that forge of yours.”

“Thanks, Mia, you two have fun as well,” he said, taking a seat at his lounge chair while the two mares walked away.

As Mia and Skull walked over to their own chairs, where Anima was seated as well, the former saw that she had been looking in their direction. Mia also noticed she had a slight blush on her cheeks, which seemed to grow when she turned her gaze away as the two of them took their own seats. Mia simply smiled as she took out a bottle of sunblock.

“I must say, you’ve really found an interesting friend over there, Anima,” she said, applying the sunscreen to her arms and legs.

“Huh? Oh um yeah, he really is a nice guy,” Anima stuttered out, applying her own sunscreen. “So, what were you guys talking about anyway?”

“Nothing, nothing at all!” Skull Candy exclaimed, her blush returning.

“Um, okay?” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry about it darling, we were simply just getting to know him a little more that’s all,” Mia said, continuing rubbing the sunscreen on her fur.

“I see,” Anima said, still wondering what they were actually talking about.

She decided to just brush it off for now, as she focused her attention back on applying her sunblock. Anima soon finished up rubbing it into her front in time as she turned to see Caster struggling with something. He kept trying to reach his arms behind his back, sunblock in his hands, as he failed to rub it in, only getting a few splotches in. Anima saw the difficulty he was having and decided to go over and help him.

“Hey, Caster, would you like some help with that,” she asked, walking up to him.

“What? Oh you don’t have to do that. I can handle this,” Caster said, blushing at the idea as he kept trying to apply the sunscreen.

“C’mon, Cast, I can see you’re having some trouble with this. What, you don’t think I can help out?” Anima said, giving him a sad puppy look.

If there was one weakness that Caster had, it was this. He never could resist Anima’s requests when she made that face. Whether it be to hang out with her and her friends, or spend a bit more time in their lessons, this would always make him agree to it. And this time was no exception. So after a few seconds and with a hesitant nod, Caster laid himself flat on the chair, lying on his stomach and extending his wings, as Anima put some sunscreen into her hands.

Caster shivered a bit when he felt the sunscreen, as well as Anima’s soft hands, rub along his back. He was glad that his wings were already standing up because having them suddenly pop up from this feeling would have been extremely embarrassing. He continued to lay there, blushing hard as Anima’s hands gracefully and delicately spread the sunscreen onto his back, shoulders, and at the back of his neck.

Anima, for her part, was blushing up a storm at what she was currently doing. She would never have admitted it, but when Mia and Skull were talking with Caster she couldn’t help but stare at his body while they were chatting. Anima knew that he would’ve had a muscular frame from all his time being a blacksmith, but she didn’t expect to see it like this, or even feeling it no less. Even the scars on his body intrigued her. She had seen the few scars on his arms and face in the past but she didn’t think there would be so many more underneath his shirt. Anima was most interested, however, in the long scar that went across his back. She wanted to ask him about them but felt it would be too personal and decided to just leave it alone. She had debated whether or not to help him with this, but ultimately she pushed away her nervousness and decided to just go for it. Now as she felt the well-toned muscles of his back she couldn’t help but enjoy it, admitting to herself that he was indeed a handsome stallion as her friends had pointed out before. Not wanting to let this whole ordeal go to her head, she tried to start up a conversation.

“So, um, w-why didn’t Hotpop and Jack Spirit come along? I thought you would’ve invited them too,” Anima said, breaking the tension in the air.

“Actually I did invite them. But Jack had a few emergency patients he needed to take care of at the castle. Plus Hotpop’s taking Vicente to a party at one of his friend’s house, and she’s staying with him to make sure he doesn’t get into trouble,” Caster said, answering the question with ease as the situation started to feel less awkward.

“That’s too bad, I really wanted to see them again,” she said, thinking back to the few times they met after the coronation.

“Yeah, they wanted to see you too. They told me to tell you that they said hi and they hope to hang out with you sometime soon,” Caster said, trying to cheer her up a bit.

“Well aren’t they sweet,” Anima said, her mood perking up as she finished her task. “There, all done.”

“Thanks, Anima. I really appreciate it,” he said, sitting up.

“You’re welcome, Cast, anything for a friend,” she said, her blush brightening as a thought crossed her mind. “But um, if you don’t mind would you be able to return the favor? I haven’t gotten a chance to do my back yet.”

Now it was Caster’s turn to blush. Having a mare rub sunscreen on your back was one thing, but to do it the other way around was something else entirely. The thoughts suddenly going through his mind were driving him a bit crazy. But he knew he had to do it, because it would seem rude to just accept a favor from another and not return it.

“S-sure I guess,” Caster said, grabbing the bottle of sunblock.

The two ponies switched their positions and now Anima was lying face down on the chair. Though before Caster could begin, the Alicorn held up a hand telling him to wait. She then brought it to the back of her bra, where she unclasped the strap and lied down again, being careful not to reveal her more intimate details.

“Okay, g-go ahead,” Anima said, looking away to hide her crimson red face.

It also kept her from seeing how red Caster’s face became as he started rubbing the sunscreen along her back. Even as time passed his blush never seemed to fade as his hands and eyes kept tracing her body, from the curves of her hips, the sides of her breasts, and occasionally her generous flank. Caster had always admired her beautiful physique before, but feeling it was much more different than just seeing it.

Anima, however, seemed to be in a state of bliss. She expected his hands to be a bit rough with working in the sunscreen. But surprisingly enough he was actually quite gentle, only being slightly thorough at certain points. She figured it must’ve been a product of working on his figurines, having to be careful about the more delicate features. And she enjoyed it thoroughly, it feeling more like a massage. Anima was quickly snapped out of her stupor when Caster’s hands touched the base of her wings, causing her to gasp slightly from the sensation.

“Oh, sorry about that. Pegasi wings can be a bit sensitive and you’re still a bit new to them,” Caster said, ceasing his actions.

“I-I see, that’s good to know,” Anima said, trying not to let on that it felt pleasurable to her.

With that little event over, Caster went back to applying the last of the sunblock. A minute or two later he told her she was all done and she brought the straps of her bra back together before sitting up. Both were feeling a little embarrassed by what they had both done just now. Though it shouldn’t have felt that way to them right? It was just two friends helping out one another after all, so why did it make them feel so awkward? The two of them kept on thinking about this until their thoughts were interrupted by Cloud Heart yelling from the top of the diving board.

“CANNONBALL!!!” she exclaimed.

Cloud Heart spread her wings and leaped into the air from the diving board, doing several flips and twists. Ultimately falling back down, cannonball-style, into the deep end of the pool, creating a huge splash of water that soaked a few of her friends.

“Wooooooooo! Cloud Heart that was awesome!” Anima cheered, seeming to forget about her thoughts from earlier.

“I know right!?” Cloud said, emerging from the water. “First I was so high up then I was all spinny then I was all flippy then I just kersploded into the water like an actual cannonball. It was so unbelievably, epically, totally, and completely amazing!!”

“Heh heh, well now it’s my turn. Incoming!” Anima said, running and then jumping into the pool, doing her own cannonball.

Caster could only watch as both his and Anima’s friends followed swiftly and jumped into the pool. He could only laugh to himself as he saw everyone having so much fun. This was what he wanted most, to just spend time with his friends and have fun. Even though he did just have an awkward moment with one of his closest friends, Caster didn’t seem to care anymore. All that mattered now was just getting into the pool and having a good time. So following their example, he took a head start and jumped into the pool, letting the cold water embrace him.


===============================================================


The soft flow of the water caressed every part of Caster’s body as he rested on the floor of the pool. The warm amber glow of sun shone through the water’s surface. He continued to hold his breath wanting to savor the tranquility of this sensation. Though when his lungs sent a warning signal to his brain, Caster immediately started swimming back to the surface. He soon appeared at the top of the water, taking a deep breath of fresh air. As he looked around him he saw the late afternoon sun on the horizon, its light covering the area in an orange glow. The moment was cut short however when Caster heard the cheer of ponies behind him.

“Woooweee! Nice dive, Cast,” Strawberry Rose said, applauding him like the rest of the group.

“Thanks, Strawberry, though it wasn’t nearly as awesome as Cloud Heart’s from earlier,” he said, getting out of the pool and moving toward the table where all his friends were enjoying some lunch.

“What can I say? I’m just that awesome I guess,” the aforementioned mare said, sticking her tongue out playfully.

“You certainly were something back there, Cloud,” Spring Sunglow said, savoring her food. “You too, Caster.”

“Thanks, Spring,” Caster said, taking a seat where a plate of assorted foods awaited him.

The day had certainly turned out well for everyone. Not only was Caster finally able to hang out with all his friends, but they even all managed to get along and make friends amongst each other as well. They all played a couple of games, did a few dives off of the diving board, got in some good tanning, and just talked and got to know each other in general. All in all Caster’s friends agreed that they were grateful they came along and thanked him for inviting them in the first place.

“So, what do you guys want to do now?” Glitch asked, up for another game or two.

“Well, my parents got a volley ball net for the pool, so I was thinking we could try that,” Anima said, already finished with her food.

“That sounds like fun! I haven’t played volleyball in years,” Windie Light said, everyone nodding in agreement.

“All right then, I’ll be right back with the net and ball,” she said, getting up from the table. “Hey, Caster, would you mind helping me bring it out?”

“Not at all, Anima” Caster said, walking with her.

The both of them made their way over to a small shack near the pool, where Anima’s family kept their backyard supplies. She unlocked it and looked around for what she needed. She soon found a large volleyball net and the ball for their game. As she passed the net over to Caster, she spoke up.

“Thanks again for inviting your friends over, Caster. They really helped liven the party a bit,” Anima said, closing the shed behind her.

“Of course, Anima,” he said, slinging the net over his shoulder. “They’ve always been fun to hang with, plus they needed this break just as much as I did.”

“Well you certainly made the right call. And I hope you had as much fun today as I did,” she said, giving him a warm smile.

“Absolutely, I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun. But the cherry on top though, is that I got to share that fun with all of you,” Caster said, matching her smile.

“Aw, come here you big lug,” Alehsa said, wrapping him in a tender hug.

He returned the hug, blushing a bit from feeling her breasts pressed against him. After that they went back to where their friends were and started setting up the net. Once Caster set the net up, everyone divided into two teams. It was going to be a boys' vs girls' competition. Everybody got into the pool looking forward for some splashing, screaming fun.

“You boys are sooooo going down,” Skull said, taunting them while spinning the volleyball on one of her fingers.

“Oh we’ll see about that,” Bard said, showing a cocky grin his friends rarely ever saw.

“Y’all better get ready cause we ain’t gonna go easy on ya,” Strawberry said, as she cracked her knuckles in preparation.

“Right back at you, Ms. Rose,” Yoshi Ringo said, flaring his wings out.

“Wonder who’ll be better, the teacher or the student,” Anima said, throwing a competitive stare toward Caster.

“Only one way to find out,” Caster said, stretching his neck.

“Service!” Skull shouted, jumping up from the water and hitting the ball to the other side of the field.

With that, the game was already underway. D3 was the first to react as he managed to hit the ball back over to Mia. She quickly responded and passed the ball over to Cloud Heart, who immediately jumped up in glee and slammed it straight toward Gadget. He barely managed to counter the force in that blow, but was able to at least get the ball over the net. It descended toward Ivory Dancer, who didn’t know whether to pass it or hit it back. Ultimately she raised both her hands as a shield and let the ball simply bounce off of them. Before she could do anything else, Anima rushed in and hit the ball towards Strawberry, who in turn hit it with all her might over the net and into a gap in the other team's defenses, scoring the first point.

“GOAL!!” all the mares shouted, as they cheered on their scorer.

“Whoa, I think we might have our work cut out for us guys,” Caster said, witnessing the near instant defeat.

“You said it, Caster, I was not expecting that from Cloud Heart,” Gadget said, his hand slightly shaking from the power in that serve.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I forgot to tell you how strong she can be sometimes,” he said, thinking back to the ridiculous feats she had pulled off in the past.

“All in favor of never underestimating Cloud Heart again say aye,” Glitch said, raising a hand.

“Aye,” all the stallions replied, raising their hands as well.

“All right guys, it’s one to nothing. Let’s see if you can’t make a comeback,” Windie Light said, drawing their attention back to the game.

“Don’t worry, we’re not down and out just yet,” Bard said, raising his team’s morale.

“Good, it’d be boring if we won too easily,” Skull Candy said, getting ready to serve again.

With that she hurled the ball up and sent it flying towards the other team. Gadget passed it over to D3, who then sent it back over to the mare’s side. Ivory and Windie were the next to step up as they seemed to pass the ball back and forth between each other and the other mares. The guys were kept waiting for something happened when the ball was suddenly tossed over to Anima who served it back to the stallions with great force. The ball almost hit the water before Yoshi rushed in and knocked it into the air, allowing Bard a chance to serve it back in full, managing to hit into the water on the mares side.

“WWOOOO!!!” the stallions shouted, managing to score back.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Caster said, amazed at their teamwork.

“Surprised you managed to keep up, boys,” Ivory stated, flashing a flirtatious grin. “I thought you’d be a little distracted by something else.”

“As if,” Yoshi replied, feeling insulted. “I’ve dealt with enough strategies like that to see that coming a mile away.”

“Oh yeah? Well I’ve still got a few more tricks up my sleeves,” Windie said, feeling ready for more.

“Then bring it on!” Glitch exclaimed, serving the ball back over.

And so the game continued on, both teams passing the ball back and forth and scoring every now and then. About an hour passed when they reached the tie breaker match, both teams at nine points.

“Last match, you girls ready?” Mia Hairspray said, looking back at her team.

“Yeah!” the mares all responded, getting ready.

“Don’t think we’re letting you win that easily,” Caster stated, grinning as he kept tossing the volleyball in his hand.

“Well then quit yer yappin’ and show us what you got,” Strawberry Rose said, egging him on.

“Done and done,” he replied, throwing the ball in the air and sending it forward with his fist.

Spring was the first one to act, quickly racing towards her target. She went and passed it on over to Stawberry Rose, where she sent it flying towards Glitch. He managed to jump back enough to backhand the ball back to their opponents’ field, right before splashing into the water. The ball traveled a few feet into the air where Skull had flown up to. With a mighty slap of the hand she brought it right back down to Earth. However, she miscalculated the amount of force she had used, which Caster Forge soon found out as the volleyball beaned him straight in the face. He was knocked unconscious as he fell back into the pool. Slowly, he descended to the bottom. For a moment they all waited, wondering if he was going to awaken and come back up to the surface. A couple of bubbles rising up showed the opposite of what they had hoped for.

“Caster!” Yoshi yelled out, diving in after him.

“Oh sweet Celestia, what did I do!?” Skull exclaimed, going after him as well.

Everyone could only watch as their friend kept sinking into the deep end of the pool. The two Pegasi swam as fast as they could and soon managed to grab him before he got to the bottom. They swiftly brought him back up to the surface and pulled him out of the water onto the concrete floor. All of the ponies got out as well, surrounding the three but giving them some space. Yoshi did a quick check up on Caster.

“His heart rate’s fine but he isn’t breathing! Quick, does anypony know CPR?” he asked frantically, worried about his friend.

“I do, move!” Anima said, rushing over to Caster’s side.

Remembering what to do, she began checking for any blockages in his airway. Once that was done she held his nose shut with one hand while opening his mouth with the other. Throwing all nervous inhibitions out the window, Anima pressed her lips against his and started breathing air into his lungs. It only took about five blows before Caster’s eyes shot open and he coughed up water until he was able to properly breathe again. When he finally settled he looked around to find all of his friends surrounding him with relieved expressions. His gaze then fell upon Anima, who was already starting to tear up. Before Caster could say a word he found himself wrapped in a tight hug from Anima.

“Welcome back, knucklehead,” she spoke softly, letting a few drops run down her cheeks as she smiled.

“You’re pretty lucky, Cast, you weren’t breathing when Skull and I pulled you out,” Yoshi said, letting him know what happened. “Be glad Anima here knew CPR, otherwise I don’t know if you would’ve made it.”

Caster merely looked back and forth between Yoshi and Anima, who was keeping a tight hold on him. Realizing what she surely did to help him, the series of the days’ blushes continued once more on his cheeks.

“Caster, I’m really sorry for hitting you in the head like that,” Skull Candy suddenly spoke up, breaking his thought process. “It was an accident, honest. I shouldn’t have gone so far with my strength. I’m really, really, really sor-”

“Skull, calm down, it’s okay,” Caster said, cutting her off. “I’m okay now, that’s what’s important and I understand. It was just an accident after all, I can’t be mad at you for something that happened out of your control.”

“I-I see,” Skull said, rubbing her arm timidly.

“And, Anima, thank you for saving me,” he said, holding her to him. “I’m glad you took the initiative to help me in my time of need. You really are an amazing student, and an even more amazing friend. So please don’t cry, I hate seeing you like this. You don’t ever have to worry about me, because until I get you into the sky I’m not going anywhere.”

Everyone around them only watched as Anima kept crying, yet her smile never went away. She and Caster held each other for about another minute or so before standing up and separating, as she wiped away her remaining tears.

“So, I-I think we should probably call it a day,” Anima said, sniffling a little.

“Good call, you both look like you could use some rest,” Digi said, the rest of the group nodding in agreement.

With that they all began packing up their stuff. After putting away all the pool toys and getting back into their normal attire, everyone started heading home one by one. That left Caster, who had stuck around to rest for a bit before leaving, which Anima insisted upon. When he felt like he was all better he decided to get home before his parent’s started worrying. Anima gave him one last hug before he left, looking forward to seeing him again on Monday, and they both departed. As Caster walked back to his home, one thought was very clear to him.

“Today was certainly more exciting than I expected,” he said, smiling to himself.
> Chapter 5: Birthday Wishes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	The leaves that adorned the trees of the Royal Canterlot Garden waved about in the soft breeze that flowed past them. The same went for the flowers, bushes, and the rest of the plant life that surrounded the area. Even some of the birds and critters chirped at how great the wind felt on them. It was a perfect scene of peace and tranquility. Though the moment did not last long as a large figure made his way through the tree tops, using his wings to keep him afloat. Caster Forge hopped from one tree to another, with swift ease, until he stopped at a tree with several thick branches. After he wiped a bit of sweat from his brow, Caster turned around to see his ‘student’, who attempted the same performance as him.

Anima Memoriae carefully leapt from branch to branch, trying to maintain her balance. Her wings helped to give her the extra speed she needed, but not enough to make her as fast as Caster. She stopped a few feet away from her teacher before speaking.

“How is this… supposed to help… with flying again?” Anima asked, trying to catch her breath in between words.

“As I said before, one of the most important attributes when it comes to flying is agility. A Pegasus needs to be able to change their direction of flight at a moment’s notice, usually when a dangerous situation occurs,” Caster stated, doing his best to inform her. “This exercise is meant to help you gain a better understanding of what it feels like. Plus, using your wings to increase your speed will make you have to change your course all the more quicker.”

“I see. But why do we have to do this from so high up exactly?” she asked, wondering how this would affect her lessons.

“Makes for better training. You have to time your jumps just right otherwise, well, I think you get the idea,” Caster replied, hoping she would understand his reasons.

“Yeah, I believe so,” Anima said, sarcastically as she gave an exasperated sigh.

“Don’t worry, we’re almost done. Just reach me and we’ll call it a day,” he said, trying to motivate her.

“Sweet, that’s all the motivation I needed,” she spoke, getting ready for her last sprint.

Anima looked across the branches that would serve as her foothold and mentally prepared herself for the leap. However her gaze drifted down to the ground that was several feet below and she felt a little dizzy. Lately Caster’s training and exercises seemed to be taking place among relatively high altitudes. It made her nervous nearly every time, as she was not completely used to such heights. But Anima quickly shook off her hesitation as she focused again on the matter at hand. After all, if she was going to be flying one day, she’d have to deal with heights like every other Pegasus.

After taking a deep breath, Anima began her dash across the branches. It was going well until she mistimed one of her jumps, which caused her to lose her footing and slipped on the branch she landed on. She nearly fell over, but felt her descent halted as something grabbed her arm. She looked up to see Caster, who had sprinted over to her, holding her arm and smiling.

“Geez, what is it with me always having to save you from falling lately?” he said, holding back a chuckle as he helped her up.

“Hey, it’s not easy doing this you know, especially since I’m relatively new to all this,” Anima said, getting back up onto the branch. “Besides I remember a certain somepony needing me to save them a few weeks ago.”

“Well excuse me, Princess, for getting whacked in the face with a volleyball,” he retorted, taking on a slightly stern tone.

The two of them stayed silent for a moment, letting their arguments sink in. It eventually turned into fits of laughter as they recalled the events from beforehand. When it all died down they returned to their usual spot in the garden and started packing up their stuff.

“So, Anima, did you have fun today?” Caster asked, continuing his packing.

“Absolutely! It’s not often that I get a chance to leap through trees like that, even for the sake of learning,” she said, still full of energy from earlier.

“That’s good to hear, these lessons would get kind of boring if we didn’t have a little fun after all,” Caster stated, glad to know his teaching wasn’t too much of a burden on her.

“Though really I should be asking you that question. Because I know this has all been a lot for you to take on,” Anima said, not wanting this all to be a hassle for him.

“Of course I am. Sure it’s a bit more work on my part, but the fact that I’m helping somepony certainly makes up for it. Plus you’ve helped liven up my days ever since we started hanging out, so it’s definitely worth it,” Caster explained, letting her know their time together has been well spent.

“Sweet,” Anima said as she held up a hand for a high five, which he graciously returned.

“So, what have you got planned for the weekend?” Caster asked, as he finished packing.

“Well not much, just a little party is all,” she said, holding in her excitement.

“Oh really, what’s the occasion?” Caster asked, wondering what was getting her so excited.

“Nothing special, just my birthday is all!” Anima exclaimed, happily jumping up and down.

“Wow, cool! I assume I’m invited of course,” Caster claimed, knowing the answer.

“Definitely, and your friends as well! I hope your brother and Hotpop will be able to join too,” Anima said, wanting to see them all again.

“I think they might be able to make it. But I’ll still have to check with them of course,” he said, wondering if they had any free time for the weekend.

“I see. Well if they can’t attend, that’s fine. I wouldn’t want to interfere with their busy lives cause of my own,” she said, looking slightly disheartened.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure they still want to see you again. They’re your friends as well you know,” Caster said, trying to cheer her up.

“That’s good to hear,” Anima said, as she finished packing up her own supplies. “So I’ll definitely see you at my place on Sunday, right?”

“Absolutely, and I’ll be sure to bring an army of friends with me as well,” Caster replied, letting her know what would be coming.

“Awesome!” she said, giving Caster a quick hug before leaving. “Later!”

“See you there,” he stated, as she went into the castle.

Caster stood where he was in the gardens, almost as still as a statue. He had a look of pure horror on his face as a single thought clouded the rest of his brain.

‘What in the hay am I supposed to get her for her birthday!?’ he thought, beginning to panic.


===============================================================


And so Caster spent the entire day afterwards running and flying around Canterlot, trying to find the right gift to get for Anima. Of course he let his friends and family know so they could get their own gifts. They even offered to do all their shopping together to get it all done faster. Also because Gadget said it would keep them all from buying the same gift. Caster was, of course, very grateful for all of them helping him out with this endeavor.

The next day, after everything had been taken care of, he and his friends went in the familiar route towards Anima’s home. The area had looked the same as last time. The only difference now was that the blazing heat wave had finally passed, allowing everyone to wear their usual attire. As they all got closer to their destination, with presents in tow, Caster decided to speak up.

“I’m glad you all could make it to the party. Also thanks again for helping me with gift shopping, I almost didn’t know what to get her,” he stated, holding up the wrapped gift.

“Of course, Caster, after all I couldn’t just leave my little brother hanging like that,” Jack Spirit said, everyone else around them nodding their heads.

“Yeah! Besides, I haven’t seen Anima in quite a while. I’ve been meaning to catch up with her,” Hotpop said, thinking of how her newest friend must’ve been doing.

“She said the same thing about the both of you. I’m sure you’ll both have a lot to talk with her about,” Caster said.

“Hey don’t forget about us, Cast,” Glitch stated, putting him into a playful headlock.

“Trust me, Glitch, you guys make it hard to do that,” he retorted, causing everyone to start laughing as he tried getting out of the headlock.

“Well I’m just looking forward to hanging around with Anima and her friends again,” Yoshi said, remembering the earlier party. “They’re certainly livelier than us.”

“That’s for sure, particularly Cloud Heart,” Gadget said, remembering her antics. “Sometimes it scares me to think about all that energy she has stored up.”

“Indeed. From what I’ve heard, Princess Twilight has to deal with a friend similar to that. I guess ponies like her are more common than we think,” Caster stated, wondering if those two might even be related.

“Right. Well, I’m sure that they’ve missed hanging out with you too, Caster. One of them more than the rest,” Digi said, knowing that he got his meaning.

“Well, when you spend over three months learning from somepony, you’re bound to enjoy their company a little. Also, we aren’t like that!” he retorted, his face red with embarrassment and annoyance.

They all just started laughing again, seeing Caster get all worked up. Though he didn’t want to admit it, Caster did feel something for Anima. After all, she did save his life not too long ago. But even then he still didn’t know what to make of these feelings, because he knew that gratitude for deeds could cloud his judgment. He’s dealt with that situation once or twice in the past. But either way, he was still grateful for what Anima had done for him, and she would always be one of his closest of friends.

When the moment had died down, they all continued moving forward to the party. As they all arrived at the home of Equestria’s newest Princess, there was one addition that everyone immediately noticed. Out in the front yard was a large wooden stage with a red curtain, and several chairs lined up before it. There were also about three or four ponies that Caster, nor his friends, did not recognize, who were helping to set up lights and supplies around the stage. It was all a bit surprising, they had not expected Anima, or perhaps her parents, to go through so much effort for her birthday party. Just then, the aforementioned mare and her parents, along with her friends, exited the house and saw the large group of ponies waiting outside the front gate.

“Hey everyone, good to see you all again!” Anima Memoriae declared, running up to them and opening the gate for them.

For a moment Caster expected her to give him one of her usual hugs whenever they hung out. Though he was slightly surprised when her direction veered off towards Hotpop, as she wrapped her in one of her own bone-breaking hugs.

“Hotpop, I’ve missed you so much! It’s been too long!” Anima said, keeping up the hug.

“Same here, Anima. I haven’t seen you since the coronation,” Hotpop said, doing her best to hug her back.

“Oh and Jack, it’s nice seeing you as well. How are things going for you up at the castle?” she asked, releasing Hotpop.

“It’s going well, a few of my patients are starting to get better. And it’s a pleasure to meet you again too,” he said, giving her a hand shake.

“And don’t think I forgot about you, Caster. I’m very glad you and all of your friends could make it,” Anima said, giving him a gentler hug.

“I’m glad I could make it as well, Anima,” Caster said, returning the hug.

“My, my, you two seem to be getting along well,” Mia Hairspray pointed out, she and her other friends showing up behind her.

“Mia, it wasn’t like that!” Anima stated, her cheeks turning red as she broke the hug.

“I don’t know, it certainly seemed ‘like that’ to me,” Bard said, giving a cheeky grin along with his associates.

“Oh don’t you guys start again either,” Caster said, matching his student’s blushing face.

“What? We all can’t have a little fun teasing our friends?” Skull Candy claimed, everyone else agreeing and chuckling.

As the debate went on, most of it ending in laughter and teasing, a figure had appeared at the front gate. He was an earth pony stallion with dark-red fur, a bright brown mane and tail which was relatively short, green eyes and a green cap atop his head. The mysterious pony made his presence known as he cleared his throat.

“Excuse me, but I’m not too late for the party am I?” the stallion asked, holding up a neatly wrapped present.

“Davey, you made it,” Anima said, greeting him as she let him in.

“As if I’d ever miss my friend’s birthday party,” Davey Joe said, smiling as he met up with everyone there.

“Right, well I’m still happy you could come. There’s also somepony I wanted you to meet,” she said, as she went and brought one of her friends over. “Davey, I’d like you to meet my best friend and teacher, Caster Forge.”

“Ah, so you’re the one she’s told me about. You’ve been teaching her how to fly as I recall,” Davey said, starting the conversation.

“Indeed I have, and she’s mentioned you from time to time as well. I heard that you two were together for a little while,” Caster said, remembering what she had said about him.

“True, though I have to admit it’s kind of my fault our relationship ended the way it did. Just got too caught up in my work I suppose. I did try to rekindle the romance at one point but by then it was too late,” he explained, as he scratched his head and looked away in embarrassment.

“Hey I’m not going to hold it against you or anything. It just didn’t work out between us,” Anima spoke up, hoping he wasn’t still upset by it all.

“Well as long as we’re friends, that’s more than enough for me,” Davey said, before he turned his attention back to Caster. “And I hope we can become friends as well, Caster.”

“Absolutely, Davey,” he said, bringing him into a mutual hug.

“Take good care of her, she means a lot to me,” Davey whispered, making sure only Caster heard his message.

Before Caster could ask what me meant by that, a green unicorn mare with a long black mane came up to the large group of ponies.

“Excuse me everypony, I hate to interrupt, but Mr. Turbo says that the show will be starting in about five minutes. So please take your seats,” she said, breaking up the conversation.

“Well we certainly don’t want to keep our son waiting. He can get very impatient when he’s made to wait for anything,” Celly Script said, remembering what he was like in his younger years.

“Ugh, please don’t remind me,” Anima said, before turning back to her friends. “But either way I hope you guys enjoy the show. Topsy works very hard to make his performances special.”

“I’m sure we will, Anima. No doubt it’ll be an extravaganza,” Glitch stated, as he and everyone else began taking their seats.

Once everyone was seated, Caster and Anima sitting together in the front row, a stallion’s voice rang out over the speakers on the stage.

“Good afternoon, mares and gentlecolts! We’re glad to see so many of you have turned out for today’s special performance for Equestria’s newest Princess. We’ve all worked hard these last few months prepping this show and hope that you’ll all enjoy it. Now, without further ado, let’s all give a round of applause to the star of our show: Topsy ‘Turvy’ Turbo!”

At that moment, the curtains were pulled back and a large cloud of colorful smoke exploded on the stage, some of it spilling over. When it dissipated, three ponies were revealed. One of them was the unicorn mare from earlier with a mare next to her that looked identical to her. And in between them, with a yellow mane and tail, light-blue fur, and green eyes, was Topsy Turbo himself. All three ponies were wearing white and black colored skin-tight outfits.

“Hello everypony! Who here’s ready for a show?” Topsy exclaimed, earning a loud cheer from them in response. “Good, because I promised my lovely sister a show she’d never forget, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. So to start off, I figured I’d go with one of my favorites. If my assistants would be so kind as to bring out the supplies, we may begin.”

With that, the two mares went off in opposite directions while Topsy moved back a little. They came back shortly with several clubs held in their hands. They waited until he gave them the signal, which came in the form of him extending his wings and arms, and they began tossing clubs toward him. Then, with excellent precision and timing, Topsy began juggling all the clubs. He started with simply juggling them into the air above him, then when he got the right momentum he juggled them back to his assistants. In turn they began juggling them as well and returning them to him. In only about a minute, several clubs were being juggled and tossed back and forth between the three ponies. Even more amazing was that Topsy Turbo wasn’t even looking at the two mares apart from him, his gaze glued solely on the audience.

Said audience had been cheering him on throughout the show. Some of them clapping, others whistling or shouting. But no matter what it never deterred Topsy from his performance. He even sped it up a bit, the clubs turning into vague blurs flying through the air. It kept going on until a spotlight came on, pointing at a large moving red bucket that hung on a wire above Topsy. Upon noticing the spotlight and what it meant, he started tossing the clubs into the air in different directions. Everyone in the audience watched as, one by one, each of the clubs found their way into the bucket. And with a final throw the last club had made it in and the audience cheered the three ponies as they took a bow.

“Thank you, thank you, I hope you all enjoyed that one. Because that was only just a warm up,” Topsy said, as he flew up into the air.

The two mares went off to the sides again, each grabbing a large basket filled with dozens of juggling balls, as two large towers were wheeled in on either side of the stage. Turbo’s assistants climbed up the ladders on the tower until they reached the platforms on top of them.

“All right everypony, now it’s time for something a little more advanced!” he exclaimed, stretching out his arms while still in the air. “It’s a routine I invented myself, so pay close attention or else you might miss it.”

Once he finished talking, the Unicorn mares atop the platforms reached into the baskets on their backs and commenced throwing several colorful balls at him. At first, Topsy simply juggled them with his hands, throwing them even higher into the air. But as time went on, everyone in the audience noticed he never threw the balls back at his assistants. And so the number of balls he was juggling kept on rising. Then, at a certain point, Topsy started twirling his body around, continuing to juggle the balls. Though now, he was not only doing it with his arms, but with his legs and even his wings as well. Soon he was juggling every single ball that was thrown at him, looking like a blur as he moved his body in time to catch each one. All the ponies, even his assistants, oohed and awed at the stunt he was pulling off.

“Wow, I didn’t expect your brother to be able to do something like that,” Caster Forge said, turning his gaze to Anima.

“I know, right!? This is just incredible, I can’t believe he’s been on the road doing stuff like this all the time,” Anima exclaimed, mesmerized by her brother’s display.

“Well I’m sure he’ll enjoy hearing you say that when this is all over,” Caster said, looking back at the acrobat on stage.

“Trust me, he’ll get more than enough praise from everypony here,” Anima stated, knowing everyone was just as amazed as she was.

After a few more minutes of juggling, Topsy began tossing the balls back at his assistants. However he was aiming them at the baskets themselves, all of them finding their way inside. In only a short amount of time, he had managed to get all the balls back where they belonged. Right on cue, the audience applauded him and his associates on his performance as he floated back down and took another bow.

