Canterlot was an incredible city, the entire place seemed to radiate power and magnificence from where it was perched overlooking its domain. As a filly I once travelled to the city of Arclight, at the time I thought nothing could ever top its level of elegance and majesty, but Canterlot blew Arclight out of the water. I still remember the day we arrived in Equestria, laden with suitcases and saddlebags stuffed full of every possession we could grab before we were forced to flee our home. I had spotted our destination while on the train from Trottingham, and even from several miles away the sight of Canterlot still blew my mind.
Even the rest of Equestria surrounding it, beautiful as it was, was absolutely dominated by the mountain that pierced the sky and the city nestled atop it. Two years on, it had admittedly lost some of that initial amazement value, just as Arclight had done once I was visiting it regularly as a working mare. Two years on and the novelty of living in the most famous city of all the pony nations had subsided and made way for a very different feeling, homesickness.
So when my dear friend Fancy Pants came into my workspace one day to tell me that the Equestrian Government were going to be providing refugees like myself with transport back home, I was over the moon. Being the Gentleman that he is, he had already put in a good word for us and got me and my family places on the first ship to leave, however after much discussion we came to the decision that I should return alone at first while Sweetie Belle and my parents stayed with Fancy Pants a little longer.
I did however have to attend an interview with the Duke of Canterlot, to confirm my citizenship and finalise my place on the boat. Luckily the day of the interview was wonderfully warm and sunny, allowing me to wear one of my more opulent designs without fear of getting it wet. Even with my close ties to Fancy Pants, I had rarely had any opportunities to meet members of the nobility so I wanted to look my very best, and it seemed Princess Celestia was looking out for me that day.
I thought it was a good way to mark the end of my time in Canterlot, being able to traverse the inside of the palace. I had attended a couple of functions there as Fancy Pants’ date, but guests were only permitted to roam the ground floor and gardens. I had to hide my glee when the guards at the front gate instructed me that the Duke’s office was on the third floor. Maybe if I hadn’t been so eager to explore every nook and cranny while I had some excuse to do so, I might not have found myself lost, but nor would I have met her…
Perhaps she noticed the confused look on my face as I tried to deduce whether I had already passed that statue (I had), or perhaps she noticed how panicked I was becoming at the thought of being late or even missing my appointment all together. Whatever she noticed in me, I’m glad she did, of course I wouldn’t realise until much later just how glad I was to have met her.
“Excuse me,” she greeted in a warm voice. “Is there something I can help you with?”
I was a little taken by surprise with her sudden appearance; I might have given a frightened shriek and leapt a couple feet in the air. The first of many things I would be embarrassed to have done in her presence. Although… my reaction did get a stifled giggle out of her, who knows? Maybe breaking down the formal barrier had been a good thing.
“Sorry,” she apologised, hiding her smile behind one of her forehooves. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Not at all,” I tried to say, also raising a forehoof in a vain attempt to hide my blush. “It was my fault for being so distracted.”
Of course I could see she was someone of official status, she was a lavender coated mare wearing deep purple robes. She looked to be about my own age so at the time I assumed she was some kind of aid to one of the nobles.
“I thought as much,” she responded, lowering her hoof to the ground and assuming a much more professional air while still remaining pleasant. “Do you need some help finding your way about?”
“I would actually really appreciate that,” I admitted. “I have an appointment with Duke Blueblood.”
“Oh, of course,” she said understanding dawning on her. “Well his office is on the way to my own, I could take you there if you want.”
“That would lovely, thank you.”
The mare took the lead and I followed by her side, matching her pace. She was extremely friendly, especially to a random mare she had only just met. Of course she knew exactly what I was there about after I had said I was there to see the Duke, so we talked about that for a few minutes, she seemed particularly sympathetic regarding the whole situation.
“That’s a lovely dress by the way,” she said suddenly, changing the conversation dramatically. “Did you buy that here or did you bring it with you?”
“Oh this?” I asked, stumbling slightly as I looked over my dress. “I actually made this myself.”
“You made that?!” she repeated, sounding amazed. “That’s really impressive, you have some real talent.”
“Thank you so much,” I replied genuinely. “Your robes are very nice too; they really give you the aura of authority and wisdom.”
“Well I suppose that’s the idea,” she muttered before brightening up again. “But I’d love to have a dress like that, if you weren’t leaving so soon I would commission you.”
“Well you still could,” I pointed out. “Once I get back home and get settled that is, I used to trade overseas all the time, it’s actually how I came to be friends with Fancy Pants.”
“That would be wonderful… uh,” she suddenly hesitated, slowing her walking pace slightly.
“Oh, I didn’t even introduce myself,” I interrupted, mentally slapping myself for being so antisocial. “My name is Rarity.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Rarity,” the mare said, smiling warmly once more. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
Oh how my heart stopped dead in my chest as she said that. That was probably the height of my embarrassment as I stumbled over my own hooves, began blethering incoherently while I tried to get my brain and body back in synch.
“T... T… Twilight Sparkle!” I repeated in shock. “As in, the Twilight Sparkle?!”
Twilight nodded, her face suddenly displaying an uncomfortable expression.
“I’m so sorry, I had no idea!” I exclaimed while I tried to do a mixture between a bow and a courtesy, and ended up looking like I was having a seizure.
“It’s quite alright,” Twilight said, reaching out awkwardly. “You don’t have to do any of that, really.”
I stood up, but I was still shaking like a leaf. I could see that she looked disappointed, but I knew that it wasn’t me she was disappointed in.
“I don’t usually get to talk to ponies like equals anymore,” she began to explain, looking down at the ground sadly. “My position makes it difficult to find… friends.”
I felt awful after she said that, less so for my embarrassing performance and more for how my change in behaviour had alienated her.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated. “Really I didn’t mean to make things uncomfortable for you.”
