Cadence and Gleaming Shield X Anon

Cadence and Gleaming Shield / Anon
Original Prompt
>FemShining Armor(Gleaming Shield?) and Cadence have been best friends ever since they met.
>That friendship eventually turned romantic.
>But since Cadence is royal, she's expected to not drop her standards to that of "A lonely common mare" and be strictly homo.
>To make everything work, they need a herd.
>But inviting a stallion into their relationship is asking for trouble, since all the honest ones are long since taken...
>...Leaving almost nothing but gold diggers wanting to ride on royal coattails.
>In a flash of remembrance, Gleaming recalls something she often forgets.
>Her favorite biped drinking buddy is somehow not taken, and is practically the opposite of a gold digger.
>He's just so marely and easygoing that Gleaming forgets he's a guy sometimes.
>If they can work this out, then the pair of mares can be together, and pull in an easily lovable male while they're at it, forming a happy family.
>All they need is a cunning plan to make him say yes...
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Greentext Version
>Be Cadence
>Princess of Love
>Love-Guru Supreme
>And [spoiler]She-Who-Thirsts[/spoiler]
>Kind of a big deal
>Be dead tired after a long day of various governmental bullshit
>Also kind of a big deal
>Flop down onto your bed with a [spoiler]pomf[/spoiler]
>It's only like, three o'clock, but a nap can't hurt, right?
>You bet Aunty Tia takes, like, tons of naps
>Probably even sleeps in the throne when the nobles come around
>Lucky cunt
>Try to get comfortable
>All you do is mess up the work somepony put into making your bed
>tiredandannoyedlovehorse.scroll
>Just as you were about to get up and grab a little something from the "Royal Reserve," something in the corner of your eye stops you
>It's a picture of you and Gleaming Shield on your first date
>You smile at the memory
>For such a marely mare of maresculinity, she was quite the cute little bundle of nerves that september day
>You lay back down and reminisce, a smile on your face
>You had met Gleaming while you foalsat her little sister
>She was quite the protective little teenage filly back then
>Hardly even a mare, but she still watched you as if any moment you'd turn into a filly-eating monster
>With time you earned her trust after a certain incident involving pickles, yarn, and a hoofball helmet
>Eventually that trust turned into a deeper friendship than you've ever known
>And in turn that friendship blossomed into something more as well
>You magic over the frame and settle back in
>Oh yeah, this is just what you need
>So what if you look like a tuft-beard?
>The only thing that matters is you, this bed, and the greatest nap known to ponykind
>Which you'll be taking in three, two-
>The door opens with a slam
>"I swear, if I see another noble 'drop a bit' in front of me again, it'll be too soon!"
>Aaaand hello Gleaming Shield and goodbye sleep, it was nice knowing you
>"Candy, I don't know how you dealt with this for so long."
>Your marefriend climbs onto the bed and flops down on you
>Also hello hoof-in-your-spine, how do you do?
>Thank you, alicorn endurance, or else that might have hurt
"Well Glimmy, I had the excuse of my 'Princess Training' for the most part, so unless you sponaneously sprout some wings, I've got nothing."
>She makes a noise somewhere between acknowledgment and annoyance before FINALLY noticing her hoof and repositioning
>Her hooves are around your barrel
>Her face is buried in the space between yours and your withers
>A half-remembered lesson on pony sociology and body language springs to mind
>You smile
>Even now, tired as she probably is and annoyed in a way you've unfortunately become VERY familiar with, she's still your Shield
>You hear her take a deep breath
>[spoiler]U-unf[/spoiler]
>"I'm sorry, Candy. It's just all these noble colts and their bull today."
>You hum
"Hmm. What happened today? Somepony 'drop a bit' again?"
>She snorts into your neck
>"I wish. No, some noble colt, Fancy-something or other, got it into their head that, as captain of the guard, I must have some kind of battle-fetish. So he gets it into his head that the best way to get into us was to come up and duel me 'for the honor of entrance into our most noble and royal herd.'
