Having relived some of our finer moments as a couple back at the hotel, the rest of the daylight hours were relegated to tending to the floral arrangements. Not only would we have access to the palace grounds for the Gala, but we were allowed in early to set everything up. We walked west along the cobblestone streets until we reached the perimeter of Canterlot Castle: a natural moat created by the source of the Canterlot River cutting a path across the road then dropping down into the valley below, and running through Ponyville itself — a stunning thing of beauty.

Not to mention acrophobia, I reminded myself as I felt the soft pads of my hooves tingle with anxiety as I watched the river tumbling over the side of the mountain.

“Isn’t it the most wonderful thing you’ve ever seen, Richard?“ I said dreamily, gesturing towards the stream rolling down from the ice pack at the summit.

“Looks like a great place to stage a dramatic siege.” Richard opined.

I rolled my eyes at him. I supposed if things don’t work out between us, I could always hand him off to Linky. May Celestia have mercy upon him.

We met another pair of unicorns guards who repeated the changeling scan and allowed us to pass over the drawbridge with our flower cart. In addition to the drawbridge, a huge pair of double doors and a raised wrought iron gate defended the gatehouse, the gate’s spikes gleaming from the top of the doorway. Were they expecting changelings to show up any minute? Remembering the last time they’d attacked in force and the tightened security that had preceded that event, I couldn’t help but feel some trepidation about the Gala and hoped we’d have things under control in case Queen Chrysalis attempted to seize control of the city again.

After being allowed across the bridge, we came across another two guards inside the gatehouse who opened a door leading to the courtyard proper. Rope barriers had already been set up to keep ponies from trampling across the royal garden and it wasn’t even nighttime yet. A fact that reminded me of the Gala’s primary fault as an event: the fact that nopony ever seemed to have very much fun. The entire point of the Grand Galloping Gala wasn’t so much about enjoying the company of other ponies or letting your mane down but simply being there, hobnobbing with the upper crust and well-to-do. Well, that and the chance for some of Applejack’s pie...

No, not like that! The proprietor of Sweet Apple Acres has been coming for years to sell her apple-based confectioneries with mixed results due to Canterlot’s expensive tastes. The gala crowd usually turns their collective noses up at such ‘common fare’, but the servants and maids love it; they usually clean her out after the party is done.

Looking up at a group of minotaurs situating mortars for the fireworks atop the keep, Richard pointed out the similarities between the Gala and what he called ‘The Fourth of July’. “We celebrate the independence of our nation with fireworks because that is how our nation was born and how it was preserved: through fire, smoke, and the sound of booming cannons,” was how he put it.

“We just think they’re pretty,” I replied with a smile. “And we mainly celebrate the Gala to meet the Princesses.”

“Fair enough. I hope we get to meet her tonight! I’ve never met a head of state before.”

Unfortunately, Princess Celestia wasn’t around. Having left the groundskeepers with the task of finishing the preparations, we both agreed on a snack after ditching the wagon; I’d had enough of pulling that thing all day, massage or no. “Let’s go to Donut Joe’s! It always gives me fond memories of going there as a foal on field trips.”

“Sounds a bit too working class for the high society of Canterlot, doesn’t it?” Richard said thoughtfully.

“Oh come on, nopony can resist a good donut! Besides, the two of us are about the furthest thing from high-class you can get.” I smacked him on his blue jeans covered rump with my tail to drive home my point.

“Good point. But can anything they have to offer be as good as Sugarcube Corner’s ‘Chimi-Cherry-Changa’?”

“You… you’ve actually tried one?” I was genuinely surprised. “They’re exclusive to Sugarcube Corner, you know. Pinkie Pie invented it and it’s one of Equestria’s best-kept secrets.” I lead the way south along the outer highway which paralleled the edge of the city.

Richard scratched his chin before his face lit up. “You know what she could try that would be even better? Bananas! Just imagine the wonder of it all: a fried pastry filled with bananas and peanut butter.”

I could feel my arteries harden at the very mention. “Where in Equestria did you come up with that idea!? Sounds like something a pregnant mare would eat…”

“You only live once! I think I’ll have you ask her to make me one when we get back into town.”

I arched an eyebrow at him. “Have me ask? Why not just ask her for one yourself?”