“Thank you all once again. But it’s not over just yet, there’s still plenty more to come,” Topsy said, as more ponies stepped onto the stage.


===============================================================


About half an hour had passed since Turbo’s epic juggling performance. From that time, he and the rest of his compatriots had pulled off many types of acrobatic stunts. From trapeze swinging to tightrope walking they continued to dazzle and amaze their audience. At the end of it, the performers gathered at the front of the stage and gave one last bow as the crowd stood up from their seats and applauded them. When it was all said and done, the curtains covered the stage as everyone in the audience conversed about the spectacular show they had witnessed.

“Wowie zowie! Anima, your brother is way more amazing than I thought he was,” Cloud Heart declared, more astonished than most of the group.

“Yeah, he certainly was something, I’ll give him that,” Windie Light said, surprised by Anima’s brother.

“Well you know my brother, he’s always been the wild one of our family. I was surprised when he actually found a way to put that part of him to something like this,” Anima stated, remembering the day he set out on the road.

“I can tell he certainly made a good choice in career,” Caster said, still amazed by the performance.

“That I did buddy. Not only for the money, but also to see the smiling faces of the ponies I entertain,” Topsy said, showing up with his entourage, all of them wearing more comfortable clothing.

“Indeed, that was quite a performance. The name’s Caster, by the way,” he said, holding out a hand for him to shake.

“Ah yes, I’ve read about you in Anima’s letters. Though I doubt she’ll be able to do the same stuff as I can with her wings,” Topsy replied, returning the gesture.

“Hey, I only got these things like a few months ago! You’ve had them your whole life,” Anima retorted, irritated at her younger brother’s comment.

“Good point,” he said, sticking his tongue out at his sister teasingly. “But in all seriousness, Caster, thank you for helping out my sister. I would have done it myself but I’m just too busy with performances and on the road for at least months at a time.”

“It’s no problem, Topsy, I’m glad to help out anypony in need. It’s a curse, I’m afraid,” Caster said, earning a chuckle from everypony.

“Oh my gosh, that show you put on was amazing!” Cloud Heart declared, suddenly rushing up to Topsy with great speed.

“Oh um, thanks. Cloud Heart, I believe your name was?” he asked, blushing by how close she was.

“You know me? Are you psychic?” she pondered, going into a talking frenzy. “Because I’ve heard of a few ponies who can do that and they usually like to live on the road so is that why you’re always on the road because you shouldn’t have to go so far away just to let others know about your-”

“Actually, Anima’s told me about you, and the rest of her friends as well,” Topsy clarified, gaining her attention.

“Ooohh, I see. Never mind then,” Cloud said, moving back a bit. “But still that was a really awesome performance.”

“Well I’m glad you enjoyed it, we all worked hard to get the routine memorized,” he stated, his crew nodding in agreement.

“And it certainly paid off. I’ve loved these kinds of shows ever since I was a little filly, and I can say yours is one of the best,” Cloud said, giving them praise for their efforts.

“Seems like we have ourselves a new fan,” Topsy Turbo said, his blush returning as an idea popped into his head. “You know, if you want, I can teach you a few tricks that I’ve learned.”

“Really? That’s so sweet of you, thanks, Topsy!” she exclaimed, wrapping him in her trademark death hugs.

Before Topsy could have anymore of his ribs broken, Anima’s parents interrupted by saying that it was time to move on to the party itself. Everyone agreed and one by one they all went into the house, bringing their gifts in with them. As anyone would expect from your usual birthday party, the inside of the home was covered in decorations. Several balloons had floated up to the ceiling, covering it in a multitude of colors. Streamers lined the walls and even had a few smaller decorations. Even the floor was covered in small bits of confetti, which was being shuffled around as everyone walked inside. And in the very back of the room was a large banner hanging from the ceiling that read, in capital letters, ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANIMA!’.

All in all, it certainly looked like Celly and Zen went all out to make this party special for their daughter. Even when it came to catering and entertainment. There were different types of foods and snacks adorning the counters in the kitchen. Things such as chips and salsa, vegetable and fruit platters, several kinds of sandwiches, and an assortment of beverages. The living room looked like it had been completely transformed. Most of the furniture had been moved around to make room for all the games that had taken up residence. Such as pin the tail on the pony, a game system with several video games lined up, spin the bottle, and even a piñata that was magically crafted to look like Anima’s cutie mark.

“Whoa, I can’t remember the last time I’ve been to a party like this before,” Caster stated, looking at all the décor surrounding them.

“Me neither,” Yoshi Ringo said, everypony else agreeing.

“Well don’t just stand around, then. Let’s party!” Anima declared, as everypony shouted with glee.

The party began in earnest as Anima’s and Caster’s friends, and even Topsy’s crew members went around and started having fun. At one end were Strawberry Rose, Davey, and Mia taking part in the pin the tail game. With the red earth pony currently blindfolded.

“Come on Strawberry, you’re almost there,” Davey said, encouraging his friend.

“Just a few more steps, dear,” Mia said, doing the same.

“All right, all right, just give me a moment,” Strawberry said, slowly taking one step at a time with the pinned-tail in her hand.

She kept moving closer toward the wall, being careful with every step she took. Though not enough it seemed as she tripped on her own feet and fell forward. Strawberry nearly hit the ground but luckily Davey Joe managed to catch her in time.

“Whew, that was a close one. You okay?” he asked, noticing her blindfold had been moved aside, revealing her light green eyes.

“Um, y-yes thank you,” she replied, her cheeks turning an even darker shade of red as she stood up.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Yoshi, Digi Doodle, Spring Sunglow, and Skull Candy were snacking on some of the food that had been laid out.

“Mmm, this is some of the best salsa I’ve had in a long time,” Digi stated, after gulping down a chip covered in the spicy dip.

“Though not as good as these sandwiches they made,” Yoshi said, taking a bite out of the aforementioned food.

“They really did do a nice job making all this food for everypony,” Spring said, grabbing a few veggies from the platter.

“Yeah, you two seem to be enjoying yourselves,” Skull said, as she drank down some soda pop.

“Indeed, we’ve always been known for being the food lovers of our group,” Digi claimed, as he brought a bit more food onto his plate.

“Though for you, D3, that love seems to revolve mostly around tacos,” Yoshi said, knowing all about his favorite food.

“Hey, my life doesn’t revolve solely around tacos! Plus I recall a certain somepony going gaga over sandwiches,” he retorted, with a sly grin.

“Well that’s only because they have more variety,” Yoshi replied, stating his claim.

As the two stallions continued their debate, with Skull and Spring watching from the sidelines, out in the backyard Topsy Turbo was showing Cloud Heart a few juggling tricks.

“Wow, Cloud, you really seem to have a knack for this,” he said, as he watched her juggle five balls in the air.

“Thanks, I’ve always had a lot of energy for some reason, and it comes in handy for things like this. Especially for when I’m handling clouds,” Cloud said, letting the balls fall back into her arms.

“I see. You know, we could use somepony like you in our act. But that’s completely up to you, of course,” Topsy said, a hint of blush on his cheeks.

“Maybe, I mean I still have my job at the weather factory and I’d hate to leave my friends,” she said, thinking it over as her own face started to turn red. “Although, maybe I could start coming to your shows from now on.”

“That’d work too. Although I’d have to make sure my sister’s friends receive the best treatment,” he said, giving her a wink.

While Cloud Heart thanked him for his kindness with another death hug, the party continued on back inside, where everybody else was settled around the TV, playing different games at a time. Currently they were playing Trot Trot Revolution, which was using one of DJ-PON 3’s latest songs.

“Come on, Glitch you’ve got this,” Bard exclaimed, watching his friend bust a move.

“Easier said than done,” he replied, doing his best to keep up with the beat and his opponent, Ivory Dancer.

“If anyone’s got the beat down it’s Ivory here,” Windie stated, seeing her moves.

“Isn’t that the truth,” Ivory said, slowly outdoing her opponent.

The song was close to over when the screen went fuzzy for a moment, breaking the player’s concentration. Though for Glitch, this proved an opportune moment as he was able to use his talent to predict the pattern of the steps and able to match them before the screen turned to normal. It was at that point that the song came to a conclusion and showed that Ivory had lost with Glitch winning by only a few points.

“Oh come on, that was so unfair!” Ivory stated, glaring at Glitch.

“Hey I can’t help that I was born with this gift on convenience,” he replied, sticking his tongue out teasingly.

“Yeah? Then let’s see if you can try that on this one,” she said, picking out a more advanced tune with a sinister grin.

“You’re on,” Glitch said, getting ready for more.

As the two continued their sudden rivalry, Caster, Anima, Jack, and Hotpop decided to take a break and, after gathering some refreshments from the kitchen, seated themselves at the dining room table.

“Well, Anima, I must say this is one impressive party your parents threw together,” Jack Spirit said, as he took a sip from his glass of red punch.

“Indeed, I didn’t ask them to go this far just for me. But when I told them I was going to be having so many friends over they said they wanted to make it all the more special,” she said, taking a bite out of a hay wrapped pickle, her favorite.

“Though I wasn’t expecting your brother to make such a huge performance,” Caster stated, eating an assortment of fruits and vegetables.

“Neither did I. I thought he was just going to do a small show, like one of those birthday party magicians. But I guess Topsy is just full of surprises like always,” Anima said, remembering all his earlier tricks.

“So, Anima, how’ve you been lately? My little brother in law isn’t giving you too much trouble with your flying lessons is he?” Hotpop asked, wondering how things were going between them.

“Hey, have a little trust in me why don’t ya? I’m at least a kinder flying instructor than our dad. He always tried pushing me to be the best at a young age,” Caster retorted.

“Though to be fair our father was raised in Cloudsdale, and everypony knows that all the serious fliers come from there,” Jack added, knowing their father only meant the best, though was glad he was born a Unicorn.

“That’s true I guess,” Caster said, before realizing what had just occurred. “Oh, I’m sorry, Anima, I guess I interrupted your reply back there.”

“It’s fine, Caster, no harm done,” Anima said, assuring that he was fine. “But to answer your question, Hotpop, things have been going pretty well. Princess Luna has been teaching me some new spells that I never even knew were possible. I’ve even been catching up on all the deeds and treaties that have been set up over the years. And as for the flying lessons, they’ve been more fun than I thought possible. Caster certainly has a talent when it comes to making obstacles and training exercises. Why yesterday I even got to hop through trees!”

“Whoa, I didn’t think you’d be that good at teaching, Caster,” Hotpop said, looking admittedly surprised.

“Well, my few times being a guest speaker at my old school have given me a bit of experience. Plus my morning flights have helped me become a better flier on my own. To tell you the truth, I’m just as surprised as both of you that this turned out so well,” he replied, taking a bite from a strawberry.

“Nonsense, you’re a great teacher, Caster! I knew you would be after our first lesson together. If it weren’t for you, I would probably still be fumbling around trying to get these things to work,” Anima stated, giving her wings a few quick flaps.

“I doubt it, the real great wonder here is you, Anima. You’ve gotten the hang of flying more quickly than any other Pegasus that I know of. I don’t know if it’s because you’re an Alicorn now or if you’re just really skilled at this but you’re exceeding my expectations. Hay, if this keeps up, you might even be ready within the next few months or so. The point is, this never would’ve been possible without your amazing determination and drive,” Caster said, thinking back on all the hard work she’s accomplished in the last few months.

“Wow um, thanks, Caster. It really means a lot to hear you say that,” Anima said, blushing as she twirled a bit of fruit around on her plate.

“No problem, teachers often give their students some form of praise after all,” Caster said, unaware of how his words really affected her.

“Hey guys, come over here, we’re about to play truth or dare. It’s going to be fun!” Cloud Heart said, sneaking up and surprising them before zipping back to where the rest of their friends were.

“Ooh I love this game!” Anima exclaimed, as she got up from her seat.

“Eh, I haven’t played it since I was a colt. Might as well give it a shot,” Caster said, following the mare.

Jack and Hotpop simply shrugged as they followed suit and ended up sitting in a large circle with all the other guests with a large, clear and colorless, bottle in the center.

“So, who wants to go first?” Bard asked, wondering who would take the initiative.

“I’ll go, haven’t done this in years,” Glitch said, reaching out and spinning the bottle until it stopped in front of Jack Spirit. “All right, Jack, truth or dare?”

“Hmmm… I’ll go with truth,” he said, ready for any question he would ask.

“Let’s see, since you were a soldier, have you ever been in an actual battle before?” Glitch asked, curious about his work.

“Once or twice when I was still a new recruit,” Jack answered, with ease. “It was mostly just settling scuffles started by some troublemakers. Nowadays I keep the fighting to a minimum, mostly helping other soldiers deal with past trauma. My turn now.”

With that, Jack made the bottle spin once more. It kept on going until it pointed towards Cloud Heart.

“Cloud Heart, truth or dare?”

“Ooh, ooh, dare!” she exclaimed, prepared for whatever he might think of.

“I dare you, to hold your breath for two whole minutes,” Jack said, grinning ear to ear.

“Is that all? Easy,” Cloud said, taking a deep breath and holding it with her cheeks puffed out.

Everyone watched and waited as Cloud kept holding her breath, seemingly easy at first. Although, as they passed the first minute, her face started to looked strained and even changed color a little. A small bead of sweat trickled down the side of her head. They were nearing the two minute mark when Cloud heart couldn’t take it anymore and let out the breath of air and fell back onto the floor. Everyone burst out in laughter seeing her failed attempt. When she recovered from her lack of oxygen, she even started laughing along with them. After everything had settled down, Cloud spun the bottle and watched as it landed in front of Caster.

“So, Cast, what’s it going to be? Truth or dare?” she asked, with a mischievous smile on her lips.

“Meh, truth I guess,” Caster replied, wondering what questions she had in mind that she hadn’t already asked him in the past.

“All right then, tell me: have you ever kissed a mare before?” Cloud asked, looking as innocent as possible.

That seemed to answer Caster’s question, as well as put him into a tight situation as his face turned crimson red. He had always felt uncomfortable talking about his love life, even among his close friends. As well, he had yet to tell his newest friends about that part of his life, mostly because he didn’t feel it was worth mentioning. Now that one of them had actually asked him, and in one of the worst scenarios possible, Caster was left tongue-tied.

“W-well, uh I mean, i-it’s just so personal,” he stuttered out, looking like a nervous wreck. “But, t-to tell the truth, I’ve actually n-nev-”

“Hey everypony, it’s time to cut the cake,” a voice said, from the kitchen.

Everyone in the circle looked to see Celly Script coming out of the kitchen, holding a large cake, with Zen Wheeler standing beside her.

“Oh yeah, right, don’t want to keep the birthday girl waiting after all,” Caster said, nervously as he stood up along with a few others.

About half of their group was a bit perplexed when he dropped the subject of their game so suddenly. But they decided not to pry any further into it, figuring it was a topic he wasn’t comfortable talking about. So they all simply followed him and Anima’s parents to the dining room table, where Anima sat at the head of the table and the rest of her friends and family either sat in the available chairs or stood up. Anima took a moment to examine her cake, which had white frosting and several candles adorning it. On top of it was crudely drawn image of Anima flying through the sky, drawn in icing, as well as red lettering that read: Happy 23rd Birthday Anima Memoriae! As she finished examining her cake, everyone around her began to sing.

“Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Anima. Happy Birthday to you!” they all held the last note of the song for a few more seconds before clapping.

“Well what are you waiting for, my dear? Go on and blow out the candles,” Mia said, encouraging her.

“Yeah, and don’t forget to make a wish too!” Cloud Heart stated, looking giddy in anticipation.

‘A wish huh?’ Anima thought to herself. ‘I don’t know what to wish for actually. Life has been pretty good lately, and now that I have so many friends it’s hard to say what I really want most now.’

At that thought, she looked around the room to see all her friends looking at her expectantly. But then her eyes fell on one pony in particular and after a moment she knew exactly what she wanted. So, taking a deep breath, she blew out the candles in one go and everybody cheered. When it was over, Celly started cutting up the cake, giving Anima the first piece of course. Everyone then ate their own slices and began chatting among one another.

“Mmm, strawberry flavored, my fave,” Caster stated, savoring the small bite of cake.

“Glad you like it, Caster! It’s one of my favorites too,” Anima responded, digging into her piece.

“Well ain’t it a small world,” he said, causing both of them to laugh.

“But in all seriousness, I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself. I like it when all my friends are having fun when we’re together,” Anima said, after finishing her cake.

“Are you kidding? I was already having plenty of fun when it came to teaching you. But now that I get a chance to hang out with all of you as well, and to put in the words of Princess Luna herself, the fun has certainly been doubled!” Caster said, making her chuckle in response.

“That’s good to hear. Though I hope our lessons won’t get too boring for you after a while,” Anima said, wondering what was to come in the future.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of different ideas in mind,” Caster replied, giving her a sly wink.

“All right, everypony, I believe now is the time for the birthday girl to open her presents,” Zen said, bringing the first of many presents over to his daughter.

The rest followed in earnest as they began piling up their gifts on the table in front of her. Not knowing which one to open first, she just grabbed one at random. The first was a thick rectangular object wrapped in intricate blue wrapping paper which was labeled from Bard. Carefully peeling it away, it revealed a book with a title at the top that read, ‘Curse of the Werepony’.

“I remember you saying you wanted to check some of my books out, so I thought I’d get you one as a gift,” Bard stated, hoping she’d like it.

“Well thank you, Bard, I’ll be sure to read it when I can,” Anima said, putting the book down and reaching for the next gift.

It was a bit bigger than the first one and was wrapped in brilliantly styled red and black wrapping paper. The tag on the side of it said that it was from Mia. Anima opened up the package, finding what looked like a beauty kit inside.

“Wow thanks, Mia, this looks amazing,” she said, opening the kit up and looking through all the different pieces inside.

“It’s no trouble at all. I always say my friends deserve the best, and a beauty kit from my own line of products seemed the most suitable for a gift,” Mia said, delighted to know she enjoyed it.

“I’ll certainly put it to good use in the future,” Anima said, closing it up and going for another present.

This one was considerably smaller than the rest, but was still neatly packaged in green wrapping paper. Its tag read that it came from Gadget. Not wanting to wait, Anima quickly unwrapped it to find a little toy Alicorn that looked almost like her.

“Ooh, what is it?” she asked, perplexed by its mechanics.

“It’s something I made myself, I’ll show you how it works,” Gadget responded, taking hold of the toy. “First you give it a bit of magic. Then, crank the small key on its side. Set it down and watch what happens.”

Performing all the aforementioned steps, Gadget set the toy onto the table and everybody watched as it started trotting around seamlessly in a figure eight pattern.

“Aww, it’s so adorable,” Anima stated, watching it run around.

“That’s not all it can do though,” he said, making the others look at it in curiosity.

At that moment, the toy replica sprang up into the air, spread its wings and started flying around the group of ponies.

“Wow, how did you make it do that?” Anima asked, her eyes following its pattern of flight.

“It took a lot of tinkering and knowhow, that’s all I can really say on the matter,” Gadget said, letting the toy land in his hand and setting it back on the table.

“Well your expertise definitely shows, so thank you very much, Gadget,” she said, returning to the large pile of gifts in front of her.

One by one, Anima started opening her presents. Each time thanking her friends and family for the wonderful gifts she received. Eventually the pile had been diminished to only one lonely gift. Reading the tag, she saw that it was from Caster Forge, and wrapped in steel grey wrapping paper.

“Ooh I wonder what my teacher could’ve gotten me,” Anima teased, as she opened the relatively large box.

“Well, you won’t know until you open it,” Caster teased back, already knowing what was inside.

Without hesitation, Anima ripped away the paper to reveal a large cardboard box. She opened up the top and looked inside and saw something big and soft. Lifting it out of the box she showed it to be a large cat plushie with blue fur, green eyes, and a pink collar with a bell at the end. Anima just stared at its adorably smiling face and then looked back at Caster. He looked away from her, slightly embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his head.

“I didn’t really know what to get you. Everypony else had gotten you such amazing gifts that I didn’t think mine would match up,” Caster said, not daring to look her in the eye.

That was until he felt the familiar warm and soft presence wrap around him and turned to see Anima giving him a heartwarming hug.

“You big goof ball, of course I like it! I’d never compare anyone’s gifts to others,” she said, releasing him and letting the blue plush doll take his place. “Besides, I love cats.”

“Then I guess I both overreacted and lucked out huh?” he said, blushing a bit.

“You certainly did,” Anima said, chuckling along with the others.

“Yes, well that wasn’t the only gift I planned on giving you. It’s not what you’d think, I just wanted to say a few words is all,” Caster stated, clearing his throat before speaking and gaining everyone’s attention. “I would like to congratulate Anima Memoriae, not only for her birthday, but also for all the effort she’s put into these last three months. At first I didn’t think she’d be able to get this far, originally being a Unicorn with no wings and all. But she has certainly proved me wrong, because not once has she ever faltered and given up. Instead she’s continued pushing herself forward to the best of her abilities, both with her wings and her mind. She’s told me about how much she’s learned from Princess Luna, and it truly amazed me to know about her progress in other fields besides flying. Anima, you are one of the few ponies that I can look up to with your skills and it’s not because you’re an Alicorn. It’s because you’re just you, which is why I believe you deserve the title of Princess more than anything. So from me and all of us, I say: well done, Anima.”

At the end, Caster started clapping his hands along with everyone else. The room sounded with applause as Anima simply sat in her chair, dumbfounded by her friends’ speech. She never would’ve expected him to praise her in such a fashion. It certainly seemed to get to her as she stood up and gave him another hug, this one tenderer than the last.

“Has anyone ever told you how sweet you are?” Anima stated, looking at him with a small tear rolling down her cheek.

“Heh, heh, well I try,” Caster responded, hugging her back.

She gave him a raised eyebrow and a sly grin before doing something he never would’ve expected her to do. Anima leaned in and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

“Well consider that a gift for all the time you’ve spent helping me,” she said, wearing a big smile on her lips.

Caster didn’t say anything as he felt his body go stiff as a board. He couldn’t remember the last time a mare had ever kissed him on the cheek before. Matter of fact, he didn’t think he’d ever been kissed by a mare at all. Aside from his mother when he was little of course, but still. During his thinking overload session, Anima and the rest of the group stared at him, confused.

“Um, Caster? Hello?” Anima said, waving her hand and snapping her fingers in front of his face. “Is anypony home?”

“Oh don’t worry about him,” Jack Spirit said, walking up and placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “This sometimes happens to him when somepony shows him a sudden bit of affection, even if it isn’t in the romantic sense. And that little display just now has definitely sent his brain into overdrive.”

“Oh, uh, I-I didn’t mean it to be like that!” Alehsa exclaimed, blushing hard and waving her hands in front of her. “H-his speech was just really touching a-and I just thought-”

“Hey, relax all right? You’re fine, and so is he. I’m sure he’ll understand what your intent was. He’ll come back to Equestria soon enough, but for now I think we should let his brain settle down,” Jack said, moving his brother to the couch in the living room.

“He’s right, let’s not let this ruin the party. When Cast come’s back we’ll help ya set things right, kay Anima?” Strawberry Rose asked, hoping that would help her relax.

“O-okay, I guess I can-”

“Awesome, cause this party isn’t over yet!” Cloud Heart said, zipping over to a nearby boom box.

“You’ve got that right Cloud, let’s party… again!” Skull agreed, as the music started playing.

Anima looked back at Caster one last time. But smiled knowing he would snap out of it soon and joined her friends on the makeshift dance floor. He of course did come back, about fifteen minutes later after the music started. Anima was quick to apologize for her actions but Caster simply told her not to fret about it. He really did appreciate her gift and was glad to have such a friend like her. To which she thanked him again as he joined in on the dancing as well.

The hours passed and soon the party came to an end. Many of the guests went home to rest and prepare for their usual work. Topsy decided to stay home for the night, before hitting the road again in the morning. The only ones left were Caster and his brother and sister-in-law. They shared a quiet cup of tea with Anima and her family, and talked about recent months and how it had been for them. Eventually they decided to leave once they realized it was getting pretty late. After they said their goodbyes the three ponies took off for home, letting Anima take her presents up to her room before getting ready for bed.

Anima currently sat on her large bed, wearing some pj’s and holding the cat plushie doll in her arms. Next to her sat her pet cat Oliver, who was snuggling up to her as he purred somewhat loudly.

“Today certainly was a great party. I wish you could’ve been there, but I know you’d just sprint away at the first sight of other ponies,” she said, the cat flicking his tail against her in response. “It’s kind of funny though, if I wanted I could’ve used my birthday wish to have you hang around with everypony else. But I used that to wish for something much more important.”

She looked side to side and then at her bedroom door before turning back to Oliver.

“Do you want to know what I wished for?” she asked.

The brown-striped cat opened his eyes slightly and turned his gaze toward his owner in curiosity.

“I wished that I could keep spending time with Caster,” Anima said, holding the plushie affectionately.
> Chapter 6: Beginning to See
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	Many clouds had dotted the skies of Canterlot. They all slowly moved along on the gentle breeze that passed through them. One cloud, however, suddenly burst into smoke as something fast arose from it. It was Princess Anima Memoriae, flying through the sky without a care in the world and making good use out of her wings. The world seemed to flow right past her as she sped through the open area, enjoying the feel of the wind pressing against her body. She even let herself drop from the skies a few times before rocketing back up. Eventually Anima stopped to rest at a nearby cloud, letting its rather puffy texture hold her afloat as she relaxed.

“Well, well, it would seem that I have brought my student up rather nicely. Wouldn’t you agree, Anima?” a familiar voice said, causing the mare to bring herself up.

“Indeed you have Caster, and I couldn’t be anymore thankful for your help,” Anima stated, looking at Caster Forge who was floating in front of her.

“Think nothing of it my dear, just doing what any good friend would do for another,” he said, with an unusually confident smile as he sat down on the cloud next to her.

“Um, yeah. That was, a-a really nice thing to do,” Anima said, blushing nervously as she noticed how close he was.

“Indeed. You were my best student, always following what I had to say to the letter. But more importantly you’ve been a great friend who’s always kept me company all this time. So now, I think it’s time I repaid you for all our time together,” Caster said, moving closer toward her.

“Wait, what are you-!?” Before she could finish her sentence, Anima was gently pushed onto her back on the cloud.

“What does it look like? I’m repaying the favor,” Caster said, winking as he moved on top of her.

“B-but I,” Anima stuttered out, her face going beet red before Caster placed a finger against her lips.

“Shhh, just let it happen. You deserve this much, my Princess,” he whispered, in a suave manner as he slowly moved his face closer to hers.

Anima didn’t know what to say or what to think. But his soft deep voice and the way his eyes gazed into her own seemed to relax her. In the heat of the moment, and without much rational thought, she too started moving her face to his. Their lips were so close to touching they could already feel the warmth of the other radiating onto them. But before they could seal the deal a loud, and somewhat obnoxious, beeping noise rang out through the world. At that moment, Anima saw the world around her freeze in place. Then it began to dissipate as her mind was brought back to reality.

She opened her eyes to see her alarm clock going off by her bedside table. Now more than ever it seemed like a nuisance rather than anything useful. Anima quickly reached out her hand and shut the device off. She then rolled over onto her back, feeling the plush mattress comfort her body as she looked up at the ceiling with a half-smile.

“It’s a shame, we were so close too,” Anima said, chuckling to herself as she thought back to the dream and previous days.

It had been a month since her 23rd birthday party and her lessons with Caster Forge had been going swimmingly. Now she was able to use her wings properly, though they could only get her a few feet off the ground, as they were still not strong enough to get her into the sky just yet. But with just a little more practice she’d be soaring the skies in no time, just like in her dream. Thinking of said dream caused Anima’s cheeks to brighten as she thought of what happened before she woke up.

While things had remained relatively the same between the two ponies, for Anima, her feelings had taken a far more different route than she expected. Ever since Caster gave that little speech at her birthday, she had begun to see him in a whole new light. Even going far as to say that she had an actual crush on him, especially after that kiss she gave him on the cheek after his speech. After all, Caster was always encouraging her to do her best and was never too aggressive in their training. He enjoyed hanging out with Anima and her friends, bringing along his own as well. But one of the things that made Caster stand out was that everything he had done for her was out of his own volition. Despite how hard he worked for her, he never asked for any favors in return for his services, merely stating that being able to spend time with friends was more than enough. It was that part of his personality that made him seem more than just a friend to her. Plus, Anima had to admit that Caster was rather handsome and considered him a knockout among most stallions with his boyish charm and gentle nature.

That thought alone made her blush deepen as the she shook her head, trying to get a few images of him from that pool party out of her head. Because although Anima had developed a small affection for him, there was always that nagging feeling in the back of her mind. That being the belief that Caster may have already had a special somepony of his own. With how high up she had put him, it didn’t seem completely far-fetched that he would have a mare in his life. Yet she was too afraid to ask him about it, partly because it would seem out of place. But mostly because she remembered how embarrassed Caster got when Cloud Heart asked him that question when they played truth or dare. It let Anima see that he was uncomfortable when it came to talking about his love life. So she chose to keep her feelings, minor as they were, a secret for now.

For this moment, however, she decided it was time to start getting ready. As she looked back at her clock, she noticed she had spent about five minutes thinking about her little dilemma. Anima gave a few stretches of her limbs and wings before clambering out of bed and heading off to the bathroom. Sometime later, she came back with her favorite pink towel wrapped around her and her fur and mane relatively soaked. As she walked over to her closet, she looked out the window and saw the cloudy sky outside, reminding her of the forecast for rain later tonight. Knowing it was going to be chilly out today, Anima chose to where some warmer clothing. With that in mind she grabbed a black turtleneck as well as a pair of flannel lined jeans.

After obtaining a pair of undergarments that matched the color of her shirt and getting fully dressed, she began her morning grooming ritual, which included brushing her mane and tail, curling her eyelashes, and applying some blush. That just left the piece de resistance: the silver, jewel encrusted amulet that Caster had made for her not too long ago. Even after all this time it still looked bedazzling to her as Anima hung it around her neck. Not only for its beauty, but also because it kept reminding her of the day their friendship began. Grabbing her glasses and standing up, she looked in the mirror and admired her reflection. Her outfit seemed to hug all of her gracious curves and the color of her turtleneck contrasted with her fur quite nicely.

Once she was satisfied with her look of the day, Anima made her way downstairs for some breakfast. Upon reaching her living room, her muzzle was greeted by the wafting, familiar scent of waffles. Entering the kitchen, she found Celly Script stacking the last batch of cinnamon waffles onto a large plate. Realizing the new presence in the room, she turned to greet her daughter.

“Morning sunshine, I take it you slept well last night, my little princess?” she said, teasing her daughter.

“I did, though I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call me that mother,” Anima declared, a light blush forming as she looked away in embarrassment.

“Why not? You literally are a Princess so really I’m just calling you by your proper title,” Celly joked, a playful grin appearing on her face.

Her daughter simply grumbled while she giggled, seeing her act so flustered. Feeling that she had teased her enough, Celly grabbed the plate of freshly made waffles and took it over to dining table, which had a tasty assortment of fruits and veggies. Some strips of hay bacon lay on beige napkins with a few hay sausages. On the other side of the table sat Zen Wheeler who was currently sipping a mug of coffee and reading the morning newspaper as he waited for breakfast. Once the two mares took their respective seats they all started passing around the plates of food until everyone had enough on their own plates. For a while they all just ate their meals, content to enjoy Celly’s cooking. The silence was lifted when she spoke up.

“So Anima, are things going well with your teacher’s?” Celly asked, after taking a sip from a glass of OJ.

“They certainly are,” Anima replied, in earnest. “Princess Luna’s studies have gotten more into spells a Princess should know about. She even helped me develop my memory magic talents a bit further. As for Caster, he’s really been pushing my training, though he’s not being too strict with me of course. Already we’re starting to use my wings and getting a bit of air time.”

“Well that’s good to hear,” Zen stated, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “It’s nice to know that you two are doing so well together.”

“Heh heh, yeah he really does know how to teach, that’s for sure,” she said, blushing from her dad’s comment.

“And you were right about him from the start. I may’ve been skeptical at first but I can see now that his intentions were pure. Next time I see him, I’ll be sure to give him my thanks,” he declared.

“I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear that. I’ll tell him when I get the chance,” Anima said, wiping her mouth with a napkin after finishing breakfast. “Speaking of which I should probably get going now. Don’t want to be late after all.”

“You get going then sweetie, I’ll handle the dishes,” Celly said, already gathering up a few empty plates.

“Thanks mom,” Anima said, giving the older mare an affectionate hug.

“Oh and Anima, just wanted to let you know that your mother and I will be home a little late tonight,” Zen Wheeler said, before further elaborating. “We promised to meet Caster’s parents at their place for a cup of tea and just get to know one another. Plus it’d be nice to see what kind of business they run. So if we’re not home before you, you’ll know where we are.”

“Okay, dad, thanks for the heads up. See you soon,” she said, giving him an equally affectionate embrace.

After grabbing a pair of slip on shoes and her white handbag, which held all her scholarly supplies and had her cutie mark sewn onto it, Anima headed out the front door and into the streets of Canterlot.


===============================================================


With the scheduled storm on its way, many ponies were getting their business done so they wouldn’t have to wander the streets in the rain later. So needless to say the streets of Canterlot were rushing with ponies trying to get from one destination to the next. Anima Memoriae was no exception as she made her way down the street at a brisk pace. And as per usual, her route consisted of several of the ponies bowing or giving a compliment as they passed her by. At first the sudden attention had made her feel uncomfortable, but as time went on she had started to grow used to it. She even did the same back at them, more out of thanks rather than courtesy.

