Cadence’s opinion of William, since the beginning, was that he was an incredibly adaptive being. Visit by visit he gradually became acclimatised, strong, swift, and displayed his merrier side. It was almost difficult to believe; she had a hard time accepting that he was fine initially, but that thought slowly faded with time. He was polite and respectful, to the point that he was like any other pony in the presence or Royalty. It took much prodding, one heck of a pillow fight than spanned the halls and barracks, but he learnt to relax more around the Princesses.

Her opinion now?

Trust her gut and check for issues in anypony she suspects to be going through a hard time. Maybe mothering everypony like aunty Celestia does is actually a good thing. The man was a wreck held together by string.

“Okay, let go through these problems one at a time, okay?” she asked coming off more condescending than intended.

At least she thought that was the case given how exaggerated a toothy smile and slow nod she received. She merely rolled her eyes and cleared her throat.

“Finally getting to the important part,” she said whilst she looked for the tea set, “I’m sorry about getting side tracked like that, Will, I was just making sure that you were in a better state of mind.”

“I understand,” he said, rubbing Roxanne’s side.

“Hmmm, ah that’s where I put it!” Before he knew it, the tea set from before flew into William’s view and landed upon the rug. “Okay, a deal’s a deal,” Cadence said as steaming tea was poured into a cup. “You talked and now you get your drink.”

“That’s still hot?” William asked, despite registering the warm vapours trailing from cup slowly floating towards him. “For real?” he inquired, looking toward Cadence.

“Well, yeah, I didn’t know how long this was going to take so I had one of the maids enchant the tea pot,” she replied, levitating a saucer over to him. He looked between the hovering tea pot and the floating saucer before face palming.

“Sure, why not, stranger things have happened, to me and my surroundings,” he commented, more so to himself as he placed the saucer on the arm of the couch. He then rapidly rolled his hand in a tumbling fashion in mid-air, “You may proceed with your rebuttal!” he finished dramatically. He was about to take a small sip when she spoke.

“Okay, first question-“

“Bloody Hell! How am I supposed to drink this if you’re asking questions?”

“Are you polygamous or monogamous?”

He choked on his words between amused huffs but the stern stoic stare of the mare helped calm him.

“Let’s say confused for the time being.”

“It’s a simple question: are you a harem kind of guy or a one-love kind of guy?” she reiterated, still maintaining her professional, regal demeanour. “It will determine how happy you will be with the one you’re after, after all, they’ll ask themselves this question at some point in their lives. Before or after meeting you.”

“Really? It’s a choice?” Cadence shook her head, wincing slightly.

“Depends on which side of that fence you sit on. It all comes down to where the pony is raised and what the mind and heart actually desires.” She brought a hoof to her chest and continued, “I was born amidst a monogamous crystal clan, but Aunty Luna and Celestia were born amidst a harem, or herd clan as it was waaaaaay back when.”

“In that case I’m monogamous,” William added, putting his cup to the floor and feeling as if he wasn’t going to be getting a drink anytime soon. “Born and raised in a family with one mother and one father and only had one girl on the go at a time. If my people had more than one on the side, then it was taboo. At least in my part of the world.”

“Would you be willing to become polygamous?” Cadence inquired. “It is something you can be here. Socially, it’s normal for smaller towns to have harems whilst larger cities, like here, have mostly one stallion one mare couples. It’s a practice to encourage growth, but it’s hardly major until you begin skirting Equestrian territory.” After her explanation William shook his head.

“But what does that make Ponyville?” he inquired. She merely shrugged.

“Big village? Small town? I suppose it would be at the stage where the number of harems is diminishing if they're not already.”

“I don’t think it’s for me. I don’t feel as if that would be the right thing,” he replied, rubbing his hands together and looking away. “Seems kind of like a dream come true sort of thing.”

“Mares can go through the same thing, you know,” the princess commented with a coy smile, “The mare that builds our chariots is married to three other stallions.”

“What’s the point to all this?” Will asked looking back.

“Well, unlike sexuality, you can choose which to pursue but you have to bear in mind that the preference may be something nurtured into a pony; your crush could naturally desire a harem but be willing to go mono. Maybe it’s the other way round. Would you be okay with doing the same for them?” Cadence pressed stretching out a cramp in her wing. She had been still for quite a while now.

