POV Rio
Everyone had gathered at Sanctuary for a party. Most weren't fully sure what the party was about, and those who had an idea were likely not fully correct. But that would change in a few moments as both Cadance and I got onto the stage to make an announcement. I tap my glass to get everyone's attention.
"Ehem, gather around. Thank you. Now I am sure many of you are wondering why we are gathered here today," I comment.
Many look around in uncertainty, and others seem confident, but in either case, I continue.
"To start, I want to congratulate those of you who have worked to get the Grand Herald operational after the many centuries it has likely been buried for. With its launch, we are now more than capable of defending Earth from anyone who would try to harm us," I say with a smile.
Applause
I let the applause go on until it starts to end.
"Next, I want to say that I have finished the Terraforming of Equus. I know many of you have heard about it, and as such, I am proud to say it is now ready for colonization and habitation. And while it does lack fauna, it has plentiful flora," I announce.
More applause.
As the applause dies down, a few hands raise, and I call on them.
"Will we be moving there?" asks a Unicorn.
"No, not unless you want to. It's purely optional; I have no intentions of abandoning Earth," I reply.
"What about the temperature?" asks a Pegasi.
"The weather has been resolved as a very fortunate side effect. The planet has temperatures similar to a temperate region. It can still get cold, but only towards the mountains and the North and South poles," I answer.
"Will we be prospecting the planet for materials?" asks a Griffon.
"No, we have more than we could ever need. If we do need more, then we can always use space mining to get what we need. That way, the planet will remain in great condition," I answer.
"Does this mean we will start Terraforming Earth?" asks a Human.
"Yes, I will start on it shortly. To ensure nothing strange happens, I will start with small islands and move on to Europe before eventually coming to the Americas to finish the job. While I don't see any complications coming from this, it is better to be careful," I respond.
I wait to see if anyone has questions, and when they don't, I move on.
"The next announcement is to highlight the various achievements of our various members. With a special highlight of Giffany and her incredible efforts to clean up the planet and has even started to work to turn said world into a vassal state. With eventual plans to integrate them completely," I say with a nod toward Giffany.
Everyone applauds her, and she smiles and thanks everyone around her. She even has a little blush. The body I had made for her was a more realistic take on her original 2D form. Well, realistic in some senses, as she still decided she wanted to look like the sterotypical massive chested female anime character. I warned her that it would make balance more difficult and might be a lot less comfortable, given the almost outrageous size she chose. Not to mention all clothing has to be custom-made. But it was her choice, and I wasn't going to judge her.
'Eh, if she regrets it later, I can try to tweak the design so it's less annoying to deal with. At least she won't have to deal with back pain, as her skeleton is made of a titanium alloy that won't be bothered by a few extra pounds.'
After the applause died down, I took a deep breath, and Cadance gave me a nod.
"Now for the biggest and boldest announcement today. The Minutemen and the Kingdom of Equestria are formally uniting under the new name of the Kingdom of Harmonia," I announce, and everyone freezes for a moment as that statement registers with them.
Several eyes widen with realisation, and others seem like they are starting to figure things out.
"Which means we are..." I start.
"GETTING MARRIED!" Cadance yells with joy before giving me a massive kiss.
I was not expecting the kiss, but went with it. Everyone cheered or gave us wolf whistles. When the kiss ended, I cleared my throat.
"Ehem, I didn't get to finish. The wedding is planned for 6 months from now. Everyone is welcome to join. The venue will be the recently restored capital of Equestria, Canterlot," I say with a slight blush, and then move to get off the stage.
POV Cait
I stood there frozen after Cadance said they were getting married. My heart hurt, and I felt like the world was collapsing around me. I only snapped out of it when I spotted Cadance looking straight at me. When I snapped out, I found Loona coming out of her own fugue state. She looked like a kicked puppy, and her tail was drooping. I caught her eye and gestured to Cadance, and she nodded.
"Cadance, stop!" I yell at Cadance, and she stops walking.
"What the f*ck was that!" Loona growled.
