Rock you like a Hurricane

by Thought Prism

Rating: teen
Tags: Storm King, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Flurry Heart, Romance, Comedy, My Little Pony: The Movie, Sex
Length: 4864

When two storms collide, things are bound to get a little crazy.

Flurry Heart – alicorn, young adult, eldritch abomination from beyond the pale – has simply the worst luck with relationships. Even though she knows why and tries to correct for it by presenting herself as a less terrifying prospective partner, she still can’t seem to find that special someone her heart yearns for.

Then she meets the Storm King. Who happens to still be petrified. She can totally make that work.

Written for FamousLastWords' "Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord" contest. I'm fairly sure this is the exact opposite of what he was looking for, but screw it.

Published 2018-08-18 23:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2018-08-18 23:40:01 UTC

The S.S. Devastation

Deep in the bowels of the Crystal Castle, there was a room caked in dust. None had breached its doors or disturbed its contents in quite some time, and it carried an aura of supreme tranquility.

Then Flurry Heart teleported inside, wailing uncontrollably.

The mare collapsed to her haunches, head in her hooves. Even the least empathetic pony could tell she was deeply troubled. Tears flowed freely and voluminously down her cheeks, the occasional involuntary tremor ruffling her curly mane. Now away from prying eyes and ears, she began to vent.

“Why? Why does this always happen?” she sobbed. “Everything was going so well this time, too! I let my mom play matchmaker, a-and she brings me this hot lumberjack.”

Flurry fell forwards, her head resting sideways on the floor between outstretched hooves. “Oh, Mighty Mangrove… you were so funny, and handsome, and interesting. And hot. So, of course I wanted to take things to the next level!”

Sniffling, she continued. “E-Everything was going so well, until I went and broke your pelvis. It was an accident, though! So why did you have to break up with me?”
Flurry furrowed her brow, her tears finally beginning to dry up. “Part of me wants to march over to Nanny Starlight and have her brainwash you into forgetting this past week. I really wanted things to work out between us! I’ll be turning twenty-two in a few months; that’s past my prime! At this rate I’ll never find out what a good relationship is like!”

The young princess sighed, flipping onto her back. “Well, I have this Forbidden Vault of Dark or Otherwise Nefarious Rocks to mope in, at least.”

As Flurry Heart let her gaze wander along with her thoughts, something unusual she hadn’t noticed before caught her attention. In the midst of the various fell amulets, blood crystals, and cursed carvings, there was a large statue of a biped she didn’t recognize. Made of obsidian, it bore numerous deep cracks, as if it had been shattered and then hastily reassembled.

Her curiosity piqued, and the distraction from her woes most welcome, Flurry stood and made her way over to the statue. It became quickly apparent to her that this was no ordinary sculpture, as its features were much too lifelike. “Ok, weird. I’ve never seen a creature like this before. And what’s with the confused expression?”

Upon closer examination, there was actually a small brass plaque affixed to the statue’s pedestal. She tilted her head down to read it. “Hmm, ‘The petrified body of the Storm King’. Wait, what?”

She stared up at his frozen face, eyes wide. “Petrified as in turned to stone? Is he still alive? If so… could he hear me this whole time? That would be pretty embarrassing, heh,” she said, blushing.

Fidgeting a bit, Flurry stepped backwards. “Anyway, I’m feeling a bit better now. I’d better get back before all the guards go ballistic. Bye?”

Charging her lengthy horn with magic, Flurry Heart vanished in a burst of yellow light.

When she next entered the Vault a few weeks later, Flurry Heart was in a better mood, her smile one of guarded optimism. She trotted over to the Storm King.

“Alright, time to try out the ‘bestow telepathy’ spell Aunt Twilight taught me,” she said. “Most ponies don’t let me cast anything on them, but it’s not like you can refuse!”

After a brief bought of giggling, Flurry conjured a small wisp of iridescent smoke that quickly seeped its way into the Storm King’s head.

She stared up at him in anticipation. “Let’s see if it worked; try thinking something at me.”

“Puckwudgie’s asscheeks,” replied an irate male voice in her mind.

A wide grin split Flurry’s muzzle. “Pfft, looks like I’ve still got it. So, you are the Storm King, right?”

At this, he groaned internally. “Well, I’m not really king of anything anymore, now am I?”

She snorted. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Not that the ability to communicate after all these years isn’t a gift much appreciated, but why come back here to see me?” he asked.

Flurry sighed. “Honestly? I just wanted to talk to somebody outside my family who wasn’t completely intimidated.”

