Three of Hearts

by Anzel

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Soarin, Alternate Universe, Romance, Original Character, Comedy, Royal Guard, Slice of Life, Sex
Length: 34772

Azurite is a pony relations warrant officer for the Canterlot Palace. It was supposed to be a relaxing change from royal guard duty, but that idea falls apart when her heart is pulled in two different directions... toward a stallion and a mare.

Azurite isn't your normal sort of royal guard. Patrolling, protecting, and policing are fine for some ponies but they weren't for her after a routine call went sideways. Now, while struggling with the injury of her partner, she does her best to help others as a pony relations warrant officer in the palace. The palace, however, isn't quite the bastion of pony professionalism that she imagined and she soon finds her heart pulled in two different directions... toward a stallion and a mare.

Three of Hearts is an unconventional comedy-romance story that isn't afraid to take some of the most common tropes and turn them on their heads.

Quill & Blade Universe
Cover art designed and created for Three of Hearts by the super talented and ever sweet Painted Wave.

Published 2015-02-26 00:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-05-05 15:03:32 UTC

Prologue

Hello, my name is Azurite, but I imagine you know that since I’m the only pony who’ll ever read this. I’m not really the sort of pony that writes in a journal but this one is an assignment from my counselor. To be honest I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to write here. The instructions weren’t very detailed and I’m a detail-oriented pony.

Mindful Soul feels that expressing myself through writing will give me clarity on the important events of my day. Unfortunately she couldn’t explain what events are important. To be honest the whole thing feels a little silly. Despite that I have enough respect for her to do it. Celestia knows that she has helped me a lot this past year. Plus she made it sound like an order and I try to follow orders.

Orders are important to guards like me. I’ve been a guard for about two years now and don’t usually mind sticking to them and the regulations. Sometimes that stuff gets in the way but they’re there to protect us. Sort of like the order that requires all city guards to work with a partner. That is a good order but it certainly leads to some complications.

The most important event I can really think of lately is that I’m not a city guard anymore. After the Summer Sun Celebration some things happened and, as a result, I went to school and became a warrant officer. Now I am lucky enough to help other guard ponies do all of their paperwork. That suits me just fine. Like I said… or wrote… whatever. I’m detail oriented.

Being a warrant officer is actually pretty neat. The ponies that do it become a specialist in a particular field rather than learning to command or do guard work. My specialization is in pony resources. If you have a pay issue, need to retire, or anything like that, then I’m your mare. Besides, I’d much rather be sitting at a desk than going back out on the streets. That ship sailed after what happened.

In some ways I’m nervous about the change in my life but somehow I feel like I am meant to help others, even in this small, insignificant way. It is nice to have somepony there to hold your hoof when you’re scared or confused.

I guess this is enough for now. In two days I’ll be starting at the palace and that is just going to be amazing. Think of all the important, interesting, and different ponies I’ll get to meet there! Without a doubt I’ll probably have plenty of “important events” to write about then.

See you later, Me. As silly as this order is I’m sure we’ll get along just fine and will have all sorts of adventures to share. Oh yeah! We’re out of shampoo. Be sure to go by the Phial and Filly to pick something new and exciting. We certainly don’t want to look bad on our first day!

Author's Note

This story is set in the same alternate universe and timeline as Memoirs of a Royal Guard. It is not necessary to read that story to understand this one.

It begins approximately during Chapter 43 of Memoirs.

1. My New Beginning

“Excuse me, little filly? Can I help you?” came a sweet voice from behind me.

My ears folded close to my head. Being called a filly wasn’t something new but I was hoping that the ponies in the palace wouldn’t make the same mistake. Slowly I turned around and found myself looking up at a unicorn mare with a coat that shone like spun gold. Under the magically enhanced lights of the palace she practically glowed.

Her visage was radiant and I stared, dumbfounded. The unicorn’s long yellow and orange mane dropped as her head came down to my level. That allowed her to look into my eyes with her own emerald ones. “Miss?” she repeated.

“Lieutenant Brook!” I blurted out dumbly.

The unicorn’s head tilted and she asked cheerfully, “You’re looking for Lieutenant Brook? Is he your big brother?”

Big brother? Quickly I shook my head. “He isn’t. I’m supposed to report to him tomorrow. I wanted to meet him today.”

“Report to him?” she asked in confusion before lifting her head. “Oh! I’m so sorry! I just assumed…” She trailed off. “At any rate you look a little young for a royal guard but looks are often deceiving, aren’t they? If you'd like I can show you to his office.” Offering me a hoof she then added, “I’m Sunny Day.”

“It really is fine. I’m accustomed to it. Once I hit high school I never grew anymore,” I admitted before shaking hooves. “If it wouldn’t be a bother that would be nice. I’ve never been in the palace before and I’m all turned around.”

“Of course. Somehow it seems so much bigger on the inside. Why don’t you come along with me and I’ll get you there, Miss…”

I felt my cheeks flush. “Azurite! Sorry, that was so rude of me. If you don’t mind leading I’ll be right behind you.”

Sunny Day repeated 'Azurite' as if she were memorizing it and then smiled brightly. “Off we go then.” She turned down the hall and started heading off toward what I hoped would be the lieutenant’s office, her tail swishing back and forth. It would have been mesmerizing if I weren’t so enthralled with the palace.

As we trotted to our destination I was having a difficult time paying attention to the route. All of the palace splendor was just too distracting. Both princesses lived here! We could turn a corner and BOOM Princess Celestia. It was overwhelming.

“Here we are,” Sunny Day toned after taking a turn into a narrow hall.

With my head tilted back to look up at the stained glass windows I didn’t stop soon enough and instead plowed right into Sunny’s shapely rump. She squealed and hopped forwards.

“I’m so sorry!” I said with a gasp. “I was looking at the windows, I swear.”

Sunny laughed and turned around to face me. “Oh you’re fine. I realize that the first time a pony visits the palace it can be a bit much. Good luck with your new role. I’m certain I’ll see you around.”

“Th-thank you!” I stammered as the unicorn pranced off. She sure was happy. I wondered if everypony here would be like that. With a shrug I turned to knock on the door that had the ‘Lieutenant Stony Brook’ placard next to it.

“Come in,” replied a business-like stallion’s voice from inside.

Taking a deep breath I put on my best royal guard face and marched professionally into the office. “Good morning, sir! I’m Warrant Officer Azurite. I wanted to check in.”

Stony Brook’s coat was the color of river rocks, a smooth grey that contrasted heavily with the golden armor he wore. If he had a mane I couldn’t see it under the helmet. He nodded and tapped a hoof on his desk. “You’re a day early. Punctuality is a positive trait in the palace guard.”

“Yes, sir,” I replied.

“Your file mentioned that you were…” The earth pony hedged. “petite. I see that is true. I’ve been trying to figure out exactly what that meant… Anyway, could you tell me about your magic and your talent?” He leaned in his chair to look at my side.

Many royal guards have fierce and brave cutie marks. Shields, swords, spears, and other things like that. My mark, however, was one diamond that connected three little pink hearts.

Clearing my throat I replied, “My father is a jeweler so my family has excellent fine motor control of our levitation. Detailed work is a breeze. I’ve also learned a few spells. I can teleport, clean things magically, and even use a mending spell.”

Lieutenant Brook nodded but the blank expression on his face confirmed he didn’t fully understand what I had meant. “What about your special talent?”

That was the million bit question, wasn’t it? My cutie mark had always been somewhat of a mystery to me. I was a jeweler’s daughter and really great manipulating tiny objects. The cutie mark didn’t appear when I was helping my father, though. It appeared right after I had my first kiss. What was that supposed to tell me?

“Well…” I started and then lightly shrugged. “Ponies seem to always be nice to me and I have great attention to detail.”

“That… doesn’t sound exceedingly suited to guard life but I suppose ponies having a higher propensity to being nice to you could work in your favor. Plus you’re here to handle our pony resources anyway. From your file you had an excellent first year in the Canterlot guard. Your second year was shaping up to be the same. You have one of the highest citizen ratings of any pony I’ve ever seen.”

Eagerly I nodded, “Yes, sir! I loved dealing with the citizens of Canterlot and they really seemed to like me. They all wanted to fill out comment cards. Celestia knows why but they did!”

The lieutenant actually cracked a smile. “Yes, you set a record. Why come to the palace guard then? I realize we’re a step up career-wise but if you were happy there you’d have had a lot more promotion opportunities in the Canterlot guard.”

My heart sank. I knew ponies would ask that question but it wasn’t something I wanted to broadcast if I didn’t have to. The lieutenant had asked though and it was never a good idea to start a new job with a lie. Breathe deep, Azurite.

“About eight months back my partner and I found ourselves in a rough spot when we responded to a call for help. There was a crowd of ponies fighting and we were having trouble sorting it all out.” I could feel my lip quivering a bit but I forced myself on. “My partner got hurt… bad. She had to take a medical retirement and…” Deep breaths, Azurite. Deep breaths. “A pony got killed. After that… I wanted to change fields.”

Lieutenant Brook sat quietly a moment and the look on his face was one of regret. He nodded slowly and said, “I heard about that… I’m sorry that I hadn’t made that connection. Listen, for what it is worth, we all had to study that situation. If it had been me I’d have done the same thing.”

The stallion straightened and pushed on. “I was happy to have you on my team regardless but now, knowing you’ve been through the worst, I’m honored.” He changed the subject. “For now, in addition to your normal duties, I’m going to put you on courier duty. It is the best way to learn the palace. Report back tomorrow and be ready.”

My ears flicked slowly and I did my best to keep myself from tearing up. I nodded and saluted smartly. “Yes, sir. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Very good. You’re dismissed,” he replied and I didn’t linger for him to say anything else.

I hurried out of his office and down the hall as fast as I could without making it look like I was doing so. Spotting one of the filly’s rooms I darted inside just as the first tears started to fall.

Taking a deep breath I peered at the blue mare in the mirror and whispered, “You’re okay, Azurite. You’re okay. You did what you had to do.” She didn’t seem too comforted either and her violet and blue mane was a mess. A few tears fell into the sink and I couldn’t help but duck my head and sniffle.

“Are you okay? Was the lieutenant that mean?” The voice was familiar. It was still super sweet but now filled with concern.

Quickly I wiped my eyes and looked up into the mirror to find Sunny Day standing behind me… in armor? Pirouetting to face her I gasped when I got a good look at her breastplate. Princess Celestia’s cutie mark was emblazoned in the middle.

“You’re one of Princess Celestia’s house guards?” I asked in surprise.

Sunny Day shook her head and lightly looped her forehoof around me. “I’m actually their commander… but that isn’t important. Are you okay?”

Nodding slowly I said, “The lieutenant asked me about why I was here and it made me sad. I’ll be fine though. Honestly, I will.”

“Being here makes you sad?” she asked and I knew I’d have to explain it again so I did… without breaking down into sobs. For some reason it was easier to tell Sunny.

“I understand why that would make you cry,” she replied soothingly while dabbing my eyes with a levitating tissue. “Killing isn’t natural for us, not one bit. Directly or not. It was rough for me too but you’ll be fine. We have good counselors to help.”

The hamster in my head fell off its wheel and I fumbled, “You?”

“It is to my dismay to say I did. I wouldn’t lie and tell you it just magically gets better one day but, in time, we all accept it as part of the job,” Sunny explained. She then added, “Thankfully, in your new role you’ll never have to worry about it happening again.”

My heart skipped a beat. Another pony that understood? There’d never been one before. She also didn’t seem to think I was a coward for moving into a different role. “Well… if you got through it I will, too. I’m tough!”

“That’s the spirit,” Sunny replied softly. “Well… I need to get back to work as long as you’re going to be okay.”

“Oh.” I said as my stomach made vacation plans to move lower into my body. I didn’t really want her to leave but I knew she couldn’t stay to foalsit me. Steeling my resolve I nodded firmly. “Okay… I’ll be okay.”

We left the filly’s room together and started down the hall. Nervously I asked, “Sunny?”

“Yes?”

“Could I walk with you at least as far as you’re going?”

“Sure thing. I’ll be right beside you.”

Whew, thank Celestia somepony that was kind found me. “You’re really nice, Sunny. I hope you know that.”

Sunny bobbed her head and replied, “I can tell that you are, too, and I’m sure you’d do the same for me.”

I hadn’t known her more than an hour but I was certain she was right.

♥♥♥

Quickly I trotted down the hall of the palace along what I had learned was unofficially called ‘general’s row.’ It was the area where all of the palace leadership had their offices, or at least the ones that commanded ponies. This was prime real estate and every pony had a window that overlooked the city. Some even had two!

Warrant officers like me had to share an office with at least one other pony and were down on the lower levels. Currently I was the odd pony out and didn’t have an officemate. At first I thought that was lucky but then it just turned out to be lonely. Thankfully I made up for the lack of companionship down there with my courier route.

Lieutenant Brook was right in two different ways when he said I’d ‘learn the palace.’ It didn’t take long for me to figure out he wasn’t just talking about the corridors… although that was important too. By delivering missives I was able to meet a whole lot of ponies and get to know them. That was far more important than just knowing where the various offices were.

I was on my way to my favorite destination, the one I always saved for last so that I could linger a bit. It was also the furthest away. Princess Celestia’s House Guard wasn’t located with the regular palace guards. They had their own private area that adjoined Princess Celestia’s wing.

When I reached Sunny’s office her door was open as usual. As I was lifting my hoof to knock she looked up and motioned me in. “Right on time.”

“On time?” I asked as I came in and crossed over to her desk.

Sunny smiled at me brightly. She had the best smile of any pony I’d ever met. “Come now Azurite, I know you don’t keep a schedule but I certainly have noticed you end up here almost every day and that your little bag is empty. Clearly I’m last on your list.”

My ears pinned back a bit as I levitated the last two missives out of my saddlebag and over to the unicorn mare. “I hope you don’t mind, Sunny. You’re just the nicest pony on my route and it makes my day go better when I end on a high note.”

In her usual kind and bubbly way Sunny winked at me. “I don’t mind at all. I rather enjoy your little visits.” Her magic took over for mine as she accepted the papers and landed them on her desk. “Speaking of ending on a high note, do you have any plans after work?”

That gave me pause and I had to think it over. Wait! Why did I have to think that over? “Nope, no plans tonight!” I quickly replied.

“Good!” Sunny Day chirped. “I’ve got two passes to a show and, since we’re new friends and all, I thought it would be fun to go together. Do you like magic shows?”

I honestly had no idea and I didn’t care. Sunny wanted to hang out and that was good enough for me. Eagerly I nodded. “I do; I like most shows, actually.”

“Oh, you do? I’ll keep that in mind,” the golden mare replied. “Be back here by seventeen hundred and we’ll head out together. We can get something to eat first if you’d like.”

“Food is good. I like food.”

That yielded a laugh and she nodded. “Alright then. The show is at half past eighteen. That is plenty of time. See you later.”

“Okay! I’ll see you then. Bye!” I headed off for my office since there was still half an hour left in my work day.

After hopping onto the pillow that served as a chair my eyes darted to the clock. The little second pointer moved slowly around. Before the show I’d want to remove and store my armor, head down to the showers to clean up, and be at Sunny’s office at least a few minutes early.

The clock ticked slowly.

“Come on! Can’t you hurry up?”

“What’s that, Azurite?” Lieutenant Brook asked as he poked his head into my office.

Quickly I stood up. “Not you, sir! What can I do for you?”

The stallion looked a little confused and then shrugged. “I saw that you had all of the personnel files on my desk already. You went through all of them?”

“Yes, sir! They’re all read, highlighted, and commented. I attached a cheat sheet for you, too, so you’d know who had outstanding items. A lot of ponies haven’t been to their mandatory annual physical.”

“I saw that. Good work today. I guess I’ll have to find something else for you to do.” He then looked up at the clock. “Why don’t you take off a little early? It seems like all of your work is done.”

My heart skipped a beat. That would show the clock who the bigger pony is. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

“Carry on,” he replied before wandering out and down the hall.

I jumped into action and removed my armor. It was almost silly for a pony resources pony to wear it but a uniform is a uniform. Not that I minded, of course. It was a privilege to get to wear it. Most ponies would never have that opportunity.

The lock clicked as I secured my office door. Step one complete! I hurried down to the filly’s showers and grabbed one of the empty stalls.

“I heard she was out with yet another stallion last weekend. That makes six in as many weeks,” a voice said from a stall or two over.

There was a light giggle from a different pony. “Wow! She sure gets around.”

My ears twitched as I tried not to listen to palace gossip. Nope, I was going to focus on my shower and just get clean.

The first voice chuckled and replied, “Well… that is why they call her All-The-Way Day.”

The second cackled in delight at that and I hunkered lower in my stall, letting the hot water work through my mane.

‘All-The-Way Day?’ Surely they weren’t talking about Sunny. She was the sweetest pony around and everypony loved her. My nose wrinkled as the second part of the thought took on a whole different meaning in light of the gossip. Nope, nope, nope!

Washing my mane took longer than I had hoped. Keeping it tucked up under a helmet all day just did horrible things to it. Thankfully the lieutenant had given me an extra half hour and I used the time to brush it into submission.

The Azurite in the mirror looked a bit nervous. Why should she be nervous? Sunny and I were just going to see a show. Shows have a lot of ponies. Crowds of ponies. I waved a hoof at mirror me and dismissed the thought. Instead I admired the work I had done to get ready. My mane was properly styled, my tail was in good shape, and my coat shined. Not bad for a tomcolt. It was time to head up to Sunny’s office.

♥♥♥

Sunny Day’s door was open and it was after five but I could hear her talking to somepony.

“The princess is quite excited to see your latest choreography. She’s hoping you’ll be able to perform next month for the Equestrian delegate summit,” Sunny was saying.

“You can count on us. I’ll let Spitfire know… It is good to see you again, Sunny. It has been a while,” replied a stallion.

“Yeah, it has. Why don’t you come by and see me some time soon when you’re not off delighting every filly and colt in the nation,” Sunny teased… or flirted. It could have been either.

The stallion chuckled. “Yeah… Alright I’ll do just that. Goodnight, Sunny. Take it easy.”

I froze. The stallion was going to leave the office and he’d know I was eavesdropping. Quickly I looked for a place to hide. Maybe I could just take a few steps back and make it look like I was walking up. While I was deciding on my plan he came out through the door.

My eyes drifted up slowly and my tail started to swish back and forth. This wasn’t just any stallion… this was a Wonderbolt. He had a cobalt mane and tail, beautiful green eyes, and, as a cherry on top, he was in uniform. That ultra tight, lightning bolt emblazoned, blue uniform. Both of my forelegs went a bit loose and I smiled dumbly up at him.

“Oh, hello there,” he said, looking at me curiously. “Are you looking for Sunny?”

No… I was looking for him. At him. “Sunny?” I asked.

“Sunny Day… this is her office,” he asked before pointing a hoof in.

There was a giggle and Sunny poked her head out. “You’re early, Azurite. Have you met Vice Commander Soarin before?”

I shook my head no slowly.

“Soarin, this is Azurite. She is new in the palace but word is she is a wiz at her job,” Sunny said as she introduced us.

“It’s a pleasure,” he replied as he offered a hoof.

“P-pleasure,” I stammered a little before taking the hoof and shaking.

“Well… alright then. Later!” he said and headed off down the hall.

I stood there and just watched him go. Then I felt Sunny’s presence as she leaned in really close to me. She whispered, “You may want to close your mouth.”

“What?” I asked and then felt flushed. Quickly I did just that and peered over at her. “I’m sorry!”

The unicorn laughed warmly and shook her head. “Oh, you’re fine. He is used to that sort of thing. Anyway, you look nice. Did you get all cleaned up just for me?”

Without really thinking about it I nodded.

“How sweet! Come along then, it is time to get some dinner,” she chimed before hooking a hoof around mine and tugging me down the hall.

♥ 1 ♥

Author's Note

Thank you for taking the time to read!

2. My Great And Powerful New Friend

Sunny Day sat across from me at one of the little high top tables at the Spearhead Tavern. It was one of the few places I went out where there were a lot of ponies. Being surrounded by fellow royal guards never bothered me.

Somehow the bubbly mare had talked me into sharing a squash sandwich, chips, a vegetable plate, fried macaroni and cheese, and a slice of pizza. It was a little weird but everypony is different and she wanted to be sure we each tried some of everything.

“You’re being awfully quiet, Azurite. From what I do know about you I know that that isn’t like you. What’s on your mind?”

My eyes lifted to hers mid-chew. In defense of the crazy, share-everything meal it did allow me to try a lot of new things. That wasn’t what was on my mind though. I swallowed the mouthful of squash and replied, “Oh… I’m just not used to eating like this.”

The mare’s eyes narrowed and she leaned across the table. “Liar.”

