Explosive decompression was an unfortunate side effect of teleportation, no matter how well constructed the spell was. Displacing air and mass from one corner of reality to another was bound to shake up their destination a little. Fortunately, Twilight had spent over ten thousand hours practicing these spells to become a pro at transporting both herself and other ponies, no matter the distance between Point A and Point B.
Small dragons, however, were more likely to clutch at their heads while gagging upon arrival. Something she had to chalk up to a difference in physiology.
As they arrived inside Fluttershy’s cottage, Twilight grimaced at the mess she’d made. Potted plants tipped on their sides, a few family photos knocked off the walls, and several birds who’d been roosting in the rafters, now scattered and tweeting in all directions. Rolling her eyes, Twilight reached into herself and summoned a second burst of magic for a reorganization spell. She smiled at the thought of watching Rarity do it—followed by a pang of guilt.
She’d been thrilled to start dating Rarity, a fellow magic-user. But the joy of spellcraft wasn’t something she could share as easily with her other marefriend.
At least they both had wings. She imagined flying together during a beautiful sunset was going to be delightful.
Looking down, Twilight smiled. “Don’t worry. I can clean it up.” She giggled and added, “I get the feeling I’m going to be saying that a lot in this relationship.”
“Oh, I don’t mind, really.” Fluttershy moved out from under Twilight’s wing, far more confident now that she was under her own roof again. “I’ll see to the birds and then I’ll put on some tea.”
“That sounds lovely.”
As Fluttershy took flight and began to corral the anxious flock over their heads, Twilight refocused on setting every last flower vase back where she’d found it and hanging up every fallen picture. It was a rare opportunity for her to sit and bask in the décor of the cottage. Even though the interior wasn’t anywhere near as opulent as Rarity’s home, she could still appreciate the understated elegance.
Fluttershy’s cottage was meant to be an optimal home for all species, non-ponies included.
Twilight put the final picture back on the wall, using tweaks of her magic to align it perfectly with the other framed photographs. She stepped back and admired the piece. In it was a much younger Fluttershy, barely in her teens, sitting beside a young and grinning Rainbow Dash. Towering behind them were three older ponies. Twilight recognized the blue stallion with the rainbow mane as Dash’s father. The full-grown mare in the photo was a dead ringer for the grown-up Fluttershy, except for the fact that she was an earth pony.
She knew Sky Sonnet right away. Her mother had written about him in a few of her non-fiction novels, like Sky Sonnet and the Wyvern’s Wrath. But the stallion in this photo wasn’t dashing like the hero of Twilight Velvet’s books. His long red mane drooped around his ears and eyes like a poor wig. His eyes stared back in quiet disdain—not hostile, but Sky Sonnet definitely hadn’t been enjoying himself at the time the photo was taken.
At the bottom of the photo was a small inscription in black ink, which read: Happy Graduation Day, Shy! The hoofwriting was too neat and flowery for somepony like Rainbow Dash. Perhaps it was from her mother?
Twilight didn’t have long to think about it. She turned around as soon as she heard Fluttershy reenter the living room, wearing her trademark gentle smile.
“I hope you like jasmine tea!” she said.
“I… do.” Twilight’s voice trailed off into a yawn and she pressed her hoof into her mouth. “Mm, goodness. I didn’t realize how tired I was. It’s been quite a day.”
Fluttershy nodded, but her face fell as she approached the couch. Twilight sensed something was amiss and hopped onto the couch, patting the cushion beside her.
“I do feel awful, though,” said Fluttershy as she took a seat, nestling into Twilight’s open forelegs. “Leaving Rarity alone like that.”
Twilight chuckled. “I doubt she’ll be offended. She’s better at managing her publicity than either of us. And I think this could be a big break for her.” She raised her hoof, imaging the headline across the front page of a newspaper. “Tomorrow, every paper will read, ‘Rarity Takes Equestria By Storm!’ There’ll be feature articles about how your hoof-stitching and my magic are the new piece de resistance in the fashion world!”
Though she blushed, Fluttershy giggled and sank deeper into Twilight’s embrace. “That’s silly. Everypony knows Rarity does just fine without us.”
