Rain and Sparkles (Celeste x Tuscan)

Celeste:

She wasn't entirely sure what she'd been thinking, slipping off from her Guard like that… The poor guy was probably panicking in his attempts to find her. She had been bored though… She'd wanted to explore on her own a bit. She was regretting it now though, as she wasn't entirely sure where she was. She didn't even have Petunia at her side. The pig had gotten lazy and ended up staying at home. Celeste wished she was here now… At least she would have a little company and someone to talk to. Sometimes she could swear Petunia understood her.

To make matters worse, it had begun to rain. It wasn't just a little sprinkle either… it was a downpour! Fortunately the white filly had managed to find a hollowed out tree, in which she was now taking shelter from the downpour. She hadn't made it without getting completely drenched, unfortunately. She was soaked from head to toe, her curly fur becoming even more curly and fluffing up to make her look twice her side. She shivered slightly from the chilly spring air. She was definitely regretting the decision to go off on her own…

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Tuscan:

Spring had come and with it Lord Tuscan had officially turned five years old, the most important birthday of any Fawnling’s life. He was officially a stag! And starting in just a couple seasons he would start competing for Ladies and does and building his harem and any day or any year now he could be promised a princess. He could hardly wait!

Tuscan was out in the Glenwood beating up saplings when the spring storm had started to approach, turning the day dark with heavy clouds. He set a leisurely pace back toward his Lord father’s glade, but had not given himself nearly enough time. Soon the rain started, and before he knew it the water was pouring from the sky. The young Lord was then racing across the forest, his dark eyes searching for somewhere to take shelter. Finally he passed a large log, the center hollowed out and just about the perfect size. That would do!

Tuscan trotted toward the log, slipping into the shadows, when suddenly there was something right in front of him. Something white and massive. “Waah!!” Tuscan shrieked, scrambling back out into the rain in terror, his mahogany eyes wide and flaring with panic. It looked like a massive wad of spiderwebs, or a huge cloud come to earth, or a giant fuzzy moth without wings! Whatever it was, Tuscan had never seen anything like it before.

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Celeste:

Celeste had almost dozed off when she thought she heard a strange sound… No, not really strange. Hoofbeats? Oh, hoofbeats! Perhaps someone had come to rescue her from her own boredom! Blinking groggily, the white Princess started to step forwards to see who her valiant savior was… when someone suddenly thrust their body right into the hollowed out tree with her. She didn't recognize them right away and when they suddenly screamed out in terror, Celeste felt panic grip her heart.

The curly-haired Princess, who resembled some sort of weird monster than a Princess at the moment, screamed in terror and back-pedaled. Her chubby rump hit the bark of the hollowed out tree hard, making it creak beneath her weight. Her heart hammered in her chest as she cowered against the back of the tree, completely trapped, and looked out into the rain. Was she about to be attacked!? Wait a second… That shape looked rather familiar…

“T-Tuscan?” She called nervously. Oh please let it be Tuscan…

Tuscan:

Tuscan barely noticed the rain anymore over the pounding of his heart as he stared in horror when the thing moved and screamed. He nearly turned tail and ran but that was when he started to make out the vague Fawnling shape and realized that it was no monster, and from the mass of poofy curls he could see a neat little face, and blue eyes shining out at him. “Tuscan?” He would recognize that voice anywhere.

Tuscan immediately straightened to try and regain face, his ears going up, his eyes narrowing, his tail lashing. Maybe she wasn’t a colt-eating fiend but he was not happy with this at all, especially not how she saw him freak out. “Celeste?” He knew she was strange, but this poof monster form was a whole new level of weird. Even though he recognized her now he was still reluctant to get back into the log shelter with her, the rain pounding on his back as he looking at her sideways with tentative uncertainty and even suspicion. Maybe a small amount of fear as well. As if the hair could bite him, or spread to his own silky straight locks, “W-what’s wrong with your hair?”

Celeste:

Ahhh, it was Tuscan! He saw recognition light your on his face as she called his name. He straightened up, mimicking her almost by saying her name. He sounded dumbfounded, surprised that she was here no doubt. “Yeah, it's me!” She exclaimed. “Come on in, there's plenty of room for both of us!” She exclaimed, backing up once again until her round rump pressed against the back of the hollowed out tree. Well, perhaps plenty had been a bit of an over exaggeration, but…

She let out a soft giggle as he asked what had happened to her hair. ”Oh, when it gets wet it kinda… goes crazy.” She admitted with another small giggle. “All the curls just kinda start twisting around one another and puffing up, it seems! It's actually kinda annoying.” She pouted a bit, huffing softly. ”Nothing I can do about it though… I'm stuck with it.” She babbled on rather pointlessly. She never really stopped talking. Ever. Her mother even claimed she talked in her sleep.

