Fluttershy awoke with a start as the sun’s rays first hit her eyes. She glanced at the clock, alarmed to see it was already five forty-five in the morning. Rarity lay against her, breathing softly. Fluttershy closed her eyes again, wanting to just ignore everything that was supposed to be happening.
If Rarity overslept, that would ruin her chances to participate in this idiotic test. Maybe then she would give up and focus on getting her shop fixed. Or maybe they could ignore the shop for a while and build another room at Fluttershy’s cottage instead. That would be nice; they could sew together, and Rarity could help with the animals. Sweetie loved coming to visit her ever since that first sleepover... It could all be so perfect, if she just let Rarity sleep in.
Except... Rarity would be angry, or at least ashamed. And her dad would still be mean to her marefriend. Actually, she wasn’t quite sure if her dad would ever stop being mean to Rarity, but this silly plan had at least made him stop yelling. Maybe... this needed to happen. No! She could get hurt! Her eyes snapped open and she looked worriedly at Rarity, as if the thought alone would hurt her. She was fine, of course—for now.
Fluttershy groaned internally. This was a bad idea; why did her mom ever suggest this? She should have just told dad to stop being so mean. Why, Daddy? She’s so important to me. Why can’t you love her too?
She looked at the clock again—five fifty now. Rarity was going to need time to get ready. Resolutely, she disentangled herself from her marefriend, allowing the unicorn to gently ease onto the couch. If Rarity was going to do this, she was getting the full experience. Fluttershy sucked air deep into her lungs, getting ready to attempt the bellow her mother had used when she was in training. She could do it. She knew she could do it; it was in her blood. Just rear back and... “Um, wake up, recruit.”
That had been barely audible, even to herself! She tried again: “Rarity, you need to get up right now!”
Better, but still not there.
She started in surprise. It was as if her mother had been critiquing her just now. She smiled at the thought. Mom would probably love the idea of me trying to act like her.
She reared back one more time, drawing in all the air she could while trying to remember how she had felt when she’d seen Rainbow Dash do the Sonic Rainboom for the second time. She could feel the excitement build, she opened her mouth, and—
“Eep.”
She had picked that exact moment to remember that Rarity had almost died that day, and very nearly collapsed from the shock.
“Okay, maybe I’ll leave the shouting to Mom,” she muttered. She glanced at the clock again, only to find another five minutes had passed. Maybe I could try that water to the face thing again, that seemed to work. She nodded and went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water. When she returned, however, the clock began ringing noisily.
Rarity blinked, blearily looking around the room. Seeing Fluttershy with a glass of water at the ready, she smiled gratefully.
“Good morning, darling. Is that for me?”
Fluttershy looked down at the water she had just been about to throw at the unsuspecting mare. “Um, yes! H-here you go. It’s time for you to get up now. You have a big day ahead of you.”
Inwardly, she winced; this was her marefriend, not one of her sick animals. However, knowing what was coming, she had instinctively begun using the tone she would use with any creature she needed to be brave.
Rarity took the water in her magic and drank it. “Ah, thank you, love. That was very thoughtful. Well, I need to go prepare then. I feel as though I am getting ready to face the dragon on that mountain again! Silly, I know.”
No, that’s pretty much exactly how you should feel, Fluttershy thought.
Rarity got up, stretching her legs to shake the stiffness out. “Goodness, I had such a good night’s sleep. I suppose I should not be too surprised to find the furniture in the palace is comfortable.” She kissed Fluttershy on the cheek as she headed to the bathroom. “I’d invite you to join me, but I suspect we’d be overlong and not terribly clean by the end.” She tittered. “Another time, I promise.”
The shower handle squeaked as the water was turned on, and soon a soft voice could be heard singing for a spell. When the singing stopped, Rarity’s voice called out to her: “Darling, you’ve been through this. What can I expect?”
Fluttershy fidgeted unhappily, trying to think of how best to describe it to ensure that Rarity would give up. “You’re going to get dirty. There is no avoiding it. There’s pits of mud to jump over, and bigger pits of muck you’ll have to wade through. You’ll be running the course with other recruits, and they’ll all be nervous and extremely clumsy. It’s not going to be fun at all.” She allowed a small smile to grace her lips. Surely that would do it. Now they could forget all about—
“Oh, is that all? I think I should be fine, then.”
Fluttershy seethed inwardly. It hadn’t been enough. “Well, I’m sure it will be fine. We can get your mane redone after it’s all over.”
“That might be best,” Rarity said as she stepped out of the shower. A rustling of fabric could be heard as Rarity whipped towels around her mane and tail. “Darling... I’m sorry if this whole... testing business upsets you. I rather thought your mother was insane for suggesting it at first, but now I... I need this. I feel as if I didn’t properly... How shall I put this?”
She paused, considering. “Out of all the stories I have read, there isn't a single one where the knight doesn't have to win the hoof of his, or her, fair maiden. Nay, she must prove herself worthy time and again! Monsters have to be battled and slain, armies bested with but a few stalwart companions!” Rarity was getting carried away again, but caught herself in time. Her voice was much quieter when she continued: ”I realize this is little like that... Perhaps I am just punishing myself unduly for not having the courage to tell you how I felt; for forcing my princess to save her knight, as t’were.”
Fluttershy choked back a sob. “You don’t have to worry about that! I was so happy to know you felt the same! It was okay, really!”
Rarity sighed heavily from the other room. “I know it was. I know I shouldn’t feel that way. But I can’t help how a lifetime of romantic notions make me feel. I want to do this. I want to prove—not just to your father but also to myself—that I am, in some small way, worthy of you.” With that, she stepped out of the bathroom. “Well, how do I look?”
Fluttershy gaped at the sight: Rarity had bound her mane in a tight braid that kept it out of her face. It wouldn’t have looked out of place on the battlefield. Her face was free of any makeup for the first time that Fluttershy could recall.
It was, undeniably, unbearably hot.
“Um, it looks... nice?”
Rarity smiled brilliantly. “I know; not my best look. But I can’t afford to have mascara running into my eyes, now can I? After all, this is most likely going to be hot, sweaty, and highly uncomfortable.”
Fluttershy squeaked as she pitifully rubbed her hind legs together. “I think you might be right...” she said very quietly.
Rarity was just busy studying her braid for any wayward curls that might have attempted to burst free. Her eyes flicked briefly back to Fluttershy briefly. “What was that dear?”
“N-nothing.”
"Come now, darling! I thought we were past this? What's on your mind?"