>You can't surpress a laugh at her terrible accent
"Really? Was he wearing a sun hat?"
>"Nah, full plate even! It was rusted to Tartarus and he obviously had no idea what he was doing, but points on for actually doing it and not getting his sister to. Points off for, you know, actually doing it."
>"We laughed him off o'course, but I still can't really believe that happened."
>You lay in comfortable silence for a while
>Her grip tightens
>"Candy, what are we gonna do? They're just gonna keep coming and coming."
>Hello elephant, how long've you been in the room?
>You sigh
>For these past few months, starting not long after you started dating Gleaming seriously, some nobles have been pressuring you to "stop acting like a common mare and find a stallion and form a proper herd"
>While there was nothing they could do, legally anyway, there wasn't anything YOU could do to make them stop either
>Personally you had no issues with bringing in a stallion
>Princess of Love and all that
>The problem, though, was that you weren't exactly... low profile
>Princess of Love and all that
>Golddiggersasfarastheeyecouldsee.tapestry
>And all the honest stallions were taken
>That's bad enough, but it just gets worse when you toss in the nobility and their entitelement
>You were the Princess of Love, and DAMNED if you were going to end up in some loveless political marriage
>You sigh
>Why can't you just find a stallion that sees the mares underneath the crown and armor?
>That sees the two of you as more than some meal-ticket or social ladder?
>You hear a smack behind you
>Oh, were you thinking out loud?
>You must be more tired than you thought
>Well, you're marefriend's here, your work's done [spoiler]for now[/spoiler]
>Now it's just gonne be you, the bed, and some good ol' slee-
>"By the Sun I'm an Idiot. I can't believe I forgot about Anon."
>Damnit Gleaming
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>Be Anon
>Manliest man in the ENTIRE WORLD [spoiler]of little horses[/spoiler]
>Also be sitting in a booth at one of your preffered bars
>One of your drinkin' buddies asked you to come around tonight
>Even asked you to be in this booth specifically
>Didn't say why, but you were never one to turn down a free drink and good company
>You seemed to ge the former a hell of a lot more often now than when you were on Earth, and Ol' Glim-Glam wasn't too bad for conversation either
>You weren't that fond when Celestia basically told you that you were expected to pretty much be a woman here
>But this whole reverse-gender-roles thing did have its perks
>Speaking of...
>Take a nice deep drink of the drink the latest group of "friendly" mares bought you
>Fruity as hell, and weaker than hell even compared to other pony drinks
>Honestly closer to a soda than anything you'd find in a bar on Earth
>Even a Rum n' Coke
>Oh, there they are now!
>Just catch their eyes...
>Fish around a little with your tongue...
>Voila! You know have a roughly pea-sized crystal in your teeth and a smile on your face
>All three mares' eyes widen
>You thought they were big before
>But now they're like Goddamn white-boards with teeny-tiny dots in the center
>They run out the door as if a hungry Usain Bolt were on their heels
>Always fun to call those date-rape fucks out
>You used to be worried about roofies, but after a few difficult shits you realized that pony-drugs were pretty much 100% magic
>And you were immune to that shit
>Unfortunately, the crystals themselves were immune to YOUR shit, too
>Your stomach acids, specifically
>Spit that into a mug of "ice" you brought along
>Just as it passes the rim, another bit of "ice" is added to the pile
>Even though she keeps saying she's nothing compared to her sister, Gleaming can make a damn fine enchantment in your opinion
>"Ah, there's my favourite Alien!"
>Speak of the devil and (s)he shall appear
"Yo, Glim-Glam, what took you so long?"
>Thescrunchening.mov
>She hates that fucking name
>All the more reason to use it
>She hops up into seat across from you, along with a pink pegasus you don't think you've ever seen before
>Kinda looks like Cadence, from what you've heard
>[spoiler]Got the freaky hair, too[/spoiler]
>Never actually met the pinkest little pony princess
>But about 90% of what Gleaming talked about involved her
>And it just got lewder the drunker your little unicorn friend got
>You're pretty sure you can recite about half of the alicorn's life story, just from what Gleaming's told you
>They get some drinks and settle in
>"Allow me to introduce you two."
