Dreams and Disasters
By Quillery
Chapter Ten
The Real World
Dash and Twilight stood in a small room. It was brightly lit by the afternoon sun, with beams of light striking the polished white floors with an iridescent shimmer. A single, round table sat in the middle of the room, flanked by an assortment of matching chairs, save for one. On the far side was a regal placement, dressed with satin sheets the color of sapphire. It was fitted with silver and gold on its frame.
A carving stood out with the glowing sunlight. It wound around both sides of the immaculate throne and spindled up to the very top. A single gemstone lay at the head of the chair, a heart shaped sapphire. It too shone brightly in the life of the room. Dash felt her eyes linger on the immaculate jewel, and a quick glance showed that Twilight was doing the same.
They were guided quietly, to their seats. Neither of them spoke. Their eyes were trained on the pony that walked ahead of them. She glided through the room with a fluid grace. Her lengthy dress skirted the smooth floor, bunching and resting with each step its owner took.
Her escort parted ways at the throne, whispering into her ear as he left her side. He bowed deeply, and stepped aside, moving to the door.
The pony at the throne took her seat. Her eyes fluttered as she glanced across the table towards her gawking guests as they continued to stare. Amusement flickered across her features, despite the black circle that formed around one of her eyes, and she giggled as she rested her hooves on the table before her.
“I assume you both have many questions for me?” she said.
Silence reigned. Mr. Ruby did not budge from his post at the door, nor did he move at all. His face was set like stone, eyes unmoving, unblinking.
“I can understand if you feel a bit betrayed by my actions,” she said again. “But I assure you, if you ask, I will answer.”
“What exactly…” Twilight tried. The words died in her mouth, and it was all she could do to not choke on them by swallowing a growing lump in her throat.
Dash placed her hoof on Twilight’s. They exchanged a quiet glance. Dash could see the uncertainty in Twilight’s eyes, and she knew she could expect the same in her own. She nodded, before turning to the pony addressing them.
“What the hay is going on here!?” she shouted.
Victoire blinked. She leaned back into her chair, her expression unchanged. “You don’t have to shout, unless that is how you prefer your questions to be asked.”
Dash shook her head. “What I’d really like to know is why you were playing with us.”
Victoire tilted her head. “Playing? I’m not certain if that’s the word I would use."
“Well, I don’t know what else it could be! We walked into a map store and ended up being chased across the city by a bunch of goons looking to ponynap us!”
“I admit, the theatrics of it were… excessive, but I assumed you both might at least be somewhat receptive to it.”
“Receptive how, exactly?” Dash sat back in her chair and crossed her forelegs. “Because as I see it, this is a pretty weird way of greeting ponies. With all the lying an’ all.”
Victorie turned to Twilight. “Well, I understand that Miss Twilight is fond of books and history, and would most definitely enjoy what cultures the city had to offer. The art galleries and the Catacombs were an easy way to pique her interests.”
Victoire fluttered her eyes to Dash. “You’re interests were far more exciting to plan. You are a daredevil, I understand? You seek thrill and excitement, and I would assume at the very least, adventure, no?”
Dash blinked. “Well, couldn’t you just… I dunno… asked us? Hung out with us the normal way?”
Victoire grinned. “Because it is so simple for one of royalty to wander around the city freely.” She turned to Twilight. “Miss Twilight, can you say that Princess Celestia has such freedoms?”
Twilight looked up, meeting Victoire’s gaze. She looked away suddenly, scuffing the table with her hooves. “N-no, I guess not. Anytime Celestia goes anywhere, it’s always a huge event, even in Ponyville.”
Victoire’s grin widened. “So then, perhaps you can see the merit of my deception. I merely wished to get to know you both, without the hassles of my station or the bother of my name. I wanted to know you, as normal, everyday ponies. Nothing more.”
“So why the big chase across the city?” Dash asked. “That doesn’t sound like a good way to meet ponies either.”
Victoire laughed. “As I said, a bit of excitement to liven things up. You cannot say you did not enjoy the thrill of it all, can you? You are well known as heroes of Equestria many times over. I felt a simple chase by average ponies would be foals play for you compared to changelings and draconequi.”
Dash’s mouth opened to speak, but she stopped herself. She scrunched her face in thought, looking into space. Her gaze fell back to Victoire’s. “Well… I guess it was kinda fun. Like being in a Daring Do book.”
“Yes, the Maltese Gryphon.” Victoire winked. “That one is my favorite.”