"Yeah! You promised!" I complained.
"Sigh. I promised I would give you time to confess. But it's been half a year! You've had more than enough chances to confess. I'm tired of waiting. So this is your last chance. Once Rio and I marry, I doubt he will be willing to date. I have already pushed Rio into accepting the idea of a herd. Or harem or whatever it is your species wants to call it. All you have to do is ask, and I am sure Rio will accept," Cadance says with an annoyed tone.
"Bu-But!" I try to refute, but I can't find a good excuse.
"Look, I know both of you have your reasons. But the wedding is in 6 months. So either you confess before then, or you live with the regret of never taking the chance," Cadance says before walking away.
Neither of us stopped her. How could we? Not only is she stronger, but she is right.
"Ugh, I hate to admit it, but she has a point," Loona says with an annoyed tone.
"Yeah, I know. I just. Sigh. I dunno. I'm scared. Rio is the closest friend I have had me entire life. He's my everthin'. When everyone else had cashed out, he stood by me. When me addiciton nearly killed me, he didn't judge me, he didn't yell, he asked how he could help. There were a few times... when things got really bad, that I... I found meself starin' down the barrel of me own shotgun. I don't know why I didn't pull the trigger. I guess I was prayin' that I could find a single decent scrap of humanity in this f*cked up world. And I think Rio was the answer to those prayers. When I told him about me f*cked up life, about what I've done, he said he was proud of me! I don't want to lose that," I say while taking a seat.
Loona takes a seat next to me.
"Sigh. I... I'm scared as well! I've lost a lot of people in my life. My friends... My family... People I cared for deeply. Heck, I have been keeping my distance from Moxxie and Millie because... Because I'm scared that I'll have to watch them die too. Then comes Rio, with his stupid face and his stupid caring. When he saw me, I didn't see the usual things in his eyes. No lust, no pity, no disgust, just... It felt like... like he saw me as just another living being. I wasn't a demon or a Hellspawn, just another person trying to live their life. I'll admit that at first I thought he was nothing but a pretty face. There was more lust and suspicion than love. I watched him for a long time. Expecting him to do... something... drop the mask. But... But there is no mask; he's genuine. It took me a while to notice... That I had started to like him beyond just lust," Loona explains.
"Hehe, yeah, same here. When I first met Rio, I was expectin' to hate his guts. I was basically sold to him. But the first thing he did after we left the Combat Zone was tear up the contract and tell me I was free to go. I thought he was an idiot. That I would take what he had while he was sleepin' and skip town. Then again, he doesn't really sleep. So my plan was stupid. Then he showed me magic. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen. I thought I had taken some bad Psycho. I stuck around after that because I was curious and a little part of me hoped that maybe, just maybe, Rio would be different. That there was some speck of good left in this f*cked up world. Rio was the first time I had put all my cards down and didn't lose. Don't get me wrong, there are somethings that I both love and hate about him, such as his stupid need to save us over himself. The number of times I have seen him risk himself for others is ridiculous. But what scares me the most are all the times I don't remember, because he didn't survive. I don't know how he does it. Dying so many times?" I say with a somber tone.
"You.. Don't. You never get used to it. I've died a few times in Hell. It's a horrible experience. The last bit of breath as it leaves you. The cold sensation as your blood leaks out. I've only died... 3 times, I think. And I never want to experience that again. And you're right about that being Rio's worst and best feature. It's why I'm scared to confess to him. I don't want to get that close and have to watch as he dies. Sure, maybe I wouldn't remember, but he isn't invincible. He can die permanently. That Speed Force thing. He almost didn't come back from that. The Curse... If we didn't get lucky with that curse being breakable... He wouldn't have come back. I don't know if I could take losing Rio... Haha, I guess that's the issue. I already love him," Loona says self-deprecatingly.
"I didn't know you guys felt that way," says a voice I know all too well.
We both look at each other and then look towards the voice.
"R-R-R-Rio..." I stutter and fumble as I start to freak out about how much he heard.
