The Background Gifts

by Zeck

Minuette's embarrassment

Minuette took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Talking to Princess Celestia still got her flustered, even though she had met her many times. She was a close friend of Princess Cadance after all, and thus Princess Celestia knew her well. But it was still odd talking to one of the rulers so casually.

Worse, she had been forced to ask Princess Celestia for a very, very, very private item. And Princess Celestia had been very accomadating, but the smirk on her face had been worse than anything Berry could ever do. She knew exactly what Minuette had planned for Berry’s gift, and that thought made the Unicorn’s entire body burn.

“Shake it off, girl,” Minuette said to herself as she reached the top of the palace steps. She quickly glanced around to make sure she didn’t recognize anypony. She had grown up in Canterlot, but she had moved to Ponyville years ago. Most ponies in the high-end city didn’t know her on sight, but there were still a few of them. And the thought of any of them spotting her while she was carrying Berry’s gift terrified her.

The blue pony saw no one she knew and quickly made her way down the steps. She kept her head down as she reached the bottom of the stairs and didn’t give anypony a chance to ask why she was coming from the castle. She melted into the crowd and relief began to flood her body. Now all she had to do was make it back to their hotel room, stick Berry’s present in a safe place, and then—

“Minuette?”

No…! The Unicorn picked up her pace and didn’t turn around. If she hurried, she could reach the end of the street and turn and—

“Minuette, wait! It’s me!”

Minuette stopped and took a moment to compose herself. There was no getting out of this now. If she was lucky, she might be able to keep the gift quiet, because this was the worst pony in the world to show Berry’s gift to.

“Jeez girl, what’s the hurry?”

“Um…hey, Lyra,” Minuette said as she turned around. The mint green Unicorn was standing behind her now, her familiar smile plastered on her face and her sunglow eyes twinkling with energy. She was carrying a full bag of groceries and looked rather worn out despite her smile.

“Hey yourself,” Lyra Heartstrings said, giving Minuette a playful nudge in the shoulder. “Nice to see a friendly face in Canterlot. So many of these ponies are a bit too high strung for my tastes.”

Minuette rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it. If my parents didn’t still live here, I wouldn’t—”

“Your parents live here too?” Lyra asked, her tail swishing as she began walking down the street alongside Minuette.

Minuette sighed. “Yes, Lyra. I grew up here, just like you and Bon Bon.”

Lyra’s ears pulled back a little in surprise. “How did you know that?”

Again, Minuette rolled her eyes. Bon Bon had the patience of a saint it seemed. “Because we were in the same class when we were fillies.”

Lyra blinked twice and stared at Minuette. “We were?”

“Yes Lyra. On your first day in class, you said that you believed humans were real. And then you and Bon Bon got into a fight with some bullies, and you two were inseparable after that.”

Lyra’s smiled. “Yeah, I remember that.” The Unicorn looked over her shoulder at the bag of groceries. “I actually just came from the store. I’m going to make Bon Bon dinner tonight as her present. She’s always cooking, so I’m going to surprise her.”

Minuette let out a small laugh. If Lyra’s cooking was anything like Bon Bon said, the poor Earth pony was going to be in serious pain tonight. “I’m sure she’ll…appreciate the gesture.”

Lyra smiled, completely missing Minuette’s worried expression and tone. “I hope so. She does so much work, running her sweet shop back in Ponyville and other…things.” Minuette cocked her head to the side at that remark. “I just want her to relax this time, instead of worrying about getting all the orders filled, or making sure dinner doesn’t burn, or stuff like that…”

Minuette couldn’t help but smile. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

“So,” Lyra said, turning back from her daydreaming and looking Minuette straight in the eye. “What did you get Berry?”

“Oh! Um…uh, just a…little something,” Minuette said. She tried to squeeze past Lyra, but the Unicorn had managed to block Minuette’s path without even meaning too.

“Cool,” Lyra said, and she began to turn aside to fall into step next to Minuette, but stopped. “What is it?”

“Oh, you know…” Minuette flipped the back of her ear, hoping to make it stop itching. “Just…a little present.”

“Yeah, I know it’s a present, Minuette,” Lyra said with a roll of her eyes. “What’s the present?”

“Something that Berry will like,” Minuette said. She forced her way past Lyra and began trotting quickly down the street. She dodged through the crowd, hoping to either lose Lyra or that the Unicorn would take the hint.

“Wine then?” Lyra said, keeping up with Minuette with ease. How in Celestia’s name was she able to flow through the crowd like that?

“Um…yeah,” Minuette said. She let out a small sigh of relief and slowed a bit. She didn’t know why she hadn’t just said that in the first place. Everypony knew that Berry enjoyed her wine—a bit too much, in Minuette’s opinion—so of course they’d expect Minuette to get her some for the holiday. It was completely normal.

“That’s kind of weird,” Lyra said.

Or not.

Minuette couldn’t help but stop. She stared at the mint Unicorn in disbelief. “What do you mean it’s weird?” she demanded. “Berry loves wine!”

Lyra waved a hoof and rolled her eyes. “Well, yeah. Everypony knows that.”

“So why is wine from me, her wife, weird? You think I don’t know what she likes? There’s not a pony in this entire world who knows her tastes better!”

Lyra poked Minuette in the chest with her hoof. “Exactly!”

The anger blew out of Minuette in a second. “Uh…exactly what?”

“Well, you said it yourself. You’re her wife. You know her better than anypony. It just seems kind of…dull of you to get her such a generic gift.”

“It’s not generic!” Minuette protested. “In fact, I had to go straight to—” She stuff her hoof in her mouth before she spilled the beans. Lyra was the absolute last pony who could find out what Minuette had just acquired.

