Of Black Suns and Rose Thorns

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Life in Equestria shimmered and shinned on that particular morning. Birds sang, ponies trotted about the streets, and every vendor had new and fresh items to sell. In contrast to the sterling city it would become in five hundred years, Canterlot served more as a hub where all the towns and villages across the nation could mingle and meet. Celestia loved to come out and walk among her subjects on days like this. To share in their lives and see the wonders the kingdom was building together filled her heart with a warm pride that lifted her spirits. As she made her way down through the markets, a young filly with a tray of mugs came trotting up to her with a smile. "Good morning, princess! Might I interest you in a mug of fresh cider? First one's free to a new customer."

Celestia suppressed a giggle. If she had a bit for every time somepony made that offer in a bid to earn the royal favor to spread word and increase sales. "Thank you, dear." She took a sip and licked her lips. "Mmmm, this is wonderful."

Seeing the princess smile made the sales pony beam. "You're too kind. Oh, and I've got one for you too, my prince."

The second alicorn, who had largely been ignoring the situation, blankly stared ahead. Uriah was the picture perfect image of a charming prince, with his long, clean, black mane, the snow white coat, and gentle eyes. However, picture perfect, from the tip of his horn to the ends of his wings, he might have been, the vacant frown certainly didn't project it. "Hmm," was all he managed as he accepted the cider. He kept walking as he sipped, and a large bag of bits materialized over the mare's head, knocking her to the ground.

Celestia nervously smiled, and helped up the sales pony, being as apologetic as she could be, before hurrying to catch up with her son. "If you had been paying attention, you'd know she was giving that to you for free," She scolded.

Uriah spoke without turning to look at her."We're the rulers of Equestria, the apex of the elite. The last thing we need to be doing his taking charity from some pony that has to work for a living."

Celestia rolled her eyes. "So you were paying attention and just chose to be dismissive." She draped a wing around her son. "It's not charity, it's gratuity. They want to show us they appreciate us and accepting that shows that we appreciate them."

He stopped and gave a defeated sigh. "And now it looks like their prince doesn't think she's anything special, so why should they?" He zapped in a handkerchief and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry, mother, I don't mean to seem cold, it's just...I haven't been feeling myself."

Her face softened into motherly concern. "I've noticed. You've seemed so distant lately. Your friend, Light Screen, has noticed your heart hasn't been in your training exercises with the royal guard and Nocturne came to me the other night and asked why you've been missing game night with her and the Night Guard. A Night Guard that you yourself went through so much effort to revive. What's bothering you?"

Uriah's face fell as he puzzled with the question. "I don't know, everything? I've just felt...so disheartened. Like there's barely a point to get up recently."

This surprised the sun princess. "Uriah, you're one of the most amazing ponies I know. You've had so many incredible adventures and accomplished so much in a short amount of time. All the ponies you saved from monsters, defeating Grogar and uniting us with our friends the goblins, all those wonderful guest lectures you do at the school of magic..."

The prince threw out a wing for emphasis. "Yes, but what difference does it make in the long run? There's always gonna be some new monster or basilisk attack to worry about, some new villain to replace the one we just dealt with, and knowledge progresses with or without me." He paced in his thoughts. "I mean do I matter to any pony? Sure, they admire me, they applaud and fawn, but is it really me? Hang on a sec." He reached into a nearby stall with his magic and levitated the vendor out of it. Uriah plopped the surprised earth pony down between him and Celestia. "What's your name, sir?"

The earth pony gulped and nervously rubbed his head. "Copper Pot, your highness."

"Hello, Copper Pot. You know who I am, right?" Uriah's wide eyes looked right into the vendor's.

Copper Pot wasn't sure what the prince wanted, but he was sure going to try his best to help him. "Why, of course, Prince Uriah, everypony knows who you are."

Uriah rolled his eyes. "Great, but what do I mean to you?"

Copper Pot cocked his head. "I don't understand."

The prince's eyes were almost pleading. "Am I important to you? Do my actions have any real significance to your life? Like if I just up and disappeared tomorrow, would that impact you in any way?"

The earth pony was sweating bullets, his eyes darting between rulers as he feared any answer that he might utter. It was at this point Celestia wrapped her hooves around Uriah and pulled him away from the petrified vendor. "Sorry about that, we'll let you get back to selling your lovely cookware. I'll have to send some kitchen staff down to pick up some new utensils." The thankful vendor bowed and hurried back to his stall, while the solar princess unceremoniously dragged her disheartened son to a bench across the street. Poor Uriah seemed so lost, just blankly staring into space as his mother sat him next her and gently brushed his mane with her hoof. "My dear son, I had no idea you were suffering so."

He let out a heavy sigh. "I can't stand it. Like you said, I have so much going on for me. What right do I have to complain?"

She snuggled him close and brought her wings around him. "It doesn't make your feelings any less valid. Every pony feels a little forlorn every now and then." She rested her chin on top of his head. "I, for one, would feel very sad if you disappeared."

Uriah smiled and nuzzled his mother's cheek. "That doesn't count. You have to care."

Celestia smirked. "That's because I'm your mamma." She hugged him tight. "You are my sunshine my only sunshine..."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, mother, not the song."

Celestia raised an eyebrow that said 'Oh, yes, the song.' "You make me happy when skies are grey." She tickled him with them tips of her wings, making the Prince laugh as he hopelessly tried to escape her embrace. "You'll never know dear how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." She gave him a smooch on the cheek and let him get back to his hooves. She looked into her son's tired eyes and smiled warmly. "Come, let's see if we can't cheer you up."

His eyes betrayed his smile. "We can try. So, what is on the agenda for today?"

"I thought it might be nice to take in a show. There's a new circus coming to Canterlot for a week and they invited us to attend opening night." The solar princess beamed. "It should be exciting."

Uriah's ears perked up. "I do enjoy the circus. Oh, why not? I can have an existential crisis later, let's have some fun!"

Celestia's face lit up at her son's lifted spirits. "Race ya!" She declared and galloped down the street.

He put feigned being insulted. "No fair getting a head start!" he called as he sped to catch up with her.

Mother and son laughed with glee as they dashed to the other side of Canterlot. They leapt and bounded up over fountains and rooftops, creating a joyous spectacle for any pony that happened to witness. They flew, spiraling around each other, until they caught glimpse of their destination. A gigantic tent, almost as big as the castle, with red and white stripes stood tall as herds of ponies flocked to the entrance to the grounds. There were games to play, performers to watch, treats to buy, and advertisements abound. Celestia and Uriah touched down ahead of the line at the ticket-boof, drawing cheers from the ponies, surprised to see their beloved royal family. Clestia landed first and pranced with a victorious grin. "Ha, I win!"

"Only because you cheated." Uriah said teasingly.

Celestia brushed it off. "You sound just like your aunt Luna" She blew a little raspberry.

Their mirth was interrupted by a tapping at the booth. There stood a slick, mustachioed unicorn in a red coat and top-hat. His curly mane was red and white, like his tent, and his cutie mark appeared to be apple seeds in the shape of a big top. He leaned on his cane and gave the alicorns a sly grin. "My esteemed guests, welcome, welcome to Flimmius Flammigan's Fabulous Flying Circus! I'm Flimmius Flammigan, owner, proprietor, ring-pony, all around swell fellow." He reached forward and gave Celestia a little kiss on the hoof. "A pleasure."

Celestia blushed and gave an awkward smile. "Charmed."

Uriah rolled his eyes and reflexively puffed out his chest. "I'm sure." Celestia resisted the urge to giggle. It wasn't the first time she'd met a wily gentle colt, but it was always adorable seeing Uriah's hair stand on end when his 'don't touch my mommy' instincts kicked in. "You certainly do have a knack for alliteration."

Flammigan tipped his hat. "Alliteration and accuracy! Just wait till you see our famous ropeless trapeze act. A team of death-defying earth pony acrobats swing across dizzying heights via batons passed between a synchronized pair of unicorns."

"Sounds like quite the show." Uriah had met his share of carnival barkers, but this one had particularly oozing charisma about him. The prince took a moment to observe the illustrated signs that decorated the gate in a repeated sequence. "Looks like quite a line-up all together."

The unicorn twiddled his mustache. "Oh, my, yes. We have Halter, the strong pony, our clowns, the Kladdkaka Brothers, Mech the blade juggler, and the lovely Madame Phantasma, our fortune teller. You'll find all of them throughout the grounds, practicing for the big show."

There was one poster that was much different than the others. While the rest were bright and had the cast on full display, the biggest sign was dark and mysterious. A swamp with a shadowy area in the middle, at the center of the darkness was a set of pointed teeth. Uriah had to admit it was effective, he certainly wanted to know more. "What is "The Swamp Monster of the Southern Glades?""

Flammigan straightened his collar. "Our star attraction. A fierce beast of unknown origins I discovered in the dank and humid marshlands in the deep south."

Celestia's eyes narrowed on the poster, particularly the teeth. "I don't recall anything about a swamp beast in your letter asking for clearance. I certainly hope you didn't bring anything dangerous into Canterlot."

The sly ring-pony waved off the concern. "My dear princess, I can assure you there's nothing to worry about. Our circus is staffed with trained professionals, and the safety of the public is our top concern, especially tonight, when we have such important ponies attending."

Uriah was stone-faced. "You didn't answer my question. What exactly is it? A manticore, a bug bear, a reptile?"

Flammigan cleared his throat. "It's certainly reptilian, for sure, but I can't spoil the show. You'll have to wait for the big debut." He put a hoof around the prince's shoulder, much to Uriah's annoyance, and ushered him onto the grounds. "Go, have fun. Try the candied apples, they're marvelous."

Uriah was about to protest, but it seemed like Flammigan was schmoozing with the crowd before the prince could even turn his head. Celestia joined at his side as he reluctantly ventured forth. "That pony rubs me the wrong way," He said with a rasp of aggravation.

His mother gently patted his shoulder. "He's certainly odd, but there's no reason to get worked up yet. We don't even know what we'd be worrying about until the show."

He took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. "You're right, there's no danger yet and I can't imagine he'd be able to transport the whole operation unless he was keeping his monster under control. Plus, slick operator that he is, I'm sure he's going to keep an eye out for any pony snooping around his star attraction."

