Everything was still glowing with a beautiful golden aura—at least, they were to Rarity’s eyes. She had a skip in her step as she trotted back to the boutique. Even now, she could taste the delicious parmesan hay that Pinkie Pie had baked up for them. After thepicnic and the six friends coming to good terms regarding the new trio, everypony’s mood had been so congenial that it was only fair for Pinkie to throw her patented “Best Friends Affirmation Party!” at Sugarcube Corner.
Of course, a massive plate of pasta and a bit too much cider had meant that, by the end of the night, all six mares collapsed into a sleep pile on the floor of Pinkie’s room. Normally, Rarity would have been shocked at waking up in such a crude manner, but waking up cuddled between Twilight and Fluttershy made it… well, more than tolerable.
At least Fluttershy knew how to give good massages. By the time she reached her doorstep, Rarity’s mild headache had finally disappeared and she was awash in euphoria.
Not even the headache could spoil the joy she felt when she pictured her marefriends. Rarity giggled and kicked the door open with her hind legs before dashing upstairs.
“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity called out, not bothering to stop and listen for her little sister. “I know it’s Saturday, so you’re probably out with your friends, but if you are here, please give me a good two hours alone.” She snapped her hoof into the air, satisfied at the snap it made. “I feel inspired! I! Must! Create!”
She heard no reply and decided it was for the best. Rarity giggled like a schoolfilly all the way into her workshop.
The moment she set hoof into her studio, however, that good mood faded like dying sunlight. Rarity’s eyes narrowed when she took in the piles of unsorted fabrics strewn across every shelf and the stack of papers on her desk—a veritable avalanche of unfinished dress and costume orders that required only a single wayward breath to topple over. And there—yes, there—on the sewing machine, her beloved Destrier Boutique Model 22, was a criminal layer of dust.
This must be how Twilight’s eye gets so twitchy, Rarity reflected. It’s no wonder that Spike is always cleaning up after her in the library.
To be fair, she had spent the better part of a week on her developing romantic relationships, including the one with Twilight and her twitchy eye. Everything from trying to win over Fluttershy’s affections, explaining herself to Spike and Sweetie Belle, then organizing the picnic with her friends… and in all that commotion, she’d completely neglected her work.
“Dame Destrier, forgive me!” Rarity raced over to the sewing machine. In a heartbeat, she summoned a clean cotton cloth and began to furiously scrub away the coating of dust from every nook and cranny. “Oh, do forgive me, dearest! I simply don’t know where the time went! I promise, starting today, we’ll pull an extra long shift, you and I! I’ll have those dresses done by sunrise or my name isn’t—!”
“Rarity?”
She yelped and let the dusty cloth fall onto the carpet—another mess she’d have to clean up tout suite. When she turned around, Rarity saw two ponies walk through the open doorway.
Twilight shot her an embarrassed smile. “I’m sorry. I hope we’re not disturbing you.”
Rarity tilted her head. “We?”
Something squeaked from behind Twilight. Then a bright pink forelock popped into view, followed shortly by a large pair of lovely blue eyes and the rest of Fluttershy’s blushing face. She gave a timid wave from behind the shelter of Twilight’s flank.
“I… no, you’re not disturbing me.” Rarity bit her tongue as soon as the words left her mouth. It was an outright lie, but she’d never let those two wonderful mares know it. “I always have time for you lovely things…”
She knew that lovers always had their little arguments and spats, but it wasn’t something Rarity had prepared herself for, even after summoning up the courage to confess her feelings to Twilight. Of course, she’d been spoiled by so many romance novels. Every mare and stallion got along famously, with ne’er a word of complaint once their eyes locked. Other ponies objected to the match, but still…
Life wasn’t a fairy tale. If she had to dismiss her own marefriends, then so be it. Rarity closed her eyes and took a deep breath—
“Actually,” said Fluttershy, “you look pretty busy. Would you like some help with that?”
Rarity’s eyes bulged open again. “Er, help?”
