The Princess and The Florist

In the kingdom of plushie-ponies there was a lot on hushed whispering and odd glares thrown as an unknown pony made it’s way through the kingdom. The pony was humming as he has a large saddle bag on his back. The pony didn’t seem to mind the attention or it just didn’t notice the attention. The pony stopped by a yellow unicorn mare,

“Hello mam, do you know where the castle is?” The pony said. The unicorn mare looked up and down the stallion her eyebrows raised.

“Uhh….just keep going straight….sir?” The mare said,

“Thank you miss, and nice mane.” The pony said. The mare blushed and watched in silence as the pony continued on it’s way.

-X-X-X-

The pony had just gotten to the castle, as a unicorn and pegasus guard looked at the pony strangely up and down.

“Hello good sirs, can I please come inside?” The pony said, the guards looked at each other.

“For what reason?” One of the guards said,

“I wish for a short conference with the King or Queen of the kingdom.” The pony replied. The guards looked at each other again, the unicorn then lifted the saddle bag off the pony. The pony let out a short gasp in response, the unicorn opened the bag and in one side he saw three jars full of flower seeds and a small bag of bits. In the other flap there was a bundle of bananas, apples, and pears in a plastic bag. The unicorn guard levitated the saddle bag back onto the ponies back and the pony relaxed visibly.

The guards moved to the side opening the castle doors.

“You may enter.” The unicorn guard said, and the pony walked in as the guards continued to stare at him. The doors shut behind the pony and it continued to walk and as it passed by chefs, guards, and maids stopped in their tracks looking at the pony oddly. And out of all the ponies Inkie was staring at the pony her eye’s narrowed in curiosity and confusion. The pony walked over to Inkie and the almost-grown-mare almost swore as the pony was taller then her.

“Excuse me, miss, do you know where the King or Queen is?” The pony asked,

“Queen Quilted is in the throne room. The king, Heat Wave, is currently unable to attend to his royal duties. To get there go straight, take a left, then take a right.” Inkie said not tearing her gaze from the pony.

“Thank you.” The pony said, he then continued to head straight ahead as more and more castle staff watched the strange pony.

-X-X-X-

Cozy Quilted was sitting in her throne room talking to a mare who had a cream-colored coat with a brown mane. The alicorn mare wore a necklace with a crystal pendant. As a concerned and tired look was on her face,

“So based on my calculations sense your husband was held captive, raped, and nearly brainwashed by that delusional filly he’ll need therapy for at least three to five years at the minimum.” The mare said. Cozy Quilted sighed,

“In translation….he will be back to normal eventually?” She said.

“Yes, but as of now just keep his stress levels down and make sure he doesn’t overstimulate himself.” The mare said,

“And he will be able to fly again, right?” Cozy Quilted asked.

“Yes, he should he fully healed in eight months to a year.” The mare said,

“A YEAR!?” Cozy Quilted blurted.

“Yes, I’m sorry my queen but his body and mind was hurt very badly he’ll need a lot of time to recover.” The mare said, and Cozy Quilted sighed and was about to say something. That is until the throne room the door opened and both mares we’re stunned and bewildered by what they saw. They saw a tall, skinny, and very young earthpony stallion, the stallion had a short mane and medium-length tail. His mane and tail we’re a bit fluffy with random curls running through them. The front of the mane was a dark blue slowly blending into the lighter blue that was in the mane and for the tail the colors we’re swapped.

And in the curls of the mane and tail there sat trapped we’re flowers of different shape, color, and variety. The stallions coat was a relaxing aqua green color, and his eye’s we’re like deep pools of blue violet. His cutiemark was a bouquet of orange flowers the cloth that the flowers we’re bound in was a golden yellow almost dandelion color. And finally the saddle bag the stallion wore was the same shade of his eye’s with his cutiemark on each side along with a name that read: Wintergreen Bouquet.

“Hello, I’m not interrupting anything….am I? I wanted to see Mrs. Quilted.” The stallion said, the cream-colored mare blinked.

“No it’s fine, the queen and I was just finishing up some matters. Good day, my queen.” The mare said, she then left the room leaving Cozy Quilted with the stallion.

