The Prince

Chapter 3
A visit to Ponyville

The Sun goddess awoke briefly, as usual. She had been doing this for as long as she could remember, and had awakened at the same time she did every day to raise the sun. She rubbed her eyes and levitated her blankets over as she stood up. She stretched herself near her bed, yawning loudly as she absorbed the soon to be morning. She lazily trotted towards her window looking out at her city in slumber. This morning didn’t feel as regal as it should be. Her lips felt cracked, her mane was a mess and she had the funniest taste in her mouth. The previous night she had struggled to get to sleep, and with her new guest and all; she couldn’t help but feel concerned. She didn’t bother to walk out to the balcony. She simply gazed out the window, and with a glow of her horn, she raised the sun; yawning before heading downstairs for her morning breakfast.

Today doesn’t feel…routine she thought, trotting out the door; making her way down the stairs before arriving at the dining area. The room wasn’t as busy as it normally would be, so she must have been up early. Celestia then proceeded to trot her way over towards the kitchen seeing that her faithful cook Sugar plum was awake.

“Good morning Sugar plum.” She greeted warmly “You don’t mind fixing me up a quick breakfast do you?” She asked gently, like a friendly gesture.

“But of course.” she answered politely smiling as she levitated pots and pans over towards the counter top to begin preparing the meal. Celestia gave a grateful smile as she walked out of the kitchen awaiting her delicious breakfast. She sat herself down on the table looking at all of the empty seats surrounding her. She sighed softly not fully understanding why she was feeling so…strange. Like a void in the bottom of her very being, but only more vague. She was quite sure that she had felt these feelings before; but she couldn’t quite put her hoof on it. The sound of hoofsteps trotting interrupted Celestia’s thoughts as her chief came into the dining room, levitating a plate of fresh fruits, neatly cut and arranged in a lovely decor.

“Thank you very much, this looks delicious.” The princess said smiling, as the food was placed on the table presenting itself to be all the more delectable. The kind culinary pony nodded, grinning kindly as she began to trot her way back to the kitchen. Celestia wasted no time in levitating one of the succulent pieces of watermelon; popping it into her mouth, letting it soak with quenching sweetness. Before she knew it she was craving another, as one-by-one the fresh fruit was devoured by the princess; leaving an empty plate of various fruit juices on her table.

She finished her breakfast contently, wiping her face of unwanted residue with a nearby napkin. She glanced over her shoulder as the sound of hooves began to echo throughout the room, seeing a familiar pony heading down the stairs. The alicorn came down the stairs slowly, with a ruffled mane and calm demeanor; he smiled softly spotting her from the stairs.

“Good morning Princess. Lovely morning you’ve made.” He said, earning a smile from the princess alicorn.

She chuckled in reply, looking at him warm heartedly “Thank you very much Dawn, this morning does seem different doesn’t it. Care for some breakfast?”

“Don’t mind if I do.” He said taking a seat at the dining table.

“Sugar plum, you don’t mind cook-.”

“Way ahead of you.” Sugar plum intervened, smiling gleefully as she came through the dining room, placing a large plate of perfectly cut fruit in the middle of the table. “There you go.” She added as she laid down a stack of plates to go along with it.

They both thanked Sugar plum as she nodded and trotted back to the kitchen. Dawn levitated a plate over and began to stack various fruits on top of it he licked his lips before taking a bite from one of the delicious morsels.

“So.” He began, gulping down a piece of fruit. “What are your plans this morning?”

The princess opened her mouth but stopped, she began thinking about the royal duties that she would carry out today. A short pause filled the room, as the princess stared at her hooves in silence. As she opened her mouth to say something more, she was interrupted by her sister who trotted into the room.

“Good morning everypony.” She said vibrantly, taking a seat in her chair close to Dawn. “Breakfast looks delicious.” She said levitating a plate over, along with a bundle of various fruits from the platter.

“Good morning Luna.” They both greeted, watching as she gobbled down the fruit. Dawn stared at Luna for a brief moment before catching himself, and continuing his conversation.

“Right, where were we? Oh yes, I was asking of your plans for today.” He remembered, taking a bite of his breakfast.

She pondered for a minute “Hmm, I think I have some tasks to attend to this morning,” She lied “What have you got planned for the day Luna?” She asked looking at Luna who shuffled a bit, swallowing a mouthful.

“Bleeergghh!” Luna belched closing her mouth, her cheeks growing red “Excuse me.” She apologized sheepishly.

Dawn couldn’t help but giggle at the mare’s foolish actions as Celestia just rolled her eyes, a small smile forming on her lips.

“I was thinking.” She continued “Maybe we could show Dawn around the city a bit.” She said as Dawn grinned.

“Sounds like a splendid idea!” he added, both looking at Celestia for approval.

She shifted in her seat feeling the unusual emotions from earlier creep on her once again. “No…I don’t think I could go.” She reclined “I have too many errands to run today…” she said looking at the two who frowned. “But you two are welcome to go! Don’t let me hold you back; go ahead and have fun today.” She reassured as the two were beaming in their seats.

“Great! I’ll show you the Canterlot café, the royal garden, all the great shops and more! We’ll have a great time.” Luna said ecstatically. “Oh just one second, let me get ready.” She added getting out of her seat and galloping off towards her bedroom.

“Well then I’d better get ready too.” He chuckled, getting out of his chair. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to join us?”

“I’d love to really. But I just have too many tasks to do today, I’m sorry.” She said again feeling the sensations return to the pit of her stomach.

