My eyes slowly began to open and I finally woke up. I was brought back to reality as I took note of my surroundings, namely the naked woman in my arms whose back and ass were firmly against my body and whose perky breasts where scooped up by my arm.

I felt like I wanted to remain in this position forever, with the women I loved eternally by my side, but I knew that we had to get up to get through our day. Cadance herself was beginning to wake up as well, and I decided to help her out by rubbing my hands across her buxom tits and curvy legs for one final time.

I heard Cadance giggle and she finally got up. She sat on her bed and gave out an adorable little yawn. Her eyes still closed, Cadance raised her hands stretched her body up which gave me another good view on the full size of her bust.

Cadance finally opened her beautiful eyes and smiled at me. "Good morning Levy."

My head still on the pillow, I smiled and greeted my girlfriend. "Good morning kitten, sleep well?"

"With you around, of course." beamed Cadance, her body glowing luminously under the morning light shining through the curtains.

"I slept well knowing that the Princess Of Love was there to protect me from the terrors of the night," I joked, eliciting a laugh from Cadance. "And I'm relieved that the events of last night weren't a dream."

"Believe me Levy, my love for you is as real as the world we live in," assured Cadance. "No force on this planet whether it be politics or supernatural threats is going to change that."

"And I couldn't be happier," I mused, captivated by Cadance's form. "So are we going to wake up like this a lot from now on?"

"Hopefully," smirked Cadance. "Not every night obviously, but let's just say I hope you like sleeping in boxers."

"Haven't really tried it, but anything for you kitten." I said.

"Thanks. Besides, you'll be waking up to a pretty nice view every morning." winked Cadance.

"So will our resident little pervert." I added, glancing at the Arstrotzkan teddy bear that was still placed on the nightstand by Cadance's bed. It was facing our direction, and had full view of Cadance's naked body.

Cadance laughed it off. "Oh, I don't mind giving my little teddy a peak or two." She jokingly grabbed the teddy bear and hugged it close, smothering the plushy with her well endowed breasts. I would've gotten hard at that hot scene had it not been for the exhaustion I felt from the night before.

"So know what we're going to be doing today?" I asked.

Cadance grinned. "Oh yeah I do, but first I think we'll need to clean ourselves up."

"Yeah, we're going to have to get used to morning showers if we fuck and fall asleep at night." I noted.

"Perhaps," nodded Cadance. "Which reminds me, did I ever...er...blow you in hotel when we showered together during that week?"

I finally got my body up and thought. "Um, I don't think so."

Cadance formed a seductive smirk. "Well what are we waiting for?"

Holding hands tightly, Cadance and I scurried down the hallway once more with happy looks on our dumb love struck faces. This time however, we weren't preparing for some sort of grand formal event, we were just like any other two young adults in love getting hyped and prepared for their day.

For once we were clad in completely casual outfits, fitting for our weekend off to enjoy each other's company. I just wore plain red polo shirt and tight navy blue jeans while Cadance wore a pink t-shirt (because of course it would be pink) that hugged her form nicely alongside a yellow short skirt that gave me a nice peak of her legs. Although it had been snowing yesterday, the Pegsai that controlled the weather in Equestria were creating a temporary spring styled day to grow some magical crops or something. It seemed odd to me since we couldn't control the weather back home, but at least it let me and Cadance go about our day in light clothing.

Our hair however, was still noticeably wet and any onlooker who could put two and two together could immediately figure out what we were up to in the past half hour.

A few more servants and staff members of the castle shot us looks and good mornings, with Cadance doing all the replying. Thankfully most of the elite were probably out enjoying themselves, so not one of the reactions against us were hostile.

As we made our way down the hall, we saw another man walking towards us, heading the way we were coming from. What made him really stand out at first was the uniform he was wearing, a beige and tanned officer uniform with white gloves and was carrying a sandy brown military cap in his gloved hands. Like us, his smile was big and goofy and his curly brown hair was drenched wet.

Had it not been for his military uniform, I would have guessed he was an Arstrotzkan, but his pointier facial features gave him away as Haylexandrian. His skin color was also darker than mine and Cadance's, but brighter than the average Haylexandrian's, indicating that he probably came from a cooler region like Neighrut or Mareusalem.

The Haylexandrian quickly stopped in his tracks and called out to us. "Hey! You must be Lev Ulyanov right?"

Cadance and I stopped walking as well and faced him.

I smiled to and extended my free hand. "That is me alright. Pleased to meet you sir."

"Salam and allow me to introduce myself. My name is Emil and I am the current ambassador to Equestria from the United Haylexandrian Republic." he greeted, shaking my hand.

Emil, like Gelovani, seemed to have only been a few years older than me. It figured, considering that working as an ambassador to Equestria was essentially training and child's play given how few people from the great powers were present in this country.

Emil glanced at Cadance and extended his hand towards her as well, which she gladly shook. "Salam and nice to see you to Princess Cadance of Equestria. I'm sure yesterday was quite the night for you?"

"Nice to see you again Emil, and yeah, last night was pretty....magical I guess." beamed Cadance.

Emil put his cap on and crossed his arms. He looked at me and Cadance while quickly nodding his head. It was like he was inspecting us for security reasons, albeit with a goofy grin on his face.

"Well," he chuckled. "Has science gone too far? Because I never thought anything would make a champion of the proletariat date royalty."

Cadance and I laughed, knowing that it was just a harmless joke.

Still I felt a need to defend ourselves. "It's not a huge issue Emil. We're willing to look past Cadance's alicornhood and royalty for the sake of greater things."

"Yeah, like preventing Cadance from creating an alicorn bloodline," winked Emil. "Seriously though I'm really happy for the two of you."

"Thanks." smiled Cadance. "That means a lot."

"No problem, it's just that since I came over here from Neighrut, I've been seeing stranger and stranger things." laughed Emil, confirming my earlier suspicion about his origins.

Emil then raised his right hand and did that weird cross motion. "I know you two don't believe in the savior, but may he bless your relationship with good fortune and prosperity. Ma'a Salam." he waved.

Emil took off while Cadance and I waved good bye to him. At least there was someone else who supported us in our relationship. I could only wonder how the other governments of the great powers would react to us. If Emil's reaction was anything to go by, Halyexandria seemed not to mind it, so that just left the Germane Reich and Neighponese Federation.

A voice called out to us. "Good morning you two!"

Cadance and I turned to the source of the voice and found ourselves facing the doorway to Celestia's room, with Celestia greeting us with nothing but a wet towel on her body. The towel was just long enough to cover her belly, waist and most of her breasts, but small enough to give me a great peak of her cleavage, buxom mounds, curvy thighs and long endless legs. The knot that tied the towel seemed to be so loose that Celestia was using a hand to hold it up less it fall loose and expose her voluptuous body.

Celestia's smile was sly and imposing, knowing well how I felt about her get up while her hair ethereal sparkling hair was wet and flowing downwards. Since Emil's hair was also drenched, I easily figured that Celestia and him had the same idea as Cadance and I after we woke up.

Celestia leaned on her doorway and placed a finger on her chin with her free hand. "Did you and Cadance sleep well Lev?"

I gulped and nearly struggled to speak. "Da...er...yes we did. It was comfortable."

"I'm sure it was with Cadance next to you," smirked Celestia, prompting a blush from me and Cadance. "So Cadance, what are your plans with Lev for the weekend?"

Cadance smirked confidently. "Well, Lev hasn't actually seen Canterlot, so that's something I just have to show him right now."

"Why of course," replied Celestia. "It would be a crime not to show Lev around, but do you know exactly where you'll be taking him?"

"There's a lot to see in Canterlot," noted Cadance who then pointed to her head. "But I have it all planned out here."

"That's just great," nodded Celestia, who glanced at me. "Are you excited Lev?"

I gulped, Celestia's tall and nearly exposed body and powerful magical aura still overpowering me. "Of..of course..I..I am. I'd love..love..love to see this city."

Celestia giggled and nearly let go of the hand that held that small towel together. "Don't worry Lev, I know that you can't help but look. I'd love to show you a peak if it was okay with Cadance, but I'm afraid I have to get back to managing a country. And let's just say holiday's are trickier to manage."

Cadance maintained an innocent expression, purposefully ignoring her aunt's sultry nature for humor. "Oh auntie, you work really hard. You should make sure that you have some fun this weekend. Good luck anyway."

Celestia laughed, causing the mounds of her breasts to noticeably jiggle. "Come on Cady dear, you know that I've been doing this for a thousand years. I know all the ins and outs of everything, so I guess everyday of work is entertainment for me."

"That's cool," acknowledged Cadance. "Well, we'll see soon."

"Indeed you will," responded Celestia. She turned around and her tone turned seductive. "Have fun you two."

Celestia whipped her hand and the door magically closed.

Cadance turned around and laughed at the sight of me having my mouth hung agape, paralyzed by Celestia's captivating nature. She gleefully used her index finger to lift my chin up and wake me back to reality. She glanced down, eyeing an erection in my jeans that made her glad that she convinced me to wear such a skinny garment.

"Don't worry, you'll probably get a glance at her sometime soon." assured Cadance.

I took a deep breath. "Perhaps, but I don't care as long as I have you."