“Nothing we can do anything about without making you hopelessly late.” Fluttershy perked up suddenly. ”Unless maybe you want to be late? I mean, is this really that important?"
"I'm afraid it is, darling. I need to prove that I can do this, albeit mostly to myself."
Fluttershy sighed in disappointment. "Then I’d rather you don’t ask right now.” She let out a small, inaudible whine, resolutely ignoring her desires to pounce on her marefriend then and there. “Well, we should probably go, before I try to change your mind again."
Rarity giggled softly. "Yes, I suppose we should. Your mother doesn't strike me as the type of pony to take lightly to my being late."
Fluttershy shook her head. "She'll dock you points for it. So if you want to score well, it's definitely a bad idea. I suppose she is... nicer when she's not screaming orders at you, but don't expect her to be the way she was at home."
For a single moment Rarity looked hesitant. "Exactly how... bad... is it?"
Fluttershy winced, her ears laid back. "She's... not quite as loud as Princess Luna?" she said finally. “Most of the time...”
"I see… Anything else I should know?" Rarity crossed her eyes when she found a stray hair and dashed back into the bathroom. "Anything I should avoid, I mean?"
"She... she likes it when you think creatively, but be careful with that—she has thrown people out for insubordination. Don't disobey instructions. "
"I shall try to keep that in mind," came the reply from the bathroom. "I take it I am supposed to address her as ‘madam’ while I'm out there?"
"No! The drill sergeant is always 'Sir!’ Never ever ever—" Fluttershy stopped before she went into hysterics. "She'll rebuke you in front of the others just to prove a point! It’s always 'Sir!’"
"So serious..." Rarity tittered again. "Regardless, I shall stick to calling her ‘Sir,’ then, I suppose," she said, muttering to herself about how that was going to take some getting used to. "In any case… Shall we, darling?"
Rarity looked over the training yard, trying not to wince. She had expected the place to be a little more... Well, she had expected the place to be very muddy, but her expectations hadn't even remotely lived up to the real thing. It consisted of a large open field covered in the vile mixture of water, dirt, and various other things she'd rather not come into contact with. So much so that. If there was indeed an obstacle course she was going to have to cross, it was currently being obscured by it.
Or—as she hoped was the case—the training yard was simply much bigger than she could see from her position next to Fluttershy. Once again, she seriously considered giving up on the whole ordeal, only to see a smirking Silver Lining and a disappointed Fluttershy in her mind’s eye. She set her jaw and turned to her marefriend. "Well, here we are. I have to say, it is..." She almost said 'dirty', but that wouldn't paint the right picture and would prompt Fluttershy to try and talk her out of it again. "...emptier than I expected it to be."
Fluttershy looked around in alarm; her mom should have been here a long time ago, watching over a bunch of new recruits waiting to take the test with her. "I promise, this is the place! I could have taken you here blindfolded. Where is everypony?"
"Not here, apparently," Rarity replied, breathing a silent sigh of relief at hearing that she would be able to keep her mane looking good for another few minutes. "Are you sure the training yard hasn't been moved since you'd been here?"
Fluttershy shook her head vehemently. "Canterlot doesn't have many big, unused stretches of land. If they moved the field, the nobles would have snapped this place up to build more houses. Mom was always complaining about how she had to justify her own training yard to yet another group of nobles in the court every couple of years. They kept trying to get the princess to move it to the base of the mountain, or in another town."
"And I take it she is the only reason they haven't?" Rarity had to stifle a giggle, imagining an angry Posey taking a stance against nobles like Blueblood. It made her pause, giving some consideration to how much Fluttershy was like her mother when angered.
"She said she'd be happy to have the land used to build more manors as long as the owners didn't mind her troops running laps in their bedrooms. The room usually got pretty quiet once they realized she wasn't joking. This is definitely where you're supposed to be."
"Well, then I suppose we shall just have to wait." Rarity sat down without thinking, parking her posterior in a puddle. She winced before deciding it was something she was going to have to get used to, sooner rather than later. "Terribly sorry to keep pestering you with this, but are there any tricks to 'scoring well,' as you put it?"
"There isn't any trick to it. You just have to do your best. Mom will be watching; she flies over the course to keep track. Don't try to impress her, just finish as fast as you can." She paused, trying not to let her voice tremble. "And... try not to get hurt. I-I'll be watching too."
"Don't worry, darling. How bad could it possibly be?" Rarity said with a confidence she wasn't quite feeling any longer. "I will be just fine, and I will prove to you, and your father, that I can perform just as well as any stallion." She flushed bright red when the full implications of her sentence hit her. Usually she was much more careful with her words. I guess this thing has me more on edge than I expected.
“I’ll have to see it before I believe it.” Silver’s voice greeted them from the observation platform to the right of the training yard.
Rarity nodded to the stallion, smiling her best smile, strained as it was. “A stallion of your word, sir! I’m glad you came.”
“Speaking of which, where is everypony? Usually my wife has dozens of green recruits cowering all over this place.”
Rarity’s eye twitched in irritation. “To be honest, seeing you here, I was hoping I might ask you the same. If you don’t know either, something unexpected must have occurred. Well, in any case, I’d rather be early than late, as it were.”
Silver nodded. “That’s something we can agree on at least.” He snorted and looked around for a sign of either his wife or one of the guards of her platoon. “It’s not like her to be late.”
“Well, I suspect whatever is holding her up must be important. I am content to wait. But in all seriousness, sir... Thank you for being here.” She smiled again, a more genuine one than before.
Silver snorted again. “Don’t thank me for anything, miss. I’m here to judge, and if you don’t measure up...” He trailed off when he noticed the pointed look his daughter was giving him and wisely prevented himself from finishing that particular sentence.
Fluttershy’s gaze softened, and she gave him a small smile. He grudgingly returned it with one of his own, unable to do anything else.
He rolled his eyes skyward. “Do your best, miss. My daughter will be watching and I’d hate to see her disappointed.”
There was an uncomfortable silence that stretched on for some time, until it was broken by the sound of mad giggling followed by angry shouts and charging hooves coming from the castle proper. They all swiveled their heads to watch as what seemed to be a small army charged past the entrance of the training yard.
“I... think I see why nopony is training.” Rarity said when she had finally recovered her voice and picked her jaw up from the ground.
“Oh my, I hope nothing bad has happened.”
Silver Lining snorted in derision. “Probably another one of those fancy parades they make the guards perform every so often. Posey positively despises them.”
