I had accepted Celestia's invitation about a week ago, and I planned on fulfilling her wish, or order. Unbeknownst to her, however, I planned on making this birthday awesome for her. I owed her that much for helping me out when that mare passed away, and for being a great friend. So, I devised a plan that was simple and and fool-proof. On our way back to the castle from our little adventure to wherever she wanted to go, I would pretend to have forgotten something in my apartment and ask her to come with me and get it. I'm positive that she'll come, just so that the ending of the day will be delayed for a while. When we enter, I'll bring out cake and a present for her. After that, we'll just hang out, that is until she decides to go.

It's ingenious, if you ask me. Clean and simple, just the way something like a birthday should be. However, I'd had yet to get a cake for Celestia, as well as a present. It was the day before the event, and I was headed to the castle. Luckily, Cross managed to give me a week and a half off, so that I could cool down and enjoy myself. However, this visit wouldn't be to see my friend. In fact, the mare I was going to see probably hates me after I embarrassed her the first time we met. As I approached the castle gates, a rather ominous feeling washed over me. I had heard rumors that the Princess of the Night could be rather vicious at times, even to the most kind people. Imagine what she'd do to me if I'd piss her off.

Casting off the fear of imminent death, I turned to the guard at the gate. He didn't look at me when I approached him, but I got his attention when I spoke. "Do you know where one might find Princess Luna at this time of day?" I asked outright.

He turned to me in shock, breaking the stereotype of the dull and still day guard. "Are you insane!? You're going to visit Princess Luna at this hour!?" He whispered to me frantically.

I reeled back in shock. I wasn't expecting that reaction. "Uh... Yes. And what do you mean, 'at this hour?' It's eleven o'clock."

The guard shook his head and face-palmed. "...she's in her room. It's the tower in the back right. Tell the guards there that you're there on behalf of Princess Celestia, and they'll let you knock. May Celesta's grace be with you in your final minutes, sir."

Okay, now I was actually afraid, I'm not kidding. I thanked the guard and reluctantly made my way through to the back of the castle. Usually, this would be off-limits to most ponies, but the guard has seen me with Tia enough times to know that I'm not a threat. And besides, Celestia would berate them if they gave me a hard time.

I finally saw the entrance to the tower, as well as the two night guards on either side of the double doors that lead into the tower. The doors were carved with several designs of the stars and moon, but the fact that they dyed the wood blue was what really got me. Venturing in front of the two armed thestrals, I gave a nervous smile and greeted them. "Hello." They're response was to look at me incriminatingly. "Okay then,'" I said with rising fear, "let's just get on with this... I'm here to talk with the honorable and... beautiful Princess Luna on behalf of Princess Celestia." I knew that the day and night guards played favorites with the princesses, so I added some quick praises in there. I was quite proud of myself for thinking so quickly.

"Name," one of the guards stated roughly. And like that, I was back to being afraid.

"C... Carter Bowman."

"Wait here," ordered the guard. He entered the door, leaving me alone in the hall with the other guard and my oppressive fear. Everything would be fine in the end. All I had to do was ask what kind of cake was Tia's favorite, and then I could get the hell out of here. I pumped myself up to face the blue devil that was coming out of that door. I could do this. I would do this! The door opened and I turned to face my friend's sister.

However, I found my throat at the end of a sword, with Luna at the other end.

"Thou dares to show thy face to me once more? And at this hour, no less?" she asked with disgust.

I VERY slowly opened my mouth and raised my hands. "...I didn't come here with ill intentions, Luna."

"That's Princess to thou, human." The sword was pressed against my throat a little harder, forcing me to gulp. Who knew that embarrassing someone by making lewd comments to them would put me at the end of a sword?

"Fair enough," I concluded. "I'll just get right to the point then. You hate me, and I'm very much afraid of you, but I'm here to make tomorrow as enjoyable for your sister as possible. I want that, and I know you want that, Princess. However, I can't think straight with a freaking sword at my throat. So, I would like to kindly request that you remove the sword, so that we can make this as quick as possible."

Luna eyed me for a few moments, but then lowered the sword. My hand immediately went to my throat to comfort it. "Thou art lucky that our love for our sister is stronger than our hate for you, human. Now speak, so that we may return to our chambers."

"I just want to know what kind of cake is Celestia's favorite," I explained.

"Why not ask her thyself?" she asked impatiently.

"It would ruin the surprise."

Luna sighed and walked back to the door. "It's rum cake." With that, the door was engulfed in a blue glow and slammed closed. As it did, I turned and ran. I didn't stop to look behind me, or to ask for directions. I just ran as fast as I could.

I finally stopped at the grand staircase to catch my breath. What the actual fuck was her problem? Sure, I embarrassed her in front of her sister, but I didn't think that I deserved to be at sword-point! After a few minutes of waiting, I quickly left the castle and got away from the lunar maniac, and headed towards the train station.

