The Princess's Choice
by Monochromatic
The personal bodyguard of Princess Rarity was a job description coveted by many ponies in the land. After all, the pony to get the position would not only get to spend every day with a young princess famed for her beauty, but they would also become her shadow. They'd be Rarity's confidant, know all her secrets and thoughts and, if they so wished, have the power to end her life.
It was because of this that Rarity had to carefully choose to whom she would be entrusting her life. For that matter, it was perhaps one of the single most important decision of her life -- not that she cared.
"I can't believe father cancelled our visit to the theatre for this."
"Oh, come on, Rarity. It's not that bad. Besides, it's your personal guard that you're choosing."
Standing atop the stairs leading to the castle's training ground, Princess Rarity and Lady Fluttershy watched the rows of training soldiers hoping to earn the privilege of being selected by Rarity to be her personal guard.
Fluttershy was quite impressed by them. "They all look very strong," Fluttershy noted, watching two soldiers sword-fight. "Your father said they were the best soldiers of his army."
"They all look very boring," Rarity corrected, looking at all the soldiers with disdain. She started descending the stairs, an air of resigned displeasure surrounding her. "This isn't the way to select my guard."
Fluttershy followed her. "But, Rarity, this is how your father chose his," she pointed out, trying to reason with her friend.
"And do you know how many years it took for father and Iron Accord to get along? Four whole years, Fluttershy!" Rarity retorted. "Four! And they still have nothing in common! Honestly, I'm supposed to chose this pony based on how strong they are? Hmph!"
"Rarity, it's just somepony to protect you. You don't have to be best friends!"
An incredulous Rarity turned to look at Fluttershy over her shoulder. "But we do! My life will be in the hooves of this pony, and I rather think I'll feel safer if the pony protecting me enjoys my company!" she continued, finally reaching the last step.
"I'm telling you things are going to change when I'm in charge," she huffed, starting to reluctantly scan the soldiers for her future guard.
Fluttershy giggled at this, rolling her eyes. "I'm sure they are, Rarity." She took one of Rarity's hooves and started leading her towards the soldiers. "Come on! We might still make it to the afternoon show if we hurry!"
She tried to make her way towards a particularly strong looking soldier but came to a halt upon realizing Rarity was not budging from her spot.
She turned to Rarity and found the unicorn starting intently at something, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "Rarity?"
"Look at those two soldiers," Rarity replied in a sudden hushed whisper. "They're acting very oddly."
Fluttershy followed Rarity's line of sight, and her eyes landed on two soldiers sitting near a bush: a dark blue male pony and a lavender female unicorn. The stallion kept glancing at the unicorn with a worried and annoyed expression. The unicorn, in turn, kept glancing at the bush next to her. Every few seconds, she'd look around and lift her hoof towards the bush, only for the stallion to whisper at her and make her shoot straight back to her previous position.
"She's hiding something there." Rarity's eyes narrowed. She made a move to trot over to the two soldiers, but Fluttershy quickly pulled her back.
"W-Wait!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. She anxiously looked towards the bush. "W-What if it's something dangerous? We should warn Captain Latimer!"
"Fluttershy, they're soldiers. For all we know, Captain Latimer is in on whatever they're planning!" Rarity looked back towards the unicorn. "I may not yet be the queen of this kingdom, but I will still step up to defend it." She started walking towards them again but stopped when the pegasus once more pulled her back. She turned to Fluttershy and hissed with exasperation, "For goodness-sake, Fluttershy!"
Fluttershy was pointing at the soldiers, her eyes wide and panicked. "Look! She's taking something out of the bush!"
Without wasting a single second, Rarity turned to watch the soldiers and saw that the unicorn was indeed reaching inside the bush, much to the obvious displeasure of the stallion. Rarity and Fluttershy watched, totally transfixed, as the unicorn rummaged with her hoof inside the bush and finally took out...
"A book?" the two surprised friends whispered.
