13. Proclamation
At Celestia’s request, the City Weather Team had done their part to prepare for the afternoon’s press conference. The skies above the Royal Pavilion had been appropriately shaded with fluffy white clouds, nudged into strategic positions to filter out the worst of the winter sun’s glare while offering plenty of illumination to the modest stage outside the palace gates. Unicorns and earth ponies in livery ran about the public square, festooning banners emblazoned with the crest of Her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville, setting up rows upon rows of chairs for the gathering crowd of reporters and onlookers.
Twilight watched the whole setup with cold dread churning in her stomach from her position behind the open palace door. She adjusted her crown for the fiftieth time that hour, imagining every single eye pointed right at her while she spoke.
Nothing to be afraid of, right? She’d always gotten high marks in public speaking, from her first presentation in magic kindergarten to delivering her senior thesis. Surely a hoof-full of reporters couldn’t be any worse than a barrage of questions from Professor Oxbridge and his colleagues.
A polite cough from the side startled Twilight. She turned left and gave a quick but embarrassed smile to the white unicorn holding a clipboard in her magic aura.
“It’s all very simple,” said Raven. She stood beside Twilight, addressing Rarity and Fluttershy, the only other inhabitants of the empty corridor. “Once the Princess has delivered her formal statement, the press secretary will open the floor for questions. You can either answer a question yourself or let Spinning Top answer for you. All you need to do to let her know is wave like this.” She demonstrated by pawing at the air with her front hoof.
“And… h-how long will this take?” Fluttershy asked. She’d sounded so confident at brunch with Celestia and Luna, but as the event approached, Twilight noticed a steady decline in her self-esteem. By now, the poor thing’s tail had begun to quiver nonstop.
“And, if I may, Miss Raven, are you absolutely sure all three of us need to be here?” Rarity glanced at Twilight, looking more and more mortified. “I mean, yes, of course we’ve nothing to be ashamed of. It’s only that…” Her bottom lip trembled. “Well, it’s Twilight’s right as Princess to defend herself. Perhaps it should only be royalty on that stage?”
Raven blinked. “But… the press is waiting, Miss Rarity.” She hoisted her clipboard into the air. “We’ve already sent word that your entire trio will be present at the conference.”
“What’s really wrong?” Twilight asked, taking a step over to Rarity. “When we woke up this morning, the two of you were beyond excited for this. Are you really getting cold hooves now?”
Are you really going to let me face this alone? she added to herself.
“But, darling…” Rarity’s face scrunched up, giving Twilight the impression that she was holding back tears. “It’s not that I don’t want to see this through. I just can’t imagine the horror of being out there, in front of those cameras. Being ripped to shreds!” She pulled Twilight into a crushing hug against her chest. “Please, please forgive me, darling! I’m weak, I know! But you’re so much braver than either of us!”
Twilight didn’t return the hug, though she did reach up and adjust her crown. Again.
It was surprising to hear Rarity of all ponies saying she didn’t want to be the center of attention at a nationwide press event, but Twilight understood the difference. As a fashionista, she wanted to be on the cover of Clothes Horse, not the subject of another Gabby Gums scandal page. And yet here they were, all because of one date in public and a newspaper run without conscience.
“Girls, if we don’t show up together, how can anypony take us seriously?” Twilight asked. She felt her own anxieties bubbling up from the bottom of her stomach, but she could hold it together. It was like the final few minutes before the start of an exam—nothing she couldn’t handle in that light.
“I never wanted us to feel ashamed for being in love,” she insisted, reaching out to pull Fluttershy into the hug with Rarity. “We kept it quiet as long as we could, but it’s out now. Remember what Luna said. If we can be open about it with our friends, why can’t we do the same with other ponies? They might learn something if we show them we’re not afraid.”
A grim smile spread on Twilight’s face as she added, “I can guarantee they won’t learn anything if we hide away and stay quiet like we’ve been doing.”
“But…” Fluttershy’s voice trailed off into a squeak. Twilight half-expected to see her break down into tears. And why wouldn’t she? This had been a nightmare come to life for the sweet little thing.
Rarity, however, had recovered quickly. Taking a handkerchief from Raven, she dabbed at her eyes, being careful not to ruin her makeup. “Mm, I suppose… I suppose we must, then. For our friends and family.” She offered Twilight a sad smile. “I would’ve liked for my parents to find out some other way, but the cat’s out of the bag, isn’t it?”