>She motions to the pegasus
>"Anon, this is my Marefriend Cadence."
>She  motions to you
>"Cadence, this is Anon."
>Wait what
>Look from Glim-Glam to "Cadence," then back to Glim-Glam
"Gleaming, I know breakups can be hard, but you probably shouldn't date someone with the same name as your ex."
>Gleaming chokes on the cider she's drinking
>You turn toward "Cadence"
"So, does she have a dildo to tape onto your head?"
>She goes from pink to red in about a picosecond
>Gleaming sounds like she's hacking up a lung, but manages to speak
>Okay, more like whisper-shout
>"No, no Anon! This IS Cadence, we just have a glamour up to hid her horn while we're out!"
>Oh
>In retrospect, that makes a lot more sense
>Quick play it off
"My point still stands."
>Good enough
>PRINCESS Cadence looks a bit confused
>Looks to her girlfriend
>Gleaming looks like she's pleading for death, but nods once she notices Cadence's look
>They both down their drinks in what might've been an intimidating display of fortitude if you were, like, twelve
>"Anon, I- no, WE have something to talk to you about. Do you think we could head to your place for a bit?"
>Okay, things just went from zero to weird in an instant
>Still, she's your bro, so you could handle a bit of weird for her
>You nod, they pay for their drinks, and you're sitting in your living room a few minutes later
>Gleaming glances toward Cadence and takes a deep breath
>She was real fidgety on the way over
>Both of them were, in fact
>Shit, whatever it is, it must be big
>"Anon, we want to start a herd with you."
>Wut?
>"You know how the nobles are breathing down our necks, right? Shit, I talk your ear off about it enough."
>You're still kind of in shock, but it seems Gleaming's gaining steam
>"One of 'em even-"
>She stops herself and shakes her head
>"No, better just forget that whole... thing."
>"The point is; the nobles won't stop until we bring in a colt, but we'd really rather not bring in a gold-digger or something like that."
>She looks up at you with those damn big pony eyes
>"And so me and Candy got to talking and, well, since you're pretty much the opposite of a gold digger,"
>O shit man is she blushing?
>"And you're my best friend except for Cadence, so I-I was thinking..."
>She trails off, big soulful poner eyes flitting between you and Cadence
>You lean back and heave as quiet a sigh as you can
>Shit, this was not what you were expecting when your bro asked you to go drinking tonight
>Your eyes find Cadence's
>She's been really calm about this
>Sure she's got a bit of a jitter, but she's a hell of a lot calmer than you'd be in her situation
"And what're your thoughts on this?"
>She looks a bit surprised a being adressed
>She turns to Gleaming and drapes a wing over her back
>"Well, I trust her, and she's had nothing but good things to say about you, before and after we thought about this."
>She turns back to you
>Fuck, you recognize that twinkle in her eye
>That's the glimmer Celestia always had whenever she says something that makes you want to strangle her
>"And besides, anypony that can ruffle her feathers like that even though she doesn't have any is good in my book."
>Bullet Status : Dodged
[spoiler]>You weren't even in her sights[/spoiler]
>Gleaming gets redder, groans, and tries to bury herself in her girlfriend's wing
>At this rate you think she'll end up as pink as Cadence
>"I have to admit, I really wasn't expecting that big fight I heard you had with Celestia last month to be about whether or not you could have a job."
>You grimace at the memory
>Despite Celestia actually being a pretty good ruler, her motherly attitude can make her act a bit... old fashioned, you suppose
>You don't know if she had her eye on you or what and was "training" you or something
>But she was pretty against you getting a job
>Like, REALLY against it
>Wanted you to "grow out of such coltish whimsy"
>Eventually it came to a head
>Things were said
>You packed your things and left the castle
>Now you have your own place and job
>And, if what your bro and her girlfriend were saying was true, you'd have a herd before long too
>You chuckle
>How would Celestia react when she hears that you have basically everything you could want BECAUSE of your "whimsy?"
