//------------------------------// // Back to Class // Story: Pinkie Pie The Royal Knight // by Diablomuerte2 //------------------------------// Back to Class Lunch had ended for the ponies in Canterlot, and back to their duties they went. Celestia had been scheming of someway to restore the fates to how she wanted it to play out. She was thinking about how to get Flash Sentry alone with Twilight in a manner that would be inconspicuous to her plot. I got it! I can just throw a royal ball and have specific rules that state only a member of the royal guard can escort a princess... and since Pinkie isn't a royal guard ... yet, I can have Flash fill in for her. She wasn't going to throw one too soon it would be suspicious. She was going to plan it for the end of the week. She was feeling no guilt about her plan since she believed it was for the best. ____________________________________________________________ Pinkie Pie was back in class and was being more attentive to the lessons. She had been shown that without proper knowledge and training even a mare with special abilities can be toppled by a stallion with lot's of combat experience. "When do we learn about weapons?" She cheerfully asked. Steel Wall was a bit calmer than before his lunch and didn't react harshly to the interruption, "Next week, this week we focus on armor and defensive stances. Being a guard is more about protection than destruction. Armor and defensive tactics are prevalent and weapons are not important when you can properly counter an opponent." The stallions watching the scene felt as if they entered some alternate dimension. With Steel Wall being calm and Pinkie not being a nuisance, it made the scene seem surreal. They were hoping the peace would last because the distractions made it hard for them to learn. Pinkie Pie tried sitting still and focusing but the lesson got boring again. She was humming to herself and doodling on her notepad as Steel Wall kept instructing the class. ____________________________________________________________ Twilight was back inside the kitchen attempting to make a decent batch of cupcakes, "Spike what am I doing wrong? I can't get it to taste right." She was worrying about missing the deadline of whenever Steel Wall decided to end his lessons for the day. She had no idea since no pony gave them a schedule. Spike wasn't in a good mood, with the information he was given just before. He tried keeping an upbeat attitude but failed, "Look Twilight, you are doing fine, I don't know what you're aiming for but they taste great... I just." Twilight turned towards Spike, her helpful assistant, and noticed his depressed state, "Anything wrong Spike?" Spike sighed softly before responding, "I went to tell Flash Sentry off so he could leave you be." Twilight grew angry, "Did he hurt you... I will go teach him a lesson." Spike waved his arms to get her attention, "No... he didn't hit me like Rainbow did... he just told me that Rarity is with Applejack... I don't know if it's true but... it hurt." Twilight frowned and became silent. She didn't know how to explain the situation to him without hurting the baby dragon. She knew how much he was crushing on Rarity, and how it borderline was love he was feeling. "Spike... Rarity... is with Applejack, I wanted to tell you but... I knew how much you feel about her," Twilight sadly explained. Spike began sobbing from the pain of heartbreak. His eyes leaked liquid sorrow as it pooled on the ground beneath him. "Why...I don't know who my parents are... I have no wings, and now the only thing I thought I did have is taken from me. Why can't I catch a break?" Twilight's tears began leaking from seeing her number one assistant crying, "I don't know Spike... I just don't know... but I do know that you're going to be alright. I had a heartbreaking moment long ago myself remember? Just know I will be here for you." Spike hugged Twilight and held on to her tight. "Twilight will I ever find my special somepony?" Twilight chuckled as she nuzzled him, "Spike... I am sure one day you will find true love and hopefully not with a mare." Spike chuckles, "Well to be fair Rarity is beautiful, and there seems to be a lack of dragon chicks around." Twilight sighed, "Chicks? Where are you learning this kind of talk from?" Spike smiled, "Rainbow Dash, she used to teach me all kinds of things before she got married and became tame." Twilight laughed at the idea of Rainbow Dash being tamed and calm. "Spike you going to be alright?" she asked getting back on topic. Spike looked down but shed no tears, "Yeah... I think I will be alright until I see Rarity again... I will confront her myself when she comes to visit. Since she isn't going to be here for a while let's focus on getting these cupcakes to be as tasty as you want them to be." Twilight beamed, "Yes! That's the spirit let's make some cake." ____________________________________________________________ Steel Wall knew things were too quiet, and hated being right in this particular incident. "Pinkamena... what are you doing that is so important you can't pay attention in class?" he asked offended. His lectures may be lengthy and his overload of information may seem hard to digest, but it was what kept ponies alive during heavy situations. Pinkie Pie without even skipping a beat replied, "Doodling stuff." She looked up from her sketch pad that mysteriously appeared from the void, and noticed the sour look on Steel Wall's face. "You know Pinkamena, just when I was beginning to think that you were being serious about this... I find you disappointing me yet again," Steel Wall said infuriated. He had a tiny bit of respect for Pinkie Pie after the spar for holding her own, now it was all gone. Pinkie Pie frowned, "I am taking this seriously... it's just... you're so boring!" She had no idea that being a royal guard meant having to learn about so many things. She had pictured her classes would be like the middle ages where she had an instructor teaching her to do battle and after some time passed she became a knight. This new age royal guard business wasn't meshing with her well. Steel Wall charged until he got face to face with Pinkie Pie, "Listen here you, I don't care that you are lovers with Princess Twilight, and I don't care if you saved