Judging by the present company, the following expression was more than appropriate. Thiemo stared at those surrounding the table like a deer trapped in the beam of the headlights. He barely registered the filly in his arms as she tried to tell or ask him various things. All he saw was the surprise that had been on Deerling’s face be replaced by a wide smile.

The next person who jumped up from the table was Amaryllis. Happy to see him as well, she flew over the table and landed directly in front of his nose. “I have a cutie mark!” Thiemo blinked as his eye contact with Deerling was interrupted, and he looked into his marefriend’s eyes. She seemed to almost glow with happiness. After a short break, he got his thoughts halfway into order again and tried to think about how he could explain to her that a love bite was not a cutie mark, but then she turned her side to him. On the dark coat of her flank, a bright lavender blossom had appeared. Thiemo couldn’t identify exactly which flower it was, but he had a strong guess that it was a amaryllis. The ponies he had met in the bar during the last few weeks all had names that were somehow related to their cutie marks. It was funny and sad at the same time that none of them seemed to realize that. He had even asked one of the guests for the story behind his cutie mark, but after the story was halfway done, he had already known where it was going to go. After all, the name of the guest was Crystal Corn, and shocker, he was good at harvesting exactly that.

So his assumption that Amaryllis now had an amaryllis on her flank wasn’t that spectacular, but he couldn’t figure out what it was supposed to mean. Then he remembered that, as he was her boyfriend and it was something that would be expected from him, he should maybe express how happy he was for her. “That’s great!” He hugged her with one arm so that Auralia was jammed between them. The foal protested for the first few seconds in her warm prison between the two, but then gave up and sulked about how everyone got their cutie marks before her. “Hold on!” he said as they parted again. “When? How?” He immediately regretted that question, as the answer came to him already. It had to be in the bath, when he took her in his arms. It hadn’t been his cutie mark that had glowed. It was hers.

“No idea!” she explained excitedly. “It must have happened sometimes last night, when we—” Thiemo’s free hand wandered over her snout, and with a coy grin he looked over at Cadance, who now stood next to him, also with a wide smile on her lips.

“Please, let her finish. I would love to hear how my daughter got her cutie mark.” Her facial expression made it clear that she had more than just a hunch of what Amy’s story would contain. “Still, perhaps that story would be best saved for later. After all, we have foals here.”

“Hold on…” sounded Shining Armor’s confused voice through the dining room. You didn’t need to be a psychic to tell that his royal Obliviousness had just put two and two together. “Oh the human is so—”

Thiemo didn’t listen any longer. He put Aura down and carefully took a few steps backwards. “Your Highness,” he addressed Cadance. “It was an honour, but I have to go now.” He bowed quickly and rushed down the hallway.

“You know Thiemo, Miss Deerling?” Rarity asked curiously.

“At first I didn’t recognize him,” she replied carefully while Shining Armor jumped up and began to pursue his quarry. “But now there is no doubt.” Flash Sentry quickly stuck to the Prince’s heels.

“Indeed,” the zebra shaman agreed and took another long puff from her pipe. “No doubt.”

“Well, dear, what did you expect? The two are together and well-aware of their feelings,” Cadance lectured the white alicorn at her side. Shining Armor had taken a seat next to her at the head of the table so that Amaryllis moved up to his former spot. Next to her, and therefore between the couple that now had the attention of everyone at the table, Skyla had sat down. She had hidden behind her father earlier. Auralia had given up the seat next to Applejack to sit next to her father. Although she was now in the cake-splatter-zone around Soarin, at least that was what Rainbow Dash called it, the filly didn’t seem to mind. “It isn’t like we’ve never done anything in your mothers’ home…”

Cadance didn’t get any further as this time it was Shining Armor who blocked her lips with a hoof. “Cady, not with Skyla in the room.” A groan from Twilight could be heard while the other attendants chuckled. All but one. Thiemo still stared at Deerling and Zarni, who sat opposite to him. That couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Excuse me, but I would still love to hear the story of your cutie mark. The clean version if possible, my dear.” Cadance asked and for a few seconds the room was silent until Thiemo realized that everyone was looking at him. Confused, he looked around until his eyes met the questioning ones of Amy. He just shrugged.