“No! I’m really not used to eating like this!” I protested.

She laughed and shook her head. “No… I believe that but that isn’t what is on your mind.”

I grumbled, “No, it isn’t. I don’t want to kill the mood. I’m having fun!”

“The mood, eh?” she asked, her eyebrow arching. “And what would kill the mood?”

Waving my hoof, I sighed. “I heard something in the shower before we came. It was rude and mean. It really put me off.”

“Gossip? It is always mean and there is always a lot of it in the shower.” Sunny’s ears perked up and she pressed on conspiratorially. “What was it? You can tell me.”

We sat close for a moment while I tried to decide if I should tell her. Chances were she was going to get it out of me regardless. Sunny seemed to have that effect on me. Hesitantly I said, “Two mares were talking about a pony that gets around… they called her ‘All-The-Way Day.’ I thought they may have meant you.”

Sunny Day sat up straight and started giggling. “Oh, is that all? That is old gossip.”

Breathing a sigh of relief I replied, “Thank goodness. I was worried it was about you.”

“Oh, it is! If a pony has the courage to ask me out on a date I say yes. I think everypony at least deserves a chance. So… I get a lot of dates and that leads to rumors. Maybe a little jealousy too but mostly just rumors. It shouldn’t bother you. It certainly doesn’t bother me!” Sunny explained cheerfully.

That particular piece of information I filed away and then replied, “Well… as long as it doesn’t bother you I won’t worry about it. Should we get going? I don’t want to be late for the show.” I kind of did, actually, but evidently this was an easier lie to tell.

Sunny nodded and slipped off her stool. “Sure, let me go settle the tab and we’ll be out the door.”

“Wait… what?” I replied, reaching out to stop her. “Why are you buying? Shouldn’t we be splitting this?”

The golden mare shook her head and waved me off. “I invited you, remember? Social rules say that I pay. If you invite me somewhere you can pay.”

“Oh… okay then.” Canterlot customs among those with class were still new to me even though I had lived in the city all of my life. I made a note to invite Sunny out at some point to make up for it.

She returned and said, “Alright Azurite, let’s go check this show out!”

♥♥♥

Sunny Day had grossly misrepresented what she was inviting me to. When she had said ‘a show’ I thought she meant something small. Where we had actually ended up was at the hottest act in Canterlot: The Great and Powerful Trixie’s Magical Extravaganza. Her troupe had arrived after some big hullabaloo in Manehatten involving a diamond thief.

We had front row seats for the show itself and backstage passes for after. I was beside myself with excitement. So much so that I didn’t particularly notice the throngs of ponies beside and behind me.

Trixie was a personal hero of mine. She had turned her life around and gone straight, she was great with her magic, and all the papers said she was nice. Trixie had worked hard and overcame everything life could throw at her. Who wouldn’t be inspired by that?

The show itself was amazing! There were rope tricks, fireworks, illusions, spells, and even a dangerous stunt where Trixie had to escape before being dumped into a giant vat of pudding. Even though I knew most of what I saw were mere tricks I still loved it. When the curtain finally fell Sunny and I put on our backstage lanyards and headed off for a meet and greet.

It was really well timed, too. Without the performers to distract me I started to notice how many ponies were there. Thankfully they all went back towards the doors while we went forwards to the stage.

“Thank you so much, Sunny! That was amazing!” I cheered before hugging her. We had been left in a lounge while all of the performers got cleaned up.

The unicorn shook her head and replied, “It was nothing! I’m glad you had fun. Some ponies don’t like this kind of show and it makes me happy that you’re really into it.”

“Oh, I am!” I finally let her go and then asked, “How did you get the tickets anyway?”

With a wink Sunny replied, “Oh, I know a mare…”

From behind me the door to the room opened and I heard the now-familiar voice of Trixie. “Sunny Day! You came!” Oddly enough, her on-stage and off-stage voices were pretty much identical.

There was barely enough time for me to shift out of the way so that I wouldn’t be crushed between the two mares embracing.

Sunny laughed. “Of course I did! You sent me tickets and we go way back. I wouldn’t miss your show!”

“Trixie is most pleased!” She then turned to me. “And you brought your… little sister? Hello! Did you enjoy the show?”

I was too starstruck to be insulted. My mouth wouldn’t move as I just stared up at Trixie. Did I enjoy the show? Of course I did! You’re Trixie! “Uh-huh” was what I managed.

Sunny’s hoof came to her mouth as she laughed. Trixie didn’t seem to catch that and lightly reached out to ruffle my mane between my ears. “Trixie is most pleased then!”

“She isn’t a filly,” Sunny finally said between snickers. “Believe it or not, Azurite here is a royal guard like me. She is, however, still a huge fan of yours, Trixie.”

Trixie stopped in her tracks a moment and peered down at me. She then looked at Sunny… then back to me. “Trixie is still very pleased that you’re a fan, Azurite.”

I swallowed and finally found my voice. “I’m a big fan, Miss Trixie. You’re an inspiration to any pony that needs to believe that hard work pays off.”

The light blue mare slipped a hoof around me and declared, “Trixie likes you! Come, sit and relax.” She led me over to a vibrant red couch and settled on it with me tucked close.

Sunny Day sat opposite of me and smiled. “That is probably the best set I’ve seen from you to date. You’re really getting the hang of being a world class magician.”

Trixie idly started to fix my mane following the ruffling. I didn’t know what to do so I just sat there and let her.

“Thank you! That means a lot coming from Trixie’s second biggest rival.” She then leaned over and nuzzled Sunny’s cheek. “And her oldest friend. How are you?”

Sunny Day’s brow lifted and she asked, “Second biggest rival, huh?” She waved a hoof. “I’m well. I’m with Princess Celestia’s guard now.”

Trixie’s horn illuminated as she settled the last bit of my mane into the original place it had been. She hooked a hoof around me and tugged me against her. “Alas, Sunny Day, Trixie’s biggest rival is now Twilight Sparkle. We’ve had good times, you and I, but we must move on. Besides, it seems you’ve already found another blue mare.” Her tone was airy and teasing. She then clapped her hoofs, effectively encircling me in a hug, “Celestia’s guard! That is a most important role!”

My friend laughed and pointed to Trixie. “Actually at the moment, it seems like you’ve found yourself a blue mare… but yes, it is a big thing for me. I worked really hard for it.”

“Mmm?” Trixie asked before looking down to me. Our eyes met, I felt my cheeks and ears go flush, and she softly laughed. “And she is most cute but she is yours.” Trixie hugged me once more before letting me go.

“Be careful, Trixie, you’ll scare her off. She isn’t that kind of pony. She’s just a really nice and an accommodating friend,” Sunny explained.

What did ‘that kind of pony’ mean? Maybe I was that kind of pony! I tilted my head to stare at the two of them hoping to get some sort of answer.

Trixie mused, “Of course, Sunny! Trixie’s mistake.” She turned back to me. “Azurite, would you like Trixie’s autograph?”

I was still trying to figure out what kind of pony I was but I nodded. I did want her autograph and she was more than happy to give me a couple.

Sunny Day and Trixie started to catch up. Evidently they had gone to school together and didn’t get along back then. Somehow that had turned into a lifelong rivalry and friendship. I wasn’t completely paying attention, though. While they discussed, laughed, and swapped stories I sat in silent confusion trying to figure out what Sunny had meant.

♥♥♥

Sunny Day and I trotted along the dark streets of Canterlot on our way home from the show. I was still a bit confused and hadn’t said much while we were backstage.

“Did you enjoy the show?” she asked.

That seemed like a silly question. “Very much. That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done,” I admitted.

“Good, good,” she said happily. “You got awfully quiet back there. I was worried Trixie actually had scared you. She is great but she can come on a bit strong.”

Nervously I laughed and shook my head, “Me? Scared? Nah! Maybe a little starstruck though. And I didn’t want to get in the way of you two catching up.”

“Ah, I see.”

We trotted on in silence a while before we reached my apartment. I don’t make a lot of bits but I had lucked out and found a great deal. First floor, too! The place wasn’t big but it was comfortable.

My horn illuminated as I worked the simple unlock spell. Sunny Day stood beside me. When the handle clicked I gushed, “I can’t thank you enough Sunny. That was the most fun I’ve had in a while. Thank you for inviting me.”

She winked. “My pleasure.” Then she started to lean in towards me… but at a slightly weird angle.

Within my chest my heart started beating quickly and I wasn’t sure what to do. We were going to kiss? This had been a date? What should I do! Sunny’s head loomed closer and I made a decision.

My head inclined towards her so that our lips found each other. The kiss was soft, warm, and electric… at least I thought so until she blinked and said, “Oh.”

I wilted and repeated, “Oh?”

Quickly Sunny Day shook her head and held up a hoof. “No, no! Not bad ‘oh,’ Azurite. Just a surprised ‘oh.’ I was aiming for your cheek.”

My head drooped in embarrassment and shame. Stupid classy Canterlot ponies. They were always kissing each other on the cheek. How had I missed that! It was so obvious.

There was a little pressure under my chin as Sunny used a hoof to urge me to look up. She leaned back in and pressed a firmer, more direct kiss to my lips. My eyes drifted closed and I felt the electricity again… only this time far more intensely. It shot from my muzzle all the way to my tail. Evidently when Sunny meant to kiss you you’d know it.

My forehooves went weak for the second time in the same day. We lingered for only a moment more before the golden mare drew back. Her hoof shifted to stroke my cheek and she whispered, “Aren’t you surprising? When I saw how you reacted to Soarin today I thought for sure stallions were your type.”

It took me a moment to catch my breath. “Can’t it be both?” I asked sheepishly.

Sunny Day’s expression changed to a frighteningly mischievous one. “Oh, I suppose every girl has that right. Goodnight Azu. I’ll see you at the end of your courier route tomorrow.”

I sat down right where I was, surely flushed all over. As Sunny walked away I waved at her and whispered, “Okay.”

♥♥♥

Lieutenant Brook had found some new paperwork for me to do. This time I was going through a huge stack of applicants for the palace guard and weeding out ones that didn’t meet all of the requirements. It was a huge task that would take a while.

It also was taking me longer than normal because my attention kept drifting to the clock. I really, really, really wanted to start my courier run. The sooner I did that the sooner I could see Sunny… but I had to play it cool. We’d had one sort of date, one sort of kiss, and one full-on, make-a-mare-weak-in-the-knees kiss. That just meant we were interested in each other.

“I hate you,” I whispered to the clock.

It ticked on defiantly. I flipped through another pony’s file checking for specific information. This one was fine. I put it in the green box and looked up at the clock. Okay… that had killed six minutes and forty three seconds. Another pony file. I barely got halfway through it before it was clear it was a no go. Two minutes and twelve seconds.

Argh! I got up and trotted down to the water cooler. It was time for a break. Filling up the little cup had to take some time. Drinking the water took time too! I could do this!

“Azurite?”

“Huh?” I turned and looked up to the lieutenant. Quickly I stood to attention and cleared my throat. “I mean, yes, sir?”

“Is everything alright? You seem agitated,” he asked, his deep voice filled with concern.

“Oh… no, sir, I’m fine. It was impossible to sleep last night so I’m a little frazzled. Tomorrow I’ll be as good as new.”

He smiled and nodded. “Alright… well, if those sleepless nights persist maybe consider seeing the medics. It is probably just nerves, though. New job and all.”

Lieutenant Brook was a genuinely kind pony. I smiled up at him. “You’re exactly right, sir. It is nerves. They’ll calm down, though.”

“I’m sure. Very good. Carry on.”

Another paper cup of water levitated up to my mouth. Yes… carry on indeed… It took time to drink water.

♥♥♥

Twenty six cups of water later I found out that it also took time to visit the little filly’s room. Specifically I discovered exactly how long it took to get from my desk and into a stall. When highly motivated I could make it in 43 seconds flat and yet my arrival was still just under the wire.

Standing on my hind hooves I took a moment to check out Mirror Azurite while I washed my forehooves. She did look a little frazzled. My long-two toned mane wasn’t styled and poked out all over the place under my helmet. I couldn’t see her coat properly but I’m pretty sure it needed a good brushing too. That hadn’t happened last night.

“You’re a bit of a mess today, aren’t you?”

Mirror Me shrugged and went about washing her hooves. Oh well, she seemed confident enough. It was time to get back to my desk and start my courier duties.

My rounds didn’t take as long as usual since I kept the socializing a little shorter than normal. As I crossed into Princess Celestia’s wing I reminded myself that Sunny Day could be busy. We were both still on duty, after all. I really wanted to see her, though, so I hoped for the best.

Her door was open and I trotted in. “I have a missive for you, lieutenant.”

“I bet you do,” she replied cheerfully from behind her desk. Her hooves were steepled and she watched me with devious eyes. “It looks like you didn’t sleep at all last night, warrant officer.”

By contrast Sunny Day looked like she had just stepped out of the spa… from what I could tell under her armor, anyway.

“Yes ma’am. I was up all night thinking,” I replied as cool as I could. Keep it casual Azurite, you’re not desperate. Well, you are but she doesn’t know that! The missive levitated from my bag and over to her desk.

Sunny just kept looking at me… maybe even sizing me up. There was a new glint in her eyes. It was the same sort of look a cat has before pouncing. “What were you thinking about?” she asked, finally snapping back to her normal, sugary sweet self.

“Oh… you know, mare stuff. I think I went on a date last night and I had a really great time. So I spent most of the night thinking about that and the mare I went with.”

“That sounds salacious, thinking about a mare all night.” There was that look again.

My voice squeaked and I stammered, “Not like that!”

Her expression changed into a little pout. “Oh, I see.”

What was Sunny up to? I went to the side of her desk and set my hooves on it. “I was really hoping we’d be able to go on another date. She and I, that is.”

“Is that so? And when would you and she go on this date?”

Our eyes met. It actually felt pretty intense, like a game of chicken.

Finally I blinked and answered, “If it was all the same to her, I would hope this coming weekend…” Quickly I hedged, “but I’m flexible.”

Sunny Day’s ears wiggled. “Flexibility is good.” She lowered her tone and reached across the desk to set a hoof on mine. “I’d like to, but I have a date this weekend, Azu.”

Stiff upper lip, Azurite. Of course no pony said anything about the lower one and it quivered a little. “That is okay. I understand.” I started to withdraw my hooves but she held on.

“The weekend after, however, I happen to be completely free. Would you like to go out then?” she asked.

She had another date… how could she have another date? We had just been out! Easy, Azurite. Easy.

Well… of course she would if somepony had asked her sooner. Did I want to go out with her again even if she was seeing somepony else? Yes. Yes, I did. “Yes please.”

“Yes please?” she repeated with a giggle. Sunny patted my hooves and asked, “Alright, should I pick you up then?”

I nodded and gave a little squee on the inside. We were going to have a date! A real date that we both agreed was a date from the onset. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” I said casually.

“Me, too. See you later?”

“Uh huh!” I replied cheerfully before trotting out and down to my office. Once my door was shut I pranced happily in a circle. “I’ve got a date! I’ve got a real date!” Above me the clock ticked menacingly, drawing my eyes to it. “And I only have to wait two weeks… ouch.”

♥ 2 ♥

3. My First Flight

“I really don’t understand the difference between the first option and the second one,” the stallion sitting in my office said to me.

Setting my hoof at the top of the sheet I went over it again. “You have two choices for your retirement plan. You can pay taxes now and then withdraw the bits later tax free or you can put bits in now pre-tax but pay taxes later when you withdraw them.”

He wasn’t getting it. I smiled and tried again. “Basically, you’re trying to decide if you think you’ll make more money now or later in life. Once you retire from the guard that is.”

“Won’t I get my pension if I retire from the guard?”

“Absolutely! Of course it won’t be as much as you make now. This is like putting money aside today to save for the future to make sure your income stays the same. I want to make sure you’re comfortable in that retirement.”

The stallion smiled. “Well, that is nice of you! Which one should I do?”

In training I was told that ponies always asked which option was the best and I wasn’t supposed to tell them. The answer was different for every pony.

I squirmed and replied, “It largely depends on how you’re doing money-wise right now. If you’re fine and don’t need a few extra bits most financial ponies would recommend saving post-tax bits. If things are tight right now you might want to consider pre-tax bits. It will reduce your immediate taxes.”

“Well… the wife and I have been doing pretty great. Why don’t I just pay the taxes now. Then, in the future we won’t pay any at all. Right?” he asked.

“Exactly! I’ll mark you down for that… and that means you’re all set. Thank you for dropping by.”

The guard stood up and nodded. “Thank you again, warrant officer. You made that really easy.”

“That’s my job! Take care!”

As he went out the door Lieutenant Brook walked in. “Another satisfied customer. You’re getting quite the reputation, Azurite,” he said.

My thoughts briefly went back to the shower gossip. Shaking the notion away I replied, “I hope it is a good reputation.”

“Yes, it is. You’ve taken a lot of stress off me for sure. With all of this pony relations paperwork off my plate I can actually spend more time on my command functions. Thank you for that.”

“No problem, sir. It is my job and I really do enjoy it. It is certainly different from patrolling the streets but I want to be here. Was there anything else?”

He shook his head. “No, I just believe in letting ponies know when they do a good job. Have a good evening.”

“You, too, sir. Thank you again.”

Ponies in the palace really were all kinds of nice. It was time to call it a day according to my nemesis, the clock. It didn’t take but a moment to get out of my armor and secure my office. Then it was off to the mane salon. I wanted a new look for next week’s date.

Happily trotting along and lost in my thoughts I barely heard a masculine voice say, “Hey… you’re Azurite, right?”

“Hmm?” I turned around and found myself standing in the presence of the Wonderbolt, Soarin. He was there again… all muscled and in that tight uniform. “I am,” I squeaked.

“I thought so! We met at Sunny’s office. You’re her friend.”

“I am,” I repeated dumbly while I stared at the dashing stallion.

“Listen, I know you’re off duty and I hate to bother you… but I’ve got some forms I was supposed to get done, like, yesterday and our pony resources pony is gone for the day. The palace guards say you’re really good at this. Would you be able to help me?”

“I am.” Come on, tongue! We can do better than that. He is just a stallion. A rugged blue stallion with good looks and the athletic ability to delight thousands of ponies.

“You are?” he asked in confusion.

The small mare inside me bucked my brain and I cleared my throat. “I am able to help you. That is what you asked, right? Would you like to come down to my office?” Alone. That last part I added in my head excitedly.

“Yeah, great! Thanks.”

When we got to my office it took me two tries to get the lock undone with my magic. Once we were inside Soarin set down a massive, disorganized, and disheveled stack of papers.

“So… uh… I kind of haven’t done any of these,” he admitted.

Focus on the work Azurite. You’re a professional! One of the papers levitated off the top and towards me. I fixed my eyes on his big green ones and nodded. “It’s fine, vice commander. We can do this!”

♥♥♥

Soarin was, without a doubt, the least prepared pony that I had ever helped with paperwork. He was also the most attractive stallion I’d ever prepared pony resource documents for so I considered it even.

Four and a half hours later we were finally done. Soarin had zoned out about an hour back and was sitting in the chair on the others side of my desk slowly spinning in circles.

“Alright, vice commander, I think you’re set.”

He blinked and shook his head as if to knock the dust off. “Great! You can call me Soarin, though. Wonderbolts are barely military. I really appreciate you taking all that time to do this. Sorry it was such a mess.”

Waving a hoof at him I replied, “It is my job… and strangely seems to be a talent. I’m just glad you caught me. Half of these were due tomorrow.”

“Yeah… annual paperwork isn’t my strong suit. Well, since I kept you over for hours can I buy you dinner? Or at least a pie?” he asked.

Dinner with a handsome, drool-worthy stallion? You bet your green eyes you could! “Dinner would be nice, if it isn’t too much.”

“No problem! I’m starving anyway. There is this awesome place on the other side of town that makes dumplings and noodles. How does that sound?”

“Delicious… but it will take a while to get there. I wouldn’t want to hold up dinner while you wait on me to plod along.”

Soarin’s head tilted and then he laughed. “Oh, right! No wings. No problem! Come on, I’ve got an idea.”

♥♥♥

“THIS IS AWESOME!” I screamed into the wind. My heart was racing and my eyes were watering from the speed.

“Yuuup!” Soarin replied above me.

The stallion had his forehooves looped under mine and was carrying me while he flew. It was scary to dangle over the rooftops of Canterlot but I trusted him and the feeling was exhilarating. Pegasi had it good!

Without warning we started spiraling down at full speed. My stomach retreated lower into my body and I squealed, “Oh Celestia!” The street leapt up to meet us and, right before we hit it, the ride came to a halt and Soarin gently set me down.

“Thank you for flyin’ Soarin. Please be careful as the contents of your body may have shifted in flight.”

