CH.1 - Simple but Unintentional
Author's Note
Not sure how this will go, nor do I know how long this series will run. We’ll just have to wait and see. Enjoy everyone.
CH.1 - Simple but Unintentional
Wheels bumped over the tracks, metal clanking together as the train stopped at a station. Smoke billowed up from the engine as it idled, and in the rear of the train a stallion earth pony opened the door and stepped out. He was welcomed by the warm breeze that swept through his mane, and he inhaled deeply, relishing the smell of summer in the air.
Soon after he stepped out, passengers of ponies exited out the other side as well. Parents called out to their children, or to each other if they were close enough. The air filled with excited chatter as children rushed out, only for adults to gently grab them as they tried to dart off.
The engineer’s eyes darted to the bench in front of him, where a man sat. His hat shadowed his face, obscuring the rest of his features. He wore a black zippered hoodie, along with blue jeans and worn out brown boots, and his arms crossed in front of him.
Next to him was a unicorn mare, her bright red mane tied back in twin tails that hung past her waist. She wore a maid’s uniform under a black dress with white flowers on the hem; she also sported a yellow bow in her mane. Her coated fur was a light shade of tan, and her eyes of leafy green showed experience beyond her years.
The man looked up to meet the engineer’s eyes.
“Well it’s about time.” The Man said in the same tone that every pony knew him for, gruff yet soft all at once. “You know I hate waiting, especially when it involves that damn locomotive.”
“Sorry sir. Had trouble keeping track of time while I was doing work.” The engineer shrugged as the man stood up from his seat, brushing non existent dust from his pants. He starts up towards the train with his maid following suit before the engineer raised one hoof. “Where to sir?”
“Canterlot,” he replied as he boarded the train.
The engineer nodded and headed towards the back of the train. Out blow the horn, signaling the beginning of the long journey towards their destination, and the crowd moved aside as the doors began to slide shut. The train roared forward, pulling away from the station. Once the last passenger entered, the whistle blew again, and the engine picked up speed.
The ride was silent, save for the sound of wind whipping past and the rumbling of the engines. New passengers took their seats, most of them falling asleep within seconds. Couple’s held hooves, sitting together close enough that their feet brushed. Others leaned against each other, sleeping peacefully. Children chattered amongst themselves happily, their faces lit up with excitement.
Business ponies took advantage of the quiet to speak to their partners. Their voices were loud and cheerful, and their tails swayed behind them. When they weren’t talking they worked on their business deals, making sure everything went smoothly.
Salesponies spoke quietly amongst themselves, discussing how their clients had received their orders that morning. Their conversations were usually lighthearted and pleasant, but occasionally a couple would argue, bringing a heated discussion to a halt. There were occasional arguments too, although they never lasted very long; this train could hold four times the amount of ponies on its regular schedule. Pony traders had their own discussions too, but they rarely ever got upset, much less angry.
And finally there were two new visitors. The man had his hands in his pockets, the hood of his hoodie still pulled low over his head. It was difficult to tell anything about him with that hood covering his face, but it almost felt like he was hiding under a rock. His gaze seemed glued to the floor, his shoulders hunched into himself. He kept glancing around, scanning the compartment.
His companion followed closely behind him, carrying a large backpack strapped to her back. She too stared ahead of them, staring straight ahead, her ponytail swaying with every step she took. The two of them took their seats, leaving a spot between them open for the new arrivals. A suited stallion unicorn walked in first, with a suitcase behind him. He glanced around the train car, smiling sheepishly at each pony he met. He settled for an empty seat across from where the man sat.
Once both were seated, the door slid shut behind them and the train continued on its way. It rattled loudly as it ran over bumps and dips, shaking the occupants inside with the force of the movement. The man leaned forwards, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his folded hands.
The suited stallion watched him for several minutes before speaking. “Hello sir. You wouldn’t happen to be Anonymous, the Eternal Servant of Alicorns? Would you?”
Anonymous turned at him questioningly. “What gave me away?”
The unicorn shrugged. “The rumors, for starters. I heard from some ponies that you were immortal or something like that. Is it true?”
“It is.” The man replied bluntly.
“Really now? That’s interesting… then if you don’t mind me asking, how exactly did you become immortal? That kind of thing is only alicorn worthy, you know. They aren’t that easy to come by.”
Anon smirked at the stallion. “Would you believe me that it was the works of aliens?”
The stallion shook his head. “Not really.” He paused to think. “Though why a bunch of aliens would want to give you immortality, I’m not entirely sure.”
Anon snorted. “Fair point.”
“But still,” The stallion continued, “Does it not bother you? I mean, it has to be boring and suffering to live forever.”
Anon crossed his arms. Looking up at the ceiling, he thought for a moment before responding. “Well, when you’ve been living for nine-hundred and ninety three years, nothing seems terribly interesting anymore. You also learn a lot of things from those nine hundred and ninety three years.” He shifted on his seat. “For example, I learned how much of a douchebag some leaders can get. They can be extremely cruel and controlling, and I think that the reason they rule their kingdom so harshly is because they have absolutely no regard for anyone else’s opinion. Not even when they are right.” He shook his head. “They’re just horrible.”
The other stallion hummed. “That sounds rather unfortunate though, wouldn’t you agree?”
Anon laughed humorlessly. “Unfortunately, yes.”