“Well… where should I start?” Amy thought for a few seconds. “Thiemo had asked me out on a date yesterday to cheer me up. I had gotten some bad news earlier.” The ponies exchanged a few sympathetic glances. “We spent a… nice evening in the city, which left us in a state that we both needed a bath. So we returned to the castle and then… uhm.” At this point, Rarity had leaned for over the table already, Rainbow grinned with a knowing smile, and Twilight preferred to stare at the ceiling, just like Shining Armor.

“We were caught by the heat of the moment?” Thiemo suggested as an adequate way of putting it.

“Thanks. Anyway, I wanted to transform myself for him because of some reasons. For one, the size difference and also… well, I thought I wasn’t pretty enough.” The second one hit Thiemo by surprise. Had he ever given her signs that he disliked her looks? “But he refused. He accepted me how I was, something I knew he hadn’t done on Albion before.” A dreamy sigh came from Rarity and Cadance. “In that moment, I was so happy. I had managed to find someone who accepted me for who I am and at the same time helped my loved one to accept Albion.”

Thiemo’s eyes widened as he realized what her cutie mark meant. “Fuck my life,” he said in his mother tongue. “My marefriend is a shrink.” Confused shouts and a laugh went through the room. “The blossom, to bloom up, to open. Accept,” he explained. “It’s meant figuratively.”

“Oh, how romantic!” cooed Rarity. “If only my story was so…” She didn’t finish the sentence, instead just sighed dreamily. “How nice it would be to be so young again.

“Oh yeah!” Soarin agreed. “Back then, the fanmares…” He stopped as he noticed Rainbow’s glare. “Oh, nothing. Never mind.” Silence fell over the room, and Thiemo decided that it was time to touch a more uncomfortable subject.

“So, Deerling, Zarni. What, uhm… are you doing around here?” His legs were making these nervous twitches again, just like his sheepish grin.

Instead of the doe, Cadance replied. “Well, I invited them, or rather their country. After all, this tournament is an international event.”

“I think he is embarrassed to see me again, your Majesty,” Deerling spoke up. “He used to have a crush on me.”

Thiemo jumped up and pointed at her with a finger. “Lies! Don’t believe a word she’s saying. Everything’s a lie!” Laughter came from all sides.

“And I think he is embarrassed because I see him with his new marefriend. I think it was because I was the only one close to him for a while. For a long time, I was like a mother figure for him. It is not such an unusual thing for a student to fall for his teacher.” With crimson face, Thiemo sat down again, and Amy just gave him a peck on the cheek.

“Excuse me, Miss Deerling, but how did ya meet Thiemo?” Applejack asked.

Instead of answered directly, she looked at Thiemo at first, who only rolled his eyes. “Well, I was the one who brought him into this world.” Everyone’s mouth fell open, except the ones of Cadance, who was sipping at her tea, Thiemo’s, Zarni’s and Amaryllis’. Deerling chuckled. “Or rather I was part of the expedition who dug him out of the ruins of an old temple.” Deerling continued explaining what had happened there. How Thiemo was praised as the god Bananarama, how she taught him, and eventually how he left to find a way home.

“So it’s true,” Applejack said as Deerling finished. “He really is from another planet.” Thiemo could once again only roll his eyes.

“And you are the one who taught him how to use gemstones?” Twilight had been jumping up and down on her cushion for a while now, but could no longer keep back her questions. “This is so exciting! A different culture has found a completely new way to use magic. Please, you have to teach me what you know!”

“No.”

“What?”

“One master per student, and I already have one.” Zarni looked with a deadpan expression at Thiemo. “And his training is not yet finished, although he has made great progress. And while we are at it, I would like to see the symbols on your shoulders.” Thiemo didn’t know how she knew that, but that wasn’t unusual for Zarni.

“Symbols?” Deerling looked questioningly at him and then at Zarni.

“On his shoulders are what ponies would call a cutie mark. And you surely also have noticed his new appendix.” Thiemo stood up without saying a word and opened the buttons at his shirt. Before he took it off, however, he let his tail swing around a bit. This caused Deerling to cover her mouth with her hooves.

