Chapter 44 – A Royal By Another Name

It had been about three days since my re-appearing at the overhang. Since then, Twilight and the girls have been in Canterlot getting ready for Twilight's coronation to alicorn-hood. There have been a few hiccups since then. One of them was getting the word out, it seems that Cloudsdale had set up a little windstorm for the day and getting that one kicked off a little early wasn't the best kind of tasks. Lucky for us, an order directly from Celestia habits to get the ball rolling fast. The other thing is Twilight hasn't had full control of her wings yet. Namely when she tried to lay down, sometimes they don't mess with her, but times like this about four in the morning.

“Ow...” I groaned as I hit the floor from Twilight's wings pushed me out of bed. Leaning up to look at her, she began to toss and turn before she sat up for a few moments, before turning towards me.

“Again?” Twilight asked leaning over to check on me.

“Yeah, not as bad as the first time,” I said rubbing the side of my muzzle before yawning. Twilight slipped down and walked over to me to check my wing again. The first time she kind of spring-boarded me out of bed and I landed wrong on the wing. Nothing broke, but having a wing bent the wrong way too fair... hurt... a lot. Regardless, she did a quick check of them. After a few minutes, she looked over at me with a worried smile. “Twilight, your getting use to new appendages. They aren't easy to use right off the bat.”

“I know... just... how am I suppose to be a 'princess' but I can't even control my own wings?” She said looking worried and I just smiled carefully. With that, I made a motion with my claw for her to turn around. Twilight just turned her head a little confused as she did as she was told. Before she could do anything else, I gently rubbed the tip of my hoof between her wings. Which caused them to shoot out and for her to “Eep” at the sensation. I then began to preen her wings for her. Which was something Twilight had failed to do a few times. “What are you doing?” She said trying to escape but I stopped her by pinning her tail with one of my hind legs. With that out of the way, I could continue preening.

“Come on Twilight, just enjoy your coltfriend doing this.” Twilight thought over the link, as she hasn't figured out about it yet and... I may have been using that to my advantage. For nothing big, just for a more sense of having a little fun. Especially when she thinks she's being sneaky, like that one time she thought she was going to sneak up on me to surprise me.

It was rather fun with all I said was “You don't want to do that.” and she asked me how that I knew and I couldn't help it. “I have my ways.” But, I already knew the game Twilight was trying to play, more with herself then with me.

“Is this how it feels for you when I do it?” She asked as I was using a bottle of special lotion for pegasi. Something I had found out a little while down the line after asking Lotus about it during one of the few spa visits that I did with Twilight. It boils down to this, that pegasi have natural chemicals in their saliva that they use on their wings to help them preen them. Which was something I had myself since I was a pegasi equivalent of a drony, but I digress. The reason for the lotion for pegasi with non-pegasi special someponies or close friends to help them with the preening. This way the wings can be protected from some of the harsher elements and keep them straighten longer. Twilight had found a spell that did the same thing which she used on me a few times when I trusted her to do it. The reason I wasn't using the spell myself was that I didn't know it so I was using telekinesis with the lotion to work around it. I didn't need to spell since I could do it myself, but since Twilight now has a set of wings herself. It's about time I learned it.

“It can, if in the right hooves. Dash and Fluttershy helped me learn how to do this myself. Since well... you know.” I finally answer after a few moments pause focusing on making my marefriend feel great.

“Come on Twilight, just ask him. Then you won't have to think about the coronation.” Twilight said over the link as this was a common thing for her. She was a little on the obsessive side when it came to her coronation soon. The royal sisters, Cadence, and I had a pretty good chuckle listening to Twilight's thoughts when she would go on full-blown rant mood when she fantasizes on how many ways this could turn out bad. The one I found humorous to the point I almost lost it in front of her was the Pinkie Pie made cake monster.

As Celestia had stated that day “That would be the tastiest defeat she would have had.” Luna shot back with a comment about it going to her flanks and to watch the regent of the sun blush was just perfect and... I may have a picture of it on my old phone.

Anyway... when Twilight went to say something I couldn't help but jump the gun a little. “You're going to ask to take your mind of the coronation, right?” I asked and to watch her head whirl around looks at me in surprise.

“How did you know?” She asked and I could help but smile.

“I have my ways.” I cryptically said and I watched Twilight go red in the face and huff.

“Was I that obvious?”

“Eeyup.”

“I... can't help it. I'm just worried about how this is going to turn out. I'm a princess now, what if I trip on the way up to the stage. What if everypony laughs at me?”

“Then I will be there to catch you, and every princess is just a pony too,” I said, not for the first time. It was kind of hard to remind Twilight that Celestia, Luna, and Cadence were just ponies. They had faults just like everypony else. But, I don't fault her for thinking this. From what I could see, everypony other then Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and I thought that the four of us should be put on a pedestal and admired from afar. I knew the irony of it, probably better than anyone or anypony.

“Still... I mean what did you do for...” Twilight said and caught herself with a thought. “You never did have a formal coronation did you?” She asked pulling away to look at me.

“Nope,” I said. That was something I was happy about, now having to go through this shit with me in the limelight. Well... sort of, I was supposed to be up on the stage with the other three regents of the sun, moon, and love as the regent of the elements. Regardless, that was a small role compared to Twilight's. Who was this whole thing was for?