>Damn, son, you'd pay to see that
>"-ay not be impressive to you, but I honestly can't think of a pony that'd turn down staying at a castle to stand on their own four hooves."
>Shit, you zoned out
>"And besides, with how cute you are, now I KNOW Gleaming has good taste, and didn't just get lucky with me."
>Oh
>Oh my
-X-
>You are Cadence
>SMOOTHEST OPERATOR IN ALL EQUESTRIA
>YEAH
-X-
>Be Anon
>The easily flustered, apparently
>Your cheeks burn with an unfamiliar heat
>Turn from Cadence's winning smile to your bro
>Glim-Glam is also blushing
>Not much of a change, but it seems she can't handle compliments well either
>Well...
>You can't deny they're pretty little ponies
>Nor can you deny that Gleaming's always had your back
>Hell, she was the reason you HAD a job
>Even if nothing "real" came out of this, you can't exactly deny your bro
>You weren't around them often, but those nobles could be real bloodsuckers
>You'd hate to see what'd happen if they got their fangs into the two of them
>Gleaming was always so animated when she talked about Cadence
>So happy
>Hell, even now you can see them leaning on eachother in little ways
>Gottaprotectthosesmiles.jpeg
>You look between them once more
>They're both hopeful, though you can see some worry in their eyes
>Cadence is hiding it behind her confidence, but its still there
>Shit, they're really betting on you, aren't they
>Fuck, was your mouth always this dry?
"Well..."
>Their both perk up, just like dogs
>Yourheart.gif
"I can't gurantee this'll work out, but I'm willing to try."
>Before you even know what the fuck, there's a white blur and your on your back on the couch
>By the trouble your having breathing and the two-tone blue obscuring your vision, you suspect Gleaming has hugged you at roughly terminal velocity
>She sounds like she's trying to say a million things at once
>After a few false starts, she just gives up and starts rubbing her face in your chest
>Cadence giggles from her seat and the marshmallow on your chest freezes
>"I know he said yes Gleaming, but how about we all go on a few dates BEFORE you start Marking him."
>She hops down and leans her head near Glim-Glam's ear
>"Besides, I can think of a few more... fun ways to do that."
>You barely heard it, but there's no questioning that she just said that
>You said it once, you'll say it again
"Oh my..."
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>Be Gleaming Shield
>Getting fitted for a dress
>Also probably be pink by the end of this
>You don't DO dresses
>But since you and Cadence have a date with Anon tonight, you have to wear one
>You can handle a lot of things
>Armor? Obviously, you were a guard before you were the captain
>Formal dress uniform? Does the word "Captain" mean nothing to you?
>But dresses?
[spoiler]>Ech[/spoiler]
>Shit, Cadence noticed
>You know that look
>She waves the tailor off for a moment
>Steps of her little dais while magicking each little pin to stay in place
>She is WAY too good with her magic for somepony born as a pegasus
[spoiler]>And why does it turn you on so much?![/spoiler]
>"What's wrong, Glimmy?"
>You fight a frown back
>Ever since she heard Anon's little nickname for you, she's been calling you that
>At this point, you honestly wouldn't be surprised that, come Hearth's Warming, Cadence decides to legally change your name to "Glimmy Glim-Glam"
>It's been four WEEKS of nothing but "Glimmy" interspersed with some "Glim-Glams" from Anon whenever the three of you went on dates
[spoiler]>They must NEVER KNOW how much  you like it
>Fur's sweaty
>Legs are weak, hooves are heavy
>Insides fuzzy already
>Mom's Hayghetti![/spoiler]
>Most of those dates were casual things
>A lunch here
>A day just walking around one of Canterlot's parks
>Even a rainy day spent just playing board games at Anon's place
>But not this one
>No, despite the fact that Anon's about as coltish as your patrol spear, you have to "wine and dine him like proper mares"
[spoiler]>Never mind you were never "wined and dined," nor did the "wining and dining"
>Wait, that was probably because you couldn't drink back then[/spoiler]
>Thus the dress
>You're about 90% certain Cadence has some kind of romance fetish that hasn't been satisfied yet
>Wouldn't be surprising, really
>"Don't you want to look good for tonight? Look good for me?"
