"HALT!"

Before Troy could even lift the velvet rope draped across the steps leading up to Celestia's Sun-Raising Platform, two Royal Guards immediately appeared before him and Canvas.

"... Buck,” muttered the Gryphon as he let go of the rope.

Even though he should've expected a place like this to be guarded--especially on the night of the Grand Galloping Gala--Troy was too focused on other things to consider something like this happening. As Troy and his coltfriend looked over to the two Pegasus ponies donned in armor, neither of them said a word in front of the Guards, knowing that they were in trouble as one of them spoke.

"This is a restricted area,” said the grey-coated Guard in a firm tone of voice, "please head back to the Castle immediately."

Troy looked back up to the steps behind him, feeling his frustration begin to seethe over as he saw how close he was. Not wanting to let this opportunity slip by, the Gryphon turned back to the Guards as he opened his beak, worrying Canvas as he saw the serious look on his lover's face.

"We weren't going to do anyth--”

"Silence!" barked the brown-coated Guard in a brash tone. "You have been ordered to return to the Castle!"

Even though the last thing he wanted to do was seem like a threat to these Guards, Troy's claws began to dig into the grass underneath him, worrying Canvas even more as he saw how aggravated the Gryphon was getting. Before Troy could do anything he would probably regret, the unmistakable voice of Rainbow Dash came out from behind the Guards, startling the two as she came up to them.

"Hey, Guards!" shouted the cyan mare with a peeved look on her face. "Whaddya think you two are doing to my friends?"

"These two were attempting to trespass onto restricted property,” said the brown Guard as he turned and stood before Rainbow Dash, not noticing how worried the grey Guard was looking at seeing the Pegasus mare before them. "We have ordered them to return to the Gala, and they have been hesitant in leaving."

Even though the mare still looked a bit irritated at seeing Troy and Canvas get hassled like this, she knew that her co-worker knew better than to try anything stupid like trespassing on royal grounds. Passing the two Guards, Rainbow Dash walked straight up to Troy as she spoke in a stern tone of voice.

"Troy, just what in the hay are you trying to pull?"

"Dash,” said Troy as he put his claws up in an attempt to calm down the mare, trying to speak in a calm tone to hide his growing worry. "I was just wanting to go to the platform with Canvas. I wasn't goi--”

"Why?" asked the mare in a more annoyed tone as she got up closer to the Gryphon, poking at his chest with a hoof as she spoke brashly. "Dude, you've been acting really weird lately! I want to know why you've been acting so freaky the past couple weeks, and I'm not letting you go until y--"

As Rainbow Dash kept poking at Troy's chest, the Gryphon's eyes widened in a panic as her hoof stopped at one spot of his jacket. Leaving her hoof on the Gryphon's chest, Rainbow's eyes widened as she looked back up to Troy as she suddenly realized what he was going to do. Looking down to his jacket for a split second, the mare cracked a quick smile back at Troy for a moment before turning back to the two Guards with a more serious expression on her face.

"Guys, let my friends go up to the platform, right now!"

The two Guards widened their eyes in surprise at hearing that, not expecting the mare change her mind so quickly. Not wanting to break protocol, the brown Guard kept his stance as he addressed Rainbow Dash in a bold tone of voice.

"Ma'am, I cannot let these two pass onto restricted property!"

As his fellow Guard started to look worried, Rainbow Dash kept a skewed eyebrow to the brown Guard as she replied, "What's that? Are you disobeying the Element of Loyalty?"

Even though the grey Guard looked away from her uneasily, the brown Guard stood his ground as he kept his eyes on her, even though his demeanor looked slightly less confident as he replied in a less stern tone.

"I… I am supposed to Guard this region, and make sure that nopony tres--"

"Dude,” said the mare as she walked up closer to the guard, making him more nervous as she spoke bluntly, "I helped save this nation while you were still in training! Multiple times! And I'm telling you that you better let my friends pass before I--"

"Rainbow Dash!" shouted a posh voice from behind the Guards, making Rainbow Dash look past the nervous Guards as she saw Rarity trotting up towards them.

"Do you really think it's a bright idea to use your title like that? Did you not learn anything about why it's wrong to try boosting your own ego?"

Rainbow Dash was about to make a retort towards Rarity, but nothing came out when she opened her muzzle. After a couple seconds, the cyan mare shut her mouth in defeat, knowing that her friend was right.

As Rarity noticed Canvas and Troy, both of whom were standing with unsure looks on their faces, the unicorn grinned as she looked at Troy, immediately realizing what it was he was going to do when she noticed the platform behind them. Knowing what Celestia had planned in a few minutes, Rarity turned back to the Royal Guards as she kept a calm but stern look on her face, speaking in an equally kind and insistent tone.

"Gentlecolts, Troy and Canvas are good friends of Rainbow Dash and myself back in Ponyville. I can assure you that these two will not do anything of ill intent. All they want to do is see the platform, and I will personally make sure they won’t be there for long. I promise that nothing bad will happen, and you have my word that Celestia will not know anything about this."

