Arianna

I was eyeball to eyeball with Twilight Sparkle and I was getting nervous. Her manic grin was disturbing. About the time I was really uncomfortable, Ari pulled me back and wrapped her wings around me.

"Twilight your scaring Vatore. Please have some patience. He isn't comfortable with that kind of attention." I watched as realization dawned in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I get excited when I meet a new species or make a new discovery."

"It's ok Twilight. Tor just has a hard time meeting new people because of his past." She looked down at me and nuzzled the top of my head. "You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shook up. Talk about close encounters with the inquisitive kind." That got me some giggles from everyone except Twilight. She looks at me with her head cocked, looking like a confused puppy.

"Don't worry Twilight, I will answer your questions. Just.....don't get all crazy please."

"As I said, I'm sorry. I just get overexcited sometimes."

"It's understandable. My favourite subjects in school was history and science. Reading is a favorite time killer as well, I guess you could say I am somewhat of a bookworm." When I said that Twilight's mane frazzled and a dreamy look entered her eyes.

"He's perfect. Can I keep him Princess" she asked looking Celestia's way.

"Sorry Twilight. He's taken already."

"Well ponyfeathers. Oh, well. I can at least still ask you questions right?" She had reverted back to normal that fast. Arianna will be with me at all times I thought to myself.

"Of course Twilight. I said I would and I'm a man of my word."

"Okay, good. How does tomorrow sound? You can come to Ponyville."

"Twilight. Tor is still adjusting to being here. When he is comfortable, I will bring him to Ponyville myself. Is that okay" Ari asked her.

"Sure" Twilight replied looking at Ari. "Just don't forget."

"I promise Twilight, I won't forget" Ari told her smiling. She then looked to the other princess. "I hadn't forgotten about you Cadence." The last princess I have yet to be introduced to smiled warmly.

"It's ok aunty. I could wait for Twilight. I know how she is." Ari just giggled a bit and turned back to check on me. I was still wrapped up in her wings and I honestly wasn't in a hurry to leave my spot. I think she noticed and nuzzled the top of my head again.

"You sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine angel." When I said that Cadence gasped and started to giggle.

"Did you find your special somepony Aunty Ari" she asked excitedly.

"Yes I did Cadence" she stated as she unfolded her wings from around me and listened to me grumble about it too. "I would like to introduce you to Vatore Greymoon."

I turned to the candy pink alicorn and bowed. "Nice to me you Princess."

"Please, Cadence is fine Vatore. You are practically family so no formalities."

"As you wish Cadence" then I turned to Twilight. "Sorry for my behaviour Twilight. I'm not very good with that kind of attention as Ari said."

"As I said before, it's ok Vatore. I got too excited as I'm known to do."

"Very well, Twilight." I then turned to Cadence. "What are you the princess of?" The smile I got from her was almost as creepy as Twilight's.

"I am The Princess of Love" It took me a few moments to process that. When it did, I could see why she had got excited. I looked back at Ari.

"Should I run?" Ari just smiled and shook her head.

"No. Cadence is not as bad as Twilight, though" She broke off attaining a thoughtful pose. "She can get excited herself, especially when it concerns matters of the heart" Ari explained.

"That means if I break your heart somehow, she'll hunt me down I bet."

"I doubt that will ever happen. I doubt you could break Aunty Ari's heart" Cadence remarked.

"You have no idea how stupid I can get do you" I deadpanned.

"I know your emotions and thought processes almost as well as you know yourself Tor. I can and will stop you from being stupid my love" she promised me as she nuzzled my head more.

"Well I guess we now know who will be the emotionally stable one in the relationship."

"I am the older one now" Ari remarked smiling.

"Robbing the cradle are we?" A round of giggles sounded off.

"Maybe I am" Ari breezily answered. "Then again, you do like older women."

"I do not. There was only a year between us thank you and please don't go there again." Her reminder of my ex dampened my mood. It still hurts me to think about it.

"I'm sorry Tor. I didn't mean to bring that up" Ari apologized while nuzzling me again.

"It's okay, Ari. I haven't though about them in a while. I sometimes wonder how they are doing."

"Like they should matter Tor. They are the ones who turned their backs on you."

"I realize that, but I can't help but wonder" sighing I figured I needed to lose that train of thought. "I guess it doesn't matter now does it" I asked looking at the one who has my heart now.

"No it doesn't. We are here and we are together" she said smiling. "That's all that should matter to me and you."

"Of course dear." I heard giggling from the other mares in the room.

"You already have him trained don't you sister" Celestia asked the black alicorn currently squeezing me.

"No, it's not about training Tia. I know what makes him tick so to speak. I learned how he looked at the world, how he interacted with it, but most importantly I learned when he needed a friend" Ari nuzzled me some more. "I lost count of the times I pulled him back from the edge. He was broken from what his family did to him. Recovery has been long and hard for Tor, but he has made progress."

"If I may ask" Twilight began "what happened?"

"My family turned on me for one simple reason" I replied. "Greed."