Celestia nodded. "Let's just have some fun. We'll keep him off his guard if he thinks we're off our guard. Then we'll be better able to take action at showtime."

Uriah stretched out his wings. "Sounds like a plan. So, how shall we spend our time? Do you wanna stick together or split up and meet at showtime?"

She gave him a smile, but her eyes had longing in them. "I'd love to spend more time with you, but I think it'll be better for you if you had your own adventure today. Have some time to relax and clear your head, and join in our subjects' revelry so you can see just how much better their lives are because you are part of them."

He smiled back. Celestia always did know how to impart a lesson, even if it didn't always take. "I'll try. See you at the show." Mother and son parted ways to explore the circus. It didn't take long for ponies to start congregating around them, following for a chance to be near them. Celestia had long grown accustomed to keeping up a smile, because she knew that the impression she made in the public eye had consequences. Uriah, however, never saw himself as more than any pony else, so he paid less mind to the weight of his status. It only vexed him to not really know if his subjects felt the same way. The idea that he might not amount to more than the rising sun or a wrapped up winter, obviously needed, but not particularly important.

The big top lived up to it's namesake and was slowly being packed with Ponies. Colorful barriers separated the stands from the massive ring and a large wooden stage with ramps on either side sat prominently in the dirt circle. Spotlights from the high rafters danced around the opening seating until they filled up, then drifted over to a private box above the entrance. Celestia winced as the light ran over her, but managed to smile and wave as the crowd cheered for her. She sat as comfortably as she could. The luxury seating Flammigan promised her on the way in turned out to be one velvet cushion on the same wooden bleacher seating as the others. Still, she couldn't help but feel the anticipation as the crowd murmured about the show to come. She sipped her cider and beamed at the sound of wing beats drawing close. Uriah landed next to her as gracefully as he could, also taking his turn to wave at the crowd. "There's my boy."

Uriah squirmed to get comfortable. "This is what he calls deluxe comfort?"

Celestia couldn't help but grimace at how small the cushion actually was. She had already heard there was gossip that her love of cake was starting to show in her rump and the size comparison wasn't exactly helping her confidence. "He did seem to exaggerate."

"He's a con-artist." Uriah corrected. "You should see what he's charging ponies for all this. First you buy the ticket at the gate, but if you want to participate in any of the attractions, you need different tickets that you buy separately. There's tickets for the rides, terribly constructed by the way, the goblins would have a fit. Then they have tickets to meet with the performers, tickets for each performer, but that only gets you about twenty seconds."

She rolled her eyes. "The food's expensive too. One of those candied apples costs about five times as much as a regular apple from one of the vendors we passed in the city. I suppose it's just how they make their living."

Uriah wagged the tip of his wing. "It gets worse. They've got games set up where you can win prizes, but I'm sure they're all rigged. I came across one booth where you try to knock over a stack of bottles, on a moving platform, with a ball. There was this filly trying to win herself a rag doll. She didn't win, I felt bad, tried to win it for her."

"Awww." Celestia couldn't help it. She always thought it was cute when Uriah stepped up to help the little ones when they were in need.

He scanned the room, looking for Flammigan or any trace of his mysterious monster. "I bought ten balls from him. At first I thought they just knew how to set up a challenge, but by the fourth ball, I swore I at least grazed it, but nothing happened. At the fifth ball, I knew for a fact I hit them dead on and they didn't move an inch and he says something smarmy to goad me on."

She sipped her drink. "So what did you do?"

Uriah didn't skip a beat. "I used my magic to rip the stand out of it's mechanism. Big surprise, not only are the bottles stuck together, but the whole stack is fused to the platform so they never fall down. I put the stand through a solid rock, used my 'I'm going to smite you' face and cracked the counter with one hoof. He apologized, refunded every pony their bits, and handed out dolls to all the children for free."

Celestia gave him a wink and ribbed him gently. "Uriah, bringer of stuffies."

He smiled and shook his head. "I also paid a visit to that fortune teller. Apparently the spirits were weak, but, for an additional gold offering, she was able to make a full connection. I'm told today will be life changing." Uriah feigned collapse against his mother's side. "Am I jaded? Is my life so full of actual wonder that all this fake nonsense that entertains the crowd holds no sway?"

Her expression fell and she wrapped her wing around him. "Wasn't there anything to boost your spirits? You did come to the rescue when they were being cheated."

Uriah's face fell, as his disheartened eyes gazed over the crowds. "It's just more of the same. They cheer for my heroics, smile for my compassion, but...does it really matter? Some pony was bound to call out the fraud eventually and the child would have gotten over it if she didn't get her doll. They'd still have their food, their games, their fortune tellers, even if I wasn't apart of it." He sighed, and wiped his fore head. "I just wish I could feel really needed. To be necessary to some pony, like I was the only one who could be for them. Even for all I've done, I feel as though any pony brave or clever enough could stand where I stood and bring the same blessings. That I could be...replaced and the world wouldn't be the slightest bit different."

Celestia's heart broke for him, but something in that last part stuck with her. "What about me?" There was the slightest shiver in Uriah and he looked away from her. "I am your mother...surely you don't think I could ever just..." Her question was cut short by the start of a drum-roll.

The spotlights circled around the tent as the triumphant music of the unseen band built up and boomed throughout. The lights danced and twirls as they converged on the stage, revealing Flammigan, standing with his chest puffed out as he boomed into a bullhorn. "Fillies and gentlecolts, ponies of all ages, welcome! Welcome to the greatest show in Equestria!" Music blared and sparks erupted from the corners of the stage. From the curtain in the back, a parade of elephants in beautiful head dresses marched in a circle. Mixed in with them was an assortment of performing animals in little costumes, little dogs balancing red balls on their noses, flamingos in little hats strutting in silly fashion, and a well-balanced bear wearing a stetson and riding a tiny bicycle. One could question the efficacy, but the animals really did seem to enjoy themselves. They did two turns around the arena and exited the way they came in. Next came the strong pony and the sword juggler as a pair. While Halter dragged an impressive fifty eight thousand pound block, Mech balanced on one hoof, from a chair, on top of said block. All the while, a collection of blades gleamed in the light as they danced up and down from Mech's hooves. Uriah certainly had to give Flammigan some credit. Despite being an obvious charlatan, the pony had certainly assembled a talented cast. Mech finished by tossing all the blades in the air at one, catching three in one hoof, three in the other, and the tip of the last dagger in his teeth. He grinned like a mad-pony and bowed while Halter dragged him and the block back out.

During the ropeless trapeze, Uriah couldn't help but smirk at his mother's reaction. "The deadly blades being towed didn't get to you, but this make you trembled?"

Celestia watched between her feathers as the acrobats flew above her head. The batons passed between the unicorns in the rafters got faster and faster, all the while the incredibly agile earth ponies flawlessly flung themselves and each other between them with expert timing. The speed increased to where they essentially became a colorful blur and Celestia felt like she was going to have a heart attack. "If my little earth ponies were meant to fly, they'd have wings." She peeked and immediately his her face in his side. "Tell me when it's over."

"It's over." Celestia perked up with wide-eyed surprise. She looked out and saw the acrobats, all stacked on top of each other in victory poses, being bathed in adoration from the crowd.

"Aww, I missed it." Uriah promptly swatted her with his free wing, causing the two to break out in laughter.

Then the lights dimmed, a smoke began to drift in along the floor, and Flammigan took center stage once again. "Now, dear guests, it's the moment you've all been waiting for." Uriah sat up in attention, he and his mother sharing looks of concern. "In my travels, I have witnessed some strange and fantastic things from all corners of Equestria, but none of them quite match what I am about to show you here. Mother's hold your children, for I warn you, this may be a truly frightening experience." The music took on a rather ominous quality, and Uriah could see the mothers in the crowd following the ring-pony's instruction. "In the southern regions of Equestria, where the heat runs harsh, and the creatures run big, exists the mysterious southern glades, a harsh and unforgiving marshland filled with peril. Mud pits that could swallow up an unsuspecting travelers in seconds, serpents so venomous their bite will drop a grown stallion before he takes two steps, poisonous plants as lethal as they are beautiful, but none of them..." He paused for dramatic effect and a strange, raspy, sound echoed through the silence. "None of them compare to the ferocious, blood thirsty, leviathan that I have on exhibition on this stage tonight!"

"Rrrrraaagghhh!" This time the sound came through like the sound of thunder. A trap door opened behind Flammigan and a forbidding shape began to rise out of it. A cage, large, but still relatively small for it's captive, revealed itself through a fog of green mist. It shook violently and the sound of rattling chains sent a chill of fear through the crowd. "Laaaagghhh graaaaaaggh! " Another roar boomed, even louder than before.

Flammigan twiddled his mustache with glee at the sight of the audience's tense reaction. " My dear patrons, I give you the Swamp Beast of the Southern Glades!" The spotlights brightened and covered on the creature in the cage. Each leg was shackled to a corner of the cage, a collar around it's neck was connected to the roof of it, making sure the creature was kept upright. It had fierce yellow eyes with slit pupils, an equine muzzle, and a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. It's mane was bunched up and matted in dirt and twigs. It's back legs had hooves, but it's front legs had claws, almost like a dragon with webbing between it's digits. The tail was unmistakably that of a crocodile, covered in thick plated scales. The creature was covered in dirt and shrubbery, undoubtedly put on it by Flammigan's crew for effect. It thrashed and kicked about wildly, trying to free itself. The sly unicorn grinned at the show it was putting on. "Over a thousand pounds of reptilian bulk, this brutish behemoth nearly demolished our camp before good ol' Halter finally wrestled it to submission. I watched that tail smash clean through a wagon in one swing. Note the front claws, designed for catching prey in a death grip and the trap-like jaws that can crush bone, as one poor unfortunate hen found out."

Uriah watched the creature with a bewildered fascination. "I've never seen anything like it. Could it be some kind of chimera or a draconequus?"

Celestia was crestfallen. "Whatever it is, it certainly isn't as enthusiastic about being part of the act as the other animals."

