Don't Buck the Messenger

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"So I said to him, I said, 'Now look here you ruffian! You WILL be replacing that shipment of timber or else I have been given authority by Prince Shining Armor himself to immediately nullify all lumber contracts with the crown, past, present and pending!'"

I paced across the stage paying only the bare minimum attention courtesy demanded as I stared off vaguely into space, my mind lost elsewhere. "Uh-huh, well done, Tible."

"I'll tell you, he didn't have much to say after that." Tible beamed proudly. "It was actually rather exhilarating to give that brute his comeuppance."

I idly nodded my head, responding in an almost autonomous tone, "I'm sure it would have been, Tible."

I didn't mean to be rude, but my mind still had not yet escaped the previous day as it swam through a sea of thoughts and minuscule recollections. Cadance had left early this morning, slipping back to the Crystal Capital before suspicions could be aroused. It had been difficult seeing her leave and there was no denying that I would miss her terribly, but she hadn't left me empty hooved. She left me with a set of memories that would help to sustain me until we were reunited again. Memories not of anything as fleeting as simply being "happy" or as cheap as sexual satisfaction. No, what she left me with was a solidified form to which I could cling in my times alone. Memories of intimacy in its deepest and purest form. Memories with which I could remind myself that somewhere out there at this very moment, there was a mare with which I could share my entire being and for whom I would conquer any challenge. A mare in which I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I loved. And a mare who I could intrinsically trust to love me back.

A grin settled across my muzzle as I stared dopily into thin air.

"Are you alright, your Highne- er, pardon. I mean- Captain?" Tible looked me over, his gaze askew with concern.

I lingered a moment longer, stealing a last seconds pleasure as I enjoyed the quiet contented feelings of warmth radiating from my thoughts. "Yes, I'm fine, Tible. And while I would still prefer you call me Shining, that's okay. You can refer to me in whichever way makes you most comfortable."

"Oh?" Tible's brow perked upwards, a slight grin peeling across his face. "Coming to terms with this 'whole prince thing' are we, your Highness?"

The beginnings of a smile curled in the corner of my lip. "You could say that I've had some time to re-consider my standing on the subject."

"I wouldn't suppose that would have anything to do with the messenger you received from the princess yesterday, would it?"

I kicked my hoof idly against the floorboards with a shrug. "Possibly. Must have been something in the letter she sent."

"Oh. Well, that's odd." Tible narrowed his eyes slyly while turning his head to retrieve something from his detritus filled saddlebag. "And here I thought this envelope I found on the floor of the hall yesterday contained that letter."

I stared down at the sealed envelope at a loss for words. That wasn't good... I had been caught, and by my own steward nonetheless.

Tible paced toward me. "Hmm. It would seem I must have been mistaken," he said with a shrewd smile as he placed the envelope in my hoof.

"Tible-"

"Not to worry, your Highness. I wouldn't dream of embarrassing myself by telling another soul of my mistaken perceptions," Tible cut me off with a wave of his hoof and a good-natured smile as he began to turn away, gesturing my gaze down to the letter in my hoof with a prick of his brow.

I chuckled warmly to myself. He was clever, perhaps too clever for me sometimes. Thankfully I had him on my side.

"Thank you, Tible. Really."

He paced away across the stage, already busying himself as he flicked through his notepad. "Think nothing of it... Shining," he hummed, mouthing my name uneasily.

I smiled to myself. Alone, I lifted the letter to my face to read the ornate script adorning its front. The envelope smelled like her. Not of a manufactured perfume mask, but the naturally sweet fragrance of her body. My nostrils flared as I instinctively inhaled a deep breath of its bouquet.

A giddy thrill spread down my spine as I examined the text adorning the envelope. Her writing was as delicate and elegant as she was, flowing in long artistic lines and gentle curves. 'For the eyes of Prince Shining Armor,' it read, the 'i' of my name dotted with a flirtatious and very unofficial love heart. Pathetically, I even loved the way she wrote...

I spun the letter over and peeled back the wax seal holding the enveloped closed. Seizing the letter within the soft purple glow of my magical aura, I carefully extracted it from the envelope and began to slowly read:

Far away, in a tower not of masonry nor stone.

In a spire of crystal and gem,

A princess waits alone.

She counts the stars and numbers her day.

She waits by the window,

For her knight in shining armour to return from far away.

Her vigil is lonely,

The nights long and cruel.

She is trapped by her duty,

The curse of those who rule.

Still she waits,

Her heart hopeful against fear.

Perhaps it won't be so long,

Before she can hold him near.

Close your eyes and think of her,

And here she will be.

Miracles happen every day,

Especially for you and me.

My heart sank in my chest as I silently mouthed the final lines. She was my miracle. It had only been a few hours since she left, and already my heart pined for her. I missed her. It really was that simple. She had come all this way to alleviate my ailment, but now with her gone...

If only there was some way to ease the sinking feeling in my chest. If only there was some way to reclaim the part of my heart that felt so vividly absent. I could think only of one remedy...

"Tible. I've been informed that I must attend an emergency Equestrian security summit. It will require me to be away for a day or two."

"Very good, your Highness. I have your train tickets ready and a small bag packed for you already.”

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