“By what? Your stupid pink hair?”

She froze for a second before barking out a short laugh. “Thank you.”

If he could move, the Storm King would have blinked in confusion. “Excuse me? That was an insult! I’m insulting you!”

“I know! It’s great! Do you have any idea how long it’s been since anyone’s had the guts to insult me to my face?”

“Probably less time than I’ve been trapped here, frozen and miserable,” he deadpanned.

“Say, that reminds me,” began Flurry Heart, shifting gears, “what did you do to end up here?”

“Oh, tis a sad tale. In a stroke of awful luck, I had a run-in with a cockatrice, and my cruel brother, who wished for all of our family’s inheritance, ensured I couldn’t be cured.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Yeah, not buying it. If that were true, then why would you be lumped in with all these evil gems?”

The Storm King harrumphed. “Fine, you got me. I tried to conquer the world. And I would have gotten away with it too if it weren’t for you meddling ponies.”

“Ok, that makes more sense.” After a brief moment, Flurry’s face suddenly lit up in recognition. “Oh yeah, I remember now! I have heard of you before. The hippogriffs actually have a huge celebration every year to commemorate how much you sucked and how glad they were when you got deposed.”

Obviously he couldn’t frown in disapproval, but he most certainly would have were he able. “Aww, come on! I wasn’t that bad. Serving me was a great opportunity I’m sure they would have enjoyed! Just ask all those unpaid interns who got valuable work experience in supply chain management. Weapons going one way, depictions of my greatness the other… ah, those were the days.”

One of her eyebrows rose. “Sure. ‘Unpaid interns’. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

The Storm King disregarded that statement. “But, enough about me, what’s your deal, princess? Have you found a boyfriend yet? Or did they all run away screaming with shattered bones? I’ve been sitting here thinking about you this whole time.”

Flurry Heart smirked. “Have you, now?”

“N-Not in that way, obviously!” he stammered. “It’s just that there’s literally nothing else going on in my life right now!”

“Oh, I’m just messing with you,” she assured, waving a hoof. Then, she began stroking her chin. “Or am I?”

“Judging by your extremely transparent attempts at flirting with me, I already have an answer to my question,” he stated.

Once she’d finished laughing, Flurry nodded in confirmation. “You hit the nail on the head. I’m still single, though not for lack of trying. It’s not like I’m being pressured into it or anything, it’s just something I’ve always wanted, you know?”

“No, not really,” the Storm King replied. “But I must admit it is a practical goal. If you princesses actually had found males to protect you, my forces might not have subdued you with such overwhelming ease.”

Upon hearing such blatantly misogynistic statement, her jaw dropped. “Uh, rude! That has nothing to do with it! We’re monarchs, not gladiators!”

“But you still could have used guards, though.”

Flurry Heart opened her mouth to retort, but drew a blank. “Point taken.”

When she didn’t continue, the Storm King put their conversation back on rails. “I’m still curious about your relationship history.”

“Mmm, right,” she said. “So, until Mighty Mangrove, who you already know about, heh, nopony was willing to go out with me even once. At first, I thought it was just my reputation. In Equestria, I’m known for being a bit… destructive.”

“Really, now?” he said, intrigued.

Her cheeks colored a bit. “Yes. I’ll spare you the specifics. Eventually, I realized I might have better luck away from home. But it was always the same. Griffons, yaks, zebras, you name it, I’ve probably unsuccessfully courted it.”

“Seriously? I don’t know whether to pity you or laugh at your suffering.”

Flurry sighed, her lips curling into a smile. “Most ponies just go straight to pitying. Because it gets worse. I’ve actually tried dating some dragons. But even they were scared. When I asked one of them why, he said, and I quote, ‘you remind me of the roc that nearly ate me when I was a kid’.” She then spread her freakishly huge wings to their full span for emphasis. “Can you believe that!? These aren’t that big, are they?”

“Yes. To both,” he replied, matter-of-factly. “I would have tried painting myself gold first.”

She blinked. “Huh. I’m not sure if that’s an amazing idea or a terrible one.”

“Still, a why dragon?” he added. “I can’t picture a fragile, fuzzy thing like you going that far. They’re all so viscous and strong, even I gave their lands a wide berth.”

After letting the question sink in, she slowly began to speak. “Why, you ask? See, here’s the thing.” Flurry took a few steps closer with half-lidded eyes. “I happen to like bad boys.”

Sputtering, the Storm King was at a loss for words.