The action caused Roxanne to stir and look around. Her gaze shifted between the door, the balcony, and the alicorn before she went back to sleep on Will’s lap. During the little show, the man made a decision, and with uncertainty in his voice he spoke.

“I’ve changed enough as it is, I suppose if I were to pursue a relationship, I would have to be the one to change my preference.”

“That you can’t change, you're merely sacrificing it for something else. For a while it may feel weird and overbearing but it passes. Then again, maybe you won’t have to.” Cadence replied moments before inspecting her hoof. “You see, finding these things out is the point of dating.”

“I know but… a multiple-woman relationship?” he asked rhetorically, rubbing the back of his neck. He pursed his lips, ignoring the wry smile and rolling of eyes belonging to the princess. “I don’t know how I can justify sharing my love between two or more women, or keep them all happy.”

“Well, the way I see it is that in a monogamous relationship two halves become whole,” Cadence explained as she brought her hooves together, “and polygamous relationships have hearts coming together to become something greater, simply being one plus one equals two!” she finished with a chirp, parting her hooves but keeping them up.

“And when there’s a third?” Will asked. She frowned before poking out her tongue and steadily raising a hind leg. It was adorable watching her concentrate as she performed the act. Upon completion she delivered a smug smile.

“…Forth…”

“William.”

“Fine.”

“You’re still adding what you bring to the relationship, but now there’s another sharing their heart with you. Sure it might be a little extra work, but you soon finds that everyone gets the same amount of love and attention. It’s not as if you always have to keep on adding, you know.”

With a disgruntled grunt, Will reached down to take hold of his cup. He sat back up shaking his head, and was about to take a sip before he reconsidered.

“Well I prefer monogamous,” he stated before bringing the ceramic edge to his lips, “but I’d try it if I were persuaded to,” he finished as he removed the cup before taking his first drink. “I take it that it’s not uncommon for a harem-guy or gal to try and bring up the issue at some point, right?” The man’s inquiry was met with a nod. He was about to blow on the brew to cool it when Cadence spoke up.

“Why are you suddenly afraid of social exclusion?”

William merely sighed, the act causing a small tide of tea to slide over the edge of the cup. He placed it on the saucer and gave the princess his full attention.

“It’s not so much me as it is the one I’d be with; you remember what I said about that one guy that tried to stir trouble? That whole debacle lasted two weeks,” William said with a weary shake of the head. “How am I supposed to show how much I care when all I do is cause that kind of trouble?”

His hand fell with a flimsy flop onto his thigh, an act that agitated Roxanne enough to be deemed punishable by nibbling of the wrists.

“Imagine if that sort of thing followed them wherever they went, it affected their lives with their friends, it caused issues with their parent’s and relatives-- in more ways than one mind you- and then think how that would affect their employment,” he said, finishing by biting his knuckle.

He was about to be set off again, she could see it. It’s subtle but there, the little pieces he’d managed to salvage for now starting to erode and crumble. She reached over to rest a hoof on his arm, earning only a wary stare from Roxanne as William continued.

“All it takes in one swine-hearted employer, a toxic customer with a touch of influence and then the one I care most for suffers. Their job loses business or they can’t even land a job. Friends can’t stand the sight of us together, maybe not all of them, but just the one, and I’d be the one to get in between them.” His hand combed his hair once more before massaging the bridge of his nose and exhaling through pursed lips. Upon finishing he only then felt the presence of a hoof upon his arm, and then the eyes pointed at him.

“William.” Cadence said sternly before her hard toe poked him in the ribs. He recoiled with an ‘oomph’, Roxanne bolting to her paws with her tail flickering. “Your lack of faith in your fellow pony disturbs me.”

“Why?” he asked with an annoyed tone, his hand instinctively rubbing the prodded area.

“Because there are over one hundred laws put into place to prevent this sort of thing,” she stated flatly, prodding him again. At his yelp Roxanne hopped between him and the mare, ready to pounce.

“Careful, she’s quite the bitch at times.”

“That’s very clever but the correct term is vixen,” Cadence corrected. At least, she thought she had.

“I’m not talking to you.”