“We've got to get you in this.” She said taking off towards the door.

“Twilight, I don't need to be in your coronation any more than I already am,” I said following her as she swung the door open and galloped down the hall. It didn't take long after running after her to find her. She apparently smacked into Cadence after turning down a hall.

“I'm so sorry about that,” Twilight said helping her old foalsitter back onto her hooves.

“It's fine Twilight, what has you in such a rush?” She asked as she brushed herself off a little.

“I was trying to find one of you so we could have Storm be part of the coronation too.” She blurted out.

“He's already part of it. He's up on the stage with Aunt Celestia, Luna, and myself.” Cadence said a little confused.

“He never had a coronation of his own, so I thought he could be there with me,” Twilight said as I watched her ears flatten back.

“It's because he didn't want one,” Celestia commented as she walked up behind Cadence with Luna following next to her.

“But why?” Twilight asked as she turned to me.

“Remember, I came to Equestria as a dralicorn. I didn't earn the right to be royalty and to have a coronation would have spat into the. Regardless of how I felt about it, I was still made a royal, but that was because of what I am. Not who I am or what I had done to earn it. You Twilight, you earned your wings and title. You created a new magic that wasn't ever known to Equestria till then. In doing so you earned this Twilight.” I explained as I walked up and placed my wing around her.

“He's right Twilight, you earned this,” Celestia said coming over as we had a group hug.

“But if it makes you feel better, I will walk up to the stage with you.” I offered with a smile and gently nuzzling into her.

“I... I would like that... a lot.” Twilight said with a blush.

“I think that is a lovely idea,” Luna said with a smile after we broke up the hug.

“We still have much to do everypony, the coronation is tomorrow.” Celestia reminded us, and I could help but smile. While each of us had a list, mine was rather manageable with my limited magic. We all nodded and left, Twilight walked with me for a little bit under my wing before we had to go our separate ways.

***---***

“Just a little more to the left Hermes,” I yelled up to Hermes who was helping me get all the royal purple curtains in place.

“Roger Roger” Hermes replied still using the confirmation clip from star wars. For some reason, Hermes as of late had been using more clips from the films and shows. I couldn't help and chuckle as I watched Hermes grab a side of the curtain and pull it left. Looking down at my list of things to do. I noticed after this I had to do some of the halls leading up to the main hall.

“One down... many more to go,” I said with a light puff of hair that caused my little swoop to swing up before returning to the spot between my eyes. “I may need a haircut.”

“Why?” I heard behind me which caused me to jump. Whipping around, I saw Cadence there with a smirk.

“Geez, Cadence don't sneak up on me like that,” I said taking a deep breath. She just lightly chuckled while I heard Hermes join in with a clip of Muttley from Wacky Races doing his laugh. “Oh haha you too.”

“Relax Storm, just having a bit of fun.” She said as she turned her head, that's when I noticed she had a pair of saddlebags on. Her saddlebags were mostly a lighter pink with a gold trim and two aquamarine gems on it. One to work as a clasp and the other for larger decoration, both in the shape of the crystal heart. “Mind if I get a word with you in private?”

“Sure,” I said before turning to the group of ponies helping me with the décor, mostly castle staff, and a few contract designers. “Take five everypony, you are doing a great job.” Some of them nodded before heading out of the room. For the most part, I was trying to help get everything in place. But some of them weren't having it from me magically lifting the curtains and tapestries. So mostly I was playing was foreman or manager for them all. Hermes flew down next to me and slid himself under my right wing, something he had enjoyed doing a lot. We watched as everypony left and I looked down at Hermes. “Why don't you go help Twilight for a little bit?” I watched his displayed eyes turn up towards me with two question marks. “I just need a private talk for a few moments. It won't be long, plus I think Twilight could use the moral support.” Hermes continued to look at me before he made a smiley face on his display and sounded like R2D2 before flying off.

“I am still not used to... him.” Cadence commented.

“You get used to having Hermes around, he's still learning after all.” I watched as I saw him zip down the halls over everyponies heads. Looking back I saw Cadence magically holding a small box as I took it over with my magic. Flicking the lid open, I could help but smile. “That was fast.”

“I had them do an express job on it.” She said with a smirk.

“I'm betting they were rather happy to do that for a princess.” I shot back with a smirk.

“As much as if any other princess asked.” She shot back.

“Can't blame them, I mean they get to brag they got to do a custom job for royalty,” I said shrugging looking over the list for a moment.

“So I have to ask, when did you plan to do it?”

“Well... I had an idea, but I was wondering if you would be willing to lend a hoof.”

“Oh?” Cadence said and I could see the glint in her eyes, and oddly enough it reminded me of Rarity when she ships her mind off to la la land. “What did you have in mind?”

“I just need you to hold onto this till I'm ready,” I answered with a smirk.

“Until when?” She asked as she took the box back in her magic and placed it back into her saddlebags. All I could do was smirk at her as I already knew when. “You're just going to be dramatic with it aren't you?”

“Maybe,” I said in a light sing-song voice.

“Well you have my support on this, and remember if you need some help. I'm the mare to call.” Cadence said coming over giving me a gentle call.