Richard looked at me with genuine concern. “I think she might be an enchantress of some sort. The last time I came into town she almost got me into the sack without me even knowing what was going on…”

I gasped. “You have no idea how lucky you are, do you?” I shook my head at him pitifully. “She must have been in heat again.”

Richard shook his head in return. “Men don’t lose their heads during a mare’s heat cycle the same way a stallion does. We just notice you smell a bit… muskier.”

“Normally, that’s true.” I acknowledged fairly. “Pinkie Pie is just… she’s… different. I’ve heard stories that would shock you.”

“I’m all ears,” Richard replied, tickling my withers. “What happened?”

“The story goes that a man from a company that moved into Ponyville called ‘Three Guys Who Paint’ found himself alone with Pinkie Pie while the Cake Family, who runs Sugarcube Corner, were on vacation for a week. He was brought in to help with a remodel while Pinkie Pie stayed behind to mind the shop. She was in heat at the time and…”

“He spent a week sampling the stuff behind the counter?” Richard grinned lewdly at me.

“Oh, you’re incorrigible!” I scolded, shaking a hoof at him facetiously. “Nopony actually knows for sure what happened, but the tale goes that he was so overwhelmed by temptation that he lost touch with reality. The man felt put off by the idea of sleeping with a mare and it mentally broke him. The poor fellow is terrified of coming across a mare in heat now.” I remembered the look on his face when Linky had jumped clear over him. He must have thought the barbarian mare was going to claim him as a prize!

Richard shivered. “I… know what he felt. He was stuck with her for a whole week!? There’s no way he held out under that. I only barely lasted thirty minutes before the ponies running the shop put a brake on it.”

“It all went down in the middle of winter too, so he was confined to the closed down shop with her for almost the entire week. Don’t worry Richard, I won’t leave you in that predicament.” I turned and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

“You’re all heart!” He kissed my hoof as we stood outside the entrance to Donut Joe’s. “I don’t suppose Joe has hypnotic powers does he?”

“Don’t worry, handsome. I won’t let him take advantage of you!” I said with false sweetness.

“Oh, you’re going to get it later. Rose!” he said, wagging his finger at me in a shaming gesture.

I prodded him towards the entrance and called out to the stallion at the counter, “Three chocolate ring donuts, Joe — extra sprinkles!

*****

The moon having risen properly, and we filed into the courtyard on foot. There was no discrimination by race, class, or gender — all came in by foot through the gatehouse and into the courtyard and ballroom where Celestia stood along with Twilight Sparkle. This sure isn’t the Gala I remember! Or so I’d thought as I looked into the crowd of ponies and humans mingling and having a good time. Unlike the humans in Ponyville, Richard must have been the youngest man there. In fact, most of the partygoers either appeared to be members of the aristocracy, foreign dignitaries of Tellus, or very important looking humans. Not that we weren’t dressed for the occasion. I wore a black satin gown with a ruby studded trim with green dress shoes adoring my hooves. Richard, taking the occasion seriously, wore a steel-gray tuxedo jacket and pants, crisp white shirt, and black bow tie.

I looked around for my old Saddle Arabian friend, Fair Trade, but no such luck. I would have liked to see his face when he got a good look at me. There were Saddle Arabians present though, not to mention a smattering of griffins, and even a trio of buffaloes.

Casting his gaze over the heads of the assembly on account of his height, Richard set his gaze on an uncomfortable looking older man with a red, white, and blue lapel I recognized as being American colors. “I don’t believe it. Senator Carl Rowen in here in Equestria!”

“Who?”

“The gray-haired fellow over there!” Richard pointed to a man standing near the table with a glass of punch in his shaky hand; he looked like he would rather be anywhere else. Another man with a similar lapel was laughing at him and patting him on the back. I didn’t catch what he was saying, given the ambient sound of half a dozen spoken languages and the chirping of meadowlarks from the royal garden, but you didn’t need a translator to understand one man giving another man a good ribbing. Looking at the two of them, I was forcefully reminded of the way I’d treat Lily in a similar situation. Poor thing!

I looked up at Richard and chuckled. “He looks about ready to sprout wings and fly out of here! How do you know him?”

“I don’t know him by association, but I certainly know him by reputation! That guy is an uber-fundamentalist, Tennessee senator whose anti-Equestrian rhetoric has landed him on newspapers on both ends of the portal. Specifically, that Equestrian ponies are demons sent to tempt mankind! Seeing him here in Equestria is like seeing Derek Jeter in a Boston pub!”

