The Princess and the Pegasus
It was the end to another day in the Crystal Empire.
The sun had long since set and Luna’s beautiful night sky bathed the kingdom in low light, only faintly lit up by the stars and the moon.
Many ponies were snug in bed, sleeping soundly.
High above the ground, leaning on the railing of the balcony that rested outside her private quarters was Princess Cadance, the ruler of the kingdom.
Her husband Shining Armor was away for the week on a guard training exercise, and her daughter was asleep in her crib in the nursery.
Other then the two guards outside her chambers she was alone, with just her thoughts to keep her company as she gazed out over her kingdom.
Had anypony seen the pink alicorn, they might wonder why her usual look of confidence and happiness was not at home on her face where it belonged.
Instead, a look of concern was what her face wore on this clear night.
It was not uncommon for her to feel this way, though she would never admit it to anypony.
Mainly because if they knew she was unhappy she feared how they would judge her.
She was a Princess for Celestia’s sake! She had a handsome stallion that loved her, she had a healthy and happy daughter, her friends stood by her and cared for her like family, her subjects looked at her with acceptance and praise, and she lived in a beautiful castle!
And yet, every time she was alone, she felt this way.
A pony that could not express her true thoughts and feelings to anypony.
She left the railing of her balcony and stepped back inside to her living quarters, walking over to a bookcase that rested against an interior wall.
She cast her magic against the bookcase, activating a magic lock and opening the bookcase outward to reveal a secret passageway she had discovered when she had first moved here with Shining Armor years ago.
As far as she knew, nopony knew about it but her, or if anypony else did they were likely dead by now.
She had explored it in her free time, and found that it was an inner network of tunnels that ran to different rooms of importance in the castle, including a secret exit that lead outside of the empire.
She guessed it was probably constructed by Sombra or a previous ruler to provide escape in case of emergency.
Thankfully she had found herself never having to use it for that purpose.
Another cast of her magic inside the dark tunnel lit specifically placed crystals that began to provide soft blue lighting, allowing the Princess to make her way down the corridor to her destination.
It wasn’t long before she found the door she was looking for.
As she used her magic to open it, she recalled how she had gotten here.
It had all started years ago, when she was still just a young filly.
She had lived in Canterlot with Princess Celestia, or as she had called her Auntie Tia in more private settings.
Her parents, she didn’t like to think about what had happened to them.
The day the Empire vanished was all a blur to her.
Chaos, darkness, light, hope, and all throughout the disaster, a pegasus stallion who’d saved her.
She was raised then by Celestia and Luna in the ways of friendship, learning about Equestria’s history, royal tradition, and her destiny. To one day reclaim the empire.
Even from a young age she had faced every challenge with determination, earning her cutie mark was satisfying, but still just a small step on her path to becoming a Princess in more than just name.
As she grew older she expanded her studies under the Royal Sister’s teachings.
She had grieved with her Aunt Tia when Auntie Lulu had gone away.
Celestia hadn’t shared with her the full story of what had happened to her, but the pained expression on her face and the stories of the castle residents made its way to her soon enough.
Still she had pushed on in her studies until, like any filly and colt, she finished her lessons and was allowed to explore the land she called home.
It had been a bit of a shock to say the least. At the end of her lesson one day Celestia had simply told her, “You have learned all I can teach you Cadance, and you have made me proud. Go out into the world and see what lessons it can teach you.”
She had spent about a month wandering Canterlot during the day and experiencing what the city and it citizens had to offer.
She found no shortage of people needing her wisdom and no shortage of couples that needed her love magic to nudge them in the right direction, but soon she decided what she wanted to devote her time to.
Children.
She knew better then anypony how important it was that fillies and colts have a kind and caring pony in their life they could look to for help, and just like Celestia and Luna had done this for her, she wanted to help other young ponies become their best selves.
She wasn’t sure if it was pure coincidence or not that around the same time Celestia had appointed her a personal guard to escort her to her various babysitting jobs and when she wandered around the city.
After all she had gone through self defense training under Celestia and the head of the Royal Guard.
Could she not handle herself should the need arise?
Celestia had insisted it was just a precaution.
She had seen him around before.
He was a pegasus stallion, not too buff, but not too lean either. He had a grey coat with a black and white mane and tail.
His cutie mark was a fleur de lis, a symbol that royals and the elite associated with bravery and courage.
It was often found on medals and in artwork.
He seemed only slightly older then her, which she had found odd.
If Celestia was really concerned for her safety, then wouldn’t a more experienced guard be preferable? One that had seen combat?