“Okay, if you say so.” Dawn said, trotting off out of the kitchen.

“Your room is on the left.”

“Oh… right.” He said smiling sheepishly as he turned off the other direction. The Princess giggled aloud as she watched the stallion walk off. Soon she was alone again; the odd sensation returning as she sighed loudly staring at the table.

“Sugar plum?” She called out.

“Yes!?” she answered from the kitchen, the sounds of dishes clattering about coming from the doorway.

“Would you mind brewing up a cup of tea?”

“Not at all,” She replied.

Celestia thanked the mare and soon heard the sound of water boiling from the kettle across the kitchen. She stared at particularly nothing as she tried to ignore the strange feeling. It didn’t work. She still felt the feeling climbing, growing inside her having no purpose but to sit in her heart and lurk.

“Here you go.” Sugar plum said as she lowered a kettle and a cup of tea onto the table; the Princess didn’t see her walk in.

“Thank you.” She said taking the tea into her telekinetic grasp and sipping on it diligently.

“Princess, this is none of my business but… are you feeling okay?” Sugar plum asked abruptly as Celestia gulped down her sweetened tea.

“Wha-What makes you think that?” She asked stuttering.

“Well…It’s just that you seem a little off today Princess, that’s all. You know if anything’s wrong, you could always tell me. I’m a good listener.” She said caringly.

Celestia sighed, looking at her half empty tea cup. “Sugar plum, have you ever felt as though…there was a weird gushy feeling in your stomach?”

Sugar plum raised an eyebrow as she pulled up a chair and took a seat.

“As if… there is a small ember growing bigger and bigger inside you and you… you just can’t sleep at night?” she continued unable to fully express what she was feeling. “I know I’ve felt it before but…”

A small smile grew on Sugar plums face as the Princess’s words ran through her ears. She let out a hearty chuckle as she poured herself a cup of tea.

“Sounds like you’re in love.” She said smirking as she gulped down her tea.

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.” The Princess said, laughing at first but then stopped; looking at Sugar plums serious and calm demeanor. “Wait, you really think so?”

Sugar plum nodded. “I’ve seen it hundreds of times before.” She took a sip of her tea smiling a bit “Bet it’s that new Prince isn’t it?” The Princess sat still, her cheeks growing a hue of crimson.

“It can’t be… ar-are you sure?” she asked hesitantly.

“Looks an awful lot like it.” She continued “The sleepless nights, the warm fuzzy feeling and that nice shade of pink on your face. Yeah, that’s it alright” She confirmed putting down her empty cup. “Love at its earliest stage.”

The Princess stood still for a moment, collecting it all. She couldn’t recall this to be love. She’s lived for such a long time and never felt love like this one. Of course she remembers the love that she felt for her parents when she was just a filly, but this… this was different. She shook her head. She recollected on what happened yesterday at the fireplace was similar; the shortening of her breath and the same warm fuzzy feeling underneath, sounds just like Sugar Plums description. She sighed, not knowing what to do.

“It can’t be…he came here just yesterday.” She denied looking at Sugar Plum who chuckled warmly.

“Well it seems love at first sight then.” She said giggling as the princess gave her a confused look. Sugar plum sighed resting her cheek on her hoof. “Look, seems to me like you like him. If you want, you should get to know him better.” She said finishing her tea.

Celestia looked down at the floor, not feeling the ‘love’ sensation go away. “Then, what do I do now?” she asked sheepishly.

“You should go ask him.” She said giggling.

“Ask him what?”

Sugar plum rolled her eyes. “You know, on a date.”

“A-a date? Well I can’t possibly do that I-” she stopped, looking at Sugar plum who stared at her unconvinced. “I don’t even know the first thing about dates…” she said defensively.

“It’s okay to ask for a little help.” She answered.

“Like, you?” Celestia asked, receiving a wincing reaction.

“Oh no. No I’d rather not get into that. But you know who you could ask.” She alleged “You could ask that, student of yours.” She said gesturing.

“Twilight? Oh no I couldn’t bother her with such silly requests.” She argued subtlety.

“C’mon, she reads all those books, I’m sure she knows something about love.” She said assuring her.

“Well, I guess I can try.” Celestia said defeated.

“That’s the spirit. Now if it's not a bother I have some meals to cook.” She said getting out of her chair.

“Don’t let me drag you down.” Celestia said smirking. Sugar plum grinned and began her way to the kitchen before the Princess stopped her. “Oh and Sugar plum,”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.” She said looking at the cheerful pony’s face light up.

“That’s what friends are for.” She said grinning as she left to the kitchen, beginning the meal for the evening.
The Princess couldn’t help but smile on her way out to her carriage. She’s known Sugar plum for well over five years now, and felt a strong connection between her since the day she arrived. Her young, vibrant face and her caring friendly attitude made her hard not to get along with. She made her way towards the castle courtyard, and walked up several stairs and through an open door. There she saw that two guards were standing close to her carriages ready for her disposal.

“Princess.” They both greeted; puffing their chests out trying to appear more alert.

“Gentlecolts.” She greeted “I’d like to take a ride down to ponyville, I think I’ll be visiting there for a while.”

“Yes ma’am” they said in sync, as they both strapped themselves in the carriage; as the princess climbed aboard. They took flight briefly, soaring off the launching pad that was the Castle and made their way to Ponyville at a steady pace. She reclined in her seat, observing her early morning sun drag light across the awakening city below her as the faint noise of busy ponies began to slowly fill the city. She sighed. Today wasn’t normal at all.