The Stallion nodded sagely. “I suppose it’s no surprise, given what we deal with everyday. And I do appreciate your honesty. Most ponies tend to play coy around here, and they certainly won’t admit when they’re wrong.”
Anon smiled wryly. “Yeah, they probably wouldn’t.”
“Anyways,” The stallion continued. “We’re almost close to our destination, so I have one more question to ask.”
“Okay. What is it?”
“You’ve been around for so long, just how old are you?”
“Hmm, let’s see,” Anon pondered. “When I first arrived here I was in my thirties, but now that I’m older I’d say I’m around a-hundred and thirty one years old, give or take a few centuries.”
“A hundred and thirty one?!” The Unicorn stallion exclaimed, shock clear in his voice.
“Yeah. So?”
The stallion sighed. “Wow, wow, that’s old. Really old. Like a thousand years old.”
Anon rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I know. I’m old, you don’t have to rub it in.”
The Unicorn stallion laughed nervously. “Right, sorry!”
The train jerked slightly as it stopped at another station. People filed out of their cars, taking their luggage and bags and heading towards the exits. Some walked slowly as they talked to their companions, others hurried along. Some of them walked quickly as they made their way to the exit, the rest slowed down to walk more leisurely. Fillies ran past everyone, trying to reach the front of the line. Older ponies were slower, shuffling through the lines with a slight limp.
Anon and his companion followed the flow of ponies off the train. They exited the station, and the Unicorn stallion looked around. “Well, I guess this is where we part ways Mr Anonymous.”
Anonymous nodded as they stood face to face. “Yep.”
The Stallion nodded as well before turning away. “Nice meeting you Anon. I hope I see you again soon.”
“Likewise.” Anon said as the Unicorn walked off.
Anon stared off into the distance, watching as he left. Both him and the unicorn maid turned, stepping out of the station and starting forward through the busy streets. The air outside the station felt clean and a bit crisp as they walked out into Celestia’s bright sunlight. Sunshine basked the towers of Canterlot Castle, bringing in the sunny morning. A gentle breeze carried across the castle grounds, causing all the bushes in vases to dance along the ground.
Ponies passed the duo, going about their usual morning routines. Some laughed and chatted amongst themselves. Many of the ponies walked past with small carts full of fresh produce, flowers and plants ready to be picked later that morning. Others rushed past with items of all descriptions. Mannequins, dresses, suits, accessories, and other items filled the small cart.
Turning a corner, the two walked under an archway. Passing by small buildings set into the sides, approaching the double doors that marked the entrance. The guards on either side of the doors nodded at them and opened it for them to enter.
They walked down on the carpet through the entrance hall, the doors swung closed behind them.
“Welcome back you two.”
Anon and his maid looked up. Standing on the second floor, smiling down at them, stood a familiar pony. A tall light-pink coated alicorn mare with a striped rainbow hued mane that flowed in the solar winds with sparkles around, she possessed beautiful light grayish-magenta, wore a golden crown with a rhombus purple gem in the heart of the crown, her nape wrapped by a golden necklace with a purple gem planted on the middle base, and wears golden hoof shoes. Her flank plastered with the sun as a cutie mark.
To most of her subjects, she’s the wise and graceful Princess who raises the sun and moon. Bringing prosperity to our fair kingdom. To her prodigy Sunset Shimmer, she is a teacher who enjoys sharing ancient history and magic. To the rulers of other nations she is a shrewd diplomat and skillful negotiator, to Princess Cadence she’s an aunt, and to Shining Armor she’s a military commander. And to Anon… she is a dear friend, someone who he trusts completely and whom he feels he owes everything to:
Princess Celestia.
She smiles warmly as she descends from her high perch. Walking down the stairs until she stands before them.
“I take that your journey went well and you’ve delivered my message to the other kingdoms?”
The unicorn bowed low. “As per your instructions milady, we have delivered the crystal as requested.”
Celestia nodded. “Good work.” She glanced at Anon. “And what about Anon?” She grinned knowingly. “Did he freeze?”
The unicorn grinned broadly in return. “Like a baby deer in a spot light.”
Celestia and the maid giggled lightly, causing Anon to shake his head at the two unamused. He looked at his companion. “Are you done?”
The unicorn maid winked at the Princess before turning and starting to her left. Leaving Celestia and Anon alone.
“So,” Celestia started as she approached her friend.
Anon nodded at her. “Yes?”
Celestia jerked her head towards the stairs. “Care to walk with me?”
“After you.” He motioned his hand in the direction of the staircase, following after her obediently.
Together they chatted down the carpeted hallway. Passing by numerous stained glass windows depicting various past events throughout the ages. All of these events were painted with such colorful colors that each painting captured something different from the previous.
Yes, he had to admit, it was nice being at home. He missed it through his travels. What he didn’t miss though was the daily meetings with the rulership committees. It was tiring sometimes watching Celestia dealing with them, having to listen to their arguments. But the last one wasn’t too bad.
The last time he was here, the meeting with the rulership committee seemed fairly interesting. They were interested in Princes Celestia’s opinion regarding how the castle should improve its image, and if it should become a more popular place for the lower classes to visit, and in general, the whole process was quite interesting, which was something he never expected. In hindsight he realized that if he would actually go to the meetings he would get bored. They never lasted too long. Most of the leaders were boring, stuck up, and downright rude. And as much as it frustrated him, he didn’t dare bring up the subject. He wanted to stay as respectful as possible for Celestia’s sake, and as much as it irritated him, he stayed patient.