“True.” Twilight cradled Fluttershy’s head against her chest, stroking at her mane with one hoof. “But if I know anything about the press, they’ll go crazy the moment they hear a member of royalty is attached to somepony.”
“L-like me?” Fluttershy lifted her head, all mirth vanishing from her face.
Twilight shrugged. “I don’t know. Right now, everypony thinks it’s just me and Rarity. I know our friends will keep it a secret, but…” She shrugged again, unable to think of a better answer.
She hated that feeling more than anything. Especially when trying to reassure a dear friend.
Meanwhile, Fluttershy sank back down, nuzzling the side of Twilight’s neck. “I don’t want them to know about us, Twilight. I like the way things are right now.”
“You don’t want the attention.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “I’m more than happy to let Rarity take all the credit. Really, I am.” She swallowed and added, “B-besides, I’d only… I’d only be in the way.”
Twilight reached down and touched Fluttershy’s chin with her other hoof. “Don’t say that. You’re a smart and beautiful pony, just like Rarity. Even if they did find out about you, I’d wear myself out defending you.”
When Fluttershy didn’t respond right away, Twilight smiled and leaned closer. “Honestly, if they can’t see how lovable you are, then they’re not anypony worth knowing.” And on that note, she kissed Fluttershy on the lips.
The other mare’s hesitancy melted away in a heartbeat. Her hooves dug into the small of Twilight’s back and she returned the kiss, sinking her tongue past her lover’s lips. Twilight’s eyes widened, but she accepted the jab and let the dear pegasus do as she pleased.
I want you. Three little words that echoed inside Twilight’s brain. Three words that went far beyond liking or even loving somepony. She wanted Fluttershy in every sense of the word. Emotionally, spiritually… and physically.
Twilight moaned as Fluttershy pushed harder against her. She wondered where all this courage had been hiding inside this shy pegasus earlier that evening, but she didn’t care. All Twilight cared about was that she was somepony special enough to see this side of Fluttershy. No stallion could ever boast about being intimate with Sky Sonnet’s daughter, not even Apollo Blaze.
When her back hit the couch, Twilight pulled away from the kiss long enough to look her lover in the eyes and grin. She panted for a moment, pressing her hoof against Fluttershy’s chest and savoring the rapid-fire heartbeat she felt beneath. The smile on that face was no less intoxicating; Twilight had to dig through the fog in her brain and remember what she’d wanted to say.
“Um…” She offered a sheepish grin. “Just a thought, but… we have tonight all to ourselves. Maybe we ought to…” She swallowed past the lump in her throat and added, “Go upstairs?”
Fluttershy blinked. “Up… upstairs?”
Hearing the terror in her voice, Twilight quickly waved her down. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you. If you don’t want to, you really don’t have to—”
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry,” Fluttershy responded. She lowered her head and gave Twilight a kiss on the cheek. “I… I would like to share that with you, Twilight. But not right now. We’ve only just started dating and I…” She smiled sadly. “I want my first time to be special.”
Twilight knew exactly what she meant. She’d felt the same when she and Flash Sentry had become intimate. Unfortunately, their own “special moment” had ended in an argument, followed by an airship crash in the Everfree Forest. That whole affair hadn’t done wonders for Twilight’s need for physical intimacy. It was far easier to sublimate her feelings into kind words and charitable actions, like helping feed animals or run a line of sewing machines.
Twilight smacked herself mentally. If she was dancing around her emotions and letting textbook terms like “sublimate” get in the way, then maybe it was for the best to avoid taking things with Fluttershy to the next level. She clearly wasn’t in the right frame of mind to let passion take over.
You think things through most of time, but it’s the times you don’t that scare me. Even now, she could still hear Flash Sentry’s voice and picture his half-shadowed face in the airship observation deck, only minutes away from the storm and the crash.
That clinched it. If she was going to get caught up on Flash again, then Twilight needed a break, no matter how much Fluttershy’s enthusiasm made her feathers shiver.
“Okay,” Twilight said. With one hoof resting on Fluttershy’s shoulder, she pulled her close and nuzzled her. “Not tonight, then. Only when you’re ready.”
