"Ninty-eight!"
Tempest remained unmoved as she saw the group of ponies before her lower themselves until their chests just barely touched the ground. She saw the strain as they now had to put significant effort to raise themselves back up. She waited, causing the rest to groan as one in particular took longer then the rest to manage to straighten his legs. Barely a heartbeat after he did...
"Ninty-nine!"
The group lowered itself that much more shakily, the one she was watching seemingly barely not falling on his face as he did. She knew on some level that had she been in her usual state of mind she would have decided to take a stand right in front of him. Staring him down would likely have made him fail by now. She was somewhat glad she hadn't though. Judging by how matted his now darkening but still feminine pink fur was with sweat she would currently be trying to act like she wasn't trying to suppress a gag at his smell. However, even in her current state of distraction she couldn't just let his weakness go unpunished.
"Hurry it up stubby, everypony else is waiting!"
That made him visibly wince, having the opposite effect and making him lose height as he struggled even harder to finish the rep. She didn't have to imagine the irritation it was causing the rest of the group. Some even broke form to stare at him in irritation. He seemed to only just manage to get his forelegs straight again before...
"One hundred!"
This was the slowest rep of them all. They clearly thought this was the last one of the set. If Tempest was more invested in what was going on she would probably decide ten more were in order. As it stood, she simply waited for her designated weakling to finally finish. She watched his forelegs shake violently for a few seconds, offhoofedly wondering how long he could last there.
"Recover!"
Nopony could suppress their relief of finally being able to stand after the grueling workout. She noticed some legs shaking, ones particularly badly, but decided she didn't need to comment on it today.
"For the rest of the day you all will be undergoing duty specific training." Nopony showed it, but she could tell they were hesitant at the idea of more training after what she'd put them through already. "For your information, I will not be the pony administering this training." The relief was palpable even if it wasn't visible. "Due to unusual circumstances I will be on light duty the rest of this week and all of the next." She paused briefly to let their relief settle in. "I will still be, directly, overseeing all your morning training as it pertains to discipline and conduct." And there was the unheard groan she was looking for.
She did one more pass of the line. If she was paying more attention she probably could have issued several reprimands for lack of form in their exhausted state. But she supposed that if she was going to be taking the rest of the day off, like some kind of slacker pony, then why prolong the inevitable.
"For now, break for chow. You'll be getting your assignments from Captain Gleaming Spear after that. Dismissed!"
She barked the last part and was not surprised to hear the sound of a pony hitting the ground right after. First row, third from the left, again. Tempest made a mental note to decide who was going to fill that hole when he likely didn't show up tomorrow. She was already turned away and marching off as ponies tried to decide if they were going to help him or themselves. She was in no state to instruct them on such things. She had to get herself right before she could do the same for others.
***
Tempest had to admit that the castle of friendship was amazing. There had been some concern when it was decided that the training center for the royal guard would have to be moved there. Tempest had to be near Twilight do to the nature of her punishment, but also needed to do her community service. Obviously it would be impossible for Twilight, Tempest, or the guards in training to be transported back and forth every day, but the castle of friendship hadn't been designed with housing and training a bunch of soldiers in mind. Then, while Twilight had been showing Tempest around / trying to find a suitable space that would work well enough, the princess had opened a previously undiscovered door to find a ready to use military barracks and mess hall as if it had always been there.
Between Twilight's organization and Tempest's experience they were able to begin training there nearly within the week. Since then navigating the halls of the castle had become second nature to her, which was good as she now wandered through them seemingly with no direction.
She felt the need to think about what had transpired between herself and the princess she served the night before, but every time she did she felt her chest tighten in a way that somehow felt both familiar and alien to her at the same time. It was creating a hard to understand concept of wanting to understand something but not wanting to think about it in her head.
However, the fact that she wasn't a pony use to aimless wandering led to her deciding she needed something to clear her head. Finally taking a moment to pay attention to where she actually was walking she found that she was just a few hallways away from the mess hall. She decided this was perfect and proceeded with the most certainty she'd felt all week.
Though Twilight had taken the time to make sure that ponies could get food there at any hour of the day, it currently was close to lunch time and thus she was not the only one heading in that direction. She sighed inwardly to herself knowing what this was going to mean.
As she walked, a fair bit faster then most ponies with her long confident stride, she watched with a lack of reaction as the sea of ponies parted at her presence. It was something she was use to after years of it happening. So much so that she didn't even bat an eye as the ponies in line to get food all made way and allowed her to get hers first. She even felt it not phasing her at all as she approached a table full of ponies with her tray of food hovering in her violently crackling magic and watched them all become suddenly not very hungry and decide to leave abruptly.