In any case he didn’t expect to learn much information, but it turned out that most of the stuff that Celestia told them were things that he already knew. However, there was one part that surprised him. One of the members of the council asked whether or not the rumors are true or false.
Apparently, there are rumors going about that in seven years time Nightmare Moon will return one day. Anon didn’t hear any details, but judging by the tone of the voice of the speaker he got the impression that they believe this to be true, especially given the amount of information that she was given in such a brief time.
He was curious as to who caused such a rumor to surface, however, he decided to ignore that curiosity.
“So Solar Cake. How’s your day been?” Anon asked casually, turning to Celestia.
Celestia chuckled lightly. She was not amused by his nickname for her. “Quite eventful.” She replied, giving him a coy smile. “I see you still haven’t gotten over your nicknames for me.”
“What can I say? I find them amusing.” He shrugged. “Besides, they seem to fit you well.”
Celestia grinned cheekily. “Oh really? Do tell.”
Anon laughed lightly. “Yeah sure. Why not just start with your butt, and go from there.”
A blush dusted Celestia’s cheeks as she laughed softly. She cupped Anon’s jaw in her hoof and smirked at him. “One more joke about my butt… I will wreck your world.” She warned playfully. Anon snorted, but kept quiet.
“Jokes aside,” Celestia continued after composing herself. “Before you arrived, I passed Sunset’s tower not too long ago. She successfully passed her mid-term test.” She paused briefly. “She did so with flying colors. She’s very good with her magic. She’s getting pretty fast with her studies and she’s almost done with her teleportation magic lessons. Of course, she made a few errors. No pony gets it right at the first go. But she seems to be getting much better with it everyday.”
“I see.” Anon said. “Least she won’t be blowing a hole in the castle walls anymore. Like she did the first time.”
Celestia turned to Anon and frowned slightly. “I was hoping you weren’t still on about that. She was but a filly when we first found her, you know.”
Anon rubbed the back of his nape awkwardly. “Of course sorry. My mistake.”
Celestia smiled sweetly. “It’s fine.”
Continuing down they hall the turned to a corner. Pushing gently past a set of glass double doors, the two entered into a garden. Small flowers and herbs scattered across the grass. The sky above a cloudless blue with white fluffy clouds. Sunlight beamed down onto them, lighting the green plants around. A small pond sat just to the side. A bench sat against the wall next to the entrance.
Anon and Celestia both went over to said bench. Sitting down together as sunlight bathed them.
“How did it go with the Yaks? Have they come to some agreement yet?” She inquired curiously.
Anon shrugged. “Not exactly.”
Celestia slightly frowned. “Please enlighten me, what has happened this time around?”
“Well, the Yaks aren’t too happy. That’s for sure. Despite the other tribe being the same race as them, they still hate each other. Had I not been there they probably would’ve started a war against each other and that would’ve been messy. Especially since the other tribe is still trying to rebuild themselves and regain some strength. Other Yak tribes didn’t really care about their alliance though, and they were just worried about getting caught in the middle of a conflict. So, peace between the Yak tribes is still rather shaky and strained. They aren’t close either because the Yak tribes aren’t fond of outsiders, especially any potential invaders. But they’re also not ready to go to war over petty issues like that, especially with the new threat looming over us all. So instead of going all the way to the other tribe to make peace, they’re waiting for the other tribe to do it.”
Celestia sighed. “That’s unfortunate.”
“Yeah.” Anon agreed. “It’s a real headache. Not that the other tribe isn’t smart enough to negotiate their own peace treaty. Just that they’re scared. Scared that the tribe will go off the rails and attack them again. Even though they don’t want war with the other Yak tribe, the fact remains that the other tribe’s power is growing exponentially. They aren’t afraid of a fight, they’re not afraid of using violence, and they are afraid of losing to another tribe in power. So, while their leader may agree on peace terms for the time being, there is nothing stopping him from trying to use force again once the opportunity arises.”
Celestia gave him a pensive look. “Do you think they will accept this peaceful deal then?”
Anon shook his head. “No. They’re stubborn like that. Which is something I’ve learned quickly. But I’ve grown used to it over the past years, especially when it comes to this tribe. They’re not the first stubborn people I’ve encountered.”
He wasn’t wrong. For as long as Anon had lived over the years he has witnessed many races fighting among themselves. There were times where conflicts could have been avoided. It took patience to handle the situation. To handle each kingdom individually and work towards peace with them, knowing that the other kingdoms couldn’t possibly tolerate the war. It took patience to watch as each kingdom worked with each other until one kingdom succeeded in gaining complete control over the others. That took patience and patience only. And patience was a commodity that no ruler wanted to spend unless they were willing to compromise and work towards the same goal.
“True. We’ll have to watch them carefully in the future, even if they do accept.” Celestia said thoughtfully.
“Yeah.” Anon nodded.
“Well then, shall we move onto the next topic?” She asked, glancing at the clock and then back at Anon.
“Sure.” He responded nonchalantly. He placed his cup onto the table before leaning back slightly.
“Right,” Celestia began, “Have you been focusing on improving your magic lately? And if you have, are you able to use any percentage of it without hurting yourself?” She asked.
