Note: No ponies. Only anthropomorphic versions of ponies. It better fits what I have planned.
"Lu-Lu.", Celestia closed her book.
"Yes, dear sister?", Luna replied, stretching.
"I know that you have just awoken, but...would you mind doing me a favor?"
"Tia, you still owe me from the seventeen past favors that you've asked of me, and I still haven't asked for you to do something in return!", Luna complained.
"Well, then why don't you start?"
Luna sighed, "What do I have to do?"
"Could you begin your shift early? Something important has just come up."
"Well, if it's important to you, then I will. Do I have to lower the sun as well?"
"Would you please?"
"I will, I can’t forget."
"Thank you, Lu-Lu, I appreciate you doing this for me."
Celestia hugged the darker mare and hurried out the room.
Her destination, the library. Where Dusk has been the whole day. Ever since Twilight gave him her key to the royal archives, he's been spending most of his time there. It's a wonder if he has read every archive already, or at least half of them.
As Celestia opened the door to the room, the first sight she saw was not a bookworm buried head first in a pile of books, but rather several versions of Dusk, each rearranging the books by stacks at a time, often counting more than fifty books in each stack they carried.
"Dusk?"
"Oh, hello princess!", they all said in unison.
Dusk's horn dimmed, and each of his copies melded back into his person, leaving only him and Celestia.
"Ahem. Sorry about that."
"Doing, a bit of cleaning in the royal archives?"
"Actually, rearranging the books to the current archiving system standards. It hasn't been done since my own mother did it twenty years ago."
"I know. I walked in on the same exact thing, except, she wasn't carrying nearly fifty books to a stack."
"Eheh, well, I like to be efficient."
I can see. I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me."
"Dinner? Well, seeing what time it is now,", he checked his wristwatch, "I guess it'd be perfect. Haven't eaten all day."
"Alright then. Put on your best outfit and meet me outside the castle gates. When you're ready, you're taking me out for dinner tonight."
Celestia turned with a low chuckle and closed the door as she left, leaving Dusk in a mess of confusion. He dropped the book he held and brought his hand to his forehead, looking over the mess of books he was in. Looking back at the door, he hurried to it, and opened it, but found that Celestia had already left the long hall.
Not but about half an hour later, Celestia walked out of her room, wearing a sleek sapphire dress, and matching sapphire cloth slippers. Her tiara was no longer her usual, I-Rule-You tiara, but a smaller, smoother tiara. One which sported a Celtic knot of silver on a thin gold lace that ringed her head just above her horn. Her wings were tucked close to her, both collapsed and relaxed, hugging her back and the dress she wore.
She was beautiful. The most beautiful which the astonished Luna had seen her own sister in years.
"Tia, you-"
"Are wearing the best dress I have. I know."
Celestia put a simple big gold loop through her ears, and looked back to her sister, who had dropped her jaw in shock.
"I'm off! I'll be back later tonight. Try not to call for a rescue mission. If anything goes wrong, I'll be back early, and if tonight is perfect, I might not be back tonight at all."
Celestia walked past Luna, magic bringing her to the floor below, just inside the front doors. The two guards clambered to attention, and then hurried to the door, each opening them wide for her in their fit to impress. Celestia smiled, spotting one well-suited stallion waiting for her at the end of the walkway.
Dusk was actually dressed very well. A traditional black suit and corsage pinned to the front. The most out-sticking part of the suit was his ruby red bow tie. The only other sight of red on him. He had Twilight's looks, that's for sure, but his father's charm, as Celestia had been told, and seen, many times before. But Dusk had a bit too much of a mind like his mother's. Always in a book, always studying.
As Celestia approached, Dusk bowed to her, and revealed the hidden bouquet of flours.
"Wow, I'm impressed already! Is this your first date?"
"Yes, actually."
"I'm really impressed. Especially this bouquet. I've never seen a bouquet this big before."
Celestia took the flowers, and Dusk opened the taxi door for her, even helping her in. After he closed the door, he flashed himself to the other side, and sat next to the princess.
"So where are we going?", Celestia asked.
"Oh, I didn't know if you had chosen the restaurant, so I chose one while I was getting ready. The Italian-equestrian restaurant, Notte D'Amore. They are open only from the evening, well into the night, and serve the food fresh out of the oven."