“P-please don’t say that,” Fluttershy retorted, flinching as she did. “Nopony should ever put a cat in a bag!”
“I—” Rarity put a hoof to her lips. “Oh, dearest. I’m ever so sorry. Please, it’s just a figure of speech. I didn’t mean it—!”
“Nopony should ever joke about hurting an animal!” Fluttershy replied, her eyes narrowing as she whirled on her marefriend. Suddenly, the diminutive pegasus was towering over the unicorn, spreading her wings with the vicious air of a hawk cornering its prey. “Ever!”
“Hear that?” Twilight smiled and tapped Fluttershy on the shoulder. “That’s Mad Fluttershy. Let’s see that Fluttershy out there. You’re tired of being slandered and you’re not going to take it anymore!”
“Mad?” Fluttershy shivered and retracted her wings. “Oh, no. No, I-I didn’t mean to get mad, Twilight. I’m sor—”
Twilight stopped her with a hoof pressed against her lips. She looked Fluttershy in the eye, still smiling. “Don’t. Be. Sorry.” When she dropped her hoof, she pulled her marefriend close and added, “You’re being hurt with this story, dear. Get mad. Be strong. Stand up for yourself. And just remember that Rarity and I will be standing right beside you.”
“You bet your feathers we will,” Rarity chimed in. When she looked at Twilight, she wasn’t the anxious, melodramatic mare that Applejack sometimes joked about.
This was the beautiful and confident unicorn that Twilight had fallen in love with, all those months ago.
Twilight approached her marefriends, bringing a smile of her own. “And don’t forget. You can avoid some questions if they’re too personal or inappropriate.” She tapped her hoof against the floor to emphasize her point. “Nothing about what we do in private and nothing about our families, except that we have their love and support.”
“Of course,” said Rarity.
“R-right!” added Fluttershy half a second later. The sudden twitch in her tail wasn’t lost on Twilight.
When all this is over, she promised herself, I’m going to sit down and have a long talk with her father. A very long talk, I imagine…
A sudden clip-clop from behind broke into Twilight’s thoughts. She saw the doors at the other end of the hall open, as the guards entered, followed closely by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Twilight let out a genuine smile of relief as her mentor approached, while Rarity, Fluttershy, and Raven bowed.
“Are we ready, girls?” asked Celestia.
“As ready as we’ll ever be,” said Twilight.
The eldest Princess nodded and led the way outside, with Luna, Raven, and the guards close behind. As the front doors opened, the din from outside grew exponentially louder. Voices called out and trumpets blared—all the usual fanfare for Celestia and Luna greeting their public.
Twilight paused for a deep breath, then stepped aside. Rarity and Fluttershy exchanged a look and stepped forward, falling into place beside the young Princess as they headed outside.
The clouds were darkening overhead as Fancy Pants escorted the lovely Fleur Dis Lee toward the Royal Pavilion. He marveled at the crowds gathering there: all manner of reporters, photographers, and the usual breed of well-to-do ponies whose insatiable curiosity regarding a scandal outweighed their natural sense of propriety. It seemed as though everywhere he looked, ponies were flocking toward the pavilion with unabated excitement.
“I can only hope that Princess Twilight will show nothing but la dignité with the press,” Fleur was saying. She gave Fancy Pants a teasing smile from the side. “Tout comme vous, ma chère.”
“Hmph. I’d rather meet Luna for our weekly game of chess.” Fancy Pants mimed sliding forward a chess piece across the board with his hoof. “Bishop to Queen four! I’m so close this time!”
“Yes, always la dignité with you.”
“Well, one can’t be charming all the time, ma belle—”
Half a second before he bumped into the poor fellow, Fancy Pants caught a glimpse of a pale violet coat, golden hair, eyes darting left and right, and the unmistakable gait of a country-bred stallion. Even at his age, those same old reflexes prevented the collision from turning any worse than a slight bump against the colt’s flank and back onto his hooves again.
It was all in the training. A Secret Service pony did not trip over himself, whether on duty or off.
“Good heavens! A thousand apologies, my fine fellow!” Fancy Pants brushed himself off and bowed his head. “Are you all right?”
“Err, fine, thanks.” The stallion rubbed his hoof over the back of his head. “Didn’t see you and the missus.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but we should be going.” Fancy Pants looked over at the stallion’s companion and nearly did a double-take. Escorting him was a pony of the Royal Guard, with an orange coat, a blue mane and tail, and austere gold armor. He gave Fancy Pants and Fleur an embarrassed nod and a smile.