Anon blinked a few times before looking away. “I’ve been practicing. And I mean, I used to practice magic all the time before coming here. I’ve definitely practiced a fair share now. But, um, I’m still unable to use it at a-hundred percent. For now I can only use it, like, at five—to six percent? But, you see, it takes some concentration to maintain it and I just don’t have the patience to wait that long. So I haven’t really been keeping track of how far my magic has gone since I started using it regularly.”
Celestia gave him an understanding look. “I see. That sounds like quite a predicament. But I’m sure in time you’ll be able to achieve full control over your magic. Just take it slowly okay? Practice as often as you need to.” She reassured.
Anon sighed deeply. “Yeah. Yeah you’re right. Thank you…” He trailed off, thinking about what she said.
After a while of silence Celestia stood up, stretching her legs. “Well, I better head back and continue my duties. The Galloping Gala will be starting tonight, I do hope to see you there, Anon.” She said in a kind voice before turning and starting towards the doors.
When she made her way towards the doors, Anon stood up and called. “Hey wait a minute! Do you mind if I could borrow sugar?” Hands shoved in pockets. He glance to the ground. “I’ve used the last pound for my coffe during my stay at the Yak’s village. And the delivery won’t be here until next Monday so I thought, if you don’t mind, that I could borrow some of yours, if that’s cool.”
Celestia hauled in her tracks with her back facing Anonymous. Silence eroded through the garden after her footsteps had stopped. A second passed. Then a third. She still stood there without moving, her face still facing the entrance. Anon was confused. After waiting for almost ten minutes for her to answer, he couldn’t help but ask. “Uh… are you okay? Did I say something?”
The same silence reigned once again before Celestia finally reacted and turned her head slowly towards Anon. Anon blinked rapidly, noticing her expression for the first time. She looked shocked. But said shock faded and was replaced with a light that illuminated her face accompanied by a wide smile.
Anon’s mouth opened but his words died inside his throat as soon as his eyes landed on hers. They were glowing with happiness. He didn’t have time to react when she leapt towards him wrapping both her arms and legs around him in a bear hug.
“Eeeeeee! Oh Anon, of course I’ll marry you!” She squealed happily, causing Anon to nearly choke as she tightened her grip on him even more.
“Wh-What?!” Anon coughed out before struggling to breathe, the pressure of her body making the process difficult and uncomfortable. Immediately Celestia released him from her aggressive embrace succeeding Anon to breathe normally. Anon was now panting heavily. He wiped a trickle of sweat from his forehead.
“Oh I have to tell my mom, no wait she’s no longer with us. Oh then I’ll tell Starswill instead! Mother of me, we should plan the wedding! Oh you must wear white! Or red. Maybe pink would suit you best, is that what you prefer?” She babbled.
A sudden warmth spread throughout Anon’s body, bringing a small blush on his cheeks. His ears slightly flushed. “Uhhhhhh I… Uh... W… What?”
Celestia hummed tapping her hoof to her chin. “Hmm… maybe white should suffice for now… I have lots of white dresses… but maybe we should get you another pair so they match.” She mumbled as she thought for a moment. “Ah, but that could also look terrible on you. White doesn’t go very well with black either. Black is usually reserved for ponies with dark hair. Well maybe we can get you brown hair… maybe gray… No wait, you’re bald so that wouldn’t do. You still prefer black perhaps? It matches your eyes wonderfully! Blue suits you perfectly.” She kept going without stopping, oblivious to Anon’s state of flustered confusion and the fact that he could hardly keep up. Her words continued to flow, making them almost impossible to understand.
His brain delayed catching up with what was happening. Anon stared at her blankly, not believing what he was hearing. He raised a finger to say something and tried saying her name repeatedly, yet she never seemed to hear him.
“Um… Ce-Celestia…?”
The joyful alicorn clapped her hooves together. “It is settled then! The wedding ceremony will be held tonight at the Grand Galloping Gala! We’ll have plenty of time to find you a suit. I promise. Oh oh, this is perfect!” Celestia cheered, completely unaware of how close she was to getting lost in her world again.
“Wedding..? Tonight..?” Anon finally managed to utter in response, bewildered.
Celestia nodded vigorously. “Yes. Tonight is going to be the most important day in our lives, so let’s celebrate it properly. And we’re going to have a lot of fun too!”
Rolling her body around she starts towards the door. “We have to go and organize the decorations first. Follow me, we’re going to do that together.”
Anon remained frozen in place for a few seconds, staring into space. After several seconds passed he slowly stood up and walked over towards the door.
I… I just, Anon thought, trying to process everything that just happened, I just wanted to borrow sugar… How did this happen?
Shrouded in a purple aura the scarlet crystal hovered gently, floating inside a glass dome with an empty space around it. It pulsated steadily as light and air swirled through the air and within its confines, creating soft ripples that created patterns of color within the blackness of the void.
At the center was a large orb, pulsing with the same energy the crystal emitted. A figure stood next to it, one arm reaching out into the dark mass that held no discernible form. It was difficult to make out any features on this one’s face but what looked like a cape of red and white covered their entire body. They were standing completely still, waiting for something to happen to the sphere.
The figure reached down and picked up the glowing orb. It turned over in their claws, examining it intently. The orb seemed to glow brighter as they turned it. The light from above shined directly onto the orb, allowing the figure standing behind it to see its contents.
