A Master of Deceit

Remiel stood before the three thrones of the pony rulers. Princess Twilight Sparkle had ascended the stairs to reclaim her throne while Stalwart stepped to the side to become a wall ornament, leaving Remiel alone to humble himself before the princesses. He stood trying to give off both an air of pride and a subtle sense of fear and anxiety. It was a tricky act, but Remiel felt reasonably confident he did it convincingly.

“How are you feeling, Remiel?” Princess Celestia asked in a light caring tone.

“I'm feeling well, Your Majesty,” he replied dipping his head. “Thank you for your concern.”

“It's no problem, really,” she replied. “We were all concerned when you began coughing.” Remiel donned a sorrowful look.

“My sincere apologizes for that unsightly display,” Remiel said as he turned his head away in shame.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Princess Luna quickly told him. “You cannot be held responsible for the effects of your condition.” Remiel still couldn't look them in the eye.

“Be that as it may, I'm sorry you had to witness such a ghastly event,” he replied, allowing just a pinch more regret to sink into his voice.

“May I ask you something about your condition?” Princess Twilight Sparkle asked, sounding very nervous. Remiel turned to face her.

“If it is within my knowledge I will tell you,” he replied earnestly.

“How often do you suffer from these...episodes?” Remiel took a deep breath. He wasn't sure whether the truth or a lie would be more beneficial, but he decided to let them in on the truth.

“Truthfully, it depends on the day. On a good day I may only have one or two such episodes. Once I went an entire day without a single one. On a bad day, however.” He trailed off and forced himself to take a deep breath. “There have been days that I've been bedridden with an IV tube to replace what blood I had lost.” He wasn't going to mention those days had him bleeding out of nearly every orifice in his body. The princesses looked stricken, their placid demeanor shattered. “Fortunately those days are very rare, only occurring a handful of times.”

“I'm so sorry,” Princess Twilight Sparkle said softly. Remiel shook his head.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Your Highness,” he told her in a kind tone that sounded forced. “You are not to blame for my condition anymore than I. I have learned to cope with my ailment. Fortunately it has not impeded my ability to lead my company.”

“You are a strong individual, Remiel,” Celestia praised sincerely. “To be so young and stricken with such an awful disease yet run a business.”

“I have my family to thank for that,” he replied. A soft, genuine, smile came to his lips.

“Would you tell us about your family?” Princess Luna asked. Remiel nodded his head.

“Where to begin?” he asked, sounding genuinely happy. “I suppose I should start with just how large my family is. Currently, there are six hundred and thirteen members of my family living on my estate. Six hundred and forty-two if you count the ones who are currently attending universities.” Again the princesses looked shocked.

“S-Six hundred?” Princess Twilight Sparkle said, her voice sounding just as stunned as her face looked. Remiel chucked softly.

“Yes,” he told her. “You see, I have no blood relatives to call my family. My family consists of more than a hundred families that live and work at my estate.” As he spoke of his family his smile grew, as did the pain of missing them terribly. “It is truly a sight to behold. So many people living and working together, and they all care and respect one another as though the same blood ran through their veins.”

“No blood relatives?” Princess Celestia asked carefully. Remiel forced his smile into a frown.

“My father was the only blood relation I ever knew,” he confessed, forcing himself to sound pained by the memories when he was anything but. “My grandparents both passed before I was even born and my father passed away in his sleep when I was only eleven.”

“I'm sorry for your loss,” the solar princess told him, sounding as though she regretted asking the question. Remiel gave her a half hearted smile.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” he told her, dipping his head in thanks.

“What of your mother?” Princess Luna asked with a look as though she was walking on eggshells. Remiel shook his head.

“I never knew her and my father never spoke of her,” he replied. He was actually telling the truth. Even after spending a small fortune trying to find out anything about her he still didn't even know her name. It bothered him on occasion, but he never pursued it again. After all, knowing his father, she was likely deceased and all records of her even existing ‘vanished’. In the grand scheme of things, it would only be one more regret he would take to the grave, and a minor one at that when compared to the others. Seeing the mournful expressions on the faces of the three rulers told Remiel he had them in a favorable mood. “Still, I am truly blessed to have the family I do.”

“What else can you tell us about your family?” Princess Luna asked. Remiel's true smile returned.