After a few more minutes she came to the familiar intersection with its recognizable lamppost. Anima promptly leaned against it as she waited for her teacher to arrive. It was decided a while ago that this would be their meeting place for when they would walk together to the castle. Partly so they wouldn’t have to wonder where the other was. But mostly because it gave them enough time between here and the castle to just chat before performing their duties. Anima simply stood there, thinking of what lessons Caster had planned for her today as she rubbed her arms trying to warm herself up. Though her cheeks started to warm up as well when her thoughts drifted back to her earlier dream. For some reason she just couldn’t get those thoughts of what almost happened out of her mind. Now more than ever she felt conflicted on how to handle her feelings towards Caster.

“Maybe I’ll ask Princess Luna for some advice,” Anima said, to herself. “She’s been around for a while, I’m sure she’ll have something to say.”

As she continued to ponder on what to do about her feelings, she failed to notice the figure that had walked up next to her.

“Greetings, your highness,” the figure said, gaining her attention.

Anima was surprised for moment, still lost in her thoughts, before she turned to see who it was. Before her was a Unicorn stallion about half a foot taller than her and looked like he was at least two or three years older than her. He had grey fur, a brown mane and tail, which were properly groomed, and green eyes. He also wore a navy blue colored suit with a white buttoned undershirt, a pair of glasses which rested on his muzzle, and a pin on his collar that showed a rolled up scroll surrounded by magic.

“Um, hello,” Anima replied, confused by what was going on. “May I ask who you are?”

“Oh yes, of course. Where are my manners? My name is Smooth Silver, your grace,” he answered, bowing in respect. “I simply wanted a chance to meet our newest Princess in person. I’ve never gotten the chance to before, what with running my business in trades, stocks, and bonds.”

“I see, well then it’s nice to finally meet you Mr. Silver,” Anima said, putting on her best smile.

“Truly, the pleasure is all mine, Princess Anima,” Smooth stated, taking a hold of her hand and giving it a light peck which made her blush.

Before Anima could say something, Smooth lit up his horn in a dark blue aura. In an instant, a large bouquet of roses had appeared in his hands.

“You know there is a wonderful production of Hayida at the Maretropolitan Opera. I would be honored if you could attend it with me later tonight,” he said, as he offered the flowers to her.

“Oh, um, well, I’m flattered and all, but I have to be home after my lessons today,” Anima said, surprised by his sudden request.

“Come on, you’re a grown mare, not to mention a Princess. You have a right to stay out as late as you want. Besides, it’ll be my treat and afterwards I was hoping you and I could come to know each other a little more, personally. What do you say?” Smooth Silver asked, flashing a sly grin.

His request, along with his quickly developing forwardness, was making Anima feel more and more uncomfortable. Especially considering that he was getting a little too close for comfort. And the way Smooth’s gaze seemed to break past her self-conscious barriers wasn’t helping either. Anima wanted to let him down gently but he didn’t seem like the kind of stallion that would back down easily. As her mind searched for an idea to get her out of this jam, she noticed someone familiar out of the corner of her eye. It was Caster Forge, wearing some loose fitting black jeans, a green t-shirt, and a gray polyester jacket. As her friend walked over to her, Anima had a brilliant idea. Granted it would be a bit embarrassing, but it would be worth it to get away from this pushy pony. In a flash, she ran over to Caster, grabbed his right arm, and cuddled up to him affectionately.

“Hey sugarcube, I was wondering when you were going to show up!” Anima said, holding his arm like it was a stuffed animal.

“W-whoa, what’s all this a-about!?” Caster exclaimed, surprised by this sudden change in her everyday character.

“What, can’t a girl share her love with her favorite coltfriend ever?” she answered, nuzzling her head against his neck.

“C-c-coltfriend? B-but… I-” Before he could continue, Anima started whispering.

“Just play along for right now. That guy over there has been hitting on me before you got here and he’s starting to creep me out a bit. I know this is sudden, but please just go with it,” Anima said, smiling as she silently talked to him.

When the initial shock started to wear off, Caster looked past her and saw the Unicorn behind her, looking surprised by this display. While it all may have come out of the blue, he would never leave one of his friends hanging. With that in mind he wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her just as affectionately.

“But… of course honeypie! Sorry if I was a little thrown off there, you just surprised me with that display of yours,” Caster answered.

“I just love to keep reminding you of how much I love you,” Anima said, looking into his eyes.

“Well not only that, you reminded me of how much I love you as well,” he added, kissing her on the cheek.

She giggled and blushed as the two of them went off to the castle, embracing each other with a few ponies watching in shock at the sudden display. Though no one was more surprised than Smooth as he just stared off wide eyed from what just occurred. It all happened so fast that he didn’t even have a chance to speak up. Regaining his composure, he simply plucked one of the roses from the bouquet and stared at it intently.

“Fine, I’ll let you enjoy your coltfriend… for now,” Smooth said, lighting up his horn and destroying the flower in a small burst of flame.


===============================================================


“Thanks again, Caster. Sorry if all that made you feel uncomfortable,” Anima said, cutting the act when they were out of sight and earshot.

“It’s all right, I was glad to help out. Plus it was kind of fun to pretend like that. Though to be fair I should be the one apologizing for kissing you like that. Even if it was just on the cheek,” he said, feeling a bit guilty.

“Nah, it was all good. Besides I did the same thing to you before, so I guess that makes us even,” Anima replied, easing his mind.

“Fair enough. But I have to ask; where did the name sugarcube come from?” Caster asked, curious on how she thought of it so quickly.

“Oh that, it’s something that Strawberry Rose likes to say from time to time. It sounded cute so after a while I started saying it to. Mostly for just my close friends and my ex coltfriends,” she said, answering with ease.

“I see, well it certainly was convincing,” Caster said, wondering if she would stick to calling him that from now on.

“It sure was and while we’re on the subject, perhaps you can tell me where you came up with honeypie,” Anima asked, just as curious.

“Actually, I just made that up now. Just spoke whatever came to mind,” Caster replied, rather quickly.

“Well I liked it, it was pretty cute,” Anima said, giggling as she kept thinking about it.

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m amazed I could even come up with something like that on the fly,” he exclaimed.

“I thought you did a great a job back there, very convincing. Hopefully that’s the last we’ll see of Smooth Silver,” Anima said, looking back to make sure he wasn’t there.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure he’s given up,” Caster said, looking at the mare before blushing. “Um, Anima?”

“What is it, Caster?” she asked, not noticing the problem.

“You know you can let go of me now right?” Caster said, blushing as he looked away in embarrassment.

Looking down, Anima soon found that she had been cuddling his arm during the entire walk and neither of them had realized until now. With quick reflexes, she pulled away and blushed up a storm. Part of her, however, wanted to embrace him once again. Caster’s presence just seemed to sooth her and ease her tensions, ironic how this situation made her tenser than ever. Not to mention his body heat was extremely enjoyable.

“S-sorry about that. I guess I kind of got lost in the moment there,” Anima stated, still feeling his warmth on her.

“I-it’s all right, I understand. It’s pretty cold out today after all,” Caster said, trying to assure her that it wasn’t her fault, when a thought crossed his mind. “But, you can continue, if you want. You know just to stay warm and all.”

Anima turned her gaze to him for a moment, thinking it over. If she didn’t bother to think it over she would’ve held onto him again without hesitation. But right now it just seemed awkward with what had just happened. And she didn’t want to show how much she felt about him… at least not yet.

“I’m good, I’m warm enough as is,” she hesitantly spoke, even though she was starting to feel a little chilly again.

“Okay then,” Caster said, facing forward as he spoke.

Seeing that her friend didn’t want to press the issue, Anima simply walked on, not bothering to look at him as her cheeks remained crimson red. The silence between them continued before she felt something soft pull her against the Caster. Looking up, she saw him giving her a silly grin.

“But don’t think that I didn’t want to continue,” he said, his smile growing wider when he saw her surprised expression.

While it may have felt different from how they were together earlier, Anima couldn’t deny that it felt just as good. Maybe even better as his wing was more comfy than she thought.

“You really are sweet, you know that?” Anima said, leaning against him slightly.

“So I’ve been told recently,” Caster said, blushing as he let out a light chuckle.

And with that they continued to walk towards the castle, staying close the entire time. They soon found themselves at the front gate where the two guards let them in after a brief exchange of words. The teacher and student moved on until they reached the familiar intersection within the castle where they had to depart.

“I suppose I’ll see you later then,” Anima said, moving out from the cover of his wing.

“Indeed, I look forward to teaching my favorite student very soon,” Caster replied, his smile never fading.

“Good to know I still have my teacher’s praise,” she giggled, holding her hand to her mouth.

“That and a friend’s as well,” Caster said with a wink, more for teasing rather than actual affection.

“See you soon, Caster,” Anima said, as she walked to Luna’s classroom.

“You too, Anima,” he said, heading off to his forge.


===============================================================


The leaves of the trees in the Canterlot Gardens created a beautiful melody as the winds kept blowing through them, constantly changing in rhythm and power. Caster and Anima took notice of this as the latter was working on her wing-ups. At first her friend had insisted that they find somewhere else to practice for today, as the weather would probably make things difficult. But Anima didn’t mind, in fact she rather liked the idea of training in such conditions. It only served as another means of pushing her further. It also gave Caster another reason to admire her strength.

“You certainly are working hard today, Anima,” he stated, watching her wings continuously push her up and down.

“Well when you’re so close to achieving your goals, you tend to rush your progression!” Anima exclaimed, a noticeable strain in her voice.

“That’s true,” Caster said, remembering how hard he worked on his final projects back in school.

“Besides, seeing how hard you’ve been working at the forge and training me nearly every day has been sort of an inspiration to me,” Anima said, finishing her set and taking a quick breather.

“Just doing the best I can for a friend,” Caster said, smiling sheepishly.

“You’ve certainly done more than your best. That’s what makes you so awesome,” she countered.

“Oh, princess, you flatter me so!” Caster proclaimed, in a fake Canterlot accent with his nose held up high to boot.

Eventually they couldn’t take it anymore as the both of them started laughing out loud. During this time they made various impressions of nobles and how stuck up they acted most of the time. Even Anima made fun of the way she would’ve had to act at formal ceremonies, which consisted of curtsies, talking in a ladylike fashion, and even pretending to eat and drink foods in a dainty manner. When they finally managed to settle down, they decided now would be a good time to take a break, seeing as the wind had begun to die down.

Sitting down at the ever so familiar white bench, Caster pulled out the lunches that the kitchen staff had prepared for them. A noticeably special treat was the thermos of hot cocoa, tiny marshmallows included, to help them bear through the cold weather. As they ate their meals and took turns sipping the chocolatey beverage, Caster chose to speak up.

“But seriously, Anima, you’ve really come a long way since we first met. I couldn’t be any prouder of you than I am right now,” he said, putting on his sincerest smile.

“Thanks, Cast, but really it’s only because you’ve believed in me all this time,” she said, as she took a sip from the thermos. “If you hadn’t always been encouraging me to do my best I don’t think I would’ve gotten nearly as far as I have now.”

“I just did what any teacher would’ve done, really. But truth be told, after a while, most of that motivation came from watching you give it your all. I wanted to see how well you would do in the end and to see if my teaching would actually pay off. So really, you’ve only come this far from your own will and guts,” Caster stated, giving another one of his over the top speeches.

“Anypony ever tell you how overdramatic you can be sometimes?” Anima replied, trying to stifle a laugh that was building up.

“… On occasion,” he said, blushing from his sudden realization.

Anima simply burst out laughing harder than ever. Seeing the embarrassed look on his face was priceless. But she didn’t let it drag on for too long as she eventually calmed down enough to talk again.

“It’s all right, Caster, it was still very kind of you to say that to me. I’m glad to have been able to find a teacher like you,” she said, resting her head against his shoulder, just like the day of their first lesson together.

“Heh, heh, yeah,” Caster said, nervously as his mind was going overboard. ‘Come on, Caster, get ahold of yourself! You can’t let this take over your thoughts. It’s happened so many times before and look where that’s gotten you!’

Caster was going crazy as his thoughts started going back to the last four weeks. Ever since that incident where Anima had kissed him at her birthday party, his feelings towards her had gotten even more conflicted than before. At first he believed it was just out of gratitude for the admiring speech he gave. But soon after, Caster’s thoughts delved more into the issue, as he recounted nearly similar events in the past. When he had crushes on mares before, it was either because he was attracted to their looks or they did a small gesture of kindness towards him. Being young and not very sociable at the time had lead him to bad experiences when it came to dealing with his feelings.

When Caster tried doing something nice for them, they would of course act nice towards him, but it was never in the way that Anima did. Perhaps it was just how she felt at the time, but Caster didn’t want to let those thoughts go too far. For when he did, it usually led to rejection, heartache, and sometimes losing a friend that he had worked so hard to get along with. And as he looked upon the mare that nestled against him, the memories of all their time spent together flowed through his mind. Every moment was special to him and he wouldn’t trade them away for anything. Which is why Caster decided to hide how he felt. Not because he was afraid of the rejection, he had grown used to it over the years. It was because he didn’t want to lose one of the greatest friends he ever had. So he settled for waiting just a little longer, wanting to see what would happen to them in the future. Besides, the present was what mattered right now, as he remembered they had their lessons to get back to.

“All right Anima, I think we’ve rested enough. Time to get back to it,” Caster said, realizing they had spent a good ten minutes relaxing.

“Huh, oh yeah, of course,” Anima yawned out, seeming to have awoken from an apparent nap.

“I think now would be a good time to work on navigating with your wings,” Caster claimed, standing up. “We’ll just fly around through the trees for a bit and try to get used to making sudden turns and stops.”

“Awesome, sounds like fun!” she replied, already spreading out her wings.

“Then get ready, cause we’re starting right now,” Caster said, spreading his own wings as well.

In a flash they were already flying, about a foot or two off the ground, through the trees of the gardens at a considerably fast pace. While it wasn’t too tight for them to navigate through, the speed they were going at made it a bit of a challenge. Caster flew at the front, making sure to help guide his protégé through the path he made up as he went along. The course consisted of sharp turns, swirling paths, and several stops when changing direction. Anima performed considerably well throughout most of the test. Only bumping into a couple of trees during the first few minutes of the test, but gradually improving over time.

“Already getting used to this, I see,” Caster said, flying backwards once they got to a long, straight path.

“It’s not so hard after a while,” she stated, giving him a sly wink.

“Oh yeah? Well just try and keep up!” Caster exclaimed, as he sped up.

“Oh you are so on!” Anima said, trying to catch up with him.

From that point on, their little training exercise had transformed into a full on race. Both ponies kept trying to fly past one another, ignoring the dangerous speeds they were going at through the gardens. Though truthfully this was part of Caster’s plan, as a way of improving Anima’s speed and concentration when flying. Because when you’re trying to get out of a sticky situation, those skills will always come in handy. Their little race went on for quite a while, with neither one wanting to stop. Nature, on the other hand, decided to take matters into its own hands.

As they zipped past the foliage of the gardens, a strong burst of wind had arrived out of nowhere and caught them off guard. For Caster, it was easy to keep his balance along the current. Anima, however, did not have Caster's training so the sudden gust of wind made her lose control. She ended up getting blown back and crashing into a tree trunk. Anima let out a grunt of pain as she slipped down to the ground. Once the gale like wind had settled, Caster was by her side in a heartbeat.

“Oh my goodness, Anima, are you okay!?” he asked, frantically panicking.

“Uuggh, yes, I believe I’m fine, Cast,” Anima said, trying to regain her composure.

“Are you sure, nothing’s broken, fractured, or dislocated?” Caster pestered on, wanting to make sure she was all right.

Anima checked her shapely white arms and legs for damage. No twinges or aches there. ‘So far so good,’ she thought. When she got to her left wing, a sharp pain made her scream. "AAAGGHH!!”

“What is it, what’s wrong!!?” Caster asked, wondering what happened.

“My, m-my wing, it hurts,” Anima said, looking back to inspect the damage.

Sure enough, her left wing was indeed damaged. It seemed to bend at an angle that would normally be impossible. Some of the feathers had fallen off or gotten tangled up. There was also a cut that was starting to drip a bit of blood. It truly was not a pretty sight.

“Oh geez, that doesn’t look good. We’d better clean that up quickly and get it patched up,” Caster stated, helping her up onto her feet and leading her back to the bench.

He gently sat her down as he rummaged through his supply bag. Fearing that this would most likely happen one day or another, Caster always remembered to bring along a first aid kit for situations like these. Looks like his intuition was right as he pulled out a relatively large white box with a red plus sign adorning it. Opening it up, he grabbed some bandages, some gauze, a cloth towel, a large bottle of water, and one of disinfectant.

“All right, it’s going to be a little painful for the next couple of minutes. Just try to bear with it and it will be over before you not it. Kay?” Caster said, putting on a caring smile.

“Okay, go ahead,” Anima said, turning away so couldn’t see the messy process.

Once he had her assurance, Caster started to work on cleaning up her injury. He soaked the small towel in the water and pressed it against the wound to stop and clean away the bleeding. After he made sure that most of the bleeding had stopped, Caster grabbed the disinfectant and cleaned away any dirt or grime that remained. The whole time, Anima was biting her lip or clenching her fists to try and distract her mind from the stinging sensations she was forced to endure. It only got worse, however, when she felt her wing being bent, causing her to let out a small yelp in pained shock.

“Ah, I’m sorry! I should’ve warned you I was about to do that,” Caster said, relaxing the pressure he had on her broken wing.

“It’s fine, just keep going! The sooner this is over the better,” Anima yelled out, bracing herself for the pain that was about to return.

Continuing where he left off, Caster kept bending her wing back into its proper shape, ignoring her groans of pain. Soon he bent it straight again and took his time to pluck out any ruined feathers and realign any that were still presentable. With that done, Caster grabbed the bandages and gauze, and began wrapping them around the damaged wing. After wrapping the appendage in a few layers of the medic fabric, he tied the ends together before giving it a tight tug, insuring that it fit perfectly. Caster folded it against Anima’s back before speaking.

“There, all done. How does it feel?” he asked, making sure he had done a good job.

“It still hurts a little but it feels much better,” Anima stated, turning around to face him. “Though to be honest you could’ve been a bit gentler.”

“Hate to break it to you, Anima, but recovering is never easy. Especially not with a broken wing. But I’m sorry for the pain, I only know the basic of treatments for dealing with wing injuries,” Caster said, feeling embarrassed that he didn’t know much about his own species’ anatomy.

“It’s okay, you did a pretty good job on your first try,” Anima said, checking the wing before her face grew disheartened. “But, I take it this means our lessons will be put on hold for a while, huh?”

“I’m afraid so, I can’t risk you getting anymore hurt than you are now,” Caster said, hating to be the bearer of bad news. “However, the wound doesn’t look that bad. As long as you don’t use it, you should be ready for more training in about two weeks or so.”

“Sweet, I was hoping you’d say that. Though it’s going to suck not being able to meet like this until then,” she said, quickly going from happy to sad in a matter of seconds.

“Who said anything about not seeing each other?” Caster questioned, flashing a cocky grin.

“Wait, I thought you meant that-”

“I was saying that we couldn’t have our lessons for a while. I never said anything about not hanging out together. We’ll still see each other like this, just have to find something else to pass the time until then,” he stated, his smile never faltering.

“Huzzah!” Anima shouted, wrapping him in a tight hug.

“My thoughts exactly,” Caster said, returning the embrace, being careful not to hurt her wing.

“So do you think we should call it a day?” Anima asked, remembering that she had to get back to Princess Luna’s class soon.

“I think so. Time to stop training the body and start training the mind,” he claimed, sticking out his tongue playfully.

Anima simply giggled as the two of them started packing their things per the usual routine. They spent a few minutes talking on what they should do during the next break time meeting. But eventually the two ponies had to depart for their respective environments within the castle. As Anima headed back to Princess Luna, her attention kept drifting back to her wing as she occasionally rubbed it. Not to sooth it, but rather admire the work of the stallion who put so much effort into it. Such thoughts caused her to blush remembering how Caster held her feathery appendage so caringly almost the entire time. Anima shook those thoughts from her brain as she continued down the maze of hallways.


===============================================================


Dark, that would be the best way to describe how Canterlot seemed right now. With the billowing clouds surrounding the skies up above, the light from both the moon and the stars could not peter through the dense moisture in the air. The only sources of light that emerged came from the many buildings, the lampposts doting the city, and the large castle that towered above them all. One room from the castle, in particular, shined brightly for the occupants that inhabited it.

Yet despite the radiant glow that emerged from it, the two ponies didn’t seem to pay heed to it as both of them were not focusing on the world around them at all. Princess Anima Memoriae sat at her desk in her classroom, sitting upright in concentration with her horn glowing in a vibrant pink aura. Across from her, sitting at her own larger desk next to the chalkboard, was Princess Luna. She was in the same position as her student, expect her horn gave off a translucent blue color. To anyone who may’ve walked in on this event, it would’ve seemed odd that two regal ponies would just be sitting around doing nothing.

To those trained in advanced magic, however, would know that this was a lesson in progress. For on the chalkboard were several diagrams, runes, and calculations written upon it. At the very top, written in bold lettering, was the title which read: “TODAY’S LESSON: THE ART OF TELEPATHY”. As one would guess, Anima and Luna were currently engaging in a conversation of the minds. And so it continued on with the younger of the two starting to have difficulties, as evidenced by the small beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

“Are you sure that this kind of spell is really necessary, Luna?” Anima asked in her mind, feeling exhausted from the continuous flow of magic.

”I assure you it comes in very handy in the future. Makes it easy to contact somepony for an emergency, or when you need to have a private conversation, like my sister and I do sometimes,” she replied, doing her best to educate her student.

“I see, though I don’t think it will be much use with non-magical ponies,” Anima pointed out.

“Actually, that’s not how most ponies think it goes. Those who can truly master this spell can actually contact Pegasi, Earth Pony’s, and even other creatures like buffalos and Griffon’s,” Luna stated, explaining the spell in better detail.

“Wow, cool! Does that mean I could even communicate with my cat!?” Anima, excited to learn all the possibilities.

"Not so sure on that one. I’ve seen Celestia talking with Philomena but I doubt they’re having an actual conversation they can both understand. Though that would be quite a sight to behold,” Luna answered, already curious on the subject.

“Well for now can we go back to talking with our actual mouths? I’m starting to get dizzy,” Anima said, her physical body swaying side to side in her seat.

“Sure thing, Anima,” Luna said, cutting off her magic as she returned to the physical plane.

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Anima opened her eyes to see Princess Luna doing the same. Even as an Alicorn she still needed to develop her magical stamina if she wanted to keep up with all of these spells. Her teacher went up to the board and started erasing their current lesson and moving on to a new one. While she did that, Anima let her thoughts drift off to other matters. Though no matter how hard she tried, she could not seem to keep her thoughts away from Caster. After everything that’s happened between them lately, especially today, Anima was trying to make sense of her emotions. He was nicer to her and understood her more than any other pony she knew. While he was her closest friend, she was beginning to see Caster in a completely different light. Anima held her hands to her head as all the thinking was starting to hurt. And of course her frustrations didn’t go unnoticed as someone spoke up.

“I sense that something is troubling you, Anima,” Luna said, finishing the lesson on the board.

“Oh, it’s nothing, Luna, I’m fine,” she lied, easing her grip as she tried to calm down.

“Come now, I can see you’re clearly bothered about something. Even your own mother could see it if she were here,” Luna claimed, going over and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You can trust me with anything you have to say.”

With some apprehension in her heart, Anima took a moment to look around the room from her seat, as if searching for intruders, before speaking her mind.

“You… promise you won’t tell anypony?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Whatever happens in this room, stays in this room,” Luna confirmed, giving her student an assuring wink.

“Well, you see, I kind of have a… crush on a stallion,” Anima admitted, as her face lit up with a blush.

“I see, so that’s what’s going on,” Luna said, her face growing into a smug smile. “It wouldn’t happen to be Caster Forge, now would it?”

“WHAT!!? H-how did y-you know!?” Anima demanded, staring at her teacher with a ludicrous expression.

“I’ve been around much longer than you have and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that if two ponies spend enough time together feelings will emerge,” Luna explained, giggling at her student’s surprise. “Besides, you always talk of him whenever you get back from your breaks. It’d be difficult not to see something between you two.”

Anima merely groaned, realizing she had made it so obvious. If her face wasn’t red enough before it certainly was now. Despite her embarrassment she managed to push past it and continue on with her confession.

“It’s just, he’s always been so kind to me. From the day we first met he’s done so much for me, never because he felt he had to either. First, he gave me a beautiful necklace to celebrate my coronation. No sooner after that did he offer to teach me how to fly, all because he wanted to. And of course, after all the time we’ve spent together, we’ve become such good friends and he’s never once stopped appraising my efforts with learning how to fly and being a Princess. Even with my own friends and his, Caster’s so generous to spend his time to just hang out and is always wanting us to be happy. I know at times he can be a little impatient with me, but he tries to make up for it when he can. I said it earlier today and I meant it: Caster truly is an inspiration to me. He’s such a hard worker, but he never forgets about those he cares about,” Anima finished, feeling better now that she had told someone about her feelings.

“My, my, I knew you were beginning to like him but I didn’t think it went that far. And if I must say, you picked a very nice catch,” Luna stated, imagining the two of them together before a question popped up. “But I must ask, if you like him so much why haven’t you told him how you feel?”

“Well first off, it kind of feels like I have one of those schoolgirl crushes. The kind that only last a little while before they fade, so I don’t know if these feelings are real or just a reaction for all the kindness and generosity he’s shown towards me. Second, Caster’s always seemed to be a bit off put when it comes to talking about relationships, from what I’ve seen anyway. But most of all, I can’t help but feel that he may already have a special somepony. I know I’m probably just being silly but considering everything that I’ve said about him, you’d think that some mare would’ve gotten to him. And like I said before, he’s uncomfortable talking about relations, which may explain why he’s never mentioned her or brought her to our meetings. I don’t know, maybe I’m overreacting but I just can’t help it,” Anima said, feeling her mind getting jumbled again.

Meanwhile, Princess Luna was processing all of the new information, particularly that last statement. Luna had known Caster for some time, after the incident during the Canterlot Wedding as most folks referred it to. And of course she knew that he was still single even to this day. Luna was about to tell her student the truth when something occurred to her. Anima definitely had feelings for Caster, that much was clear to Princess Luna. But as Anima said, even she didn’t know if they were real or just part of a passing fancy and her feelings seemed to be in a delicate state as is. If Luna told her there might be some hope for her, she might’ve gone overboard with confessing her feelings to him, not to mention those feelings may not have been real to Anima. Processing all of this, Luna decided it would be best not to tell her. For the sake of letting her sort out her feelings fully before confessing them. With that in mind she realized it would be best to respond to her to student by now.

“I don’t know if Caster has somepony or not either,” Luna lied, before retorting. “But that shouldn’t stop you from exploring these feelings you have.”

“But what if he does have somepony? What if my feelings are real and he doesn’t return them?” Anima said, her brain going into overdrive.

“It’s better than just letting those feelings dwell in your heart. Many ponies have denied how they feel about another in the past and the result was never good. Besides you never know, he may be harboring the same feelings for you as well,” Luna said, dropping a subtle hint.

“B-but-”

“But nothing!” Princess Luna exclaimed, slamming her palm on the desk before calming down. “Listen, you can’t just ignore these feelings you have. Nor can you let your fears get the best of you. Because there will always be a chance of something that could’ve been if you deny what’s in your heart. If Caster truly does have a marefriend of his own, better to know and accept rather than mope and wonder. But if he doesn’t, you should take that opportunity and see where it leads. After all, he does care about you, does he not?”

“…Yes, yes he does,” Anima said, answering with a sigh.

“Then that should be all the motivation you need. Because even if it doesn’t work out between you two, you’ll still be good friends. And I can tell you want that just as much,” Luna stated, pulling away to hear her student’s response.

Anima said nothing for a few minutes, taking in all that her teacher had to say. After a while, she finally came up with her answer.

“You’re right!” she replied, standing up out of her seat. “It shouldn’t matter if whether we end up as a couple. Caster is still my friend and I know he always will be, just as I will for him. He’ll always be there for me, and I for him whenever we need a friend to talk to. Because no matter what happens we still care for each other and that is the most important part of our friendship.”

Princess Luna didn’t need to hear another word as she went over and gave her favorite student a hug with as much tender care as she could muster.

“I truly have brought up a fine young Princess it seems,” she said, keeping the mare close.

“It was to be expected, Luna. You’re just as great a teacher as Caster is,” Anima said, returning the hug full force.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Luna replied, laughing along with her student.

“So, do you think we should get back to your other lessons you had planned?” Anima asked, ready to learn some more spells.

“As much as I’d love to, I’m afraid we’ve used up too much time with our little talk,” Luna said, as she pointed toward an ornate gold and silver clock that said six forty-five in the evening.

“Shoot, I guess we got a little caught up in our time together, huh?” Anima exclaimed, acting a bit sheepish.

“It would appear so. Though I can’t let you get home by yourself. It’s pretty dark out and we can’t let something happen to you. But don’t worry, I’ve got something for you,” Princess Luna said, lighting up her horn for a moment.

“What are you doing?” Anima asked, curious about what her teacher was up to.

“You’ll see soon enough,” she said, as the magic dissipated.

The two Alicorns waited for a few minutes before they heard the door open. From outside the room walked in a Unicorn guard with orange eyes, gray fur, and a silver mane and tail. The pony beside him was a Pegasus stallion with light brown fur, brown eyes, and a brown and white mane and tail, who wore his own set of armor. Both ponies were familiar to Anima.

“Yoshi, Spell it’s so good to see you again!” she exclaimed, recognizing them immediately and rushing over to give them a tight hug.

“It’s good to see you too, your highness!” Spell said, surprised to see her here.

“What are you two doing here anyway?” Anima asked.

“Don’t know, I received a message from the Princess in my mind saying to bring another guard with me to here,” Yoshi claimed.

“And you followed your orders to the letter, Specialist Yoshi Ringo,” Luna stated, receiving a salute from both stallions. “I’ve called you and Lieutenant Spell Weaver here to help escort Princess Anima Memoriae back home.”

“Don’t worry, your grace, we’ll make sure she’s safe and sound,” Spell said, standing tall and proud.

“We won’t let anything happen to her, I promise,” Yoshi stated, staring straight forward.

“Aww, you guys are so sweet,” Anima said, feeling safe already.

“Very well, I leave her in your hands then. Do not fail me, or her,” Princess Luna said, throwing up a salute.

“Yes, your grace!” Both stallions shouted, simultaneously as they saluted in return.

With that, the two guard ponies led Anima out of the small classroom and through the hallways of the castle. Assured that they would protect her, Princess Luna went to clean up the board and put away supplies for their next class. As she was just about finished and prepared to leave the room, one last thought came to mind as she spoke out loud.

“I wonder where things will go from here,” she said to herself, turning out the lights in the room as she teleported to her personal chambers.
> Chapter 7: Back Alley Rescue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	Thunder boomed in the distance, signaling the oncoming storm that was fast approaching. The citizens of Canterlot, however, had managed to make it inside. Leaving the streets of the city completely barren of life. That is, except for a trio of ponies that walked down the dimly illuminated path. As the ponies passed a lamppost, the orange light revealed their identities. It was none other than Princess Anima Memoriae, being escorted by Specialist Yoshi Ringo on her right and Lieutenant Spell Weaver on her left. Both stallions kept their form upright and firm as they walked beside their Princess. Though that didn’t stop them from talking to her once she spoke up.

“Thank you both again for escorting me home,” Anima said, gaining their attention.

“No problem, your grace,” Yoshi replied, looking forward as he talked.

“It’s our duty to follow the orders of her majesty, your grace,” Spell stated, doing the same.

“Still, I’m glad it was you two. Also, I thought I mentioned before that you didn’t have to refer to me with such pleasantries. Just call me Anima, like always,” she said, trying to ease the tension that seemed to be building.

“Heh, heh, right. Sorry about that, Anima, just habit I guess,” Yoshi said, scratching his cheek.

“It’s fine, Yoshi, you’re just going by the book after all,” Anima Memoriae said, giving him a reassuring smile.

“But it’s nice to know that there’s at least one Princess we can relax around. Princess’ Celestia and Luna aren’t demanding of course, they just have that commanding authority is all. I-I mean, not to say you don’t have the same presence as well, your high-, I mean A-Anima! Oh boy,” Spell stuttered out, feeling flustered.

“Don’t worry about it, Spell,” she replied, giggling at his nervousness. “Though you’re kind of right. I haven’t really learned to take command yet. I still need more teaching from Luna if I’m going to be a proper ruler one day.”

“Well I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it soon. And from what I’ve been hearing, you’re a fast learner. You’ll be a proper Princess in no time at all,” Yoshi declared, knowing of her latest progress. “Speaking of learning, how are your lessons with Caster going?”

Anima said nothing as she pointed to her left wing, wrapped tightly in bandages.

“Oh, I see. Sorry to hear about that,” he said, realizing what she was implying.

“Eh, it was an accident. Nothing I could’ve done about it. It just stinks that I won’t be able to practice with Caster for a while,” Anima responded, feeling down from the reminder.

“I’m sure you’ll heal up quickly. With that cast he gave you, you’ll be right as rain before you know it,” Spell said, examining the features of the bandaged up wing.

“You landed yourself a pretty decent teacher, I can tell you that,” Yoshi Ringo added, remembering his races with him in the past.

“More like I landed on him, literally,” Anima said, laughing as she remembered the day they first met.

“Yeah, that must’ve been fun,” Spell said, recalling that tale.

“Even so, I feel I should be thanking you, Anima,” Yoshi said, causing her to raise an eyebrow at his statement.

“What for, Yoshi?” she asked.

“For bringing his spirits back up,” he stated, noting her confused expression as he continued. “For the longest time he’s always been the gloomiest of our group, he may not show it anymore but it was there once. He never knew what to say and tried to use his work as an excuse not to meet up, even if it was unintentional. He may say he’s too tired from work, but he’s stronger than he gives himself credit for. And of course there’s his, other, problems but I digress. Point is, ever since you two started your lessons together Caster’s behavior has changed for the better. In a way you’ve helped let out the part of him that we all know him as: generous, fun, hard-working, and always looking out for his friends and family. So in a way, you’ve both been teaching each other and for that I have to thank you.”