"Wow. You've got just about everything right, haven't you?"
"Not entirely. But so far, what I have done seems to have impressed you."
"That it has."
The restaurant was a short distance away, but walking there would have been an embarrassing thing to do. Especially when it's the evening, not very many ponies were on the streets. And the princess and a stallion, both dressed very well, heading to a restaurant to have dinner together, may be the worst thing that they could do. But Dusk planned ahead...
"Hello, this is the head manager of Notte D'Amore, how may I help you tonight?", the stallion answered.
"Yes, I'd like to make a reservation."
"Alright. A table for two?"
"Yes please. I'd like your best table."
"Sorry sir, but that table has already been taken by a lovely couple of unicorns that had called just before you did."
"Oh, well, I'd guess they would understand if the princess and I were to take their place, wouldn't you agree?"
"With all due respect, I can't just give you their table, even if you are taking the princess out on a date."
"Oh, well, then I'll have to tell her that I couldn't get her the best table there was in the restaurant. I'm sure she would understand, she is the ruler of Equestria, after all.", Dusk retaliated.
The stallion was silent for a moment, then sighed into the phone, defeated.
"Fine. I guess I could do this just this once. Next time, could you maybe call a bit earlier?"
"I will, don't you worry sir.", Dusk answered.
"Thank you. We'll have your table ready when you get here."
"Thank you sir."
The stallion hung up, and turned to the ledger, looking down to where he had printed Fleur De Lis and Fancy Pants' names, picking up the pencil to erase and write in their place, Princess Celestia and...He didn't get the stallion's name...
As the taxi slowed to a stop in front of the large restaurant, Dusk flashed to just outside of Celestia's door, opening it for her, and helping her out. She took a look at the fancy restaurant and smiled once more, looking back to Dusk.
"I've not been here for a long time. I hope you made a good choice, though. I'm looking forward to good food."
"Well, I've got enough for you to have seven of their best dish. You shouldn't be disappointed with what their lesser dishes are, either."
"I'll take your word for it."
"Shall we?", he held his elbow out.
Celestia looped her arm through his, "Lets."
They walked in together, Dusk obviously opening both doors magically for her to walk through with him. As they approached the host, he gasped, and checked through the papers, expecting a reservation. As he had hoped, there was a reservation, but for Celestia alone. There was no other name.
"Oh, P-Princess! We were expecting you!"
"Us.", Celestia corrected, motioning towards Dusk.
"Oh, well, right this way then!", the stallion smiled nervously, leading them on.
The restaurant was even more beautiful on the inside. Red velvet carpet, Cashmere red and gold curtains, tiled ceiling with gold vinyls at every corner. The host lead them to the most attention grabbing spot in the restaurant, the kitchen, where simmers, steams, and hisses whirled wonderful mixes of smells and sounds throughout the restaurant. It was like an orchestra, only, no instruments, and the musicians are cooks.
Dusk pulled Celestia's seat out for her, and pushed her in whence she actually took her seat, taking his afterwards.
"What would you like to drink tonight?", the host asked, holding out a notepad and pen.
"I'll have the Scottish Mare Fifty Eight."
"Fine choice of wine sir."
"I'll have some of your best wine. The Midnight Merlot."
"I'm sorry, Princess, but we don't carry any amount of Midnight Merlot, in fact, that brand of wine hasn't been seen in Equestria for more than two centuries."
Celestia opened her purse, and pulled out a brass key, handing it to the host.
"This is the key to get into the lower wine cellar. Unless this restaurant has aged longer than magic can withstand, it should still be there."
The host nodded, "Yes, Princess."
He walked away hastily, leaving the Princess and Dusk alone.
"Let me get this straight, you've requested what would be the most expensive, and oldest black wine on this planet?"
"Yes. But I have the only key. The owner lost his long ago."
"But they will still charge us for it, and by what I know, one bottle of five hundred year old Midnight Merlot would cost...", he lowered his voice, "Fifty billion bits at least! I don't have that kind of money!"
"Well, they don't know that. The most they'll charge is about fifty thousand, but even then, I don't plan on making you pay fifty grand just for me to have a drink."
Dusk sighed, and calmed himself, leaning over the table to grab one of the menus that the host left.
"Dusk, there is no need to be upset."
