[Sunday Afternoon]

[Roxxie’s POV]

During lunch, Nil suggested to meet in the study later tonight so we could discuss our plan for the Gala. Teala mentioned that she has three golden tickets for to get us in, courtesy of her parents since they’re busy in Cloudsdale at the time. They wanted her to go with two of their servants, but I doubt she’d even go if all of this didn’t happen to us. After we had lunch, Nil went to his room, said he’d finalize our course of action before the meeting tonight. Once everything on the table was cleared, Teala and I walked to Sigmund’s room and office space. She looked uneasy when we got to the door, and it’s not much of a surprise, considering we may be going up against her head butler if things didn’t go smoothly. I rested my hand on her shoulder, assuring her that I was right there for her, and I got her back. She nodded before she looked to the door once more, took a deep breath to calm herself, and knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” Sigmund asked behind the door.

“It’s Teala and Roxxie,” she answered.

“Ah yes. Please, do come in,” he said before Teala opened the door, and we walked inside.

I haven’t been in his room very much, so it was hard to remember what it was like before. It was big, but not much as Teala’s. The paint on the walls give the room a calming atmosphere though. His bed was plainer compared to Teala’s, yet it looked comfy enough to sleep in either way. There was a small bookshelf against the wall that was across from the side of his bed, some looked to have stories while others may contained something else inside. The window that lit up the room wasn’t big like Teala’s, but still nice to look through. His desk where he sat was small, but it was big enough to do whatever work butler’s do when they aren’t maintaining the mansion. There were some picture frames that had photos of him, Teala, her parents, and even her grandparents. Teala and Sigmund looked like they were happy in the photos with the two of them together, especially ones that portrayed the former at a younger age.

“I must say Master Teala, when you asked if we could chat in private, I thought you meant just the two of us,” Sigmund commented.

“I’m just here as insurance,” I said, which had him raise his eyebrow in confusion, but shrugged his shoulders.

“Shall I get you girls some tea, or something to drink?” He asked.

“I’m good.”

“Me too,” we replied.

“Please, take a seat and make yourselves comfortable,” he requested before I shut the door behind us, and we walked in, and took a seat on the foot of his bed. He then got up, and rolled the chair he was sitting in to where it was in front of us before he took a seat, and got in a comfortable position. “So what is it that we need to discuss Master Teala?” He asked.

“Basically, everything that happened since the morning of Cyan’s disappearance,” Teala answered. “Finding out he was gone, the four of us revealing our Element Magic, discussing the backgrounds of our powers, our plans to pursue answers about it, including one that takes place at the gala tomorrow, you’ve been on the sidelines, witnessing EVERYTHING we’ve gone through over the past few days, and not once have you objected to our course of action, and what we plan to do. Sigmund, I’m wondering what’s going on in that head of yours, and what you’re thinking behind your constantly stoic expression you usually put up as you do your job as my butler. A part of me still wants to trust you, but I can’t help but worry that you’d do something that will get in the way of our goal. So I must ask, no, I ORDER you to tell me what’s going on with you, and I expect to hear the truth,” she finished with a stern expression.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard Teala making demands like that, especially towards Sigmund. This must be really hard for her.

Sigmund sat there in silence, attentive, and taking in everything Teala has said before coming up with an answer. “To put it simply Master Teala, I am only following orders,” he replied.

The both of us raised an eyebrow before we glanced at each other, and turned our attention back to him. “I… Don’t understand,” Teala said. “I don’t think I remember ordering you to keep everything we’ve done so far a secret, or our plans for the future. Is it someone else? My parents?”

“No Master Teala,” he replied. “I am following the orders, or should I say, following the wishes of your late grandparents.”

Teala’s eyes widened from the shock of the answer. “M-my grandparents? W-when did that happen?” She asked.