“Uh…who are you?” Cozy Quilted said,

“I’m, Wintergreen Bouquet. And I need some citizen registration and florist shop permit papers, please.” The stallion said smiling gently.

“Okay, how old are you? And how long have you been here?” Cozy Quilted said pulling out the needed papers,

“I haven’t been here long, barely ten minutes. But I’ve been traveling a long time to get to your kingdom as I saw that you didn’t have a florist. I thought your kingdom could use more beauty, and to answer your other question why I’m seventeen.” Wintergreen said. And Cozy Quilted’s magical influence on the papers faltered for a minute.

“Your seventeen!? No scratch that, your seventeen years old and your parents allowed you to leave the nest!?” Cozy Quilted said, as she put a hoof to her heart feeling a mini-heart attack coming on. Wintergreen didn’t even flinch or show any sign of discomfort,

“Well, yes, I know I’m a bit young to live on my own and run my own shop but, what can I say? I’m a little ambitious at times.” He said.

“Well….okay….but first work on the registration. Do you want to live at your work or have your work and home separate?” Cozy Quilted said,

“Separate, please. And if you don’t mind….can I stay here I don’t have a place to stay, obviously.” Wintergreen said as he took the citizen registration papers which Cozy Quilted had levitated to him. Meanwhile the mare was biting her lip it wasn’t that she didn’t want the young stallion in the castle it was that he was so….young. At first (based on his height) the mare had thought that he was much older. But now Wintergreen had revealed himself to be seventeen, that was barely old enough to be considered a young stallion or mare. Cozy Quilted was half-tempted to contact the parents, but she decided against it.

If they thought their son was ready for the real world then so be it.

“Sure.” Cozy Quilted said,

“Thank you, mam. I was scared that I might have to sleep in an alleyway or a cardboard box.” Wintergreen said And Cozy Quilted waited for a follow-up “just kidding” or something. But it never came, Cozy Quilted swore she could feel her heart shattering at the thought of the young stallion living on the streets. Suddenly though the stallion in question got the queens attention. “Excuse me, Miss. Quilted, but do you have some sort of outdoor garden or meadow?” The stallion asked,

“Oh! Yes I do, I’ll get my daughter, Heart Breaker, to lead you around.” Cozy Quilted said.

“Oh you don’t have to—” Wintergreen said but he was cut off,

“HEART BREAKER! COME HERE RIGHT NOW!” Cozy Quilted shouted and in a dark black flash Heart Breaker was in the throne room.

“What is it, mom? Does dad need help getting fed again?” Heart Breaker said, Cozy Quilted chuckled.

“No, but I do need you to take Mr. Bouquet here to the castle gardens.” She said, Heart Breaker turned to see Wintergreen and she look at him with a suspicious yet confused look. She turned back to her mother who motioned her to do it.

“Ugh, come on….Bouquet, I’ll show you the way.” Heart Breaker said and her and Wintergreen we’re out the throne room. And as they left Cozy Quilted’s amulet glowed a bright orange twice with a chime to go with it. The mare sighed with a concerned look coming across her face again.

“Don’t worry honey, I’m coming.” She said, as she got out of her throne.

-X-X-X-

Wintergreen walked through the garden and looked at the flowers that he passed by. He stopped when he saw a young alicorn mare. The mare had a pink satin coat with a long, silky, bright pink, mane and tail that had little heart designs in it. Wintergreen had to admit the young mare was very pretty, almost something you’d seem in a foaltale book. The stallion then walked over to the mare and sat a comfortable distance away from her.

Wintergreen saw that the young mare had lined paper in a green binder. The young mare was writing something with her tongue stuck out in concentration. Right next to the binder there was a wooden pencil case. It was then the stallion realized he didn’t have anything to write with.

“Excuse me, miss?” Wintergreen said, and Love Goddess jumped she then looked over to the stallion and she gained a confused look. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. But, do you have an extra pencil?” He said, and Love Goddess nodded and opened the opened the pencil case before magically levitating a pencil over to Wintergreen. The stallion took the pencil and for a minute there was nothing but the sound of birds chirping and pencils scratching against paper.