Dash grinned. “You know, the thief in that story was called Miss Vanilla.”
“Yes, she is a wonderful character. I’m glad you approve of the pseudonym.”
“But what if something went wrong?” Twilight said. “You couldn’t have planned for every contingency! As far as I was concerned, I felt like we were actually in danger!”
Victoire frowned. “Such is the risk of planning such an event.” She sighed. “But I suppose you are right. Allow me then, to offer my deepest apology. There are only so many ways I can meet new ponies without them tripping over themselves to kiss at my hooves or lavish me with praise, and I desired a genuine accord with you, at least before the formalities played a part.”
Mr. Ruby cleared his throat. “The formalities would lessen the chances of being thrown against a fence in the future.”
Dash frowned at Mr. Ruby. “So who is this guy, anyways?”
Victoire looked over her shoulder to Ruby briefly. “Mr. Ruby is the head of my guard. He has been a protector of my family for generations. He guarded my mother, and her mother as well.”
Mr. Ruby smirked. “Now, I guard the little mouse and make sure she doesn’t get into too much trouble with her little games.” He glanced to Dash. “I apologise if I frightened you, Miss Dash, before the smoke. Acting is one of my older passions, and if I must endure her Majesty’s little games, I may as well offer a good show.”
Dash’s skin bristled. “I wasn’t scared! You just caught me off guard. I coulda taken you if I was more prepared.”
Victorie giggled. “Mr. Ruby does not approve of my… ‘expeditions’ into the city.”
Ruby let out a gruff chuckle. “Your mother wasn’t as troublesome when she was young.”
“My mother was also dreadfully boring, and still is, Mr. Ruby.” Victoire smiled. “She still thinks it is best the populace sees as little of the royalty as possible.”
“It certainly is a safer choice.”
Victoire shook her head and sighed. “Despite the little chases we get into, Mr. Ruby, I have never felt a lack of safety while out in the city.”
“Because your guards are the ones chasing you.”
“Those were actually guards?” Twilight asked. She swallowed a lump in her throat and sunk into her chair. “Then that means...”
Ruby laughed. “Do not worry, Miss Sparkle. The two guards you incapacitated are fine. Getting thrown against a wall is getting off easy when dealing with her Majesty and her games.”
Victoire frowned. “You play tag with your own guards through the city and you never hear the end of it.”
Twilight let out a weak chuckle. “I guess it was kind of fun. I’d never expect Princess Celestia to do a thing like that.”
“It would be pretty awesome if she did, though,” Dash said.
Dash and Twilight shared a smile and glanced back to Victoire. She too was smiling, before turning in her chair to look at Mr. Ruby. “Would you mind fetching some refreshments, Mr. Ruby? I am famished from all the running today, and I would assume the same of our guests.”
“Something to eat does sound good,” Twilight said.
Ruby nodded. “I shall fetch something sweet, then.” He bowed once to Victoire before leaving the room.
Dash watched him leave and caught Victorie doing the same. She kept a careful eye on the door as it closed behind Ruby, before she turned back to face her.
“Now that he’s gone...” Victoire said. “Perhaps I can be a bit more candid.”
Dash noticed Twilight raise an eyebrow, and she felt herself doing the same. “About what?” Twilight asked.
“Why I did what I did. Certainly what I said earlier was true, but I suppose there are other reasons why I was so set on meeting you two.” Victorie rose from her seat and walked over to the window. The sunlight poured over her, illuminating her bright sapphire mane and the golden crown on her head.
“Has Celestia ever expressed loneliness, Miss Sparkle?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly what I said. Has she ever seemed alone? Distressed over the lack of company true to her as a pony, and not as a princess?”
Twilight blinked a few times. “I... don’t know. I practically grew up as her student, and spent almost every day with her. I never noticed anything like that. We would stay up for hours sometimes, talking about all kinds of things: magic, history, the importance of friendship.” She shot a quick smirk at Dash. “Her favorite subject though was the night sky. We spent so much time talking about the celestial bodies. Mostly I was the one interested in the stars, but she always brought the subject back to...”
Twilight blinked again, and her mouth dropped open. She stared, not making a sound save for a sharp inhalation of air.
Dash tilted her head. “Subject back to what, Twi?”
“...the moon. She always talked about the moon. The way she stared at it. I can't believe I never realised it until now. She was lonely. She missed her sister, for over a thousand years.”