Cadence was about to prod him so hard he’d hiccup her name for the rest of his life, alas, the growling fox deterred her.

“Anyway, the business aspects; ponies won’t turn down others based up their relationship choice for one thing and one thing only: bits.” He arched an eyebrow at her and gestured for the smugly smiling mare to continue. “If a profit can be made then where the money comes from isn’t a concern, unless it comes from an illegal source, nopony in Canterlot seems to care.”

“And elsewhere?” William put forward, one hand soothing the on edge fox. “Say I want a romantic dinner one evening in Shady Hallows-“

“Err, not to be rude, but thestrals tend to have a harder time being accepted than you have been, I mean, what with the vampire stereotype and the whole Nightmare Moon-”

“Okay, then, let’s say we’re in Baltimare, I've got the sun sleeping upon the horizon and we’ve just finished tangoing through the Harvest Day festival, and we’re making our way to a classy establishment to watch the dolphins in the pier,” William rebutted, folding his arms. “But then the guy’s upfront like-“

“Awww…” Will’s attention snapped to Cadence and he found her with her hooves covering her mouth. “That’s so lovely, and you think you’ll get rejected.” Her eyes practically sparkled as the man instantly turned away to face the night sky and avoid her gaze. He coughed awkwardly into his fist, the princess dropping her hooves to reveal a sinister sly grin.

“Oh, right, xenophobic ponies, right… uh, laws get broken, you can sue the establishment, I thought we covered this,” she said whilst inspecting a hoof.

“Because they’ll be so blatant and upfront about it,” he retorted, finally turning back to face her wicked smile. “What about the ones who’d try to do us harm-“

“Look, Will, ponies will stare and ponies will stop caring, ponies whisper, ponies talk, ponies may even call you out about it, but you shouldn’t let them get to you! You. Are. Better. Than! That!” Cadence barked, scowling at him. “Interspecies relationships are rare, yeah, it’s more of an outskirts thing, but at the end of the day nopony else will value your love as much as the one you’re with, meaning that nopony else will care.” She face-hoofed, a display that always seemed more painful than practical in his eyes, and then groaned.

“How many ponies were disgusted by you apparently dating either the ex-element of loyalty or the ex-element of honesty?” She looked up to him after sliding her face out from under her hoof. “Or was it just gossip?”

“…”

“William,” Cadence began with a motherly tone, “was it foul mouthing or was it just gossip about the juicy bits.” Looking up to him, she found that he was making a good impression on how to suck a lemon.

“…”

“It was gossip wasn’t it?”

“There were at least three others who didn’t like what they were hearing,” William muttered.

“Ugh, William!”

“But that’s all it takes!” he yelled, causing both Roxanne and Cadence to yelp. His face hardened as his gaze shifted back the balcony doors. “They try anything, if somepony gets hurt because of me…” He looked back with darkened expression, one that almost made Cadence fear being in his presence. The fireplace caught the dangerous glint in his eyes as he spoke with a low growl, “I wouldn’t be the type of guy to sit by or stop when necessary… not anymore.”

“And you’re friends? What about them? What about your special pony’s friends?” Cadence asked, her resolve strengthening as his eyes darted away. “I bet, when all those nasty rumours were floating about, you had your friends backing you up.”

“Yeah, Rarity was a huge help behind the gossip scenes whilst Twilight, much to my chagrin, decided that a public announcement was a suitable answer by the end of the second week.” He face palmed, an act that earned a pawing from Roxanne. “I said if it didn’t bloody work that I’d be bunking here with Celestia and Luna… or maybe I’d let Blue Blood parade me around for a while.” His shoulders sagged as he scratched the vixen between the ears earning a tongue-lolling look of bliss. “Traveling the country does seem enticing.”

“And this Big Mac…” Cadence added with an arched brow.

“Yeah the guy’s sound as a pound, packs a kick too and so do I these days.”

“So in a relationship you’d be fine, but apparently your partner wouldn’t have these kind of friends, or that yours wouldn’t step in to help where need be,” Cadence pointed out, resting a hoof on his lap. “True friends will stick together, maybe tease each other, but they will respect each other’s choices. How is that ponies can sit beside gay, straight, bisexual, polygamous, monogamous ponies and yet draw the line at seeing two beings of different bodies in love?”

