It was a merry day for miss Facade Uphold, the daughter of one of the most prestigious families in northern Manehattan. She had been allowed to invite a friend from her school to her manor, an event so seldom allowed by her parents. The filly was excited waiting in the garden to see her, wearing an amber dress that brought out her amethyst eyes. She had brushed her mane so the scarlet was pointid at the center and the duke blue split at her horn pointed near the left of her eyes.
She must have waited for hours until one of the butlers approached her and announce the arrival of not only her planned guest but his twin brother. The two unicorn colts wearing vests that resembled dress uniforms for the royal guard marched down the cobblestone path towards her lounging chair.
Frost Charge, the colt she had planned to come, had brushed his denim mane downwards, his gray coat was washed, and he smiled as he saw the smile on Facade’s beautiful face.
Flame Charge seemed to be an parallel to his brother, a taller colt with rust red mane and white coat, similar gray eyes as his brother also had.
The two colts bowed to the cream coated filly, and she giggled as the two got back up. “You two look handsome today,” she said with a smile.
Frost blushed lightly while Flame nodded, addressing her with “You seem rather radiant, miss Facade.”
Facade couldn’t help but giggle at his demeanor, finding his chivalry attractive. “Merci, sir Flame.”
“I speak only the truth, madam.” He approached Facade, rose her hoof, and planted a small kiss onto it.
“You treat me like royalty.” Facade replied to this. “Is there a reason for such chivalry?”
“Is there reason for me not to be as such?”
Frost couldn’t help but feel left out and approached the chair. “Might I s-say, miss F-Facade, uh…” His cheeks were bright red with blush. He was being upstaged by his brother around Facade, the filly he had come to know as a great friend. But he knew one word that would change the topic. “H-how is the play coming along?”
Something in Facade had clicked and she became even more excited than she was before. “Oh, it’s coming along swimmingly. I’ve been having a few problems with some of the lines, but I’ll have it down before opening night.”
He smiled and a thought arose. “I-I could always help you. Maybe I could run through the lines with you.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do much for you.”
Facade looked to one of the butlers nearby. “Sir, may I bring my guests into the house?” The butler nodded and began escorting the young ponies into the main house.
When they entered the Uphold house, Flame and Frost couldn’t help but be amazed by the interior. It seemed to be of Griffon design mixed with pony masonry. The walls were of a refined basalt, a smooth black surface around the entirety of the room. The floor was a refined moonstone, along with the two stairways that led to the second floor. The balconies were protected with platinum bars supporting gold rails.
Then came the coup de grace, a statue of pure marble depicting the lord of the house, Sir Sage Uphold. His masculinity was depicted by his buff chest and his tall stature. He was standing on his back legs, a common royal guard cavalry stance. Levitating a meter away from the statue was a depiction of a spear, a noble weapon for his time, but rendered useless now by the discovery of gunpowders various uses in combat.
The colts looked at the statue in aw, the two fans of the royal guard and it’s history. Sir Defender Uphold was once general and lead in the defense against the changeling hordes about thirty years before today.
“A-amazing,” Flame said as he gazed upon the statue under the balcony.
Frost looked from the statue to Facade and smiled. Facade looked back at him, making him blush lightly, so he looked back to the statue. “I-it sure is.”
The filly looked at her father’s self glorifying statue and nodded, even though the two colts wouldn’t see her.
Frost looked back at Facade and finally made the silence fall. “S-so… you needed help with your lines?”
Facade looked to Frost and nodded. “Yes. I’m stuck on a small scene.”
“Do you have your script?”
“I’ll go get it. Wait here, my father would go mad if he heard I had colts in my room.” She started trotting upstairs as Frost gazed upon her. As she went to the hallway and out of sight, Frost couldn’t help but sigh.
“So,” Flame spoke up, “why’d you bring me here if you didn’t want to be overshadowed?”
“B-brother, I don’t think you’re-” Frost received a stern look from his brother and sighed. “You were always a better psychic than me.”
Flame smiled. “I can tell you like her, and you think I’m trying to swoop in to a relationship that hasn’t started yet.”
“You’re not really helping me.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry, brother, I’ll calm down with my manners.”
Frost felt betrayed by this. “Manners? You’re deliberately trying to mess things up. You know I’ve liked her for months.”
“Yet you’re scared to say ‘love’ instead of ‘like’. I’m not your obstacle, your own self doubt is.” He pat Frost on the back and spoke sympathetically. “You can do it, Frost, just gotta stand up for yourself. Plant both hooves on the ground, raise your chin up a bit, and admit to yourself you can do it.”