Well, well. Surprisingly expressive for a pony whose profession was renowned for stoicism.
“Oh, good day to you…” Fancy Pants squinted at the insignia on the guardpony’s chestplate. “Err, Specialist. I’m terribly sorry for the intrusion. Carry on.”
“Actually…” Again, the embarrassment on the guard’s face was evident. “We’re trying to get into the event in the Royal Pavilion. It’s an urgent matter.”
“That’s right!” said the violet-and-gold stallion. He held out a weathered press badge. “I’ve gotta get word to Princess Twilight herself! Could be the key to saving her from this mess she’s in!”
Fancy Pants examined the two stallions with a critical eye. His gut instinct told him that they were trustworthy, but it wasn’t infallible. His old partner Strider could tell him a thing or two about the mishap with those lads in Saddle Arabia, after all.
However, when he saw the gleam in the guardpony’s eye at the mention of Twilight Sparkle, the matter was quickly settled. These weren’t ne’er-do-wells trying to bluff their way into the press event. Just two unlikely heroes—the sort of ponies one ran into all the time in the Secret Service.
“Mm. I see.” Fancy Pants flashed a quick smile at Fleur, who had been watching the whole exchange with quiet concern. “Well, I see you chaps are from out of town. I imagine it’ll be quite difficult getting past security on your own…” He let his voice trail off as he reached down and opened the flap of his jacket, revealing the gold star pin inside. “But if you had somepony with the right credentials to get you through every checkpoint. Say, a veteran of the Secret Service?”
“Horse feathers,” the pony with the press badge exclaimed. “What are the bleeding odds?”
“My word!” Fleur replied, pressing a hoof to her chest. “Such language!”
Watching her with a sidelong glance, Fancy Pants could only shake his head and smile. Despite what the ladies at the garden parties would say, Fleur was hardly that innocent. It was easier to play dumb to the right crowd than to leave a trail of embarrassed mares with her classical education and field experience as a Secret Service auxiliary. It was quite extraordinary, really, that a fashion model like Fleur could get access to more foreign embassies than even the most seasoned ambassador in the Foreign Office.
Even now, her show of concern was an act. Fleur loved these twists and turns even more than he did. She’d be gushing about this little adventure for days.
“Right. Well, then, off we go.” Fancy Pants continued his gait through the thickest part of the crowd, with Fleur keeping pace beside him. “We wouldn’t want to keep Her Royal Highness waiting, now would we?”
Upon taking her first step onto the stage, Twilight was assaulted with a barrage of lights flashing on and off in rapid succession. She was reminded of the time those paparazzi had hounded her and Fluttershy outside the Hay Burger—except that the sea of reporters and photographers here was easily five or six times larger.
Swallowing, Twilight made her way to the podium where Celestia and Luna now stood. She didn’t need to glance back at Rarity and Fluttershy. They were so close behind her that she could feel their warmth and that simple truth made her smile.
“Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight!” The chorus of voices swelled as she took her place beside Celestia. Twilight smiled and waved down the upraised notepads and cameras.
“Good morning,” she said. A simple amplification spell carried her voice across the public square, so that even the farthest ponies in the crowd could still hear her. “If you would please hold your questions, I have a short statement that I’d like to read.”
After sharing a look with Raven, who nodded and smiled back, Twilight cleared her throat and glanced down at the notes that Celestia’s press secretary had provided.
Reading off a prepared checklist. At least Twilight was back in her element.
“For the past few days, my private life has become the subject of an intense public debate in every corner of Equestria. While I would normally respond to this matter with a simple ‘No comment,’ I am taking time to respond only because somepony I care about is being unjustly slandered because of this scandal.”
Twilight paused and extended her hoof toward her marefriends. “The Trottingham Tattler published a story that claimed I was caught cheating on my marefriend Rarity with our mutual friend Fluttershy. However, this story is false, though not for the reason that you might expect.”
For a moment, the cameras fell silent. Twilight looked out over the anxious eyes fixed on her, feeling her stomach with every passing second.
What I wouldn’t give for a rampaging dragon right now, she thought.
“The truth is… Rarity and I are both in a relationship with Fluttershy. With her consent.”
The silence died as quickly as it had begun. White flashes broke out everywhere and ponies were clamoring for her attention with a thousand questions. It was impossible to make out a single clear voice or question in so much mayhem. Out of the corner of her eye, Twilight saw Fluttershy shiver, but she stood her ground once Rarity put her hoof on the pegasus’s back.
