//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Royal Preparations // Story: My Little Pony: Make Your Mark In Love // by SamSwordsman123 //------------------------------// After dinner was done and they talked for a while, Hitch returned to Maretime Bay in the Marestream with Sparky since he had to resume his duties as Sheriff. Pipp went to her room and gave Jazz a call. “You sure you’ll be okay with just you and Rocky working at Mane Melody tomorrow?” Pipp asked her employee over the phone. “Don’t worry Pipp, we can manage it just fine. Might be a little quiet without a singer though. Maybe we should consider hiring some extra singers in case this happens often?” Jazz’s voice spoke out from the phone. “That might be a good idea! I’ll think about that,” Pipp said. She shut off her phone… eventually. She had to make a livestream or two and tell Izzy and Sunny about their mother’s plans for tomorrow. Then she went to sleep. Tomorrow they were going to meet somepony else before they started the search for a potential husband for Zipp. Pipp giggled at the thought. “Something tells me Zipp is gonna have a fun day tomorrow,” Pipp grinned for a moment then sighed as she lay her head on her pillow. “I hope she doesn’t make things difficult for Mom or me.” … In Zipp’s room a couple doors down from Pipp’s, the older pegasus princess lay in bed with her eyes wide open. “What am I gonna do?” Zipp thought aloud. “I have to find a future husband!” She was nervous. She had known this day was coming as her mother had educated her on the traditions of Pegasus Royalty since she was born. But she had never felt as if that was where she belonged. She’d been born a princess yet it never made her happy whenever she was called Princess Zipp, much less when she was called by her full name Zephyrina Storm. She had not really thought about this for a long time, since her mind had been preoccupied with all that was going. They’d gotten magic back and become able to fly like the Pegasi of old, then so much had happened. Zipp still didn’t know what she really wanted to do, besides investigate magic and all the other stuff like Twilight’s message. She just didn’t feel like being queen was something she truly wanted. But there wasn’t much choice… she couldn’t exactly just say the word and no longer be a future ruler could she? It was times like this that she wished she’d been born a different pegasus then the daughter of the queen. She just wanted to be normal and not have to worry about royal duties. She sighed, hoping things be alright tomorrow at least. … Morning came and the royal family got up and waited in the throneroom for a while. Then their mother’s guest arrived as the front doors to the palace opened. “Your visitor has arrived your highness!” Zoom Zephyrwing, Queen Haven’s captain of the guard and advisor spoke. “Let him in, Zoom,” Queen Haven said with a smile. The captain bowed and opened the door wider to allowed other two ponies next to Zoom to be seen. One was Zoom’s partner, who had only been a recruit at the time when Zipp and Pipp had met Sunny and Izzy. There was also a familiar gray unicorn with a white mane. Alphabittle, the leader of the Unicorns and bartender of the Crystal Tearoom stepped inside. Queen Haven smiled upon seeing him and he smiled back. As he stepped inside Zipp and Pipp noticed he’d bought a bouquet of roses with him which he presented to their mother in his hoof. “Your majesty,” he bowed as he hoofed them over. “Thank you Alphabittle but there is really no need for formal titles now,” Haven said. “We are even more then friends now.” They looked into each other’s eyes, the air around them seemed to fill with romance. Zipp and Pipp could imagine it being a bright gold background with pink hearts everywhere. If this were interfering with a plan they might have had for their mother they might have felt jealous. But they both managed a smile. “Aww,” Pipp put her arm around Zipp with stars in her eyes. “Ah,” Zipp sighed as in contentment as she wrapped a foreleg around her sister as well. “Guess we should be happy for Mom, huh?” “Now just think of some way to be happy with what we’re doing for you!” Pipp said. “Just try and enjoy it. Please? For Mom’s sake? You did end up changing your mind about Portrait Day.” Zipp let out another sigh, this time one to prepare herself. “Okay, guess I’ll just try and have fun. Maybe this won’t be so bad who knows?” She put on a smile that lasted for a while. She, her mom, sister, and Alphabittle all had breakfast and talked. “I had a feeling there something between you two for a while,” Zipp said looking between her mother and the unicorn stallion. “Yes, well being leaders of each of our community was one thing we had in common. Once Sunny helped us see we weren’t so different after all,” Queen Haven said. “We started spending time together after magic came back, organizing a couple multi-pony-kind events here and there like the sports and we began exchanging letters. So we just sort of built up a friendship and then decided to take it to the next level. I do enjoy Alpha’s company and think we work well together.” “Yes, I agree,” Alphabittle said. “I think that good teamwork and cooperation are an important part of life. You two and your friends demonstrated that as well when you brought back magic from what I heard. You worked together and cooperated with ponies you were raised to view as enemies.” “Well to be honest we weren’t taught too much on the whole prejudice stuff,” Zipp said. “Yeah, Mom always focused more on Royal duties for us. Or at least Zipp,” Pippi said. “She mentioned it a couple times though but most of the schools taught the majority of the lies we made up over the years.” “Never thought I’d be so happy to neglect to teach you something,” Queen Haven said. “I didn’t want to mention unicorns or earth ponies any more then was necessary. As if by keeping quiet I hoped they