“Name’s, Loveygum Kitties Goddess The 1st. But you can call me Love for short.” Love said, Wintergreen put his pencil down.

“My name is Wintergreen Bouquet, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss. Goddess.” Wintergreen replied, “I’m guessing you’re the daughter of Miss. Quilted?”

“Yeah I am, how did you know?” Love asked.

“I get a certain vibe about ponies and depending on what I feel I can tell things about ponies. You and your mother have a similar vibe so I was able to tell you two we’re related. Plus, you and your mother both have pink hair and eye’s. And on your mother’s tail their was one small pink heart design. You have a whole bunch of hearts in your hair.” Wintergreen said, Love blinked in surprise.

“Wow.” She said, Wintergreen chuckled.

“I get that type of reaction a lot, I’m guessing your father is sick or hurt as I have yet to see sign of the male parental figure.” He said, Love was astounded once again.

“Wooooow.” She said again, the stallion smiled even wider.

“I’ll take that as a yes, your mother did appear a bit stressed.” Wintergreen said, finally Love nodded a look a concern melding to her face.

“Yeah our daddy ended up getting kidnapped. But don’t tell him I said that.” She said,

“Kidnapped? That must mean your father is Sir Heat Wave.” Wintergreen said. Love raised an eyebrow,

“How do you know?” She said.

“You don’t know? It’s been all over Equestrian News lately.” Wintergreen said, and Love gasped putting a hoof on her forehead.

“Ugh, don’t tell my dad that he’ll, literally, burst into flames.” She said,

“I won’t, so what are you writing?” Wintergreen said. Love blushed slightly as she closed her binder,

“A novel.” She replied.

“A novel? May I see your cutiemark then? I’m sure it’s lovely.” Wintergreen asked, Love blushed furiously her ears going back.

“….O-Oh….yo-you….se-se-see….I-I-I….do-don’t…..we-well…….” Love stammered, Wintergreen was confused as he looked at the princess. He then looked at the young mares flank and he was stunned to see no cutiemark.

“Fascinating….you don’t have your cutiemark.” Wintergreen said, and Love gasped her tail covering her blank flank. Her eye’s glossed over as she gained a hostile look,

“….Well…what are you waiting for? Go ahead and laugh at me!” Love said. And it was Wintergreen’s turn to gain a confused look.

“Now why would I ever laugh at a charming young mare like yourself?” He said,

“Because everypony else does, but don’t worry, it’s fine. I’ll never earn my cutiemark, I’ll be a blank flank forever.” Love said as she began to cry. Wintergreen gained a sympathetic look, as he looked at a group of flowers in front of him one of the flowers having yet to bloom.

“Now don’t talk like that, you’ll get your cutiemark.” He said,

“And how do you figure that?” Love said sniffing. Wintergreen got up placing his paper to the side as he put a hoof under the yet-to-bloom flowers.

“Well, the way I see it colts and fillies are like flowers. Some are early bloomers while some are late bloomers. Eventuality all of them will bloom, but it takes time and patience. I known you will get your cutiemark and I know it will be the best, most beautiful cutiemark the world will ever see. You know why?” Wintergreen said,

“No, why?” Love said with a confused look on her face.

“Because you will be the one who cried her eye’s out, the one who prayed to Celestia at night, the one who tried to most things, the one who worked the hardest and truly earned hers. When you get your cutiemark not only will it be the best, but so will you. And when you bloom….” The young stallion continued, and as if on cue the flower he had gently been caressing bloomed. The flower had shimmering, large ruby red petals that seemed to glow in the sun. “….your efforts will speak for themselves.” Wintergreen finished, he then gently plucked the flower and put it in Love’s mane.

“And you will show all of Equestria, that truly slow and steady wins the race.” The young stallion said, and Love looked at Wintergreen your mouth agape. And without thinking Love hugged the stallion with her wings and began cry tears of joy as Wintergreen pat her on the back.

“Your-Your so nice.” Love said,

“Thank you, mam.” Wintergreen replied with the same warm smile.