"Well, I'm not exactly upset about the wine, but more about this date. I'm supposed to be a gentlestallion, not complain about something, especially to you, princess."
"Well, you're not the first that I've demanded a date from."
"Wait, demanded?"
"Dusk, you're handsome, athletic, and smart. You're perfect. I wouldn't see why I would even think to refuse someone like you. You just make me feel so light and warm every time I think of you, I couldn't take it any longer."
The waiter appeared at the table, and Dusk smiled again, turning his attention towards the short mare.
"What would you like to eat tonight?", she asked.
"I'll have the Risotto.", Celestia said without looking at the menu.
"I'll have the Veal Marsala.", Dusk decided quickly.
As the waitress left, the host reappeared, holding two bottles of wine. One, polished new, and the other, old looking, covered in dust, even.
"That is not dust, I assure you. There were very old bottles down there, and the floor was even sticky."
"Thank you for letting me know. I will return tomorrow to have that fixed."
"Doing business during a date?", Dusk asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Dusk. I do keep my own collection of aged wine well kept for a reason, though. You can't get better wine anywhere else. But, that doesn't excuse my worries for business, and not this date..."
Dusk huffed.
It's a date though....not a business meeting...then again, she's the princess, ruler of Equestria. She is probably used to it so much that she does it naturally. The ability to do business on a date...Oblivious.
The host removed the cork screw from his apron pocket and put it on the old bottle first, twisting the tiny crank on top until it was deep enough in the cork. Then, after pushing the two handles down, the cork came off with a squeak. No pop. The Host poured the black wine into Celestia's glass, filling it nearly full, then held it over Dusk's glass.
"And you?"
"I don't see why not. Aged wine is better than fresh wine, after all.", Dusk answered.
The host poured his glass, and set the bottle on a napkin.
"Would you like for me to leave the bottle of Scottish Mare here?"
Dusk took a quick sip of his glass, and shook his head.
"No, I think this will do."
The host took the red glass bottle and left again.
"So, how does it taste?", Celestia asked.
"Hmm..."
Dusk took another drink from his glass, this time, a bit more to taste it a bit more. After he swallowed, he stared at the glass for a few seconds, then looked up at the smiling mare in front of him.
"It's really strong...The taste. It's smooth, not thick, not thin, not too sweet, and not without that signature bitter taste. It's absolutely perfect."
"Wonderful conclusion, Dusk. Except, one thing you didn't catch was that this wine dyes the mouth black like Bluk Wine, made from a berry that isn't accessible in Equestria."
"I've read about it."
"Have you ever heard about anything instead of reading about it?"
"No, not really. Not very many people have the chance to talk to me."
"Hmm. Must be a bit lonely."
"I've gotten used to it. Plus. I still have Sais. She has plenty of friends, believe me."
"Here in Canterlot, but not anywhere else."
Celestia took a long drink from her glass and let out a long breath as she set it down.
"Tastes just as I remember it."
"By what I know, wine can perish just like anything else organic."
"Well, the process to make it is very, very old. Almost as old as I am, by about a hundred years difference. The way it's stored, it has no oxygen in the bottle at all, or near the wine while it is brewed, set, and when bottled. Thanks to magic, it was done with ease. But...the recipe was lost to time."
"Actually...I've been researching it over a year or two."
"You have? Tell me what you have gathered about it then."
"The most I have found out, was that it was written down once, and the recipe was taken to the grave. The recipe, written once, was a look off for years, allowing all of Eqeustria to make the famous perfect wine, Midnight Merlot. Until somebody stole the recipe, that is. The drink has not been sold, made, or even thought of for centuries now."
"Almost three to be exact."
"You've been counting days or something?"
"Oh, yes. I used to keep an entire wine cellar filled with the delicious black wine, until I ran out. The last bottle I had was aged for about forty years. Lasted about forty minutes altogether, and woke up with the worse headache I've ever had."
"Hangover. Happens."
"Thing is, no matter how much Merlot you drink, you will wake up with a headache. The longer it ages, the worse the headache gets. And seeing as this has been aging for five centuries..."
Dusk sighed, "So it's not a single book tomorrow..."
"I wouldn't say that. You know magic, it should be simple to get rid of a heavy migraine."
"I know, but...it's just the feel of the mornings that decides what I do for the day. I'm not always reading books, or traversing that massive library."