“…Wow, I uh, didn’t think I had such an impact on his life,” Anima said, her face turning bright red as her mind kept replaying that statement over and over.

“Well it’s the truth. I guess it’s no wonder why he likes you so much,” Yoshi blurted out, knowing how Caster seemed to feel about her.

“W-what was that?” she questioned, too focused on what he said earlier to realize his claim.

“Oh, uhh nothing, nothing at all, heh, heh!” he exclaimed, noticing he nearly spilt Caster’s secret.

“O-okay then,” she said, deciding to just ignore it.

“Well it’s nice to see you two getting along,” Spell Weaver said, reminding them of his presence. “Though I think we should get moving. The storm’s almost here and I’d rather not have any of us get caught in the rain just yet.”

The two ponies realized they had slowed down their walk since they started talking and continued along their route. They sped up their pace to get home as quickly as possible. As Anima was offering them to stay at her home till the rain died down, which they humbly declined, they all came across her and Caster’s meeting intersection. However, one noticeable factor made them halt in wary hesitation. That being the pony, leaning against the corner lamppost, who moved forward until he stepped into the light. Anima let out a small, inaudible, gasp seeing who it was: It was Smooth Silver.

“Why hello, Princess Anima. Fancy running into you here… again,” Smooth said, a disturbing grin adorning his face.

“Pray tell, what business do you have here, Mr.?” Yoshi questioned, feeling off put by the stranger.

“Silver, Smooth Silver,” he responded, his smile only seeming to grow wider. “And I’m afraid my business with the Princess is none of your concern.”

“Hate to break it to you, buster, but you made it our business with that smart-ass comment of yours. Now what do you want!?” Spell demanded, shifting into a defensive stance.

“Well, there’s no need to be rude about it, my good sirs’,” Smooth replied, scoffing at their behavior. “If you really must know, I simply wanted to ask Ms. Anima if she would like to accompany me this evening. I never got an answer after all.”

“You already got your answer this morning! You saw me with my coltfriend so what makes you think this time will be any different?” Anima yelled, as she stayed close to Yoshi Ringo out of fear.

“Do you really take me for a fool?” he stated, following up with a short, hearty laugh. “I know about your so-called coltfriend, I know he isn’t really your lover. That idiot Caster barely knows anything about mares. I only let it slide earlier so as to not cause a scene.”

“What!? H-how do you know about Cast?” she asked, intimidated by his exceptional knowledge.

“Please, there’s almost nopony in this city that doesn’t know anything about him. Though I’m legitimately surprised you’re one of the few that actually don’t. Not that it matters at this point,” Smooth Silver said, as he moved closer to them.

“That’s enough!!” Yoshi shouted, seething with anger. “It was one thing to try and force our Princess into a date she clearly wants no part in. But insulting one of our closest friends is a different matter entirely!”

“Like it matters. Come now, your highness, the show will be starting soon and I’d hate for you to miss out,” he said, licking his lips in a devious manner.

“No, the only one who’ll be leaving is you,” Spell stated, him and his comrade moving in front of their Princess. “She is under our protection by command of Princess Luna and we shall not disobey our orders! Now, either step aside or get out of here you rich little punk. Or else we’ll have you arrested for harassment of royalty!”

Smooth stopped a foot away from the three, the light from the lamppost creating a glare on his glasses. He observed their stances and realized they wouldn’t be backing down. Especially when he noticed the Pegasus grasping the hilt of his sword, if nothing just to intimidate him. He moved a hand up to push up his glasses, which had started to slip.

“Oh dear, oh dear,” Smooth said, raising his glasses to reveal a cold blue menacing gaze. “You two are really starting to annoy me.”

Before the two guards had a chance to react, his horn had lit up in a dark blue aura. Nothing seemed to happen until a sphere of energy had formed around their heads. They started to feel tired, as if a fog had entered their minds and clouded their thoughts. Yoshi and Spell tried to fight it off, but couldn’t hold their ground forever and fell to the ground, unconscious. Revealing Anima Memoriae to Smooth’s foul gaze.

“You! What did you do to them!?” she screamed, trying to get them to wake up.

“I may not look like it, but I am quite skilled in magic. That was a powerful knockout charm I used, it’ll keep them out of my hair for a while. That’ll be enough for what I have planned for you,” Smooth said, moving towards her again.

Anima looked back and forth, frantically, between the knocked out guards and the menacing pony approaching her. Feeling a wave of anger course through her she stood up as she glared at the Smooth.

“Perhaps you’ve forgotten that I can use magic as well, you wretched pig!” Anima stated, charging her horn in a bright pink glow.

“No, I haven’t. Which is where this little trick comes in handy,” he replied, quickly shooting a small beam of magic at her.

Before she had a chance to move, the dark blue energy bolt struck the tip of Anima’s horn. The resulting combination of magical energies swirled together and created a small explosion that flung her back, onto the ground between Yoshi and Spell. While still a bit dazed, Anima tried to use her magic against Smooth again. Only to have but a small spark fly out of her horn.

“W-what’s going on? Why can’t I use my magic?” she asked herself, her fear starting to take over.

“Really now, I thought you’d know about this trick. Simply zap a Unicorn’s, or in this case Alicorn’s, horn when they’re performing magic and it’ll render them powerless,” Smooth answered, already right in front of her.

“Please, just leave me alone! Why’re you doing this?” Anima said, cowering as he crouched to get to eye level with her.

“Why? Because I always get what I want. And right now, what I want most… is to buck one of the hottest Princesses I’ve ever come across,” he declared, grabbing her roughly by the wrist and trying to kiss her.

“No!” Anima screeched, slapping him across the face with as much force as she could muster.

Smooth didn’t move as he took a moment to recognize the pain growing on his cheek. Though his grip on Anima never ceased, quite the opposite in fact. Anima yelped as she felt her wrist being squeezed with great force as Smooth turned back to face her, looking like he was beside himself.

“You really shouldn’t have done that,” Smooth said, his voice dripping with anger.

As Anima kept trying to struggle, Smooth’s own hand contacted with her face with almost twice as much strength as hers. Anima felt immense pain as she fell to the ground, her cheek turning red and tears starting to form. She only lied down for a moment before she was forcibly pulled up by the collar of her shirt and looked directly into his eyes.

“I grow bored with this game! You’re coming with me, where the last thing you’ll feel will be me entering you, over and over again. Because tonight, you’re mine,” Smooth said, preparing a spell.

Realizing that it must’ve been a teleportation spell, Anima continued to try and fight him off. Though his physical strength seemed too much for her and her magic was all but kaput. Not wanting to face the reality of the situation, Anima gave one last shot at using her magic. The strain was incredible as she closed her eyes and tried to force the magic out of her disarmed horn, feeling like her brain was being compressed. Just as she felt exhaustion move in on her, Anima felt the tight grip on her shirt loosen and heard someone grunt in pain. When she opened her eyes, Silver was lying on the ground clutching his stomach while a look of agony covered his face. She wondered what could have happened until she noticed Yoshi Ringo slowly getting up.

“Yoshi!? But I thought he knocked you out?” Anima said, with curiosity.

“Please, as if some little prick like him is enough to keep me down,” Yoshi said, doing his best to get himself back on his feet.

“How can this be!? That was one of my best spells. How could a pathetic guard like you manage to break it!?” Smooth Silver questioned, as he recovered from the sneak attack.

“This pathetic guard has had to endure dozens of magic resistance lessons in order to keep selfish Unicorns like you from misusing your magic,” Yoshi replied, as he stood upright. “Besides, it wouldn’t be right for a guard to take a nap while you have your way with our Princess and my friend!”

“Nggh, a noble effort, but wasted. For you won’t get another chance like that,” Smooth said, dusting himself off. “Now step aside, boy. Whether by my magic or my fists, you’ll end up just like your friend down there if you continue to get in my way.”

“The only one who’ll be unconscious tonight will be you, in the dungeons, once I’m through with you!” Yoshi said, helping Anima up. “Anima, get out of here. I’ll keep this guy off your back.”

“But I can’t just leave you two here. I can help too!” she said, not wanting to leave them at the hands of a considerably strong Unicorn.

“I mean no offense, Anima, but there’s nothing you can do right now. Your wing is broken and your magic has been blocked. And it’s my job to protect you. So I’m going to do just that,” Yoshi said, spreading his wings in a defensive pose.

“You can’t just expect me to-”

“This isn’t up for debate! Now go!!” he said, looking back at her and visibly shaking in both anger and fear.

Anima was taken back by Yoshi’s sudden lashing out at her. She took a moment to look over at Smooth Silver, who had been standing there, smiling, as if amused by this display. Anima could see the evil intent in his eyes and could sense a looming power within him. When she turned back to Yoshi, she saw him mouth the word ‘hide’ as his eyes flicked to the side. Following his gaze, Anima noticed a nearby alleyway between two buildings and realized what Yoshi was implying. Though still a bit hesitant on the idea, Anima gave a quick nod before bolting off into the dark narrow passageway.

“Do you really think she’ll be able to escape me?” Smooth Silver questioned, already moving to the alley.

“At the very least I can try to stop you,” Yoshi Ringo said, blocking his path.

“Heh, try me,” Smooth said, charging his horn.

As the two stallions charged at each other, Anima was busy trying to find her way through this maze of buildings. The stench of rotten vegetables and other trash wafted up from the many open trash cans she passed. It made it hard to breathe as she ran for her life. The only sources of light came from the occasional flash of lightning and some lamps every couple of yards. Anima just kept on running, regardless of these drawbacks, consistently changing her path whenever there was a split in the alley. As she continued to search for a way out, she heard a scream echoing from far behind her.

“No,” Anima whispered, clenching her fists as she kept on running.

Back in the streets, Yoshi was thrown to the ground beside his companion, but in worse shape than before. Yoshi’s armor was cracked in several places, some pieces had even been broken off. Blood dripped from his muzzle and mouth as he breathed raggedly. And most of his body was covered in scorch marks, with smoke arising from them. Smooth Silver, on the other hand, stood over him triumphantly, wiping away some blood from his hands and the cut on his lip with a handkerchief.

“I’ll admit you got in a few lucky shots. But I had hoped for a better challenge,” Smooth said, tossing the small piece of cloth onto Yoshi. “I’ll be back to finish you two off later. Right now I have more important matters to attend to.”

With that out of his way, Smooth went off to find Anima in the maze of alleyways, leaving Yoshi in his defeated form. Yoshi tried to get back up but ultimately couldn’t find the strength to stand. He was about ready to collapse when he heard something approaching him. Looking up, Yoshi stared in shock at who stood before him.

“Y-you,” Yoshi said, a sense of hope arising.


===============================================================


The peals of thunder grew louder and their rhythm seemed to match the terrified beating of Anima’s terror filled heart as she ran through the dimly lit, stinking backstreets of Canterlot. She continued searching for a way out that lead to the streets and away from her attacker. Unfortunately all Anima came across were dead ends and more intersecting paths. Currently she was facing one of the former as she tried to catch her breath. Anima grew more and more scared as she feared that Yoshi must’ve failed in his line of duty. That meant Smooth Silver was already closing in on her.

But she wasn’t going to give up now. Anima knew there had to be a way out somewhere and she’d spend all night running if that’s what it took to get home. So gathering up her courage, Anima went back the way she came to pick a different direction. Eventually coming back to a four way intersection she had passed earlier. Anima looked between the two paths she hadn’t tried and the one she had come from in the first place. As she tried to choose which one to take, she heard footsteps echoing from behind her. Anima’s heart skipped a beat as she turned to see the one pony she hoped she would never see again. It was Smooth Silver, smiling sinisterly as he approached her.

“Found you,” Smooth said, in a mocking sing-song voice.

Anima didn’t need another moment’s thought as she ran straight ahead of him. It just seemed to keep going straight, no matter how far she went down it. After what felt like minutes had gone by, Anima came to a stop as she looked in horror. In front of her was just another dead end, with only a lamp atop the wall shining a bright light down on her. A bolt of lightning flashed in the distance yet Anima could not hear the resounding thunder as she seemed disconnected from the world. In an act of pure desperation she pushed against the wall, believing it would magically open and free her from this nightmare. It did nothing of the sort as Anima started to cry, not knowing what else to do. Her mind was brought back to reality when she heard someone walk up behind her. Before Anima could even move, she was grabbed roughly, turned around and forced against the cold, hard brick wall.

“That’s enough hide and seek for one night! It’s time for a new game,” Smooth said, groping Anima’s breast through her shirt.

“Stop it, you can’t do this to me! I’m a Princess!!” Anima screamed, forcing his arm away from her.

“But that’s why I’m doing this. How many stallions out there have had a chance to buck royalty? Well tonight I’m going to be one of those lucky few,” Smooth stated, slapping her hand away.

Anima kept trying to force him off of her, but Smooth proved too strong for her as he started to rip her shirt apart. As he ripped the collar of her turtle neck in half, the chain from Anima’s necklace broke as the pendant fell to the ground, which went unnoticed by both ponies. Part of Anima’s bra was revealed as Smooth assaulted her large chest once again and kissed her neck repeatedly. Anima shuddered in disgust from his actions, his kisses feeling like slime crawling along her skin and his hands like monstrous claws along her breasts. Throughout it all though she continued struggling out of Smooth’s grip, only to get pinned back down instantly.

“You won’t get away with this you know. The three of us have seen your face and you can’t get rid of us. A Princess going missing is certainly worth an investigation,” Anima said, feeling she had found the drawback in Smooth’s plan as he pulled away.

“Well you would be correct in that matter, Princess,” Smooth said, his grin increasing to a smug look. “That is unless I’ve learned some memory charms of my own. You won’t die, but the feeling of me burrowing into you will be etched into your heart forever. As for your escorts, I doubt anypony will miss them. And the best part, you’ll never know it was me.”

Those words shook Anima to her core as the thoughts of what Smooth had planned flowed through her mind. She worked even harder to try and get away, but failed each time. That is until a solution hit her like a ton of bricks. With a devious smile, Anima quickly brought her knee up with Smooth’s crotch being the target. But she didn’t move fast enough as Smooth managed to block her strike with his own leg.

“Nice try, Anima. Did you really think I would leave my most valuable assets unguar-?”

Suddenly, something struck Smooth's forehead with great force, knocking him back as he screamed in pain. Once the dizziness wore off Smooth looked to see what had happened. Coming to, he saw Anima on the ground, clutching her head while she groaned from the necessary pain. Anima’s glasses had slipped from her face, a small crack formed on the lens as they laid beside her. Smooth was surprised by the sudden strategy Anima used on him. But his anger far outweighed his shock as he felt a trickle of blood flow from his brow.

“All right, that’s it!! I’m through with going easy on you!” he declared, slowly moving towards Anima. “After I’m through with you, you’ll be limping for a month! Nopony gets in the way of what I want! Especially not some pathetic excuse for a Princess, you stupid little bi-!”

“BANZAI!!!!” a voice shouted, getting louder as it spoke.

Before Smooth could identify where that noise came from, a pony flew down straight towards him. In an instant, the mystery pony had drop kicked Smooth in the chest and sent him flying back a few feet away. The figure turned around to find Anima cowering and curled into a ball as she didn’t know what this newcomer wanted. The pony went over to her and bent down, reaching for the small pair of glasses and handing them Anima who continued to shake and had her eyes shut tight as she continued to cry.

“I believe these belong to you,” the pony spoke, in a soothingly familiar voice.

Anima’s ears perked up and her eyes opened wide as she recognized the figure to at least be a stallion. But the way he sounded, she almost couldn’t believe who it was. Quickly grabbing her glasses, Anima put them on and gasped at who she saw. Even through the crack, she could still make out his wings, light-brown fur, and sepia mane. Caster Forge stood at eye level with Anima, giving her a smile that put her at ease.

“Are you all right, Anima? Did he hurt you too badly?” Caster asked, his smile faulting into a concerned expression.

Anima was stunned, seeing the stallion she adored so much in front of her like this. Needless to say, her heart swelled with joy. And without so much as a warning, Anima jumped up and wrapped her arms around Caster, letting out sobs of joy as her tears came full force.

“Oh, Caster, thank Faust you’re here!” Anima wailed, not holding back in her crying. “I-I was so s-scared, I thought he was g-going to rape me! H-he was even threatening t-to.”

“Shh, shh, it’s okay Anima. I heard it from Yoshi. Now, it’s my turn to protect you,” Caster said, stroking Anima’s hair as he looked behind him. “And from the looks of it, my job isn’t over yet.”

Confused by his statement, Anima looked over his shoulder to see Smooth Silver getting back up. Anima started to panic again, wanting nothing more than to just run. But her thoughts were put to a halt when she saw Caster removing his jacket.

“Here, cover yourself with this,” Caster said, draping the polyester fabric over Anima’s shoulders. “Just stay here and I’ll handle the rest.”

“But, he’s too strong Caster. Yoshi may’ve had a handicap from that spell but he still had guard training. How do you expect to beat him?” Anima asked, wondering what Caster had planned.

Caster just smiled as he leaned in and gave Anima a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Give me fifteen minutes, that’s all I need,” he said, giving her his most assuring smile.

For a moment, Anima said nothing as she focused on the slightly warm feeling that lingered on top of her head. It felt so much more delicate and caring than what Smooth had done to her. That, coupled with the warmth that remained in Caster’s jacket, helped warm Anima up as she nodded her approval. Knowing that Anima would heed his words, Caster stood up, mentally preparing himself for what was about to transpire. A drop of water then fell on Anima’s muzzle, which surprised her, followed by another and another. The storm had finally arrived and Anima used the jacket to shield herself.

“So, it would appear that your coltfriend, has come to your rescue,” Smooth Silver stated, standing back up and spitting out some blood. “But it won’t do you any good! I’ll dispatch him the same way as your friend back there and then you’ll be all mine, Anima!”

Staring at the pouring sky above, Caster took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as the cold rain flattened his mane and soaked his fur. As Caster turned around to face his opponent, Smooth suddenly felt a bit intimidated by what he saw. Caster’s face had a look of pure anger and bitterness. His eyes burned with intense fire and he gritted his teeth so hard that Smooth wondered if they might break.

“HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO MY FRIEND!!!?” Caster bellowed out over the thunderous rain, startling both Smooth and Anima. “You claim that Anima is yours!? She doesn’t belong to anypony! Especially not some sick bastard like you who wants to buck her for the fun of it!! You offend not only her, but me as well! I can’t and I won’t allow scum like you to roam freely without punishment! So put up your dukes, Smooth Silver, otherwise you’ll end up even worse than what you did to Yoshi!!!”

Both ponies watched as Caster had completely lost it. Even Anima had never seen him this angry before. While she worried about whether or not Caster could control himself during this fight, she heard someone slowly clapping. Anima saw it was Smooth, who wore a blank expression on his face.

“Amusing speech, boy, though it hardly makes a difference. I’m well trained in both magic and boxing, I doubt you can match that,” he said, getting ready to strike.

Much to Smooth’s surprise, Caster didn’t seem to charge straight at him. Rather he opted to take another deep breath and smiled.

“Phew, glad I got that out of my system. As for you Smooth, I think I can manage. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my fencing lessons it’s that you have to be quick,” Caster said, as a bolt of lightning went off nearby.

The flash from how close it was blinded Smooth for about a second before he could see again. But when he opened his eyes, Smooth’s sights were set upon Caster who stood right in front of him, his smile gone.

“And you must act before your opponent does,” Caster Forge finished, throwing a punch at said opponent.

His strike made direct contact with Smooth’s face, breaking his glasses in the process. Before Smooth was even given a chance to recover, Caster hit him again in the stomach and then at his chin. Infuriated, Smooth managed to dodge Caster’s next attack and throw one of his own, making contact with Caster’s chest. Quickly, he managed to follow it up with a left hook to Caster’s ribs and was about to kick from Caster’s left. However, Caster acted quickly and let his body fall backwards, narrowly avoiding the attack as it passed over him. Lifting his legs off the ground, Caster pressed his hands against the ground and used as much strength as he could muster to propel himself forward and strike Smooth Silver with his feet at Smooth’s core. He was sent tumbling back but was able to quickly regain his bearings as he removed his damaged glasses.

“How, how are you doing this? Where did you learn to fight like this!?” Smooth demanded, wiping the mix of blood and rainwater from his face.

“I’ve spent over ten years learning how to fence. Even without a blade in my hand, my body still knows how to maneuver in a fight!”  Caster replied, cracking his knuckles.

No need for further explanation, Caster zipped forward and shot another kick at Smooth. Though Smooth may’ve taken the full force of the attack, he only grinned as he used his arms to put Caster’s leg into a lock. Caster tried to free himself but ended up falling to the ground and hitting the back of his head. He cried out in anguish as Smooth slammed his foot on his stomach and started bending Caster’s leg towards him.

“Don’t get too cocky just yet, boy!” Smooth said, maliciously grinning as he continued to bend Caster’s leg back. “I still have some tricks up my sleeve.”

Despite the immense pain he was suffering, Caster wasn’t ready to give up. He started punching at Smooth’s leg, in an attempt to at least release Smooth’s hold on his upper body. Though Caster’s strategy was of little use as Smooth suddenly kicked him in the face. With that he released his hold on Caster’s leg and started repeatedly punching him in the face.

“You may be a blacksmith for the royal army, but you’re still nothing compared to me!!” Smooth shouted, striking Caster harder and harder. “I have money, fame, power, magic! You have nothing! You don’t deserve to teach a Princess, let alone be her friend! I’ve heard plenty of things about you! You’re nothing but a sad, lonely little colt who’s never been with a mare, much less even kissed one! You claim to know what Anima deserves in a partner when you yourself clearly don’t know jack shit about love! You have no right to say anything about love! Not when you haven’t known what it’s like to properly love a mare! I’ve heard that all you’ve ever cared about mares is their looks as well! In fact I’m guessing that’s the real reason you got close to Anima, isn’t it!? You just want the same thing that I do: to buck a Princess like no tomorrow! Say whatever you want to defend yourself, but you and I are truly one in the same!”

Finished with his berating pummeling, Smooth lifted Caster with his magic and brought him up to eye level. Caster bled profusely from both his muzzle and mouth, breathing heavily as if the life was beaten out of him. His right eye had turned black and swollen and there were some cuts across his face as well. Smooth gave a look that reeked of smugness as he stared at Caster’s disheveled appearance.

“What do you have to say for yourself now, boy?” Smooth said, waiting for his reply.

“… Drop dead you piece of shit,” Caster spoke, spitting a combination of saliva, mucous, and blood at Smooth’s face.

Smooth Silver said nothing as his face contorted into one of blood thirsty anger. Without a word he used his magic to throw Caster against the wall, who yelped in pain. Only a moment later was he thrown against the other wall, feeling his suffering increase. With that, Smooth continued to throw Caster back and forth between the alley walls, which were soon splattered with small amounts of blood and had cracks forming. Just as Caster wondered when this torment would end, he was hurled against the wall one last time, the magic dissipating as his body felt numb from the pain.

“YOU FIRST!!!!!” Smooth shouted, filling his horn with an abundance of magical energy.

Anima Memoriae watched on in abject horror as Caster was beaten to a pulp and was about to be incinerated. While Smooth’s statement about Caster had caught Anima off-guard, she couldn’t just stand on the sidelines anymore, she had to do something. With newfound courage, Anima got out from underneath Caster’s jacket and ran towards the two ponies, who had moved a considerable distance since their scuffle began. Smooth noticed this and with precision, put up a force field between him and Anima as he continued to prepare the final blow. Anima tried to break the barrier down with sheer force, kicking and punching it over and over. But it did not yield any positive results. She started screaming, begging Smooth to stop, yet her voice couldn’t be heard over the raging storm and the enchantment that lied within the spell. And Smooth didn’t pay her any mind as he was ready to end this fight.

“Remember this in the next life, boy: those who have no power cannot hope to survive in this world!” Smooth stated, releasing all the energy he had stored at its target.

For Caster, the world seemed to slow down as he watched the beam of magic slowly approach him. Was this it, was this all he could’ve done? Was this really the limit of his strength? Caster looked to his right and watched Anima pounded against the barrier with tears streaming down her face. ‘No.’ Caster thought. ‘I can’t die yet, not with her watching me. Come on Caster, get up! You’re stronger than this! Just move. Move. Move! MOVE!!’ Caster continued to scream those words in his mind, trying to find the strength to evade Smooth’s attack. Then suddenly, the solution came to him. At the same time, time returned to normal as the spell went off with a loud explosion. Smoke rose from the impact area and some of the rain had been blown away as well. The smoke and debris soon cleared away, revealing only a large crater and a scorch mark with no sign of life.

“NNOOOOOOO!!!!!” Anima wailed, breaking down and crying her heart out as the barrier was released.

Smooth Silver laughed maniacally as he saw the result of his work.

“You see, Princess!? This is what happens when fools like him get in my way!!” Smooth shouted to the heavens, unaware of his surroundings.

“The only fool here… is you,” a voice breathed out, heavily from behind them.

Anima and Smooth immediately ceased their actions. They both looked to the other wall and gasped in astonishment. Caster Forge had somehow survived the deadly spell, though just barely. His clothes had been torn apart, revealing the bruises he had sustained during the fight. His mane was singed and his goatee had been burned down to a stubble. While Anima couldn’t find any words to describe how relieved she felt, Smooth had no trouble expressing the opposite.

“You. How can you be alive!? Nopony could’ve dodged that spell at such a short distance!!” Smooth demanded, his frustration growing by the second.

“You think your status in life is what gives you power. That’s what makes you a fool,” Caster said, looking up at him. “Power isn’t something you claim to have, it has to be earned. And while I may not have the kind of power you believe you possess, I have something you could never understand or hope to gain: the strength and encouragement I feel from my friends, and this!”

With those words, Caster ripped the remains of his shirt and revealed his trick. Smooth went wide eyed at what he saw. Upon Caster’s chest was the symbol of his lucky mark with several ancient runes sprouting from the corners of it, making the whole picture into an ‘X’ formation. It soon hit Smooth what Caster was implying: it was the speed from his lucky mark that saved him! Smooth Silver’s eye started to twitch as he bit his lip, drawing blood.

“Not only do you get in my way, but you also insist on bragging about that power of yours?” Smooth said, his body trembling with rage. “DIIIIIEEEE!!!!!”

Wasting no more time, Smooth channeled his rage into magic and fired another beam of powerful magic at Caster. It was faster than the first one but exploded with just as much force. Smooth started breathing heavily as the strenuous use of his magic was taking its toll.

“Looks like your aim could use some improvement, wouldn’t you say Smooth!?” a voice rang out, from up high.

Smooth looked up to see Caster Forge in the air, wearing a grin that radiated confidence. A confidence that Smooth was beginning to detest as he roared in anger, firing a volley of magic at Caster. Focusing on the fight again, Caster dove down towards his opponent. Caster narrowly dodged the shots of magic along the way, appearing like a blur as he did. Smooth continued to fire until his magic reserves had started to dry up. With great speed, Caster charged right at Smooth. He was only about a foot away from Smooth when he disappeared again. Baffled by the sudden disappearance, Smooth Silver looked around for Caster. Only to find him a moment too late, as he stood right behind him.

“This, on the other hand, won’t miss,” Caster said, in a fighting stance.

Smooth turned around to try and counter the attack, but it was too late. In a flash, Caster began laying multiple strikes all over Smooth’s body. He landed three hits across each of Smooth’s limbs, one at his stomach and his face. And finally, gave a solid blow in Smooth’s chest, sending him straight down to the ground. Caster watched as Smooth writhed in pain, barely able to move a muscle. For his sake, Caster hoped he would stay down. Sadly, Smooth was more persistent than Caster thought as he started pushing himself back up.

“I guess fifteen won’t always be my lucky number,” Caster said, feeling only pity for Smooth. “But I’m ending this, now!”

Before Smooth could get another word in, Caster pressed his foot aggressively against Smooth’s back, forcing him back down. Smooth slowly turned his head to face Caster, who was clenching his fist for the final strike.

“And remember this, swine,” Caster solemnly stated. “Don’t. Ever. Claim that I know nothing about love! Because while I may’ve been rejected by so many mares in the past, I’ve learned from my mistakes. So in reality, I know more about love than a rapist like you could ever comprehend!!! Take that information with you to the dungeons!”

No need for more words, Caster Forge put all his rage into his right fist and thoroughly connected it with Smooth’s face, knocking out a few of his teeth and him in the process. Caster breathed heavily as he tried to control himself while the runes on his chest began to fade. When he finally managed to get a grip on himself, he turned around to see Anima whose eyes were wide open. She was both amazed and terrified by the feat that Caster had pulled off. But she was relieved to see that Smooth was finally put down. Snapping out of her shock, Anima noticed that Caster knelt down in front of her and gave her a look of concern through his beaten looks.

“Are you okay, Anima?” Caster asked, his voice slightly raspy.

“… I am now,” Anima said, holding him close as she cried softly.

The rain continued to pour on them as they held each other close. But they didn’t care, for this fight was over. Though over the sound of falling water, they heard footsteps echoing from behind them. Turning their attention towards the sound, they discovered its source to be an Earth Pony stallion with black fur, blue eyes, teal mane and tail, and royal night-guard armor, who was quickly approaching them.

“Princess Anima Memoriae, Caster Forge, are you both all right!?” the stallion asked, checking them both.

“Yes sir, we’re fine. But who’re you and how’d you find us?” Caster asked, wondering how this pony got here.

“My name is Moon Glow,” he answered, with ease. “I was heading back to the castle from my patrol after the rain started. On the way, I saw your friends passed out in the middle of the street. I managed to wake them up and they explained what happened. I told them to wait there, since they were still a bit dizzy from that spell, and I went ahead into the alley. It was difficult but I managed to follow the screaming and yelling right toward you guys.”

“I see. Well, I’m glad you were able to make it Moon, but you’re a bit too late. Smooth Silver’s already been taken care of,” Caster stated, as he retrieved Anima’s necklace and his jacket and gave the latter to Anima to cover herself once more.

Curious about Caster’s statement, Moon looked around until he suddenly noticed the beaten form of Smooth Silver. While he was surprised that Caster did so much damage to a pony, he believed deserved, Moon still went over to check on Smooth. After determining that Smooth was still alive, just unconscious, he tied up his arms and legs, picked him up, and slung him over his shoulder as he turned back to Caster and Anima.

“Well, Caster, thank you for saving Princess Anima. I hate to think what might’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up. Can I trust you to escort her home from here while we take this scum to the hospital?” Moon asked, knowing that Caster was a pony he could trust.

“You can count on me. But actually I’ll be taking her over to my place,” Caster said, keeping Anima close to him. “My mother told me her parents would be visiting us tonight and its best they know their daughter is safe as soon as possible.”

“All right then, both of you be safe. I think we’ve all had enough excitement for one night,” Moon Glow said, making his way down the alley with Smooth Silver in tow.

Anima was about to follow when she felt Caster start to collapse as well. All of the damage and strain had finally started to catch up with him as he barely had the energy left to stand.

“Hold on, Caster! I-I’ll think of something,” Anima said, trying to hold him up.

“Heh, looks like I ran out of juice,” Caster said, weakly as he tried to stay conscious.

Anima though for a moment on what to do when she realized she might have her magic again. It was a long shot, but she believed that after this much time and with Smooth’s KO, his spell may’ve worn off by now. So closing her eyes in focus, Anima concentrated on her horn hoping for something to happen. It took only a moment for her to feel magic start to build up once again. With that she prepared a teleportation spell and in a flash the two of them were gone, leaving the nightmare once and for all.


===============================================================


In the outskirts of Canterlot, the rain had just started to pick up as it came down by the gallons. One home, in particular, took notice of this as the water belted against its windows, along with a flash of lightning that brightened the inside, alerting the occupants inside. Said occupants of this abode were the parents, siblings, and nephew of Caster Forge. Along with them were their guests, Anima’s parents, who were currently in the dining room drinking tea with Caster’s parents.

“Thanks again for having us over, Amethyst, it was nice finally getting to meet the parents of our daughter’s teacher,” Zen Wheeler said, before taking a sip from his cup.

“Well we’ve been wanting to meet you two as well. It’s not every day you get to have tea with parents of royalty after all,” Amethyst Emberglow replied, glad to know Anima’s parents were nice ponies.

“No, no, the pleasure is ours. I never knew that Caster’s parents were such famous jewelry makers. And plus your family certainly is a lively bunch,” Celly Script said, watching as Hotpop and Jack Spirit played with their son, Vicente, in the living room.

“Yeah, our grandson has definitely made things interesting since he came into the family,” Copper Gold said, remembering the times he looked after Vicente. “So are you sure you two can’t stay any longer? Caster’s supposed to be home soon and I’m sure he’d like to talk to you again.”

“We’d love to, but we really must be going,” Celly said, after she finished her tea. “Anima should be home by now and we wouldn’t want her to worry about us.”

“Besides, I’m sure she’ll love to hear about how our meetup went,” Zen added, getting up and pushing his chair in.

“Please be sure to give her our regards. I’d love to be able to meet her so-” Amethyst was interrupted when she heard a loud, rapid knocking at the door. “Oh, I think that might be Caster actually. What impeccable timing, you’ll be able to talk to each other before you go!”

“Yay, Uncle Caster’s home!” Vicente said, about to head to the door before Hotpop stopped him with her magic.

“Now, now, Vicente, don’t rush him,” she said, trying to keep a hold on her son. “Let your grandmother at least let him in first.”