Fluttershy smiled back. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Twilight gave her a quick peck on the lips, then grinned. “Although, if it’s not too much trouble…” She shifted to the right, exposing her wings a little more. “I’ve got this knot in my lower back and I can never quite reach it, even with magic.” Giving her hips a wiggle, Twilight grinned. “Think you can help me out?”
She hadn’t expected Fluttershy to pick up on the subtext so quickly. A sly smile appeared on her face as the pegasus bent down and began to rub her hooves into the small of Twilight’s back.
“Ohh, yes…” Twilight sank into the couch, her body falling limp and the crown dropping from her head to roll about on the floor. She didn’t care; she’d pick it up and dust it off as soon as this angel of a pony was finished. “Thank you, Shy…”
“Anything for you, Twilight,” Fluttershy replied, giggling as she pressed her hooves a little harder into the knot.
Rarity smiled as she accepted the warm mug of tea from Spike. “Thank you, darling. I hope this isn’t a bad time to call on Twilight.”
Spike shrugged. “Could be worse. A mid-autumn library reshuffle doesn’t even compare to the mayhem of our spring cleaning.”
Looking around the library, Rarity could only imagine what that mayhem was like. Every single shelf had been cleared from top to bottom. Books and magazines had been arranged in neat little stacks no more than ten books high, all alphabetized and sub-categorized according to genre, year, and author. Rarity had managed to find a cushion sit on the floor beside a particularly thick stack of leather-bound tomes, all of which had titles that began with the letter “S.”
Sombra… Star-Swirl the Bearded… Storms, A History of… Synthesia… Rarity marveled at the range of subjects on display. But then, whenever she’d visisted, she’d rarely allowed herself a moment to sit and browse through the titles on each shelf.
It hadn’t been the books that had caught her attention, so much as the librarian herself.
Might as well add “Scandal” to that list of titles, Rarity mused. She covered her sad chuckle with a hasty sip of tea, then looked back at Spike. “Do you suppose she’ll be much longer?”
Again, Spike shrugged. “Dunno. With Twilight, a shower could be as simple as three minutes or as long as an hour and a half.”
“My goodness! Is she that afraid of germs?”
“No.” The little dragon grinned. “But she does have a habit of getting lost in her own train of thought, especially if she hasn’t had much sleep. It hasn’t helped our water bill one bit.”
Rarity frowned, but she couldn’t hold it for long. Not when she pictured Twilight staring out into space with a goofy grin, her mane completely drenched and falling around her perfect eyes…
She blushed and took another sip. At this rate, Rarity was going to be on her second mug of tea before Twilight ever showed up.
But Celestia be praised, her ears perked up as soon as she heard the reassuring clip-clop of hooves coming down the stairs. Rarity set aside her mug and stood as Twilight appeared. Her coat sparkled from her recent shower and it didn’t escape Rarity’s notice that her mane was still a touch damp and dripping, but she forgave the lovely mare for everything. Only her marefriends could pull off covered in dirt or soaking wet and still be desirable to Rarity’s eyes.
“Oh, Rarity, there you are!” Twilight hurried downstairs, weaving through the maze of books she’d created on the library floor. “How was the rest of dinner last night?”
“It went fine, love.” Rarity closed the distance around a nearby stack of magazines and nuzzled Twilight right away. “My exposure with Sapphire Shores is almost certainly going to boost my sales orders this month. And I owe it all to you and Fluttershy!”
Twilight smiled. “I’m so glad we could help. I knew it’d be good for us.”
“Yes, well…” Rarity wanted to continue with more compliments, but she remembered why she had come over. “That being said, I’ve already gone over to apologize to Fluttershy about forcing her into that public outing—”
“Rarity, it’s fine—”
“—And I must tell you the same, Twilight. I really am sorry about that.”
Spike glanced between the two mares. Then, with a polite cough into his claw, he slipped behind a stack of encyclopedias and out of view entirely.
Twilight didn’t say anything at first. She looked Rarity over with that same patient, loving smile she always wore. Well, almost always. It had been a rare sight during her long depressive episode after the breakup with Flash Sentry. But right as Rarity started to feel that same depression taking root inside herself, Twilight stepped closer and threw her forelegs around Rarity’s neck.
