Showing His Place: Date Night

In less than five minutes, the three were back out on the streets after their lunch was rudely interrupted. Rusty, still in his collar and leash, had his head hung low in shame while cringing silently. Beside the cuck was Somber, who was brooding to himself bitterly while walking away from the restaurant. Meanwhile, Candy Heart seemed the least upset as she trotted alongside them; of course, that was most likely because unlike the stallions, she was able to keep her lunch in a to-go container. “Mmm! I have to say, that place really knows how to make cheesy fries!~”

Rusty and Somber Tone shared a look, but neither of them said much about Candy Heart leaving the restaurant practically scott-free. Even though the manager was able to believe the official notice’s authenticity, he still promptly kicked the group out for violating several health codes. Candy Heart was gracious enough to keep her food, but Somber was left staring at her container enviously. “Jeeze, how come you got to keep your fries, but I couldn’t take my lobster?! You know how much that costed me?!”

“I certainly did,” muttered Rusty under his breath, his expression much more morose since he still had to cover their bill.

“Well, it’s not like you’re the pregnant one among us~” Candy Heart shot both stallions a confident smirk while munching on more of her hay fries. “Besides, it was you two who got caught, remember?~”

Somber could’ve pointed out how she was literally right beside them, and even helped with her hoofwork before Rusty got under the table. But instead, the stallion just sighed with a roll of his eyes. “Well… I suppose it is nice he gave you an exception. Especially with our little foal on the way~”

Somber and Candy smiled at one another warmly, looking like a legitimate couple with how openly they were able to discuss their upcoming child in public. Meanwhile, Rusty Shield could only stay silent as he looked up at them with a wince. Even though their behavior was leaving him worried, Rusty knew he couldn’t blame the two for embracing the freedoms of anonymity. Not to mention, focusing on them was preferable to overhearing the gasps and giggles from ponies they walked past.

“Since we’re able to talk about this openly,” noted Somber Tone, who grew a more intrigued grin on his mare, “I was curious as to what you would want to name our child~”

Rusty’s ears perked up, and he grew more cautious as he eyed Somber from the side. While talks about Cadance’s foal have been discussed in private amongst all three of them, it was implied early on that Shining would have the chance to name the foal. But as of now, Candy Heart merely hummed to herself in thought to Somber’s choice of topic. “Hmmmm… Well, I’m pretty sure we can’t get away with naming him ‘Sombra Junior’ or anything~”

Rusty cringed hard, and frantically looked around to make sure none of the crystal ponies heard that. But much to his dismay, it seemed that ponies were more focused on him than the couple’s discussion. Meanwhile, Somber just shrugged his shoulders with an accepting nod.

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t thinking of something that clichèd,” he noted with a smirk. “Although, I wouldn’t mind having something crystal-based in the name, you know? Maybe a more masculine variant of Ruby or something.”

“What’s the matter?” Candy shot a snarky grin back at Somber and asked, “You’re worried about your son having a feminine name? A lot has changed over the past millennium, you know~”

“Hey, I just don’t want him to be bullied in school or anything!”

“Honey, he’s going to be raised under Royalty! As a Prince!” With that point, Candy eyed him with both brows raised. “Heck, we could name him ‘Fruity Patooty Princess,’ and he wouldn’t have much issue.”

“Hmph…” As Somber scoffed with his muzzle pointed away from her, he glanced over at Rusty to see him struggling not to snicker. Even though Candy’s remark dampened his smile, he was quick to revive it while staring down at his little bitch. “Oh, you think that’s funny, Rusty? Perhaps I should legally have your name changed after we turn back to ourselves~”

Rusty Shield jolted with a shocked look, with his face paling in response to Candy’s amused snickering. “Oh, don’t be so bitter,” she said with a comforting smile towards Somber. “We still have plenty of time to think of baby names before he’s born.”

“Still it wouldn’t hurt to discuss it sooner than later.” When Somber Tone redirected his attention towards her, he tried to say pointedly, “I mean, have you thought about what Celestia might ask us?”

