private The Bird and the Axe

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

//Don't you worry. I was running out of ideas anyway XD//

 

Ebony stared outside, the snow fall reflecting in her eyes. The winding street lights were lit, the snowflakes fluttering through the light. It really was beautiful.

 

She looked over at Iron when he started speaking and smiled. "It is very pretty." She frowned only slightly at his comment about getting home; surely she could easily arrange something. She opened her mouth to say something, but he stepped in first with his offer.

 

The schoolfilly in her brain almost died from d'awwwness.

 

"Walk me home?" She repeated, leaning towards him as well. She blushed again and looked into his eyes. "I'd hate to impose, but..that'd be delightful." She flicked her mane away from her eye and smiled.

 

Had it been anypony else that had asked her, she most likely would've declined politely. She even ditched Cutter sometimes and walked back to the castle by herself.

 

However, she was greatly enjoying Iron's company, and he seemed to be enjoying her company too.

 

And the thought of walking with him through the snow on such a beautiful evening...

Her smile turned into a small grin.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony smiled and took his hoof, stepping away from the table. She called "thank you" towards the counter, getting a muffled "you're welcome" followed by the sound of something falling to the ground, then laughter.

 

Her horn lit as she pulled the door open, the chill and cold instantly gripping onto her, the icy breeze winding it's way through her mane, making her shiver. She stepped out into the street, away from the warmth of the cafe, and stood, half waiting for Iron, half taking in the surroundings.

 

She looked into the sky. It was black, apart from the seemingly endless spotted pattern the snowflakes were falling in. And heavy pattern, for that matter. Standing still for a few moments had already flecked her with white snow, sparkling slightly in the blurry yellow lights that were the spiraled street lights.

 

Ebony's eyes stayed fixed on the sky, her eyes widened slightly, trying to take in as much of the sight as she could. It was all so quiet and beautiful. She flinched suddenly as a snowflake fluttered down and landed on the ends of her eye lashes. She bowed her head, blinking a few times, laughing quietly to herself. She shook herself, partially from the emotions running through her mind, and partially from the cold that was creeping it's way towards her core. She half smiled, despite herself.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony's eyes trailed along the road. Untouched snow was building up, giving no hint that there was road underneath it. She breathed out through her mouth, her warm breath billowing infront of her in the cold air. Her ears perked up as something was laid across her shoulders. She turned her head and saw Iron's jacket, feeling the dwindling heat weakly breaking through the cold veil around her.

 

She felt his hoof between her shoulders, and she looked up.

 

A little "oh" sound escaped from her lips.

 

She gazed up at the stallion that was inches away from her. Something sparked in her mind the moment her eyes stared into his. There was something about his touch and expression that just..drew her in. Her eyes softened as she felt something bloom in her chest, like a flower unravelling it's petals to bask in the sunshine; she'd never felt that before. She didn't know this was a feeling you could get, but she somehow knew that it was love. It had to be. The look in his eyes-

 

And that's when she realized she was staring. Though, frankly, she didn't care. When he lowered his head, hers tilted very slightly and raised towards his. His smile brought out a smile in her, and she raised her front hoof, lightly touching his leg that wasn't on her shoulder. Her mind sparked again, this time from memories being plucked to the surface.

 

~

 

The stallion removed his helmet and sat next to the filly on the ground. "I need to get you to Canterlot..will you come with me?"

The filly on the ground continued staring at the figures infront of her.

The stallion put his hoof on her shoulder and gently pulled her so she was facing him. She stared up into his eyes, her gaze reflecting his. He pulled her into his other front leg and hugged her to him, letting her latch onto him.

"I've got you."

 

~

 

Ebony blinked once, still staring into Iron's silver eyes. It reminded her of the comfort that Cutter had given her, but it seemed far stronger. She didn't know what feelings were coursing through his system, but she could feel them coursing through hers. Before she had time to relish in the warmth of the love she felt for this stallion, a metaphorical tidal wave of emotion hit her. It contained everything; happiness, joy, love, adoration, sadness, sorrow, despair, longing-...she recoiled from the wave, her eyes reflecting the inward strike it made on her.

 

Her gaze turned almost pleading as she realized exactly what it was; it was like the comfort her father had given her. That sense that even if everything was crumbling and collapsing, it'd all be ok. That she could fall back, and he'd catch her. But she'd lost that sense. She'd had nothing to fall back onto except Cutter, and even he couldn't always catch her. Staring into Iron's eyes, she wanted to catch him if he fell. And as selfish as she felt for it, she didn't want to fall again either. She had that sense ripped away from her, and she didin't want to lose it again.