We laughed and I shook my head. “That was amazing. Dinner AND a ride.”

“I do try to bring a certain level of excitement to the daily lives of ponies. Still ready to eat or do you need to let your stomach settle?” he asked.

Lightly I bumped my shoulder to his… leg. Our shoulders weren’t remotely close to the same height and that was the best I could do. “It takes more than that to rattle me! Come on, you promised me noodles.”

“Yes I did!”

♥♥♥

One thing ponies may not know about Soarin is that he is really into food. Not in the ‘just likes to eat it’ sort of way either. He knew things about flavor combinations as well as where to eat, what to eat it, how to eat it, and the likes. Soarin hadn’t just taken me to dinner. He had me on a culinary experience.

“I feel like up until now, I was just eating food.”

The pegasus laughed and nodded. “Yeah, that happens to everypony. I try to really experience what I’m eating when I can. Most of the time we just have to fuel up quickly and get back to work.”

“Being a Wonderbolt is tough, huh?” I inquired.

“Yup. We work out constantly, practice just as often as we work out, and go all over to perform shows. Ponies think it is all glamour, fillies, and fun but it can take a lot out of you. Thankfully we’ll be here in Canterlot for a while.”

Working out indeed. He wasn’t in uniform but the stallion certainly still cut an imposing figure. My chin rested on my hoof as I listened to him.

“Most ponies that get close usually want something from us. And then of course it is super competitive inside the group, too. There is always somepony waiting for you to get hurt so that they can take your spot. Still… I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

With a warm sigh I replied, “Me neither.”

“Huh?”

My ears stood at attention and I’m certain I turned white. “I-I couldn’t imagine doing anything else either. I really like being in pony relations.” Whew, good save Azurite.

“Oh. Yeah, that makes sense. You’re like really good at it, too. I didn’t understand half of what you told me earlier but I had the feeling everything was going to be set up right. You know it was pretty cool of you to spend your personal time to help me out.”

“It really wasn’t a bother. I was just doing my job and, hey, I got a flight and amazing dinner experience. The way I see it I owe you.”

Soarin’s ears wiggled and he nodded. “Hey… yeah, maybe you do.”

“I do what?”

“Owe me.”

And it was going so well! I had hoped there was more to the stallion than being a show pony. “Okay?”

The stallion leaned forward on the table. “You’re a pretty cool filly and a good listener. You never asked for anything. So how about you let me take you on a date sometime?”

A date? With me? What was it with me lately! I already had a date. What would Sunny think? Well… she already had another date, now that I thought about it. She’d probably say go for it.

Green eyes stared at me and finally I nodded. “Okay, deal. When?”

“Friday. Come over to the training center when you get off work. You can catch the end of our practice and then I’ll fly you to this great place in Ponyville. We can eat, hang out, and take in the sights of the town. It is a really amazing place.”

“That sounds great, especially the flying part. It’s a date, then.”

“Cool! Well, it is getting late and I have training really early. Let me go settle up and I’ll drop you off at home.”

“Sure.” I replied before settling back.

Two dates. Was that typical for the palace? Would those mares in the shower be talking about… All-The-Way Azurite? Hmm, that didn’t roll off the tongue as well. She’ll… Az You Right? That didn’t make sense. Well, good luck, mares! I had two dates.

♥♥♥

Mr. Clockerson and I sat quietly in my office going over paperwork. Well… I did the paperwork and he just kept saying “tick, tick, tick.” We had brokered an uneasy peace. He would tick a tiny bit faster and I’d treat him with respect. That is when I’d learned his name.

What surprised me most was that Mr. Clockerson, while being a plain royal guard utility clock, was married to a fancy hour glass. It seemed to me that they would have hideous children but I didn’t tell him that.

My door opened and Lieutenant Brook came in. I went to stand and he waved a hoof. “At ease. I received a note from Vice Commander Soarin of the Wonderbolts that said you burnt midnight oil helping him with his pony resources package.”

“Yes, sir. Their warrant officer was gone and he had met me before so I did it. I hope that is okay.”

“If you want to help ponies on your off hours that is completely okay. Awfully kind even. Anyway, this sort of thing looks really good. I put it in your file. Do you have enough to keep you busy?”

In truth I didn’t but I wanted to steal a little extra time for myself. “Almost, sir. I could handle a little more if you had something.”

He shrugged. “I don’t but I’ll keep it in mind. Good work, Azurite. Have a nice day.”

And just like that he was gone. The lieutenant was all about positive reinforcement which was a nice thing. It made him really easy to work for. I was truly starting to appreciate my job with the palace guard regardless of why I had transferred there.

“Tick, tick, tick,” Mr. Clockerson warned me but I wasn’t paying attention.

This pony’s paperwork was a mess and I needed to straighten it all out. That took another hour or so.

“Tick! Tick!”

“Oh, you hush!” I set down my papers and glared up at him. “Oh…” I was late for my courier circuit. Diving over my desk I hurried out the door, got the missives, and started throwing them into office mail boxes as fast as my magic could flare.

Out of breath and panting I stumbled into Sunny Day’s office with the last three missives floating in front of me. My magic flickered a few times, almost dropping them before Sunny’s took over.

She looked at me with concern and confusion.

“I.” Huff. “Am.” Puff. “Late.”

Sunny sat up straight in her chair and then smiled slyly, “Well, it isn’t mine. We haven’t even been on a proper date yet.”

“What?” I asked before the load of bricks fell on my understanding button. Heat radiated from my cheeks and ears as I flushed. “What? No! For my rounds.”

The unicorn had her hooves over her mouth while she laughed merrily. “Oh, Azu, I’m just playing. Besides, we’re both mares. Do you need a lesson on this?” She reached over and opened her desk drawer. “I’ve got some dolls in here to help me explain.”

Quickly I shook my head. No no, nope, no. “Wait, why do you have dolls in your drawer?”

“Do you not?” she retorted, snickering.

We exchanged glances for a while. I was at a loss for words. Finally I just shrugged and smiled. Then, in the corner of my brain, something rippled. I should tell her.

Sunny went about opening and looking at her missives.

My hooves took me over to her desk and I looked up at her.

“Is there something else?” she asked curiously. “Not that I mind you staring at me.”

Staring, right. I blinked and set my forehooves on her desk. Okay Azurite, you’re an adult, you can do this. “Date!” I blurted.

The letters went down to the desk and Sunny giggled. “Yes, we have a date. I haven’t forgotten.”

Sweat beaded right under the bangs of my mane. “I have a date,” I corrected my blabber mouth. “Soarin asked me on a date.”

Sunny’s chin went to her hoof so that she’d be eye level with me. “Is that so?”

Uh oh, she looked… well, not mad. I’d never seen Sunny look mad, actually. She looked… less than rainbows and gumdrops happy. Nervously I pushed on, “Yes… but not during our date.”

“Oh, okay then.” She smiled and was back to her usual self.

“It’s okay?”

Her nose wrinkled and she tilted her head. “Well… I have a date with a different pony. Why can’t you? You don’t belong to me and I certainly don’t like being a hypocrite. Now if you were canceling, my feelings might be hurt. That would be totally different. Honestly, you didn’t even have to tell me.”

My heart resumed beating which, thankfully, meant I wasn’t going to die. “I would be very upset if I hurt your feelings. I thought you had a right to know.”

“You did, hmm?” she purred, that pre-pounce look returning to her eyes.

I still hadn’t figured out what it meant so I just nodded.

Sunny motioned me around to her side of the desk and I obliged. She looped a hoof around me in a light hug. “You’re very sweet. Listen, let me finish up a few things and then we’ll go out tonight. I think we should have a talk.” I tensed. She felt it and smooshed me back against her. “It isn’t a bad talk. I promise.”

I wasn’t certain but I nodded. Once she had let me go I went to my office, shut the door, and had a meeting with Mr. Clockerson.

♥♥♥

For our talk Sunny had picked a quiet, subdued tea house with large booths that afforded a lot of privacy. There also weren’t a lot of ponies there so that was a bonus. I’d picked a seat and she had nestled in beside me instead of across. The waitress sat down two cups of tea and wandered off.

“Okay!” Sunny Day said cheerfully. “I think we should have a little talk about expectations just so no pony’s feelings ever get hurt. Alright?”

I nodded. That was reasonable.

“Now, you don’t have to answer anything but I’m curious. You have been on a date before, right?”

“Yes, a reasonable amount, but not since school… so I’m a little rusty.” It was true.

She nodded. “And have you had a special somepony before?”

“Not since school.” That was my answer for most questions.

“And you were exclusive?”

That was an odd question. “To the best of my knowledge?”

Her nose wrinkled. “Mare or stallion?” Her tone was wispy and teasing.

I wasn’t sure why but I was getting embarrassed. My head ducked a little. “Well… stallions for dates and only one for my somepony. He and I lost touch after we graduated.”

Sunny hugged her hooves across her chest. “Oh my! Love broken by circumstance!”

“Well… that and we were just kids. Who marries their high school sweetheart these days?” I asked.

She teased, “Of course. So you only dated one pony at a time?”

That was true so I nodded.

“Okay, well, like I said, if a pony asks me I at least give them a chance. You seemed okay with that but you also said you thought I had a right to know you had a date. Those things are kind of opposite, right?”

“Uh… not exactly?”

She looked surprised. “How so?”

Twiddling my hooves I laid it out. “You told me about your other date. Plus you made it clear you saw other ponies. My guess was you thought I was just seeing you.”

That just seemed to confuse her. “Wait… so the first part I get. You’re saying it would be okay for me to see other ponies but not for you to do the same?”

For some reason that sounded right and I told her so.

Sunny Day laughed and shook her head. “No! Azu, come on. Look, you’re fine. You date who you want to date and I’ll do the same. If things go well maybe we get exclusive. Okay?”

That certainly was more balanced. “Okay.”

Her tone lowered and she leaned in really close. So close I could feel her breath on my ear. “And when did you decide you liked mares?”

That closeness and soft breath against me made me uncomfortable in the good sort of way. I squirmed against Sunny but she didn’t let up. “During the academy… my bunkmate. I had funny feelings every time I looked at her and one day I just thought… Celestia, that mare is for me.”

Sunny’s forehooves crept around me and she pulled me closer. “And did you ever do anything about it?”

My head shook extremely fast. “Oh, no, no, no. She had a husband, a foal, and a whole lot of small town opinions on that sort of thing.”

“Oh, drat.” Sunny huffed. “I was hoping for a juicy story. So… you’ve never…” She paused a moment to pick the exact words she wanted. “...explored the mare side of things?”

Blush shows up really well on a light blue pony and I was fairly certain I turned streetwalker red. My head shake set new speed records. “No! No sports!”

The golden mare squeezed me tightly and actually nibbled my ear. It was debilitating. I melted into her hooves and was completely at her mercy. We were out in public but I didn’t care!

She whispered, “Lucky me.” Then she promptly stopped and let me go.

My muzzle hung open in surprise and Sunny Day just sat next to me, giggling. “Oh, you’ll just have to wait. I think I’ve figured out exactly what kind of pony you are, Azu.”

Medically speaking, I’m aware that I still had a tongue. Metaphorically speaking, it had left the building. The best I could do was sputter, “Okay.”

♥ 3 ♥

Author's Note

I really enjoyed writing Soarin. He pops up in a lot of fictions and I wanted to do a slightly different version of him. Soarin the foodie!

This is probably one of my favorite chapters for this story. I hope you all enjoy it!

4. My Trip To Ponyville

“Mirror Azurite, you are a sexy mare.” She had clearly been to the salon and spa. “Look at that mane! Long, flowing, and shiny. And your coat! All brushed and glittery. Whatever pony is taking you out tonight is lucky.”

The Azurite in the mirror seemed pretty happy to see me. She was smiling, bubbly, and confident. We waved at each other and I dropped down from the sink. It was time to get down to my office and finish up my work for the day.

Happily I trotted down the hall.

“Warrant Officer Azurite?” The lieutenant had used my rank. I was in trouble.

Immediately I stopped, turned to face where he had appeared from a cross corridor, and stiffened. “Yes, sir?”

“You’re out of uniform.”

“Sir?” I asked in confusion.

He pointed to my head where my beautiful mane was perfectly styled and currently uncovered. “Where is your helmet?”

“In my office, sir.”

“It was more rhetorical. It is supposed to be on your head when you’re on duty,” he said, a little disappointment creeping into his voice.

A frown spread along my lips. I wasn’t like normal guards who could keep a poker face. “I’m sorry, sir. You’re right. It should be. The day was almost over though and… well, my mane.”

“I’m going to let it go this one time. Everypony gets a free pass once. Please understand that if it happens again, though, I will be ‘that officer’ that writes ponies up for little things. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir! Very clear and very fair.”

He nodded and went on his way. “Dismissed, then.”

Whew, I was mostly safe even if I had disappointed the CO a little. I hurried down to my office and shut the door. I didn’t have any more appointments. In a mere 30 minutes me and my perfect mane would be out the door and over to the Wonderbolts training facility.

Mr. Clockerson ticked smugly on.

“I don’t see you wearing your uniform.”

“Tick, tick, tickity tick!”

“Foul-mouthed clock.” Pale purple magic ensnared a piece of scrap paper and started folding it. Carefully I fashioned a little paper hat. Levitating it up, I sat it on top of Mr. Clockerson.

“Tick, tick! Tick, tick!”

“It serves you right,” I told him as the minute hand finally reached the top. “16:00. Time to leave!”

There is no way to prove it but I’m fairly confident that I removed my armor and secured my office so quickly that I set an Equestrian record. Of course Mr. Clockerson was my only witness and he’d never testify in my favor.

I trotted through the palace and kept as much decorum as I could. My appearance certainly turned a few heads and it didn’t bother me. I had somewhere to be. Once I crossed the threshold I galloped off to my date!

♥♥♥

The Wonderbolts have the finest facilities in all of Equestria. The main one in Canterlot is a big campus for such a small group of ponies. There is a large gym, some dormitories, a private meal hall, and a smattering of various tracks. They have running tracks, flying tracks, obstacle tracks, and a combination of all three. By comparison, the royal guard facilities I had been trained in were a cardboard box for a foal to play in.

I slipped the pass Soarin had given me around my neck and was admitted through the gate. Galloping all the way there had worn me out a little but I wanted to keep a hint of class. That meant slowing down and not being all panty when I found the stallion. As such, the trot to the flying track was leisurely and I could see five different pegasi zooming around.

A shoulder-height fence had been built around the area. It made… well, no sense at all. It was a flying track. I stood on my hind hooves and set my forehooves on the top so I could watch.

The five of them went around and around at speeds I couldn’t even hope to reach when galloping. It went on like that a bit longer before they broke formation and started off on their own maneuvers. Everything was precise and designed to elicit cheers.

The Wonderbolts went through the routine twice more and then came in for a landing. The first two through the gate were Spitfire and Fleetfoot. They both looked my way. I guess in a big empty training area one glittery mare stands out.

Spitfire called, “Enjoy the show?”

“Yes, you were amazing!”

The pair of mares came over. Fleetfoot seemed to take me in. “We’re not used to groupies at training,” she said

Groupie? What did that mean?

“She’s with me,” Soarin called as he came through the gate. He trotted over. His coat was matted with sweat and all of his muscles were tight. My forelegs went a weak again and I made a note to check with a doctor about that.

“Oh yeah? Good for you, Soarin. She’s cute,” Spitfire said before waving and heading off. “Glad you liked the show.”

Fleetfoot lingered a bit more and glared at me. What had I done? She lifted her nose and cantered off after Spitfire.

Soarin was frowning after her and when it seemed he had done so long enough he turned back to me. For the first time in my life I had stunned a stallion. His mouth hung open. “Wow. You’re…”

Stunning? Beautiful? Radiant? Princess-like? The most impressive mare you’ve ever seen?

“... hot.”

Okay, so he wasn’t a poet. “Why thank you. I wanted to look pretty for our date.”

“You nailed it!” he exclaimed and then looked at his messy self. “I should go get showered and halfway presentable. Don’t wander too far. The team is mostly harmless but Fleetfoot is a bit of a bi- uh, bi-” He stared as if he wanted me to help. Finally he finished, “bitter pony.”

“I’ll be right here,” I promised before casually posing so the sun caught all the glitter in my coat.

“Great… I’ll be right back!”

♥♥♥

Soarin wasn’t gone long and, thankfully, I was not accosted by bitter ponies. He had cleaned up fairly well and we were in flight to Ponyville. Our trip was much slower this time and he was carrying me in his forehooves instead of dangling me.

My forehooves were looped around his neck which he said was fine as long as I didn’t tug suddenly and throw him off balance. That could result in a crash. This configuration was far more preferable since it amounted to a princess carry. It also put our heads closer together even though he was mostly focused on flying.

We landed gracefully at what had to be Ponyville’s most fancy restaurant. It had outdoor seating with a rustic feel to it despite clearly being more upscale.

“I know this doesn’t look like anything in Canterlot but trust me. Savoir Fare is one of the finest restaurateurs in Equestria,” Soarin explained.

Quickly I shook my head. “Not at all! This is great. I love the small town feel. No pony around here is looking and judging and there aren’t crowds.”

Each of us settled onto a little pile of hay and a dark blue unicorn came out to greet us. “Good afternoon, madame and monsieur. My name is High Horse and I’ll be taking care of you tonight. What would you like to drink?”

She looked at me first and I responded, “Water would be fine.”

Soarin cleared his throat and glanced my way across the table. “Water of course, but if you don’t mind I had another idea as well.”

“I don’t mind.” Which was true; I didn’t.

“She’ll also have a glass of last season’s strawberry wine and I’ll have the same.”

“That is an excellent choice,” High Horse replied before heading off.

“Wine?” I asked him, trying to mimic the sultry looks Sunny frequently gave me.

He nodded. “Trust me and if you could… trust me to order too? The pairing will be really amazing, I promise.”

“I trust you!” I said a little too eagerly.

The stallion smiled and chuckled. Oh… he had a pretty smile, too. Handsome! Handsome smile. “Sorry about that earlier with Fleetfoot. We used to date. She broke it off and for some reason feels like I shouldn’t be allowed to see anypony. Probably because she is in a dry spell.”

My nose wrinkled. “That seems mean. Don’t worry about it, but, um… she isn’t going to come after me, is she? I’m pretty sure she’d stomp me in a fight.”

He laughed again and shook his head. “No, she is more the passive-aggressive type. She’ll just tell everypony that you’re sleeping with me for Wonderbolt tickets.”

Lightly I drummed my forehooves on the table. “How rude!”

High Horse returned with our drinks. She levitated them to the table and asked, “And what will we be dining on this afternoon?”

Soarin didn’t even lift the menu. He ordered things for us with words I’ve never heard and High Horse kept complimenting him on the choices. It was like a secret code.

“Don’t worry, Fleetfoot is harmless. She also doesn’t have a lot of friends so the circle will be pretty small that she tells. So… I guess I don’t really know you that well other than that you are nice. How long have you been in pony relations?”

Dangerous topic! I was wearing eyeliner, too, so I had to steer this just right. “Oh… almost a year maybe? I didn’t finish warrant school that long ago. It was a great opportunity to take a pony resources position. More flexibility. Plus it’s more in line with what my father taught me.”

“Oh yeah? What was that?”

Good, talk about the family. “He is a jeweler so he taught me how to manipulate tiny little objects. That really makes you focus on the details. I guess that is why I am so good with fine print and such.”

“That is pretty cool. Is that why your cutie mark has the gem? You earned it helping your dad?”

My eyes fell to my flank. Three hearts connected by a diamond. What to say about that? It probably isn’t smart to lie on the first date - not a solid foundation there. What is the harm in the truth? I levitated my wine glass and took a sip.

“Funny story, actually. I helped my dad with everything! New pieces, fixing pieces, cleaning pieces, everything! No cutie mark. So I helped my mom with her business. She’s a florist. Nothing there. Everypony else had their mark and I was getting flustered.”

And here we go, Azurite. “A colt asked me out on a date. It was awkward and silly… you know, like most dates at that age. Well, he wasn’t shy and when the date was done he planted a kiss right on me and…” I waved my hoof over my cutie mark. “Ta da!”

“No way! Seriously?”

I put a hoof over my heart. “Filly scouts’ honor.”

“Maybe I’ll get to find out if kissing is your special talent then.”

Oh. My. Celestia! It took all of my self control not to squee right there. Keep cool, Azurite. Like a cucumber. A small cucumber looking at a big muscled cucumber that is normally poured into a snug flight suit. I swallowed and replied, “Maaaybe.”

Soarin laughed and my face felt hot. The small talk was going well. A few more sips of wine made it even easier. We prattled on about a bunch of general topics up until High Horse returned with our dinners.