Frost took the advice like an order and started planting his hooves in an attention stance, raising his chin so his head was level with the ground, and took in a deep breath. “I…” He felt himself slip, he was nervous.
“Come on, you can do it.”
Frost corrected his position and nodded. “I… I love Facade.”
“There you go, brother. But don’t tell me. When she comes down those stairs, look her in the eyes and admit it to her.”
“Thank you.” He smiled at his brother, and then heard a hoofstep from the stairs. He turned to see the young filly trotting down the stairs levitating a small book beside her.
“I found it,” she exclaimed as she trotted down towards her guests. The light from one of the windows hit her face in such a way that her eyes seemed to glow. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she offered the book to Frost. “It has the blocking written in the margin. Do you know how to read a script?”
Frost nodded as his eyes turned from gray to an alice blue, the book not surrounding by an auric field but seeming to be carried by the wind. He brought it to himself. “I’ve read a few, but never played through one.”
“Open up to page sixty three, start from ‘Soft you now’.”
Frost opened up to the specified page and received a slight nudge from behind. He didn’t pay it any mind, knowing his brother wanted him to do as they planned, but he was waiting for the right time. He looked at the lines and began. “Soft you now! The fair Circuitous! Nymph, in thy orisons be all my sins remember’d.”
“Good my lord,” Facade replied in character, “how does your honour for this many a day?”
“I humbly thank you. Well, well, well.”
“My lord,” She started to method act, seeming to be depressed, “I have remembrances of yours, that I have longed long to re-deliver, I pray you, now receive them.”
“No, not I, I never gave you aught.”
“My honour’d lord, you know right well you did, and with them, words so sweet breath composed as made the things more rich, their perfume lost, take these again, for to the noble mind rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unwell. There, my lord.”
He looked at the lines for her character, “You made a small mistake. It’s ‘unkind’, not ‘unwell’. The rest was perfect, to the book.”
“Oh… Shall we continue from ‘There my lord’?”
“If you want to.”
She took in a deep breath and prepared for Frost to say his lines.
“Ha, ha! Are you honest?”
“My lord?”
“Are you fair?”
“What means your lordship?”
“That if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty.”
“Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce than with honesty?”
“Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness, this was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once.”
The two continued the lines of the scene, Frost pausing from time to time to correct a slipped line if need be, but eventually they reached the end of the scene between Regal and Circuitous. The two took a bow for their audience of one, and were greeted by Flame’s standing ovation.
It was a few hours after the colts had arrived. They had taken themselves to a lounge where a servant was playing the saxaphone, playing a small and somewhat catchy tune. Frost and Facade were sitting on the same couch, while Flame was standing by a side table. The sun was setting and an amber glow came from the westward window.
"Today was fun," Facade said with a yawn.
Frost looked at the young filly whose eyes seemed to glow in the light. He nodded and replied, "It was."
"Thank you for helping me with my lines."
"I'm always happy to help." The two blushed as they stared each other in the eyes for what felt like an infinity.
"Facade," The silence was broken as Flame spoke up, "I believe my brother has something to tell you."
"Oh?" Facade replied. "And what is that, Frost."
Frost looked her in the eyes and struggled as he spoke the words, "I... I... I l-lo..." He took in a breath and finally said the three words that he had wanted to say since the moment they had met. "I love you."
Facade's blush had brightened, her cheeks a beat red. She had no idea what to say. She had no idea how long he had held those words back. She knew one thing though, that she loved him just as well. She smiled and hugged Frost, almost in tears. She felt the urge to kiss the colt, but she also knew her parents would catch word of such a thing if one of the servants had seen. As Frost held her, she whispered to him "I love you too."
The colts had returned home and Facade was alone in her room, in a daze from what had just happened. She was overwhelmed with joy and couldn't wait to see her love again. Her day was long so she laid in her bed, holding a small gift she had received last Hearths Warming from Frost. It was a small decorative dagger within a tanned leather sheath.
The dagger was made of iron and lined with brass design, arranged to look like it were from an airship captain's arsenal with a few small gear designs engraved into the handle and a small compass on the hilt.
She closed her eyes, holding the leather cased dagger close to her chest, and slowly went to sleep.
Frost and Flame had returned to their family’s estate and were preparing for a night’s rest.
“I’m proud of you, Brother.” Flame told his brother. “I knew you had it in you.”
“Thanks.” Frost replied as he landed on his own bed. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own, though.”
“Hey, you can thank me later. How about when she’s walking down the aisle?”
Embarrassment had struck and Frost could feel the blood rush to his face. “B-Brother, that’s a far down the line.”
“So you plan to?”
“I do… One day…” his blush had relieved and he relaxed with his head on his pillow. He was still thinking of Facade. Her smile, her laugh, a sneak of her plot he had seen when she was trotting up the stairs this day.