 

She didn't want to lose him.

 

"Oh, god.."

 

She closed her eyes and hugged him suddenly, the force of it rocking them both a little bit. She wrapped her front leg around his, the side of her head (that wasn't hidden by her mane, which was also conveniently hiding the rosy hue that was burning on her cheeks) against his warm chest, and the front of her slightly shivering frame against him. She didn't pull away, nor did she apologize (an inward battle on it's own).

 

"...You're so warm." She mumbled into his chest, opening her eyes halfway.

 

She was harshly scolding herself in her mind, but she was choosing to ignore it.

 

She pulled her head back (though she was still holding onto him and gently pressing herself against him) and looked up at him, giving him an apologetic and timid smile and a look that said "I'll let go if you want me to".

Edited June 14, 2013 by Princess Nightingale

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony's eyes widened slightly when Iron's lips met hers, her heart skipping a beat (or 2..). She tensed for a second before melting into the kiss, her eyes closing as she gently kissed him back. Apart from the snowfall, everything was completely still. It seemed completely still. As far as she was concerned, the only thing that currently existed was her and the tall stallion infront of her.

 

The chill found her again, forcing her to shiver (despite her best (and somewhat distracted) efforts to hold it in) and she slowly pulled away from the kiss, opening her eyes again to look into Iron's. She smiled up at him, the emotion in her eyes showing where words would fail to express. The icy breeze wound it's way through her mane, like a bird dodging between tightly woven branches in a tangle of trees, making her flinch slightly. She moved closer to him, her front leg still wrapped around his, and leaned the side of her head on his chest again, nuzzling it slowlly,

 

She huddled against him, half smiling. "Do you mind if we continue on?" She looked up at him, hesitating a bit nervously with the next part of her scentence; "I do love your warmth," which she emphisized by pressing against him a bit more, "but I feel bad about keeping your jacket from you... Aren't you cold at all?"

 

If the warmth flooding through her chest and mind could keep her warm physically, (which still, to her slight annoyance, was keeping her cheeks rosy) she'd never be cold again. Physically and mentally. She subconsciously squeezed his leg.

 

(( "You're so cold, keep your hand in mine.."

))

Edited June 15, 2013 by Princess Nightingale

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony nodded against his chest, leading him down the familiar route from the streets of Canterlot back to the castle, staying close to his side the whole time.

 

 

Cutter fixed the cloak over his armor, keeping it tight against him. He levitated the lamp off the ground and opened the large double doors that led out to the palace gardens, then walked through to the gate that led to the main entrance. He trudged through the snow that was piling up on the road, raising the lamp up as he looked around. He stopped and peered through the snow at the figure making it's way towards him. He shook his head to himself. No, too tall to be-... He took a few steps forward, making out another figure against the taller one. "..Ebony?"

 

Ebony looked up from Iron's chest. "Yes, I'm here. Calm down." She called back, bringing Iron to the front of the castle with her.

 

Cutter sighed. "I was just going to start looking for you, are you alright?" He noted the jacked on her back and glanced up at Iron.

 

She smirked at him. "I'm fine. Cold, but fine. How are you?"
 

He gave her an annoyed look. "I'm fine. Come inside, Princess. I have a fire going in your room." He turned back towards the garden gate.

 

Ebony watched him go instead of following straight away. She gently pulled away from Iron, and her horn lit as she lifted the jacket from her back and onto his. "Thank you." She smiled up at him, but it faltered. She looked to the city roads, then to the sky. The snow was still falling heavily, the large flakes speckling them both from standing still. She looked back up at Iron. "Forgive my boldness, but...I don't think the snow is going to let up anytime soon, and.." She lifted her hoof and touched his leg gently. "..you're cold. You could stay here tonight, if you wish..though I do insist on it, I don't want you freezing out here." She half smiled, pulling her hoof away again.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony giggled. "Well, I'll have to track you down at a later date then." She winked at him, then looked over her shoulder to look at Cutter. He was looking up into the sky, and at the castle. "And I'll show you around the castle one day..remind me." She partially grinned at him.