With a skip in her step, Amethyst went over to the front door to let her son get out of the rain. But when she opened the door, she let out a frightful gasp at what she saw. Anima Memoriae stood close to Caster Forge, who looked like he had been through Tartarus and back, with his arm draped over Anima’s shoulder. Anima too looked awful with her tattered clothing, bruises on her cheek and forehead, and of course her still damaged wing. Needless to say, Amethyst was horrified to see this picture.

“Caster, Princess Anima, what happened to you two!!?” Amethyst asked, watching as the two of them hobbled into the house.

“We’ll explain later, please just help Caster!” Anima shouted, trying her best to support Caster’s weight.

Amethyst nodded feverishly as she helped Caster over to the living room couch, where everyone else had congregated to. Immediately both Anima and Caster were bombarded with questions filled with concern. Zen and Celly seemed the most distraught seeing their precious daughter in such a state. When they had all settled down, they decided to split into two groups. Amethyst, Celly, and Hotpop took Anima upstairs to get her cleaned up and grab her a change of clothes.

Copper, Zen, and Jack tended to Caster’s wounds while Vicente just stood on the sidelines, knowing enough not to interfere. In the end, Caster had most of his upper body bandaged, along with an ice pack wrapped against his black eye to reduce the swelling. He even shaved the rest of his goatee off, wanting it to grow back naturally. After he was all patched up, Caster went into detail about what happened earlier while his father prepared some more tea. From pretending to be Anima’s coltfriend, to fixing her wing. And of course his overtime at work, which lead him to finding Yoshi Ringo and Spell Weaver, thus allowing him to find Anima. He didn’t leave anything out, making sure his actions would be judged properly.

“And at that moment, I broke the seal on my lucky mark and used the speed it gave me to escape Smooth’s blast. After some more evading I struck him with my fifteen strike technique and delivered the final blow. That was when Moon Glow showed up and took Smooth into custody before Anima was able to teleport us back here. And then, you know the rest,” Caster finished, petting Nina in his lap who had showed up earlier during all the commotion.

The other three stallions, along with Vicente just sat there, listening intently to Caster’s story. Soon they started speaking one by one.

“Wow, who would’ve thought that the rich could stoop to something this low?” Jack Spirit said, astonished by this crime.

“That mean old booger-face! If I ever see him I’ll kick his butt myself!” Vicente proclaimed, throwing punches against the air.

“Vicente, watch your language,” Jack said, scolding his son.

“But you did the right thing, Caster,” Copper Gold said, sitting next to his son on the couch. “I’m not saying it was right to beat him senseless, but you defended not only a Princess, but your friend as well. That’s what truly matters here.”

“Like I was just going to let him rape her? Nopony deserves to suffer through something like that! I’d have stood up to a hundred guys like him if it meant protecting Anima,” Caster said, taking a sip of tea to calm his nerves.

“Still, you saved my daughter,” Zen Wheeler cried out softly, clearly the most emotional of the group. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

“There’s no need to Mr. Wheeler. Anima’s safe now and that’s all that matters to me,” Caster stated, holding out his hand for him to shake.

“Well, you’ve certainly earned my gratitude, Caster,” Zen said, shaking Caster’s hand and trying to wipe away his tears. “Anima truly did pick not only a great teacher, but a great friend as well.”

“I just do my best, that’s all,” Caster said, feeling great that he had gotten Zen’s approval.

“And your best is certainly your most amazing, little bro,” Jack said, holding Vicente who had fallen into another narcoleptic slumber.

As they continued to praise and congratulate Caster on his heroic deed, a set of footsteps came down the stairs. Everyone in the living room turned and saw that it was Anima, wearing a white robe with pink fluffed edges. Her mane and tail were dry and flowed freely and she had a small bandage wrapped around her head. Knowing that she and Caster probably needed some time to themselves, they all got up and went up the stairs. But not before each giving Anima a comforting hug that she returned in kind.

Once they had all left, Anima went to the living room and took a seat next to Caster. Nina went over to Anima, curious about the newcomer. She was hesitant at first, but Anima petted Nina finding the little red squirrel adorable. There was an awkward silence between Caster and Anima as they didn’t know what to start off with. Anima, for her part, was distracted by the sight of the bandaged Caster who had forgone wearing a shirt. It wasn’t the sight of his body in general that distracted her, but rather all the wounds he sustained trying to protect her. Anima took a chance to turn her gaze away from Caster, feeling a few tears welling up. She stayed like this for a while until the sight of a filled tea cup entered her vision.

“You’re worried about my wounds, aren’t you?” Caster said, breaking the silence as he handed her the cup.

Anima only nodded, taking hold of the cup and letting the sweet, warm liquid greet her lips.

“Don’t be. They don’t hurt that badly anymore,” Caster said, trying to improve Anima’s morale.

“But you only got them because of me. You’re only like this because of the mess I got myself into,” Anima said, a tear drop falling into her beverage.

“Anima, that wasn’t your fault, it was Smooth’s. He’s the one that inflicted these injuries and is the one who caused this incident to happen. I don’t care how or why this happened, all I care about is keeping my friends safe. And if that means taking a few hits along the way, I’ll gladly be yours and everypony else’s shield,” Caster said, letting Anima know he didn’t blame her.

Wiping away what remained of her tears, Anima placed her teacup down and scooted over to Caster. Carefully she rested herself against him, making sure not to put too much pressure on his wounds.

“I’m just glad you’re alive. For a moment, I thought you were gone for good,” Anima said, the sound of Caster’s breathing comforting her.

“As if I’d lose to somepony like him. And even if I did, I’d just get right back up. Because I wouldn’t stop until I knew you were safe. After all you’re my friend, not to mention one of the few mares who treats me with so much kindness,” Caster said, smiling as he wrapped an arm around her.

Although Anima was touched to hear those words that last part of Caster’s statement made her remember something she felt should’ve been addressed.

“Caster… is it true, what Smooth Silver said about you?” Anima asked, wanting to know from Caster himself.

Knowing what she was referring to, Caster sighed as he knew he couldn’t hide it any longer.

“Yes, it’s true. I’ve never been with a mare before, nor have I kissed one either,” Caster said, frowning as the memories returned.

“I have to say I’m… very surprised to hear that,” Anima said, as she finally learned the truth. “To be honest I always thought you had somepony of your own.”

“Yeah, sometimes ponies assume that about me. But sadly that isn’t the case,” Caster said, holding Anima a bit closer.

“Still I find it a bit odd. You’re such a nice pony I thought you’d have dozens of mares chasing you,” Anima said, imagining the mares of Canterlot ogling Caster.

“That’s just it. I do, so to speak. And that’s part of the reason I don’t have a marefried,” Caster said.

“What do you mean?” Anima asked.

“I should probably start at the beginning,” Caster said, taking a deep breath. “When I was younger I was always chasing after mares. I was young, ignorant, and only seemed to care about their looks which I thought was love. But I never got to know them well and vice versa, leading to many rejections. After I turned eighteen, I decided to stop trying and just settled for waiting, wanting the mare I love to come to me first or something like that. Soon enough, they did, though not in the way I hoped for. Mares of all classes, from average to the high ups, kept coming at me asking me out on dates and everything. And why: because they only saw me for my social status and my decent good looks, they didn’t care about what I was really like at all. At that point, I was smart enough to realize that it wasn’t real love and just did my best to ignore them. So even if I have to wait over a decade, I’m not going to fall for these kinds of mares. Because if I’m going to love one of them, it has to be one who sees me for everything that I am.”

Anima listened quietly as Caster poured his heart out into his confession, even shedding a few tears at the end. It let her see a side of him that she never experienced before. It touched her to know how much of a romantic Caster was. Part of Anima also wanted to leap with joy since she found out that Caster wasn’t taken. However, she decided against it, as well as telling him how she felt. With everything that happened, now just wasn’t the right time. Anima thought to wait on telling him, already thinking of a proper moment in the future to do so. For now though, she felt it best to console Caster.

“I’m sorry you had to be put through all that Caster. You don’t deserve to be treated like that,” Anima said, sitting up and wiping away Caster’s tears. “I’ve been around you long enough to see how kind and generous you are. Any mare would kill to have a stallion like you in their life. I’m confident you’ll find somepony soon and you’ll both have my support when that day comes. But… you won’t forget about me, right? I mean, I know you would want to spend as much time with each other as possible, but I hope that doesn’t mean we can’t hang out together either.”

“Of course not! In fact, there’s something I need to return to you,” Caster said, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out Anima’s amulet. “When I first gave you this, I promised that I would help you into the sky. Now I’m returning it with a new promise: Whatever happens, whether you’re feeling down or just want to hang out, I’ll always be there for you. Because you truly are my closest friend who’s changed almost everything about my life.”

Those words touched Anima in more ways than she could comprehend. Taking hold of Caster’s hand, along with the amulet, Anima leaned in and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek, expressing her thanks for the kind words. They didn’t need to say anymore as they cuddled up to each other, Nina joining them in the middle. Caster and Anima spent a while in the living room, staying close and listening to the rain pouring outside. The moment was interrupted when a small clock on the mantle rang out. Caster looked to see that it was nine o’clock.

“We should probably get some sleep. I’ll go grab a pillow and blanket for you to sleep down here,” Caster said, getting up before being stopped by Anima.

“Actually, if you don’t mind. Um, would it be all right if I slept with you tonight?” Anima asked, giving him a pleading, puppy look. “It’s just, I’d feel a little safer if I slept next to somepony I trust.”

Even without Anima’s infamous look, Caster didn’t want to say no to her right now. Nodding, Caster helped Anima off of the couch. He then surprised her by lifting her up into his arms.

“C-caster, you shouldn’t strain yourself like this,” Anima said, both blushing and feeling a little concerned.

“Don’t worry, I’m feeling a bit better. Besides you carried me home, so consider this a little repayment,” he replied, giving her a sly wink.

Giggling at his little statement, Anima relaxed as Caster carried her upstairs, making her feel like a real Princess. When they got to his bedroom, he set her down on the dark green comforter of his bed while he went and tucked Nina into her own little sofa bed. When he turned around, Caster saw Anima removing her robe, revealing a large white t-shirt and a pair of purple pajama shorts. After admiring how cute Anima looked in her attire, Caster got into bed and scooched back towards the wall, allowing Anima to join in and cuddle against him. Caster brought the blanket over them and wrapped an arm and wing around Anima, stroking her hair comfortingly.

“Goodnight… Honeypie,” Caster said, letting slumber slowly overtake his weary body.

“Goodnight, Sugarcube,” Anima replied, letting Caster’s warm embrace sooth her spirits.

With that, they both fell into the most blissful sleep either had experienced yet. Anima kept herself close all night to Caster, the stallion who risked it all to protect her. The pony she had come to fall in love with.
> Chapter 8: Take to the Sky
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	For most ponies, a month can’t change much in their lives. For a certain Princess and blacksmith, however, everything can change. After the events involving Smooth Silver, Caster Forge and Anima Memoriae’s friendship had grown over the last few weeks. They spent nearly every day together, both for their lessons and hanging out with their friends. They had become more open with each other and always had each other’s backs. But best of all, their lessons had dramatically improved.

When Anima’s wing had finally healed, Caster advised her to take it easy for a while. However, Anima had other plans. As soon as she was able, Anima got back into her training full force. Not just for flying, but also in her magic lessons while learning to be a proper Princess. Caster had wondered where this sudden determination had come from. To which Anima responded that she wanted to become stronger after seeing what little she could’ve done during the incident. While he was a bit worried she was pushing herself too far, Caster admired her strength and devotion and gladly helped Anima in her endeavor. After all, he was looking to improve himself as well.

The day after the incident, Caster was called to the castle for an audience with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The news of Caster foiling Smooth Silver’s assault had quickly reached their ears. So, in recognition of his bravery, they knighted him and let the story of his actions out to the public. As for Smooth himself, he was immediately sentenced to life imprisonment and had all his titles and assets removed. Although the title Sir Caster Forge had a nice ring to it, it didn’t mean much for Caster. He was honored by it of course, but after his near death experience, he thought he needed to become stronger if he wanted to truly earn it.

So from that day on, whenever he got the chance, Caster would train himself. Whether it be his body in general or his fencing skills. Because even though his title was merely honorary, Caster wanted to make sure he deserved it. But even then, he still made time for his friends, family, and Anima. Especially since today was special for both of them: it was time to see if Anima was ready to truly fly.

The weather was truly perfect as the sun shined across the cloud dotted sky over Canterlot. The rays of light reflected brightly off of the gold and alabaster walls of Canterlot Castle, making it stand out more than usual. But despite the tranquility of the scene, the moment was interrupted when a sudden boom came from inside the castle, followed by another and another. They weren’t enormous explosions, rather just noises that echoed throughout the castle. And they were all coming from Princess Luna and Anima’s classroom. Inside the modestly large room, most of the contents had been moved aside to make room for the various devices scattered across the floors, walls, and even the ceiling.

The devices, in question, were several bull’s-eye targets that were made to pop up at specific intervals. Three of the said targets by the window stood upright before being blasted by three beams of magic, rendering them into dust. They were soon followed by more targets, each one getting destroyed nearly the moment they popped up. The source of the magical energy came from Anima Memoriae, who was in the center of the room, firing more magic as she moved around. Eventually, the targets ran out and Anima took the moment to catch her breath. She straightened out her violet tank top and blue jeans that ended just past her knees, and adjusted her glasses.

During that time, a figure chose to emerge from behind the large desk that had been moved back. It was Princess Luna, wearing a black skirt and blouse, who looked upon the shattered remains of all the targets.

“My word, Anima, you’ve certainly gained amazing reflexes,” Luna said, picking up and examining a shattered target.

“Thanks, though I think I may have overdone it a bit,” Anima said, taking notice of her work.

“Well I must say you’ve come a long way from when we started our classes. First I was teaching you just how to curtsy, now you’re firing off magic like a professional Mage,” Luna stated, using her magic to clean up the debris and get the room in order.

“Only because I’ve had such an amazing teacher,” Anima replied, blushing at the compliment.

“Indeed and you’ve persevered through a great deal of my lessons. You truly will make a great Princess one day,” Luna said, as she remembered all their lessons together.

“We’ll see, there’s still more you have to teach me after all,” Anima said, knowing there were still more lessons to come.

“Yes that is true. However, I have a little surprise for you. Both for all your efforts and in commemoration of today,” Princess Luna said, catching Anima by surprise.

“What is it, Princess Luna?” she asked.

“Ever since you became a Princess, I’ve had some architects and designers working on your own personal quarters here in the castle. You won’t be required to move into the castle, though you may use it to your heart’s content should you want some time to yourself or just to relax,” Luna said, smiling brightly.

“Eee! Thank you so much, Luna!” Anima exclaimed, hugging her mentor tightly. “I’ll bet it looks amazing.”

“I’ve yet to see it myself, but I can assure you I spared no expense for your chambers. It has already been completed,” Luna said, as she pulled out an engraved silver key. “You are welcome to use it whenever you like.”

“I’ll be sure to do so when I get the chance,” Anima Memoriae said, using her magic to grab her handbag and place the key inside. “For now though, I believe it’s time for my ‘graduation’.”

“Ah yes, it certainly seems like a good time to take your, break, as it were,” Luna said, knowing what she was implying. “So, you think you’re ready, Anima?”

Without saying a word, Anima let herself fall forward with her arms by her sides. Just before hitting the ground, she pressed the tips of her wings against the ground, halting her descent. Anima then proceeded to do multiple wing-ups with ease.

“Does this answer your question?” Anima questioned, continuing to move herself up and down.

“Point taken,” Luna replied, admiring Anima’s development. “I’ll bet Caster must be even more proud of you than I am.”

“You have no idea,” Anima said, getting back up. “Though to be honest I’m a little nervous.”

“It’s to be expected. You’ve never been so high above the ground before. But you needn’t fret, I’m confident that you’ll pass with flying colors. And when you do, you’ll have taken another step towards becoming a full-fledged Princess,” Luna said, trying to ease her student’s tension.

“Yeah, I already have the magic of a Princess, now it’s time to take flight as one!” Anima said, feeling more confident than ever.

“That’s the spirit! Go on then and show Caster how much you’ve grown,” Luna stated, wanting to know Anima’s results as soon as possible.

“Actually, would it be all right if you joined us? I’d like you to see how well I’ve done in person,” Anima asked, wanting as much support as possible.

“Absolutely, I’d love to participate. It’d also be nice to have a chat with Caster outside of our meetings for once,” Luna said, excited.

“Awesome, then let’s go!” Anima exclaimed, ready to head out the door.

“Oh wait, I almost forgot,” Luna said, reaching into one of her pockets and pulling out Anima’s amulet. “Can’t forget this after all.”

“Oh right. Thanks again for holding onto it for me. It would’ve been a shame if it had been ruined during my practice,” Anima said, placing the amulet around her neck. “All right, let’s get this show on the road!”

With that, both Alicorns made their way out of the classroom towards the Royal Gardens. Ready to see the results of Anima’s progress over the last five months.


===============================================================


As they made their way towards the gardens, Princess Luna and Anima took the opportunity to talk to one another. They mostly chatted about their daily lives outside of the classroom. During which, Anima mentioned how she had come to terms with her feelings for Caster, but had yet to tell him. Luna congratulated her and hoped for the best between them whenever Anima decided to fess up. Eventually they both came to the gardens, where they expected to meet Caster at their usual spot. However, much to their surprise, he was nowhere to be found.

“Are you certain he was supposed to be here?” Luna pondered, scanning the area.

“He said he was going to be here early, so I was supposed to come straight here,” Anima said, looking for her other teacher. “Where could he-? Never mind, I found him.”

Her curiosity piqued, Luna walked over to Anima. She saw that she was looking up and chose to do the same. In one of the nearby trees they found Caster Forge, hanging by his legs from a tree as he performed several sit-ups, unaware of the ponies below him.

“Hey, Caster! We’re here, come on down!” Anima said, gaining his attention.

Anima’s voice reached Caster’s ears as he looked down and saw her and Princess Luna as well. He simply smiled as he loosened his legs and fell to the ground, feet first.

“Glad you’ve finally arrived, Anima. You too, Princess Luna,” Caster said, bowing quickly as he wiped some sweat from his forehead with a small towel.

“I’m glad to be here as well, Caster. Though if I may ask, why were you up in the tree like that?” Luna asked.

“I had the time, so I figured I’d get a light workout in before Anima got here,” he responded.

“Geez, what is it with you and wanting to train so much?” Anima said, shaking her head slightly and smiling.

“Well, being knighted makes one want to prove he deserves the title. Besides, I don’t spend all my time working out. I always make time for you and everypony else after all,” Caster said.

“Yes, you certainly do. But you don’t have to go so far to prove yourself. You’re already a knight in shining armor to me,” Anima said, giving him a sly wink.

“I-I guess so,” Caster said, blushing at how she was acting. “Still, all this progress has definitely done a number on my physique.”

“I’ll say,” Anima stated, eying his toned body through his white tank top and black jeans, even taking note of his regrown goatee.

“This is all well and good, but don’t you two have a certain test to start?” Princess Luna said, bringing their attention to the matter at hand.

“Right, right, sorry got a little carried off there,” Caster said, getting back on track as he cleared his throat. “So, Anima, you ready to take to the skies?”

“Absolutely! I’ve worked too hard to back out now,” Anima replied, already feeling pumped up.

“All right then. Just hold on to me and we’ll get started,” Caster said.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Anima said, smiling as she gave him a tight hug.

As he tried to hide the blush on his face, Caster returned the hug and spread his wings. Without a moment’s hesitation, he quickly flew into the air with Anima, with Princess Luna right behind them. Anima held on tight to Caster as she felt her body grow light from being lifted off the ground so suddenly. But she wasn’t too afraid as she nestled into Caster’s embrace without him noticing. But as quickly as it began, their ascent soon came to a halt. Anima opened her eyes and looked upon Caster who just smiled at her. She then turned her gaze below, but immediately looked away. Below them was the city of Canterlot, several hundred feet away. Fear started to take its hold on Anima as she tightened her grip around Caster, trying to hold on for dear life.

“Don’t be so scared, Anima. There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Caster said, trying to comfort her.

“I know, but I can’t help it. It’s all just so… overwhelming,” she said, keeping her eyes shut tight.

“It’s all right, I was afraid when I first started flying. But after a while you get used to it,” Caster said.

“He’s right you know,” Luna said, assisting Caster in his endeavor. “Really you’re just seeing the world from a new perspective. It’s truly breathtaking to behold.”

“O-okay, if you s-say so,” Anima said, still not ready yet. “Just promise you’ll catch me if something happens.”

“Don’t I always?” Caster said, chuckling. “Now, I need you to start flapping your wings and then let go.”

Anima simply nodded and did as instructed. With ease she made her wings move up and down at a decent pace, even feeling herself being lifted up a little. Anima was hesitant about the next step but just took a deep breath to prepare herself. Slowly she unwrapped her arms from Caster and let them fall to her sides. She looked up at Caster, who smiled more as he held onto her with more effort.

“Perfect, you’re doing great, Anima. Now for the last part: I’m going let you go. All you have to do is keeping flapping your wings and you’ll be okay,” Caster said, assuring her she’d be all right.

“I don’t know. What if my wings can’t hold my body up?” Anima said, scared she might fail.

“Don’t worry, you’re strong, Anima. You’ve proven that to me more times than I dare to count. And like I said, whatever happens, I’ll be there to help you up if you fall. I’ll always be there to support you… honeypie,” Caster stated, sweetly.

Those words seemed to calm her down as Anima simply smiled. Ever since that day, that name, including the one she used for him, seemed to stick. They mostly used them in special situations or whenever they hung out with just each other. And right now was one of those special moments. Reassured by Caster’s statement, Anima nodded one last time and closed her eyes. Caster took that as his cue and gingerly let go of her. When she could no longer feel Caster’s embrace surrounding her, Anima half expected herself to start falling to the world below. However, all she felt was a light breeze blow past her body. Opening her eyes, Anima noticed both Caster and Princess Luna were hovering in front of her, displaying proud smiles. She turned her gaze towards her wings and then down to the city. She was flying! Her wings managed to keep her body afloat, even from this great a distance with little effort. Needless to say, Anima was in a state of shock and awe at the realization.

“I… I’m flying? I’m flying. I’m flying! I’M FLYING!!” she proclaimed with glee, doing a quick flip in the air.

“It would appear so,” Caster said, chuckling at her antics. “I told you, you could do it.”

“You certainly weren’t wrong, Caster,” Luna said, watching her student fly around in circles.

“This is so cool! I feel so free,” Anima said, flying in multiple directions.

“Well then, care to take a little fly around with me, Anima?” Caster said, feeling the need for a little thrill.

“You bet, sugarcube,” Anima replied, wanting to test her wings some more.

In a flash, Anima and Caster took off through the open skies. Anima tried some tricks that she saw Caster do at times, such as barrel rolls, flips, and even flying upside down. The latter of which didn’t go over well as she found herself flipping over repeatedly. Once she got back in control, Anima joined Caster in a sort of synchronized flying session. Whatever Caster did, Anima followed closely behind him. Their performances would range from simple turns to full on spins, curls, and the occasional dive bomb. Soon even Princess Luna decided to join, having rarely ever gotten the chance to fly like them in a while. All three of them began flying around, laughing like children and enjoying the passing breeze and warm glow of the sun.

They spent the next half hour in the skies, letting Anima get the hang of flying so high and enjoying themselves. Eventually Anima started to get tired and Caster and Luna decided to call it a day. They all came in for a landing as Anima went over to their bench and rested for a bit.

“Wow, now that was fun,” Anima breathed out, recovering from her extended flight.

“Indeed, I can’t remember the last I’ve flown like that before,” Princess Luna said, stretching out her wings.

“Yeah, that was more fun than my morning flights,” Caster said, resting next to Anima. “But in all seriousness, Anima, you really were amazing up there.”

“Well I couldn’t have pulled it off without you, Caster. You’re the reason I got this far,” she replied.

“No, no, the real pony that deserves credit here is you Anima,” Caster said. “It’s been your determination and guts that got you through all of this. Even if I wasn’t the one teaching you, you still would’ve come out on top. After all, you’re a Princess and one of the strongest mares I know.”

“… Are you made of candy or something? Cause you’re just so sweet!” Anima declared, bringing him into tender embrace.

“I have my moments,” Caster stated, returning the hug.

“Aww, group hug!” Luna said, lifting them up with ease and hugging them tightly.

After sharing in each other’s company and having a bite to eat from the lunches Caster brought, Princess Luna thought it was time for her and Anima to head back to the classroom. As they collected their things, a thought hit Caster.

“You know, we should probably do something to celebrate your successful test,” Caster said.

“That sounds lovely, Caster. What did you have in mind?” Anima asked, wanting to see if he had anything special planned.

“Actually, I’ll let you decide. It’s your graduation after all, so you should decide how to celebrate it,” Caster said, making sure she would be satisfied.

Anima took a moment to think on it. It was a special occasion so she wanted to make her celebration special. There were a couple ideas she had planned in advance. Such as a party with all of her friends or a banquet with her family. But in the end, one idea seemed to cling to her brain more than anything else. At first, Anima would’ve tried to avoid it out of embarrassment. But recent events made her think differently as she finally came to a decision.

“Well, I was thinking that made we could go out for dinner,” she responded, blushing lightly.

“Sounds good, a nice family get together at a fancy restraint would be perfect,” Caster said, oblivious to what she meant.

“Actually, I mean with just us,” Anima said, trying to make her message clearer.

“Um, you mean with us and Princess Luna?” Caster asked, as if trying to dodge the answer.

“No. I’m saying that I’d like to have dinner with just you and me, together,” Anima stated, knowing that would sum up her intentions.

“Y-you mean like a… d-date?” Caster asked, blushing nervously at the request.

“Well just as friends of course. I thought it would be nice to just spend some time together as friends rather than as student and teacher. But if you’d rather do something else that’s fine with me of course,” she said, hoping she wasn’t making him feel too uncomfortable.

Meanwhile in Caster’s mind, he was overflowing with joy. For the first time in his life, a mare, who truly cared about who he was rather than what he was, had actually asked him on a date. Even better was that it was his closest friend. It was something that Caster wished for more than anything and he couldn’t be happier. But even still, he did his best to hold in his excitement for a couple of reasons. Main reason being that he did not want to divulge how he really felt about her. Ever since he had saved her from Smooth Silver, Anima became more open with him. Especially when showing her gratitude for all his deeds.

These subtle displays of affection had spawned more feelings within him. Caster wanted to believe that it was truly love that was emerging between them. Part of him thought that Anima’s sudden affections may’ve been the result of either gratitude or just friendly admiration. So he wanted to make sure what they had was real before doing anything crazy. It was around this time Caster realized that Anima had just finished talking and had to come up with a response.

“No, it’s fine. Sorry it’s just, I haven’t been on an actual date in years, even if it is just a friendly one,” Caster said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “But it really does sound wonderful, Anima. And I’d be honored to have dinner with you.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!!” Anima exclaimed, hugging him even tighter than before. “I promise you, we’re going to have so much fun.”

“Heh, heh, I can imagine,” Caster said. “So, what exactly did you have in mind for our date, so to speak?”

“I actually hadn’t thought of where we should go for dinner yet. There’s a lot of fancy places to eat after all,” Anima said, thinking of somewhere nice to go.

“If I might make a suggestion, I believe I have something that you’ll both enjoy,” Princess Luna spoke up.

“Really, what is it?” Anima asked, curious what her teacher had thought up.

“Tomorrow night, the city will be holding an Istallion festival. It’s supposed to be a replica of the renaissance carnivale, with exquisite cuisine, music, dancing, and even some games from what I’ve been told. Many of the Canterlot elite have fully endorsed the festival and it’s open to all citizens. I think it would be an excellent way to celebrate,” Luna said, hoping she had proposed a perfect solution for them.

“Sounds like it’d be really fun. What do you think, Cast?” Anima said, already imagining what it would be like.

“I like it. It’d be a nice way to relax,” Caster said, actually looking forward to it.

“Awesome, guess we got ourselves a game plan then!” Anima stated, bouncing up and down a bit. “How about you pick me up at around 7 o’clock?”

“Works for me, if you’re lucky I may arrive fifteen minutes early,” Caster answered, winking as Anima started laughing.

“You never cease with those jokes, do you?” she said, recovering from her fit of giggles.

“Doesn’t seem like it,” he said, chuckling as well

“Well then, it looks like you two have everything planned out,” Luna said, repressing a snicker.

“Indeed, thanks again for the suggestion, Luna. I guess we should head back to the classroom now, huh?” Anima said, composing herself.

“Yes, we still have some more practice and a few new lessons to go over as well,” she said.

“All right then. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night then, Caster. And truly, thanks again for everything,” Anima said, giving him one last hug.

“No problem, it’s what I do after all,” Caster said, joining her in the embrace. “I’ll make sure you have the time of your life.”

“There wasn’t any doubt in my mind,” she said, as she went off with Luna. “See you soon.”

“You too, Anima,” Caster said, watching as the two Alicorns left his sight.


===============================================================


The sound of metal colliding with metal echoed out through the Royal forge as Caster Forge pounded several mallets against a burning hot piece of steel. The rhythm of the constant beating helped him focus on his objective as he worked to get it to its desired shape. Though throughout most of the process, Caster’s mind had drifted to other subjects. The main one revolving around his sudden date with his closest friend tomorrow night. It wasn’t that he was worried that it would go wrong or he’d do something stupid, he was smart enough to know how dating worked. He was just focused on how he felt about this situation and Anima Memoriae.

It was clear to Caster that he had feelings for her. After all, to him, Anima was a mare among mares. She was smart, funny, always hard working, and cared deeply for her friends and family as much as Caster did for his. Her beauty was also something to behold. It was as if her inner and outer beauties had come together to form what he could only describe as elegant and radiating confidence. And to top it all off both of them got along well and their friendship couldn’t have been any greater. The only problem he was facing was knowing whether or not their friendship could have been evolving into something more. It could’ve been love or it may’ve just been a passing fancy erupting from appreciation for his good deeds and the time they’ve spent together. Those thoughts played out in Caster’s mind over and over until a particularly loud noise echoed throughout the room.

Snapping out of his stupor, Caster noticed that he had struck the anvil instead of the metal he had been working on. He also saw that his hand was gripping the hammer with greater force than usual. That was when the realization finally dawned on him: He was stuck in a loop. Caster has done nothing but think of the same thoughts about her and Anima over and over again. No matter how different it may have seemed at some points, it still revolved around the same subject. All this time he’s tried to think of a solution to his problem on his own, but has gotten himself nowhere doing so. Caster believed that perhaps some outside advice might help. From somepony whose seen enough to know whether or not a relationship can grow between two certain ponies. The answer came to him faster than a lightning bolt.

“Fancy Pants, of course,” Caster said, to himself. “He always knows more about these situations than anypony else I know. And I know I can trust him, he’s not one for gossiping after all. Maybe I’ll see him after work and see what he thinks.”

With that, Caster got back to the task at hand. Though with a more noticeable confidence in his performance. He started churning out more and more pieces, most of them standard issue equipment and the occasional request. After a few more hours, the carved silver clock by the door rang out, showing it was already 6 PM. As he finished working a few straps in a chest plate, Caster set it aside and removed his gear, cleaning some of the excess soot that clung to his body. Once he made sure that everything was in its proper place for tomorrow morning, he doused the forge and then locked the room from the inside. Caster went over to the window and opened it wide, letting the cool afternoon breeze greet him. After taking a moment to enjoy the view, Caster spread his wings and jumped out, making sure to lock the window as he did, and then flew off towards his destination.

Normally he would’ve walked, but considering everything that’s come up, Caster believed it best to get this over with as quickly as possible to prepare for tomorrow. But he did take the time to enjoy both the flight and the view as he did one or few tricks along the way. Eventually, Caster touched down in front of a large gate with golden bars, a marble arch with an FP engraved in cursive on top, and large fences branching from it and surrounding its property. Looking past the impressive structure, He looked out on the estate behind it.

Caster had heard that Fancy Manor was seen as the best in upper class style and comfort, except for Canterlot Castle. The grass of the front lawn was cut to perfection, with some interesting designs built into it. The smooth cobblestone path led all the way to a fountain that stood over twenty feet high and sat in front of the mansion itself. The whole building was colored in blues and whites, standing at a proud two stories tall. A few columns surrounded the front porch and several windows along the walls let the light in. Caster could even make out a bit of the backyard pool from where he was. As beautiful as it all was to take in, Caster had important matters to attend to. He looked to the side of the arch and saw a small speaker with a button beneath it. Pressing it, Caster heard a small crackling sound before speaking.

“Hello, is there somepony there?” he asked, waiting for a response.

“Yes, this is Fancy Pants. How may I help you?” Fancy replied, after a few seconds.

“Hey, Fancy, it’s me, Caster. I was wondering if I could talk with you for a bit. If you’re busy with other matters that’s fine, I could come back another time,” Caster said, not wanting to impose.

“Oh, Caster, it’s good to see you again! And don’t be silly, old boy, I always make time to talk with friends,” he said, sounding chipper over the intercom. “Wait one moment, I’ll open the gates for you.”

As soon as the intercom went off, an amber glow surrounded the gates which unlocked them as they slowly started to open. Caster then went through the arch and down the path to the mansion, as the gates closed behind him. Once there, he climbed the small flight of stairs toward the double mahogany doors. Caster gave it a few quick knocks and waited before they opened to reveal Fancy Pants, wearing a baby blue polo shirt and some tan khakis. Without so much as a word, he brought Caster into a bone breaking hug, lifting him off the ground in the process.

“I’m so glad you took the opportunity to visit us, Caster!” Fancy said, enthusiastic.

“Same here, Fancy,” Caster said, struggling for breath. “Though do you think… I could get a chance to breathe?”

“Oh my, sorry about that,” he said, letting Caster down. “It’s just been a while since we’ve last seen each other.”

“Yeah, it was back during Anima’s coronation. Sorry I haven’t visited, I’ve just been really busy lately,” Caster Forge said, knowing that the couple enjoyed his company.