>Oh yeah, Cadence is here
>Damn those fluttery-eyelashes of hers!
>Her look turns sly
>"Don't you want to look good for Anon?"
>O-oh, that's a blush, right there...
>When you had started this whole herd thing, you honestly just wanted it to make the nobles FUCK OFF, as Anon would put it
>That's not to say you were opposed to actually being with Anon, he was your "bro" after all, but it just wasn't your primary concern
>But now...
>Let's just say it didn't take long to bring some... unacknowledged feelings to the fore
>Feelings you haven't felt since you realized Cadence was hot
>You manage a weak nod
>Damnit, you were the captain of the Royal Guard!
>You were not supposed to get flustered this easily!
>"And do you want to know what I think?"
>Shit, when did Cadence get so close?
>She's right in your face
>You can only nod
>"I think it looks great on you, but it'd look even better on Anon's floor tonight."
>Before you can even process what she said, she closes in with a peck on your [spoiler]snoot[/spoiler]
>And just like that, she trots back to her dais and resumes the position
>Like
>Nothing
>Even
>Happened
>It takes a few minutes for you figure out how to Pony again
>All you can do is shake your head
"Damn blue-beaning marefriends..."
>When did this dress get so warm?
-X-
>Be Gleaming Shield again
>But later
>After your fitting, you had some time to relax before your date
>Relax with a dear friend who's name starts with a B and rhymes with fuzz, that is
[spoiler]>By the sun, you thought you stopped doing this stuff once you were in a relationship![/spoiler]
>It was evening now
>About seven P.M
>Time to be a proper gentlemare and pick up your date with Cadence, once again under her glamour
>You wanted to keep this quiet for as long as possible
>Never before were you more thankful for your common coloration
>And the way nobles tend to stick their noses in the air and ignore everything they aren't concerned with
>Even if Anon and Candy weren't there, these nights would still be great just because of that
>You got a few looks, walking into an apartment complex with such ritzy dresses on like you own the place
[spoiler]>Cadence just might, what with the whole "princess thing"
>Or was it just like that for Celestia?
>Have to ask her that later[/spoiler]
>Wonder what this "traditional human formal attire" will look like?
>You find his door and knock
>"Coming!"
>Cadence starts to grin
"No."
>She starts to pout
>You WILL stand strong
"NO."
>Her cheeks just puff out more
>hecannaetakeanymore.scroll
>The door opens just as you were about to give in
>And just like that you love Anon forever
>The motion has been put forward, seconded, held to vote, and written into the Law of Gleaming Shield
>He steps out in... something
>Well, it's certainly not a saddle
>In fact, it sort of looks like those vest things you've seen some of the particularly pompous nobles wear
>"Hey girls, you ready to go?"
>Cadence says... something
>You weren't paying attention, too busy trying to decipher just what your kinda-coltfriend was wearing
>It was mostly black, a nice contrast with his furless body
>But then there was a wide stripe of white, then a small dangling bit of red cloth in the front
>Again, a nice contrast in your amateur opinion, but it was just so... unpony-like
>"What's wrong, Glim-Glam? Don't like the suit?"
>Shit, you were staring
>Quick say something
"No, it's just... weird."
>BUCK
>WHY DID YOU JUST SAY THAT
>THIS IS YOUR FIRST REAL DATE WITH ANON
>AND YOU SAY THAT
>Anon smiles, as if you didn't just insult his clothes
>"Yes, I suppose it is a bit odd compared to what you're used to."
>He steps fully out into the hall, locking up before heading toward the main doors
>"The tailor I had make this kept going on and on about making be a 'proper saddle' instead, but I managed to convince him otherwise."