That’s it, girls. Show them we can do this.
“I realize that this will come as a shock to everypony, but the truth is that Rarity, Fluttershy, and I are all very happy with this arrangement. We do not feel ashamed about our feelings and have the blessings of our closest friends, as well as the blessings of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”
She waited nearly half a minute for the press corps to settle by a few decibel levels. Then Twilight glanced around and smiled.
“I will now take your questions.”
“Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight!” the crowds roared again.
“Yes, you sir!” Twilight pointed her hoof at a gray-maned stallion in a fedora.
“Ahem.” The stallion rose on his haunches, fixing her with an ugly sneer that could cut glass. “Ink Wells from Canterlot Quarterly. Your Highness, is it not against the law of the land for ponies to commit acts of polyamory? Are you suggesting that, as a Princess, you are above the law?”
The clamor threatened to drown out his last few words, but Twilight silenced them with a gesture and a smile. “Not at all, Mr. Wells. In fact, according to the Lex Equorum—one of the oldest existing law codes in Equestria, I might add—polyamorous relationships are perfectly legal. Herds like ours may not be common in this day and age, but they have never once been outlawed.”
Before Ink Wells could get another word in edgewise, Celestia took a step forward and cleared her throat. “I can confirm, good sir, that what Twilight says is true. There is a fine difference between our laws and our customs. And under Equestrian law, anypony is free to engage in a polyamorous relationship if they so choose.”
The crowds fell so silent that Twilight almost thought she’d gone deaf for a moment. She kept her expression pleasantly neutral, but she couldn’t help feeling a certain joy at seeing the looks of shock on everypony’s faces.
Twilight had felt the same way when she’d discussed the matter with Celestia earlier that day. She’d even worn the same flustered expression that Ink Wells had when Raven had produced a dog-eared copy of the Lex Equorum for her to read. Celestia had smiled and sipped at her tea, explaining everything in her usual polite tone.
“Trust me,” Celestia had told her, “as soon as that particular announcement hits, nopony is ever going to remember the adultery accusation…”
Sure enough, a mare called out “Princess Celestia!” from the center of the crowd. Then another. And then another. Soon, the entire crowd was ignoring Twilight and her marefriends entirely for the sake of getting a follow-up from the regal mare. Luna looked past her sister’s shoulder and winked at Twilight.
Celestia’s plan couldn’t have gone better.
The next few questions went about as smoothly as the royal press secretary had promised. Twilight answered the majority of them, fielding a few to Rarity. Yes, they were very happy together. No, they weren’t planning on announcing their engagement anytime soon. Yes, Twilight would be happy to sponsor the adoption of foals by romantic trios if they so desired. Yes, that even included changing the current healthcare system to adapt to their needs…
Then, a single violet hoof near the front of the crowd shot into the air. Twilight pointed down at the gentlecolt. “Yes!”
“Good morning! Photo Frenzy, Trottingham Tattler!”
The crowd erupted into a series of surprised murmurs. Twilight’s jaw dropped when she looked down at the grinning photographer. Then she remembered that several thousand cameras were still pointed in her direction and she definitely didn’t want her slack-jawed face to be on the front page of every newspaper in the country.
“You’re a long way from Trottingham,” she managed to say. With a quick recovery, she cleared her throat and added, “Do you have a question for me?”
“More of a surprise witness, really!” Frenzy stepped aside, letting another stallion trot into view.
Twilight froze.
Maybe time itself froze. She couldn’t tell.
Eternity stretched on as she locked eyes with Flash Sentry.
The guardpony was dressed in full uniform, as polished and neat as it had always been. His cheeks turned a shade of crimson as he looked back at Twilight and it took every ounce of her willpower not to collapse in a broken heap right there on the stage. So many old, buried feelings stirred within her chest…
Dangerous feelings, especially when her two marefriends were standing right next to her. And no matter how long time froze for Flash, Twilight knew that her love for those two mares was the real thing.
Just like it was for Flash? a voice in the back of her mind teased.
Really not a good time! Twilight snapped back.
The moment passed and time sped up again. The press corps snatched up photos of Flash Sentry and Twilight as fast as they could, while Rarity and Fluttershy exchanged a quiet, nervous look. Only Celestia, Luna, and Photo Frenzy showed no obvious reaction to this turn of events.