“Now be sure to have just a little sip of wine with each bite,” Soarin coached and I nodded. I was on glass number two.

I ate the… well, I don’t know what it was. It was purple on the outside and white on the inside and crunchy. It was delicious by itself but paired with the wine it was amazing. My self discipline really struggled to keep me from stuffing my face. Thankfully Soarin, for all his food knowledge, was somewhat of a messy eater.

Once dinner was done we had dessert. Tiny chocolate cakes with strawberries… and glass of wine number three.

“You’re a food genius,” I told him with probably a hint of slur.

“I just like to eat. What can I say? The job allows me to travel all over and try all sorts of things.”

“I bet.” My head bobbed briefly and I quickly looked up. “Hey, when did the sun go down?”

Soarin laughed and reached out for my wine glass. Slowly he slid it away from me. “About an hour ago. Other than me being a food genius, how was your dinner?”

Time to be witty, Azurite. “Endlessly memorable.”

“Well that is high praise. Come on, Azurite, let’s get you up and moving.”

“Yup!” I chimed cheerfully and stood up. All four legs wobbled and Soarin hopped over to catch me before I collapsed. He slipped a wing around me and I leaned up against his side. I realized it was to keep me stable but it was a really sweet gesture. “Thank you.”

We wandered around Ponyville ‘taking in the sights’ as Soarin had phrased it. It was a cute town but, other than a library that was literally built out of a giant tree, it was fairly mundane. Of course I was also a little drunk and it was dark. That probably made it harder to really appreciate the town.

Soarin lightly yawned and squeezed me closer with his wing. “It is getting awfully late and I’m pretty beat.” He peered down to me. “Aaaand you’re doing an awful lot of leaning. Why don’t we head over to that little hotel and get a room.”

Get a room? A hotel room? I gasped softly and staggered. “A room?” I stammered before lightly trying to pull away. That wasn’t wise as I stumbled again and almost fell over. “I’m not that kind of mare.”

The wing pulled me tighter to keep me from falling. “I respect that completely… with that said, you’re still a little drunk and I don’t think I can carry you back after all that working out and food. I sure as hay am not going to leave you here alone and drunk. So… are you the kind of pony that can share a hotel room and just cuddle? And perhaps demonstrate the cutie mark-inspiring kiss?”

I felt warm all over. Warm and giddy. Maybe I was that kind of mare… the first kind. No… not on a first date, the little sober mare in me cried. But he is super cute and I’m an adult! He won’t respect us… you… me. Oh, ponyfeathers.

Sober Azurite won out. “I can be that kind of mare as long as you give me your word you’re an hon… honor… honorable stallion.”

“My word as a Wonderbolt. Nothing but cuddles… even if you get all hoofsy.”

I gasped as we swayed our way to the hotel. “Me? Hoofsy?”

“Hey, it happens.”

We wandered into the hotel and I looked up to Soarin. “What about smooching?”

He flushed. I had said it loud enough that the clerk heard. “Yes, there can be smooching,” he whispered before waving a hoof. “We need a room, please.”

“Mmmhmm…” the pony behind the counter said. “Just one?”

“Yes, just one. Please.”

The mare looked directly at me and asked, “Are you sure you want a room with this one, honey? I know he is a hotshot but you’re a little drunk and you seem like a nice filly.”

“Hey-” Soarin started but I slipped out from under his wing and put a hoof over his mouth.

“You are very kind, ma’am. I promise you, as dubious as this looks, he gave his word to be a gentlestallion tonight. No funny business.” I managed to get through that without slurring, too.

She shrugged and said, “Well, sweetie, that is your call.” She reached back, pulled out a key, and set it on the counter. “See you in the morning.”

♥♥♥

I was alone in a hotel room with Soarin. Azurite… alone in a hotel room with Soarin. My heart was racing as the door closed behind us. What should I do? What were WE going to do?

Soarin slipped over to the bed and flopped onto it. He laid on his side and lifted a wing. Well, Azurite, you’re in deep now. I followed along and nestled up against him. The wing came down and he shifted to put a little weight on me. It was warm, snuggly, and gave me tingles all over. I set my forehooves on his strong, muscled chest. Slowly I drew a little circle in his coat and giggled happily.

“You’re getting hoofsy,” he teased.

More giggles. You bet I was hoofsy, flyboy!

Soarin pressed more weight onto me and whispered, “I gave my word.”

Aww, of course he’d be a gentlestallion. I grumbled a little but then a light went on in my head. I looped my forehooves softly around his neck. “You promised smooches.”

“Did I?” he asked.

Quickly I nodded and gave him the big puppy dog eyes I always used when I wanted something. “Please?”

“Oh, well in that case.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. They were rough but not unpleasant and there was plenty of heat. Soarin was not as gentle as Sunny but where her kiss was electric his was fiery. The effect was certainly similar, however, and I melted against him.

Our lips lingered together a while before he breathed, “Woah… maybe there is something to that cutie mark.”

“Hmm?” I mused softly before booping his nose with a hoof. “Good kiss?” The room was swimming a little, and not because of the kiss. The wine must have won against the food.

He nodded. “Yup… hey, are you ok?”

“Uh huh… dizzy. Mmm, maybe just cuddles now? And sleep?”

“Sure, sure.” He gently rolled me onto my back. “Put your back hoof on the floor if you can.”

I did as he said. “Oh… that helped.”

Soarin winked and nestled to my side and wrapped a wing around me again. “I had fun tonight. I have to be honest, Azurite, you’re probably the first pony in a while who just wanted to hang out with me the pony and not me the Wonderbolt.”

Lightly I booped him again. “I don’t care about the Wonderbolts…”

Vaguely I heard Soarin saying something else but my eyes willed themselves closed and I drifted off to sleep.

♥♥♥

Soarin, despite being a hotshot, flyboy, celebrity Wonderbolt, is a perfect gentlestallion. Throughout the night I drifted in and out of sleep. A few times I found him watching over me with concern.

The last time I woke the sun was pouring through the window and Soarin was snoring quietly… half on top of me. I nuzzled into the crook of his neck and he mumbled something before shifting.

“Good morning. I-I hope I wasn’t too much trouble last night. Normally I don’t drink.”

He chuckled and shifted so that he could look me in the eye. “You’re fine. I had fun.”

“Enough fun to do it again sometime?” Bold move, Azurite!

The stallion bobbed his head. “Yup. You can count on it. I had a good time and you aren’t the sort of filly sitting there with her hoof out.”

A frown crossed my face. Gently I nosed him. “Is it really that bad? Mares coming after you because you’re famous?”

Soarin nodded. “Yeah… they want five minutes of fame. They think maybe if they spend time with me it will rub off on them.”

I giggled.

“What?” he asked before rolling his eyes. “Not what I meant.”

“I’m sorry… go on.”

He shrugged. “If it isn’t fame it is bragging rights. If it isn’t bragging rights it is bits. If not bits… who knows. All I know is I get so tired of it. That is why Fleetfoot and I got together but that didn’t work out either. So, other than, like, one other pony, you’re the first one that doesn’t seem to care about any of that. Why is that?”

“Oh, for me it was all the worked up sweaty muscles.”

Soarin set a hoof on my forehead and teasingly pressed me to the mattress. “Sure, sure. Honestly, why?”

“Honestly? I haven’t had a date since high school. You were nice to me and you asked. It didn’t matter that you were hot, a Wonderbolt, or whatever. You were just a pony that asked me out. Then I found out you were a gentlestallion, a food genius, and generally just fun to be with.”

“That works for me. Well… why don’t we have breakfast and then I’ll take you home?” Soarin smiled.

“You bet!”

♥ 4 ♥

Author's Note

Azurite's first date in a while. Soarin is, of course, quite the gentlestallion. I had fun with this one! Hope you enjoy it.

5. My Big Night Out

Weekends have a tendency to go by quickly, especially after an amazing date. The rest, by comparison, was not remotely as exciting. As such, I found myself back at my desk Monday morning going over paperwork again.

Lieutenant Brook stuck his head in my door. “Azurite, good morning.”

“Good morning, sir.”

“You’re glittery,” he sat flatly.

It took a lot of effort not to sigh. Even in my armor it was obvious that I was still coated in glitter. “It won’t come off, sir. I bathed twelve times.”

He shrugged. “No problem. It looks… cute? At least on you.”

“Thank you, sir.” I waited, then asked, “Sir, are you here about glitter?”

“Oh. No, not at all. Princess Luna’s House Guard doesn’t have a pony resources pony. No support ponies at all actually.”

That made sense. The unit wasn’t that old and it was too small to really justify its own support staff. “So… us?”

“You betcha.”

“Alright then, I’ll sharpen my pencils.”

The lieutenant smiled and nodded. “I knew you’d say that. Have a good day.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

♥♥♥

Sunny had taken my helmet off and she was inspecting my coat and mane. “Yeah, you’re super glittery. It is adorable.”

“Do you know how to get it off?”

“Get it off? Why would I want to do that? I like you glittery.”

I stared at her and huffed. “You… you’re… What?”

“I hope you get all prettied up for our date like you did for Soarin. Otherwise I might get jealous. Now, tell me all about it,” she said as she gave me a predatory look.

“What? No! You don’t want to hear about my date with somepony else.”

“Oh, but I do! All of the gory details,” she whispered, leaning in even closer.

What was she after? “Why?”

“You don’t want to hear about my date with Trixie?”

I gasped. “Your date was with Trixie?” I shook my head. “No! I don’t want to hear anything about it. Why would I want to?”

Sunny’s brow arched and she asked, “Are you jealous?”

“What… maybe? I just don’t want to know. That is too much pressure for when we’re on a date. How can I live up to being Trixie?”

The unicorn shook her head. “You don’t. You have to live up to being Azu. Glittery Azu. Now… tell me about your date.”

This didn’t make any sense. “Tell me again why you want to know?”

Sunny set her elbows on her desk and rested her chin on her hooves. “That is easy. You’re cute, he’s handsome, and I like imagining you being a bit naughty.”

How could Sunny just be so open about things! My face felt flushed all over and I squirmed. “You imagine about me?”

“Sure. You don’t think about me? You don’t have to say anything, Azu, but when it comes to love and dating I just don’t worry that much. Eventually ponies find what is right for them. It doesn’t matter what happens in between. Maybe you and Soarin will get married and have foals. Maybe you and I will. Either way, you telling me what happened on your date won’t change your love line or mine. It will, however, make me happy.”

Where was she getting this stuff? What in Equestria was a love line? I did want to make her happy, though, so I said, “Okay.”

“Okay?” she repeated. “Really? Yay!” She rubbed her hooves together and then pointed. “Shut the door.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice. It was after hours so I shut the door. Settling on the small couch she had in her office I shrugged. “He flew me to Ponyville to eat at this really fancy restaurant. I had wine… uh… more than I should have.”

“Oh?”

Slowly I nodded and nibbled on my lip. “Yeah, I got a little drunk and he was beat from training, flying me there, and eating so he recommended we get a hotel room… and I agreed.”

“Azu!” Sunny squeaked and hopped out of her chair. She rushed over to the couch and took my hoof in her own. “You minx! What happened?”

“I made him swear he wouldn’t take advantage of me. On his word as a Wonderbolt.” Sunny’s glee meter visibly clicked down a few notches. “So we cuddled and kissed. That is all… well, he also bought me breakfast.”

Sunny’s nose wiggled and she huffed. “Well… I respect your principles but that was not much of a scandal. It sounds like a high school date. Still, it is cute. Did you like the kisses?”

And just like that I felt flushed all over again. “Well… they were nice. More… uh, stallion-like. Rougher, more forceful.”

Sunny’s eyes glimmered and she leaned in. “Rough, huh?” I nodded. “Forceful?” Again I nodded. “You prefer mare kisses?”

“Prefer is a strong word…”

The unicorn got close and whispered in my ear, “I can’t wait until Friday.” The electricity was suddenly there. She then straightened up and patted me on the head. “Okay. I actually still have work to do but I’m sure you’re done for the day. Have a good evening!”

“Don’t work too late,” I said before heading off. I’d need to make a new mane appointment and perhaps a treatment at the spa. Plus I needed to go buy more coat glitter. If Sunny wanted me to sparkle, I’d sparkle!

♥♥♥

There was an honest to goodness hero in my office. The real kind. Not like a hoofball player or a model. A Celestia Cross recipient. He just… wasn’t what I expected. He’d only recently been discharged from the hospital and he looked like it. His wing was still in a cast and he had bandages all over. That wasn’t what stood out to me though. It was the look in his eyes. He was hurt inside.

“Well, First Sergeant, I have all of your paperwork settled. Obviously the fact that you missed the deadlines won’t apply to you… and according to this you are back on light duty. That should make you smile, right?”

He didn’t smile. Stupid Azurite.

“It is good to be back,” he replied flatly. It was a short answer. The minimum possible.

“Good is good.” What did that even mean? Sweet Celestia, say something comforting. Connect Azurite! You’re a pony relations pony! “Listen, sergeant…”

The pegasus was already halfway off the chair. “Yes, ma’am?”

Tell him. Tell him. I wiped my mouth with my hoof. Sweat was building on my forehead and I could feel the tears already threatening to jump out. “After the Summer Sun Festival, the one that didn’t go to plan, my partner and I responded to an incident of two groups of ponies fighting. It should have been nothing: separate them and move on.”

He sat back down, his ears pointedly facing me now.

“It went really bad. They weren’t willing to listen to guards. My partner got banged up so bad she’ll never walk again without wheels. They medically retired her. And I… I killed a pony. If I had killed him sooner Sandy might have walked again. I just froze up.” Now the tears were flowing.

It took all of my effort to press on. “I won’t pretend like I know what you went through over there. I won’t dare. I’ve had too many ponies tell me they know how I feel and that is the biggest load of gryphon manure I’ve ever heard. They don’t. They weren’t there. They haven’t killed. They aren’t cowards. It is just me. They don’t have to see Sandy how I do… but I need you to know it isn’t hopeless.”

I reached out a hoof towards him. He didn’t take it. He just stared at me. “It never goes away but it gets easier,” I whispered. “I swear it gets easier. Find somepony to talk to. If you want to talk to me that is fine, too. Just don’t let it eat you inside. I’ve seen your file. You’re too good a pony to be lost to this.”

He rose with difficulty and took a step closer to my desk. “Thank you, warrant officer. You’re the first pony that remotely gets it. I’m sorry about your partner… but I’m not sorry you hesitated on killing. Celestia help us all if somepony ever kills a pony without hesitation.”

With practiced professionalism he then rose to attention, seemingly blind to his injuries.

“Dismissed…” I said and just like that he was out the door.

A tissue levitated up to dry my eyes and I sat in stunned silence. I had meant to help him and maybe I had… maybe not. All I know is that he had helped me. Celestia help anypony that didn’t hesitate to kill.

♥♥♥

Sunny and I ate lunch together quietly. We were at the palace commissary grabbing something quick.

“So you met Silent Knight?” she asked.

“Uh huh.” I really didn’t want to discuss it.

She tilted her head. “Bad?”

“I’m hopeful. Can’t really discuss it. Regulations and all.”

Sunny rarely took no for an answer when it came to me. She always wormed whatever she wanted out regardless. Today she just nodded. “You’re right. We’re going dancing.”

“He isn’t dancing with anypony any time soon,” I said.

Sunny lightly hoofed her face. “Azu, I’m changing the subject. WE -” She motioned with a hoof between herself and me. “- are going dancing this weekend for our date.”

“Dancing? Really? Like… at a club?” Clubs were scary. They were full of ponies. A change of topic seemed like a good plan, though.

“Yup! It is a place I go now and then. It will be fun. Do you dance?”

I shook my head. “No… but I’m used to looking foolish so it will be fun, as long as I won’t cramp your style.”

“Great! I’ll pick you up at your place. We wouldn’t want you to get in trouble for being out of uniform again.”

My ears burned. “How did you know about that?”

“I know everything about everything in this palace, Azu. Don’t ever forget that.”

What a scary thing to say! I just nodded and ate my salad.

♥♥♥

Friday! It was Friday! Not just any Friday, either. It was ‘Date with Sunny Friday.’ The best kind of Friday… also the newest kind of Friday. After half a day I had saluted Mr. Clockerson and took off. This time I used half a personal day to get to the mane salon and spa.

The wonderful ponies there had done a great job on me. My hooves were perfect and they had made sure that I had enough glitter in my coat to pass it on to my offspring. Now I just had to sit patiently and wait for Sunny to come and pick me up.

Thankfully Mr. Clockerson wasn’t around to see me fidget. In all honesty I’m not great at waiting. Patience is a virtue but it’s not one of mine. I was standing on my couch with my hooves on the wall peering out the window when I caught sight of Sunny walking up. Quickly I dove down and tried to look casual. Casual for… who? There was no pony there to see me.

There was the knock on the door. Okay, Azurite, you don’t want to seem too desperate. Wait for it… wait for… a second knock! Quickly I got up, rushed to the door, and then slowed down. My horn lit as I opened it and cheerfully beamed, “Hello Su- Su- oh.”

Sunny Day had clearly also been to the mane salon and spa and maybe the magnificent mare emporium. As the door opened she tossed her yellow and orange mane. It was styled to perfection and left long. Somehow she had also found leg warmers that matched it perfectly and had one on each of her legs.

Her coat shined in the sunlight but it was her eyes that got me. Sunny has pretty eyes in general but she had done them up to look smokey and mysterious. Yes, I was looking mighty nice myself, but you can only polish up a tomcolt so much. The needle might have moved from cute to pretty-ish. On Sunny the needle had hit smokin’ hot and snapped off. I stood there stunned and she waved a hoof in front of my face.

“Did I break you, Azu?” she purred, her voice oozing confidence and sass.

Come on, brain… little help here. We’re trying to be cool. “Pretty pony.” Smooth…

Sunny Day giggled and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Thank you. You know, you’re a pretty pony, too. It looks like you went all out for me.”

Quickly I nodded. I had wanted to look pretty for her.

“You did great. Are you ready to go? I know it is early but if we get there now we can leave before the club gets too busy. You don’t strike me as the sort of pony that does the late night thing.”

Did she know? She couldn’t know. Was ‘late night thing’ a cover word for something else? Oh well, she was right whether she knew it or not. I nodded twice and then a third time. Then I shook my head. My tongue was too busy doing its own thing. Hanging out of my mouth, I think.

There was more giggling before Sunny tugged me out of the apartment and we started down the street.

Finally I found my voice. “I’ve really been looking forward to this.”

“Me too!” she chirped, which I couldn’t imagine was entirely true. After all, she’d been on a date with Trixie the week before and Trixie was Trixie!

Sunny turned more than a few heads as we made our way through Canterlot, not that I was surprised. She was leading me somewhere I’d never been… which included a lot of the streets. Admittedly I didn’t go out and do much. Eventually we arrived out our destination: Mare Contraire.

All of the windows were covered in that reflective black stuff that you couldn’t see into and the sign was pretty mundane. There was no logo, just stylized letters in white paint on a light purple sign.

We went in and much to my relief it wasn’t crowded. Crowds of ponies make me nervous… really nervous. The Mare Contraire was about like any club I’d read about. There was a long L-shaped bar set out from two walls. In the center was a really big dance floor, and in the opposite corner were a lot of private booths.

Looking around I noticed that the bartenders, save one, were all mares. The customers, as sparse as they were, were also all mares. Some of said mares were kissing rather publicly. Music was playing but it wasn’t glaringly loud. Through my blue coat and glitter I felt my face flush and I looked up to Sunny.

She caught the look and smiled. “Hmm?”

I whispered, “Is this a fillyfooler bar?” It’s okay, I can say that word.

Sunny laughed warmly and a bit too loudly to be subtle. She nodded and replied, “Yes Azu, of course! Aren’t you a fillyfooler?”

That locked up my poor brain again. I had never thought I was. I liked both stallions and mares equally. Labels… bleh. I nodded and replied, “I guess so… uh… Why are they all looking at me?”

The predator smile that Sunny occasionally gave me crossed her face and she nosed my cheek. “Because you’re new, literally shiny, and cute. You’re like catnip. Don’t worry, though. If they see you’re with me they’ll be nice. Do you want a drink?”

Quickly I shook my head. “No. I think that ship sailed last week. You already get your way enough with me without adding alcohol to the mix.”

“Is that so?” Sunny whispered as she peered at me.

With all the courage I could muster I nodded. “You know it is.”

She laughed. We still went over to the bar and she waved to the extremely pink bartender.

“Hi Sunny! Who’s your little friend?” the bartender asked.

I climbed up onto one of the stools and it slowly spun out so that my back was to the bar. Unlevel floor, I guess. Sunny spun me back and held the stool in place so she could introduce us.