 

Cutter looked to Ebony and sighed. She hadn't moved an inch. "Ebony, please. I have to get back to my post soon. And I need to talk to you about something." He gave her a stern look. She hadn't been acting properly, nor had she stayed in her proper posture.

 

Ebony turned her head and looked at him. "Alfred, I shan't respond unless you refer to me as Princess or Miss. Honestly, it's not so hard." She gave him a similar stern look, but she was smirking. She turned back to Iron and laughed under her breath, then looked back up at him.

 

Cutter's head, eyelids, and ears drooped in a heavily annoyed fasion. For the love of Celestia.. He straightened up again and grumbled to himself. He kicked at the snow covering his hooves and looked back to the castle.

 

"Anyway..I had a lovely time, Iron. Thank you." She smiled at him sweetly. "Really. I'd love to go out again, if it's alright with you." She looked back to the street. "I trust you know your way back, but..just continue down this road for a bit, then go the way you need to. As long as the castle is behind you, you should be alright." She smirked jokingly and lightly touched his leg again. She bit her lip in thought, then looked back at Cutter, whos attention was still on the castle. She smiled mischievously and her horn lit. She slowly undid the strings on his cloak, then tugged it off him.

 

Cutter got jerked back a few inches. "Ebony, what the hell are you-" His sentence was inturruped when the cloak smacked him in the face, and he pushed it away with his own magic.

 

Ebony levitated the cloak over Iron and draped it over his back, bringing the strings to his chest. "He'll forgive me, don't worry. I'll get him another one." She half smiled as the light from her horn faded. She took the strings gently between her teeth and fastened them that way, nuzzling his chest inconspicuously as she did so. "Goodnight, Iron." She pulled back and smiled warmly again, then bowed her head. She turned and walked to Cutter, giving him a half apologetic half smirking smile.

 

Cutter shook his head at her, then glanced at Iron again. He held eyecontact for a few seconds before pulling Ebony through the garden gates, closing them gently behind him.

Edited June 24, 2013 by Princess Nightingale

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

//Yessir. Wall of text, awaaay//

 

Cutter opened the castle door, and they both trotted inside. They walked in silence until they got to Ebony's room, where they both stopped outside the door. He opened his mouth to speak, but noted the snowflakes in her mane that had refused to melt away. He sighed and opened the door, walking in and stepping out of the way so she could enter afterwards. His horn lit as he shut the door and slowly unwrapped the scarf from her neck, setting it down on her dresser, his magical aura shifting to his helmet afterwards.

 

Ebony trotted over to the fireplace. A small fire was crackling and snapping away, serving as the only point of warmth and light in the room. She shivered and sat a few feet infront of it, enjoying the warm glow it cast on her as she stared into the glowing embers.

 

Cutter set his helmet down on her dresser as well. "Princess-"

 

She closed her eyes and cut him off. "Alfred, please don't ruin my good mood with a lecture. You told me I could do as I wished tonight."

 

He waited a few seconds. "That isn't what I was going to say."

 

She turned her head and looked at him, her shadow long against the floor.

 

Cutter took a few steps towards her. "I was going to say that you sang very well today. I talked to Celestia, and a few other guards. Everyone really enjoyed it." He stopped when she gave him a half smile, but continued. "I was also going to ask how your night with that stallion was." He closed his eyes, expecting a backlash of how he was "too overprotective". He had good intentions, despite his outward attitude; he just wanted to make sure she was well taken care of. He had his own doubts, especially because she'd only spoken to him, or anypony for that matter, after a year or two. But she seemed in a good state.

 

Ebony smiled gently and turned back to the fire, lowering herself fully onto the floor, lying on her side. She crossed one of her front legs over the other and rested her head on them, her gaze returning back to the fire. "It was delightful." She mused quietly, blinking slowly. Her eyes reopened halfway and she brought her tail around her back legs, her body making a crescent shape on the floor.

 

Cutter opened his eyes again, a bit dumbfounded by her response. "I'm..very glad." He nodded to himself and turned back to her dresser, levitating his helmet to his side. "I should probably go do my rounds before I go to bed. Do you need anything, Princess?" He turned back to her after he put his helmet back on. He walked over to her when she didin't reply, and his eyes softened. She was breathing lightly, and she was fast asleep.