Flammigan tapped on the cage with his cane, drawing a hissing roar from the creature. It snapped it's jaws as it glared at him. "Not to worry, my dear patrons. Hiss and bellow all it wants, those chains and that cage are iron forged by our good friends the goblins." He tipped his hat to Uriah. "Thank you kindly, prince." The spotlight fell on the alicorn in question and he reluctantly smiled as the crowd cheered. Flammigan continued. "We threw all we had trying to subdue this beast, but nothing could penetrate it's armor like hide, but fortunately, like any reptile, all it took was one good shot to it's soft underbelly."

He floated his cane between the bars and poked the Swamp Beast in the stomach. It's pupils shrank and it was practically fuming. "Groaaaarrrrrr!" It lurched forward and a snap silenced the whole crowd. It broke free of it's neck chain and had his cane in it's teeth. One good chomp and it snapped the cane like a twig, then it bit down on the chain on it's front leg.

The crowd started gasping as it became clear the beast was trying to escape. Flammigan broke a sweat. "Now, calm yourselves every pony, there's still four reinforced chains on that..." There was another snap that made him turn back to his star attraction. A broken chain hung from it's mouth as it fixed him with a murderous smile. "Get...get the torches!" He pulled a whip out of his hat and began cracking it at the beast. It took one good shot to the top of it's head but kept trying to bite through it's other restraints. Once it got it's front legs free, it began prying at the last two with it's claws as Halter and Mech ran to either side of the cage.

Halter had a large staff with a fire lit on the end and shoved it through the bars. The beast grunted, but remained unfazed as it's hide dulled the blow. Mech mirrored his muscled counterpart on the other side. The beast ripped off a third shackle as it writhed to protect itself from the fire sticks and the ring-pony's whip. It stumbled and fell trying to get the last one, pressing up against the wall. Mech took the opportunity and jabbed it hard, the blow itself not hurting much, but igniting the shrubbery. The beast went wide eyed at the blaze the was growing on it's hip. "Gaarrgghh RRaaaaggghh Gahaaa!" It roared and hissed in panic.

Uriah shook his head as the scene unfolded before him. "This is too much. Monster or not, this is just cruel."

He moved to intervene, but Celestia stopped him. "Wait. I agree, we need to help, but if we act now, they might panic and kill it to save face. If we give Flammigan room to subdue it, he'll want to protect his attraction. A failed escape might actually be a publicity boost for him." She glared at the ring-pony still cracking his whip in rage. "We let him get it under control, let every pony leave, then we summon the guards to take him into custody for creating a public menace."

Uriah looked between her and the creature, frantically trying to put out the flames. "But they might just kill it now! I can't just sit here and let it suffer like..." He stopped. His eyes locked on the creature's hip as it swatted at the flames. It clawed off some of the burning shrubbery and what Uriah saw on it's thigh made his blood run cold. "By the maker." He pushed past Celestia and jumped off the balcony with a determined scowl. He charged right toward the stage and his horn lit up. A cloud formed above the cage and a downspout drenched the creature and put out the fire. Uriah put himself between Flammigan and the cage. "Stop it!" He bellowed in his seldom used Canterlot voice and in one motion, flared open his wings and launched Mech and Halter away from the cage.

Flammigan shrank at the power of the prince's command, but felt a twinge of panic when the prince used his magic to undo the last shackle. "Your majesty, please, stay away from this hideous and out of control monster!"

Uriah sharply turned with a glare, taking the whip from Flammigan and cracking it at the ring-pony's feet, making him jump back. "Monster?" Uriah reached in with his magic and pulled the shrubbery and rags off the creature and through the bars. "This is a pony!" The crowd gasped in horror as Uriah forced the spotlights onto the cage. The creature covered it's eyes and bunched into the corner as best it could, but it fully exposed what caught Uriah's eye. The beast had a cutie mark, a cluster of red roses on a thorn bush.

The crowd immediately erupted into cries of outrage. Even Celestia was mortified by the revelation. Flammigan had sweat rolling down his face. "But just look at those claws and those horrible teeth. It certainly looks like a monster to me."

"With a cutie-mark!" Uriah snapped. "Which means they have a talent, a personality, an identity!" Uriah turned to face the beast and approached with caution. They backed up against the back of the cage like a frightened animal, baring their teeth and glaring at him with wide-eyed fury and terror. Uriah felt a pain in his chest just looking at them. "It's okay...you're safe now." He held out his hoof in an attempt to calm them. Then, in the tension, there was a slight squeak as Uriah undid the lock with his magic.

Celestia was mid-flight. "Uriah, don't!" She called, just in time for the click of the release.

The beast's expression went blank as the slightest opening cracked at the top of the front wall. In a split second they launched themselves against it, bringing the door down on top of Uriah. They caught sight of Flammigan and charged. "Yooaaaaaarrrr!" They roared over the screaming crowd. With a swift turn they swung their crocodilian tail and hit the con-artist like a runaway train. Flammigan went flying like a rag doll, and smashed through the wooden bleachers just as the crowd dispersed.

The beast went from standing upright to crawling on their belly as they charged toward the exit, ready to plow through any pony that got in their way. Celestia put herself between them to be the first. Fortunately, Uriah had freed himself from under the cage door in time to tackle the beast. He slipped his hooves under their forelegs and pulled back in a lock. They stumbled back on their hind legs, snapping at the prince as he called to his mother. "Get every pony out of here." His mother gave a nod and a look that said 'be careful.' Uriah continued to grapple, trying to keep the beast off balance and away from any pony else. He was caught off guard by the forced perspective from the box seating. The creature was actually bigger than him. "Stop! I'm trying to help you!" The beast fell backward and tried to crush him under their weight. Uriah vaulted over the beast's snapping jaws and grabbed around their waist from the front. He figured the longer he could stop them from moving, the more time it bought for an evacuation. "I can't imagine what awful things Flammigan was doing to you, but I swear, no pony else is going to hurt you..." He stopped and his face flushed as he became aware of his positioning. "...ma'am," he uttered sheepishly.

The scales of her cheeks hid it well, but she flushed. "Urrrrraaaaaaaaggghhhh!" She wrapped her back legs around him and went into what one, familiar with large predatory reptiles, would refer to as a death roll. In a repeat of the first tactic, the prince was being crushed by a thousand pounds of reptilian bulk, over and over again.

The prince gritted his teeth, bracing for the pain every time he made contact with the ground. He tried to struggle to get free, but just found himself repositioning to where she could pin him down. Next things he knew, he was dodging teeth. Between weaving and pushing her head back with his magic, Uriah had barely kept his neck out of her jaws at least three times. Then there was a moment between bites, like before when he saw her cutie mark, where Uriah's eyes caught a glimpse of something stuck in the back of her throat. "Wait wha...Stop for a...will you calm down I...right!" He lost patience, rolled backward, and sent her flying with a hard kick to the stomach once she lost her footing.

The beast tumbled back and let out a low, irritated rumble. She readied herself and pounced forward with a fearsome roar. "Grooooooaaaaaaarrrr!"

Uriah revved up his magic, charged at her, jumped, and delivered a right straight just as they were about to collide. He crammed his front right hoof into her open mouth and reached down her throat. She choked a hiss as Uriah's magic tried to force her mouth open. Now, any reptile expert will tell you that while the jaw opening strength of a crocodile is weak enough were you can just hold it shut with your hooves, their bite has about three thousand seven hundred pounds per square inch of pressure behind it. Uriah had to keep an enormous amount of focus to keep from losing that leg and was splitting it between trying to reach in for what he saw and holding her mouth open. He decided to be brave, for her sake, and try to calm her down while he had her stuck. "Listen to me! Please! I know you're scared, but I can feel it!" They looked into each other's eyes and he saw it. Through the panic and the anger, a small tear. He tried to soften his expression as much as the tension would allow. "It hurts, doesn't it?" She gave the slightest twitch of a nod. "I'm going to try and pull it out, but you have to trust me. Just...don't bite, okay?"

You couldn't cut the tension with an axe. Uriah took a deep breath and released her jaw from his magic. To his tremendous relief, she kept her mouth open. He placed his free hoof on her shoulder for leverage, and reached deeper. She choked, and her teeth scrapped his leg, but he kept digging. He felt something sharp sticking him as he grabbed whatever the object was. The problem started when he tried to pull. She choked harder and the reflex made her bite down. Uriah cried out in pain, but fortunately, her teeth didn't go through his bone. She struggled to open her mouth again, letting blood flow from Uriah's wound. He pulled one last time, as hard as he could. They both fell backward, her jaws snapping shut just as his hoof was free. Uriah pantted, and looked over his bleeding leg. The damage wasn't important, he had healing magic that would clear it up, but what was in his hoof made his jaw drop as he panted. It was a cluster of brambles about the size of an apple. The barbs were bloody, clearly from tearing at her throat. She coughed and growled, drawing his attention. She looked at him, still scared, but her eyes softened. Her pupils widened to where her yellow eyes looked more like the eyes of a pony than a crocodile. A line of blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, but one couldn't be sure if it was hers or the alicorn's. Her voice was deep, but feminine, marked with a clear rasp. "Thank...you."

Neither one of them moved for a few seconds. Uriah just looked at her, bewildered. "You're welcome." She was the first to move, but the prince didn't move to stop her. She let out a grunt and bolted out through the backstage side of the tent, causing some commotion as she spooked the animals. The royal guards arrived just as the elephants started stampeding. Uriah just sat there, bleeding, staring through the chaos at the curtain she left through.

Uriah starred at his leg. In the time the guards took to escort him back to the castle, he had healed his injury, but it left a scar. A bite mark, half way up his front right leg, left a permanent stain on his once spotless white coat. He knew couldn't let his mother see it, so he cast an illusion spell; even the guards who came to help didn't know he had a scratch on him. It made the lecture easier to get through without her bringing up an injury.

"I told you to wait." Celestia paced in front of the throne as she scolded him. "There's terror in the streets now, because you let this creature loose before we were ready."

"Pony." Uriah corrected. "This wasn't an animal, this was a pony. One of our kind who was kidnapped, tortured, and paraded around to be prodded and gawked at."

Celestia gave him a hard look. "And it sickens me as much as it does you, but that pony was still a danger to themselves and others. You saw what happened to Flammigan."

