The Black Flames

And Life Goes On

The next day was kinda hectic. Celestia had already planned the whole date leaving me with one job, be prepared. That one command (believe me, it was a command) had turned from me finding a suit for the night into me researching everything about courting rituals between ponies. Has Twilight rubbed off on me? Probably, but it didn't matter now. I found that most of the methods were the same as with humans. As I got deeper I did find a few differences. Apparently, ponies didn't give eachother any form of jewelry at a wedding. Go figure. Also, it was considered romantic to wear a flower matching the color of your mate's coat. A white rose should do nicely.

Now I was in my room, checking that my suit and tie were straight, that the rose was placed just right and that my hair was in some semblance of order.

"How do I look, Garnet?" I ask the small dragon seated on my bed.

"Like that mean unicorn, Blue Blood." She said, contempt in her voice.

"Perfect. You seem upset. What's wrong?" I ask, turning from the mirror. Garnet held her head in her small claws looking a little more than a bit down.

"I don't like the big, white pony lady. She tried to take you away." She said with a 'haarumph'.

"Is that all?" I say cheerfully. "You know, she did want to take you away, but only because she thought that I picked you up from that forest as a pet, not as a my adoptive daughter. She was afraid I wouldn't raise you right. But, I convinced her otherwise. She was only worried about you."

She crossed her arms in the cutest fashion possible and made another 'humph' sound. I rubbed her scalp and made for the door. "I probably won't be back till late." I say. "Can I trust you to be responsible till I get back?"

Garnet looked down a bit before she leapt from the bed and up to me. She gave me a quick hug saying, "Hurry back, Daddy." and stared up at me with those golden eyes.

"Of course, Sweetie." I say. I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and left my room.

I took the three steps to Celestia's door next to mine and knocked.

"Cooomiiing!" I hear, her voice gushing joy. Even in Equestria, girls take FOREVER to get ready. What could possibly be taking so long!

She finally walked out of her room dressed in none of her regelia or even a decorative saddle. Instead she wore a sweet and simple sundress, red in color. She walked out of her room, eyes closed and nose high, before closing her door and walking down the hallway. All I could do was stare as she walked, hips swaying with each step.

"You coming?" Her words knocked me out of my trance. She was pulling all the stops. She was actually sexy! She was beautiful at first but now! I felt my heart race as I hurried to her side as she led the way to our date.

I expected to be lead into the city for a night at the theatre or some other fancy place in Canterlot. Instead she dragged me to the Royal Gardens. I've never seen them at night, and now I wonder why I had never took the time. They were pretty during the day, but at night it was a whole new experience. New and strange flowers bloomed during the night as nocturnal animals danced around. It was like walking into a new world. I stood in awe of the flora and fauna.

"If your done we still have a ways to go." Came Celestia's taunting voice.

"Coming, your Highness." I say with a smug look. We head into the hedge maze, Celestia guiding me through the turns before we come to a pond with several apple trees surronding it. I recognised the spot from the Discord incident.

Celedtia had a picnic set-up dead center of the small alcove. She sat on her haunches atop a simple silk blanket laid out on the grass. She padded the spot next to her and I sat as instructed. She opened her picnic basket and levitated out one of Gustave's delicous smoked salmon sandwhiches on sourdough. It was favorite dish, a simple finger food that I could eat on the go without sacrifcing flavor. Celestia ate a daisy and sunflower sandwhich on rye.

"Well," I speak up. "I have to say. I was expecting something a little more fancy, but this is much better. I was worried that I would end up having to endure a night of boredom."

Celestia nodded as she swallowed the bite she had taken. "You don't seem like one who would enjoy an opera at the Canterlot Theatre. Honestly, after living so long, even I can't stand that place. They rarely show anything new! It's the same acts again and again! Not much to enjoy anymore."

"Huh."

"Hmm... Would you like some champagne?"

"Wha.. Really? " , I say accepting the glass. I swirl the liquid around in my glass. "I didn't know ponies had this stuff."

"What stuff, champagne?"

"Alcohol in general."

"Well we do. I'm sure everyone needs a drink once in a while" Celestia said with a small smile, sipping from her glass.

"Amen to that!" I say and drink from my glass.

The rest of the night followed the same pattern. We would just sit there and talk about all we could think of. I would tell her about the amazing tech we had to replace magic on our world. She told me about all the sights she's seen over the years. It was great to really unwind with her. We both enjoyed eachothers company and that was it.

"Oh, my!", Celestia exclaimed, "It's past midnight, we should both head to bed."

"Cool." I simply say. We packed up the picnic, dropped it off at the kitchens, and headed for our rooms. Then with a word of good night we went to bed.

That is Celestia went to bed. I was up til' one that night trying to get Garnet's spikes, and the dragon attached to them, out of the wall.