 

His horn lit as he levitated a blanket from her bed and layed it across her. He gently brushed her mane away from her eye with his hoof, and he sighed quietly. "You really shouldn't hide behind your mane." He murmured. He kept his gaze on her for a few seconds, then trotted back to the door, openeing it and closing it silently behind him, leaving the dark mare to sleep in the crackling glow of the fire.

 

~~~

 

"Art thou ready?"

 

Ebony looked over at Princess Luna. Her horn was lit, and she was looking expectantly at her. She looked around and saw Princess Celestia, Cutter and a few of the other Unicorns looking at her as well. Celestia gave her a small smile.

 

She blinked. "Oh. Yes, my apologies." Ebony's horn lit also, and they all turned back to the large tree that was towering in the center of the castle foyer. Celestia and Luna spread their wings, the aura from their horns casting a string of glowing light of the corresponding colours. Ebony, Cutter, and the other Unicorns did the same, and started trotting around the tree in different patterns as Luna as Celestia flew around it and to the top. They touched horns and a large ball of blue and yellow light positioned itself on the top of the tree. The flew back down afterwards, and they all stopped and turned their gaze to the tree.

 

Celestia smiled. "It's perfect." She looked down at Luna, who smiled up at her.

 

Each of the ponies around it had cast a modified light spell on the tree, letting the orbs of magic settle and glow on the branches, the act replacing what would've been ordinary strings of lights. The ponies around the tree each had different coloured magic auras; Celestia had yellow, Luna had blue, Cutter had turquoise, Ebony had red, and the other unicorns had green, purple, and pink.

 

Each of them smiled and mubled similar things.

 

"Ebony?"

 

She turned her head and saw Cutter smirking at her. "You're very out of it today. Are you alright?"

 

Celestia closed her eyes and smiled. "She's probably just thinking about something." She opened her eyes and met Ebony's gaze, raising her eyebrow and giving her a small, knowing smile.

 

Ebony blinked a few times and blushed slightly. "Just..Hearth's Warming." She laughed awkwardly and grinned at Cutter. He shook his head and looked back up at the tree.

 

"Thank you for your assistance, everyone." Celestia and Luna looked amongst all of them, and they all bowed respectively. Everyone left a few moments afterwards, a few walking out together.

 

Cutter looked at Ebony. "Hearth's Warming, eh?"

 

"Oh, stop." She flicked her tail and walked past him as he laughed quietly to himself. She walked back to her room and shut the door, then walked to the window. The snow wasn't as harsh anymore, and a lot more ponies were outside. She rested against the windowsill.

 

It'd been 5 days since her outing with Iron Bass. She'd been too busy to go locate him, but found herself distracted by thoughts of him quite a few times. She'd often daydream and think about the feeling of his hoof on the back of her head holding her gently to him, and the kiss they shared in the snow.

 

She smiled to herself and sighed.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Cutter trotted quietly through the hall, his helmet levitating in the aura of his horn behind him as he went. His ears pricked suddenly, and his trot slowed to a walk.

 

"The streets of town were paved with stars.."

 

His walk slowed, and he stopped completely. He could faintly hear somepony singing.

 

"It was such a romantic affair..."

 

He smirked slightly to himself and looked down the hallway the the double doors with the red trim and the Nightingale carved above them. He trotted towards the doors, still listening to the words being sung.

 

"And as we kissed and said goodnight, a nightingale sang.."

 

He stopped outside the door, and pressed his ear against it. He chuckled quietly to himself and opened the door silently with his magic, peeking his head in.

 

Ebony was standing infront of her window, her back partially to the door. Her head was tilted up slightly and her eyes were closed. Her hoof was lifted by her head, slowly rising and falling in time with her voice as the pitch changed.

 

"A nightingale sang, I know 'cause I was there.."

 

She dragged the notes out, smiling slightly to herself.

 

Cutter smiled also, stepping fully into the room.

 

"That night in Berkeley Square.."

 

"Delightful, Princess."

 

Ebony jumped, her eyes opening and her head turning to the doorway. "Oh! Alfred." She laughed quietly and put her hoof back on the ground. "You startled me."

 

He bowed his head to her slightly. "Forgive me. I heard you singing."

 

She blushed slightly. "Was I that loud?"

 

He half smiled. "Loud enough for me to hear you down the hall." He chuckled as she looked away, still blushing. "Don't worry. At least you can carry a pitch." He raised an eyebrow at her and smirked slightly.

 

She looked back at him and smirked back. "I've had a bit of practice. Anyway, did you barge in for a reason or did you just follow my voice?"

 

