"Stand straight, chin up, head held back approximately one hoof length."
The vanilla stallion did so with a proud smile.
"There you go my love.", the velvet mare beside him kissed him on the cheek. "Ready for the town."
"Uh...No uards or will there be guards?"
"No guards, like always."
Two ponies. A royal, pregnant mare, and a peasant pegasus stallion. He was vanilla, had a brown mane, chin curtain beard, and his cutie mark were a loaf of fresh baked bread. She was a velvet wine colored mare with a silvery blue mane. Her cutie mark was a grand compass rose. It featured every direction as far as north-north-east. And she were positively gravid.
"No regalia!", Velvet Night tossed off her silver-blue regalia. She kicked off her horseshoe regalia, then powered her horn with as much magic as she could, flashing them both out of the room. Right into the garden. "We have until tomorrow."
"Promise this time?"
"Promise. No more 'kidnapped princess' problems with the guard. I promise."
"Alright. I'll take your word for it."
"Hush. Stop worrying and lets go, love.", Velvet kissed him. "Now, did you bring any bread this time?"
"Did I?", he cocked an eyebrow, fishing through the bushes to pull out a basket of warm breads. As soon as he opened it, the fresh smell of a bakery wafted about them.
"Oh yes! By my mother's name, yes!", she paused as she practically dove for the tasty foods. And pulled one loaf of bread out. She eyed it well, liked her lips. Then lost her smile.
"Something wrong? You don't ever pause before tearing into my honey wheat bread."
"Bar-barley.", she said breathlessly.
"What's wrong?", he stowed his ration.
"The...the baby."
"Uhhhh, uhh.", Barley looke around. Closest point to anyone is far, far away. They were on the other side of a wall, for crying out loud! Up. Barley looked up, furrowed his brow, then grabbed Velvet, beating his wings hard. He's a pegasus with a good trait, his wings are massive. His lift coutn can pick up three sets of extra pony weight. Imagine, jsut iamgine, him beating his wings as hard as he can carryign one mare.
Barley practically shot over the wall, startlign the guards there into action, but as soon as they drew their swords, they dropped them to the ground, rushing to the princess. The guards in the post just behind Barley tackled him, restrained him, and dragged him away from Velvet. The last sight he got of her before they knocked him out was her reaching out to him.
It was cold and damp when he woke up. The musty smell of an all-too-familiar dungeon woke him straight up, and he picked his head up. The only thing not restrained. Again. Before him was a none-too-happy mare, easily three times his size. She bore the same regalia Velvet wore.
"Why am I not surprised?", she asked. Her voice was serious and mature. And also incredibly angry, despite it's level tone.
Barley didn't speak. He sighed, awaiting his judgment, but it never came. The mare stood up, and walked away. "Wait. Wait!"
"Why should I? So you could go right back to my daughter and taint her mroe with your...", her snout twitched. "Filth.", she twitched again.
Barley looked down.
"What were you doing beyong the first wall with my daughter?"
Barley took a deep breath, sighing. It's our usual meeting spot. Velvet teleports there, I meet her there. Sometimes with a picnic basket or food of some kind. She had just opened the basket of bread I brought, dropped it, and called to me for help. Brought her to the safest location as quick as I could. Top of the wall.", he confessed. Sorta. He stretched the truth a little.
The mare cast a spell on him. "Repeat what you said."
"We met at our usual spot, just at the bottom of the first wall, ont he outside. So you can't see us. I had pulled out a basket of breads, she took one, didn't take a bite, dropped it, went into labor. So I brought her to the top of the wall. Safest place I could think of."
A long moment of silence dropped between the two. Punctuated by the distant sound of dripping water.
"She didn't go into labor. Release him."
The shackles that restrained him were removed in seconds by magic.
"My daughter is in her room, expected to soon go into labor. She is heavily guarded. Four guards in ehr room, two guards on teh balcony, six at the door, and three maids are helping her with anything she needs. If any of my guards see you, they will notify me. If you are so much as seen approaching the castle, you will be marked for execution.", the large mare began walking out of the dungeon by herself. Unattended by any guards. "See him out. He's done nothing wrong. This time."
The guards motioned to the exit, and Barley stood up, following behind with his head held low. No. He huffed, then raised his head high. Chin up. He did just about the greatest thing he could for his lover. Even if they were separated again. One guard heeded him attention. But discarded it slowly, turning his attention back forward. As they passed out of the dungeon entrance, they watched as the queen disappeared into a flash of magic.
"You're free to go. Fly away.", the two guards parted. Barley took flight. It's going to be a long flight home. It's always a long flight home. Gives him plenty enough time to think. So halfway, he altered his course, headed for the wall. Thankfully it were a dry night. He set the breads back in the basket, and made off in the opposite direction with them. Away from the wall. Just as a flash erupted behind him. He dropped his basket as his mouth hang agape.
"It took so long to...", she breathed, clutching her stomach before slowly approaching Barley. "So long to cast that spell.", she breathed.
"Princess, no. I was told that-"
"If the guards saw you, you'd be executed. Not me! Or if I left for you!"
"They're probably headed here right now! They know of our meeting spot, and it should only take seconds for-"
"Hush.", she breathed. "Away from here. They won't be able to find us. I'll hold the basket, you carry me.", she picked up the basket in her teeth. "Take us away.", she said through clenched teeth.
Barley took a deep breath, then beat his wings enough to just pick himself up, grabbed Velvet, and beat his wings hard. Not as hard as he did but maybe an hour ago, but he picked her up, and flew off with her. At a fast pace, too. Cleared the wall, bolted right into the city. He set her down on a near-empty street.
"You alright?", Barley asked. Velvet cringed for a moment. A long moment. Breathed heavier, even. Then it passed, she relaxed, and ehr breathign slowed down.
"I'm fine just...it's almsot time."
"I think I'd rather spend tonight off our hooves."
"You're such a gentlecolt.", she nuzzled agaisnt his neck. Then cringed for a short moment. "Please. It's really hard to stand."
And so, Barley found an inn. A simple, cozy place. Well kept, fire raging in the fireplace, fresh foods cooking, and jolly people all about.
"Room for two.", Barley tossed two bits on the counter.
"Four, sir." Barley tossed two more on the counter. "Pleasure doin' business with ya. Third room on the left.", she pulled a key from a box behind her. "Here ya go."
"Thanks!", he said joyfully. then hurried along. Velvet stopped jsut at the corner, cringing shortly before trotting to Barley's side at the door. He opened it, and let Velvet in first, who found the low lying bed, and fell onto it, panting. "You alright?", he asked.
"Barley!"
He hurried to her side, nuzzling her affectionately. Tears streaked her cheeks as she breathed, and in the next few seconds, her breathing escalated, then she fainted. The feint whine of a newborn struck the air, and Barley nearly felt his heart stop. So he turned his attention towards the newborn foal. Picked the bluevanilla alicorn up, cradled her, and then watched her mother. Velvet was sleeping soundly. And it brought a smile to Barley's features. A smile of relief.