“I have had enough!”

Skyblaze, Earl of The House of Thunderhead, stood aghast. Fluttering Warbringer Deathgaze Shywing was not one to raise her voice. She was the most demure mare he had ever known and she would rather bury her anger than shout. (Or what was her equivalent of shouting.) Yet here she was, dressed in those foul Sol Priestess robes, staring him down, with her wings pinned tightly to her side and her arms crossed underneath her breasts. The furrowed brow made her seem even more menacing than she really was but then again, she was a member of one of the oldest, strongest, and most noble of Cloudsdale Families.

The fact that she was half ledrflapper only raised her exotic qualities. If only she wasn’t so beholden to that ground-pounder. That’s what this argument was about, anyway. After being bested by that bald orangutan in the tournament, Skyblaze had received a missive from his father berated him for his horrible performance. He was given an ultimatum: return with Warbringer and finally consummate their betrothal or do not even think of returning home.

He was trying his damndest to woo the golden Pegasus, but even with his superior charm and wit, Skyblaze was striking out terribly. It had to be about that shaved monkey. He did not understand the dictates of The Order of Sol, so this whole “chosen champion” business really confused him. He couldn’t understand what that wannabe mudpony had to offer than was greater than what he, the noble Skyblaze, Earl of The House of Thunderhead, had. It was beyond reason what that creature could offer a noble mare like Warbringer. He thought, Your grandfather must rolling in his sarcophagus.

“I’m sorry, Warbringer, but what are you saying?” Skyblaze inquired.

Fluttershy replied, “What I’m saying, and this is what I’ve been saying since the day I left, is I can not, will not, and will never marry you, Skyblaze. I joined The Order with the very intention of keeping as far away from Cloudsdale, and you, as I could.”

“Oh, please, Bri,” the Pegasus noble stallion said, dismissing Fluttershy’s statement, “you are of the noble House of Shywing, one of the greatest of the ledrflapper clans. It was your very great grand dame, Nightshade Shywing, who defended Princess Luna from Solar Flare’s opposing Pegasi! Your family is one of great fame and renown! As is my house, the Thunderhead Clan! Together, our offspring would be both beautiful and powerful!”

“You are in incorrigible, Skyblaze,” Fluttershy retorted, “read my muzzle: ‘I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, return to Cloudsdale with you and be your bride.’ This conversation is long since been over. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have my duties to attend to.”

Fluttershy turned away from Skyblaze, letting an errant wing slap him in the face. She floated to the open Sol Temple doors. Skyblaze meant to pursue, after shaking out the dizzies from the slap to his face.

“But wait, Bri-!”

Before he could continue with his plea, the Sol Temple doors closed shut with a deafening slam… right in his face.

Stella entered the room with Penny, one of the maids that was actually a good sort, and her muzzle crinkled as she stood there.

“Damn, this room smells like sin and buggery,” she said as she looked at the bed sheets and saw a large collection of stains, “Ah believe we’ve missed quite the party, Penny.”

The Earth mare looked back at her with a coy smile, “Perhaps, but I’m off duty in a few hours, and we do have that double ender both of us have wanted to try.”

“So, I would expect that some congratulations are in order?” Princess Luna asked.

Standing in the throne room, standing three abreast, were Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, and Prince Endymion. The young Prince had his arms wrapped around the two mares, and all three worse brilliant smiles.

“That would be appropriate, mother,” Endymion replied, “Twilight has decided to join my herd and as such, Pinkie, Twilight and myself will be holding a small ceremony to celebrate our union.”

“Well, that is a good bit of news,” Luna said, “it has been an earth age since last there was a wedding in these halls. Although, it wouldn’t be a proper wedding without the news of an impending foaling, yes?”

“Well, that- hasn't exactly happened yet,” Twilight reported, to which Pinkie added, “not that we haven’t stopped trying.”

“Pinkie!”

“What? I’m not going to keep a secret from the Princess, Twilight!” Pinkie declared, “Besides, it’s not like Princess Luna doesn’t already know about Endy and me.”

