//------------------------------// // 17. Housewarming // Story: A New Impetus // by Zykov //------------------------------// With a final click, Soul reached up and turned the door handle opening it slowly. Before they even got a chance to reach for the lights they flicked on and a loud bang erupted and streamers flew at the stallions’ faces. Soul clenched his chest and Noble jumped as the curly haired Pink mare lead the group of ponies filling their apartment yelling “Surprise!”. Twilight and Rarity shouted with them and other ponies flew through the doors and from under the dark stairway seeming to appear out of thin air. As the stallions’ eyes darted around almost having heart attacks Noble grabbed his friend by the shoulders. “Attack attack attack! Soul, lasers now!!!” He jumped up on two hooves aiming Soul at the ponies at the doorway. The unicorn who was jerked around instinctively cried out. “Get off me I’m not a fricking weapon Noble!!” “You’re my Soul gun!” Barked the earth pony who was ready to take his friend and run back to the Canterlot. “WAIT!” Rarity jumped in the way spreading her legs so Soul’s horn was pointed at her. “This is just a party dears. No need to worry,” She reassured as she dropped to all fours again. “Oh...” The stallions looked at each other as a silence filled the room. Chuckles and whispers could be heard here and there. Now that the moment passed Soul looked up at Noble who held him by his side. Soul’s eyes narrowed. “Noble…” The earth pony understood quickly and set him up right, hunkering down and showing glistening sympathetic eyes as he backed up. “... You have a nice soft handle. For what it’s worth.” “Aww,” Twilight said with a wide smile. “You give the most unique compliments...” Soul didn’t get a chance to think of anything else to say or do other than make a face where his ears went down and back, eyes narrowed and shifted away, and his mouth slowly narrowed at the comment till the Pink mare interrupted. Pinkie’s eyes widened and glowed like stars at the sight of the tan stallion. “Noble?! Oh my gosh it’s you! I never would’ve imagined you were with the pony I get to throw this party for too!” She then turned to look at Soul. “Hi I’m Pinkie Pie!! And you must be Wild Soul! I’ve heard ALL about him from Rarity too. Nice to meet you and BOY am I lucky that you two live in the same apartment and I could fix this up for two in such a short time.” The horned stallion drew back and attempted to maintain his personal space around the approaching Pink menace. “Umm… Thanks though--” Pinkie Pie didn’t even let Soul finish his statement. “Come on! Let’s get this party started!” She grabbed the unicorn by the forelegs and pulled him by the waist inside. The moment Pinkie grabbed Soul’s forelegs he jumped back and twisted around as she grabbed his waist and dragged him inside. He slammed his hooves against the floor dragging them and shouting, “NO! NO! SOMEPONY HELP ME! NOBLE! EVIL!!! AHHHHH!” “It’s ok Soul!” The poet quickly turned around and looked at all the wide eyed confused ponies. “No pony needs to drag me in.” He squinted and looked around them particularly making eye contact with Rarity and Twilight. He backed into the room turning around and letting the ponies in the hall follow him even if some of them looked like they didn’t know if they should just leave. Inside Soul had quieted down a bit but was still trying to get away from the pink mare’s grip the best he could without any results though. All he could grab onto was the floor, which he tried to hold onto like he was being dragged to destruction. The pink mare was laughing as she held on tight pulling him through the long hallway and into the center of the kitchen which was the main room. “Wow, isn’t he such a party animal! Pinkie Pie approves!” After making his way through the crowd of ponies in their hallway and kitchen, he was a little uneasy with the absolutely overwhelming group of new ponies in his home but pushed through them and tapped Pinkie on the shoulder. “Pinkie, uh… Please, you should let him go.” “Okie dokie!” Just like that she released the stallion, pushing up and keeping her forelegs stretched out with a wide tooth smile. Immediately when Pinkie’s grip loosened Soul sprung right up and threw himself to the crowd, trying to head for the door. Once Pinkie put her hooves down on the ground she hiked a hoof across in front of her.“That’s the spirit! Throwing himself right into the action!” She put her hoof back on the floor and nudged Noble toward the crowd. “Noble, you go too and enjoy the party to your heart’s content! There are sweets all over to pick from!” “Thank you, Pinkie…” Noble said and took a deep breath then looked out turning his lips up at the whole scenario but he couldn’t help but feel bad. A big welcome party was thrown for them which was pretty much guaranteed to make Soul die inside. He started scanning the party and noticed the sweets on the counters and tables and thought, ‘Maybe there would be something Soul would like.’ Soul had finally made it through the crowd and ran outside the hallway passing both Twilight and Rarity and shut the door behind him; both of which watched and were baffled as he passed them. As he stood there in main hallway he took a moment to slow down his breath and calm down from the shock. He held his temples and rubbed them trying to make the beating go away. He let out a long but quiet groan as he slammed himself against a wall. “Did all that really just happen....?” he thought to himself. “Soul?” Rarity’s voice was heard as she stepped to the hallway, closing the door behind her. Soul immediately pushed himself off the wall and brushed off his side, checking over it to ensure it is clean. Rarity’s expression eased, her eyes softened and a silverish smile grew on her lips. “Are you alright darling? That was… quite the dramatic act you pulled back there.” The stallion took a minute to cool off and think before he spoke. He tapped one forehoof with another as he spoke. “Yeah, quite… well I was quite overwhelmed by the surprised. I suppose you were referring to this back at the boutique?” Rarity nodded as her ears dropped and mane losing it’s luster. “Indeed. My intensions were to make you feel welcome and show you ponies here would accept you with open hooves, but…” She gave a glance at the door and back at her apprentice. “Well, that wasn’t quite what I was expecting from you.” Soul’s tone became more blunt as he stepped toward his teacher. “You planned this the whole time?” Rarity gave yet again another nod. “Pinkie is the best party organizer I’ve ever had the pleasure to know and I thought if anyone could make silk feel welcome among satin, it would be her. Even if she gets quite… personal with some matters.” Soul lowered his head without saying a word. It could be seen on his face how he didn’t know what to say. Every part of it was twitching as if he didn’t know what to express. A smile? A frown? Something in between? Once again the door was opened and this time into the hallway walked Noble who was carrying a plate of cupcakes and cookies with him. “Soul, you absolutely need to taste these! I guarantee when you try them you will be spending the rest of the evening at the serving table!” The stallion shook his head at first but as he looked closer at the morsels his eyes widened and he leaned forward. “Is that… white chocolate topping?” “Yep, You’re favorite, right?” Noble nodded and extended the hoof with the treats. Upon taking the sweets and taking a bite of each Soul’s eyes widened further and his mouth stopped chewing. “Wow… This is good.” “I know, right?” He gave one of his better forced smiles, turning up the edge of his lips with deep caring eyes. “Soul, please come back inside. I know all of this; especially that initial surprise and time of being dragged inside isn’t really the kind of thing you like, but I am sure they all meant well.” “Of course, I never thought they didn’t, I just…” The pale stallion looked at the door, a frown mixed with a slightly elevated lip and glare overtook his face. “There’s a whole bunch of ponies that I don’t know, and they are in our house. I find that rather creepy.” Noble raised an eyebrow and lightened his toon. “Says a stallion whom ideal place to live is in the middle of nowhere.” “I find that rather odd myself, but I respect your… mindset.” Rarity interjected, raising a hoof as she spoke then brought it down walking closer with proper posture and pose. “Come now Soul, this is just half of the ponies Pinkie would normally invite to her parties. This is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know more of Ponyville’s ponies. And I promise to calm Pinkie down.” The tan stallion looked at Rarity then back at his friend and put his hooves together. “Please?” Soul lowered his eyes again at the ground. He thought for a good moment about what to say. Just the thought of him going back there made him shiver and actually going talk to somepony was unnerving. Especially after the scene he caused. The pink menace didn’t make it any easier. Rarity took a deep breath and sympathized. “If you insist we can ask everypony leave---” Soul’s ears perked. “No, I---_” He would be lying if he said that didn’t sound tempting, but what would it make him look like in the ponies eyes who worked hard for this for their pure will if he demanded that? An ungrateful brick. The artisan turned to the door, when she placed a hoof on the doorknob she looked back. “I’ll go check on Twilight. Come if you feel like it.” She nudged her head at Noble asking him to help before she disappeared