Fur Umbra

Chapter 8: Living Cats
Fur knocked on the door. He wasn’t expecting an answer immediately, but it was nice when he got one.

“Come in.”

He opened the door to Cadance’s room. He’d kind of seen it before, but it was dark and he was hanging upside-down outside the window from a grappling hook. It was as pink as pink could be.

“Oh! Fur!” Cadance shut the book she was reading. “How are you?”

He scratched the back of his head. “I’m, uh, good. I’m good. I, uh... well, this is kinda rushed and everything but I thought that, y’know what, if we’re gonna do this, might as well try to do it right. So, since we didn’t get to spend any time getting to know each other outside of the gala...thing; I wondered if you two 'd like to hang out or... go on a date or somethin’...”

Cadance gasped, “Right! We haven’t done anything like that yet! Shoot, and we’re already going in this for the long-haul... might as well late than never. I’ll go get Twi!” Cadance rushed out of the room, “Be back in a minute!”

It took less than 5 minutes for Cadance to return with Twilight in tow, whom was already dressed for the outing. “Okay, I’ll be ready in a sec, just...” Cadance pushed the two of them out of her room, “...gimme a sec to change first.” She said as she shut the door.

Fur walked over to the adjacent wall and leaned up against it.

“What, not gonna try and sneak a peek at Cadance while she’s changing? I bet there’d be hundreds of stallions just wishing to get a glance through that keyhole,” Twilight asked, her not-so-innocent side showing a little.

“Eh, that's for people who don’t give a damn about privacy or personal space. I’d hate it if someone came barging in on me while I was changing, looking in on Cadance right now is basically the same thing. ‘Sides...” Fur stretched, “Not my style. I don’t really care for that sorta thing, especially outside of wedlock. And before you get any ideas, no, that ideal isn’t gonna change just because we’re engaged or married or whatever. Its a consensual thing.”

The door opened and Cadance walked out of it in a dark blue skirt and light blue top. “Alright, I’m ready.”

Twilight looked at her own getup, which seemed far too casual compared to what Cadance was wearing. “Maybe I should change...”

“It’s just a casual thing. It’s not like you’re gonna be paraded down the road and forced to sit in the royal box wherever you go or something. It’s just casual- y’know, grab some junk food or a drink or something and just... hang out.”

* * *

“...I really gotta kick the habit of saying things like that. Me and my big mouth...” Screw you Marephy!

It seemed foolish at the time, but Fur was thanking his past self for bringing along an extra-large cloak that he now wore to hide himself as they were escorted down the street by a squad of royal guards. They had been waiting for them at the gate and had fallen into formation the moment the princesses left the castle. The cloak Fur wore wasn’t special, and certainly not enchanted like the one he used previously, but it hid his identity from any and all onlookers whom gathered to watch the princesses. This was technically their ‘first’ public outing since the suitor gala, and everyone was trying to get a glimpse of who they picked out after news had spread of them having chosen so swiftly. There had been a rumor circulating that there was only one suitor, whether it was from an inside source or simply guessing the same thing that Celestia and Luna did would happen again is debatable, but many were shocked to see only one with them, though some argued the “other one” might be still in the castle or meeting them somewhere else, etc. though those people were few and far between.

Everyone wanted to see who was under the cloak, especially given that the rumors of one suitor were almost definitely true by this point. Unfortunately for them, the cloak worked and nopony saw Fur’s identity.

“I’m sorry, guys,” Cadance said, “I guess they must have really amped up security after last time,” (when Chrysalis invaded a wedding between Fancy Pants and Fleur De Lis) “I guess, we should...”

“Continue,” Fur whispered to them; “30 stuffy nobles in a plaster box couldn’t break me. 1001 ponies and 20 royal guards in a place the size Canterlot won’t either. We came out here for a date, and a date we’ll get; by Tartarus or high water!”

The princesses had to admire his tenacity. Despite everything else, he still powered on even with the crowd and their attention. They stopped at a donut shop and picked up a few bags (one was sent to Celestia via guard) before the group made their way back to the royal gardens to enjoy some peace and quiet.

* * *

Celestia looked out the window at them. They were chatting away and laughing at silly stories like ordinary fillies and colts should. The mare sighed, wishing it could have been her down there with them, unlike the fate she was forced into at such a young age. Her initial reaction towards Fur had been wrong. He was nothing like she had feared. If anything, he was indeed by far the best match they could have possibly made out of anyone at the gala. He didn’t see them for their status, fame, wealth, or connections. He saw them as ponies, as mares- and the more Celestia watched, the more she found herself wishing she had found someone like that when she was young.

A guardspony knocked on the door, before bringing in a bag of donuts. They hadn’t forgotten her in all this it seems, and Cadance even remembered her favorite. Celestia bit into one of them. A bit sweeter than usual with a definite aftertaste of something, but she wasn’t complaining, and otherwise just as good as she remembers them. She watched on as Fur was telling them some silly story or joke that made them all laugh.

It was... almost incredible, seemingly impossible to find someone like him. Someone who sees past the façade and into the pony underneath. He hadn’t even seen something like this happening, he was just some ordinary colt. But even now, with all of this thrust upon him, this heavy burden and responsibility, he still did everything he could for them. He took them on a date, even though they were already engaged, he spoke to them like ponies, not like princesses or some mare-of-the-house like Celestia had been.

Thinking back on it, Celestia was happy that those days were gone. Perhaps... some time in the future, Celestia would find her own special someone. Someone who was to her like Fur was to them, someone that actually cared about her as a pony... maybe. Maybe not; there were seemingly less and less people like that every day. 1000 years ago, everyone was so courteous and kind, and now, nobles were just stuck-up, arrogant jerks.

*THUNK*

Celestia looked over and noticed she’d slammed her fist down onto the table. Strange... she never usually got this upset about something like this...

Celestia shook her head and grabbed another donut, about to return to her work when she noticed she hadn’t dismissed the guardsman yet. She waved her hand to dismiss him and got back to what she had been doing previously, scoffing down another donut as she did. These things were more addictive than she remembered. Oh well, she'd just have to order more.

Celestia completely missed the flashing of the guardsman’s green eyes as he left the room, slipping a small half-emptied vial into their pocket as the door closed behind them.