Twilight beamed and threw her foreleg around Fluttershy’s shoulders, giving them a squeeze. “Why not? I mean, Shy and I were going to ask you out to lunch, but we haven’t made any reservations, so…”
“Oh, but darling…” Rarity waved feebly at the half-cleaned sewing machine. “I’d hate to spoil the afternoon for you two. I’m quite sure I can do this on my own.”
“Are you sure?” Twilight took a step forward, her disposition still sunny. “I’m sure between our magic and Fluttershy’s sewing, we’d get it done in no time at all.”
“No, I…” Rarity shook her head. “I can’t. I’m sorry. Much as I love you both for wanting to help, this is my career we’re talking about. My customers expect a personal touch with every article of clothing I design and I don’t want to force you fine girls into this.” She laughed, a touch more bitter than she would’ve liked. “After all, the time we tried that in Manehattan went horribly, wouldn’t you agree?”
Fluttershy exchanged a concerned look with Twilight. She let out a gentle sigh and trotted across the room to where Rarity stood. To Rarity’s surprise, the pegasus’s face had settled into the stern look that she usually reserved for misbehaving animals. But to see that infamous Stare turned against her—the horror! Her tail began shaking of its own accord.
Without any warning, Fluttershy lifted her hoof and bopped Rarity square on the nose. Not hard enough to hurt, but definite enough to startle Rarity a few paces back.
“Goodness! What was that for?”
Fluttershy continued to glare. “Now, you listen here! Twilight and I won’t let you work yourself to pieces like you did in Manehattan! Or like you did in Canterlot before that! We’re your marefriends, Rarity, and we’ll help you no matter what!”
With every word, Fluttershy had taken a step forward, prompting Rarity to retreat until she was up against the sewing table. By the time she’d finished, Fluttershy had pressed her face so close that Rarity could practically kiss her. However, the frustration in those big blue eyes reminded Rarity of another occasion when Fluttershy had yelled at her. She still remembered that scowl twisting up her lovely face while her words plunged daggers into Rarity’s heart.
I thought “petty” was what you’re all about, Rarity! With your “petty” concerns about fashion!
Yes, they’d forgiven each other since then, but the pain of those words, coming from that sweet voice, had never truly left her. That Fluttershy meant so much more to her now made the memory of those words harsher still.
Rarity squeezed her eyes shut. Celestia help me, how in Equestria did I make somepony so dear as Fluttershy upset with me?
A nervous chuckle from behind Fluttershy relieved some of the tension in the room. Twilight appeared behind the pegasus, steering her back with a gentle hoof on her shoulder. “I think what Fluttershy’s trying to say is that we understand how important your business is to you. As marefriends, we should be involved in each other’s lives. Wouldn’t you agree?”
The smile on Twilight’s face did help to calm the flutter in Rarity’s heart. She could see it all so clearly in her mind’s eye. The trio, hard at work on sewing dresses, watching butterflies in an open meadow, reading by candlelight before bed—and it was that final image that stirred Rarity toward the crux of the problem.
She was still trying to act like her old self. Like the pony she’d been before she’d confessed her love for both mares. Old Rarity had wanted to be alone with her craft and her dreams of glory.
New Rarity, on the other hand…
She offered a weaker smile in return and said, “I-I do. Truly, I do. I’m sorry I tried to throw you off like that.” She grinned. “Working alongside you fine mares… I can think of nothing better.”
Every trace of anger in Fluttershy’s face vanished, leaving only a tender smile in its wake. She giggled and threw her forelegs around Rarity, holding the designer close to her chest. Rarity sank into her embrace, remembering the cuddle from earlier that morning.
Meanwhile, Twilight had picked up the fallen cloth and continue to wipe away the dust from Rarity’s sewing machine. She hummed to herself while she worked, clearly enjoying herself. Rarity, for her own part, couldn’t help but watch Twilight’s tail swish back and forth while she cleaned up Dame Destrier with her magic… and if not for the busy day ahead of her, she could watch her lover’s tail moving back and forth like that for hours.
Back and forth... back and forth...