Despite this they quickly became good friends, and she enjoyed his company.
They would spend their days walking around Canterlot to her different appointments, her keeping an eye on young ponies while their parents ran errands while her guard stood outside, waiting patiently for her to leave and move on to their next destination.
This was how her life was for nearly a year, and she enjoyed the routine. She really felt that she was making a positive impact on ponies lives.
One day however, things took a nasty turn.
The sun had just gone down and she was taking care of her last charge for the day.
She had tucked the young colt in for bed and had been waiting downstairs for his father to return.
His mother had passed away in childbirth.
She could tell his father was deeply hurt by the loss, and she always was sympathetic towards him.
Perhaps this was why she hadn’t been concerned when he arrived an hour late, looking disheveled.
She could tell he’d been drinking; the smell clung to him like a disease.
She barely remembered what he had said to her before he started touching her.
She had asked him to stop, but he didn’t.
Before she knew it she was on the floor, with him on top of her.
She screamed and after that she heard a loud crash.
She closed her eyes and shielded herself.
She heard breaking glass, grunts, and things breaking.
It took her a moment to realize he wasn’t on her anymore.
She opened her eyes slowly to see what had happened.
The kitchen was a mess, with broken dishes and wrecked cabinet doors everywhere.
The table was on its side against the wall and beside that she could see her guard and the father fighting.
She hid behind the table, watching in fear of who would best the other, and if it was the drunken father, what would happen to her and her young charge that she hopped was still sleeping upstairs.
Luckily her guard soon got the upper hand and delivered a knockout blow to the much bigger stallion, which made him collapse in a heap on the floor.
She emerged slowly from behind her hiding place.
It was then she noticed that the bay window had been shattered, with glass shards littering the floor.
Her eyes then fell to her guard.
His chest heaved, trying to catch his breath.
She could see cuts along his coat, a few pieces of glass were still inside his cuts.
His shirt was torn and his tie had been pulled off.
He had a black eye and his nose was bleeding slightly.
His forehooves were covered in blood from the fight.
Once his breathing slowed, he turned his attention to her, asking if she was alright, if she was hurt and if the father had hurt her.
Her responses had been shaky, and she found herself starting to cry.
He sat down with her and embraced her, telling her that everything would be alright.
It was then that she flashed back to when she had been rescued from the empire.
A grey pegasus stallion had rescued her just as the empire began to vanish from existence.
She now clearly remembered his face.
It was her guard.
But that was impossible.
He appeared exactly the same age that he had that day.
As help came and took the father away, they talked as they received medical aide.
He explained that he was actually hundreds of years old, and had been part of the first equestrian guard that had been formed when Celestia and Luna had come into power.
He had faced many foes, and had saved the Princesses lives once.
In the process he had nearly died.
In order to save his life, Celestia and Luna had granted him the eternal life that alicorns possessed.
This had allowed him to live, and he had been appointed as their personal body guards and in charge of overseeing all royal family and guests.
The Princesses didn’t want anypony ever to realize he was immortal however, and so every few decades he was transferred.
She remained by his side as he was tended to by medics and taken to the hospital.
He assured her he would be fine, although his appearance certainly spoke to the contrary.
The doctors had said he wouldn’t be out for a month, he was out in a week.
Every day though Cadance was at his bedside, keeping him company.
He was always happy to see her, but told her she shouldn’t fuss over him.
She couldn’t bare to leave him by himself.
He had no family, and it was easy to rearrange her schedule for the week.
Throughout her visits to him she found herself looking at him different.
Every morning she found herself eagerly running back to the hospital to be at his side and felt sad when visiting hours were up and she had to leave.
It didn’t take her long to realize why. She had fallen for him.
She couldn’t quite explain why. Maybe because he had saved her twice or maybe it was because she had spent so much time with him.
Either way she was smitten with him, and she could tell he was taking the hint.
The day he got out of the hospital, he took her on their first date.
She had never thought she could be so comfortable with another pony.
His smile made her smile, and she got the sense that his love for her was born out of so much more than just his responsibility to keep her safe.
She never felt safer then when she was in his arms.
She never forgot their first kiss, how clumsy they both were, but how sweet and sensual it became the more times they did it.
After a few months and on a date which number they had both lost track of, she found herself cuddling up close with him inside her room.
They had just gotten back from dinner and were enjoying each other’s company.
Their cuddling was beginning to get more and more intimate, until they both gazed into each other’s eyes, seeing the direction their night was headed.
“Are you sure about this?” He had asked. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
She had thought when she found herself in this position that she would be thinking about it more.