The unicorn indeed held a book between her hooves, flipping through the pages with a rather excited expression. The stallion looked at her and shook his head, obviously having given up on deterring his friend from her reading.
Fluttershy was beyond relieved, placing her hoof over her frantic heart."Oh! Thank goodness, I thought it mig-- Rarity? W-wait!" She trotted after Rarity, who had set off towards the two soldiers.
It wasn't until Rarity almost reached them that the blue stallion noticed her coming towards them. At this sight, he quickly turned to the unicorn and shook her. "Twilight! Twilight, drop your damn book, the pri--"
Twilight swatted his hoof away, still looking down at her book. "Just let me finish this chapter, Stronghold! We're still on break from training, and Princess Rarity isn't due to get here for at least another hour!"
By the time Twilight finished her sentence, Rarity had already been standing there for half a minute. Stronghold made a move to shake Twilight again but stopped when Rarity lifted her hoof to silence him.
"Rarity, what are you doing?" Fluttershy whispered, looking from Twilight to Rarity.
Rarity did not reply for a minute, instead quietly observing Twilight's eyes devour the book she was holding. "You like to read, Twilight?" she asked, looking to Stronghold for confirmation on the mare's name.
The unicorn didn't even look up. "Uh-huh," she mindlessly replied, nodding a little.
"Aren't you worried Princess Rarity will catch you reading? This is a tremendous sign of disrespect, you know? It shows you have no interest whatsoever in her or in becoming her bodyguard," Rarity continued, ignoring the murderous glare Stronghold was giving Twilight.
"Well, Princess Rarity can wait five minutes until I finish my chapter," Twilight replied, unaware of the shocked expression three ponies were looking at her with. "Besides, I'm just getting to the good part!"
Stronghold looked absolutely mortified, staring at Twilight as if she had just slapped the princess across the face. Fluttershy's attention kept flitting back from Twilight to Rarity, her mouth lightly opened. Rarity, finally, was staring down at Twilight with a rather indecipherable expression. It was a look of surprise, for sure, but it was impossible to say if she was angry or not at Twilight's remark. It wasn't until a minute later that, all of a sudden, Rarity's lips curved into a rather amused smile.
"I see you're reading Tangents of The Soul! It's a frightfully good book," Rarity noted, peering at the book. "I haven't finished it yet, though. What chapter are you on?"
"Chapter twelve."
"Ah. Now I understand why you can't put it down!" Rarity said, giggling lightly when Twilight effusively nodded her head. "This is where you find out why Sir Mid--"
Twilight immediately started waving a hoof in the air. "Shhh! Don't tell me, don't tell me!!" she exclaimed, eyes still glued to the book. "I've been waiting all week to read this chapter! Captain Latimer doesn't let me bring my books, so I have to hide it and read between breaks."
Rarity and Fluttershy laughed softly at this, obviously enchanted by the mare's reaction. Stronghold was baffled by their reaction, looking absolutely and positively livid. Had they not just realized Twilight had essentially told the Princess to shut up?
"So, Twilight, tell me," Rarity continued, her soft smile now much wider. "Who do you think is behind the attack at Hooverton? I wager it'll turn out to be Captain Night Crown and his gang of thugs."
Twilight snorted loudly, turning the page of her book. "Pffft! You must be crazy!" she said, pushing Stronghold to the edge of fainting. "Captain Night Crown was the masked pony who stopped the attack! The pony behind the attack was obviously Lady TwinkleThreat!"
Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Lady TwinkleThreat? Really?"
"Yeah!" Twilight continued, her voice growing excited despite still voraciously reading her book. "Look, I'll show you my notes!" At this, her horn started glowing and a parchment came out from the bush and floated in front of Rarity.
Rarity took hold of the parchment and, Fluttershy peering over her shoulder, started reading it. "This... You did this?" asked Rarity after a moment, looking at the parchment with wonder.