Victoire nodded. “I do not have the lifespan of an alicorn, so I have considerably less time to make friends. The values of harmony and friendship are just as strong here as any land that pays homage to Celestia, so I too know the importance of making friends.” She let out a heavy sigh. “But as a Queen, it is rather hard to make friends who are true.”
“What do you mean?” Dash asked. “You have a castle full of ponies that will do anything for you.”
Victoire scoffed. “They do so out of service to the throne. Not to me personally. I regard them fondly for their diligence, but it is hard to quantify a friendship based on the fact that they are required to do as I ask.”
Dash scratched her head. “Oh... I guess that makes sense.”
“So you see the reason for my little deception.” Victoire placed a hoof on the window. “I love my people. I do all that I can to make their lives as enjoyable as possible. I would not have known that the workers of the old city were so overburdened and ready to revolt. As Vanille, I was able to stop it, by giving them the reparations they deserved.
“But that does not mean I cannot feel like a prisoner to my service to them. Sometimes, I just want to be myself, to be my own pony. As Queen, it is very difficult to do so. That is why is why Vanille exists.”
“Did any of the other queens do something like that?” Dash said.
Victoire laughed. “My mother was actually afraid to leave the palace sometimes. Do not misunderstand, she was a wonderful queen. The people loved her just as much as any queen, but I cannot say she was as outgoing as me, or her mothers before her.”
“What about that painting back at the museum? The first Victoire left the country, just to visit Celestia!”
Victoire turned from the window. “Which is exactly what I would love to do someday.”
“I guess that’s why you asked so many questions about Celestia,” Twilight said.
She nodded. “Celestia is a pony I know only through pictures and stories. She hasn’t been back to Prance in over three hundred years, before my great grandmother.”
Twilight glanced down at the table. “I guess she has been getting busier these days. Even with Luna back...”
“Maybe something will come up,” Dash said. “Something that will give Celestia a bit more time to herself.”
Victoire shrugged and trotted back to her seat. “I doubt such a solution will spring out of the ground. But I have seen stranger things.”
As she sat down, the door opened. Ruby entered the room with a second pony behind him. He was pushing a small cart covered with plates. On top of those was an assortment of pastries, cookies and candies. Dash and Twilight eyed the cart, licking their lips.
Ruby and the servant halted just beside the table and bowed towards Victoire. “The sweets you requested, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ruby, Mr. Beignet,” she said. “They look delicious.” The plates glowed sapphire as Victoire plucked them from the cart and placed them on the table, some in front of her and some between Twilight and Dash. “Please, eat. The bakers here are the finest in all of Prance.”
Dash had already snatched a doughnut and bit into it, while Twilight grabbed some cookies. After their first bites, they both froze mid-chew. They glanced down to the plates they had taken, then to the baker, and finally to Victorie. She was smiling from behind a teacup as she sipped quietly.
“These taste amazing!” Dash exclaimed, swallowing her food and reaching for more.
“I’m glad you enjoy them. Feel free to take as much as you want. Consider it my gift to you, for bearing with me today.”
Twilight smiled. “It was nothing, your Majesty. It was the least we could do for a friend.”
Dash stopped inhaling pastries long enough to see Victoire almost drop her tea. She staggered a moment, the cup wavering in her magic. It floated slowly down to the table, fully revealing her surprised expression.
“You... you truly mean that... don’t you?”
Twilight nodded, and so did Dash. “Yes. All things considered, I think Dash and I had fun today.”
“You bet!” Dash said. “It was fun being the hero again. Even if it was kinda fake.”
Victorie was still. She lifted a hoof to her face and rubbed at her cheek and quickly cleared her throat. “Mr. Ruby. Did you get the other thing I requested?”
He nodded. “Of course, your Majesty.” His horn glowed as he grabbed something from the lower shelf of the pastry cart. It was a small rectangular parcel wrapped in brown paper. It floated towards the table and landed softly in front of Twilight. She glanced down at it and placed a hoof on it, crinkling the paper slightly, before glancing up to Victoire.
“I believe that is the reason you are here, is it not? L’Histoire de Victoire. A complete history of my family, back before the Gryphon Rebellions until now. I have read every edition ever printed. It is a most fascinating history.”
Twilight grinned. “Thank you, your Majesty. I can’t wait to read it myself.”
Twilight picked up the book in her magic and popped open her bags, slipping it inside. After a few moments of rummaging, she pulled out a similarly sized book, and floated it over to Victoire. Her eyes scanned the cover and smiled.