Uriah's eye twitched once. "Is he dead?"

Celestia rolled her eyes. "No, he's in critical condition at Canterlot general."

"Well tell the guards to arrest him as soon as he comes to." Uriah said coldly. "He had his goons jam a cluster of brambles down her throat so she couldn't talk. That's why she could only roar while they were burning her alive for a stage show. Frankly, I would like to give her a medal." He stamped his hoof and gave a burdened sigh. "Have they found her yet?"

The solar princess was about to keep going, but she could see it was already weighing on him and the last thing she wanted was to be arguing with her son again. "The last reported sighting had her escaping into a sewage outlet. We have guards at every possible way out and we've sent Light Screen in with a team to try and flush her out."

Uriah turned in a huff. "A crocodile in the sewer. I get her out of one urban myth only for her to be forced into another. You told them to be careful, right? She's already been through so much, if they trap her again..." His voice trailed off. He didn't want to think about how much worse her situation could get.

Celestia placed a reassuring wing over his shoulder. "It's going to be alright. We'll do everything we can to help her, but we need to get her secure before she runs into any trouble." She hugged her son tight. "I can see how much her plight weighs on you, but if you let yourself get too worked up, you won't be any good to her. Take some time to relax, run a bath, and clear your mind. You've got compassion that can unite kingdoms, I know you'll find a way to help her."

He didn't say anything, just half smiled through his worry, and hugged her for her effort. Uriah left the throne room and walked about feeling powerless. "Light Screen's a good pony. He'll bring her in safe. I can't just run into this, have to think passive." He paused. "I'm talking to myself. I shouldn't make a habit of it, can't be healthy. Maybe mother's right; I should just relax and...take a bath." Uriah beamed as an idea lit up in his head.

Uriah's room was tremendous. He always thought it was a bit excessive, but there was so much room for activities. He had a bed big enough for six, with only the softest comforters and pillows, and a curtain that went all the way around it. The walls were a deep red, but the carpet and ceiling were black. The brightest thing in the room had to be the bathtub, which was basically an indoor pool. Just deep enough for him to be neck deep sitting down and enough space for him to just float and drift in a trance.

"Thanks for helping me do this, Clay. I don't think I'd have the slightest clue where to get these things, much less how to measure it out." Uriah carefully leveled off the quarter cup of bentonite clay before adding it to the bath water.

Clay Kettle smiled sweetly."Oh, think nothing of it, your majesty." She added eight drops of frankincense, careful not to get any on her maid's uniform. He sky blue coat was a heavy contrast to her dark brown mane, done up in a bun. "It means the world to me to help you and your mother with whatever you need."

He rolled his eyes as he readied the chamomile and the lavender. "Clay, we've known each other since we were foals, we went to that dumb charm school together. Just call me Uriah."

She shook her head. "Maker forbid, that's bad etiquette it is! I'd have to turn in me apron for sure if I started doing that."

The prince raised a wing to the air in defiance. "I'd fight every majordomo in the palace before I'd let that happen." He scooped her up in his hooves and gave her a squeeze. "No one's gonna take my cute little Clay away from me."

She blushed and giggled. "Oh, your majesty, you charmer." Uriah set her down and they finished adding in the oils. "I'm glad you're taking care of yourself. You've been in such a state lately."

He had hoped it wasn't that noticeable. "I don't know how to describe it, Clay. How do you do it? Come in and wait on me wing and hoof everyday and just smile like you do?"

Clay seemed surprised by the question, but immediately smiled. "Because I love taking care of you, your majesty. Bless me, it just makes me feel all warm knowing I can be of service to you and make you happy."

"But how do you do it?" The prince ran his hoof across the water. "How do you feel so fulfilled in doing what you do. How do you get to be satisfied that what you do is...absolutely vital."

It was her turn to hug him. "It's a bit of a two way thing and It's got a lot to do with you. Just the way you smile at me, give me little snuggles like you do. Makes me feel so important, like there's some pony who thinks I make the world turn 'round just by being there." She released him and smiled. "Does that help, your majesty?"

Uriah gave a little laugh, then patted her head. "I think it does." He stood to observe their work. "Excellent. Now just a quick temperature control spell to keep it at that perfect "melt your tension away" heat." He closed his eyes and focused his magic. A little black sun formed and plopped right into the water. The steam coming off of it was proof of success. "Perfect. She's gonna love it."

Clay raised an eyebrow and gave him a cheeky grin. "She?"

He was about to respond when the door burst open. An unnerved guard, never a good sign, saluted and approached. "Prince Uriah, we need you in the court yard. There's been an incident."

The alicorn knew the guards didn't flinch like this unless it was really bad. "What kind of incident?"

The guard looked between the prince and the concerned maid. "Captain Light Screen said you'd want to keep it low-key, but there's an injury involved, that's all I'm at liberty to say."

Uriah nodded. Good old Light Screen always came through. The injury part, however, made the alicorn's wings tense up. "Take me to them." He left Clay Kettle to finish prepping the bath and followed the guard as he ran down the halls. The level of urgency was really starting to make Uriah worry. He followed the guard, but pulled ahead as the got closer to the courtyard entrance. He took two steps out of the door. "Light Screen? Is everything...woah!" He had to dodge a flying helmet.

Light Screen, in the rare occasion to be partially out of uniform while on duty, gritted his teeth. He looked like a lot of the unicorn guards, gray coat, silver mane, but he had a lavender streak in his. He was glaring daggers at the pony who talked him into getting it because it made him look more noticeable. "You."

The prince's wide eyed stare softened to apologetic as his friend marched toward him. "Hello, Light Screen. I'm sensing there's an issue you'd like to discuss."

The unicorn scowled. "I feel I was denied critical, need-to-know, information. Your mother sent us into the sewers looking for, and I quote, "an individual who suffered trauma and needed to be safely apprehended before they pose any threat to themselves or others." I thought, we can handle that. I've done that with you before, helping survivors of basilisk attacks." He poked a hoof into Uriah's chest. "Imagine my surprise when I find a thousand pound crocodile!"

"Pony." Uriah corrected, in spite of the glare he was getting. "She's a crocodile-pony." The distinction did not deter the glare. "We didn't want you going in lances at the ready, we didn't want to provoke her." Still glaring. "Well, come on, Light Screen. What happened?"

Light Screen took a deep breath. "Well, when we went in, I decided the best option was to try and lead her to the main drainage. Lots of room so she's not cornered, but still nowhere to go, so we can safely talk her down without her rabbiting. However, en route through the junction just before, I realize we're in an ambush situation. I brought in some of the best the E.U.P. has to offer and we were getting knocked around like paper dolls and we couldn't even see where she's coming from."

Uriah felt bad jumping to the point, but he had to know. "Did you get her?"

The still very angry captain forced a smile. "Oh, I got her."

From around a corner, floating in a force field bubble, drifted the beast in question "Let me out! Groaarrrr!" She hissed, snarled, clawed at the field, but ultimately just floated helplessly. She saw Uriah and her eyes widened. "You? Let me out! Let me out now! I'll swallow your bones!"

The prince felt a migraine coming on. "The guard says there was an injury?"

The captain nodded. "Eventually, we did manage to force her into the drainage with concussive bolts, but she never leaves the water. We had a private, Downwash, just transferred over from the Wonderbolts reserves. He goes out over the water to try and spot her for me. She breaches the water and a group of grown stallions, myself included, almost soil themselves as she snatches him out of the air and pulls him under by his wings."

Uriah's face went pale. "She didn't..."

"Kill him?" Light Screen finished with an agitated and exhausted tone. "No. We all dove in after her and with a combination of stun burst spells and hoof-to-hoof techniques, we managed to wrest him away from her...sans the wings." Light Screen grabbed Uriah by the shoulders. "I watched her do it. Swallowed them whole, bones and all."

"By the maker." The alicorn uttered in a remorseful tone. "Light Screen, I don't know where to begin. I'm so sorry."

The unicorn stopped himself before he committed treason. He brushed off the prince's shoulders. "I've never questioned you before, won't start now. Just please, tell me you can fix Downwash. I know we don't have anything to reattach..."

The beast scowled. "You want 'em?" She slapped her belly, causing her to flip in the air. "Come get 'em. I dare you!"

Uriah rolled his eyes and draped a wing over Light Screen's shoulder. "Mother prefers I keep it a secret, but I do know a combination of time and healing spells that will actually grow back Downwash's wings."

"Oh, good, seconds!" She licked the inside of the bubble and gnashed her teeth.

Uriah shot her a look. "Stop. it." She growled at him, then went back to pawing at the bubble. Uriah took a deep breath to calm himself, then went back to addressing his friend, the Captain. "Just go tell Downwash to hang in there until I can get to him in private, or at least until it's just guards that I can swear to secrecy. Also find him something to bite down on when the time comes, because, full disclosure, getting the wings back is going to hurt a lot more than losing them."

Light Screen nodded, then gave a hard look to the croc-pony spinning in her bubble. "What about her?"

"I'll take her." The golden glow of the bubble was replaced with a deep red as Uriah claimed custody. "I set her loose, she's my responsibility."

Light Screen looked at the croc-pony incredulously and she hissed at him accordingly. "As your friend, I trust your judgement and as a member of your royal guard, I'm duty bound to do what you say anyway. Just be careful, I don't want to end up finding you inside that thing."

"Been there, done that," Uriah flatly replied. He noted the dumbfounded look Light Screen was giving him. "Long story, I'll tell you about it later."

The sight of the prince stoically escorting the bubbled croc-pony was certainly an odd one, even for all the wonders that passed through the kingdom. Every so often, he'd turn to look at her, she'd hiss or demand to be let out and immediately go back to helplessly trying to free herself. They made it back to Uriah's chamber without incident or crossing paths with anyone. Uriah was grateful, as he didn't want there to be any fuss regarding his new charge. She clearly didn't want to be there and the last thing he needed was her getting provoked by ignorant onlookers. As he opened the door, she pushed the bubble forward and knocked into the back of his head. "Raaaarrrggh! Let me go! You can't take me back!"

Uriah rubbed his head. "Back where?"

"Back to the cage, back to the freak show!" She rammed her shoulder into the bubble so hard it bounced off the wall. "I won't go!"