“I really don’t know why you are all making such a fuss about it, but here.” His shirt landed on his cushion, and he positioned himself so that everyone at the table could see his cutie mark. Zarni just nodded while the others came closer. Even the passive Zende showed some interest. “Man, I really feel uncomfortable with you all staring at my shoulders. How do you bear that with your flanks?”

Slightly blushing, everyone looked back at their plates while Thiemo put his shirt back on. “Well, what is your story with Thiemo, Master Zarni?” Deerling asked.

The zebra mare sighed, put out her pipe, and knocked it against her hoof so that the ash fell to the ground. “Our mutual friend came into our tribal area one morning. Of course he had gotten lost.” Sounds of agreement came from Amaryllis and Deerling. “Our tribe never had the chance to inspect a human, so he exchanged that privilege for food and accommodation. After about a month, he asked me to teach him, which I then did and still plan to do” At the last sentence, Zarni looked at him directly in the eyes for the first time, and her look spoke volumes of determination, anger, and disappointment. “He has made great progress, but he still acts like a young foal. And he was never a good liar, right, Simba?”

Thiemo was a bit surprised. “You knew?”

“Of course, but a name is just a name. Acts define who we are. Like yours to just leave.” He heard the hurt in her voice. After all, she had spent a lot of time teaching him. “Or taking in a lost filly.” This time it was pride he thought he heard. He looked to his left where his daughter was supposed to have been seated, but she wasn’t there. “She left with the young princess and the pink maniac a while ago.”

“Pinkie? Where are we going?” Auralia wanted to know as she, together with the pink menace, Skyla, and the strange pegasus guard, marched through the hallways of the castle.

The pink mare turned around, a wide grin on her face. “Well, where do you think? We’re going to throw a party!”

“A party!” Skyla stepped next to Auralia and looked at Pinkie questioningly as well. “For who?”

“Duh, for your sister and your father, silly!”

“Why?” both foals asked at once.

“Oh! I know!” Aura wasn’t even surprised at this point. Not even the pink mare in front of them seemed to have any idea why exactly she wanted to throw the party. At least she didn’t a few seconds ago. “We could call it a ‘You-finally-got-laid’ party!”

“I need an adult!” Aura just groaned.

“Silly, I am an adult.” That was the answer they were afraid of.

Now that the last burning questions had been answered, breakfast finally began. The tea cans were luckily being kept warm by the tea light underneath them in the form a crystal that generated steady heat, and fresh toast was immediately brought by the servants. Everyone could now fill the hunger in the bellies since the one they had for knowledge had been satisfied. Thiemo seemed to be the only one who would not call the breakfast in front of them a feast. Of course there were nearly ten different marmalade, cheeses of all kinds, and fresh fruits like cucumbers to put on his bread, but he was missing something on this festive table. “Has anyone seen the peanut butter?”

No one said anything for a few seconds. “Well,” Cadance spoke up, “I don’t know what this peanut butter is, but we have something else prepared for you just in case.” She gave a nod to one of the servants, whereupon he disappeared in the adjacent kitchen, only to reappear almost immediately with a plate on his back. He placed it in front of Thiemo on the table, and the human immediately had to resist the urge to gag. He hated fish.

“Thank you.” He put a few slices of the bright meat with his fork on his toast. “Very kind of you to think at me.” Cadance couldn’t have known what he thought about fish, but from time to time, he had to give in to it.

“I can’t let my champion starve.” She giggled and continued sipping at her tea. What was the deal with alicorns and their tea, Thiemo wondered.

At that thought, he remembered another question. “You were speaking about a prize for the winner of the tournament. What exactly is it?” A couple of million bits would be nice. Enough to buy some land near the sea to build a nice house on it and spend the rest your life lying in the sun. Something like that. He couldn’t keep still for too long, for there were still too many questions burning in his head.

“As every year, the first price is a wish. The winner of the tournament gets a wish granted, whatever it is, as long as it is within the might of the Empire and within reason of course.” The toast fell out of his hands as he let the words melt in his mouth. So he could wish for everything he want. Money, power, women. Well, Amaryllis might have something to say about the last one, but he was sure they could come to a compromise.