“Equestria’s Dawn; a complete history,” she read. “An appropriate title.”
“Most of the research notes are actually mine and Celestia’s,” Twilight said, blushing. “History was one of my favorite subjects, but I never expected Celestia to use my homework to make a book like this.”
“Then I look forward to reading it as well.” She floated the book from the table towards Mr. Ruby. “Mr. Ruby, see to it that this book is catalogued properly, then sent to my room.” She smirked at Twilight. “No sense wasting time.”
Ruby nodded, and took the book in his magic. He gestured to the baker, and the two of them filed out of the room.
After they were gone again, Victoire rose from her seat again and circled towards Twilight and Dash. “Now then. Is there anything else that you wish to do while you are here? I must admit that you were correct about not having time to meet with me tomorrow, which is another reason I wanted to see you today. I will be busy watching the festivities tomorrow with my mother, and travelling through the city will be time consuming indeed.”
Twilight raised a hoof to her chin. “Well... I would love to see more of the palace. It looked so big from the outside.”
Victoire nodded. “A simple request, which I can even do myself.” She turned to Dash. “What about you, Miss Dash? Is there anything special you wish to do while in my company?”
Dash thought a moment, staring in Twilight’s direction. A smile formed at the corner of her lips, as an idea came to mind. It wasn’t much of a thought, but considering how the day had gone, she felt that Twilight would enjoy some peace. “No, I’m fine. Whatever Twi wants to do is fine with me. Maybe I’ll get used to this fancy schmancy stuff one of these days.”
“Are you sure, Dash? “Twilight asked. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I won’t force it on you.”
Dash remembered back to the flight over the ocean and what Sea Swirl had told her. Just show the interest... Her smile brightened. “I’m sure, Twi.”
Hopefully this answers most, if not all concerns with how Prance unfolded. I'll try and answer any further bits if they don't seem to spoilery about Vanille but as far as the Prance story line is concerned, consider it finished, with only the departure remaining.
This was a great chapter. This update brightened my day.
Was that a subtle reference to future Alicorn Twilight or did I just read too much into it? >.>
Awesome, I must say that this story is the story I wait for with most anticipation nowdays (having finished almost all twidash on the web)
Eagerly awaiting new update
I always like a ruler who knows how to have a little fun. Victoire's pretty cool.
3456182 I was wondering it too. Most likely is that it was just a tip of the hat to it, not that it will actually happen in this story. If there's another sequel, then... perhaps. I guess we just have to wait and find out, now won't we?
Am I the only one here who wouldn't forgive Victoire so easily for staging the attempted ponynapping? I know that she had good intentions, just wanting Twilight and Rainbow to have some exitement, but that would be the last feeling I would've felt during the actual heat of the moment. I would've been TERRIFIED. Not just for my own sake, but for my friend's as well. If there's one thing the movie Taken has shown me, it's the absolutely nightmarish future any kidnapped person faces when taken into slavery under who-knows-what-kind-of buyer. Just imagining such a thing happening to me and/or my loved ones scares the life out of me, so I would've probably torn Victoire to pieces if I was in Twilight's or Rainbow's hooves... just verbally so if she's lucky.
...Oh, and this story is great. One of my current top favorites on the site!
Dunno why I expected otherwise. The answer to what they were thinking was pretty much that they were thinking like children. Mostly just annoyed that no one calls it out for being so foolish upon deciding it was exciting.
I thought this was a fun part, the chase and everything made for a fun read!
It really annoys me when Twilight calls RD "Dash." Since, you know, she never does that. But besides that, I enjoy the story.
3456607
Let's just assume that from the cannon of the prequel, the extra time Dash and Twi have been spending together before this trip has added a bit more familiarity for Twilight. Certainly she is more proper than that, but sometimes pet names for friends can sneak up on you. AJ has RD, Pinkie has Dashie, so I think it's only fair for Twilight's turn.
Another beautiful addition to this beautiful story.
There are occasional grammar and spelling errors that bug me, but I'm probably the only one who really cares.
Twilight being completely oblivious to Rainbow's interest in her is irritating, but also makes the story that much better. It really makes me want to root for Rainbow.
Can I just say that this whole story is absolutely adorable?
I shall await the next chapter with the utmost
impatience.Write on,
Legion
The Queen's games seems a bit excessive but what can you expect from "locked up" royalty.
3456182 HA! I was thinking the same
So, what exactly were the odds that Twilight and Rainbow Dash not only stumble into the right tourist agency but to also accept the manager's help when a show of how they don't do that anymore is made?