Cadance grabbed my hand, her eyes still glued to my jeans to make sure that my boner died down. "Come on Levy, let's go get breakfast."

"Right behind you kitten!" I cheered.

Cadance and I had taken an alternate route out of the castle, just so we could leave unnoticed and without a heckle. It was kind of weird to be doing all this, as if I was some sort of celebrity that had to worry about the media being all over me. Then again, it would probably be the type of fame that could get you lynched when you least expected it.

The two of us headed out the confines of the castle and into the city. The scene was a far different view from what I had witnessed yesterday, a testament to the power of magically controlled weather. The sky was a clear sunny blue and the temperature was warm and pleasant. The only sign that there had been a snowfall yesterday was the fact that there were wet puddles of water all around the city, which filled the air with an aroma of morning dew.

Holding hands, the two of us admired the beautiful scene before us, happy that we wouldn't be hindered by snow on the day that I had arrived at Canterlot.

"I swear," I shook. "We in Arstrotzka would kill just to get weather services like this if meant not having depressing winters for most of the year."

"Yeah, but that would disrupt your non magical ecosystem and that wouldn't be good for my little Levy and his friends right?" mused Cadance, her tone treating me like a cute little puppy.

I laughed it off and the two of us continued into Canterlot, finally arriving at the downtown. Luckily, the local citizens were so busy with whatever festivities and activities they were doing that me and Cadance managed to walk for a while unnoticed.

I think it certainly helped that Cadance's outfit allowed her to blend in as an ordinary young adult. Without any royal dresses or crowns, she was just another Equestrian girl rocking a tight t-shirt and a revealing short mini skirt. Then again, I began to doubt that her 'disguise' would hold up for much longer, since the other women around her age were sporting the same old ridiculously frilly dresses and accessories. I figured someone would look at her for dressing "vulgarly" and then notice her familiar hairstyle.

Then there was the fact that I did not look like an Equestrian at all with my physical features. Finally, there was also the notion that Cadance emitted a powerful magical aura around her while I was essentially a psychic blank whose presence would make Equestrians notice something was up.

Until then, the two of us were slightly in the clear.

"So where are we heading to?" I asked.

"One of my favorite places to get breakfast at." replied Cadance.

We passed by a few people in the street, finally attracting a few stares, and stopped in front of a small modest looking shop. A sign read out the name of the store, "Doughnut Joe's."

I smirked. "Oh, what's a Princess gonna do in quaint little doughnut shop?"

"Come on Lev, surely you know I love the little things in life." chuckled Cadance.

As we were about to enter, we noticed more and more Equestrians looking at us. They began to mummer among themselves in confusion, but I didn't think they knew who we were just yet. I didn't think any of them could fathom their Princess wearing a completely casual outfit and taking an Arstrotzkan boyfriend out to a small doughnut shop.

Cadance pulled me by the hand inside the doughnut shop before anyone could follow us. Thankfully, the other Equestrians preffered to stay put as I turned back to find them content in their positions.

I took a look back and observed the doughnut shop. It wasn't too different from something you could see in a generic Arstrotzkan city like Moscolt. There was a nice checkered pattern for the floorboard, a set of windows to provide a good view and a fresh set of doughnuts and bagels on trays being displayed, waiting to be eaten.

One thing that caught my attention was the fact that the place was pretty much empty with the exception of me and Cadance. I figured that a doughnut store wouldn't attract much attention from the nobles in Canterlot, but I at least expected a cashier.

"No one here." muttered Cadance. "Maybe we should turn around?"

Suddenly, a weary male sounding voice called out. "Hold up! I'm coming!"

Through an employee only door, a tall man clad in an apron and chef hat who I assumed to be Joe rushed to the counter. Upon taking a closer look at him, I was amazed to find how much he looked like someone from the Germane Reich rather than Equestria, being pale with brown hair and greenish eyes. It was quite a reserved look to say the least compared to his more colorful peers. Hell, even his name was something you could find in Arstrotzka, Haylexandria or Germaney quite easily.

Joe cleared his throat. "How may I help you today Ms....."

At that point, Joe's voice began to die down and he took a gulp. Instinctively, he immediately bowed down before his Princess and it didn't take a genius to note that he was mentally cursing himself for being a second late to greet her.

"YOUR MAJESTY!" cried Joe, still bowed down. "I am so happy to see you here again! I swear didn't mean to be late! Please forgive me!"

Cadance laughed. "It's okay Joe. You weren't doing anything wrong. You can rise."

Joe got up and fixed his greasy hair and attire. He took a deep breath and was about to speak, only to have his mouth drop upon seeing me.

"Um," croaked Joe. "Princess Cadance, who may I ask is accompanying you."

Cadance hugged me close. "Joe, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend Lev Ulyanov. Lev, I'd like you to meet Joe, the best doughnut store owner in all of Equestria."

"Privet." I greeted.

Joe's face turned red. "Ulyanov? So you're an Arstrotzkan."

"Da."I confirmed in my language.

Joe's voice began to falter. "Isn't that the really large country with a really large army who control really large and deadly war machines?"

"Da." I said again.

"Don't you guys hate business owners like me?" he whimpered.

"Is this store a one man operation?" I asked.

"Every little facet of this store is handled by me and my magic." he nodded.

"Then...I take no issue since you are exploiting no one's labor but your own." I nonchalantly stated.

"But you're still a Collectivist right?" checked Joe.

"Mhm." I hummed.

"And...you're dating Princess Cadance?" said Joe with a hint of disbelief.

I kissed Cadance on the cheek and the two of us smiled warmly. "I couldn't believe it either, but here we are! It's about time after knowing each other since childhood."

Joe took a moment, and much to my surprise he smiled. What he said next really warmed my heart.

"Now that's something you don't see everyday, but any boyfriend of her majesty Cadance is a friend of mine!" exclaimed Joe. "So what can I get for my favorite customer and her significant other today?"

We walked on over to the counter and took a look at the menu items. The store had a bunch of breakfast bagels, albeit nothing with what I would usually get considering I ate a lot of pork and chicken.

Cadance took a moment to decide and went first. "I think I'll just have a cream cheese sesame bagel with olives, lettuce and tomato. I'll get a cappuccino to go for my drink."

"Excellent," nodded Joe, who took the order. "And what for you kind sir?"

I placed a finger on my chin. "I don't know. Anything here you'd recommend?"

Joe's face turned red for a moment. "Say, don't you guys eat flesh in Arstrotzka?"

I shrugged and smiled, which wasn't the best thing to do I guess since I revealed my canines. "I mean yeah, but it's not like we eat it with every meal. There are plenty of vegans and vegetarians back in the People's Republic."

Joe took a sigh of relief. "Well, that's good since we don't serve any of that stuff here. Personally, I'd recommend the breakfast bagel which is plain bagel with fried egg with cheese and tomato."

"Yeah, that sounds like what I get back home." I replied.

"That reminds me," muttered Joe. "How would a doughnut store operate where you're from."

"If it's a one man stand, than pretty much like this. Otherwise it's still similar, but you know, the motive is feeding comrades rather than profit and decisions are made collectively." I explained.

"As I thought," nodded Joe. "Anyway, anything to drink for ya?"

"Just a mocha to go with whip cream and extra chocolate if that's possible." I said.

"I see you like it sweet," winked Joe. "Anyway, that will be 5 bits total."

I was about to go reach for my wallet, but I then felt Cadance place her hand on mine.

"No worries Lev, I got it." winked Cadance. She snapped her fingers and a small pouch materialized from the air. She got out the a 5 bit coin from the sac and handed it over to Joe.

I raised my eyebrow. "Has this country seriously not considered paper money yet?"

"We would if we could charm paper with the same security spells the bits can take." scoffed Cadance.

She snapped her fingers once more and the pouch vanished in a flash. "Otherwise bank robberies would be pretty easy."

Cadance took a seat at the table while I remained behind the counter. Before he got to work, Joe looked at me curiously as I tried muster the words I wanted to say to him.

"Aren't you going to join your girlfriend?" pondered Joe.

"In a second, but..." I muttered. "I just wanted to say thanks."

"Thanks?" frowned Joe.

"Yeah, so far you've been one of the few Equestrians I know of that's approved of me and Cadance being together. I know it's our happiness that counts in this, but it really does feel nice not to be met with scorn."

Joe smiled and shrugged. "Hey, how can I deny two love birds from being together? I take it that your last night went rough."

I sighed. "Yeah, we met with the Captain of the Royal Guard, Prince Blueblood and some other nobles last night. They were really insistent that I back off from Cadance."

"And I can tell that failed since you two are here." smirked Joe.

"That's true," I chuckled. "To be honest, even without my upbringing, I've never really liked nobles or the bourgeois, even if no such classes exist within my homeland."

"They're definitely a stingy bunch," nodded Joe. "I wouldn't say I really dislike them of course, but I can see where you're coming from. Just between you and me though, I'm kinda glad they don't walk in here for snacks."

"Really now?" I laughed. "So that reminds me? Ever served anyone from the great powers in your store?"

"I'm lucky to get two or year great power citizens here a year," answered Joe. "The embassy workers like to stay put."

