Masquerade-Sidetracked
Okay, well my bad. I think I overdid things just a tiny bit. I needed to get into the castle, so this new punishment was perfect- right? You see my motive for the storm was to buy me time to mark out a path, and then while everypony was cleaning the damage, I could get into the castle. So, being one step ahead was perfect! Well, that was the case. And then I started meeting other ponies... and that's how my story took it's first turn.
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"You are aware that we're all very grateful for your presence, correct?" Solstice blew a piece of her rosy forelock from her eyes, and glared with sheer boredom at the arching ceiling. "Miss Skie?" the monotone stallion questioned again, looking at her over the rim of his glasses.
"Oh, um, of course. Yeah, thanks for being all..." she hesitated, racking her brain for a proper word. "hospitable." she finished, offering up a light smile that would cover her disinterest. The unicorn opposite her kept his gaze for a minute, then set down the paperwork and rose up from his seat. He gave her a curt nod and trotted out from the small office, red aura making several scrolls and a quill float by his sides. The door swung shut behind him, and Solstice mockingly stuck her tongue out when he was out of sight. She slammed her hoof down on the desk, and flared her ivory wings. It wasn't supposed to be like this! It had been three whole days since she had gotten her room in the castle, and she hadn't even started on Step Two. She hadn't seen Rumbling Storm either, so Solstice couldn't grasp when he would be in his quarters. In defeat she set her hind legs on the edge of the desk, tipping her chair back. She crossed her forelegs behind her head, serving as a pillow.
The room the pegasus was in was the Spades Room, a small parlor that had been converted into a workroom. The Spades Room was part of the West Wing of the castle, where guests and staff usually did their work and lived. The walls were a pitch black, decorated with silver spades in various places. The furniture was a dark oak with silver marble tops and handles, potted plants, adornments and such. The ceiling arched high above to peak into one of the famous spire-tops that were prominent on Canterlot Castle. There was a detailed mural of the moon and stars, enchanted by Princess Luna so that it portrayed the night skies accurately. Across the hall from the Spades Room was the Heart Parlor, another converted comfort room. The Heart Parlor was now the office to Hematite, so the friends were still near each-other.
Solstice closed her eyes with a sigh, feeling the caress of sunshine gracing her milky coat. She used her strong back legs to tip the chair back farther, and stared blankly out the only window in the room. It displayed a full view of peaking cornflower-hued mountains, the tops still swirling with snow. Canterlot Castle was nestled into a cliffside, the actuall kingdom of Canterlot on another ledge beneath is. Whenever she looked out any window in the castle, it was a spectacular aerial view. Boy did they have it great!
"Uh...Sol?" Hematite creaked the door open hesitantly, watching her friend in utter bliss with silent amusement. Solstice's infused optics blinked open, and her chair topped over- leaving her sprawled out on the marble flooring. "Oh, dear. I didn't mean to startle you so." Hematite apologized quickly, setting her scrolls down by the doorway and walking over to her friend.
"What's so important that you had to hurt me?" the neon-maned mare snapped, slumping herself against the wall and rubbing her temples with tired hooves.
"Well so-rry." Hematite chimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She fluttered her lashes and propped herself up against the wall as well, nudging her friend in the side. "Cheer up, darling. It's only your third day here." she laughed lightly.
Solstice sat up straight, moving into a more comfortable position. "Thanks for trying to cheer me up Hematite, but I really need to get back to work." she whimpered, using her wings to gently lift herself up and navigate over to her seat. "Now what were you here for?" she cleared her throat, cocking her head slightly and waiting for Mati to come over. The unicorn used her magic to tidy up the stack of paper and scrolls, and set it down on Solstice's desk.
"Inkwell said that Luna had some extra work- there's a meteorite shower coming up." Hematite called over her shoulder as she strode over to the door. "I know you have a lot of work, but he gave it to me and I just don't have the time." She pressed her hoof to her cheek, and her expression was overly sacharine. "So if you could do it that would just be a dream." She twittered, shuffling through the doorway and nudging it shut. Solstice had been left to take extra work for anypony, and to keep all the files organized. She just waved a hoof at her friend and began adjusting the papers into her 'to do' droor. She could do those later.
Then there was yet another rapping on the door. Solstice Skie tried to muster up happiness, though it became clearly evident that she was anything but cheery at the moment. "Come in." she mused cheerily, straightening her posture and staring expectantly at the large oak door.