“Azurite, this is Dolly. She is the Mare Contraire herself. This is her place. And Dolly, this is Azurite and she has never been in a…” Sunny leaned in and whispered, “fillyfooler bar.”

Dolly laughed warmly. “Oh, Sunny Day, you’re such a minx.” The mare leaned over to me and winked. “Don’t worry, Azurite, most of them only bite when they know they’re allowed to. Don’t let Sunny scare you too much. She’s a big bad lead pony but her heart is full of sunshine and rainbows.” Dolly then made a drink and slid it to Sunny who accepted it with her orange magic. “You girls have fun.”

Sunny nodded and pranced her way towards one of the booths. I followed along behind her and we settled into the same side. She sipped her drink and I peered at her. “What is a lead pony?”

My unicorn companion sputtered and spit some of her drink as she laughed. “Seriously, Azu? Oh my word. Didn’t you pick up anything as a teenager?”

“No… I spent all my time getting good grades. What is a lead pony?”

A hoof looped around my shoulders and tugged me close. “Okay… so everypony is different, right? Some ponies are assertive. Other ponies are docile. When two ponies get together they are like dance partners. Are you following me so far?”

I nodded.

“Now say those two ponies want to dance. Not like a club dance but a formal fancy dance. One pony leads and one pony follows right?”

That made perfect sense so I nodded again.

“The lead pony leads the dance. Now the pony that follows the lead is a wing pony. Does that make sense?”

“Crystal clear. So you like to lead when you dance. I can do that.”

Sunny laughed and leaned in to nuzzle my cheek. “Yes, but that isn’t where the definition comes from. Substitute the word dance with relationship and after that substitute the word relationship with make love.”

It was easy to visualize the sentence in my head. I’m great with numbers and reading. I dropped relationship in. Okay… and then… red in the face! Had she said make love? I felt it. Raw embarrassment. “O-oh…” I had nothing else to say.

“Now you get it. So, yeah… I have a reputation as a lead pony and that is probably because I am one.”

Well that made sense. Sunny and I were royal guards. We were used to taking charge and I was great at doing my job without somepony telling me what to do. “And I’m a lead pony, too?”

The smirk on her face told me otherwise. “Oh, sugar, no… you’re as wing pony as they come.”

“I don’t understand. Why not?”

“It isn’t something to be upset about. Ponies are all over the spectrum. Let me ask you something. Do you want to take me in your hooves, dip me, and kiss me… or would you prefer I did that to you?”

Both sounded fine to me but I doubted I’d have the resolve to just grab Sunny and kiss her. That was something she would do. It would be… oh. “I just learned something about myself.”

“Mmhmm,” Sunny mused. “Every pony falls on a scale between lead and wing pony. Some are at the extremes. Most are more towards the middle. You and I are kind of at the extremes and that works out pretty well.”

“Well, that is good I guess. Does that mean I don’t have to ask you out on dates or pay?”

Her ears wiggled and she replied, “Oh, I see. You’re a sneaky little wing pony, Azu… but yeah, if things take off I’ll take the lead.” She then sipped at her drink and patted me on the rump. “Dance time.”

“Oh? Okay.” I slipped out of the booth and waited for Sunny to follow. We headed out to the dance floor.

We were about the only couple out there so when I started my erratic and uncoordinated dancing I drew some attention.

Sunny giggled a bit and matched me. “I guess you’re not worried about what other ponies think, huh?”

“Nah, I was never popular in school. Why start now? There isn’t any pony here I’m trying to impress.”

Sunny’s head bobbed in time with the music and then her brow arched. “Not a single pony here?”

“Other than you but you seem to be oblivious to my shortcomings,” I amended and she laughed.

“Was that a short joke? I like that you can be you, Azu. Ever since we met you’ve never pretended to be anypony else.”

“That takes a lot of effort and I’m kind of lazy,” I teased even though I meant the first part of it.

For the next couple of hours we danced on and off. We’d go for a song or two and then head back to the booth. It was a pretty good workout and I was glad I was relatively in shape. The Mare Contraire was also starting to fill up and I was starting to sweat. Sunny was only so distracting.

The DJ was playing a fairly upbeat and bouncy song. I was really getting into it until I lightly bumped into another mare. She didn’t seem to mind but when I looked back to apologize I was surrounded. My legs started trembling and my stomach sank.

“Sunny?” When I looked back she wasn’t there. Just more mares bouncing as they danced. All around me. Ponies. All around me.

It’s fine, Azurite… it’s fine. They’re just dancing. The tremors crept up my leg and into my body. The air was too hot and I was too short to see where the exit was. I froze and was bumped again.

“Please… move!” Sunny said pushing between two mares. She took one look at me and then quickly hooked a hoof around me. “I’m sorry, Azu, come on.” She tugged me through the crowd and right out into the street.

My whole body trembled and tears started pooling in my eyes, probably ruining my makeup. “I’m sorry, Sunny… I-I’m so sorry,” I stammered as I hugged myself. “Too many ponies.”

The golden mare pulled me tightly against herself. “You have nothing to apologize for. Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t like crowds? I would have suggested we leave sooner. I didn’t mean to get cut off from you like that. Are you okay?”

“Yes… ponies all around me.” There were a lot of ponies outside of the club too. I covered my mouth and muttered, “Can we please leave?”

“Yes, of course. I don’t live far. Come on, sweetie.”

Sunny really wasn’t kidding about not living far. We only had to go two blocks to reach her building. I didn’t even know there were condos on that side of town. They were all built above stores. She led me upstairs and threw open the lock quickly with her magic.

“Sit here,” she said, motioning to a big pillow in the living room. “I’m going to get you some water and a washcloth.”

I collapsed onto the oversized pillow. It wasn’t just large because I was petite. It was clearly meant for more than one pony. The shaking kept going… it might all night. Sometimes it was that way.

“Here, drink this.” Sunny offered a glass.

I accepted it with my levitation magic and sipped it. Cool, fresh water. As I drank she softly brushed my cheeks and eyes with a moist washcloth. It was endearing but part of me was sad. It is hard to imagine somepony wanting to go on a another date with me after one of my freak outs. That did little to help stop the tears. In fact, it made them worse.

“Sweetie… it seems like it is getting worse. I-Is there something I can do?” She continued to try and dab. She nestled in against me.

My head dropped. I didn’t want her to see me like this. Tears fell and, as much as I tried to be a strong pony, I didn’t like the idea of my chances with Sunny ending because I got scared of dancing mares. “Maybe take me home?”

“I don’t think I should. Getting you through the streets on a weekend when you’re upset seems like a recipe for disaster. We’re all alone here, and there are no crowds, I swear. The shaking seems better…”

My forehooves fidgeted over each other and I set the glass down with my magic. Softly I laid over on the pillow and wept. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Sunny ducked her head until she was on my level. “Why?”

“I ruined our date… I ruined my chance. Why would you want to go out with me again?”

That didn’t seem to sit well with her. She rolled me over onto my back with a surprisingly strong hoof and slipped over me. Sunny glared down and forced me to look her in the eye. “Do you really think I’d never ask you out again because of that?”

Her tone frightened me… but her slipping on top of me stood my hair on end. I swallowed and whimpered, “Most ponies wouldn’t… they’d say I’m broken… or they can’t have fun since we can’t do that sort of thing. Those ponies knew you… you clearly go there a lot.”

Sunny sighed softly and settled some of her weight on me, belly to belly. I was having extremely mixed feelings about what was happening. “Well, I’m sorry you think that. I’m sorry other ponies made you feel that way. I may be somewhat…” She paused. “Flighty, erratic, or something of that nature, but I do not blame a pony for having a real issue. You should be mad at me for putting you in that situation and here you are panicked worse because of me. Is this a result of what happened before?”

All I could do was nod.

She stroked my mane and said, “Let me take some of the burden off straight away. No matter what happened or what you do tonight we’re going to have another date unless you decide we aren’t. Okay? Not out of pity or to calm you down. Because I would have asked you anyway.”

“Okay.” I whispered and the burden actually did start to lift. The crowd still had me shaken, literally and figuratively, but I was calming down. I didn’t have anything else to say so I laid there under her.

Sunny’s nose wiggled and she nuzzled my cheek. Slowly she flopped over onto her side and wrapped her forelegs around me. She held me while I shook and eventually it stopped.

“Sunny.” Finally my voice returned.

“Yeah?”

“I really want to go on another date with you. Dolly was right when she said you were full of sunshine and rainbows.”

The other unicorn laughed softly and nuzzled me between the ears. “Yeah, I guess. Listen Azu, before we talk about that second date, I’d like to point out that the night is still pretty young and the first one can keep going, if you like.”

“Oh… then yes, please. What are we going to do?”

Sunny’s concerned voice shifted to her more cheery and teasing one. “I think that since I have you in my lair I’m going to keep you here. Since I know you’re the kind of pony that does the overnight thing.”

And suddenly I understood some of her desire to learn about my other dates.

“And, since we’re both a bit of a mess after all that dancing… why don’t we go share a bath?”

My breath caught briefly and I squirmed in her hooves. There was sharing a bath and ‘sharing a bath.’ Oh, Azurite, you certainly have been getting into a lot of trouble lately.

I nibbled my lip and then nodded. “Alright.”

6. My Surprise Visitor

I learned a lot about Sunny Day over the evening. Her bath tub, for instance, was clearly sized for at least two ponies. So were most of her pillows. We were sitting on a different one than before, both of us wrapped in fresh towels. Sunny had been diligent and washed me from head to hoof. All of that time at the mane salon lost...

“Oh, don’t pout,” she teased. “I like you all styled but I like you just as much like this.”

Her ability to read my mind was somewhat frightening. “I just wanted to be pretty for you.”

“And you were. Now you’re cute and moist.” Her brow wiggled at that and she stroked a hoof along my side.

I snorted and swished my tail. “Uh huh. Well… what’s next?”

Sunny tugged me close into another cuddle and whispered, “Kisses? Lots and lots of kisses?”

That seemed perfectly fine to me. After the crowd I honestly didn’t want her to go further away from where I could reach her. Kissing necessitated closeness so I nodded.

Slowly she nestled me onto my back and leaned over my form. Sunny was a finesse kisser and dotted my lips with multiple little pecks before going in for a long, lingering smooch. Her lips were soft and full and I felt the electricity from before. It was hard to think about what had happened earlier. For now all I could think about was more kisses.

My hooves looped around her neck so I could hold onto her. Hers slipped under my back to embrace me. I’m not much for cliches but I thought I heard fireworks go off…

Sunny parted the kiss and whispered, “Don’t mind that. There is a dinner theatre downstairs and they have some minor pyrotechnics.” She then kissed me once more before nosing my cheek. “Azu, you’re a very nice pony…”

I nibbled on my lip. “But?”

“But I’d really like you to not be a good girl tonight. That is, assuming you’re not still worked up. I don’t want to take advantage of your condition.”

Oh sweet Celestia… All-The-Way Day. Briefly I contemplated the options. What would she think of me in the morning? What would they say at the palace?

I swallowed. “I don’t want you to think I’m easy.”

The golden mare giggled. “I see. Well… I’m pretty easy and I don’t think it is necessarily a character flaw. I like what I like, I’m not ashamed of it, and I’m really into you. Totally your call, though.”

“I’ve never been with a mare,” I admitted.

“I’ll go easy on you.”

Here was my chance to be impulsive. I’d made Soarin promise to be good and it had been tough to keep my hooves off him. Softly I whined before leaning up to nuzzle Sunny’s neck. “Show me how it’s done.”

There was gasp followed by a gleeful clapping of hooves. With the eyes of a hungry lion Sunny lifted me with her magic and floated me right into her bedroom.

♥♥♥

I flopped on my back, my head hitting the pillow with a soft thump. My coat was matted with sweat and I tingled all over. “Oh, Celestia, I had forgotten what that was like.”

Sunny’s ears shot up. “You said you’d never been with a mare!”

“What? Oh no! I meant…” I giggled sheepishly. How to phrase this? “Crossing the goal line.” And I felt flushed all over again.

“Azu!” She gasped. “Surely you…” Sunny spared me and continued the metaphor, “...practice for the big game?”

My head shook. “No… I’m completely into team play. I can’t get into the game solo.”

Sunny Day laughed happily and tugged me against her chest. She smooched my ears and purred, “Oh, you’re a treat. As fun as that is, I am worn out. Bed time?”

Quickly I nodded. I had had one heck of a day and sleep sounded great.

♥♥♥

I woke to the sound of hooves in the room outside. The sun was pouring in through the windows so it had to be early. Sunny was making me breakfast? Hmm… If Sunny was making me breakfast, then who was I snuggling with? The haze of sleep wore off and I froze. Quickly I shook the unicorn next to me.

“Sunny, somepony is in your condo!” I whispered.

Her eyes opened and peered at me with a warm fondness… and zero recognition. She nibbled on my ear which sent tingles to far away places. “Yes, you are.”

Lightly I shook her. “No… somepony else is in the-”

The door opened suddenly. A blur of blue whisked in and flopped on the end of the bed. “Sunny Day, it is horrible! Horrible!” It was a familiar mare’s voice.

Sunny sat up straight, suddenly very awake. “Trixie? What’s the matter?”

Trixie? With a gasp I hid behind Sunny and looked out from under a hoof.

“Trixie’s main assistant! She has run off with a stallion. Trixie won’t have time to properly train a new one before the next show! Ruined… ruined!” Trixie threw a hoof to her forehead, closed her eyes, and fell over dramatically. Then one eye peeked open and she asked, “Who is in bed with you?”

Sunny just started giggling uncontrollably.

“Trixie does not know how you can laugh at a time like this! Her career will be ruined!” She toned it down and peered at us. “Seriously, though. Who is that?”

The golden mare turned and looped her hooves under my forelegs. Sunny pulled me around to sit in front of her as if she were showing me off, giggling all the while. I get that I’m small, and that all royal guards work out, but seriously, she moved me way too easily. “Trixie, you remember Azurite?”

Weakly I waved a hoof and said, “I’m sorry.”

Trixie quickly nodded. “Yes, Trixie’s fan. She remembers. Hello Azurite.” She then looked to Sunny. “What is Trixie going to do?” Her mind then snapped the other way. “Wait. Why is Azurite in bed with you?”

More giggles from Sunny while I was mortified, horrified, and terrified. She just held onto me and kept me still. Finally coming down from a giggle fit Sunny replied, “Because we were on a date last night and I asked her to stay over. You let yourself in like usual so you found us in bed.”

I repeated, “I’m sorry.”

Trixie waved a dismissive hoof. “Trixie has seen worse.” I wasn’t sure what that meant but it didn’t seem directed at me. She then flicked her tail and went on. “Well, you still haven’t consoled Trixie and given her advice. What is she to do?” The blue mare crept a little closer and then peered directly at me. “You and Azurite were having s-”

Sunny quickly cut her off. “We were playing in the big game. Azurite was the most valuable pony. She scored more than once.”

My jaw went slack and I stared in horror. Slowly I just buried my head against Sunny in embarrassment.

“Big game? Trixie has no idea what you’re talking about. You were playing sports in here? How would Azurite score… oh! Sunny Day, you’re corrupting mares that can’t even speak about such things outside of metaphor?”

“Uh huh,” Sunny replied cheerfully. “Now, about your assistant. I know the part well enough to fake it for a few nights. You can train up your number two mare. She is a smart cookie. Then just hire a new number two.”

Trixie’s hooves clapped together and she cheered, “Thank you, Sunny!” Without warning I found myself squeezed between the pair as Trixie hugged Sunny. Through all of my terror and expectation that Trixie was going to pound me for being with Sunny, a little part of me thought, ‘oh yeah… this is nice.’

“You’re welcome,” Sunny said warmly. “Now Trixie, why don’t you go get settled in the living room so I can make sure Azurite doesn’t die of a heart attack. We’ll get cleaned up and come out.”

Trixie let us go and then turned her nose up. “Don’t keep Trixie waiting long.”

Once Trixie was gone Sunny started giggling again and she hugged me. I was trembling. “You’re fine. She isn’t going to beat you up.” Sunny whispered.

“She caught us in bed.”

Quickly the mare shook her head. “Nope. Caught implies we were doing something wrong. Sugar, Trixie doesn’t own me. She knows the rules. She let herself in and found me in bed with another mare. That is her fault. Besides, as you can tell, Trixie isn’t possessive of anything but her career. Come on. Let’s go have some breakfast with her.”

“That sounds like the most awkward thing ever.”

Sunny Day slipped off the bed and pranced for the door. “No, we’ll just talk about her career and my part. You stayed the night. The least I can do is make the MVP breakfast.”

Oh, Azurite, what have you gotten yourself into?

♥♥♥

Sunny had been right. Trixie had already forgotten about us being in bed together… either that or she just didn’t care. She spent all morning talking about the part Sunny would play in the show.

Breakfast, while a sweet gesture, was very basic. In contrast to Soarin, Sunny Day was neither a food genius nor a great cook. Still, she rewarded my promiscuity with edible food and I was grateful. After breakfast I excused myself and headed for home. It was just too weird to sit there with the two of them. It was even weirder that Sunny had kissed me goodbye right in front of Trixie.

I’m not sure I could have sat there politely if the situation had been reversed. I knew Sunny dated but I didn’t want to see it! At any rate I needed to get home and feed my fish, water my plants, and take care of all the chores I had put off in my excitement to go on dates.

♥♥♥

Mr. Clockerson ticked soothingly to me. He was trying to raise my spirits. My monthly appointment with Mindful Soul had occurred early that morning and I was feeling a little low. She had started our session the same way as always: stating that emotional pain gets easier with time but it can’t be “fixed.” We just learn to deal with it.

Almost a year later and I still have problems. Problems with nightmares, problems with crowds, and problems with self esteem.

On the plus side, she was very happy to hear I was dating. She also gave me a talking to about promiscuity but I’m an old enough pony to make those kind of choices. Just because I look like a filly doesn’t mean I am one.

What had hit me hard was that she wanted me to go see Sandy Shores, my former partner. I had told her I couldn’t. She said it was time. I said it wasn’t. We disagreed but she pointed out it was up to me. Later, I’d said. Always later.

I wiped my eyes again and moved on to the next pony’s paperwork.

“Knock knock,” Soarin said without actually knocking on my open door. He was in that wonderfully tight Wonderbolt’s uniform.

Quickly I wiped my eyes again and stood at attention.

Soarin laughed and waved a hoof. “At ease Azurite. This is a social call.”

“Oh?” I asked, settling back onto my pillow. I tried to summon some confidence and motioned him in. “Please come in then.”

He did so and took a seat across from me. “Hey are you okay?” he asked. “You look sad.”

“Me? Oh, I’m fine. Sometimes a pony’s file has things that are sad in them. Injuries and such. I was just thinking about one in particular. I’m fine though, honest.” That was exactly the right thing to say. It wasn't exactly a lie.

Soarin smiled and shook his head. “It makes me respect you more that you care so much. You’re a good pony… which is also why I’m here.”

You care so much, Azurite. So much so that you can’t go see Sandy… That wasn’t helping; time to focus on Soarin. My ears stood at attention. “Is that so?”

“It is. I wanted another date. When are you free?”

The Azurite in my head jumped up on her hind hooves and started dancing. It was a pretty nerdy dance… the cabbage patch, I think. I batted my eyes at him. “Well… my dance card isn’t full or anything. For a gentlestallion like you I’m free this weekend.”

Soarin’s ears drooped. “Oh… well this weekend I have a thing. A Wonderbolts thing. We’re going to be in Manehatten.”

I was starting to like the Wonderbolts less and less. I waved a hoof. “It’s okay. I can wait.”

He nodded and then sat up straight. “Unless…”

“Unless?” I asked hopefully.

“Unless you’d want to go. We have shows Saturday and Sunday but… you could stay in my room. I could even get you tickets to the show. You know… if that isn’t too much for your…” Soarin trailed and was clearly trying to pick the right words. I knew what he was getting at. “Uh…” You can do it handsome, come on. “Virtue?”

My parents were good, honest ponies. They had raised me to be a good honest girl. In less than a month I had catted around with a mare and now I was going to shack up with a stallion. Wait, we are? Yes, inner Azurite, we totally are.

I set my hooves on the desk and lifted my head to look proud. That left me only a head shorter than the stallion. “My virtue can stand it. I would love to go.”

Soarin cheered, “Alright! Listen, I promise to be a gen-mmph!” Somehow my hoof had landed on his mouth. He stared at it. I stared at him and then slowly took it back. “Good host, then?” he amended.

Quickly I nodded.

“Great…” I could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. “Pick you up here Friday after work? I won’t have you back until late Sunday.”

“I’ll ask my fish to water my plants.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, it is fine! See you then!”

“Great!” he said before heading out. I stood up but he didn’t bother with any appropriate military decorum.

“Azurite?”

