> Pipp's Freedom
>  by Jhoira
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Pipp's Crush
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pipp smiled a she touched down lightly, tucking her wings back into their proper places, and taking a moment to realign any out of place feathers. Cantering around the side of a building she smiled as she spied Sunny. Sunny was so pretty, and nice, and... Pipp shook her head to get it back on straight, metaphorically, of course. She wasn't wrong, but she couldn't very well go flirt with the savior of magic! Well she could, of course, but it wouldn't be appropriate. On top of only knowing each other for a few weeks. But she could still, totally not creepily, watch her from a distance. She took a long moment to do it not creepily then stopped. She didn't want people to notice.

Sunny, for her part, had. She caught bright pink out of the corner of her eye. She grinned to herself. Pipp was less subtle than she thought. It was cute, and Pipp was cute Sunny had to admit. After noticing the first time Sunny brushed it off. She was an earth pony and Pipp had never seen one of them (though she hadn't ever seen a unicorn and she didn't stare at Izzy like that.) After the entire issue with the magic being sorted out Sunny assumed that Pipp would get over it. Since she obviously hadn't Sunny decided to sit down and have a think about it. She didn't have any compelling interest, but she did like mares, and Pipp was pretty, and nice, if a little vain.

Pipp started to make her way over to Sunny to say hello. Just hello of course. When she bumped into someone as she started to walk and blinked, shaking her head as she recoiled from the collision. "Sorry." She looked up to see she'd bumped into her mother, Queen Haven. "Hello..." She looked around and saw they were alone. "Mother."

Queen Haven gave her daughter a momentary frown. "You should look around more when you're walking, dear." She looked around to double check that they were indeed, outside of others hearings. "I've been looking for you." 

Pipp did her best to hide her look of apprehension. This could be fun, or anything all the way down to horrifying. "For...?"

Queen Haven smiled and nodded. "A service to strengthen the royal family."

Pipp sighed, she wasn't a fan of these tasks, but she was the extra child. She kind of had a duty to her family to help. Zipp was fortunate to be the first child, the heir had other requirements, but they were simple. Don't embarrass yourself, don't cause family strife... Both of which Zipp ignored, but as the heir, there was nothing that could be done to her. "Want me to go and tour the new lands to bring attention to Zephyr Heights?" She wasn't opposed by default, but it being demanded was always a little grating.

Queen Haven shook her head. "No, I have a new target for you to win the affections of."
> Pipp's Invitation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pipp whined lowly as she glanced over at her... 'target.' Pipp's ears down as she was being told to do something she definitely Well, mostly didn't want to do. "But mother..."

Queen Haven hissed lowly. "Ears up Pipp, appearances!" Pipp sighed and stood up straight, forcing her ears back into a normal conversational position. "And no 'but mothers' this time. I relented last time as there was a chance you'd have succeeded. And you being unhappily married to a stallion would have hurt us more than having an infatuated son would've helped. But this time it's a mare. If, and hopefully when you're successful you'll have a pretty wife. You'll be happy, our family will prosper, everyone gains."

Pipp let out a small sigh an nodded. "Yes, mother." Grimacing once her mother's back was turned Pipp turned to look at Sunny. She had just been ordered to... Attract Sunny. Her mother wanted the mare who had brought back magic attached to her family. Pipp had always been her mother's political piece. The spare princess who wouldn't be needed on the throne. Her use was that of a pretty thing, both to distract the populace and be a pretty political tool.

Pipp locked her lips as she cantered over to Sunny. Sunny had seemed to be too busy being happy with everything to notice her. "Sunny?"

Sunny looked over and smiled at her new friend. "Hey Pipp! Isn't this all great? You can fly!"

Pipp took a moment to flap her wings gently and nodded. "Yep! It's so exciting without strings!" She was legitimately thrilled by that turn of events. Both that she could now fly and they wouldn't have to continue with that charade of flying.

Sunny clapped as Pipp raised a few inches into the air. "And now we can all visit each other and everything!"

"Speaking of..." Pipp let out a small oomph as she stopped flapping and landed a bit harder than she meant to. "Oomph. Going to need to get used to landing..." She looked up at Sunny, who was still smiling at all her work. "Speaking of visiting each other... With your house being ruined and everything..."

Sunny shook her head. "Don't worry about that!" Pipp blinked in surprise. "It's not great by any means. But I'd have paid anything too see this happen! I lost the place I grew up with dad." Sunny gave a small bow of her head, the only indication to her grief. "But I saw his dream come true. And that's far more important."

