Chapter 1: Cheery-Lis
The ground was soft beneath her hooves. The way the soil was mulched and freshly tilled made for uncertain steps as Fleur de Lis made her way across the garden. Today, she walked with purpose. Usually she would stop and appreciate the nature around her. She would luxuriate in the warmth of the sunlight and greet the many plants and animals within the gardens. The birds were trilling with their brilliant song and they were accompanied with the soft sounds of nature.
A pony of her stature was usually considered to be a mare that would keep to the finer things in life away from the dirt, the outdoors and the unclean. She wanted to stay for longer but today she had to leave the breathtaking views of the garden and head into the bowels of the castle.
Heaving a despondent sigh, Fleur trotted to the small alcove that concealed the entrance into the castle.
Not for the first time, as she meandered through the corridors, Fleur wished she could see more of the outside world. Her world was bound by the walls of Canterlot. Granted, Canterlot did not have many physical walls, but there were other walls too.
Briskly, she made her way towards the Canterlot Archives. She had spent a lot of time going back and forth from her residence on the Eastern Block of Canterlot to this dusty place. The reasoning? All forms, documents and processes were done here.
There were no guards in this section of the archive, though there were a couple of officials waving at the gathered ponies. Of course, this was getting close to tax time, so it was not unusual to see the bureaucratic section of the Archives so densely packed.
Fleur bit her lip. She was meant to be here much earlier to lodge her forms. Guiltily, she reflected that she had spent a tad too long in the Gardens. Time had flown so fast in such a short period of time.
“I know how you feel.”
Fleur spun around in surprise. She spotted a dark mauve pony smiling at her winningly. She seemed very sprightly and cheerful. If Fleur had one word to describe this mare it would be ‘cheery’. After the moment of surprise, Fleur composed herself.
“Hello, Miss…?”
“Oh, I’m Cheerilee!” she answered enthusiastically. Fleur thought the name really suited her.
I knew it, she thought smugly, which surprised her. Usually she wouldn’t be so… capricious.
Fleur drew her measured social mantle around herself. “I’m so sorry I didn’t recognise you.” Fleur tilted her head in mild deference. “I usually recognise anypony from Canterlot. My name is—”
“Fleur de Lis, you’re very popular, and don’t worry I don’t normally come from around here. I’m just here to file these frustrating tax forms.” Cheerilee waved a couple of pink coloured papers around. “Sign in triplicate,” she muttered. “Then fill out column b. skip a., unless c. applies.” She grinned ruefully. “A bit of a hoof-full.”
Fleur didn’t really know what to say, this pony was certainly running at a different speed to what she was used to. Instead of eloquently flowing words, she merely uttered, “Yes, quite.”
Cheerilee’s cheeks blossomed with red. “I’m sorry, am I being a bit too forward? I haven’t gotten out much, what with my job. I’ve been stuck in my little community for a while.” Cheerilee bit her lip, her eyes taking on a guilty sheen. “Sorry if I’m a little overbearing. I don’t suppose you would know what it’s like to be cooped up someplace? It makes you want to just break out and go places, meet new ponies.” She hesitated. “I’m sure you’ve been up and about.”
Fleur gave Cheerilee a wan smile. “Yes,” she replied. “But I think I can perfectly understand what you’re going through.”
Cheerilee had drooped as though she was half-expecting Fleur to simply dismiss the thought as absurd. She perked up.
“Really? But I would have thought you would have had a more exciting lifestyle, travelling about and meeting new ponies.”
Fleur let loose a lilting laugh. So that’s what most ponies thought about her.
“Well no, actually. Not much travelling. Meeting ponies, yes of course, all the time. So much so, I’m almost sick of it.”
Cheerlie froze at that. Fleur quickly waved a hoof in an effort to curb the misunderstanding.
“Oh no, I’m not talking about you, Ms. Cheerilee. I’m speaking of the ponies in high-society. They are very ill-tempered sometimes, if not ill-mannered. It is refreshing to talk to someone outside of this stuffy little setting.”
Cheerilee brightened at that.
“Oh thank Celestia! I was starting to get worried that I’d made a bad impression. I always tell the foals that a bad impression is the quickest way to lose a potential friend, so I thought I was was turning out to be a hypocrite.” She paused and cocked her head, as if remembering something. “Oh yes, no need to call me Ms. Cheerilee, I have enough of that at work.”
Fleur smiled demurely. “Then you may call me Fleur whenever you wish.” She gestured to the saddlebags Cheerilee sported. They seemed fit to bursting. “Your job must be exhausting if that’s how many tax forms you’re ready to submit,” she said, giggling slightly.
“What? Oh!” Cheerliee exclaimed, twisting her head around to examine her saddlebags. She blushed rather profusely. “It’s the little ‘going-away’ gifts from the foals at school. I’m only gone for tax-day but they all wanted to give me a gift to take to Canterlot.”
Fleur eyed the saddlebags enviously. “They must love you very much.”
Cheerilee grinned a mile wide. “Yes, yes they do.” She stomped a hoof. “Oh! How about this?” Cheerilee drew out a pendant with what seemed to be a ruby swinging on the end. The gem was broken in the middle but a hole was bored in the top section of both the halves. There was a thin thread through each of the holes. It was obvious that the jewellery was crafted poorly but a desperate attempt had been made to salvage the remains.
“Here,” Cheerilee said, hoofing over on of the halves.
“For me?” Fleur asked with a tinge of disbelief.
“Of course.”
“But are they not gifts from your foals? They were meant for you.”
Cheerilee laughed. “Oh they’re not my foals and Sweetie told me it would be for me and a friend I made in Canterlot. I guess I passed my little homework test set by my student.” She pushed the necklace into Fleur’s hoof.
“Keep it. It’ll remind us of the time we’ve spent together,” Cheerilee finished threading her own necklace around her neck.
“B-24, now serving B-24!”
“Oh that’s my cue! I’ll be leaving now, perhaps we’ll see each other later? Goodbye, Fleur!”
Fleur could only nod as Cheerilee departed with a cheerful grin and a jaunty wave. She approached the desk and burst into animated conversation that seemed to lighten the sour look of the elderly government mare that was accepting the taxation form. She seemed to brighten the place everywhere.
Fleur slowly levitated the broken ruby to head-height. She gracefully slipped it on her neck.
Perhaps coming here wasn’t a bad thing after all, she reflected, and perhaps meeting new ponies wasn’t always a chore.
The End.
Author's Note
Another fiction. I'm just pumping them out, aren't I?
Next Chapter: Oh so cute together~
As always, friendly friendshipping reader-friends, thanks for reading!
P.S. Written in an hour as a speedfic for a group of friends. Since it's for friends, it's about friends. Challenge – Characters: Fleur and Cheerilee / Setting: Canterlot Royal Archives