Arriving just in time to catch a train, I bought my ticket and headed down to Ponyville. I sat at a window and as the train started for it's destination, I pondered some questions that had been circling my mind recently.

The most annoying of the bunch was about Celestia. I found my mind drifting to her when it wasn't occupied by other things. What she was doing, how she was, and when I would see her again were all I could think of. Why was that? We were friends, right? Or was her flirting legitimate and not playful? I sighed and let the peaceful scenery outside of the window calm me. Whatever the case, I enjoyed myself around her. I was happy, and so was she. That's all that mattered to me, so I dropped the question from my mind.

Next, I thought about work. Was I doing enough? It feels like I've been missing too many days of work, and Cross has been taking the fall for me. I felt guilty. I should really be pulling my own weight at the hospital. After all, I was a doctor. I needed to take responsibility for my lack of actions. Deciding that I would take some of Cross' load of work when I got back to work, I cast away the question.

My last question was the newest one. Why was Luna so mad at me? Sure, I teased her, and I'll admit to being an ass, but why would she get so worked up over it? And to the point of threatening me with a weapon? There was something definitely wrong with this picture. There was only two things that I could think of that I could do. One, talk to Celestia about what could possibly be upsetting her and then confront Luna. Or two, find some way of making it up to Luna. I shuddered at the though of what she'd make me do.

After about an hour or two of pondering, the train pulled into Ponyville station. I gathered myself and my belongings, and exited into the town. It looked just like it had a few months ago, when I left to go live in Canterlot. I had a lot of memories of this town, and it was hard not to think of them. However, I had something I needed to do, so I pulled myself away from the past and headed towards Sugarcube Corner.

I took in the sight of vendors selling their wares as I walked along the street, but I soon reached the bakery. The gingerbread shop brought back a lot of memories, like the time the head baker threw me a welcome slash thanks for saving Applejack party. Needless to say, not many showed up for that party. I pushed past my memories and walked into the bakery. The smell of freshly baked goods hit me like a brick and almost stopped me from making my way past the various customers and over to the unoccupied counter.

Ringing the front bell, I waited for the inevitable. Soon, a prancing, pink pony came from the back and leapt over to the other side of the counter with her eyes closed. "Hiya!" she greeted cheerfully, opening her eyes as she did so. "Welcome t— CARTER!" The mare leaned over the counter, wrapped her arms around my neck, and pulled me half-way over the counter to her shoulder.

"H-hi, Pinkie," I choked out. "Mind l-letting go?"

Pinkie let go and started bouncing on the spot. "Oh! Oh! I should throw you a 'it wasn't really goodbye after all' party! Everyone's going to be so happy to—!"

"No, Pinkie, I'm not staying for that long. I came here because you're the only baker I can trust with this request," I explained.

"A request about baking!? I'm your mare!" she stated. "So, whatcha' got for me, Carty?"

I leant in close, and she followed my example. "I know alcohol isn't used that often here, but do you think you could whip up a simple rum birthday cake by tonight?"

The expert baker suddenly saluted me. "You got it! Come back three hours from now!" she told me, before sprinting back in to the kitchen. I smiled and made my way out of the bakery. I knew I could count on Pinkie. If she couldn't throw you a party — which was very rare — then you could bet your ass she would bake you something. That's just the kind of person she was.

Taking in a breath of fresh air, I thought about what to do for three hours. I still needed to get Tia a present, but that would take a hour to a hour and a half at most. That left me with a minimum of a hour and a half to kill.

I started towards the where I knew I would find good advice on what to give Celestia. There was no point in worrying over it. I would find a way to deal with it when the time came.

I eventually reached the front of a brightly-coloured building, who's structure reminded me of a merry-go-round. Despite it's welcoming appearance, however, I felt extremely nervous about entering. This place was the epicenter of gossip in Ponyville. If I let one thing slip about doing something for Celestia's birthday, It would spread like wildfire. The results would be catastrophic.

Reluctantly, I entered the boutique. A bell signalling my arrival rang out as I took a look around at my surroundings. Sewing dummies, mirrors, and clothing racks were only some of the things scattered around the pink, purple, and yellow room. Sticking my hands in my pockets nervously, I heard a vibrant voice call out from the back. "Wait just a moment, Darling! I'll be there in a minute!"

I gulped at that thought. All that was going through my head was how strange this conversation was going to be. A white mare with a stylized purple mane and tail, wearing a black business skirt, dark blue blouse, and her signature red reading glasses, entered the room and beamed when she saw me. "Well, look who's back from the city!" she said, spreading her arms for a hug.

"Well, a little fresh air never hurt anyone!" I said, moving into her arms and wrapping my own around her.

After we parted, she looked at me with a curious look. "What would — NO!" she said suddenly while raising her hand to stop me from responding, "let me guess! You've come here for services that only my expertise can provide!"

My hand slowly caught my mouth before a little giggle could escape. That was quite the ambiguous statement. "Heh, I guess you could say that. I'm actually here because I need help choosing a gift for a friend," I admitted.

