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?