//------------------------------//
// Interlude: Nobles and Nuisances 
// Story: The Schools of Stalliongrad 
// by Nadir 
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Luna stood on her balcony, looking down at the practice field below. Most ponies wouldn’t have been able to make out much from this distance, it was simply too far away.  Luna was not most ponies, she was something so much more.

Despite the distance, she could look down and see two ponies practically dancing across the field, ones that she recognized and held a great deal of infatuation for. The yellow pony led the dance, thrusting and jumping forward, blade wrapped in her horn’s glow. The purple pony followed shortly behind, parrying and defending to the best of her abilities. Weapons training; an important part of everypony’s military education.

It became quickly apparent that Twilight would lose. She was on the backhoof the entire time, stepping back, parrying, never getting a thrust or strike of her own in. Naturally, magic joined in the fray every now and then - a spell there, a blast here. If it were a real duel, Sunset likely would have been casting up a storm, but considering that Twilight hadn’t gotten that far in her training, she imagined that the sunny mare held herself back specifically due to Twilight’s inexperience.

But what impressed Luna, despite the clear loss to everyone but Twilight herself, was how quick she managed to pick things up. Fourth sword duel and already she held her own for more than a few moments? It was prodigal. Not just that, but the sword that she’d chosen… a type of longsword. Thin, with cracks on the length of it, places where it could shatter and be used as multiple pieces. A weapon that took skill, intense magical concentration, and no small amount of power to control.

Twilight hadn’t split it yet. Luna imagined that she didn’t even know she could, but it could really only be a matter of time. Her thoughts drifted, for a moment, as the two danced around the ring, Luna’s thoughts turned towards a spot in the vault and a very special sword of similar design. Perhaps… Perhaps it could be a gift.

Her face twisted up as she watched Twilight slip and fall to the ground, Sunset’s sword instantly at her throat. Or perhaps not. That kind of thing could only happen when ready, that sword practically had a mind of it’s own half the time, the last thing she needed was Twilight to hurt somepony during a practice session.

A step away from the balcony took Luna closer towards the door, the fight finished. Despite only just moving away, something in Luna’s mind tickled her in the strangest of ways. She wanted to keep watching Twilight, keep an eye on her. Something just felt right about it, something that told her to keep on the same track and this would all work out. 

It wasn’t love, before anypony get such a foolish idea. Affection, possibly, and maybe attraction, but that sort of love was stupid and hardly developed between ponies that didn’t know each other. She couldn’t argue that Twilight had grown attractive to her, the smaller mare had a certain air to her that others didn’t, mind sharp as a tack too. All the exercise had done wonders for her figure too, Luna couldn’t deny that. And yes, she cared for her a great deal. 

For many reasons really, if only because Twilight apparently would save her city. But it wasn’t just that, Twilight’s personality had grown on her as well, studious, loyal, impertinent sometimes, and not always one to follow the rules. She saw a lot of herself in the young mare, actually.

But even that didn’t quite fit the feeling, not really. It felt like an obsession, something that made the back of her eyes itch in the strangest way. 

At least she’d be taken from her thoughts by the sudden knock at her door. She glanced over to it, considering slowly whether she should actually open it. It was before her normal appointments, Raven wouldn’t have taken anypony to her rooms at these hours. Maybe she should just ignore it and move on with her life. But no, she had obligations, didn’t she?

A sigh and over she’d head, magic opening the door. In front of her stood the most obnoxious, ugly display of pink that she’d ever seen. A bright smile paired with it, one that taunted her, one that haunted her souls. A small tiara atop her head sparkled in the low light, one that she absolutely didn’t deserve - the same with her horn and the wings on her back. 

“Hello Duchess Cadence,” Luna intoned, looking down at the only slightly smaller mare with a headache already forming. “It’s wonderful to see you.” She somehow managed to avoid being sarcastic.

It would be a hell of a day.