Rarity sighed and nuzzled her back. “It was never my intention to put you girls in the spotlight. I can handle the publicity, but I would never wish the same on either of you.”
“Don’t forget that I’m a princess now,” Twilight replied, her voice warm in Rarity’s ear. “I get hounded for autographs and endorsements every week. I’ve gotten used to it.”
“But your love life, darling.” Rarity pulled back and examined her marefriend’s face. “I remember how those newspaper ponies hounded you and Flash for months! It was in such poor taste!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “I know, but it was hard not to be seen then. I mean, Flash and I moved in very public circles. It wasn’t like we could keep it a secret and he seemed…” A shadow crossed her face. Her mouth quirked to the right in thought. “Well, he seemed fine to me.”
“Be that as it may, your current relationship is rather different.” Rarity took another step back, careful not to bump into the books towering behind her. “I’ve been thinking. If my publicity with the Canterlot elites and the press gets too much, you and Fluttershy are more than welcome to step aside if you must—”
“No.”
“Beg your pardon?”
Twilight advanced on Rarity. In one swift move, she took Rarity by the shoulder and pressed her close to her own chest. The sudden warmth from Twilight’s body quelled whatever anxiety was boiling up in Rarity’s heart.
“I’m trying to do things right this time,” Twilight said, cradling Rarity against her with both hooves. “I want you and Shy to feel comfortable in this relationship. Something Flash and I never really achieved.” She glanced down at Rarity and smiled. “Let the press make up their stories. Let all the neighbors whisper. I don’t care. All I care about is you and Fluttershy. If the two of you are happy with me, then that’s all that matters.”
Rarity sniffled and reached up to wipe at her nose. “I must say, Twilight. I don’t think I’ve… ever met somepony so forgiving as you.”
“Then you must not remember when we first met,” Twilight answered, giggling. “I’ve had to change a lot about myself since then.”
“The only thing that hasn’t changed about you is your beauty.” Rarity smiled and lifted her head, pulling herself closer to Twilight’s face.
Their lips met and she forgot all her worries. It was just as Twilight had said; nothing else mattered. Nothing could ever match the sweet aroma of Twilight’s breath or the feel of her wet mane underneath Rarity’s hooves.
“Mmph.” Twilight pulled away from the kiss, but only for a second. She added a softer kiss on the side of Rarity’s neck. “You’re beautiful, too. I’m jealous that all those photographers get to snap pictures of you. I’d rather be the only mare to admire you.”
Rarity leaned back, savoring the trail of kisses down her face. “You’re a princess now. You could probably make a royal decree.”
“Now there’s a thought.” Twilight giggled and continued to kiss Rarity’s neck, moving down to her shoulder. “But I’d hate to feel like I’m neglecting you. I want you to know that…”
Lost in the fog of ecstasy, the only words that Rarity’s ears registered were I want you. And she felt the same way about Twilight.
“Well, actually…” Rarity put her hoof against Twilight’s cheek, stopping her from going any further. “There is one way we can take care of each other.” Her cheeks burned, but she managed to add, “Tonight, I mean.”
Twilight grinned. “You really mean it?”
“To be with a mare as lovely as you?” Rarity drew herself up straight and bowed her head. “I would consider it an honor.”
She meant every word of it. Ever since their first kiss under the moonlight, Rarity had been holding back on her passion. She’d been terrified about making a mistake with her new marefriend—a bookish girl who might need a little space before she was ready to be intimate with somepony else. And then the whole business had Fluttershy had occurred and Rarity had decided there wouldn’t be an opportune moment to ask.
Until now.
With a tiny squeal, Twilight leaned in and kissed Rarity right on the tip of her horn. A jolt of pleasure surged through her, rippling across her flanks to the very edge of her tail. She’d felt the edge of Twilight’s aura brushing her own and it was… transcendent.
“Um…” Rarity rubbed at the back of her neck, now very conscious of the alicorn’s body pressing against her own. “I-I should warn you… it’s my first time.”
“I promise to be gentle.”