“Don’t remind me,” Luna breathed.

“Endy and I,” Twilight murmured.

Pinkie shrugged, “Meh, Same difference.”

Luna then said, “Was there any plan for a formal declaration? I would imagine that House Twilight would like to mark this special occasion. As would, I can imagine, the Pie Family. If memory serves, there is a specific ceremony that The Roamani perform for a betrothal, yes Ms. Pie?”

“You might say that,” Pinkie stated, squinting her eyes in a conspiratorial manner.

“Uh, Pinkie,” Twilight commented, “don’t Roamani marriage parties involve- nudity?”

Pinkie stared at Twilight with a mischievous grin.

“We’ll table that for a later time,” Princess Luna said, “in any case, seeing as he is my son, I will decree that the castle shall be prepared for a- small service, right my son?”

“Yeah, a small function should do,” Endymion said, “we don’t really need a huge ordeal. What do you say, girls?”

“Well, I have no objections to a small gathering,” Twilight said, “What do you say, Pinkie Pie?”

“Oh, I guess it depends on how quickly I can get my family to this part of Equestria, Pinkie commented, “last I wrote, they were still working their rock farm. Well, unless Maud finally made into university like she planned…”

“I can have Spike send out the invitations,” Twilight said, “Pinkie, do you remember your parents address?”

“Pfft, yeah!”

Decurian Nyota sat uneasy on the witness bench. Being recalled to Pivot had not been in any scenario she wanted to revisit. The Imperial Capital was once her home, where her family and friends greeted her warmly in the mornings and where she ate her favorite dish in the best little cafe in the Empire. But after expressing a desire to seek out what lay beyond the Desolation and Necropolis Mountains, her life took a turn for the horrid. Her station on the Necropolis was to be her tomb, she knew. It would be the furthest she could travel and still be considered an Imperial Citizen. And as she had explained everything that happened during the encounter with the Equestrian Airship, she was beginning to wonder if she hadn’t just signed her death warrant.

“Thank you, Decurion Washburne,” Council Chairwoman Clint said, “I believe that will be all the testimony we need. You may have your leave.”

“Yes, Councilwoman,” Nyota said, “Glory to The Goddess.”

The councilwoman replied the same, although with less enthusiasm.

The decurion left the chambers, glad she could quit the place finally. Goddess only knew how frightening that room was. The members always remind Nyota of sharks and she had been afraid of sharks since she was nearby a frenzy of them as a child. And if the council members were scary sharks to Nyota, then the Council Chairwoman was the scariest of them all.

Once outside the chamber doors, Nyota desperately sought out a place to run and cry for a moment. Yet, the Council Hall, the largest building outside of the Imperial Palace, was wide open with no secreted grottos to hide within. And there were enough Imperial citizens, of more Houses than she could rightly recall, that losing her composure here would assuredly make her lose what little standing she had in House Praetorian.

That’s when she spotted her commanding officer. Legate Leilani Ourino was seated on a bench, along with a few other unfortunates, just outside the Council Chambers. Not unlike herself, Leilani was garbed in the ceremonial dress uniform of their house. Her tactical armored carapace was gleaming from a fresh waxing and her pauldrons were marked with her rank and activity status.

The Decurion walked up to the commander and sat down. The older woman caught sight of her junior and smiled down her. (The Family Ourino had come from more exotic stock than the typical Imperial family and as such, she was both taller and more beautiful than the average Imperial citizen. Nyota wondered why such a gorgeous woman was in the military arm of the Empire, but she would never complain about it.) Nyota adjusted herself in her seat as she thought on what subject she could broach with her CO.

“You took quite the grilling in there,” Leilani stated, “I was surprised to see The Councilwoman so frightened.”

“She was, wasn’t she?” Nyota replied, “Have to wonder what about this makes her so afraid?”

“Hard to tell,” Leilani stated, “hardly anything happens at The Necropolis so this latest incident might have set off some old nightmares.”

“Do you think it has anything to do with Ho-” Nyota started before Leilani stopped her with a finger to the younger soldiers lips.