Sigmund then got up, and went to his desk. He took a photo that had him, and Teala’s grandparents in a more youthful age. The black and white color of the picture added into how long ago it was taken. He opened the back of the frame, and took out what looked like an old, worn out letter before he set the picture down, and walked back to us.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“You could say this is a secret will of sorts, one that’s not known to Teala’s parents, and only addressed to me,” Sigmund replied before he handed the letter to Teala. “Once you read what’s inside, I’m sure everything will be made clear.”

Teala opened the worn out envelope, pulled out the letter, and unfolded paper before I looked over her shoulder to read its contents.

To our loyal, and dear butler Sigmund,

If you’re reading this letter, then we are no longer in this world. What’s contained in this letter, is our last request addressed to you that isn’t included in our will. We have watched our son mature over the years, and I fear his wealth will own him than he owns it. I’m sure you’ve noticed this as much as we have while you’ve served in our family since the day we took you in. Our daughter-in-law isn’t exactly helping the issue either. I don’t know what we did wrong that had made him grow into the pony he came to be, but we pray to Celestia he’ll change his ways one day.

Our granddaughter Teala however, we saw that she had much potential to do something great that doesn’t have to do with running the family business. I’m worried her parents will do what they can to form her into a “proper lady” so to speak, with the skills required to take over the business when she grows to that point of age. We’ve done all that we could to help her, but you and I both know that we could only stay in this world for so long. There will come a time when Teala will grow mature enough to start thinking about her own future, and we wish her the best in whatever she decides. Whether she does decide to take over the business, or do something else entirely, we only wish for her happiness.

Because of this, we have one last request to bestow upon you Sigmund. Whatever our granddaughter decides to do, help her in any way you can. Support her, watch over her, protect her until she’s ready to move on her own, and be with her in spirit. Help guide her in the direction she wants to go that will lead to her own happiness. She may have her little fits now and then, she takes that from her grandmother, but please don’t hold anything against her. All that we ask is that you be there for her that I’m worried her parents won’t, and what we’ve tried to do through the last of our lifetime. We thank you for serving us over the years, and we do hope that you find your own happiness as well as Teala will.

With great regards and love,

Aqueous and Sunshine Crystalwaters

“I owed my life to your grandparents for saving me from dying in the streets,” Sigmund said, which we turned our attention to him after finishing the letter. He was standing in front of the window, looking out with that same stoic expression, but his eyes looked to have sadness. “I vowed to serve under the Crystalwater family until the end of my days, with great gratitude for giving me a chance to live happily like I wish to bring for them. I agree that your father didn’t turn out the way they had hoped, and I was worried for how you would turn out when your parents gave you so much rules and expectations to live by. That is, until I watched you play with Master Cyan and Master Roxxie, and how we practiced fencing ever since you first came across it.”

He turned and walked back to us before taking his seat on his chair once more. “The glimmer in your eyes were the same as mine whenever I was feeling at my best, same goes for your grandparents, and I wish to keep that maintained for as long as I live. While I do admit the course of action you’re about to take part is giving me a heart attack just thinking about it, if it is the future you wish to pursue, then as the head butler of the Crystalwaters mansion, you have my full support Master Teala,” he finished with a smile that even made his big mustache curled upwards.

Teala sat there with her lips quivering, and her eyes were welling up in tears before she set the letter and envelope to the side, and stood up from the bed. “S-Sigmund… Rise,” she requested. Sigmund complied without hesitation before Teala rushed in and hugged him tightly. She sobbed greatly in his suit while the butler happily returned the hug given to him. “S-Sigmund… I love you,” she cried.

“I love you too Teala, and I always will,” he replied.

… Goddessdammit, now I’m starting to cry. I’m not used to this mushy stuff.

I thought as I wiped the tears out of my eyes. Teala pulled back from the hug after she calmed down. Sigmund took a handkerchief from his coat pocket, and handed it to her before she took it, and wiped the tears from her eyes. She gave it back to him when finished, and he put it in his pocket to wash for later. “Sigmund, I can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done for me,” Teala said with a smile.