“Twilight…”
For a moment, Twilight did nothing but smile and look over Rarity. Then she threw her forelegs around her and spread her wings. Rarity squealed as Twilight carried her into the air. Hovering for a moment, she planted a kiss on Rarity’s lips and sighed. Then the princess twisted them around and flew up the library stairs.
Another thunderous rumble echoed across the plains outside Ponyville. Rainbow Dash pushed up her flight goggles and peered at the massive storm cloud gathering strength and speed. Two klicks and closing in from the western perimeter of the Everfree Forest; even from far away, she could pick up the terrified chatter of squirrels, birds, and other critters fleeing the woods.
The animals would be fine. There was no better sanctuary than Fluttershy’s cottage, which lay directly in the path of the storm.
“You’re not laying a hoof on her,” Rainbow Dash muttered, fixing the storm with a stern glare. “You got that, buddy?”
The storm rumbled again, almost as if answering her. Rainbow Dash shivered, but that feeling had nothing to do with the cold air coming in.
She turned around and faced the two rows of pegasi behind her. The whole Ponyville weather team had been summoned and assembled in haste, called away from their day jobs or dinner with their families. Rainbow Dash would’ve preferred to be back at the farmhouse with Applejack, but even she couldn’t resist when duty called. She was as anxious as they all looked; she just did a better job of hiding it.
“All right, listen up!” Dash paced in front of her team. “We have a Level Two storm inbound from the northeast! Its last speed estimate was thirteen knots, so we don’t have much time to lose! I want a star-flower formation on the first pass!” She stopped and glanced at the nearest ponies on her right, Cloud Kicker and Flitter. “Coordinate all maneuvers with your wingmates and do your best to redirect the storm in formation!”
Cloud Kicker saluted. “Yes, ma’am!”
“Got it!” said Flitter.
Rainbow Dash smiled. “Well, all right then.” She reached up and pulled down the goggles. The seal around her eyes pinched for only a second. Letting out a deep breath, she spun around and leapt into the air. “Let’s move it, ponies!”
Again, the storm rumbled. A bolt of lightning speared the ground outside Fluttershy’s cottage, followed by the dragon’s roar of thunder.
Dodging the onslaught of rain that soon followed, Rainbow Dash glared up at the underbelly of the cloud. From her vantage point, she saw nothing but a long black void. The occasional flash of blue lightning rippled across its surface and the whole cloud formation rumbled like it was alive.
A shiver crawled down her spine. Rainbow Dash spread her wings and dove for the underside, flapping herself in double-time to generate a long cold jet of air. She hoped it would be enough for the rest of the team.
“First pass!” somepony cried. Dash caught a glimpse of six pegasi, making a run along the edge of the cloud formation in a loose line. With well-timed kicks and punches, they knocked against the heavy black condensation. To Dash’s ears, their hooves and hind legs might as well have been kicking at solid iron. She cringed along with the ponies as they peeled off for another pass.
Another flash took her surprise. Rainbow Dash rolled a hard left, narrowly avoiding a sudden arc of lightning. Her curse was lost in the thunderclap that followed.
This, she decided, was one mean storm. She didn’t know what mad god or evil sorceress had conjured it up, but she was sure going to deck them in the jaw if she ever met them.
In a corkscrew dive, Rainbow Dash slid around the other side of the storm cloud. It had stopped gaining speed, now coasting over the green plains outside Ponyville on its own momentum. Dash could only imagine the terror of the ponies huddled up in their houses below the storm, including poor Fluttershy and her cottage full of animals.
“You leave us alone!” Dash called out. Rearing up, she spread her wings and dove straight for the heart of the storm.
“This is for Shy!” she cried out as her front hooves bashed into the cloud, knocking off a spray of condensation. “This is for A.J.!” Another double punch broke off a floating chunk of ice. “And this for me!”
She gave one last kick, feeling the blazing hot core of the storm cloud. Her hoof brushed against the pocket of hot air—
Something shrieked. A long, bone-chilling shriek that Rainbow Dash never wanted to hear again. From the heart of the storm came a wind shear that sent her tumbling back a whole kilometer. A split-second course correction kept Dash from crash-landing in the Everfree Forest.