Fluttershy was there to pull Rarity back to reality with a soft kiss on the cheek. “Okay, then. Tell me where I can start.” Then, as though surprised by her assertive tone, Fluttershy took an awkward step back and glanced away. “Um, if you wouldn’t mind.”
Watching such a quiet pony switch from timid to terrifying and back again never ceased to amaze Rarity, but she appreciated the sweet tone of her marefriend’s voice. She was fortunate enough to be one of the few ponies who could see every side of Fluttershy’s personality, both the good and the bad.
She guided the timid mare over to the writing desk, remaining close beside her to experience just a few seconds more of that precious intimacy. “Well, let’s see. I have sixteen orders for new dresses from Sapphire Shores, then a tuxedo refit for Fancy Pants, and then I have to finish the prototype flight suit that Spitfire asked me to stitch up!”
“Okay.” Fluttershy glanced around the workshop. “Should I help you with the dresses or…?”
Rarity laughed. “Oh, I’d love it if you could, but I’m afraid we don’t have the time! This is prêt-à-porter, not haute couture!” As she spoke, a spark of blue magic leapt from her horn and bolted across the room. The sewing machine whirred to life, causing Twilight to jump back in surprise. “I can oversee the dresses myself. I’d much rather have you work on the Wonderbolts’ flight suit, given that you’d know pegasi clothing much better than I do.”
Fluttershy offered a mock salute, perking up immediately. “Of course! You can count on me!”
She turned to leave, but stopped and glanced back at Rarity. That beautiful grin on her face faded for a moment, replaced by a nervous frown. “Oh, and I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier.”
Rarity sniffled and reached out to stroke her mane. “Think nothing of it, dear. I’m sorry for pushing you and Twilight away. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
The smile on Fluttershy’s face was all the forgiveness she needed. With a nod, Fluttershy went and took a seat in the small swivel chair beside the desk. Rarity could’ve watched her sit and read for hours if she’d wanted, but she simply didn’t have the time.
She spun around, automatically levitating the stack of orders from her desk before carefully separating them into smaller piles. “Now, then. Twilight?”
The young princess was at her side in an instant. “Yes?”
“Do you know any spells for organizing six sewing machines at the same time?”
Twilight grinned. “I sure do! What we need is Canter Crowley’s Sixth-Degree Consecration Spell!”
“Sixth-Degree Consecration…?” Rarity shook her head. It never ceased to amaze her how quickly Twilight could go from speaking perfectly normal Equestrian one second to arcane gibberish the next. Rarity wondered if that was how she sounded when she dropped a few fashion vocabulary terms into her own speech. “So, you’re saying you can do it?”
As her horn lit up, Twilight’s grin only widened. “I’m saying it’s already done.”
Sure enough, every sewing machine scattered across the workshop came to life. Rarity spun around, marveling at the beautiful sound of six machines whirring away like busy beavers. She continued to watch as Twilight’s magic drifted through the air above their heads, collecting swathes of fabric and spools of thread, depositing them neatly beside each device growling for new materials to design. The animal metaphor seemed appropriate given the content smile that Fluttershy was wearing while she studied Rarity’s flight suit sketches.
Rarity shook her head, quivering with excitement. “Oh, my. Where have you been all my life?”
With another chuckle, Twilight trotted back to the sewing machine she’d finished cleaning. “Waiting for you, silly. Now let’s make these dresses!”
Several hours later, the massive undertaking had been completed. Twilight fell back onto her haunches, physically and mentally drained from her high output of magical energies. Her horn tingled from overuse, but it was nothing that a little eucalyptus oil and a warm towel rub back home couldn’t solve. If she was lucky, Spike would still be out playing with Sweetie Belle and her friends; Twilight preferred to care for her horn in complete privacy, especially since Spike gave her the strangest looks while she was doing it.
Rarity’s workshop had undergone a major change since they’d started. All sixteen dresses, lined with sparkling gems and ribbons, were hanging on a rack near the closet. Meanwhile, the refitted tuxedo and the prototype flight suit were both on display on a pair of ponyquins nearby. Surrounding their show of triumph, however, were several bits of discarded fabric, dropped sewing needles, spools devoid of thread, and two very exhausted ponies leaning against each for support in the middle of the floor.