Rarity snorted, just barely keeping herself from laughing. Hearing an otherwise hooves-on-the-clouds stallion use the language of Canterlot’s nobility was far outside her realm of expectations regarding him. He turned his gaze to her, balefully glaring at the perceived joke at his expense. “Terribly sorry,” she said, awkwardly clearing her throat, “dust sneeze.”
Further awkward silences were prevented by several stallions thundering onto the training field, followed by the bellowing Fluttershy had tried to imitate earlier that day. “At ease! You recruits have earned three minutes’ break for an excellent performance during this security exercise.” She turned from the group as they all collapsed in exhausted gratitude. “Recruit Rarity!”
Rarity fairly jumped as she snapped off a smart salute. “Yes, sir!”
“Walk with me a moment,” Posey said in a normal tone of voice as she walked away from the general group.
“Yes, sir!”
When they were a sufficient distance away, Posey frowned at her. “I missed you when we gathered this morning. I might have been able to use you. We had a bit of a SNAFU; some sort of unannounced test for guard readiness, arranged by the princess herself. Where were you?”
“I was here! Fluttershy and your husband can vouch for me! I arrived at O seven hundred, right on time.”
Posey sighed, her mouth quirking up in a half-smile. “On-time doesn’t cut it. You need to be here with enough time for instructions on the exercise. This isn’t a dinner party, filly.”
Rarity bristled with indignation. “Well how was I supposed to know that? If you wanted me here at O six forty-five then you should have said ‘O six forty-five!’”
“First lesson: I expect a certain degree of forward thinking from my recruits. If you lack the common sense to know that you need to be here before we begin, I hope you’re at least quick on the uptake. That’s going to reflect on your final score for today; I have to set an example for everypony.”
Posey turned, getting ready to address the rest of the recruits.
“Sir?”
Posey turned her head in annoyance. “Second lesson: in front of the guard recruits, if you need to address me out of turn, you need to ask permission.”
“P-permission to speak?”
“Granted, but make it quick.”
“How on earth am I supposed to acquit myself honorably if I am being held to standards I have no reasonable way of knowing?”
“Honorably? There’s no ‘honor’ on the training field. As for knowing what kind of standards we employ here... you should have asked your marefriend.” Posey’s mouth jerked again, in that same half-smile Rarity had come to associate with being the closest thing Posey actually had to a real smile. “You’ll just have to be really impressive, I suppose. Do your best. Now, get ready to fall in with the rest, and try not to stick out like an unpreened feather.”
Celestia looked out over the training yard, trying to decide whether or not her eyes were playing tricks on her. One of the new recruits seemed to resemble Twilight’s friend, Rarity, save for the fact that her mane was tightly braided, in a way she knew the stylish mare would never think of doing.
“Ogling the recruits again, sister?”
Celestia turned her head slightly and regarded her sister as she stepped onto her balcony. “Drop it, Luna. I’m not in the mood.”
“Apologies, ‘Tia. I was only trying to cheer you up.” Luna approached and nuzzled her sister as she joined her. “Well then, it seems your student has sorted her feelings out somewhat,” she began matter-of-factly, as though merely observing that her sister was still a pristine white this morning. “It’s nice to see Twilight smiling again, is it not?”
Celestia continued to regard the scene of her troops being trained and tested below in the yard for a little while longer. She could hear Sergeant Posey barking out orders for this morning’s drill. “Yes, it is. Pinkie seems to be a good influence on her emotional stability. And the reverse seems to be true as well.”
“Can’t help but think of who else could have made her happy, can you?”
Celestia did not rise to Luna’s bait. “I’m sure any number of ponies could have done that. The important thing is her happiness, not who is making her happy.”
“Oh, so if Twilight had fallen for somepony entirely wrong for her, would you still be moping on a balcony? Or would you, perhaps, have told her they were the wrong pony, and offered to be the right one?”
Through sheer force of will, honed by long years of having to keep a stoic face in front of endlessly-bickering nobles, Celestia did not scowl. “That doesn’t matter now. Twilight is my protege, not my property. I don’t have the right to decide who is right or wrong for her.”
Luna stuck out her tongue playfully. “You are avoiding the question, ‘Tia. Or perhaps you don’t wish to think about it at all?”
“Why would I torment myself with thoughts of all the things I could have done differently?” Celestia asked, sounding rather tired.
Her sister shook her head sadly. “Could have, should have... that’s what you’ve been obsessing about, isn’t it?” She reached out to Celestia, placing a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. “But what about the things you could do? As in right now? The past is past, ‘Tia; we can’t change that. But in the present, you two still have some unresolved issues. Issues that should be resolved—and probably could be, in a way you would both enjoy, if only you had the wit to see it.”
Celestia glared at her sister balefully. “What do you suggest? Steal Twilight away from her paramour? Now that they’ve just reunited? Or something more sinister perhaps? Destroying the image of the one she holds dear now for some... some fillyhood crush she clung to in the past?”
“Oh, but you have given this some thought, haven’t you?” Luna grinned mischievously.
Celestia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, returning to her original pose. She went back to pretending to watch the recruits; she was good at that. “Rest assured, I will not be doing anything untoward.”
Luna turned back to the training ground, emulating her sister in a way that could only be interpreted as playful mockery. “Well, I for one am pleased to hear you won’t be smiting Pinkie or foal napping Twilight for a night of untold bliss. But perhaps you might have considered talking to them before conceiving such extreme measures to begin with?”
“What would you have me say?” Celestia’s tone was perfectly neutral to the ears of all but those who knew her best. “‘Oh, I’m sorry I rejected you, Twilight. I am actually very interested?’ Should I drop to my knees and tell her that, in truth, I’ve always loved her but never quite realized it? Or perhaps I should simply start bawling my eyes out, and resort to begging instead?” She glanced at Luna, who was having a hard time keeping her poise. “I had a feeling you would enjoy that particular mental image.”
Luna took a deep breath to regain her composure and trotted up next to Celestia, throwing a wing over her shoulder in comfort. “First you think of destroying her, then you think of begging. Why? Why should you need to go to such extremes?”
Celestia snorted dismissively. “Not all ponies are as open-minded as you are, sister. I do not want to risk breaking them apart over a foolish notion of mine.”
Luna nuzzled her sister gently. “Oh certainly, just ask your protege! I’m sure she’ll attest to how unresolved feelings are best left unaddressed. It surely did her a world of good, did it not?” Luna rolled her eyes, sticking out her tongue at her sister. “Go, talk to them! The worst you might hear would be that she no longer feels the same. You need some resolution, both of you!”
