Chapter Three

"Oh, that's just my cutie mark. What's all the fuss about?"

Rosebud, Foamy Wave, Lavender, and Morning Glory all stared at Lily Note, speechless.

"F-fuss?!" Rosebud yelped.

"I-it w-w-was not there when w-we met you!"

"Could you please tell us how and when it got there?" Lav was trying very hard to calm herself down.

LIly blinked. "Uhh, I got it when I was like, eight. I was calming down a rejected filly, but she finally fell asleep after I sang to her." A realization came upon her. "OH! You mean why wasn't it there earlier! When I snuck out of the orphanage, I knew I wouldn't have enough energy to cast any sort of spell after a teleport, so I put paint over my cutie mark to disguise it. I didn't want to risk anypony recognizing it."

"So that's why the water turned greyish..." thought Rosebud aloud. "I thought it was just that you hadn't had a proper washing in a while. No offense, Princess," she said quickly.

Lily giggled. "None taken. I really haven't. We didn't have many baths or showers, so we had to take turns."

Foamy shuddered. "Sorry, Principessa, it's just that I cannot imagine not washing at least once every other day..."

"Me neither," agreed Lav. "I guess that's just our position speaking."

"It's ok! I'll probably get used to it, too."

Lav nodded. She quickly got to work on brushing Lily's mane and tail, although they did not need much work. She then took out a gilded mane clip, and made Lily's mane into a slightly loose ponytail. Morning took a curling iron, and lightly curled Lily's tail, as well. When the two were done, Rosebud held out a large mirror in front of Lily, so that she could see herself. Lily gasped softly as she saw her reflection. She had never felt so... clean in her life!

Suddenly, they heard knocking on the bathroom door.

"Excuse me? I have to show Princess Lily the way to the Dining Hall." Lily soon recognized the friendly voice of Feather Duster, who had been assigned as her personal maid.

Rosebud smiled. "We just finished prettying her up!" She opened the door with her magic, and there was Feather Duster. She reacted very positively to Lily's look, and complimented the four mares. Soon, she and Lily were trotting down the hallways, towards the Dining Hall.

Celestia smiled warmly as Luna finished up the paperwork with Sunny Smiles. Silver Quick had left after dropping off the papers, and had disappeared to, well, Celestia knows where! She chuckled softly to herself at her choice of word. Her's and Luna's names really were the only ones to use in phrases such as those. Perhaps she would try to find a different one, one that even they could use...

"Tia?"

Celestia snapped out of her thoughts. She turned to Luna and Sunny, who had turned a paper towards her. She smiled apologetically to them.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking to myself."

Luna nodded. "Ah. Sunny needs you to sign as well."

"Whatever for?"

"It's just a thing so that we know that the child has another guardian, should anything happen to the one who adopts them," Sunny explained.

Celestia signed the paper, and Sunny sent it back to the orphanage with her magic. She then turned awkwardly to Celestia and Luna.

"Um, when will dinner be served? I'm quite hungry." She giggled slightly.

Luna smiled warmly. "It should be served soon."

Sunny looked around. "I've been wondering for some time, but where is Lily? I actually hadn't noticed she had left the orphanage until Miss Silver Quick had called upon us."

"She was shown her room," said Celestia, "and her ladies in waiting were assigned. They should be finished washing her up."

Sunny nodded. "I bet that she was excited about that. At High Hopes, we don't have many showers and baths, so the foals have to take turns every week."

"I see. Lily is 12, correct?"

"Yes. Why do you want to know?"

Luna shifted uncomfortably. "Well, when Silver brought her to us, her flank was bare. That is quite odd, seeing as how most ponies get their cutie marks around the ages eight and nine."

"No cutie mark?" Sunny looked shocked, but she started laughing. "I mean no offense, but I am quite sure that she earned hers four years ago!"

Celestia and Luna blinked. "Are you sure?" Celestia asked. "The two of us, Silver, and Lieutenant Steel Grip saw clearly that her flank was bare."

Sunny stopped laughing. "Is this some sort of joke? I assure you both that I can see properly."

Luna frowned slightly. "As do we."

Celestia sighed, and put her hoof on the table lightly. "How exactly did she earn her cutie mark?"

"She comforted a rejected foal," said Sunny instantly. "Nothing she did worked, so she sang to the poor filly. Eventually, she got her to sleep, and her cutie mark appeared." She smiled at the memory. "I remember her running over to me, and she wouldn't calm down for quite some time. It was a really happy day for her. We threw her a cute-ceñara the day after. Nothing big, just a small party with her friends."

Celestia was thrown off by the lack of hesitation in Sunny's story. It sounded as if this had really happened. "Well," she began, "I suppose we'll see when Lily is brought here."

Lily trotted alongside Feather down the long hall. "Are we there yet," she whined.

Feather looked at her. "A princess does not whine," she teased.

Lily harrumphed in response. She felt something tugging at her tail, but ignored it and kept walking. Her wings flapped to give her some aid, and she soon got to hovering, before she looked back, and saw Feather holding her tail in her magical aura. Sheepishly, she landed, and smiled innocently. Feather merely rolled her eyes, and pointed to a large set of doors beside them.

"In you get!"