“Well maybe not before, but I will most likely need more help with the after,” I said rubbing the back of my head a little nervously.

“And you'll have it Storm.” She said before leaning in close and using her wing to give me a hug. I did my best trying to return that gesture. Something I haven't fully gotten used to doing yet, as I'm still not used to the range of motion on these wings of mine. “Just don't forget about the Princess Summit at the Crystal Empire.” She said sounding like she was trying to remind me of something I had no clue about.

“Princess Summit?”

“Its a meeting of all of the royalties from different countries around the globe.” She explained the first thing that came to mind was the United Nations from earth. “We mostly discuss trade agreements, treaties, and other important businesses between nations.”

“So... since I'm not a princess, I don't have to go... right?” I asked really hoping I didn't have to deal with this shit. She just gave me one of those 'you aren't going to win' looks.

“Nice Try.” She said with a smirk and I couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

“It was worth a try,” I said before I noticed her eyeing me a little. “Is there something on my face?” I asked.

“I just noticed... you're taller than me now,” she said and blinked for a moment. I hadn't noticed it before, but I was. Not by a whole lot, maybe a few inches than before as her horn always was a little higher than mine. Well if you use the tip of the horn as the top height.

“I may have hit a small growth spurt,” I said with a shrug, as I honestly wasn't too sure and with how weird Equestria could get. A random growth spurt for a dralicorn didn't seem so far fetched.

“I suppose that makes sense.” She said eyeing me for a little bit. “I should probably check on Twilight.”

“Probably for the best, I believe she is with Rarity more than likely on the way to a mental meltdown over the coronation.”

“That would be Twilight for you,” Cadence said with a small chuckle. “She was always like that over big events as a little filly.” I couldn't help but join her in her chuckle.

***---***

Cadence walked into one of the special room that was set aside for the element bearers to see Twilight standing on a small plate form. The room had looked much like Rarity's design room back in Ponyville. A mixture of fabrics and designs laid about the room in a chaotic mess that Discord would have been proud of.

“Darling, you need to relax.” Rarity said not for the first time as Twilight's new wings fidgeted for not the first time.

“I know, but I'm so worried about this. What if everypony doesn't trust me to lead them like Princess Celestia, or Cadence?” Twilight said nervously as she had been running worse cast scenarios since this morning after her talk to both regents of the celestial bodies.

"Twilight you'll do fine." Cadence came over to one of the lounging sofas and laid upon it. She smiled as she floated her bags off her and set them on the floor next to her. "Don't worry about what everypony thinks."

"But what if I do something wrong? I'm not as wise as Princess Celestia, Luna, Storm, or you Cadence." She said as her wings gave a nervous flap almost knocking the floating needle in Rarity's magic out of the air.

"I'm going to let you in on a little secret. It's not about being wise Twilight, it's doing what you think is right. I'm sure that Aunt Celestia or Aunt Luna would tell you that sometimes things that go even above their heads." Cadence reassured. "I'm sure even Storm would tell you that and he's been doing this a lot shorter than the rest of us. Well... you notwithstanding." She continued with a small awkward chuckle.

"But Storm seems like he has a good handle on this royal duties. I mean he had that test from Princess Celestia and everything."

"Test?" Both Rarity and Cadence said out of curiosity.

"It was one of his first royal duties outside of that... dragon treaty." Twilight answered with a slight shudder, as she had recovered her memory almost fully of that day. All except the spell that she had backfired on her. "He said it was royal business and I kind of left it to that, it was before Dash got her letter about joining the Wonderbolts." At that Cadence, eyes spark recognized what she was talking about. It was the fact that it was her idea to test Firestorm to see if he could handle something like that.

"Well from what I had heard, he did a remarkable job with that 'test.'" she said with a slight smile, to be honest, she was expecting him to sign on it right away and be done with it. He had instead took it seriously and did the research, something Luna had thought he would do. "Speaking of Firestorm, hows things been going for you two as of late?" She asked hoping to take the younger alicorn's mind away from her worry.

"Things have been... fine... sort of," Twilight said a little nervously.

"Sort of?"

"Well... with the whole Gala issue and the combat with the dragons. Things were a little strained, as Storm has had a lot on his plate. Then with the whole Elements thing, I'm a little surprised he hasn't been even more stressed out then I am."

"Well, that stallion has been good at hiding his stress at times." Rarity commented as she focused on her needlework as she began to add layer after layer to the dress.

"That may be true in public, but in private... he's been a little on the worn out. The dinner date with Luna-" Was all Twilight got out before Rarity interrupted her.

"With Princess Luna?!" She said in surprise.

"Yeah..." Twilight said a little hesitant.

"You must tell me everything." Rarity demanded.

"There isn't really much to tell. Princess Luna took both Storm and I out to the Pon Arabia-" Twilight tried to continue before getting interrupted again.

"The Pon Arabia?! But that place isn't even open yet." Rarity said already getting stars in her eyes that would probably freak out anypony else, other than her friends or Cadence.

"Luna had gotten an early invite to try it and she set it up as a private dinner between the three of us. We sat down and had our food served, the food looked rather good... well maybe not Storm's but regard-"

"What was wrong with Storm's food?" Cadence decided to interrupt this time.