“If I were to tell you about all of them we would be here for months,” he said in a light tone. “And I’m sorely tempted to do just that, but I shall restrain myself to how my family began. You see, when my father passed away it left me the sole heir of one of the largest conglomerates on my planet. In a single year I make more money than I could spend in ten lifetimes. That's not even taking into consideration the sizeable fortune my father had left me.

“I was perhaps fourteen or fifteen,” Remiel continued, donning a thoughtful look. “I was in Boston on a business venture.” That “business venture” was the first and only company that attempted to leave his influence. It wasn't a pleasant memory. Remiel's security held the CEO, his wife and his children at gunpoint. They were forced to their knees and had the barrels of rifles pressed against the back of their heads. The wife and children had bags placed over their heads so they couldn't see Remiel's face. Remiel made it clear that the next time his security visited that it would be their last night on earth. Needless to say the company fell back in line and no others have had the courage to attempt a similar coup.

“At only fifteen?” Princess Twilight Sparkle asked, almost choking. Remiel nodded his head.

“I was groomed from the time I could walk to inherit my father's business,” Remiel told her. “It was a grueling and very trying regiment,” to put it lightly, “but it helped considerably that I had a natural affinity for it. Anyway, I had just concluded my meeting with a prospective partner when I saw something that stopped me dead in my tracks.”  Remiel’s heart seemed to break anew at the memory. It was the day he met the Flores family. “There was a man standing on a corner with a sign that read: ‘Family starving. Need food or work’.”

“He was filthy and looked half starved,” he told them. “But what caught me were his eyes. He had this look in them. It's hard to describe. ‘Defeat’ would be the most accurate I suppose. Complete and utter defeat. I could tell he was a proud man. Someone who, if he had a choice, would not accept help from anyone. He was a large man. Muscular, tall, I couldn't fathom why he couldn't get a job.”

“When I asked him why he couldn't find work, he informed me that he and his family were in the country illegally. They came from a small village in Mexico trying to make a better life. Unfortunately, due to circumstances, they couldn't get passports to enter the country legally.”

“Why were they fleeing their village?” Princess Luna asked.

“Cartels,” he answered, his voice dripping with venom. “Large criminal organizations that terrorize and victimize innocents.”

“And the guards do nothing?” Princess Luna asked, stunned.

“You must first understand law enforcement’s predicament,” he told her. “To get it out of the way, there are perhaps many cops that willingly accept bribes to look away from the illegal activity. Aside from that, there is little normal law enforcement agencies can do about it. The Cartels are essentially paramilitary underworld empires. To go against them would be the same as starting a small war.”

“Then why not send the military?” Princess Luna asked. Good question, but Remiel had to find a way to dodge it. He couldn't very well expose that the Cartels worked for him. That was something he aimed to change before his death, but for the time being he needed access to their smuggling routes and their disregard for the rule of law.

“They have, as has my own country,” he confessed, “but when poverty and despair rule the day wickedness is just a step away.” He also couldn't reveal that his security paid a ‘visit’ to the Cartel responsible. Unfortunately another Cartel took the village recently, prompting Remiel to relocate the rest of the Flores family along with the relic he suspected of being responsible for bringing him here. He couldn't kill all of his underworld employees after all. At least not yet. “I spoke with him for what must have been hours. He told me of his home, his family and just how dire their situation was.

“I asked if I could meet his family and he agreed,” Remiel continued. “I was appalled when I saw what they had been calling home.” Remiel had to shake off the horror and repulsion the memories brought up. “He, his wife and their ten year old daughter lived beneath an overpass. Their only warmth came from a small fire and their shelter was a box.” The princesses were mortified. “I spoke with his family, all the while trying to wrap my head around how they acted.

“These were people with nothing,” he stressed. “They had been through tragedy, homelessness and now starvation. But they welcomed me with smiles and kind words, offering what little they did have to make my visit comfortable.” Remiel felt something wet run down his cheek. He raised his hand and almost gasped when he realized it was a tear. The memory stirred up something in Remiel he had thought he buried long ago. “I knew then I had to do something for them.

“Then it hit me,” he told them, his smile making a return. “I told Juan, the father, that I knew a place that was looking for motivated workers. The only thing was that he and his family would have to live on site in rooms that the employer maintained. There would be a modest rent, a pittance really, and their utilities would be taken care of by the employer.” Remiel felt another tear roll down his face. What was wrong with him? “I'm sorry, this is completely inappropriate.” He wiped the tear away once again. “He told me that no such place would be willing to hire an illegal immigrant, but I argued differently. After all, I was the employer. If only I could describe to you the looks on their faces. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Even though they were warm hearted, it was clear that they were at the edge of something drastic. But the look in their eyes, it was like watching a fire that was slowly dying and then seeing it erupt into an inferno.” A soft laugh escaped Remiel's lips.