The figure smiled wickedly, a grin stretching across their face. A glint appeared in their eyes as they raised the glowing object up towards them. A deep grinding chuckle echoed throughout the room as the figure stared intently at their instrument of power.
“Soon…” The voice trailed off, sounding eerily calm even though it was so loud. The figure watched the orb illuminate faintly, the energy emanating from it giving it a blue hue. “The time will come… just wait a little longer…”
CH.2 - Start of a New Era
The aroma of darkened flowers and butter pancakes filled the kitchen, mingling with the delicious smell of bacon frying in the background. Maids bustled around the small kitchen preparing for the morning events; cleaning up breakfast dishes, putting out clean clothes, placing platters full of various foods in the dining room, and arranging silverware, napkins, plates, and cutlery neatly. All while keeping an eye on the inhabitants in the other room enjoying breakfast together.
Anon and Sunset sat facing one another at the dining table. Their feet rested inches apart on either side of the chair. He was wearing his usual black hoodie with jeans and sneakers.
Sunset lights up her horn flipping to the next page of her book.
“So, let me get this straight…” she paused briefly as she flipped through the last few pages. “You and her were just chatting in the garden, then you unintentionally and accidentally proposed to her by asking simply for sugar for your tea, and she accepted without a second thought…”
Anon nodded.
“Did no pony tell you the history of the sugar phrase?” inquired Sunset.
Anon shook his head.
“It started in the early eleven-thousands, way before Celestia was born. Many stallions use this phrase to propose to their mares. They would ask for sugar in exchange for the perfect proposal, and many times ponies would fall for the trap, believing it was sincere and sweet words. Eventually, the phrase became so popular that every single pony would use it. Even King Sombra’s great, great grandfather himself used the phrase.”
“Yeah, but here’s the thing, what happened wasn’t a sincere proposal, i wasn’t aware of this stupid phrase until now, and even then I didn’t know what it meant exactly,” responded Anon.
“Ah yes, the ‘sweet talk’ trick…” said Sunset sarcastically.
“Okay, tell me this. If this phrase has been around for so long, why haven’t I learned about it? For God’s sake I’ve read through all the laws and rules of ancient Equestria history, but none of them mention this phrase!” exclaimed Anon. “I can’t imagine Ponyville not being covered in these old, useless, and unnecessary historical records!”
“I know right…” replied Sunset, flipping another page. “Well, there’s no guarantee that it won’t be used anymore. it is widely accepted that it is supposed to be used only once, and in the case of a proposal to a maiden,” answered Sunset confidently. “However, a lot of folks still believe the old phrase is nothing but a joke and it’s never been used for anything serious. In fact, in my opinion, if it were a proposal like the one you just made, I don’t think it would be taken seriously. That’s because many of the proposals that have been made were very vague and unclear. They wouldn't really tell anyone what the offer would be until they've received the consent of the maiden themselves, which makes them all seem fake.”
“Oh really? How do you figure that out?” asked Anon curiously.
“A couple reasons,” replied Sunset. “First, although a proposal may have some form of ambiguity and ambiguous wording, there are always a good number of important details contained within the wording. This makes it very easy to see whether a proposal is genuine or not. For example, the phrasing itself gives the intended impression: ‘i want to marry you,’ when the actual intent is clear. Another thing is the meaning behind the phrase. It doesn't take much intelligence to deduce that this phrase refers to ‘marriage’ or ‘courtship’ but, again, the wording is ambiguous and unclear. Therefore, it is very likely someone would misinterpret such phrases as being genuine. For instance, say this: ‘I want to marry you,’ the intent will be understood by anyone who knows how to recognize the underlying meaning of the word ‘marry’, but most ponies would not realize its true implication. This is why it’s important to clarify the meaning of the phrase beforehoof.”
“Wow…” Anon remarked, impressed by Sunset’s theory. “So wait, if I ask her for pepper, would that be asking for a divorce?”
“Yes.” Replied Sunset flatly.
“Let me guess. It’s because some crazy pony named Pepper decided to try taking over the world by forcing every marriage to become illegal, or something like that?”
“No. It’s because Princess Celestia is allergic to pepper.”
Anon blinked, surprised by that response. “…Oh.” He shook his head, removing the thought of Celestia sneezing pepper out of his mind. “Anyway, can this sugar phrase be removed?”
“It can. I don’t even know why you’re asking me this, you’re gonna be a prince soon. You can remove it if you so willed.” Replied Sunset.
Anon blinked. “Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about that.”
Sunset sighed. “If I’ve answered all your questions, now you answer mine. Where’s Celestia? I thought she’d be joining us during breakfast?”
“She isn’t,” replied Anon. “She’s busy getting everything prepared for the Gala wedding.”
“Here’s your pancakes, your master.” A maid chimed into the conversation as she approached with a tray full of freshly baked pancakes, topped with strawberries and whipped cream. The two maids placed down the stack between Anon and Sunset then bowed, before exiting the room once again.
“Thank you!” Anon called after her. The maids waved at Anon from behind as she shut the door. “You know, it’s gonna be a while for me to get used to being called Prince Anon,” said Anon laughing a bit.
Sunset just shrugged her shoulders. “You’ll probably have to do it eventually anyway. Especially since the maids and butlers have high respect for you.”
“What does that mean? I’m not that special,” commented Anon.
