"Alright everypony, pair up!" Shining Armour shouted to his field of trainees. "Sparring time!"
Rising Hope knew exactly who she was pairing up with. She'd been planning this for a while.
"Hey Princess! Wanna go?"
Flurry Heart, heir to the Crystal Empire, alicorn, and royal guard recruit turned around and looked at her. Her mane swayed just-so from the momentum, and that made Rising's heart flutter. And giving as it was already hammering in her chest from what she was about to do, that was no easy feat.
"With you?" Flurry said, her horn glowing and a wooden practice sword levitating into the air beside her. "Sure!"
Alright, that was step one down. Rising grinned. "Just don't be too upset when you lose!"
"As if!"
They squared up in the middle of the field, waiting for their captain's order. Shining Armour was getting on in years, but he still had it in him to command respect from his recruits.
"Everypony ready?" he asked. "Okay. Three! Two! One!"
Rising sank down a little lower in her stance, her sword at the ready beside her.
"Go!"
Rising lunged forwards. Her sword darted ahead of her, but was easily met by Flurry's own.
"That all you got, Rising?" Flurry said, grinning.
"Just getting warmed up!" Rising shot back. She pulled back, then brought her sword around from the side. It made a loud clack as it was knocked aside by Flurry's parry.
Rising was anticipating this, however, and used the momentum to swing her sword around again, this time from below. Flurry had to move quickly to dodge this one, the end of the sword brushing the tips of her mane-hairs.
"Not bad," the princess said.
"Thanks!" Rising replied, but she only had a moment before she had to act fast herself, bringing up her own sword just in time to clash with Flurry's. They held there a second, each pushing against the other, Rising having to strain a little to keep up with Flurry's alicorn magic.
Might as well do it now, she said, with a glance towards the captain to make sure he wasn't looking.
"Hey, Princess, you want to make a wager?"
Flurry crooked an eyebrow. "Depends."
Rising took a deep breath. "If I win, you go on a date with me?"
Flurry's eyebrows shot up—then she smiled. "Alright. But if I win, then we hang out instead. Deal?"
Rising tilted her head to the side. "Uh... okay?"
"Cool! Prepare to get your butt whooped."
"It's on!"
Rising Heart lay on the ground, her breaths heavy and her chest heaving. Her sword lay on the grass beside her.
She had lost.
A shadow passed over her face. It was Flurry, standing over her. She reached down a hoof.
"You okay?"
"Fine," Rising said. Her entire body ached and her plan was ruined—sort of—but she was fine, really. With Flurry's help, she got off the ground and into a sitting position. Flurry sat down beside her. Rising noticed she hadn't even broken a sweat.
"I guess that's what I get for challenging an alicorn," Rising said.
"Being an alicorn had nothing to do with it," Flurry countered. "I'm just better than you."
"Yeah, I guess you are." Rising threw her head back and looked up at the clouds drifting through the bright blue sky.
"I also guess we're not going on that date, then," she said.
"No, but we can hang out instead," Flurry replied.
Rising bit her lip. "Am I just not good enough? Or are you not into mares? 'Cause I really thought—"
"It's not like that," Flurry said. "I'm, uh... I guess I need to give you 'the talk', huh."
"I already know about the birds and the bees."
Flurry shook her head. "Not that talk. This one's about me."
"Oh?" Rising dropped her head back down to look at Flurry, who was gesturing with her hooves.
"See, I'm not... I'm not into mares," she said. "Or... stallions. Or anyone, really."
Rising blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I don't really 'get' romantic love."
"Oh. Huh? How does that work?"
Flurry shrugged. "I dunno! I just don't feel attracted to other ponies that way."
"Maybe you haven't met the right pony yet?" Rising offered.
Flurry grimaced. "Everypony says that. I think I would know by now, y'know?"
"Huh." It was all Rising could say, really. "That's kind of ironic, you being the daughter of—"
"The Princess of Love, yeah, trust me, I know." Flurry let out an exasperated sigh. "She actually was pretty cool with it once I told her, y'know?"
"Really?"
"Yeah," Flurry said. She was smiling. That smile quickly turned to a frown. "My dad, though..."
"He doesn't get it?"
"He's still holding out hope for grandchildren," Flurry said. "I dunno, he's just always asking if I've found 'the right pony' yet. IT's really annoying."
"That's kinda lame."
"I know, right? Total lame-o. Don't tell him I said that, though, or he'll make us both run laps around the Empire."
Rising laughed. Flurry joined in, after a moment.
"I mean, I know he just wants what's best for me, and he thinks that's what's best for me," Flurry said. "I dunno. He'll get it one of these days. Hopefully. Mom's tried explaining it to him a few times." She got to her hooves. "Anyway, I won. That means you have to hang out with me."
Rising stood up too. "Really? It's not too awkward?"
Flurry shook her head. "Nah. You're cool. Also there's a movie I want to see this weekend but I didn't have anyone to go with. That cool?"
"Depends on the movie." She said this, but she was going to say yes whatever Flurry wanted to see.
"Dread Trotter Three."
"Oh I am so there."
"Cool," Flurry said. "Alright, let's get out of here." She looked around. "Uh... where'd everypony go?"
Rising also looked. They were alone on the field.
"Did... Captain Armour dismiss everypony else?" she said. "Without telling us?"
Flurry facehoofed.
"Daaaaaad!"