"It was well... meat," Twilight said gently rubbing her left foreleg nervously. Just speaking that word got all three mares to shiver lightly at just the thought of seeing or smelling cooked meat.

“I don't blame the dear having to... eat that kind of stuff... but couldn't he be tactful about it?” Rarity commented trying to get the image out of his mind.

“It's not that Rarity we were trying to cheer him up.” She said with a sigh. “He's just been...” Twilight gave a gentle sigh. “There is something about him that just scream to me that I should protect him, I don't know what it is.”

“You feel like that as long as he's with you that everything feels right. Even now being only rooms away you wonder what he's thinking about and if he's alright.-” Cadence picked up with a smirk.

“And somewhere in the back of your mind, you are always thinking about him. That every time you look at him or even gently brush against him, your heart beats a little faster. That you can lose yourself just in his jeweled eyes and those nights were it's just you and him in each other's hooves. You just have a passionate night of-” Rarity began getting lost in her daydream.

“Rarity!” Twilight said interrupting her with a blazing blush across her muzzle.

“Twilight it's normal to have feelings like that for your special somepony. Even Shining and I-” Cadence began to tack in.

“Cadence, I don't need to know what my brother and you are doing during that time.” Twilight interrupted now blushing more deeply. “Just... Don't think you want to know what Storm and I do.”

“To be honest, Firestorm is a rather handsome stallion,” Cadence said a little slyly.

“Cadence!” Twilight said with her wings spread out.

“Oh relax darling, any mare can see how handsome Storm is.” Rarity said with a small smile and a wave of her hoof.

“Still... I feel weird hearing another mare talk about my stallion like that.” Twilight commented

“Then what about another mare wanting to date him?” Cadence asked with a curious look.

***---***

“So are you alright with this?” I asked Luna after she had found me after I had finished with all the hanging décor and on the way towards the kitchen. She had been doing her runs around the Castle getting the guards and staff ready for the coronation. We ended up talking on the way to the kitchen as I was pretty peckish and I just wanted to get something to snack on before I continue. I still have a few smaller things left. For the most part, Luna is looking forward to the coronation like everypony else. I'm kind of half and half about the whole thing. Mostly for the large social event and my plans during it.

“It's quite alright Storm, I welcome the challenge,” Luna said sounding prideful, and it sounded a little unnerving. Mostly for the fact that Luna sometimes doesn't do subtle with a damn. “By the way, how have you been feeling lately?”

“Huh? Oh, I'm feeling surprisingly fine.”

“Surprisingly?” She asked looking me over curiously. “What do you mean?”

“Well... Outside of the weaken magic. I've felt better then I have been lately just... in a way that feels hard to explain.” All I could do was shrug at this.

“Well... if you want I could do a scan to see if I can notice something is off.” She offered and I thought about it. After the whole Nightmare Moon and the whole Starswirl spell fragment, I've been a little on the worried side about things.

“Sure, if it's not too much of a problem,” I answered as I watched her horn lit up before I felt the small cold sensations that normally come from a scan spell. After a few of them during the week, you learn to know the tell-tale signs of it. After a few moments, Luna looked puzzled as her eyes continued to look me over. “Something about your magic feels... different.”

“Different, as in how?”

“I've always got this feeling of warmth when I've scanned you before.”

“That doesn't sound creepy at all,” I said sarcastically.

“Anyway, just now it felt... way hotter. I would suggest we go to Celestia about this.” She said looking a little worried.

“Um... sure, but do you mind if we-” was all I got out before Luna's horn relighted and we found ourselves in Celestia's office. “get some food...” I groaned out as Celestia looked a little confused.

“May I help you?” She asked a little confused.

“Sister, would you mind scanning Firestorm?” Luna asked an I just watch it play out. After a few seconds of being scanned again. She looked a little perplexed as if she eyed me like I was one of the Millennium Prize Problems set by the Clay Mathematics Institute... also sue me I'm a math nerd.

“Firestorm, what happened during the spell incident?” Celestia asked giving me a very serious look. One that could rival Twilight's serious study face, which I find adorable.

“Not really much to say outside the weird trip down memory lane, having an odd conversation with a younger version of myself before I came to Equestria, playing carnival games with him, have an almost mental breakdown because of a freaky verbal beat down with different versions of me in the hall of mirrors, having to pick whether to stay or go with the choice giving by a personification of the grim reaper, all leading up to having a talk with Luna in some kind of Astral Plane,” I said with a slight shrug before ending it with my clawed thumb pointing to Luna.

“What did the 'astral plane' look like?”

“A whole lot of stars, like if the world was made of nothing but stars and stardust. That and windows of different points in my life since I've been in Equestria. Oddly enough I don't think there was even one moment of my life before coming here... hmm.” I explained as I began to think out loud. It makes me wonder because of being technically only part of a soul of the human I was once was, or the fact that my body was artificially made.

“It sounds just like how Twilight explained it,” Celestia said as she looked complacent.

“What about you two?” I asked.

“No, for everypony it's supposed to be different. For me, the astral plane reflected my magical nature.”