>He lets out a little laugh
>"I'd like to think my piggy-back rides aren't so bad as to need padding quite yet."
>Piggy-back rides?
>What the buck is this colt talking about?
>Before you know it, you're back out in the street
>Anon looks between the two of you
>"So, ladies, you said you'd surprise me tonight, so lead the way."
>Cadence takes the lead and sets off down the winding streets of Canterlot toward the restaurant
>You love this city, but damn could it be complicated at times
>Meanwhile, you take up position at Anon's side
>You can hear them talking about something, but you aren't really paying attention
>Your mind wanders
>Just what the buck was a piggy-back ride?
>Anon said his species was related to apes, right?
>Wait, no, he said he was a hominid, a highly evolved form of ape
>Eh, close enough
>So what would be a piggy back ride, and how would he give one?
>Before you could be completely lost to your thoughts, you run into something head-first
>Or rather someONE
>"Woah, Gleaming, you alright? Thought we lost you there for a second."
>Anon and Cadence look on, amusement and the barest glint of concern in their eyes
>Before you could say or do anything, your mouth does the thing again
>You know
>The THING
>The thing where it moves without you asking it to
"Anon, what's a piggy-back ride?"
>Hoof, welcome to your new home in scenic "Mouth"
>Anon looks at you like you've sprouted a second head for a bit before shaking his head and laughing again
[spoiler]>You're beginning to suspect he finds your slip-ups funny[/spoiler]
[spoiler]>You're surprisingly OK with that[/spoiler]
>His laughter eventually peters out enough for him to speak
>"Whew, that threw me for a bit of a loop. Though, I suppose it makes sense you wouldn't have something like that, or at least not by the same name."
>He turns around and kneels down, looking at you over his shoulder
>"Here, lemme show you. Climb on up and set your forehooves up here,"
>He pats his shoulders
>"And I'll hold your hindlegs."
>Hold your hindlegs?
>Wha...?
>You look to Cadence, but for once she actually looks as confused as you
>You look back to Anon, hoping for an explanation
>But all you get is a look at just how earnest he looked
>"Come on, I won't let you fall."
>Shit, why'd he have to say it like that...
>Before you know it, you're placing your hooves on his shoulders
>Sun, you feel so weird doing this
>You just KNOW you look like a colt mounting something
>Now, what are you supposed to do with your hindlegs again?
>Before you can ask, you feel a pair of hands clasp onto you just under your flank
>You wrap your hooves around Anon's neck just in time to see the ground get a LOT further away
>Holyshitnomakeitstop.carving
>You reflexively kick, but your hooves catch nothing but air
>You pull closer to Anon, forgetting that your hooves were around his neck
>You were a unicorn, mare, not a pegasus!
>You weren't meant to be this high up!
>"Gleaming, it's ok. You'll be fine, I won't let you fall."
>Eventually you noticed you were not, in fact, a splatter on the recently estranged ground
>You open your eyes and, Tartarus, you were even still alive!
>You look around, finally not acting like a totally reasonable guardsmare thrust into an unfamiliar situation without notice
[spoiler]>Yup, going with that
>Totally wasn't acting like a scared little filly at all[/spoiler]
"Woah..."
>Was this what it's like to be Celestia?
>Wait, Anon was taller than Celestia
>DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE TALLER THAN CELESTIA?!
>You feel something grow in the pit of your stomach
>You know this feeling
>You haven't felt this feeling since you really realized Cadence had said 'yes' when you asked her on a date for the first time, and when you got your first practice spear for hearthswarming years ago before that
>You LIKE this feeling
>"Well, seems someone's enjoying her ride."
>You hear Cadence huff, but you don't care
>You were too busy taking in being the TALLEST FATHERBUCKER IN EQUESTRIA
>"She better, because of her little panic attack, we don't have much time before we lose our reservations."
>The world shifts, and you start bouncing in place
>Anon must be moving
>"You lead I follow, Cadence."
>The world passes in a mix of pretty lights and clip-clops
>Was this what drugs were like?