She blinked, trying to fight the surge of nausea in her stomach. As her eyes adjusted, she saw the storm cloud continue its slow advance. Her weather team had broken apart their formation. They’d regrouped on the forward edge of the cloud formation, struggling against it with all their might. At this distance, it was nothing but ants pushing against a boulder.
What good could all those ponies do against something so strong?
Rainbow Dash sighed. “Pony feathers. Twilight’s not gonna like this one bit…” Then she turned and caught a low wind current all the way back to her team.
Rarity gasped and arched her back. Her hooves dug into the sheets as a tiny squeal escaped her mouth. “Mmm, yes! Oh, darling, I’m… darling!”
She collapsed back onto the bed, trembling from mane to tail. Pleasure cascaded through her every pore, leaving her mind perfectly blank and peaceful. With a final sigh, she rolled onto her side and lovingly nuzzled her pillow.
Panting, Twilight crawled up behind Rarity and wrapped her hooves around her midsection. “Was that… gentle enough for you?”
“Exquisite,” Rarity breathed. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. Twilight’s tousled mane looked good, even though the room was dimly lit. But few mares could pull off a messy mane like her beloved princess. She leaned in and kissed her on the lips. “Simply exquisite.”
The bedroom was permeated with a strong hint of sweat and musk, nothing that a little air freshener and an open window couldn’t fix. Of course, with the late autumn chill, Rarity supposed leaving a window open would mean catching a cold, too. But even that thought wasn’t unpleasant. She’d had a fantasy, buried deep in her subconsious, of being wrapped up in bed while Twilight hovered over her, feeding her soup and fluffing her pillows with the cutest smile on her face.
Maybe I should open that window after all, Rarity thought with a wicked smile.
“I think…” Twilight nuzzled the back of Rarity’s neck. Her warm breath made her coat tingle. “I think I needed that. I haven’t cut loose like that since…”
Rarity was hesitant, but still she answered, “Since Flash Sentry?”
Twilight chuckled. “Not even him, actually. The most we did was kiss and snuggle together.” She sighed and kissed the tip of Rarity’s ear. “Sounds like a fairytale romance, doesn’t it?”
“Well, of course, darling. You are a princess, after all.”
“And you, Rarity…” Leaning down, Twilight planted another kiss on her shoulder. “You’re my lady-in-waiting. I couldn’t be half the princess I am if not for somepony like you.”
“I…” Rarity flipped herself over, even though her whole body still tingled from all the exercise she’d just been through. “You really think I’m a lady?”
Twilight grinned. “Sure, I do. You’re more of a Canterlot mare than I ever could be.”
Rarity had been waiting to hear those words all her life. What filly didn’t dream of being accepted into the higher echelons of fine society? But it wasn’t until then that she realized how much more it meant to hear those words coming from Twilight Sparkle.
She reached out and took Twilight’s hoof into her own. “Darling, I’m only a lady because you make me feel like one.”
Twilight leaned in and kissed her again, taking longer this time as their lips and tongues twisted around each other. Rarity pulled her close and slid herself on top of her marefriend. The heat between her legs was getting stronger again. Perhaps she had the stamina for another round after all—
She cried out as soon as she heard it. A deafening crack of thunder that sent waves of terror running through her. Rarity ducked back underneath the sheets, where it was warm and safe.
“Wow.” Twilight was looking out the window, more curious than anything. “I guess it really is a magic storm.”
“W-what?” Rarity poked her head out from under the covers. “What’s magical about it?”
“This storm formation,” Twilight replied, staring out the window with a rapt expression. Whatever passion Rarity had wanted to get from her that evening was gone; this was Twilight locked in her scientific inquiry mode. “It’s a cumulonimbus structure, but it doesn’t follow any of the weather patterns set down by the local pegasi. Rainbow Dash says it’s cursed, but I don’t know.” She turned back to Rarity and grinned. “That is, we won’t know until we run some tests!”
“Oh, joy.” Rarity buried herself under the sheets again. At least there she could savor the smell of musk and the fresh memory of their romantic escapades.
She heard Twilight trot over to the bed and felt the princess’s hoof brush against her covered flank. “I’m sorry if it put a damper on the evening. I guess I shouldn’t bother with it.”