“So it's more solar winds and flares?” I asked curiously, I mean it makes sense. Celestia is the regent of the sun and if I had to think of a plane that wasn't straight out of hell. Just having to put my claw on it, I would say that her astral plane would be warm colors that spread around like a colorized shot of the galaxy that makes up the larger walkways with different sizes and kinds of stars nearby. Luna's would be closer to what I had to seen. It makes me wonder what mine would look like...

“Almost, but the one you described sounded closer to Luna's,” She said turning towards her sister.

“It was, which was odd that I had found you there. Normally when a pony ascends to an alicorn the astral plane would take the shame that would most likely fit them.” Luna explains.

“That makes sense.”

“Has anything been different as of late?”

“Not much really, just my sight has been sharper then it ever has and I can see better in the dark.”

“What do you mean?” Celestia asked and I just smirked as I used my limited magic to snuff out the fire and blacken out the windows, plunging the room into complete darkness. For any pony other than me, I, however, was about to make out quite a lot of things as most of everything was covered in a light blue tint and the outlines of ponies and objects were a bit brighter. I walked over to Celestia's deck where she was still sitting at and looked at the document on top of it.

“There was a slight delay in the construction due to the large cavern found underneath the sight. Right now we are having a team examine the spot to see if space is usable or if the project will have to be moved to another location.” I read before walking back to the fireplace and shot a bit of flame to relight it. Both princesses were looking at me in surprise. “Something wrong?”

“Your eyes were-” Luna was the first one to say before I interrupted her.

“Glowing, yeah I know. Twilight had told me that when I had gotten back that night. It could be that I'm growing as a dralicorn. With me being a bit of each race, then this would be something from an earth drony as they have natural dark vision.”

“That sounds possible, it could also be a side effect from Starswirls unfinished spell. Since your tied to the artifacts of harmony and by extinction the element. They helped Twilight create new magic, so the same could be said for you. Especially since you were created by Grimwand.” Celestia surmises.

“That would make some sense,” I said rubbing the back of my neck as I glanced at the two royal regents before me. There was something that was chewing at the back of my mind that I would let bug me. With everything happening, I never really did ask them about it directly, mostly because of being afraid of what the answer would be.

“Something wrong Storm?”

“Not really...” I was a little hesitant and I think that's what really gave it away.

“You know you can come to us about anything,” Celestia said.

“We understand about being hesitant with bringing stuff up,” Luna added on.

“It's about the whole... Nightmare moon thing...” I nervously said as I watched both princesses look at each other with a slightly worried look on their face.

“We haven't gotten any new reports about her actions yet. As soon as we know something we will inform you.” Celestia answered assuming that was my inquiry on the subject.

“That's good to know, but... that's not quite what's been on my mind.” I answered not meeting their gazes directly. “I... I was wondering... do you blame me for what happened?” There were a few moments of awkward silence that I began to think about the worse case scenarios that could happen. On the top of the list was the false sense of security before being berated about it. That's when I felt something brush against my cheek, it was enough to get me to look at them. Celestia was gently nuzzling next to me given a comforting sensation.

"We don't blame you Storm for what had happened." She said giving me a gentle smile.

"That... mare." Luna started as she was biting back a bit of venom when she said 'mare'. "She knows how to manipulate ponies to fall for her traps. There was nothing more you could do to prevent it as you weren't aware she was still there."

"and right now you shouldn't worry about her till we have more news."

"If you're sure," I said feeling a little awkward at all this.

"We do, now on to other matters. How are the preparations going?" She asked looking at me. With a flick of magic, a small notepad appeared before me that I flipped open to read the small little checklist that I wrote up.

"So far we are rather ahead of schedule as the castle decor is mostly done not counting the front entrance by that is being held off till the day of. Other than that, Luna your next for Rarity followed by you, Celestia." I answered looking at them who were looking a little curious at the notepad I was reading from, that appeared out of nowhere. "Twilight's been helping me learn a few minor spells that I can handle with my weaker magic at the moment. It helps take her mind off the coronation and the panic that would follow.

"Well Twilight was always one easily distracted when she was a little filly with learning," Celestia said with a look of fond remembrance on her face.

"I will admit I'm a little glad that Twilight is about to get tossed into the deep end."

"What do you mean?" Luna asked.

"Well much like myself, Twilight is now royal herself. Which means all the added guff of having guards and dealing with royal business doesn't just rest at my hooves."

"Well, I'm sure Twilight will do fine, as she has some pony to lean on to help her," Celestia said with a smirk.

"We all have to play the hands that we are dealt," I said with a smirk.

***---***

Both princesses looked at each other in a little bit of confusion before turning back to the dralicorn in the room. Only to find him missing from the room and where he was laid a playing card, the jack of spades. Princess Luna with a whisk of magic pulled the playing card towards her.

"Sister is it just me or is Firestorm a little off since the other night?" Luna asked as she looked over the card.

"I don't know for sure, maybe this is the way he's processing everything that has happened," Celestia said as she got up and went over to her desk. "Between the events with Grimwand, Nightmare Moon, Starswirls Spell and Twilight's ascension to alicorn-hood. He may need the take a break of his normal mental balance before he can refocus." With her horn lit with the sunshine yellow aura, a bottle of fine wine and two goblets were whisked into being before them. She pours about a third of the goblet of the wine before magically sending it over to Luna who took it up in her magic. She then repeated the pour for herself as she came over and sat down a few feet away from her. Taking note of this, the younger celestial regent popped into being a chess set with matching pieces between them.