Despite the unicorn's truthful words, both Guards seemed hesitant to just let them go on their way. However, after the two looked at each other with concern, the brown-coated Guard turned back to Rarity as he spoke in a serious tone of voice.

"Five minutes."

Rarity was quick to give a smile to the Guard as she replied, "That will be more than enough time. Thank you."

As the two Guards walked off, still looking back at them while they headed back to the Castle, Rarity was quick to turn and nod to Troy in approval, snapping him back to reality before going to the steps.

Lifting the rope up with a claw, Troy looked back to Canvas as he kept a warm smile on his beak, hoping to alleviate the pony's worries as he stood opposite the Gryphon with unease. Before Canvas could say anything or give protest, he noticed Rainbow Dash and Rarity looking at him with smiles on their faces, motioning him to go on as they started to get giddy for some reason. Even though he was starting to get confused, one look back at Troy quickly calmed Canvas's nerves. He saw him looking back with a smile as he spoke in a gentle tone.

"It'll be fine, Canvas,” said Troy as he kept the rope lifted up, "trust me."

Taking a deep breath, Canvas took one last look around before he stepped forward, heading up the stairs to the platform after going underneath the rope. Before Troy could follow his coltfriend up the stairs, the Gryphon looked back at the two mares as they stared at him with excitement.

Walking up to Troy, Rainbow Dash kept a cheeky grin on her muzzle as she patted his chest with her hoof, touching the same spot she felt beforehand before she whispered cheerfully, "Go get him!"

Not caring that she figured out what he was going to do, Troy smiled at Rainbow Dash before going under the ropes and reaching the steps. After looking back at the happy mares one last time, Troy turned back to the steps as he puffed his chest out, wanting this moment to be perfect as he began to rush up the stairs.

As the two watched the Gryphon make his way up to Canvas on the platform, Rarity turned her attention back to Rainbow Dash with a smirk on her muzzle, waiting for her to notice before she spoke in a cheeky tone.

"So, Rainbow Dash,” said Rarity as her eyes narrowed on the mare with a smile, "I take it that you know what Troy's going to do?"

"Yeah,” said the Pegasus as she turned to Rarity, grinning as she tried not to look too giddy. "I felt what he had in his jacket while I was poking him."

Realizing how both Troy and the unicorn were acting regarding his tuxedo, Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed on Rarity as she spoke in a more sassy tone. "I'm guessing you had something to do with that?"

Blushing a little, Rarity giggled before she replied, "Well… I may have held onto it for him before he came to Canterlot, but I believe he already had everything planned out before I could help."

"Well,” said Rainbow Dash as she looked up to the night's sky, smiling as she saw what was about to begin above Canterlot, "feather-butt certainly picked a great time to do it."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reaching the top of the steps, Troy caught his breath while he walked up to the platform, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw how elegant this spot really was. Despite being a fairly small stage for the Princess to raise the sun, the Gryphon was surprised when he looked down to the marble floor underneath his claws.

Looking at the intricately designed pattern of Celestia's sun emblem across the floor of the platform, Troy's eyes widened even more in shock as he realized it was laid in pure gold, standing out brightly against the grey marble even under Luna's moonlight. Before he could marvel any more at the platform underneath him, Troy looked back up as he saw Canvas standing on the middle of the stage with his eyes open wide as he looked up to the starry skies.

Because of Celestia's insistence to make this final event a surprise, only a select few ponies (including the Elements of Harmony) were told about what she had planned at the end of the Grand Galloping Gala. As she stood atop from her tower, looking down at the large mass of ponies below her, Celestia gave a smile as she lit up her horn, making her whole weightless mane begin to glow against the moonlight.

In a sudden burst of light, Celestia's mane shot out in all directions from the tower as the multicolored glow of it slowly began to flow into the night skies. Spreading out against Luna's star-spangled night like a splash of paint against the smoothest sheet of canvas, Celestia's glow of green, blue, and purple began to flow in shimmering beauty above Equestria, making all the ponies below marvel in wonder as they took in this rare sight.

The Aurora Borealis--a spectacular display of light against the night that was as beautiful as it was rare--began to illuminate Canterlot in its gentle glow. While Canvas looked at the skies above in fascination from the platform, getting a perfect view of the sight from this spot, he almost didn’t notice Troy walk up beside him.

Slowly, Canvas turned over to the Gryphon, noticing that Troy was looking straight at him with a loving smile on his beak. Seeing that the Gryphon managed to pull off showing him something this amazing, a smile came up on Canvas's face as he spoke sincerely.

"Troy,” said Canvas as he looked up to his lover, "this is perfect!"

As he saw how the glowing hues of majestic color reflected against the stallion's blue eyes, Troy found it difficult to keep his composure as he stood before him, tears streaming down his face before he opened his beak.

"Canvas,” said Troy in a shaky, yet overjoyed tone, "you… are the one that's perfect."

Hearing the Gryphon's statement, Canvas felt like he was going to well up as he smiled back. Before he could say anything to him, Canvas only watched as Troy stepped forward, keeping his eyes locked onto Canvas as he spoke in a caring tone.

"Canvas, I… I can honestly say… that nothing… nothing… has ever made me happier in my life than you have."