"Why come to me?" she asked, her hand moving to her chest in confusion.

"Well, it's for a mare tha —" Rarity beamed suddenly and grabbed my hand.

She practically threw me on to her couch and sat on a chair facing me. "Tell. Me. Everything," she ordered.

"We're not together, before you start jumping to conclusions," I stated. "We're good friends and I want to get her something nice. I'm not very experienced in this 'thoughtful giving' deal. I've always just got people junk that breaks the moment you touch it."

"Well then," she said with a smirk and crossed arms, "she must mean something to you if you're willing to come all the way back here to obtain a present for her!"

"Yeah, she's a friend! Of course she means something to me!" I explained, now irritated. However, I was more bothered by the stirring emotions in me rather that Rarity's prying.

"That's what they all say, Darling," she teased. "But enough of this squabbling, tell me what you had in mind."

"Well..." What did I want to get her? I rotated my hands around each other, looking for the right words. "Something... simple? And maybe a classic?"

"How much are you willing to spend?"

"I don't really care about money. I'll pay whatever."

Rarity stood and motioned for me to follow. "Well then, I know just the thing you're looking for! Let me close the boutique and we'll go," she said.

After locking a few doors and putting an 'out to lunch' sign in the window, Rarity dragged me out of her house and back on to the streets. As we walked, I noticed that we were walking in a part of the town that I rarely travel in. Rarity gracefully walked into a store I never bothered looking at in my time here in Ponyville. The front sign held no words, just a picture of three moneybags and a large diamond. I had an immensely bad feeling about this.

I entered shortly after to find Rarity talking to a caramel-coloured stallion with a black, slick-back mane and tail. He was wearing a business suit with a red tie, which had a dollar symbol embroidered on it. He also had very noticeable bags under his pale blue eyes. He noticed me and smiled. "Hello, sir! You must be the mister Bowman miss Rarity was talking to me about. Please, come in!"

As I approached the two, I couldn't help but notice all of jewelry in very secure viewing cases scattered across the store. The more I looked, the more expensive-looking trinkets and jewels I saw. Reaching the front of the counter that the stallion was standing behind, I looked over to Rarity , who motioned to the stallion. "Uh..." I started, unsure of what to say, "...I'm looking for a gift for a friend?"

"Well then, you've certainly come to the right place!" The stallion started to move around the shop, looking for something in the many glass cases. "Miss Rarity mentioned that your friend was a mare. What I would like to know is if she is a mare of high tastes."

"Well..." Was Celestia a mare of high tastes? I mean, she lives in a god damn castle, but she never really seemed interested in anything... fancy. "I don't think she is. She likes things quite simple, actually."

"A simple mare in Canterlot? That's quite a rare find, my young friend. More rare than having royalty as a date," he pointed out whilst opening a case and grabbing something. I couldn't help but smile. "And, I believe I have something just perfect for this mare of yours." After closing the case, he came over and placed a black box on the counter. He opened the box to reveal two golden earrings, both of which were encrusted with several small diamonds.

Rarity gasped, startling me a bit. "By Celestia! They're beautiful!"

They were indeed beautiful, however I couldn't help but notice the growing smirk on the stallion's face. "Yes, they're sure to win the heart of any mare! Now let's see... They'll be ten thousand bits, and that's being generous!"

"Uh..." was all I could say at that. Sure, I could afford it, but that's still a ton of money! Did I really want to buy something so expensive for Celestia? She already had three of everything money can buy, and a castle. So, why would I buy her some freaking earrings?! If anything, she would probably want something that she's never had before... right? "...sorry, but I can't afford that," I lied.

"What ar —" I covered Rarity's mouth with a hand.

"A shame," the stallion said.

"It is," I agreed. "Thank you for taking the time. Have a nice day," I said, taking my hand off of Rarity and leaving the store.

Rarity quickly caught up to me outside of the building. "What was that all about!?" she demanded.

I looked at my friend with a smile. "Well, I don't think she'd appreciate earrings. Besides, I thought of what to get her, and that involves you getting paid, Rarity." With a short walk back to the boutique, we entered the main room and the head — and only — seamstress turned to me with a distasteful look. "Look, I'm sorry for covering your mouth, Rarity, but that guy was about to jump on my case if you told him that I was a doctor."

"I just don't think that clothing is a good choice of present for a mare," she explained as she went to sit on the same chair that she had before. "I should actually apologize for almost letting that fact slip. We would have been there for hours..."

"Not just any clothes, Rarity. Pajamas!" I exclaimed as I took up my place on the couch.

I saw her lower eyelid twitch when she realized I wasn't joking. "Your... going to give a mare pajamas as a present?" she asked in a very dark and serious tone.

I stood up and stretched. "Well, fine then. If you're going to react that poorly to a potential customer, then I'll just get her a crappy pair at a department store."

Rarity suddenly stood and waved her hands in front of me to stop me from leaving. "Wait!" I stopped and she sighed. "...I'll make them, but I need her measurements."