"I could imagine." I nodded as I made my way to Cadance. "Again, thanks!"

"No problem!" called back Joe as he prepared our breakfast.

I sat down at the table next to Cadance. She was beaming brightly with a happy smile, she too admiring the fact that someone was cool with us and that I was making progress with another Equestrian.

I took a moment to compose myself and raised my voice. "So do you know what we...."

I was cut off by the sound of what appeared to be a dozen voices suddenly mumbling and tapping feet marching towards our position. I cursed and knew that the inevitable had happened even before I turned my head around.

Cadance sighed. "Oh boy, here we go."

Outside the shop were a group of Equestrians looking at as through the window, completely mesmerized and baffled at the sight of their Princess with an Arstrotzkan in the middle of a lowly doughnut store. Among the crowd were haughty looking adolescents who were delighted at the latest sight of gossip while the older ones were either saddened or angered by our relationship. A good number however, did not harbor any negative feelings, too busy yelling or chanting praises for their princess.

Joe sat down our food and shook his head at the crowd. "If they're going to stare, they might as well come in and get something to eat while they're at it."

Cadance's face sank. "Ugh, here they come."

I raised by eyebrow to decipher what exactly she meant by that, but then my face sank as I saw the answer. A group of Equestrians in tench coats and journalist hats were carrying or levitating cameras with them, ready to take pictures of us.

I felt time slow down as I saw the damn paparazzi ready their cameras, excited at getting photos of the latest scoop. Not only was I going to have my face plastered all over Equestrian magazines, but bourgeois Equestrian magazines that obsessed over trivial gossip and shallow trivial news. I braced myself for the photo op, at least giving a smile, but it seemed my silent prayers were answered when not a single camera flash or click went off.

The crowd had glanced to the side and had immediately stopped chatting as two figures approached from the right. I recognized those figures instantly and my mouth hung agape.

As the onlookers and media scrambled to the other direction, into the doughnut shop walked in two soldiers in greenish tundra camouflage, bullet proof vests, and helmets that sported a balaclava and goggles. Arstrotzkan soldiers.

They weren't carrying any visible weapons besides two pistols which knowing international customs, were probably unloaded. With their height and get up however, that was all they needed to send a Canterlot crowd in the other direction. What got me though was the fact that they weren't looking all stern and aggressive, but rather joyful if their movements and eye expressions were anything to go by.

"Ah! Pryvet comrade Ulyanov!" called out the first one to walk in.

I raised my eyebrow in confusion. "Um, pryvet comrade....?"

"Pavel!" answered the solider. "And this over here is my friend Artyom."

"Nice to meet you." greeted Aryom, whose voice was much lower than Pavel's.

Pavel extended his hand to Cadance. "And to you Princes Cadance. I trust your date is going well?"

Cadance seemed flabbergasted for a moment, but she resumed composure and gladly shook Pavel's gloved hand. "Nice to meet you sir, and yes, things have been going quite well."

"Haha that's amazing!" cheered Pavel. "I swear to all that is pure, you made the right choice dating an Arstrotzkan. I guarantee that he'll treat you right like a person rather than a means to get some fame or prestige."

"No need to guarantee me that," laughed Cadance. "Lev has been pretty amazing."

I put a finger on my chin. "By the way comrades, what exactly are you all doing here? Did we happen to have the same idea for breakfast?"

"Actually," answered Pavel, who was far less expressive than his partner. "We've been assigned by the embassy to keep an eye on you."

"Come again?" I frowned.

Pavel laughed like it was no big deal. "Ah don't worry, we keep tabs on all Arstrotzkans here, lest something bad happens and we spark an international incident you know? We figured there would be a bunch of snobby fucks trying to get into your business so we decided to make a move to the castle and saw you walking inside here."

"Good call since we dispersed that degenerate paparazzi mob." added Artyom.

"Are you guys armed by any chance?" asked Cadance, pointing to some holstered pistols.

"Oh these?" remarked Pavel. "We might be carrying these pistols around, but we are not allowed to bring ammunition outside of embassy grounds according to our treaty with this country, so they're effectively useless."

"They, don't know that however." muttered Pavel.

"Well," shrugged Cadance. "I guess it will be up to me save us all if things get violent."

"Yeah, I wouldn't cross you without an entire battalion at my disposal." chuckled Pavel.

"Seriously though," panned Cadance. "Are you going to be following us for the rest of the day?"

Pavel innocently raised his hands up and his eyes widened. "Listen. We've watched and read enough chick flicks and romance stuff to know that no one likes it when the bodyguard starts obsessively hounding over you and ruining your fun."

"But it's either us or the hordes of paparazzi." interrupted Artyom, crossing his arms.

Cadance and I looked at each other.

Cadance bit her lip. "Given my experience, I'll try you guys out."

"Ditto." I nodded. If the presence of two men in scary masks was enough to drive away elitist pricks, sign me up.

"Excellent!" chirped Pavel. "Trust us, you won't even feel or see us for the rest of the day unless you give us a call."

"That reminds me, we should go get brunch." noted Artyom.

"Right you are tovarisch!" exclaimed Pavel. "But before I go..."

Pavel reached into a sack and pulled out something that made my eyes widen. It was an organic low fat salami stick wrapped in biodegradable and environmentally friendly plastic. The best kind ever.

Pavel left it at the table and winked while he and Artyom walked over the counter. Joe however, had just arrived to bring Cadance and I our food which he had placed on a tray and sat down in front of us. Joke looked back at the soldiers and gulped, before taking a deep breath and returning to the counter to take their order.

"Well, I guess we won't have a mob after us today." I joked.

"That's true, because I'd for any misunderstandings to happen." pointed Cadance.

"Speaking of which,"I sighed, glancing at the piece of salami. "You don't mind if I eat this right?"

Cadance giggled. "It's okay Lev. I might not be an omnivore like you, but I understand."

I cut up the salami into pieces and added it to my bagel before taking a bite. My taste buds danced with delight upon tasting the food, the bagel, the egg, the cheese and those salami bits all blended together nicely. Arstrotzka had great local cuisine, but the generic international delicacies weren't anything to ever get excited for. Cadance herself was pleasantly enjoying her cream cheese bagel.

I glanced on over to Artyom and Pavel, who had gotten their food and sat themselves on the other side of the shop, giving me and Cadance plenty of breathing room.

"Are you enjoying breakfast?" asked Cadance.

"Definitely," I answered, swallowing another piece. "So know what we're going to do after."

"Yep!" chirped Cadance. "After this, we're going to go check out an air show and then meet up some of my friends!"

"Your friends?" I checked.

"Mhm," nodded Cadance. "That's not going to be a problem now is it?"

"Oh no. Why would it?" I frowned, hoping I hadn't struck a nerve.

"Because I get the feeling you may be a little more suspicious after last night." pointed out Cadance.

"Eh," I muttered. "You clearly aren't the type of person to hang out with people that would hate me and want to destroy our relationship right? I could totally get along fine with them if we met. You got along fine with some of my friends."

Cadance smiled. "Excellent. Trust me, you'll love them. I've booked lunch somewhere we always used to eat on a day off. You'll love the food."

I finished the last bite of my bagel. "Well, if these bagels are anything to go by, then I ain't going to doubt you."

Cadance finished her food as well and wiped her mouth with a levitating napkin. I did the same and threw away the waste in the appropriate containers. Young Pioneer training wasted no time drilling what to recycle and when in my mind.

The two of us got up and said goodbye to Joe (I had especially thanked him for being accepting of us) while our two 'bodyguards' claimed they would catch up soon enough.

We stepped out the door of the Doughnut shop and once again, the beautiful scene of Canterlot presented itself before our very eyes. Thankfully, there wasn't a major crowd or press group waiting to ambush us outside, probably the sight of Pavel and Artyom walking into the shop being the major factor.

We held hands and walked down the street, heading to our next destination for the day.

"So what's the airshow about?" I asked.

"As is probably the case in your country, airshows aren't exactly done when the weather isn't ideal," noted Cadance. "Normally we would get around that by having our Pegsai clear the area, but playing too much with the weather in winter would disturb some imporant processes. So on this day, which is pretty much the one day of 'Spring in the Winter', the Wonderbolts take advantage of that by putting on their only winter airshow for us when the skies are clear."

"I see, take advantage of the day," I nodded. "Haven't I seen the Wonderbolts perform?"

Cadance bit her lip. "Once I think if my memory serves me right. It was definitely at some sort of global event, but air shows performed by great power personnel take priority."

I sheepishly grinned. "Well those Germane Valkyrie fly pretty magnificently. And I thought you liked our planes?"

"Oh I do," insisted Cadance. "But would it kill you guys to let someone else perform?"

"Hey, who says it's us? Maybe your performers need to find the courage to stand up to the coordinators to get a turn or not brush off performing for the Great Powers?" I remarked half jokingly.

"Yeah right...as if the Arstrotzkan choir would ever consider playing in Canterlot." retorted Cadance.

"Touche." I replied.

The two of us laughed it out. Just a few quips here and there didn't hurt anybody.