She took a seat at the table. The Castle of Friendship had done such a good job of making all the troop accommodations the most comfortable she'd ever experienced, it really had. And Princess Twilight had gone so far out of her way to make sure they would all have the best experience they could while they were there, she really had. And the food did look and smell good. And Tempest really was hungry. And yet she sat, staring down at her food, her mind still too distracted to make her want to dig in.
Her ear twitched and turned at the sound of something being peeled apart. Not being accustomed to hearing any sounds close to her while she was eating, Tempest was prompted to turn her head. She was surprised to find that there was actually a pony at the table that hadn't decided to abandon ship when she came around. She was even more surprised that it was a pony she actually knew, but not any that she'd normally see around these parts.
"Fluttershy?" How Tempest had not noticed the pegasus with her buttery yellow coat and long pink mane was a mystery to her. But there she was, having apparently just removed the top from a disposable yogurt container and now gently licking the excess off the foil lid. At hearing her name she turn with a quizzical look to the pony sharing a table with her.
"Oh, hello..." She stopped to look around, noticing other ponies were within earshot of them. "...Tempest. Are you feeling better?"
As odd as this situation already was, that question did jump to the front of the line of Tempest's inquiries. "What do you mean? What would I need to feel better about?"
Surprisingly, Fluttershy didn't seem taken aback by the questioning. Her ears did flatten somewhat, but more in a concerned way then showing any kind of fear. "Oh, well, I'm sorry if I misread it before, but you didn't say hi when I said it before. Twilight says you can still be prone to brooding from time to time and we should just let you if it doesn't look like you're in any kind of major distress. So I, umm..." Not knowing how to finish her explanation, she just trailed off and went back to licking her lid clean.
Tempest thought better of any kind of remark she'd usually use in this situation. Largely thanks to Twilight she was getting better at reading ponies personalities, and actually caring about them. She proceeded gently. "I'm sorry Fluttershy, I'm just not use to there being anypony else left at a table once I've sat down."
Looking around at the wide berth they were being given at this point, Fluttershy decided to comment on that. "Well, that's just not very nice now is it."
Tempest gave a light chuckle at this. It really did seem that none of the elements really understood the implications of somepony having once been a tyrant. "It's fine, I'm used to it. But I also wouldn't have expected to see you anywhere near the barracks. Why are you eating here?"
At this question Fluttershy smiled bashfully. "Oh, well that's simple. I sometimes sneak over here for lunch if I don't like what they're serving at the school of friendship." She nodded down to what remained of what looked like it had been a rather well constructed salad. "Don't tell the cooks at the school, but the chili they make is a little too spicy for me."
Tempest smiled without noticing it. In her efforts to help her become more social the princess had dragged her out to certain types of gatherings with the rest of her friends. From various meals they had eaten together Tempest would guess that there were some brands of mayonnaise that were too spicy for the skittish pegasus. It really did amaze Tempest just how a pony with so many fears could even function in day to day life. This suddenly made her stop and consider something as the mare now lifted a spoon full of her sweet pink treat to her lips. Tempest casted a glance around the room, noticing like she usually did that the ponies that were already keeping themselves at a distance also now snapped their gazes away as if that would convince her they had not been watching her cautiously.
"... Fluttershy?" The pegasus looked back over, spoon still held in her mouth as her expression turned quizzical again. "I feel I need to ask you something, but I think I still lack the social tact to do so without offending."
Fluttershy gave her lips a lick before responding. "It's ok Tempest, you don't have to worry about offending me."
The words were said so sweetly it was hard for Tempest to not agree. With a nod she spoke again. "You are a coward, aren't you?"
"Oh yes, very much so."
It was said so casually it nearly took Tempest aback. With another look around to confirm the fear bubble she seemed to project was still keeping ponies at bay she continued. "Then how is it that you're not afraid of me?"
Fluttershy now looked even more puzzled then before, her next spoonful stopping midway to her mouth for another bite. After a few moments though, she just smiled. "Because you're my friend Tempest."
This again was said so casually that it did this time manage to take Tempest aback somewhat. "Oh... Right. I'm sorry, it's just something I'm still getting used to, you know?" Tempest couldn't understand why she suddenly felt the need to focus heavily on one of her forhooves as she tapped it gently on the table.