“So you’ll stick to the word of your invitation?” Zarni’s voice got Thiemo out of his thoughts. “You will grant the wish?” Zende next to her seemed very excited now as well. It was no secret that he would be fighting for their tribe. Zende was a good spear fighter and a blowpipe shooter if Thiemo recalled correctly. It wasn’t clear which weapon he would choose. A spear was surely a safe pick, but a blowpipe with poisoned arrows could be useful. So far, the zebra was the biggest danger.

Cadance nodded. “As discussed, if your champion should win, the Empire will forever provide your village with fresh water, whatever the cost.” And now Thiemo felt a pang of conscience. He knew of the fresh water situation in the village. Catastrophic was a mild way to put it, aside from the rain season.

“Also the unrestricted access to the archives?” Deerling wanted to know. The wish seemed typical for Cervidas. It would be a new source for knowledge that they strived so much for. He would feel bad for Deerling personally, but he wouldn’t mind her only coming second.

“Under supervision, yes. Not even my sister-in-law Princess Sparkle,” who perked up as her name was called and stopped listening to the other conversations at the table, “is allowed to be in the archives alone. I hope that this still suffices.” Deerling considered briefly before she nodded. And now Thiemo knew what was bothering him for a while now.

“Tell me, Deerling, who is fighting for Cervidas?” Zende was at the table already, and Cadance had said that he would meet some of his opponents here. She had definitely spoken in plural.

“Entlas, my fiancé.” Thiemo repeated the words slowly on his lips while he tried to ignore the small pang they caused inside him. “Unfortunately, he can’t be here today. The journey on this airship that her Majesty Mi Amore Cadenza provided left him sick. I hope that he will get well soon.”

“Uh, sure. Congratulations, Deerling.”

“Thank you, Thiemo. We couldn’t be happier.”

The following silence was interrupted by Amaryllis. “Can I also take part in the tournament?” Every head locked on her. “I mean, I also have a wish.” Cadance and Shining Armor looked at each other quizzically.

After a few moments, the Prince carefully began to speak. “I don’t see any reason…” Then his eyes widened. “Sure, absolutely!” Suddenly he seemed more alive than the rest of days Thiemo had known him combined. “That is a great idea.” Now a certain grin appeared on his lips which was designed for his wife. “What do you think, Cady?”

The roles of the two seemed to be reversed, as she was glaring daggers at her husband. “Sure, why not,” she said while gnashing her teeth.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Amy was bouncing up and down on the cushion before quickly hugging Shining Armor. He reacted slow and cautious, but then managed to carefully wrap a hoof around his daughter to at least return a bit of the embrace.

Thiemo didn’t share her enthusiasm. “I don’t think that you should take part.” She parted from her father and looked at him quizzically. “Sorry, but you aren’t really a fighter. Your chances would be rather low.” The look of his marefriend grew darker, and not a second later, her snout was pressing against his nose.

“Aha, so that’s what you’re thinking.” Thiemo said nothing as she searched for an answer in his eyes.” You’ll see. I’ll no longer be in the way.” She remembered that? He should watch what he said.

“You want to bet?”

Amaryllis grinned. “If I win, I get a wish from you. Vice versa if you win.”

“Deal.” Thiemo reached out his hand, and Amy reacted promptly with a hoof and shook it.

Cadance coughed slightly to get their attention. “Since that is resolved, what would your wish be, Thiemo. Judging by your tenacity, you must have a clear wish already, right?”

Thiemo grinned and rose from his spot. “Oh, you are going to love me for this.” Thiemo saw the ponies from Equestria exchanging unsure glances. “I, your royal Highness Mi Amore Cadenza, demand nothing but your throne!” he declared solemnly.

Author's Notes:

And we are back! And Thiemo makes himself likable as ever and breakfast isn't even over ^^
Anyway, I wrote a little story that I released yesterday: "Nightmare Night Lunacy" Check it out.

Thanks to Gron for translating this chapter.
Special thanks to JBL for proofreading and editing.

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