Now sporting a shit-eating grin, she hovered into the air, running her hoof down his cheek. “I realize we haven’t been properly introduced. My name is Flurry Heart, but you can call me whatever you want.”

She found it easy to imagine the blush on his cheeks as he replied. “I suppose you can call me Richard, then. That was my name before, well, everything.”

“Richard. I like it,” she said. “So, Richard, are you open to pursuing this relationship further?”

It was a moment before he answered. “I’m… not sure.”

Her smile widened. “That’s not a no I’m hearing.”

“I guess it isn’t.”

“Then I’ll just have to convince you,” she said. Flurry planted a quick kiss on his cheek and returned to the ground.

“Well, alright,” Richard said, apprehensive. “But fair warning, I’ve never been good at this lovey-dovey stuff. Still an unrepentant conqueror-king over here.”

“Hehe, same. Minus the conquest part.” With that, Flurry Heart turned to depart, making sure to give Richard a good angle. Then, she shot a glance over her shoulder. “Don’t run off before I get back, now.”

“Ha ha. Very funny.”

Lighting her horn, she winked back at him. “See you later.” Then, she disappeared once more.

“Remind me why we’re doing this, again?”

Flurry Heart turned her head to face her boyfriend, whom she was currently levitating. “Because, Richard, we haven’t gone on a proper date yet!”

“Yeah, I got that part. Eye roll,” he said, because he couldn’t actually perform one. “But isn’t this a bit… unconventional?”

“How is it unconventional?” Flurry asked. “A picnic under the stars is, like, super romantic!”

“I wouldn’t know. It seems like most creatures wouldn’t got out of their way to have a meal in the middle of a frozen wasteland.”

Flurry looked this way and that. They had left the empire proper, and she walked across a featureless sheet of ice that stretched all the way to the mountains in the distance. “Well, I suppose. But then how would we see the stars properly? The Crystal Heart’s glowing dome gets in the way.”

“Then just turn it off. Or better yet, destroy it, just for fun!” he suggested, chortling maniacally.

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” she said, suppressing a shudder of embarrassment. “I already have. It didn’t work out.”

“Why not? You seem to be handling the cold just fine,” he pointed out.

“That’s because I’m an exception,” Flurry said. She then raised her wings and gestured at her cutie mark, which depicted a royal purple heart inside a thick blue ring. “I’m the sole from-birth alicorn, forged by Harmony to act as the world’s last bastion of righteousness should our protectors ever fall.”

“Uh, really? That’s not the impression I’d gotten from all our interactions,” Richard said. “You strike me as more of the carefree type.”

She hummed in agreement. “Yeah, that’s just how my dad puts it. He can be a bit melodramatic, what with all those games. Basically, it means I’m almost completely invulnerable to harm.”

“For real?” he said, gasping. “What’s stopping you from just usurping your peers and taking over?”

She just shrugged at that. “Eh, I’m lazy. Do you know how much work it is running a country? Bleh.”

He didn’t know how to respond to that.

While he was still dumbstruck, Flurry Heart stopped walking. “Alright, this looks like a good spot,” she said, setting down a patchwork blanket, then Richard himself.

“So, let me get this straight. You don’t want unlimited power?” Richard asked.

“Nope,” she said, pulling a covered dish out of her saddlebags. She popped it open, revealing what certainly wasn’t a balanced meal. “I’ve got everything I need right here. This delicious cloudberry parfait, the beautiful, twinkling sky overhead,” here she gestured to the heavens with a free hoof, “and now, I have you!” she added, beaming.

“That’s nice. Stars are all well and good - no substitute for a good typhoon - but alas, I can’t share that multi-tiered delicacy with you.”

Flurry frowned, her confection now less appetizing. “I know. I wish I could do something else for you, and make this night truly special.”

Richard hummed in thought. “Well, there is one thing…”

“Name it,” she said.

“Can you un-petrify me? Pretty please?”

She flinched, her wings ruffled at her sides. “Sorry. I don’t know how.” Flurry looked into his eyes apologetically. “And even if I did, you’d just turn into a bunch of bloody flesh chunks and die instantly.”

“Right. Crap.”

“Oh, look on the bright side. This way, you’re immortal too!” She leaned in with a lecherous grin on her face. “There’ll be no limit to the fun times we can share.”

There was a lengthy pause before he replied. “I suppose there exist worse fates than sharing your company until the world ends. It is… pleasant enough.”

This sentiment melted Flurry’s heart. “D’aww, c’mere, you!”