“It’s quite all right, I understand. Working at the forge, teaching a Princess, and then saving her must be quite exhausting,” Fancy said, remembering Caster’s recent exploits. “Congratulations on your new title, by the way.”

“Thanks, it certainly adds a nice ring to my name. But again do you think we could have that talk?” he said, ready to explain his dilemma.

“Right, of course. Please come in, Fleur was just about to make some tea,” Fancy said, ushering Caster into his home.

As Caster walked in, he saw that the interior was just as amazing as the outside designs. Above the lobby was a large, crystal chandelier, whose light reflected off the marble tiled floors, crimson colored walls, and the many paintings that adorned them. It was truly a home to behold and one you’d expect to see from Canterlot’s greatest entrepreneurs. But now was not the time to focus on the décor, as Caster remembered what he came here for. He followed Fancy Pants into a living room, which was surprisingly simple despite how the rest of the place looked. It had light brown walls, white carpeting, and a furniture set consisting of two plush chairs and a couch, which were colored red, and a glass table in the center.

Fancy gestured for Caster to take a seat in one of the chairs just as Fleur de Lis came in from the kitchen carrying a large tea set on a silver tray. She wore a simple green t-shirt and a pair of blue, skinny jeans. Fleur smiled when she saw Caster.

“Nice to see you again, Caster,” she said, going over to give him a hug.

“You too, Fleur. Though I think I’ve had more than enough hugs today,” Caster stated, shooting a quick glare over at Fancy.

Fancy merely blushed in embarrassment, while Fleur nodded in understanding and took a seat next to her husband on the couch.

“Care for a cup of tea, Caster?” Fleur asked, holding up a cup in a pink aura.

“I’d love some, Fleur,” he replied, as she poured the amber liquid into the cup.

“Here you go, and have some mini cakes as well,” she said, passing him his cup and a small plate of pink and white pastries.

“Thank you,” Caster said, taking a bite of one of them.

“So Caster, not that we don’t enjoy your company, but why did you decide to visit us so suddenly,” she asked, curious as to what he wanted.

“Well, I should probably start off by saying that Anima’s finally able to use her wings properly now,” Caster said, after taking a sip from his beverage.

“Wonderful! I knew she’d be able to pull it off. Do send our regards to her next you see her,” Fancy Pants said, thrilled to know their newest Princess was developing quickly.

“Actually, that might be a bit sooner than you think,” he said, getting closer to the real subject.

“Why do you say that?”

“I decided that we should do something to celebrate the occasion and I let Anima decide what we should do. She chose for us to basically… go out on a date,” Caster stated, bluntly as he blushed. “And I said yes.”

“Oh ho, ho, I see where this is going,” Fancy said, with an all-knowing smile. “You were hoping to get some dating advice, correct?”

“Close, but not quite accurate,” Caster said, feeling nervous.

“Then what is it, Caster?” Fleur asked, starting to get slightly worried. “Whatever you need we’re here to help you.”

Taking in a deep breath, Caster held it in for a few seconds before letting it out slowly, mentally preparing himself.

“Okay then. You see it’s not the date itself I’m having trouble with, I’m actually looking forward to it. It’s just that, well, I think I may have feelings for Anima. We’ve been friends for so long and it’s been too amazing for words. Anima’s always been there for me, cheering me up, helping me be more social and outgoing again, and she’s even saved my life at one point. But I digress. The point is she’s one of the greatest mares I’ve ever seen and one of the few I truly admire.”

Caster looked at Fancy Pants and saw him nod, signifying that he was listening and for him to continue.

“And it’s because of that, that I’m starting to grow attached to her. The problem I’m facing, however, is that I don’t know if she feels the same way about me. Anima’s always appreciated everything I’ve done for her in the time we’ve spent together. Even more so after I saved her from Smooth Silver, which would be expected from anypony but still. With how she’s been acting around me I can’t tell if they’re real feelings or if they’re just brought upon from gratitude for my deeds.”

Fleur nodded and took a sip from her tea while Fancy twiddled his mustache in thought.

“The worst part, is that I’ve been stuck with the same thoughts about this over and over, like some sort of infinite paradox loop. That’s why I’ve come to the two of you, because I wanted to see if you could help me out of this loop. To help me get my feelings settled once and for all,” Caster confessed, feeling a bit better after revealing the truth.

Fancy Pants and Fleur de Les just sat there, taking all the information in. They had known Caster for a long time and have heard of the hard times he’s had finding love when he was younger. Now they’ve learned that he had found a new love after over five years of his hiatus and this time, it appeared to be real the way he was describing it. They looked at each other for a moment and nodded in agreement, thinking the same thing.

“Well Caster, I can see that your feelings are quite genuine,” Fancy said, setting down his teacup. “And you certainly chose wisely, Princess Anima has great potential in her future and is very sweet.”

“Yeah, she is. Which is why I want to make sure that what we could have isn’t just some kind of fantasy,” Caster said, hoping Fancy and/or Fleur had the answer.

“Heh, don’t worry, Caster. I know exactly how you feel,” he replied.

“I know, I remember you telling me about how you and Fleur fell in love during the coronation,” he said, recalling the conversation they had.

“Yes well, I never did tell you the whole story,” Fancy Pants said, preparing to shed some light. “You see, my family was in charge of one the most profitable business ventures in Equestria. And being the sole heir to that fortune meant many mares dying to become part of it. But unlike most stallions who embraced such opportunities, I rejected them. I felt disgusted that so many mares only wanted to be with me for my money and status. And so for a time, I became bitter and cruel, never believing in things like love or really caring for others. Mares came and went, soon giving up trying to win me over. But one pony in particular never stopped… and I’m sure you can guess who that might be.”

“But… if all that’s true, what made you give her a chance?” Caster asked, with an incredulous look.

“At first, Fancy of course didn’t give me notice, assuming I was just another of the mares out for his fortune,” Fleur stated, wanting to take part in the story. “But I never gave up in my persuasions. From simple love letters to exotic gifts spent with my own money, I did everything to prove myself.”

“I did admit, Fleur was persistent and her attempts actually seemed genuine. But I was too stubborn at the time to truly accept it as real,” Fancy said, looking at Fleur lovingly. “That is, until she did something I did not expect.”

“What happened?”

“One day, she came to my estate. Normally when Fleur came to me in person, she would always go out of her way to look her best to impress me. But this time was different. When I opened the door, she was dressed in very casual clothing, her mane was given a simple style, and there wasn’t a smidgen of makeup to be found on her face. I was surprised to see somepony of her class looking so, ordinary I guess some of the elite would say. Though I couldn’t deny that even then she looked beautiful,” he said, making his wife giggle from the compliment.

“I simply asked if I could come in and have a talk with him,” Fleur said, picking up the pace. “He let me in and soon after I confessed how I felt about. I loved him more than anything money could buy. It was because I felt sorry for him, having to go through the burden of false affections from others to nab his wealth. And of course, I loved him for who he used to be: kind and honest. He always looked after those less fortunate than most and was more understanding of those from different classes and standards. I just wanted Fancy to smile and be happy, to be the caring and gentle stallion he once was, even if it meant exhausting my own fortune. I then asked if it would be possible to go on a date together, to see where things would go.”

“I decided to give Fleur a chance. After all she went through so much trouble to present herself and confessed her feelings, that I just couldn’t deny it to her,” Fancy said, remembering that moment with a smile. “So we went out on a rather simple date: dinner, walks, all of the usual stuff. But throughout it all, the best part was when she talked. Fleur was always interested in the aspects of my life and I was curious to know more about the mare that never ceased in her endeavors. It was truly a magical night for the both of us. And near the end I started to realize the feelings for her that had grown within me. I soon told Fleur how I felt and we kissed, it was unlike anything I had felt before. Afterwards I invited her to my home and the rest is history.”

As Fancy finished his story, Fleur kissed him on the cheek and cuddled next to him. Caster for his part, merely listened to their story in silence, even shedding a few tears. He was amazed to hear how much pain one of his idols had gone through and yet he still found happiness. Even more so considering it was almost the same situation that Caster had gone through, yet it had a different middle ground. Needless to say, his admiration for Fancy grew significantly at that moment.

“Wow I, I never knew somepony of your caliber went through something like that, Fancy,” Caster said, wiping away his remaining tears.

“It’s the truth and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Fancy said, holding Fleur close.

“And there really is something to learn from it, Caster,” she said, looking at him with a warm smile.

“I’d love to hear it,” he said, ready to get an answer.

“If you have feelings for somepony, whether or not you think they might as well, just take the chance. Be confident that there’s a possibility that something could happen. And even if nothing does, better to try and fail than do nothing. I showed myself for who I was then: Fleur de Lis, a pony who wanted to be given a chance to make Fancy Pants happy and be reborn. And it was because of that chance that we’re where we are now,” Fleur said, snuggling closer to her husband.

Caster took those words to heart and thought on them for a while. She did have a point. All this time he’s only been worried about making a fool of himself and ruining what he and Anima had. He never even considered just going for it and seeing what happens. It all started making sense to him. Caster shouldn’t have been so scared of what would happen between them. They were such good friends already that he started to doubt anything could tear them apart. Especially something like confessing his feelings to somepony he trusts.

“You’re both right!” Caster spoke up. “I didn’t want to ruin our friendship, but I see now how powerful it is. I can’t say for sure if I’m truly in love with her yet, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. But I’m going to see where it leads and no matter what the result, Anima Memoriae will still be a part of my life. I’m not going to run and hide anymore. Because tomorrow night I’m going to make sure Anima sees who I really am.”

“That’s the spirit, Caster, old boy!” Fancy proclaimed, seeing his friend looking so confident. “I’m sure Anima will love seeing that side of you. Every mare does after all.”

“I hope so too, Fancy,” he said, realizing how full of energy was. “And thank you both again for the advice, it really helped clear my head. I swear, you two would’ve made the greatest Aunt and Uncle if you were part of our family.”

“Oh you’re too kind, Caster, dear,” Fleur said, appreciating the compliment. “It would’ve been nice to have such a successful nephew as well.”

Unable to hold it any longer, all three ponies got together into a group hug. Despite what Caster said earlier, he felt this one was needed for all of them. He felt like a new stallion, ready to take on anything the world had to throw at him. Eventually they had to separate andgave Caster a little space.

“So Caster, if I may ask, where will you be taking Anima?” Fancy asked, curious what they had planned.

“Princess Luna told us about a fair that was taking place tomorrow night, so we thought we’d do that. Keep this from getting boring after all,” Caster said, thinking of all the events it had in store.

“Oh yes, I nearly forgot that was taking place. It sounds like a good time and I was planning on us going as well,” Fleur de Lis said, as an idea stuck her.” Hey, maybe we could all go on a double date!”

“That would be nice, Fleur, but I’d rather Anima and I go by ourselves,” he replied, kindly turning down the offer. “For one thing it’s my first real date in a long time and I want it to be special for both of us.”

“Understandable, it is wise to spend time with each other alone on the first date. But if you would allow us, we’d like to offer you some dating advice. We know you’re well read on dating, but it never hurts to learn a few things from others, right?” Fancy said, hoping he would agree.

“You know what, I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” Caster said, watching as they beamed with joy.

“You won’t regret it, trust me,” Fleur stated, drinking some more tea.

For the next hour, Fancy and Fleur taught Caster many of the best ways to make a first date go well. Caster was actually surprised by a few subtle details he had never took into account. But nonetheless he kept taking mental notes, knowing their advice was sound. They even educated him on a few dance steps as well, just in case the moment dawned during the carnival. Although Caster was a bit nervous having to stay so close to Fleur for practice, he pushed past it, wanting to make sure his first true date would be one to remember. Soon their time came to an end as he realized he had to get home soon for dinner. Fancy and Fleur escorted him to the front door where they had one last farewell hug.

“Thanks again guys, I really mean it,” Caster said, looking at the couple with newfound respect.

“Anytime, Caster,” Fancy said, adjusting his monocle.

“If you ever want to talk again, don’t hesitate to visit us,” Fleur said, ruffling Caster’s mane playfully.

“Heh, heh, I’ll be sure to remember that. Wish me luck,” he said, before taking to the skies along with his morale.

“I really do wish I had a child like him. He would’ve been a sight to behold,” Fleur said, with a sad smile.

Before she could say another word, she felt herself get pulled into a passionate kiss with Fancy Pants. Their tongues danced wildly with each other before they eventually separated for air. Fleur looked at him and saw that he had a determined but loving look in his eyes.

“Well then, perhaps it’s time I did something we should have done years ago,” Fancy said, running his hands through her mane.

“I love you, Fancy,” she said, crying happy tears.

“I love you too, Fleur,” he said, bringing her in for another kiss as he closed the front door behind them.
> Chapter 9: Night of Hidden Romance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	The glow of the setting sun cast a deep hue across the skies over Canterlot. From the warm red and orange of the afternoon, to the soft and calming blues of the coming night. It was a wonder if anyone was not around just to see the beautiful scenery before them. One stallion certainly thought so as he walked through the streets, admiring the sunset that eased his tensions. For Caster Forge, it was truly something to behold.

Normally during this time he would’ve found himself at home, relaxing from a hard day’s work. But tonight was a special occasion. It was the night of the Canterlot Istallion Festival, where the wealthy and poor would join in fun and celebration. Although that did sound exciting, Caster had different reasons for going. Only yesterday had his first student, Princess Anima Memoriae, finally been able to use her wings properly and fully. And to celebrate, she thought it best that she and he go out to spend time together as good friends, with the festival being the main event.

At first, Caster was a bit nervous, having failed in so many dates in the past along with his conflicting feelings for Anima. But after some time talking with Fancy and Fleur, he came to realize that his fears didn’t mean anything. He was going to take the initiative and be himself so that he could see what might be between them. Ever since then Caster had gained an abundance of confidence and he made it known as he approached his destination.

The suit he chose for tonight was the same one he wore on the day they met. Not only because it was his best suit, but also because it was special to Caster. In one of his arms he held a bouquet of tulips, daisies, and other assorted flowers. Earlier he had paid a visit to Anima’s friend, Spring Sunglow, and told her of their date and planned to give her some flowers as a gift. Upon hearing that, she grabbed her best floral arrangements and sold them off to him at no charge, wishing them both the best of luck.

Soon, Caster found himself before Anima’s front door, so lost in his confident stride that he hadn’t noticed the time it took him. But that didn’t matter to him for he was here now, at the moment of truth. And after taking a moment to fix his normally styled mane, Caster rang the doorbell, listening to the chime with eager anticipation. It was only a minute or so before the doors opened to a sight that left him speechless.

Standing before him was Anima Memoriae, more beautiful than he had remembered. She wore a deep red dress, which hugged the frame of her body and hung from her shoulders and ended just above her matching ballroom dancing shoes. Anima’s mane had been styled the same as well, it being the most comfortable for her. The makeup she had chosen was simple, a shade of crimson lipstick and a light touch of pink blush to her cheeks. But the two most noticeable features of all were the golden crown that lied upon her head and the necklace he had made for her, their gems shining in the light of the rising moon. It was all so much to take in at once that Caster almost didn’t hear Anima giggling as he snapped back into attention.

“I take it you’ve seen something you like?” she asked, adjusting her glasses letting out another giggle.

“Heh, heh, sorry about that. You look really beautiful tonight, Anima, and the crown certainly was a nice touch,” Caster replied, admiring her image.

“Thank you, I try my best. I thought it would be appropriate to wear, I haven’t really worn it in public since the coronation after all,” Anima said, blushing from his generous words.

“Well I can imagine that after tonight, you might be wearing it more often,” Caster stated.

“Perhaps. But I must say you look quite dashing yourself, Cast,” Anima said, taking a moment to observe his appearance.

“Funny, that’s what my family said right before I left,” he said, making both of them laugh.

“I can imagine,” she said, noticing the flowers. “Are those for me?”

“They certainly are,” Caster said handing them over to her. “A wonderful Princess deserves a wonderful gift after all.”

“You didn’t have to go that far for me, but thank you, Caster,” Anima said, taking a whiff of the flowers before placing them in the kitchen with her magic. “So, do you want to head over to the festival now? We could stay here a few minutes if you like.”

“I think we should go now. More time to enjoy all the attractions after all,” he said, holding out his arm to her. “Shall we?”

“I’d like nothing better,” she said, wrapping her arm around his and locking the door behind her.

With excitement coursing through their spirits, Anima and Caster went off to the festival, certain that this would be a night that both of them would remember.


===============================================================


The cold breeze blew through the streets of Canterlot, creating a light chill to all who stayed outside. But it did not bother Princess Anima Memoriae or Caster Forge as they stayed close to one another. Nearby were a few other ponies as well, either rich or poor, and a few had dates as well. Yet no matter who they were, they all had the same destination as everyone headed towards the Canterlot Square. Anima, for her part, was more giddy than she ever thought possible. Not only for the festival itself but also because she would be spending it with the stallion she adored with all her heart. And she could tell that he was looking forward to tonight as well, given the wide smile he currently wore. And so she snuggled into him a bit more, as they approached their destination.

A few strings of light bulbs were hung from above the streets and were surrounded in small paper lanterns. They all gathered from several different streets and joined together in the center of Canterlot Square. The entire area looked like it had been hit by a blast from the past with its authenticity. Banners of various shapes, colors, and sizes were set up across the buildings. Poles were set up all around with pinwheel fireworks creating harmless yet beautiful sparks that enlightened the mood. They had multiple colors such as red, blue, green, any color that they could imagine. And of course the authentic music provided by the nearby band created an alluring atmosphere that brought many ponies here.

Speaking of the entertainment, the Square was chock-full of it wherever you looked. Several clowns, jugglers, and performers went around and dazzled their audiences. Game stands were set up where ponies took part in playing to earn a prize, such as ring toss, bottle throw, and ring the bell. Some of the surrounding restaurants had transformed to play their part and serve gourmet Istallion food. And all around, the patrons of the festival wore outrageous costumes and getups to fit the theme. Both Caster and Anima only had one thing to say about what they saw.

“Wow, this looks like fun,” they said, chuckling when they realized their perfectly timed statement.

Nevertheless they went over to a kiosk that stood in front of a set of gates leading into the festival. Inside the kiosk was an Earth Pony stallion with red fur, blue eyes, and a yellow mane and tail that was slicked back. Almost immediately he took notice of Caster and Anima, particularly the latter as he tried making himself look presentable.

“Princess Anima, what an unexpected surprise to see you at such an event as this,” he said, lightly bowing for her.

“Like I’d miss out on this. It already looks so exciting from here,” she said, trying to look past him.

“Well I can assure that both you and your, escort, will have a lovely time,” the red stallion said, taking note of how Anima was still holding Caster’s arm.

“I have no doubt we will,” Caster said, already having a few ideas in mind. “So is there supposed to be an entrance fee?”

“Yes: ten bits for one adult and five for children. However that is not all you need to take part in the festival,” the pony said.

“What do you mean?” Caster asked.

“It was traditional for anypony attending the festival to wear masks, so as to not be judged for what they might have done before or during carnevale,” he responded, directing their attention to the different kinds of masks on the wall behind him. “No matter who or what you were before, tonight everyone is equal.”

“Well isn’t that quaint,” Anima said, admiring all the differently styled masks. “Oh but there’s just so many of them, I can’t decide.”

“If you would like, I can pick a few for you. In fact I believe I know just the masks that the both of you would like,” the blonde-maned pony said, already getting a good idea on what would work.

“I think that would be wonderful, sir. Go ahead,” Caster replied, intrigued by what the vendor had in mind.

The stallion then spent a few moments browsing the large selection of masks. Some were small, only covering part of one’s face. Others had crazy features like feathers and covered the entire face. But soon, he found what he was looking for and went back to the two ponies. In his hands he held a small mask meant to cover the upper part of the face. It was white with gold edges and had blue and gold designs embroidered into it.

“I think this would look marvelous on you, your highness. Definitely something worthy of a Princess,” he said, handing it over to her.

“It’s beautiful, thank you,” Anima said, removing her glasses and casting a temporary sight spell before putting on her mask.

“No problem, it’s what I’m here for after all. As for the young gentlecolt, it should be something simple, yet bold,” the red pony said, studying Caster’s features.

Soon he was back at the wall, looking for another mask that would work. In no time at all, the vendor came back with a mask about the same size as Anima’s. However this one was much more different, for one side of it was black while the other had a steel gray tone. Along with that were different designs on either side.

“The contrasting colors create a nice blend that work well with your own natural colors,” the blonde-maned stallion stated, holding up the mask.

“Whoa, now that is a pretty awesome mask,” Caster said, taking hold of it and trying it on. “How do we look?”

“Absolutely stunning, Mr. Forge. You both look like you’d be the main attraction of the festival,” he replied, seeing his choice had worked.

“Considering all that’s happened to us lately, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Anima’s said, knowing they would catch the attention of many guests.

“Indeed,” Caster said, before his eyes caught sight of a small red and black cape draped across a ponyquin. “Excuse me, sir, how much is that cape thing over there?”

“Oh ho, I see you have excellent taste, Mr. Forge,” the vendor said, bringing the cape over to him “It’s only fifteen bits.”

“I’ll take it,” Caster said, enthusiastically as he took out a small sack from his coat and pulled out enough bits for both the cape and their entrance fee.

“Really, Caster?” Anima’s pondered, rolling her eyes with a smile.

“Hey it’s a festival, and everypony else is getting in costume. Just be glad I didn’t go overboard with it,” he said, letting the cape drape from only his left shoulder.

“True, well anyway I believe we should get moving,” Anima said, taking hold of Caster’s arm again. “Don’t want to waste our night standing around after all.”

“You got that right,” Caster said, as he led his date past the gates and into the festival.

The entire place was in an uproar of excitement. Ponies played games of all varieties, foals chased each other and played harmless pranks on one another, and many stallions and mares danced to the music that continued to play. Though some of the bystander’s attention was drawn to the sight of Princess Anima, or more precisely, her arriving with Caster Forge. Many of the ponies had heard of their friendship but didn’t think that it would go this far. But they didn’t mind as both ponies deserved to be together after all they’ve been through. Some of them even went over to greet them with either a bow, a handshake, or simply a few words of encouragement. Eventually Anima and Caster were left alone to do whatever they pleased.

“So, Anima, what did you want to do first?” Caster asked, up for anything.

“How about we try a few of the games here. I’d really love to earn a prize or two,” Anima stated, eyeing a few game stalls nearby.

“Well then, game on I suppose,” he said, with a cheeky grin.

Taking his arm with her hands, Anima pulled Caster with her, over to what looked like a shooting range with multiple targets in the back. Needless to say, Caster was quite surprised.

“Huh, never thought you would be interested in something like this,” he said, watching as other players kept shooting targets.

“With what Princess Luna’s had me doing lately, you’d be surprised,” Anima said, bringing out a small bag of bits. “Just watch and learn.”

And Caster did exactly that as he stood by while Anima paid for a try. The operator then handed her a small BB gun with a few pellets while the other players backed away to give her some space.

“I guess being a Princess has its perks,” Anima said to herself, with a silly smile.

Shaking those thoughts from her head, she prepared the toy gun as the game operator started up the moving targets. With the sound of a bell going off, Anima started shooting at all the targets. Everyone around her, including Caster, looked on with slack jawed expressions as she decimated the game. No matter what the target was, be it rotating or moving at incredible speeds, Anima managed to hit nearly every single one. Not all of them were bullseyes, but everyone was still impressed. Soon Anima had run out of ammo just before the bell went off again.

“I must say, that’s some mighty fine shooting there, your highness,” the stallion operator said, looking out at the targets. “You’ve certainly earned yourself a grand prize. Go ahead and pick one.”

“Hmm, I’ll take… oh, that one!” Anima said, pointing to a large pink poodle plushie that hung from the ceiling.

Seeing where she was pointing, the vendor grabbed the stuffed toy dog and handed it off to her. Immediately, Anima hugged it tightly as she adored its cuteness. She then looked out at the ponies who stared in disbelief at what they had witnessed.

“H-how? How did you do that?” Caster asked, trying to shake away some of his shock.

“Princess Luna’s been teaching some defensive and offensive magic spells. As a result I’ve been getting more precise in my aim and timing. Though if you thought that was impressive, you should see me when I use my magic,” Anima replied, lighting up her horn slightly.

“For the sake of keeping the festival intact, I’d hold off on that. But still, that was amazing Anima, way to go!” Caster said, applauding her along with everyone else around him.

“Why thank you, I try my best,” she said, before taking hold of his arm once more. “Come on, Cast, let’s go try out some more games!”

For the next hour or so, Caster and Anima played various assortments of the games that had been set up. From ring the bell to bottle toss, they simple enjoyed themselves and laughed and played to their hearts content. Along the way they had both earned a few prizes, ranging from small nick knacks to toys and plushies. Soon Anima and Caster had played enough to satisfy their excitement and had earned enough toys to fill up a shelf. Night had soon fallen upon the festival, letting the stars from above shine down on the patrons.

“Well, I think this may be enough for tonight,” Caster stated, holding a bag full of prizes.

“Probably, don’t want to go too far after all. Need to save some bits for dinner after all,” Anima said, still holding the plush poodle and staying close to Caster.

“I doubt we’ll be able to get anything fancy but at least we’ll be able to eat something,” he said, looking through his depleted bag of bits.

“That’s all right, as long as we are together, I’m fine with whatever we find, sugarcube,” Anima said, sweetly.

“Aww, thanks, honeypie,” Caster said, bringing her closer to him.

The two of them walked around for a little while, taking in the sights and wanting to find something else to do. Their attention soon found an answer in the form of a large crowd gathering nearby. Wanting to see what was up, Caster and Anima went through the crowds who politely moved aside for the Princess’ convenience. When they got to the front, they were quite surprised by what they saw. Before them was a large stage that held three ponies on it. On the left was a stallion who stepped down as he admitted defeat. On the other side was another stallion, a Unicorn, with blue fur, a wavy yellow mane, and yellow eyes, who stood on the stage triumphantly and held a fake rapier up to the cheering crowd. And at the center of the stage was a Pegasus mare with green eyes, pink fur and a brown curly mane, who spoke into a microphone.

“And that’s another one, mares and gentlecolts!” the mare declared. “Is there truly nopony here who can take on tonight’s fencing champion? Is there no mare or stallion brave and confident enough to defeat this stallion and take home our collective winnings? As you all know, every participant must pay ten bits to try and if they lose, all their money goes into the grand prize winnings. And now, thanks to our latest contestant, the grand prize for tonight has been raised to five hundred bits! So, who is willing to add to the prize money and can earn it back along with extra!?”

Many of the ponies stood around, debating to themselves on whether they should risk it. However, one stallion in particular showed no hesitation as he smiled at the opportunity.

“Anima, would you mind holding this for me? I’ve got some bits to win,” he said, handing her the bag of prizes.

“Ooh, think you’ve got what it takes to beat him, don’t you?” Anima questioned, knowing his skills as a fencer.

“You’ll see,” Caster said, in a sing song tone as he stepped onto the stage.

“Well look here, we got ourselves a contender!” the pink mare proclaimed, in earnest delight. “Now then, good sir, just place ten bits into the bag and we can begin.”

“Let’s raise it to fifteen,” he said, dropping the last of his bits into the large bag and grabbing a fake sword from a barrel full of them.

“Well, well, seems somepony is confident in their abilities. But will it be enough to take on our champion?” she said, as the aforementioned pony readied himself.

“Doesn’t matter, it’s just even more bits for me,” the stallion said, with a haughty laugh.

“Don’t go counting up your bits just yet, the night is still young after all,” Caster stated.

“Now for the rules,” the mare announced, grabbing their attention. “Our contender must strike his opponent three times in a row. However, should our reigning champion land a blow on him, he loses and his money gets added to the prize. Are both of our contestants ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Caster said, raising his fake sword.

“Ready to earn some more bits,” the blue stallion said, doing the same.

“And… BEGIN!!” the brown-maned pony proclaimed, as she stepped back.

With that the two stallions began their duel. Their blades clashed over and over as they blocked or dodged each other’s attacks. Caster managed it all with practiced ease as he barely made an effort at first. Soon enough he managed to land a blow on his opponent to which the crowd cheered at. The stallion wasn’t too worried though, most of his competitors usually managed to land at least one blow. But it made no difference to him as he always came out on top.

It wasn’t long before he and Caster were at it again, this time with more force. The blue pony’s attack struck with greater speed and power as Caster continued to block them. While the stallion was quick with his blade, Caster made sure to be even more so with his body and kept up dodging and parrying his opponent’s blows. After a couple of seconds, he ducked down from a swipe attack and thrust his sword at his opponent, effectively hitting his stomach. A great majority of the audience gasped in surprise, seeing someone land a second strike so quickly. Already the blonde-maned pony was starting to get nervous, but that feeling was soon replaced with anger for being made a fool of in front of everyone.

And so, in a mad dash, the stallion started attacking with blows so quick that the audience could barely keep up. Unfortunately for him, his emotions were getting the better of him as Caster easily parried his reckless strikes. The third match waged on for a few minutes, with tension rising from all who witnessed the ordeal. Caster then went on the offensive, confusing the stallion with quick strikes that were getting increasingly closer to hitting him. And before anyone could blink, Caster managed to disarm the blue pony and brought the other rapier into his grasp. With no other way out, the stallion raised his arms in defeat. The audience then erupted in applauses and cheers to the new champion who had surprised everyone with his victory.

“Incredible! After so many defeats, a new champion has risen and proved himself one of the greatest fencer’s Equestria has seen yet!” the brown-maned mare declared, just as excited as the rest. “And so I humbly present the prize money to this evening’s winner… What was your name again?”

“Caster, Caster Forge,” he replied, earning a collective gasp from the audience.

“Oh my, I didn’t realize we had a celebrity among us tonight. On behalf of all of us here at the festival, I congratulate you on your victory and hope you enjoy the rest of your evening, Sir Caster Forge,” she said, handing him the large sack of bits as the audience clapped in approval.


===============================================================


With the excitement of the event over and done with, Caster and Anima went off to enjoy the rest of the festival. After a bit of walking they found themselves in front of one of the many restaurants surrounding the Canterlot Square. A waiter greeted them happily and led them to a table outside and away from the other patrons. It had a red and white checkered table cloth, a vase of flowers in the center, and two small candles beside it. As they sat down, the waiter handed them each a menu and left for them to make their choices.

“That was really impressive, Caster. For a second there, I didn’t think you’d be able to pull it off,” Anima said, after teleporting their prizes back to her room in Canterlot Castle.

“Well sometimes I can even surprise myself. Besides I’m sure that fifteen bit bet certainly helped out,” Caster said, giving her a sly wink at his implications.

“Your lucky mark sure does come in handy it seems,” Anima said, trying to stifle a giggle.

“Only in situations like these, of course,” he retorted, knowing his mark’s limits.

“Regardless, it helped us get enough bits for dinner. And let me tell you I am starving!” Anima proclaimed, her eyes eagerly darting over the items on the menu.

“I can tell,” Caster said, doing the same.

The two of them soon decided on what they wanted just as the waiter returned with two glasses of water.

“So, have you decided on what you would like this evening?” he asked, in an Istallion accent.

“Yes, could we get a small plate of Artichoke Bruschetta to start off? And for dinner we would both like an order of Kale and Asparagus Lasagna with caramelized carrots and onions please,” Caster said, handing the menus back.

“Very well then. Would I be able to interest you both in some wine from our selection as well?” the waiter asked.

“Sure, just give me a moment,” Caster replied, grabbing the small wine menu on the table and searching through its contents with an awkward expression. “Hmm. Sorry, I’m kind of clueless when it comes to different kinds of wine. Do you have any with low alcoholic percentage and are still bold in taste?”

“As a matter of fact, sire, I believe I know just the selection for you two. I’ll be right back with your drinks and make sure the chefs get your order,” he said, taking the menus.

“Thank you very much, sir,” Caster said, as the waiter went back inside the restaurant. “So, Anima, have you been enjoying yourself tonight?”

“Absolutely, it’s all just been so much fun! Both the games and the entertainment to,” she said, watching a nearby juggler.

“Good, I’m glad you’re having fun. My favorite student always deserves the best, especially after all you’ve been through,” he said, remembering all of her past struggles.

“Well I’ve only managed to get here tonight because of you. But yes, we’ve both been through a lot and we certainly deserve to spend this time together,” Anima said, gently taking hold of Caster’s hand.

“Exactly,” he said, holding her hand as well. “And now that this challenge is over, there’s so many other possibilities for you. Who knows, perhaps you’ll be able to solve some conflicts with your own powers and authority.”

“Yeah. Cause a Princess of Memories certainly sounds like she’s got a lot in store for her,” she said, giving him her own sly wink.

“Perhaps you’ll help bickering nations see how prosperous their lives were before they started fighting,” Caster stated, already imagining her in action.

“Or maybe I can continue helping those across Equestria who’ve forgotten who they once were,” Anima retorted, seeing herself helping others whenever possible.

Caster and Anima continued talking about what her position would have her doing in the future. They would even chat about some possibilities for Caster as well, what his talents could be used for. As they talked on about their duties, the waiter came back, holding a tray with two empty glasses and a bottle of red wine. The stallion gave each of them a glass and handed off the wine bottle, which Caster eagerly took.

“There you go, Ponysons Paddock Shiraz, rich in flavor yet will make sure you don’t lose your footing. I will be back soon with your order’s, sir, your highness,” the waiter stated.

“Thank you, sire, we look forward to it,” Caster said, as the stallion went off.

It took some effort but Caster eventually managed to open the bottle. He gave it a moment to breath before pouring some of its contents into Anima glass and then his.

“Let us have a toast, to Anima Memoriae, the Princess of Memory,” Caster said, raising his glass. “May she light our darkest pasts and brighten our futures.”