More and more people were beginning to stare at me and Cadance as we made our way to where the air show would be held. Thankfully, none seemed to get too close and I didn't hear a single camera go off. If that meant Pavel and Artyom had secretly caught up behind us, then I wouldn't be raising my voice. We tightened the grip we had on each other's hand as we moved, lest we get separated in a mob.

It was kind of weird to have all this attention thrown at you to be honest. It was like I was a celebrity of some sorts, which considering I was dating Cadance, I might as well would have been. Whenever me and Cadance were this close to each other, it was in the presence of dignitaries and student representatives from other countries that didn't have that much of an attachment towards Cadance as much as the average Equestrian did. Then again, it wasn't like we were dating back then.

Regardless, I straightened my expression and held my head up. I felt that these sorts of things would be happening when you dated a Princess, but I wasn't going to let it get in the way of being in a relationship with the women I loved.

But I guess everyone had their limits however, I felt like I was about to tremble any second as more and more nobles in stupid outfits and makeup swarmed in on me and Cadance to get a view. I could hear all the muttering among the crowd and the things they had to say about me. No one dared speak up however, lest they provoke the wrath of their beloved alicorn Princess.

Just then I felt Cadance place her hands on my elbows to spin me around to her direction. As if we could read each other's minds, I hugged her back and pulled her in for a deep kiss. Hardly a second in later, she raised her leg and I got to hold her up with one hand on her bare thigh as well.

Not only did it calm most of my nerves, but it sent out cries of scandal and bewilderment among the crowd watching us, almost all of whom had been nobles. There were the odd mummers of approval however, mostly from the younger voices that cheered us two on and a few laughs from the more average looking Equestrian.

If there was anything we Arstrotzkans loved, it was being subversive against old tired orders, and our interracial kiss was most certainly that. As much as I wanted to furiously make love to her at that moment and scrape my hand against her lap, I knew I couldn't act like that in public.

We unglued our lips and bodies from each other and Cadance turned to face the crowd. In return, a few of them actually began to bow down once they realized just who they were making remarks about. The rest seemed to be paralyzed by confusion.

Cadance innocently twirled a lock of her hair. "What's the matter? Never seen two people kiss before?"

Quite a few genuine laughs were elicited from the crowd while the rest stood silent, daring not to voice their disapproval. I also enjoyed the glorious scene of a few male nobles, some my age and some older, having looks of jealousy on their face. Oh, how they probably felt entitled to Cadance only to have their dreams of royalty and wealth shattered by a foreign collectivist.

Cadance's expression was that of a proud smirk. She was going to be in this relationship with me no matter what and Equestrian society would have to deal with it. With that, she took my hand and we continued onto the site of the air show.

We took a detour on a paved pathway and made our way into a forested area that concealed the location of the event. I was expecting a sort of stadium or air strip, but instead found myself looking at a large grassy field with a massive track runaway. A large row of bleachers housed a wide array of onlookers, average people in the front and the more bourgeois folk in the VIP sections.

There was a bit of a line to a gateway where tickets were being collected for average participants, but no such thing for the VIP booth. Cadance dragged me over to the VIP section, zipping past all sorts of comments from the line parallel to us.

The Ticket Manager in the VIP section almost fainted upon seeing Cadance, but his expression turned into a wince upon seeing me. Whether it was me simply being her boyfriend, or him sensing my lack of magical presence and putting two and two together, he looked like he was in a state of distress.

The guy took a gulp and focused his attention in Cadance. "Your...your majesty! You don't need to stand in line! You can just go!"

"Oh, come now! I have to have my ticket ready like everyone else. It's only fair!" insisted Cadance.

Cadance snapped her hand and summoned two VIP tickets, both of which had a stamp of approval to show they were legitimate.

I put a finger on my chin. "Are you Equestrians really sure than no one can just summon a pair of tickets that aren't really their own?"

Cadance sighed. "Lev, I know your people don't have much of an affinity for magic, but surely you'd know that if you were to summon something, you'd have to know where it is in the first place. I could summon my tickets because I remember what they looked like and where I kept them."

"I swear, you Equestrians make magic feel like just another field of science rather than some fantastical arcane power." I grinned.

"Why not both?" joked Cadance.

The gate to the field opened and the two of us walked over to the VIP section. Luckily, the section was at the top, so we emerged behind the bleachers and didn't get spotted. Unluckily, it didn't take too long before people started looking up and noticing us.

Once more the crowd began to mummer and speak among themselves, with some special glances thrown directly at me. Cadance merely smiled and waved and I did the same. It calmed some of the crowd down while the rest that were more suspicious of me kept their glaring faces on.

"Do they ever get sick of seeing you?" I whispered half jokingly.

"Nah," shrugged Cadance. "I'm like a walking pot of gold to them. Surely though you'd understand why everyone would be excited to see their leader."

"Fair enough." I replied.

Another accented voice called out to us. "Huh, you should see the Kaiser back in the Reich. Other than autographs for first timers and cheering his name when he walks into a bar, he just another sight for us."

Cadance and I looked down and found ourselves looking at a row sat by people with brownish blond hair, fair skin and hazel green eyes. The uniforms they wore were similar to Arstrotzkan officer ones, albeit of a darker grey color and with a more pronounced coat. Their suits carried a distinctive patch that bore a white flag with a black cross at the center, in the middle of which was an emblem that depicted a 6 pointed black star. Normally these men would have worn either peaked caps or spiked helmets, but those were on their laps for some reason, probably so the row behind them could see.

"You guys are from the Germane Reich right?" I asked, a small grin on my face.

"Ja freund!" nodded the one turned back to us. "My name is Avraham. Ambassador of the Germane Reich to Equestria. I trust that you are Arstrotzkan Lev Ulyanov, Cadance's new....boyfriend."

Avraham and his men lightly chuckled and so did Cadance and I. I got a better look at his face and noted that he was a bit older than us, but still definitely under 30.

"Right you are!" I replied, getting excited.

Avraham turned to Cadance and extended his hand. "Princess Cadance, it is an honor to see you once more!"

"The pleasure is all mine Avraham." greeted Cadance, who shook his hand. David and I shook as well.

"I trust you two have met right?" I checked.

"Of course Lev." answered Cadance to my obvious question. "I have to know and meet all of the ambassadors to Equestria especially in the case of international incidents."

"I mostly meet with Celestia though," noted Avraham. "Mostly for diplomatic reasons and..."

Avraham blushed and gushed. "Sometimes not so diplomatic reasons."

The other Germane embassy workers next to us laughed and the ones next to Avraham patted his back.

Avraham's blush turned really red. "Hey! If you guys were boyfriend material like I am and studied hard enough to become ambassador, you'd be dating her too!"

Cadance and I laughed even harder at that remark.

"So what brings you guys down here to this place?" I asked.

"Today marks the only day of spring in the winter," answered Avraham. "And since our country is ethnic Equestrian and controls the weather with magic unlike your homeland, today is our holiday as well."

"That reminds me," spoke up Cadance. "For a place that loves central planning, you guys are really laissez faire with nature."

"Well excuse me Princess, but we weren't born magic," I defended. "Until then we're at mother nature's mercy."

"Huh, you guys can develop computers, but still haven't figured out how to manipulate clouds yet?" remarked another Germane embassy workers. "Seriously, this is why you guys are the ones who love terrible climate in Germane jokes."

"I think you're really underestimating how tough it would be to develop terraforming technology!" I replied.

"Is it really any harder then developing surface to air missiles specifically designed to kill Bug Bears?" smirked Cadance.

"Yes!" I yelled, prompting Cadance and the Germanes to start laughing out of an enjoyment in roasting me.

My faced turned red for a moment, but that subsided when Cadance hugged me close and kissed me.

"Don't worry Levy, we're just teasing you out of good fun." assured Cadance.

"It's okay kitten, I know you'd never try to hurt me." I smiled.

"Isn't that adorable?" remarked a Germane. "Reminds me of my girlfriend back in the fatherland."

"Yeah," said Avaraham whose attention turned towards to people sitting around us. "The other Equestrians seem to think otherwise."

"Ah, why should Lev and Cadance give a fuck about what they think to be honest?" said another Germane. "These are the ones that will hate anything that isn't a wealthy Equestrian noble."

Cadance and I glanced at each other upon hearing his remark. Truth be told, the two of us really didn't care for pleasing a bunch of bigots and elitists, but we didn't need to become public enemy number one. The Germane Reich was the most militarily powerful nation on the planet and its entire population was united as a single military class even in civilian life. As my observations in the Reich's embassy in Arstrozka proved otherwise however, the Germanes tended to think mostly in terms of military strategy, not always seeing the importance of international image and foreign support.

Heck, the very reason why they abandoned their traditional Mareopean allies during the Arstrotzkan revolution is because we promised them firearms in return.

I raised my voice. "To be fair, the last thing Cadance and I need is Equestria's elite actively trying to bring us down."

"Bigots or not, they still have the power to turn the public against us." added Cadance.

"I honestly doubt that given you're an alicorn," shrugged Avraham. "Until then, we've essentially bought out the VIP place for us and our guards to enjoy."