Whispering, The Legate told her subordinate, “Mind yourself of what you speak. These walls have ears.”

Nyota nodded and when Leilani removed her index finger, the Decurion mouthed, House Endymion?

Yes, mouthed Leilani, it seems House Endymion has plenty to do with what’s happening around here.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Nyota whispered, “if- if those people were responsible for bringing a,” a pause then mouthing, wizard, “here, then why hasn’t the Investigation Corps not been sent out to the Necropolis? Goddess only knows that was where-”

Nodding, Leilani added, “Yes, there were plenty of happenings on that mountain. I’m unsure if they have anything to do with what’s going on now, but you and I had best watch our backs. Chairwoman Clint has already given me a thorough interrogation as diplomatic as I was, I still feel was she was trying to dig for something deeper.”

“But what could that be?” The Decurion asked, “You and I are just soldiers. We aren’t Optios or The Primus Legate. What do we know?”

“I don’t know if anything I told The Council was of any import,” Leilani answered, “but you were the one closest to the airship; you engaged the ponies and their-” Wizard- “so it has to do with something like that.”

“This is all so scary,” Nyota whimpered.

“I know,” Leilani said, “but no matter what happens, I will see this through with you to the end.”

“What does that-” Nyota started before she was cut off. The Legate’s lips had found her own and even though she was surprised as all get out, she fell into the brief but passionate kiss she was given.

Listening to the reports by both Nyota Washburne and Legate Leilani Ourino Council Chairwoman Serenia Clint’s eyes narrowed. Journals, reports, ancient records, everything the council had kept since the extermination of the House of Endymion pointed to an heir that had escaped. An heir that had been aided by a foolish agent of chaos. She considered, briefly, of seeing if the old bastard was still alive, locked in his cell under the witches’ catacombs. Going there, facing him, may produce an answer, but if her ancestors couldn’t make him talk it was likely she couldn’t either.

Old Euclides Bifrost was a fellow House Endymion member, an alchemist in The Archmage’s personal corps, The Hecate League. Even after he was transmogrified by Chaos magic, he was still a member of that heretic tribe; he was even welcomed back by The Archmage himself. Her ancestors had considered him a respectable resource, but all the torture and isolation had not yielded any positive results. Still, a visit with the spirit of rancor was a must. If for nothing else, than to confirm that there was his treachery.

She made a memo indicating her intention to visit cell Z-29, and sent it down to her direct assistants. Standing she looked in the mirror. The woman that looked back at her was aging gracefully, very gracefully. The silver gauntlet on her left hand was what held the credit for it. A last parting gift from the heretic tribe before they were snuffed out. Power, magic, at the control of a body that didn’t have the ability. The gauntlet slowed her aging, kept her young, and it allowed her to bring about certain doom and destruction to those who would dare question the council’s right to rule the empire.

She considered the two that had just been in here. Both were young, beautiful, and she looked at her face seeing the faintest mark of an age line. That would not do. She considered calling one of them back, or she did until she heard the swift knocking on her door.

“Enter.”

The door opened and there was a young girl, perhaps seventeen cycles, her head was hanging low, she dared not look up, and Serenia looked at the Imperial officer standing behind her. “What is this?”

The officer clicked his heels, saluting with his right arm across his chest, then his fist raised to eye level, “Madam Clint, this girl was heard questioning about the outside, about visiting the wilds. As per instructions, I brought her to you.”

“Very good officer, go downstairs, and please, enjoy some recreation as a reward. One of the council’s underlings shall entertain you.”

“You are most kind Madam Clint, may the council’s rule never be suppressed.”

He turned and left and the girl finally dared a look. She was a beauty. Serenia was reminded of herself when she was that age. Young, firm, breasts that hung tight and high, a supple young body, perfect for recreation, perfect for every kind of sin and vice. Serenia moved toward her, grasping her hand with the cold silver gauntlet. The three mana batteries began to glow softly.

Serenia asked the girl, “You wish to see the wilds?”

She nodded, and The Counciolwoman continued, “Tell me, what would you give?”

