Princess Preparatory

by Melody Song


Princesses Don't Cry

Fleetfoot trudged slowly to class, holding her backpack at her side so it dragged. She'd gotten another letter from her parents. Spitfire took her hand gently as they made their way down the hall.

"Don't listen to them Fleet. You're perfect the way you are." Spitfire assured her.

"I'm not." Fleetfoot mumbled.

The group headed back to their dorm rooms after class, Fleetfoot had gone ahead. Spitfire followed, and the other girls found Spitfire lying in her bed, holding Fleetfoot against her. Fleetfoot was crying softly, and Spitfire was comforting her.

"What's wrong?" Twilight asked.

"Can...can you guys leave us alone for now?" Spitfire asked. Most of them left, but Twilight, Rainbow, and Daring stayed.

"Sorry, but getting rid of us ain't gonna be that easy." Rainbow flopped down onto the bed beside them. "You okay Fleet?"

"N-no. M-my parentth are going to kill me."

"They will not. I won't let them get close to you." Spitfire promised.

"They will. D-Dark Shooter can't hold them off forever."

"Who?" Twilight asked.

"Fleet's older brother." Rainbow explained.

"I don't like boys very much, but Fleet's brother is an exception." Spitfire added, stroking Fleetfoot's hair.

"Why don't you like boys that much?" Twilight asked.

"Boys are handsome and strong, but always the first to tell me I'm wrong." Spitfire started, humming the words softly.

"They try to tame me, I know, they tell me I'm weird and won't let it go." Fleetfoot added to her song.

The next day, Vice-Headmistress Luna tried to talk with Fleetfoot, she noticed she was upset.

"N-No, I'm fine." Fleetfoot assured her, but Spitfire stopped Fleetfoot from leaving.

"You're lying on the floor again."

"Cracked door, I always wanna let you in." Fleetfoot replied. "Even after all of this I'm resilient."

Somehow, when she sang, her lisp disappeared. Fleetfoot managed to get away, making it to Self Defense class.

"Fleet..." Rainbow and Daring came up to them, followed by Twilight.

"Miss Sparkle what are you doing here?" Professor Tempest asked.

"I'm worried about Fleetfoot."

"Why?" Professor Tempest looked at Fleetfoot.

"Cause a Princess Doesn't Cry." Fleetfoot wiped her eyes, which were watering. "A Princess doesn't cry over monsters in the night, don't waste our precious time on boys with pretty eyes."

"She does have a point." Daring shrugged, joining in gently. "A Princess doesn't cry."

"A Princess doesn't cry." Rainbow agreed.

"Burn it like a fire, feel it all inside, but wipe those teary eyes." Spitfire joined in.

"Cause Princesses don't cry, don't cry, don't cry." Fleetfoot sang. "Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Cause Princesses don't cry."

"Is something wrong?" Professor Tempest asked.

"I think so." Twilight took Fleetfoot's arm. "Fleetfoot?"

"Girls, so pretty and poised, and soft to the touch, but I was made rough." Fleetfoot said crying softly. "Girls, so heavy the crown, they carry it tall, but it's weighing me down."

"Are you okay Fleetfoot?" Professor Tempest asked.

"No, I'm fine."

"You're lying on the floor again, cracked door, you're only gonna let them in." Spitfire replied, looking at Fleetfoot.

"Once, and I won't come undone." Fleetfoot added, wiping her eyes. "Cause a Princess Doesn't Cry, a Princess doesn't cry."

Vice-Headmistress Luna came in, still concerned.

"Over monsters in the night, don't waste our precious time, on boys with pretty eyes. A Princess doesn't cry, no, a Princess doesn't cry."

"Burn it like a fire feel it all inside, but wipe those teary eyes, cause Princesses don't cry." Spitfire added.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry, oh. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Cause Princesses don't cry." Fleetfoot sang, wiping her eyes.

"You aren't okay Fleetfoot, please tell us what's wrong." Professor Tempest urged.

"I'm fine, won't waste my time. Keep it in a jar, leave it for the next one. Yeah, I'm fine, won't waste my time. Keep it in a jar, leave it for the next one." Fleetfoot sniffed and rubbed her eyes. "I'm fine."

"You're lying on the floor again." Spitfire objected.

"Cause a Princess Doesn't Cry. A Princess doesn't cry. Over monsters in the night, don't waste our precious time on boys with pretty eyes."

"We get it Fleetfoot, you don't want to show you're upset." Twilight soothed.

"Well, duh. It's like, the first rule of being a royal." Rainbow said, "A Princess Doesn't Cry."

"A Princess doesn't cry." Daring echoed.

"Burn it like a fire, feel it all inside, but wipe those teary eyes, cause Princesses don't cry." Spitfire looked at Fleetfoot.

"Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Don't cry, oh. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry." Fleetfoot seemed to be telling herself not to cry. "Cause Princesses don't cry. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Don't cry, oh. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Cause Princesses don't cry."

"What is she talking about?" Vice-Headmistress Luna asked.

"She got a letter from her parents a few days ago." Rainbow replied. "That's pretty much all we know."

"Th-they hurt me, a-all the time, becauthe of my thtupid lithp, and-and they were threatening it again." Fleetfoot explained.

"It's alright Fleetfoot, we will help you." Vice-Headmistress Luna said

"Really?"

Vice-Headmistress Luna smiled and put her hand lightly on Fleetfoot's shoulder, then looked around at Twilight, Rainbow, Daring, and Spitfire.

"Really. In fact, we are going to meet up with some friends of ours this evening. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you came along. We should get their opinion on the matter anyway. Would you five like to accompany us?"

"These friends...you said they'd need to know. Are they royal?" Twilight asked. Vice-Headmistress Luna's eyes sparkled.

"Oh yes, very royal. I believe you've seen them before."