Cadance and I looked across the bleachers and noticed the VIP section was crowded with Germane embassy workers with a few seated and some standing Germane soldiers nearby. I easily recognized the Germane soldier with their grayish coats, steel helmets and gas masks that pumped them the scent of some sort of magical herb that let them operate for extended periods of time. With their menacing appearance, it was a wonder the Equestrians weren't running in the entire direction given they were the best the planet had to offer.

"Huh, I was wondering why there weren't any Royal Guards around." stated Cadance.

"Believe me when I say we're doing us all a favor by bringing in our embassy's security contingent instead of relying on Equestria's," scoffed Avraham. "No offense Princess Cadance."

"As long as no innocents are harmed, I'm totally fine." smiled Cadance.

I placed a finger on my chin. "Speaking of which where are.."

As if she could read mind, Cadance tapped my shoulder and pointed to the bottom row of the VIP section, where Artyom and Pavel were sitting. Evidently they could move faster than we could predict.

"So I hope you guys like Germanes, because you're stuck with the embassy today." laughed Avraham.

"I work at the Germane embassy back home!" I exclaimed.

"So you have the best job ever!" beamed Avraham. "Cadance, you picked a great guy."

"You don't need to tell me twice." replied Cadance, hugging me closer.

I raised a finger. "Although I will say you guys way less loose back at home."

"Eh, today is a holiday, so tomorrow we'll go back to being stern military brats." joked Avraham. "Celestia thinks I'm way cuter that way anyway."

"Yeah," agreed Cadance. "Jackboots that act tough, but are really mushy and considerate underneath are just the best...and totally hot."

Suddenly, the sound of music playing hit our ears and we all faced forwards. A woman with a flashy outfit, flashier and more ridiculous than the ones I've seen so far, stepped up in front of a microphone.

"That's Sapphire Shores, she's one of the top teen pop singers in this country." whispered Cadance.

"You a fan of her?" I asked.

"She's so bubblegum pop, I'm more pop rock and dance pop." replied Cadance.

"Pfft, thought you would have been a classical music and techno person like me." I retorted.

"None of you are jazz fans?" muttered Avraham.

The introductory music died down as Sapphire Shores tapped her microphone for a check up. Her tone of voice was rather haughty, but fun and excited as well. "All rise for the Equestrian anthem!"

We did as told and out of respect, placed our right hand on our chest where our heart would be. In that moment, music once again played once more as Sapphire sang Equestria's anthem with impressive talent.

Equestria, the land I love
A land of harmony
Our flag does wave from high above
For everyone to see
Equestria, a land of friends
Where love and hope do roam
They say true friendship never ends
Equestria, my home

I could feel the passion in her eyes and tone as she sang. The love of her country and singing was reflected in her voice greatly and I could tell there was no other place she would have rather been. Those feelings of her's certainly resonated with the rest of the Equestrian audience, especially with Cadance given that this was the country she ruled.

The song ended and we all burst into a wide array of applause while one of the Germanes blew a loud whistle of appreciation, which Sapphire certainly noticed.

"Well," I remarked. "That anthem sure was..."

"Nowhere near as long as the ones you and the Germanes are used to?" interrupted Cadance.

"Hey, quantity is good when your anthem is of superb quality." fired back Avraham.

Sapphire smiled and took a small bow before she spoke in the microphone. "Thank you! Thank you! You guys are just the best and always make my day. It warms my heart to see that I can make all of you oh so happy with my music."

Another round of applause was given to Sapphire before she continued on. "Today we celebrate yet another special holiday where we have a single day of warm spring amid our cold and rainy winters. I don't know about you guys, but performing in this kind of weather really beats accidentally slipping on snow or a rain puddle."

We all laughed, mostly from that image of her just tripping over in the middle of a song.

Sapphire finished chuckling herself. "And to take advantage of this day, what better way to celebrate than by having an air show by the one and only Wonderbolts!"

We all cheered as we witnessed 5 figures clad in blue body suits fly down from the sky at immense speeds to one end of the field. The Wonderbolts were obviously all Pegsai, and were Equestria's non mechanical equivalent of Arstrotzkan airshow pilots. Although I had seen plenty of airshows back at home, seeing an actual human fly as opposed to using a plane made for a unique experience.

Sapphire took a deep breath. "But before we begin, I'd like to make three special announcements. First, I'd like to announce my new album will be coming out in 4 months rather than 5!"

The crowd erupted into applause while I rolled my eyes, remembering that Sapphire was still an elite that loved her money. I brushed off the sales pitch by acknowledging that in fairness, now was a pretty decent time to advertise.

"Second," continued Sapphire. "I would like to give a big welcome to our guests from the Germane Reich embassy who have...rented out pretty much the entire VIP section."

The Germanes in front of us burst into patriotic cheers and raised their hands into the Germane salute.

"Kaiser mit uns !" yelled Avraham.

I could tell that many of the Equestrians weren't too enthralled out of a combination of the Germane embassy taking up the VIP section and the fact that they were a reminder of the most militarily powerful nation on the planet. Even Sapphire's smile was kinda cracked in that it looked like she expected the Germanes to start magically blasting her. Couldn't really blame them to be quite honest, as even a tiny contingent of Germane guards was like having a few dragons among a flock of sheep.

Sapphire Shores regained her composure. "And finally, I'd like to give a big round of applause to her majesty Princess Cadance and her new boyfriend...from...you look Arstrotzkan?"

I closed my mouth and gave her a thumbs up, hoping she could see.

Sapphire nodded and smiled once. "As I thought! So how about we wish our Princess and her new BF the best!"

For a second there was a pause and it made me tense. Were they really going to applaud Cadance and I, or was xenophobia and classism going to win out?

Suddenly, the Germane ambassadors, their guards and Artyom and Pavel broke into thunderous applause. Sapphire squealed girlishly and began to clap herself. Before I knew it, the rest of the crowd and the Wondercolts themselves did the same, Cadance and I getting a few whistles of appreciation as well.

Cadance and I glanced at each other and blushed. It really was something to have nearly a stadium of people cheer you on. Wanting to test how genuine their feelings were, we hugged each other and embraced fully on the lips. Thankfully, we weren't met with any scorns and the enthusiasm of the crowd audibly grew as well.

Avraham raised his voice loud. "Good job! With the Equestria's biggest teen pop sensation on your side, you've basically won over this country."

"Oh yeah! We've totally got 100% support on our side!" sarcastically exclaimed Cadance.

"I'm going have to be dealing with this kind of my attention for the rest of my life aren't I?" I yelled amid the fanfare.

"If you want to date me, I'm afraid so," smirked Cadance. "If I can get used to it, so can you!"

"Anything for you kitten." I laughed.

Finally the applause died down and Sapphire took the microphone one final time. "Aww, you two are amazing! I'd play you both a really sweet love song I know. Heck, I might write one just for you two. It doesn't even have to be my usual brand of music, I'm adaptable!"

Cadance and I laughed at her offer. I honestly was considering it.

"But alas," concluded Sapphire. "We must go on with the show. And with that, I present to you....the one...and only...WONDERBOLTS!"

The VIP tent was pretty expansive and was bustling with press. Besides the Wonderbolts, the only ones not working with in the media were us and the Germane embassy. That was what happens when an entire department bought out the passes.

The Germanes were taking their turn to line up for photos with the Wonderbolts, who had earlier put up a stellar performance. There was something just magical about seeing them fly so ferociously and majestically in the sky, and not in the obvious literal sense. The show went on for two hours with 10 minute breaks in between, which was necessary given that it was them putting on the performance rather than machines.

On the line to see them, journalists were asking us for photo ops and we gladly accepted. I got the feeling they were going to end up on some famous magazines pretty soon, but they were probably going to be published by the time I left. Although I could tell that Cadance. being the person that she was, would send them over and insist I read them anyway.

A few photographers were turned down by Artyom and Pavel, who insisted that they would have used our images in less than respectable publications. Considering that they apparently read lots of magazines and gossip in their break time, we trusted their expertise on this.

Right in front of us, Avraham and two of his colleagues took their photo in front of the Wonderbolts, the latter of whom looked pretty nervous given that the Germanes were wearing unnerving outfits and were pretty threatening if provoked.

Finally, it was mine and Cadance's turn to go. The Germanes had managed to impatiently rush over to the line, so they all got to go first.

There were 3 Wonderbolts, who were taking photos, all of whom looked to be around our age and were clad in those blue jumpsuits. The first was a woman with flaming orange and yellow, the second was a man with dark blue hair and eyebags under his eyes (probably from stress) and the third had white hair that reminded me of a cloud (rather fitting for her).

The woman with orange hair glanced at us and gave a small semi squeal of delight! "Oh my gosh! Princess Cadance, it's such an honor to meet you again! Soarin and Fleetfoot were so excited to have you here."

Soarin and and Fleetfoot nodded in agreement and alongside Spitfire, bowed before Cadance.

"It's great to be back Spitfire!" exclaimed Cadance. "You guys are really improving."

"Hehe thanks," gulped Soarin, both out of fatigue and nervousness. "We've only been at it for a few years, so sorry if we didn't impress."

"Didn't impress?" frowned Cadance. "No way! You guys were amazing. Even Celestia admits she can't do some of the stuff you can."

"Oh, that's impossible!" blurted Fleetfoot. "We can be good, but I doubt we'll surpass an alicorn Princess like you."