He chuckled. "I've been told to inform you of the Winter Solstice, Miss. Princess Celestia has confirmed it is indeed happening."

 

Ebony frowned slightly. "Must I attend?"

 

"I promise that you won't have to sing unless you want to. Octavia will be there, she'll be in charge of music. She'll ask if she wants you to." He half smiled when she continued frowning. "You can escape to the gardens whenever you wish, and you can bring a date if you desire. As long as it isn't me. I'll be busy for most of the evening."

 

She smiled again. "3 questions. Can I stay in the gardens the entire time, is there any critera on who my date can be, and can I wear a red dress?"

 

He shook his head. "Not the entire time. At least mingle around for an hour or so, I'm sure the Princesses and some of the other nobles will want to chat with you for a little while. Bring whoever you want, as long as they won't cause a huge commotion..and no. No red dress this time." He lifted his hoof when she opened her mouth to argue. She scowled at him, and he smiled. "I'm sorry. But your dress is going to be white this year."

 

One of her ears lowered in confusion. "White? I don't own anything white. I've never WORN anything white. All I have is red..and black."

 

He chuckled and turned back to the door, lifting his helmet to his head. "I know. The tailors are designing one for you as we speak. So if you get a knock at your door and you get attacked by a flurry of white fabric, don't be surprised. And it's a Winter Solstice, Ebony. Besides, I'm sure you'll look fine in white." He put his helmet on and stepped out the door. "The Solstice will be in a week. Your assistance for decoration may be needed, but other than that you can do as you wish. Just..please inform me if you plan on running off anywhere." He gave her a look and trotted out, going back down the hall the way he came.

 

Ebony watched him leave. Her horn lit as she shut the door, and she turned back to her window, watching the scattered snowfall. She let out a thoughtful noise and trotted to her desk, pulling a scroll, quill, and ink out from one of the drawers.

 

She smiled slightly to herself and dipped the quill in ink.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

((Hmm..night before, night of, or night after would work. Doesn't matter to me))

 

Ebony's quill paused when she heard a knock at her door. She frowned slightly and set it down, the trotted over to the door, pulling it open with her magic as she did so. "Ye-"

 

Just as Cutter had said, she was attacked by dressmakers and engulphed in a flurry of white and blue fabric. She exclaimed loudly and stumbled back, but was steadied by another pony. "Please hold still, Princess. We need to find out which colour would go better!"

 

"I'm in the middle of something, can't we-" She was silenced by a fold of fabric that was behing pulled over her head. "Girls-"

 

"Mm.." A pale pink unicorn narrowed her eyes at her, then shook her head. "Not the white. Too light." Her horn lit and the dress was pulled off her again. A purple pegasus and a green unicorn passed her a pale blue dress, and she looked back to Ebony. "Hold still please, miss."

 

Ebony took a few steps back. "Stitch, I really don't have time for this right-"

 

The pale pink unicorn, Cross Stitch, smiled at her. "Which is why we're doing it for you." She levitated the dress over Ebony's head and pulled it down on her. "Fasten the back for me, will you Needle?"

 

The green unicorn, Needlework, took the clasps of the dress in her aura and pulled them together, clasping them shut, making Ebony call out. "Easy-"

 

The pegasus, Patchwork, was hovering infront of Ebony's face, twirling her mane around in her hooves. "We really should have Spritz curl her mane..it'd look so pretty, don't you think?"

 

Cross Stitch smiled again, using her magic to get the sleeves properly around her front legs while Needlework fixed the actual skirt part of the dress.

 

Ebony, at this point, had given up and was standing still in defeat. "You really could give me more warning, you know." She huffed, blowing her mane away from her eye. She gave Patchwork a look, and she grinned back. "Sorry Princess. But we need you looking your best! A lot of nobles will be at the Solstice, and we need you looking like a proper princess. A..winter princess. We need to get you away from red, at least for a day."

 

She scowled at her. "I have no intention of "wooing" nobles. And I'm the Princess of Song. Not winter. I wear red because it goes with my cutie mark and eyes-"

 

Cross Stitch waved a hoof at her. "The dress is covering your cutie mark anyway. Besides, this'll just make your eyes stand out more. We're locating a silver crown for you to wear. It'll go better."

 

Ebony sighed. "You've really got this all figured out, don't you?"

 

They all smiled and said "yep" in unison, and Ebony laughed quietly. "Fine then. Can I see it, at least?"

 