“Juan didn't know what to say, so he grabbed me and hugged me so tightly he nearly broke my back,” he laughed softly, the princesses allowing themselves small smiles. “His wife, Maria, and their daughter, Sophie, embraced me as well, but thankfully it was much gentler. My security and I escorted them back to our car, and several hours later we arrived at my estate. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. You would have thought that they had stepped onto another planet. The same happened when I showed them their quarters.

“This time when Juan embraced me, he dislocated my shoulder,” Remiel laughed again. “They were the beginning of my new family.” It was also the moment his dream began to take shape. When his war against the other kings stopped being just about revenge. “Since then I have welcomed many more families to my estate, as well as launched several programs aimed at providing aid to the homeless in my country.”

“Is homelessness a problem in your land?” Princess Luna asked.

“Regrettably, yes,” he told her. “I've personally funded the construction of more than three hundred shelters as well as bringing in counselors that specialize in mental illness and addiction.”

“You are a very generous stallion,” Princess Celestia said with a slight amount of praise. Remiel shook his head without thinking.

“It's not enough,” he said, a subtle undertone of anger in his voice.

“What isn't enough?” Princess Twilight Sparkle asked. Remiel was shocked. Why did he say that? He had everything going smoothly and now he threw a wrench in all of it.

“What I can do,” he confessed. “I can help these people, give them shelter, food, jobs. I can do all this, but it isn't enough. For every one person I help there are eight more that will perish hopeless and alone.” His left hand clenched tightly around the handle of his cane. “I am one of the richest people in the world, but even with all my wealth I can't even begin to make a dent in the problems of the world! Every time I try to improve the world I am blocked by bureaucracy and greedy men who prefer to line their pockets than help others! There is much I can do, but it's not enough.”

“You mustn't be so hard on yourself,” Princess Celestia consoled. “You are a brave and strong stallion, but changing the way a world works is too much for any one being to bear. You must do all you can, and hope to inspire others to do the same.” Those were wise words, but Remiel didn't have time for wisdom. He had power, wealth and the deadliest army of mercenaries and assassins in the world, not to mention the nations whose armies bowed to his will. Hewould bring about change. Even if he must wade through an ocean of blood while dragging the rest of the world behind him. He would bring change even if the world itself didn't want it.

“Yes,” Remiel replied as he forced his hand to loosen it's death grip on the cane. “You are right. My apologies, Your Majesties. This is just a sensitive issue that I feel very strongly about.”

“Think nothing of it, Remiel,” Princess Celestia told him with a kind smile. “It speaks of a strong character that you feel so passionately about such a noble cause.”

“Your words are too kind, Your Majesty,” Remiel replied as he dipped his head in thanks. When he lifted his head he saw her look had become serious. It seemed she was ready to move on to why he was here.

“While this has been a pleasant conversation, there are things we must discuss that cannot be put off any longer,” Princess Celestia said, her tone taking a more official sound. Remiel straightened his back and prepared for it. “You have suffered greatly at the hooves of our ponies, and for that you have our sincerest apologizes.” Remiel dipped his head in acknowledgment, remaining silent. “You were foalnapped, held against your will and made to suffer things that no living creature should have to endure. We have looked into this matter thoroughly. We have heard testimony from the guards who were present and even the brave group of ponies who attempted to aid you in your time of need.

“And it is with those testimonies in mind that I gladly tell you that the nation of Equestria will not be pursuing charges against you or your friends for any action done during your time at Mine Town,” she said with a warm smile. Remiel forced a relieved smile into his face as he released the breath he had been holding. “I also extend an invitation to you and your friends to stay here at the castle for as long as you would like so that you may recuperate.”

“You are very kind and generous, Your Majesty,” Remiel said, forcing himself to sound humble. “But I do not wish to impose upon you or the other residents of your castle.”

“Do not let it worry you, Remiel,” Princess Celestia said with a kind smile. “Having you all here will be no trouble at all, and it is the least we can do after all you've been through.” Remiel bowed his head again.