“About what I might ask you?”

All three ponies stopped their trot, and froze in place upon hearing that all-too familiar voice. Even with Discord’s warning remark in his letter, none of the ponies were prepared when they found themselves face-to-face with Princess Celestia. The regal Princess was standing between two of her Royal Guards, and was shooting a peculiar look at them with a raised brow. Both of her Guards had befuddled stares of their own, but it was mostly towards Rusty Shield and his demeaning leash.

Candy Heart was stunned silent, her blush nearly glowing as she stared up at her Aunt in absolute terror. Even though she was able to conceal her expression as best as she could, the same couldn’t be said for Rusty with his face a deathly pale. Even Somber Tone looked worried, as he tried to give an innocent smile to the Princess while holding the bitch’s leash. None of the three could say anything for a moment, which prompted Celestia to break the awkward silence first. “So… I have a feeling this wasn’t something that was meant to happen right now~”

Unlike the group before her, Celestia didn’t seem too flustered or embarrassed as she chuckled from her own remark. Her Guards may have looked uneasy, but neither of them spoke up while staring at Rusty and Somber in particular. Candy Heart tried to hang her head away from her Aunt’s line of vision, just in case the Alicorn was able to look past Discord’s disguise and see who was truly underneath. Fortunately, even with how revealing the three may have looked, Celestia kept a cordial smile like nothing was amiss. “Oh, my apologies,” she said with a friendly wave of her hoof. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything, errr… personal between you guys.”

“Oh! Well, ummmm…” Since Candy was too shell-shocked to address Celestia herself, Somber Tone quickly snatched the official notice from her purse to present to the Princess. “Here you go, your Highness. I apologize for the embarrassment, but this was officially granted by your niece and nephew-in-law themselves…”

Celestia took the letter with her magic, and narrowed her eyes while reading through the parchment. Meanwhile, Somber’s eyes widened as he looked back at Rusty, and shot him a more menacing grin. Rusty’s pupils could be seen shrinking in horror, clearly catching the implication that his Bull was revealing through his glare. By the time the cuck was able to glance back at his Aunt-in-Law, she was humming to herself curiously after reading through the notice. “Well then… I have to remind myself to ask Cadance about this when she returns from Canterlot.”

Since she had lived over a millennium without pause, Celestia didn’t seem too weirded-out when she returned the notice to Somber Tone. “Still though, I’m happy to hear she’s implementing that relationship therapy program. She mentioned it to me before, but I wouldn’t have guessed it would be used like this~”

“Yeah, I suppose we are pretty lucky, aren’t we?~” Somber Tone gave a more natural smile to the Princess, and shrugged his shoulders lightheartedly. Since it seemed that Celestia was buying their facade, even Candy Heart was able to lift her head back up to stare at her. Fortunately, Somber kept the Princess’ attention as he extended out his hoof politely. “The name’s Somber Tone, your Highness. The circumstances might not be appropriate, but it’s still a pleasure to meet you~”

“Likewise, Mister Tone…” Celestia shook the stallion’s hoof, her smile remaining surprisingly calm before the three. Even if she wasn’t aware that she was shaking the hoof of a former enemy, the fact that he was holding Rusty by leash was making the Guards stare at their Princess in shock. However, Celestia was quick to take notice of Somber’s companions as well. “So, if I may ask… What exactly are your relations to one another?”

Candy Heart and Rusty Shield froze up, not expecting the Princess to ask a question so blunt. And much to Rusty’s lament, Somber gave him a hard nudge with his elbow before stating, “Rusty… Go ahead and tell her~”

Rusty gawked up at his Superior, clearly shocked that Somber would keep this going before Celestia herself. But the instant he saw the Bull’s wide, domineering grin on him, Rusty closed his eyes with a painful sigh. Candy Heart looked equally as worried as the cuck, but she kept her muzzle shut to avoid catching Celestia’s curious gaze. Because of that, Rusty had to take a breath before looking up at the Princess, internally cringing when he saw her waiting smile. “Yes?”