She practically dove at Richard, wrapping him in a fierce hug.

“Hey, ease up a little there, will ya?” he asked, grunting in frustration.

“Oh, let me have this,” replied Flurry, nuzzling her face into his cold, hard chest. “It’s not like you can feel it anyway.”

“That’s true, but I still don’t want any more cracks.”

“Point taken,” she said, breaking away and settling back into a seated position.

“So, hypothetically,” Flurry continued, “if I did put you back to normal, you wouldn’t just go back to your tyrannical ways, right?”

“Whaaat? No, of course not, my sweet!” he insisted. It was extremely obvious that his tone was partially forced, though.

Flurry snorted, grinning. “You’re so transparent in your machinations. It’s adorable.”

“Come on, I am not adorable!” he insisted.

“You totally are,” she said, nodding. “Have you not realized that if this relationship keeps going well, I might actually be able to get you partial rulership of Equestria?”

This stunned him silent. “Wait, really? You’d do that for me?”

“Of course!” she said, punching him jokingly in the side. “I mean, first I’d have to convince my family that I could keep you in line, but yeah.”

And that was when all the joy drained from her face. “Oh horseapples, they don’t even know we’re dating yet.”

Flurry Heart shuffled nervously in her seat, the tarp-covered form of Richard occupying the spot next to her. The mahogany table in front of her held all manner of small pastries, as well as a tea set, the pot steaming gently. Sunlight filtered through the windows, which looked out over the rest of Canterlot. While the scene appeared peaceful at a glance, tensions were high.

Princess Luna, Diarch of the Moon, sipped at her beverage from across the table. “So, niece, what exactly is so important that you had to call a Meeting of All-icorns? You have not bid us convene in this most sacred manner before.”

Celestia, who had been the last to enter moments before, sat beside her sister, popping a cookie into her mouth. Once she finished chewing, she spoke. “I’m sure Flurry Heart has a good reason.”

Cadance, on Flurry’s other side, nodded firmly. “Whatever this is about, I promise I’ll support you however I can.”

“Oh, the anticipation is killing me,” said Twilight, who couldn’t take her eyes off the tarp.

Taking a deep breath, Flurry straightened up. “Ok. The reason you’re here… is to meet my new boyfriend.”

Cadance gasped. “Why didn’t you say so? I’m so proud of you!” she said, her smile bright. “Who’s the lucky stallion?”

“That’s the thing. He isn’t a stallion, exactly,” she elaborated, shying away slightly.

“Is that all? You needn’t have worried so,” said Luna. “While uncommon in the past, interspecies relations are acceptable in this modern age.” Then, her eyes drifted upward in thought. “Or is it a mare? That’s fine, too.”

Flurry sighed, pursing her lips. It was her family’s tendency to jump to conclusions that truly worried her about this. “No, just… look.” She swiftly removed the tarp with her magic, revealing the stony visage underneath. “Mom, aunts, this is Richard. Richard, say hi.”

“Hi,” said Richard, with his mind. “This is the part where I’d be waving meekly in an effort to placate you. Please don’t vaporize me,” he added.

Cadance, Celestia, and Luna all stared at the talking, vaguely simian sculpture with expressions of utter shock.

Twilight immediately gasped, her wings flaring open. “What?” she exclaimed, turning to Flurry. “That’s the Storm King, isn’t it? He’s your boyfriend!?”

Flurry cringed as the others still stared at her latest (well, second, but who's counting) BF in apprehension.

“Indeed it is. I remember,” said Celestia, her countenance hard. “He was Tempest Shadow’s superior, the mastermind behind that invasion of Equestria which nearly succeeded decades ago. I haven't paid him any mind since he hijacked our magic, but it appears young Flurry has, unfortunately.”

“Didn’t you hear what my girlfriend said? I’m just Richard now,” he asserted. “The hunk of rock, pun intended, that Flurry happens to like.”

As Flurry Heart chuckled, Twilight bristled. “Unbelievable!” she exclaimed. “We can’t trust him; betrayal is his M.O.” Twilight then narrowed her eyes at him. “For all we know, he’s been slowly corrupting poor Flurry’s mind this whole time.”

The alicorn in question’s jaw dropped. “Uh, I think I would know if I was being brainwashed.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” said Luna. “That’s the whole point of brainwashing.”

Celestia took a deep breath, crossing her hooves. “Regardless of what ‘Richard’ has or hasn’t done, I agree with Twilight. He and Flurry should be separated, at least until we confirm he has reformed.”