“You truly are amazing, Your Majesties,” he told them. “Your people--I'm sorry. Your ponies are truly blessed to have such benevolent leaders.” All three princesses smiled warmly at him.

“Nay, Remiel,” Princess Luna replied. “It is we who are blessed to have such compassionate subjects.” A sudden surge of rage passed through him like lightning. How?  How could these princesses who, if the stories he heard from Tinker’s family were true, held such power and longevity be so benevolent? How could they be so compassionate when time should have made them cynical and hard? An act. It all had to be an act. No creature in existence can be so warm after ruling or living so long.

“Indeed,” he told her in a kind tone, “With the exception of a handful, all the ponies I have met have been exceedingly generous and warm hearted.” Celestia gave him a warm, gentle smile.

“I'm glad you do not let your mistreatment at the hooves of Crimson Sky tarnish your view of ponies as a whole,” she told him. Remiel shook his head.

“I am not so naive as to believe that any one being is capable of representing an entire race,” he told her. “Aside from that, I know I wouldn't want my kind to be judged for the crimes of a few.” She nodded her head in understanding.

“With business aside, I would like to invite you to have tea later today,” Princess Celestia told him. “I would love to hear more about your family as well as where you are from.” Remiel noticed that Princess Twilight Sparkle’s took on an excited look.

“I would be honored to tell you of my land,” Remiel told them with a dip of his head. “However,” he paused. “This is difficult to say without sounding insane. You see, during my time with Heavy Axe and his family we came to the conclusion that...I may have been brought here from another world.” Princess Twilight Sparkle’s jaw dropped, but the other two princesses didn't even seem fazed.

“Heavy Axe told us about that suspicion,” Princess Celestia informed him.

“As strange as it sounds, it seems the only logical conclusion. My kind has scoured our entire planet but never found any traces of any other intelligent life.” That got a reaction out of all three of them.

“Your kind are the only sapient beings on your world?” Princess Luna asked, stunned. Remiel nodded his head. The conversation was likely to have gone on for some time, but a brown coated stallion stepped forward.

“Apologies, Your Majesties,” he said in a flat, professional tone, “but the delegates from the Empire will be arriving shortly.” Remiel was silently grateful for the stallion's interruption, he had preparations to make and contingencies to plan. That, and his chest was beginning to hurt again. Perhaps it was time for another pill. No, it was too soon. The doctor said only one every twelve hours. The princesses all seemed disheartened by that news, Princess Twilight Sparkle more so than the others. Princess Celestia seemed to pick up on that.

“Understood, Noteworthy,” she said in a kind voice. She then turned to Princess Twilight Sparkle. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, would you care to show Remiel and his companions around the castle?” The younger princess seemed conflicted, but her senior seemed to guess at her concerns. “We can handle the ambassadors from the Empire. Besides, I believe Mr. Blaz would qualify as an ambassador.” Remiel’s eyes widened in surprise.

Ambassador, he thought to himself. Yes, he could possibly use that to his benefit. Diplomatic Immunity could be very useful. Then again it would also be useless. If he displeased them they could easily ignore that status and prosecute him anyway. After all, it wasn't like he had country that would rush to his aid. He was alone here. He would have to play nice. At least when he was being watched. However, the title of ambassador would help open doors in higher circles among the nobility, so it wasn't entirely useless. During his mental debate with himself, he noticed Princess Twilight Sparkle was almost jubilant.

“Mr. Blaz,” she said, slightly regaining some royal composure, “I would be honored if you would allow me to give you a tour of Canterlot Castle.” Remiel bowed to the princess.

“The honor would be all mine, Your Majesty,” he replied graciously. When he looked up the princess was just beaming with joy, and for some reason that brought a small smile to his face.

“Well,” Princess Celestia declared with a smile, “that settles that. Stalwart, would you care to join them as well?” The stallion stepped away from the wall and bowed his head.

“I'll keep an eye on the foals, make sure they keep things appropriate,” he said with an evil grin. Remiel felt his face begin to color and could feel every eye in the room fall on him.

“Would there be a reason they would not?” Princess Luna asked.

“Aside from the colt having a crush? Nah.” Remiel felt like just laying down and dying. Never had anyone ever embarrassed him like this.

Stalwart, I'm going to skin you alive, Remiel thought darkly. And it is going to be slow. Maybe I'll use a rusty butter knife or a spoon.