"Just use mine and add two inches to everything!"

"That will make everything baggy!" she said in horror.

"That how pajamas are supposed to be!" I countered. With a huff, Rarity threw her hands up in the air and stomped into the back. Smiling, I returned to the couch and laid down for a little nap.

Onlookers from various places watched me as I waited for Celestia at the entrance to the train station. They were ignored because I was too busy worrying about how this day would go. I wore a pair of dark blue jeans and the red tee-shirt that Rarity made for me in my first days here. Other than that, I had a black, unzipped sweater on. The seasons were starting to change and the weather was getting colder.

It was around eleven o'clock and the skies were covered with light gray clouds, making the city gloomy. It didn't matter though, Tia said we'd be leaving Canterlot to go somewhere. That was another thing I was worried about. Where exactly were we going? Would they take kindly to me? It was all so risky, and I didn't like it. However, I was determined to make the best of this, for better or worse.

"Excuse us, but are you Carter Bowman?" I looked up at the ones who disturbed my thoughts. They were two mares, both were unicorns wearing elegant dresses and smiling slyly at me.

"I would be. And you are?" I wasn't really thrilled to be talking to these mares when I could be thinking about how resolve future confrontations.

"I'm Twinkle and my friend here is Night. We were wondering why a handsome stallion like yourself was waiting here all by yourself?" she asked.

I sighed and looked as irritated as possible, in hopes to scare them away. "And why does my being here alone concern you?"

"Well," she said in a seductive tone, "the three of us could go back to my mansion and get to know each other a little better..."

"Uh..." Now I was a little creeped out. I slowly started towards the ticket booth, while still facing them. "I'm so sorry, but I'm going to have to decline. You see, I'm wai —" I felt two mounds press up against my mid back and gently push me towards Twinkle. I looked behind me to find the other mare, Night, pressing her body against me.

"Don't be like that," Twinkle cooed. I notice that some of the other ponies in the station were staring at my little predicament and whispering to each other. "When are you going to have another chance to have two mares at once?"

"And just why would he want to have two mares at once?" an angry and very familiar voice rang from behind Twinkle. I turned to find Celestia with crossed arms looking very irritated at Twinkle.

Twinkle and Night gasped and quickly backed off away from me and the station all together. "W-we'll just be going now." With that, they quickly ran off.

I looked back to Tia to find myself stunned. She was wearing a simple, light purple, sleeveless shirt and a pair of blue skinny jeans with a loose belt that was looked like a bunch of metal rings linked together. There was no jewelry or make up. Hell, even her hair wasn't waving! It was like I was staring at a completely new Celestia. She noticed my staring and turned to me, her face softening to an amused look and her arms uncrossing as she did. "Like what you see? I've been meaning to try this look for a while now, but I never got a proper occasion to do so."

"It's very..." I tried to look for some word that would be complimenting and not very forceful, but nothing was coming to me. Celestia started to look more and more worried as I searched. "Can I be really blunt?" I asked. After some consideration, she nodded at my request. "You look unbelievably hot." She blushed and snorted at my comment.

Shaking her head and hooking her arm around my own, she pulled me towards the ticket booth. "Come on, Casanova, we still have to buy the tickets."

As we approached the both, the mare inside stood at the sight of the princess. "H-hello! Where will you be going today, your highness?" asked the mare shakily.

I pulled out some bits as Celestia told the mare where we were going. "Two second-class tickets to Hollow Shades, please."

"S-second class?" The mare asked. "You won't be using your personal car today?"

"...personal car?" I asked in disbelief. "You have your own personal car to do whatever in... and you want to sit in second class and get stared at?"

After some consideration, Tia nodded in agreement. "My friend makes a good point," she said to the mare. "We'll use my personal car today."

"Very well," said the mare. She handed Celestia two tickets, which I responded with putting six bits on the counter. "Ah, there's no need for payment, sir."

"What payment?" I asked with a wink. Following Celestia away from the booth, we walked over to the platform and waited near the front end. "Thanks for back there, by the way. You really saved me from —"

"Don't mention it. I find it disgusting that mares would use their bodies for power," she explained with a growing frown.

I smiled genuinely at her. "I agree that using the body to manipulate others is wrong, but what do you mean for power?"

"Those two were nobles, believe it or not, and —"

"— they wanted me so that they could look better in the public eye," I finished. "Wow, that's..."

Celestia sighed. "Yes, that's what I have to deal with in court every day. I'm very glad that I get to spend today with you, Carter," she said with a smile and an overall happy look.

I rolled my eyes sarcastically. "Man... Why am I so popular with the mares these days?" Tia giggled, which made me smile with her. "You really are beautiful, Tia. Inside and out."

The sound of a steam whistle was heard down at the other end of the station, but my attention was sharply taken back as I was elbowed in the side. "Stop that," Tia playfully ordered, "you're making me blush! Honestly... I still have to stick with my previous theory of you trying to get in between my legs!"