Twilight nodded firmly. “It’s for the best.”

“What? No!” Flurry exclaimed. She reached over to clutch at Richard protectively. “You can’t do that! I love him the way he is, silly villainous schemes and all!”

“Thanks, honey,” Richard said. “So, as you can plainly see,” he continued, now addressing the other princesses, “I’m literally incapable of hurting anybody. What’s the harm in letting me imagine taking revenge?”

“See, he’s proving my point!” said Twilight, who had a forehoof raised in his direction. “And he can still inflict harm verbally!”

“Seriously? I’m pretty sure I’ve injured just as many ponies on accident as he has on purpose, and you still keep me around,” Flurry noted.

Luna’s head tilted slightly to the side. “That is true. Honestly, I think that whole incident with the yeti led to more recurring nightmares than anything our king here did.”

Flurry’s ears drooped upon hearing this. “I thought we weren’t going to mention that ever again.” Then, muttering under her breath, she added “You accidentally punch a monster’s head off in front of foals one time…”

“Hot damn,” intoned Richard.

Celestia let out a polite cough. “Ehem. Anyway, one of us has yet to weigh in on the issue. Cadance?”

All eyes turned to Cadance, who, after getting over her initial shock, had been sitting silently with a ponderous expression for the rest of the discussion. Rather than respond, however, she instead shut her eyes and channeled her magic, a cyan glow shrouding her horn. After a few seconds, the spell stopped, and Cadance blinked fresh moisture from her eyes.

Then, she stepped over to wrap her daughter in a fierce hug. Her words were soft, but laced with raw emotion. “It’s true. There is a spark between you two, one with lots of room to grow. I’m so happy for you.”

Flurry Heart awkwardly returned the hug, dumbstruck. “Mom, I… I know. Thank you.”

Celestia smiled wide, the scene melting her heart.

Luna stomped her hooves in applause. “Good enough for me. If Cadenza approves, then so do I.”

Twilight sunk back into her seat, shaking her head in disbelief. “Congratulations, I guess. Still, the Storm King? Really?”

“Don’t ruin the moment!” Richard exclaimed. “Also, hey! Whatever happened to your trademark pony forgiveness?”

“That only works if you’re repentant! Promise you’ll abandon thoughts of wreaking vengeance upon my friends, and then I’ll put the past behind me,” Twilight declared.

“Ugh, do I have to?” he whined.

Flurry, still in Cadance’s tearful embrace, swiveled her head back around. “It’s probably for the best. Do it for me? Please?”

Richard took a few tense seconds to deliberate. “Bah, all right. I can’t say no to you.”

Flurry giggled at that. “Thanks babe.”

When she gently pushed Cadance away and jumped up to peck him on the cheek, everypony couldn’t help but smile, even Twilight.

“Let's all hope Richard and Flurry Heart have a bright future together!” Cadance proclaimed, saluting with a wing.

“Here here!” added Luna.

Flurry Heart sat up in her bed, letting out a mighty yawn. The press would have a field day if they caught a glimpse of her unkempt bedhead. Small pops could be heard from her joints as she stretched all six of her limbs one at a time.

"Morning, lazybones."

A smile graced her muzzle as she slowly blinked the crust out of her eyes. "Hey, Richard. How are you?"

"Bored," he answered. "I've been standing here watching you sleep this whole time."

Still tired as she was, it took a second before she snorted in amusement. "I know plenty of stallions who wouldn't mind watching a girl sleeping in her own room."

"Sure, but not for the whole eight hours," he said, with plenty of emphasis.

"Ok, that's fair. Still, wasn't last night worth it?" Looking him right in the eyes, Flurry made a point of sensuously licking her lips before reaching under the covers with her magic and extracting a long, stone claw. Another spell saw it swiftly reattached to Richard's hand.

"Well, when you put it like that... no. I demand the return of my sense of touch. Or at least our post-coital cuddles."

"Yeah, I miss that too," she said with a sigh, reluctantly dragging herself up to face the day. "But I want to make sure I have that heating spell down first beforehoof. It would be really awkward if I set the bed on fire again."

"Nostalgic smile. The traumatized look on that firestallion's face was absolutely priceless," he recalled.

Blushing, Flurry Heart shuffled off into the bathroom. "Don't remind me," she groaned.

Richard waited patiently for Flurry to complete her morning grooming and hygiene rituals, not like he had any choice in the matter. Eventually, she emerged, with preened wings and mane sparkling. "Alright, let's go," she said, picking him up.