“Surely they wouldn’t be able to call you ‘Anonymous, the Eternal Servant of Alicorns, the Right Hand of the Sun and Moon, the Guardian of Canterlot Castle and the King of Butlers and Maids,’ without knowing you personally,” stated Sunset.
“But, I’m just Anon. You can say that. Besides, why would I need any more titles than what I already have?”
“Well, technically you don’t have to use all that extra stuff for your position,” countered Sunset.
“Huh? Why?”
“Because it’s what everypony expects from you. I think it shows how high esteem ponies in Canterlot hold for you. Now if you excuse me, I need to go finish my studies and help the Princess.”
“Alright, alright, whatever floats your boat Sun Butt,” joked Anon, causing Sunset to roll her eyes, leaving him to resume eating his breakfast in silence.
Anon took in a deep breath, the fresh air surrounding him filling his lungs. He watched as Celestia paced the length of the large room in front of him. She glanced at him occasionally as she spoke, seeming to realize she wasn't the only one who was nervous. He noticed the way her lips were trembling, the twitching of her eye lashes, the rapidity of her pulse, her hooves tapping against the ground and her eyes looking anywhere but in front of her. She was nervous too.
That was obvious. The whole reason Anon decided to attend Celestia's Gala was because he knew how much trouble her maids had trying to organize things here for their wedding. He figured the mares might appreciate a helping hand, considering he knew exactly how much work that would entail. But of course some of the maids wouldn't want him to come along because then everypony would assume he was a part of the problem, which was clearly untrue. It's not like he'd done anything wrong.
So he stayed behind and simply helped out when needed. Which was actually pretty useful given that one particular maid didn't know how to organize things herself, which both him and Celestia found out pretty quickly.
The problem started two days ago. While the mares didn’t mind, the stallion butlers weren't exactly thrilled about the idea of having him help them with organizing the party, so Celestia made them agree to letting him come. So now, three days later, Anon was finally able to start helping with the preparations for their wedding.
He had gotten dressed earlier today and put on clean clothes. Now he followed Celestia closely, trying to remain quiet despite wanting to interrupt her stream of thought or speak up. He just couldn't believe it: he’s getting married… to Celestia! His best friend! All due to a simple request of sugar. He couldn't even begin to think about what all this meant for him or how to deal with everything that would come next.
How did it come to this? He never meant for this to happen! All he asked for was to borrow sugar! That was literally all he came here for. He never intended for all this to happen, especially because it was only going to become worse from now on! This was bound to end badly. Sure he’s happy for her right now, truly he is! But in reality? His heart is screaming ‘what the hell?!’ At the moment he’s not sure whether he’s happy for Celestia or upset because of how this all occurred.
They reached the dining hall and began setting up chairs for those already there. Most of them already greeted them before going back to talking or eating. Others were taking advantage of the opportunity to chat amongst themselves quietly while the others were busy serving drinks. Once everypony had their food and cups in front of them, Celestia sat down in the nearest chair to Anon.
Anon followed suit. He glanced around nervously. There were so many ponies here. More than any other galas he had ever attended. It seems that Celestia's invitation attracted everyone from Equestria. The amount of ponies attending the event was surprising.
There were a few of the usual guests here. Some of them recognized Anon right away from the past. Many of them greeted him warmly; congratulating him on his upcoming marriage, wishing him luck in his upcoming courtship of Celestia. Anon waved politely back at them, still slightly nervous of how the ponies around him treated him. He hadn't spoken a word since arriving at Celestia's manor. He didn't feel comfortable speaking with anypony right now.
Especially those he noticed behind some groups of ponies that were giving him nasty looks. A few of them were glaring daggers at him, their jaws clenched tight while their nostrils flared. Some of them were whispering to each other while their hooves were shaking in fury. Some of them just glared intensely, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand straight. One of them even spat some words in his direction before moving away, their expression hardening further when they caught a glimpse of Celestia sitting beside him.
But as hurtful as these slanders were, he heard worse, so he did his best to shrug it off. He had no doubt they were just jealous of his relationship with Celestia.
They probably didn’t like being overshadowed by her and he certainly didn't care. He wasn't really bothered by this anyway. Celestia had chosen him to be her mate. She was happy. He wasn't going to ruin that.
“Anon?”
He blinked and refocused on his companion. “Hm?”
Celestia was looking at him concernedly. “Are you alright?”
He chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his nape. “Yeah, I’m good. Just a little nervous is all.” He answered truthfully, giving her a reassuring smile to show that it was nothing more than a joke.
She gave a soft chuckle and patted his arm affectionately. “Well don’t be shy. You'll do great. After all, wasn’t it not you who said and I quote, 'If it makes you smile, then it must be worth it'?”
Anon smiled. “I guess you're right. Still, it's a bit embarrassing being here after everything. I mean, I’ve never been invited to any type of event before, nevermind the largest one in history.”
Celestia gave him another encouraging pat. “You’ve definitely done well in the last month. Everyone has grown extremely fond of you and now everypony wants to get to know you better. Trust me, you'll fit in very easily.”
Anon looked away for a second. “I hope so…”
A couple hours passed and the crowd had mostly dispersed. Not quite everyone left though. Everypony was waiting outside of the dining hall for the grand entrance ceremony. An assortment of different types of ponies were scattered in the large courtyard, sitting cross legged or leaning against various trees. Their attention was focused solely on the doors leading to the main dining hall where everything was currently taking place. Several of the attendees were chatting excitedly amongst themselves. Occasionally someone would glance inside and send a quick message of concern to the rest of their friends, who responded immediately without question.