"But is that health sister?" She asked before taking a small swig of the fine wine.

"I don't know..." She said as she started with her first move of them as one of her pawns that was carved up to look like a pony guard ready for battle. "We can only hope and see."

***---***

"That was a long day," Twilight said as she plopped onto the bed with a heavy thud. Surprising enough that a cloud bed could even make that sound. After my little disappearing act on the sister's which I was surprised I could pull off being both quick and silent. I digress, after that, I went around and found Hermes floating around the royal library with Spike who was reading comics in the corner. He got tired after running around with Pinkie all day working on the festivities, and I couldn't blame him. Pinkie while I enjoy her company at times, can be rather taxing on the mind and body. It seems that Hermes had been 'reading' through a lot of the history book on the shelves to pass the time. Leaving the two of them to their prosecutes, I went to check on Twilight who I found was alone in one of the rooms in her dress. Which looked stunning on her, walking back and forth working herself in a tizzy about the event. So I spent most of that time working on getting her mind off it, by doing a double check of my checklist.

After that, we went to go have dinner with everypony and we found most of them in the dining room already talking about the event. Rarity was gushing about the event on how her work was going to be on display, Pinkie was being Pinkie. Namely, she was bouncing on her seat about how much of a good time everypony was going to have. Applejack was going over some of the food she had in the works with Fluttershy who was listening behind her mane. Dash was being her normal self and talking to Shining about the Wonderbolts much to Shining annoyance. Well from what I could tell as he had that tired look of hearing the same topic for hours that didn't amuse him. A few hours with Rarity about royal life, made me an expert on that feeling all too well. The other royal princesses were keeping quiet by having a telepathic conversation over the link that they were blocking both Twilight and I out of it. Blueblood was being well Blueblood and sat as far as he could away from Twilight and I to eat his meal.

Once dinner we retired to our room which was our private room at the castle. Which was enough to finally get off my hooves for the night. As I had said Twilight took the time to plop on the bed with her wings spread up to take as much space as possible.

"Arg." She groaned as she pulled her muzzle out from the comforter to look at me. "Is it bad that I'm looking forward to when this is all done?"

"I know that feeling all too well," I said with a smirk as I was taking off the saddlebags that I had on throughout the day as well as my regalia. The princesses had asked me to keep it one during my time here as I have to look the part for the staff. "But how are you holding up in the long run?"

"I'm worried," She said as she nuzzles her head into a pillow she brought over to herself as she looks at me.

"About?" I asked, mostly because I like her voicing her problems out. That way I can help her without having to point it out that she has a problem... with mixed results.

"It's just all this Princess business after I had my dress fitting for tomorrow. Two of the guards came up to me and asked what to do about a reporter sneaking in. And I just froze because I didn't know what to tell them." She said and I could see the worried plaguing her. "How am I suppose to lead anypony if I can't tell a guard to just toss a pony out?"

"Because I know you will."

"How?"

"It's because you've gone toe to toe with bigger and badder things. Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra, and more. Each time you have gone through it, you did it with a cool head... for the most part. But out of all this, there is only one important thing to keep in mind about it."

"What?" She asked raising her head looking at me with a confused look as her one of her ears had flopped down while the other is straight up.

"I have faith in you, and I always well." She sat there looking at me for a few minutes, or what felt like it as she blinked a good few times. All before she gave a small snort and smirk.

"That has to be the corniest thing I have ever heard."

"Regardless, It true," I said coming over and hopping on to the bed with her. All while she was lightly chuckling at all this.

"You're just being a goofball." She said as she gently leaned against me as I placed my wing around her.

"I'm your goofball," I said before gently kissing her on the cheek as she blushed a bit. After a few moments, she turned to look out of the nearby window as the twilight gives way to the allure of the night.

"Storm..." Twilight said and I could hear the hesitant in her voice as I turned looking at her. "Do you think that since I became a princess is going to change things between the girls and I?" She turned to look at me and I could see the worry on her face. All I could do was look forward and gave a small sigh.

"From my experience... your dealing with a bit of a mixed bag. While I could see that for the most part that you would get more protected then what your use too. That and you more than likely be used for advertising." I said with a light shrug.

"Rarity?"

"Rarity," I said with a nod. "But that said, I don't think you will have to worry about them doing anything outside of that. You grew with them with your time in Ponyville. Which means they are not facing the whole book cover compared to the contents of the book."

"What about you?" She asked eyeing me.

"Well I would probably give you a few barbs about it, but I would always be there for when you need me. In any way, any shape, and anyhow." She smiles and gently kisses me on the cheek.

"I'm glad you're going to be there tomorrow." She said with a smile. After that, we decided we should get some sleep for the next day. I gently leaned in and put my hoof around Twilight to hold her close. She smiled and turned the lamp off bathing the room in the dark night. It was a few minutes into trying to fall asleep before I was launched out of the bed by Twilight's wings snapping open.

"Ow..." I groaned lightly.