“Yes?” I called sweetly.

“Yes?” Lieutenant Brook repeated in confusion, his head in my door.

I rose to attention and replied, “Yes, sir! Sorry, sir! I thought you were my last visitor coming back… sir.”

“Oh. Well, I didn’t knock. Mitsy is taking maternity leave. Any issues with you covering any pony relations issues for Princess Celestia’s House Guard for the next few weeks?”

No problem… is what I wanted to say but I couldn’t. Ethically I couldn’t. This was also something I really didn’t want to discuss with the lieutenant but… “Almost no problem, sir.”

“Almost?”

“I can take any pony but the unit commander. I can’t work her case.” Please just accept that, please just accept that, please just acce…

“Why?”

Drat. Clearing my throat, I said casually, “We’re dating, sir. It would be a conflict of interest.”

Lieutenant Brook stood there for a good few moments while Mr. Clockerson tickered.

Tick, tick, tiiiiiiiick. I wanted to glare at him.

“Well, I’m going to say that is none of my business. You’re right, though. I’ll find another pony for her… I mean her cases. Anyway…”

He looked flustered and embarrassed. I’d never seen the lieutenant acting like a regular pony. It was awesome!

“Anyway, I’ll send the rest of them your way if necessary. Have a glittery day, Azurite.”

Gah! It doesn’t wash out! It never washes out! “Thank you, sir,” I replied.

He nodded and was out the door.

I grabbed my courier bag and started my rounds. I hadn’t seen Sunny Day since Saturday so I wanted to catch up. Of course I also didn’t want to seem too eager. Each missive was accompanied by a medium-length conversation with the recipient until I reached Sunny’s office.

“Hello, Azu!” she said cheerfully. “What do you have for me today?”

From my pouch I levitated a single missive over to her. “Just one.”

Sunny accepted it and set it on her desk. “Did you have fun this weekend?”

“I did! Even with the whole panic on the dance floor.” Biting my lip I asked, “Did you?”

“Absolutely! It was really low key. So many dates get all built up and this one was just… easy. In a good way. So, when can I see you again? This weekend?”

Two weekends in a row? I then wilted. “I uh… Soarin asked me out again. What about the next weekend?”

Her brow rose and she smiled. “He did, did he? Good for you! The early pony gets the Azu, I see. I have a date the weekend after.”

I felt like pouting. It wasn’t like I didn’t want to go with Soarin but I also wanted to go with Sunny.

She slipped out from behind her desk and came over to hug me. “Oh, don’t pout. How about this. You go on your date this weekend and then we’ll have a small date the Wednesday after?”

“That seems fine. A real date the weekend after your other date then?” I went for a bit more and also made a note to get a calendar. This was getting confusing.

Sunny smiled. “Agreed!” Then her tone changed. “Now, I heard you told your boss you couldn’t work on my case? You told him we’re dating.”

My eyes widened and I peered up at her. “Yes?”

“Oh, Azu.” She stroked my ears. “Technically we only went on a date and a half. One full date. Now we’ll have three. Are you always so by the book?”

“I take your confidentiality and my ethics very seriously.”

Sunny giggled and leaned in to whisper, “Given where you were nosing about this weekend I’m not sure how much confidentiality I have left.”

If it were possible to melt into her floor and hide I’d have done so. That only gave her more cause to giggle and hug me.

“No, you were right to tell him. That is very professional of you and I appreciate it.”

With a sigh of relief I hugged her. Sunny seemed to enjoy making me squirm and, in some ways, I liked it when she did it. We lingered in each other’s hooves for a while longer until she suddenly stiffened.

“Azu!” she whispered while I still hugged her. Wait… she was at attention.

Oh, Celestia. Slowly I turned my head. Sweet Celestia, it was Celestia! The alicorn princess was standing in Sunny Day’s doorway like any other pony would. I squawked. I think it was a squawk. Then I turned to face the princess and prostrated. My chin bumped the carpet I was so low.

“Good afternoon, lieutenant.” Her voice was melodious and pure. “Who is your friend?”

“Hello, Princess. This is Warrant Officer Azurite. She works in pony relations,” Sunny Day explained clearly.

Princess Celestia approached and I found myself looking at two gold-clad hooves. “You may rise, Azurite.”

My hooves trembled a bit and I admitted softly, “I’m not certain I can, Princess.”

That drew giggles from Sunny and even a chuckle from Princess Celestia.

“Would you be more comfortable down there?” the ruler of all ponies asked me.

“Yes, Princess.”

“You may stay there then. Sunny, I want to go visit Ponyville tomorrow. Would you arrange that for me? You can coordinate with Raven for my schedule.”

“Yes, Princess! Full guard or is this a social call for Sparkles?”

“It is mostly for Sparkles but I’m also going to see the mayor. A middle ground will be fine, thank you.”

“Of course, Princess. Raven and I will have it all planned.”

Princess Celestia replied, “I know you will. Thank you.” Then, from her towering height, she lowered her head so that she could look me in the eye. “It was very nice to meet you, Azurite. I didn’t know pony relations involved hugs but I think it is a good idea. Have a good day.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I didn’t move until she was gone… gone, down the hall, and far away.

Sunny hadn’t stopped laughing since the Princess was out of earshot. “Oh, Azu,” she said as she tugged me up. “You’re just too much!”

“That was the princess!”

Sunny nodded. “Yes.”

“Princess Celestia!”

“Mmhmm.”

“I was hugging you in front of Princess Celestia.”

More laughter. “Yes, you were… and she seemed okay with it.”

“I need to get back to work!” I said. “Wait. Who is Sparkles? A pet?”

Sunny Day shook her head. “No, its a code name for a pony. I can’t tell you who. All important ponies have one.”

“Oh… that makes sense. Okay. I’ll see you later Sunny. I’m going to go mark the calendar.”

The golden unicorn patted me on the flank. I couldn’t appreciate it since I was armored. “Alright. Have fun this weekend if I don’t see you sooner!”

♥ 6 ♥

7. My Weekend Trip

To my dismay I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with Sunny over the course of the week. She had been out traveling with Princess Celestia to see that Sparkles pony. As a result I spent the whole week alone with Mr. Clockerson.

It was just after lunch on Friday and I was glaring up at him. He now had a hat, googly eyes, a mustache, and a tie. “I’m so sick of you.”

He stared down disapprovingly at me. My helmet was on my desk. I was trying to let my mane rest so that it would at least be somewhat together for Soarin.

Purple magic surrounded the helmet and set it back on my head… gently. I was really starting to dislike my helmet. Of course no sooner had I put it on then the lieutenant poked his head in. Lucky break, Azurite!

I stood to attention. “Sir.”

“Hello Azurite, excited for the weekend?”

“Yes, sir! I’m going to the Wonderbolts’ show in Manehatten!”

The lieutenant came fully into my office. “Well now, that does sound exciting. No doubt Vice Commander Soarin got some tickets for you?”

“Yes, sir.” He didn’t need to know that they were not exactly a result of me doing the Wonderbolt’s paperwork.

“Very good, then. Come see me Monday morning. We’re going to have a whole herd of new ponies to process in the near future. I want to discuss strategy.”

“I’ll be there, sir!”

He nodded and turned to go but his eyes slowly drifted up to my very oddly decorated clock.

“He is very eccentric, sir,” I said.

“I see that… I’m going to look into getting you an officemate. Have a good weekend, Azurite.”

“You too, sir!”

An officemate could be fun. Of course having another pony in the room meant minding my manners more and talking to Mr. Clockerson less.

“I hope she’s nice!” I told Mr. Clockerson.

Going through the stack of papers on my desk took an hour or so and that put me even closer to the end of the day. “I’d best go primp a little.”

Mr. Clockerson seemed indifferent to the idea and that was good enough for me. I took off for the filly’s room and set my helmet in the next sink over. The Azurite in the mirror looked decent enough, even with her mane slightly crushed. She was also really smiling.

We took a few moments to wash our faces, primp our manes, and apply a little eye makeup. Just a hint for some additional color. “Alright, Mirror Azurite! We’re set. Good luck on your date!”

I turned from the mirror and put my helmet on. “You, too,” I heard her say.

That froze me up and then I shook my head. Too much imagination. Once I was back at my desk I settled in for the final stretch.

Any minute Soarin would show up and the weekend would start. My eyes flicked to the small bag I’d packed and hidden under my desk. I’d never been on an overnight trip with a stallion. We’d be spending a lot of time together. Oh Celestia… we’d be spending A LOT of time together. What if he discovered he doesn’t like me?

Doubt started to wiggle its way into my mind. A weekend trip as a second date? What was I thinking! I should cancel. What would I tell him? My fish was sick. My plants were sick. My plants ate my fish.

“Hi Azurite,” Soarin said.

“Fish plants!” I exclaimed in surprise.

“What?”

“My plants ate my fish and then got sick?”

Soarin looked thoroughly confused. “Uh… I’m sorry? Are you ready to go?”

No! “Yes.” What? No!

Soarin smiled at me and I melted a bit. “Okay. Well why don’t you lock up? I’ll be right out here.”

“Okay.” Okay… okay… Step one, remove armor. Check. Step two, get overnight bag. Check. Step three, lock office. Check. Step four, tell Soarin you can’t go.

“Are you going to fly me there?” Azurite, you disobedient filly!

The stallion laughed. “I’m good but I’m not that good. For big shows like this we take the train. All of our gear travels that way, too. We wouldn’t want to wear ourselves out the night before a show right?”

“Right! To the train then?” I asked.

“Yup!”

♥♥♥

Did you know that the Wonderbolts have their own train cars? I didn’t! There are at least three that they travel in when they’re on tour. It is also important to note that these cars aren’t the sort regular ponies travel in, either. They’re custom built!

One of the cars had a small exercise area and a lounge. The next had a kitchen, dining room, and sitting area. The final one was all bedrooms and each member of the team had their own private one. It was like being a rock star and I was one of them. At least temporarily.

Soarin and I were seated together in the second car playing some sort of card game that was above my head. He didn’t seem to mind though.

Spitfire was laying on a couch nearby looking over my shoulder. Slowly I levitated a card and she said, “Not that one.” Down it went into my hooves. Next card, “Nope.” Gah! Finally a third. She didn’t say anything so I played it.

Soarin set his own card over mine. Even though I didn’t get the game I had learned enough to know he had just beaten that card.

There was a giggle behind me.

“Whose side are you on?” I asked.

“His, of course! He’s my teammate,” Spitfire teased warmly.

“Oh… well that makes sense.”

Soarin sat quietly and then picked up a pencil and paper. “Well, you now owe six kisses, twelve hugs, and a nuzzle.”

“High stakes, I see.” Spitfire laughed.

From further down the train car there was an exaggerated, audible sigh. Fleetfoot came over to us and asked, “How come Soarin gets to have his little groupie on the train?”

“I invited her,” he replied. “If you invite somepony I won’t complain.”

“If I invite somepony it will be SOMEPONY. Not just a tagalong.”

What a bi… bitter pony! I dropped my cards and stood up.

“Ease up there, short stack,” Spitfire said as she rolled off the couch and got between Fleetfoot and me. “You know the rules. We’re all allowed guests. Azurite has been a perfectly polite one, too. There are plenty of other places to be if you don’t want to see her.”

“Now you and Soarin need to get your tails glued on straight and soon,” she continued. “I’m a little sick of this snippy behavior. I was an idiot to let you two have your thing, so I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. Clear it up immediately or I’m shipping one of the two of you to Bravo Flight and… since Soarin seems to be reasonable about this situation, that is looking like you.”

Fleetfoot’s mouth dropped open and she sputtered a bit. “Hmmph!” was what she managed before tossing her mane and stalking off.

“Wow… thanks, captain.” Soarin said, looking equally in shock.

I just did my best to make myself look small and not part of the conversation.

“Don’t thank me. I’m serious. You’ve been good but it isn’t all one-sided. Don’t think I won’t ship you off if it is necessary. Clean the mess up. Clear?”

“Crystal clear. ma’am!” he said.

“Azurite, would you like to come with me to play darts in the lounge?” Spitfire asked me. I use the term ‘ask’ but it was really more like an order.

After a brief glance at Soarin I responded, “Yes, ma’am!” Then off we went.

♥♥♥

“Okay, so you’ll be fine here?” Soarin asked me.

Slowly I turned a little circle in the gigantic mega-suite that we had been given in Manehatten. It had a big bedroom with only one bed… squee!… a living room, a kitchen, and the most opulent bathroom I’d ever seen outside of magazines. It was bigger than my apartment.

“I’ll be fine! If you come back tonight and I’m not here just assume I got lost in the orchard. Have a good practice!”

“What orchard?” he asked. Oh Soarin…

“I’m being silly… because you know… the room size.”

Soarin stared a moment. “Oh! Because you’re small.”

Close enough! “Yup. Have a good practice?”

“You bet!” He leaned in and offered me a light peck on the lips. “You owe me five more.”

Happily my headed bobbed in agreement and then I pushed him out the door. He was already running behind and I didn’t want him in trouble because of me… plus I was going to avail myself of the ridiculously large tub the second the door closed.

One gleeful trot later I was in the bathroom with the tub filling. “Complimentary lavender bubble bath? Why yes, Azurite, thank you!” I tipped some of that in. “Towel warmer for when you get out? Of course, Azurite!”

When everything was just right I hopped into the tub and nestled down into the water. It was heavenly. If being with Soarin meant getting to live like this than maybe I should… oh Celestia. Was I a groupie? Was I into Soarin because he was famous?

Purple magic yanked the plug out of the tub before it sought out non-warm towels. I wrapped myself in one and peered in the mirror. “We’re not doing this for the perks, are we?”

Mirror Azurite shook her head no. She was always the more reasonable of the two of us and until recently we had no idea that fame meant this sort of thing. Still… I had better tone it down a bit and not get used to all of the super nice amenities. Quickly I dried off, hung my towel, and put on the complimentary robe that was clearly meant for Soarin. It swallowed me whole and was wonderfully soft.

While trotting out to the living room my hoof caught in the dragging robe and I pitched forward. With an undignified squeal I landed face first on the carpet. Oww… My nose hurt but after a quick check I was otherwise unscathed.

“Now… what does a non-groupie pony do in an extravagant room while waiting?” There was a magazine rack and I went over to look through them. “Oh, Mares Monthly! That sounds fancy.” Peering at the cover I read aloud, “Twelve surprising ways to please your stallion in the hay.” Ponies could put that on magazine covers? Oh well. “Sold!”

♥♥♥

Soarin was late. Way later than I imagined he would have been. Thankfully I had the magazines to keep me entertained. Mares Monthly had almost been a bust. Most of the tips were so weird I could never have even considered trying them. Plus where was I going to get a hot tomato? I’d nearly set the thing aside but there was a section of stories near the back.

One of them was a serial titled The Mare’s Temptation and I just had to keep reading it. A prince and a commoner having a love affair right under the nose of the elite? I was on my third time through the snippet when the door opened. Soarin walked in looking extremely beat.

“Azurite?” he called, looking right at where I was nestled in the robe. “Uh… you didn’t actually get lost did you?”

Hopping up and shaking my head I yipped, “No! I’m right here.” The robe was all consuming and I had to peer out from the collar.

The stallion chuckled and came over to me. He pulled the garment back. “Oh, good. I was worried. Sorry I’m so late. Training is normally like that. Especially the night before a big show. I am beat. What did you have for dinner?”

“Dinner? No, I waited.”

“Oh… oops. We ate. You know, to keep going. You should order room service.” He then looked around. “Were you just sitting here the whole time? The room doesn’t even look touched.”

“I didn’t want to mess it up, so I’ve been here reading the magazines.”

Soarin titled his head. “Seriously? But there are so many things to do in the hotel.”

“I’m not a groupie. I’m not here for all of the fancy stuff,” I said firmly.

With a sigh he sat down in front of me and rubbed my ear with a hoof. That sent shivers down my neck. “Don’t listen to Fleetfoot. I know you’re not after my fame or bits. That doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from them a little when you’re alone, though. Tomorrow, before the show, do something fun.”

“Okay.” Time to work off another smooch. He met me halfway and it took all of my willpower not to pull back. Soarin reeked of sweat. Big musky stallion sweat which is very different from mare sweat. A quick little kiss later I offered, “How about a hot bath?”

“Oh, yes, please. I’m exhausted.” He flopped onto the floor and I thanked Celestia. Sleeping with a sweaty stallion didn’t seem like fun. Once in the bathroom I started the tub on hot again. Then I ‘accidentally’ poured some of the lavender bubble bath into the water… twice. Everything would be just right again. “Your bath awaits my winged companion!”

“Thank you.” He walked slowly into the room and settled into the tub with a delighted sigh. “This is exactly what I needed.”

My rump settled to the edge of the tub and I dangled my hind legs into the water with Soarin between them. Reaching down I softly rubbed his head. “You look sore.”

“You better believe it. We train hard… just not hard enough to risk injury. You have to understand, ponies expect us to be perfect. We’re the best flyers in all of Equestria. We don’t have any room for error. It is hard on the mind and body. That is why…” He motioned at the extravagant bathroom. “...all of this. Work hard, play hard, I guess.”

“I never imagined…” Slowly I pushed his head down and underwater to get his mane wet. Then it was time to shampoo it. “Are you sure it is right for you?”

“Without a doubt! I may look all exhausted right now but I can’t imagine doing anything else. While I’m young and my body is able I’m going to give it my all. When I can’t I’ll hang up the goggles and go train the next generation.”

“As long as you’re happy,” I replied while washing the sweat out of his mane. It was easier to work with than glitter.

“What about you?”

Scrub, scrub, scrub. Celestia, why do stallions smell so much more? “What about me what?”

“What is your career plan? Do you want to be like… pony relations general?”

I giggled. Pony relations general? There was no such thing. “Well… I love my job even if I’m new to it. I’ll probably go career like you. Chief Warrant Officer Azurite has a very good ring to it.”

Soarin dunked suddenly and then stood up, water going everywhere. It took all of my limited coordination not to fall over backwards. “You’d make a great chief. Anyway, I’m good now. Ready for bed?”

Bed… yes, I was. “Uh huh!” I floated a towel over to him and he wrapped himself up.

We took a few steps out of the bathroom and towards the bedroom. Then he stopped. “Hey Azurite, listen. I realize what it meant when you stopped me from saying I’d be good.” He did? Goody! “But…” No! No but! “And this is in no way related to you. I’m exhausted. Would you be upset if we just went to sleep?”

Oh, was that all? “You look like you can barely stand. I think we can let this one slide… as long as you at least cuddle a little.”

“I can cuddle. Come on, let’s hit the hay.”

“Bed!” I corrected quickly. I didn’t want to hear any more about hay thanks to Mares Monthly.

Soarin looked at me funny and then just laughed.

♥ 7 ♥

8. My Sweet Treat

“Go Soarin!” I cheered as loudly as I could from my box seat. Despite my desire to be a non-groupie he had insisted that my flank belonged in the ‘friends and family box.’ It was a blessing, really. There was a barrier between me and everypony else. And so that is where my flank was… all alone. Ten seats in a box for one undersized mare. To make up for it I cheered twice as loud.

The crowd was going wild. This was the debut of a new act and it was playing really well. I couldn’t even imagine what it was like to fly like they did. There were fireworks, explosions, and rings of flames. It really got my pulse going. When I met Soarin back at the hotel I intended to get awfully hoofsy.

By the time the balance of the hour-and-a-half show was over I was ready to go but practicality won out over excitement. Crowds were not my thing and this special box kept me above and out of the massive one below. The security pony outside had told me if I waited half an hour more there wouldn’t be very many ponies left to navigate so I decided to wait them out.

Once the crowd was gone it took me another half hour to get back to our room and by that time I was ready to be home. Manehatten was too big for a little pony like me. Carefully I worked the earth pony lock and opened the door. My ears caught the sound of some muffled voices and some… motion.

“Hello?” I called before wandering into the dark room.

There was a light under the door leading to the bedroom. My purple magic curled around the door knob and pushed it open. Fleetfoot was laying on top of Soarin. They were on the floor in front of the bed.

She looked up and said, “Oops, she caught us.”

My heart sank and my knees went weak. Quickly I turned and galloped out of the hotel room. They certainly had made up! Tears clouded my vision and I didn’t make it far.

“Azurite wait!” Soarin called before catching me. He moved a lot faster than I did. “It wasn’t what it looked like!”

I looked up at him and tried to stop additional tears from trickling down my cheeks. “Then what was it?”

“It…” Soarin blinked. “Wait, you’re going to let me explain?”

“Yes. Of course! What do you think this is? Some sort of filly flick where I’m so unreasonable that I will give up on you before you could easily explain a situation and resolve the conflict?”