And just who was Derek Jeter, and why was he not welcome in Boston? Those were questions for later. “Aww, he doesn’t like us? He’s here now, though; I bet he just wants to give us a chance and see that we aren’t as bad as he thought.” I started towards him when I felt Richard’s hand rest upon my shoulder. “What’s the matter?”

“I bet you anything he’s here for political reasons. He probably wants to let the rest of the country think he isn’t a bigot by showing up here. I wouldn’t expect him to be all that pleasant to talk to.” Richard said, darkly. “And he sure as hell wouldn’t approve of what I do.”

“I’m willing to give him that chance. Let’s go talk to him!” I pleaded, rearing up onto two legs and draping my forehooves over his neck.

“Okay, just don’t go offering to hook him up with any of your friends,” Richard teased.

We both made our way to the table slowly through the crowd of ponies when the senator took notice of the towering man-mountain named ‘Richard’ and I like to refer to as ‘handsome’.

“Senator Carl Rowen! To what do we owe this dubious pleasure?” Richard asked cooly, his arms folded defensively.

“Richard…” I gave him a stern look, and he allowed his arms to fall to his side. Whatever he thought of the guy, or what he thought of us, there was no need for trouble. Seriously, is the Gala cursed with trouble or something? I mean, is Tirek going to show up at one and give a toast to Equestria’s well-being?

“Your reputation proceeds you, Senator!” said Rowen’s friend — if that’s the right word. “I’ll just be leaving you to your two… constituents.” The man, who I noticed was wearing a red and white lapel with a red maple leaf, gave a hearty laugh, found an unaccompanied unicorn mare and began chatting her up.

I mentally assigned the man with the old-fashioned Equestrian accent to the ‘likes Equestria’ camp and focused back on Senator Rowen. He was leaning with one leg against the table for support and had both hands clasped together behind his back, his face downcast.

“Believe me, sir, I’ve had much explaining to do for weeks: to the media, the people back home, to my church, and to concerned folks like yourself who were troubled by what I said on the record.” The Senator said formally in a strangely familiar dialect. Have he and Applejack met?

“Then why did you say such mean things about us, Mister Rowen?” I asked evenly.

“Please, call me Carl.” He extended his hand to each of us in turn.

“I’m Roseluck.” I extended a hoof to which he awkwardly returned with a fist bump. Good to see he paid attention during orientation!

“I’m Richard Eckhart, but Richard works too.” I was glad to see his voice had lost its prosecutorial edge.

“Pleased to meet you both. As I was saying, I’ve received some justified flak for what I said. I spoke in ignorance: I did not see ponies as being my neighbor at the time but as a threat. I came here to Equestria to apologize to Celestia personally for my insult.” Carl gestured toward the throne room where he knew Celestia to be.

“Your neighbor?” I asked, unsure what he was playing at.

“As a fellow human being possessing a soul and deserving of fair treatment. As humans are the only sapient lifeform we know about in our dimension, I assumed ‘ponies’ to be… demonic — not of God.”

I gave him a puzzled look. “That is... very strange to my way of thinking. We’ve encountered many different species that speak and think intelligently, it is true, but we ponies have always encountered every new species as being worth respect until their actions dictate otherwise. We don’t always assume things will work out for the best, but we treat all creatures, sapient or otherwise as our ‘neighbors’. I don’t understand why ‘God’ or anypony else would be so quick to assume that outsiders are evil.”

“Well said, Rose.” Richard chimed in gently stroking my shoulders. “I think we could all learn a bit from their way of thinking. Wouldn’t you agree, Carl?”

“Indeed, and again, I’m very sorry for my mistake. Clearly, there is a divine inspiration to be found in your arts and architecture, the greatness of your monuments, and the spark of invention and imagination in the eyes of your people. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d best get in line while I’m still alive to make amends.” He smiled and laughed politely.

“I’m sorry too, Carl; I guess I figured the only reason you came here was to start trouble.” Richard hung his head.

“All is forgiven. May God bless you both!”

“Thanks, Senator — er, Carl,” Richard replied, as we both waved to him. Addressing me in a hushed tone, he said, “Well… that de-escalated quickly.”

I giggled at him. He’s such a goof!

