The Best Night Ever (Private with The_Pariah)

"Before I tell you anything else, you have to know. I love Celestia." He cuddled her gently.

Harmony blinked. "You... um... what? We all love Celestia, don't we? She's our Princess of the Sun."

"Not like that. I love her." He muttered.

"You mean... oh." Harmony stares at him. "Um... I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel..."

"I love you too Harms~" He purred weakly. "I really do love you so much, but I love her too. I'm not going to tell you how to feel."

"It's just... I don't know, you know?" She struggled with her words. "I mean, I guess I'd feel jealous or angry, but Princess Celestia is the freaking princess."

He nodded quietly. "I know... But she rejected me... I guess she tried to let me down gently, but I dunno... It just hurt so much. The bite marks are from when I was stitching her wounds..." He proceeds to explain the events of the past few days to her.

"What?" Harmony cried out as soon as he finished his story. "Assassination? Mind control? Just... just what?!" She patted Paladin's chest. "Do you need to lie down?"

"Well, my head may explode soon... But yeah, I think I do sweetie..."

Harmony guided him to the nearby couch and laid him down. "There, there... you'll be better soon..."

The door inched open. Quimia stepped in. "I hope I am not intruding." She held up a glass vial. "But I have brought the concoction to alleviate your ailment, Paladin."

"Ah, thank you Quima." He took the vial and then kissed Harmony. "Sweetie... If you want to leave me, I understand." He skulled the potion, curious to know what it tastes like.

"No... no. I still love you, Paladin." Harmony hugged him.

The potion was somewhat sweet-tasting, bringing to mind the type of sweet drinks served in the Royal Guard mess hall, but still not exactly the same. As it washed down his throat, the symptoms of his condition began to fade.

He sighed as the glow faded from his eyes. "I- I see... I love you too my beautiful pony." He kissed her gently.

Quimia, still standing at the door in her drenched hooded cloak, gives the two of them a smile. "My work is done." She backs out the door quietly and closes it.

Harmony returns the kiss, but then breaks it reluctantly. "I think you need some rest, dear. I can't imagine all that you've done since yesterday was easy."

"Alright..." He stood up slowly, staggering up to the bedroom.

Harmony follows him and supports him in his journey. "Do you need to dry yourself off first, though? Your cloak is completely soaked."

"No, it's fine babe..." He muttered before walking into the bedroom, collapsing into the bed.

Harmony follows him and lies down next to him on the bed, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Good night."

"Sorry I'm so useless babe..." He purred quietly as he drifted off.

"You're not useless..." Harmony whispers before herself falling asleep.

-Time skip- Paladin snored gently, eyes closed.

The rain let up a while ago, deep into the night. Now the sun was rising high above the horizon, although somewhat slower and more awkwardly than on most days.

Harmony lay next to Paladin, sleeping soundly.

He opened his eyes slowly, kissing her snout gently.

"Hm...?" Harmony stirred slowly. "Good morning. Feeling better?"

"Yeah. I am sweetie... I have a plan..." He chuckled. "But right now, I just want to lie by you."