Windy woke up and looked around to see all the servants were getting up and getting ready for work. Windy yawned, stretching her arms in the air and turned to the hammock next to her to find Pinkie's hammock was empty, Windy grabbed her dress tunic and pulled it on over her head and retched smelling the odor coming off of it. She had to either get a new one from the castle tailor or clean the one she had on. She grabbed her boots and pulled them on. She ran to the mirror hanging on the post by her hammock and used her hand to brush her short hair to make it look half decent then ran for the kitchens.
As soon as she arrived she was tossed an apron by Pinkie and began to work. Pinkie tossed her fresh bread dough to knead and pound. After three hours of constant working and rushing she was given leave by Pinkie who congratulated her on another hard morning’s work. Windy pulled off her apron and tossed it away and ran to the servants’ bath house to wash up.
After her wash she came out feeling better but her clothes still needed a wash. She sighed, another chore to do. She looked down to notice that her pant legs look like they shrunk and groaned. She needed to get a new pair of pants soon. She then thought about her clothing dilemma and made a decision. She made the long walk to the castle tailor, a young woman by the name of Coco Pommel.
Coco looked up hearing her door open, she looked up with pins between her lips. She smiled seeing Windy closing the door behind her. She spat out her pins to talk.
"Hello Windy Belle, how are you? It's been a while since I've had any friendly visitors." Coco said smiling. Windy smiled in return walking over.
"I’m doing well. I was curious to know if there are any discarded tunics from the squires you might have available." Windy asked hopeful. Coco looked at her with a quirked brow.
"Outgrew your tunic already?” She asked bewildered.
"A little." Windy said lamely pulling the hem of her tunic which was above her trousers belt. "Also, the cloth stinks bad." She added.
Coco sighed rolling her eyes. "I swear, you need to clean your tunics once a week. Twice if you are doing horse work."
Windy nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"Alright, I'll take a break. Come over here and I'll measure you." Coco ordered as she got up from her stool.
Windy went under the board door that separates the tailor’s workstation with the sitting area of the tailor room. Windy always visited Coco when she needed her clothes patched or new clothes. Since Windy isn't allowed to have custom tailored things from the tailor, she had to take all the used clothes that the pages and squires outgrew. But it was starting to get harder to find clothes that were long enough for her growing frame.
Windy blinked seeing the gorgeous ball gown Coco was working on. "Who's dress is that?" She asked as Coco looked in her drawers for her measuring tape.
"Oh it’s for Starchaser. Princess Celestia told me to make several gowns for her since this will be her first year in the Peace Council. All the princesses and their children must be at their best during the ball. Ah, here it is!" She said pulling out her measuring tape.
Windy looked at the gown and imagined Starchaser in it and couldn’t help but smile. "It looks beautiful."
Coco smiled with a blush. "Really? I’ve been struggling with Star’s dress."
Windy nodded. "Yeah, it looks pretty." Coco nodded smiling.
"Thanks Windy, I’ve been needing some encouragement. It gets lonely here."
Windy made a cheeky smirk. "What about that one unicorn that was here in the fall."
Coco squeaked blushing seeing Windy’s smirk. "What do you mean?" She asked worriedly.
Windy chuckled leaning against the wall. "I noticed that unicorn woman a while back. And the way you both said goodbye was so romantic. What was her name?"
Coco glared at her as her face went into a deeper shade of red. “Never you mind about my business." Windy was giggling as Coco sighed in defeat. "Fine, she’s a scribe. But she’s always working. The silly writer. That's all you get from me." She whispered shaking her head.
"Sounds like you enjoy it when this scribe comes over." Windy joked as Coco glared at her.
"Are you here for clothes or not? I can kick you out." She warned.
"Alright, alright!" Windy said laughing. "I’ll shut up about it."
Coco snorted as she waved for Windy to stand in front of her. She used her measuring tape to measure her height and Coco was surprised. "Wow, you must be going through a growth spurt since the last time I saw you. You’re getting taller!"
Windy blushed. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize for what your mother gave you, Windy." Coco said softly as she wrapped the tape around Windy’s waist. Coco quirked her brow and checked the hem of Windy's trousers to see if the still stretch or not. To her surprise she could barely fit her finger through the hem and Windy’s stomach. "Oh my, you need new trousers too. Your hips are shaping up nicely."
Windy blushed rolling her eyes. "I'm not interested in showing off my curves to the boys, Coco."
Coco smirked at that as she wrote the measurements on a piece of paper. "Still, you should be fortunate with what you have even though you act more like a boy."
Windy glared at her. "Not my fault I was born a girl."