Like... There are so many things...
This explains nothing!?
3459118 Who says that they had to enter that shop? If the guards warned the agencies ahead of time and followed the Equestrians they could sneak her in the back to await a call to the front.
3459263
But that's not what did happen or would have happened or-
It's all just so dreadfully convoluted.
To me this makes.complete sense. I mean, sure her actions were very stupid and could've easily resulted in a negative outcome if Twi hadn't had some magical restraint, but it made sense for a bored royalty figure to misuse their own force like you showed....kinda
3456437
I have to agree. I can't believe the queen thought this escapade was at all appropriate. I mean, seriously—LARPing with your own guards is bad enough, but pretending to ponynap the personal envoys of a foreign ruler? WTF. Does Victoire want to create an international situation? I don't care how lonely she is; the whole idea is insane. She's incredibly lucky that Twilight and Dash didn't blast her and her guards into next Tuesday. And speaking of Twilight and Dash: they're okay with all this? Really?
*sigh* Whatever. I love the premise of this story, and it's been cute thus far, but this Prance arc was just silly.
3459803
Yes, in hindsight everything seems to have turned out rather messy, ans I apologise. The prance arc was an experiment to test my ability for mystery and adding a bit more stakes to the story, and I went overboard. I don't call it a complete failure, but for this story, you can expect it to return to the way it was originally once dash and twi leave prance in the next chapter.
3456656 Canon one n
I would have liked for Victorie to make some moves on Twi in this chapter much to Dash's and Ruby's horror and Twi's obliviousness. XD
But maybe this highly, very highly, ultra highly uncommon queen will do so in the next chapter in her tour with Twi? Would certainly put Dash more on the spot to be more assertive/protective of Twi plus it could work on Twi's obliviousness so that she notices that Victorie is interested in her and later due that experience also sees Das's actions around her in a new light.
But yeah, this whole larping ponynapping was reaaaally weird and risky as well though I guess all end's well.^^;
Damn, this felt pretty rushed
Oh french people, you so crazy.
Yes Victoire is completely insane. She is french nobility, I see no problem with this.
In other news, wow this is the shippiest ship to ever sail the sap filled skies of fimfiction.
The Shippiest. Nice to see this side of you J. Sorry I took so long to actually read it. (but now I get to read the whole thing at once WOOT)
I am honestly surprised that nobody died in this arc.
Slavery is not a joking matter. The moment Twilight and Dash realized that they were seriously in danger of being kidnapped and sold into slavery, the gloves should have come off and lethal force dealt out. None of this 'pick up the goons and throw them into the wall' nonsense, more like 'pick up two rocks and accelerate them through their eyes and into their brains'. Dash should have taken off, found a brick or some other heavy object, dove back in and aim it at the back of Mr. Ruby's neck, letting the inertia built up during the dive crush his spine and either paralyze him for life or kill him outright.
It takes a surprising small amount of force to kill a person. If Twilight has the horn to lift two full-grown stallions and launch them into a wall, then there are a hundred and one different ways should could kill them with less force.
i don't consider anything the queen or her captian did forgivable under any extent and to be in character celestia wouldn't either. that was beyond reprehensible.
You’re interests were far more exciting to plan. uuuuh, not sure about this one =/
That is why is why Vanille exists.
That was quite a twist there, I certainly didn't expect it all to turn out like this =P
Next bunch will come sometime later, as much as I'd love to, I simply can't read it all in one go =)
Goddamn.
I'm pretty certain people have gotten PTSD from less than thinking they were being hunted through graveyard-sewers by a gang of corrupt cops-turned-slavers.
Everypony's incredibly lucky that nopony was seriously injured here. Rainbow Dash can lay on no small amount of hurt, and if Twilight had actually tried to fight back at the end (what with the seeming betrayal and all) then there could have been some pretty nasty damage inflicted... seeing as how she thought she had just been betrayed by a friend and would be fighting to keep herself and her best friend from being kidnapped/enslaved, her normal qualms against hurting ponies would be... less noticeable.
Bloody Royals
Nice foreshadowing! (of Twilight's Kingdom)
3456182 Is this the bit you were talking about?
I saw this video and automatically thought of rainbow rapping with twilight playing the violin for some reason.
A boy , the queen deserves 34 revolutions , what an asshole
Loving this fic so far! This Prance arc has been crazy, twists abound and I love it.