through the doorway. With a nod to Rarity Noble tapped a hoof against his fellow stallion’s. “Soul, I know you absolutely hate big parties like this, but they---” He sighed. “Fine, I really don’t like it but I will stay. They worked hard on it and meant well, I appreciate that a lot. They couldn’t have known. Beside… this isn’t a party just for me, it’s yours too and I don’t want to ruin it.” “Exactly. It just this one evening; and it will be good to know some ponies from around town. Some from stores, I’m sure it will help you at the boutique and besides, any pony that works at a coffee shop will see you a lot anyway.” He chuckled, sitting up and staring kindly at Soul as his tail started wagging. The unicorn looked up from the floor, he kept his legs tucked in and next to one another as if he could shrink down and disappear. “Right, I’ll just try to make it through and that’s it. Just if you could… play along. I’ll try to act like it was just a temporary shock.” Noble rolled his eyes. “You’re such a Soul,” he said and opened the door filling the hallway with noise of ponies talking. Soul’s eyes narrowed at the comment though he still stood and took a deep breath before following his friend with careful steps. As they entered back inside, Soul’s heart was beating like crazy at the sight of crowd, though a small relief was that nopony seemed to be paying attention to him. Rarity was the first to greet them formally. She walked up with two cups of punch and gave them to each of the stallions. “Thank goodness, that didn’t take long.” With a ruffle of his mane Soul took his drink along with Noble and explained, “Yeah sorry about earlier… I by no means dislike what you have set up for us, I’m just not used to this so it was a rather big surprise but i’m good now.” Rarity leaned in and whispered just loud enough for Soul to hear her but quiet enough for the chatter to cover it up from others. “Oh, that is a big relief. I don’t know what I would’ve said to all these guests if you demanded they leave. It would’ve been a catastrophe.” Soul shook his head. “No worries anymore.” He took a sip of his cup and raised it up giving an overly eager, corny smile. “S-So um… Let’s get this party started or… something like that that,” he said and took another sip of his drink and passed the mare as he took quick steps towards the serving table with the white chocolate goodies. Noble gave Rarity a warm smile and nod as he sipped his juice and followed his friend over to the buffet. Just a few minutes later Twilight made her way over to the two newcomers and cleared her throat gaining their attention. “This apartment of yours extremely intriguing. This was definitely a good choice.” Soul waited and spoke after he finished the bite of cupcake he was on. “Cheap and big equals ideal.” “You sure are right about that,” She continued not allowing the short comment to phase her as she put a leg on the counter. “Anyhow, there was something I wanted to say as a welcoming gesture.” Noble leaned in around Soul to get a better view and allowing it to be easier to hear.“We’re listening” “I’m sure I’m speaking for everypony here; I hope you feel welcome here in Ponyville. If there is one thing you should know, it’s that we don't judge ponies here, by race, cutiemark, past or,” Twilight’s glances back and forth between the two stallions with a gentle smile as a small blush rose onto her face., “Who their special some pony may be.” Soul and Noble looked at each other with bulged eyes. Noble burst out laughing and almost fell over, while Soul almost choked on his cupcake. Twilight blinked. “What did I say?” “We’re not gay,” said Soul who’s eyes and mouth were narrowed so straight they could practically been used as rulers. Twilight’s face turned bright red and her heart jumped to her throat. “O-oh... my bad. Carry on.” She immediately hunkered down and backed away biting her lip and hanging her head. Noble was almost in tears on the counter and held his sides, trying to compose himself as Soul gave him glares. He patted the unicorn on the back. “Well, I still love you buddy.” Soul rolled his eyes and he slapped the hoof off though he couldn’t help but let out a little laugh too. “Let’s pretend you never said that.” Almost an hour had passed by. Soul had stuck with the plan of staying aside and simply eating the sweets and talked with Noble and Rarity, but avoiding talking to the unknown ponies. He even tried to draw back toward his room to work but that proved to be quite impossible. Noble on the other hoof took the new acquaintances quite openly and had struck up conversations many times already with the help of Pinkie Pie. Noble did pull Pinkie aside in order to explain Soul’s actions to her. At first Pinkie couldn’t believe the reason was Soul was ‘tender’ to touch and