*****

We made our way through the crowd and happened across Rainbow Dash talking with her Wonderbolts friends. Richard told me she was something of a personal hero of his. “Go say hi to her, then!” I told him. not entirely managing to hide my jealousy. If he’s a man of the skies, then surely, he’d find the mare of the skies quite tempting. I ordered myself to throw my jealousy into the same closet as my latent fillyfooler and hoped they’d both fit comfortably.

“Rainbow Dash?” Richard asked hesitantly.

The spectral maned, cyan coated pegasus, wearing her cloud-trimmed spectral Gala dress with gold filigree around each ear, turned in Richard’s direction. “Who’s askin’?” Noticing me, she gave me a wave. “Oh, hey Roseluck, surprise seeing you this year! How’s Daisy?”

“Hey Rainbow Dash! Daisy’s doing great. Just hanging out with my coltfriend here…”

“I’m sorry to bother you; it’s just, I never thought I’d ever meet the pony who made first contact!” The uncharacteristically starstruck Gentleman blurted out.

“Heh. I really put on a show for you guys, didn’t I? Too bad you didn’t get to see my signature move!”

“I’ve seen the video of it! It’s like you’re breaking the speed of awesome or something!” Richard exclaimed, pumping a fist in the air.

The Wonderbolts captain, I recognized as Spitfire, laughed at Richard. Maybe it was his choice of words?

“I couldn’t have said it better! But you look strangely familiar, have we actually met?” Rainbow Dash eyed him suspiciously.

“The name’s Richard, I’ve been known to fly around Ponyville with the weather team on occasion…”

Her eyes lit up in understanding. “Ohhhh! You’re one of Blossomforth’s friends!” Rainbow Dash made a silly kissy face and laughed. “Still, I gotta give you credit for strapping yourself to a team of pegasi and flying around like that — pretty awesome!”

“We have a mutual love for the sky, you might say,” Richard said, smoothly.

I swear if he picks up this mare right in front of me, I will buck him senseless! I bumped Richard him gently.

Richard gave me an apologetic look in return, mumbling “force of habit” under his breath.

Rainbow cocked an eyebrow at him and ran a hoof through her for forelock — oh-so-casually displaying her neck in the process. “Do we now? Let me just ask you one thing, Mister Richard, you think you got what it takes to keep up with a Wonderbolt?”

I felt my teeth begin to grind. I swear to the sun and the moon, I will…

“I do, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Richard said, cutting into my internal monologue, “but I’m quite content with life on the ground.” Richard rested a reassuring hand on my shoulders as he spoke.

Rainbow Dash looked at me, stunned for a split-second before recovering. “Oh, I… well I rather figured he was… available. Yeah, this is awkward. I’m sorry, Rose I — I’ll just be off then…” Rainbow flew off slowly — an uncharacteristic exit for the showy pegasus.

“Sorry about that Rose. I swear I wasn’t trying to pick her up! It’s the Gentleman training, I just can’t turn it off!”

“Don’t worry about it, handsome. I feel worse for Rainbow Dash, I think you may have shot her down back there…” I couldn’t help but feel bad for the two of them who’d probably end up together if I wasn’t here. I felt like the stingiest mare in all of Equestria, wanting a stallion all to myself, but we had an agreement. I sighed: this wasn’t the kind of night I was hoping for.

“It’s one of those mistakes that just happens sometimes. If I see her again, I’ll make things right between us. You want to head inside and listen to the band?”

I was glad to see he wasn’t mad, but couldn’t shake the feeling that I would be if I were in his position — the part of me that remembers the thrill of the stallion chase, anyway. “Sure! I’ve been wanting to try my hooves at dancing for a while.”

Richard kissed my hoof, letting me know that everything was going to be fine, and we made our way to the ballroom, waving at Applejack as we passed who was tending to a long line of mostly human customers. It seemed they liked her pie as much as Soarin’ did!

*****

The rest of the Gala was much more pleasant: no awkward social moments or miscommunications.

Later that evening, Princess Celestia herself dimmed the lights inside the ballroom, and the band started to play a slow waltz. Braving the confused looks of a few human couples and the appreciative clops from a few older couples; we made our way into the crowd of dancers and had no trouble at all. I’d learned how to do plenty while standing on my hind legs, and even learned to slow dance as a younger mare — it makes you stand out amongst the upper class of pony society as a cultured mare. Not only were we able to slow dance with ease, thanks in large part to Richard’s dexterous hands, when the music began to speed up, we were the only ones who could keep up with the human and griffin couples! Richard really showed some flair on the dance floor!