>Far too soon, you found yourself on your hooves again, trying to remember how to Pony for the second time in a day
>Maybe you should see a doctor about that
>In a few minutes you're all seated
>As the unicorn waiter sets down your menus, you can't help but feel jittery
>This felt like a stroke of genius when you thought it up
>You really hope this goes as well as you think it will
>Anon picks up his menu and barely glances at it before his eyes go wide
>He looks from the menu, to you and Cadence, to the menu again, before "settling" on flicking between you two
>"I-is this what I think it is?"
>YES
>HE LIKED IT
>Cadence's smile is a bit more restrained and dignified than yours, but you can tell she's just as happy it worked
>"Yes, it is, Anon."
>A wing wraps around you and pulls you to your marefriend
>"One of Glimmy here's guards has a Griffin partner, and according to her this place has the best griffin food in all of Canterlot."
>"I hear it even has a few special options for ponies wanting to live on the wild side for a night."
>She laughs and pulls you closer
>"With all these good ideas she's been having lately, sometimes I wonder which one of us should be the princess."
>She plants a little kiss on your cheek and winks
>"She's certainly pretty enough for it."
>Dontblushdontblushdontblush
>Please just let you have this
>Please let you look like a resourceful and respectable mare for ONCE in front of Anon
>Just ONCE
[spoiler]>Aaaand there's the blush
>BUCK[/spoiler]
>One of these days, Cadence
>ONE OF THESE DAYS
>ONE OF THESE DAYS, SHE WILL BE THE BLUSHING LITTLE FILLY
>NOT YOU
>"Thank you, Gleaming. You have NO idea how long it's been since I've had a good steak dinner."
>He reaches over and gives you a few good [spoiler]ear scratches
>O-oh yeah, that's the stuff...[/spoiler]
>After that, dinner went well
>You ate, you drank,  and you were merry
>You even tried a tofu-steak!
>But now the food was eaten and things were winding down
>Cadence and Anon were talking while you looked at a desert menu
>Would Anon mind if you got a desert to take home?
>You and Cadence were paying, of course, but this was a date
[spoiler]>A date you were hoping to get lucky on[/spoiler]
>Y-yeah, he should be fine with it
>He's chill like that
>Now, what was that chocolate thing called
>Ah, there it is-
>"Captain Shield? Captain, is that you?"
>HOLYSHITWHAT
>You totally did NOT jump about a foot in the air
>You swing your head around, trying to find who did NOT just about give you a heart attack
>Your heart very nearly does stop when you find just who it was
>Stormy Gale, the very same guard who told you about this place, was heading toward you from across the restaurant, griffin coltfriend in tow
[spoiler]>Or was it tomfriend? You never could figure that out[/spoiler]
>And by the Sun, was she MAKING A SCENE
>You try to silently scream at her to stop with your hooves, but she just KEPT COMING
>She wasn't even half-way to you, but you could already see the other patrons glancing your way and muttering to themselves
>Common colors and cutie-mark obscuring dress aside, you were still well known
>And you could see the dots connecting in their heads
>Buck desert, you need to get out of here
>You manage to wave down a waiter
>You get up, teleport a hundred-bit coin onto the table
>The meals were only about fifty bits all together, but time was of the essence
"Lovely service, thanks for the food, will be sure to tell all my friends, BYE!"
>Forgetting about the shell-shocked waiter, you try to push a confused Anon toward the door
>Cadence was already up, trying to clear a path ahead through the suddenly-crowded restaurant
>Comeoncomeoncomeon!
>Before you knew it, the LAST pegasus you wanted to see was right in front of you
>AND SHE WAS BLOCKING THE EXIT
>"Captain Shield, what are you doing here? I didn't know you liked griffin food!"
>She looks between Anon and the still-glamoured Cadence
>She scrunches
>"Who are these two? I thought you were herding with Princess Cadenza?"
>She looks between the three of you, STILL BLOCKING THE DOOR, before her eyes widen and she gasps
>"Did you break up?! Ohmigawsh, Captain, I'm so sorry for you!"