would never bother us. Just like I tried to hide the truth about us not being able to fly just like other pegasi. But I see now that the truth is always better then a well meant lie. Zipp understood that, I’m sure she’ll be a great ruler someday.” “Yeah, I’m sure,” Zipp said her smile fading. They finished their meal and Queen Haven got up. “ Its time to begin the search for a suitor! Zipp darling, would you go and put something nice on?” Zipp bit her lip. “Put something on? As in clothes?” “And a tiara too! We can’t have the princess and heir of Zephyr Heights meeting possible husbands without looking like proper royalty.” Zipp’s mouth fell open. She hadn’t worn her tiara in ages, not since the day it had been made for her and she’d tried it on. “Let me come with you Zipp!” Pipp said. “I’m the fashion expert between us after all!” Zipp sighed. The two princesses went to the royal gown room where they kept the garments for their family. Zipp very rarely used it, or clothing in general, only making an exception for events like Nightmare Night. While Pipp loved everything her royal status had to offer and fashion in particular, so she visited this place more frequently. “Let’s see. Ah!” Pipp exclaimed as she found an outfit. “This would look lovely with your coat!” She put the garment in Zipp’s hoof as her sister took it with a glum expression. “We should probably do a different mane style for the occasion as well!” Pipp said as she dragged her sister to a nearby magic mirror that showed what other possible hairstyles could look like on certain ponies to try out. “I think that bangs would be best for the occasion!” Pipp said. Zipp clenched her teeth. She had once offered to let Pipp style her mane and bangs had been one of the suggestions she’d been horrified of the most. Seeing her sisters expression, Pipp toned it down a little bit. “Don’t worry Zipp! Would it really be so bad just to have a different style for one or two days? You can have your regular style back no problem.” Zipp sighed yet again. “I guess you’re right. Alright, go ahead and do it.” Pipp styled her sisters mane and they put the gown, which was a light blue with a pink center line running down it, on. It went well with Zipp’s mane. She then got out her never used tiara from her closet in her room. It was a silver tiara with a pair of feathers on either side of a pink jewel in the center. “Oh you look great Zipp!” Pipp said as Zipp turned around. She reached for her phone. “Please don’t take a- But Pipp took a picture all the same. Then it was back to the throne room where a number of male royal guards had been gathered. Here came the hard part, Zipp thought. She went to stand beside her mother. Queen Haven addressed her guards that she’d called forward, all of whom were close to Zipp in age. The recording cameras were activated to broadcast the queen’s announcement through all of Zephyr Heights, and now some ponies in Bridlewood and Maretime Bay would see it as well since their channels had been connected. Zipp and Pipp were sure that Sunny, Izzy, and Hitch would be watching. “Hello all!” Queen Haven waved. “Today is a very special day! I’m sure everypony everywhere is aware by now that my youngest daughter Pipp has found a stallion and started dating!” “Hi Hitch!” Pipp said flying in front of the camera her mother was speaking to and waving a hoof before blowing a kiss. … Back in Maretime Bay, Hitch blushed intensely at her as he sat on the couch with Sunny, Izzy, and Sparky watching TV. Sunny grinned at him as Pipp blew a kiss. She gave him a tap on the shoulder while Izzy put her hoofs to her mouth in excitement. “I’m so happy for you Hitch!” Sunny said. “Guess everypony’s starting to find love.” “Well Zipp hasn’t found anypony yet, she’s just looking right now,” Hitch said. “Still, that’s a big step,” Sunny said. “I need to ask Rufus out soon!” Izzy said. … “Now, as per our Royal Pegasi tradition, my daughter Zipp, as my heir, needs to find a future husband to sire foals of the family line,” Queen Haven continued. “We will be letting her interact with members of the royal guard today and then start looking beyond to include Unicorns and Earth Ponies as well. Stay tuned! You may receive an invitation to Zephyr Heights to partake!” Zipp clenched her teeth at the thought of how many ponies might show up. “As per tradition, the princess decides how she will determine her suitors.” “I do?” Zipp muttered to herself, before managing a grin as an idea occurred to her. “She will select an event where a group of Pegasi stallions will compete for the right to court her,” Haven concluded before looking to her daughter. “The last three Pegasi… or other ponies once we include Earth Ponies and Unicorns, will be given the right to court her and see who she chooses… if any of them are lucky enough.” Zipp smiled. “Well, this might not be so bad after all. Alright, I choose a flight race! If I’m gonna have a husband, he needs to be a good flyer most of all!” “That will certainly be a Pegasus only event!” Haven said. “Very well! For the first event, we will have a race!” … In Opaline’s castle library, Misty was busy reading the books on Opaline had provided her with. The queen paced around her. “Do you feel ready yet?” the evil alicorn asked impatiently. “I only just started reading!” Misty said. “And I can’t concentrate with you hovering over me!” Opaline scoffed. “Very well, I will give you some space. Can’t waste my time waiting for you, especially with how much you have made me wait so far. We’ve been trying to get that dragon for months.” “I’m sorry Opaline,” Misty bowed her head. “This will hopefully change if you can become proficient with magic. Then you may prove worthy,” Opaline said. “I’ll go and see what’s happening with our enemies. You just study and don’t lose focus!” “Of course,” Misty said. “I’ll read till I drop if need be.” “Good,” Opaline said as she stepped out.