Cross Stitch looked over Ebony's shoulder at Needlework, who was adjusting the lace that fell around the bottom of the dress. She stepped back and nodded at Stitch and Patchwork. Patch flew above Ebony's head and put her hooves over here eyes, then nodded at the unicorns. They both gently took the collar of the dress in their magic auras and dragged Ebony over to the mirror. Cross Stitch shifted her aura to Ebony's mane, gently holding it in curls. They smiled, and Patch let her hooves fall away from Ebony's eyes as she landed on the ground next to Needlework. 

 

Ebony blinked a couple times and stared at herself in the mirror. Her mane was still falling over her eye, but in round curls apart from bone straight. She turned slightly to get a better view of the dress; it was a pale blue with swirling black lines all over it, along with lace as the collar on her neck, sleeves, and the bottom of the skirt of the dress. The fabric seperated between the collar and the skirt, leaving part of her back bare.

 

"Oh..my." She murmured, looking away from the mirror and looking down at herself instead.

 

"I told you she'd look great in the blue." Patchwork said, giving Needlework a smirking look. She stuck her tongue out at her, and Cross Stitch let her aura fade from Ebony's mane, letting it fall back into it's normal, straight shape. "Will this do, Princess?"

 

Ebony smiled after a few seconds. "Yes..I think it will."

 

Cross Stitch smiled back. "Excellent." The dressmakers surrounded her again, drawing out laughter from the dark mare as they started the task of getting the dress off her.

 

~

 

After the dressmakers had left, Ebony went back to her quill and scroll. She stared at what she'd written, and let out a thoughtful noise. She scowled down at the scroll and crumpled it up in her magical aura, and turned to her window. "...Perhaps a...live invitation would work better."

 

((edited so it's reply-able))

 

Ebony tightened the scarf around her neck with her magic and trotted down the street at a slightly slowed pace. She was clumsy enough at times, and didn't want to risk a spectacular fall on the snowy streets.

 

She was looking around here and there, trying her luck to see if Iron was out and about. If not, she'd have the task of finding his house. She knew which house was his, as creepy as that sounded. Knowing Canterlot was part of her "duty". Cutter gave her good natured pop quizzes on buildings and the ponies who lived in them, so she knew the basics of who lived where and if that changed.

 

But, even though she knew which house was his, she didn't know exactly where.

 

She huffed quietly, her breath billowing out infront of her. She turned down another street and looked around. Upon seeing no one, she kept trotting slowly, and started singing to herself.

 

"They've come to get me again,
The cloud is over my head,

My polyamorous friend,

He got me in a mess of trouble again,

 

So..

Just when you think that you're alright,

I'm calling out from the inside..."

 

She looked down the roads as she came to them. She saw a couple walking together and disappear into a bakery, but other than that, it was empty. She sighed and continued down the road she was on, tightening her scarf again when a shiver worked it's way up her spine.

 

"..I never heard anyone,

I never listen at all,"

 

She carried the note for a few seconds, then caught a snowflake on her tongue.

 

"Just stay away from the white light,

I'll tell ya what side's your best side,

I never heard anyone,

I never-"

 

Her note got cut short as she turned the corner and knocked into something. She stumbled back in surprise and exclaimed, then apologized automatically, her scarf unravelling from her neck in her movement and the slight breeze. It fluttered into the snow around her hooves, and she lifted one of her front hooves off the ground as a couple things fell in the snow infront of her, including a pony.

 

She bit her lip and her horn lit. She bowed her neck and head slightly, levitating the small packages off of the ground. "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention, I-..oh, I'm sorry.." She kept spewing out quiet apologies, then ignored her scarf and finally looked at the pony she knocked over, the insecurity and social awkwardness starting to wash over her, until she gasped quietly.

 

"....Iron?"

 

((Sorry for the wall of text. Christ))

Edited September 14, 2013 by Princess Nightingale

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony blinked and laughed nervously,blushing because of the pony she barreled into. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention.. I'm fine," She levitated the things above her head a bit as she went to him and looped her leg under his, pulling him completely to his hooves and holding him steady. "Oh, Celestia.. I'm so clumsy...I'm sorry." She looked up into his eyes, placing the little objects on his back and releasing them from her magical hold as she shifted her focus to her scarf, entwining it with magic and letting it snake around her neck again.

 