even tried to go and hug him to break the ice, which wasn’t exactly the best idea and nearly caused another scene as they ran circles around Noble for at least five minutes. Luckily, Noble managed to convince Pinkie to drop it and they simply shook hooves with the mare agreeing to keep out of his comfort zone. The party flowed again and as it did, everypony was starting to calm down and the party was changing from noisy and bright to a calm and nice association. Everypony had introduced themselves to both Noble and Soul, at least in passing and had broken off into their own social groups. Regardless of Soul’s efforts to stay on the sidelines, his attitude still seemed to spark some ponies interest and caused them to come over and join his company. To every question he answered with painfully simple answers which made the ponies lose interest quickly. Noble looked up as the clock to see that it was a few minutes after 9. He made his way through the crowd of ponies still socializing in their apartment. The only pony that seemed to notice him was Soul and at times like this Noble appreciated being able to be overlooked. Pouring a glass of water in place of juice this time Soul finally enjoyed a moment to himself, quickly looking away as not to direct attention to his friend. Noble snuck out the front door and made his way out of the apartment. He looked up at the sky and smiled. “Excellent, perfectly clear.” He looked around and as he was reassured that he was alone quickly took a left toward the shadows of the building. As the party went on Soul felt a need to take himself even further off to the sideline and simply did what he felt was best, he got on his laptop. While he was on it, Twilight couldn’t help her curiosity since there were a pile of questions that popped into her mind since she first saw it. Rarity also joined the conversation as she heard the subject and sat listening for her opportunity to join in. As he sat and tapped on his laptop Soul talked with Twilight and Rarity more than he had spoken to anypony else through the entire party. “...And that’s pretty much all the basics on how a laptop operates and what we designers use it for.” Twilight’s eyes were glued to Soul throughout his explanation. “Wow, that is truly an amazingly advanced piece of equipment. I can understand why you designers find them so useful. Such a complex yet simple way to use and harnesh magic’s potential.” With a flip of her hair the artisan captured Twilight and Soul’s attention. “I just wish I would’ve acquire one myself sooner. Organizing and keeping in touch with the fellow professionals has gotten so much simpler for me.” The stallion gave a nod. “Yes, it’s a neat little helper.” Pinkie bounced over to the ponies her face stuffed with cupcakes “Hiya group! What do ya say, would it be a perfect time to let ponies go home and get a good night sleep?” Soul looked up with glazed over, flat eyes then looked at the clock. “It’s past 9pm already, the perfect time would’ve been an hour ago.” The pink mare giggled and raised a hoof to pat Soul on the head but paused before it made contact. She put her hoof on the table instead. “Well you should’ve said so silly!” From the window that Twilight was sitting by trying to get some fresh air without leaving the party the shadowy figure walking through the dark and looking around moving to the back of the apartments. Being an alicorn princess Twilight knew she should at least give this a closer look. She made her way over to Pinkie Pie and leaned in to whisper. “Pinkie, I need for you to keep the party going a little while longer, I saw something outside and I want to investigate it a little.” “Okey dokey artichoky!” Pinkie said saluting with her chest puffed out before she rushed to the side of the room and started yelling for ponies attention as she prepared to sing a party song. Twilight rolled her eyes while smiling but took the moment all the same to sneak out the front door and make her way outside. As she reached the front of the apartment complex she began slowing her breathing and slowly crept along, trying not to make a single sound. She peeked around the corner and her eyes widened. Noble Poet stood in the shadows looking up at the sky smiling with glaring squinted eyes slowly writing things down on a notepad. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he wrote. The sight shocked Twilight and she knew she had to try to get a closer look. She leaned in straining her ears though as she put a hoof on the building it made a small creak. The stallion jumped up and tossed the notepad and pencil in his bag in one motion. He stood there tense and concentrating, scanning for the source of the sound but the mare had already darted behind the building and was shaking as her heart pounded in her chest. After a moment of looking while standing in his spot Noble pulled out his note pad one more time and looked up at the sky. Twilight peeked around the corner after a moment and caught him just in time to see him make his final notes and nod with a smile and heard him utter a single word, “Understood.” As Noble put his bag back on and made his way toward Twilight she quickly pulled back behind the building and with a spark of magic puffed herself back just inside the front doors to the apartment. She could barely grasp what she had just seen. Suddenly she realized that she had to think of something to explain why she was there. Noble rounded the corner and reached the front door. Twilight quickly opened it for him with a wide smile and a bead of sweat on her forehead. “Noblee, Hi! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Come on in, Rarity was just looking for you.” She gave a forced laugh as he passed through the door she held open for him. She looked up at the sky and turned her head a few times trying to see anything out of the ordinary but was only disappointed by seeing the full moon and the twinkling stars. “Thank you. Sorry, I- er, I just needed some fresh air. I can’t get enough now that I’m here in the countryside.” Noble chuckled awkwardly as well. Twilight closed the door and walked behind the stallion to the door. “Yeah, totally…” Noble put a hoof on the door handle and looked directly into Twilight’s eyes for a moment with a fiery stair. “I hope everything is going to be alright here.” Twilight stared back without a word matching the stallion’s intensity. “I hope so too.” As the stallion opened the door they both returned to the party and Twilight lead him to Rarity. “Rarity! Nice to see you again; I have Noble, just like you wanted!” She winked at the unicorn and darted her eyes to the side toward Noble. “I… Oh of course! How could I umm, ever forgive myself if I didn’t talk to Noble abouttt… his time in Canterlot, come darling you simply must tell me more about the lovely time you had there. I’m sure it was just splendid,” Rarity replied gritting her teeth in a smile as she darted her eyes at Twilight inquiringly. Noble looked back and forth between the two mares. “Umm.. . I’d rather not talk about Canterlot if you don’t mind. It isn’t exactly full of great memories for me. I’ll be back, I need to put up my saddle bags in my room. Pardon me.” He nodded his head down and made a way to his room. As the party dwindled down further with ponies wishing the stallions well and welcoming them to their new home, it wasn’t long before it was just Pinkie Pie, Twilight, Rarity, and the two stallions. They split between sitting in chairs around their kitchen table and walking around gathering cups, plates and other articles of trash through the apartment. Pinkie Pie broke the silent work, “I’m sorry for scaring you like that Wild Soul. I’ve never met a pony that hates touching as much as you seem to.” Soul stood back, ensuring he was not within reach of the mare and rubbed his foreleg with his other one. “No worries, just please don’t try to kill me like that again.” With a huff Noble struck his forehead with his hoof. “That means he is fine. He just needs to get used to you more first Pinkie.” He puts his hoof down and looks at her with a small smile. “Thank you Pinkie. You are a great, friendly pony. Thank all of you, this has been a great welcoming party.” Pinkie lept up and smiled widely. “It was my pleasure!” She inhaled deeply and opened her mouth as if she was about to begin singing when a magic aura surrounded her pulling her back. “That’s alright Pinkie. I think they get the picture.” The alicorn stepped forward. “Are you sure you don’t need any help cleaning up? We didn’t mean to leave it too messy or you.” The pale stallion sat up, then waved a hoof. “No no. We can take it from here. It’s late already so we can unpack and clean up tomorrow.” “Alright, if you need any help you know where to find us,” Twilight assured as she turned to walk out the door with a wave. “I think we can all enjoy a good night’s sleep and may meet again tomorrow. Soul, simply join me at my boutique around 10am tomorrow.” Rarity got in the last word by staying behind the others. “Of course. Thank you very much for all your help Rarity.” Soul bowed his head and waved goodbye to the mares. Noble looked up from a box he just opened. “Yes, thank you for all your help Rarity. Good night.” The mare disappeared from sight, closing the door with her magic as Soul gave a final wave and as the door closed he immediately took a big breath and let it out, walking over to a couch and throwing himself on it. “Finally over.” “Are you alright?,” Noble asked while he pulled out a kettle and poured some water in it, then dug out some teabags. Soul but a hoof over