“Treat your neighbours as you would treat yourself,” William whispered as he reached down for his tea, loud enough to stir Cadence’s ear.

“Yeah! Exactly! Most ponies try to do that, but there are bigots who are far and few; they’re not gone but you’d have support from your friends, I’m certain. And so will your lover.” Cadence beamed a bright smile, her eyes closing.

William brought the cup up and rested and elbow on the couch arm. He faced Cadence for a moment, studying her as he slowly swerved the cup around till it reached his lips. He never took his eyes of her as he slowly began to tip the drink.

“Okay! Next question-umph?!”

William had swiftly brought his finger to her lips and bore a squinting scowl at her.

“Wait.” He commanded before taking a full minute to slurp the entire beverage. The noise made her cringe, her ears flattening as she sat through the disgusting ordeal. It sounded wet, messy, sloppy, a faux par equal to claws on chalkboard. She closed her eyes until the noise stopped, to which she was greeted by the sight of William impersonating a chipmunk.

Mechanically, he turned to face the couch opposite, cup still to his lip and then let the tea slowly pour out in a bubbling stream.

“Ew.” Cadence commented as she pulled away. William smacked his lips, his tongue writhing to escape what must have been a foul taste.

“I’ll say,” he muttered, depositing the cup to the floor. Roxanne, who had been curious, hopped off to taste the drink herself. “Roxy!” he chided as the fox began lapping up the brew, “Disgusting.”

“What’s wrong with Matrinti blend?” Cadence asked, slightly offended.

“Tastes like mud and lobster,” he explained, bringing a knee to his mouth. He dragged his tongue across it before lowering his leg. Cadence was not amused by the spectacle.

“Oh, like that’s any better!”

“You do realise that my taste buds aren’t the same as yours, right?”

“You didn’t have to spit it back out!” Cadence scolded, folding her hooves.

“I was not going to drink that.” William stated flatly. Before she could continue, he raised his finger again. “Next Question…”

“Next. Question.” She said through gritted teeth.

“Look if you’re offended, remember that I’m not used to talking to princesses, back home, I’d be lucky to see the Queen. I have no place here, hell that’s the main reason I’m no longer an alicorn!” William said with his hands up defensively.

“Next Question,” she repeated with a sigh, “If you can fall in love with a pony, and as I’ve said it is possible for them to fall for other species, then surely they can reciprocate your feelings?”

“Yes I get it’s a two way street,” William interjected, “But my problem is that I shouldn’t be appealing.”

“Will, sweetie,” Cadence replied slowly, her hoof creeping over to his leg, “If you want to get a mare, try not to think you’re the Creator’s gift to mares.” With a deadpanned glare he watched her pat him. Seconds later he faced her, noting the small smile.

“You do realise that I currently think I am the exact opposite, right?”

“And that’s only half the truth,” she shot back, removing her hoof. “Come on, have a little faith in love, Will. Remember, its building strong connections; if a pony feels that for somepony else, the sense of comfort, warmth, and the sense of pure sanctuary with another, you can bet they won’t turn down a chance to become something greater.”

William groaned as he rubbed his eyes. His head slowly bobbled, either due to complete understanding or due to wishing for her to drop the point.

“Ponies will see you for who you are. If the mare you’re infatuated with does want to be with you, it’s because you’ve got something that she couldn’t find in another pony,” Cadence added before sighing. With shake of her head she looked to him with pleading eyes. “Don’t give in to self-doubt when it comes to love, Will. You’ll hurt yourself again.”

“So you actually believe I’d… stand a chance,” he muttered, rapping his fingers against his thigh.

“William… You exercise daily, study history, philosophy, read literature, are intelligent, funny, outgoing, and bunk in Canterlot Castle monthly to learn how to draw as a coping mechanism with Princess Luna,” Cadence said flatly before trailing a circle around him with a hoof, “If this doesn’t scream tortured artist I don’t know what does. Mares should be flocking when you say you’re ready.”

“Oh that’s just insulting, Princess!” William shot back with a nudge, his sad smile slowly retracting. She giggled, her melodious titter fading when he didn’t join in. He looked deep in thought- he was bearing that intimidating frown that meant as such, at least so she thought. He was also focusing elsewhere… another good sign that the scowl wasn’t a sign of ill intent.