“Is that so?” Princess Celestia asked in a very amused tone. Remiel gave an exasperated sigh.

“No, Your Majesty,” Remiel told her, getting his flushing face under control. “It is just a misunderstanding mixed with a lonely, single stallion's imagination.”

“With all due respect to our guest,” Stalwart said, taking on a more professional tone, “he's just being shy.”

“And all due respect to the honorable guard I suspect he wouldn't know attraction if it slapped him in the face as I doubt any mare or stallion has ever expressed any in him.”

“Not to belittle the knowledge of our otherworldly visitor,” Stalwart ribbed, refusing to be outdone once again, “but I have the same feeling about him as he seems to have failed to notice that our beloved Princess Twilight Sparkle has indeed taken a small interest in him.”

“I see you have proved my point for me by confusing curiosity for romantic interest,” Remiel fired back. Out of the corner of his eye, Remiel could see Stalwart give him a mischievous look while keeping his face completely professional.

“I agree with our esteemed human that he has piqued our princess’ curiosity but is blind to see what she is curious about.” A scowl slipped on to Remiel's face.

“I believe the lieutenant is allowing his imagination to overrule his logic. It is only natural she would be curious about my world, our customs, beliefs and other things. It is apparent that a lack of a love life has resorted in him daydreaming about other's relationships.”

“Oh, and just what kind of relationship do the two of you have?” Stalwart asked. Remiel realized his poor choice of words.

“I see,” Remiel said now turning to actually look at the stallion, “you have run out of misconceived notions to fuel your argument so you resort to twisting words.”

“You were the one that said ‘relationship’, I was simply asking you to elaborate,” he replied innocently, his eyes telling a different story.

“I would believe calling ourselves mere acquaintances at this point would be too familiar,” he replied.

“‘At this point’?” Stalwart fired back. Remiel gave another exasperated sigh. Stalwart was working his way from being skinned alive to being slowly lowered into a vat of acid.

“I am simply taking into consideration the fact that the Princesses have extended an invitation for me to temporarily take up residence in the castle and that it may result in chance meetings with Princess Twilight Sparkle and we may or may not grow more familiar with one another.”

“You sounded a little hopeful there, Rem,” Stalwart said with his trademark cheeky grin.

“And you've sounded delusional for the past five minutes.”

“Oh? Then was it a delusion of mine that you seemed reluctant to let go of the Princess’ hoof not too long ago?” Remiel had already opened his mouth to refute whatever Stalwart said, but he wasn't prepared for that. How did he even know about that? He was still in the throne room when that happened! Then he remembered Stalwart hanging back right before they entered the throne room. Somepony must have told him. So thanks to that, Remiel was now standing with his mouth open and a shocked look on his face.

“ENOUGH!” a voice bellowed from Remiel's right. He turned and saw two of the princesses were barely containing their mirth while the third’s face looked like it was going to change permanently from lavender to bright red. “Will both of you please stop talking like I'm not even here!?” In Remiel's defense, he had kinda forgotten they were there. Now his own face began to flush.

“Apologies, Your Majesty,” Remiel said hastily as he gave her a small bow. “I allowed myself to be drawn into Stalwart's childish game.”

“So I'm just the subject of some game?” she demanded hotly. The normal color of her coat was beginning to return, but her embarrassment only fueled her anger.

Where the hell did thatcome from?! Remiel yelled in his head. He had to do something to salvage the situation. “Of course not! I was just trying to defend both you and myself from-”

“So you think I need to be protected? That I can't take care of myself? I'll have you know that-”

“That's not what I'm saying!” Remiel said desperately, cutting her off mid sentence. “I'm was just trying to-”

“Trying to what?” Now Remiel was beginning to get angry.

“If you would let me finish a sentence I could tell you!” Remiel began to get the feeling that no matter what he said he would only be adding fuel to the fire. Unfortunately he didn't seem to care though.

“So I'm the bad guy?!”

“What?! No! I'm just asking for a chance to explain without being interrupted!”

“I think you did enough ‘explaining’ just a bit ago,” she said venomously, her eyes seemingly both cold and burning with rage at the same time. Scary.

“That was just--I was trying to!” Remiel threw his hands up in defeat. Of all the times his silver tongue could have failed him it had to be when he was pleading for his life to apony. He had made mafia Dons and African warlords tremble with fear by just speaking, but a pony, a mare, was making him look like an idiot. Oh how the mighty have fallen. “Why are you making this so difficult?!”