“And to Sir Caster Forge,” Anima replied, returning the gesture. “May he protect those he cherishes and guard those who fight.”

With that they clinked their glasses together and drank, savoring both the moment and the exquisite beverage. The two of them began talking more about Anima’s classes as well as Caster’s time at his forge. Their meals soon arrived and they took a moment to enjoy their food. Anima and Caster continued to talk, both about their personal lives as well as their friend’s.

“And so I was finally able to beat Glitch after all those tries!” Caster said, finishing his story and trying to quell his laughter.

“Ha, ha, I can’t believe it took you fifty times to actually win,” Anima stated, suppressing her own fit of giggles.

“Well when you’re playing Super Smash Pony’s against a pro, you’ll definitely have your flank handed to you more than once,” he replied, taking a bite of a carrot.

“Your friend’s certainly do have some impressive talents,” Anima said, wiping some tomato sauce from her mouth.

“Yes they do, and it’s what makes them all so fun to have around,” Caster said, thinking of all the good times they had.

“I know what you mean. Already I’m missing Cloud Heart, she was always the crazy, fun one of our group. I still find it hard to believe she went off with my brother to join his show,” Anima said, hoping she was doing fine.

“I guess some ponies find a new calling in life. But if you ask me, I’d say she had another reason for going with Turbo,” Caster said, giving Anima a suggestive wink.

“Oh, I saw it too. I just never thought she would go through with it so soon,” she said, glad that Cloud took a chance.

“Well whatever happens, I just hope they’re happy together,” Caster said.

“Same here, they deserve to be with one another,” Anima replied, giving Caster a warm smile.

Both of them just sat there in silence, drinking their wine and picking over what was left of their food. The waiter came back with the check and Caster managed to pay it off with his winnings. And throughout their moment of peace the two of them kept taking occasional glances at each other. Anima truly was enjoying the time they had spent. It was not only fun, but it served to increase the feelings she had for Caster. He seemed almost completely different tonight, as if a wave of confidence had carried off his doubts. But whatever it was, Anima loved it as she stared at him dreamily.

For Caster, he had never felt so relaxed in his life. By giving himself a chance to be how he wanted to be, he found that Anima didn’t seem to mind it, quite the opposite in fact. Her reassurances let him feel at peace and see how much fun they could have without worrying about what could go wrong. Already Caster was beginning to see how much he really cared about her, even believing that it might be something more. He wanted to do something else to show how much this all meant to him, even if he wouldn’t say it all out loud.

The sudden sound of cheering and music brought Caster out of his thoughts as he turned to see what was going on. His attention was then drawn to the center of Canterlot Square where many couples were dancing along to the band that played their merry tune. It surprised Caster at first, having been so focused on his thoughts that he had forgotten all about the rest of the festival. But either way, he was glad because now he knew just what to do to top off the festival for them. So with an extra helping of wine, Caster stood up and approached Anima.

“Anima, may I have this dance?” he asked, extending his hand towards her.

“I’d be honored, Caster,” she remarked, taking hold of it.

With butterflies in their stomachs, Anima and Caster made their way into the dancing crowd. They kept walking until they found a space to start. So Caster took hold of Anima’s right hand with his left and then placed the other on her waist while she held her dress above her feet. And with a skip to the beat, they started dancing along with everyone else. Like a leaf carried by the wind, Caster and Anima danced across the crowd with ease and grace. The latter was most surprised to see how well Caster could dance. At first she thought he just wanted to do it for fun and they would go through some awkward dancing. But Anima found that was not the case as Caster kept in time with her own steps.

“Wow, Cast, where’d you learn to dance like this?” she asked, being twirled in the process.

“Oh well that’s easy. Fencing is basically a dance in its own way. They’re both all about staying light on your feet and keeping an eye on your surroundings,” Caster said, never once taking his eyes off of his partner. “Once you realize that, you’ll find yourself dancing on par with even a Princess.”

“Well, Princess Luna was the one that taught me. But even so, you’ve really outdone yourself, Caster,” Anima stated.

“I could say the same for you, Anima,” he replied, as he spun her around with one hand.

The mask did very little to hide the growing blush on Anima’s cheeks. But she didn’t mind, for it made her happy to know her lessons with both Caster and Princess Luna had paid off. Sooner than they hoped, however, the music came to a stop as the many ponies halted and cheered for the band. Some of them started to leave while the band prepared its next melody.

While she wasn’t exactly disappointed with the dancing, Anima had thought there would be more upbeat music to really get her moving. She realized her date felt the same way when she saw Caster fly onto the stadium and approached the band. He whispered something to a few of the members and occasionally directed their attention towards Anima. They all nodded in agreement as Caster stepped down from the stage and walked back across the mostly empty dance floor to Anima.

“Mares and Gentlecolts, for our next song we’ll be going with something a little more intense,” a stallion spoke, catching everypony’s attention. “And this has been specially requested for two very lucky ponies tonight. To Sir Caster Forge and Princess Anima Memoriae, have fun. And everypony may feel free to join in as well.”

Once Caster and Anima were ready, the music started up. They kept each other close as they danced all across the open floor. While it may have been mellow at first, they both knew it would pick up soon. The bystanders watched in awe as the two masked ponies danced along with the beat. Despite knowing who they were, everyone thought that they were completely different ponies with how they acted with each other.

And as expected, the music did indeed pick up as Anima and Caster showed off some more advanced moves. Some of the other couples followed suit and danced around the two ponies, while the rest of the crowd clapped to the music. The sparks from the large pinwheels lit up the dance floor as the ponies created several circles with Caster and Anima in the center. They both danced with a flurry of passion, letting their instincts take over. At one point they even separated, creating their own circle in the center as they span and twirled around each other.

The music continued to grow in intensity and fervor as everyone did so as well. Occasionally they would all trade partners before returning soon after. Some of the ponies even jumped into the air and would do a quick spin before landing. Yet no matter what they were doing, everyone’s attention was centered on Anima and Caster. The span, separated, rejoined, anything they could think of in an incredible display that left them all speechless. As the music was reaching its crescendo, the two of them stayed together as they span around several times. And soon the spectacle came to an end as Caster brought Anima into a dip and everyone around them cheered and applauded their performance.

“Gotta say, nice moves you’ve got there, Anima,” a mare said, from the stage.

Recognizing that voice, Anima turned to see who it was. Sure enough it was Skull Candy, with her guitar, who had appeared on stage. Also with her was the rest of her band, all of them Pegasi like her. There was Drummer Jack, who had light blue fur, blue-gray eyes, and a messy black and blue mane and tail, setting up his drums. Then they saw Stevey Rhythm, a cacophony of different green colors for his fur, eyes, and spikey mane and tail, who was currently tuning his bass guitar. And then there was Ivory Dancer, who was preparing her keyboard. All of them were wearing either white dresses or tuxedos.

“Greetings folks, it’s nice to see everypony getting into the swing of things and we haven’t even performed yet,” Skull exclaimed, making everyone around them laugh. “But still it’s great to be here tonight. When my friend, Princess Anima Memoriae, told me she was coming to the festival, I just had to play here tonight. Even more so when I heard she was taking her close friend, Sir Caster Forge, with her for a date. It really was fun watching you two dance.”

Everyone turned to Caster and Anima who were taking a bow as they were applauding them.

“You two have been through a lot and accomplished so much in these last five months. If you guys hadn’t met, I doubt we’d see you both as you are now. So to celebrate, my band and I have whipped up a new song that I think you’ll all enjoy. It’s a bit slow for our tastes but we think it’s worth it for tonight. This one is for Caster and Anima so everypony, give them some space,” Skull stated, getting her guitar ready.

As the crowd dispersed, the two ponies in the center started to blush. It was just so sudden to have something like their own song thrust upon them. Caster seemed the most nervous having never done a slow dance before. But when Anima took hold of his hand once more, he looked into her shining green eyes and saw her warming smile. Though the mask hid a good portion of her face, it could not hide her radiant beauty nor her calming presence. It relaxed Caster enough that he was able take hold of Anima again just as the music played.

Everyone surrounding the dance floor watched as both Princess and blacksmith danced together in each other’s arms. The melody was smooth and Skull’s voice matched it beautifully as she and her band saw their friend’s enjoying themselves. The two ponies danced the same way when they first took to the dance floor, though this time at a much slower pace. And the entire time, Anima kept her head rested on Caster’s chest while he rested his chin on her head.

The world seemed to fade around them as Caster and Anima danced to the song that was practically made for them. While Anima was content to have a song that fit the stallion she loved, Caster was still slowly coming around. The night had been so perfect, so wonderful, he didn’t even know what he was afraid of in the first place. He was himself tonight and both he and Anima enjoyed who he was deep down. Caring, fun, and always making sure his friends were enjoying themselves. If this is who he could really be when Anima was around, then he never wanted to leave her. Caster started to believe that perhaps this truly was love that he was feeling. He wanted to tell her about how he felt but still could not find the courage to speak up. So he decided to give himself some time to work up the nerve and let all the romance of the night settle down to make things easier.

Before Caster knew it, the song had ended as he and Anima waved to the applauding crowd around them as well as Skull Candy’s band. Feeling a bit exhausted, the two ponies excused themselves as they made their way off the dance floor and soon, out of the festival. With the night slowly drawing to a close, Caster and Anima took their time to just walk around the city and admire the scenery. Though Anima’s gaze seemed to be drawn mostly to the stars above. They were so tantalizingly close and yet so far away at the same time. To her, they were the most amazing objects that she could describe without end. And Caster took notice of this as he thought of something to end the night with.

“Anima, would you like to get a better view of the stars?” he asked, catching her attention.

“Yes, absolutely!” she said, wrapping her arm around his in delight. “Do you know any good spots?”

“I do know of one, actually. However, I must ask that you keep it a secret. Nopony else knows about this place, not even my friends or family. And it’s a place your wings can’t take you yet, so I would have to carry you along the way. You up for it?” Caster said, waiting for a response.

“Of course, you’re already making it sound so exciting. And I promise I won’t tell anypony about it. Wouldn’t do me any good to rat out on one of my friends anyway,” Anima said, readying herself for what was to come.

“Good,” Caster stated, before picking her up in his arms and spreading his wings. “Close your eyes and hold on tight.”

Immediately, Anima wrapped her arms around Caster’s neck as she felt the sudden gust of wind from the launch into the air. The cold wind beat against her fur with every passing second, chilling her tired body. All the while she kept her eyes closed, only imagining how far or high they must have been going. Though she was scared at first, Anima knew that Caster wouldn’t drop her and she only snuggled into him more at the thought. And then, almost as quickly as it began, their little trip came to a halt before Anima felt them moving down slightly.

“You can let go now,” Caster said, as Anima slipped from his grasp and felt something soft below her. “Now, open your eyes.”

Slowly, but surely, she opened her eyes to see where Caster had brought her to. Her eyes then immediately widened when she got her answer. Before her stood practically the whole of Equestra, land stretching as far as the eye could see. Below her, Anima saw the City of Canterlot, the lights of the festival merely a glow from the height she stood at. Taking in more of her surroundings, she saw that she was standing in a large circle of healthy grass with a few flowers sprouting up, despite the thick layer of snow surrounding the two ponies. And at the center of it all was a large, full grown, ash tree. It was truly a sight that nearly left Anima speechless.

“W-what is this place?” she asked, turning to Caster.

“We are at the very top of Canterlot Mountain, a small haven I didn’t even think existed,” he said, walking to the tree.

“But how did you find this place? Nopony would ever come up here,” Anima said, following him.

“Not unless they’re confused and full of grief. Like I was many years ago,” Caster remarked, sitting down against the trunk with remorse.

“What are you talking about, Caster?” Anima asked, sitting down next to him.

“It was the day I got my lucky mark. I was so torn apart when I was told the truth about it. I didn’t really understand it too well at the time and so I ran away. I was scared from when that changeling kidnapped me that I wanted to just get away from the world, where I could feel safe and secure. It didn’t matter where I went, I just kept on flying, higher and higher, until I found this place. I sat here and cried for hours, thinking I would be hunted by changelings for the rest of my life. Eventually I returned home, realizing my friends, family, and of course the guards at times, would be able to protect me. Since then I’ve always come here for when I need to think over my problems or just need to relax,” Caster said, performing the latter.

“Wow, I-I’m sorry, Caster. I had no idea you went through so much pain,” Anima stated, sliding up next to him to comfort him.

“It’s all right, it happened years ago. I’ve had my fair share of trials but I’ve managed to get through them. And it’s all because I had the courage to face them head on. And if I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t have met you: my closest friend in all of Equestria,” he replied, holding Anima close. “If it wasn’t for you, I probably wouldn’t be the stallion I am tonight.”

“Aww, I feel so special,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

And so the two of them sat together and watched the stars and the moon gliding across the heavens. At times they would point out constellations and various stars or planets. But most of their time was spent listening to the soft wind that brushed through the leaves of the tree. For Anima, this was truly the best part of their date. No fancy attractions, no other ponies to disturb them, just her and Caster sitting together and enjoying each other’s company. It was all Anima ever wanted and nothing could replace the feeling.

Unfortunately the feeling could not last forever. Anima let out a yawn after she had finished tracing the Orion constellation. Caster let out his own as well, stretching out his limbs in the process.

“I think it’s time we head home. It’s getting late and we wouldn’t want your parents to worry about you,” Caster said, standing up along with Anima.

“Yeah, I’m really tuckered out. Besides I want to be able to try out my new room at the castle tomorrow,” she said.

“Well then, I say we take a glide down. You in?” Caster asked, as they approached the ledge of the mountain.

“I’m always up to try out my wings,” Anima proclaimed, spreading her wings in the process.

In an instant, both of them leapt off the ground and into the air. They then dove downwards to the city below, flying at a steady pace. Caster and Anima took their time to simply enjoy the flight down, letting the wind travel across their fur and manes. They would fly around each other, performing a couple of loops and spins just for fun. At one point, Caster folded his wings and fell a few feet, surprising Anima in the process. Though he quickly made himself airborne again, earning both a chuckle and a punch to the arm for his shenanigans. But they both enjoyed it all the same, wanting their time together to be as memorable as possible.

Eventually, they decided to give it a rest as Caster flew Anima back to her home. Once they had landed outside her front door, Anima took out her house key and used it to open the door slowly. The lights inside were off, signifying that her parent’s had gone to sleep. So she turned her attention back to Caster one last time as she thought of something she had been waiting to do all night.

“Thank you, Caster, for spending this time with me tonight. It really meant a lot to me,” Anima said, giving him a sweet smile.

“It was no trouble at all, Anima. I enjoyed the time we spent together and I’m glad I could make it fun for the both of us,” Caster said, feeling confident the night had gone so well.

“Yes, it truly was magical,” she stated, slowly approaching him.

“Eh heh, yes well I suppose I must be going, have a lot of work tomorrow after all,” he replied nervously, noticing both her quickly approaching and her smile which had grown more sultry.

“Oh but, Caster, you’re forgetting something important,” Anima said, standing only a few inches away from him. “A gift for all of your efforts.”

“Well thank you, Anima, but tonight was more than eno-.”

Whatever Caster had to say was completely forgotten as Anima moved up and pressed her lips against his. The sensation was unlike anything Caster had experienced as his eyes grew wide in surprise. Anima, for her part, savored the moment as well as the feel of Caster’s lips. She had waited too long to do this and now she could enjoy their first kiss with all her heart. Caster quickly came to terms with what was happening as his eyes drooped shut and he wrapped his arms around Anima. The two ponies stayed their ground, mashing their lips together in a tender and loving embrace.

The need for air soon crept up on them as they separated, letting out small gasps. While Anima simply smiled from doing what she had dreamed of, Caster stood there with a dazed look and crimson blush on his cheeks. Expecting this, Anima giggled and gave him another kiss, a simple peck, on the lips and slowly slipped back into her home.

“Goodnight, Sugarcube,” she said, winking at him before closing her door.

“Goodnight, Honeypie,” Caster said, with a drunken look of pure happiness etched on him.

Not really conscious of his actions at the moment, Caster flapped his wings and flew home backwards. All the while replaying that moment over and over. His first kiss… with his first real love.
> Chapter 10: Where the Heart Belongs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	The city of Canterlot looked lively in the glow of the midday sun. Shoppers were out buying the best clothing, jewelry, and other supplies they could think of. Children played and laughed with their friends. And many other ponies went about their daily lives, enjoying themselves as best they could. But for one pony in particular, the world around him seemed quiet as he walked through the streets. Caster Forge did not give attention to what happened around him. For his mind was too preoccupied for what he had planned to do.

It had been two days since the night of the festival. Two long days since he had last seen or talked with his close friend, Anima Memoriae. And it wasn’t because they couldn’t see each other, rather Caster needed some time to sort out his feelings one last time. When their date had ended, Anima thanked him with a gift he could only dream of. A kiss, a real kiss from somepony who truly cared about him. He was so ecstatic from what happened that he became a wobbling mess when he came home, with his family bombarding him with questions on how it all went.

When Caster had finally settled down from his love high, he began to think on his situation. He could no longer deny now that there was truly something between him and Anima. It was obvious she had feelings for him and vice versa. The only real problem Caster faced was how to approach this topic. If he did it wrong, things might end up being awkward for them, making it more difficult to confess his feelings for her. He spent many hours trying to find ways to proclaim his love in a way that seemed both fitting for him and appropriate. Unfortunately all of Caster’s ideas ended up being crumpled and thrown away in the back of his mind.

It wasn’t until the night previous that he finally realized what to do. Throughout all their time together, Caster and Anima had shared many details of their lives with each other, even some of their most well kept secrets. And they never needed any elaborate planning or special occasions to do so. They merely talked with one another and the subject would eventually come up. Which was all that Caster needed: to talk with Anima. If he could do that, then he could find the right moment to talk about their situation.

And so, with a determined mind, Caster had awoken the following morning ready to take on what his heart had been preparing so long for. He had first gone over to Anima’s home, only to find out that she was spending the weekend over at her new room in the castle. After changing his destination, his mind had become solely focused on what he had to do. He just seemed to tune out everything around him due to his determination. But Caster’s focus was soon broken when he felt himself hit something and then heard two ponies calling him.

“Whoa, Caster, are you all right?” Swift Wind questioned, him and Spell Weaver approaching their friend.

“Ugh, I’m fine. Sorry, guess I was a bit distracted,” he replied, rubbing his forehead.

“Apparently enough to walk right into the gate and ignore us it seems,” Spell stated.

“Heh, never thought I’d have one of those moments,” Caster said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Right. So what brings you here, Cast? You don’t work on Sundays,” Swift Wind asked, knowing Caster usually only came here for work.

“Well, I’m here to see Princess Anima,” Caster said.

“Oh really? I thought you two were done with your lessons and whatnot,” he added, increasing his curiosity.

“We are. This is more of a personal matter between the two of us,” Caster stated, hoping they would get the message.

“Oh, I see. Going to spend some quality time with your special somepony?” Spell inquired, chuckling from teasing his friend.

“Yes.”

“Huh?” Swift and Spell said, staring at Caster in disbelief.

“I guess you could say that. If things go well between us, anything could happen. Though all I’m looking for right now is to simply talk with her,” Caster said, in a calm tone.

The two guards merely looked at each other in disbelief.

“Um, so do you think you guys could, you know?” Caster asked gesturing towards the gate.

“O-oh, right of course,” Spell Weaver said, as he pulled a nearby lever letting the steel gate rise.

“Thanks, wish me luck, Swift, Spell. I’m going to go win the heart of a Princess,” Caster stated, heading off towards the castle.

“Hey, Spell?”

“Yeah, Swift?”

“Do me a favor and wake me out of whatever crazy dream I’m in right now,” he asked, an incredulous look etched on his face.


===============================================================


It was amazing to think how slow time could become in a single moment. And Caster was certainly experiencing this as he stood in front of the large wooden double doors to Anima’s personal chambers. To the side of it was a lone guard stationed to guard her. Caster had already gotten permission from the stallion to enter, now he was merely preparing himself for what was to come. He fixed his hair and straightened out his blue jeans and black t-shirt for what seemed like the twentieth time. Eventually, Caster shook off his apprehension as he gingerly knocked on the door a few times.

A small yelp could be heard from the other side as well as what sounded like frantic movement. This had caught the curiosity of both Caster and the guard as they waited in silence. After a few moments of listening to the sounds coming within, the doors finally opened to reveal what Caster had been prepping for. Though what he saw was a bit different from what he expected. Anima Memoriae stood before him, wearing a pink nightgown made of silk that went just past her knees. Her mane and tail lacked their usual style and her glasses were loosely perched in front of her face, which was devoid of makeup. And her wings seemed untidy and were slightly wet. For Caster, it was a sight that made his heart soar.

“Oh, Caster, I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon, let alone like this,” Anima said, blushing from both seeing her crush as well as from the attire she wore. “What are you doing here?”

“Um, well, I was wondering if you and I could talk to each other for a while. In private if that’s okay,” Caster said, hinting towards the guard.

“Of course, it’d be lovely to speak with you,” she said, before turning her attention to the guard. “You’re relieved of your duties for today, Lieutenant.”

“As you wish, your highness,” he stated, as he nodded and went down a nearby set of stairs.

“Come on in, I’ll show you around,” Anima said, ushering Caster inside.

As he walked inside, Caster couldn’t help but admire the room Princess Luna had granted her student. It was huge, about as big as his living room. The ceiling and walls were coated in a light violet paint while the floors were made of alabaster white marble tile. A few gray columns with intricate designs surrounded the room, adding both style and support. Off to sides were three large doors: one appeared to lead into an elegant bathroom. The other showed a walk in closet, which Caster could only assume was overflowing with dresses. And the last one led to a balcony outside. There was also a desk nearby with some writing supplies and documents. At the very back of the room was a king sized canopy bed with oak brown bed frames and a red comforter, pillows, and drapes.

“Whoa, I can see that Luna spared no expense making this place for you,” Caster stated, observing his surroundings.

“She certainly does know what a Princess enjoys,” Anima said, stifling a giggle.

“It definitely suits a certain somepony I know who’s worked hard to earn it,” he said, throwing a wink her way.

“Oh stop you,” Anima replied, blushing as she sat down on her bed.

Caster was about to join her when something caught his eye. There was a pile of several hand towels, some soaked with water and gunk, the others still fresh. Next to it was a small bucket of water. And covering the bedsheets were stray feathers that looked old or broken.

“So, what’s all this about?” Caster asked, curious to what she was doing prior.

“Oh, this. Well before you came here I was busy preening my wings. Normally my mother’s the one that helps me but I decided to try and do it on my own. Unfortunately it’s a lot harder than I thought, especially with getting the feathers in the back,” Anima said, trying to reach the back of her wing as an example.

“I see. Would you like me to give you a hand?” Caster asked.

“Thanks, Caster, but I’d really like to do this myself. Have to start trying to be more independent after all,” she responded, picking up one of the towels and soaking it in water.

“I know, but perhaps I could help guide you through it at least. So that you’ll be able to handle it better in the future,” Caster offered.

“Hmm, all right. Show me how it’s done,” Anima said, fanning out her wings and sticking out her tongue playfully.

It took Caster a moment to stop gawking at Anima’s cheerful demeanor before he moved over to sit next to her on the bed. Doing the same process with the towel as her, Caster showed Anima the best ways to clean out all the dirt and grime that got stuck between her feathers. Sometimes he would have to be rough to get some of the trickier spots. But most of the time his touch was soft and gentle as his hands glided smoothly across her wings. Then Caster went about pulling out any loose and broken feathers that he spotted, making sure not to pull hard so as to not draw blood.

Though the second part was a bit painful, Anima was too distracted by the sensations she was feeling. She was still new to the sensitive feel of wings and the way both her and Caster’s hands were touching her sent shivers up her spine all the way to her brain. And Caster soon took notice of her pleasured expression as well as the rising blush on her face. So he tried falling back to his original plan to avoid things becoming more awkward.

“So, Anima, h-how’ve you been doing since I last saw you?” he asked, nervously as he took out a feather and cleaned away some gunk.

“I-I’ve been fine. Just working on some l-lessons from Princess Luna. Helps keep me busy after all,” she responded, brushing past a particular sensitive area.

“That’s good, always nice to have something to do. Especially when it comes to your role as Princess,” Caster said, blushing as he stared at her wings, which glistened from the moisture surrounding them.

“The Princess of Memories, no less,” Anima added.

“Indeed and I know you’ll do a wonderful job at it,” Caster replied, bringing the wet towel to the base of her wing.

Those words, along with the sensation he was providing her, made Anima blush even more than before. She could feel her body growing hotter with every passing moment the two of them spent treating her wings. Not wanting to be overcome by her feelings, Anima continued to speak.

“What about you? What have you been up to, Cast?” she asked, wincing from pulling out a few damaged feathers.

“Not much to be honest. Just spending some time around the house, trying to relax and think to myself,” Caster answered, seeing this as his opportunity.

“Oh really, what about?” Anima asked.

“Well, I’ve been thinking a lot about the date we had at the festival,” he said, straightening a few of her feathers.

“Yeah that truly was a wonderful night. I’m glad we could spend time together like that,” Anima said, drying her wings as they finished.

“So am I. However, there’s been one thing that’s been stuck on my mind,” Caster stated, blushing and looking away from Anima.

“What is it?”

“Well I, uh. Geez, this is just so embarrassing,” he said wringing his hands in frustration.

“Hey it’s all right, Caster,” Anima said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You’re my friend, and you can tell me about anything that’s bothering you.”

Taking in a deep breath, Caster slowly let it out as he calmed his nerves down enough to say what needed to be done.

“It, it’s about that k-kiss you gave me before we left for the night,” he said, staring down at the tile floor.

“…Oh,” Anima spoke, almost in a whisper as she removed her hand and her face turned bright red.

“I’m not mad at all, if anything I’m kind of glad. It was nice to have my first kiss be given by a friend I trust,” Caster said, smiling as he remembered that moment.

“Heh, heh, glad I could make your first kiss memorable then,” Anima said, nervously twiddling her fingers and facing away from him.

“Yes… But, there’s only one thing I want to ask you about it. Why did you do it?” he asked, turning back to face her. “Anima, for as long as I can remember I’ve spent quite some time thinking about our friendship. I can see that there is more to it but I never wanted to pry too far because I was afraid of our friendship being hurt by talking about it. It wasn’t until I talked with Fancy and Fleur that I worked up the courage to act like my true self around you. And after that kiss you gave me, I had no doubt that there was something special between us. So I need you to be honest with me and whatever the answer is, I will accept it. Anima… do you have true feelings for me?”

Anima said nothing as she continued to keep her gaze away from him. Ever since that night, she had been expecting Caster to approach her about the subject. Though it was a bit later than she thought it would be, it was finally happening. Caster Forge, the stallion she had fallen for, finally worked up the courage to ask her how she truly felt. Anima’s heart was racing like a mad pony as she thought of how to tell him. Tell Caster how he had won her heart just from being himself. After giving herself a moment to compose herself, Anima turned and stared straight into Caster’s eyes, which she could see were filled with longing and concern.

“Caster… yes, I do. But more than you might think… I love you, more than anypony I’ve ever met,” she proclaimed, taking hold of his hand in her own. “Since the day we met you’ve been nothing but supportive for me, both with my lessons as well as my life in general. You never gave up on me and you’ve helped pick me up whenever I fall. There were times when you would be more aggressive, but I knew you were only doing it because you wanted me to be the best.”

Caster listened intently to Anima’s confession, taking in every word with great attention.

“But the thing that truly made me fall for you was that you were always there for me. Whether it was helping me to learn, cheering me up when I had bad days, or just hanging out with me and my other friends, you’ve always been there to cheer me on or ease my spirits. At times when I was feeling lonely, you would come by and I never felt happier. And of course you saved my life from that horrible stallion without a moment’s hesitation. It was actually on that very night that I realized my feelings for you were real. You don’t have to love me back, I’ll be fine if we can still remain friends,” Anima said, keeping her light grip on Caster’s hand and looking down.

The last words that she spoke rang in Caster’s ears. Not only did Anima confess that she loved him, but also that she kept her feelings secret so their friendship might not be ruined. The same reason he had kept his feelings secret as well. It was all so ironic and Anima’s confession, so sweet, that all of Caster’s doubts, all his worries, and all his apprehension seemed to fade away.

With a smile and a laugh he used his unoccupied hand to grab Anima’s chin and lifted her up to face him. Without a moment’s hesitation, Caster planted a kiss onto her lips, holding it for as long as he could. While she was surprised at his sudden forwardness, Anima offered no resistance and closed her eyes to savor the kiss and what it implied. All too soon, Caster parted from her but held her close to him.

“What makes you think I don’t?” he stated, brushing a stray hair out of her face. “There’s so much I have to say about you that it would take forever to explain how I feel. So all I can say is this: one of the biggest reasons I fell for you was because you too helped keep me from being lonely. Whether intentional or unintentional, your presence always had a comforting effect on me. That very effect is also what helped me to become how I am today. You were able to loosen me up and make me more outgoing because you accepted me for who I was and how I wished to be treated as a friend. But most of all, I fell in love with you because of your unwavering determination and strength. You had plenty of chances to give up on your lessons but you persevered. Even when Smooth attacked you, you wouldn’t go down without fighting back. Your courage and kind nature is an inspiration to me and no other mare, not even the other Princess’, can match it. And it is for that reason and so much more that I honestly, truly, love you with all my heart.”

There were simply no words to describe how overjoyed Anima felt at that moment. It was all so much to take in but the message was clear. Caster loved her, just as much as she loved him. That fact alone was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She didn’t bother to hide them, she was too happy to care. With nothing else standing in their way, Anima wrapped her arms around Caster and kissed him with as much passion as she could muster. Caster brought her closer to him as he returned the kiss with equal force, letting their warm breath enter into each other. They eventually pulled away from each other and gazed longingly into each other’s eyes.

“Do you really mean it, Caster?” Anima asked, merely to hear those words again.

“Yes, Anima, I love you. Princess or not nothing will ever change that,” he replied, kissing her on the forehead.

“And no matter what other ponies may say about you, I will always love you just the way you are,” Anima said, bringing him in for another kiss.

Time seemed to slow down as their kiss intensified. They rolled around on the bed for a while until they stopped near the head of the bed, with Caster on top of Anima. As their kissing continued, their hands soon got to work, feeling the body of their lover. Caster’s hands wandered Anima’s sides, tracing her wonderful curves from her hips to across her legs. Anima’s remained attached to Caster’s torso, feeling the toned muscles beneath his shirt.

Both ponies were beginning to feel something grow within them. A small flame of desire that was being fanned into a roaring inferno of lust. The two of them separated when the need to breathe became too great and panted with blushing faces and eyes filled with want.

“Caster, I want to be with you right now. I feel like I’ll go crazy if I have to wait another moment longer! Please, make love to me,” Anima exclaimed, caressing his cheek.

“Y-you won’t have to ask me twice, Anima,” Caster said, a hint of hesitation evident. “I’ll certainly try my best. I’ve never done this before so I can’t promise it’ll be perfect.”

“That’s all right, I understand. I’m happy to be your first and I know you’ll do just fine. Besides, it will definitely be a moment we’ll remember for a long time. After all,” Anima said, removing her glasses and leaning into his ear before whispering. “You’re my first as well.”

If Caster’s eyes weren’t already wide enough, they certainly were now. He and Anima were both virgins. He would be the first to pluck her flower, the first to truly love her, and she would be his first lover as well. And, for reasons he could not fathom, that knowledge turned Caster on more than anything. As soon as Anima pulled back to face him, Caster immediately dove back in and kissed her with great ferocity, passion, and lust.

After a minute of their intense make out session, he felt something prodding against his lips. Realizing it as Anima’s tongue, Caster quickly granted her access to his awaiting maw, where his own wet muscle met with hers. Their tongues tangled with one another, wrestling for dominance and savoring the taste of the other. Caster tasted strawberries with a hint of vanilla. On Anima’s side of the spectrum, his taste was tangy like tangerines, yet had a sweet aftertaste of syrup.

Breaking the kiss, the two of them breathed heavily with a thin trail of saliva bridging their lips together. Caster then brought his lips down to Anima’s neck, where he kissed and nipped at it repeatedly, making her gasp in surprise. She also giggled a bit from the tickling sensation his goatee gave her as it brushed against her fur. Meanwhile, one of his hands slowly trailed its way up from Anima’s flank to her breasts, kneading the soft flesh through her gown. The sensation of Caster’s rough, yet delicate hands drove Anima wild as she kept on gasping and moaning.

Wanting to get a more direct feel, Caster brought his hands to the shoulder straps of her outfit and slowly pulled them down. His eyes were soon greeted by the sight of her bare chest, which he gazed at with rapt attention. The one thing he took notice of immediately was how big they were, definitely a D-cup from what he could tell. They were soft, round and did not sag in the least. And her pink nipples stood out hard and stiff, showing how aroused Anima most likely was.

“You know, I’ve never gotten the chance to say this before, but you really do have the best set of tits I’ve ever laid eyes on,” Caster stated, licking his lips in anticipation.

“Fit for a Princess, wouldn’t you agree?” Anima said, squishing her breasts together and winking at him.

“Indeed I do,” he said, groping both of the supple orbs.

Anima writhed in pleasure from the treatment he was giving her. In her head she thought back to the pool party and how amazing Caster’s hands had felt on her back. Now it felt a hundred times greater as he continued groping and squeezing her boobs while she moaned her approval. The memory had also brought a thought to her as she stared at the shirt Caster wore. In a flash she moved up and nearly tore it right off of his body as she had her first good look at his bare torso in a long time.

It looked even better than when she last saw, due to all of Caster’s workouts lately. Letting her hands trace over his muscles, Anima could not help but gawk at how amazing they looked. His pecs were firm, yet soft to the touch. Her fingers formed circles around each of his six abs, admiring their form. And she traced the lengths of his many scars, reveling in their rough texture. All in all, it was a feast for her eyes.