"Well, a little change in your schedule never hurt. For now, lets eat."
After the two had finished their meals, and the Midnight Merlot, they were both as happy and content as you could get. Carefree, satisfied, and overall, relaxed.
"It was good.", Celestia admitted.
"Well, 'good' is probably the best I'll get. You've been with many more stallions before me. At least I wasn't a screw up."
"Actually, this is the best night I've had in over four centuries."
Dusk chuckled, "You know, it's kind of funny how you talk like age is nothing, and yet you've still got the looks of a mare in her prime."
"Thank you."
Dusk smiled in reply.
The waiter came by, and Dusk opened his thick wallet, fishing out a few coins that resembled what the cost of the entire meal was, paying it in full. No more, no less. The waitress took the money, and check, headed towards the front desk, and Dusk stopped her, holding out a two hundred bit coin to her.
"Thank you very much.", He thanked her.
"No, thank you!", the waitress smiled back.
"Wow, you're a big spender.", Celestia said once the waitress left.
"Well, I don't exactly keep my money in the bank. I can't trust them any more, not after what I have discovered. And with so much that I've stockpiled over the years, I'd be losing nearly a fortune to just put it all in the bank."
"That much? Wow. So, how much did it cost you tonight?"
"Don't worry, nothing I can't afford. Definitely no where near that limit."
"Well, I just wanted to know."
"You ready?"
"Yes, let's go."
Celestia picked up her purse, and Dusk helped her up, both making their way back to the taxi, and back home to the castle. It wasn't until they were in the hallway to both their rooms when they began going the opposite direction. Both stopped, and turned to the other. Dusk couldn't find the words to say anything, but Celestia knew what he was thinking. She hooked a finer under his bow tie, and pulled him along down the hall.
"Come with me...", she spoke with a lovely tone.
When they got into Celestia's room, they were immediately locked in a deep kiss that lasted but one long moment. When they parted, Celestia grabbed a hand full of Dusk's jacket and shirt, pulling both off, magic keeping them from tearing as it phased through his body.
They went in for another kiss and Dusk pushed Celestia back. Celestia found that Dusk had moved them to the bed, and closed the door with her own magic. As Celestia's hands explored Dusk's strong body, Dusk's own hands were slowly working Celestia's own dress down.
Impatient as she was, Celestia grabbed the collar of her own dress, and took it off with one tug, throwing it on the floor.
"Let's just get to it."
There is something about the aftersex that makes a stallion think sometimes. But what was on his mind was one thing...He was the first of a princess. Two millenia, and you would expect another stallion to have made it into Celestia's bed at least five thousand times already. But no. A mare who waited for her perfect stallion.
But she was also his teacher. And though it sounded like a sexy type of relationship, there were other factors too. She was more than two millenia older than him and eternally young. The concept of her being two millenia old just flashes an uncomfortable feeling in Dusk's mind.
There is another, one that really hits him in the heart. She is...family. Though, by the way it was, Princess Cadence was her Niece...and Celestia has only one sister, Luna, who hasn't been around long enough to have had Cadence as her own child. Then there is Blue blood...Celestia's nephew. The one douche in Equestria, and he is Celestia's nephew. They may not be blood ties...but family is family, and...Dusk isn't related to her at all.
Cadence is Celestia's nephew, and Twilight's brother married Cadence. That made Twilight Celestia's Nephew in law, and Dusk...Off the family tree. The royal family tree follows royal bloodlines. From Queen Platinum and King Hurricane, came Celestia and Luna. But there are unicorns that are only a few decades old that are known as Celestia's nephews and nieces...Which once again brings Dusk into another loop.
Dusk sighed, and turned his head to Celestia, who lay asleep with a smile, hand still holding his chest while the other lay under the pillow. She wants to be with him, yes, but...Dusk hasn't felt anything for princess Celestia even remotely yet...he's always seen her as off limits for anypony in terms of a relationship, unless she wants to. And even though the wine may have edged them towards sleeping together, it only happened because Celestia wanted to, and because Dusk didn't know what to do next. His first date, first mare. And he was Celestia's (probably) ten thousandth date, but still her first stallion...
Dusk would be willing to stay with her...seeing that he doesn't see her as off limits now, but...it would be mostly a lie...