Pipp smiled and let her eyes linger a little too long on Sunny. Sunny really did want the best for everyone else and was willing to give up whatever she had for it. Pipp had to respect that. Pipp wanted to be like that, but her mother made sure that the family came first. After she realized she'd been absently staying at Sunny, Pipp shook herself. "Right! Right." Pipp nodded in agreement. "And with that in mind, with everything you've done for everyone I was thinking about your housing issue."

Sunny smiled, waving a hoof dismissively. "Hitch already offered his spare room while we get everything fixed up."

Pipp faltered, she hadn't thought of that. She could have argued for the saving of money in coming to the castle over staying in a hotel or something but Hitch... Pipp may not have been a huge fan of her mother's political machinations but she'd been partaking in them long enough to be good at them. She could only think up one option, and it was a Hail Mary, she hated that tactic but if it was the only one she could think up... Pipp nodded, looking down and tracing the tip of her hoof through the dirt. "Oh... Well I guess you'd want to stay with your long time friend not your new one..."

Sunny was obviously caught off guard by the implied offer. "Pipp... I didn't realize that... Ah! Is that what you were starting to say earlier with visiting each other?"

Pipp looked up and nodded. Her face still showing mild disappointment, inside she was cautiously optimistic. She wasn't sure, she didn't know Sunny well enough but there was a good chance that she'd won this gamble. She's at the very least won some points with Sunny. She could certainly stay here to work on Sunny but her mother would want the home field advantage.

Sunny for her part smiled at her new friend. Hitch would understand, and besides, he was just being a good friend and offering, he had no vested interest in Sunny taking up his spare room for a such a long time. Though she'd still be likely taking him up on that offer eventually. She couldn't crash with her brand new friends for months. Even if they were royal and had plenty of extra space. "I'd love to visit your castle Pipp!"

Pipp let her smile return, this time completely a true smiles. "Fantastic! You can stay in the guest wing it's near my rooms. I think Zipp had plans to visit Izzy so she won't be around for a bit. I'll be happy to have the company." That 'plan' had, of course, been heavily manipulated by their mother. Zipp had long ago discovered that, as the heir, there was limited steps that could be taken against her, that was not so true for Pipp.

Sunny nodded and smiled. "Well, when do you want to go? Obviously not tonight, but I can be ready to head out tomorrow. We already salvaged what we could."

Pipp nodded. "I think mother is heading out soon, but I'll wait for you. We can walk there together...! Right? That's what you and Izzy did?"

As Sunny nodded happily Pipp grimaced internally. She'd just dragged her new friend into one of her mother's plans. But she had to show her mother she was trying. She would sabotage it later, failure was acceptable, outright defiance was not.
> Pipp's (And Sunny's) Journey
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunny and Pipp trotted down the road towards Zephyr Heights. It had been two days of traveling for the two. They had a tent, a very high quality one that the queen had insisted on sending, but Sunny had wanted to sleep out in the wilderness. That had been fine the first night but the second Pipp had rolled into a dead bush in the night. And she had been picking twigs out of her wings all day.

Pipp had kept Sunny talking about herself for the first leg of the journey. With well place questions and comments she'd learned much of Sunny's past. The two reasons were that it would put to rest any lingering concerns Sunny might have had about Pipp being self centered. Also it was simply interesting to learn about others. Especially those so different from herself.

Sunny smiled at Pipp. "Sorry, I've been talking about myself all this time. But you're a very good listener Pipp."

"Thank you! But it's not hard when you are so interesting... Your life has been so dynamic!" Pipp hadn't meant for it to come out precisely like that. But it wasn't a bad thing for what it was. She was supposed to be making Sunny interested in her... And feeling appreciated lent itself well to that. If Sunny truly developed an interest in her... Pipp stomped on that thought. She wouldn't make someone else play her mother's games!

Sunny grinned at that. "I suppose it has. But what about you Pipp? What's the life of a princess like?"

Pip have a small sigh, her shoulders slumping a bit. "Stressful." Pipp's brain was just catching up to her mouth as it continued. "Zipp is going to be queen so she's expected to fit a certain image. Not to say she doesn't have stress too, but it's different stress. Mother trotted me out to be the..." Her brain finally regained control from her emotions and snapped her mouth shut. Having someone genuinely care about how she was doing and not asking generic interview questions was so refreshing she'd gotten carried away. Even Zipp just thought of her as mother's pawn.

Sunny had noticed the pause. "Uh, Pipp?"