He steadied her so she wouldn't make herself dizzy. "No pony's going to put you in a cage. I'm not going to let that happen." He walked inside and carefully squeezed her through the door. She swiped at him as she drifted over his head and deeper into his room. Uriah used his magic to shut the door. "I'm going to let you down, but you have to calm yourself." He locked eyes with her as she bared her teeth. There was a pop as the bubble dispersed and she landed on all fours with a sizable thud. She got down on her belly and backed up, growling at him with her mouth open and ready to bite. He sat down and put up his hooves to try and calm her. "Easy. Easy. It's just me. You remember me, right?"

The croc-pony's eyes studied him with a defensive glare. "You helped me...then you fought me..." She tensed up, but then softened as her thoughts played out. "You helped me again." She rubbed her throat and her eyes changed like they did before, from savage reptile to defensive pony. "You trusted me."

Uriah smiled. "That's right. I couldn't stand seeing you hurting." She moved cautiously, still unsure, but she mirrored him and sat upright. "I'm sorry if I hurt you at the tent. You were panicking, I thought you might hurt some pony if they got in your way. Some pony who didn't deserve it."

Her eyes narrowed as she caught his meaning. "Is the ring-pony dead?"

"No," She seemed disappointed. "But I've already arranged to make sure he spends a long time in a cage himself. He can't hurt you ever again." The prince noted the hint of a smile. "Why did you hurt that pony in the sewer."

She gritted her teeth. "I didn't want to. I thought they were coming to put me back in the cage. That's why I ran away when they showed up at the circus." Uriah heard a scraping and noticed she was digging her claws into the tile. "I was afraid...and hungry." She gave I'm a pleading look. "You said you can help him?

The prince couldn't help but be fascinated by her. Her voice was so unique. Dulcet, but raspy, every so often she would inhale and it would sound like a light snarl. "I can. It'll be extremely painful, but he'll be back to normal." He got up and took a step forward, she jerked back and he pupils shrank to slits again. "It's okay, It's okay. I just wanted to formally introduce myself. I am Prince Uriah ex Sole. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss..." He bowed and reached his hoof out.

She looked at him curiously, scratched at her head, then grasped his hoof with her clawed hand. "Scarlet Thorn."

A name. Uriah beamed at the sound of it. She had a name, and a beautiful one at that. "Dear Scarlet, I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am that you were treated so terribly."

She shrugged. "You didn't know. No pony knew. I was alone when they took me. Don't have any pony who would want to come look for me."

Her tone stung at his heart. There wasn't anger, or sadness really. It was like she was just stating reality. "Well, you have somepony now. I don't know how long they kept you, but it's far too long for a mare to have to endure that kind of cruelty." He puffed out his chest to seem impressive, but she just kind of cocked her head and wandered away. Scarlet sniffed at the floor, like she was looking for something. She followed her nose and found Uriah's writing desk. She pulled herself up and soon found herself eyeing something in a glass tank by the desk lamp. Uriah smiled, taking her exploring as a sign she was dropping some of her guard. "Make yourself at home. I see you've found the ball python. I got it a week ago as a gift from some visiting dignitaries." He turned his back to grab a bell by the door. "I'll have my maid bring up a few things to help get you more comfortable. Anything you need, don't hesitate..." There was a crash of glass breaking and spun back around to see what happened. "Oh my..." There was Scarlet, leaning over his desk, which was now covered in broken glass, with a snake's tail sticking out of her mouth. She slurped the poor creature like a noodle and swallowed it down with a satisfied gulp. A normal pony would have lost their lunch at the sight, but Uriah had developed a tolerance for high strangeness. He kept up his welcoming smile. "I take it you're hungry. Give me a quick second."

Uriah peeked out his door and rang the bell. Clay Kettle was there in a flash, grinning and eager to serve. "How may I help you, your majesty?"

"Hi, Clay. Listen," he said with a nervous smile. "You know how the chefs do rotisserie chicken for our more carnivorous diplomats? I'm gonna need three of those."

The unicorn maid raised an eyebrow. "Three chickens, your majesty?"

"To start with yes." He nodded. "Also, on an unrelated note, I'd like to request a new headstone be added to the royal pet cemetery." He hated that that was a thing, but one of many drawbacks of immortality, as his mother warned him, was that you will outlive many more animal friends than the average pony. "It should read, "In memory of Admiral Slithers: Your sacrifice will not be in vein. There...uh...there will be no burial."

She nodded and gave him a sympathetic look. "I'll get right on it, your majesty."

Uriah gave her a little kiss on the forehead. "Please and thank you." He quickly got back inside and shut the door.

When he turned back to try and advance the conversation, Scarlet was slowly advancing on him, giving him an accusatory glare. "Am I allowed to leave?" She asked bluntly, and locked eyes with him.

The prince stammered a little. "W-well..." Those dragon's eyes of hers. The primordial wrath of a species that had walked the earth long before ponies ever took control. Uriah thought very carefully about how to explain. "It's not that simple..."

She kept advancing. "You told that pony that caught me you were taking custody."

"Yes," he said flatly.

Scarlet was getting up in his face. She snorted and blew back his mane. "So I am back in the cage."

"No," He nervously smiled as she pressed her paw against the door, close to his head. Uriah quickly reinforced it with his magic. "No,no,no, this is not that. This is keeping you out of a cage." She dragged her claw down, leaving an impressive mark on the door. "Look, we don't have a lot of options here. You hurt ponies."

"I told you why!" She stamped against the door with both paws and brought her face close to his as she bellowed. "I didn't want them to take me back!"

The prince took a brave tone, considering how close her teeth were. "And I told you, you're not going back. Not while I'm around, but we need to face reality. You ate the wings off a pegasus; that is a very bad look." She snarled, but he pushed back, bumping his chest against hers. "Until I fix him, you are on very thin ice. Right now, this room is the safest place you can be in, so I advise you to relax!" He raised his voice.

Scarlet growled and flashed her teeth, but his stoney expression told her he wasn't budging. She knew she could fight him again, but, frankly she didn't want to. She gave a defeated snort and moped back into the room. She wasn't exactly graceful, climbing over furniture and knocking over a stack of books with her tail, but she managed to make her way to the edge of the tub. "What's wrong with your pool?" She starred suspiciously at the steaming, cloudy water.

Uriah chuckled a bit. "It's not a pool, it's a bathtub."

She looked at him like he had grown a second horn. "What's a bath?"

"You're kidding," he said incredulously. Scarlet just cocked her head. "You're not kidding. Okay, well, a bath is when you soak in hot water, either to relax or get clean or, in your case, both. Seeing as you were crawling around in raw sewage and your poor mane looks like a bird's nest."

She gave the bird's nest comment a dismissive snort, then put her face by the water. She dipped her left claw in and the water seemed nice, but, on instinct, she stuck her tongue in and out and immediately pulled back in revulsion. "Ugh! The water tastes terrible!"

The alicorn rolled his eyes as the croc-pony tried to scrape the water off her tongue. "You're not supposed to drink it, just soak and scrub. It feels good."

She turned to walk away. "I don't wanna."

Uriah pressed down on her tail to try and stop her. "Wait, I'll show you, I worked really hard on this."

Scarlet stiffened immediately. "Get your hooves off my tail!" She hissed and took a swing at him. She missed and Uriah used the opening to grapple her from behind. "Not again! Groooaaaarrrr!" It was just like their circus brawl. She was up on her hind legs, stomping back uncontrollably from Uriah pulling. The croc-pony lost her balance and they both ended up in the tub with a tremendous splash.

Uriah breached the water first with a laugh. "Ha! Got ya! Oh, we made a mess for Clay later, but isn't this great?" Scarlet's eyes slowly emerged, shooting daggers at him as she let out a grouchy bellow. "Feel that nice heat just melt your cares away."

She was unamused. "I'm getting out." The croc-pony turned her back on him and the alicorn prince took this opportunity. He quickly used his magic to soap up a nearby brush and started scrubbing Scarlet's back just was she got her claws on the ledge of the tub. "Ah, wha...Oh, oh oh oooooohhhh." Her tail started to sway back and forth. "That's...mmm that's lovely actually. Go lower." Uriah beamed victoriously and did as instructed, scrubbing down along the thick scales of her back. "Lower. Little more, right there where my tail connects. Oh, yeah, that's the spot."

Uriah raised a teasing eyebrow. "I thought you didn't want me touching your tail."

Scarlet was too lost in the moment to roll her eyes. "I didn't want you stepping on it, but this..." She let out a softer bellow, more like a purr of a cat. "I could get used to this."

He couldn't believe it. It was like watching a fortress implode, to see the once ferocious beast finally show her softer side for a little pampering. That's when he saw it, white, fanged, and sparkling in the light. "I think this is the first time I ever saw you smile."

She flushed, but couldn't stop, so she covered her face. "That doesn't...I'm not soft, okay? I just had an itch I couldn't get to." Uriah chuckled and she turned around and grabbed her tail from him. "I mean it! I'll eat your parents!" The croc-pony, looking more red in the face than green, proceeded to fall face first into the water.

Uriah couldn't help but laugh and he laughed even harder as her tail started to slap the water, signaling that she could hear him and was having a fit. He took a breath then lowered himself down with her. He positioned himself under her arm and lifted her considerable bulk out of the water. Uriah playfully nudged her side. "You wanna do your arms or should I keep going?"

She snorted. "I...suppose you could do it so I can see how to do it myself."

He gave the brush a little flourish, then gently took her paw in his hoof, slowly scrubbing up her arm. "I could get your flank too, if you so desired." He winked. He had no idea why he winked, but he winked. He felt like his heart stopped, he'd never said anything like that before.

Scarlet raised an eyebrow and gave him a slick smirk. "Careful, if you like my butt so much, I might just sit on you." The prince snerked, smacking the water's surface with his wing. "That's a genuine threat. They'll plaster it on your tombstone that you got your skull crushed by a thousand pounds of gorgeous." He subsequently splashed her and she splashed him back.

Uriah loved her laugh. It was a mix of a pony's giggle and the chirping you'd here from crocodile hatchlings. "Forgive me, I don't know what came over me. I think it's the water, I loaded it with all these different relaxing agents and I think it's starting to get to me."