“A...Anything.” Answered the girl.

“Very well,” Serenia said icily, “what is your name, child?”

“My name is Rowena. Rowena Ravencroft.”

“Well, then, Ms. Ravencroft,” Serenia said, “you will see your beloved wilds, but first, you must pay the toll.”

The girl screamed and fell to the floor. It felt like someone was ripping something from her, something she couldn’t see, she couldn’t explain, but it was there all the same. She wept when it finally stopped, and she looked up to see that chairwoman was younger now, looking less like she was in her late thirties, and instead looking as if she was in her early twenties or late teens.

“Ah, much better. I will give you a chance. There is someone I wish to meet and enquire. As such you will be used to find him, speak to him, and seduce him. I take it that you’ve recreated before?”

The girl shook her head no.

“Then that is a problem we must fix. Starting today you will learn all there is in order to seduce anyone. Your entire purpose will be to get close to him, make him love you, and bring him back to me. Do this, and I promise you that your life within the Empire will be rich and fulfilled. You will get the chance to see exotic places, see other lifeforms, and even learn more than you ever dreamed. I can promise you that this will be to your benefit. If you fail me, there will be no place you can hide that I will not find you, and what you felt, that little tickle, will be seem like a lover’s kiss. Do you understand me?”

“Y..yes.”

“Good, leave, go downstairs and speak to Mistress Niki. She will teach you all that you need to know about recreation, including how to grind.”

The girl, now looking to be in her late twenties, left. Serenia looked in the mirror again, and the woman that looked back was perfect. Her body was a temple that others would beg to worship. This obvious heretic would be no different. Oh, she’d seduce him, take him, experience him, conceive, and then she’d drain him. Every last ounce of magic and power he had would be taken and placed into the mana batteries. When he was nothing more than a withering husk, begging for death, she’d be merciful, and grant it.

A smile crossed her lips as she touched her stomach. Their child however, their child would be unstoppable. Magic mixed with desire and drive. She’d raise their child to understand the world, to see it as nothing more than resources to be consumed and used. With her guidance their child would bring the other nations to their knees! The Equestrians would fall, the Yaks, the Zebras, the dragons, all would fall before them. Her child, her lovely child, would deliver a world to her, and in return she would love her child. Dote on her child, give her child the kind of love that only a woman such as she could give. And when her child had finished giving her the world, she would have her child take place next to her side. A loving, simple minded, easily controlled, and faithful enforcer to look over her for all eternity.

But first, a trip to see her pet chimera was in order…

Blueblood walked into the dining hall, his mane perfect, his clothes fresh, new, and quite actually just from the tailor, but little did it matter. He wasn’t here to impress, oh looking fantastic was certainly at the top of the list of things to do, but today he was going to celebrate his cousin’s, although he considered him a brother, engagement announcement. Being a prominent member of the nobility, and of the noble council, he had already began to twist the proper arms to ensure that this engagement would not be challenged. There was already talk, some of the nobles were questioning who the prince was seeing. It was an old game, one that Blueblood had played long enough to know what was happening. The nobility wanted to anchor themselves to the princess. The easiest way was to marry into the family. Chocolate Sun and his wife Fine Line both were ready to marry their fifteen year old daughter to the prince.

Personally, most of the nobility disgusted him. It wasn’t that some of the noble mares weren’t beautiful, but there was little more there than a warm body for the night. They were concerned with their own power, their standing, and while he certainly wanted to maintain his image he wasn’t too caught up in himself to realize that there was simply more to life. His eyes fell upon Endymion, Twilight Sparkle, and the pink earth pony his brother had chosen. Personally, he could see why. She was beautiful, her body certainly made to make a stallion desire her, and he could wish his brother no better luck than he already had.

“Blueblood?”

“Endymion, brother, it has been too long,”he said as he hugged his brother, “Auntie Luna has told me that you’ve been playing adventurer. Found anything of value, besides your future brides?”