Pipp quickly though you a way to finish the sentence. "Figurehead. No, no, the face. The face of the family. I was trying to think up the right word." She gave her best smile to Sunny, not letting it quiver even a little.

Sunny nodded, making a sympathetic noise. "Ah, I can see how that would be stressful. Do you get along with the queen?"

Pipp nodded. "Yes. Mother is a great leader. Doing what's best for the people and trying to help everyone." A rehearsed, but true enough answer. As a queen, her mother was excellent. Her top two priority's were that the pegasi society was prosperous and fair, and that their family stay in power. The former being only slightly more important than the latter.

Sunny seemed to notice a little something off, so she changed her question. "Do you get along with your mom?"

Pipp hasn't expected that question right after the other. So she very nearly answered truthfully. "N..." her eyes widened as she realized what she was saying and tried to change it, but couldn't change fast enough so it just ended in nonsense. "Nnngrlmmm..." Pipp quickly looked off to the side, hiding as best she could her attempts to bring herself back under control. Taking a few long, deep breathes, and as quiet as she tried to be she tried to keep it quiet, out of Sunny's hearing.

Sunny let the silence hang as they walked a minute without exchanging words. Eventually she started the conversation up again. "Do... you want to talk about it...? "

"No!" Pipp flinched at being overly emphatic, but she couldn't let her own personal feelings get out. A few seconds went by before adding. "But... Thank you." She couldn't help but let the awkward silence hang for a few moments. She didn't know what exactly she should do here. Then she hit on it. "Did you know that we have a pool?"

Sunny nodded, the change of subject was obvious but she wasn't going to push. "Yes, Zipp mentioned it when she mentioned about how your m... The queen never takes her crown off. Ever."

Pipp blinked at Sunny's sudden change and shook her head, actually cracking a smile. She didn't like her mom, but her name/their relation wasn't anathema to her. "You don't need to go that far Sunny. It's just... Well... Like I said she's a very good queen. To the exclusion of other things at times..."

Sunny nodded. "I'm sorry." Though this time she didn't wait long before changing the subject herself, apparently having made peace with the situation. "So, pegasi like to swim?"

Pipp nodded and smiled at Sunny's obvious acceptance of the change. "I'm guessing it had to do with us being unable to fly! Though I wonder what'll happen now that we can fly again." They managed to make small talk for another hour before the sun started to dip down below the horizon to end their day.

However when they were settling down for the night, to end their journey with more chatting then rest Pipp kept shifting and digging into her wings with her muzzle. Sunny couldn't help but notice. "You ok?"

Pipp spit out another twig and nodded, scowling, this time publicly. "Yes, just that bush I rolled into, my wings still aren't clean!" 

Sunny giggled a bit and got up, getting a sour look from a Pipp. "Here, let me help. It'll be faster from an outside angle."

Pipp blushed brightly, even noticeable though her pink coat. "Y-You want to help me preen!?"

Sunny came to a quick halt on her way over. "Well I would have said yes a moment ago but... From your reaction, no?"

Pipp calmed down a little, remembering Sunny wasn't a pegasus. "Right." She grinned a little, still blushing gently, though now mostly hidden by her coat. "Sorry, just... Preening is... Very personal between two Pegasi. Not intimate, but like you'd only preen your mate or your kids. Or your parents if they were very old and couldn't do it themselves."

It was Sunny's turn to blush a little. "I saw pegasi preening..."

Pipp giggled quietly, slightly muffled by trying to dig out another stick. "Personal, not intimate. No pegasus would wish a misaligned feather on anyone." Pipp gave a small, dramatic shudder as she spit out a burr. Second one she'd found, to her irritation. Sunny went back to her place and Pipp spent the next ten minute laboriously trying to preen herself to little avail. She'd made as much progress as she could but there were a few last pieces stuck out of reach... Pipp did her best to ignore it and sleep anyway but she kept involuntarily rustling her wings.

"Ok, we need to fix this." Sunny got up and even as Pipp opened her mouth to protest Sunny shook her head. "It's keeping you up. And the rustling is keeping me up."

Pipp scowled but had to admit that a Sunny was right. "Ok... B-But you're just cleaning my wings, ok? I'll preen them after!" Her mother would have probably scowled at her for making that difference declaration. But Pipp didn't care! She wasn't going to throw all her social norms out the window for her mother.