Meanwhile, the line of guards at the front of the stage parted for Flash. He ascended the steps and took his spot beside Twilight and Celestia, with every hoof-beat echoing the frantic beat of Twilight’s own heart. Then Flash cleared his throat and addressed the crowds now caught in eager anticipation.
“I’d…” He coughed and tried again. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Flash Sentry, and until several months ago, I was Princess Twilight’s coltfriend. Despite what the tabloids said about us, we ended the relationship amicably and remain friends to this day.”
He half-turned toward Twilight, giving her a quiet smile. “While I’m as surprised as the rest of you about her new relationship, I couldn’t be happier for her.”
Twilight stared. “Flash…”
“It’s true.” Flash turned to her with the same kind smile, though he kept his voice raised for the audience. “We did what we could for our relationship, but it didn’t last. However, I can see that your new marefriends have made you very happy.”He trailed off, leaning to the side to get a glimpse of Rarity and Fluttershy. “Both of them. And I’ll defend that as best I can, Twilight.”
“I…” Twilight couldn’t think of anything more to say. She hadn’t rehearsed for this with Raven and Celestia. But there was a genuine light of joy in Flash’s eyes that she knew was real and that was all that mattered.
Hopefully, it was all the press would see, too.
“Thank you, Flash Sentry.” Twilight leaned forward and pulled him into a quick hug. “Thanks so much.”
“Anytime,” he whispered back.
Then Twilight felt another pair of hooves land on her back. She looked over her shoulder, where Fluttershy was squeezing her for dear life. As was Rarity, who had tears of joy streaming silently down her face. If she wasn’t careful, Twilight feared she was going to start crying, too.
She smiled to herself when she heard the applause from the crowds. Even from inside the group hug, she could picture the photos being taken of them and how all this would look on the next day’s front page. There’d be editorials on polyamory and herd adoption for weeks.
And not a single story on her cheating with Fluttershy, Celestia be praised.
The steam that rolled off from the royal baths was truly the height of luxury. By comparison, the post-spa baths in Ponyville were little more than a tepid swimming pool. Rarity let out a sigh and sank a few inches deeper into the inviting warmth. Her coat was going to be shimmering after this!
Fate wasn’t something she believed in, but Rarity supposed this counted as her reward for putting up with a few days of misery from the press. And what better way to spend it with the two mares she adored more than anypony else in the world?
“I can’t thank you enough for being there,” Twilight was saying to Fluttershy. The three of them were sitting near the edge of the bathing pool, just beyond reach from the cerulean spa ponies who continually poured bath salts and other fragrances into the mix. Twilight looked quite radiant with the cloud of fresh lavender scent rising up from the water around her. “I can’t begin to imagine how hard it was for you to manage that.”
“It was pretty scary,” Fluttershy answered. She blushed and added, “B-but only at first! I felt better when Princess Celestia started speaking.”
“Me, too.” Twilight pulled her in for a quick kiss on the cheek. “I just want you to know how proud I am of you for being there with me.”
Fluttershy let out a squeak, but Rarity thought she might’ve said, “Thank you!” It was all the same once Fluttershy threw herself into Twilight’s hooves and chest.
Seeing that tender moment between them made Rarity think of Sweetie Belle and all the work she had left back at the boutique. She’d need at least a week to get all her dress orders straightened out and delivered, either on time or at a reduced price. And then there’d be the matter of hiring a publicist now that she was a proper consort to Twilight Sparkle and a member of Equestria’s first official romantic trio and…
And none of that mattered at the moment because the royal baths were simply too luxurious to think about anything else. Rarity closed her eyes and submerged herself a little deeper.
Still, there had been a question bubbling in the back of her mind. If she could only remember…
“Oh!” Rarity shot up from the water, startling her marefriends. She grinned and wiped away some drops from her cheek. “Do forgive me, darling. I only wanted to ask you, Twilight. After the press conference, when you and Flash Sentry were alone together…”
She bit her bottom lip. “Well, how did your reunion go?”
Twilight returned with an embarrassed smile. “Right, that…”
“I’m sorry. It’s not my place to ask, I suppose. I was only curious—”
“No, it’s fine.” Twilight gave Fluttershy one last hug and swam over toward Rarity. She waited until she settled in the bath, taking both marefriends into her gaze. “It was a long time coming, actually. Despite what he said at the press event, we didn’t actually end things so well.”
“Oh, dear.” Fluttershy shrank back. “Does that mean you still, um… care about him?”