“Not really,” Endymion said, “the trouble with adventuring is that there only so many ruins and monsters out there. There’s not too many places that haven’t already been raided or explored. Some of the most treasure filled catacombs have been repeatedly ransacked, and that’s even before Mother sanctioned guilds for adventurers.”

“That’s too bad,” Blueblood said, dropping his more regal mask for his private persona, “is it really that horrible? I see you have a new sword on you. So there must be some loot left out there.”

“I guess so, Bluey,” Endymion replied, “but the sword was mine to begin with.”

“Wait, what do you mean?” Blueblood asked, “That sword looks old, ancient even. You’re no older than I am and that blade looks like survived the pre-Unification era.”

“I think they best way to explain it is, this sword is an inheritance,” Endymion explained, “it was left for me.”

“Huh,” Blueblood huffed, “one Tartarus of a way to grant an inheritance. I would have expected gold, jewels, even an antediluvian spell book. Those things are rare and forget about selling them; some of the spells in those things have some rather interesting applications.”

Endymion laughed, recalling the spells found in one of Blueblood’s great uncle’s spell books. The penis enlargement spell backfired in a way that he still had proof of to this day. And then there was the glamour that was said to make one’s coat capable of reflecting one’s environment, thus making oneself virtually invisible. Instead, Blueblood was bald was three weeks. A real riot, those spells had been.

“Oh, man, do you remember the Spaghetti Incident?” Endymion asked his cousin.

“Please, don’t remind me,” Blueblood sighed, “at least it wasn’t the Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie Episode. I swear, Flintheart is never going to let me live that down.”

“No, I shan’t,” a stern voice said.

Blueblood’s eyes widened, he turned and saw Professor Flintheart walking into the area. He walked toward Blueblood, stopped and eyed him for a moment, “A level three, I expected better of you Blueblood. A mere level three with your family history is disgraceful, and your actions with the daughters of the nobility only enhance that disgrace, yet I am actually very pleased to see you.”

The older stallion stuck out his hand, shook Blueblood’s, and then looked at Endymion, “When I heard that you finally figured out that Miss Sparkle was interested in you it renewed my hope that perhaps you can achieve greatness,” he dug in a side satchel and produced a small book, “These spells have been passed down in my family for generations. Spells for fertility, for stamina, and other things. They will take practice, they will take time, but they will be worth it. I may have been hard on you Endymion, and I will continue to be hard on you, but it is because I see greatness in you. Now, if you excuse me, my being here isn’t merely to wish you well, I was also called here on official business by Princess Luna.”

They watched as the older stallion walked toward Endymion’s mother. It seemed strange to hear Flintheart admit that he actually cared about him. He’d always figured that the old stallion put up with him because he was his mother’s son. The idea that Flintheart saw potential in him never even crossed his mind.

Flintheart neared the Diarch that he was most loyal to. Granted, he was loyal to Celestia, and should she ask something of him he would do it, and gladly so, but Celestia did not see his potential. Celestia did not save him from an orphanage in Trottingham, and Celestia did not put him through Magic Academy. That was Princess Luna, and she taught him what it meant to be powerful. His time in the orphanages had taught him to be tough, to never let his guard down, but his Princess taught him that true strength came not from lording it over others, but by serving others. He had been her personal student, and in some ways he was still was.

“Princess,” he bowed, “I understand you wish to have words with me.”

She nodded, “Rise Flintheart, please, sit.”

He did so and looked at her, “Your son has chosen fine brides. Perhaps if he chooses a Pegasus as well it will show a shining example of unification.”

She smiled and nodded, “I’ve thought the same as well. Flintheart, as much as I wish I called you here to speak of my son, and of his royal engagement…”

He nodded, “I understand your highness. I am a humble servant, ask of me what you will.”

She touched his hand, “Flintheart, you are no mere servant. You were a special student to me, and you’ve proven yourself a thousand times over. I wish, truly wish, that you would have listened to your heart, and my advice, and married that young magi that wanted to court you.”

He shook his head, “I am needed by Equestria. Love, as wonderful as it may be, is not something I can afford. I know, as you do, that eventually I will not be coming back. I could not do that to another pony.”

