"Oh, Twilight! I'm so glad you could come!" Cadence wrapped her sister-in-law into a tight embrace the moment the purple mare came into range. The two shared a giggly hug on the garden path for a few seconds before finally breaking off. "You're just in time too! Gaius and Shining Armor are out back right now. I was just bringing some tea out." Cadence gestured to the tray she was levitating next to her.
"Oh, I'll get that for you Cadence. There's no way I can let somepony expecting to do all the work," Twilight said. Cadence laughed, but transferred the tray to Twilight, knowing she wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
"I'm not that far along, but thanks," the princess said. Twilight smiled back at her and examined the contents of the tray. It had a teapot, four spoons, three teacups, two bowls of sugar, a carton of milk, and an empty soup bowl arranged neatly on top.
"Got enough milk and sugar?" Twilight asked.
"I'm not sure," Cadence responded, the genuine concern for the matter apparent in her face and tone. Twilight had meant it as a joke, but Cadence's odd reaction asked for further investigation. It was difficult, but Twilight resisted the urge to inquire further.
"Do you want me to run in and get another teacup?"
"Oh no, we've got enough of those. I'm sure of that." Cadence assured Twilight with a smile, but Twilight looked back at the tray and counted the cups once more.
"Don't we need one for you, one for Shining Armor, one for me, and one for... what's his name again?" Twilight regretted letting the other guest's name slip so quickly. Cadence had gone on about how he was a very close friend of hers in the initial letter summoning her to Canterlot. Cadence did, however, neglect to mention how she knew this pony or exactly how he came to be such a close friend. That is part of the reason Twilight came to Canterlot to do: to meet this pony and find out the details of his friendship with Cadence.
"Gaius? No, he doesn't need a cup," Cadence replied. Twilight's eyes drifted over to the soup bowl. "Oh, yes... that's for Gaius."
"What does he need a bowl for?" Twilight asked. Cadence's toothy smile looked a bit more forced than before.
"Tea," she said without moving her lips. Twilight frowned and furrowed her eyebrows.
"He must really like tea." Twilight didn't immediately get a reply from Cadence, who was now feigning a few strained chuckles at Twilight's comment. "What's going on Cadence, who is this pony exactly?"
Cadence sighed in defeat. "I think it's better if you just meet him," she said, walking towards the back of the garden. Twilight followed behind with the tray in tow. They headed towards the back of Shining Armor and Cadence's estate where their garden opened up into a glorious view of Canterlot below. Twilight had already appreciated the stunning sunsets over the skyline with the couple during a few friendly meals. This time, when Twilight rounded the corner to the edge of the garden, it was not the city in the afternoon sunshine that caught her eyes.
Cadence had to catch the tray as Twilight's focus shifted from her magic to the giant sitting in the garden. The giant sat cross-legged at the table across from Shining Armor. Even sitting down, the behemoth towered over her brother by a full head. The pair laughed heartily, the giant running his fingers though his thick, curly beard all the while. Twilight ran her eyes over his bronze armor, down to the belt around his torso, and finally to the sword sheathed at his side.
Twilight yanked Cadence back behind the house, almost spilling the contents of the tray once more.
"Cadence! There's a giant in your garden," she whispered to the Princess.
"Yes, I know," Cadence responded in a normal volume. "That is Gaius. There is no reason to be afraid of him, Twilight." Twilight's wide-eyed expression told Cadence the unicorn might need a little more convincing.
"He's even armed! He has a sword Cadence! He's dangerous!" Twilight said, becoming increasingly frantic. "You're not seriously telling me that your friend is a giant! How did you even meet a giant? They live across the ocean!"
"I had the privilege of meeting Gaius back even before I met you. He is a diplomat from the land of the giants and a very wise man. He taught me most everything I know about my love magic," Cadence said. Twilight's mouth dropped open as her pupils shrunk even smaller. "W-what?"
"Giants can't do magic!" Twilight responded, almost shouting. "And what would a giant know about love? Last I checked, the only thing giants concern themselves with is slaying dragons and eating meat! You expect me to believe that he taught you about love magic?"