>She gets right up next to you-
>ESCAPE!
>And slips a wing around you in "support," trapping you next to her
>BUCK!
>"Don't you worry about a thing, Captain! Me and the troops have your back!"
>"Just you wait 'till I tell Morning Star, she'll set you up with-"
>You stopped listening
>By the Sun, you DID NOT NEED THIS RIGHT NOW
>YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GET LUCKY TONIGHT
>A snarl shoves its way out of your throat
"Corporal Gale, I swear by the SUN, if you don't let me go RIGHT NOW, you will be following the maids around until YOUR GRANDFOALS CAN ENLIST!"
>That gave her pause
>Along with giving you a chance to escape
>Thankfully, you manage to get out from under the mare's wings
>Cadence and Anon watch you with concern from the door
>You don't even look at them as you exit the now-quiet restaurant
>They don't say anything, but stay close while you trudge down the street
>You were lucky that place wasn't popular among the nobles, but it was still high class
>Some say the unicorns of Canterlot gossiped before they learned to speak
>Ponies will be talking sooner or later
>Sun, why did she have to say... Tartarus, all of THAT?
>You only manage to trot a few blocks before whatever was fueling you peters out
>You sit down on your haunches at a corner and sigh
>You look between the two of them
>The concern in their eyes
"I'm sorry about that, its just the night was going so well, then she shows up and makes that scene, and now ponies will be talking and thinking Cadence and I broke up-"
>Oh, you think you're rambling
"And now they're gonna be after us even MORE now, and only the Sun knows what they might do to you, Anon."
>Yeah, you're rambling
>Damn, you loved your family, but why did THAT have to come with it?
>Thankfully before you could continue digging your little pit deeper, you feel a pair of arms wrap around you, and wings on top of that
>"It's okay, Gleaming. It's okay."
>He gently pets your mane, voice soft
>Your eyes began to sting
>No
>No, you WEREN'T going to cry, damnit!
>You manage to blink away the tears, only a few getting out and playing Tartarus with your makeup
"But the nobles-"
>This time Cadence chimes in, making gentle shushing noises as she nuzzles your cheek
>"Let them think what they think. They'll be wrong, and whatever they do will be wasted effort, just like it already is."
>She pulls back and looks up at Anon and smiles
>"And besides, you don't think we were going to date Anon in secret FOREVER, do you?"
>She shakes her head
>"This came a bit quicker than I expected, but we were ALWAYS going to be public with our relationship with Anon eventually, Gleaming."
>She looks between the two of you, and smiles even brighter.
>Knowing her, she's probably thinking of your wedding day, or when your first foals are going to be born, or something like that.
>"All we need is the perfect opportunity to announce us."
>Us.
>For some reason, just thinking that word makes you happy.
>Hearing makes you smile.
>Makes Anon smile, too, it seems.
>Cadence leans back and gently boops you on the nose with her hoof.
>"And you just leave that to me, little missy. Soon as we're back home, you are going to bed, you hear?"
>You grumble, but can't deny that the dinner and the... incident after has left you feeling drained.
>You nod, and she pats you on the head
>"Good. Now, in the meantime, how about we walk our date home, Glimmy?"
>All you can do is nod.
>The rest of the walk back to Anon's is spent in comfortable silence
>Before you know it, you're at his door once again.
>Earlier tonight you'd been expecting to be walking through that door and into the next stage of your relationship with the alien stallion
>But right now you can't think of anything you'd want more than the hug and kiss he gave each of you
>You walk back to the castle with Cadence
>You didn't get lucky
>Your makeup is probably ruined
>Your dress is probably ruffled in ways that would probably have the royal dressmaker burn it to "put it out of its misery"
>And to top it all off, the nobility would be on your flank the moment Gale talks to practically anypony
>But right now you just don't care
>Everything seems brighter
>From the street lights to the stars
>Even the Mare in the Moon seems to be beaming tonight
>And you can't help but join her