"Are you alright? I'm sorry.." She trailed off again, her eyes drifting from his. She blinked a few times, her eyes widening slightly. She looked back up at him, grinning out of nowhere. "Fancy meeting you here indeed! I was looking for you, actually.." She stepped back from him and lit her horn, and a rather royal and official looking scroll popped into existence in front of him. "I was trying to find you so I could give this to you." She undid the silky ribbon around it and unrolled it gently, revealing the elegant scrawl that said "Winter Solstice".

 

"The Winter Solstice is in a few days..I was wondering if you wanted to come with me. I have to attend and Alfred refuses to join me. It's just a party with the nobles and the Princesses and such. You don't have to, I'm just going to be avoiding everyone and hiding out in the gardens for most of the night I think, but..company is always nice." She rolled the scroll back up and carefully put it in his jacket pocket. "Think about it. You can bring your friends if you want as well." She flicked her mane away from her face and half smiled, then looked up at the sky.

 

She caught another snowflake on her tongue, then shivered slightly. "Anyway..I should probably leave you alone now. Just stop by the Castle when you have your answer, Cutter or one of the guards will bring you up to my room. You'd get lost by yourself." She giggled quietly, then gave him an apologetic smile. She turned and started walking back the way she came, taking careful steps as she went. "Let me know. Sorry again..I should be more careful." She smiled over her shoulder at him, then looked forward and kept walking through the snow.

 

"Leave your shoes at the door, baby,

I am all you adore lately,"

 

She jumped gently off the sidewalk and onto the snowy road, lifting her head slightly afterwards.

 

"Come with me, and we will run away.."

 

She sustained the note as she turned a corner and started back to the castle, still singing to herself as she went.

Edited September 16, 2013 by Princess Nightingale

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony's ears perked up as he put his hoof on his shoulder, and she turned partially towards him. She looked up into his eyes and half smiled, noting the very slight strain in his gaze.

 

"I'd love to catch up. I can't really stay out in Canterlot though, I have a fire going  in my room and I'd hate to burn the castle down.." She laughed quietly and turned fully towards him. "Why don't you come back to the castle with me, Iron?" She nuzzled his chest lightly and pulled away, starting to trot back from the way she was headed previous. She turned her head and smiled, chatting casually as she lead him to the towering structure that was Canterlot Castle.

 

//Slight godmod, with permission. Makin' it easier//

 

After working their way through the castle's many hallways and quickly stopping for 2 mugs of hot chocolate, she huffed to herself as they started going down a very familiar hallway.

 

"I'm surprised I don't get lost here, honestly. My room is in one of the quieter parts of the castle..spares them all the singing, I guess." She smirked slightly to herself, stopping infront of 2 large, wooden double doors. It had lines carved and swirling around it that were filled in with red, as well as a carved nightingale (very similar to her cutie mark) on either door, filled in with black.

 

Her horn lit as she pushed the doors open, letting Iron go in first. She stepped in after him and closed the doors, locking them afterwards. She turned away from the doors and half smiled. "I'm not locking you in with me, I swear. Alfred has a habit of randomly bursting in here." Her smile turned slightly apologetic. "I apologize for the slight mess, as well." She trotted past her bed, the blankets a twisted mess from a night of sleeplessness and forgotten nightmares.

 

Ebony unraveled her scarf from her neck and tossed it on her vanity, it landing over her tiara and necklace. She turned away from it and walked to the fireplace which was crackling quietly. She stopped at the foot of the plush rug she had infront of it and levitated another log onto the fire, then sat on the left side of the rug.

 

She turned her head to Iron and smiled gently. "Come over here with me, we can talk while warming up." She set the 2 mugs down infront of her, levitating one of them to her mouth and taking a small sip, gazing with half-lidded eyes into the embers of the fire. She lowered herself down fully and sighed contently.

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony looked to Iron when he sat down beside her. She half smiled at his comment. "If you think this is big, you should see the Princess' rooms. Those are places I'd get lost in." She giggled quietly and took another small sip from her mug.

 

"Celestia insisted on this room. I asked for smaller, but..the fireplace is nice. Keeps most of the room warm." She turned her gaze back to the fire and sighed. "..I don't think I've ever had somepony that wasn't Alfred or Celestia in here." She said a bit quietly.

 