“Well, of course I—” Twilight blinked. Then she shook her head violently. “No! No, no, no! Nothing like that! I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, Fluttershy!”
“Darling, please.” Rarity put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “It’s fine. We’re all a little excited after today, that’s all.”
Twilight nodded. “Exactly.” She turned to Fluttershy, sneaking one hoof across the water toward her. “What I meant to say was that Flash and I never got to really talk after our breakup. But today we did. And we’re friends again, nothing more and nothing less.”
Fluttershy smiled and reached back for Twilight. “That’s good. I’m happy for him.”
“As am I,” Rarity added.
“And in any case…” Twilight swam forward, summoning her magic to pull both mares toward her in a sudden hug. “There’s nopony I’d rather be with than the two of you.” She turned to Rarity, still smiling broadly. “I’d have never found the courage to be open with my feelings if it wasn’t for you.” Then she turned to Fluttershy. “And you, Shy, have been nothing short of inspiring this whole time. Rarity and I are lucky to have you in our lives.”
Rarity giggled and hugged Fluttershy from the hug. “Couldn’t have said it better myself!”
Everything was going so well. Spike was chasing butterflies through an open field on a clear, sunny day. Although, the butterflies weren’t so much insects as they were mouth-watering rubies and emeralds with wings, flittering just out of his claw’s reach. He hissed and snapped at them, knowing that any second, they’d be his to devour whole—
“Spike! Hey, Spike, wake up!”
“Whah—?” Spike’s jaw snapped shut and he bolted upright. He blinked away the fading visions of those flying tasty gems, only to realize that he was still at the library.
But at least Sweetie Belle was hovering over him. Things were looking up then.
Spike yawned and scratched at the back of his head. “Mmph, what is it, Sweetie? Breakfast?”
“It’s way better than breakfast!” the little pony squealed.
Spike had never heard of anything in his life that was better than breakfast, but he kept himself from repeating that sentiment. For the moment. “So… what is it, then?”
Sweetie Belle kept smiling as her horn lit up. A folded-up newspaper flew over from the front door to the tiny couch where Spike had passed out the night before after rearranging Twilight’s books again. Spike rubbed at his eyes and glanced at the headline.
Then he did a double-take and read the paper again.
And again, just to be sure this wasn’t another dream he was about to wake up from.
“I don’t believe it,” he whispered.
A Victory for Romance! the paper declared. Princess Twilight Defends Romantic Trio with Help From Ex-Coltfriend!
“Isn’t that wonderful?” said Sweetie Belle. Without warning, she began skipping around Spike’s couch, lost in her own little world. “Now Twilight’s good with the press, so she and Rarity and Fluttershy can come home again!”
“I… yeah…” Spike was still adjusting to the shock of the news. He had to admit that nothing could beat the heartwarming picture of four ponies locked in a tearful, happy hug. But it was strange seeing Flash Sentry in the middle of that hug.
He’d always liked Flash, truth be told. He seemed a lot like Shining Armor, if only a touch less mature. And anypony who’d made Twilight happy was a good friend in Spike’s book. He’d learned his lesson about being possessive after that poor introduction with Owlowiscious. And after the breakup, Spike didn’t hate Flash for it. Of course, that didn’t leave him off the hook for turning Twilight into a crying and depressed mare for several weeks afterward.
This was a step in the right direction. He could feel it. And he prayed it would last a little longer.
“Good for you, Twilight,” Spike murmured to the picture of his big sister. Then he rolled it up and tossed it onto the couch. “I guess we don’t have any time to lose. Let’s go over to Rarity’s and clean it up for her!”
“Okay, but I’m making lunch!” Sweetie replied.
Spike smiled. “Sounds good to me!”
“I—really?” The filly paused mid-step on her way to the front door. She glanced back at Spike in surprise. “I was just kidding, Spike. I’m not that good a cook.”
“I’m sure you are, Sweetie Belle.”
“No, I…” Sweetie Belle shook her head. “I can make a salad—mostly. Everything else I make gets burnt or turned rock hard like…”
Spike put his claw on her shoulder. “Like what?”
“W-well, like…” Sweetie Belle ducked her head. “Coal.”
Spike didn’t say a word. He stood there, imagining a tray of raw coal being removed from Rarity’s oven and served to him at the dinner table. He smacked his lips with delight.
“Sweetie Belle, do you know what coal becomes after a long time?” he asked.
“No?”
“Diamonds!”
“Really?”
Spike pumped his fists into the air. “Yes! Awesome, delicious, crunchy diamonds! A dragon couldn’t ask for anything better!”