The pair absconded from Flurry's quarters, making their way into the oft-confusing, reflective halls of the palace. Something suddenly seemed off about Flurry to Richard, but he couldn't place what it was. She waved good morning to a passing maid before turning right at an intersection.

This, Richard immediately knew was wrong. "This isn't the way to the dining hall. I thought you were getting breakfast?"

Flurry kept walking, eyes forward. "We're going to start the day with something special."

"Hmm? Well, alright then."

After another minute or so, they came to a set of double doors. Flurry opened them with her hoof, fresh air rushing into the hall. It was a balcony overlooking the empire in all its radiant majesty. The sun had long since risen, but it nevertheless set the ponies and their homes aglow with warmth. She placed Richard in a good spot, then followed, shutting the door behind her.

"Spectacular, isn't it?" Flurry Heart asked, rhetorically. "This is one of my favorite spots."

"It is quite the commanding view," Richard said. "Like we're on top of the world."

Flurry nodded, smiling. "Yep. It's just the two of us up here."

"That is also true."

"You know, the view isn't the only reason I brought you here, Richard."

With a quick tug of magic, Flurry rotated him to face her. Once he was in position, she took a tentative breath and retrieved a maroon felt box from under her wing. She knelt down on one knee, holding the box up with the other as she opened it, revealing an ornate silver necklace with a brilliant blue gem in the center.

Flurry Heart opened her mouth to speak but Richard beat her to it. "Wait, it that the Amulet of Aurora? For me? Yes! Bwahahahahaha!"

The princess was so flustered she nearly fell over. "What? That's not the point!"

Richard, however, was no longer paying attention. "You're the best; you have no idea how long I've wanted that little trinket. Now, I will be able to bend the very seas to my whims, washing away all who would dare oppose me in a torrent of epic proportions!" He then devolved into another fit of uproarious laughter.

Flurry, however, was not amused for once. "It's a replica, you dolt!" she shouted, a large vein on her forehead visibly throbbing.

He certainly heard her that time. "Huh?"

"I got it custom made for you, because they wouldn't let me give you the real one!" After clenching her teeth, she managed to calm herself down enough to explain. "I got the jewel in the middle from the Vault; it's completely different. Also cursed. Apparently, a crystal pony from before Sombra's time grew jealous of unicorns and their ability to levitate stuff, so she tried to grow a gem imbued with that power. It worked, but it also permanently disabled all her motor functions and forced her into a life of abject misery forever. I figured that since - well, you know - it would be all upside."

"Makes sense to me. Can I try it out?"

Wordlessly, Flurry placed the amulet around his neck. It took Richard a couple of tries to figure out how to properly focus his mind enough for it to work, given his inexperience, but he managed to conjure a small aura. He then moved it over to boop Flurry on the nose, causing her to let out a cute little squeak and stumble back a step.

"Haha! Excellent! I can actually do things now!" he exclaimed. "Thanks a million for the most thoughtful gift, Flurry."

Her mood partially restored by his gratitude, Flurry closed the distance between them. "You're welcome, but, like I was trying to tell you earlier, the gift wasn't the point. I was trying to propose, you dolt!" She kicked him in the shin, ~~completely disintegrating his body and obliterating several nearby neighborhoods with the resulting shockwave~~.

"Propose? Propose what, a new tax hike to support your lavish lifestyle?"

At this, she blinked, stupefied. "Wait, you actually didn't know? The jewelry, the kneeling, the picturesque setting, this is how a pony asks for another's hoof in marriage!"

"Oh. Oh," Richard said, now understanding the full depth of his mistake.

"'Oh', is right. Celestia, I had a whole speech planned and everything, but now it's totally ruined!" Flurry grumbled. "What do you have to say for yourself, mister?"

"I say 'sure', of course."

Flurry didn't understand what he meant at first. When she realized he was answering her original question, the most important one she'd ever posed, all traces of her prior outrage completely vanished. "Really?" she tentatively asked.

"I place my arm on your back reassuringly. Yes, really. You didn't need a speech to convince me, I already know how much you care about me: too much for your own good. But, dare I say it, I think I've had just as much fun with you since we met as I did during my stint as an overlord. So, if you'll have me, I accept."

As his words sunk in, tears of joy began to flow down Flurry Heart's cheeks. Practically vibrating with happiness, she leap into his arms. Managing an ecstatic 'yay' between sniffling breathes, Flurry held him close as the breeze fluttered her mane and the sun warmed her side. She had no intention of ever letting go for as long as she lived.