There was a long moment of silence while we both tried not to meet each other’s gaze.
“We should keep moving,” Twilight said after a tense moment. “I’m sure you don’t want to be late for your meeting.”
The rest of the journey we made in silence, I felt awful. We had been making such a connection until I had to make a fool of myself and draw attention to her position, but then I could never have predicted it caused her so many problems. When we finally reached the Duke’s office, indicated by an overly polished door with a bright gold plaque on it, Twilight took the lead and knocked upon it. Without even waiting for an answer she opened it up with her magic and marched straight in, I followed nervously behind her.
“Blueblood,” she said, greeting the stallion behind the desk. “Miss Rarity has an appointment with you; she got a little lost on her way here.”
“Oh that’s no problem,” Duke Blueblood replied, addressing the both of us. “My earlier meeting actually ran on a bit late so it probably worked out quite well that you’re a little late. Oh, and Twilight, good thing you’re here, I’ve been meaning to have a word with you. Lord Bitmouth just sent word, he won’t be able to attend the assembly this Friday, apparently he fell off his roof and now he’s bed ridden.”
“Fallen off his roof?” Twilight repeated. “What on earth was he doing up there?”
“He says he was repairing some loose tiles,” Blueblood replied sceptically. “Personally I don’t believe it however, the stallion’s never done a day’s work in his life.”
“Well I’ll contact him myself,” Twilight said with a thoughtful nod. “I’ll need to know if he’s sending anyone in his place, but thank you for letting me know.”
Blueblood gave a small nod before returning his attention to the papers strewn across his desk. Twilight turned to leave, but just before she did she looked up at me.
“It was a pleasure to meet you Rarity,” she said, although her voice sounded a little more distant than it had earlier. “I hope this won’t be the last time.”
“Nor do I,” I replied, refraining from giving her a small bow as she left the office.
Once the door closed, the Duke turned his attention to me.
“Please take a seat Miss…” His eyes subtly flickered down to a piece of paper in front of him before returning to meet my own. “Rarity, we can begin soon.”
It was such a small movement, barely lasting a millisecond or two. It was a real politician move and most ponies would never have picked up on it, but then I had always had a keen eye for details. Once when I was just a young filly and my father had realised my skill, he brought me with him to his weekly cards evening with his work friends. With my ability to spot the tells of a group of stallions I had only just met, my father and I left that evening with a quite a few more bits than we had arrived with.
Mother wasn’t too pleased about it, her and father had argued about it and I was forbidden from attending again, and while I never did we often recalled the incident fondly. As I took my seat before the Duke he turned his full attention to me.
“Now, before we begin,” he said clasping his forehooves together. “I need to know if you will consent to a quick, magical identity check.”
“Is… something wrong?” I asked a little warily.
“I hope not,” he replied, his voice perfectly even. “It’s just standard procedure when discussing ponies’ personal details like this. After all, I’m sure you wouldn’t like it if I divulged information about you to some Changeling walking in here and pretending to be you.”
“No, I suppose I can appreciate that,” I agreed, he did make it sound very reasonable at the time. “Of course I’ll consent to an identity check.”
Duke Blueblood’s horn lit up with a pale golden light and I quickly found myself enveloped by it. I had never been subjected to any sort of identity checking spell, so as far as I knew the wave of dizziness I felt was perfectly normal. Even if some part of me had thought it was odd, it was over before I knew it.
“Yes, everything appears to be in order,” Blueblood stated, giving me a strained smile. “Now, Miss Rarity, you have requested to be given a place on the first ship to travel from Equestria back to Panchea. I am correct in believing that you were born there and are officially a Panchean citizen?”
“That is correct,” I confirmed. “My parents were both Equestrian citizens, they had their honeymoon in Panchea and loved it so much that they decided to move there.”
“Mhmm,” Blueblood replied, although I could tell he wasn’t interested in the details. “And I have the records of you and your family seeking asylum here in Equestria back when the war started. Are your family still living here in Canterlot?”
“Yes they are,” I answered. “When we first arrived we were taken in by my friend Fancy Pants, we’re still staying with him.”
“Yes, Mr Fancy Pants came to me personally and requested that you be shortlisted for the first boat back,” Blueblood continued. “Although at the time he said you would want four places, why has your family chosen not to go with you?”
“Well…” I began slightly awkwardly. “We discussed it in great detail, and I decided that what with recent events, it would be better if I went back alone to… test the waters. Make sure things had calmed down enough before my parents and sister join me.”
Blueblood nodded and began jotting down some details onto a form.
“Has it calmed down?” I asked tentatively causing Blueblood to look back up. “It’s just, I know the war is officially over, but… are things okay back home?”
Blueblood placed his pen down and considered the question a moment before answering.
“Miss Rarity,” he began in a professional tone. “While we don’t know for sure, considering our forces are no longer present in Panchea…”
I noticed his voice became a little bitter at that.
“We have heard details that the tensions have not disappeared entirely,” he stated firmly. “It would appear that while the fighting has stopped, there is an ongoing power struggle. I am required to make it clear to you that there is no guarantee you will be safe over there, the Equestrian Government promised you safety when you first sought asylum with us. We will continue to provide that safety right up until you touch down on Panchean soil, but beyond that… I can’t promise you anything.”
I nodded at that, swallowing noticeably.
“It is entirely your decision,” Blueblood continued. “We will be providing one ship to deliver refuges back every three months for the next two years. If you wish to cancel your application for transport and wait until later, you can. But if you still wish to take the first boat over, then we won’t stop you.”
I thought about it long and hard. There would be times later on where I wished I had thought longer and harder, but as it was, my mind was made up.
“I’m sure, I want to go home.”