“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.”
As the sun started rising into the sky, large, purple-tinted curtains were pulled open by a yellow aura. The sun slowly filtering into the lavish room, the stone floors covered with large red velvet rugs with silver trim. A large vanity mirror that stretched across the majority of the left wall, three tall mirrors that curved around the large desk, giving a pony the ability to see themselves from several angles. A giant closet dominated the eastern wall, filled with extravagant gowns of all shapes, styles, and colors. In the middle of the room stood a large and slightly over sized bed, especially for the single form that was curled up into the middle of it.
Every piece of furniture that decorated the room was made from the rarest wood in Equestria, Red Oak, a wood that could only be found in the Everfree forest, a place where few ponies dared to enter and even fewer ponies returned from. But Rarity’s mother had been smitten with the deep robust shine that came from the wood that she hired an expert team to fetch as much as they could bring back. It took several years and several teams to finally acquire enough of the rare wood to furnish several rooms of the large castle. But Queen Pearl had refused to give in until she had what she desired.
((I moved this as the original placement broke the continuity of the piece. Here is a better fit.))
Clearing his throat, Bitsworth made his way across the room. “Awaken Princess, your father is waiting to see you in the royal hall. He has an important matter to address with you.” He stated as he tugged back the veils that wrapped around the bed.
The sleeping form whined softly as she rolled over, pulling the covers over her head as she tried to avoid the bright light that was filling the room around her. After a sigh, a white snout slowly poked out from under the silk covers. “Why would Daddy want me up at this hour, he knows that I need my beauty sleep. If I’m to be queen I must be presentable to all the ambassadors or other royalties.” She announced as she slowly moved to sit of the edge of the cotton soft bed.
Bitsworth just chuckled and shook his head slightly as he pulled the covers back for the young princess. “He is very aware and even told me you would make such comments. But today is the day you go to the training grounds to pick your personal guard. An the travel distance alone is a few hours and knowing you, you’ll wish to bring Miss Fluttershy with you.” His horn still glowing as a large platter covered with a silver tray floated into the room.
“I brought you some of your favorite tea to help you start the day, Curls will be here shortly to help you with your mane. After all we wouldn’t want to keep your father waiting to long.” He chuckled as he set the tray down on the large wooden bedside table.
Rarity rolled her eyes as she stood up from her bed, her hooves glinting in the light and her white coat shining as her mane hung down the front of her face, lacking the curls and usual elegance she so often required for her appearance. Her mother had told her at a very young age that a queen had to be both beautiful, strong, and witty, claiming that if the any queen only focused on one or two of the three important points, her rule would be short and painful.
Rarity dare not risk the families long-lasting name, she refused to be the one that let her family’s kingdom fall. So her looks were one of the most important things on her agenda.
Moving towards the large vanity, her purple robe dragging on long the floor, she spoke. “Thank you Bitsworth, tell my father I will be down soon.” She yawned as her eyes fluttered open fully as she sat down in front of the large vanity. Rarity stared at the reflection, her sapphire blue eyes sweeping across the reflection, her ears standing at attention as she set her hooves on top of the vanity. Slowly, she ran her hooves along the edge.
“Alright Rarity, let’s get this day under way. The sooner you get proper, the sooner you can face the world and all the challenges that lay ahead.” She announced to herself, her horn surrounded itself with a gentle blue glow.
Soon every tool, instrument and object that had adorned the desk was in the air, hovering weightlessly with Rarity’s magic. Quickly, each item set to work, her mane being brushed down and her tail tamed. Curlers worked their way into her mane and tail, a small jar containing an ink-like substance floated in front of Rarity’s snout, a tiny thin brush dipping into the jar and slowly working along Rarity’s eyes and eyelashes.
A light blue mare walked into the room and gasped when she saw Rarity as a loud gasp escaped her lips. “Princess! Please, allow me!” The mare cried out before quickly trotting over and trying to taking the beauty supplies in her own yellow magic.
A soft musical laugh escaped Rarity’s lips as she shook her head and waved a hoof. “Don’t worry Curls, I just wanted to get started on my beauty regimen, after all, I did take my bath last night to save time this morning.” She said as she let the light blue mare take hold of the supplies with her magic, letting out a slow breath.
“Today Daddy will instruct me on how to pick my royal guard, all I can think about is making the wrong choice. Can you imagine the consequences of choosing a unicorn that’s going to be nothing but a boring military trained hound? I want someone... unique, smart, talented…” She sighed as her eyes slowly opened to stare at her reflection as Curls worked at top speed to make Rarity perfect.
“It sounds like you’re trying to pick a lover Princess.” Curls teased as a giggle escaped Rarity, the regal mare holding her head little higher for Curls as the mare worked on her mane.
“No, I’m looking for a friend. Daddy had one of the best personal guards so many years ago. I was just a foal then, but I still remember the deep blue stallion standing by my father’s side. Chatting with him, laughing with him about the silly nobles. And the stallion always made sure Daddy had time for me, never letting my father miss a chance to spend a few moments with me...” Rarity smiled at the fond memories passing through her mind, the stallion always trailing behind her and her father as they explored the royal gardens.
“I remember Princ-”
“Rarity. When we’re in my chambers you are allowed to call me by my name. Just because I’m a princess doesn’t mean you have to address me as such. After all I do consider you a friend, even if your job is to do my mane every morning.” She interrupted as she gave the unicorn a smile in the reflection.
