//------------------------------// // The Count and the Countess // Story: A Compass to the Soul // by CartoonNerd12 //------------------------------// Rarity smoothed out Soarin's mane after fitting him into a burgundy suit jacket with a lapel bearing his red shirt. Then she braided the mane and decorated it with a small bow. "There!" she exclaimed as she produced a hand mirror, "Now you are ready to meet the creme de la creme of Equestrian society." Soarin exclaimed his look and went, "Hmm, not bad, you really outdid yourself Rarity. I can even hardly tell that's me." "Well naturally that is the point darling, after all we can't have you and Rainbow Dash recognized." Said mare walked in then to see her husband and let out a snort before laughing. Rarity lifted her head and humphed, "Everyone is a critic." Dash wiped her eye and said, "No offense honey but you look ridiculous." Soarin quipped with a smirk, "Not as much as you do." "Har-har," she sarcastically replied before smiling and nuzzled his face. He nuzzled back and sighed, "I miss your vibrate colors…" "How you think I feel? It's feels like I'm missing a part of my identity." Rarity commented, "Alas that's the point, dear. It's like I told Soarin you cannot be recognized by anyone or else all of this will have been for naught." She sighed, "I know… but still, going back as someone else feels weird." He nodded, "It does." Suddenly a shout cried above, "Equestrian ship incoming!" The three ponies rushed up deck to see the commotion and sure enough an Equestrian Navy ship was coming and was waving a flag asking for safe passage onto their ship. "You better get below deck Celaeno." Rainbow told her. The parrot captain agreed and signaled for the rest of her crewmates to come with her. Once they were down, Soarin signaled for two pegasi to wave a flag granting the other ship permission. Then when the ships came close together they interconnected as the Navy ship put a plank to help the crew cross over. To both Dash and Soarin's surprise an old friend of theirs was in the lead and to Fleetfoot's own surprise when she saw the Count and Countess she was stunned by how they resembled her two old friends but then decided that it was the sea playing tricks on her mind. She saluted, "First Lieutenant Fleetfoot of the Equestrian Navy at your service." Soarin almost exclaimed, "First Lieuten-" but was quickly quieted by his wife kicking him in the back leg. He winced to the pain but addressed Fleetfoot with a deeper voice, "I mean, it's a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant." Fleetfoot responded, "I have been sent by my captain to give you a welcoming reception as you arrive into Equestria." Rainbow replied in a fake posh voice, "Oh how very kind of her." The mare raised her brow, "How did you know she's a her?" The couple felt a panic run through them as Dash sweated and faltered, "Er… um, lucky guess?" then quickly said, "I mean if a fine young mare such as yourself is in the Navy then perhaps you have a captain that is also a female, no?" There was a pause as the couple hoped that Fleetfoot would buy that and for a moment it felt like she didn't but then to their relief she did when she said. "Well yes, I suppose you're right." then she added, "And I thank you for your compliment." "But of course!" Dash made a cheesy grin. Fleetfoot smiled, "I can already tell we're going to get along well." Soarin motioned, "Why certainly! We always try to make friends of all sorts since we come from such a tiny island that we're happy to meet a new face." The pegasus bowed, "I am honored, and I must say that you remind me of two good friends I once had." The couple worried again thinking they were about to be caught at any moment. Dash wavered, "O-oh? Is that so?" "Yes, I don't know why but you look so very much like them but… I know that it's just wishful thinking on my part so please forgive me." Soarin replied, "No! I mean, there's nothing wrong in thinking that we remind you of your friends." Fleetfoot sighed, "I just wish they could be here to meet you themselves but due to some very tragic events they can't." The pegasi looked at their old ally in guilt that she mistook for sympathy. Fleetfoot shook her head knowing she was getting off topic, "I'm sorry that was completely unprofessional of me to say," She headed back to the Navy ship while telling them, "especially since it is my duty to help you get to the palace on time. It was wonderful meeting you both!" and she got back on her ship. Once they were sure she was out of earshot both Soarin and Dash leaned against the side of Celaeno's ship and deeply exhaled. "That was close!" she proclaimed. "I know right! The fact she was able to recognize us after all even with these disguises!" "Well she has known us both for so long it kind-of makes sense." "Thankfully we were able to trick her but I hope we'll be able to keep it up." "Guess that was our first test of whether or not we can really do this…" "Yeah…" They made solemn expressions as Dash said, "I was so tempted to tell her!" "Me too! Did you see the way she was acting when she brought us up?! I mean that's… Aw, Fleetfoot…" "Just once I would love to see what her reaction would be if we told her of what we've been through!" "I agree! In fact I would love to see how everyone else at the academy would react." She sighed, "But we can't…" He sighed too, "Yes… I know…" "This mission was of our goddess's bidding and we will fulfill it no matter what." Soarin took her hoof as he added, "Even if it means forgetting our old friends and the attachments we had to them…" She nodded but took no pleasure in it. "We must stay strong throughout the whole thing…" He nodded as well before they kissed. It took another couple of days but soon Soarin and Rainbow Dash could see the Equestrian harbor within view and with it the Navy Academy. Memories flooded the husband and wife duo as they recalled their times of training, promotion, and dating. All of it happy. But then that fateful day changed everything for them and now here they were trying to complete a moon goddess's will. As the ship was about to dock, a certain captain was watching it through her lens