She smiled at him and gave him a warm look. "Me too and I kinda like it. You were right about this feeling good, my skin hasn't looked this bright in ages." She examined her freshly cleaned arm. The shades had been hidden by muck and dirt, but now a vibrant green was contrast next to the darker shade of the upper scales.

He happily set to work on her other arm when she offered it. "You are just the most fascinating creature I've ever met. You mind if I asked a few questions?"

Scarlet yawned, teasingly showing off her teeth. "I'm not going anywhere." She reveled in the smirk she got out of him. "Yeah, you got me. So, you wanna start with the obvious?"

"Right to the point, I like that." He lifted her arm so he could scrub her pit. "I've seen a lot of bat-ponies, that's a mutation of pegasi that occurs randomly in nature, but is passed down genetically as its own subspecies. A crocodile-pony, though, is a first. How'd that happen?"

She examined her claws. "A loooooot of hard cider. My daddy was an earth pony and my momma was a crocodile, a big old mean one at that." He finished up and Scarlet just let herself sink down to her neck. "I was bigger than the rest of the clutch, momma looked after me best as a crocodile does till I could swim off on my own."

Uriah looked puzzled. "What about your father?"

Scarlet rolled her eyes. "What do your mean "what about him?" He was a drunk pony that got freaky with a giant crocodile. He did his part, then he was lunch." Uriah cringed at the darkness of it, but she took it all in stride. "Spent a nice easy life with the crocs. Lazing in the sun, chomping on whatever dumb animal was fool enough to drink from whatever river I was in, it was great." She arched her back and tapped the alicorn with her flank. "If you wouldn't mind, darlin'"

He flushed, and started to scrub. He couldn't help but admire the shape of her. Heavyset, particularly in the rump and belly, but it was hidden well by the powerful muscles and hard plating along her back, tail, and arms. He felt awkward obsessing over her like this, but it did give him an idea. "If you don't mind, I'd like to try something. It won't come in till later, but it should help get you more comfortable."

She gave him another one of those contented bellows. "Sweetie, I'm pretty comfortable as it, but you haven't let me down yet, so go for it."

Uriah smirked. "Sweetie?"

Scarlet's reply was sleepy, but firm. "It's the relaxing stuff. I could very easily wallop you with my tail while you're back there, so don't tease me."

The prince hushed a chuckle. He used his magic to conjure a tape measure and a notepad. The measure wormed its way around the curves of Scarlet's body, circling tight as the prince took exact notes. Scarlet started giving him looks from getting squeezed so much, so Uriah decided to continue his interview. "So, how'd you get your cutie mark?"

She shrugged. "I like to plant roses. I think they're pretty and the thorns tickle. That's actually how I came up with my name." He gestured for her to roll over on her back and she complied. "How about you; how'd you get yours?"

Uriah noted his own mark. "Oh, I was fighting an evil wizard and I came up with a signature spell that I used to sink his entire evil city."

Scarlet raised her head and gave him an incredulous look. "And you think I'm interesting. That sounds amazing!"

He rolled his eyes. "It's not that big a deal. It actually backfired on me. I ended up powerless, in his dungeon, buried in a cave-in, almost got all my friends killed. I got insanely lucky while running on hope and friendship, but it could have gone wrong so many ways." He stretched his wings. "To top it all off, that was only one of several world-threatening crisis I had to deal with. Witches, shadow-stealing smoke monsters, giant squids with transmogrifying amulets, lava monsters that turn into crystal golems, and they all have annoying sidekicks." He was shaking the frustration out his head when he felt something rough rub against his side. Scarlet was gently patting him with her tail. They shared a smile and he went on. "It seems like no matter what I do, new evil just keeps popping up and I'm just in time to avenge something or stop something in progress. I mean look at this." He rested his hoof on her exposed underbelly and she was about to flip out on him until she saw what he was pointing to. "Look at these scars. Did Flammigan do all this?"

She puzzled at first. "The ring-pony?" Uriah nodded. "Most of them. Some of them are from fights for territory with other crocs." She reached down to take his hoof, and dragged it across her stomach as she recounted each mark. "Sword, sword, torch, spear, fight, stick, fight, whip, whip, torch, and I think I got this one from your horn when I put you in that death roll."

The prince was crestfallen. He felt his horn with his wing. "I didn't even feel that. That certainly didn't take long."

The croc-pony nodded. "I heal pretty quick. I think I got some from those brambles you pulled out too, but I'm not sure. See?" She opened her moth wide and pointed. Uriah, guard down as he was, leaned in to check. Her jaws snapped shut and made him fall back into the water. She laughed that incredible laugh again, just in time for Uriah to rise up with vengeance and dunk her head. They wrestled and splashed about for a bit. Uriah put her in another lock, much softer than the first two, and she tapped out with her tail. "I give, I give."

Uriah let go, but still rested on her back. "Heh, while I'm up here, we might as well wash your mane."

Scarlet looked curious. "Ponies do that too?"

"You're either teasing or you really are that adorable." A wisp of his magic acquired some water and rinsed her head. "Let's start with this branch you've had stuck in there since I met you."

He gave it a little tug and she lurched, almost knocking him off. "Ow! That hurts."

Uriah gently prodded around the wood. "It's in there pretty good. I can get it, but it's gonna pinch a bit. Don't flinch like that or it'll be worse, I don't want to be pulling your mane out." He laser focused on where her hair tangled around the wood. Each strand, sometimes two, lit up in his magic and were gently snaked out of the tangle. "I admire ponies that style hair for a living. That might sound strange coming from such a strong, tough, and terrific boy like myself, but the amount of skill and precision that goes into it is astounding. Especially when you consider how much it hinges on the taste of the pony you style."

She chuckled. "You're strong, tough, and terrific?"

He puffed out his chest. "Just recently I threw a thousand pound swamp beast over my head. Or did you forget you had a front row seat?"

The former swamp beast rolled her eyes. "Duly noted."

"For you, I'm thinking we embrace your natural self. Get all these knots and bunches out and let your mane down, wild and free." He wiggled the branch out, tossed it aside and started working on the smaller twigs. "Speaking of wild, how does a crocodile-pony, no friends or family to speak of, who lives off the land, eating whatever poor snake she happens to come across, doesn't know what a bath is, end up being as pleasantly articulate as you."

Scarlet smiled. "I wasn't always away from ponies. I remember I come across this restaurant in the middle of the bayou where they used to toss scraps and leftovers down to us crocs when we swam underneath. Had the best gumbo. Those folks knew how to have a good time. I learned my talking from them."

He smirked. "When did you get so folksy?"

She shrugged. "Comes and goes. It's the Southern Glades dialect, usually doesn't get me unless I smell.." The door cracked open and her eyes lit up. "Food!"

The croc-pony started out of the tub to charge for the door, but Uriah vaulted over her and stopped her halfway to the door. "I'll get it, you go grab a towel and dry off, but not your hair. I still got to get those knots out." He smiled. "I like what we've got so far though. I had no idea you were a red-head." She watched the door and licked her lips, but did as he told her. Uriah left her to make herself comfy and answered the door with a grin. "Clay! Right on time."

Clay Kettle stared, open-mouthed, as three covered trays floated around her. "Your majesty, you're sopping wet."

He looked himself over and waved it off. "Oh, this? No trouble really, just had to get a crocodile out of the tub."

Her eyes widened. "A what?!"

Uriah placed a hoof to her nose to quiet her. "Hush now, dear Clay. I have company and I don't want to upset her." He took the trays from her magic into his.

The unicorn maid beamed. "Oh, your majesty, how exciting!" She held his hoof. "I knew you'd find a proper consort one day."

"Consort?" Uriah parroted, flabbergasted.

Clay Kettle nodded. "That's why you've been so restless lately. It's like I said, you need some pony to bring that fulfillment out of you."

He placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Two things. First, never mention that consort thing to any pony, especially to my mother. Secondly, I need you to take this order to the royal seamstress. Tell her to get it to me as soon as she can."

The maid puzzled over the note he gave her. "These aren't your measurements." She beamed. "You're ordering her a gift!"

Uriah rolled his eyes and ushered her along with his wing. "Just get going, you nosy little minx." She trotted off with a bounce in her step and he shook his head with a smile. He held the three trays proudly in his magic and re-entered the room. He immediately blushed when he found Scarlet waiting for him on his sofa. She was laying on her side, one paw cupping her cheek and the other resting on her stomach, a towel draped over her thigh, and her tail dragging across the floor as it hung down the front. All the while she was giving him a deliberately seductive look that was making his heart pound. He smiled warmly and set the trays down. "Ma chère Mademoiselle, may I present your dinner." He uncovered the dishes and whatever mood Scarlet was trying to project was immediately demolished when she attacked those chickens like a primeval nightmare. Uriah scrambled back and watched in mild shock as she bit one of them in half, crunching through it's little rib cage, and barely chew as she packed it down. He was getting flashbacks to when he was on safari and he watched a regular crocodile swallow the upper torso of a wildebeest that got torn to shreds. It was almost exactly like that, Scarlet thrashing the second bird around, it's legs just flopping around as it got pulled down her gullet, and her tail happily dragging back and forth as she rolled on the floor in delight of the feed.

She had a satisfied grin on her face as she crunched through a leg bone, then used the broken end to pick some bits out of her teeth. "That was fantastic. Not as much fun as when they fight back, but mmmm, that seasoning. I think I'm still drooling." She picked up her towel and dapped the corners of her mouth.

Uriah shook his head. "I...I don't know how to respond. I feel like I should be terrified, but that was actually pretty impressive to watch." She gave him a proud smile and rubbed her stomach. "Better than a pegasus?"

She nodded. "Most definitely." She gave him a cheeky grin. "Although I do think you're still the best." She poked at his leg and chuckled at how flustered he was getting. "How's that holding up by the way?"

He examined the leg with a nervous smile. "It's fine. Healed up pretty good." He dropped the glamour he placed on it. "Left a bit of a mark though."

Scarlet's expression fell and she took his hoof in her paw to look over it. "I...I didn't mean..."