She looked at his face, sadness echoed in her eyes. He wasn’t wrong. Flintheart wasn’t the young stallion he had been. He’d grown older, more powerful certainly, but older. She knew that his body grew more frail each passing year. Eventually, there would be a mission that would be too much for him, and she knew he would never simply take a token job as a Black Cloak. The next best thing was having him teach, and only send him out when it was truly needed.

“I am sure you heard of the trip I took with my son.”

He nodded, and motioned for her to continue.

“We found Endymion’s kind. They are not mythology, as it was once believed, and they are powerful. I fear they will come for him, and while Endymion’s powers are growing, I fear he isn’t ready.”

“You wish for me to protect your foal?”

She grinned, “In a way, yes. The Black Cloaks need to be ready. All of them. Flintheart, I fear this will become war, and I fear that we will need every Black Cloak available.”

He stroked his chin, “The new recruits, they are still raw, fresh, and Trixie is the rawest of them. Her powers of illusion are most impressive, but she lacks offensive magic. I only agreed to train her as a Black Cloak because I believed that she would have at least the rest of her career here at the Academy to train, to become strong, and to be ready. That is not the case I would assume.”

Luna looked at her hands, “I’m sorry, it is not. Ms Lulamoon will need to be ready, as will the other Black Cloaks.”

He closed his eyes and cursed softly, “Very well, but Ms. Lulamoon, and the other new recruits, need to be on the back lines. The very last line of defence. They simply do not have the experience to be anywhere else. Sol help me, if it were feasible I’d keep them out of this completely. I won’t beg, that would be demeaning to the both of us, but I humbly ask, please consider that simple request Princess.”

She reached for his hand again, “It is granted my old friend.”

“Very well, I will go and rouse them. Princess, if I may, Ms. Lulamoon is quite caught up with this. I’ve let her be, but she is very distraught over the thought of your son marrying another. Perhaps, and I suggest this only because I care for the poor filly as I do all of my students, it would be an idea to send one of the guards that would be tolerable to her personality to spend time with her. There is nothing that helps cures a broken heart quite like a new love.”

“I shall do what I can,” Princess Luna said with a kind smile, “Thank you, Flintheart.”

She watched him as he bowed once more, got up, and headed out. She could see him stopping to talk to Twilight and Pinkamena. She looked back at her son and could see Twilight’s older brother approaching him. Perhaps she could warn Endymion, let him know that Shining Armor had a very protective streak about his sister, and while she doubted that much news of their first night had spread too far it would be interesting to see this unfold. Besides, she was certain that Shining Armor wouldn’t do too much to her son. She smiled, leaned back, and watched with all intent. Her horn lit up slightly so she could hear the entire conversation. She also magiced a bag of popcorn.

Blueblood smiled when Endymion asked his opinion on marriage. Personally, he wasn’t sure about the institution itself, but he did know a thing or two about keeping a mare, and he decided to share that knowledge with his brother.

"Endymion, the answer to keeping a mare is insanely easy. Simply listen to them, give them a proper screwing when needed, and if you can throw a little anal in then you're golden," Blueblood sipped his glass of wine, "and most importantly, do not let anypony else try to come between you and what you want."

"Thanks, Bluey,” Endymion said, a wide smile on his face, “I'll try to keep that in mind. Uh, who is that stallion with the blue mane that keeps staring my daggers?"

Blueblood took a gander at the unicorn stallion who just now entered the room a,d said, "Oh, I see you haven't met the acquaintance of The Captain of The Royal Guard. I believe his name is-"

"SHINING ARMOR!"

Twilight rushed the stallion in question, her smile so brilliant, it rivaled the one she reserved for Endymion. She wrapped him up in a hug; Endymion felt a deep seed of jealousy for the sort of intimacy that hug held. Although he knew he shouldn’t; despite the years and distance, he knew Shining Armor well enough. They had played together in school and he was the big brother he never had. Now that Endymion had Twilight in his herd, he wondered how, if ever so briefly, this would change their friendship.

"Oh, well, that steals my thunder." Blueblood joked.