“No, darling. By all means, if you want to get a closer look at the storm, you have that right—”
“Not when it puts your needs aside.” Twilight pulled back the covers, letting Rarity see the sad expression she wore. “You matter to me, too, Rarity.”
Rarity sniffled, then shook her head. “Please don’t, dearest. You’re a princess. I’m sure looking after the town’s safety is far more important than my own silly thoughts.”
In truth, she believed what she was saying, but only so much. Twilight was the sort of mare who couldn’t let a problem go unsolved and Rarity loved her for that. But now that they were together, Rarity admitted that she’d become more selfish about her own needs. She loved all the attention their relationship was getting in the press and she was overjoyed to read their names together in Clothes Horse’s article on Sapphire Shores.
But it’s not right that she and Fluttershy get hounded for my sake. Rarity pulled the sheets around herself like a shawl. Celestia help me, I can do better for my marefriends.
Still, Twilight didn’t seem daunted by her remarks. She sat down on the bed and snuggled against Rarity. “The storm can wait. I’m sure it’s nothing than Rainbow Dash and her team can’t handle. I mean, they’re better-trained for this work than I am.”
Rarity smiled. “Yes, that’s true.”
Twilight bent down and brushed her lips against the top of Rarity’s head. “We’re not going anywhere tonight. Last night was for me and Fluttershy, and tonight is just us.” She giggled and added, “At some point, though, we’ll need to start talking about how to balance everything between the three of us. I don’t want our trio to have to compete for everypony’s time.”
“Perhaps we could make a checklist or a calendar,” Rarity suggested with a teasing wink.
“Rarity, you have no idea…” Twilight grinned as she grabbed her marefriend by the cheeks and pulled her close. “That kind of talk gets me so excited…”
As far as Photo Frenzy was concerned, there was no place more dull in all of Equestria than Trottingham. Having gotten back from Ponyville, he could see a strong similarity in the number of thatched-roof cottages, but the ones in Trottingham were centuries older. Everypony in town could trace their lineage back to some folk hero or great scholar if they squinted hard enough at the fine print on their family trees. They took pride in the littlest things out here, from oversized turnips to cultural fairs for when the Princesses visited.
Life in Trottingham was dull and predictable, so of course only a paper like the Trottingham Tattler could prosper. Everypony looked forward to a bit of gossip and a scandal to drool over, especially when they could cluck their tongues in disapproval.
Everyone except me, thought Photo Frenzy. That’s why I hate it here.
“Now, look here, chap.” Daily Edition tapped at the inkwell on the edge of his desk—a pointless gesture, but he always seemed to think it was intimidating. “You might have wasted a great opportunity here. We’ve got tons of our folks covering the Wonderbolts Derby and no one but you in Ponyville! Why the hay would you want to give up an exclusive contract like that?”
“Because it’s a load of horse feathers, Ed.” Frenzy shrugged. “Everypony’s got photos of the young princess or Sapphire Shores tucked away somewhere. What good’s a few more gonna do for them?”
Daily Edition frowned. “It means a hundred bits more in revenue this week. That’s the good it’ll do! I’m not running this paper as a charity, eh?”
“Fine. But I’d rather take a pay cut and work the Derby. I’m bored to tears in Ponyville.”
“No can do. We’re booked up on the Derby and the Winter Jubilee. Besides…” Ed grinned, which usually meant trouble. “Nopony’s more qualified than you, Frenzy.”
“Nopony puts so much care into their work as me, you mean.”
“Precisely!”
Photo Frenzy wondered what he’d done to deserve this. He’d had such hopes before—the sensitive photography student at Canterberry, so warm-eyed and cheerful. Whatever had happened to that fine colt?
He got old and started paying bills, Frenzy reminded himself.
It wasn’t anymore complicated than that. For a time, he could forget that he was tracking down the Wonderbolts and other celebrities, if only to be working as a real photographer in places like Canterlot and Applewood. But after close to eight years, his career hadn’t gone anywhere. He was still taking the same photos of the same celebrities, with half-blind editors like Daily Edition who couldn’t tell a clear panoramic shot apart from a blurry shot from the middle of a crowd.
