Princess Amber was the most popular Princess at Royal Prep, she was perfect in everything she did, everypony made sure to comment on her skills and knowledge if they ever spoke about her. And to the ponies around her, she was a well-mannered Princess.
So it was completely different to how she was as she paced back and forth in her room, hair simply tied back, and her tiara thrown onto her bed as she muttered softly to herself with her brow furrowed.
“Ah, this is useless!” Amber groaned and rubbed her forehead. She was at a loss for what to do, she was part of many clubs at school, and excelled in so many of them. But they were – basic. In her opinion. She wanted something new, something that she knew would be scandalous to her friends and other royals. It was hard to try and make such a decision on her own – she would speak to her father or even her twin about it, but she was also worried about how they would see this.
Amber sighed and stopped before a mirror, looking at her reflection with a frown. The trouble she found herself in was she could decide what she wanted to try.
~*~*~*~
“Oh Father, where are you going?” Amber asked, spying her father heading out to a waiting carriage from the balcony, King Roland looked up with a smile.
“I am just going into town; I need to have a new pair of slippers made.” He told her.
“May I come with you Father?” Amber gasped, “I have found myself wanting to look around more lately.” She told him.
“Hurry on down then my dear.” He replied, Amber beamed and hurried downstairs and her father helped her into the carriage.
As it set off, Amber looked out of the window as they passed the castle gates. Roland watched her thoughtfully. “So, you wanted to look around more?” He asked, Amber, blushed and hummed and sighed.
“I’ve been feeling – locked up with expectations of me because of status, Father,” Amber admitted, Roland watched her softly. “I can’t talk to my friends about this, they will look at me differently.”
“I see, You know – you’re Aunt Tilly had a time she was feeling the same way,” Roland told her; Amber looked up at him. “She was always more of an adventurer than anything else. So, you wanted to see the village – see if there was anything there that would interest you?”
“Yes, as silly as it may sound, I have a good feeling about this visit.” Amber smiled; Roland chuckled.
“I suppose we will see.” He nodded.
Amber jumped out of the carriage once it stopped in the village of Dunwiddie, she looked around at all the Ponies trotting around, getting on with their daily lives. Roland stepped onto the road and shut the carriage door.
“Well, you can go and have a small adventure of your own,” Roland told her, Amber looked up at him and he handed her a small coin purse, he smiled. “You go and have some fun, okay?”
“Thank you, Father!” Amber hugged him and put the coin purse safely in her saddlebag.
Amber enjoyed her look around the village, it was fascinating to see how other ponies lived. She brought a cupcake from the bakery, it was delicious! Maybe she could take up baking? She continued her trip through the village, only stopping when she saw a patchwork earth pony disappearing into the woods. She frowned and looked around, no pony seemed to have noticed. Curiously, Amber quickly trotted after them.
Amber had to duck under a few branches and jump over fallen logs as she tried to look for the unknown pony she had seen. She heard an odd screech, and before she could yelp, something pulled her down.
“Shhh!” Amber was stunned in silence as the earth pony held a hoof to her mouth, she then pointed out of the bush. Confused, Amber looked and gasped lightly, seeing a Phoenix in a nest with a baby newly hatching, it screeched again. Amber’s ears perked up in surprise, oh wow – a real live Phoenix living in the woods.
“Wonderful spotting Sofia.” Amber jumped, turning to see other ponies, a Pegasus, and a Unicorn, also hiding. Behind them, crouched was another Pegasus. “And Princess Amber.” The mare smiled; Amber blushed lightly. “Now, come on little fillies, let's leave them in peace.” She told them, and backed away, the three fillies followed her, Amber looked back at the Phoenix, before giving chase to the group.
“You spot Phoenixes?” She asked, catching up.
“Well, sometimes?” Sofia the earth pony smiled. “We’re the Buttercups! We do a lot of new things as a group and earn badges to show what we’ve learnt from that day's meet up!” Sofia explained.
“We were getting our magical wildlife badges today!” The unicorn added. “Sofia has already earned the dragon badge today, and now she has the phoenix badge!”
“Wow.” Amber looked at the earth pony, who chuckled shyly.
“My mom says I have an unexplainable bond with animals,” Sofia mumbled but shook her head. “But hey, you basically spotted it with me, You’d get a Phoenix badge too for sure!”
“I would?” Amber asked, looking up at the mare, who nodded.
“Sofia is right, you would have earned that badge too.” She said.
“The Buttercup’s, right? How would – How would one join?” Amber asked, the fillies stared at her in shock, but Sofia broke it.
“Oh my goodness! It would be so much fun! Well, you’d have to have your dad speak to Mrs Hanshaw! She’s the Buttercup Troupe leader!” Sofia told her, bouncing happily. Beaming at Amber, who found herself smiling. “Would you seriously join us?”
“Yes! I knew I had a good feeling coming to the village! I wanted to find something new and this is perfect!” Amber gasped and giggled happily, stomping her forelegs happily.
“We’d be happy to have you too! It’s just been the three of us for ages. I’m Ruby.” The Pegasus filly introduced herself.
“And I’m Jade, having somepony new around would mean we can help each other get even more badges!” The unicorn added. “And new friends is always the best outcome.” Amber blushed happily.
“My father is in town today – if your not busy now-” Amber began.
“Lead the way Princess, the sooner we can agree, I think the sooner you can join us on our trips.” Helen nodded, the Princess laughed happily, trotting ahead, the other fillies trotted next to her, happily telling Amber about all the trips they had been on so far and how next time, they really hope she would be there to experience it with them.