“And if she says ‘yes’?” Celestia chuckled mirthlessly. “Pinkamena Pie, thank you for your time. Your services to the crown are appreciated. Dismissed!” she said in a mock royal tone.
Luna shook her head, laughing lightly at the image. “‘Tia, dear sister—”
Celestia felt her control slipping, and found herself nearly shouting at her sister. “Lu, enough! Just leave it be! There’s nothing to be done about it.”
Luna stepped back, giving her sister a little space. “Goodness, you really can’t see it, can you?”
“I am not a foal, Luna. Do not treat me like one.”
The younger princess regarded her sister, trying not to take offence. “Not a foal, but perhaps a fool? Think, sister!”
Celestia turned away, not wishing for Luna to see her expression. “I have! I am! Why do you insist that it is foolish to put the needs of others above my own when they are so obviously in love with one another?”
Luna walked around her sister very slowly until they were face to face once more. “Who said anything about placing yourself above their needs? The answer was presented to you, if you’d just recognize it.”
“You talk as if I just gave up from the start! I didn’t. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. But there is no solution. If I refuse to break them apart, there is no way!”
Luna stamped a hoof in frustration. "Why are you so focused on the negatives? Do you really think ruining what they have is the only way?" She paused, collecting herself. “Tell me, if I ask you for a slice of cake, am I destroying your cake by taking a part of it?”
“Twilight is not a cake!” Her sister spat back, insulted that her precious student would ever be compared to such a thing.
Luna’s response sounded tired and more than a little irritated. “That doesn’t change the fact that there is enough of her for two. But you’d have to approach the party’s hostess first, wouldn’t you?”
“Oh yes, so very simple. ‘Excuse me, would you mind sharing your marefriend with me?’” The Princess of the Sun snorted in agitation. “It’s not like I never considered… what you do. I told you before: not everypony is as open-minded as you appear to be!”
“Yes, it actually is that simple. You can have your cake and eat it too!” Luna paused, letting the meaning of her words sink in a moment, then followed quickly with something even more sure to shock her sister, but hopefully also to get her to think.
“Ask politely, and you may be granted a slice of Pie to go with your cake. I have seen Pinkie’s dreams, ‘Tia. Three ponies in a bed is the least of her fantasies, if that were your desire." Luna's eyes twinkled in mischief as the barest blush graced her sister's cheek. "But maybe, just maybe, you might consider that a relationship can be shared as well as a bed.”
Celestia opened her mouth, then closed it again. She repeated the gesture several times before finally opting for the slightly-more-graceful non-gaping configuration, and then turned back to the training field.
“Something to consider...” Luna yawned, stepping closer to her sister to give her one last nuzzle. “I’m due for bed, sister. Enjoy your ogling.” She turned and trudged back inside, beginning the long trek to her bedroom.
“Luna?”
Luna stopped and turned her head. “‘Tia?”
“Thank you. Sleep well.”
Luna smiled again, nodding. “Good day, ‘Tia.”
"Naptime's over, recruits! Fall in!" Posey's voice rolled across the yard like a solid wall of sound, making every recruit scramble to line up on one side of it. Or rather, almost every recruit.
Rarity shook her head, trying to stop the ringing in her ears. She turned to Fluttershy. “What did she say?”
“Um... she said you need to go over with the rest,” Fluttershy replied, pointing.
The unicorn looked dubiously at the rest of the training group. “R-right. Well, time to begin then. Wish me luck?”
“Rarity... it’s not too late. We could just go and forget all about this,” Fluttershy said, pleading one last time.
“What?” Rarity replied, her ears still ringing. “I’m sorry, would you mind repeating—”
“Nevermind.” Fluttershy kissed Rarity gently on the cheek. “Good luck.”
Rarity took her place amongst the rest, bracing herself for more shouting. Thankfully, Posey’s oratory voice was mildly softer than her general address voice.
"Listen up!" Posey paraded back and forth in front of the line, giving each of them an appraising glare. "Today you'll be a part of TPA, or as I like to call it: The rookie race."
"You'll get a running start towards the barracks, evading the golems placed along the track. Ponies that get hit will get a penalty. Jump the moat, grab your gear, and run back here. Fastest one to return wins."
By that point she had reached Rarity, who had hastily joined the end of the queue.
Rarity wilted a little under her glare. Posey flashed her a brief half-smile, then hollered at the top of her hungs. "What are you rookies waiting for? A written invitation? Get your flanks moving!"
They all took off at a quick canter, moving into a gallop. The barracks was a goodish distance away yet, but before that came the obstacles. Rarity looked around wildly for these supposed clay golems, only to see them spring up from the mud up near the forerunners to oppose anypony that came near. “Gah! Wretched things!” Her eyes darted wildly for a path around them. She watched the other recruits as they barreled through, barely pausing, though some of them got a blow to the side which seemed to annoy more than damage.
I mustn’t get hit; it would leave a horrible stain. Oh, and a point deduction. Yes, that would be bad.
She watched another recruit try to fend off the golems and noted they were swiveling their heads to track his movements. So the golems can see, or are capable of something like seeing… Which means... She cast a telekinetic field on the loose dirt and cast it up as a cloud of dust, running quickly through it in the last place she recalled seeing an opening
She burst through the cloud, untouched save for a light coat of dust. Well then, one down... She continued running, only to find her path being blocked by a four-yard-wide moat filled with muck. No! She skidded to a halt, watching helplessly as the recruits she had left behind just moments ago simply made the leap, to either land on the other side or fall short and land in the muck.
Unlike Rarity, the others simply shook off what they could and let the rest sit on their coats while they clambered up on the other side. The sight alone made her want to tie them all up and refuse to release them until they had been thoroughly hosed down—or, better yet, had been put through an entire spa treatment.
She stared down at the muck, as if it would somehow improve by her will alone. A sudden image of Fluttershy shaking her head sadly, next to an extremely smug Silver, put some steel back in her spine. She ran back a ways and then charged forward, leaping only at the very last second. Her eyes snapped shut automatically as she hurled herself through the air.
Rarity waited for the squelching sound of her four hooves sinking in mud, only to hear them landing firmly on solid earth. She looked back to see that her hind legs had just barely cleared the moat. I did it...? I did it! She reared up in triumph, barely suppressing a sudden urge to begin bouncing in happiness. The others were far ahead of her by now, however, and her little victory dance was only making her fall further behind. “Oh, horsefeathers!”