***---***

It was the day of the coronation, Twilight was standing outside shaking a little bit in her dress. Behind her was four earth pony mares all with a white coat and blonde manes that curved around to act like drapes to accent the face. Each of them had a saddle that sat a stand to hold a drape with Twilight's Cutie-mark on the darker purple fabric with Golden accented trim. draped behind that was a cloth that went to the floor a dark purple much like the drape with lighter accented moons in the fabric. Behind them was for dark gray unicorn stations wearing the garb of the day guards.

"Come on Twilight, it's going to be alright. Just have to slowly go up there and get crowned." Twilight said walking back and forth nervously as the rest of us just watched.

"Twilight it's going to be fine," I said as I sat there waiting quietly as the crowd starts to file in through a side entrance. I was dressed in a rather finely pressed dress suit of a dark red with golden accents. On the right breast of it, was the crest for the house of Storm. Something I wasn't aware of till hours before. It seems Celestia and Luna had gone through and retroactively inserted a linage to Clover the Clever so I would have a more royal standing with a lot of the nobles. So my suit was placed with the newly designed by Rarity mind your crest. It was much like the old mid-evil coat of arms of knights from earth. It had Clover's four-leaf clover wand in the top left corner of it with a storm cloud with three bolts of lightning coming out of it in the top right. The bottom left of it had a small fireball like the sun and a snowflake in the bottom right. From the left shoulder to the belly of it had a golden sash.

Twilight whirled around to me and I could see the worry eating at her. Even with her large almost a mixture of pink and violet that covered most of it. Up to about two inches down the front hooves and about a foot off the back hooves. On the back that as an extra length that trailed behind by a few feet of accenting white almost see-through fabric. And around the end on the forelegs was a small band of buttercup yellow. which also went around the next in a slightly plunging neckline with an amethyst round cut gem hold it with a pearl drop tone attached to that. Behind the neck of the buttercup, the cloth is a small bow about four inches across and the yellow accented around the side just under the wing and behind the flanks with two small white bows, one on each side. "Storm, I'm about to be crowned. This is a big event Storm, what if I trip?"

"Then we all trip with you," I said with a small smile.

"Storm this isn't a time for jokes." She said with a blush.

"I was more stating that if you trip thing the domino effect would mean that we all trip. One after the other as we, for the most part, are following you. What did you learn from the time loop event?" I asked as I remembered that story from the carnival not too long ago.

"Not to worry about the future?" She asked with a curious thing.

"Exactly, and you have me here the whole way. Nothing will go, wrong dear, we have double checked, and I even triple checked with Spike and Hermes." I said as I gently placed my left hoof against her cheek, and made sure not to mess up the makeup. Dear god Rarity would kill me if I screwed this up for Twilight and her work. No offense but that mare could strike the fear of god into some pony if she really wanted to. "Plus it won't just be me there. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Spike, Hermes, and the girls will be right up there with you. Don't forget that your parents and brother will be in the front row. You're not alone in all this and you have all of us to draw strength from." I continued as I gently placed my forehead against hers as best I could with a horn on each of our heads.

She blushed quietly looking at me before she nodded quietly giving me a gentle kiss on the lips. "your right." she said with a small pause. "It just feels like this is happening too fast."

"I know the feeling all too well. But you've done so much more under pressure Twilight. This is just like that, and I know you will overcome it with ease."

“Thank you.”

“Anytime Twilight.”

“Your highnesses we are about to start.” One of the guards said with a slight bow. We both nodded and Twilight took the lead. I was slightly behind her to the right about half a pony's length. Behind us was the four mares with the stallion guards behind them. We listened in quietly as it was almost our cue to enter.

“She created new magic, proving without a doubt that she is ready to be crowned Equestria's newest princess. Fillies and gentlecolts, may I present being accompanied by Prince Firestorm. For the very first time, Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Celestia announced as the doors opened before us to show a full room of ponies at either side of the aisle. Before using all three princesses stood on the stage with both the girls as well as Spike. The latter was in a nicely pressed black suit and bright red bow tie. Princess Luna was wearing a twilight purple dress that had different hues of purple to make up the clouds on the lower half of the dress and a few stars on the skirt part of the dress as it covers the flank. Which worked well with the gold accents that came out of the back of the skirt, around the barrel, ruffling at the end of the sleeves, and around her neck much like her normal regalia. Even with a matching twilight purple crescent on her chest. Instead of her normal midnight blue crown, she had a gold and purple crown with a golden crescent moon with a splash of purple.

Princess Celestia was wearing was close to Twilight's if only in the main color. Unlike Twilight, Celestia's skirt had swirls of gold to make it look like magic swirling. She also had a white sash around her barrel. She also had small puffs of golden on the shoulder and golden trims on her short sleeves. The only differences between the other princesses are that Celestia was still wearing her regalia. And upon on her head was a larger crown with a white padded trim with purple patches around the rim of it. While each spike of the crown was golden with a smaller center amethyst gem and a purple bobble at the top of each peak.