Fluttershy was cooing lightly as she rubbed her hooves in small circles up and down Rarity’s back. Twilight allowed herself a moment to sit and watch her two marefriends remain oblivious to her attention. She felt just as tired as they did, but seeing them together and the work they’d accomplished made her heart swell.
This was what she wanted—as a friend, as a lover, as a student of magic, and as a princess. Everypony liked to joke about her lifelong love of books and research, but if she had to, Twilight could give all that up. She could even give up her magic entirely if she could only be a part of a wonderful group and feel like they were accomplishing something great together, whether it was saving Equestria from the forces of darkness or filling out a large dress order for a client.
Though I’d hate to have to choose a friend who’d make me give up on books, Twilight added, amending her line of thought just a little. It’s like asking Rarity to stop being fashionable. As she would say, it’s the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!
Meanwhile, Rarity’s ears perked up the moment Fluttershy finished her massage. “Oh, dear me! What time is it? I’m almost certain Sapphire Shores will be here soon!”
Twilight chuckled. “Don’t worry. I checked your notes a little while ago. She isn’t due until seven o’clock. We’ve got at least half an hour until then.”
Rarity smiled and fell back into Fluttershy’s embrace, radiating relief in all directions. “Oh, thank Celestia! And here I thought I was still going to be late.”
“Um…” Fluttershy was smiling, but her body language suggested she was anything but pleased. “If she’s coming soon, then maybe Twilight and I should leave you alone. To prepare, I mean…”
“Nonsense! I should be delighted to have the two of you by my side!”
“No, I’d hate to be in the way—”
Rarity cut her off with an imperious wave of her hoof. “You are not in the way.” Getting back onto her hooves, she turned and looked Fluttershy straight in the eye. “You are never in the way as far as I’m concerned, darling. All right?”
Twilight smiled and got up as well. “She’s right, Shy.” In a heartbeat, she was standing beside Fluttershy, nuzzling the side of her face. “Even though Sapphire Shores is a big deal, nothing means more to both of us right now than you.”
At this, Fluttershy blushed and glanced down at her forelegs. But when Twilight felt her marefriend’s tail brushing up against her flank, she knew that it’d been the right thing to say. Ever since they’d started dating, Twilight had learned to pick up on the subtle, non-verbal cues that Fluttershy used to express herself. Just because she was quiet didn’t meant she had nothing to say.
“Come along now,” said Rarity, nudging the other two mares toward the door. “We have just enough time to freshen up and make ourselves presentable.”
Twilight thought Rarity looked fine, but she knew better than to argue. She smiled and fell into step beside Fluttershy on their way out.
Seeing the tiny smile on the pegasus’s face, she wondered what it would be like to have those gentle, loving hooves giving her overworked horn a proper massage. Of course, that line of thought swiftly descended into a short fantasy of bedroom antics and other things that made Twilight blush.
“Oh, dear,” Rarity exclaimed quietly. She paused on the threshold and took one last look around her messy workshop. “I’m far too rushed, but I can’t bear to leave things in such disarray!”
“I can clean it up,” Twilight offered.
Rarity waved her down, her cheeks flushing a little. “Oh, heavens, no! You’ve done more than enough for me today, darling. I wouldn’t want to waste your time.”
“It won’t waste any time.” Twilight moved to her marefriend’s side. “Here, I’ll show you. It’s a second-degree reorganization spell.”
Rarity frowned, adding to the lines on her face from the long day’s work. “You really don’t have to do that—”
Twilight stopped her with a sudden kiss on the nose. Rarity stepped backward in surprise.
“I want to,” Twilight insisted. She smiled again and rubbed at her horn. “I’d do it myself, but I think it’d be good for you to learn how to do this. All you have to do is picture a grid over the entire room. Can you do that?”
While hesitant at first, Rarity nodded and lit her horn. A soft blue aura fell across the entire room, tracing delicate intersecting lines in a very loose grid.
