[MOM] Big dumb Raven romance thing


                                            A little greentext thing I made in the momlestia thread.  The idea is that child-Anon gives Celestia's assistant, Raven, a Hearts and Hooves day card on (you guessed it) Hearts and Hooves day.  Someone then said "Raven romance when Anon gets older when?" and I tried to write something that would be good enough.  I may or may not have succeeded.  Christ, I'm rusty.


                                            >TEN YEARS LATER

                                            >"Prince Anonymous-"

                                            "Anon," you croak, squeezing Raven's hooves with your now-grownup hands, "It's 'Anon'."

                                            >Raven nods, too choked up to speak properly.

                                            >You can see drying (and fresh) tear tracks streaking down Raven's cheeks.

                                            >"A-Anon... I... We can't."

                                            "Say's who?"

                                            >"I'm old, now."

                                            >You let go of one of her hooves and stroke her cheek.

                                            >You can barely see the wrinkles beginning to form crows feet around her eyes, and laugh lines around her muzzle.

                                            >She nuzzles into it as you brush away some of her tears with your thumb.

                                            "Not a day over forty."

                                            >Raven lowers her eyes and smiles a self-deprecating smile.

                                            >"It may as well be fifty. Sixty, even. You need somepony - somepony young - who can give you foals."

                                            >You open your mouth to object, but she interrupts you with that stern, "I'm talking now"-look that you saw so many times when you were just a boy.

                                            >"You need to carry on the Royal bloodline."

                                            >You snort, releasing her other hoof and wrapping your arm around her back.

                                            >She doesn't object as you pull her against your chest.

                                            "Dash the bloodline," you whisper, "we can adopt if it comes to that."

                                            >Raven grimaces and closes her eyes.

                                            >"The nobles wouldn't like it."

                                            >She sounds like she's trying her best to convince herself not to believe your words.

                                            "The nobles don't like ANYthing," you snort, "And since when have I ever cared about what the nobles thought?"

                                            >"They own a lot of businesses in Canterlot."

                                            >You quirk an eyebrow.

                                            "And I have a lot of investments in other countries."

                                            >Raven leans forward and rests her head on your chest, burying her muzzle in your neck.

                                            >"I'm not even one of the brides Princess Celestia selected for you..."

                                            >You plant a kiss on top of her head.

                                            >You rest your cheek on top of her head so that your mouth is right next to her ear.

                                            >Close enough for you to whisper.

                                            "You didn't need to be."


                                            "Mom?"

                                            >Celestia puts down her book and pops the last little piece of cake into her mouth.

                                            >"Mnyess, 'ear?" mumbles Celestia around her mouthful of pastry, spraying you and Raven with crumbs

                                            >You sneak a peek at your bride-to-be and notice that she's stock-still with a look of shock on her face; assistant or not, she's probably never seen your mother like this.

                                            >With an audible gulp, Celestia swallows down her cake.

                                            >She blushes with her eyes land on Raven, having probably not seen her until just now.

                                            >"O-Oh, excuse me. What can I do for you, sweetheart?"

                                            "You wanted me to get back to you about selecting a bride, right?"

                                            >Your mother's face lights up and she clops her hooves together in delight.

                                            >"Oh, honey! You've finally chosen somepony?"

                                            "I have," you reply, gulping nervously.

                                            >Celestia looks around you and peers at her closed door.

                                            >"Well? Where IS she?"

                                            >You take a half-step towards Raven and rest your hand on her back.

                                            >You can feel her relax under your touch.

                                            >Celestia notices the subtle gesture right away - she raised you, after all - and smiles cheerfully (if innocently) at her assistant.

                                            >"Oh! Miss Raven, are you going to bring the lucky young mare in?"


                                            ------------------------------------------------------------


                                            >You are Raven, and you can't decide whether or not to feel terrified or furious.

                                            >After Princess Celestia pieced together that Anon intended to court you, she had sternly ordered her son out of the room.

                                            >After staring you down for a few minutes, the princess began grilling you on your motivations for marrying Pri-er, Anon.

                                            >"You're too old. A pregnancy might not take."

                                            >Celestia's tone was as chilly as her glare.

                                            >You clear your dry throat and try to find your voice.

                                            "Ah-Anon and I-"

                                            >"PRINCE Anonymous" corrects Princess Celestia cooly.

                                            >You instinctively open your mouth to correct yourself, but you stop at the last second.


                                            >No, Anon is more than just a prince to you.

                                            "ANON," you say forcefully, making Celestia's eyebrows raise in surprise, "and I can always adopt a foal who has lost his or her parents."

                                            >Celestia says nothing for a long time.

                                            >"You've helped raise him since he was young," she says accusingly, "Is that how you managed to ensnare his heart?"

                                            >You have to stop yourself from taking a step back in surprise.

                                            >How dare she!

                                            "Absolutely not! I've seen him grow up and I was proud to watch him turn into a passionate, respectful young man!"

                                            >You begin to pace back and forth in front of the princess, your anxiety forgotten and boldness gained as you work up a head of steam.

                                            "If anything, helping to raise Anon allowed HIM to ensnare MY heart."

                                            >You feel a weight lift off your shoulders as you finally admit that out loud.

                                            >The princess tilts her head and observes you, seemingly unaffected by your answer.

                                            >"You aren't even of noble blood. What could you possibly-"

                                            >You never found out what Celestia wanted to you what you could "possibly" do.

                                            >Before she could finish her sentence, you exploded at her.

                                            "It doesn't matter what blood I have! I know Anon better than almost any other pony in Equestria and I can genuinely say that I l-love him just as much as YOU do! And if you can't accept that, then you can go.... can go...!"

                                            >Your cheeks puff up as you struggle to think of what, exactly, Celestia can go do.

                                            >Just as you're about to say something very rude to her, Celestia suddenly grins happily at you.

                                            >Her glare drops and she rushes over to you, sweeping you up into a hug.

                                            >"I'm so sorry, my little pony," she coos into your ear, rocking you back and forth like you were a foal, "But I had to make sure you really felt this way about my little prince."

                                            >Celestia continues to apologize and mutter promises of making it up to you, and you just sit there in confusion.

                                            >What just happened?