The train pulled up in front of us, letting out a satisfied puff of steam as it came to a stop. The doors opened and crowds of ponies, gryphons, and what not, got off and headed out of the station. Tia and I approached the first door of the of the car closest to the conductor's car and entered. Handing our tickets to the conductor, Tia made her way into the car with me in pursuit.

I stopped as soon as I saw the interior of the car. The entire car was a sea of reds and yellows: red carpets with yellow designs, red curtains with yellow designs, you get the idea. There were two grand looking benches in front of an equally grand mahogany table that reminded me more of a pair of armchairs then actual benches. There was also a bar area, a walk-in closet, hell, there was even a bed!

Breaking from my stupor, I walked over to the bench opposite of Celestia and sat down. "Like it?" she asked with a not too thrilled look.

"It's very... red," I stated. "Also, a bed? Really?"

"Sometimes," she started while shrugging, "a princess must go to other countries to keep peace and discuss certain matters. It is very tiring on some occasions."

I hummed in agreement and while supporting my head with a hand, I looked out the window. As the train started to move, I remembered what our destination was. "So," I said, looking back to my friend, "we're going to Hollow Shades?"

"Yes," Tia confirmed, "have you heard of it?"

"Only small bits and pieces. It's a small town in a forest, not much is to be heard of it I would assume," I said.

"And that's exactly why we're going there," she explained. "There's a small fair stationed there. It's one of their main sources of income, other than forestry." I laughed slightly at her brilliance. Of course it would be something simple like a fair.

Hollow Shades was indeed quiet. Only about ten or so ponies got off of the train along with Tia and I. Even though it was it was around one o'clock, the canopy above the town blocked the light so well that it may as well have been midnight. The only thing lighting up the village were lamp posts scattered along the streets, which gave off a soft, warm light, like they were filled with fireflies. The town itself was simple enough. There were some brick buildings, which seemed to be mostly stores, and there were some cobblestone houses as well. Although there were cobblestone sidewalks, the streets were dirt, and trees sprouted everywhere they could.

Pulling me out of the scenery, Celestia hooked her arm through mine and pulled me out of the station and on to the streets. After walking a few blocks, we turned a corner and walked into a cleared area of the forest. Miraculously, the canopy managed to stretch all the way out to the center of the clearing. In the clearing, there were several stalls filled with everything you could imagine, rides, and games. "Here we are," Tia announced.

We walked into the crowd of ponies enjoying themselves and I found myself being partially guided and partially dragged along by an energetic princess to many different stalls. Of course, I paid for everything that she wanted to get, which wasn't much. We got food, a giant plushie of a white tiger, and a ride on "The Scrambler," which got me sandwiched between Tia and a metal wall. Everything else she wanted to do was to just observe ponies and talk.

By the time all of that was over, it was already five. We were both tired and were about to go back to the train, when Celestia nudged me slightly and pointed to the far end of the fair, right at a ferris wheel that barely managed to go through the canopy. I rolled my eyes and followed the birthday girl over to the wheel, where we promptly boarded a capsule. I sat on one side, and Celestia on the other.

"Honestly," Tia started as the door was shut behind us, "you don't have to act like a child about this."

"I'm tired, Tia. This is the last one, I mean it this time." In reality, I wanted to get home before the sun set. That way she had more of an incentive to stick around.

The princess rolled her eyes at me. "I swear, you sound like an old stallion complaining about getting up to get something."

"Uh, excuse me, miss 'I'm over one thousand years old,' but how do you know what old people are going to say?" I countered.

I half expected her to be mad, but she shrugged instead. "You've got me there... We're about to go over the tree tops! Look!" she said, pointing to her left.

Smiling a bit at her child-like amusement, I turned to my right to look out of the capsule. As we came over the canopy, the red and orange light of the sunset came streaming into the pod. "Wow..." I said in awe. Before us was sprawling plains and a few mountains in the distance, all being surrounded by the sun's warm light.

However, my sight was stolen when the ferris wheel suddenly jerked to a stop, nearly sending me off of my seat. I looked at Tia with mild shock, which she returned. "What the..? Why'd it just jerk like that?" I said in astonishment.

"I don't know," Celestia replied, "maybe it broke down?" I let out a sigh of annoyance and ran a hand through my hair. It's just my luck to run face-first into a problem like this. Now, there was no way that she would want to stay for long! Sensing my stress, Celestia switched seats and moved to my right side, resting her back against my arm. "Relax, it's no big deal! I can just teleport us out of here if I wanted. But... the view's nice, and I'm pretty sure nopony can see us. Besides, you're comfy!"

Sighing in defeat, I wrapped the arm she was leaning against around her and rested it on her midsection while looking back at the sunset with her. "...I hate it when you're right," I admitted.

