Two Weeks Later

***

“Well...I guess that's that.”

You nod to yourself, closing the latch on the luggage compartment. You were pretty sure you hadn't forgotten anything. Just about everything you owned could fit in a single suitcase, after all.

You turn your head and glance up, shielding your eyes as you take a last long look at the Crystal Palace. It'd been an interesting stay, to say the least. Having some people...ponies...to talk to had been a nice change of pace.

You scratch your neck, a small smile creeping onto your face.

To be perfectly honest, you were going to miss it. Breakthroughs in a a dimensional return spell or not, leaving was going to be hard. The place had really started to feel like a second home. As blunt and oblivious as Shining could be, he'd ended up being the first Equestrian you could talk to like a normal person.

A little pang of guilt hits your heart at the thought. You shake your head.

“Nope. Not gonna worry about that right now.”

You close your eyes, convincing yourself to let it go.

“It's not like Shining ever found out, anyway.”

“Found out what, Ambassador?”

You immediately stumble forward at the sudden question, your head slamming into the back of the carriage with a weighty thunk. Flailing clumsily, you scramble onto your backside, glancing up toward its source as your vision swims with stars.

“Ah, Sh-Shining! I—I didn't see you there.”

You force out a nervous laugh, rising shakily to your feet. Your vision gradually starts to return, your eyes taking in the concerned expression of the Crystal Empire's prince standing before you.

“You doing alright there, Ambassador?”

You raise a hand, nodding slowly to keep the pounding in your head from getting worse.

“Yep. Yep. Just—just great.”

You can see the smile return to Shining's face, your ill acted reply setting his worries to rest.

“Ah, gotcha gotcha."

He grins, proffering an elbow in your direction.

"So what what was it you were saying I never found out about?"

You cough, nearly choking your on spit. Grabbing the carriage for support, you glance around, eyes darting from cobblestone to cobblestone as you try to think up a lie.

“Ohhhhh! Just that you never found out....”

Your mind draws a blank.

C'mon, c'mon! Say something!

You bite your lip, forcing out the first words that come to mind.

“...found out just how much I'd miss ya!”

You laugh, stepping up into your best bro-like stance.

“Yeah. You got me! I sure will miss you...bud.”

Another flicker of guilt rises in your chest, but you quickly dispel it. It's not like what you were saying was a total lie after all...right?

Shaking off the feeling, you give Shining a firm punch in the arm to seal the deal, immediately regretting it as your fingers crack on impact.

Son of a biiiiiiitch.

Shining, however, doesn't seem to notice. You can see his smile grow even broader at your sad attempt to show camraderie.

“Ah Ambassador, I'm gonna miss you too!”

“Thanks Shin—ack!”

You can feel the air being forced out of your lungs as Shining suddenly pulls you to his side in a one armed embrace.

“It's been a nice change of pace having you around the Castle. Not every day you come across a stand up guy like yourself.”

“T—thanks...”

You barely manage to wheeze out your reply, your head starting to feel light from the lack of oxygen. With a happy grunt, the stallion finally releases you, your body immediately dropping into a crouch as you try to catch your breath.

Celestia that was one powerful grip.

Still panting, you manage to regain your footing, meeting Shining's gaze once again.

“Just...just happy I could help.”

You can see the stallion nod, his excitement finally settling back to normal levels. A moment later, however, you can see him glance around—his eyes searching for any onlookers before making their way back to you. With what you can only guess to be an embarrassed smile, he leans forward, placing a hand on your shoulder as he lowers his voice.

“Oh, and thanks for all you did for Cadence and I these past few weeks. That roleplay was spot on.”

Wait...what?

A cold sweat breaks out over your body at Shining's words. Slowly, you turn your head, staring awkwardly at the stallion as he continues to speak.

“Yep, having that 'third person' really managed to spice things up a bit.”

You can feel your body immediately turn rigid, mind going completely blank. You tilt your head robotically, regarding Shining with wide, confused eyes.

Huh?

The stallion regards your vacant stare with another sheepish smile.

“Yeah, I hate to say it, but we were in a bit of a rut before you came along. Being married is great and all, but once and a while you've got to mix things up to keep it fresh.”

You blink, unable to comprehend the meaning behind Shining's words.

Huh?

You can see the stallion nodding, his smile lingering as he continues.

“Yeah though. Ever since you came along we haven't been able to keep our hands off each another. It's like—ha, well, I s'pose you've already seen what I mean."

He scratches bashfully at his cheek, tilting his head in your direction.

"Anyways, we really can't thank you enough.”

You nod slowly, Shining's voice fading into the background as your mind tries to process his words. You're dimly aware of the stallion's presence as he leads you to your seat in the carriage, closing the door behind you as you settle in. You can sense him place something into your open hand, closing your unresponsive fingers into a loose grip around it. His voice briefly wanders back into your consciousness a moment later, your ears picking up the last few words of his drawn out goodbye.

“—is great that time of year. Be sure to visit again!”

You offer a vacant nod, mimicking Shining's waving hand as you feel the carriage lurch forward. The stallion soon disappears from sight, your ride starting down the road in the direction of the train station.

What had just...

Staring vacantly through the window, you turn your head as a glint of blue reaches the corner of your eye. Shifting your gaze, you take in the sight of someone waving down at you from one of the castle's lower balconies.

Cadence?

You stare awkwardly as the pink mare meets your gaze—the same blue dress she had worn when you first met her sparkling in the morning light. With playful movements, you can see her step forward—her slim figure leaning provocatively over the edge of the balcony as she flashes you a wink. You can see her dangle one of her legs through a gap in the railing—revealing a glimpse of her sandal clad foot as the carriage rolls by.

Unable to respond, you simply direct your robotic wave in her direction, continuing on even after the castle disappears from view. After a half a minute you finally stop, turning forward as you rest your hand in your lap.

"Hm?"

You raise an eyebrow as something crinkles beneath your fingers.

You glance down to the sight of a folded red pamphlet resting in your closed hand. Sliding your fingers out of the way, you glance over the advertisement etched across the front.

Come see the Crystal Empire Crystal Fair. Only two months away!

You lift your eyes back up, staring at the seat in front of you.

Well.

You take a long breath, shifting back into your seat to get comfortable.

Looks like you'd have a reservation to make when you got back to Canterlot.

***

Author's Note

Hey, all. Quandary here. It's been a while. How's everyone doing?

Sorry it took so long to get the last chapter (and this epilogue) out. I'd had plans to make this a three parter way back when the second chapter was posted...I just never seemed to find the time to sit down and finish it.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this little foray into new territory (anthro, voyeurism, light fetishism). Just felt like trying my hand at something different. If anything, it a was a fun little story to write.

As always, any thoughts/feedback would be greatly appreciated. Hearing what people have to say about what I put out there is half the fun of the whole process.

Until next time.

• Quandary