“Now, hold that grid in your mind and picture everything you picked out for today going back onto the right shelf or drawer…”
Her words trailed off as Twilight held a hoof to her mouth and stifled a sudden yawn. At least she was awake enough to appreciate the intense stare on Rarity’s face as she concentrated her magical energies.
Watching the maestro take to the podium, Rarity’s horn moved like a wand to some unheard melody and the whole room became her orchestra. Empty spools and fallen sewing needles returned to their shelves, arranged in neat little rows. A cloud of fabrics drifted past Fluttershy’s head and landed in a small bin in the corner. The whole room seemed to breathe on its own, responding to the gentle touch of Rarity’s magic.
As a teacher, Twilight couldn’t have been prouder.
When the light faded from Rarity’s horn, the unicorn gasped and dropped forward. Fluttershy panicked and rushed to her side, helping her back up with tender care.
Twilight stamped her hooves in applause. “Bravo! That’s all there is to it!”
Rarity laughed and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. “My goodness, Twilight. This must be how you feel every time you cast a spell. I’ve never felt so…” She paused to catch her breath and added, “Invigorated!”
Twilight came over to stand beside Rarity, opposite of where Fluttershy was hovering in midair. She planted a kiss on Rarity’s cheek and said, “Just believe in yourself. I knew you could do this work today with our help and I’m sure you’ll do great when you meet with Sapphire Shores. How could you not?”
The smile on Rarity’s smile was tired but proud. She leaned in and nuzzled Twilight. “Thank you, darling. Now then, we really must hurry and get ready!”
When the bell over Rarity’s front door rang, everypony went to their marks as planned. Twilight and Fluttershy stood side-by-side next to the curtain on the other side of the showroom. For the sake of appearances, Twilight had summoned her crown from its special drawer in her bedroom. She would’ve preferred to go without it, but Rarity had insisted that a little regalia was the right touch for this occasion. A royal welcome for the Queen of Pop, she’d called it.
Rarity trotted up to the center of the showroom, offering a gracious bow to the mare who entered. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique!”
Sapphire Shores giggled and pressed her hoof to her mouth. In Ponyville, her curly blue mane and olive coat wouldn’t have stood out, but her poise and lively step gave her away as a pop star. Twilight recalled seeing her at the last Grand Galloping Gala. She was the sort of pony who seemed more at home in the middle of a crowd of admirers than among a small group of friends. The sort of pony who, unlike Fluttershy, wouldn’t know stage fright even if it walked up and introduced itself.
“Well, goodness me!” Sapphire trotted past Rarity, making a beeline for Twilight and Fluttershy. “If I’d have known Her Royal Highness was going to be here, I’d have picked something much more happening to wear!”
Twilight smiled. “That’s not necessary, Miss Shores. A simple ‘Hello’ would suffice for me.”
“Oh, please, Your Highness. Call me Sapphire.”
“In any case…” Twilight leaned over and pulled Fluttershy to her side, giving her a quick side hug. “You’ll be pleased to know that we personally helped Rarity create every dress you see here.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Rarity’s magic came to life. A bright blue aura parted the curtain behind Twilight, revealing sixteen shimmering dresses hanging on a rack. There were sapphires, rubies, peridots, garnets, emeralds, and lapis lazuli—all mingled together in a brilliant kaleidoscope of color that was easy to get lost in when staring at it.
A squeal burst free from Sapphire Shores’s lips and she began to prance around the rack of dresses. “Ohh my, yes! Yes, yes, this is just what I’m looking for! I don’t think I’ll ever have a concert quite so glamorous as this!”
Because Sapphire was focused on her new dresses, she didn’t see Rarity rubbing her fetlocks together and grinning. Twilight and Fluttershy exchanged a pleased smile; a whole day of work was completely worth it for that simple expression of pure joy.
“I’m so pleased you like it,” Rarity said, reasserting some self-control. She trotted up to Sapphire and gestured at the sparkling designs on the rack. “If you’d be so kind as to tell Clothes Horse Magazine about my involvement, I’d be in your debt for giving this boutique a little publicity.”
