//------------------------------// // A Royal Match // Story: Twily's Back // by Rough_Draft //------------------------------// Thirteen – A Royal Match “I have to say, Princess, that this is one of the smallest functions we’ve had to organize in quite a while.” The caterer pony grinned as she glanced around the ballroom—and at the lone table set up in the middle, with two placemats and two chairs set out. “I’m sure it’ll be lovely,” said Twilight. She shifted from one hoof to the other, trying to get used to all her regalia. Being at a royal event, it was essential for her to wear her tiara, white gown, and golden slippers. She’d been informed that Prince Gregory would wear his own native dress. This was as much about politics as it was about being social. Frankly, Twilight preferred it would be nothing more than a onetime political event. She wasn’t looking forward to socializing with him. “So tell me, Silver Platter. What is our friend the griffin prince really like?” Silver Platter blushed. “Oh, well, he’s certainly handsome. A-and quite brave, I’m told. The finest griffin of his generation!” “And does he… like ponies?” “Oh, well…” The caterer fiddled with the royal crest on her badge. “You know, I actually have never heard one way or the other.” She rebounded with a confident grin. “But I’m sure he’s going to love you, Your Highness!” That’s what I’m afraid of, Twilight thought. There was no way anypony could understand. Twilight didn’t hate the idea of romance. She knew all about love and the magic it possessed. She’d grown up watching Cadance perform love spells and had read several epic romances involving Equestrian knights and ladies. But when it came to her own feelings… Nothing. She’d never really looked at any other pony and felt the kind of love she’d heard about from others. In fact, she envied everypony else. They just ‘fell’ in love and that was that. All Twilight could do was make charts and graphs about other ponies’ lives. She could write up as many hypotheses as she wanted, but nothing seemed to explain why love just never happened for her. And hadn’t the other ponies at school just loved to tease her about that? Twilight Sparkle, the filly that nopony would ever ask out on a date. Twilight the Egghead. Twilight the Bookworm. Twilight the Wallflower. But now Twilight had friends. Now she was a Princess. Her life had gone in an unexpected direction, so perhaps love wasn’t something she’d never experience for herself. Maybe she just hadn’t met the right pony—or griffin, for that matter. “Ooh, Your Highness!” Silver Platter turned and bowed as the ballroom doors opened. “Here he comes!” Twilight Sparkle turned and bowed as a trio of griffins approached. All three of them wore bright red sashes, but it was the one in the middle who caught her eye. Taller than the others, with a narrow beak and gleaming talons. A golden circlet rested on top of his head. When he looked over at Twilight, his eyes scrutinized her from mane to hoof. She expected he might smile. But his cold frown never shifted. “Your Highness,” said one of the smaller griffins in a lilting voice. “May I present His Royal Highness, Prince Gregory the Magnificent, First of His Name, Shield of Leonidas and Pride of the Majestic—” “Geoffrey, please,” Gregory interrupted, shooting his retainer an irritated glare. “You’ll ruin Her Highness’s appetite with your stuffing.” The lesser griffin paused. Then he backed away and nervously added, “As it please Your Grace.” When the prince looked up at Twilight, he nodded. “Princess Sparkle, I am Gregory son of Gareth, at your service. I trust your friend the pegasus is feeling all right?” “My friend…?” Twilight looked over her shoulder at Silver Platter, who was a unicorn. “Yes, your friend. A small yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail, and a very nervous disposition. No doubt your friend because of how she laid out your royal garments, which you hardly ever wear.” “How could you possibly know all that?” Gregory pointed a talon at the hem of her gown. “I can see that the hem and shoulders of your dress are too stiff. That suggests you’ve barely tried it on before today. And since a princess is never expected to lay out her own clothes, that suggests you got somepony else to do it. Possibly a maid, but it’s well known you only have a dragon for an assistant, and a male one at that. So, more likely, it’s one of your five close friends. In this case, the yellow pegasus.” Twilight blinked. “And just how did you know it was Fluttershy?” “Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?” Gregory glanced anxiously at his entourage. “I was under the impression Celestia’s students were the brightest ponies in all of Equestria.” “Uh…” She felt embarrassed at being so slow, especially before foreign royalty. This was worse than magic kindergarten. “Perhaps you might humor me, Your Grace. As if I were your own student.” “As you wish, my lady.” The griffin sat back on his haunches and examined her dress again. “There is a faint layer of yellow down on the hem of your dress, coming off the wing of either a bird or a pegasus. Most likely a pegasus because of the pink mane hairs mixed with the feathers. Now, the shedding of so much feathers and hair is strong enough to suggest either a very sick pony or a very nervous one. And since it wouldn’t do to get too close to anypony with an illness—especially on the eve of an important royal dinner…” Gregory smiled and leaned in. “That leaves room for only a very anxious pegasus.” Which was Fluttershy in a nutshell, Twilight had to admit. “Your deductions are impressive, Your Grace.” The griffin blinked. “You think so?” “Well, yes!” “Well, my father most certainly doesn’t.” The prince waved a dismissive talon. “But enough about him. We came for dinner