“So you…?” Sweetie Belle was staring at him askew. “You like overcooked food?”
“Yep!” Spike stuck out his claw, taking Sweetie’s hoof into it. “Tell you what. You can ‘spoil’ some food for me and I’ll help you make a good salad for the both of us!”
Sweetie Belle grinned. “Then that’s what we’ll do! I’ll get my culinary cutie mark for sure!”
Keep dreaming, Spike thought, but the smile that accompanied that thought was real. He laughed and escorted her toward the door.
All things considered, this was a great way to wake up.
Applejack collapsed onto Fluttershy’s couch, suddenly feeling like an old barn being yanked down to the foundation. She let her hat slide over her eyes and took a long breath, held it, and let it out slowly. Her muscles ached, but in a darn good way, she reckoned.
Handling Fluttershy’s critters wasn’t the worst job in the world. They were a mite more rowdy than the pigs, cows, and chickens they had back at Sweet Apple Acres, but once Applejack started talking, those critters were quick to listen. If nothing else, she could handle feeding dozens of the little rabbits and squirrels if it kept her mind off the brooding storm outside.
Rainbow Dash had said she could handle it and her word was usually good enough for Applejack. Usually. Occasionally.
At least half the time, her word was enough.
That darling blue pegasus could talk big from dawn ‘til dusk, but even a champion racehorse had her limits. Even so, Applejack kept on praying that they could hold off the storm long enough for Twilight and the girls to get back. Hopefully, with some twisted heap of magic to ward off those evil clouds.
Speaking of which, Applejack thought, I haven’t heard the fella in a while…
She pushed up the brim of her hat and took a peek through the nearby window.
Then her jaw dropped.
For the better part of a week, the skies over Ponyville had been downright gloomy. Not a lick of sunlight to be found. But here was Applejack, looking up at honest-to-Celestia blue sky with actual white clouds. She could feel the warmth of the unhindered sun right through the window pane and it made her grin like a mule.
“Well, I’ll be a rattlesnake’s granny!” she hollered. “Guess you pulled through, Twi!”
Not a moment too soon, somepony was knocking hard at the front door of the cottage. Applejack raced across the room, careful to avoid running into any of the woodland creatures lounging or playing around on the floor.
The moment she threw open the door, a massive weight crashed into her and Applejack was swept off her hooves. She shook her head and recognized the multicolored blur that had carried her straight into the air.
“A.J., you won’t believe it!” Rainbow Dash spun her around, making Applejack regret eating that second helping of pasta she’d cooked herself. The velocity of her marefriend’s antics was threatening to send it right back up.
“Hnngh… believe what, sugarcube?” she forced out between her teeth.
Rainbow Dash slowed down long enough for the farmpony to get back onto her hooves, wobbling only a little as she did. “The storm! It’s heading east! Isn’t that great?”
“Sure is, darling!” Applejack wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hoof. “Whew! Ya almost had me worried there! Thought for sure I was dreaming!”
She allowed herself a moment to breathe and settle her nerves back down, using that relaxation technique Rarity had showed her months ago.
Then something like an electric shock jolted through her.
“Whoa nelly,” Applejack said, turning to Rainbow Dash, who was still doing her victory dance in midair. “Did you say heading east? As in, it didn’t go away?”
“Uh, yeah!” Dash grinned. “It’s going east. That’s what ‘going away’ means, Applejack!”
“You ninny!” Applejack stamped her front hooves hard enough to wipe away the grin from Dash’s face. “That means it’s not gone for good! It’s heading straight for Canterlot!”
Rainbow Dash stared back, her confusion giving way to sheer horror. “I… oh, no. Oh, no, no, no, no!” She spun around, kicking the front door open again with one hoof. “C’mon, we gotta hurry! There’s no time—!”
Her valiant leap out the door was cut short once Applejack clamped down on Dash’s tail with her teeth. She’d done this so many times that her jaw had gotten a good workout over the years, she figured.
Rainbow Dash groaned and dropped back to the floor, landing on all fours. She cast a sour look over her shoulder. “Really, A.J.?”
“I’m not saying we can’t go,” Applejack answered, taking a few quick breaths to settle her own nerves. She couldn’t panic now. Not when three lovely mares and the royal capital were in the path of danger.
“I’m saying,” she added, reaching up to fix her hat, “that we need to get everypony together and hop on the next train to Canterlot before it’s too late.”