Twilight had completely mapped out the plot of the several books in the series, writing detailed analyses of the characters, locations and relationships. Her grammar, spelling and syntax were virtually perfect, and her calligraphy was beautiful and pleasant to read. She had written several theories on where the plot was headed, and Rarity found herself absolutely fascinated by them.
Twilight nodded. "When I have free time between training. None of my friends read the books, so I never get to talk about my ideas unless I write them down."
Rarity folded the parchment and pressed it against her chest. "You must tell me more about your ideas! I had never thought Lady TwinkleThreat would have been the mastermind, but it's so obvious now!" she exclaimed, opening the parchment again and re-reading. "Fluttershy, look! I told you I wasn't the only one who thought Professor Tumturner is planning something!"
Fluttershy giggled at her friend's excitement. "Let's hope Twilight agrees to share her ideas with you, then!"
"I have no problem telling you more, uhh..." She made a move to look up at who she was speaking with, but suddenly stopped and gasped, moving the book closer to her face. "No!" she exclaimed, prompting Rarity to curiously take a step closer and put her hoof on the book, trying to take a glimpse of the scene Twilight was reading.
Without warning, Twilight took hold of Rarity's hoof and shook it around, still entranced in her lecture. "Oh my gosh, no! I can't read this!" she said, closing her eyes and once more shaking Rarity's hoof.
The reaction was immediate. Stronghold gasped with horror, and lifted his hoof to push Twilight away... Or he would have if Rarity hadn't turned to look at him with narrowed eyes. The Princess stared him down into his previous mortified position before looking to Twilight, her smile returning.
"Keep reading," Rarity prompted, giggling when Twilight shook her head. "Twiiiiilight! You know you want to know what Lady Plumsweet is going to find out."
Letting out a cute whimper, Twilight opened her eyes and tightened her grip around Rarity's hoof. "Okay..." she conceded, her eyes starting to run through the pages.
After a minute in which an absolutely delighted Rarity watched as Twilight read, the lavender unicorn finally finished the chapter.
"No," was her reply.
"Yes," Rarity said, grinning from ear to ear.
Twilight shook her head. "No, no, no."
Rarity nodded hers, excitedly stomping her free hoof on the ground. "Yes, yes, yeeeeees!"
Twilight started leafing the pages of the book. "But, then that means that-- In chapter three, when he said... NOOOOOO!"
"YES!" Rarity screeched back, now she herself waving both their hooves. "Isn't it thrilling?! I never saw it coming!"
Twilight was practically jumping on her spot. "Me either! I can't believe this! Oh my"-- she finally looked up--"gooosh...." she drifted off, looking straight into Rarity's eyes. "Oh no..." she whimpered.
"Oh yes," Rarity replied, smirking at the suddenly very pale unicorn. "Hello, Twilight. I do hope you're happy I 'waited five minutes for you to finish your chapter'?"
Twilight immediately let go of Rarity's hoof and stumbled back, mortified beyond all reason. Her book fell out of her hooves in the process. "P-Princess Rarity?!! I... I'm so sorry, please, I didn't--!" The panicked mare stumbled on her words, covering her muzzle with her hooves. "I... Please, I swear I...."
The smile disappeared off Rarity's face as she drew herself up and looked at Stronghold. "Stronghold, could you please go and fetch Captain Latimer?"
Stronghold looked from Rarity to Twilight. "Y-Your Highness?"
"Stronghold, please go and fetch Captain Latimer," she ordered, face expressionless.
Throwing Twilight one last pitiful glance, he trotted off to find the Captain. The second he was gone, Rarity turned to look at Twilight and offered the unicorn a kind smile.
"Is Twilight your complete name?"
Twilight nervously shook her head. "No," she squeaked, before clearing her throat and trying to look confident. "It's Twilight S-Sparkle, Y-Your Highness."
"Twilight Sparkle," Rarity repeated slowly, as if savouring the words. She looked to the side and saw Stronghold and a grey unicorn stallion trotting towards them. "Ah! Captain Latimer!"