’This is all based on guessing.‘ she reminded herself.

“I’ll… give you that. As head turningly gorgeous as I am it's not my best feature, but that has never stopped love before,” he agreed with a nod. He noticed Cadence giving him a studious once over, pursing her lips and arching a brow.

“Well you are an exotic myth and it’s not off putting being able to see your muscles,” she admitted before shrugging. “Who knows?” There was a brief moment where she looked away, rubbing a hoof on another in a soothing fashion.

“Something wrong?” William asked, catching onto her strange change in behaviour.

“It’s my final question,” she managed, turning back to him with a blush. She bore a serious expression, her highly dignified appearance slightly tarnished by the cute redness catching her cheeks.

“And that would be?”

“How do you feel about…um.” Cadence trailed off, her cheeks flushing but her face remaining stoic. She maintained her integrity, her dignity, as she gestured what she wanted to say with her hooves bumping into each other. William looked to the gesture then back into her eyes, keeping a flat expression.

“I…guess…well,” he started awkwardly, repeating the gesture himself with his own fists. “Hoof bumps are okay, hardly important but I could live with someone who liked to greet like that.” William commented casually, his lip curling into a cruel smile.

“I know you’re not that dense.”

“Oh what do you want me to say? That I’d like to…” He stopped speaking, sighing before snapping his focus back to Roxanne who had settled by his feet. “I’m not going to discuss my hypothetical sex life with the Pink Pony Princess.”

“…Pink Pony Princess still needs an answer,” Cadence added, her blush having dissipated. From the sight alone, either humans didn’t blush or William was an odd case. Instead he seemed to direct his gaze squarely on a single target away from whoever he was talking to. Maybe she wasn’t good with finding tells on other species, but at least she was making progress with the human. “It’s also not with me, but I’m flattered all the same.”

“Yeah… give a shout when you’re feeling polygamous,” he retorted whilst folding his arms.

“I’ll have to see if it’s okay with both our other halves, but I don’t see why not,” Cadence purred, winking as he saw his eyes roam towards her. “But in all seriousness, sex is a part of a healthy relationship, regardless if the goal is to procreate or not. So I need to know.”

“You don’t need to know, but I guess…” William began before groaning, “And here I thought being a furry was just a phase back when.”

“I’m waiting.”

“Yes.”

“Have you… before?”

“Once.”

“Okay… here?”

“NO!”

“Okay, okay!” Cadence said in a calming manner as the man sunk low into the couch, arms folded over his chest. “I’m guessing that when that happens, no too long after you might start thinking about kids.”

“Already have and have already told you: our DNA is incompatible,” Will stated. “Until Twilight finds a way, I can’t magically modify my sperm to become compatible with another species. You can’t change me internally. Think of the box filled with anti-magic and remember you can pick it up but can’t put magic in.”

“Alright, I get that,” Cadence said with an understanding nod, “but what about adoption?” She lifted a hoof to point towards the balcony. “There may be hundreds of lost colts and fillies just waiting for a family, for somepony to love them.” She saw him look to the horizon before glancing back and raising a hand, his expression flinching.

“I’m not opposed to the idea of adoption, I’ve always believed that it is a wonderful thing,” Will said with a small smile. “To take someone in who’s not your flesh and blood and build a trust to allow you both to grow and become better?” His smile grew as he looked her in the eye.

“Being a father always sounded nothing short of amazing to me.” He took on an uncomfortable look as his gaze fell to the fox still at his feet. “It does strike me with a uneasy feeling though; the idea of interviewing each kid and picking just one rubs me the wrong way, but I’m not exactly sure what the process is so…”

“So you’ve already considered it?”

“Obviously.”

“But…” Cadence added with a coaxing bob of the head.

“My issues is not with me adopting but taking away someone’s ability to naturally become a mother just by being with me. Doesn’t that seem a bit unethical?” He was surprised to be met with a huff and another face hoof.

“William, do you think the mares that stand by their infertile stallions care about the morals? When they’re sacrificing for the sake of the other?” She looked up to him with a fire in her eyes. “For Love? What does love mean to you, Will?!” Before he could answer she slammed a hoof onto the couch. “I’m not finished!”

