//------------------------------// // Preparing for the Outings: // Story: The One Knight Standing // by Ponyess //------------------------------// ”You're sure, you can have the day off, Pinkie?” I started the discussion, trying to make certain, nothing did go wrong. “I asked them the other day, and they told me, I could have the day off, for quality time, or I could have an entire week, if I really needed it!” she assured me. “I hope you have your saddle bags packed. We're not going back to pick anything up, if it is in Ponyvill!” I then asked. “it's all there!” she continued, assuring me. “Good, because I'm sure going to need the day off, and I hope you'll enjoy it with me!” I told her. Ofhorse, I had asked her to come over to the library early, before anyone was knocking the doors down. She had been less than her usual joking self, still stopping short of deadpan, even if I still do feel her hyper personality, just under her pink hide. I could clearly see the pink cotton candy mane, just as vibrant and fluffy as ever. She was clearly looking forwards to this, just felt it wasn't a joking matter, missing details. She could apparently be serious, I guess Humor is dead serious, just as the matter of planning a party? A detail missed, and it may all be for nothing? “It's time!” I told her. “Then you instructed Spike in all that needs to be cared for, while we're out of town?” Pinkie checked, just before she rose to the occasion, and gave me a firm embrace. “Check, check and check. All's done and prepared for!” I told her, just before my horn went aglow. Knowing Pinkie Pie felt the radiance of my horn, all the way from the first faint sparkle, until it burst out a beam of light, just before we slipped out of the room, in which we stood, and slipped back, into the room, we had booked, in a hotel, well out of reach of anyone who may know us, or of us. Since I had booked the room, well in advance it had been prepared for just the two of us. Dead centre, there is a comfortable Queen size bed, more than large enough, for the both of us, regardless of what we may choose to partake in, for all I care. The floor, a lively and luminous grassy green, polished to a high gloss finish, the apex of homely clean, for all you would wish for. The walls had been decorated with Tapestries, making me almost thing I had been in the forest, if not for the fact that I felt a different vibration on the magic sense, since I'm still a unicorn. The ceiling, seemingly a sky blue, as if I had been standing in said forest? “You did an excellent choice, piking this room!” Pinkie Pie stated. “Yes, I'm inclined to agree!” I responded. There's the one detail, we may as well have it done and over with. Singing in!” Pinkie Pie stated, in a teasing manner, still her regular hyper self. “Ah, yes. You're quite correct!” I said. We quietly disentangled ourself from the warmth of the embrace. The extended hug had truly warmed me up. I could feel, just how it had affected her, in a similar manner. Though there is rarely any residual effects from hugging the target of a united teleportation. “I still do feel a warm tingling sensation, even as we move towards the door!” she just giggled, before I opened the door, out of the secluded confines of our rather cozy room. I had chosen it. I still do stand by the choice, and not just because Pinkie Pie had confirmed my impression, as she expressed her warm feelings and how she likes the room. Ofhorse, it would have been late to change the room I had made a reservation for, maybe not entirely impossible, if it had proven not to be what I had expected, but I'm still happy, I did not need to consider it. Pinkie Pie carefully locked the door, as we headed towards the Elevator, which was but a short stretch. Conveniently, I noticed it had already been there, as I was to press the button, in order to call up the lift. The door slipping up before our very hooves, quietly closing behind us, just as we slipped into the small space of the elevator. Choosing the lobby, since it is the place we were heading for, which is where we are to sign in. The few floors did not take long. There was a chime, indicating we had arrived at the chosen destination, and the doors slid open, just as silently as it had when we entered. Following the path towards the desk, in the lobby is easy, we still walked the stretch in silence. Saving it, for the privacy of our room. “Do you have a room booked?” the mare asked? “Yes. Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie!” I responded. “Ah, here it is, room five oh one, on the fifth floor!” she confirmed. “That sounds about right!” Pinkie Pie confirmed. She picked the two keys from the small shelf, before she passed them over, and we graciously accepted, while I signed the book. In these cases, it is overly convenient to be a unicorn, I would point out. “Thanks!” she just said, as we left her, walking back to the elevator. The door had just closed, as we returned, it eagerly opened, as we came, and we slipped inside. Opting for the fifth floor, and the doors closed behind us, just as quickly. Once the door opened, we moved to the door, unlocking it, before entering. Then I locked it, before we walked over to the bed. “Finally!” I announced. “Mare Quality time. Just for the two of us. I guess I do need it just as much as you do. Just never expected to enjoy it, quite as much as I do now!” Pinkie blurted out, anticipation and excitement apparent on her voice. “Isn't there a SPA at this place? I think it may be interesting to sample it, if it was the case!” I suggested. “Oh, a SPA, you know how I have always loved going to the SPA, since the first time you suggested it. You have such fine taste on this matter, just as with most everything else!” Pinkie blurted out. “I guess we'd better go for the SPA, forgetting the past, for the duration!” Pinkie teased. “Sounds like a great idea!” I replied, lightening up, just by the thought of it.