The smile persisted as Fluttershy spoke again. "It's ok. Twilight says it still might take a few reminders before you really start to understand what that means." She finally took the waiting bite of her yogurt before turning away to focus on her tray again.
Bringing up Twilight's name again made Tempest wince slightly, luckily without Fluttershy noticing. The subject she couldn't force herself to think about seemed to keep trying to force her to think about it. However, the thought of Twilight did suddenly make an idea come to her mind. An idea she would have thought absolutely crazy just a few months ago.
Tempest managed to refocus her attention to the delicate pegasus next to her. With all the resolve she could muster she spoke again. "Fluttershy." She waited for a moment while her companion once again turned to pay attention to her. "As a friend, I request that you listen to something I have to say and afterwards convey to me your thoughts on the subject."
Fluttershy looked like she was considering for a few moments, then brightened in understanding. "Oh of course. I'd be happy to help you with a problem if I can."
Tempest let a sigh of relief escape her. As foreign as the concept was to her, there were times when she really was glad that there were now ponies that understood her to some degree. "But I must ask for your discretion on the matter as it is a matter that could be considered personal despite, and indeed because it does, involve another."
Fluttershy now flashed a look of concern before glancing to the room around them. "Oh, well if it's something personal, are you sure you want to talk about it here? There are still a lot of ponies around."
Tempest turned her head quickly to the closest table to them. "No pony will pay us any attention." The statement was made with the authority only a seasoned soldier could manage. Ears pinned to heads around them and several more ponies decided they were finished eating.
Fluttershy turned her head curiously watching this display. "Oh, I see." She said hesitantly. "In that case, what do you need help with?"
The moment of dealing with things she did understand had made Tempest feel confident again. But those words reminded her of what she was about to do, and suddenly those 'being around Twilight' feelings were back. She ground her teeth briefly to avoid stuttering out her first words.
"I've been having issues with concentration and focus as of late. And though I've thoroughly attempted to find alternate reasons to explain it, any explanation of my inability to concentrate always seems to come back to it being somehow related to... Twilight."
Tempest didn't know why she decided to pause there, but for some reason she found herself looking over to the other mare. A small, "go on" did prompt her to continue.
"I was.. originally going to relocate, both myself and the training facility, back to Canterlot so that I could properly fullfil my duties. However Twilight had an.. idea about what might be the real source of the issue." She once again found herself stopping her account without any knowledge as to why she would. The normally timid pegasus gave her a simple nod that gave her reason to continue. "She believes that I may have come to harbor... romantic feelings towards her." This finally got a reaction from the eagerly listening mare, a sudden look of surprise coming to her. However this time Tempest didn't want to give her a moment to react quite yet. She quickly continued. "But while I do have great respect for the princesses intelligence and judgement this did not seem like a thing that would be possible. Not only have I never been interested in romantic pursuits, I'm also her subordinate and to harbor such desires would be highly unorthodox, bordering on inappropriate. Furthermore..."
Tempest suddenly stopped as a hoof was placed on her shoulder, causing her to draw away in instinctive defensiveness. A soft voice kept her from kicking her own chair out from under her and assuming a fighting stance. "Everything's ok Tempest, you can relax. I'm not judging you. Calm down, because I can barely understand you if you talk that fast."
Tempest suddenly realized she was breathing heavily, she even felt like she might start sweating at any moment. She had no idea what could be causing such a reaction in her. "I'm not talking fast, why would I be talking fast." And Tempest then abruptly stopped, realizing she was talking quite fast. That 'Twilight feeling' started settling in her chest once again as she unconsciously let out a groan. "What is wrong with me?" She growled low under her breath. Her temper flared at herself but quickly fizzled as it collided headlong into the feeling in her chest.
At this point she realized her forehead was now cradled in her forehooves which were joined and keeping her head from colliding with her long forgotten tray of food. This not being a position she was particularly familiar with she allowed her head to simply roll to the side to face the pegasus she'd been talking to once more.
"I don't know what it is, but for some reason I behave differently when I'm around Twilight. Heck, I behave differently even if I'm just thinking about her. I owe her more then any pony ever in my life, to the point where I think that debt is affecting me. At this point it's like I don't even recognize myself. I don't know." She stopped herself there as her focus shifted away from her own frustration and to the pony she somehow found herself asking advice from, who she suddenly realized was smiling an indistinguishable smile towards her. "What do you think Fluttershy?"