“How could I not?” Sapphire spun around, throwing her front hooves wide as she took in the three other mares standing in front of her. “I mean, these dresses were designed by three of the biggest heroes in Equestria! And a real princess, even!” Twilight blushed, but the musician was too deep into her praise to stop now. “I’ll be sure to tell Clothes Horse all about your royal treatment—right after I treat all of you to dinner!”
“Dinner?” Rarity’s eyes lit up and she squeezed her cheeks so hard that Twilight was worried she’d break something. “Oh, but that’s too generous, my dear Sapphire!”
“Hmph.” Sapphire cast a teasing smile at her. “I never thought I hear a pony like you call somepony too generous. This evening is just full of surprises, isn’t it?” She cleared her throat and looked at Twilight. “Of course, you needn’t accept my offer. It’s entirely up to you, my dears.”
Twilight was exhausted, worn out straight to the bone. At this point, she’d have to be a complete fool to turn down a free meal. But she couldn’t think of just herself. Turning to Fluttershy, she lowered her voice and asked, “What do you think?”
Ever since Sapphire had started talking, Fluttershy had given off a whiff of anxiety, cringing ever so slightly when the celebrity’s gaze landed on her. Twilight knew she was the sort of pony who’d panic over being noticed by an ordinary mare in the street, so she could only imagine the nerve-wracking horror of somepony famous taking note of her.
“I-it sounds lovely,” Fluttershy managed to squeak out.
She couldn’t get much farther than that. Sapphire Shores let out another squeal of joy and pranced back over to Rarity. “How fabulous! I’ve always wanted to dine in Ponyville and I know just the place to go!”
Rarity’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, I can’t wait!”
When she glanced down at the plate in front of her, Rarity’s polite smile was straining to stay up. “Er, thank you, Sapphire. It’s… fine cuisine, to be sure, though I might have recommended someplace a little more…” She sniffed with disdain. “Wholesome…”
Twilight grinned around a mouthful of horseshoe fries. “Well, at least it tastes good here!”
The Hay Burger was rather busy this time of the evening. Ponies of every age were gathered around their tables, filling the air with crunches, slurps, belches, and a constant hum of chatter. The bright yellow décor was well-suited to a fast food restaurant, creating an air of excitement that had as much to do with the ponies enjoying a night out as it did with the awestruck attention being focused on Twilight’s party.
As a well-known resident of Ponyville, Twilight never got the same kind of attention that Princess Celestia or Princess Luna did, for which she was eternally grateful. But being spotted alongside the world-renowned Sapphire Shores was a different matter altogether. Little fillies pointed and jabbered to their friends and their parents about the Queen of Pop being right there, eating greasy food like a common pony.
Wiping her mouth with a napkin, Twilight watched Rarity let out a tiny sigh and take a bite from her side order of coleslaw. The unicorn chewed slowly, her eyes widening and narrowing as she tried to decipher this strange treat. It was such an ordeal that Twilight made a mental note to make a reservation at Le Abreuvoir as soon as possible. Rarity might not have been royalty, but she deserved to be treated as such in Twilight’s eyes.
Meanwhile, Sapphire proved to be a true multitasking expert. One minute, she was chowing down on a double hay burger with extra pickles, then going on about some silly anecdote during her last concert (“My whole coat was sky blue for a week! Can you imagine?”), and then she found time to field every little colt and filly who crept up to their table and asked for an autograph. Twilight didn’t know how the diva kept her focus on anything, but she was impressed. This was a celebrity she could relate to—somepony who didn’t put on too many airs and was gracious to everyone they meet.
After another sip of soda and one last bite ofher hayburger, Twilight leaned back in her seat and sighed. She was usually more careful about what she ate, but tonight was special. In any case, the high intake of carbohydrates would do wonders for replenishing her magic reserves.
To her right, Fluttershy sat quietly, nibbling on her food just like a mouse. She’d hardly said a word since they came in. Twilight noticed the way her eyes would track every pony who came up to their table; her delicate body would quake until they turned and spoke to Sapphire Shores, completely ignoring Fluttershy and her friends. Then the poor thing would sigh and take another bite of her food, making almost no noise while she ate. Or maybe she was and Twilight just couldn’t hear it over everypony else in the diner.