"Uhm...Miss Solstice Skie?" A quivering, young voice came. Well that was a suprise. A pegasus stallion trotted in. He had shocking cerulean eyes, and a paint coat consisting of a very light grey and white. His mane was the same blue as his eyes, cut short. She realized instantly- this was a member of the royal guard. He just didn't have his armor on.
"I am she." Solstice answered, getting up from her seat and walking calmly over to the doorway- although her heart skipped a beat. Maybe he could tell her where Rumbling Storm was! She'd have to get on his good side first, of course.
"I'm Feng, co-captain in training." he answered, looking strangely nervous. "I was sent here by Rumbling Storm to give you this." Feng lifted up his wing, revealing a shockingly white scroll with blue accents.
"Why thank you, what's it for?" Solstice asked, curiousity getting the best of her. She knew asking was rude, but hey, who cares? If it included the royal guard she wanted to know. The former weather captain used her teeth to grab the scroll, and set it on the desk behind her. She propped her forelegs up on the desk to examine the scroll, using her wing to unfurl it.
"It's a prompt." Feng answered, obviously not willing to give up much. Solstice glared at him though with a huff of impatience, and he rolled his turquoise eyes only slightly. "Rumbling Storm needs more stallions on the force, so this is a prompt for advertising. Since nopony else is open, he was hoping you were up for the job." he explained more politely, his former tentative air seeming to have thinned.
Solstice smiled to herself, deeply purple-blue eyes glimmering with excitment. "I'll do it. When does he need them by?" she asked kindly, looking at the guard.
"Tomorrow." Feng answered simply. Leaving her with the scroll he turned tail and trotted hastily to the door. The paint pegasus opened the door and exited, not speaking another word.
The pegasus mare didn't acknowledge Feng's depart, and kept herself hunched over the dark oak desk. She tucked the scroll under her wing and headed across the hall, hoping Hematite would help her scetch a rough draft for a poster. The only downside of being a pegasus was no magic, and it really limited you to doing several things. Although she had been able to scetch on the old map, Solstice wasn't keen to getting more wax and ink on her teeth.
"Maaattiii?" Solstice Skie called out, countenance hopeful as she waited outside her friend's door. She flicked her tail in annoyance after several heartbeats went by. Hematite was always quick to answer the call. The winged pony shifted her weight onto one side and began impatiently opening and closing her wings to an imaginary beat. "Hematite?" she called again, more agitated this time. Upon knocking on the door, it suprisingly swung open. "That's odd..." she muttered to herself, face twisting in confusion. Heart Parlor was in it's normal light color scheme- because as long as it was daytime the room would never lose it's warm glow. But, alas, Hematite was not in her office.
Solstice cautiously waited in the empty chamber for a moment longer, but then backed out and shut the door behind her. "What are you doing here?" came a rythmatic yet innocent voice.
"I-I didn't mean..." Solstice quickly answered, though the speaking figure was nowhere to be seen.
"It's okay my little pony. Just go back to your office, I'm sure your friend will show up soon enough." The voice called again. It was female, low and regal. Though it wasn't either Luna or Celestia, yet it had that familiar and good-willed accent to it. Solstice just nodded in reply. She looked down the opposite direction of the hallway, catching a glimpse of light. It was like a fire, hungry and lapping at the corridor's walls. It twisted in shade of amber, scarlet, and topaz- before quickly diminishing around the corner with the voice. The magenta-maned pegasus just shook her head to clear her mind, and cautiously made her way down the dim hallway back to the familiar door of the Spades Room.
There was a small note taped to it though, and sparkles danced off the top. The slip of paper itself was slightly black, and Sosltice could tell magic was evident. What else would be holding it up? She leaned into the note and grabbed it in her jaws, tucking it under her wing. With a dramatic yawn Solstice glared malovently at the barely setting sun, extremely angry at how the long day was just coming to a close. She set the note down on a small table that held an elegeant vase full of Heart's Desire. The note read:
Solstice-
Hey darling! I saw how stressed you were
today, and I thought you could do better with a little
night out. Meet me at the Fleur De Lis Boutique in
downtown Canterlot at 7:00 sharp. See you there!~
-Hematite[color=/cyan]
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AuThOr'S nOtE:
I would greatly appreciate some constructive critiscm, so if you have anything shoot away. ;D I'll probably update every 3-4 days, but my bad if it takes a little longer. I am pretty busy over the week. I would expect this story to have quite a few chapters, so get ready!
Thanks,
GiddyOnUp