his heart and laid still for a moment as he stared off at yhe roof. “I feel like I’m having embolism in my heart, brain, and lungs, but I’ll live.” Noble sighed and shook his head. He put a hoof down on the counter and slowly turned his head to look at the unicorn with a narrow mouth and eyebrow extended. “Can you really say you didn’t enjoy it at least a little bit?” Soul shook his head. “No.” He looked at the last few sweets that were left on the coffee table. He picked up a cookie and examined it, closing and eye and twisting his hoof to look around it. “I loved the sweets. Did that Pinkie Pie really bake all of them by herself?” As he heard the question, his expression changed; his lips turned up and he brought a hoof up to his side, moving it as he spoke. “Probably! We should really visit Sugarcube Corner soon so you can taste more.” Soul threw the cookie into his mouth. “That’s a deal.” He stretched and let out a long yawn, then sat up to look at Noble, laying his chin on the armrest. “Though I don’t get how in Equestria you constantly manage to meet ponies who go crazy one way or another.” With a chuckle as he took a sponge and began scrubbing the counter down Noble turned his head a smidge toward the stallion. “I have one as my ‘bosom buddy’ and now as my roommate so I think I might have a knack for that.” Soul rose an eyebrow and twitched his ears up. “I’m crazy?” Noble shifted his eyes to the ground away from Soul and with his wet hoof still rubbed the side of his head. “Umm.. well you are Mr. ‘I hate touching and jump on the walls when ponies touch me’.“ He shook and jumped as the cold water hit his neck. “Compliment taken,” Soul said with a smug smile giving a chuckle. “But yeah I got a bit ‘crazy’ I admit that. Pinkie couldn’t know I hate this stuff.” “Yes, she’s a nice pony overall. She kinda remind me of Truffle.” He looked up squinting and looking out past the ceiling. “Maybe they’re relatives.” Soul chuckled and stretched extending his hooves over his head then falls over onto the couch. “I wouldn’t be surprised. And see? You do attract crazy ponies.” “Maybe…” The earth pony took the hand towel from the stove and wiped his hooves dry then the counter. Soul stretched again but left a leg up as he spoke. “Though this day has been pretty crazy for me too.” “Oh?” Noble’s ears twitched and he turned quickly looking at Soul out of the corner of his eye. He continued to clean up throwing away plastic cups and plates before he pulled up a cushion and sat across the coffee table from his friend. “Well you see, the first thing I ended up doing was help rescue a cat from burning kitchen that Rarity’s little sister had caused which naturally triggered my pyrophobia. Then saw a crowd of pegasi putting the flames out with a huge rain cloud, one of them wanted to fly me up high and let me free fall and as icing on the cake, the cat scratched my face. Plus I met a Princess.” The stallion was wide eyed through his entire explanation. Nobles eyes bulged and he immediately leapt up and ran over to the couch, landing next to the stallion getting close staring him in the eyes. “What?! Oh my gosh are you alright?!” Soul glanced his friend with a grin and raised eyebrows, backing his head away. “Kinda late to ask that now.” He paused and backed up looking down and composing himself. “True I guess. My day wasn’t that… exciting, but it was rich. I learned some of the lay out of Ponyville, met some really nice ponies, got a big gift basket from Pinkie with all these good looking sweets---” His pupils narrowed and his heart sank in his chest. In a flash he gave a great jump on the couch and grabbed the sides of his head. “Holy buckets, the gift basket! I left it at Applejack’s farm!” “Wait what?” Before Noble had a chance to run out Soul’s magic slammed the door shut and locked it. “Noble, It’s pitch black out there and ponies must already be preparing for sleep.” Noble bit his hoof. “But but… that gift basket is something Pinkie Pie specifically picked out for me at Sugar Cube Corner. I must get it! I don’t want her thinking I don’t care about it.” His eyes trembled. Soul shook his head and this time headed for his room grabbing a few boxes with him. “Don’t worry I’m sure no pony thinks that. It’s an honest mistake I’m sure. That or they will see that memory of yours sooner or later and understand.” He chuckled and as he opened the door, a small smile crawled to his face as he saw the bed was made. “You can get it tomorrow, I’m sure they noticed it there and took it for safe.” “True. I guess you are right.” With a sigh Noble nodded to the stallion. “I suppose i’ll just take a shower and go to bed.” Placing the boxes in the room, Soul grabbed the top one and opened it, revealing a whole bunch of pencils on top of a few framed pictures. “And I’ll fix up my room and get some shut eye too. Let’s unload all the boxes tomorrow, I don’t have the energy to spare for the whole apartment and it’s late anyway.” “True. Anyway, where was I with my story…?” Noble tucked his head in, closing his eyes and rubbing his head. The unicorn carefully dug the pictures and started scanning for a place for them. “You left somewhere around Sucarcube Corner.” “Oh right, thank you.” Noble tapped his hoof on the ground as he gathered his thoughts. “So after that I came across Applejack and her sister, I did forget to mention how beautiful Applejack is but she doesn't seem interested and was pretty clear on that.’ His ears drooped for a moment but he continued. “And you pretty much know the rest, got the job, saw the pony of my dreams, and of course… well you know met the Princess.” When Noble said ‘the Princess’ Soul sat up wide eyed and turned giving a stern look. “You know, I couldn’t help but notice how you acted around her. All that stiff saluting and just being distant.” The earth pony hunkered down and crossed his front legs. “Do we really need to talk about it…?” Soul immediately rose his hooves and shook. “Alright, sorry I mentioned it...” Rarity and Twilight were walking home down the dimly lit path. Both of them had their horns glowing with magic lights. Pinkie pie had already gone ahead of them and left the two alone. Twilight cleared her throat. “Those stallions seemed quite alright. I bet you are excited to begin teaching tomorrow.” “I certainly am! Soul’s first day here might not have been the most… uneventful, but I’m sure he will like it here especially under my supervision. He has some interesting viewpoints when he talks more.” She walked closer to twilight and spoke in a soft tone. “Don’t tell anyone I said this but he is so downright adorable I could just adopt him! He’s determined but still constantly has that essence of a lost little puppy. That just makes me want to pinch his cheeks!” Twilight held her lips together and ran her hoof across them mid walk as if sipping them closed. “My lips are sealed.” She kept walking while her head was turned toward the unicorn and winced as she continued. “Though… is it just me or does Noble seem a bit… off to you?” “You mean when you saw him ‘talking to stars’ or that you thought they were a couple?” Rarity said in a soft upbeat mood. The alicorn flushed. “T-The first one!” Trying to save herself she moved her mouth with nothing more than ‘Uhh..’ or ‘Umm…’ escaping her lips. She shook her head and changed subjects. “Yes, didn’t you think that was really weird? It was like he was conversing with somepony.” Rarity shook her head gently as they moved into the light. “Oh Twilight he might’ve just been talking to somepony close to him that has just… passed away. I’ve done that too, it’s not uncommon. He is a poet you know, or he could even have been writing a poem.” The mares cut off their light spells and Twilight stopped, causing Rarity to follow. “Maybe, but beside that, don’t you think he has been pretty distant around me?” As they paused Rarity sighed hanging her head and turned toward Twilight, standing up straight. “You are a Princess now darling, it can obviously cause some tension in ponies who don’t know you. It’s not like you can walk around nowadays without getting a glance or two.” “Maybe, I still have a lot to get used to after all…” She spread her wings and looked at them gritting her teeth. Rarity gave her an empathic smile and patted her back and tried to begin walking again. Twilight started again, stopping Rarity in her tracks again. “Though there’s this one thing that’s been bothering me…” “Let it out darling.” Rarity’s attention was on Twilight but her lips were narrow and has a slight downward curve. Twilight dreaded carefully, feeling uneasy and sporting wide downward sloped eyes. “When Soul mentioned the elements of harmony… You told me you just told him how you are the element of generosity but I just want to make absolutely sure you didn’t say anything else that might… cause an epidemic.” The white mare became animated and shook a hoof feverishly. “Oh no no no no, of course not Twilight! I would never be that reckless.” Twilight nodded and put a hoof over her chest as she looked toward the mountain and Canterlot. “I know, good. I’m just extremely nervous. Imagine what kind of chaos it might cause if ponies knew the elements of harmony are gone. They are… or were the most important defense we had.” “Twilight, I can give you a Pinkie promise that I will keep my lips sealed.” The mare put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder and smiled with a nod. “Good to know Rarity. We can go home now. It’s been a long day.” Twilight nodded and both mares turned and walked along the path until they split to their own paths.