“Me?! I'm letting you explain but you don't seem to have anything to say!”

“If you wouldn't have interrupted me the first time-”

“So you're saying this is my fault?! You're the one who was taking about me like I wasn't even in the room!”

“What?! Stalwart was the one,” Remiel stopped as realization washed over him for a second time and it seemed to hit the princess at the same time. They were not alone. His face began burning like he had stuck it in a fire. Remiel didn't want to, but his head slowly turned to the rest of the room to see it full of ponies trying to contain their laughter. Stalwart had a large, toothy smile on his face. Remiel gave him a deer on the headlights look and softly spoke to him. “Stalwart, if you consider me a friend, please kill me now.” That broke whatever resistance the stallion had as he burst out laughing, several others joining him. Even the other two princesses began to giggle. Remiel felt like he could die of embarrassment right then and there. He had to escape. He looked up at the princess and saw she was having the exact same thought. Remiel knew what he was about to do would only add gasoline to the fire that was this scandal, but he needed to escape and now.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” he said with a much composure as he could muster, “I think this would be an excellent opportunity to begin that tour.” She looked at him in confusion then realized he was throwing her a lifeline.

“I-I think that's a great idea,” she said, already making her way down the stairs and past him.

“Your Majesties,” Remiel said to the other two princesses with a slight bow before making as dignified a retreat as a man desperate to escape with a hurting chest and unreliable leg could make. Princess Twilight Sparkle had already made some headway and had the large doors open for him. They walked out together as Stalwart jogged to catch up to them. They passed Remiel's group without stopping.

“What's going on?” he could hear Crystal Clear ask in a stunned voice. Remiel answered hastily without turning back.

“We're staying in the castle, the princess and Stalwart are giving us a tour, let's go!” he said in one breath, not slowing his pace in the slightest. He heard them fall in behind them and then whispering.

“What happened in there?” It was Storm Chaser.

“You missed a hay of a show,” Stalwart answered, still suffering from minor chuckles.

I hate you all,  Remiel thought darkly. Another pain in his chest made up his mind for him. As soon as they stopped he was taking another pill, doctor's orders be damned.

-----Inside Throne Room----

It took more than a few minutes for all the mirth to leave the princesses, guards and scribes inside the throne room but it did finally begin to subside.

“Tia,” Luna said as she tried to regain her composure. “Do you think it was wise to allow dear Twilight Sparkle to be alone with Remiel and his companions?” Celestia calmly took a deep breath to fight back the giggles.

“She isn't alone,” she replied after letting the breath go. “Stalwart and Deep Cover are with her. Besides, I see what Deep Cover meant when he said he didn't see Remiel hurting anypony without reason.”

“Yes, but I'm sure you saw it as well,” Luna replied, now completely serious. Celestia nodded her head. She saw, or rather caught a glimpse of the darkness Deep Cover had spoke of. Such a look of merciless fury hidden beneath a mask of frailty and kindness. She had thought she had seen true darkness before, but not even Discord nor Tirek could match such a look. How had she missed it in their initial meeting? When he spoke of those criminals and those who selfishly hoard their wealth it was as if he looked upon them as insects he would gladly crush beneath him.

“Yet you still allow him to be near your former student?” Luna asked, surprised.

“I'm sure you saw it as well, sister,” Celestia responded. “The tenderness and joy in him when he spoke of his family. The unwavering determination in his eyes when he spoke of improving his world.”

“Those could have been false emotions like the ones he expressed in our first meeting.” Celestia shook her head.

“I don't believe they were. They felt sincere.” Celestia paused a moment. “It's as if something has changed since our first encounter with him. Something that is throwing him of his game as it were.” Luna donned a calculating look.

“Could it be Twilight?” Celestia shook her head again.

“If it was it would take much longer than this for it to be affecting him like this.” Luna sighed in annoyance

“Deep Cover was correct in his assumption of Mr. Blaz,” she said as she raised a hoof to her temple as if to massage a migraine away. “It appears nothing about him can be simple.” A small smirk came to Celestia's face.

“Then perhaps you should think about how excited Cadence will be when she learns of Twilight's ‘crush’?” she suggested. Her sister mirrored the smirk.

“I believe it's more amusing to picture Shining Armor’s reaction,” the lunar princess fired back. And with that laughter and chuckles filled the throne room once again.