The boat was alive with activity in celebration of the princess birthday. Everyone was either playing music, gossiping, drinking, dancing, eating, or doing all of the above. All the while, the ongoing fireworks display capture the attention of everyone on board, as a few jokes about if such explosive on a wooden ship was a good idea. Lately it was laughed at as they continued to party and be merry. That was, except for the birthday girl herself. Not out of disinterest (much) but rather, her preference of books over socializing. Which hadn’t gone unnoticed by her brother.
“You girls seen Twilight?” Prince Shining Armor asked a group of teenagers.
“Probably somewhere with her nose stuck in a book,” a young dutches named Sugarcoat plainly answered.
“Yes, but I think he means wear,” another one by the name of Sour Sweet huffed.
“That girl,” one Indigo Zap chuckled. “She can be such a stick in the mud. I swear, you think she was afraid of us doing something bad to her.”
“Wait,” a Lemon Zest said, squinting her eyes. “Didn’t we rearrange all her bookmarks as a prank last week? And what about the time we had that bucket of water? Dang, that girls freaks out can be real hil—
She was cut off as one Sunny Flare stomped on her foot, and motioned to the princesses’s brother that was standing right next to them.
“Oh, um, I think I last saw her near the rear of the ship, my lord!” Sunny Flare said, eager now to distract said brother. “And a very, very, merry birthday to her!”
Shinning, arms crossed, simply nodded in thanks and headed off.
Meanwhile, and sure enough, tucked between two barrels of ale, the young princess Twilight Sparkle, under lantern light, was reading a book, her dog, Spike, snuggled on her lap, a smile on her face. The particular novel wasn’t her normal interest, a romantic fantasy about a musician and a siren that protected a magical lake, and her sister that needed its healing waters to survive. It was a rather standard adventure romance type of story, but she found it engaging enough as something new she could try. A book was still a book in the end, and played around with many familiar tropes to keep it entertaining.
“Huh,” Twilight said, smiling at a particular part she had been thinking about. “I mean, you’d think no one would want to live in a town near a monster, but I can see the appeal in tourism. You know, the more I say it out loud, the more sense it makes I suppose.” She laughed. “Still, you think they would have more… Spike?”
All of the sudden, Spike shot up from Twilight’s lap, started barking, and raced over to one of the ship’s railing.
“Spike!” Twilight called out, bookmarking the page and standing up.
Her puppy continued to bark, although Twilight noted how it was more playful than threatening as he hung his head out of the side of the boat.
“Someone there, boy?” Twilight mused, leaning in closer. Looking downwards into the dark blue ocean, seeing nothing, despite what her dog seemed to say. “What? Something hiding out of sight?”
“Like you hiding out instead of enjoying your own birthday party?” Shining said, sneaking up behind his sister, causing her to jump.
“Oh, Shining!” Twilight said with a nervous chuckle. “Hi! Um, no, no! This has been a wonderful cruise so far! Great, great idea for my birthday party bbbff!” She nervously laughed. “Hey, you ever wonder what goes into horse breeding? I mean really! So many factors on if you want a fast horse, a strong endurance one, a pretty pony, or even a little—
He held up his hand.
Twilight sighed.
“You could at least try to have a little fun.” He suggested.
“I am having fun.” Twilight pushed in her glasses. “Reading is fun.”
“I meant with other people.” Shining said, raising an eyebrow. “Preferably your own age. I’m sure there’s someone on this ship you’ll get along with, Twily.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes. “Or someone you want me to settle down with.”
Shinning sputtered. “Wha… What?! Come on, Twily, who am I, Cadence?”
Twilight tapped her foot.
“Well, I’m not even asking for anything romantic.” He shook his head. “I just don’t want you to be lonely.”
“Hey,” Twilight said, sitting herself up on the rails. “I’m not too unhappy. Or rather, if I make a friend, or lover, I want them to, one, not be a jerk,” she frowned, thinking back on a couple of pranks not too long ago. “And, I’d want them to be someone who dosnt just see me as some princess prize to be won, but as someone who can be as smart, inquisitive, and wanting to make some big kind of splash in this world. And you seriously can’t tell me any of those princesses or duchess are big into reading ancient Latin poetry?”
“Eh, fair point,” Shining admitted, thinking back to those five girls in particular and all those failed suitors in the past. “But don’t you think that’s expecting too much?”
Twilight blew on a strand of hair. “Well, find me someone who can at least stand one of my rambles for more than ten minutes, then we’ll talk.”
“Noted,” Shining huffed, before putting on a forced smile. “But would you at least entertain everyone by at least socializing for a little bit to open presents? You’re really going to love what I got you.”
Twilight deadpanned, having some idea already since it was too big to reasonably sneak on board. Catching a glimpse of its crown and wings, Twilight knew she owed it to at least humor the gift for all the hard work that went into it.
“Alright, you dork,” Twilight chuckled. “Lead the way.”
Shining nodded and took his sister's hand, all while a little mermaid, peaked through the ship to admire the intriguing human girl again, her heart aflutter.