Coco smirked at that as she walked to a group of crates sitting at the far wall. The crates were filled with old discarded clothes that Coco recycled for future clothes or give away to those that need them. She opened the lid of a crate and began digging through the tunics for the right size for her ward.
"Hmm, try these and see if they're long enough while I look for some larger trousers for you." Coco tossed a few tunics to Windy as she looked into a separate crate that was filled with pants.
Windy pulled off her small blue tunic and tried on a red one. She growled, it was too tight. She pulled it off and tossed it aside. She took a green one and pulled it on, but it was too short. She grabbed a black one and it still wasn't enough. She sighed in defeat and shook her head.
"None of them fit." Windy said annoyed as she grabbed her blue tunic and pulled it back on again. Coco tsked thinking.
"Hmm those were from the late squires that just entered knighthood. Um, here are a few pairs of trousers. Try those."
Coco watched as Windy struggled to pull of her old trousers as he tried on the newer ones. They fit well but they were short. Coco sighed shaking her head.
"I'm sorry, Windy, I don’t have anything for you." She said softly.
Windy shrugged pulling on her tight trousers with difficulty thanks to her growing hips. "It's alright," She grunted finally pulling them up. "I'll just find another way of getting new pants. Thanks anyway."
Coco sighed disappointed. "If only Luna wasn't so strict with her rules, then I would have made you a whole wardrobe of comfortable clothes."
Windy smiled sitting on a box to pull on her boots. "All hail, Princess Purity." Windy sarcastically replied tying her laces around her boots. She stood up fixing her tunic. "I've got to go Coco, see you around."
Coco nodded watching the teen leave the room. "Poor dear. If only she was born like everyone else then she wouldn’t have these problems." She whispered softly with shame as she returned to Starchaser’s dress.
Windy walked out of the tailor room and took another door to go outside. She sighed looking out at the training yard to see it filled with knights, horses, bowmen, squires and pages training with their knight master. She stuck her hands into her pockets and walked by.
One of the bowmen turned seeing her.
"Hey, Windy!" He called. Windy stopped and turned to the bowman to see his smirk. "Hey, you mind helping me out with something?"
Windy sighed annoyingly then walked over to the soldier. She’s a servant and must do as she was bid.
"I made a bet with this outsider here." He said pointing his thumb over his shoulder. Windy looked over to see a man dressed in the uniform of a Griffin Kingdom soldier. He pulled back on the string of his bow with an arrow nocked on the string. He released the string and the arrow hit hits the target circle on the third ring. He growled.
"You Equestrians don't have strong wood for your bows. I can barely make a straight true shot!" He cried out glaring at the bow in his hand.
"Yeah, so?" Windy asked quirking her brow. The bowman smirked.
"So, I made a bet with him that even our servants were taught well with a bow." He said winking at her.
"So you want me to shoot an arrow? You should know that I didn’t get enough training."
"Still, you were good, even for that short time." He said nudging his elbow into her. "Come on Windy, do it for an old pal. We're all servants under the princesses."
Windy glared at him then sighed holding out her hand. "Fine, I'll play along." The bowman handed her the longbow.
"Hey boys! Windy agreed!" He called out. Several knights and bowmen turn seeing Windy approach the griffin man. He turned seeing her and looked her up and down.
"A woman?" He started laughing. "Please I thought you were bringing a man."
Windy blinked. "What’s wrong with me being a girl?"
The griffin chuckled. "Women aren’t meant to be warriors. Sure we had our fair share of female warriors, but women are better for other activities."
"Like what?" Windy growled.
"Tending to the home, bear strong sons and fertile daughters. Raise our children to be strong warriors and breeders." The griffin said smirking.
"Give me an arrow." Windy growled. The bowman gave her one in her hand. "What's your name?" Windy asked stepping back to position, trying to remember the lessons she was given when she was younger.
"Humph," the man snorted. "I am Prince Rudolph Griffin, fourth son of the King of the Griffin Kingdoms."
"The bastard!" One of the griffin soldiers cried out laughing. Rudolph growled turning to the knights that were laughing at him.
Windy blinked hearing that. No wonder why he was being rude and all full of himself. He's just trying to prove he was still a man in front of his men, even though he's not a pureblood. But she won't take being a woman as an insult. She smirked. Time to bruise his ego even more.
She stood up straight holding up the longbow which was about as tall as her. She pulled back the string as far back as her arms could go. She waited looking up at the Equestrian Flag hanging on a pole at the center of the yard to see it lazily move. There was a light breeze, that shouldn't affect the trajectory of her arrow.
Everyone watched as Windy breathed out and released the string. She yelped loudly holding her arm that was slapped by the string. Everyone watched as the arrow made a thunk sound onto the target. The Equestrian bowmen cheered as Prince Rudolph blinked in shock.