“Brother, I never knew you were a pervert.” He chuckled and the emerald glow of his eyes changed back to gray.
“B-Brother!” He was surprised that he didn’t notice. “You know we’re not allowed to use thaum on each other. Father would go mad if he found you peaking.”
“It’s not like you didn’t peak on anything.” He chuckled. “Now tell me, do you love Facade for her personality or her plot?”
“Her personality, of course.”
Flame looked at his brother and tried to detect a lie without using thaum, yet it seemed this was the honest to Celestia truth. “Well done, Brother. You’ve become a stallion.”
“Thanks.” Frost then looked up to the ceiling, letting his thoughts paint a picture of him and Facade. But then a wave of exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he couldn’t help but close his eyes. “Goodnight, brother.”
“Goodnight.” Flame replied, laying in his own bed on the opposite side of the room.
The two colts drifted to sleep soon after their conversation.
Spring had turned to summer, summer to fall, and fall to winter, and winter back to spring. This cycle repeated time and time again, and the fillies and colts became young mares and stallions; Facade, Frost, and Flame being no exception.
Facade had grown into a beautiful mare, her passion for acting grown stronger, her skills superior to that of any other. She lived and breathed the art of theatre, able to apply a character to herself at any moment. Her love for Frost had grown over the years, and though she may have to kiss another pony on stage, she always saved the best for her love.
Frost had grown into a handsome and smart stallion, his intellect superior to many and his physical strength parallel to that of a soldier. He was living off his father’s bits still yet he had a passion and was waiting for his moment, for him and his brother to join Royal Guard. They were excited by the call to battle and had sent in their applications, praying that they would receive a return and be sent to basic.
Flame had grown stronger and smarter as well, a quicker learner than his brother yet socially awkward. He had his passion to join the guards as well, though his chances may have been better than Frost. They both prepared for the better or worse, knowing that one may be accepted and the other not, or they both get accepted and get to live their dreams, or even the thought that they’d both be denied, but no matter what they were prepared.
The three were still best of friends. Facade and Frost were still growing in their love, almost inseparable; they’d go nearly everywhere together. Flame would accompany them from time to time, making sure neither of them got themselves into trouble.
It was the start of a beautiful spring day, the garden just as beautiful as ever, and Facade sat under the shade of an oak tree awaiting her love once again. The two had been meeting here for weeks, it was a perfect place for the start of a good day.
Minutes passed and Frost had approached the tree from behind and slowly worked around it. Facade was within his vision and he sat behind her, waiting for her to turn. She didn’t seem to notice for some time, so he rubbed his side against hers, “You must be tired,” he said, “have such early meetings limited your sleep?”
She turned her head to face him, a smile on her face as she saw him. “Somewhat,” she said, “my sleep has been disturbed much recently.”
“What ails you, my dear?” He asked, concerned.
“Dark nightmares have been coming to me in my sleep...”
“What of, my love? Are they mere fabrications of dark thought?”
“They tell of unkind times…”
“My dear, know that they are false. We live in good times, our lives peaceful, our happiness assured. We should not focus on darker thought when we live in such joyous moments.” He pecked his lips upon her cheek, trying to raise her spirits, which they had done with the show of a smile upon her face. “See, my love, there is nothing to be afraid of, everything is fine.”
She had returned a soft kiss upon his cheek, adhering to his words and enjoying the moment. “My love, I must ask… We’ve known eachother for years and we’ve shared love for just as long. Would we ever progress even further?” She blushed as she had said such things, hoping the right message had been processed.
Frost had blushed as well, the thought of Facade walking down the aisle, exchanging of rings and vows, the bells of the church ringing as the two kissed each other as husband and wife; it was a beautiful thought. He had always wanted to propose, and they were of legal age, yet his nerves prevented him. He knew one day he might have to go, his two dreams conflicting. He had to think of which had greater importance; Facade or the country. But at the moment, he knew which one was greater, and he looked his love in the eyes. “My love, one day we might. I’d be happy for such a day to come.”
“Would it be soon?”
“Hopefully.”
“Would it be here?”
“If you wish it.”
She started tearing up in joy at the thought. “My love, you’ve made me glad over the years.” She wrapped her hooves around him, her heart filled with joy. She had never felt happier in her life.
“My dear, it is my duty, for your happiness brings mine. Your smile calls upon my own, your joy gives me strength, your sadness brings me pain, for that is what love does.” He had returned the embrace, time seeming to stand still. Both would agree that if the world were to end at that moment, the two would die happier than they had ever been.