“Hey.” An unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke, startling Anon.
He turned his head and stared curiously at the newcomer. Standing before him was a light pink coat alicorn mare. Their striped candy mane wrapped in a ponytail. Her flank plastered with the crystal heart as a cutie mark, and her purple eyes glowed like embers while her lips curled to a warm smile.
It didn’t take two seconds for Anon to recognize her. “Oh, hey Cadance. Nice seeing you here.”
“Likewise,” she replied. “How are you, uncle?”
“U..Uncle?” Anon repeated incredulously. How did this alicorn manage to call him that and be so casual about it at the same time? “I'm fine... Why calling me uncle all of a sudden?” He asked curiously.
Cadance giggled. “Because silly, you’re marrying my auntie. We’re practically family now. And I can’t help calling you Uncle since you’ve always taken care of me.”
She sounded a bit teasing, and her expression seemed genuinely happy about this, so Anon couldn’t help chuckling.
“Not only that, I’ve always wanted to have an Uncle.” She continued, resting a hoof on the base of her heart. “Especially one like you Uncle Anon.”
Anon’s heart skipped a beat at that. He really wasn’t sure what to say to that, but eventually managed a small laugh and looked over towards the floor. “Well, this is gonna take getting used to.”
Cadance nodded seriously. “Yes, it will.”
“Cadance!”
Anon and Cadance turned to where Sunset called from a distance, motioning her hoof over towards her and a few maids standing to her side.
“Coming!” Cadance called back, turning to face Anon again. Winked at him playfully before trotting towards her family.
Anon watched them go. He sighed and leaned back against a tree, staring up at the sky. He didn't understand it. Why did Celestia decide to marry him all of a sudden? He had always been content being just a friend. He'd even considered settling down when he was in his thirties, but in the end it was just too late. He had only been twenty and had still been learning how to manage things on Equestria.
Was it that she always had a liking to him that he was clueless about? Was that why she rejected every pony else who confessed? And maybe even hid these feelings from him all these years? All these questions flew at him like arrows that couldn't stop until they hit their mark. No matter how many times he thought about the possibility, he couldn't find an answer. Perhaps it's just too difficult for him to accept it. He knew she was his true love and he accepted that fact perfectly. But he just couldn't believe he was the one that she would choose for a future mate.
Anon shook his head, this was no time busying himself with these thoughts. “Might as well put on my suit while I’m at it…” He muttered to himself quietly and stood up. Once dressed in his formal attire, he walked off towards the dressing rooms located inside the Great Hall.
Anon found the nearest door and opened it. Inside there was a rack full of neatly folded suits. On top was a large mirror covered by a light blue cloth. He grabbed the fabric and removed the cover, revealing a beautiful white suit. It consisted of a simple, short sleeved white shirt and black trousers. The waistcoat and vest appeared to be of some sort of velvet material. There were also several silver buttons which lined the sides and along the collar. To complete the look, however, there was another piece of clothing hanging on one of the racks beside the clothes; a matching set consisting of a royal blue jacket and cream colored shorts. The jackets and the shorts were both made entirely of fabric that resembled the color of the sky, while the jacket itself had a silver lining. As he picked up the jacket, the softness of the fabric made it seem lighter than it actually was. It was almost like an artificial, synthetic version of clouds.
As Anon continued to inspect the items, he noticed that each article of clothing had its own unique style which included embroidery, designs, stitching, and patterns. Most importantly to him, they appeared to be designed to complement his body. Although this wasn’t the case with the shorts or jacket. In particular, the jacket was made out of fabric that seemed to resemble leaves. This was a feature that the outfits didn't quite possess. While some garments possessed a leaf design, others seemed to have a leaf theme, depending upon where they were made. Some had vines, trees, flowers, and even insects painted onto them.
One item in particular caught Anon's eyes: the shirts and ties, which all had different shades of green and blue, ranging from a rich, earthy hue to a silvery white, which contrasted strongly with the rest of their counterparts. His eyes trailed down to the shoes as he held them. Each shoe had a similar pattern that resembled stars.
The color scheme of each shoe also varied depending on the region of Canterlot, although they all had some sort of emblem sewn into the back of the shoes.
Anon frowned slightly, wondering if this was a coincidence or perhaps an intentionally chosen choice by Celestia herself. Or maybe the reason she chose this outfit was to reflect that of Moonstone. He remembered how the dress Luna wore had a very specific pattern. However, this had a very specific meaning as well, having a star motif on its back. It was a small detail that he remembered so clearly, though he had yet to discover its significance.
With a puzzled expression , he turned his attention back to the suits hanging on the racks around him. He then proceeded to examine each piece of apparel, taking note of their designations and their unique colors, shapes and styles. After finishing his examination, he turned his attention back to the suits that were hanging in front of him. He began to inspect everything one by one.
There were four of them. Four suits that looked completely identical. Two were identical to one another, resembling each other closely but there was only one similarity between the two, besides the design. Each of them had a gemstone sewed into the middle of the chest. This gemstone was a bright orange coloured diamond embedded into a deep red leather belt with a silver buckle. The same symbol as the one sewn onto the suit that he currently wore hung from the buckle as well.