Hot and sweaty, yet exhilarated, we finally got to say hello to Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle. It is unusual, to say the least, to kneel before a mare who came into town without any connections to us at all, a humble unicorn scholar from Canterlot, who would ascend to the station of Element of Magic. Somehow everything had changed, and yet, Twilight remained herself: the same curious intellectual who eschewed pretension and fostered friendships, not only between ponies but with our interdimensional human friends.

I just hope her friends are going to get her laid. Nopony should be that talented and not have a little fun every now and then.

We celebrated the end of the Grand Galloping Gala from inside the hotel room; mortars filling the air with bangs and colorful flashes and joined by much smaller ones sent into the air by citizens in town who weren’t lucky enough to get inside for the party. We were both too tired to keep up with the crowd. Besides, I had my own motivation for getting him back to the hotel room, and it wasn’t the sex — this time.

“You’ve got me so wore out, I don’t think I’ll be able to manage a chase this time. You really know your way around the dance floor!” Richard stripped down to his trousers and neatly folded away his discarded clothes before climbing into bed.

I found that very strange; surely he’s okay with me seeing him naked by now.

“Every mare needs her niche. I’m just glad my lessons weren’t a complete waste of time: there aren’t very many dance enthusiasts in Ponyville.” I unzipped my dress and shrugged out of it, before joining him in bed.

“I don’t think there are many mares like you, period. You’re really something special, Roseluck.” He kissed me on the muzzle and tossed my mane.

“Richard…” Oh, I really don’t want to lose this stallion, but being a liar will get me absolutely nowhere. Nor is hiding my inner fillyfooler, or it’ll be even worse when she finally does come out to play. “There’s something I have to tell you…”

Richard’s face began to pale as I said those most dreaded of words. “Yes… Rose?” He looked as if he was expecting the worst, holding his breath and tensing. The ghost of his wonderful grin remained hitched to his face, no doubt hiding his fear.

The irony of the situation was not lost on me, but I took no pleasure in watching him worry. “It-it’s really strange. And awkward.”

Richard changed positions, lying on his side with his right hand supporting his head; his fear having been forgotten for the moment, he switched to a look of polite interest. “Strange and awkward sounds right up my alley! Fire away.”

After clearing my mind of the absurd image of shooting an apple off his head with a water balloon, I accepted his request to proceed with the topic. “Well… it has to do with my… proclivities. I’ve never really thought about mares before. You know, like that.”

Richard gave me a surprised look. “That is rather unusual. Most mares I met are actually fine with warming another mare when a stallion isn’t available,” he pointed out truthfully.

I do not like fillies! I scolded myself mentally. Well, except when I do. I’m so confused! “I’m not most mares, I guess.”

“Point taken,” he conceded, his face impassive.

Gathering my courage, I took the plunge and trusted that my new coltfriend would be far more supportive and understanding than I feared. “Well, I had a very, very, uncomfortable experience last week with Lily.”

“I gather you two have a lot of those from what I saw this morning.” Richard shook his head in a pitying gesture. “What happened between you two?”

Knowing there was no turning back and no way I could get away with a lie even if I was inclined to tell one, I told him about my history with Lily, our having rutted under Discord’s influence — understandably, he had questions about the mechanics of Lily tucking me in as she was, in fact, a mare at the time — our emotional moment together in the greenhouse, and the events leading up to me shamefully being caught hitching a ride on Lily’s wagon.

When I was done, Richard looked a little uncertain. “Well, I can’t say I’ve ever had a demigod interfere with my sex life, but I have had the unfortunate experience of waking up next to other people after an alcohol-induced blackout,” Richard said matter-of-factly through a visible grimace. “I guess what really intrigues me about this whole situation is that having sex with her wasn’t what made you attracted to her, but listening to her have sex with someone else did.”

He had a point. “Well, neither of us were really in control at the time. Maybe, I just didn’t… bond with her due to the unusual circumstance,” I suggested.

Richard thought about that for a second and snapped his fingers, a look of growing comprehension on his face. “If you could think of one word to describe how you feel about Lily and Golden Harvest being together, what would that word be?”

“Happy,” I said confidently, thinking about how perfect the two of them are for each other.