We sat like that for about thirty minutes, confirming our suspicions. A young pegasus stallion came up to reveal that a part of the engine had broken and that they were going to get a spare as soon as possible, and we told him to take his time. After that, I became brave and moved against the glass wall of the capsule, bringing my feet up and on to the seat. Tia joined me in this, resting her head against my chest and her hands in her lap. I eventually took off my sweater and used it to cover us as a makeshift blanket.

Slowly, we watched as Celestia moved the sun down past the horizon and her sister take over the sky, moving the moon over our heads and pulling the stars from their slumber. The princess on top of me eventually dozed off, and I was left alone with my thoughts. Is this what people mean by growing old together? Lying down and watching the sunset? I could really get into this... if Tia was the one with me, like now.

However, our time came to an end as the ferris wheel started to move again. "Tia..." I whispered as I gently stroked her cheek. "Tia, we're moving. Come on, time to get up." She groaned at this, but reluctantly got up. I put my sweater back on as we descended to the ground. As we exited, a pony I can only guess was the owner of either the wheel or carnival came up to us, uttering apology after apology to us. Despite this, we thanked them for the ride and went back to the train.

On our way back, Tia fell asleep on me again as I stared out of the train's window. When we started go get near Canterlot, I spied a very fortunate problem over the city.

"I can teleport, you know! We didn't have to run through that storm!" Tia said as I closed the door to my apartment. We were both completely soaked from head to toe. I had forgotten that there was supposed to be a thunderstorm this evening, and that's why it was cloudy in the morning.

"Yea?" I started. "Well, when's the last time you ran through the rain? Huh?" Tia laughed lightly and shook her head at me. I moved past her and into the bathroom, grabbing us both towels to dry ourselves with.

"Mind if I use your shower? I feel a little gross from the rain," Tia asked as I handed her a towel.

I thought about it for a second, and then nodded. "Sure, but let me give you your present to take in with you!" She gave me an odd look at that statement as I moved into my bedroom and picked up a rectangular, yellow box with red ribbons on it. I handed her the box and guided her into the bathroom. "Have fun!" I called in as she closed the door on me.

As I heard the shower start, I moved to my dresser and got a new change in clothes: a pair of light, linen pajama pants, and a gray tee-shirt that was also given generously to me by Rarity. I dried myself with a towel I got from the bathroom and changed. With that out of the way, I took my soaked clothing over to the kitchen, where I dumped them in the sink. Anywhere else, and they would leak on to the floor. Next, I took my towel and started to clean the water that had tracked it's way from the entrance to the bathroom door.

Throwing the now dirtied and wet towel to it's counterparts in the sink, I grabbed two plates, glasses, and forks. Opening the fridge, I grabbed the cake that Pinkie had made the day before. It was a small, round cake with white frosting coating the outside, and bright pink frosting on top spelled out "Happy Birthday!" I smiled at the cake. Pinkie really outdid herself with this one. I would probably have to make it up to her later.

Taking the cake over to the counter, I dug through my drawers to find a small birthday candle and a lighter that I had bought the day before. I inserted the candle in between the two words on the cake and lit the candle. Reaching into another drawer, I grabbed a large knife and placed it next to the cake. Now all that needed to be done was to be patient and wait for Celestia to be finished with the shower.

Suddenly, there was a large clap of thunder and a flash of bright light from the window, shaking the building. All of the light suddenly vanished from the room and I was left alone in the dark with the only light being from the candle from Tia's cake.

My mind went immediately to Celestia's well being. I rushed over to the bathroom door in the limited light that there was and knocked on it frantically. "Are you alright!?" I called.

"Yes! I can light the room with my magic! I'll be out in a few minutes!" my guest called back over the water and though the door. Sighing in relief, I walked back over to the kitchen. Going once more into the drawers, I pulled out three candles I had bought in case a situation like this occurred. Blackouts happen from time to time, so I wanted to be prepared.

Using the already lit candle, I lit the other three and placed one on the counter, one on the coffee table in the living room, and the last on my nightstand. The lighting was minimal, but you could move around freely. I made my way over to the living room, but as I passed through my bedroom archway, the door to the bathroom opened behind me.

I turned to find Tia standing in the doorway wearing a dark purple shirt and baggy gray pants. Her mane was damp and it spilled a few inches over her shoulders, on to her new shirt. A dim light was shining from the tip of her horn, highlighting her eyes and the content expression on her face. However, something about her looks bothered me, and I couldn't tell what it was.

Celestia looked down at the floor with a blush, and then back to me, diminishing the light as she did. "I... I've never been given clothes before," she stated quietly. "Thank you."

I shrugged. "I was going to get you a pair of earrings, but I decided against it."

She gave me an honest smile. "I'm glad you did, Carter."

I turned to let her leave and motioned to the living room. She walked past me into the room and let out a laugh when she saw the cake. "I knew that you would try something like this!" she said.

All I could do was shrug. "Well, it's the least I could do! I need you to come over here for the present anyways, so I thought it would be nice to sit down and enjoy some cake," I explained. Tia walked over to the cake and leant over to get a closer at it. That nagging at the back of my mind came back again. What was bothering me?