Anon looked at the gemstones sewn onto each of the suits. Then, he reached forward to feel them. Sure enough, these gems were the exact same shape. They had almost felt like real gems to touch before he realized that they weren’t. “This is the most interesting piece of jewelry I’ve seen.” He mumbled as he examined them. “How peculiar...” He muttered. “I wonder what that emblem means…”
Right hand brought up stroking his chin. His eyes darted from each suit to the next, studying them intently and deciding which one to wear. Anon nodded his head, deciding his decision . He took one of the suits from the rack and stepped closer to the mirror. With one quick movement, he threw the coat over himself, zipping it closed and fastening the buttons. The jacket was rather huge on his frame, reaching almost past the knees. It was almost as big as his uniform.
Looking at the reflection of the suit in the mirror, he could tell instantly that it suited him and fitted him rather nicely. As for the suit itself, it was a good fit. It was definitely comfortable to wear. It was also easy to move in and it didn’t make it awkward for him to walk or run.
After checking himself out in the mirror, he smiled. “It looks great.” He said softly. “I think I'll take it.”
Turning around he started towards the door. Suddenly, the door burst open and someone barged in. Anon stopped walking, turned to see who entered.
A guard approached him quickly, snapping into a salute. “Pardon me Milord, it is almost time for the ceremony to begin.” He started calmly.
Anon nodded shortly as he walked past the guard, moving to the entrance.
“Okay…” Anon breathes quietly to himself. “This will be fun.”
Anon stood in the altar that had just been decorated for the wedding. He shifted uncomfortably. “What am I doing here…” He mumbled looking away uneasily. He glanced at everyone around him.
Everyone was seated on the bleachers surrounding the altar. He recognized some faces, especially those of the royal family from faraway kingdoms; the princesses, princes, knights, guards, etc. He didn’t pay much mind to them because he was sure the royals were going to be there.
He turned his gaze downwards again and stared at the stone altar which sat at the end of the aisle. It wasn’t too large nor was it too small. It had a plain white surface with a black background which seemed to glow under the candlelight.
Suddenly, the piano swelled into the air, grabbing Anon and everypony’s attention. From where he stood he watched in awe as Celestia slowly walked down the aisle towards Anon between the crowd. She wore a white dress that flowed gracefully behind her. The skirt of the dress was decorated in intricate designs of purple and pink flowers, while the sleeves and bottom hem were adorned with golden sequins. Her mane flowed gracefully down to her lower back, framing her face beautifully, accentuating her delicate features, while she drew nearer.
The music died down as she finally came to a halt right in front of him. The music was not too loud nor too soft. Its melody echoed throughout the entire area and lingered through the entire hall. Everyone seemed mesmerized as they gazed upon the beautiful scene of Celestia approaching him.
Once up front, Celestia handed her flowers to Sunset who then proceeded to place them into a basket. She turned to look at Anon smiling at him warmly before turning around to walk back to her place. Celestia took another step forward until she was only an inch away from him.
One step before Celestia and Anon, the stallion cleared his throat. “Mares and gentle-colts, we’ve gathered here today to witness our beloved ruler and Princess, Princess Celestia and her number one butler Mr. Anonymous. We are gathered to celebrate this union of love between this couple and mark their commitment to each other. If the couples have written their vows. Please speak them now.”
Anon could feel a lump forming in his throat as he looked back at Celestia. “Here we go…” Anon said in a shaky voice. “Um, I don't want to drag this too long. But if I have a say, I will make three promises. First and foremost. As I have always done all these years, I promise to always be by your side. Second. I promise to do everything I could to make you happy, because you deserve happiness. Lastly, I promise to never give up on you, no matter what life throws at us. So, uh, yeah.” An awkward chuckle escaped Anon’s lips whilst rubbing the awkwardness off his nape.
Celestia smiled brightly at Anon and placed her hoof at the base of her heart. “Anon,” she began, “my beloved husband, as well as my best friend. You have changed me for the better in more ways than one. I can remember how difficult it was to trust anyone else after meeting you, but when we first met…I realized that someone who I thought I knew so well had unknowingly become something different altogether. For me, you became the man I wanted to spend my whole life with. No matter what happens, you will never leave my sight or my heart. And to ensure this, I promise to always hold your hand and stand beside you.” Celestia reached over and grabbed Anon’s hand in her hooves giving it a squeeze. “Now and forevermore.”
“You may now kiss the bride,” announced the stallion.
Oh boy, this was what Anon was nervous about the most. He gently folded back her veil allowing their noses to brush against one another. He couldn’t help but stare into her lavender eyes which he found himself losing focus in whenever he saw them. He leaned in closer towards Celestia until his forehead pressed against her horn, and their lips met. His lips moved slowly with hers, and Anon was barely aware of the cheering around them.
After their lips parted, Anon gave Celestia another quick peck on her muzzle. They both giggled at the fact that the people around them cheered.
“I pronounce you, husband and wife, mares and gentle-colts, allow me to honorably introduce you to the two intertwined rulers, Princess Celestia and Prince Anonymous,” said the stallion grandly.
Celestia and Anonymous turned to face the cheering crowd and walked through them. Anon’s hand subconsciously gripped Celestia’s hoof tightly as they passed by, while his brain processed the permitted title.
Damn… so I’m king now, huh? He thought to himself, well shit.