She turned her head towards a plush chair that was beside a bookcase and focused her magical aura around the quilt that was neatly folded and placed. She brought it over to them, then unfolded it and lay it across them, moving closer to Iron in the process. She leaned her head on his neck, her eyes forward again and reflecting the flames twitching and snapping a few feet infront of them. "I don't bite, you don't have to be so nervous." She murmured quietly.

 

Ebony exhaled slowly and turned her head into him more. "Sorry. I'm still a bit cold." She crossed one of her front legs over the other and closed her eyes for a few seconds, nuzzling his neck slightly. "What have you been up to lately, Iron?"

Edited October 20, 2013 by Princess Nightingale

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony sighed and relaxed against Iron, leaning fully into him. She watched the flames and listened to him. Her focus snapped back at one point, but she shrugged it off.

 

She let out a quiet, thoughtful noise. "I'm not that busy. I help with decorations when needed and need to attend the Winter Solstice, but that's about it. I get asked to sing at a couple small things and might need to perform with Octavia, but..that's about it." She sipped her hot chocolate absentmindedly, then looked up at Iron. "You should come to the Solstice with me. It'll be fun." She gave him a small smile, then settled against him and closed her eyes.

 

She stayed that way against him for a little while, listening to the soft crackling of the fire and the silence otherwise. She nuzzled into him and pulled the quilt tighter against them, turning her head into him more. Something about being so close to him was comforting.

 

Ebony sighed quietly and pulled her head away from his neck and looked up at him, into his steely eyes with a slightly uncertain and very slightly saddened expression. "Are you leaving soon too?"

 

//May be reading it wrong, I'm getting the impression they've left Canterlot and that's what I'm going upon ^ //

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

Ebony relaxed considerably when he said he was staying, but her expression remained one of slight sorrow. She stared up into those steely eyes of his, and noted his lack of breath. And his tense muscles. And uneasiness and shakiness when he put his hoof over her and how he froze when she moved closer to him-

 

Her eyes narrowed slightly as they always did before she started crying; she pulled away from him. Stop it. She closed her eyes and hung her head, letting out a sad but convincing attempt at an awkward laugh. She bit her lip and blinked a couple times, keeping her eyes on the ground, the side of her mouth visible by him turned up into a well-practiced forced smile.

 

"Sorry." She continued staring at the ground with half-lidded eyes, arguing with herself in her mind. "..I really don't want you to feel nervous around me, I'm sorry that you do. I know royalty scares ponies, but..there's nothing that royal about me to be scared of. There's nothing about me in general to be scared of...There's scarier things out there." She mumbled the last bit to herself, her eyes drifting up to the light of the fire. She looked out the window afterwards, the darkening sky causing the light from the fire to reflect in the window, like a mirror.

 

Ebony glanced over her shoulder to the darker areas of the room. She shivered slightly to herself and looked back to the fire, but turned her head towards Iron a bit. She opened her mouth to say something, but hesitated and sighed quietly. Her horn lit, the red magic aura lighting her face and eyes as she unlocked the door. The light from her horn faded and she looked back to the fire.

 

"You can go whenever you want to, I don't want to keep you if you don't want to be here. Especially if you're uncomfortable." She looked up at him and half smiled gently. "You don't need to feel obligated to stay, Iron."

[Nothing&NoOne 695]

One of Ebony's ears went down slightly as she listened to him. She'd heard of the other monarchs, of course, but she never knew they could be that bad. She looked down at her hoof when he did, and frowned slightly. Nothing about her was very regal, not to her anyway. Hell, she didn't feel that approachable either.

 

She looked back up at him at the word "beautiful". She stared into his eyes after he trailed off, then blinked slowly after a few seconds. She recoiled slightly in surprise at the feeling of something wet running down her cheeks. She blinked again, now in confusion, and gently pulled her hoof away from his. She brought it to her cheek, then up to her eye. She made a quiet little "oh" sound.

 

Tears. She was crying.

 

Ebony scowled. Why was she crying? She didn't feel sad.

 

Did she?

 

The tears escaping her eyes proved her wrong, almost seeming to mock her slightly as they fell from her face. She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side, her mane creating a curtain between them and hiding her from him. Her head hung and she hunched her shoulders slightly, biting down on her lower lip to keep quiet.

 

"I'm sorry," she breathed out. A single, quiet sob escaped from her. She mentally slapped herself immediately after, shrinking away from him a bit.