"Aw, stop being so hard on yourself," insisted Cadance. "They were amazing, right Levy?"

"Damn straight kitten!" I agreed. "I loved every moment of it. You were like these badass angels just sweeping everywhere."

The Wonderbolts looked at me hesistantly for a moment and I flinched. I really hoped that they weren't going to disavow me at that moment. For starters, I didn't want that kind of drama right now. Second, having some famous and well loved people in Equestria hating you wasn't going to be a good thing for your love life. Finally, scorning me wasn't smart for their safety with the Germane Embassy and two Arstrotzkan guards were around.

Much to my pleasure however, there looks of confusion cleared up and immediately they formed smiles.

Spitfire extended my hand. "Pleasure to meet you Mr....Levy?"

I took her hand and blushed. "Er, it's just Lev. Levy is Cadance's pet name for me."

The Wonderbolts chuckled and Cadance smirked.

"Oh, so that's why you called Cadance 'kitten' huh? Talk about an actual pet name." laughed Starefire.

"Feel free to call him Levy when you want though. He likes it." mused Cadance with a haughty grin.

I smiled and sighed and shook the hands of the Wonderbolts, stopping only when a journalist wanted to take my photo.

"So have you been in Equestria before?" asked Soarin.

"Eh, once or twice if I recall correctly, but that was for international events I got invited to. This is the first time I am actually seeing the country besides a hotel." I explained.

"So are you enjoying it here?" asked Fleetfoot gleefully.

"I'm having lots of fun if that's what you mean." I smiled.

"That's great to hear," said Spitfire with a small pat on my shoulder. "How do we compare to your airplane machines back at your home?"

"You're all special and daring in your own unique ways." I joked.

"Isn't that sweet?" cooed Fleetfoot. "The Germanes kept telling us their Valkyries back home were more reckless and daring."

"Hey!" called out Avraham. "That doesn't mean you guys aren't brave and awesome yourself!"

Spitfire laughed out loud and turned back to us. "Man, I should tell you that you're probably the luckiest guy in the world by dating Cadance. I know a lot of dudes and some girls that want to be her lover."

"Huh," hummed Cadance as she pulled me closer to her. "I'd say I'm the lucky one by getting to date this handsome hunk of an Arstrotzkan political officer."

The three Wonderbolts collectively 'awed'. I blushed and tugged on my shirt with a goofy grin. Unfortunately a journalist took a photo of me at that moment, and I could already predict that photo coming back to haunt me later.

"Seriously though, I didn't think anyone expected a foreign government dude to be the one dating Cadance," pointed Soarin. "Everyone was expecting it to be some noble or at least someone from Equestria."

"Trust me, there's a lot of high ranking guys in Canterlot that wanted Cadance for themselves. You better watch out." warned Spitfire.

"Eh, with the blessing of the Arstrotzkan government, I'm sure we're fine." I assured.

"But really though, when you two have your big cross cultural wedding, you have GOT to let us do the airshow for you," offered Fleetfoot. "That would be like, the gig of the lifetime."

Cadance and I glanced at each other and blushed. We had just started officially dating, and now we were talking about marriage? Especially one that would probably have some grand wedding given Cadance's status. The reassuring smiles we gave each other though helped melt away the anxiety though.

"You'll have to compete with the Arstrotzkan air force for show time though. They'll fight you for the opportunity." I joked.

"That's not fair! We can't shoot bullets and missiles out of our bodies. We'll get shot down." laughed Spitfire.

"I really would like to pilot one of those airplanes however. They seem fun." said Soarin.

"Good luck fitting in a cockpit with your wings handing out." retorted Fleetfoot.

"Until that time comes, how about a photo?" smirked Spitfire.

"Of course! Come on Lev." chirped Cadance.

We got together in front of the Cameras as multiple flashes took our photo. I handed my phone over to Artyom so he could take a personal photograph for myself to remember. We followed it up with autographs and readied to make our move to our next destination.

"Thanks so much for watching our show your highness." beamed Spitfire.

"No, thank you for putting on such a great show." replied Cadance.

"And to Lev, good luck with the rest of your day in Canterlot. wished Spitfire.

"Thanks comrade." I chuckled.

Artyom and Pavel walked up to the Wonderbolts.

"You two go on ahead. We'll get our pictures and autographs in the mean time." stated Pavel as he and Artyom got into position with the Wonderbolts.

Pavel got out his phone. "Okay, we'll do two shots with my front camera and two shots with my back."

"What's the difference?" frowned Fleetfoot.

Artyom and Pavel laughed as if she just told a joke as Cadance and I exited the VIP tent, saying our final goodbyes to Avraham and the Germane embassy as well.

There wasn't anyone to greet us outside the tent, the journalists and paparazzi being occupied with the Wonderbolts.

"So I guess it's lunchtime now huh?" I noted.

"Yep, I cant wait for you to meet my friends!" smiled Cadance, gripping my hand tighter.

We managed to successfully blend into the downtown crowd. It was apparently lunch rush time for the Equestrians, and so the streets were cramped with people trying to get their favored restaurant. Knowing the folk of Canterlot, they all probably had reservations in some fancy locale which they just had to get to before it expired and someone waiting in line got it.

There were a few looks at us, but no one bothered to stop us for any reason. Either they could tell Cadance and I didn't want to be bothered, or because getting their meal was a higher priority for them at the moment.

"So what's the place we're eating at kitten?" I asked.

"You'll love it Levy. It's a pretty fancy restaurant, but I swear the food it what they prioritize the most," said Cadance. "Anyone who is anyone has dined here at least once Canterlot. Back when I was in high school, me any my friends would come here once every few weeks."

"Since I'm a someone, I can't wait to try." I smiled. We had our fine dining areas in Moscolt which could get expensive, but not too expensive for the average workers. The really elite stuff was in hotels, and mostly for foreign guests and banquets.

"What's the place called?" I asked.

"The Blue Ribbon," answered Cadance, dragging me forward so that we wouldn't get caught up in a crowd. "Annnnnnd we're here."

The exterior to the restaurant was dressed in a sort of ancient Troman style with wide glass windows to give a look inside, which I really liked. It didn't seem to be big on the outside, but there were quite a few people waiting to go inside.

We zipped past the line of people waiting to take in a reservation and made it straight for a waiter operating a booth for people who had already reserved in advance.

The server was checking a sheet before looking up at us. The second he glanced at Cadance, his violet eyes widened and he immediately tried to fix his appearance.

"Princess Cadance!" cried the waiter as he bowed down. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Cadance tried to read the waiter's name. "Hi Mr...Dinner Date?"

"Of course he's named Dinner Date," I muttered in Arstrotzkan. I immediately regretted doing that as Cadance squeezed my hand so hard that I almost thought I was about to lose a limb.

"That's me," nodded Dinner Date, whose earlier exclamation attracted the gaze of the line next to us.

The people by our side were mostly our age and maybe a little younger and older. Thankfully, this meant most of them weren't hating on us and I heard quite a few people whisper that Cadance and I were 'cute together' and 'lucky'. I smiled and waved. Only a few people were jealous, and oddly enough a few seemed to have been envying Cadance of all people. I guessed I was a more of a looker than I gave myself credit for.

"I have reservations under my name for four. It should be valid in about five minutes." said Cadance.

"Yes yes yes!" squirmed Dinner Date. "You're right on schedule madam, I mean, Princess Cadance!"

Dinner Date opened the door behind him while me and Cadance followed suit. The inside of the restaurant was pretty lavish to say the least, with a simple, but elegant design. Despite being crowded with people chatting and eating at their tables, the decor of the area wasn't boisterous at all. I guess those that dined hear had the great manners one could imagine.

As expected however, the restaurant fell dead silent for a moment as everyone took note of me and Cadance. Once the initial shock was gone, everyone began to do the usual by expressing and gossiping their disbelief at the site before them. I guessed I was getting used to the attention since I didn't hesitate this time.

Just then Dinner Date's mouth and chin began to glow as he lit up a spell that magically enhanced his voice like a megaphone's. "Attention! Princess Cadance is here to dine with her...boyfriend...so I expect her to have the peace she deserves. I will not hesitate to remove each and everyone of you that dares to disrupt her or give her a hard time!"

Without a moment to spare, the crowd in the room went back to their normal lunch routine as if nothing interesting just happened.

Cadance tapped Dinner Date on the shoulder. "It's alright. I come here often so regulars are used to seeing me here."

"Often?" repeated Dinner Date with glee. "Well, I'm new here, but I am surely looking forward to serving you and your lover Ms. Cadance. Soon to be Mrs. I assume?"

"That's a few years from now." I chuckled.

We sat our table and Dinner Date handed us 4 menus.

Cadance tapped his shoulder right before he left. "By the way, my friends are named Diamond Rose and Lemony Gem. If the two of them are asking for me, just direct them here."

"Will do your highness!" exclaimed Dinner Date.

I took a look around the area. "I'm liking it here. Reminds me of some of the fancier places I dined at when we in the embassy commemorated some holiday or birthday."

"Well, I hope the food meets up with your expectations as well." shrugged Cadance.