Curls just nodded. “Of course Pri- Rarity. But, as I was saying I remember that stallion. Brave, bold and always there to keep you entertained if your father was dealing with a noble. It was a dark time when your father lost him.”
“Yes it was and look at the guard he has now,” Rarity scoffed, “A stallion who stands there, says nothing, does nothing and even falls asleep on the job. The only reason father keeps him around is because he has stopped every assassination attempt. I don’t want that! I want a guard who will play with my foals while I deal with nobles, who will teach them the little secrets of the castle and will always be there when I can’t. That guard was like a second father to me growing up, something I wish Sweetie Belle could’ve enjoyed. Instead she got a stallion who can’t even add single numbers”
Curls just smiled and shook her head “Your father needed a guard, it was a desperate time.. With the gryphons acting up in the east, your father didn’t want to risk anypony’s life by taking too long to make a choice. And I know you, you’ve gone to the training grounds every day for the past month just to watch and study the recruits, you’ve been concerned about this choice since you were little.” She chuckled as she pulled away and her magic laid down her tools.
“I’m finished Rarity, and I think you will like what I did.”
Rarity smiled as she stared into her reflection, her mane was done up in a high bun at the back of her head, while enough of her mane framed the side of her face. The end was curled, spiraling down to the base of her neck. At the end of her lion-like tail, it was curled away well, bouncing back into perfect form with each movement. Rarity just smiled. “Beautiful work as always, now.. let’s get my tiara and I will be off to see Daddy!”
Curls smiled as she nodded her head, her horn instantly lightening up and retrieving the box. Soon pulling out a pure silver tiara that was decorated with several jewels that all had a radiant glow to them and to finish off the look. Curls quickly slipped a matching necklace around Rarity’s elegant neck.
“I thought you would like to wear your mother’s necklace today, it is her birthday after all,” Curls smile as Rarity nodded her head softly as a slightly sorrowful smile appeared on her muzzle.
Her mother had passed giving birth to her young sister, everything had happened so fast. The gryphons had been acting up in the east, demanding that trades be more in their favor since they claimed to have to work harder to keep up their end of the deal.
They had refused to come to any meetings to negotiate changing or making the trade easier, demanding that the king just bend to their demands. Her father had refused to yield without proof of their claims, saying he wanted to know if the trade truly was unfair for them before giving in and send more supplies.
When they had finally set a date for the gryphons to come to the castle and negotiate; they attacked. The force had come in without warning, taking out all the lines of defense. Breaking into the castle that had prepared to welcome guests, not ready to defend themselves.
The gryphons had gotten into the royal court and had attacked her parents, both who were ready to welcome their guests. Her father’s guard had fought valiantly, only when one of the gryphons had stabbed him through and tossed him into the wall did the unthinkable happen. Her mother was nine months pregnant, carrying her younger sister and wasn’t due for several more weeks.
Her father had tried to defend Rarity’s mother, but they had been overwhelmed. Her mother had been struck in the stomach and sent to the ground as her father was stabbed in the shoulder. Before the final blow could land General Twilight Velvet had come to the rescue, claiming she had been following the gryphons forces from the east.
The general had received notice the gryphons would be going to the capital to negotiate trade, but when she had caught word of a military force moving towards the kingdom she took the risk of being court-martial for temporarily abandoning her post.
She had received a medal and several awards for her decisive actions. By following the gryphons she had saved thousands of lives. But her mother.. the blow had forced her to go into early labor, and while her sister had survived her mother had not. The injury had cause a large amount of internal bleeding that the medics couldn’t heal.
In one day Rarity had lost her mother and the unicorn that held off the gryphons long enough for General Twilight Velvet to show up. She had learned that day Twilight Velvet was the mate of her father’s personal guard; she had never seen Twilight Velvet cry. But when the mare had found her mates broken and cold body…the cry of pain shook the very heart of the kingdom.
“Princess.. Rarity… Rarity…”
Shaking her head and pulling herself from her thoughts Rarity returned her gaze to Curls. “Sorry.. I was just think about my mother, I don’t have many memories of her, and the only clear on I have in my mind is the day she passed away. The last time I saw her was just before the attack, when she sent me to spend the day with my nursemare Violet.”
Curls nodded her head softly “I remember that day, I was learning how to dye and cut manes with my mother. She hid me under the floorboards as she stood in front of the door, ready to attack any gryphons that dared enter the room. Thankfully General Twilight Velvet was able to make it in time to save your father.”
Nodding her head softly Rarity nodded softly as she got off of her comfortable cushion. “Thank you Curls, enjoy the rest of your day. I’m going to collect Fluttershy and go meet Daddy. I have a few choices in mind for my personal guard, but I would like Fluttershy’s thoughts on my choices.”
As Rarity made her way down the hall her mind drifted back to that day, Sweetie Belle had been born into a world without a mother. But her father had made sure to never let either of them out of his sight until he felt they were truly safe.
King Magnum always told them they were the two best gifts his mate had given him and he was never going to let anything happen to them.
As Rarity made her way through the brightly lit halls she thought about everything she could to lift her spirits, she was going to pick a guard today and she was going to hopefully have a new friend to talk to and spend her days with. True, she had made friends with Curls and a few of the other servants of the castle. But many of them were uneducated and only knew interesting things that tied in with their skills.
She could only hear about how keeping the edges of her mane trimmed helped it grow faster and kept it health for so long, or that one crack in her hoof could lead to a deadly injury later. She wanted - no - she needed so one who knew different topics and subjects and didn’t mind learn and exploring new things.
All she had to do was make the right choice...