"He taught me theory, not practice," Cadence said, but clarifying that point did nothing to appease Twilight. "Look, if you want to know more about Gaius, you'll have to talk to him yourself." Without another word, Cadence exited the hiding spot and walked out in the the open with the tray.
"Cadence! What took you so long?" Shining Armor asked upon seeing his wife.
"Oh, you'll never guess who I bumped into on the way here," Cadence responded. She turned her head over to where Twilight was reluctantly emerging around the side of the house with the best smile she could manage.
"Twily!" Shining cantered over and gave his favorite sister a big hug. Twilight returned it in earnest, but she kept both eyes on Gaius. Her brother's next action was to release her from the hug and lead her towards the smiling behemoth. "Twily, this is Gaius. He's a very good friend of Cadence's."
"Cadence and your brother have told me so much about you, Ms. Sparkle," Gaius spoke. His voice was so deep the ground shook with each syllable. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Gaius extended one of his meaty hands for Twilight to shake.
"It's... nice to meet you too." Twilight extended her hoof and allowed Gaius to shake it. She was reminded over her first meeting with Applejack. Once her entire body stopped shaking, she composed herself and looked up at Gaius. "So, Mr. Gaius, what brings you to Equestria?" Twilight sat herself between the giant and Cadence while Shining Armor claimed a seat next to his bride. Cadence began pouring tea for everyone, putting Gaius's tea in the soup bowl.
"Just visiting, really. I haven't been to Equestria in such a long time," Gaius said. "I wanted to come for the wedding, but there was an issue that needed tending to back home. From what I hear, you all could've used my sword with that whole changeling mess, but what's done is done is done. You got the gift I sent, right?"
"It arrived a day late, but yes, we did get it," Cadence answered. "It's a beautiful crib." Gaius nodded in agreement as he started pouring a large amount of milk into his bowl of tea. When he was done, he picked up one of the spoons between his index finger and thumb and stirred the contents of the bowl.
"A little on the large side for a pony, though," Shining Armor said.
"Nonsense!" Gaius replied, raising his voice as he chuckled. "Had I known your foal was going to be my godchild, I would have made it much bigger!" Gaius burst into uproarious laughter, drowning out Cadence and Shining Armor's own chuckles. Twilight did her best not to outwardly display her discomfort as she added some sugar to her tea.
"Thank you, Gaius. It's a wonderful gift," Cadence said.
"And practical!" Gaius added with a chuckle. "What about you, Ms. Sparkle? Are you not excited to soon be both aunt and godparent?" the giant asked Twilight. Twilight looked up at him and put on a cheesy smile.
"Thrilled," she said, failing only slightly to hide the edge in her voice. Gaius burst out laughing again, completely oblivious to any tension. Cadence and Shining Armor glanced at each other, picking up on what was going on.
"Oh, Gaius! Did we ever show you the pictures from the wedding?" Cadence asked. Gaius shook his head as he took a dainty sip from his bowl. "Well, I'll go get them so you can see them!" Cadence got up and headed towards the house, but not before glancing back to give Shining Armor a look.
"Ah, I'd better go with her!" he said. "She's pregnant and might need help with... stuff. You two godparents should get to know each other a little better!" Shining Armor took off after his wife and the two disappeared into the house.
Twilight was absolutely certain Cadence and Shining Armor were aiming to get the two alone. They probably thought if Twilight and Gaius were alone that they would talk and become best of friends. Twilight, on the other hoof, still didn't trust the giant. She was more interested in finding out what his true colors were.
"So, Mr. Gaius, Cadence tells me that you're a diplomat for you homeland."
"Ha ha, she'd be right about that! I actually met her during my first trip to Canterlot, back when I hardly had any hair on my chin," Gaius replied. He stroked his massive beard with one of his meaty hands, reminiscing about the days when it only went it didn't go down below his chest.
"What exactly are your duties as a diplomat?" Twilight asked. She was certain Gaius was not going to answer honestly. He obviously had some sort of underlying agenda that involved a massive barbeque.
"Well, I just ensure that things continue to go swimmingly between us giants and you ponies. You're not dangerous like the dragons or annoying like the griffons. Princess Celestia has always been kindly towards us, and I believe we do owe her some debt of gratitude for raising the Sun every morning." Gaius broke into hearty laughter again.