"Too bad the lack of flesh limits my options." I pouted.

"I'm afraid you're gonna have to get used to it in Canterlot." remarked Cadance.

"Don't worry," said a familiar voice. "The menu has some amazing stuff."

Cadance and I looked behind us and found Artyom and Pavel sitting at their table, looking at the menu. Their masks and helmets had been taken off, so we could fully see their facial features for the first. Artyom was probably a western Arstrotzkan with his green eyes, fair skin and moderate brown stubble while Pavel was more on the northern side given his blue eyes, pale skin and shaved, but clearly blond, hair.

Both of them had clearly been inside for a few minutes.

"No fucking way," I shook. "We left the Wonderbolts' tent way before you did."

"Our training covers many things comrade." explained Pavel.

Cadance and I laughed as we looked into the menu.

"See anything you like Levy?" asked Cadance, looking down at her menu.

"I wouldn't say like kitten, more like I see something I love." I replied.

Cadance frowned. "What do you mean...oh...." Cadance looked up and realized I was looking at her with a blush on my face. Her face turned red as well.

"Come on Lev, that's sweet, but it's one of the oldest tricks in the book." she smiled.

"But it seems to have worked right?" I chirped.

"Definitely." confirmed Cadance.

"Hey there!" cheered a new girlish voice.

Two hands were suddenly placed on my elbows. "Oh my gosh, are you the lucky guy?"

Cadance clasped her hands together and and looked at the two women behind us. "You guys made it!"

"Of course we would!" replied a girl whose hair was two shades of greenish and grayish blue with her eyes beign a similar shade. She wore a simple yellow t-shirt and long blue skinny jeans.

"Lev I'd like you to meet my closest and best friends." said Cadance in an excited tone. She pointed to the girl wearing yellow. "This right here is Lemony Gem. And the girl holding your shoulders is Diamond Rose."

"Hey there!" greeted Diamond Rose. I looked up and saw a Pegasus with gray wings looking back down at me. She had a red blouse topped with a gray jacket and brown bell bottom pants. Her hair was 3 stripes of red, purple and pink while her eyes were simply blue.

"So how are you two doing?" asked Lemony.

"Just amazing," responded Cadance. "Please, sit down."

The two took the seats in front of and facing us. The grabbed and opened up their menu, but immediately turned their faces towards me, both eager and dying for questions.

"So you're Cadance's new boyfriend huh?" checked Diamond Rose.

"The one and only." I grinned.

"And things are official?" added Lemony.

"I sure hope so." I answered.

"Good, because the last time something happened that was official, it didn't work out." noted Diamond Rose with a concerned look.

Cadance and I bit out lips, knowing she was referring to Shining Armor.

"Like seriously," remarked Lemony. "On Prom Night we basically went through a whole ordeal just to get Cadance, the most popular girl in school mind you, and the total geek Shining Armor, together."

"We know, but things can take unexpected turns." I inferred.

"Seriously though," muttered Diamond. "Believe me when I say it wasn't easy considering she was supposed to already be on a date with school Polo captain Buck."

"Who is Buck?" I frowned.

Cadance sighed like it was no big deal. "Oh just some popular jock who thought he was entitled to me. He was a pretty big asshole who thought he was sweet and cool to date me and couldn't believe I'd reject him."

My frown grew. "Uh, that sounds like a caricature out of some bad Arstrotzkan propaganda about non collectivist school life. Hell, the name Buck sounds like some generic bully name from a kids' cartoon. Like seriously, an asshole would never win that much popularity. Cool and confident guys yes, but jerks and bullies have always been ostracized where I'm from."

"Well, we're not you...and was totally hot though," smirked Diamond Rose. "And he won a lot of glory for our school in Polo."

"I...can get the first part, but not the second," I stated. "Come on, some people aren't worth it just because they're pretty."

"In our defense he was an asshole behind closed doors. He revealed his true colors at Prom Night and got booed." defended Diamond.

"Oh," I muttered. "Those people exist I guess."

"And he's been cleaning up his act." added Lemony. "Like seriously, he's still got the whole cool Polo guy thing down, but he's so much kinder the last time I saw him."

"Believe it or not Cadance, I really think your rejection of him really helped him out." told Diamond.

"Yeah, I think Prom Night was the wake up call he needed to get get a grip." speculated Lemony.

"Then that's great to hear!" beamed Cadance. "Tell him I wish him luck on being a better person the next time you see him."

"Okay!" blushed Lemony.

I smirked and pointed my finger at Lemony. "Ohhh, your face is turning red!"

"Yeah." blurted Lemony.

"You still like Buck don't you?" teased Cadance.

"Yep," admitted Lemony. "Athletic, confident, hot and not a jerk anymore. What's not to like?"

"Then go for him!" I encouraged. "That's what I did with kitten and look how happy we are."

"No other place I'd rather be than with you Levy." mused Cadance.

Diamond raised an eyebrow. "Kitten? Levy....Oh my gosh you have pet names for each other already!"

"That's so cute." cooed Lemony.

"And speaking of cute and handsome boys, you really lucked out on Lev Cadance," complimented Diamond.

"Oh I know," smirked Cadance, who grabbed my arm affectionately. "A down to earth, smart and total hunk of a foreign Political Officer. What's not to love?"

"Extra emphasis on hunk," mused Diamond. "I have to say Lev, your body might be a little average in the physical department, but your handsome face is just to die for."

I blushed and blubbered like an idiot. "Oh, um, thanks...that means a lot."

"Come on, didn't you get a lot of requests for dates back in school?" insisted Lemony.

"Well, I was consistently told that I was the prettiest boy in high school." I recalled.

"You mean handsomest?" checked Diamond.

"What? No. I meant what I said." I frowned.

"And I for one think they couldn't have been more right." agreed Cadance who pulled me into a kiss.

"Awww." chirped Cadance's friends.

"Your relationship is something magical, I can tell ya that," beamed Lemony, before her expression showed some concern. "There is no magic involved in this right?"

Cadance and I laughed.

"Oh come on, Lev can't physically use magic." giggled Cadance.

I raised my hands slightly. "And if I was under a love spell....this place would have been turned to rubble by now."

"And I for one like being whole and not charred pieces of ash." joked Cadance.

Dinner Date came back to us while levitating a notepad and pen. "Now that the whole gang is here, can I take your orders?"

"Do you three need more time? You barely looked at the menu?" I checked.

"Heck no, we come here all the time. We know what to get." said Diamond.

"You can order first lover boy." offered Lemony.

"In that case haha..." I chuckled. "Yeah, I'll take the Ramen please."

Dinner Date dotted it down. "Excellent choice since you're...Arstrotzkan right?"

"Da." I nodded.

"See, the tofu we use with our Ramen is said to taste similar to chicken by the other Arstrotzkans that have eaten here. You'll enjoy immensely," he explained. "And for the ladies?"

"Just the Lasagna with Parmesan cheese." ordered Cadance.

"We'll take a cheese and vegetarian pizza." ordered Lemony.

"Are you sure you wanna come here just for Pizza?" checked Cadance.

"But we're BFFs that need to share! And besides, it's so good." defended Lemony.

"Excellent choices." wrote down Dinner Date. "I'll get you all some bread to start and for drinks?"

"Is Canterlot Red wine okay Levy?" asked Cadance.

"Uh, sure yeah." I shrugged.

"Then that's what we'll take for the four of us." told Cadance.

"Good good." nodded Dinner Date. "It'll be ready soon."

Dinner Date took off, Lemony and Diamond's gazes following him, causing them to glance at Artyom and Pavel behind us. The two Arstrotzkan soldiers were in the midst of eating a spaghetti bowl they were apparently sharing. After taking a good look at them, the two girls glanced back at me and Cadance.

"Are they your friends by any chance Lev?" asked Diamond.

"I guess you can say that," I said. "The two were sent by the embassy to protect us."

"That's it? No Canterlot royal guard protection?" questioned Lemony.

''That's an oxymoron." I muttered, causing Cadance to roll her eyes, but then subtly nod in hesitant agreement.

"I have to admit, they're kinda cute." smirked Diamond.

"Think you can introduce us to them? We can go on a six way date together." offered Lemony.

Cadance and I glanced at each other and then back to the two of them.

I cleared my throat. "Um, I don't think that's going to be possible."

"Why not?" frowned Diamond. "You and Cadance get to be an interracial couple that transcends class and politics."

"Uh, that's not what Lev meant." blushed Cadance. She slowly raised a finger and pointed it up and forward, prompting Diamond and Lemony to look back at Artyom and Pavel.

The two Arstrotzkan soldiers were passionately locked in an embrace.

"Ew..." shook Lemony which made me clench my fist as a gut reaction. "You can't kiss while eating spaghetti. The sauce gets everywhere." she continued which made me loosen my grip in relief.

"At least they look cute together." shrugged Diamond.

"And speaking of cute, I really like your outfit Cadance." complimented Lemony.

"Oh, thank you! beamed Cadance.

"A little on the suggestive side though," noted Lemony while looking under to glance at Cadance's long curvy legs and thighs that were revealed by her short skirt. "Gotta flash some skin for your man huh?"

"I ain't complaining." I smirked.