Sunny nodded and walked over as Pipp spread her wings. Sunny removed a few errant twigs but nothing of not. Until she got to Pipp's second wing and found another large burr lodged up out of Pipp's reach at the connection point of her wing. Sunny pulled the burr out and Pipp let out an audible sigh of relief. Sunny had to give it to Pipp, she was made of sterner stuff than Sunny thought if the most complaints that got had been done shifting in place. Another twig was lodged a bit deeper than others taking more work to work it free. In the process Sunny brushed up against Pipp's feathers and couldn't stop a small coo. "Ooh, soft..."

Pipp however heard it. "Sunny!?"

Sunny jumped and blushed gently, she'd forgotten the context of her actions. Quickly grabbing the twig again she pulled it out from between two feathers and cantered back to where she had been earlier. "All done!"

Pipp quickly shuffled her wings thoroughly and let out another sigh of pleasure. She preen herself quickly, correcting her feathers to make sure none were out of line. She sighed happily then looked up at Sunny afterwards, who was still watching her. "Thank you."

Sunny smiled and nodded. "I'm glad you're all better now. And now we should get some sleep!"

Pipp nodded, smiling to herself. "Yes, now that it's possible, for either of us." She grinned and rustled her wings meaningfully before settling down, hearing a quiet snicker from Sunny at the performance.
> Pipp's Confession
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pipp lead Sunny down the hall to her guest suite. She gave a little hop as she reached the doors and smiled back at Sunny before throwing the doors open wide. Showing the palatial room with the nice couch, table, chairs, snacks, fruit basket and everything else one could look for in a lounge. "Ta-daaaaa!"

Sunny smiled, though it faltered slightly after she took in the entire room. "This is very nice Pipp. I mean very nice. But... Where's the bed?"

Pipp pointed to a door across the room. "The bedroom is through there. This is your lounge." Pipp pranced in place, giving off her best encouraging smile as Sunny entered.

Sunny took in the room a second time, it was almost as big as the bottom floor of her house. At least almost as big as it had been. "This is a lot of space..." Sunny was mumbling, not really thinking about that Pipp was listening, but she was.

"Well mother always says we must give off the right first impression." She took a step up next to Sunny, the tiniest bit of worry entering her voice. "You do like it, don't you?"

Sunny smiled and nodded. "It's more than I was expecting when you said "guest room" is all. More space than I know what to do with." When they got to the bedroom Sunny looked around in amazement. It wasn't as big as the lounge but it was still huge. It was probably half again as big as her room back at the lighthouse. Well, was. She wondered how big her new room might be. She hoped they figured out who was going to pay for her house by the time she got back. If she had to pay for it then get reimbursed after they were done arguing she wouldn't be able to make a particularly large house. Let alone remake the lighthouse. But either way, it had certainly been worth it.

Sunny started to unpack her things. It didn't take too long, she didn't bring that much. She was interrupted by Pipp towards the end. 

Pipp licked her lips and rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. She had Sunny at the castle at least, it was time to come clean to Sunny. "Sunny, I need to tell you something..."

Sunny nodded, waiting for the news before noticing that Pipp seemed uncomfortable. "Oh." She turned around and sat down, and actually looking at Pipp. "What's the matter?" Pipp bit her bottom lip, causing Sunny to grin and interrupt her. "Ahh, I know." 

Pipp's eyes widened and she raised her hooves to try and interrupt her. "No, you don..."

Sunny continue despite the objections. "You have a crush on me."

Pipp shook her head emphatically. "No!" She hesitated a moment and then nodded. "Well... Yes..." She blushed gently. "But not what I was talking about!"

Sunny opened and closed her mouth a few times. She'd been ready to tell Pipp that while she didn't feel the same she wasn't by any means opposed to the idea but now... "Well... We'll circle back to the crush then, but what is so important then?"

Pipp licked her lips again. "Uh... Well... Sorry for not telling you earlier... But I kind of couldn't fail to get you here it'd look bad... But you need to be careful here..." Sunny's eyes started to widen but Pipp raised her hooves again. "You're not in danger! But mother wants me to try and... Get you interested in me. She wishes you to be bound to our royal family..."

Sunny narrowed her eyes, glaring at Pipp. Her voice rising as she started. "And you went along with...!" Her fury petered out as she realized what was going on. At least, part of it. "But you're warning me." Her voice was back to normal. A guarded normal, but normal.

Pipp nodded, glancing at the door. "I just need you to do me the favor of being here for a week or so... I can tell mother I tried, you weren't interested and she'll drop it. She's demanding, but not completely unreasonable. So long as she doesn't think I screwed it up on purpose or through negligence it'll be fine."