Then lastly Cadence who was wearing a mostly blue and purple dress. Much like her kingdom, her dress was a crystal motif like the crystal skirt she had one that reminds me of a chandelier. Which the main body of it is sky blue of different hues, while the skirt trim had blue diamonds with a violet purple ends. The same could be said about the sleeves which was mostly purple with sapphires gems. Around the chest had a blue sash that covered up an aquamarine gem were her regalia would be. Her main was styled up one other time which was during the Grand Galloping Gala with matching amethysts and sapphires throughout her main with a crown with purple bobbles.

We slowly made our way to the stage with the mares behind us singing some of the laziest lyrics I've heard. “ ♫ The Princess Twilight cometh, behold, behold ♫ “ Internally Shadow was groaning at the lyrics and I was right their with him. Seriously, who the hell wrote this? Regardless we got up to the rest of them and I took my place next to Luna. Spike slowly stepped forward, with the Element of Magic on a pillow in his hands. It had seemed that the Element had reshaped itself from the tall prom tiara to a more royal crown with the element front and center. We watched as Celestia magically left up the element and gently placed it on Twilight's head. Everypony in the hall including the girls began to stomp their hooves. Speaking of the later going in order Applejack, Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie looked like a southern belle straight out of a Disney flick, a cloud themed Robin Hood, a female detective, a nature elf, and finally, a candy themed dress straight out of eighteen ninety-seven England. After that, the Princesses, the girls, and I all went to the balcony to address the ponies that couldn't fit in the hall. Which mind you is, and I shall quote 'a massive fuck-ton' of ponies.

“Seriously how the hell can Canterlot hold this many ponies?” Shadow asked.

“A lot of support and many, many, anchoring to the mountainside.” Cadence commented over the link directly to me. There was an awkward silence that lasted a few moments as Twilight took front and center.

"Touche" I couldn't help but smirk at this as Celestia leaned over to Twilight.

"Say something, Princess," Celestia whispered, this got Twilight to blush for a moment as she cleared her throat.

"A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which is something I didn't really care much about." Twilight began I looked over at Cadence giving her a subtle wink. She eyed me for a moment as she floated over the small box that I took up in my limited magic and placed behind my left wing. "But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about Friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful." Twilight turned to each of us with a big smile on her face and a small tear of joy in her eye before she turned back to address the crowd below. "Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends, Thank you Everypony! I just don't know what could make this day better!" That was my cue as I slowly stepped forward keeping the box firmly hidden in my wing.

"I can think of something," I said as I stepped up next to my marefiend. Celestia taking the hint, stepped back towards her sister as she watched what was about to unfold. "Since the day I came to Equestria, I had nothing to my name. Not even a name itself that I could remember." I began as a lot of the ponies down below looked a little confused. I really didn't care about them at the moment, as there was only one pony that I truly cared for. "From the time I sat in a room at Ponyville Hospital lost and clueless about anything really. I was confused and misplaced, and that all ended when you walked in with a smile, and a will to help somepony you had never met before. You opened your home to that very same pony." Twilight looked a little confused at where this was going and I couldn't blame her. "Since then we grew to know each other. I didn't really know it then but a spark happened between us. A spark that over the time together grew into a raging inferno. An inferno that was fed through troubles and strife, through everyday life. You were always there. Even when I had clouded sight and judgment, you stood there and tried to help." My right claw began to creek a little as I was trying to make my emotions in check as I continued with the memories flooding my mind "I regret what I did that day, but even after all that. You stood by me. Just as I will always stand by you. There is no mountain high enough and no valley low enough to keep me from being there for you. I know that the future is largely unknown, but I do know this. I love you with every fiber of my being and that I have four very impotent words for you."

Twilight's eyes widen as I slowly dipped down on my knee as I reached under my left wing. Pulling the dusk blue box and opened up to show the lavender violet padding within it to her. "Princess Twilight Sparkle of the house of Twilight, I Prince Ryhn Firestorm of the house of Storm, ask you this." I continued as I held up the box for everypony to see, as my heart was pounding a mile a minute. Within the box was a dual banded ring that twisted around like flowing ribbons. One of a vibrant red, and the other of a deep gold. In the center of the stone was two stones, a fire ruby cut down to have the radius of a penny and the other was a star amethyst cut to be a star laid in the center of the fire ruby. I had this done to show that I will always be with her regardless of where and when. "Will you marry me?"

The girls' jaws dropped when those words left my mouth. Well, for the most part, Fluttershy had a hoof to her muzzle in surprise as everypony waited. Rarity was mouthing 'say yes' over and over again. Pinkie was bouncing in spot with the largest set of eyes I've seen on her. This being her, that's saying a whole lot. Applejack brought her hat down and was holding it over her chest. Dash was the one with her mouth open looking in surprise. The Princesses were not surprised as they already knew of my plan beforehand. Since the idea popped into my head, they were on board. Especially Cadence. We all waiting on bated breath as we waiting for Twilight to answer. She stared at the ring that I've had in the work for months now since before my sister had visited Canterlot. The crowd was murmuring and I couldn't make out what anypony was saying as I watch a tear fall from Twilight's eye. Slowly her eyes went up from the ring box to my eyes as something broke and she couldn't hold it back anymore. Within a swift motion, she had flew at me hugging me deeply, and right then I know...

She said yes.

-End of Chapter-

Author's Notes:

Okay, so a raise of hands. Who figured out what was going to happen at the end before it got there?