He could see the hurt and remorse building, so he draped a wing over her shoulder to reassure her. "Hey, hey, it's alright. I know you didn't want to hurt me. I could see how hard you were trying. It was just a gag reflex when I pulled on the brambles, like setting off a bear trap. You couldn't help it." Scarlet looked like she was going to tear up and Uriah felt a pain in his heart. "Can I...can I hug you?"

She sniffed a bit. "Why?"

"Because I want to. And you need it." Scarlet nodded and he didn't hesitate. He wrapped his hoofs tight around her midsection. She was surprisingly soft from the front. She returned the embrace and nuzzled his cheek. Uriah smiled through the warmth. "You know what's great about this scar?"

She looked at him with those sad soulful eyes. "What?"

Uriah stroked the scales of her back. "Whenever I look at it, I'll think of you."

Scarlet pushed him off and started giggling. "That was so sappy!"

The prince raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm a sappy kind of guy."

The croc-pony dried her eyes and smiled in anticipation. "Are you gonna fix up my mane now?"

He smiled and summoned a collection of combs and brushes to his side. "Certainly, just follow me to my nightstand." Uriah gently ushered her to an ornate vanity table, painted black with white drawers. The mirror had been turned around to face the wall, but Uriah wasn't going to worry about it just yet. "I'm gonna start with the knots and tangles like we talked about, then once we see how much hair we're actually dealing with, you can decide how you want it styled."

The touch of his hooves on her main was firm, yet gentle. Scarlet beamed. "Okay. Is...it gonna hurt?"

Uriah patted her on the shoulder. "Just some little pinches like before, but not as much since we're just gonna be moving hair. I'm also gonna have to trim off some of the more matted bits." He pulled a pair of scissors and she tensed up. He gently brushed her side with his wing. "You won't feel a thing, trust me."

She nodded and he went to work. The sensation of the brushes and combs felt strange, but she could feel his gentleness behind them. The occasional snip made her wince, but she took a deep breath to calm herself. She thought talking more might ease her mind. "So...that pony who came to the door earlier..."

He focused his magic and undid a little tangle. "Clay Kettle. She's my personal maid, dedicated, dependable, really sweet. She actually helped set up your bath. I'll have to introduce you once we clear up the whole fugitive rigamarole."

Scarlet a look of realization came over her. "Oh, yeah, you're supposed to go help that pegasus."

"Downwash," He said as he snipped a rogue clump. "I can take care of him after we're done. He's not going anywhere and you deserve my full attention.

She smiled, but her ears drooped. "Can I...apologize to him. I know I'm probably the last thing he wants to see right now, but..."

Uriah interrupted with a nod. "No, that's great. I'll have to talk him into it, but if I can fix his wings you can make peace with him, then that's it. You'd be free and clear."

The croc-pony gave a relieved smile. "That's good. Are you sure they'll be okay with it though? I mean I ate the wings off a pegasus, that's not exactly a minor thing."

He scoffed. "I'm the prince. They'll hear you out if I tell them to and once they get to know the real you, they'll welcome you with open hooves."

She reached up and held his hoof in her paw. When he talked like that, like he really believed in her, she felt a warm sensation her chest. "Heh. So...what's a consort?"

Uriah went deadpan and the scissors launched across the room and imbedded in the wall. "What?"

Scarlet cocked her head. "A consort. Clay said something about it when yo were talking to her and you got all weird like you're doing now. What is it?"

The prince had stepped into a war zone and he began thinking very carefully about what he was going to say. "It's uhhh.." He cleared his throat. "It's silly really. See a consort is a...for a royal, like me, it means a pony who we're...involved with, like a spouse or companion."

"Oh and she thought I was yours?" Uriah gave a nervous nod and She puzzled for a moment. "Why's that silly?"

He felt a lump in his throat. "Well, it's not, I mean, it means love." He brushed her mane as a means to calm Scarlet in case he couldn't talk his way out. "Love is...a powerful emotion. It doesn't just happen like that. We've only just met."

She was quiet. "Ok, so...how do you feel about me?"

There was a little catch in her voice, the slightest bit of pleading that stuck Uriah like a knife. "I...to be perfectly frank, I find that I've come to care for you. I care for you a great deal."

The croc-pony pony gave the prince's hoof a squeeze. "I care about you too."

The way she said it, so soft and sweet, even with her reptilian rasp, stole Uriah's breath into a relaxed sigh. "When I first saw you, being shown off in that cage, I couldn't look away. Just the wildness of you, the fury, the heart. On that alone I knew you didn't belong chained up like that. Then, when the fire was burning you and I saw your cutie mark, I think my heart might have stopped. That those circus freaks were treating one of their own kind so abominably. I needed to do something, I needed to help you. Every fiber of my being was screaming at me to keep you safe...even if you didn't need me to."

"But I did..." Scarlet caught herself. "When you came to me, I knew I was going to be free. The way you looked at me, no pony looked at me like that. They never...eight shows." It was bitter on her lips . "They did eight shows in eight different towns before you came. No pony helped me, no matter how much they hurt me. It even happened before, the stuff fell off my cutie mark, but no pony could see and the ring-pony hid me before they could. I thought I was going to die in that cage, just another animal, but then you opened the door."

He smiled as he brushed out her mane. "Heh, if I remember correctly, I just unscrewed a lock and an iron wall came down on me."

She bumped him with her tail. "I didn't interrupt your heartfelt speech." He rolled his eyes and smirked and got back to work. "I see you and I do, I feel safe. When you pulled out those brambles, when you took me away from that soldier, and in here, spending time with you, I just feel so safe."

"It got rough a few times." His ears drooped and his eyes turned sorrowful. "I didn't make you feel forced, did I?"

The croc-pony rolled her eyes. "You've been unconsciously caressing my flank with your wing for like a solid minuet. I could not feel more safe and comfortable with you if I tried."

Uriah dropped his brush and jolted back when he realized what he was doing. "Ah! Oh, maker, I am so sorry. I did that in the tub too, when I asked to scrub it and then I winked at you. What is wrong with me? I'm a gentlecolt, darn it!" He curled into a ball of shame.

Scarlet couldn't help but give one of those chirping laughs at how flustered he was. "Relax, if I wasn't okay with it, I promise you I would have clobbered you by now. I like when you touch me. You're so gentle."

One of his ears perked up and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "What about the part where I rammed my hoof down your throat?"

She laughed again. "Okay, that was less than gentle, but I still felt better afterword." They both shared a laugh. "Come here, you." This time, Scarlet hugged Uriah. "I like you when you're bold. I like how you take charge when you're taking care of me, I like how you're crazy enough to wrestle a crocodile three times in one day." She paused her praise to take note of a bright red lock that fell infant of her eyes. She pinched it between her claws and was surprised by the softness. "Is...is that mine?"

Uriah beamed. "Oh, sheesh, I got so caught up I forgot I finished." He turned her around to face the vanity. His horn lit up and the mirror flipped around. "Ta-da."

Her eyes went wide and her mouth hung open. Her mane, which was a matted mess of dirt ad twigs when she came in, had now exploded into waves of beautiful, full, bright red hair. She reached for the mirror, a small tear falling from her eyes. "That's...me?" Uriah wrapped an affirmative wing around her. "So...pretty." She went crestfallen. "Not pretty...monster."

The prince gently lifted her chin with his hoof and turned her to look at him. "Scarlet Thorn, you are not a monster. You are the most incredible, most courageous, and most beautiful pony I have ever met. Scales and all." That set off the most amazing kiss Uriah had ever experienced. Scarlet held him tight and leaned into him with all her weight, bringing both of them to the floor. Uriah's wing's flared out and Scarlet's tail smacked the floor repeatedly. The two broke to catch their breath. Uriah looked into those warm golden eyes and asked, "You remember how I said love is too powerful to just happen?" She nodded. "I just remembered that I didn't have the first clue of what I was talking about." The two laughed, gazed hungrily into each other's eyes, and went right back to it. Scarlet let out an affectionate bellow and rolled them closer to the bed.

The whole process was in no way pretty. Under cover of darkness, surrounded by confused and horrified guards, all the while screams echoed throughout the room. It was a dark night in the barracks for sure, but Uriah had promised them a miracle. Downwash was in agony, biting down on a hunk of wood Prince Uriah had shoved in his mouth before telling him to brace himself. Light Screen and the other guards could barely watch as bone grew and adjust, flesh knitted, and feathers sprung forth, in that order.

One of the guards finally lost control and omitted out the window. Light Screen desperately looked at his friend casting the spell. "How long is this going to take? I don't think he's going to last much longer."

Uriah remained focused, practically jabbing his horn into the wounded soldier's spine. "It'll take as long as it takes. If we stop too soon, it's going to be way worse than it is. Just keep those extra blankets handy in case he goes into shock. Downwash, you're doing great, just hang on a little more, champ!" The muffled scream of the pegasus intensified as the last bit of nerves reconnected and his brain started sending signals like rapid fire through circuits that were missing not to long ago. "It's done, he's done." The prince hurried over and smacked Downwash's cheek to keep him alert. "Hey, hey, hey come on, buddy. It's all over, you did it."

Downwash spat out the mouth guard. "Ahhhh, ahhhh, ah, my wings. They..." he was going to say "feel like they're on fire," but then it struck him that he could feel his wings again. He flapped them, they hurt, but he could flap them. He started crying. "My wings! My wings!"

His fellow soldiers rushed over to congratulate him. They ruffled his hair and playfully punched his shoulder; they couldn't be happier for their brother-in-hooves. Light Screen gave Uriah a hoof-bump. "You absolute mad-pony. Why didn't you ever tell me you could do this?"

Uriah took a firm stance. "Cause I'm not supposed to." He stamped his hoof to get their attention. "Listen up, lads. I know we're all happy for Private Downwash's recovery, but I need to make a few things clear. Firstly, does any pony outside this room know about what happened to him?"

Downwash responded weakly. "No, sir. We kept it secret. They brought me right to the barracks and kept me hidden. I didn't say anything."