Sunny's eye twitched and she narrowed her eyes again. "If you fail she punishes you?"

Pipp shook her head, her mother wasn't a monster. "Oh no. If I screw it up she'll be displeased. But if it was something outside my control she won't hold that against me."

Sunny took a long moment to consider this and stood up. "I see. Then let's deal with this now."

Pipp blinked and stood up, whining. "Noooo, please don't leave! I know it's weird but just give it a week and I can tell her you're just not interested!"

Sunny smiled encouragingly at Pipp and patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry Pipp, I'll get this sorted out. You'll be fine."

Pipp let out a sigh of relief... Until the words that were actually spoken processed and she looked back up to find Sunny charging out the door with a look of determination. Pipp's eyes widened in horror. "No! No no no!" She charged after Sunny, trying to catch up and stop her before she, doubtlessly, went to yell at the queen.





Sunny barged into the throne room with Pipp close on her heels. Queen Haven was relaxing on her throne. Her guards moving a few steps forwards before they saw that it was their queens honored guest, and her daughter. While irritated by the lack of decorum, etiquette and anything else resembling politeness, the queen didn't let it show. She drew herself up to her full height and spoke. "Sunny Starscout, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

Sunny looked around at the guards and composed herself. Sitting up to her own full height. "I have come to seek and offer council to the queen, on a matter of great import. Though only in private, away from prying ears." Sunny inwardly grinned as Pipp gaped at her back. Those stories about princess Twilight's court hadn't gone to waste.

Queen Haven also took note of the sudden change in their guest. When Pipp had brought her in earlier she was polite, but hardly formal or proper... "All of my guards are of the utmost trustworthiness, Sunny Starscout. But as a mark of our great friendship I will acquiesce to you're request." With a wave of her hoof the guards filed out. Queen Haven waited a few moments after the resounding of the shutting doors faced before looking to Sunny. "What is this great matter you wish to discuss, Sunny Starscout?"

Sunny took a few steps forwards. "I hear you want to make me an extended part of your family."

Queen Haven's polite smile instantly became a scowl and Pipp's apprehension became horror. "You do, do you? Well, it looks like someone has..." Queen Haven's building steam was immediately doused with Sunny's next two words.

"I accept."

This time both mother, Queen Haven, and daughter, Pipp, gaped at Sunny. Queen Haven recovered first. "Well, excellent." She shifted her eyes to her daughter. "Bold strategy to simply tell her, Pipp. Very risky. But it worked, so I commend your alacrity in this matter."

Sunny held up a hoof. "I do have a condition."

Queen Haven chuckled and nodded. So that was why Sunny was accepting so readily. She liked it, such motivations made for easier negotiations. "Of course. We will have to discuss Pipp's dowry, won't we?"

Sunny nodded. This was going to sound bad, but she needed to couch it in terms Queen Haven couldn't wriggle out of. It may be a verbal contract, but since it was mainly a social agreement verbal would be more than enough. "For Pipp's dowry, I want Pipp."

Queen Haven blinked, in surprise and confusion. Pipp on the other hand was almost vibrating with anticipation as she realized what Sunny was planning. Queen Haven needed clarification though. "What do you mean? You are getting Pipp."

Sunny shook her head. Putting her hoof down, symbolically, and literally. "You will give up any social, familial, or economical claim you have on Pipp. All her performances, all her perfume lines, all her streams and anything else of hers that you manage, or have your hooves in. I want them all. And you can no longer pressure, cojole, plead, or use any other pressure to get her to do what you want."

Queen Haven scowled. Giving up the rights to Pipp's products was fine and good, but the rest of it. "She is my daughter. If you think..."

Sunny barreled over the Queen, "She will be my wife! If you think I'm going to let you treat her as a political tool you have another thing coming." She looked back at the obviously worried Pipp and have her an encouraging smile. Looking back at the queen who was frowning in obvious thought Sunny laid her hand down. No ace up her sleeve, just the honey and the vinegar, and letting the queen choose what she wanted. "I can play your game. I can smile and make nice. Or, if you refuse and want to mistreat Pipp again, I can go tell everyone your little plots here. Or you can lock me up. How long do you think your rule will last if you make an enemy of the mare who brought back the power of flight?"