Seeming to realize she was behaving oddly, Fluttershy suddenly reverted to her usual timid demeanor, looking away sheepishly. However the ghost of that smile still remained. "Umm, well... If you really want to know my opinion..." She paused until Tempest gave her a nod to continue. "Then I think I have to agree with Twilight. It sounds like you might have started to have slightly more... romantic feelings towards her."
Tempest for some reason felt her face become warmer the way it did when Twilight was around as she decided to explain more. "Twilight described it as a 'crush', but I don't really understand what that means. I understand the concept of ponies wanting to pair off, marry, and procreate, but it's not something I've ever wanted for myself. So I'm unclear as to why it would seem like an obvious conclusion to other ponies that I would be having such desires when I myself don't even understand the circumstances."
"Oh, well that one is easy, at least in my case. I just noticed that what you were describing of how you are around Twilight is the same way I feel around Rainbow Dash."
That truly caught Tempest off guard. She stared blankly as the pegasus nonchalantly went about scraping the last bits of her yogurt from the bottom of her briefly forgotten container.
"What?"
Fluttershy looked over and seemed puzzled at the shocked look on the face of the normally stoic pony. She then seemed to have a moment of realization. "Oh right. I keep forgetting you haven't been around for very long. I've just gotten use to everypony somehow knowing about it already."
"You are saying that you have a crush on Rainbow Dash?" Tempest asked, vaguely noticing her words coming out fast again.
The pegasus hesitated for a few moments, for some reason her cheeks getting progressively redder and redder the longer she did. "Umm, well. I guess you could say that." She turned away, now absent-mindedly nudging her now largely empty lunch tray with her hoof.
"I'm confused then," Tempest continued more calmly while considering this reaction. "If you know you have this feeling for Rainbow Dash then why are the two of you not mates?"
A mental image must have jumped into Fluttershy's mind at that moment as Tempest noticed her eyes go wide and her cheeks turn even redder. She had to recoil for a moment to regain her composure, but after doing so she actually turned to face the other mare and gave a smile. "Lots of ponies have already asked me that, and each time the answer is very simple. And I think it's one that will help you too."
Tempest was now very confused but also very interested in what the timid mares next words would be. "What is it?" She asked somewhat impatiently.
"Well, the simple answer is that I'm scared." The implication of the answer was not lost on Tempest as her eyes instinctively narrowed at the mare speaking. It didn't seem to keep the next words from coming. "And I think it's the same with you. You're scared."
Though on some level she realized she shouldn't, long hardened instincts forced that aside as Tempest dawned a long practiced glare. She leaned forward and in a voice that made the air around her chill she replied, "do I look like a mare that is afraid of anything?"
To Tempest's immediate shock, the pony before her did not back down in the least. Fluttershy smiled sweetly and actually leaned closer to the killer look. "No, you don't look like it. But that doesn't mean you're not scared." Tempest was about to respond, but somehow the admitted coward before her maintained a confident tone as she blocked the attempt. "I am the reigning expert on being scared after all. I'm scared more often then probably any pony in Equestria." Her expression softened as Tempest's anger was attempting to flare. "I think it's also part of the reason my element is kindness. I see the fear in other ponies, and I know what it feels like and what they must be going through much more often then not."
The rage Tempest had been trying to build in her chest was shattered by that tiniest of assaults. Fizzlepop let her head lean forward until it was pressed against the table. A random thought of how her face was not in her food right now was answered as a small peek let her know that Fluttershy had moved it in anticipation. She had to wonder what it was about the elements that made them so good at breaking down her defences. After taking a moment to slow her breathing she had only just realized was getting quick, she rolled her head to the side to speak to her friend.
"I keep on being reminded that the Elements of Harmony are all very formidable. But even knowing that, you really are an opponent I never wish to face competitively again." She paused again, only feeling herself blink slowly as the information washed over her. "So I do have a 'crush' on Twilight. That's what you believe."
Fluttershy hesitated for a few moments as she did before, this time her cheeks not progressively reddening. "Yes, or something like that."
Fizzlepop had too many other things to think about to consider what 'something' might be. "And... The reason my first instinct was to move away rather then face the problem... was because of fear." At this point she barely recognized her own voice, as soft as it was coming out at this moment. "That... that's the reason I thought it would be a good idea to move the training facility back to Canterlot."
The idea that had seemed like such a sound resolution to her problem just a day before now seemed so foolish she had a hard time saying it out loud. It was soothing to her when Fluttershy's soft voice came again. "When I discovered my special talent, I told everypony I wanted to move away from Cloudsdale to the ground so that it would be easier for me to work with animals. But, something I've actually never told anypony is that that was the much smaller reason for me wanting to move away. What it really was was that around that same time is when I realized I was in lo... I had feelings for Rainbow. But I also knew I'd never be able to tell her how I feel."
