//------------------------------// // Just a hobby // Story: Blooming Days // by Hoofprintz //------------------------------// Let's see. Let's see... With the... eventful day I'd had, I really needed to blow off some steam. I'd finally gotten some time to myself after speaking with Celestia and Luna. At the moment, I was trotting around inside the castle, taunting guards that looked at me the wrong way and searching for a particular mare. I still hadn't talked to Sunset and that was bothering me, but it was clear she didn't want to see me. After agreeing to travel to the Crystal Empire, -- a task that Celestia assured me, I'd receive the details to soon -- I'd scanned the castle multiple times throughout the day. Each search revealed the golden unicorn had barricaded herself in her room. I tried, just once, knocking on the door to her room, but she refused to answer. If she wanted time to herself, I wouldn't force the issue. Not yet, at least. But... just in case... I casted the spell for the umpteenth time, revealing the entirety of the castle's inhabitants to myself once again. Besides, I can look for her while I'm at it, too. Unsurprisingly, she was still inside her room, a groan proceeding from my lips when I realized she hadn't moved an inch all day. Darn it, Sunset! How am I supposed to try and fix this stupid mess if you won't even give me the chance!? It was unfortunate, but short of busting her door down with a spell, I really had no other options. Whatever, where's... AH! There she is! Twilight was in Celestia's room, but she wasn't who I was looking for. Oh! Convenient too! She was coming down the hall that connected to the one I was in so I'd run into her in- "OH!? Starlight!? Hello! Fancy meeting you here." Raven Inkwell noticed me as she trotted around the corner. She was holding a letter in her telekinesis and had been whistling a merry tune, apparently not a care in the world. "Actually, I suppose we can finally properly meet," she lifted a polite hoof my way. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Starlight Glimmer. My name is Raven, Raven Inkwell. Celestia's one and only aide." Just as I thought. I'd expected her to act like this and in preparation I'd compiled several replies to the kind gesture, though I hadn't chosen which to respond with yet. One; I could put on the nice-mare act. A big goofy smile. A fit of giggles. Shake her hoof and act like she was one of my long lost friends I hadn't seen in years. Maybe even go in for a hug. That was definitely the most boring tactic, but would probably yield the greatest results. Two; I could have some fun. Some real fun. It was easy to see just by looking at her that the mare before me was a bit... uptight. No, not uptight. Prim. Definitely prim. Her professionally styled mane and tail were both perfect, not a single strand out of place, each tied into tight buns with a red material. Her hooficure was impeccable, all four hooves glistening in the light. Her glasses were spotless, resting on her muzzle in a perfectly symmetrical position. The white collar and red ascot around her neck were immaculate, perfect accents to the rest of her coat. She had the exact type of personality I relished in breaking. Prigs were the hardest to deconstruct, but once I had one wrapped around my hoof... Mmmm, sublime. Unfortunately, breaking her would take an extended period of time to accomplish. Not to mention, I'd have to be especially devious with the princesses lurking about. And that's not even taking into account how close she was to Celestia. It's not like I'd be able to interact with her whenever I want, either. Plus, I was trying to turn over a new leaf. ... I really am. ... ... Maybe. Three; I could toe the line of my current position while working on her slowly over time. The correct choice was obvious. "Hello, Raven," I gently took her hoof into my own, granting her a false sense of security before pulling her closer with a rough tug. Our noses were touching, her flawless mane no longer undisturbed, several loose hairs falling into her face. "The pleasure's all mine. I've been looking for you, after all." I spoke with the sultriest voice I could produce. "You're a little close, don't you think?" she smiled politely, not moving a muscle. She seemed to be oblivious to my advances. No. She knows. "Oh, I don't mind. I prefer being this close to beautiful mares." I moved my mouth closer to her ear to whisper. "Does it bother you?" "Not at all," she replied, still as a statue, though I could ascertain her lack of movement wasn't from discomfort or because she'd lost her composure. "If it makes you comfy to be so close, then be my guest!" Interesting... She was cool as a cucumber. There was even a measure of enthusiasm in her voice. I should have predicted she'd have such a great degree of self-control. Celestia wouldn't hire a bumbling idiot, after all. This was gonna be a lot more complicated than I initially thought. But I know exactly how to handle her. "And if I wanted to be... just a little more..." I got even closer, our necks touching as I whispered into her ear. She tensed up a bit, but only for a second. "... close?" "Well..." She went quiet for a moment. "Then I'd say we're probably moving a little too fast and you should take me out for dinner first, Starlight," she nuzzled me. SHE nuzzled ME!? ... Darn it! I backed away immediately, the playful grin she now donned nowhere near the result I desired. "You're not bad," I admitted reluctantly. It was rare that I found a creature, -- much less a pony -- that could weather my tactics. "Never expected a prissy looking mare like you to be so... well-adjusted." "I'm not sure if I should be flattered or offended," she smiled even brighter. "I suppose I'll choose flattered. That's much better than being offended." Nope. I