Equestria before. I am not going to allow you to insult me while you are my student. I will allow this one insult to slide but the next time, you feel as if you can't behave, I will personally expel you and make sure you never become a royal guard." Pinkie Pie was shocked at the outburst and felt like crying from being treated so rudely, "You... big.. meanie... I was just bored is all... you didn't have to yell." Tears began spilling from her eyes. Steel Wall felt his initial prejudice return as Pinkie began crying. "See this is what I mean, mares are too sensitive for situations like this. You think if I yelled at a stallion like this he would cry?" He asked outraged. Pinkie Pie shook her head to the side, and stayed silent. She had never thought that this kind of situation would happen. "Why do you have to be so mean to me?" she asked when her curiosity was piqued. He chuckled, "Because you're soft, and you need to toughen up. If you think being sensitive is a trait royal guards have then you are wrong. I want you to understand that crying is pointless and you only weep when there is some pony to mourn. In battle you will endure pain and displaying any kind of weakness will surely cost more than just your life." ____________________________________________________________ Princess Cadence was spending time with her husband, Shining Armor, when a letter came in from seemingly out of nowhere. "Did Celestia send this?" she asked her equally confused husband. Shining Armor didn't know but wasn't taking chances, "Let me open it with magic from afar just in case." Cadence smiled at his vigilance and determination to keep them safe, "Alright my love be careful." Shining levitated the parchment and when he read it he smiled, "Well it just seems that Celestia is throwing some royal event and has invited us to attend." Cadence smiled in relief, "Well then let's get ready and head off to Canterlot." Shining chuckled, "It's not until two whole weeks Cadence... I don't think Celestia would like want to deal with more princesses in her castle. She already has her sister, and apparently Twilight is there for some business." Cadence blushed in embarrassment, "Well I see... so then what business does Twilight have in Canterlot or did it not say?" Shining Armor looked at the message again to see if he missed anything, "No, Celestia left out what it is, I guess it isn't that important if it's not being mentioned." ____________________________________________________________ Celestia couldn't shake the pain she felt from what her sister said. Even if she was determined to fulfill her goal and had things to set up she needed to fix things with Luna. She went to Luna's room and allowed herself in, not risking potentially waking up the cranky mare. She waited till she got close and gently stroked Luna's cheek with a hoof. "Wake up dear sister we need to talk," Celestia gently whispered. Luna groggily opened her eye and whined, "I don't wanna talk... just go away before I become evil again and you send me to the moon." Celestia shed a small tear and was getting ready to just leave, "Fine, I get it, you are still-" she got cut off. Luna grabbed her sister and pulled her on to the bed before whispering, "Don't go Tia... just stay here with me for a while... we hardly hang out as it is, and I miss spending time with you." Celestia smiled softly before getting herself comfortable, "Alright Luna, I will push my plans aside for now and just spend time with you." Luna sleepily smiled and began stroking Celestia's face with a hoof, "Good, now let's rest; I am the princess of the night, and need my beauty sleep if I am to be presentable in the dreams of my subjects." Celestia giggled, "Well since I am going to sleep care to join me in my dream? I wouldn't mind some company." Luna chuckled, "If that is what you desire then I shall be there." ____________________________________________________________ Twilight had finally accomplished her goal of making one tasty cupcake, "Yes! I did it, Now I can feed this to Pinkie and she can be... wait why did I do all this again?" Spike laughed, "You mean to tell me you forgot? It was a small token of your appreciation or something." Spike shrugged his shoulders. Twilight frowned a bit until she pictured Pinkie eating her tasty treat, "Well I can't wait to feed this to my marefriend, she deserves it for doing all this... I tell you Spike, sometimes heartbreak can lead to better things." Spike smiled at that, "Wow... that was sort of deep... anyways let's go over and see if Pinkie's class is over I kinda am tuckered out from baking so much cupcakes." Twilight agreed, "Yeah let's go, it does make me wonder though, how does she make all those treats and still have all that energy to..." she cut herself off to spare Spike nasty images. ____________________________________________________________ Pinkie Pie was being more attentive and tried her hardest to keep in line. "Wait if armor is heavy then shouldn't we not wear it during a battle with a speedster?" she asked seriously. Steel Wall chuckled, "Well that depends actually, if the armor makes a significant difference in your top speed than yes, but movement speed isn't combat speed. We will go over that soon, but not a bad question Pinkamena." Pinkie smiled at the acknowledgement, and tried to keep her excitement to a minimal. She had failed in doing so and with being praised she brought out the party cannon and launched confetti everywhere with glee. Steel Wall was not a fan of the party cannon, "What the actual buck... was that?" Pinkie Pie blushed, "That... was my ... party cannon." ____________________________________________________________ Back in Ponyville, the rest of the Elements of Harmony weren't having such a great time about the situation. They all met and decided they should be visiting their two friends soon. They couldn't settle on a day for all of them to go with conflicting schedules and disagreements. In the end the mares all decided they would go when things weren't so hectic. They would wait until Twilight and Pinkie had at least spent a week alone in Canterlot and got used to their environments. Though with the information Discord gave, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash weren't as eager to wait.