Fizzlepop was still dealing with feeling unsure about herself, but she was curious about the story being told to her. "If that's true, how is it that Rainbow Dash lives here now as well."
This question seemed to cause the smallest of smiles to cross the shy mares lips. "Because Rainbow Dash was and is still the best friend I've ever had. When she found out what I was planning to do right after flight school, she told me there was no way she was going to let me face that all alone. She somehow managed to find a way of moving herself down the same week as me." Her smile grew more melancholic as she looked up to direct it towards Fizzlepop. "It's part of why I can't tell her. When a relationship is already perfect, it's really scary to try and change it. She's already the most important pony in my life, how could I ever ask her to be even more?"
The sentiment once again hit Fizzlepop hard, causing words to come out before she wanted them to. "I've never had anypony willing to stay with me out of anything but fear for as long as Twilight has. And I never deserved her attention in the first place. She is the only reason I feel I even have the chance of having a real life after all I've done. She's probably the only reason I'd ever have realized it's what I wanted." A thought hit her that for reasons unknown to her made her eyes sting a little as she turned to her friend again. "Am.. am I just trying to build a life around her, is that why I keep feeling this way?"
Fluttershy's head moved side to side as she spoke. "I think the fact that your first instinct was to distance yourself means that can't be the case. You may have changed a lot in the past few months, but I don't think you'd become the kind of pony who needs to define yourself by another that quickly." She reached out to pat the other ponies hoof reassuringly. "You're not a bad pony, so I think you'd be able to tell if what you're doing was wrong. You're just scared, and it's making you question yourself and what you want. And I think that's what you need to figure out if you want to move forward. So, when you think about Twilight, what is it you want?"
"I...," She paused to really consider how to answer. "We normally see each other every Saturday anyway, so Twilight said we could just make the day into some kind of date. And... I usually really look forward to our time together. But I think.. I think I'm looking forward to it even more." For some reason saying the words out loud made it feel easier to raise herself from the table she'd felt glued to for some time now.
Fluttershy's smile became warm. "Well then I think you know what you want. And the best part about it is, you're not a coward. The pony you.. you have feelings for knows how you feel, and you've even already got a date lined up. You're already miles ahead of me."
The words were reassuring, but uncertainty still worked its way back into Fizzlepop's chest. "But, but what do I do when I lose myself around her. What about this fear. I, I'm not sure it's something I can handle."
The pegasus seemed to try to beat back the uncertainty with her smile as she reached out and slid the forgotten tray of food in front of the other mare. "Good food fixes a lot." Looking down to the tray she seemed to get an idea and turn back to her own. From it she retrieved the only untouched food item left on it, a rather large, brown muffin covered in tiny chocolate chips. "Especially dessert." She then leaned forward and suddenly whispered conspiratorially, "and don't try to turn it down. Twilight already kinda let it slip how much you like chocolate."
Fizzlepop once again felt that odd sensation of her cheeks feeling warm as her friend seemed to begin preparing for her departure.
"After that, I'm not sure. That's about as far as I've ever gotten. All I can really tell you is good luck and you should try to have fun on your date, for the sake of those of us who are still too scared to make it that far." She gave her a genuine smile, and with that took her tray and finally stood from her seat. "I have to get back for a class, but come see me to tell me about it when you can."
As she saw Fluttershy retreating, a lesson Twilight had taken the time to thoroughly drill into her shot through Fizzlepop's mind. Her mouth opened before she intended it to again and from it came a slightly choked, "thank you."
Her friend turned with a genuine smile again. "Any time."
Fizzlepop hesitated only a few seconds after the other mares departure before reaching out and quickly ripping the paper off of the baked treat. She felt the remaining apprehension from the conversation begin to melt away as the sweetness filled her. She sighed contentedly as she slowly savored it. She then realized how big of a bite she had taken, and how much her cheeks must be bulging with the effort.
Tempest pulled the sugary temptation in close to her chest protectively, discreetly shooting glares around the room as she remembered where she was and that it wasn't exactly private. She relaxed again as she realized general lunch must have ended at some point and only the few staff that Twilight had finally broken down and hired recently were left finishing their own lunches and all giving her a generous amount of privacy.
She let a sigh of relief escape her. That was a fortunate way for things to end up. She had plans to make... and a muffin to finish.