They enjoyed their moment, the two embracing eachother, just enjoying eachothers company. They were silent, Frost wrapping his hoof around Facade and letting her lean into him. She nuzzled into him, looking up at him with a lovely smile, to which he gave one in return. But then she yawned once more.
“Do you wish to slumber?” Frost asked, “I could wait for you.”
“Maybe for a moment…” Facade replied, “Would you join me?”
“In bed?” He blushed slightly, unsure what to say.
She blushed as well, realizing how her question sounded and adding “J-Just to sleep, nothing adulterous.”
He thought for a moment, and he realized this would be his ultimate test as a gentlestallion. Was he ready to accept this test? Would he be able to control himself, laying under covers with his love who he had fantasized about before without doing something he could regret? But then he thought of her nightmares, and how they’ve plagued her. Could being with her stop a nightmare from rising? Could he protect her subconscious self? He knew he had to try, and answered with “If you wish, I shall.”
“My love, I do wish it.”
“Then, my dear, I shall.”
Frost helped his love up on her hooves and the two went for the manor. Not a servant questioned the two as they trotted together through the halls, and as they walked through the door to Facade’s bedchamber the two had not seen any sign of the help. They could’ve done as they pleased, but the two were composed and calm, they wouldn’t think of it at a time like this.
As Facade guided her love to the bed, she blushed very faintly. She had loved him for some time, but they hadn’t done anything like this before. She started to crawl onto the bed and lay down on her side, and Frost orbited around the bed about to hop onto the other side. The two were silent, both nervous, but silence was broken as Frost spoke “Are you sure about this? What if somepony walks in?”
She thought for a moment but then faced him and nodded. “I-it’s just sleep, there’s not much to walk in on.” She covered herself in the blanket, still facing him.
He hopped on and layed next to her, shyly doing as she wanted. He turned to face her, blushing bright red, but then as he sees a smile upon her face he calms, knowing this was safe, this was sweet.
The mare looked her love in the eyes and asked “Aren’t you going to cover yourself as well?”
Frost complied and started to pull the blanket above him, no longer embarrassed. Couples slept together without doing adult things all the time, didn’t they? He looked Facade in the eyes, her beautiful eyes, and she came closer to him, nuzzling into his chest.
Hours must have passed before Facade had awoken, Frost not sleeping. She looked up at Frost, feeling safe. She was safe with Frost. Frost was her protector, and he was still awake, his gray eyes gazing upon her.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning,” She replied.
“Shall we return to our place outside?”
“Can we stay in here for the day?”
“If you wish it.”
“Then let’s stay.”
“We shall.”
The two had embraced each other, not a care in the world. They lost track of time, not caring for they had no plans today. They enjoyed each other in silence, the world seeming to stand still as it had felt often. It was true love, something most ponies strived for, and the two had it.
Frost had returned home from the long day, still thinking of his love and what they had done. He opened the doors and sighed, having enjoyed life at the moment. “Today was marvelous.” He went upstairs towards his room and saw his brother sitting at a small table, reading a small dark red book. “Brother, I’ve had a wonderful day. What of you?”
Flame smiled and pulled up two letters from a small table, the seal of the royal guard on the creases. “We’ve got mail, and I decided to wait until you got back to open it. You know what this could mean, right?”
Frost snapped into reality as he saw the letters, his tone now serious as he was prepared for the worst and hoping for the best. “Shall we?”
Flame’s eyes glew a faint light blue and the letter for Frost had blown precisely in front of Frost, whose eyes did the same as he took control of the letter. Flame then brought his up. “On three… One…”
“Two…” Frost was nervous now, first he was hoping to join the royal guard but now he feels he might not have made it.
“Three.” Flame broke the seal on his letter and slowly opened it, pulling the letter out as Frost slowly did the same. The two read through the letters carefully and then looked each other in the eye, almost jumping. “I got accepted!”
“I did too!” The brothers hugged excitedly, this be9ing the best day in their young stallion lives.
Upon the morning Frost had returned to the same spot as yesterday, meeting with his dearest Facade, who was once again sitting under the same tree as she always did. Today Frost approached from the front, and as Facade saw him she got up and started to walk towards him. “Good morning, my love,” she said with a voice as smooth as silk.
“Good morning, dear,” Frost replied with joy. “I have news.”
“What is it?”
“Remember when my brother and I sent our applications to the royal guard?”
“Do you mean… Were you accepted?”
He nods and hugs his love. “I was.”
Facade smiled, knowing it was always Frost’s dream to join the royal guard, and she was happy for him. But behind her smile was a sense of fright, she was scared her love might change, or worse. But she didn’t dwell on it long, she knew Frost was strong, he could make it back. “Congratulations.” She returns a hug after her moment of thought.