The stallion twiddled his hooves and seemed unsure as he replied, “Yes?”

“Are you going to explain or not?!” I shouted at him.

“Yes! Shhh. Come with me back into the room.” He took my hoof in his and I allowed myself to be led back. Once we were inside he shut the door.

Fleetfoot was sitting in the oversized chair with her forelegs crossed. She looked awfully smug. “Oh, yay, you caught her.”

Soarin pointed a hoof at her. “Tell her.”

The mare lifted her head.

“Tell her or so help me I’ll go get Spitfire right now. I don’t care who she bumps but we’re done with this high school crap. Tell her right now.”

Fleetfoot paused as if considering her options but finally sighed. “Fine. We weren’t doing anything but fighting. I followed him here to discuss our little problem. We disagreed on how to resolve it. When I heard you come in I jumped on him so you’d get the idea that we were resolving it…”

My bottom lip poked out a bit and I sputtered, “You’re… you…” Seriously, Azurite. You can do this. “Mean!”

The pegasus mare rolled her eyes. “Yes. I’m sorry that I think Soarin shouldn’t date a pony like you… but you win, you little unislut. It seems like if I don’t behave I get to fly with the B squad.” She got up and walked by us. With a huff she added, “Have fun with your little play toy.”

Soarin gave the other Wonderbolt a light shove out the door and then slammed it. “I am so sorry. I swear you will never have to worry about me being with her.”

Deep breath. If you come apart you’ll let the pegaskank win. She was hoping to ruin my evening.

Swallowing the tears I looked Soarin in the eye. “I am going to the bedroom and getting into bed. If a stallion comes in, freshly bathed… I won’t be asleep.” To punctuate my point I rubbed my side against his chest and swatted him teasingly with my tail.

It seemed I had gotten my message across. He stared in surprise and then pointed to the bathroom. “Shower. I’ll shower.”

Good boy! I trotted off to the bedroom with my head held up high. He went into the bathroom and I bumped right into the door. No pony saw that, Azurite. After a quick clean up of my face I hopped onto the bed as elegantly as I could and my horn ignited. “Okay… health class, health class… what is that spell?”

It took a few tries but eventually I remembered my prevention spell. It was just one perk of being a unicorn.

While the shower ran I went through a series of provocative poses. This one? No. How about this one? Maaaybe a little too obvious. Quickly I pushed the little landing strip I had made out of pencils away from my flank. The water shut off and the nerves hit. This was going to be it! Azurite plus one! Just me and a big heavy stallion.

Soarin arrived and looked at me curiously. In my contemplating I had not chosen any one of the sexy poses. Instead my body was sprawled in a delicate, cling-to-the-sheets-in-confusion motif.

He climbed onto the bed and asked, “Clean enough?”

After a ladylike scramble I nuzzled up against him and sniffed his coat. He smelled clean and very stallion-like. “I approve. Proceed.”

Military ponies are great at following orders. He looped his forehooves around me and gently laid me back. Then the kisses started. The ones I owed him were exhausted before he even reached my neck. The stallion trailed more down my chest, over my tummy and… Oh hi! My left hind leg shot straight up.

Soarin paused, wide eyed. “Are you okay?”

Reaching down I softly stroked his mane. “No stop told you to pony.”

He snorted and then went back to kissing. It went on like that for a while and it became obvious that he was teasing me. The stallion wanted me all riled up and he was getting his way.

Eventually he crawled back up and nuzzled my cheeks while putting his weight on me. It was his less than subtle way to let me know he was riled up, too. My forehooves looped behind his neck and I squeezed against him.

“Are you sure you want to do this Azurite?” His voice was warm and full of genuine concern.

Softly I nuzzled his cheek. “Uh-huh. You’re not taking advantage of me. I’m the one that is hoofsy.”

He huffed eagerly, “Good… because I don’t think I could ask again!” Teasingly he lifted up and patted my flank. “Roll over.”

Soarin didn’t need to tell me twice. I did so and he let me know that good things come to little mares who wait!

♥♥♥

“Wow…” Soarin said softly.

I was laying across his chest with my head buried in the crook of his neck. Lifting any part of my body on my own would have been impossible. “Yesh,” I mumbled.

“I mean seriously, bravo. You were really… energetic,” he went on.

Had I been any more energetic I might have died. Moving still wasn’t a priority. “Big packages come in small things.”

“Huh?” How was he not half dead?

“Big gifts small packages.”

“Big gifts come in small packages, you mean?” Soarin asked.

There it was. “Yesh.”

That earned me a chuckle which bounced my head a bit. “I think I like what you said first better. Well… do you want to get some food?”

Rolling my head on his chest was like no, right?

“Want to take a bath?”

More rolling.

“Would you like me to shut up, cuddle you, and let you fall asleep?”

“Very yesh.”

“Okay,” he said warmly before shifting me off him and onto my side. I nestled into his warm, waiting hooves, and was rewarded with magnificent cuddles. “Sweet dreams, Azurite. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay, bye.” I muttered before the lights went out.

♥♥♥

“You look awfully chipper this morning, Azurite,” Spitfire said to me as we sat out on the balcony having breakfast.

Earth ponies had to have their share of sky so they had built a restaurant on the top of a giant building… and you could eat outside… just inches from a railing that you could tumble over to your death.

Despite the ever-present threat of falling to my doom, the food was really amazing. Soarin, of course, had ordered for me.

“I am! I haven’t been on a vacation since I started with the guard. I’m sorry you all have had to work so hard while I lounge about.”

Spitfire waved a hoof. “Enjoy it. You make Soarin happy so that is good for me. I’ve never seen him drive so hard in my life.”

The orange juice I’d been drinking sprayed out all over Soarin and I gasped, “What?!”

The Captain of the Wonderbolts stared at us wide-eyed. “At the show… he was super motivated… from your cheering… I pray.”

Soarin cleaned himself off and nodded. “I won’t lie. Having a personal cheering section felt pretty special and… you know… having a pony that just likes me for me was pretty motivating. I plan to drive twice as hard today.”

I felt faint.

“That is the spirit!” Spitfire cheered. “Give it all you’ve got and don’t leave anything on the field. You owe it to the little mare to push it to the limit. You’ll be in the stands cheering again tonight, right?”

Azurite, she is looking at you. Wipe the blush off. Say something. “Yay!” I cheered loud enough for every pony on the balcony to stare at me.

“Exactly like that!” Spitfire replied.

Slowly I sunk into my seat and finished my breakfast. Soarin got up and went for seconds, leaving me alone with the Captain of the Wonderbolts. She grinned at me and whispered, “You’re just a little treat, aren’t you?”

♥♥♥

The Sunday Wonderbolts show was a matinee and didn’t have quite the same size crowd as the night before. That was perfectly fine with me. My voice gave out on me about halfway through since I was legitimately trying to cheer twice as hard.

Once the show was over I was ushered into the secret back areas of the stadium so I could watch all of the support ponies start packing up. It isn’t nearly as exciting as it sounds. To keep busy I helped levitate a few things here and there. Eventually Soarin came to claim me and we were back in the Wonderbolts’ special train cars heading for Canterlot.

I was sitting on the bed in Soarin’s private quarters watching him change out of his uniform. He was still pretty smelly and there wasn’t a shower. Evidently even the Wonderbolts didn’t get that. There was one nice washroom in the back car though and I hoped he’d use it.

Soarin sat on the bed next to me. “Did you have fun this weekend?”

“I did! Tons of fun.”

That made him smile. “Good. Any regrets?”

“Yup! I should have punched Fleetfoot right in the snout.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “For the record, while I like your moxie, I recommend against that. I know we don’t look very military but she is really nasty in close combat.”

That was information that I filed away in the ‘just in case’ folder. “Good to know. So…”

“So?” His head tilted and then he smiled. “You want to go out again?”

“Yes, please. I’m free this coming weekend.”

The stallion’s ears flicked and he replied, “Oh, this coming weekend I-”

I held up a hoof. “Say no more. I know you’ve got a ton of stuff going on. The weekend after that I’ve got plans but the next one I’m free… and also during the week.”

“If we have a date during the week are you going to be capable of going in to work the next day?” he asked.

A soft gasp escaped me and I felt my cheeks flush with heat. “I’ll take my chances. And don’t you go assuming just because you take me out I’ll be… uh… receptive. I’m a lady. Kind of.” My tone was teasing but I also meant it.

Soarin put a hoof around me and tugged me close. He smelled but I didn’t mind too much right then. “I see. Well then, Spitfire gave us Thursday off. Why don’t we have dinner? There is this new raw vegetable bar on the west side I’ve heard great things about.”

“It’s a date!”

“Great! Well… I’m going to go get cleaned up. After that maybe we can play cards?”

“Sure, but I want to play Go Fish this time.”

He chuckled. “Fair enough. I’ll see you out there.”

♥ 8 ♥

9. My Reconciliation

9. My Reconciliation

My back was rigid and sweat was slowly dripping down my temples. The light was really bright in my eyes. The room was hot, too. Far hotter than it should have been.

Sunny Day sat on my desk shining the lamp right on me. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Azu. You have information. Classified information that I need to know. Do you think you can get out that door before I grab you?”

A brief glance at the door told me that I probably couldn’t. Mr. Clockerson ticked quietly, unable or unwilling to help.

“Answer the question,” Sunny pressed. “Why are you prancing today?”

“I’m in a good mood! I prance. Ponies prance! You prance all of the time. You’re a prancer.”

Sunny leaned closer. “And you expect me to believe that?”

“Yes?”

She giggled and switched my lamp off. “Liar, liar, flank on fire.”

Whew. It was nice to be able to see again. “I had a good date if that is what you’re after. I still think it is weird that you want to know all about it. Yes, I know we’re just dating, but still. It would make me jealous.”

“I’m not you though and it doesn’t bother me at all. The escapades of Azurite are of great interest to me and you spent the whole weekend shacked up with a stud.”

“So?”

Sunny Day put her hooves together and then stretched them out. “Sooo.”

“It was nice? We had fun?”

She pouted and sat back on my desk. “I’m not leaving until I get something good.”

That would make paperwork exceedingly difficult. Appointments were also going to be really awkward. Oh just give her what she wants, Azurite! It hadn’t upset her before and if it did now it served her right. Although running her off would also suck. I liked her a ton. I liked Soarin, too.

Rolling my eyes I said, “We played team sports Saturday night. It was full contact and he was the MVP a couple of times.”

Sunny squealed with glee and clapped her hooves together. “Oh, I can just imagine what that looked like!”

“Please don’t!” I gasped.

“Nope! Too late. Already up here.” She tapped her helmet and hopped off my desk. “See you later, Azu.”

She was halfway out the door before I spoke up. “Hey, Sunny?”

Her head came back in. “Yes?”

“I know I’ve been kind of a… well, a wreck when I’m around you. It means a lot to me that you don’t judge me for it.”

Sunny’s expression became more serious and she stepped back in. “It’s okay, Azurite; really, it is. I’ve had a good time regardless. And you’re not a wreck. You’re a sweet pony that has feelings. Don’t be ashamed of that.”

“Yeah… listen. I wanted to ask you something. Something kind of huge that I shouldn’t put on you, but... My counselor wants me to go see Sandy Shores. I haven’t been to see her since her discharge from the hospital. Probably because I’m a big coward. Could you come with me to see her? I feel like I could go if you were with me.”

The unicorn nodded. “Yes, of course. When?”

“This evening? I want to get it done so it isn’t hanging over me.”

“Okay. We’ll go together. See you later.”

“Yeah… thank you. Thank you so much.”

♥♥♥

“You’re going to be fine. I’m right here, sugar,” Sunny whispered into my ear. She was holding me against her chest.

Another panic attack and not twenty feet from Sandy Shores’s house. My hind legs had given out and I was just sitting in the street shaking.

The other mare stroked my mane softly. “You’re okay, Azu. You’ve come all this way. Do you want to go the rest or do you want me to take you home?”

I wanted to go home. The stupid counselor didn’t know anything. She shouldn’t have sent me here! Just get up and go home. Sunny would understand. Go home, Azurite. Go home.

My eyes clenched shut even tighter and I tried to stop trembling. “No. We’re here. I’m tired of running.”

I forced myself up. Sunny helped. She lingered close to me as I marched to the door of the simple single-story house. My horn illuminated as my magic pressed on the little button to ring the bell.

It felt like an eternity. Maybe she wasn’t home. I’d come and rang the bell. That was good. Time to go… the latch turned and the door opened to reveal Sandy. There she was… light yellow coat, ocean blue mane, and the chair. Her rump was settled in it, her hind legs dangling uselessly. Two wheels.

“Azurite?” Sandy said with a gasp. “Oh, Celestia, you look awful!”

My hind legs gave out again and I fell. Sunny caught me. The tears started and I sobbed, “I’m sorry, Sandy.”

“Sorry?” my old partner asked, confusion in her voice, then looked at Sunny. “Please, come inside. She doesn’t look well.”

Sunny took me in her hooves and helped me inside. “Thank you. Azurite wanted to see you today, Miss Shores. She’s had a hard trip here. I’m Sunny.” The unicorn gently laid me on a pillow.

“You can call me Sandy.” She offered a hoof to Sunny. “I’m pleased to meet one of Azurite’s friends.”

They shook hooves and smiled at each other.

My eyes were stuck on the chair. I couldn’t look anywhere else. Sandy wheeled closer and looked down at me. “What’s the matter, Azurite?”

Sunny would tell her. Sunny could do that for me. “I’ll be over here,” Sunny said as she backed away.

Sandy lifted a hoof. Go ahead, hit me. I deserved it. She softly rubbed my mane and then angled my head up to look at her. “Azurite? What is wrong, honey?”

How could she not know? “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” It was all I could say. It is all I did say over and over. Eventually I ran out of tears and Sandy seemed content to wait. I sniffed. “I did this to you,” I finally said.

The mare frowned and her head tilted. “You did this to me? I seem to recall a drunk, angry stallion doing this to me. In fact, I recall you stopping him before he finished the job.”

I shook my head. No, she had it all wrong and I told her so. I told her how I’d hesitated. How if I’d just done my duty sooner she’d be able to walk and have a completely pain-free life.

Sandy just stared at me. “So you’ve been blaming yourself for almost a year… and for almost a year you haven’t come to see me. By Celestia, partner, I thought you were smarter than that.”

“What?” My voice was meek.

“If I blame you for anything it is not coming to see me. I could have used your help. When I needed my partner you weren’t there. That hurt me. Of course seeing you like this and finding out you thought it was all your fault… well, now I just wish I had been there for you.”

“I’m sorry. I was too big of a coward to face you.”

Sandy shrugged. “Neither of us came out of that the same. I got hurt but you had to kill a pony. How are you handling that?”

“Not well. I have nightmares about it sometimes and his face… I can see it. Oh Celestia, and his foals.” The tremors started again. “His poor foals and you being out of work.”

“Alright, you’re starting to make me angry with the ‘woe is Sandy’ bit. The royal guard takes very good care of ponies that are hurt while performing their duty. I almost get my whole paycheck. Plus I work at that grocery down the street. I’m doing fine… now as for that other stuff... Celestia help you because of the two of us I feel more sorry for you.”

I wiped my nose with my hoof. She felt sorry for me? With weak knees I rose from the pillow before throwing my forehooves around her and hugging.

She stiffened and then softly patted me on the back. “It’s okay, rookie. We’re both going to be fine. Maybe you could start coming to see me more often and we could talk about those nightmares. Okay?”

“Okay. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

“Me, too, but you can’t live in the past. All you can do is try to do better in the future. Now… can I get you and your friend some tea? Maybe we can catch up on things that are less traumatic?”

I wasn’t ready to let her go yet. My hooves weren’t either so we just held on.

Sunny’s voice came from across the room. “Maybe I should make the tea?”

“Yes, I think so. Second cupboard on the left.”

♥♥♥

Sunny had a little couch in her office. It had been moved to be hidden behind a bookshelf that was turned out to face the door. It wasn’t for her to be lazy. It was more for the fact that the commander of Princess Celestia’s House Guard often had to stay late and sometimes needed a nap to keep going.

It was Wednesday, she was still working, and I was laying on her couch watching. It wasn’t exactly what I’d call a date but we were together. We weren’t alone, but we were together.

From my hiding place I could see Sunny but not who was on the other side of her desk. She looked tired. I wasn’t exactly in the know but I was sure this week hadn’t gone well. To be honest, it had surprised me she had even gone with me to Sandy’s. Sunny made time for me, though, and I appreciated that.

“Sergeant, I understand your hesitation. You have big shoes to fill… but I can’t do this for you. Silent Knight left you in charge of this search. He had faith in you and so do I. It is your unit, not mine. If you narrow it down to some really close calls and you need an objective look, I’m here. Otherwise you need to use your best judgment.”

The other voice was smooth, feminine, and clear. “I understand. I had to ask. You’ve been doing this a while and he… well, he’s just better at this sort of thing. I’d hate to mess it up.”

“You won’t mess it up, Iridescence. You’re going to be his number two some day. The section is as much yours as it is his. Buck up, get your tail glued on right, and pick the ponies you think will be best for the job… and don’t go around Sergeant Orchid again. She has you doing this for a reason.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry, ma’am. I’ll get back to it. Thank you,” the pony I assumed was Iridescence replied.

Sunny Day nodded. “Dismissed.” She waited a good two minutes before slipping out of her chair, coming over and flopping next to me on the couch. “I’m going to murder him.”

“Him who? I’m not very good at this sort of thing but I’ll lie for you. I’ll tell them you were in bed with me.”

“Silent Knight. He is on special leave learning to be an officer which, in itself, is ridiculous. They should have just given him a field commission. Until he returns I’m technically in command of both House Guards and it is running me ragged. The sergeant over there still doesn’t feel like she is up to the challenge and Orchid is trying to show her she is. It was my hope that they’d run things themselves like he had.”

“But if you murder him, you’ll still be in charge of both.”

Sunny looked at me funny and then giggled. “Okay. So, I’m finally done. We can have…” She looked at her clock and then back to me. “A two hour date.”

“Or, we can have a two hour ‘Sunny relaxes and doesn’t worry about Azurite’.”

“Oh? You don’t want to go on our date?” she asked.

“Not if I know it’s going to contribute to you being further exhausted. Besides, I can wait a little while longer. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”

Sunny softly snorted. “It’s a 12-week program.”

My eyes widened. “Can’t wait that long!” We giggled together and I nestled up against her. “Come on, go home and get some sleep. I’ll be fine.”

After kissing me on the cheek she got up. “How about a compromise? We won’t go out. We’ll go to my house. You make some dinner for us and we’ll just relax like a couple of old ponies.”

“Deal, but nothing strenuous. You need your rest.” To emphasize the point I wagged a hoof at her.

“You’re no fun but you have a deal. Come on. Let’s get out of here before somepony finds me. Oh, when we get there, remind me to teach you my lock’s spell, just in case you ever need to drop in.”

♥ 9 ♥

Author's Note

With only one chapter left Azurite has two great options! Who will she choose?

10. My Choice

Thursday night already. Soarin was sitting across from me looking rather pensive. “So, what do you think?”

I swallowed. “They’re probably the best raw vegetables I’ve ever had? You continue to be a food genius? I’m both swooned and excited by your knowledge?”

He laughed. “Okay, okay. I just wanted to make sure you were having a good time. I realize this isn’t the same as traveling with the Wonderbolts.”

It took effort not to frown. With a cheerful tone I replied, “And you know that doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m dating Soarin the stud pony. Not Soarin the Wonderbolt. If you quit tomorrow I’d be fine with it. As long as you keep working out.”

“Oh I see! Is it all about my physical appearance? Is that all mares care about?”

“Without a doubt! Stallions are meant to sit still, look handsome, and treat mares with the respect and dignity they deserve. That is why all alicorns are mares and most nobles are, too. We’re the top of society!”

Soarin gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes. “I seem to recall a little mare that much prefers to be on bottom.”

I sputtered and fumbled my squash roll. “That is different!”

The stallion laughed and winked at me. Then his expression got serious. “Listen, Azurite, I wanted to talk about tomorrow. I feel like you sh—”

Holding up my hooves I replied, “Honestly, Soarin, it is fine. You’ve got ponies to see, places to go, and a busy career. I don’t mind. I’m happy with what we have. You don’t have to explain anything to me.”

He sat quietly a moment and then shrugged. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

“I am! Now, pick more things to feed me!”

♥♥♥

Friday didn’t have the same allure as it usually did, at least not when I didn’t have a date. Sunny had one of course and Soarin was off doing some sort of Wonderbolt thing. It was time for me to do my chores and get my apartment spruced up. I’d been neglecting it a bit and my fish had lectured me when I got in late the night before.

I picked up my courier bag and trotted off on my rounds. When I reached Lieutenant Brook’s office he motioned me in.