"Impossible!" He exclaimed. Windy winced rubbing her arm then looked up and grinned seeing that her arrow hit the bull’s-eye.
"See," The bowman said slapping Windy in the back knocking her over. "I told you, even our women servants can make that shot with our Equestrian bows."
Windy groaned standing back up. "Call that luck." She muttered.
"Luck, I call that cheating!" The griffin prince exclaimed glaring at Windy. "No doubt she's a Pegasus! She could have manipulated the wind to make her shot better!"
"What's wrong Griffin," The bowman asked laughing. "Are you a sore loser?"
Windy stood back up dusting off her clothes looking to everyone standing before the griffin soldiers. She gulped and ran over between them.
"Look, it was just a stupid bet! And besides the Peace Council is next week! We shouldn’t be fighting now!" She cried out, hoping she defused the situation.
Prince Rudolph glared at Windy. "Try it again.” He ordered. “And this time have a Pegasus here to measure the winds."
"What is going on here?" A voice boomed that made Windy groan looking up with everyone else.
Princess Luna used her magical wings to float to the ground between the two groups of knights. The Equestrians bowed to her, the griffins knights bowed but the prince didn't.
"Ah Princess Luna, we were just settling a bet. And I believe that this Pegasus servant cheated."
Oh great. Windy groaned knowing Luna was going to have a field day with this one.
Luna turned to her and smirked. "Ah if it isn't Sparkle’s pet project. I'm surprised that you’re here when I made it clear that servants are not to be in the training yard unless they have been assigned work here." She growled.
Windy gulped backing away from her bowing. "I apologize Princess, I was just on my way to the palace now." She gasped feeling a hand grab her tunic and pulled her up in the air.
The knights were in shock seeing this, even the Prince Rudolph blinked bewildered.
"What did I tell you, Reject?" Luna growled silently. Windy gulped.
"I'm a castle servant." Windy answered struggling in her grip.
"And where do castle servants belong?"
Windy gulped noticing the looks she got from the knights.
"Answer me!" Luna boomed.
"Castle servants belong in the palace!" Windy cried in answer.
"Good." Luna purred dropping Windy to the ground. "Now where are you supposed to be right now?" Luna asked smiling though the smile was anything but encouraging. Windy got up bowing to her.
"I've got work in the palace right now. Princess." Windy said before turning tail and run to the palace. Luna smirked then noticed the troubling looks she got from the knights.
"No need to worry about the help. Continue training my soldiers!" She called before snapping her fingers and disappeared in a dark blue flash. The Equestrian knights looked to one another glaring.
Sir Rudolph stroked his beard thinking about what he witnessed then he turned to the target circle to see a squire pull out the arrow and walk away with it.
"Who was that girl again?" He asked interested.
The bowman from earlier turned to him. "Why do you care all of a sudden?"
Rudolph thought for a moment then shrugged. "I guess I can see someone with potential."
The bowman shrugged. "Her name is Windy Belle. From what I learned, she's an orphan who was left at the palace. She’s a good kid."
The griffon hummed thinking. "Where can I meet her?"
The bowman thought for a moment then shrugged. "Well after what Luna did, I'd say she'll be in the kitchens."
The griffon nodded and walked away toward the palace leaving the bowman confused.
After he got cleaned up from his training Prince Rudolph walked around the palace. Since he was one of the representatives to his kingdom for the Peace Council he was able to move freely in the palace. As he looked he could see the servants cleaning and dusting off the suits of armor. He cleared his throat gaining the attention of several servants.
"Yes, my lord?" A woman asked bowing.
"Good afternoon, I was hoping to find a certain servant. I'd like to speak with her."
The servants looked to one another worriedly.
"No, she's not in trouble, I just wish to speak with her in private." Rudolph said smiling.
"It depends on who you're looking for." A young man answered. The griffin turned to see Agate standing before him. "Who are you looking for?"
"I don't remember her name, but she's about my height, she has pink hair with some rainbow colors in her hair. Know who I'm talking about?" He asked.
Agate paled and groaned. "Her name is Windy Belle. I apologize if she did anything-" Rudolph chuckled shaking his head.
"Oh no, She didn’t do anything." He said smiling. "I just want to speak with her. Know where she might be at this time?"
Agate thought for a moment concerned. "Well, she was supposed to be helping us clean the suits of armor today. But she hasn't arrived yet." He thought for a moment longer. "She might be in the royal study upstairs. She’s often times there at this time of day."
Rudolph nodded. "Thank you, continue with your duties." Agate nodded as the griffin turned on his heel and went for the staircase. Agate licked his lips with worry hoping he didn’t just get his friend into trouble.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Rudolph found the doorway to the study and stopped hearing two women speaking inside the room.