She galloped on towards the barracks, noting that, despite them having quite a lead on her, none of the other recruits had come back out yet. Inside, she found the others still belting on their gear and equipping various bits of weaponry. The armor for unicorns did, at least, appear to be quite stylish, though she wondered about the gold inlays. Surely that would weaken the armor’s structural integrity? I wonder... Her suspicion only grew as she watched another unicorn struggling to lift his armor—in his hooves, of all things. She focused on her own set, trying to raise it up in her magic.
It was the strangest sensation: Rarity had moved all manner of things in her magic, but nothing had ever felt quite this... slippery. The armor clanked down to the floor, and she glared at it. How exactly do they expect anypony to equip something that cannot be lifted?
She looked at the other unicorn in disdain. He had rolled onto his back, on top of the harness, and was trying to secure the straps with his hooves. How plebeian! There must be some better way...
Eying the armor critically, Rarity examined its structure in greater detail. Experimentally, she fired a very weak spellblast at it, only to see it being deflected away from the armor, creating a small black spot on the ceiling.
“Hey! Watch where you’re shooting!”
“My apologies,” she mumbled, seeing the armor in a new light. Spell deflection, of course! That’s what the gold is for. Quite bothersome that it seems to affect telekinesis as well. But surely, any designer worth his saltlick would have thought of that…? Rarity eyed the strap lying limply on the floor. She focused her magic on the strap itself, and found that it allowed itself to be lifted readily. Aha, I see! Then perhaps...
Rolling the armor over with a hoof, she found a network of straps on the inside of the armor’s shell. She reached inside with her magic, holding only the straps, and easily lifted up the whole unit. Within moments, she was properly clad and smiling smugly to herself.
There was a spear rack nearby, which was apparently the preferred weapon for unicorns. Rarity grimaced; she completely failed to recall how many of these things she was supposed to take along, or even if she ought to be bringing any of them at all. In the end, she elected to simply take as many as she could comfortably hold aloft in her aura, before trotting happily to the door.
She stopped before leaving, looking back at the unicorn who had snapped at her. Don’t do it! You’ve wasted enough time. Besides, he’s clearly a faster runner than you. Rarity sighed and addressed the other recruit: “Don’t try to lift the armor itself, pick up the straps on the inside instead.”
He looked up in surprise, rolling off of his armor to flop down unceremoniously. In seconds, his gear was floating up to be belted on, and he grinned sheepishly. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” No really, please don’t. I feel foolish enough as it is. She bolted for the next obstacle before the stallion could get another word in.
She stopped short at a high wall which she was apparently meant to just leap over—though how she was supposed to accomplish that, considering the heavy armor she was wearing, was completely beyond her. There must be some way to lighten this clunky design without sacrificing its defensive capabilities... Perhaps I should inquire into how it is made! The Guard has as much right to the finest in fashion as everypony else, after all.
She enviously looked to either side as earth ponies and pegasi passed her by, flying or hurdling over the wall respectively, without even breaking a sweat.
The Royal Guard training course seemed almost unfairly stacked against unicorns. Magic-resistant armor, cumbersome weapons, high walls…
Wait! Idea~!
Curiously, she brought one of the spears a little closer for inspection. It was certainly light enough to be thrown, but would probably hold her weight if it was secured, in say a wooden wall. It would just need to be thrown with enough force. She grasped it in her magic and flung it at the wall, applying as much kinetic energy as she could. The spear embedded itself into the wall with a loud, satisfying crack. She carefully stepped onto it, letting out as small ‘whoop’ when it held. The remaining four were swiftly flung at the obstacle as well, forming a convenient set of steps to help her easily scale the once-insurmountable wall.
But she paused to look down at her spears, which were now, of course, quite firmly stuck into the wood. Right, I was supposed to take those with me... I’m such an idiot! As she pondered how to undo this latest blunder, she happened to take note of an earth pony who seemed to be faring even worse than she had.
She could at least admire him for his persistence, if nothing else: Despite having fallen short on every single one of his single-bound-over-the-wall attempts, he just kept on trying. He reminded her of Applejack in a way, albeit without the far superior athletic skills her equally-stubborn friend possessed, obviously.
Poor dear, look at him go... She watched as he latched on to the top of the wall with his forelegs for the umpteenth time, scrambling wildly with his rear legs to gain any kind of purchase. He almost made it that time... She watched as he began to lose his balance, though, despite his struggles. Without much thought, she gave him a small push while he teetered, making him topple over the wall. He landed at the bottom with all the grace of a five-ton boulder, but after a groggy shake of his head he was off to the next challenge.
Rarity smiled; there was little chance of her being anything other than dead last, at this point, anyway. Might as well make at least somepony feel like he has accomplished something…
She turned her attention back to her spears, tugging on them with all of her magical might. Most of them came free readily enough, but the last one was most uncooperative. It had penetrated the deepest and seemed to have struck a knot in the wood. Extracting it proved essentially impossible. Bother! More point deductions.
She leaped down from her perch atop the wall and rushed to the finish line, where what looked like everypony else in her group was already waiting. She allowed herself a small grimace; there would be no records set today, not by her at least. Still, she had at least made it... That counted for something, right?
She lined up with the rest, expecting to hear results be announced. What she heard instead nearly made her give up on the spot. Posey regarded her group silently, and Rarity couldn’t help but feel that she was being judged for her poor performance, as was everypony else, she guessed.
“Okay, for the final leg of today’s test—” There was a collective groan from an assortment of very weary ponies. “Did I say you could speak?!” Instant silence. “Better. There are some training dolls stacked up next to the last part of the test. All you have to do is haul that dummy to the other side. And... go!”
Rarity trotted over to the final challenge as quick as her aching legs would carry her. Oh... Oh, please no... She was looking at a vast pit of the foulest muck she had ever laid eyes on, covered by razor wire, which was strung across at a height that demanded she all but crawl her way through it, like some sort of animal. The addition of the training doll just added insult to injury. That’s it. I just... There are limits to what a pony can endure! How can anypony be expected to do this?
She looked back at Posey, almost ready to throw in the towel, when she caught sight of Fluttershy, who gave her a small smile and cheered.
She looked down at her doll and pictured that same face, full of trust and love, in place of the doll. Fine. I guess we can do this. She grabbed the dummy in her magic, holding it aloft with her spears, and made her way to the pit. Go on, you did it for your sister. Are you going to do any less for your marefriend? The muck bubbled, making her rear back. Oh, just close your eyes, you silly thing. She did precisely that before easing slowly into the foulness.