We both stand up in a hurry and panic.
"Sorry. It was the only way I could think of," Cadance says as she appears from behind Rio.
That causes both of us to calm down, if only to feel angry and frustrated.
"Don't be mad at her. She only did what she thought would help us," Rio says.
I go to respond, but then Rio does something I have never seen him do. He bowed.
"I'm sorry! I... I'll be the first to admit I am pretty clueless when it comes to love. I also sort of knew you two had feelings of sorts for me," Rio says.
"What? How?" I ask.
"Cait, I've known you for a couple of years, and we have been through thick and thin. You're also the only companion that stuck around the longest. Now, perhaps that could be explained away by saying you just like fighting. But the subtle looks, the occasional mumble in your sleep, and you talk a lot when you get drunk. I mean, most people know that you have feelings for me. Honestly, I was waiting for you to confess to me. Partially because I don't know much of anything about romance and love, and partially because there is a level of power I have over you. I didn't want to put you in a position where you felt you had to say yes," Rio responded.
"Yer a damn idiot... Actually, I'm a damn idiot. What I need you to do is look me in the eyes and tell me you feel something too," I demand, and let my rapidly beating heart calm for a second.
"Of course I do. I'm in love with you, Cait," Rio replies firmly.
My eyes widen, and my heart feels like it is trying to break out of my chest with how fast it is beating. My face feels flushed.
"You... you're what? You said... you're in love with me... Why? Why would you fall in love with someone as screwed up as I am?" I ask with some fear.
"Cait, you're a beautiful woman both inside and out. You have been one of the best friends I can ever recall having. And I love every part of you, including the flaws. Our flaws helped to make us special. They bond us and keep us strong; it's what's brought us together. So I'd not have it any other way," Rio says with that damn smile.
"You really know how to make a girl feel special," I reply.
"Ehem," Loona clears her throat.
"Hahaha, Loona, I am likely the best tracker in the Universe. You're good but not that good. I knew you were stealing my bedding years ago. Heck, almost every Changeling knows it as well. Though admittedly, I didn't know if it was a lust thing or if this was a strange courtship ritual of Hellhounds. I accept your feelings, but I have to tell both of you that I will never stop trying to protect those that I love. I don't care how many times I have to die if it means all of you stay safe and unharmed. But I won't fight everything alone. I'll gladly spend the rest of eternity with all of you," Rio says, and I have to keep myself from laughing as Loona's tail starts to rapidly wag.
"YES!" Cadance screams, and both Loona and I are knocked to the ground from the sheer force and volume of the shout.
"Damn, ye got some set of lungs on ye!" I complain.
"Ehem, sorry. I just got a bit excited and used the old Royal Voice. But I'm just so excited to see love blossom. This was what my entire existence is about. Bringing lovers together is my destiny!" Cadance says while jumping around and looking happier than I have ever seen anyone look. And I've seen some really happy Raiders.
But as I was thinking about this, I felt a shiver down my spine. And I looked to see that Cadance was smiling at both Loona and me.
"Ehem, well, look at the time, I got to... uh, take my clothes out of my neighbor's oven. Can't burn down their house again," Rio says and vanishes in a flash of magic.
I started to shiver and felt like I was in danger.
"Uh, I think I have some reading I need to catch up on," I comment.
"I'll help," Loona offers, and we start to walk away.
But we stop when we feel a hand on each of our shoulders.
"Tsk tsk tsk. I can't have you running off. We have a wedding to plan," Cadance says with an incredibly dangerous smile.
"Heh, I'm in danger," I joke and attempt to teleport away.
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Author's Note:
Cadance, Cait, and Loona are the only members of the harem. Curie was considered at the very begining but I decided against it. I wanted there to be fewer members, thus giving more time for more character growth. I also always do romance towards the end, as I feel like it gives a good ending to the story. That and I don't like doing too much lovey-dovey romance stuff. It is never the focus, always a side plot that happens mostly in the background. We've got very few chapters left now. Until next time, Ciao.