“Hey,” Twilight said softly. She leaned over and whispered into Fluttershy’s ear. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Y-yes, I am.” Fluttershy blushed and stuffed a few more horseshoe fries in her mouth.
Twilight smiled and gave her a quick nuzzle. “It’ll be alright. I doubt anypony’s going to bother you here. And if they do, I won’t let them.”
Fluttershy looked up at her, her voice quavering a little. “You promise?”
“I do.” Twilight winked and reached for her drink to take another sip.
“Oh, my!” Sapphire Shores pointed her hoof toward the nearest window. “My publicist has earned her pay tonight! Just look! My adoring fans!”
Twilight craned her head around, flinching when she saw the pool of photographers snapping pictures from the other side of the window. A thousand light bulbs flashed off in quick succession, filling her view with a blinding white heat that would’ve seared her retinas. She instinctively moved herself in front of Fluttershy, shielding her from view just like she’d promised.
Rarity, on the other hand, was enjoying herself far too much. She slid over to Sapphire’s side and the two mares began to pose and tease their hair for the cameras. The dreamy smile on Rarity’s face told Twilight that they wouldn’t be getting rid of that crowd anytime soon.
“Oh, dear,” Fluttershy squeaked, having pulled one of Twilight’s wings over her head like a security blanket. “It’s just like Cloudsdale all over again…”
Twilight was about to ask what she meant, but then it hit her: Sky Sonnet. Of course his only daughter would receive undue attention from all corners the moment she landed in a large settlement of fellow pegasi. She could imagine how disappointed and mean-spirited those young colts who admired Sonnet would be when they realized his daughter was a weak flier herself. No wonder she’d been bullied so hard as a filly.
But nopony was going to bully her anymore. Not when Fluttershy was a princess’s marefriend.
“Rarity?” Twilight poked at the unicorn from behind. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to take Fluttershy home. I think she’s had enough excitement for one day, don’t you?”
“Hmm?” Rarity glanced over her shoulder, still wearing that dreamy smile. However, when she saw the terror on Fluttershy’s face, her joy evaporated, replaced by a mask of concern. “Oh, darling! I’m so sorry! Yes, of course you may go! Please take care and I’ll come see you tomorrow, all right?”
Fluttershy whispered something back, but the noise of the restaurant was too much for Twilight to figure it out. She kept one wing curled protectively around her marefriend as they got up from the table. Fortunately, Sapphire Shores was lost in the moment, so she didn’t even notice them leaving.
The press outside, however, did. Twilight grimaced as she and Fluttershy crossed the threshold outdoors and found themselves surrounded by the same cloud of flashing bulbs and excited chatter. She saw a few press badges hanging around some ponies’ necks, though the constant barrage of photos being taken made it difficult to tell which newspapers they belonged to.
And then came the questions.
“Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight, over here! Sunny Side Up from the Foal Free Press! Is it true that you and Miss Rarity are now an item?”
“Princess, who do you think will win the upcoming Wonderbolts Derby? Spitfire or Fleetfoot?”
“Princess Twilight! Ink Wells, Canterlot Quarterly! What effect do you believe the reports of magic weather patterns will have on the Equestrian economy?”
“Princess! Princess, over here…!”
And on and on it went. Twilight gritted her teeth and pulled Fluttershy close. She didn’t care how badly the poor pegasus was shaking under all that public scrutiny. One way or another, Fluttershy would get home safely and without having to face a single reporter.
They took two steps forward, right as somepony shoved an autograph book into Twilight’s face. She had half a mind to bat it away, but holding up the book was a cute lime green filly with a white mane and a huge smile. Twilight forced herself to smile back and scribble her signature into the book with the pen that the filly’s mother, an older version of the little pony, had offered.
“Can I get Miss Fluttershy’s signature, too?” the filly asked. She pushed the book forward again.
Twilight glanced down at Fluttershy, who hadn’t even noticed the filly and her mother; she was too busy shooting anxious looks across the sea of photographers. With a sigh, Twilight looked at the filly and then up at her mother, giving them an apologetic smile. “My friend would love to, but she isn’t feeling too well right now.”