“I think I know what your actual problem is, William, and… I don’t like what it means,” she added with a disappointed look. “You’re trying to quantify everything, make a check list of things to do to become ‘better’.” She pointed a hoof at his arm, “You’ve become fitter and stronger.” She then pointed to his head, “You’ve broadened interests to feed and develop your mind.” With a tired sigh she looked away, her ears falling alongside her expression.

“You’re doing all this because you see it as something to make up for, and you know it, and now the final thing is for you to do is ‘find love’.” Sluggishly she looked up with a pitiful stare boring into him. He met her with stoic face. “But nopony finds love, they discover the foundation to make the bridge, solid land to make a solid connection between two souls.”

With teary eyes she brought a hoof to her heart and sniffed. “Isn’t that beautiful? You can’t ever think love is something that can be made like a contract; there is only one obligation between two and that’s to promise to be with one and other, to fill the weaknesses with each other’s strength.” Cadence sprouted a weak smile as the man’s hardened stare crumbled.

“Don’t you see? If you truly love each other, then nothing else will matter. You’ll look into each other’s eyes and the whole world will pass by. The nay sayers and the obstacles both will become nothing more than clouds on the flight path.”

“Cadence… I’m still—“

“Not. Finished.” Cadence stated firmly, but bearing a smile. She wiped her eyes before continuing. “William, you’re one of the most adaptable beings I’ve ever met. Your will to last so long, your strength to persevere in the face of adversity, and your goal to become the best you, pony or human, is admirable… inspiring.”

William’s jaw lowered but no words came out.

She then bopped him on the shoulder.

“But for how logical you’ve claimed to be, and whilst some of your reason are valid, you’re still a stupid male over thinking everything.” She giggled before moving in to lean against him. Both their gazes were stolen by Roxanne who decided to slink towards the room entrance behind them. All the while, the princess held a wry smile whilst William frowned as he processed what she had said.

“Is that one of those reverse compliments?” he muttered.

“I believe your growing out of the whole pros versus cons method of thinking. You did say you’ve stopped caring about a few things,” she added, patting his firm chest. “But you still know what’s good for you, so it’s more that you’ve lost the cynical version of thinking things through. This is the last hurdle, and you’ve had every reason to believe that love would hurt not just you but another.”

She giggled once more.

“But did you ever consider what would happen if it worked out?” She asked, looking to the fireplace. “To me, you’re a friend going through a rough patch, an infertile stallion believing he’s useless to others.” Looking back she saw him leaning back into the moonlight half of the couch. “Yet, other guys in your position still manage to be happy. To me, you’re an exotic fabled being that’s taken an interest in one pony who has managed to capture your heart. Many will think along the same lines.”

As he sat back up, his were eyes still locked on the fire but he was now bathing in its warm glow. She turned back to face the fire, her expression softening.

“You didn’t come here to ask me how to stop falling in love. You instead said ‘I’m scared that I might hurt somepony, and here are the reasons why’, without even knowing it.”

There was a short pause before she glanced back. William had his gaze set on the door this time. Upon looking herself, Cadence spotted Roxanne sniffing at the bottom of the door. She frowned before facing the man and bopping him on the shoulder again.

“Hey!”

“You’re right. Probably.” William replied, rubbing the fatigue from his eyes. He released another weary sigh, his head lazily rolling back over the top of the couch. He stared at the ceiling whilst breathing just loud enough to be heard. “Guess the sheer number of issues—the failed pony experiment, being told that if I become an alicorn I become a prince, the whole mistaken relationship things, and the lingering fear of facing another day alone— all influenced how I saw things.”

He felt a hoof reach for his hand and sat up to find Cadence holding it with a soft smile.

“Everypony gets scared, you more than others, when it comes to this. That’s fine. Just remember I'll be here for you, and so will every pony else."

"So here’s the ultimatum.” She then spoke whilst patting the couch to mark each point respectively, “You can let your feelings pass, but that only works on fleeting infatuations. You can let your feelings develop and endure not sharing your love until we’re back here again.”

That earned a wince.

“So there’s only two options that remain. In the end you face your love and get rejected, meaning that things may get awkward for a while or you go back to being friends. That’s where you might find melodrama.”