Rainbow Dash’s look of concern melted away into an unabashed grin. “Now there’s the mare of my dreams! Let’s get a move-on!”
Long after the press conference had ended, the Royal Pavilion was still crowded with ponies of every sort. While most of the serious journalists had departed, several celebrities and rising stars were hanging around to catch the eye—and more importantly, the cameras—of tabloid reporters and their photographers. Not mares on the same level as Sapphire Shores or DJ Soundwave, but younger ponies with their own fan clubs. Even the members of high society weren’t above a little shameless gawking.
Strider didn’t care. It made his quiet escape from the scene that much easier.
Nopony batted an eye as he pulled up the hood of his green cloak and trotted down the avenue toward Little Cloudsdale, the most pegasi-populated side of town. After a long morning of keeping watch over the Princesses from a distance, Strider was grateful to be somewhere tranquil for the rest of the afternoon. The Unicorn Quarter might’ve had better restaurants, but Little Cloudsdale was the place to go for strong cider, low lights, and no questions asked.
It was, Strider supposed, the reason it was a popular meeting spot for so many Secret Service ponies like him.
He continued along the road at a measured trot, enjoying the cool breeze that washed over his cloaked body. Even if winter was coming sooner than expected, it was a welcome respite.
And in any case, he thought upon reaching his destination, what good is a wintry day if you can’t enjoy a glass of hot cider with it?
Strider came to a halt at the door of a grimy little tavern. Compared to the rest of Canterlot, the Pottok Club was far too gray and dirty to be considered a part of the respectable city. However, it also meant that no well-to-do pony would ever give it a second glance. Strider smiled to himself and gave the doorframe a friendly bump with his hoof as he entered.
Then he heard it.
Most stallions wouldn’t pick it up right away, but Strider’s ears were trained for even the smallest details. In this case, a low and distant rumble like the roar of a manticore or an ursa. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, but his instincts told him that it wasn’t some predator run amok in the capital.
Very slowly, Strider turned around and peered up at the sky.
Coming in fast—about twelve kilometers away by his estimate—was a growing black storm cloud. A vicious, lightning-covered, snarling cloud.
Strider’s stomach sank. He’d read the report filed by False Flag only last week. Tempestas magica, as the Royal Society on Scientific Enquiry had officially dubbed it. A storm so powerful and vile that it had the markings of intelligence. Not to mention an attraction toward a particular source of negative emotion according to some of the other lads in the Service. For weeks, they had been tracking its movements from Las Pegasus to Baltimare, recording every instance of lightning and every downpour meticulously.
The end result? Nothing but bad news for anypony in its path. At least the scandal with Princess Twilight had kept the press from starting a panic over it.
Casting a long, meaningful look at the door to the Pottok Club, Strider debated if he could really justify going inside. Yes, he’d be derelict in his duty, but the promise of hot cider and a dry roof over his head…
How could anypony say no to that?
Not anypony, said the voice of F.P., his former partner. Strider could almost picture the smug colt adjusting his monocle as he spoke. How could you live with it, old sport?
Strider lowered his head and swore under his breath.
Then he took one last look at the oncoming storm—now pitch black and snarling with a tiger’s ferocity—and spun around. Strider grit his teeth and began his mad gallop straight back the way he came, racing toward the palace.
Princess Luna would be the first to hear of this. She’d know exactly what to do.
Stats
Page generated in 0.031 seconds
Total duration
989 users online
21,535 hits today, 2,439,861 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Heh. Spike actually being able to handle Sweetie's Cooking. Now that is something new. Friend of mine wrote a scene with that same idea about a couple years or so back. Spike got food poisoning and was left throwing up in the bathroom for an unspecific amount of time.
Damn it, Draft, you had one job! I said change it to Specialist and you gave me a PRiva Flash Sentry.
Edit: my name is spelt wrong in the author's note. It's a 0 (zero), not an O (Oh, Oscar).
5551952 Consider it fixed, old sport!
5552691 I'm never going to let you live PRiva down, you know that, right?
5552723 Nor should you, faithful editor!
aaargh
I already kinda-sorta shipped SpikexSweetie, but now I may have to start doing it non-facetiously
What have you done
5552942 Wow. From now on, I must only use this power for good!
5552942
Look up Cutie Mark Catastrophes
Fetlock Pones?
5554029 Fancy Pants, actually, but now you've given me some other ideas...
I love what you ended up doing with this chapter. Strong work.
What the fuck?