“What about the letter?” Frenzy asked. He pointed to the torn envelope sitting on the top of his editor’s inbox pile. “Didn’t you like what Her Royal Highness had to say?”
Daily Edition shrugged. “Well, it’s all well and good, but I’ve got final say, haven’t I? Freedom of the press and all that. Princess Twilight can’t tell an editor how to run their own paper. There are laws about that sort of…” His lips curled. “Censorship.”
The legal issue wasn’t close to Frenzy’s level of expertise. For his part, he’d thought the letter had been a fairly compelling argument:
To the editor of the Trottingham Tattler:
I recently had the good fortune to meet a photographer in your service by the name of Photo Frenzy. After briefly conversing with him, I feel as though his talents are being wasted in Ponyville. I’d be happy to recommend him to a post following the Wonderbolts Derby if you don’t mind. He seems to be a brilliant photographer and far more respectful than the usual paparazzi who insist on hounding my every step.
I look forward to hearing your reponse, good sir. My loyal assistant (and adopted dragon) will deliver it to my attention post haste.
Sincerely yours,
HRH Princess Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville
“Besides,” said Daily Edition, “I already wrote back.”
“Oh?” Frenzy leaned forward. “And?”
“No word yet, I’m afraid.” The editor shrugged and tapped on his desk, a sound of finality. He was quiet for a moment—another bad sign in Frenzy’s experience. “But look here, she may have a point. Nopony can argue you’ve got more journalistic experience than anyone else on staff, am I right?”
Frenzy sensed a game being played, but there was nothing false in that statement. “Right.”
“So, I wrote back to the Princess about these storms.” Daily Edition poked around a stack of papers on his desk. “Let’s see… here it is. A meteorological report leaked by the Royal Society last week.” He cleared his throat and affected a high Canterlot accent. “‘A Survey Concerning Recent Developments in Ethereal Weather Patterns for Her Majesty’s Consideration.’ Flowery words aside, this magic storm’s gonna be the story of the decade, so we might as well break it first, yeah?”
“I’d say so, yes.”
“Well, then…” Daily Edition grinned. “Hop to it, then!”
“What, me?” Frenzy glanced around the office. Of course there was nopony else there to take the blame. Typical. “You must have us confused with the Canterlot Quarterly, Ed. We’re a gossip rag, even if we’ve got a good sports page.”
“News is news no matter who delivers it.” Daily Edition tapped at his inkwell again. “You’ve seen the editorials, right? Big storm in the middle of Everfree. Nopony knows what’s going on, but it’s nothing good. And it seems attracted to Ponyville these days.”
“Well, yeah.” Frenzy shrugged. “That’s about it, though.”
“Hardly!” Daily Edition slammed his hoof onto the desk, upsetting several papers from the top of their stacks in a flurry. “What several of our readers and I would like to know is what connection there—if any—between this recurring storm and Princess Twilight.”
“Ed, that’s…” Frenzy shook his head. “That’s slander. If we print it, it’s libel.”
The editor grinned. “But if it’s true?”
“How’s anypony supposed to find out if it’s true or not?”
“Not anypony. You, specifically.”
“I’m not qualified to—”
“Frenzy, please.” Daily Edition leaned forward. He pressed his hooves together on the desk, almost in supplication. “Look at it this way. If you find any evidence between the two, then you’ll have broken a major story. Nopony could ever dispute your credentials after that. And if you don’t find any connection, then you’ll have proven me wrong and get something to hold over my head the next time I give you an assignment.” He grinned and not in a pleasant way. “Either way, I’d say it’s a win for you.”
Frenzy stayed quiet for a moment. He needed to process this new information—not to mention the fact that, for once, his editor seemed to have a genuinely good idea.
If there was no connection between the storm and the young princess, then he’d relish the chance to rub it in that smug stallion’s face for years to come.
“All right.” Frenzy tapped at the desk, mirroring his editor’s little habit. “But on one condition.”
“And that is?”
“I get to cover the next Wonderbolts event after this. No backing out.”
The editor’s grin only grew wider. “Done.”