Fur Umbra

Chapter 3: An Expected Guest Part 1
Nearly two weeks passed since the incident with Talon. After Fur’s father had left on a trip half a week after the incident, he had been swift in breaking into the case and borrowing the cloak again- though it would be obvious he had done so the moment his father returned. Twilight asked him where he had been since it had been a number of days since they last saw each other (when Talon attacked), though he shrugged it off as a “family issue” that had come up. He spent more and more time talking with the princesses, and even showed them his personal stargazing spot one night- well, they were the ones who found him on their roof, but it was his spot.

By the end of the two weeks, the 5-month-long event was beginning to draw to a close, and soon the princesses would have to chose their suitors; or suitor if some lucky noble bastard managed to get their way, or the princesses didn’t want to be separated like Celestia and Luna did and choose one suitor so they would remain close and have each other to support them in the coming years. Not such a bad strategy, actually.

Before anyone knew it (metaphorically), the choosing ceremony was set to begin, and the princesses’ suitors assembled. Despite not officially being on the list and having originally snuck in only for the food (and later at the request of the princesses for the company), Cadance had asked Fur to be present for the ceremony nonetheless. The princesses already knew he wasn’t supposed to be there, having seen him head to his home in Canterlot a few times in the past (especially after the stargazing experience) and realising he wasn’t one of the noble suitors, but they didn’t seem to particularly care, even when he approached them about it. And he had no reason to deny their request.

Of course, the choosing ceremony wasn’t final. After about a year of courting a suitor the princesses could theoretically chose another among those present today to court should they feel unsatisfied with their original choice- though it was seen as a great insult and a sign of bad luck for their reign so such practices were avoided as much as possible. Unless they courting someone like Tallon. Hence the rule.

It was certainly a nervous affair, for everyone* involved. Fur held no envy for the princesses, forced to decide whom they would spend the rest of their life with from this day forward, so long as nothing went wrong. The nobles in the room were all pacing or sipping their beverages... except for the few that felt completely sure the princesses would chose them without hesitation. As for Fur, he was worried that one of the diarchs would spot him and his cover would be blown; either having to escape from the castle on foot or let the young princesses explain why he was here, an awkward situation in either case- especially given that all eyes in Equestria would be on them today.

Surprisingly, it didn’t take long for Twilight and Cadance to decide, likely having already decided last night in preparation for today. The two princesses eventually made their way over to Fur, whom was sitting on a table (yes, on) at the side of the room taking a sip of non-spiked punch (unlike the last time he’d tried it).

“Having trouble picking out your special someones?”

Twilight looked at Cadance who spoke up, “No, we’ve already made a decision.”

Everyone that hadn’t gone silent after the two princesses entered the room went silent now after hearing those words.

“Well then, congratulations. So who are the lucky nobles then?”

Twilight rubbed her arm, “W-well...”

“We only chose one,” Cadance finished for her.

Murmurs and whispering broke out among the nobles around them.

Fur raised his eyebrows. “Well, I’d say that’s a surprise, but it’s a smart choice. Princesses Celestia and Luna did much the same thing to avoid being separated all those years ago which, given the... thousand years thing, was probably for the best. No offence intended towards them, of course.” Fur went to take another drink, “So, who is the lucky bastard?” Fur asked.

The two looked at each other before turning and responding.

“You, actually.”

Fur froze, the nobles froze, for all intents and purposes the entire universe itself froze at that moment in time. Things went by in slow motion as Fur’s mind attempted to reconcile what he had just heard with reality. ‘You’. Such a simple word had completely thrown all concepts of conniption out the bandersnatch.

Fur took a moment to right himself again and swallowed a mouthful of punch before asking; “Sorry, but can I get you to repeat that?”

“We chose you,” Cadance rephrased.

“You as in wy-ohw-yu? As in-“

“As in ‘Fur Umbra’ you, yes.” Cadance clarified.

At this point nobody really knew what to say. The nobles that were nervous were let down like a pile of bricks from a tenth-story-window; those that had been overconfident were seemingly confuffled as to why they weren’t picked; and Fur was wrapping his head around how he was chosen when he shouldn’t even have been there.

A clapping noise drew them all from their musings as a disfigured... figure, appeared out of thin air behind Fur.

“Congratulations, my boy. Two princesses? No-one’s done that in over a thousand years!” Discord said as he laid a paw on Fur’s shoulder, pulling him into a hug. Then his head perked up as an idea struck him. “Oh! This calls for a celebration! And I know just who to ask!”

Discord began dragging Fur from the room by the scruff of his neck as the poor stallion tried to dig in his heels to no avail, merely creating two trenches into the (normally solid) floor; likely a result of Discord’s chaos magic.

“So, how do you feel about cake? Oh, who am I kidding, everybody loves cake!” The draconequus prattled on, “And you haven’t tried cake until you’ve tried Pinkie’s, they’re the BEST! You’ll love it- if Celestia doesn’t get to it first,” Discord gasps, “We should hurry and make sure we get there before she eats it all!”

And with that, Fur was dragged through a painting and off to who-knows-where by the spirit of chaos while everyone else was left to pick up the pieces.