“Uhhhh…” Much like his former wife, Rusty Shield was equally as worried that Celestia might see past their disguises. But after seeing how nonjudgmentally she was smiling at him, the cuckold could only gulp while tugging at the side of his collar. “W-Well, ummm… I’m… I’m Candy Heart’s husband, a-and… Somber Tone is her boyfriend…”

Rusty closed his eyes with a pained wince, which was exasperated when he overheard both of Celestia’s Guards chuckling to themselves. Unfortunately, Somber pulled the cuck in close to his side and added, “Oh, he’s being too modest, your Highness. I’m also the proud father of Candy Heart’s upcoming foal. As per his request~”

Rusty couldn’t hang his head while Somber was clutching him so tightly, which meant he was forced to see Celestia’s bemused-looking smile. However, when the Princess glanced over at the embarrassed mare in question, all that Candy could do was look away from her and nod her head sheepishly. “Uhhh… Y-Yeah…” She was trying to smile timidly, but it was obvious that Candy was internally freaking out about being this open before her Aunt. “W-We… We kinda have a weird relationship going on between us three.”

“Oh, it’s perfectly fine,” assured Celestia with another wave of her hoof, much to the surprise of her two Guards. Even with how pathetic Rusty looked with his leash and shaven head, Celestia was treating his presence like it was nothing new. “I’ve lived a long life, and I’ve seen my share of ponies with unusual bonds. Heck, this doesn’t even hit my top ten for this century.”

“Wait, seriously?!” Somber was staring at her in legitimate shock. After looking back at his lover and cuck, the stallion blinked a couple times before muttering to himself, “Jeeze, I need to step up a bit…”

Celestia actually giggled a little to that remark, and gave a light shrug of her shoulders. Before Candy or Rusty could try to shut the stallion up, their attention was brought back to the Princess as she spoke once more. “Actually, if I were to be perfectly honest… the three of you remind me quite a bit of some ponies in my personal life~”

“W-WHAT?” asked Rusty and Candy at the same time, their eyes as wide as frisbees.

“Oh, well I shouldn’t say too much about that~” Celestia didn’t seem too deterred by the ponies’ shocked stares on her, and just gave a dismissive wave of her hoof. “Plus, it’s nothing too similar from what I’ve seen. I just find the dynamic of you three to be a little… familiar, that’s all…”

Celestia made sure to give a particularly focused stare on Candy Heart after that remark, leaving the pregnant mare completely stunned and unable to speak. But instead of saying anything more, the Princess left the three be as she continued on her way. “Anyway, it’s been quite refreshing to see something like this on my day-trip. I was hoping to meet up with Shining and Cadance today, but… Well, I can’t say I’m entirely disappointed from what I’ve found instead~”

Just as she walked past the three, Celestia gave Rusty Shield a wink that her Guards weren’t able to see. And while the cuck was left frozen in shock, neither he or the others could say anything while the Princess trotted off elsewhere. Even when she disappeared from sight, the three ponies remained standing in place while letting that moment sink in. None of them were sure what exactly happened, or what specifically may have been ruminating in Celestia’s head. But by the time they were able to recompose themselves, Somber Tone was the first to grow a piqued smirk across his muzzle. “Well then!~”

He pulled in Candy and Rusty with both hooves, and hugged them tightly as he said with a grin, “Be honest, guys… how does it feel to be more truthful to your Aunt?~”

“Nnnghh!!” Candy Heart pulled away from Somber, and looked down to the ground before shuddering uncomfortably. “Ughhh… Goddess I hope she wasn’t screwing with us.”

“Yeah, I know…” Rusty Shield looked just as frazzled as the mare, and closed his eyes while shivering to himself. “Jeeze, that was intense...”

Even though he could tell that both ponies were overwhelmed by Celestia’s presence, Somber remained rather chipper as he replied, “You know what? I couldn’t agree more~”