Turning her head to me, she smiled. "May I?" she asked, pointing to the candle on top of the cake as she did.

"Be sure to make a wish. Wouldn't want to waste an opportunity like this!"

With that, the birthday mare blew out her candle and went about cutting the cake. As she did, I dug through the refrigerator for milk and placed it on the counter next to the cake when I found it. As Tia gave herself a portion of the cake, I poured her and myself a tall glass of milk. "You know," I started, "I really enjoy this."

"So do I. After living as long as I have and seeing the things that I've seen, I learnt that this kind of peace is pleasant," she said as she handed me a piece of cake. "As long as I have someone I can care about, I can always feel this way. I've also learnt that the stronger the bond, the stronger the feeling is."

We took our food over the coffee table and sat down with our cake. Tia took the first bite as she sat next to me, and let her head fall back with a moan. "You sly devil! That's why you went to visit my sister!" she said after swallowing the cake.

"Oh, so you heard about that?" I asked. I really shouldn't have expected any different.

"Yes I did, and I want to apologize on my sister's behalf. Whatever she did, I'm so sorry."

I shrugged. "It's no big deal..."

"Really? I heard differently from the guards. In fact, I know that you ran through the castle like a mad pony afterwards," Celestia stated. "So, what did she do?"

Sighing, I took a bite of the cake. The taste of sugar flooded my mouth, but was interrupted as the rum and other seasonings cut through it. "...She pointed a sword at my throat," I stated as I swallowed the cake.

Tia moved her head to her hands and shook it. "Oh, Luna, Luna, Luna..." I heard her mumble. She looked up to me with pleading eyes. "Please don't hold it against her."

"I don't! I just wish I knew why she hates me!" I explained.

Celestia leant back against the couch and sighed. "I wish I knew as well... Perhaps I will ask her tomorrow," she said.

I looked at her and that feeling came back again, but this time I caught what triggered it. It was her shirt! Her shirt looked a little tight in the chest area, and it was making the cloth hang in front of the belly! But, how? From all the times I've hung out with her, I determined that she was at least a B-cup. However, as I looked at her, I could see clear as day that she was a D-cup! Did... did she expand her breasts using magic? No, that's stupid. So then, that leaves...

"Um..." I swallowed. This was either going to go smoothly or I was going to end up with cake in my face. "T-Tia?"

"Yes?" she asked honestly, not noticing the past few seconds of me staring at her breasts.

"Don't take this the wrong way, I'm just curious, is all." I told her. "Do you... do you tape your breasts down?" Her expression was blank for a few moments. All she did was stare at me, making my nerves become even more strung. After a few more moments of staring, I turned away, embarrassed. "Sorry. It wasn't my place to ask that sort of question."

I heard shuffling coming from the princess and then felt her hand rub my knee. "You have quite the eye, you know that?" she asked rhetorically. "Yes, I do force my breasts down. I forgot to put the elastic bandage I had on after I got out of the shower."

"W... Why?!" I asked, turning back to her. I found it appalling that someone as beautiful as her would inhibit themselves like that.

Celestia laughed a little and then looked out of the window and into the storm, like she was reliving some memories. "Ponies used to fear us, Luna and I. It started a long time ago and it still continues to this day, much to my dismay. Back then, I was once considered a symbol of beauty and desire. I was one of the two mares that nopony could have, mostly because they feared me as a ruler. So one day, I decided to slowly start to decrease my bra size day by day. Nopony noticed it, and eventually ponies started to approach me. However, it also allowed those who wanted to use me to get close as well."

"That's... That's so dumb!" I yelled. "People should just realize that you're normal like them! You shouldn't have to do that! People should be who they are!"

She turned to me with a sad look. "But, it's the world we live in. There's nothing you can do to change society." I opened my mouth to retort, but nothing would come out.

Tia was right. It was as simple as that.

Turning away from Celestia, I looked into the flame on the candle. I wanted to say something... anything at all, but all that passed through my body was a shiver. Of course, the heating wasn't working because the power was off. Placing my dish on the table, I got up and left the room without looking at Celestia. I only returned once I had my bed's blanket in my arms. Sitting back down beside Tia, I swung the blanket over both of our shoulders.

When I did, Celestia moved in closer to me, to the point of our legs touching. "But... in here with you, I can be this way: the real me. You want me to be myself and to enjoy myself, right?" she asked quietly, looking me in the eye as she did. I noticed a hint of nervousness in her eyes as she looked at me.

"Of course I do. No one should have to hide who they are in order to please people," I said.

"Then," she started, looking down at my lap as she did, "may I indulge myself for the rest of the night?"

"You don't have to ask me, Tia. All I wanted to do from the beginning of the day was to be with you, and I'm not trying to be cheesy, it's the truth."