Just pretend it’s the mudbath. Don’t think about it... She trudged her way through, inch by agonizing inch. Strangely, this task was getting easier to accomplish, while the vertical height would not have allowed her to walk normally, the mud itself was waist high. She found herself with ample room to clear her head and horn under the wire. In time, she stopped even feeling the mud. This was the spa, and she was forging her way gracefully across a large tub of herbal mud. On the other side, Fluttershy awaited, and she merely had to keep going with these things behind her to be granted a kiss.
The entire illusion came crashing down when something, or somepony, bumped into her side, sending the foul muck across every inch of her back. Her eyes snapped open to see the earth pony from the wall struggling alongside her, trying to drag the doll behind him in his teeth. She lifted his doll in her magic, wincing as she realized his doll was easy three times the weight of her own. The lack of resistance caused him to fall backwards into the mud. “Stand up. I’ll lay it across your back.”
He eyed her suspiciously. “I don’t think you’re supposed to do that.”
Rarity blew a stray curl that had broken free of braid out of her face. “So I take a point deduction. It’s fine.”
He nodded slowly, getting to his hooves and waiting for the training doll. She carefully laid it over his back, settling it across his broad shoulders. “Thanks. Hey, maybe later tonight I could take you to dinner? Just as a way of saying ‘thanks,’ of course...”
She chuckled lightly, batting her eyes playfully. “I’m flattered, but taken. Though now I’m afraid I’m really quite cross with you.”
The stallion blinked uncomprehendingly, unsure as to where this sudden shift had come from.
“Where were you when I was trying to find a good stallion?” She sighed. “Well, I suppose my marefriend will thank you for being so scarce. Let’s keep going, shall we? We have a test to finish.”
He nodded, and trudged away at a much faster pace than she was capable of sustaining.
Rarity cursed inwardly. Rarity, you fool! Just try to finish yourself first, why don’t you? It’s not like you aren’t already going to be dead last; must you ensure it’s going the worst time ever?
“Do you need an invitation, princess? Move it! You’re holding up the show!” Posey’s voice pierced her ears from the side of the pit, making her regret that she’d ever trusted that mare.
She gritted her teeth and forced herself onward, never allowing the the spears or the doll to fall an inch, even if the continued magical strain was seriously beginning to wear her out physically. “A l-lady is generally expected to be fashionably late,” she grumbled under her breath.
“Ladies don’t get far enough to become guardsponies, princess. Now keep moving!” Rarity heard a splash as Posey trotted past her, carrying one of the earth pony recruits on her back, along with the doll he was supposed to be carrying.
Show off. Rarity finally made it to the other end, stopping briefly to shake the caked mud from her body. She both winced and smirked when a good portion of the mud landed on Posey.
“Okay rookies, take five. I’ll make the announcement shortly.” Every single recruit, Rarity included, collapsed in a heap, their dolls falling forgotten to the ground.
Rarity lay on the ground, unable to move. It felt like she had just run a one-hundred-yard sprint through mud, carrying a heavy weight behind her! And apparently, I have also completely forgotten what a metaphor is. Bravo, Rarity. Before she had a chance to soak in the sunlight and try to fancy herself on a beach, a shadow covered her.
“Whoever you are, could you be a dear and move a little? You’re blocking my light.”
“Oh, uhm... sorry.”
The shadow moved and Rarity sighed blissfully as the sunlight warmed her again. The tension in her muscles faded, which almost lulled her to sleep.
“Uhm, Rarity?”
She wearily looked up to see Fluttershy standing over her, looking down in concern.
“Rarity? Are you all right?”
“I am utterly exhausted, thoroughly discouraged, and feeling quite foolish. Thank you for asking, darling.” Rarity allowed her head to fall back to the ground in disgust. “Tell your father that I thank him for coming. I suspect he is gloating even now.”
Fluttershy bent down to be more eye level, smiling down at her marefriend. “Why? He told me you’d never even finish—perhaps not even start.”
Rarity’s eyes turned cold, a deep frown growing on her face. “Why that—” She slumped back down. “Truthfully, I wasn’t sure I was going to. I suppose your record is quite secure, darling.”
Fluttershy giggled, reaching down to kiss Rarity on the cheek. “Actually, when I first tried I got stuck in the mud.”
Rarity glanced back to the seemingly endless pit she’d just crawled through. “Really? I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised.” She gestured back to the last challenge. “How far did you get?”
Fluttershy shook her head ruefully. “No, I got stuck in that little moat you jumped over. I really was a much worse flier back then...”
“Form ranks! Everypony off your plots!”
All of the recruits wearily rose, gathering together in some semblance of order.
Posey began pacing back and forth in front of the group, “Alright everypony, listen up! This was your first test. The ones that didn’t make it—” she inclined her head to the earth pony she had been carrying earlier. “—have failed, and can go home to their mommies.”
The colt in question hung his head low, before slowly turning to leave the training area.
“Recruit, did somepony dismiss you?”
Rarity could hear a very soft voice responding with something she could not hear.
“Well, don’t let me stop you, but I expect you here bright and early tomorrow. Are we clear?”
There was a note of confusion in the response.
“Oh? You want to stay now? Then fall in.”
Posey turned back to the rest of the group. “As for the rest of you, you were probably the slowest bunch I’ve ever seen run this course. My daughter did it in a third of the time you morons took, and she was carrying twice her weight!”
Fluttershy’s ears drooped, and she looked around warily at the eyes directed at her. “Um, that was a long time ago...”
Posey went on with her speech, ignoring her daughter’s discomfort. “However, speed isn’t the only thing this course is about. Recruit Rarity!”
Rarity looked up in surprise. She had hoped to avoid a direct dressing-down for her poor performance. “Yes, Ma—Sir?!” She tried to snap a salute off, and ended up smacking her hoof into her horn.
The pegasus addressed the group at large, ignoring Rarity. Apparently her intent was to talk about, rather than to her. “This recruit received some major point deductions on almost every event, yet still managed to place second in the overall ranking. Who wants to tell me what she did better than any of you?”
There was a general grumble of confusion; a few guesses were offered that Rarity could not quite hear, since they all overlapped.
“Sir, she has the best plot here, Sir!”
Rarity’s ears perked up as she recognized the voice of the earth pony she’d assisted during the last leg of the test.
Posey rounded on the offender, annoyance etched into her features. “Recruit Brick! Your behaviour is unbecoming of a royal guard. You are to run laps around the entire yard until I tell you to stop. Is that clear?”
“Sir, yes sir!” Recruit Brick smirked, obviously unphased. He winked at Rarity as he began his laps. Fluttershy glared at him as he trotted past her, and he ran quite a bit faster after seeing the look in her eyes.