Tuscan:

”Come on in, there’s plenty of room for both of us!” Tuscan cringed slightly, unsure what to do next. Even as Princess Celeste backed deeper into the hollow log the little Lord could see that there was not much room, and he’d most likely be at least somewhat pressed up against all that… fluff. But the rain falling down on him was getting colder as it soaked through his fur, slowly chilling him to the bone. Ugh… the discomfort of the water won out and he ended up walking tentatively in beside her, giving as much berth as he could but still the white curls filled the space. At least it was sorta soft, he had to admit.

”Kind of annoying.” You think? At least she seemed aware of it, that was something. He took a moment to reflect on the doe he was cramped in here with. He saw Celeste on a semi-regular basis, and especially lately he noticed how much she was growing. She was basically a kid now, instead of a baby, able to have conversations and think about things, and be somewhat interesting even. Even if she sure knew how to run her mouth. “Well it’s better like that than bald,” Tuscan allowed. While this poofiness was more than he had seen before, he had seen Princesses and does with frilly manes before. So it wasn’t like it was totally uncalled for as far as appearances go. If only she wasn’t splotchy too. Though the splotches were less noticeable now when the white poof and curls covered most of her body. He fidgeted against the Princess to try and get comfortable. “You get bigger every time I see you,” he said. Though such a phrase was usually a compliment, Tuscan wouldn’t have minded her being a few months younger in this situation!

Celeste:

Celeste let out a loud, high-pitched giggle as he stated that it was better than being bald. “Oh yeah, definitely!” she agreed. “Can you imagine me being bald? Gods, that would be absolutely awful!” white filly exclaimed as she fell into a little giggling fit. It really didn’t take very much to make Celeste laugh, or to make her happy. She was a really laid-back little filly who enjoyed the small things in life. She noted the fidgeting of the buck, but didn’t really mind it. At three years old, she was old enough to converse like an adult, but still not old enough to think of certain adult content like one. Now, had this been a couple years later… she might have been a bit embarrassed and awkward due to Tuscan’s touch. Right now though, she actually snuggled into him affectionately.

“In the belly?” She responded to Tuscan teasingly as he commented that she was getting bigger every time he saw her. It definitely wasn’t a lie that she was a pudgy little thing… but she didn’t mind too much. Eventually she might grow to become a little self-conscious about it… but then again, perhaps she wouldn’t. She was healthy, even if she was a bit round. Her Mama would likely just tell her that there was nothing wrong with having curves- especially since Ceren had plenty of them herself! “You’re getting really big too! Won’t you be getting your first rack this year?” She tilted her head to the side curiously.

Tuscan:

Tuscan cringed as her laugh pierced through the air, even over the rain outside. “Yeah...” he agreed sullenly as she continued her giggle fit, and even ended up snuggling into him!! Tuscan tensed up, unsure what to do since he was almost never snuggled! “...awful.” he agreed. Though perhaps he meant something different as finally he stopped fidgeting and all but succumbed to the endless white fluff. At least the little filly was warm… and soft sorta…

Tuscan looked startled at her reply. He knew that does didn’t like being called fat, and that hadn’t been on his mind when he spoke even if she certainly was a bit on the rounder side, though she always had been so he didn’t think much of it anymore. “No, just… all of you. You’re growing, that’s all I meant,” he insisted. Celeste looked happy and cheerful now, and maybe she didn’t remember the circumstances of their first meeting but he sure remembered and he was not going to risk making her cry again! He was only too happy when the conversation shifted to him and his future rack. He squared his shoulders, sitting up a bit taller until he hit his head on the ceiling and had to flinch back down into a hunched around the younger doe. Still he smiled, though, happy to think about his bright future ahead. “Yeah! As soon as summer gets to the end it’ll start growing! And then I can spar with my friends and fight other stags!” he explained to her, sounding almost giddy.

Celeste:

“Pfff, well I wouldn't have bothered if you agreed that I've gotten big around the belly.” She giggled softly, her long tail flicking with humor and whacking the buck affectionately against the hindlegs. “Mama always says that some stags like girls with a little chub… that's good because I definitely want the stags to like me when I'm older!” Poor little thing had no idea that her mother had been referencing more than just simple liking. She was too young to understand that yet, though she knew to a degree where fawns came from. She'd get that talk in another year or so.

She definitely noticed Tuscan's proud demeanor as she pointed out his rack and size. She'd have to be blind if she hadn't! “I bet your rack will be huge!” She exclaimed, stroking his ego without really intending to. “I can't wait to see it. I'll have to watch when you spar with your friends too! I'll totally be cheering and rooting for you.” She grinned widely at her friend as she leaned into him a little more, enjoying the warmth that he was providing.