"That and you gotta take advantage of the only day of spring in the winter," added Cadance. "Tomorrow it's back to heavy jackets."

"Didn't stop you from wearing that stripperific strapless dress yesterday night," I reminded. "Again not that I'm complaining."

"Oh how was last night anyway?" asked Diamond.

Cadance and I smiled sheepishly and glanced at each other.

"Uh, want me to explain it kitten?" I offered.

"Go ahead Levy." granted Cadance.

I tried to lower my voice. "Last night, we were interrupted by some guests. Let's just say that they didn't really approve of Cadance dating outside of her race and class. We ended up booting them out."

Diamond and Lemony bit their lips.

"Ohhh man," frowned Diamond. "Sounds rough."

"Yeah, but I think they won't be a problem anytime soon." said Cadance who affectionately put her arm around me and pulled me close.

"Seriously though, there's a lot of bad apples in the Canterlot elite that would rather you and Cadance not get together since you wouldn't be eligible for royalty or nobility." pointed Diamond.

"Ah, I'm still not a fan of the whole becoming a royal thing," I shrugged. "They'll have to accept it eventually."

"If you wanna know about all the people you need to watch out for here, we're your girls." suggested Diamond.

"Heh, I can tell you two would know a lot about Canterlot just from your names. I mean Diamond Rose and Lemony Gem? Doesn't take a genius to know you two are probably from some powerful families." I replied.

"Our names are weird like that," agreed Lemony. "But we're not that powerful honestly."

"It doesn't even matter," noted Cadance. "I chose to hang out with you two because you're both awesome and not stuck up like a certain group of people I had to grow up with."

"And I certainly agree with Cadance on that one." I nodded.

"Aw, what are best friends for?" chirped Diamond.

"Seriously though, if there was some sort of union or collectivist revolution in Equestria, what would happen to us?" asked Lemony.

I tensed for a moment and looked at Cadance. She bit her lip and nodded, giving me permission to answer the question. "That depends. What do your families exactly do?"

"My family runs a few gem companies while Diamond Rose's family owns a bunch of flower plantations." answered Lemony.

"In that case," I began. "For starters I do not belong to a royal family, so there will be no political union with Equestria if Cadance and I got married."

"If? More like when, Levy," winked Cadance who looked back at her friends. "And regardless, I trust you two will be providing the decorations for mine and Lev's wedding."

Her statement caused me and her two friends to blush simultaneously.

I caught my breath and continued on. "Anyway, if there was a massive change, I'm sure you two would be fine letting the workers run your family's industries, right?"

Lemony and Diamond looked at each other, smiled and shrugged.

"To be honest neither of us are exactly in line for running our family's firms. I guess you'll have to ask someone else in our family." stated Diamond.

"I hope they'll let us be their flower girls." joked Lemony.

"By the way are you guys going to go to the fireworks rally tonight?" asked Cadance.

"Totally," answered Diamond. "Gotta end the one day of spring in the winter with a bang eh?"

"It will be really crowded in the city center though," noted Lemony. "You and Lev can blend in, but I think the second you two get spotted, you'll be overwhelmed by a huge crowd."

"No worries," replied Cadance. "I planned to see the fireworks with Lev on top of the castle."

Cadance glanced to me and smiled. "It's more romantic that way anyway."

Our waiter arrived and levitated our dishes towards us. Without wasting a second of time, we all began to dig into our food.

The taste was worth the cost.

Night had finally fallen. After we ate, we took a small tour of Canterlot, got some coffee and now headed back to the Castle. As we approached the Castle grounds, we said goodbye to Cadance's friends and dismissed Artyom and Pavel, leaving just me and Cadance together. The cover of the night had well concealed our path, so much to our delight, we didn't get harassed or noticed by any sort of onlooker without our guards for the moment.

The night sky was beautiful and I could make out many of the numerous stars that glittered in the dark. Unlike the urban metropolis that was Moscolt, there was very little light pollution being generated in Canterlot

Holding hands as we walked, the two of us were pretty tired after a long outing, but we sure as hell weren't going to miss the fireworks.

Cadance yawned lightly. "Quite a day huh?"

"Indeed," I replied. "But I was really glad that I got to spend it with you kitten."

"Likewise Levy." chirped Cadance.

I got out my phone to check the time. "The fireworks will be in a few minutes, so we better head up to a castle tower quick."

"Don't worry, we'll make it." assured Cadance.

We finally reached the gates of the Castle, which glowed magnificently in the night time with various chandeliers and candles illuminating what was going on inside its walls.

"Are we going to meet up with Celestia or something?" I asked.

"I don't think so," answered Cadance. "At this time, she goes to the city center where the fireworks are lit in front of a large crowd as per tradition. We can turn back if you want, but I felt that being in front of such a big crowd would...you know..."

"Ah, say no more," I nodded. "It would be a pain to walk back anyway. Tonight, it will just be the two of us. No crowds, no servants and no government agents, although I can't guarantee the last part."

Cadance laughed at that last part. "Your interesting form of humor always gets me."

"Well, I guess I have a knack for being funny." I smirked.

"Funny? Nah, I'd say your quips are more absurd." winked Cadance.

"Says you!" I chuckled. "So are we going to walk up to your tower or what?"

"Walk? How about we take the shortcut?" suggested Cadance.

I raised my eyebrow. "Shortcut?"

"Mhm," hummed Cadance who let go of my hand. "Just stay still and stand tall."

"Okay?" I frowned, doing as she said.

I stood completely still as Cadance walked behind me. I wanted to turn around to see what she was doing, but that would have violated her orders. After a pause, I heard the sound of magic summoning something and felt Cadance's arms wrapping around my body.

Cadance raised her voice before I could react. "Just relax,"

And at that moment, I felt Cadance pull me off and found my feet no longer attached to the ground as I took off into the sky. I cried out in surprise and turned around to see Cadance with two pink wings sprouting from behind her back as she swooped around and flew us over to her castle tower.

Every part of my body was pulsing and I was fighting it tooth and nail to stop kicking around, lest I hit Cadance and find myself falling to my death. Even though it was a short distance to her tower, I felt like the ride there was lasting an eternity.

I closed my eyes, hoping that would ease the tension as my body soared through the air and finally felt both my feet land on a solid surface.

"You can open your eyes now Lev!" called out Cadance, as if she hadn't just lifted me up.

I opened them and turned around, finding myself staring at Cadance with her two wings prodding from both sides of her back. She had her arms crossed and was biting her lip, trying not to laugh.

I took a deep breath and calmed down. "Right, I forgot that you could do that."

"Fly?" checked Cadance. "You know I was a Pegasus before I became an alicorn right?"

"Oh no, I know that," I assured. "More of the super strength part which I haven't seen you use a lot."

"Well, when you have powerful magic or guns in your case, physical combat more of a last resort," smiled Cadance as her wigs glowed and then vanished. "Although I can still show you what I can do with a sword and bare fists if the need arises."

"Let's hope it doesn't," I laughed. I was never really too bothered by Cadance's powers. Sure they could be overwhelming, but I never felt she would use them against me or the innocent. Hell, there were always battalions of great power soldiers to keep a rogue alicorn in check.

Cadance snapped her fingers and a sundeck chair materialized in the terrace. She looked at me and pointed her and towards it, presenting me with a seat which I gladly took.

I made myself comfortable. "Are you gonna grab one yourself?"

"Now why would I need to do that?" chirped Cadance.

As I expected she brought her self down and lied down on top of me, prompting me to wrap my arms around her waist and belly. We looked passionately into each other's eyes before we closed them to embrace in a deep kiss. After a long day, the feeling of her lips on mine was more than welcome.

Suddenly, the sound of a soaring object and it setting off forced our eyes open and onto the scene. Our mouths both dropped and our eyes widened at the fantastical display before us. Dozens of fireworks were being set off at once and were exploding in a wide array of beautiful colors. Magically enhanced fireworks or not, it was something I had never seen before.

"That's amazing." I gasped.

"Gets me every year." added Cadance.

For a continuous minute, the two of us remained silent as we watched the fireworks display, the sound of them setting off and the cheers from the Equestrians down there drowning out the scene.

Finally, we raised our voices to each other, and I mean really raised since the whole scene was pretty loud.

"Great scene, right Lev?" said Cadance, still looking in front of her.

"Totally!" I exclaimed. "So was I good today?"

Cadance looked back at me. "I'd say you handled yourself pretty well. You really seemed to get along well with the people I introduced you to."

"Well, it's way easier to get along when they don't want to destroy our relationship for silly elitist reasons." I defended.

"So I take it that you enjoyed your day?" checked Cadance.

"Way better than yesterday if that's what you're asking." I replied.

"That's good to hear. I really think this will bring our two countries closer." remarked Cadance, her body further onto me.

"I hope so to," I replied, rocking my hands up and down her body. "So do you know what we're going to be doing tomorrow?"

"We'll be taking it a lot easier," noted Cadance. "But it will be a lot colder tomorrow."

"Ah, I'm from Arstrotzka, I can handle the cold." I bragged.

"I'm sure you can, because next time, we'll be in your place." winked Cadance.

We kissed one more time and went back to gazing at the magnificent scene before us.