Now standing only a couple feet from the stallion, Troy's loving gaze became warmer as he continued to speak, feeling his heart beating faster with each passing word.

"I have no idea how my life would've been if I never found you, but… but I know that it wouldn't have been as great. I may have saved your life, but… you saved me as well….”

Feeling tears of joy come down his face, Canvas no longer looked up to the Aurora Borealis above them as he kept his eyes glued to Troy, seeing the majestic glow against his golden eyes as he spoke with the utmost tone of sincerity and affection.

"I love you, Canvas. I never would've thought in a million years that I would ever feel this way about anyone… especially a stallion… but I do. I love you, and I know what I want to do…”

Feeling his own heart begin to race faster, Canvas's smile grew even bigger as he looked up at Troy. Lifting a foreleg to his chest, Troy lightly placed his claw over his jacket as he continued to speak.

"Canvas, you mean more to me than anything else in my life. You gave me more purpose and motivation than I ever thought I had, and I… well…”

Troy's claw went into his jacket as he kept his eyes on Canvas, noticing how the pony's breathing was starting to come out more rapidly. Realizing he couldn't turn back now, Troy felt no resistance or hesitation whatsoever as he continued.

"I know we've only been together a few months, but… life is too short. Just like what you told me, I… I shouldn’t focus on what I could've had, and… and I know what I want to do. I...

“... I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

As Troy pulled his claw back out of his jacket, Canvas put a hoof up to his muzzle and tried not to break down crying right there. Keeping a loving smile on his beak, Troy tried to keep himself together as he stood before the love of his life while holding a small black box in his claw.

"Canvas,” said Troy as his voice started to come out more shakily, "there's something I want to ask you…”

With that, Troy's hindlegs moved downward as he kneeled before Canvas, making the stallion cry even more as he kept a smile on his muzzle. As Troy held the black box in one claw, the other reached out as he gently held Canvas's hoof, looking up to the stallion's overjoyed face before the Gryphon closed his eyes and hung his head.

With tears streaming down his face, Troy kept his smile as recited his lines, feeling ecstatic to finally say them out loud to Canvas after all the countless times he spent rehearsing them when he was alone.

"By Princess's Will…
Through Good Or Ill…
Our Souls Entwined…
Until The End Of Time…"

Opening his golden eyes as they kept streaming tears, Troy looked up to Canvas, seeing how happy the pony looked as the aqua fur on his cheeks became matted with tears. With his heart beating fast enough to make others worry about a heart attack, Troy kept his attention on the stallion as he spoke, his voice coming out in a faint creak as he tried not to become too emotional.

"Canvas… my best friend… my love… my soul mate…”

Troy opened the box in his claw, making Canvas begin to weep as he stood before the Gryphon. Inside the black box, lined against the purest black velvet, laid a stunning hoof band made out of pure white gold. Engraved in the band, in intricate detail, was the image of Canvas's paint palette cutie mark as it was intertwined with the image of a silver feather.

Keeping a hoof over his muzzle, Canvas could barely keep himself upright as he stood before Troy, trying to contain himself while the Gryphon kneeled before him. Looking into the Gryphon's welling eyes, illuminated by the glow of the Aurora Borealis above their heads, Canvas could barely move as Troy kept the purest look of happiness on his tear-stained face.

Holding onto his hoof, Troy looked into Canvas's beautiful blue eyes as he breathed in, taking a moment before he spoke faintly to the stallion he loved.

"Canvas… will you marry me?"

Canvas didn’t even need a second to think about it before he lunged forward, hugging the Gryphon as tight as he could while screaming out at the top of his lungs.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS!!!!"

Falling on his back onto the floor of the platform, Troy hugged Canvas back tightly as more tears of joy came down both their faces. Wrapping his hooves around Troy's neck, Canvas clenched his eyes shut as he hugged the Gryphon, holding his head against Troy's chest as he kept speaking in a weeping shriek of joy.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yeeeeeeeesss!!!"

As Troy lifted his head up, Canvas slowly opened his eyes and pulled his head back, looking straight at Troy as he spoke faintly with a smile on his face.

"Yes… I'll marry you, Troy."

Moving back up so he could sit upright, Troy closed his eyes and held onto Canvas, kissing him as deeply as he possibly could as the Aurora Borealis shone above them. As Canvas sensually kissed him back, neither of them said a word as they sat in that space.

Keeping his hooves gripped around the Gryphon, Canvas never wanted this moment to end as he stayed in Troy's grasp. After everything that's happened in his life, Canvas couldn't have felt happier as he kissed Troy, realizing that, of all the amazing moments that occurred in these past months, nothing could ever compare to this. Troy truly meant everything to Canvas: first he was his savior, then a friend, then a best friend, and then… a mate.

And now, as he felt Troy place the band on his hoof, Canvas couldn't hold back his overwhelming glee as he looked up at the joyful Gryphon. Looking into his golden eyes, Canvas knew he could never find another soul as amazing as Troy: his friend, his soul mate, his true love.

And, now… his fiancé.

Next Chapter: Chapter Fifty-Four (Epilogue): Carpe Diem Estimated time remaining: 10 Minutes