This story is a sequel to The Art of the Blade

Official visits to Trottingham tended to be anything but exciting for Princess Rarity. She'd spend the entire week stuck in her room, trying to somehow keep herself entertained while running away from the unwanted advances of the local nobles.

Then again, what better way to add excitement to the trip than convincing her bodyguard to join her on an illicit exploration of the city?

Part of the Bodyguard!AU Series, based on Earthsong9405's AU where Twilight is the bodyguard to a "Princess/Queen Rarity". Prior knowledge of the AU is not necessary to read the story. // Cover art by Togekissjpg!

On a cold snowy evening, Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle snuggle under the covers to stay warm...

...and giddy.

My story begins where so many others end; with death. None are so familiar with death as I, For I have lived many centuries and died countless times. Untold dozens of lives have ended this same way; a slow decline in health, both physical and mental. This form fades away, my tenuous connection to this world slowly dwindling, like the last glow of a cooling ember. It is here that my tale diverges from the set way of things, for my ember does not simply fade to nothing. Quite the opposite, in fact. With a gout of flame akin to a solar flare, I burn to ash in excruciating pleasure. When the flames subside, I emerge from the ashes as a fledgling.

My name is Philomena.

I am a Phoenix.

And for her, I’d do it all again.

I mean, I could ask Twilight out. I know she would say yes, and we would both be oh so happy, but...it's scary. I think we're in a good place right now, right? We both know our feelings and there isn't a reason to rush on them. Right? Oh, Fluttershy, get it together. It can't be that hard.

Right?

Princess Rarity had everything planned for her beloved bodyguard's birthday. It would start with a lovely trip to Trottingham, continue into an entire day in Equestria's oldest library, and culminate into a wonderfully romantic moment in the Ethereal Gardens. It would be Twilight's best birthday yet!

...If only things actually went according to plan.

Part of the Bodyguard!AU Series, based on Earthsong9405's AU where Twilight is the bodyguard to a "Princess/Queen Rarity". Prior knowledge of the AU is not necessary to read the story.

Rarity and Pinkie like each other. Being together should be enough to make them happy, right?

A place to store all my scrapped stories and ficlets that didn't make the 1000min word limit. I might continue some of these in the future, but for now, I'm posting them here in case anyone is interested.

Tonight was Twilight's third date with Rarity, her best friend and hopefully soon-to-be-marefriend. Though nothing had happened yet, and she was still trying to come to terms with the fact that something might happen, she was determined to make their third date even better than their last.

Third time’s the charm, right?

If there was something that broke Rarity's heart more than seeing her best friend getting stood up, it was seeing Twilight go back to the library with a matching broken heart.

Luckily for Twilight, Rarity would be damned if she let that happen.

This story is a sequel to The Princess's Gift

Twilight takes her duties as Princess Rarity's bodyguard seriously. She will follow her into battle, into long and tiresome meetings, and into the occasional ball.

Unfortunately for her, it's difficult to protect a princess in a sea of costumed ponies when you have no idea which one of them is the princess.

Part of the Bodyguard!AU Series, based on Earthsong9405's AU where Twilight is the bodyguard to a "Princess/Queen Rarity". Prior knowledge of the AU is not necessary to read the story.