“My breasts may be great, but your chest is simply divine,” Anima commented, laying a soft kiss on it.

“Only the best for you, honeypie,” Caster said, pushing her back against the pillows playfully.

Immediately his lips set to work on Anima’s breasts, kissing them all over with the occasional lick. Caster’s hands did their part as well, squeezing the soft globes and rubbing against her nipples. Feeling they needed some more attention, he brought his tongue to her right nipple, flicking it back and forth. He was rewarded with the sweet sound of Anima’s loud moans as she thoroughly enjoyed the breast play.

“Oh yeah, that’s right, sugarcube. Play with my tits as much as you want, they’re all yours!” she gasped out.

“My, what a mouth you have on you, Princess,” Caster said, his warm breath teasing her wet nipple. “Let’s see if we can’t make you do it louder.”

Anima didn’t get the chance to ask him how when she tried to stifle a gasp felt from the wondrous sucking sensation against her breast. Caster’s mouth set to work sucking her nipple, as if he were trying to milk her dry. His hand toyed with Anima’s free breast, teasing and pinching the nipple with his thumb and index finger. All the while, Anima groaned from the pleasure, the multiple sensations climbing from the base of her spine and riding straight up to her brain.

Feeling a little frisky, Caster brought his hand down to the hem of Anima’s gown and pulled it up, revealing a set of black lingerie panties. He then dove right in to her most private region and was met with the feel of her soft, wet marehood. Anima’s eyes shot open from the sudden sensation as she took in a sharp breath. Earning her confirmation, Caster began rubbing against her pussy, feeling its warmth and slowly increasing wetness.

For a while, he continued his ministrations across her body. Caster’s mouth worked on one of her breasts, suckling it like a newborn foal and licking around her nipple. His other hand worked on Anima’s other breast, groping the flesh and tweaking the pink nub. And Caster’s free hand serviced her marehood with great care, rubbing the gentle lips and brushing against her clitoris.

Although she didn’t want the glorious feeling to end, Anima knew it had to for what she wanted to do next. So, fighting past her moaning and writhing, she tapped Caster’s shoulder a few times before he got the memo. Easing his actions, he pulled away from his new lover, letting her sit up while she massaged her breasts.

“Wow, that was amazing, Caster,” Anima panted, smiling seductively at him. “You seem to know a lot about pleasuring a mare than you give yourself credit for.”

“Well… I may have read a few romance novels in my spare time,” Caster stated, blushing sheepishly from his confession. “I guess you could say I picked up a few tips.”

“Well they certainly worked wonders, I can tell you that,” she said, pulling off her gown leaving her in just her panties. “In fact I say you deserve a little treat for that performance.”

“Oh really?” Caster replied, with a knowing smirk.

Taking his hand, Anima led Caster to rest his head against the pillows and she stood above him. Quickly she brought him in for another kiss and used her hands to massage his wings. Caster moaned at her soft touch, enjoying the feeling of her gentle hands brushing through his feathers. It was a sensation he had rarely ever experienced and he savored it to its full extent. Already they were beginning to spread out to their full length, showcasing his arousal as Anima kept up her massaging as well as her kissing.

Eventually she broke away and began laying soft pecks against Caster’s jaw and neck. Anima’s kisses started trailing down, across his chest, stomach, and waist before she came to a stop at his pants. She could clearly see a rather sizeable bulge growing in front of her and her mouth watered slightly at the thought of seeing his stallionhood for the first time. Without even realizing it, Anima’s hands had already set to work unbuttoning his pants and pulling down the zipper.

Wasting no more time, she grabbed the waist of Caster’s jeans and grey boxers and quickly pulled them off. Anima soon found herself staring at his phallus, which stood proudly and hard. It was rather modest in size, not overly gigantic but looked like it was enough to do the job. Before Anima could go to town on what she had been lusting after, she noticed that Caster was looking away, blushing with embarrassment. He realized she was staring at his expression and chose to spoke up.

“Sorry if I’m a bit… small. I never was one for growing that much in that area,” Caster said, doing his best to face Anima.

“It’s all right, I don’t mind. Besides your cock is a pretty decent size in my opinion,” Anima said, gingerly grabbing it in her hand. “It still looks delicious to me.”

“W-well I’m glad you think so-Ooohhh, wow!” Caster moaned, as she stroked his shaft.

Anima moved her hand up and down in a slow fashion, both to tease him and to get a proper feel of his member. It felt so warm to the touch and pulsed softly in her grasp. The thick musk that emanated from it wafted into her nostrils, turning her on even more as she sped up her hand job. She moved in and gave his stallionhood a quick kiss on the tip, relishing the feel of it on her lips. Her tongue soon came out and licked around the flat head, drawing low moans from Caster as he threw his head back in pleasure.

Glad to see that her lover lasted longer than she had expected, Anima became more brazen and licked all over his rod. One of her hands moved down to cup his balls and fondled them in her grip. She continued to grope, lick, and stroke his shaft and orbs, making sure no area went untouched. Pulling back slightly, Anima saw a small bead of precum that had appeared from the head of Caster’s stallionhood. Not wanting it to go to waste she leaned it and licked it up, teasing the small hole in the process and making Caster gasp in pleasure. Smacking her lips, Anima took a moment to get a proper taste of it.

‘Sweet,’ she thought to herself.

Believing that she had teased him enough, Anima moved to the tip of his phallus and brought it into her eager mouth. Her tongue wrapped around it, sending shivers up Caster’s spine. She then moved down slowly taking more of him into her the further she went. Halting her progress just as she reached his medial ring, Anima put her tongue to work, swirling it around the phallus with ravenous desire. Her head bobbed up down, never once going past the midway point as her hands worked the lower half and handled his balls.

For Caster, he felt as if he were in Nirvana from the pleasure Anima gave him. The warmth of her mouth was incredible as well as the way her tongue licked at every inch she took in and out. And her hands were certainly no slackers as they stroked him and fondled his balls lovingly while he gripped the sheets from the wondrous sensations. It was all so new to him and he intended to savor every moment of the fellatio she performed.

After a few more bobs and licks, Anima decided to step up her game and placed her hands on Caster’s inner thighs. With a boost in determination, she moved back down to the medial ring and then started taking in even more. Her path was blocked, however, when she felt the tip poke against the back of her throat, causing her to gag. But she wasn’t about to give up just because of a silly gag reflex. So she pushed herself back down and gulped as she did so. To her surprise, Anima found his cock sliding smoothly down her throat. Seeing her sudden advance, she kept on moving down until she felt her nose press against Caster’s crotch. Opening her eyes slightly, Anima saw that she had taken the whole thing into her mouth as well as the overwhelmed expression on her lover’s face.

“H-holy shit that feels amazing!” Caster exclaimed, surprised by the sudden deep throat. “Please, don’t stop now, Anima!”

Smiling as best she could, Anima gave him a sly wink before she started bobbing her head again. Her movements were slow at first, mostly to let her adjust to this new sensation. But soon she sped up, covering his stallionhood in her saliva as she licked it all over and sucked any precum that dripped out. The taste and the warmth from his cock drove Anima wild and she was reminded of her own needs as she felt a familiar dampness in her panties.

Removing one of her hands, she immediately brought it into her panties where it began massaging the folds of her marehood. The sudden pleasure she gave herself caused Anima to moan loudly as she went even faster at sucking Caster off. Both the moaning and increased speed made Caster let out a moan of his own while he gripped the bedsheets even tighter. His tongue even lolled out of his mouth due to the sheer pleasure he was experiencing.

The wonderful sensation lasted for a while until Caster felt an all too familiar pressure rising in his loins. He could tell he was getting close to the point of no return and tried to hold on for as long as he could. But he soon realized it was all for not as he started breathing heavily.

“Anima, I-I don’t know how much l-longer I’m going to last!” Caster breathed out, barely able to think at this rate.

Those words encouraged Anima to speed up her bobbing as well as the treatment she gave her pussy. Her tongue swished and swayed all around his member, putting pressure on every nerve and licking all around the tip whenever she pulled back. The thought of what was to come continued to drive her forward as she pulled out all the stops in pleasing her lover. The pleasure soon became too much for Caster to bear as he reached his climax.

“ANIMA!!!” he hollered, as his stallionhood throbbed repeatedly.

Anima stopped at Caster’s medial ring when she felt the first spurts of his seed firing into her mouth and to the back of her throat. It was warm, creamy, and had a salty taste to it as well. It was an amazing feeling to taste his cum for the first time and Anima could not help but swallow what she had. Caster’s cock continued to throb, shooting out more of his essence, until he finally eased up and fell back down, panting heavily. Making sure she had gotten every last drop, Anima removed her mouth from his stallionhood, which looked clean and wet, and brought herself back up to eye level with Caster as she snuggled against him.

“So, what did you think of your little treat?” she asked, kissing his cheek and rubbing a hand across his abs.

“It. Was. Incredible, Anima,” Caster replied, trying to recover from the amazing sensation he had gone through. “I never knew a blowjob would feel that good. And I must say you did it perfectly.”

“Glad you enjoyed it, I know I certainly did,” Anima said in a sultry tone, licking her lips and winking at him.

“Indeed,” Caster said, reaching over and groping Anima’s firm yet soft flank. “Although now I think it’s time I repaid the favor.”

“Is that so?” Anima said, feeling the tingling sensation between her legs growing.

“After all, a Princess certainly deserves some…‘royal treatment’,” he said, kissing her passionately before pushing her back against the pillows.

Caster started kissing all over Anima’s neck and breasts making her tremble and whimper from the feeling of his skilled lips. His kisses soon followed Anima’s path, kissing down her midsection all the way to her frilly panties. Coming face to face to it at last, Caster could already see a visible wet spot growing in the fabric. Giving the piece of lingerie a quick kiss, he brought his hands to it and slowly pulled them off, with Anima lifting her legs to help.

Finally, Caster was able to get his first good look at her marehood. Its lips were puffy and wet with the juices that were flowing out of her. The little nub at the top stood out, practically begging to be played with. And just above Anima’s treasured area was a small patch of pink fur that looked like it had been trimmed. A certain aroma brought Caster out of his staring stupor as he took a whiff. He soon realized that the scent came from Anima’s excited marehood. He could already tell, even without looking at her that she was already aroused beyond belief at this point. There would be no need for any teasing.

So, not wanting to keep her waiting, Caster moved down between Anima’s legs and gave her pussy a long, sensual lick from bottom to top, flicking her clitoris at the end. Anima moaned loudly, finally feeling some stimulation against her most intimate area. Caster’s tongue started off light, giving her marehood a few swipes across her outer lips, either side to side or up and down. All the while Anima kept on moaning from all the pleasure coursing through her body.

For Caster, he savored every moment of the treatment he gave her. Partly due to how good she tasted down there. Like when he kissed her, Anima’s essence tasted almost like strawberries. Part of him thought she must’ve consumed a lot of strawberries, most likely the ones grown by Strawberry Rose. Wanting to get a better taste of it, Caster drove his tongue into her marehood and wiggled it against her inner walls.

“Oh buck, yes!!” Anima screamed out, gasping from the intrusion. “Keep it up, Caster, your tongue is marvelous!”

Smiling to himself, Caster complied with her wishes and sped up his tongue work, swirling it all around and hitting every sensitive spot he could find. One of her Anima’s shot down and gripped the back of Caster’s head, bringing his muzzle deeper into her pussy. Caster’s tongue continued to swirl, thrust, and caress all around the inside of Anima’s marehood, both ponies savoring this moment.

After a while, Caster pulled away from her honey pot and brought a hand up to it. Without so much as a warning, he shot one of his fingers inside her and started flicking his tongue against her clitoris. Both of the sensations drove Anima wild as she threw her head back, screaming from the immense pleasure. Her hands released their grip from Caster’s head and were brought straight to her breasts, fondling the succulent mammaries and pinching her nipples as well.

“Yes, yes, oh by Celestia, this is amazing!! Don’t stop, please, I’m so close!” Anima exclaimed, playing with her boobs as if they were her favorite toy.

Surprised by the sudden outburst, Caster doubled his efforts. He thrusted his finger in and out of Anima’s pussy faster with every passing moment. His tongue continued to play with her sensitive nub, even tracing patterns around it. Feeling like it wasn’t enough to satisfy his new marefriend though, Caster shoved another finger into her and sucked on her clitoris. He looked back at Anima and saw a writhing mess of pleasured arousal. Hearing her moans of approval seemed to turn Caster on even more as he got a mischievous look on his face.

Anima’s mind was currently covered in a fog of pleasure. Her eyes were shut tight from all the sensations that were surrounding her body and her arms continued to mindlessly fondle her large breasts, occasionally bringing them up to her lips as she suckled on and licked her nipples. She just needed one more, something to truly drive her over the edge. Her wish was granted as Caster’s fingers rubbed against her G-spot. That was the final straw as she proclaimed Caster’s name, bringing herself to an amazing climax.

Caster stopped what he was doing when he heard Anima’s scream as well as from the juices flowing past his already soaked hand. Leaning in, he drank up some of her cum, admiring the sweet texture and scent. He then pulled back and watched as Anima rode out the last waves of her orgasm. When she finally settled down, Caster moved back in and cuddled Anima in his arms, stroking her hair lovingly and letting her catch her breath.

“Enjoying yourself, Princess?” Caster said, teasingly as he twirled a lock of her messy mane.

“That was… oh wow, that was just so wonderful,” Anima breathed out, relaxing in her lover’s embrace. “You must’ve learned quite a bit from all those novels.”

“They may have used some odd phrases and meanings but I got the gist of it,” he said, kissing her on the forehead.

“Well you certainly made that evident,” Anima giggled, kissing him on the lips.

Both of them just sat there holding one another, content to hear each other’s breathing as they calmed down from both of their activities. But that feeling didn’t last long when Caster felt Anima grasp his stallionhood and slowly stroke it until it reached its full length and rigidness.

“I think it’s time we move on to the main event,” Anima said, staring at her coltfriend with lustful ambition.

“You just read my mind,” Caster replied, positioning himself over her and spreading her legs.

“Wait! I almost forgot, there’s something I need to do before we get started,” Anima said, her horn glowing a bright pink aura as she concentrated.

Caster wasn’t sure what she was up to until he saw the same pink aura appear around her soaked marehood. The glowing energy slowly spread across her pelvic area until it came to a stop just as it reached her abdomen. It stayed there for about a minute before it dissipated, showing that nothing had been changed from what Caster could see.

“So what was that about?” he asked, trying to figure what Anima just did.

“That was an anti-pregnancy spell. Princess Luna taught it to me a while back just in case of situations like these. So now we won’t have to worry about anything like that happening in the future,” Anima said, smiling sweetly at him.

“Oh geez, I can’t believe I almost forgot about that!” Caster exclaimed, suddenly feeling a cold chill run up his spine. “I was just so caught up in the heat of the moment that I-”

“Hey, hey, it’s all right. I was getting caught up in the moment too. There’s no need to fret about it now though, this spell works great and you can rest assured there won’t be any incidents in the future,” she said, giving him a reassuring wink.

“Sorry, I’m just not ready to be a father yet. Besides I don’t think I’d be a good one to begin with,” Caster stated, solemnly.

“Nonsense, you worked hard to help teach me to fly and you’ve always been so kind to me and others. You’ll make a great daddy one day, trust me,” Anima remarked, caressing his cheek comfortingly.

“I love you, you know that?” he said, giving a kiss that was short, but sweet.

“I love you too. Now, where were we?” she said, grabbing Caster’s cock and grinning at him.

Caster knew what she meant and got back to the situation at hand. Taking his stallionhood in one hand, he brought it to the entrance of Anima’s own marehood. The head of his penis came into contact with her outer lips, making both participants shiver from the sensitive nerves and the warmth that their most intimate areas gave off. Caster took a moment to rub his member against Anima’s moist lips, lubricating it thoroughly and teasing her for the fun of it.

Deciding that he was done stalling, Caster positioned himself at Anima’s entrance again and slowly pushed his cock into her. Anima inhaled a large breath, feeling the appendage sliding into her deepest recesses. Caster continued to ease himself in, pushing past any resistance that Anima reflexively brought forth, wanting every inch of his stallionhood to be buried within her.

Both ponies wondered how much longer it would take, until they felt their groins connect. Caster looked down and saw where his crotch met up with hers, seeing that he had fit his entire cock into her pussy, and by Celestia did it feel amazing. The warmth and wetness of her insides was unbelievable and the way her walls gripped his shaft was simply divine. Though in his lust-addled state, Caster had forgotten to check on the mare who gave herself to him.

He looked over and saw Anima, her face blushing as red as a tomato and had a mix of pleasure and slight discomfort written across it. On one hand it felt a bit off having his stallionhood take up so much space inside her. But on the other hand the warm feeling of it pulsing against her walls seemed to balance it out, as she couldn’t help but moan a little from the sensation. Anima’s moment of bliss, however, was interrupted when Caster suddenly spoke up.

“Are you alright, Anima?” Caster asked, wanting to make sure she was okay.

“Yes I’m fine, Caster,” she said, opening her eyes to stare into his concern-filled gaze. “You did wonderfully on your first go.”

“That’s good to hear,” Caster said, chuckling awkwardly. “Usually when I read those stories, they have the mares crying out in pain and there’s always that little bit of blood.”

“Yeah, they always do that. Though I guess the reality of it is far from the truth,” Anima stated, giggling at the thought.

“There’s a lesson learned, heh heh,” Caster said, the feeling of Anima’s tight marehood starting to overwhelming him. “So... d-do you want to get started?”

“Sure, Cast, go for it. Just… go slowly, okay?” Anima said, still feeling a little wary.

“I promise,” Caster replied, giving her a wink.

Feeling reassured by his words, Anima wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him down for another passionate kiss. While Caster’s tongue wrestled with Anima’s, his hips moved of their own accord. He pulled out of her slowly, being careful not to hurt her. When only the tip was left inside, Caster pushed his cock back into her, though at a faster pace. He kept up his decent speed, relishing in the feeling of her moist cavern caressing his stallionhood.

Anima, for her part, held on to Caster tightly as her pussy was rocked over and over. It had hurt at first, like she expected, but gradually the pain began to die out. The sensation was quickly replaced with pleasure unlike anything she had experienced before. The feeling of Caster’s phallus throbbing inside of her and brushing against her sensitive walls made her moan with delight into his mouth.

The sounds of wet flesh slapping against wet flesh echoed around the bedroom, along with the two lover’s moans and groans of ecstasy as they continued to rut each other senseless. Caster panted with fervor as he sped his thrusting, letting Anima’s soft marehood massage him in ways he could only dream of. Anima gasped and moaned from the increased sensation, even moving her hips to match his thrusts, making sure his cock got as deep inside her as possible.

“Oh buck, that feels amazing, Caster!” Anima groaned out, separating herself from the kiss.

“Your pussy is what’s amazing, Anima! Like I’m being squeezed by the world’s softest cloud!” Caster exclaimed, feeling her clench his cock from hearing those words.

“Oh, Caster… harder! Buck me harder!!” she yelled.

Seeing how more willing she was now, Caster didn’t hold back as he sped up his thrusts, pulling out all the way and thrusting back in with great force. Anima responded with even louder groans, verging on screaming, and wrapping her legs around Caster’s waist, never wanting him to leave. Seeing how his movements were restricted, Caster went with quicker, shorter thrusts. All the while making sure each one had a hard impact against Anima’s pussy.

Anima couldn’t hold back her moans, nor did she want to. The pleasure was just so mind-bendingly overwhelming that the world around her seemed to fade. All that she could register was her new lover, and the pleasures he wracked her body with. In her mind, she realized that this truly was the stallion she wanted to be with. Someone who understood her, who would always be by her side, and who can give her unbelievable amounts of joy. Caster was, without a doubt, the one for-.

“Eep!” Anima squeaked out.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt a particularly hard thrust from Caster and his tongue licking her horn from top to bottom. He didn’t relent as his tongue licked all around her sensitive horn, sending untold feelings of pleasure straight to her brain. Her own gasping grew louder, feeling both sensations from top and bottom, and she clutched the bases of his wings in response. Caster responded as well with even harder and faster thrusts and assaulted Anima’s horn thoroughly, coating it in his saliva.

The two of them continued to buck against one another, savoring the feelings and the thoughts of the lovemaking occurring between them. However, Caster started to feel the all too familiar sensation of release approaching.

“Anima, I’m going to cum! I can’t hold it much longer!” he proclaimed, never letting up in his thrusting.

“Me too, Caster! Don’t hold back, give me everything you have!” she stated, holding onto his wings as if her life depended on it.

Caster nodded and as he continued licking and sucking on her horn and thrusted into her like a mad man, exiting her quickly and pushing himself back hard, his hips appearing as a blur. Anima’s tight, wet, and warm walls were quickly draining away what little resistance he had left. He gave a few last bucks before he thrust into her all the way, and both of them yelled out.

“ANIMA!!!”

“CASTER!!!”

His stallionhood throbbed over and over, releasing thick ropes of his semen into Anima’s womb. Anima’s eyes widened in surprise, feeling Caster empty his load inside of her. Both the realization and the feeling of his hot and silky sperm drove her into her own, mind blowing climax. Caster could feel Anima’s juices flow past his cock as well as her marehood tightening around him, threatening to milk him dry. Anima’s horn also gave off its own orgasm as several spurts of magic erupted from it, glowing brightly and then fading in an instant. Caster made a few short, yet hard thrusts into her, making sure she received whatever he had left to offer.

Eventually, Anima began to relax as her arms and legs released their grip on Caster. He responded by slowly pulling himself out of her, making her gasp slightly from feeling him leave. As he pulled his flaccid stallionhood out, Caster watched as their mixed juices dribbled out of her pussy before he laid down beside her. Finally catching her breath, Anima moved over and cuddled against Caster’s chest while he wrapped his arms around her.

“That was incredible, Caster,” she said, giving him a peck on his chest.

“And so were you, Anima,” he replied, caressing her flank. “I’m glad that you were my first.”

“And I’m happy that you were mine as well. Nopony else has ever loved me as much as you do,” Anima said, looking into his deep green eyes.

“Probably because nopony knows you more personally than I do,” Caster stated, winking at her.

“I love you, Cast,” Anima said, kissing him on the lips.

“I love you too, Anima,” Caster said, kissing her back.

They both remained silent for a while, cuddling each other and enjoying the silence that surrounded them. The room smelled of sweat, sex and their bodily fluids, which also stained the sheets below them, but they didn’t care. Caster was finally able to live his dream: having his first time with a mare he truly loved and for her to love him in return for who he was.

For Anima, it was all such a wonderful experience, finding a stallion who understood her and whom she trusted to lose her virginity with. It had opened so many doors for her that she had long since left locked. In fact, one of them was a certain fantasy she had back when she was a few years younger. Something she had always wanted to try with the stallion she would truly love.

“Hey, sugarcube?” Anima spoke up, surprising Caster.

“What’s up, honeypie?” he asked, shaking off some drowsiness that had crept up on him.

“Well, uh, I was wondering, if you’re up for it. You don’t have to do it if you want, but um. Do you think you could do me again… in my butt?” Anima admitted, blushing so hard her fur looked blood red.

To say that Caster was surprised now would’ve been an understatement. Never would he have expected such a request from a Princess, let alone his best friend. Though he couldn’t deny that the thought had peaked his interest a few times in the past. And now that Anima was offering him the chance to try it, how could he possibly say no?

“Say no more, my little princess,” Caster said, kissing her on the muzzle before flipping her over onto her stomach.

Despite her distaste from when her mother called her that, hearing Caster say it made her even hornier than she was previous. Eager to try this new sensation, she got onto her hands and knees, stuck her butt up in the air, and moved her tail out of the way to showcase her awaiting plothole. Remembering that a thorough dose of lubrication was required for this activity, Caster moved a hand down and swiped it across Anima’s soaked marehood, gathering some fluids and making her moan.

After applying her fluids to his phallus, and getting it hard again in the process, Caster scooted forward and guided his cock with one hand to her anus. He pressed the tip to the entrance, earning a soft squeak of surprise from Anima as her body visibly tensed up.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle, I promise,” Caster said, trying to comfort her with his words and rubbing her flank sensually.

“Thank you, Cast. Go ahead, I’m ready,” Anima responded, looking back at him with a sense of trust.

Never once breaking his gaze from hers, Caster nodded before slowly pushing himself into Anima. It took a little more effort, but he was soon able to get at least the tip of his stallionhood inside. Though the sudden entry caused Anima to tighten up again, impeding Caster’s path, he couldn’t help but enjoy the way she gripped him. He allowed her a few moments to ease up before he started forward again.

For Anima, the sensation was truly something else. Not only the feeling of his cock slowly making its way inside her ass, but also the thought of how naughty it was. The idea of having something like this enter her most forbidden hole was so perverse, and yet it thrilled her at the same time. She had played with herself on occasion, but never had she toyed with that area. Already, Anima was regretting not trying it sooner as Caster’s cock continued its slow-paced journey. She would wince and groan every now and then, the pain still evident yet slowly fading away.

Eventually his progress came to a halt when his hips made contact with her shapely flank. They took a moment to relax as well as catch their breaths from the exertion they had gone through. Caster could not believe how amazing this new position felt. Her ass may not have been as wet or as soft as her marehood, but it certainly made up for it with its incredible tightness.

Feeling like they’ve both waited long enough, Caster gripped her ass cheeks and slowly pulled out before driving himself back in at a slightly quicker pace. Anima couldn’t help but groan as Caster thrusted in and out of her at a moderately fast pace while her breasts flopped around beneath her. It felt so big when it was jammed into her backside, making her grip the bedsheets tightly to the point of almost ripping them. But she stood her ground as she let Caster continue to pound into her.

“Buck, Anima, your ass is so tight!” he stated, keeping up his current pace.

“Yeah, it is,” Anima said, her tongue lolling out from the pleasure. “And it feels so good!”

“Then I bet you’ll love this,” Caster said, thrusting a bit faster and bringing a hand down to rub her marehood.

Both sensations made Anima moan out loud as they took her by surprise. The overwhelming pleasure caused her arms to buckle as her face planted against one of the pillows. She gasped with every thrust into her ass, savoring the feeling of both her holes being toyed with.

While it was exhausting for Caster to do so much at once, it was all worth it to hear Anima’s moans and cries of passion, which egged him on to go even faster. He wanted to hear more and that’s when he remembered how much she was moaning when he played with her breasts earlier. Laying himself across her back, Caster continued to thrust into her with one hand caressing her pussy while the other one moved to fondle one of her swinging tits roughly.

“Oh yes, that’s right, Caster! Play with my breasts, toy with my pussy, and pound my ass with your luscious cock! I’m all yours!!!” Anima screamed out, almost as loudly as Luna’s Royal Canterlot voice.

Hearing her moans of pleasure as well as her sudden outburst, caused something to snap inside of Caster. With a grin that looked almost predatory, he started thrusting into her with reckless abandon, foregoing any notions of being gentle. His hand immediately shoved three fingers into her marehood and thrusted in and out like a piston while his other hand continued its onslaught of her mammary, occasionally tweaking her nipple.

All three feelings were just too much for Anima. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head from the intense pleasure she was receiving from all ends. Caster’s actions were wild and rough, probably from all his years of pent up feelings and desires. Yet even now she could feel the loving care that were included in his ministrations as he made sure not to hurt her too much in the first place. That coupled with the amazing activity they were engaged in, brought her ever closer to her approaching climax.

Caster was not far off as Anima’s ever tightening ass continued to grip his cock in the most luxurious way his brain could comprehend. He was amazed he could last this long, especially after already releasing once. But those thoughts soon gave out as he could already feel another release rapidly approaching.

“I-I’m so close, Anima! It’s coming fast!” Caster exclaimed, already feeling tired from all his ministrations.

“Ditto! Do it, fill my ass up to the brim!!” Anima responded, trying to push her hips back in time with his.

That was all the encouragement he needed as Caster thrusted even harder, turning her ass cheeks a vibrant pink. Their groans of ecstasy flooded the room as they continued their intense session of lovemaking. But it was quickly coming to a close as Caster’s inevitable release came closer to fruition. Giving one last thrust, Caster and Anima shouted each other’s names to the heavens as they achieved the greatest climax either had experienced that day.

Caster’s spunk kept pouring into Anima’s clearly sore, yet undoubtedly satisfied rear as he groaned from the increasing tightness surrounding him. Anima, too lost for words on how warm and wonderful his seed felt inside her ass, moaned and gasped in short bursts as she came with great intensity, feeling her pent up fluids flow out and soaking the sheets below. Their climaxes went on for a full minute before they finally collapsed next to each other, utterly spent.

Both of them panted heavily, feeling like they had just done the Running of the Leaves three times in a row. Caster felt like he had just released months, if not years, of his feelings out and already he started to feel lighter, both physically and spiritually. Anima, on the other hand, had never felt so full or secure. Caster’s cock still remained in her ass, pulsing in time with his heart beat and the warmth of his body calmed her nerves. Feeling the weight of slumber crashing down on them, both ponies fell fast asleep, Caster holding Anima close as she snuggled her back against his chest.


===============================================================


The world seemed foggy as Anima slowly regained consciousness. Everything in her mind seemed blurry and it felt like she was floating on air. Her eyes, though they felt heavy, began to open as she tried to get a better idea of her surroundings. When she opened them fully, Anima looked around and saw that she was still in her bedroom at Canterlot Castle. She looked down at herself and upon seeing that she was stark naked, the memories from earlier came flooding back to her.

She looked to her side to find that Caster was nowhere to be found. Searching around the room, Anima’s gaze soon caught sight of him. He was currently outside on the balcony, wearing only his jeans, as he leaned against the railing and looked up at the newly risen night sky. Anima couldn’t help but smile, seeing her new coltfriend look so at peace. Wanting to join him, she threw off the blanket covering her, slipped on her nightgown and glasses, and silently walked over to him.

Caster continued his stargazing session, trying to see if he could spot a constellation or two. The cool breeze of the night blew through his fur and messy mane and his wings couldn’t help but flap excitedly. His peaceful moment was soon interrupted when something warm and soft wrapped its arms around him and snuggled against him.

“Hey, honeypie,” Caster said, looking back to find the mare of his dreams behind him.

“Hey, Sugarcube,” Anima replied, letting go and moving beside him. “How long have you been up for?”

“I only got up about fifteen minutes ago. I came out here to take a look at the sky Luna had prepared tonight. I must say, she really outdid herself tonight,” he said, watching the twinkling stars above.

“She always does,” Anima said, leaning against Caster who wrapped an arm and wing around her in response.

The two of them stayed like that for a while, gazing up at the atmosphere and occasionally pointing out a few constellations.

“So, Anima?” Caster spoke up, suddenly.

“Yes, Caster?” Anima replied.

“We’re coltfriend and marefriend now, right?” Caster asked, feeling embarrassed.

“Of course we are, knucklehead,” she said, giving him a playful shove. “After what we just went through, how could we not be?”

“Sorry, it’s just that now that I’m finally in a relationship it’s almost a little hard to believe. Plus losing my virginity as well certainly adds to that concept,” he said, sheepishly.

“Yeah, things really did get crazy back there. But we’re here now and I couldn’t be happier to have you by my side,” Anima said, giving his hand a kiss.

“And so do I,” Caster said, pulling her in closer. “I promise I’ll be the best coltfriend that you deserve.”

“There’s no need for that, Caster,” Anima said, looking him in the eye. “You’re already the perfect coltfriend to me.”

No words were needed to be said anymore. Caster wrapped both his wings around Anima, and she did the same with him as they came in for another passionate kiss. Their tongues caressed with each other’s, not bothering for dominance and just savoring the feeling. The moment was cut short, however, when Caster, opening his eyes slightly to gaze at his lover, noticed something occurring in the night sky.

Drawing himself away from Anima’s sweet lips, Caster looked into the distance to see something that took him by surprise. Anima, feeling their moment end so abruptly, followed his gaze and found a sight that stole her breath. A few of the stars were moving around, flying in patterns neither were familiar with, yet they couldn't help but admit that the spectacle alone was mesmerizing. More and more began to follow swiftly, as if a nearby galaxy was in disarray. After a while the two ponies noticed the stars were beginning to take shape and wondered what this new image in the sky would be. Almost as if staring into a mirror, Caster and Anima saw none other than themselves, drawn in the light of the stars, holding each other tenderly. The anomaly was both unbelievable as it was breathtaking as both of them stared in awe with slack jawed expressions.

They were severely confused until a sudden realization came to mind. Shooting their gaze to one of the nearby towers, they saw the mare of the night herself, Princess Luna, lowering her arms and releasing her magic as she turned to them with a smile. Neither Caster nor Anima could say a word, seeing the Princess just smiling at them and after what she had done. Giving them a quick wink, Luna slunk back into her chambers for the night, leaving the pair completely baffled.

But soon they snapped out of their trance and looked back at each other. All they could do was chuckle at what had just transpired. Caster, though surprised by the event, was glad to see someone supported their relationship, especially considering some people tended to look down on royalty marrying commoners, so to speak. Anima, for her part, felt overjoyed that her teacher went out of her way to do all this for them. Even now she realized that mentioning the festival was meant for them. Princess Luna was always there for them, whether in the real world or in their dreams.

As the realization of the events finally died down, the two ponies each let a yawn, tired from both comprehending this ordeal as well as from their earlier activities. So with what energy they had left they made their way back into Anima chambers and clambered back into the large bed. Caster laid on his back before Anima rested against him, using his chest as a makeshift pillow as he placed his arm on her shoulder.

“Good night, my little Princess.”

“Good night, my heroic Knight.”

With that they shared one last kiss before falling into the beautiful realm of sleep. They had been through so much but now they finally had each other. They had earned a love born from a chance friendship. A love that came from getting to know one another for who they were. Love born from seeing what they had missed upon their first encounter. Love at second sight.