“It’s with great pleasure serving you Master Teala,” he replied while giving a small bow. “I must admit, I am eager to see Master Cyan once more.”

“Why’s that?” She asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Master Cyan is a fine young stallion after watching him grow over the years,” he explained. “I can guarantee he’s the best choice to have as a husband compared to the suitors your parents found.”

My eyes widened the same as Teala’s while her face flushed red. “Y-you know about that?” She asked.

“I AM the head butler of this mansion after all,” he answered. “Why, I even ORGANIZED that list, and from their descriptions, NONE of them deserve to have a future wife as beautiful such as yourself. I admit, I was against arranged marriage when the idea was brought up, but your parents can be so stubborn at times. I think you’d be much happier with Master Cyan, Master Roxxie as well.”

That last statement caught both of our guards off as I felt my eyes bulged out of my sockets. “C-come again?” I asked nervously.

“I admit, forming and holding a herd can be quite a challenge, but I think the three of you have what it takes keep it well-maintained,” Sigmund continued.

“Y-You know about that?!” Teala asked with her whole head flushing red.

“I had some idea when I noticed the marriage law book missing from the library, but your, *ahem* loud banter I heard as I passed by your room confirmed my suspicions,” he explained.

“And YOU’RE okay with that?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“As what her grandparents wished, if it makes her happy, then who am I to interfere?” Sigmund asked. “There’s no shame to be in one either, as polygamy was quite a common practice back in my day. Why, when I was around your age, I was, how you say, the ‘bee’s knees’ with the ladies, and I made sure to give my dates a jolly good show.”

Oh, OW, that is PAINFUL! I did NOT need to hear that!

“LALALALALALALA—I can’t hear you—LALALALALA!” Teala exclaimed while plugging her ears. “Roxxie, we’re done here. Let’s go before mental images will scar me for life.”

“Right behind ya,” I said before we rushed out of Sigmund’s room while he laughed heartily at his master’s embarrassment.

“Well THAT turned out better than I hoped, despite the ending,” I commented as Teala and I were sitting on her bed, and she was brushing my mane.

“Indeed, though I wish he left out that little history of his life there,” Teala replied as I felt her cringe from the thought.

“On the bright side, at least we have one pony who supports our relationship,” I pointed out. “Though if HE heard our conversation last night, I’m worried who ELSE was around.”

“It was late in the evening, and everyone on staff but Sigmund left for their homes long before that,” she replied. “I doubt anyone else knows, but from now on, any future conversations related to this will be taken place in a quiet room, if not, at a lower volume.”

“Definitely.”

“Thanks for being with me back there. Though the outcome would still be the same, it was nice having you around for support.”

“Hey, what are friends/herdmates for? I’m sure you’d do the same for me.”

“Of course I would,” she then hugged me from behind before we shared a brief, but nice kiss. “Now let’s finish with our brushing, and see if Nil’s ready to discuss our plans for tomorrow night.”

“Sure thing,” I said before she finished brushing my mane, and went to my tail.

[Nil’s POV]

“Aaaaannnnd… Done,” I said to myself as I finished drawing a good map of Canterlot Castle with all rooms included, and directions of my plan on another sheet of paper. “If we follow this, I’m sure we’ll be able to get in and out of there without a trace in the archives. Think I’m gonna take a quick nap before I discuss them with the girls,” I planned before I set my things down, and set my hat on the night stand before I got on my temporary bed with a sigh of content. “Forming a herd huh? Didn’t think princess had it in her. Gotta say, the kid’s gonna have a lot on his shoulders, that’s for sure. I doubt he knows what they’re planning, and thinks he’d have to choose one of them once they meet… I think I’ll keep this little tidbit to myself and see where this goes. Could use some good entertainment from our little circle,” I chuckled before I closed my eyes with a smirk, and letting myself drift to my usual nap.

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