Cadence then smiled sweetly, stroking his hand in a comforting manner. “Or you confess your love and live happily ever after.” She gave him a gentle nuzzle on the shoulder to stop him from speaking.

“I know. You’d be different from most, in that you’re basically an infertile stallion, not to say it’s anything easy to live with… but you can, and when she refuses to leave your side you’ll look back on this moment and know I was right.” She leant back and took a deep breathe.

“This will be it, Will, your readjustment to Equestria is nearly over. This is your last fear. You’re scared but are you willing to change that?”

There was a pregnant pause as the man registered what she had said. She watched the process with intrigue. He seemed to frown at the thought as if his mind had tripped over the statement. Then his expression seemed to slowly melt into a blank stare as realisation set in. Finally, and perhaps her favourite thing of the night…

He laughed.

It was jovial, hearty, loud, and gut clutching. He writhed on the couch, straightening his body as he brought a hand to his mouth. It failed to muffle him and she could only hide her own grin behind a hoof when he curled back up.

When William slowed down to chuckling between pants he would glance between the room and Cadence, wide eyed as if he could see something amazing that she couldn’t.

“Whew, that, heh, that was fantastic!” he exclaimed with a bright smile.

“Glad to see you’re back,” Cadence commented before giggling, “Could have finished a bit sooner and in a less… boisterous fashion.” William simply waved her off, smirking as he had when he first walked in.

“Oh it would just be boring to wrap it all up like that,” he said with a wink, “I needed a laugh anyway, things were waaaay to mopey. Reasoning is good and all when I’m in the right frame of mind.” His attention snapped to Roxanne, who was pawing at the door. His gentle smirk shifted into a fanged grin. He then stretched his legs and grunted before climbing to his feet.

“That’s a worrying transformation, Will.” Cadence noted, eyeing him up and down with a concerned glance. She recoiled hoof as he blinked owlishly at her.

“No, that,” he replied whilst thumbing over his shoulder to the balcony, “was a worrying transformation.” He slowly folded his arms as he tutted. “Not my finest moment but that’s yet to come.” He finished with a gentle smile. “From now on, with my head being a little bit clearer, I should be fine. If not then I promise to get professional help.”

“That’s good to hear.” Princess Cadence hopped off the couch, stretching her wings as a cute yawn escaped her, “Dear me, we’ve been at it for a while.” She blushed and smiled meekly. He rolled his eyes, the act causing fatigue to instantly best his features. His eyelids became heavy and his movements sluggish as he turned towards the door.

“That’s the fun run coming back to bite me,” he murmured to himself, stretching his arms out and arching his back. Upon finishing he trudged towards the door, his steps silent and slow. He stopped halfway between the couch and the door, snapping his fingers. He turned as Roxanne ran towards him.

With an exaggerated bow he said, “Princess Cadence… Cadence.” He looked up with a cheeky grin. “Pretty Pink Pony Princess,” he said, ending with a chuckle. The princess was tempted to roll her eyes or launch the cushion, but felt she should let him speak. She was glad to see him back to normal.

“William, my favourite human,” she replied in kind with a nod of the head.

“Thank you,” he said softly, earnest eyes matching his genial smile. “I bid thee goodnight and sweet dreams,” he finished before turning to strut towards the door.

“Hey! Wait!” Cadence managed to bark despite the fatigue. “Pretty Pink Pony Princess demands to know who it is!”

“Oh yeah,” he replied, looking over his shoulder as he stopped with the door within reach. She watched him slowly reach for the handle as he look back to her, that predatory smile on his face. “I’m gonna tell you who I may or may not ask out one day!” He then paused for dramatic effect. For what felt like a minute, time stopped and then started after he shot her a wink.

The next passing moment happened in a blur for the Princess of Love but upon looking back she recalled the details.

He swiftly pulled the door open, side stepping swiftly to not be caught in the avalanche.

The avalanche was compose of a few ponies, the coats visible through a blinding flash of light were ivory, cyan and soft lavender. Their combined cries were silenced by a unanimous “Oomph.”

The blinding light was, notably, a night sky navy. After the departure of the flash three more ponies joined the pile, one orange, one pink, and one yellow.