After a moment's hesitation, Celestia's hands gently guided me to lay down on the couch, and she crawled slowly on top of me, allowing the blanket to wrap around both of us. Her angel-like arms made their way around my neck, pulling us closer together and allowing her mane to droop around my face like a curtain. I could feel her breasts pushing against me and her warm breath against my face. I couldn't move at all: I was in complete shock!

Using the opportunity, Tia slowly moved her head down and connected our lips, closing her eyes as she did. They were warm, moist, and soft. Instinctively, I slowly moved my arms around her midsection and closed my eyes as I started to kiss back. After a moment, Tia's mouth opened slightly as her tongue prodded against my teeth, begging for entry. I opened my mouth and intercepted Tia's tongue with my own. She moaned slightly as she slipped past my defenses and began to explore the inside of my mouth, focusing her exploration on my canines.

After a few more moments of exploration, Celestia pulled away to end the kiss and let us catch our breath. However, our faces were still close to each other as we looked the other in the eyes. Celestia looked down at my chest before speaking. "...There is an old law that prohibits the romantic relationship between royalty and a citizen from any country," she explained softly, looking back up. "And before you say it's a stupid law, I know. I'm the one who made it."

"Why?" I asked. "Wouldn't that only hurt you and Luna?"

"Yes, it would. But... when you're betrayed by someone who you thought that you could trust, you do things that you regret later on," she said, looking very gloomy at the memory. "I just wanted to protect her from making the same mistake I did."

I cocked my head slightly to the side. "Then why don't you just strike it down? I'm sure everyone would agree that it's unfair to you and Luna," I suggested.

"Then everypony and their mother would know that either Luna or I was in a relationship," she explained.

Now I was just confused. "Then how'd the marriage between Shining Armour and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza happen?" How I remembered that name, I have no Idea.

"The law only applies to Equestria and it's leaders. Princess Cadence and the Crystal Empire are only allied with us; they are their own country their own laws. Only Luna, myself, and now Twilight Sparkle are subjected to the law."

"Then just abolish it! I don't see a reason not to! So what if they know that you're in a relationship with me?!" I said.

"Do you honestly think that the nobles would let you of all people, be with me?! A Princess?! Their Princess?!" She asked forcefully. I didn't respond because yet again, she was right. They wouldn't let me be in a relationship with Celestia, especially since I'm the only one of my kind. They wouldn't know what to predict from me. "So," she started again, now calmer, "for tonight, can we just indulge ourselves? We won't be able to do something intimate like this for some time."

After a few moments of thinking it over, I nodded. "...Okay," I said. A few ,ore moments passed with both of us not speaking a word. "So... what now?"

Tia sighed and smiled. "Now, we can do whatever we like, all night in fact," she explained.

"Well, it's your birthday. You can choose."

Giggling cutely, Celestia's eyes became half-lidded as she looked down at me. "Only one thing comes to mind..." She leant back down to connect our lips again with her eyes closed. However...

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.*

Tia's kiss stopped, and instead she let her face fall into my shoulder with a loud and annoyed groan. "Sorry," I uttered as the princess moved so that I could answer the door. Moving quickly, I reached the door and opened it, not checking to see who it was through the peephole. I opened the door to find two Lunar guards standing at attention in front of me. "It's for you," I said as I immediately turned to the couch where Celestia still lay.

Sighing loudly, Celestia got up off of the couch and walked over to the guards. "Is it an emergency?" she asked the guards quickly. They both nodded in unison. "I'll be out in just a minute..." she said, her words filled with a mix of sorrow and irritation. Celestia moved past me and closed the door on the guards. Walking past me, she moved into the bathroom and exited a few seconds later with her damp clothes in her arms.

Tia turned back to me, opening her mouth as to say something, but I spoke first. "Um..." I started nervously, scratching the back of my head. "I was wondering if you would have dinner here with me some time," I asked bluntly.

Celestia opened her mouth again, but then closed it, smiling instead. "I would love to," she said, "but I'm afraid that I will very busy during the next few weeks. Perhaps you should come to the castle for dinner. Of course, it will just be the two of us. And then, maybe... I could show you how soft my blanket is."

"It's a date, then," I stated.

With that, Tia smiled and gave me another quick kiss and said goodnight, before opening the door and teleporting away with the two guards. I closed the door and walked back over to the couch. After taking the blanket, putting the dishes away, and blowing out the candles, I moved to the next room and threw the blanket on to the bed. Flopping on to the bed, I started smiling.

I was happy. Truly happy. Tomorrow, I would go back to saving lives, and a few days from now, I would have my second date with... well, my new girlfriend. Everything was going to be great. Hell, maybe I'll get lucky and be able to have a public relationship around Celestia in a few years! Nothing was going to bring my mood down for a long time. And with that happy thought, my eyes fluttered closed and I drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note

Alright, sorry that it took so long to get this chapter to you guys.

As usual, if you see any spelling or grammatical mistakes, please let me know. Also, constructive criticism is welcomed.

Edit: Thanks to Storm Nova for editing this chapter!