Tuscan:

Tuscan gave her a sideways look when she spoke about how she wanted stags to like her. As far as Tuscan was concerned, chub was not preferred in does who should be slim and graceful. And that wasn’t the worst of Celeste’s issues. If you can get rid of those splotches, then maybe some Lord will like you, he thought. Or maybe she could strategically cover herself with flowers. Either way, it sounded to Tuscan that her mother was just humoring her. Which, if she was still as sensitive as Tuscan remembered, was probably a good idea. Sorta sad really… she seemed so happy...

Tuscan felt his heart bloom with warmth at Celeste’s confidence in him, and he couldn’t help but smile at her. “Yeah,” Tuscan agreed, “my dad has the biggest rack in the herd, so it only makes sense mine will be huge too! Maybe even bigger!” Duncan’s rack was quite large, even if Tuscan’s wording was a bit of an exaggeration. He didn’t flinch away when she leaned into him, even sorta accepting the closeness this time. How could he not after what she said. “Heh,” Maybe she wasn’t so dumb after all. “Thanks. I’ll have to come get you before my next spar so you can watch then. I think you’ll be impressed with me!” Having someone cheering and rooting for him sure did sound nice. Even if it was a poofy splotchy doe, she was still a Princess and she was prettier than some of the other princesses out there, at least she was mostly white (and at least she didn't have a caterpillar back). He would still look sorta cool with her cheering him on, right?

That was when the dull light from outside hit something just right on Tuscan’s leg, a small twinkle in his peripheral vision that caused him to look down abruptly with ears flattened. “Hey.” He moved his leg, seeing a bit of a glitter to his fur. “What’s that? He narrowed his eyes and shook his foreleg, as if trying to clear it of the few shimmering bits that were nestled in his fur.

Celeste:

Celeste's eyes widened in surprise. “Woah!” She exclaimed in admiration. “My Daddy has a really big rack, so your Dad's must be huge! You're bound to get a big one then, for sure!” She exclaimed, tail flicking about slightly with happiness. She really enjoyed hanging out with Tuscan, even if this situation was… well… less than ideal. “I'd be honored to you take me!” She exclaimed, her heart warming with pride and affection. Tuscan wanted to go out of his way just to come and get her! How awesome!

Giggling happily, she didn't even notice the fact that she was… well, she was glittering. Glittering!? She didn't realize right away that she was the one creating the glitter. “Woooaahhh that's so cool!” She exclaimed, sidestepping slightly so she could get a further away view… but the glitter only followed her. Realization suddenly hit her hard, causing her blue eyes to fly wide. “Tuscan!!” She exclaimed. “I… I think I'm the one making the glitter!”

Tuscan:

Tuscan smiled, already excited for when he would be able to fight and when his rack would grow big and curling and strong! He would be undefeated, the star of Glenmore. All does would want him, all stags would envy him, every princess would beg to be his betrothed. Perhaps the King would even appoint him Count… or heck maybe even successor!

When Celeste began to examine the sparkles as well, Tuscan tried to shake his leg again, but brushing against Celeste’s curls only caused more sparkled to fall upon him. Cool wasn’t the word he would have used. He looked at her as she cried out his name, revealing her assessment of the situation. “Seriously?” he grumbled, trying to shift away, but he was pinned between the rainy weather and the plump fluffy filly so… there wasn’t more places he could go. Ugh. He didn’t think she could get any weirder. “You’re one of those Princesses?”They were a rare breed, the princesses that sparkled instead of shined. His half sister was one, in fact, and he had met another one once in the past. Never had he seen the sparkles this up close though! Suddenly he shifted in alarm as he realized how much it was getting all over him. “Wait, do you think it’s going to be stuck in my mane?” He asked fretfully. He would never hear the end of it if he had sparkles all over him next time he saw his friends!!

Celeste:

Celeste was so naive… she didn't realize that Tuscan was disapproving of her glittering. So wrapped up in her excitement, she failed to understand the grouchy expression that had settled across his face. To her, this was the best thing ever. How many princesses could sparkle? That's right, not very many! A giggle slipped from her lips as he asked if she was one of “those” princesses, not picking up on the disdain in his tone. ”Yes I am! This is so AWESOME!” she giggled.

The filly’s ears suddenly forwards as she noticed the rain slacking off. ”I gotta tell my Mama!” she exclaimed, trotting out into now the lightly sprinkling rain. She giggled softly at his inquiry about the sparkles sticking in his mane. “I don't know! I've never done this before… but even if they do stick in your mane, I think they're very pretty!” She had always thought that princess magic was boring, so this? This wss so cool!

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Tuscan:

Tuscan let out an impatient sigh at Celeste’s excited reaction. She was getting older now, but she sure didn’t seem to be acting like it. Why was she always so perky, and happy? Didn’t she know she was weird? Didn’t it bother her? Well, lucky for her she was a Princess. She was still a “treasure” to Glenmore. In the way an apple with a bruise was still an apple. Not great, but you could eat it if you had to. If she was a royal Lady, or worse yet a commoner, well she’d be lucky to have a home! Yes, her Princess magic saved her from a certain miserable life. And now even that was defective.