The prince gave an appreciative nod. "Good job, soldier. I know it was asking a lot, but you took it like a warrior. The reason I ask is because there's a reason my mother and I don't talk about this spell. If word got out that I figured out how to regrow limbs, every pony and his grandmother would be coming to me to cast it. Personally, I'd love to be able to just cure paralysis and amputations whenever I felt like it, but you all saw what Downwash went through. Not every pony has the endurance to survive the pain of it. So, as of this moment, none of you are to speak of this at all. Not about how he got hurt, not about how I fixed it." He turned and carefully held his wing over the recovering pegasus. "I will however publicly acknowledge that he was given extensive medical treatment after being injured on a heroic mission. Which will be commemorated with an award ceremony where you will be promoted to Corporal and presented with the...uhhh...Light Screen what're those awards we give for valor and for being wounded in combat, I forget."

Captain Light Screen looked at him deadpan. "You're the literal head of our military."

Uriah rolled his eyes. "And I'm better at the fighting than the ceremony. Don't sass your C.O."

Downwash perked up. "The Bronze Wings and the Purple Horseshoe, sir?"

The prince grinned triumphantly. "Those are the ones! You might not be able to tell any details about what you did, but we're gonna send ya home with proof that you absolutely did something!" He saluted. "And Equestria loves you for it."

The rest of his troop joined in saluting the soon-to-be Corporal then stomped their hooves in applause. Downwash rubbed the back of his head, then laid back down. "Thanks, sir. Sure would have been a cool story, though. I mean, getting my wings bitten off by a crocodile-pony? Not many stories like that."

Uriah's expression fell with the weight of awkwardness. "Riiiiiight. Um...on a related note, there's some pony I'd like you to meet."

The exhausted pegasus leaned back in his bed and pulled up the covers. "A new friend?" He yawned. "This night just keeps getting better."

Uriah turned to the door. "That's an excellent attitude and I'd like to advise every pony in advance to just...stand down for a bit." Light Screen and the soldiers all gave him strong looks, save for Downwash, who could barely keep his eyes open. The prince used his magic to open the door. "You can come in now."

There was a strange sound, like hoof-steps, but mingled with a slapping against he stone floor, accompanied by a dragging. In through the door, much to the shock of the soldiers, stepped a very familiar half-pony, half crocodile. Scarlet squeezed herself through the relatively small door and immediately felt all their eyes on her. She nervously rubbed her arm and gave a sheepish grin. "Hello."

Downwash squinted. "Oh..." His eyes widened. "Ohhhh Nooooo." It wasn't so much a scream, so much as a sleepy and drawn out exclamation. The pegasus clumsily backed away, only to wrap himself up in his blanket as he fell over the far side of the bed.

Uriah rolled his his. He picked up Downwash in his magic, securing him in a blanket cocoon with his startled face poking out. To the surprise of the troop, Uriah set him down right in front of the croc-pony. "Now, Downwash, don't freak out. This is Scarlet Thorn and she's really very nice." She gave the pegasus a little wave. "Now, she has something she would like to say to you and, as your prince, I would very much appreciate it if you heard her out."

The prince gestured with his hoof and Sarlet took a step forward, still looking quite bashful. "Umm, hi. I know I'm probably not your favorite pony in the..." She coughed. "Excuse me. Like I said, I know we got off on a rough start...but...hmmm...but..." She started coughing, but then started to wretch violently. Her pupils shrank and she hiss repeatedly as she turned her head and coughed. One more good heave and a small, broken, piece of bone flew out of her mouth and richochetted off the wall. Scarlet looked mortified as it clacked on the ground and every pony stared at her in shock. "It's a chicken bone! I swear!"

Uriah face-hoofed. "Well, this is going great."

Scarlet straightened up. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I did to you in the sewer. I was afraid and you were only trying to help me, and I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" She held out her paw with a pleading look in her eyes.

Downwash rocked a little and gave a woozy reply. "You know...I'm not that smart a pony. I get up, I follow my orders, and I help ponies. I do know this...I trust Prince Uriah. He said they were treating you bad in that circus and I gotta figure he was right for it to make you act like that, but I got better, he says you're okay, and that's fine by me." He reached and met her in a hoof-shake, then proceeded to pass out in her arms.

Light Screen rolled his eyes and took him from her with his magic. "We'll take care of him from here. I gotta say, he has a point. I've seen some mind-blowing weirdness in my time with the guard and you are not exception." He poked her in the chest for emphasis. "If the prince vouches for you, then you're in the clear, but you better behave yourself." She bellowed at him to get his hoof off her.

Uriah quickly slipped between the before Scarlet could pick her teeth with Light Screen's horn. "Yay, friendship! Well, we better leave you guys to it before any pony starts asking questions. Scarlet, sweetie, let's go."

Uriah was pushing her out the door, but she still pointed at Light Screen. "Anytime you want a rematch, I'll be ready. Lot of murky water in Canterlot!"

Light Screen beamed at the challenge. "Bring it on, hand-bag."

She hiss and tried to charge, but Uriah kept pushing her along. "Please don't declare death-struggles after I just established a peace accord." Scarlet stopped trying to climb over him and walked along side him out of the barracks. "Well, that's it. Scarlet Thorn, you are now a free mare. You can go anywhere you want now and no pony is gonna try to stop you. The whole world in front of you, what will you do now?"

The croc-pony smiled, and nuzzled his cheek. "If it's all the same to. I think I'd like to stay here. Maybe find a nice spot in the gardens to sun myself, wade in the fountains, scare some of the tourists."

He draped his wing around her. "In that case, since eI"m handing out titles and all..."

Celestia had an itch that just wouldn't leave. The morning arrived as it normally would and business in the castle was the same. However, the absence of her son could no longer be ignored. Missing breakfast wasn't that unusual for him, he was known to sleep-in after a long night of studying or writing down aspects of his adventures for the role-playing game he was creating. But as the hours went by and he still hadn't appeared, she began to worry. The strange part was that she knew he was still working. Her staff had informed her of a change in schedule, in which Uriah had arranged a promotion and award ceremony for one of the ponies in Light Screen's troop. Stranger still, when she assumed it had something to do with the missing croc-pony, she then wondered why he hadn't spoken with her about. All that combined with the slump she'd seen in him made her think of the last time a member of her family was alone with their negative thoughts.

The solar princess approached her son's room with a frown. "Uriah?" She called as she knocked on his door. "Are you in there? It's almost noon." She heard a thump, a scrambling of hooves, the sound of something getting knocked off a table, and what sounded like a resistant hiss. "Is everything all right in there?"

The door quickly opened part way and the prince poked his head out. "Mother. Hi. How are things?" He jerked slightly, as if something were pulling him, but he kept up a nervous smile.

Celestia's expression softened to see him alright, but was none the less puzzled. "Have...you been in your room all this time? Are you feeling okay?"

Uriah waved off the question. "What? Oh, I'm perfectly fine, no need to worry..." There was a loud snort and he was jerked back again. This time he turned to address it. "Will you stop? You're gonna freak her out."

Celestia cocked her head. "Is some pony in there with you?"

Uriah was about to answer, but soon found a set of claws pushing his head down. To the shock of Celestia, the missing croc-pony was climbing over her son, pressing her full weight on him and pushing him to the ground. "Who's this?" The sleepy hybrid yawned, showing her teeth.

The solar princess did a double take, but it was definitely the same pony. Her bright red hair was clean, but suffering from severe bed-head, and she was wearing a fluffy green and red robe of unique design. "Is...Is that the crocodile-pony...in a bathrobe?"

Scarlet pulled at her collar. "Do you like it? Uriah had it made for me. He had them make it backward so it covers my underbelly. It's so fuzzy, I love it!"

Uriah laughed as he tried to fight his way up. "Scarlet, this is my mother, Princess Celestia."

The croc-pony, still comfortably sitting on the prince, did a little bow. "A pleasure." She looked at Uriah. "Is she nice too?"

He chuckled and managed to sit up. "Most of the time." Uriah brought Scarlet in close with his wing. "Mother, I would like to introduce you to my consort, Scarlet Thorn."

The princess of the sun felt her cheeks flush. "Consort?!" Her wings sprang out and she started to stammer. "I...I mean h-how? When did this happen?"

Uriah suppressed a laugh. "You know how it goes. Dashing prince rescues damsel in distress." He couldn't get over how red-faced she was. "Oh, come now, mother. Don't tell me you're upset, you had to know this day was coming. I'm a grown stallion after all."

Celestia's eyes widened. "Not upset. No. It's just...so quickly?"

Scarlet nuzzled Uriah sweetly. "Gotta...believe in love." Her cute little remark was interrupted by a repressed belch. She stuck out her tongue to shake out the after-taste.

Uriah brushed her cheek with the back of his hoof. "Darling, are you alright? You're looking a little more green than you should."

"A squirrel snuck in through the window last night while you were asleep." She held her side. "I ate it and now Im feeling kind of urpy."

Uriah rolled his eye. "Honey, I told you not to do that. If you're hungry, just ask me or Clay and we'll bring you food."

Scarlet suppressed a gag. "I'm gonna go back to bed. Will you come rub my tummy till I fell better?"

The prince gave her a peck on the cheek. "As you wish." Scarlet responded by giving him a war smile and licking his face. The croc-pony lazily stumbled back into his room and Uriah turned back to his mother. "It appears I'll be busy for a bit. If you wouldn't mind filling in for me. Don't worry, I'l still be able to do the award ceremony."

Celestia tried to handle his rapid-fire delivery. "Wait, just...can we talk about this?"

He placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. "I'll tell you later, but right now...my lady needs me." With that, Uriah slipped back inside and shut the door.

Celestia was speechless at first, but then she thought about the inflection he put on that last part. She smiled and then she started to laugh. "Take care of her, my son. I'm happy for you."

The love of prince Uriah for Scarlet Thorn would burn hotter and brighter than any star in the night sky. Her wild nature never left her, picking fights left and right, only ever letting Uriah see her softer side. Uriah wouldn't have her any other way. Ponies would seldom ever see the two apart. As Clay Kettle once thought, as she watched them in the garden, her asleep in the sun like a basking croc, him curled up to her side, the two of them seemed like they would last forever.

How cruel the turn of fate, that in three years time, Uriah's banishment would end that happy thought and leave that fire burning in one lonely heart, forevermore.

Love Bites

by shademaster24601

Of Black Suns and Rose Thorns