That it would be something she’d have to seriously consider.
But she found it such an easy answer. She knew him so well and knew he cared for her.
Despite being her first time it felt so magical, so many new feelings and connections made between them on such a personal level.
In that moment she could see the rest of their lives together stretching out before her.
There was no doubt left in her mind anymore.
She wanted to be with him forever, and knew he felt the same.
When they awoke the next morning, she found it so hard to say goodbye.
To say she was smitten was an understatement.
But they both needed to get cleaned up.
At breakfast she told Celestia the news. That she had found the stallion she was going to marry.
She thought she would be happy for her, but instead she found her telling her the words that still echoed in her mind.
He’s not the one for you.
She had explained that he was not the chosen one.
The stallion who possessed the second half of the magical aura that formed the element of love.
She tried to convince her Aunt of what she felt.
How good he was to her and how he cherished her more then anypony could another, but she had to concede.
Her Auntie Tia was always right.
She was a Princess, and a Princess had to do what was best for everypony, not just herself.
When she saw him later that day, she could barely bring herself to speak to him.
He could sense something was wrong and tried to tell her everything would be ok, even though she knew it wouldn’t be.
It was the hardest thing she had ever had to do.
To look the pony she loved most in the eyes and tell him that it was over.
Never again could she feel his warm embrace or kiss his calming lips.
They wept together.
Even still he told her it would be ok.
That she would get through this, and that he didn’t blame her.
He understood royal customs better than most ponies.
Most of what happened after their last meeting was a blur.
He had been transferred of course and she was given a new bodyguard.
She was arranged a date with her young charge’s brother Shining Armor.
She found him charming and handsome.
What mare wouldn’t?
She put on a face every day and lived her life, shutting her pain deep inside.
Soon she and Shining were to be married.
They saved Equestria, they gained an empire, they mated and had a daughter together.
All these experiences she pretended that she was happy for the sake of everything.
Her family, her friends, her subjects, we what remained most important.
But every night she found herself in bed, beside a stallion that loved her so much but she could not love back.
She hated lying to him. Shining deserved better than her.
She felt so disgusted with herself that she could not put her past behind her.
That she could not force herself to love Shining as he did her.
She knew it was risky, but she knew there was only one way to calm her racing mind.
She had reached out to the highest members of the royal guard in secret. She had found him, and had him transferred to the crystal empire, all in secret from her Aunts and any other prying eyes.
And that was how she had found herself outside this hidden door in her castle, ready to open it and see him once again.
Her horn glowed and she stepped into the room.
It was a guest suite that had not been used in years, the castle having many finer places for its guests.
Most of this wing was never visited by anypony anymore. She knew it was the best place to keep him.
The room was lit by a glowing fire on the other side of room.
A king size bed was against the wall perpendicular to it.
A desk was against the other wall with an armoire beside it.
Sitting in a chair, pulled out from the desk, was him, his light blue eyes staring transfixed on her as she entered.
He was still as handsome as she remembered as he stepped further into the light from the fire.
“Cadance?” He asked, not sure if she was really in front of him.
“Bravery!” She cried, running into his arms.
He clung to her like she was going to float away if he let go.
His lips found hers and shared the passion they had both not shared with the other in forever.
They cried tears of joy as they broke their kiss, each of them taking in the other.
“I’m so sorry. I should have done more. I could ha-“ He placed his hoof lightly over her muzzle, ceasing her ramblings.
“You did what needed to be done. I’m just so glad to have you back again.” He said, moving his hoof away so he could kiss her once more.
Soon they found themselves stripping the other, his suit and her regalia now lying on the floor as they lay in bed, her on top of him.
She could feel the familiar stirring below that she had felt all those years ago.
Again his eyes gazed into hers, asking her permission to take her, to make her his.
She knew with confidence this was what she wanted, needed, and let him have her.
It felt magical as he made love to her, making her feel like the luckiest pony in the world to be feeling him in this way.
She didn’t care this time if their courtship lead to a foal.
She owed him an heir and so much more for the time they had wasted apart.
As they finished and he held her close, she nuzzled his barrel, enjoying his wonderful scent.
“Goodnight Cadie.” He said, calling her the nickname he’d given her.
“Goodnight Bravey.” She said, giving him a kiss before resting against his body once more.
She knew she could never abandon Shining and Flurry. They were her family.
But now that her Bravery had returned, she knew she could face the future now with a bit more confidence, even if it meant she had to keep him a secret.
No matter the obstacle, she knew their love would last forever.