As the tangled mess of wings and hooves worked themselves free, William took a moment to speak above their groans.

“I am so relieved there were ponies behind this door,” he stated with a sigh, silencing the group of six. Everypony look to him with disbelief, those who had eavesdropped held an expression akin to a foal caught with their hooves in the biscuit tin. William simply chuckled at the sight. “I mean, can you imagined how awkward that would have been if no one was actually there?”

He shifted his gaze to Roxanne.

“So these were the ponies who kept bothering you all evening?”

He didn’t even bother to listen to the ponies' rushed apologies, instead he opted to slide past the pile before continuing down the hall. Roxanne gave the butterscotch pegasus a small lick before following her owner.

“Girls… I’m knackered and I have a lot to think about tonight, please direct all question to Princess Cadence,” he said over his shoulder. “I’m sure she and you guys can have a lovely chat but I’m beat. Good night!”

Cadence watched the man, noticing both the saunter in his steps and the hand combing his hair.

’He’s not there yet,’ she thought with a smile, ‘but he’ll make it.’

Her attention then turned to the emerging purple alicorn, working the ache out of her wing.

“Well, Twily,” she began, catching the mare off guard, “Why don’t we have a nice talk over a cup of tea, hmm?” With an arched brow and sly grin her horn glowed. Cadence’s mystical aura wrapped around the door, closing it and sealing the six ponies in the room with her.

Twilight giggled nervously, looking to her friends for support before offering a sheepish smile.

“I’m… so, so sorry,” she said with a shameful tone and with a bashful kick of the hoof. “We’ve all been worried about him and we thought this was something big… besides it is all totally Princess Luna’s fault.”

“Girls,” Cadence began, trotting towards the couch closest to the book shelves, “I don’t care how much you heard, you can face William tomorrow and apologise. But for now we’ve got a lot to talk about.” She steepled her hooves together and inspected each of the ponies that solemnly made their way over.

Rainbow spoke up from where she hovered by the fireplace. “We are so, so sorry, Princess, but it’s like Twilight says, the big guy’s been acting weird when he thinks no one’s looking.”

“Feller’s been bottling it all up, could see that coming better than Granny could spot a bad apple for cider season,” Apple Jack added gloomily, taking up a seat with her stetson in her hooves.

“I’m sure we can voice our concerns all we want girls,” Rarity chimed, taking the spot William had occupied moments ago, “It won’t excuse us for eaves dropping on our friend during such a… raw moment.” She passed a glance to a deflated Pinkie, currently being patted on the back by Fluttershy.

“We normally see him as he was seconds ago… to hear him…like he was outside,” Fluttershy said softly, her ears falling as she nuzzled the pink pony. “I don’t think I’ve heard him so upset, poor thing.”

“How did you hear what went on outside?” Cadence asked, catching Rainbow rubbing the back of her neck and whistling nonchalantly. With an eye roll the alicorn perked up. “Don’t worry, things worked out for the better,” Princess Cadence said with a soft smile, “Although he might need a hoof, or a hand in his case, to keep him smiling.” She redirected her gaze towards Pinkie Pie, earning dutiful nod.

“No problem! He won’t even be able to think about frowning with me on duty!” Her statement was reinforced by a salute seconds later. “I’ll watch him breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and dinner!” she chirped.

“You don’t have to eat with him all the time.”

“He does live with the Cakes, sharing a room with Pinkie,” Twilight pointed out, “He’s almost saved enough for his own place… though he kind of crashes between there and Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Girls, I’m willing forgive your mistake if you can answer one question,” Cadence said with a quirked brow. “Does anypony have any idea who he has a crush on?”

Author's Notes:

"Turningly". He's British. We can say things that aren't actually words and get away with it.

Anyway, this was added seconds after the final chapter was posted-- forgot to add this before publishing the chapter but hey.

This was an experiment in writing, dialogue, exposition, and a general way for me to get back into writing. I'm happy with my story, I'm happy that people wanted to read this, and i'm happy that people commented about it. Some people may not like the herd aspect, neither do I, but I like the idea of Equestria having a culture alien to us, and that kind of makes sense.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Like, favourite, comment, eject from your seat, erect a dispenser, etc.