"Please Windy, settle down."
"Why should I? She had the nerve of just trying to prove that I'm nothing! I bet Lucky said something to her."
Rudolph opened the door a touch to peek inside the room to see Windy pacing in the study. He also recognized Princess Starchaser sitting in a chair watching her worriedly.
Star sighed. "Lucky wouldn’t-"
"When will you stop defending her?" Windy snapped glaring at her.
Star glared at her. "She was my friend,"
"That doesn’t justify her actions."
Rudolph blinked and smiled. A servant with guts, he likes her even more.
After a moment the two girls frowned looking at one another as if ashamed.
"Windy, I'm sorry." Star said standing up from her chair and walked over to her. "I wish I had the power to change it all."
Windy bowed her head. "No, I shouldn’t have lost my temper."
Star smiled hugging her. "Good thing you talked to me and not cause a riot with the servants." She joked. Windy smiled hugging her back.
Rudolph frowned watching. He knocked on the door and stepped into the room. He blinked to realize Windy and Star were five steps away from each other looking around the room to avoid eye contact with each other.
"Ah, here you are, I was looking for you, servant." Rudolph said crossing his arms across his chest.
Windy blinked with surprise recognizing him. "Oh really? I mean yes, my lord, is there something you wish for me to do?" She asked blushing.
Rudolph turned to see Star looking down at the book in her hand ignoring them.
"Princess," He started. Star looked up at him. "Do you mind if I borrow your servant for a spell?"
Star swallowed turning to Windy to see her shrug. Star turned back to the prince and returned her gaze to her book. "It's not my place to tell her what she wants." She said hotly glaring at him. "You’ll have to ask her. She’s still a person. I’m not her jailer."
The griffon prince blinked once surprised then cleared his throat turning to Windy. "Walk with me, I want to talk to you about something."
Windy nodded then turned to Star to see her wink at her. Windy smirked then followed the griffin prince out of the study. Star sighed closing her book rubbing her face.
Windy and Rudolph walked slowly in the halls in silence for a while before Rudolph cleared his throat.
"I was rather surprised by you."
"Surprised, my lord?" Windy asked politely trying to figure out what the prince wanted.
Rudolph chuckled. "It was told in legends that there were women tall and muscular in the Griffin Kingdoms. One of my ancestors was a warrior woman and said to be a hero of my kingdom."
Windy gave him a look. "But earlier you insulted me because I was a woman."
Rudolph laughed. "True I did, but after what occurred with the princess it looked like you are more than just a servant."
Windy blushed looking to him. "My lord?"
Rudolph smiled. "You are level headed while shooting that bow."
Windy snorted. "That was luck."
The man chuckled. "Luck or not, that was impressive."
Windy blinked looking to him to see his smile. "Thank you, my lord."
The two walked to the staircase talking.
"Windy Belle!" Windy jumped and looked down the stairs to see one of the servants waving for her. "Get your butt down here!"
Windy gulped turning to the prince. "I should be going." She said worriedly. "I've already had enough of being yelled at today." She bowed and immediately ran down the stairs and ran over to the servants to help them clean.
The prince smiled softly watching Windy getting scolded by the woman before being shoved to work.
"Something tells me we will be seeing each other more often." He whispered.
Windy looked up to him surprised to see him still at the top of the stairs watching her. Rudolph placed his fist over his heart and bowed slightly. With a wink he turned and walked away. Windy smiled after seeing him bow to her.
"Who was that?" One of the girls asked nudging Windy with her elbow. "A new admirer."
Windy glared at her. "Shut up, I'm not interested in him."
Another girl giggled. "I say he's interested in you."
Windy blushed. "What’s so special about me?"
The girls around her all laughed as she glared at them.
"Leave her alone," one of the boys called out. "Get back to work. We have to get this done before one of the princesses show up."
The girls went silent cleaning the floor. One of them smirked seeing Windy blushing. "You are one rare beauty, Windy Belle." Windy looked to her. "You should look after yourself more."
"Shut up." She growled as the girl shrugged.
"I'm just saying, Windy. You might be able to get out of here if you marry a prince."
Windy blushed harshly glaring at her. She turned and began scrubbing the wooden floors. Windy Belle was not interested in making herself pretty. She was just a servant, not some prince-chaser. All she wanted to be was a knight, be a hero, and protect her friends from those that want to do them harm.
She sighed thinking about the night before with Star and heard her heart pound heavily in her chest. She shook her head to get rid of those thoughts as she continued to scrub the floor. No time to dawdle when the Peace Council was days away.