Queen Haven seethed on her throne, she'd been backed into a corner. But a moment later she realized this didn't really change anything. Sunny Starscout was willingly tying herself to their family. So she would have a poor relationship with her daughter in law, and lost a valuable piece. She would gain a more valuable piece of leverage. As for her relationship with Pipp... Well Queen Haven hadn't liked her father either, but she understood his priorities, and reflected them.  Queen Haven took another moment to pretend to be reluctant before nodding slowly. "Very well, but, there are conditions! You will have to get married within the year, here, in the castle. And there will be certain functions that you two will have up attend."

Sunny shook her head. "No. We will get married wherever we please. Likely in Maretime Bay but that we can decide later."

Queen Haven nodded putting on a small scowl. It would have been nice if the wedding was in the castle, but she could spin it to a good will destination anywhere it ended up being. "Fine. But you will attend the events, at least two a year. And you will get married within a year. Without those this entire thing would be pointless anyway."

Sunny thought she could push for more. She'd spelled out how the queen really had no room to stand on. But you could only push so hard before someone broke. And if the broke they stopped caring about the fall out. Sunny gave a glance back to Pipp who have her a hesitant nod. Looking back at the  queen Sunny nodded. "Deal." She couldn't resist saying what came next. "I assume you don't want this deal in writing?"

"Of course not!" Queen Haven hissed. The queen sunk back into her throne with a long suffering sigh. "You no doubt think me a monster, Sunny Starscout. But I am just doing what's best for my people."

Sunny opened her mouth to respond but felt a tap on her side, Pipp was motioning away with her head, so Sunny let go of her retort and they both left, leaving the queen to stew in recent events. The queen for her part wasn't stewing so much as being mildly put out. She'd paid a far higher price than she'd planned on, but at the very least she had gotten what she wanted. And with Sunny Starscout full knowledge and cooperation to marry Pipp. All in all a very acceptable outcome.
> Pipp's Freedom
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunny had intended to start the conversation right when they got out into the hall. However since there were guards around she remained as silent as Pipp as they made their way back to the guest suite. After she shut the door she turned and let out a small sigh. "Well Pi..." She was interrupted as Pipp torpedoed into her.

Pipp for her part had expended all her self control to wait until they got to the suite before using all of her energy to give Sunny the biggest hug. Hopping up she started hopping around fluttering her wings happily as she did. Apparently forgetting she could now fly. "I'm free! I'm free! I'm free!"

Sunny stood up and smiled gently. Not to rain on Pipp's parade, but there were realities they both had to face now. "Well not completely, Pipp."

Pipp nodded as she calmed down. Though obviously still very excited. "Right!" Pipp sat down and tried her best to be serious. "I'm sorry about all this..."

Sunny blinked then shook her head. "None of that now Pipp." Pipp looked confused and then blushed brightly as Sunny walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm the one that chose to go confront your mother. This was my doing not yours."

Pipp squirmed where she was sitting. "But if it hadn't been for me..."

Sunny nodded. "And if it hadn't been for me saying yes I wouldn't be here, would I?"

Pipp wasn't a fan of the logic, but it was sound logic. "Wait, but can't I... You should blame me more!"

Sunny grinned. "I'll split it with you, 5% 5%."

Pipp giggled at the obvious mistake. "You mean 50%?"

Sunny shook her head. "Oh no, this is definitely 90% your mother's fault."

Pipp giggled and nodded, smiling a bit. "But still thank you Sunny. I mean we really just met and..."

Sunny took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "True, but I have a good feeling about you."

Pipp didn't want to sabotage herself here but that was unreasonable. "A good feeling about the mare trying to trick you into liking her?"

Sunny shook her head. "You never tricked me." Pipp opened her mouth to object but Sunny went right over her. "I had all that time before your mom gave you this mission. And I know you weren't lying about the crush. I caught you staring a few times." At that Pipp blushed a bit more. "And instead of trying and getting yourself whatever accolades you would have, you warned me." Sunny smiled and leaned in, giving Pipp a hug this time. "I know a lot about you Pipp."

Pipp locked her lips and nodded a little. She didn't really think that Sunny's reasoning made sense. "But... Really I mean..."

Sunny shook her head and smiled. "Things have a way of working out Pipp! I mean, we restored magic a few weeks ago. And what's the worst that could happen anyway?" 

Pipp blinked. "Well we could grow to hate each..."

Sunny put a hoof up to Pipp's lips. "I mean realistically. Say we don't get along well as a couple. We are friends aren't we?" Pipp nodded. "So we simply aren't a "couple" couple. Romance has never been a top priority for me. And..." She coughed a bit, an awkward, slightly mean thing to say, but an important one to point out. "Definitely not the worst outcome you could have had, is it?"