“Ooooooh,” Lyra said, her eyes narrowing slightly. “So it’s a special type of wine then? Okay, that sounds a bit better, but I still say—ooaf!”

“Lyra, what are you—agh!”

Lyra tumbled forward and crashed into Minuette as a rather large crowd of ponies made their way down the street and one of them bumped into her. The two ponies tumbled to the ground and Minuette’s vision was suddenly filled with green fur.

“Oh, terribly sorry, ladies,” said a stallion. He held out a hoof and helped Lyra up and then Minuette. “Entirely my fault.”

“Nah, no harm done,” Lyra said with a smile. “Busy time of year. Now, where are my groceries?”

“Allow me,” the stallion said. His horn glowed and he and Lyra began to collect the scattered items. Minuette stood there and watched, nursing the back of her head from where she had hit the street.

“Thanks for the help,” Lyra said as she placed the last of her belongings back into her bag.

“I believe this is the last item,” the stallion said as he levitated a bottle in front of Lyra.

“That’s not—”

Minuette’s blood ran cold. Her cheeks burned. Her legs went stiff. Her mane suddenly felt like it was a complete mess. Even her teeth hurt as she pressed her mouth closed in horror.

Lyra simply looked at the bottle, turned to Minuette with a blank expression, and then turned back to the stallion. She took the bottle with her own magic and nodded her thanks.

“Again, I’m terribly sorry, ladies,” the stallion said. He bowed slightly, and then resumed walking, disappearing into the crowded streets.

“I believe you were going this way,” Lyra said as she began to walk again. The bottle was tucked safely in her saddlebag, with just the tip showing, but for all Minuette cared, it might as well have been in the main hall at Canterlot castle.

The blue Unicorn said nothing. Every step she took after Lyra was torture. Her legs refused to function beyond the bare minimum. Her blood felt like it had ruptured her veins and was flooding her body. She was keenly aware of her pulse in her teeth as her heart pounded against her body. Her lungs felt shallow, and despite the cold air she was constantly sucking in, her chest felt like it was on fire.

Minuette opened her mouth to say something, but her tongue refused to form words. All she could do was walk awkwardly behind Lyra like she was being lead to her execution.

After several lifetimes, Minuette began to relax a little. Lyra hadn’t said anything. She hadn’t shown any sign of knowing what Minuette had bought. Perhaps Lyra didn’t know what the drink was. Maybe Minuette could still avoid embarrassment. Lyra was, after all, a bit of an airhead sometimes. It wasn’t too far fetched to believe that she really didn’t know what she was carrying.

Plus, she had already been rather tipsy the last time she had seen that bottle.

Yeah. Yeah, she doesn’t remember it. Whew. I’m saved.

Walking came easier as Minuette’s body was flooded with relief. All she had to do now was get the bottle back and be on her way. But for that, she needed to compose herself. If she asked for the bottle the way she was now, Lyra would know something was up.

Minuette took several deep breaths and waited until they reached the end of the main street before she spoke. “Lyra, you have my—”

“Oh yeah,” Lyra said, whipping around to face Minuette. “This is yours, isn’t it?” She looked over her shoulder and levitated the bottle out of her bag.

“Yeah, thanks,” Minuette said, grabbing it—not too quickly—with her own magic and stuffing it deep into her saddlebag. “I guess he just thought it was yours.”

“Looked that way,” Lyra replied, still all smiles. “I didn’t want to embarrass the poor guy, so I just took it.”

Minuette silently thanked Celestia for Lyra’s scattered brain. “That was very kind of you. Well, I better get going. Berry and Pinchy should be back at the room soon.”

“Yeah, me too,” Lyra said as she turned to leave. “I need to get started on making dinner, or I’m never going to finish before Bon Bon gets back.”

“See you later,” Minuette said with a wave. She turned and began to walk toward the hotel she and her family were staying at.

“Hey, Minuette!” Lyra called.

“Yes?” Minuette asked as she turned around with a smile, but the smile instantly fell from her face.

Lyra’s lips were pursed out in an exaggerated kiss. Her eyes were closed and she was making a kissing sound as she took a small step toward Minuette. “I might be able to swing by later tonight, if you want. I’m sure Berry wouldn’t mind either.”

Minuette’s face went red. Her ears slammed down on her head and she stared at the ground, allowing her mane to fall over her face. “N-No, that’s…um, that’s…okay…”

Curse you, Lyra! Of course you remember!

“Well, okay,” Lyra teased. “You sure the two of you can handle a whole bottle of alicorn drink? Last time just one glass was enough to—”

“Don’t you have to get going?” Minuette shouted, still unable to look up from the sidewalk.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Minuette heard the Unicorn turn and begin to leave, but then she stopped. “Just remember though. Berry really likes it when you put that extra swing in you hips when you dance on the table!”

“LYRA!”

Author's Note:

For those of you who have no idea why Minuette is so embarrassed, it's from the events of Princess Cadance's bachelorette party. Short version: Minuette got way drunk.
There's also a reference to another story in this chapter.

Comments

[Hobbestc]

You can always count on a friend to remember all the stuff you don't want them to, lol.

[Zeck]

5531022
When said friend is the one you ended up making out with at the party, then yes.

[Yubella]

Minuette took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Talking to Princess Celestia still got her flustered, even though she had met her many times. She was a close friend of Princess Cadance after all, and thus Princess Celestia knew her well. But it was still odd talking to one of the rulers so casually.

No one give a flying buck about that stuck up sun horse! Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have said that.