Celeste was soon eager to get out as the rain died down. She wanted to tell her mother? Tuscan almost felt bad for the older Princess, having a daughter who now wouldn’t even be able to heal anyone. But right now, as she began to squeeze past him, he was suddenly more irritated at the shower of sparkles that brushed off her and all over his dark red-black fur. “Hey, watch out!” He said before following, shaking off and then looking at himself. Little glitters covered his body. He pouted. At least it was raining… maybe it would all be washed out… He looked at Celeste and snorted at her comment, “Pretty,” he echoed unhappily. A stag couldn’t be pretty! That was about the worst thing he could be! He already got grief sometimes for his long mane, nevermind if it had sparkles in it. He had to get rid of them. “Wait, it’s raining, that means there’ll be mud! Help me find a mud puddle, Celeste!” That would be perfect! He could cover himself in mud, say he got dirty doing some sort of stagly stag thing, and that would hide the sparkles! He trotted further into the trees, looking around, then he looked back at the little Princess to see if she had found anything.

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Celeste

The white filly was completely oblivious to his dismay, just giggling as she pranced in the rain, sparkling from pink nose to pink toes. “Sorry, Tuscan!” She exclaimed, picking up on the dismay and irritation in his tone. Not everyone liked such close contact! She had been a little rude by shoving past him. “I'm just so dang excited, I can't help myself!” She giggled as she bounced forwards dramatically, her chubby belly swaying slightly beneath her with the movement. “I’m totally gonna cover my brother in sparkles, and my new baby sibling too! We're gonna be the prettiest family EVER!”

She let out a little huff as he requested that she help him find a mud puddle. She'd wanted to run straight home, but if he needed her help… well, what kind of friend wouldn't ditch a friend in need? She didn't really understand why he wanted the sparkles off anyways. They were so pretty! Probably some weird boy thing that she'd never be able to wrap her head around. “Okay!” She responded chipperly, rather than continued to huff and puff. The chubby white princess turned and trotted away from him, in search of a big puddle for him to wash off in. It didn't take long to find one. “Here!” She bleated as she dramatically bounced into the water, sending muddy sprays flying.

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Tuscan:

Tuscan looked over excitedly when he saw that she found a mud puddle. He went to trot over, then noticed in horror that she was going to leap right in!! He gasped, lifting a hoof to shield his eyes from the muddy splash, and then he gawked at her from the edge of the puddle. “Celeste!! What did you do that for? You’re all dirty now!” A doe shouldn’t get all dirty, especially not a Princess! And with her big poofy curly fur is would take forever to get her clean!

At least it wasn’t his problem, “Ugh whatever, look out I’m coming in!” Tuscan leaped into the muddle himself, sending his own splash of muddy water through the air and then he dropped down to roll in it. Surely if anything would get these sparkles off it would be some nice thick mud! He looked over at Celeste, seeing how she was all covered in muck and soaking wet under that unbelievably poofy hair. “You look ridiculous,” he said with a smirk.  

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Celeste:

The white filly gave him a “seriously?” look, eyes half-lidding and one ear flopping to the side. “I was already all dirty, silly Tuscan!” She chided him playfully. A loud squeal slipped from her lips as Tuscan gave her a brief warning and leapt in after her. Giggling she leaped sideways, eyes squinting shut against the spray of muddy water that splashed her in the face. It was true that she had been dirty before, but now she was filthy. Oh well. It was worth it! She giggled again as she sent a little spray of water splashing over his belly, prancing in place hyperly. The sparkles has yet to cease… well, sparkling.

Tuscan stated that she looked ridiculous and she responded by squinting her eyes shut and sticking her tongue out at him. “Mllleehh!” She bleated at him immaturely. It was the best comeback that she had really. A challenge suddenly gleaming in her blue eyes, her grin widened and she began to prance closer to him. Finally, she snaked her neck out and snapped at a lock of hair before releasing it and taking off. “Last one back to the main glades is a quill-less hedgehog!”

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Tuscan:

Between his own rolling and Celeste’s helpful splashing Tuscan was soon all covered in mud! He smiled, satisfied, until he saw that while totally muddy… the mud was sparkling too! Ugh he just couldn’t win. Well hopefully the mud would be distracting enough. He looked over at Celeste in time to see her coming over to him. He narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously, recoiling when she lunged for a strand of his long mane. As she raced away he stumbled after her, pausing to shake off some of the excess mud. Though that was enough to give Celeste quite a significant head start! He snorted angrily as he continued the chase, his challenging voice ringing through the trees of the forest. “Hey! I’m not a hedgehog!!”