until her sights landed on the so-called Count and Countess and immediately it felt like her heart stop and she gasped loudly. Flashes went through her mind as she could see her old friends and officers in place of the Count and Countess. "It-it cannot be… It's not possible!" She panted heavily as she tried to wrap her head around this. "Soarin is alive… and Rainbow Dash is with him!" she took the lens again and looked at them again. She could see they did look like them but they were different too. Spitfire refused to get her hopes up and decided to wait until she got a closer look at them and to see if there were any signs of her old friends in them. Back on the ship, the couple was about to disembark before looking below deck where Celaeno and her crew stayed. Dash asked her, "Are you sure you'll be okay?" The parrot told her, "Don't worry about us. We know what needs to be done." The mare smiled then turned back to the ponies still on deck and beckon Scootaloo. "Now remember you and the other kids need to stay with Rarity in the meantime." The filly nodded, "Yes, Mom." Soarin said, "That's our girl." and the family got into a hug. By then the ship's plank came down and the couple followed by Fluttershy, Quibble Pants, Clear Sky, Thunderlane, and Twilight went down. Fleetfoot came down from her own ship to meet them. "If you follow me I'll take you straight to the palace to meet with the king." "Thank you." Soarin said using his deep voice again. Two carriages were summoned and Rainbow and Soarin got in after Fleetfoot and Fluttershy joined them while the others had to go into the other carriage. While it was still hard talking to Fleetfoot without the urge to give themselves away they were able to still keep their identities a secret. Soon they had arrived at the castle gates and were submitted in. The couple knew that is was the moment of truth of whether or not they would be able to sway the king over into opening his borders for good so any species may pass through legally without strife. They got out of the carriages and walked into the castle with Fleetfoot guiding them. They saw their friends behind them were marveling at the architecture and artifacts on display. Then they were about to arrive in the throne room and Flash was waiting for them. He bowed to them, "My lord and lady." "Hello steward, is the king ready for us?" Soarin questioned. "He is. I shall go in and announce you in." he went inside the room. King Neighsay was sitting on his throne with his council waiting on the side as they were curious to meet this mysterious Count and Countess. Their steward came back and he proclaimed, "May I present to you, the Count and Countess of Monterufolino!" he moved to the side as the doors swung opened revealing Rainbow Dash and Soarin. They walked in with stern expressions on their faces as they faced the king whom they can see from the scowl on his face that he hasn't changed at all since they last saw him. Then they bowed before him, saying, "Your Highness." Neighsay spoke, "So you are the Count and Countess of Monterufolino… We are honored by your presence as your steward has told me you are here on behalf of your king to possibly make a trade agreement." Soarin replied, "That is correct, Your Majesty. For you see our kingdom is but a small island but it is very prosperous, and we would have much to offer to a worthy ally and our king believes you to be that ally." "How gratifying of you to say. However, I will need to learn more about your kingdom before I can make any decisions on a treaty. But first we shall celebrate your visit tonight then we can discuss business the next day. Will that be alright with you?" Soarin answered, "Most certainly Your Highness. And we thank you for taking your time to hear us out." "But of course. Now, I shall have my servants escort you to your rooms and please enjoy your visit." "I'm sure we will." Rainbow said as she and her husband bowed again before being taken out of the room. Once they were in the royal chambers the small group gathered together as Rainbow Dash said, "Phase 1 is now complete." "Now it's on to Phase 2…" her husband said. Their friends made determined looks and impishly smiled. The ballroom shone bright under the chandelier just like it did two years prior for Soarin and Rainbow Dash as they had entered the dance hall after their titles were announced. They could see the crowds were in awe to them and whispers frayed among them. Just as they had hope their friends had spread rumors about them to garnish more attention amongst the nobility and to have a standing when they have to present their case to the king. Meanwhile across the ballroom, Spitfire watched the couple carefully as they greeted the other guests. The flashes once again happened and she was more than certain now these were her old friends but to be sure she turned to Fleetfoot and asked. "Tell me, do the Count and Countess remind you of anyone?" Fleetfoot was caught off guard by the question and wavered fearing her superior would think she was crazy if she gave her true response, "Why? Do they look like someone you know?" Spitfire replied, "Come on, don't tell me you don't see the resemblance." "Resemblance to what, ma'am?" "Not what, who." "Who is what, ma'am?" She slapped her face with her wing, "Ugh! Never mind!" By then the orchestra started playing and the Count and Countess went to the middle of the room and into a dance and there Spitfire saw what she had suspected as she could remember a moment two years ago of her officers having their first dance together in that very same spot. On the dance floor the couple whispered to each other. "Remember this?" Soarin smirked. She smirked back, "How can I not? You had to use Spitfire to get me to dance with you." "True… but you liked doing it didn't you?" "Yeah… that's true…" she smiled and got closer to his chest, sighing tenderly. They kept on dancing in a sweet and loving way until the music slowly died down and everyone around them clapped. They stepped aside and Rainbow motioned him to go to the balcony which he happily did so. Spitfire saw where they were going and smirked, thinking, Gotcha… and followed after them.