"Your Highness!" Latimer greeted, bowing to the young princess. "Your father told me you'd be selecting your personal guard today! Have you made your choice?"
"I have, Captain!" Rarity affirmed before pointing at Twilight. "Her. Twilight Sparkle."
"M-Me?!" Twilight exclaimed, gaping at Rarity.
"H-Her?!" Captain Latimer exclaimed, looking quite dissatisfied with the selection.
"Yes," Rarity confirmed, levitating Twilight's book from the floor and carefully dusting it off. "Could you inform my father, please? I believe I also have to sign some papers?"
"Now, Princess Rarity, this is your lifelong bodyguard that you are selecting. Twilight is remarkable, yes, but she still has nowhere near the specific training required to undertake the task of protecting a soon-to-be queen."
"In that case, it's lucky I have decided early so that she may start her special training! After all, unless somepony is planning an assasination, which we hope is not the case, I'm not due to be queen for a while, now am I?"
"Princess Rarity, I re--"
"Captain, this is not up to discussion. I have no doubts that Twilight is perfectly capable of handling herself both in physical combat and, as I have now learned, mental and strategic combat." She floated the book over to Twilight. "Now, if you will, please inform my father of my choice, and I will be by your office shortly to sign whatever papers need to be signed."
Reluctantly, Latimer bowed to the Princess and took off.
"Twilight," Rarity said, now turning to the stunned soldier. "Any objections?"
Twilight slowly shook her head, clutching her book against her chest. "Are... Are you serious? You really want me to..."
Rarity offered Twilight a sneaky smile. "Twilight Sparkle, I'm as serious as Lady Plumsweet when she tells Night Crown she loves him in chapter six."
"Oh my, that's really being serious," Twilight whispered in shock, looking down at her book, her cheeks turning a very light shade of pink.
Rarity couldn't stop herself from giggling, her own cheeks also becoming a very light shade of pink. "Well then," she exclaimed, lookin at Fluttershy. "Shall we be off? We might still make it to the theatre." After receving a nod from Fluttershy, Rarity turned to Twilight and grinned. "I expect I'll be dropping by tomorrow during your training. It's better we start getting acquainted with each other as soon as possible."
Twilight nodded quietly, still a little shocked by everything that had happened.
Rarity walked off, Fluttershy right next to her. "Oh, and do bring your notes on the book! We have a lot to theorize about," the Princess called back. Once there was enough distance between them and the soldiers, Rarity spoke up. "So, dearest Fluttershy, what do we think of my choice?"
Fluttershy giggled. "She seems very nice."
Rarity nodded earnestly. "She does, doesn't she? Not to mention that she is absolutely adorable. Did you see the way she got all excited over her book?"
Fluttershy laughed. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you have a crush on her!"
Rarity waved her hoof in a dismissive motion. "Darling, don't be ridiculous! I just thought she's cute, nothing more," Rarity said, laughing as well. "Imagine me! A crush on my bodyguard! Honestly."
She glanced back towards Twilight, receving a little timid wave from the soldier. The flush in her cheeks rising, Rarity discreetly waved back, prompting Twilight to quickly look away in embarrassed pleasure. Biting her lips down to stop herself from giggling with delight, Rarity turned her gaze back to the road in front of her, finding herself inexplicably excited to see Twilight again the next day.
And the next.
And the next of the next.
And the next of the next of the next and--
Oh dear.
Maybe Fluttershy doesn't know me as well as she thinks.
THE END
Author's Note
Based on Earthsong9405's AU where Twilight is the bodyguard to "Princess/Queen Rarity". I wasn't planning on doing another fic set in this AU, but a decent amount of you insisted, and I tried to refuse but then I got the ideA AND LOOK AT ME NOW.
I HAD OTHER FICS TO WRITE BUT THIS AU IS TOTALLY CONSUMING ME.