After a moment of thought Pipp nodded her agreement vigorously. "Oh you are so right! Might not be a kirin tale ending, but it's definitely better than many alternatives no matter what happens!" Pipp gave her first smile of the last hour that had no reservation behind it.

With that settled, at least for the immediate future Sunny started to head towards the bedroom, with Pipp following her closely. "You good with heading back to Maretime Bay tonight? I don't really feel like staying here."

Pipp nodded, that certainly made sense. But then something occurred to her and she grinned. "You know, there's one undeniably great thing that'll come out of this for you."

Sunny raised her eyebrows as she grabbed her saddle bags for packing. "You mean besides that I have a hot fiancée now?"

Pipp giggled and nodded. "Besides that. For both of us."

Sunny grinned in response to the returned compliment. "And what's that?"

"We can definitely afford to rebuild your lighthouse however you want." There had been some discussion about the rebuilding of Sunny's home, the cost, who should pay and everything. Now it definitely could simply be paid for and whatever ends up getting decided can be repaid later.

Sunny's eyes widened at the realization and it was her turn to rush forward and hug Pipp a bit harder than required. Sunny giving a hard squeeze her in excitement. She'd been willing to trade her fathers home for his dream. But the concept of having it back... It hit even harder than the fact she was now engaged to a... New friend. Through no fault of her own. Though at least Pipp was very cute. "You're right! Oh! Oh! You're right!"

Pipp let out a rush of air as she was squeezed, unable to do much except wait to be released she took a deep breath after she was released and smiled. "See! Everything has a way of working out!" She blinked and frowned, there was something off about her saying that...

Sunny grinned and raised her eyebrows. "That was more or less what I was telling you earlier." 

Pipp giggled and nodded. She motioned out the doors. "I should go get a few things ready then. I can send for the rest of my things once we have a place to put them."

Sunny nodded and waved to her fiancée until she was out of the room, then out of sight, then Sunny calmly walked over and shut the door... Before having a minor panic attack. Saying in a loud angry whisper to herself "What did you just do!?" She started to pace the center of the room, making sure she was far enough away that no one could be eaves dropping. "Yes, you just needed to barge in there without thinking and try to rescue Pipp from her mother!... Ok, you did that, but if you'd paused for literally one minute you might have been able to think up something smarter!"

Going over to the bed Sunny started to shove her things into her saddle bags, breathing deeply to try and calm herself down. "Dad always said that you needed to stop and think things through. I mean, it's not like I didn't have time to stop! This has been going on for who knows how long!" Blowing out a breathe she shook her head. "Well, face it Sunny, with your track record your plans don't really work out any better than when you don't plan." She shook her head at herself, closing her eyes to gather her thoughts. She usually did better talking her issues out loud, but sometimes she'd get it jumbled and needed a moment to collect herself.

"Ok. You made this deal to protect Pipp. That's good, that's very, very good. That's worth giving up a non-existent romantic life. Pipp is going to help pay for getting my house restored. That's good. Pipp is very pretty. That's shallow, but good. We get along well, that's good. Not in a couple way but still... She has a crush on me, she has at least a passing romantic interest in me. I don't have the same, but I've nothing against the prospect... And if it doesn't work, like I said, we can still just be friends." She let out a sigh. It was still a far, far, far from great, but it was... Manageable. And most importantly she needed to keep up an upbeat attitude. Both to help Pipp with it, but also that'd always been how she did things. Being optimistic helped you see everything as a bit better than you might otherwise.

Sunny snickered as she put the last of her few unpacked items back into her saddle bags and slung them back over her back. "And besides, if nothing else I get to see the look on Hitch's face when he hears about it." Taking a deep breathe she shook her head at her own foolishness and went to the door. Frowning as she opened it and realized she had no idea where Pipp had gone.





Pipp for her part returned to the throne room. Not bursting through the door but pushing it open calmly. Without even a word between them Queen Haven waved a hoof and dismissed the guards. Waiting for them all to depart before she pointed to a tablet on a nearby table. "That has all the data your fiancée will be needing to be your new manager."

Pipp walked over and picked up the tablet, looking at her mother and nodding. "Thank you."

Queen Haven leaned forward, legitimately curious to hear the answer. "Pipp, I must ask. Did you just get extremely lucky, or are you a lot better at this than you let on and you outplayed me like I was a filly?"

Pipp bristled slightly. "I'm not like you mother. I don't manipulate people." Queen Haven raised an eyebrow but then decided to let it drop. She wouldn't bring up when she made Pipp act at least somewhat manipulative. Pipp turned to go. "Goodbye, mother."