Posey waited for any other guesses, and when none came, she let out a snort of disgust. “Since you’re all apparently about as clueless as you are inept, I’ll tell you: She showed teamwork. As royal guards, we stick together. After all, a cloud formation is only as strong as its weakest link. Now, you will all be assigned extra training based on your performance. Talk to Corporal Charmer for specifics.”
“Today was your entrance exam. Tomorrow, we will assess your basic combat skills in the CQC.” She paused, eyeing the group critically, then gestured back towards the training course. “Any of you are free to try the course again, I will personally praise anypony who manages to come near the record set by my daughter.” She shot a quick half-smile to Fluttershy, who was busy looking in any other direction than at the curious eyes directed at her once more. “ In fact, if you beat it, I’ll make you a guard on the spot.”
There was a general consensus, if the slumping shoulders could be used to judge, that most would not be trying for that record. However, some scattered cheers indicated that a few at least were planning to take another crack at it. Rarity was with the former. While it would have been nice to stick that in Silver's face, she was here less for pride's sake than to mollify an overprotective father.
“Questions?” Posey let her gaze drift over the rest of the group, but found only dull, tired eyes there. “Very well. Dismissed.”
Celestia watched the recruits file out, save for Sergeant Posey and her husband, who appeared to be having an angry exchange at the observation point. Odd... Silver always seemed like such an agreeable pony.
Further afield, she could see the recruit that had reminded her of Rarity. Her eyebrows rose when she saw that the pony next to her was, without a doubt, Fluttershy. What on earth could possibly have possessed Rarity to ever— Her expression lightened when she saw the pegasus reach down and kiss the unicorn on her forehead. Hmmm. Love all around, it seems.
The first warning she got that something was amiss was the spatula zooming past her head at a truly frightening speed. This was even before the shrieks of hilarity coming from her student, followed closely by the answering laughter of Pinkie Pie.
"Pinkie, stop it!" The sound of running hooves drew near.
"Not until you say you're sorry!"
"No! It was my cake, so I get to lick off the batter!"
"I didn't mean for that... Well, for that, too! You know what I mean!"
"Well I'm still not going to say it! And you can't make me!"
Twilight rounded the corner, and her face lit up in a self-satisfied grin. “Princess! You have to protect me!”
“No fair!” Pinkie had joined them on the balcony now, and was stalking Twilight, who kept the alicorn between them like a shield in turn.
Celestia cleared her throat. “Excuse me, but what—”
“Say it or I’ll tickle you!”
Twilight dodged under Celestia’s tail, sticking her tongue out. “I’m not going to!”
Celestia tried to ask for clarification, but became more than a little distracted when she felt a muzzle nosing quickly through her wing to pluck a loose feather from her plumage.
Pinkie brandished the feather menacingly. “Shay it! Shay ‘A’m a bich shilly heash and A Pinkeh Promish to not be mopeh dopeh eva agains!’”
“Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said in a stern tone of voice. Twilight skidded to halt and all the happiness on the balcony seemed to evaporate.
“P-princess?” The unicorn said, as if only now actually becoming aware of her surroundings.
“Would you kindly ask your marefriend to stop stealing my feathers?”
Twilight blinked, then looked back at Pinkie who was sitting down on her rump, wiggling the white feather around in her mouth menacingly when she noticed Twilight looking.
“S-sorry, princess.” Twilight bowed and walked off, ears flat against her skull. Pinkie glared at Celestia before following, leaving her alone to beat herself up over ruining the young mare’s happiness once again. Had she wanted to talk to them about Luna’s statement? Celestia wasn’t quite sure herself. Still, seeing Twilight’s face fall, and Pinkie’s glare... it felt like she had lost something. Or had perhaps destroyed it. Something important. Something she desperately wanted to bring back.
She began to despair. Luna’s suggestion just wouldn’t work; the idea of pursuing something with Twilight was problematic enough, but courting the two of them as a couple? It seemed doomed to fail, to end in disaster. She didn’t fully understand the version of Twilight that Pinkie had somehow coaxed out of the unicorn. She seemed like an entirely different pony than the one Celestia had come to know. She wanted to tell herself that it wasn’t a change for the better, but could not in fairness do so. After all, the Twilight she had taught had been studious, but kind and fair in all her dealings. But had those qualities really been lost? The ‘new’ Twilight certainly laughed a lot more, and that couldn’t be a bad thing, surely?
And that was completely ignoring the enigma that was Pinkie Pie. Any hope of a stable relationship would, out of necessity, involve her as well. Although ‘stable’ was a shaky concept at best, where that pony was concerned. Celestia hadn’t seen chaos the likes of hers ever since she and her sister sealed Discord the first time. Still, it was hard to argue with results; the mare seemed to bring out a more fun-loving side of her student. Truth be told, Celestia felt like she herself could do with a few more genuine smiles. At times, she wondered if her face still remembered how to even form one that wasn’t placed there on purpose.
Sunlight glinted off the golden armor Rarity wore, shifting her gaze to the other couple. These two did not appear to have any unresolved feelings to confuse them. Maybe I should go congratulate Rarity on her test. She opened her wings and took flight.
“Rarity? Aren’t you going to get up?” Fluttershy asked, looking down at her immobile marefriend.
Rarity continued to lay on the soft earth, letting her whole body melt as it recovered. “I think I shall stay here. The grass is cool and soft. I think I see your point now; it would be rather pleasant to be a tree.”
“Uhm... yes, I think so as well... B-but if you stay here, the next group will probably trample you!”
Rarity raised an eyebrow, opening her eyes to gaze up in disbelief. “Next group? I thought this was her only test today?”
“Uhm, no. This was just the royal guards. My mother also trains the soldiers that patrol the borders to the north. Normally there would have been time between tests, but your group started very late.” Fluttershy attempted to ease Rarity up by ducking her head while throwing one of her marefriend’s hooves over her shoulder. “Come on. We can go take a nap if you like, but not here.”
Rarity groaned softly as she was pulled bodily to her hooves. “Gently, please... I am not a pony built for sprinting. That took a bit out of me.”
Once Rarity was back on her hooves, Fluttershy deftly undid the straps that held the armor cinched tightly to Rarity’s barrel and chin. She removed it and set it aside, planning to take it back to the mock barracks once she had Rarity out of harm’s way. “There, that’s better, isn’t it?”
“Much, thank you.”
Rarity slowly rotated her neck, hearing the occasional pop whenever a joint realigned. She had been a bit busy at the time, but now she realized just how truly heavy that armor had been. I really must have a chat with their blacksmith. There must be some way to lighten that load.