The mother smiled back and nodded her understanding. Her filly, however, looked like she might start crying. “Aww, but I wanted her signature!”
“Now, now, sweetie,” said her mother, wrapping the girl in her forelegs. “We’ll ask again later, okay?”
“That’s a shame,” a light male voice muttered from the edge of the crowd. Twilight looked over her shoulder and spotted a pale violet stallion with a golden mane resting on his haunches. It was easy to spot him as the only pony in the crowd wearing a glum expression. He was holding a camera and wearing a press badge with the name Trottingham Tattler written on it. “And here I thought royalty was about giving time to their subjects, not the other way around.”
Twilight frowned. Despite the way Fluttershy was clinging to her, she turned all the way around and faced her accuser. “I’m sorry, I haven’t had the pleasure, Mister…?”
“Photo Frenzy,” said the photographer. He paused and adjusted something on the back of his camera, not bothering to look up at Twilight. “And it’s no picnic for me either. That silly sod who thinks he’s my editor made me come out here. I’d rather be covering the Derby.”
“Then why not go back and tell him that?”
“Think I haven’t?” Photo Frenzy glanced up with a mocking smile. “But we can’t all be lovely little princesses, Your Highness. Some of us have gotta work for a living.”
She didn’t let it show, but inside Twilight was steaming, close to reaching her boiling point. It wasn’t the criticism; if anything, they seemed to share the same opinion about paparazzi. But the insolence in his tone was a completely different matter. And to top it all off, there was still a frightened pegasus she had to get home before this night took a turn for the worse.
“Tell you what,” Twilight said, forcing her anger back down with every ounce of effort. “Why don’t you let me write a letter to your editor? I’ll personally recommend that he reassign you to the Wonderbolts Derby.”
Frenzy’s ears perked up. “You… Sweet Celestia, you’re serious.” He blinked. Then he smiled and lowered his camera. “Heh, of course you are. All right, Princess. You win. I’ll not develop a single photo I’ve taken tonight if you keep your word.”
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
“Er… okay.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “It’s a Pinkie promise. Don’t ask.”
Photo Frenzy chuckled and slid his camera all the way into his saddlebag. “Fair enough. I look forward to your letter, Your Highness.” With that, he turned and made his way back through the thickest part of the crowd.
Twilight blinked. Of all her conversations with the press since becoming the Princess of Friendship, that one counted as the strangest she’d ever had.
“Um, T-Twilight?” Fluttershy poked her face out from under her mane. “Can we go home, please?”
Twilight smiled. “Of course. Give me one second.”
Thankfully, she was able to focus her magic now that she’d eaten something high in calories. Her horn lit up and the whole world flashed around them in a brilliant wave of magenta.
It was getting dark, but there was plenty of light from the nearby street lamps to guide Spike’s way home. He walked alongside Sweetie Belle, still chuckling from her knock-knock joke. Well, okay, she had tried to tell a knock-knock joke and the attempt was funny enough. At least she had the presence of mind to laugh at herself.
“Hey, look at that.” Sweetie stopped and pointed to the crowd of ponies gathered outside the Hay Burger. “You think they’re after Twilight again?”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.” Spike ran a claw down the side of his face, feeling the weight of that miserable experience with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s publicity stunt. Yes, Sweetie Belle had been involved, too, but he’d long since forgiven her for that. Diamond Tiara, on the other hand…
“Listen,” he said quickly. “If it is Twilight, she can take care of herself.” It was true, even though he felt a little bad for abandoning her to the hungry press. “Besides, I promised Rarity I’d see you home safely and that’s what I’m gonna do. Dragon’s honor!”
Sweetie Belle giggled. “Do dragons have honor?”
Spike puffed out his chest and gave it a good thump with his curled fist. “This dragon does!”
“You look cute when you’re trying to be proud.”
“Aww, cut it out…” And then they were walking again, making sure to steer clear from the noise and chaos engulfing the Hay Burger.