"Wait a minute. That's Shining Armor?!” Endymion asked, “That's Twilight's older brother?!"

"Yes, indeed it is." Blueblood answered.

Shining Armor was now striding towards the royal pair, his eyes locked on to Endymion. When he was close enough, he held out a beefy paw to The Crown Prince; Endymion took and shook it as thoroughly as he could. The Captain of the Guard was no slouch in muscle; Endymion’s palm hurt after gripping the unicorn stallion, “I take it that you are the young colt that has caught my little sister’s attention.”

Endymion nodded, and he could feel the power from Shining’s handshake even now. The slightly older stallion grinned at him, “Take a short walk with me, will you?”

Endymion looked at Blueblood who nodded. Together Endymion and Shining Armor walked toward the Balcony outside of the dining room. It wasn’t overly large, but it was enough room for a pony to stand with little trouble.

“Twily hasn’t stopped talking about you. To be honest, even before the invitation I knew that this was coming,” he looked out at the open sky, “Endymion, what is Twilight to you?”

Endymion looked at him, unsure of what he meant, and then he thought about it to himself, “She’s everything to me. Her and Pinkie Pie both. I couldn’t imagine my life without them.”

There was a soft chuckle from the white unicorn stallion, “I know the feeling. I feel the same about Cadence. Twilight doesn’t know this yet, but we’re getting married before too long, although to Cadence we already are.”

He looked at him, “It’s a Pegasus thing. The first pony they mate with, that is their mate for life. Before she was an Alicorn Cadence was a Pegasus,” he laughed softly, “I don’t know how it worked, or why it worked, but Cadence ascended. But inside she’s still a Pegasus. She always will be. And Twilight is always going to be my little sister,” Shining looked at him hard, “Understand this Endymion. You are like family, but if you ever, ever hurt Twily, ever raise a hand to her, I will find out, and I will make you pay for it.”

“I’d never do that.”

Shining Armor smiled and nodded, “I know, of course, but I’ve been practicing that speech for a very long time, and I felt like it would be a waste to not use it. But just to reiterate: if you hurt my Twily to any degree, I will personally see you drawn and quartered; you'll be in Tartarus before Princess Luna or Discord know you're dead.”

“So," Endymion posited nervously, "you’re marrying Cadence?”

He nodded, “Yes, originally we wanted to marry right away, and we still do, but once Princess Luna learned about it, well, she’s determined that our marriage happen fairly close to yours.”

Endymion looked toward his mother who suddenly seemed to be very interested in the table cloth of her table, “Uh huh… I suppose she wants it to be a very large affair?”

He nodded, “Her exact words were that it needed to be a large wedding since Cadence is a princess. A huge wedding, that will celebrate the love between the Captain of the Guard, and the Princess of Love.”

“Mother, seriously?”

Shining Armor looked at him, “She wants our weddings done on the same day, at the same time right?”

Shining nodded, “Small wedding my flank.”

“Excuse me?”

“I told mother that a small wedding would be fine, something intimate, only a few individuals.”

Shining Armor laughed, a deep belly laugh that came bubbling up, “Endymion, when was the last time that your mother did anything small? This wedding is something that she’s been planning for a while. I suppose it was clever of her to want to schedule our weddings for the same time. As I understand it she’s even having Princess Celestia officiate as the head priestess.”

As Shining and Endymion talked, inside Twilight was sitting across from her old foal sitter. Cadence smiled at the filly she used to watch several years ago, “So, tell me, did you finally get the feeling you were hoping for?”

Twilight blushed and nodded, “Yes. I… I honestly never knew it could be like that. I just assumed that all of those old romance novels were nothing more than wishful thinking.”

Cadence grinned at her, “Not all of them are Twilight,” she stood up, her pink and yellow silk gown flowing gently with the slight breeze, “Perhaps you, and your herd mate could walk with me and tell me all about the colt that has won your heart.”

“Oh, there’s so much to tell!” Pinkie beamed, “Like he can go for a reeeeeaaaaally long time!”

“PINKIE!”