was wrong. Ponies like her were the polar opposite of what I thrived on. I'd never let somepony with her attitude anywhere near myself or my town. In fact, I wanted to leave her be at the very moment, despite my desire for something from her. "You're not what I expected," I stated bluntly, a frown coming to my face. I wouldn't be having any fun with her any time soon. It's probably for the best. I really need to s- "Come on, don't be so disappointed, Starlight," she offered me a sympathetic smile that really made me want to strangle her. "If Celestia hadn't told me to be on my guard around you, that might've actually gotten me." OF COURSE! "I mean, that and the whole aide thing. Have you ever had to sit in a room while a bunch of angry dragons try to assert dominance over a pair of immortal goddesses?" she chuckled uncomfortably. "Not a fun experience. Trust me." "Celestia..." I was no longer listening to her, my face falling into my hoof. Obviously she'd be the one to blame. ... The white alicorn's enraged visage flashed in mind's eye. WAIT! CRAP! "I-I WAS JUST... I WAS TESTING YOU!" I stumbled over my words, a panic coming to me as I shakily approached the unicorn. "IT WAS JUST A TEST!" I looked around frantically, knowing if she was watching I was already beyond screwed. YEAH! Yeah, that makes sense! PLEASE! Please let it make sense! "Oh, Starlight..." she sighed. Though the smile remained on her lips as she stepped closer to me, it did lessen a bit. "You don't have to worry about Her Highness so much. She's not out to get you," she placed a hoof on my shoulder. "She knows as well as anypony just how hard it is. To change, I mean... to better yourself. You may not realize it yet, but she really does care about you," she backed up. "We all do." That sounds all well and good, but... "... You don't even know me, Raven," I scoffed. While it really was how I felt, with the way her eyes softened, it didn't appear to be the truth. "How could you possibly care about me?" The princesses might have their stupid omniscience, but not this mare. Even Twilight and Sunset had, at the very least, made attempts to show me they cared. How this... nopony could have the audacity to claim I mattered to her was beyond my comprehension. "That's... not entirely true." She looked... uncomfortable all of a sudden. For the first time this entire conversation her eyes had left mine. "What is that supposed to mean?" With things not going the way I planned coupled with the more than grating day I'd already had, I was ready to blow a fuse. Having what was essentially a stranger in front of me was the best scenario I could hope for to blow off said steam. "Let's just say, I know a lot about you, Starlight." Though it was spoken with the utmost care and kindness, I couldn't help but feel like it was meant to be aggressive or foreboding. "Are you threatening me!?" I jabbed her in the chest with a hoof, my horn shining turquoise immediately. "No! NO! Of course not!" she shook her head as she took a cautious step back. Her frightened eyes sent a trill through me, my heart suddenly on fire. "I would never do anything like that, Starlight! I'm so sorry!" Wow... I am an idiot. It was so obvious. She'd probably sat in on hundreds -- if not thousands -- of political meetings. She must've already seen the best of the best playing mind games with one another. How could I hope to compete with that level of mental manipulation. Politicians. Pfft! No, the tool to influencing this one was so much simpler than some subtle machinations. Regrettably, -- given the situation -- it was also impossible. "It's alright," I moped, turning my head away. the knowledge of how to break her had lifted my spirits to the heavens. The realization that I couldn't just go around instilling fear in her heart or I'd risk incurring the wrath of Celestia, brought them right back down to the ground. "I'm serious, Starlight. I had no intention of-" "Really, Raven. It's okay," I gave her a half smile. She was misinterpreting my lack of enthusiasm due to a lost toy for an irritation with her previous comments. "So... how do you know so much about me then?" "Well... I..." She took a deep breath to compose herself. "I was tasked with finding out all I could about you after Princess Celestia and Princess Luna... uhm..." She really was trying her hardest not to step on my hooves. "... liberated the ponies of your town." I had to struggle not to laugh out loud. "Geez, Raven. You don't have to be that meticulous," I shook my head. "They kicked my flank, I'm not gonna bite your head off or anything because of that." Celestia would kill me if I tried to do something so blatant anyway. "O... okay." She appeared to regain a bit of comfort, an awkward smile coming to her face. "So what did you manage to find out? I'm curious," I asked. I really did want to know. I'd kept a low profile for as long as I could remember, even moreso during my time as the ruler of my town. Everything I did there should be a complete mystery to this day, even to the sisters themselves. I'd protected myself and my town with layers upon layers of barriers and safeguards. There was less than a one in a million chance Raven had learned something about my time there. No. More likely, if she found anything important out, it was from before that time. When I was living with- "I know... what your foalhood was like." She moved closer, an attempt at showing me empathy obviously her intention. Yep, exactly what I figured. I groaned, seriously not wanting to talk about the long forgotten past. "So you found out about my aunt and uncle, that doesn't really matter to me anymore." I took a step away from her. "Your... aunt?" She looked befuddled. "Starlight... what does your au-" "Forget it, Raven." I was done with that conversation. "I had a question for you." "Starlight, I just wanted t-" I lifted a hoof to cut her off. "Are you gonna help me or not?" I was seconds from walking away and leaving her alone. "S... sure," she relented. "What do you need?" "I'm looking for a place to... relax." I gently scratched my face with a hoof, a little embarrassed to admit what I was looking for. "Preferably a balcony or something similar where I won't be bothered or yelled at for being there." Her face lit up. "That's easy, Starlight." She lifted a hoof, pointing in the direction she'd come from. "Head down that hallway. Take the stairways to the third floor. Go down the hall and make a left. There'll be a large glass window with a door next to it. Her Highness goes there whenever she wants to take a load off. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you used it," she smiled before she started giggling. "As long as you're not going to blow anything up or something like that, you shouldn't be disturbed." I smiled deviously as I walked by her in the direction she'd pointed. "Y-you're... you're not going to blow anything up, are you, Starlight?" She was panicking and it was way too entertaining for me to reply quickly. ... "S-STARLIGHT!?" "It's fine, Raven," I turned to her with the same conniving smile. "I'm not gonna do anything stupid. Don't worry about it." I can't wait! "Starlight?" she called out to me again. "Hm?" I didn't turn to look at her, but I slowed down a little to allow her to speak. "Do you... do you want to get a bite to eat with me some time?" Wha... "I really want to get to know you more... that's all." It wasn't a flirtatious request. At least, it didn't sound like one. I wasn't sure how a mare like her made a pass at somepony. It did get me to stop though. I snuck a glance over my shoulder to find the mare with her head down. That's... unexpected. ... What the heck, why not? "When I get back from my duties in the Crystal Empire... I wouldn't mind doing something with you," I grinned. Her head shot up. I continued on the way to my destination, leaving the giddy mare with an excited smile on her lips. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It's perfect. Absolutely perfect. The little piece of heaven was about the size of my room. Two elegant chairs and a small table, all made of ivory and way fancier than any I'd ever seen before, rested on the balcony. It reminded me of the one I had back home in my town, -- the balcony, that is -- though mine only had one chair and none of my furniture was this... lavish. Just to be safe, I'd casted a barrier around the area to ensure I got my privacy. Even though Raven had told me I shouldn't be interrupted, I still put up some countermeasures, just in case. While Celestia and Luna could bypass my defenses with no effort, anypony else would most definitely trigger it, instantly notifying me of their presence. I did not want anypony to know what I was about to be doing up here. Still... this will definitely work. As I sat down on one of the chairs -- which was way more comfortable than I could have ever imagined -- I took in the scenery. It was breathtaking, there was no other way of putting it. The city of Canterlot was beyond reproach. At night, it was even more awe-inspiring, the lights illuminating the capital lending an otherworldly glow to the landscape. With careful precision I began to weave my spell, first constructing the line. It wasn't too windy outside. In fact, it was just right, so I didn't need to make it thick. Not in weather like this. Next were the bridle and tow point. Even though it was just a magical construct I needed it to be as true to life as possible. If anything was even a little askew it wouldn't fly. Now the spars... I flicked my horn, utilizing a little more mana. And then the keel. It was nearly done, my heart racing with excitement. It had been way too long since I'd last gotten to do this. Sail and tail! I was bubbling, almost leaping off the chair as I admired my completed handiwork. It wasn't as authentic as a physical kite, but it would do for the time being. I'll have to check around some of the shops in town so I can get the materials to build a real one. Odds are there wouldn't be any shops specifically for kite hobbyists in Canterlot. Hoity-toity ponies don't enjoy this kind of stuff. I lifted it high into the air with my telekinesis, using the slight breeze and a swift pull to allow it to catch the wind. As I drew my telekinesis away from the kite itself and watched it gently sail in the sky, I felt my stress immediately begin to melt away. Perfect. I sat back in my seat with a contented sigh, holding the end of the line with my telekinesis. As I watched my little creation bob in the sky, I couldn't help but feel like I was back home. It doesn't get much better than this. Though, if I could add one thing, it'd be an ice cold drink. There's always next time. I hadn't felt this good sin- "Somepony is... awfully... comfortable." The hissing voice that echoed from my blind spot made my skin crawl. That's... That's not possible! My kite construct soaring high in the sky disintegrated, my concentration completely shifting as I jumped off the chair to confront the trespasser. My heart stopped as our eyes -- or at least my eyes -- locked on the... thing before me. What... is it? My mana was already pumping, my horn glowing turquoise as I prepped spell after spell to protect myself. I could feel the staggering malice emanating from the entity. It was a miracle it hadn't attacked me when I was ignorant of its presence, but that just meant it was here for something else. "What do you want?" I narrowed my gaze at the mysterious creature. If it made any sort of movements towards me I'd send an arc of magic straight through its heart. "I've a... proposition... for you... Starlight Glimmer."