Queen Haven sat back. "Tell Sunny this impromptu visit was to ask for my permission to get engaged after such a short time. It will be a good cover for your visit."

Pipp scowled, wrinkling her nose. Of course, at their goodbye, obviously not final one but probably the most meaningful until her mother died... She was thinking of public perception, and the best outcome for their 'royal look.' "Yes, that will fit in perfectly with your desired image won't it?"

Queen Haven sighed and shook her head. This was her own fault. She hadn't been strict enough raising Zipp or Pipp. They didn't understand that it wasn't about them, or her, it was about the family, the royal line. "Believe what you must Pipp... But I did this for your good too."

Pipp turned again and started her way out. "I know you believe that..." As she walked out she added under her breath. "I just wish I could..."

Queen Haven watched one of her daughters leave. Probably to only see her a few times a year from then on. But the queen only allowed herself one, long, deep breath to feel and experience that pain fully. Then let it run out as she breathed out. She was the head of the royal family, the head of a country. She had to do what was right for that, not just what was right for her daughter. Not just what her daughter wanted to happen. 

Queen Haven sighed, rubbing her hooves in worry. She had given her daughter into the keeping of another. Another that was willing to upset her entire life to help Pipp. Queen Haven nodded. She had been too soft on her daughters. But, hopefully, because of that, they'd be happier than she was.





Pipp trotted up to the door to her rooms. To her surprise they were open. She realize she should have known what to expect as she peaked inside to find Sunny waiting for her. She smiled as she trotted around the door frame and depositing the tablet before Sunny.

"What's this?"

Pipp smiled. "My dowry." She pushes open the door to her room and started to rummage around for her saddle bags.

Sunny couldn't help herself but to pick up the tablet and start to look through its connections to folders, files, and other links such as accounts. Sunny was a little surprised by the numbers she found. Pipp was by no means poor but she was not nearly as wealthy as Sunny would have thought. Then she scowled as she realized what Queen Haven must have done. "Pipp?"

Pipp popped her head back out of her bedroom. "Yeah?" She grinned a moment later. "Do you want an autograph?"

Sunny snorted slightly and turned the tablet around. "Is this right?"

Pipp took a few steps over to look at the figures then nodded. "Yeah, that is about right. Why?"

Sunny shrugged. "Oh, sorry. I just assumed you'd make a lot more. I assumed your mother took out a bunch."

Pipp shook her head. "She's a bad mother, she's not evil." Then she gave a small smile. "And she never breaks her word." Pipp turned back to her bedroom to finish her packing. "Most of what I get goes out to fund the Pippsqueaks and other places."

Sunny stared at the number a moment before smiling. "You give your money away."

"Well yeah, goodness knows I don't need that much if it!" There was a long pause. "Should I keep more?"

Sunny shook her head then realized she that Pipp couldn't see her. "No! No! Not at all!" Sunny put the tablet aside and walked around the door to find Pipp.

Pipp looked up and smiled. "Come to help me p...? Mmph...!"

The question was interrupted by a deep kiss from Sunny. "You were right. I don't know you as well as I thought. But I can't wait to get to know you better."

Pipp blushed brightly but couldn't stop her grin. "Oh..."

Sunny reached over and ran a hoof through Pipp's mane. "An amazing mare to come out of here..."

Pipp blushed but couldn't stop from grinning. "Suuuunny. You're embarrassing me."

Sunny smiled and nodded, lowering her hoof. "Ok, ok, I'll relent. For now. But you're in for some more embarrassment later. I want to know everything about you Pipp. After all, you're going to be my wife."

Pipp continued both her blushing and her grinning. "You're terrible Sunny! But agreed." She hesitated and stepped forward again and gave Sunny a kiss on the cheek. "Maybe if we pretend we aren't being forced together it'll go better? That might be the best way to get to know each other?"

Sunny nodded. "As far as that is possible. I don't think we can't ever fully pretend."

Pipp finished her packing much to Sunny's surprise. Sunny had been worrying she was going to bring a baggage train, but Pipp's bag was only slightly more full than Sunny's own. As they got to Pipp's door out of her suite they stopped.

There wasn't a need for words here. The symbolism was obvious. Sunny would be as patient as needed. She wasn't going to prompt Pipp to take that step, it was hers to make.

It was only a few seconds of hesitation before she steppers over the threshold. Followed closely by Sunny, they smiled at each other and Pipp spoke. "Let's go home."