and a chance to join our countries in…” He paused, almost spitting out the word with distaste. “Friendship.” Then he offered Twilight his elbow. “Shall we begin?” She grinned and took it. Listening to him talk was making her as giddy as a filly on the first day of school. She wondered if she could pick his brain about griffin history and lore over dinner… “Fluttershy?” Spike walked through the apartment, scanning every nook and cranny. “Hello? Where’d you go?” He was getting worried. It was late and Fluttershy was nowhere to be found. She’d come back from the tailors with Twilight’s dress and tiara, but nopony had seen her since. He guessed a pony as quiet as Fluttershy could easily hide if she wanted to. But that begged the question: what was she hiding from? In the bedroom, he found Pinkie Pie sprawled on the floor, playing with Twilight’s blue doll. “Hey, Pinkie, have you seen Fluttershy?” “Nope!” She bounced the doll up and down on one hoof. “But if you gave me enough time and some yarn, I bet I could make you a new Fluttershy lickety-split!” “It’d be just as quiet, that’s for sure.” Spike glanced over his shoulder. “I’m worried about her. I think we should go and see if she’s okay.” Meanwhile, the front door opened as Time Turner came prancing in. The left sleeve of his brown coat was hanging off his shoulder and his mane was askew, but his face was covered in kisses. When he saw Spike and Pinkie Pie, he stopped and laughed. “Ah, brilliant! Just the dragon and pony I wanted to see!” Time Turner laid down on the floor opposite Pinkie Pie. “So, as you might have gathered, I had a wonderful date with Miss Public Record. I won’t spoil all the details, but I will say that the cherry pie at Château du Cheval is amazing and so are the royal archivist’s stories.” Spike examined his torn sleeve. “And how did that happen?” “Ha ha, yes! Well, it all started with a wheelbarrow and a very clumsy mail-pony—” “Never mind. Have you seen Fluttershy anywhere?” Time Turner shrugged. “Can’t say I have. Then again, she’s a shy little thing. I imagine she’ll turn up soon enough.” “I guess I’m just worried.” “I see.” He leaned over to Spike. “Did she seem upset to you?” “Not really. Just really nervous.” “I know, right?” Pinkie Pie danced her doll around. “If she’d just stop and play with a doll or eat a dozen cupcakes, she’d be right as rain! Oooh, or right as chocolate rain!” “Chocolate…” Spike looked up. His eyes went as wide as dinner plates. “Oh, no!” “What’s wrong?” asked Time Turner. “The cake! The party!” The dragon slapped his forehead. “Aargh! We were so busy setting up for Twilight’s date that we forgot to set up her next birthday party!” Pinkie Pie didn’t say a word. Instead, she gave an overdramatic gasp and raced straight for the kitchen. Spike heard pots and pans crashing as the pink pony did everything she could to make up for lost time. “Thank heavens you remembered, Spike.” Time Turner got up and headed for the living room. “I’ll go over the final arrangements for the maturity spell. Get a message to Twilight, quickly!” Fluttershy shuddered when the bell on the flower shop’s door jingled. But thankfully the shop was empty except for a graying mare behind the counter. “Welcome, my dear!” The shop owner put a modest hoof to her chest. “I’m Madame Flora. How can I help you this evening?” “W-well, you see…” Fluttershy tried to focus on something besides her shivering legs. “I-I wanted to buy a b-bouquet…” She swallowed and forced herself to say, “A bouquet of roses for my friend, please!” “Oh, how lovely!” Flora turned to the display case on her right. “The last roses of the season are over here. Unfortunately, since it’s winter, they might not be in the best condition, but they’re reasonably priced.” Fluttershy noticed a little browning on the roses’ petals, but otherwise they looked just fine. She smiled. Only a humble pony could give a humble gift. “And, if it’s not too much trouble, could I maybe add a card to the bouquet?” Flora smiled and grabbed a pen in between her teeth. “Certainly, dear. What shall I put down?” Swallowing again, Fluttershy had to take a moment to collect her thoughts. So many things she wanted to say. So many ways to screw this up. But she had to try. She’d never forgive herself if she didn’t try. “Okay, here goes…” She took a deep breath and let everything out. “To my dearest Twilight Sparkle, I promise to wait until you’re better. I promise to never leave your side. I promise to bring you pleasant weather. I promise I won’t run and hide. Faithfully yours… Fluttershy.” When she stopped, Fluttershy looked up at Madame Flora, expecting a look of surprise or horror. But the florist continued to write down everything on the card. She slid it into the top of the bouquet and presented the roses to her customer with a kind smile. “Will there be anything else, my dear?” “If you, um… that is, would it be possible…?” “Yes?” The pegasus flinched. “If you wouldn’t tell anypony about this—” “Oh, my dear, don’t worry your pretty little head.” Flora winked. “I’ve had so many high-class ponies buy flowers and write far more embarrassing cards for their special somepony. We would never be indiscreet with our customers’ affairs. It’d be terrible for business.” Fluttershy let out her breath and smiled. “Oh, thank you, Madame! Thank you so much!” She reached for the coin purse. “Um, how much do I owe you?” “For friends and lovers of royalty?” Flora gave a wicked smile. “We happen to have a discount. Three bits, please.” After paying, Fluttershy clutched the roses in her hooves and flew out of the shop. She didn’t bother with keeping to the main road and took her own secret path back to the apartment. With any luck, Twilight’s date would be over soon. Then Fluttershy would have the best birthday gift of all for her.