“Azurite, do you know what time of year it is?” he asked.

“Evaluation time?”

The lieutenant smiled. “You know your job quite well. Will you be able to assist me with that and help out the PLHG with their pony processing?”

“Without a doubt, sir. Any word on that officemate?”

He shook his head. “Believe it or not there isn’t another warrant officer in the palace without an officemate. I’ll keep searching, though.”

“Thank you, sir. Have a good evening.”

“You, too!” he chimed as I went on with my duties.

After distributing all of the remaining missives I wandered into Sunny’s office. “Oh, excuse me,” I said politely.

Soarin was sitting across from Sunny. It looked very military. They were both in uniform so I kept it strictly business.

“Six missives today, lieutenant. You’re popular.”

Her response was a slight groan. “Thank you, Azurite. Any chance you could tell them I’ve moved?”

“I’ll do my best, ma’am!” Then I smiled at Soarin. “Good day, vice commander.”

“Good day,” he replied before looking back to Sunny. “So… the show was a hit. I know the princess will be thrilled to see it. Spitfire is still under the impression that she wants us to perform at the delegate meeting. Is that still on?”

They were talking business and I didn’t feel like waiting it out, nor did I want to figure out how to navigate where to put my affection. After a polite salute I headed out.

I heard Sunny say, “Yes. The princess has been talking about it for a month.”

It was kind of weird to think I’d seen the new show before the princess but I guess she didn’t want to go to Manehatten just for that. Plus it wasn’t just for her: it was for all the delegates in Equestria.

I bet that was going to be a security nightmare. It was days like today that made me glad I was in pony relations.

♥♥♥

When you get into a groove time seems to move quicker. I had been in a serious groove. A few months ago I could hardly stand to wait an hour before a date with Sunny or Soarin. That isn’t to say I don’t get super excited still but I’m more patient. Waiting a day or even a week wasn’t a problem anymore. I guess eventually the ‘new wagon smell’ wears off.

Things had been going very well for me. A date with Sunny, then a date with Soarin, then she’d have a date and he’d be off doing some show. Then it would all repeat again. Lieutenant Brook had given me a very positive review and it looked like I might even make senior warrant officer next year. It felt really good to get rewarded for doing something I liked.

My nerves were also doing better. I went to see Sandy every single week and we were starting to be friends again. We did stuff, too: plays, games, and the likes. She was showing me that being injured wasn’t impacting her life like I had imagined. Sandy lived well. She’d even met a stallion last month. To help that along I’d given her all my tips… which only took about three minutes. All in all I was extremely happy.

“Azu, hello?” Sunny said, waving a hoof in front of my eyes.

“Huh?”

“I asked if you were having fun.”

A small faire had come to Canterlot and Sunny had insisted we go there on our date. We spent a lot of time avoiding crowds but we had managed to ride the ferris wheel, the carousel, and the tea cups. Now we were sitting and eating funnel cake. I lust for funnel cake.

I smiled at her and replied, “I’m really happy.”

Sunny blinked. “Oh? Then you are having fun.”

“Yes, with the faire, sure… but Sunny, I’m really happy.”

The mare smiled and folded her hooves on the table. “I’m glad. Is there a particular reason?”

Settling my hooves on hers I shrugged. “My panic attacks are getting a little better, I get to date you, and my life is really together. I don’t know. I’m just grateful. Does that make sense?”

There was a nod of agreement and then she asked pointedly, “Are you thinking about getting serious?”

That was a turn I had not expected. “I, um. Are things not serious?”

Sunny giggled. “We’ve never talked about being serious. You seem comfortable with me seeing other ponies and you’re seeing Soarin, too. I’m not complaining, but you and I are very different ponies. You’ve always struck me as the mare that is going to want a commitment at some point.”

Okay, seriously, not how I saw this date going. Inner Azurite was now involved and considering the situation. “Oh, that is fair. Are you the kind of pony that could commit? Commit to a little mare like me?”

“Well, I’ll be honest, planning for that sort of thing hasn’t been for me. My belief has always been that my love line would lead me to the pony I’m meant to be with. You and I started going out and the number of ponies I’ve been seeing has been dramatically reduced. That is kind of a commitment so… yes. I think I could commit. If you chose me.”

Me choose? That was just silly. I’d been waiting for Soarin or Sunny to ask me. After all, I’m a wing pony. “What do you mean me choose?”

Sunny’s head tilted. “What do YOU mean?”

“Wouldn’t you or Soarin decide whether or not to pick me?”

“Well… I’m going to ignore how strange that is to hear from you and rephrase. Let’s assume that Soarin and I both propose to you at the same time. Doesn’t that mean you have to choose?”

I let her hooves go. Why did she have to be right? “I have to choose?”

“Yes, sugar. You’re the only one holding the process up.”

Great. I had been so happy just minutes before. With a grumble I asked, “Do I have to choose tonight?”

Sunny laughed and shook her head. “No, come on. Let’s go have some fun.”

♥♥♥

Dinner was going awkwardly. I’d been up in my head fighting with inner Azurite for a week straight.

“Are you alright, Azurite?” Soarin asked me between bites of pie. Of all things he liked pie the best.

“Yes, I’m sorry. Sunny Day got up in my head. I can’t shake it.”

Soarin looked at me curiously, his expression getting serious. “Honestly, she’s up there while we’re on a date?”

Quickly I waved my hooves in front of me. “Not like that! She told me last week that everypony was waiting on me to choose and that I shouldn’t be waiting to be chosen.”

“Oh, that is different then.” He nodded. “And yes, she is right.”

With a squeak I asked, “You, too?”

He shrugged, “Listen, I like you. I like you a lot. We have a lot of fun and I think we’re good together. You never talk much about going exclusive, you still see her, and when we do our thing you don’t complain. It isn’t bad. It works for my life… but if you were sitting there waiting, I have to agree with her. It is on you.”

“So you’re saying you could commit to me?” I asked rather pointedly. Stallions are terrified of commitment. Maybe I could shift it back to him.

“Absolutely!”

Soarin, I will smother you with a pillow! “Oh. Yay.”

“You don’t seem pleased. Have I gotten us wrong?”

“No! I’m sorry. You have us right. I really like you. I just hate the idea that everypony seems to be waiting on me. My whole life has been designed around not being that pony.”

Soarin shrugged. “Don’t sweat it, Azurite. I’m not going anywhere. If you’re not ready you’re not ready. We can all keep this up. No pony’s feelings have been hurt yet.”

Softly I sighed. “Okay… but if yours are you have to tell me. If for one second you think I’m just playing with your heart I’ll die.”

“I don’t think that at all. Come on, sooner or later it will come to you. For now, why don’t we just have a good time?”

♥♥♥

Everypony was counting on me to make a decision. It had been months and it was time to act like an adult. Was it Sunny or was it Soarin? One of them deserved to be allowed to move on. I could do this and, thankfully, neither of them were around this weekend for me to see. It gave me time to consider what was best.

Lists were all over my apartment. Soarin’s pros and cons. Sunny’s pros and cons. Data points on how much fun I had on dates. Graphs on compatibility. Quiz after quiz out of Mares Monthly. There had to be a logical answer.

Silly Azurite, looking for logic when it comes to the heart. After completing another useless Mares Monthly quiz I tossed the magazine on the floor. It fell open to a picture of a ridiculously pink pegasus mare. Four different shades of pink to be specific. It certainly got my attention.

“Can’t see your love line? Is your path to romance unclear? Let Lovey Dovey help you! Lovey has made over 1,000 successful matches with a 100% record of success. Drop in for an appointment today!”

“How ridiculous…” Something on the page caught my eye. Love line. Wasn’t Sunny always talking about that? “Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to talk to her.”

The address was in Canterlot. Tomorrow I’d go see Lovey Dovey and see if she could help me with my love line!

♥♥♥

Lovey Dovey was, evidently, a big deal. She was renting a temporary office in Canterlot and I had waited until after lunch to go over. That was a huge mistake. The line of ponies stretched out of the building and down the block. I didn’t have anywhere else to be, though, so I waited it out. Ponies in straight lines aren’t scary and you can just gallop off if you need to.

Well after sundown I found myself sitting on a pink pillow looking across a pink coffee table at a pink pegasus with what had to be a million hearts on her flanks.

“What can I do for you?” she asked in a sugary sweet voice.

“You see, Miss Dovey, I’m in a bit of a bind. I’m dating two different ponies.”

The pegasus bounced on her pillow and nodded. “You can call me Lovey.”

“Right. So I’m dating two different ponies.”

“Okay.”

“And I want to get serious.”

“Okay.”

“And… and I’m dating two ponies and I want to get serious?”

“Right. Go on?”

Was she some kind of loon? “I really like them both. My heart can’t make up its mind on which one I should be with.”

Lovey Dovey looked at me like I was crazy. She looked at ME like I was the crazy one of the two of us.

“Mostly I help ponies that don’t know where their love line ends,” she said finally.

“But I don’t know where mine ends. There are two ponies.”

“Right!”

“Right? I know I don’t know!” I said a little louder than I intended. “What should I do?”

The pegasus shook her head. “What should you do about what?”

“My love line!”

“Everything looks fine to me!”

Deep breaths, Azurite. She’s bigger than you… tackling her wouldn’t solve the problem. Slowly I rose and nodded. “Okay, thank you.”

“You’re welcome! Have fun!”

Quickly I left the crazy mare’s office. There was no help there. All the way across town for nothing. The Mare Contraire wasn’t too far away and I headed over there. It was still somewhat early for a Saturday night.

Dolly waved at me when I arrived. There weren’t too many ponies in the place but I made a note to keep an eye on them. Crowds were still too much for me to handle. After I climbed onto a stool the not-as-insanely-pink bartender came over.

“You look sour tonight, Azurite. What can I get you?”

“The usual. I’m in a mood,” I replied.

My usual was a concoction of crushed ice, strawberries, and the tiniest amount of liquor. Dolly set it in front of me and asked, “Why is that?”

Ponies normally come to bartenders for advice, right? I laid it all out for Dolly. She listened and nodded. It took me two cocktails to finally get to the end. “So… Evidently I’m supposed to pick.”

“That is pretty tough for a wing pony. Of course, you could be in a worse situation, right? You have two very good options.”

Draining the second cocktail I tapped my hoof on the counter. “You’re right but I’d prefer it if I had a good option and a bad one. I don’t want to upset either of them.”

“Well, Azurite, it sounds to me like they’re both being really adult about it. It may not be what they want to hear but it seems like either would accept being cut loose. Sunny would probably take it pretty easy. I wasn’t sure that pony would ever settle down. Don’t tell her I said that, though.”

“I won’t,” I promised as I drank cocktail number three. The crowd was starting to build and it was time to escape. “Thanks, Dolly. That is at least something to think about. Have a good night.”

“You too, Azurite. Be careful going home.”

Careful. Careful was my middle name! Which didn’t make any sense because I didn’t have a last name. Azurite Careful no last name. “You bet, Dolly!”

When I got outside there were a lot of ponies on the streets. That tended to happen on Saturday nights. The later it got the more ponies there were and it was pretty late. My coat hair started standing on end and the warm feeling of the drinks couldn’t calm me. Actually, it was making me more paranoid.

Were those ponies looking at me? Were they staring? Quickly I started trotting away from the pockets of ponies. That was hard to do though. This part of town had a lot of clubs and bars.

Azurite, you’re fine. They’re not looking at you. They’re not coming for you. It isn’t the same. Carefully I wound my way through the crowd in the direction I thought was home. It was tough to see given my height and the over indulgence in alcohol. My hooves swayed and I bumped into a stallion.

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” he yelled at me. Too loud.

I backed up into another pony. “Watch it!” she sneered.

They were all around me! My heart started beating quickly and I galloped off without so much as an apology. Time to get away. Need to hide. Need to get home.

Just after I shot past Sunny’s building I slid to a stop. Good place to hide. Doubling back I hurried up to her door and unlocked it with the spell she had taught me. The room was a blur through the tears and sweat on my face. Slam the door. Lock the door. Keep them out.

My breaths were coming quickly. I went into the kitchen and hid under the table. Safe here. The lights came on. No! The door was locked. It had to be my imagination. Hoofsteps came closer. Weary hoofsteps. They were going to ambush me. I pressed my back against the center support that held the table up. Maybe they wouldn’t see me.

Sunny’s head appeared under the tablecloth with me. “Azurite! Oh Celestia, what's happened?” She shoved her way under the table and wrapped me in her hooves. “You’re safe. You’re safe, honey. What happened?”

I nuzzled into her neck. Why was I always having my panics around Sunny? It was a miracle she liked me at all. Through the alcohol and anxiety I rambled what had happened. At least I thought I did.

“Is she okay? Do I need to get an ambulance?” The voice was familiar. Masculine and full of concern.

“She’ll calm down. She always does. It is a panic disorder. An ambulance won’t be necessary.”

Who was she talking to? Oh no! Sunny’s date. “I’m ruining your date!” I gasped and tried to scramble out of her hooves.

Sunny held onto me tightly. “Forget about that. Azu, you can’t go out there like this, you’ll get hurt. Now we can get out from under the table if you like but I’m not letting you out of this condo. Okay?”

“Okay.” The shaking wasn’t as bad. Stupid Azurite. You can’t even handle walking home. Now you’re no better than Trixie. Barging in on other ponies’ dates. “Okay. Maybe we shouldn’t stay under the table.”

“Alright,” Sunny said softly before letting me go and crawling out. She lifted the table cloth for me and I followed. My sight was fixed on the pairs of light blue hooves waiting for us. How awkward was this going to be?

Slowly my eyes followed the hooves up. Oh Celestia… “Soarin?” I squeaked and then started to turn.

“She’s going back under!” Sunny exclaimed before looping her forelegs around my middle and catching me. My hooves scrambled in the air until it became clear that I wasn’t going anywhere.

Soarin didn’t look guilty. He looked concerned and worried. Shouldn’t he look guilty? I’d caught them. They were dating behind my back. They were… How could I be so stupid? Sunny had flat out said it. ‘... and you’re seeing Soarin, too.’ Oh Celestia they’d both said it. ‘...when we do our thing.’ I sniffled and the tears started.

“This is why I didn’t think this was a good idea,” Soarin said.

“She seemed okay with it,” Sunny admitted as she held me against her.

“I didn’t know!” I moaned softly.

Both ponies looked at me, shock plastered on their faces. “What do you mean?” Sunny asked. “Of course you knew! He and I were dating before you and I were.”

Slowly I shook my head. “Too stupid to know.”

Soarin’s hoof came to his face. “I tried to tell her but I never put it in those exact words. She just kept saying she was happy with how things were. I assumed you two had talked about it and she didn’t want to discuss it.”

Sunny’s grip on me tightened and she said softly, “I… could see how she’d not know. She didn’t want to know about my dates. Oh, Azu. We weren’t keeping it a secret, honest.”

I squirmed. I wanted to leave. They were perfect ponies that were perfect for each other. What chance did I have? “I know. I know. Stupid Azu. Let me go, please. I want to go home.”

“No,” Sunny said firmly, her voice full of authority. “We’re going to be adults.”

Soarin sat down next to us and nodded. “Yes. We’re going to talk about it and not make assumptions.”

Nope. No. Not happening. I wanted to go home. I squirmed more. By Celestia, why is Sunny so strong? Wiping some of the tears off my face I stammered, “Y-You two are a good couple. Let me go, please.”

“And you and I are a good couple. What’s your point?” Soarin asked.

Why were they being so cruel? Did they want to hear it? Fine! I took a deep breath. “You’re a perfect stallion. You’re sweet, strong, handsome, and dashing. She is a perfect mare. She’s kind, understanding, and beautiful. Why do you want a broken little mare that hides under tables?”

“That is enough of that!” Sunny commanded before squeezing me. “I am not perfect. I’m flighty, selfish, and I don’t always think about other ponies’ feelings. And you. You are not broken! Of course you won’t listen to me though. You only listen to that crazy little Azurite in your head. Not tonight though. I’ll show her!”

Sunny shifted and trapped me between herself and Soarin. “Tonight you’re going to pick one of us. Soarin and I aren’t going to get together as a couple. We’re going to sit here until you choose. Right Soarin?”

He sat up straight and nodded. “Yes. Azurite gets to win. You pick me or Sunny. We’re not picking each other. I’ll understand your decision either way. I’d be very happy to be with you.”

My head darted back and forth between the two of them. They were serious. I knew them both well enough to see that. “Why?” I asked.

“You’re worth loving. I’ve been playing around for years. Then you came along. Soarin has been waiting, though. He was one of the ones I just played with and I’m sorry about that but it is too late. You should pick him.”

Soarin shook his head. “Don’t be silly. She clearly needs you. I didn’t even know she had panics like this. If you finally found somepony you can finally settle down with I don’t want to take her from you. Of the two of us I’m sure I’ll find another pony that is the commitment type. Also, for what it’s worth, apology accepted. Now, Azurite, pick Sunny.”

I whined and put my hooves over my head. Sunny or Soarin? Soarin or Sunny? Make a choice, Azurite! It was time to be an adult. Adults can pick between eclairs and cake. I wasn’t much of an adult, though.

I looked up at Sunny and shook my head. “I can’t. I’m sorry, I can’t. I know I have to. You both deserve that but I can’t. You two decide.”

Sunny looked down at me in frustration. She sighed and settled back, finally letting me go. “Alright. You don’t want to date anypony else, do you?”

No, no I did not. My head shook.

“You?” she asked Soarin.

He shook his head. “How about you?” he asked her in return.

She shook her head. “No, I’ve been slowly giving everypony else the boot. It got too messy, she was getting serious, and… well, we’re old friends aren’t we?”

“Yeah. The oldest,” he said forlornly. “but friends.”

Sunny stroked my mane and nibbled on her lip. “Alright, well, I’ll simplify this. Soarin, since you and I have been friends a long time and we’ve dated a while, let me ask you a question: it’s been better than most right?”

“Yeah, I’d say so. I just never felt like I was more than one in the crowd.”

“Yeah… sorry about that,” Sunny replied. Then she huffed, “Oh enough of this. By Celestia, this is the worst date ever.” She got up and said, “Soarin, do you love Azurite? Don’t be coy.”

He looked at me and softly reached down to pet my mane. “Yeah, I do.”

“Me, too,” she said. “So pick her up and bring her into the bedroom.”

“Pardon?” He asked.

Sunny shrugged. “You love her. I love her. You and I are good enough together. I’m not going to run around anymore so if that was the only issue between us why can’t we work it out? It will just be the three of us. We certainly share our love of Azu in common and I’m not picking.”

Soarin slowly looked from me to Sunny, confusion clear on his face. “So… you’re suggesting we just keep going?”

“No. Not at all. Everypony together. Three ponies on dates, three ponies on trips, and three ponies in the bedroom. No other ponies on the side. Commitment.”

Clearing his throat Soarin pointed a hoof at me. “Just so I’m clear. You and her at the same time. All the time?”

Sunny purred, “Yes, stud. Do you think you can handle that?”

He swallowed and then looked down at me. “Can you handle that, Azurite? If seeing us together is going to hurt you I don’t want to do it.”

Slowly I got up. Sunny Day was as crazy as Lovey Dovey… but I loved her and I loved Soarin. Could I possibly handle seeing them kiss? Forget kissing, though. What about sports? Maybe I could… I’d be there, too. I’d get kisses and sports, too. Ponies did that sort of thing. Oh, Azurite, is that the coward’s way out?

Who cares! It certainly beat choosing. Two ponies loved me and it was worth trying. Forget what Inside Azurite thought. I nuzzled up against Soarin and then quickly trotted over to Sunny. I wiped my eyes and did my best to be dignified.

In an effort to be brave I rose to my full height and, while still having to look up at her, said, “I get to go first.”

“You most certainly do not!” Sunny replied, her nose high in the air. “Wing ponies start on the bench. I’ll make sure you’re appropriately warmed up for the game though. Come along.”

She swayed her way in front of me, lightly swatted me with her tail, and made for the bedroom. Her gait was full of confidence and I knew better than to argue with a lead pony.

“Seriously?” Soarin asked, looking shocked. Finally he got up and closed the ground to us. We each got a big stallion nuzzle. “Alright, then… suits me fine.”

It suited me just fine, too. Choosing would have been impossible and, truthfully, the little Azurite in my head wasn’t complaining. Sunny and Soarin would be happy. I’d be happy and, most important of all, my cutie mark finally made sense. Three hearts connected by one little gem.

♥ 10 ♥

Author's Note

This story has been a pleasure to write. It was way different than my usual topics but it was near and dear to me. I hope you'e enjoyed it.

I'm not done with Azurite yet so she'll be getting another story here in the future.

Thank you all for reading and commenting!