He nodded in satisfaction and, to my eyes, relief. “And did you, Roseluck, at any point come into the equation?”

I remembered back to the day Golden Harvest had shown obvious interest in her and examined my heart; the answer was plain… “No, of course not! She’s been alone for so long and I’m just very happy that somepony could finally complete her.”

He nodded slowly. “So the two of you are linked, in a sense, by empathy. You care so deeply for Lily that you’re having trouble disconnecting yourself from her emotional states.”

“Oh come on!” I waved a hoof at him dismissively. “Isn’t that jumping to conclusions a bit? Yeah, she’s always been a curiosity of mine: this adorable, shy, little mare with her aversion to friends, company, and all things pony. I’ve always wanted to help her, but I never knew how because I couldn’t understand her strange way of looking at the world. It also hasn’t helped that she never seemed to want my help. Granted, my constantly teasing her probably didn’t help…” I covered my face with both forehooves, blinking tears out of my eyes. “I’m such an idiot.”

He held me close for a moment. “You really don’t give yourself enough credit, Rose. Maybe I can’t prove in absolute terms that I’m right, but consider this: You’ve said it yourself that Lily has frustrated you in the past by not letting you into her life. You’ve also told me that even after the two of you had sex, the walls went right back up. It was the circumstances…”

“And the… incident?” I imagined the sound of my orgasm that night reverberating in the enclosed space of my room. I’m never going to live that down.

Richard sat up, wrapping his legs around my lying form and looked into my eyes, running a hand through my mane. “She let you in, in the most intimate way possible. Her defenses fell and the Lily Valley you never knew was there for you to see.”

I sobbed again, wiping away more tears as I began to piece together why we were really having this discussion. I had found it in his own efforts to comfort me and assure me that I was a trustworthy mare: ‘... the Lily Valley you never knew was there for you to see.’

And now that I’ve seen her for who she really is, my greatest fear was made manifest. “Richard, what if I’ve… fallen in love with her… and you?”

Richard’s expression transformed into shock and desperation; I felt my heart breaking as I watched the gears turning in his head. “Rose, I can’t do a herd— you know that.”

I slumped in his arms, certain I’d just lost the only colt I’d ever truly loved. “I know, Richard. I know… and I understand.”

“I know how ridiculous it sounds: a man who serves as an escort for Equestria’s mares who can’t share his love with more than one... but I just can’t!” Richard cupped his face in his hands. “Maybe it’s a human thing, maybe it’s that I just can’t split myself emotionally. But If I commit to a relationship, I have to ask my partner to do the same. Otherwise… it just won’t work.”

For a brief moment, I appreciated the similarities between our two species, even as our differences threatened to tear us apart. “You are not a pony, Richard, and you are not ridiculous! You are the most wonderful man on earth or in Equestria and there is no choice between you and anypony else. I love you, Richard.” I gripped him tight around his chest and hugged him with everything I had.

I could hear the break in his voice as he spoke his next words. “Rose, I can’t ask this of you…”

“But I can give this to you, handsome.”

“Rose, you have to talk to Lily about this… otherwise, it’ll always be hanging between us.”

“I know…” I sniffled as I released him from my grip, counting him lucky that I’d released him at all, and giving him some chance for escape. “I’m just so scared, Richard. I can’t bear the thought of losing you, but I can’t just turn off what I feel for her now.”

He looked at me grimly, his eyes wet with tears. “Like I’ve said before, this is certainly nothing new to me; a special person or pony comes into my life and then they leave. This is all brand-new to you and speaking as a guy who’s been to this rodeo before, you can’t afford to face the consequences of making the wrong choice. Please know what your heart is telling you before you commit yourself to me.”

“You’re right, Richard.” I nodded. “And thank you for not dumping me right then and there. I can’t say this enough: I love you.”

Richard kissed me once more on the muzzle. “Rose… I love you too.”

*****

We cuddled up in bed together and spoke no more the next day on the subject. We both knew that a pony’s heart can be in two or three or many places at once, but Richard's can only be in one place. As we returned home and approached the flower shop, I spoke my last prayer to Mi Amore Cadenza and placed my fate in her hooves.

Author's Note

Thank you to Denim_Blue for proofreading in addition to Firesight's usual editing. You guys are awesome!

5/22/2018: Grammarly edit.