“That was a fairly impressive display,” a voice from behind them said, causing Rarity’s ears to perk up.
Rarity snorted in annoyance. “Impressive... It was amazing I didn’t collapse! Clunky armor, heavy weaponry... It is surprising what some ponies will do for their princess. I see now why enrollment for unicorns is down; this entire thing was stacked against me.”
Fluttershy looked past Rarity’s shoulder, letting out a quiet ‘eep.’
The voice chuckled. “Well, strictly speaking it is a bit easier than you’re making it out to be. That armor set was actually made for the earth ponies participating, you picked up no less than double the intended number of spears, and that dummy was intended for a pegasus to carry.”
Rarity rounded on the source of the voice, incensed that she’d had such a hard time due to lack of direction. “Well, it certainly would have been nice to have somepony tell me that—” Her voice froze in her throat when she at last realized who she was addressing. “P-princess, I am terribly sorry—”
Princess Celestia held up a hoof to forestall any further apologies. “Not at all. I’ll pass the message along to Sergeant Posey. New recruits are normally better briefed on this test. Though I must admit, I was very surprised to see you here. Have you decided to take up a more active role in the protection of Equestria? Because I assure you, the Crown values your role as a hero already.”
Rarity blushed mightily. “Ah, that is... I would love nothing more, Your Highness, but I’m afraid this is just family business. While I would love to serve, I’m only doing this to prove a point to a certain stubborn stallion I am supposed to be able to call ‘father-in-law.’” Rarity’s ears drew back upon seeing the stricken look on Fluttershy’s face. “Oh, love, I am sorry. I want to like him, really I do.”
Fluttershy’s bottom lip quivered, but she somehow managed not to cry. “It’s okay. I know he’s being mean.” Fluttershy picked up the armor. “Um... I-I need to take this back. Nice to see you again, princess.” She made haste to the barracks.
Celestia eyed the Fluttershy curiously as she fled, wondering what exactly had brought this couple together. “Would you like me to vouch for you, Rarity?”
Rarity’s eyes lit up for a moment, but then her face fell. “Much as I would appreciate your support, I don’t think even that would help. But I dearly thank you for the offer.”
Celestia leaned in and winked conspiratorially, amusement evident in her eyes. "The things we do for love, yes?"
Rarity nodded quickly, her eyes sparkling. “Quite. Thank you for your understanding.”
“I know that feeling, to find that you love a pony so much you would do anything to see them happy.” Celestia eyes flashed upwards briefly . “Be good to her, and good luck.”
Rarity gazed at Fluttershy’s retreating form, her eyes a bit dreamy. “I will—in every way I can.”
Celestia braced herself to take off for the quick flight back to her observation balcony.
“Oh!”
The princess turned back just before taking off. “Yes?”
Rarity smiled apologetically. “Princess, I hate to impose, but how did the drill turn out?”
“Drill?” Celestia asked, folding her wings to her side.
“Oh, terribly sorry. Sergeant Posey told me that’s why today’s testing was running late. You know, you had somepony check the guard’s readiness, made a huge commotion. I have to say, the mare you choose for the task was a giggly thing.” Rarity’s brows furrowed, thinking. “If I wasn’t certain she was in Ponyville, I would have sworn that was Pinkie Pie.”
Celestia blinked several times, finally opening her eyes wide. “Oh! The drill!” She looked around for any sign of her staff, then whispered. “Actually, that was a cover story. It was Pinkie Pie, and she lead the staff on a merry chase. I offered her a job if she would like it. She somehow danced around them like they weren’t even moving.”
Rarity stared, dumbstruck. “Pinkie is here?” She looked up in worry, pleading for leniency for her foolish but dear friend. “Princess, please don’t be too harsh on her. She’s had some rough times with Twilight as of late—”
Celestia’s face showed the smallest signs of irritation. “Why does everypony assume I just throw ponies in dungeons? She would at least have gotten a trial...” She composed her expression back to its usual calm serenity. “I didn’t punish her. Truth be told, I am glad she came. She exposed some security flaws that will need to be redressed. She’s doing fine; as a matter of fact, she was just chasing after Twilight with one of my feathers not too long ago.”
Rarity breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank... well, you, I suppose,” Rarity said, realizing things could get a bit awkward in the exclamation department when one was around a deity. That random thought lead to a brief mental tangent, in which Rarity was left wondering what the princess shouted while she was making love, which only served to make the entire conversation feel even more awkward. “P-Pinkie was inconsolable after Twilight left,” she said quickly, trying to get the image of a Celestia in the throes of passion out of her mind. Stupid brain... “So I take it they reconciled?”
The princess conjured a genuine smile onto her face as she recounted the memory. “If by ‘reconciled’ you mean that Pinkie pounced my student and demanded she stop being ‘a big silly head,’ then, yes, they appear to have reconciled.” But then her expression changed, becoming slightly worried, though about what Rarity could not pin down. “I wonder... I worry about my student, and I’ve heard... Pinkie can be a bit... How shall I put this? I’m given to understand she has a roving eye?”
Rarity’s face became ashen at the question. “Pinkie?! No no no, she adores Twilight! Well... I suppose she can be a bit unobservant of a pony’s personal space, but ‘unfaithful’ is not a thing I would ever call her. She just has an odd view of how to relate to ponies she finds attractive...” Rarity trailed off, realizing she was not making a very good case for her friend. She looked Celestia dead in eye, declaring her approval: “Have no fear, Princess. Pinkie Pie is a good pony. She will treat Twilight very well. She would never betray her romantically. I would stake my livelihood on it, were anypony foolish enough to take the bet.”
“I see. Thank you.” Celestia turned back to the castle, preparing to return once more. She turned back just before taking off, seeing the weary and dusty state the unicorn was in. “I have some matters to attend to. I will make sure the royal baths are made available to you if you’d like to freshen up.”
Rarity’s eyes went from the slight drooping of fatigue to wide open. “Oh, that would be lovely! By your leave?”
Celestia inclined her head. “Of course.”
Rarity bolted to the training yard entrance, running faster than she had during the test, picking up a very surprised Fluttershy and dragging her along in her wake.
Celestia watched them go chuckling slightly. She heard a shriek in the distance, apparently Twilight’s transgressions against batter had caught up with her. She frowned, unavoidably drawn away from her happiness in seeing a new couple to the dilemma of her own feelings. She took to the air in a gentle ascent, once more ignoring the sting of envy she felt at hearing her student and Pinkie play.
The things we do for love... makes fools of us all.