Lily opened the doors, and was surprised at what she saw. Miss Sunny Smiles was sitting at the dining table, chatting pleasantly with Princesses Celestia and Luna. She cleared her throat to get their attention, and the three mares turned to her.

"Oh, Lily," cried Sunny. "You look so beautiful!"

Lily blushed. "Thank, you, Miss Sunny. But, why are you here?"

"I was filling out the paperwork with Princess Luna here, and she and Princess Celestia invited me to stay for dinner."

"I see. So, this is really happening?"

Celestia smiled warmly. "It is indeed happening, Lily. You'll be living here in the castle with Luna and I. Or, should I say, your mother and your aunt."

Lily grinned like a little filly, squealing. She pranced excitedly in place, before running and hugging the two princesses. Sunny chuckled at the filly's glee. Lily removed herself from the princesses' embrace, beaming happily. Suddenly, her smile faded.

"I'll still be able to visit my friends though, right?"

"Of course you will, Lily," Luna said gently. "They are also welcome to visit you here, provided that they give us time to prepare for guests."

Lily nodded. "Alright! Is dinner gonna be served soon?"

Lily fidgeted as she ate, struggling not to greedily scarf down every bite. She looked up from her plate, noticing Prin- no, Auntie Tia- trying the same. She giggled to herself, before taking another bite of her scrumptious salad.

Sunny, who had been quite tense at the beginning of the meal, relaxed as she swallowed a bite of her own salad. "I cannot thank you enough for letting me dine with you, Your Highnesses."

"It is our pleasure, Miss Smiles," replied Luna. She turned towards Lily. "Lily, are you enjoying your salad?"

"Oh, YES, Pri- I mean, M-mom?"

Luna laughed lightly, waving a hoof. "Now, Lily, you do not have to call me 'Mom' so soon. Just 'Luna' will be alright, until you feel comfortable."

Celestia nodded. "You can just call me 'Celestia,' as well."

"But 'tía' is the Hoofspanic word for 'aunt!' Wouldn't it be easier to call you 'Tia?'"

Celestia paused. "You know, all of the years, Cadance has always called me 'Auntie Tia,' and I never even noticed!"

"Really?" Luna lowered her fork. "I thought that you knew. She always called me 'Auntie Luna,' so I guess that she just picked up the nickname that I used to call you. It's much easier to say than 'Celestia.' What do you think, Miss Smiles?"

Sunny thought for a brief second. "I agree, it's easier. Although, 'Auntie Aunt' does sound a tad silly."

Lily, using the distraction of Celestia's nickname, quickly shoved a large forkful of salad into her mouth, her eyes closed in bliss.

"Lily?"

Lily gasped, her eyes popping open. She began to cough as small bits of her salad got caught in her windpipe. A guard rushed over to her side, giving her the Heimlich Maneuver.  She spat out her mouthful of salad, leading the other three mares to wrinkle their muzzles slightly in disgust. Lily gasped for air, and regained her composure. She looked at the half-chewed ball of green mush on her plate, and smiled sheepishly.

"Eh, heh heh... sorry?"

The other three stared at her. The silence was broken by Celestia, who began to snicker, which turned to laughter. Luna simply rolled her eyes at her sister's mirth, smiling to herself. Sunny also giggled, and soon, Lily joined in as well. She turned to face the guard, a winged-batpony. She had short, spiky hair that was a dark brown with black highlights.

"Thank you, umm...?"

The guard smiled. "First Lieutenant Felicia, of the Lunar Guard, Your Highness." Felicia saluted.

"Thank you, First Lieutenant Felicia of the Lunar Guard!"

Felicia nodded, and went back to her post beside the Dining Hall doors. Celestia had calmed down by this point, and called for a server to take away their salads. Soon, another server brought in four plates of spaghetti. The four mares chatted and laughed throughout the rest of their dinner until finally, it was finished. Sunny hugged Lily goodbye, and she bowed to the three princesses. She waved goodbye, and trotted away, escorted by a guard.

Luna turned to Celestia and Lily. "Forgive me for leaving, but I must hold Night Court. Goodnight, Lily."

"Goodnight, Luna." She hugged Luna, who soon returned the hug. She waved goodbye, and teleported to the Throne Room. Celestia yawned.

"I'll show you where mine and Luna's rooms are, just in case you ever need us for something." Lily nodded, and followed Celestia. It turned out that their rooms were very close to her own room, and she bid Celestia goodnight. She then trotted to her own room, and into her bathroom. She removed the hairclip that Lav had put into her hair, and placed it onto the large sink. Before she left for bed, she looked at herself in the mirror.

Her mane was so much prettier than it used to be. She brushed a hoof against it gently, feeling the silkiness that it had acquired. Her coat seemed brighter, and it looked as if she radiated a new kind of glow about her. She brought a hoof to the mirror, touching her reflection.

Will I lose the humility that I have, just because of a new ranking? I don't want to forget my family at High Hopes... Lily looked her reflection in the eyes, and set her expression to one of stubbornness. No, I will always have my memories. I don't care if society wants me to be a perfect princess. I'm going to remain myself! Satisfied, she turned off the bathroom lights, and jumped into her massive bed. She fidgeted around for a while, trying to find a comfortable position. When she did, she sighed, and turned off the lights of her room. She closed her eyes, and tried to fall asleep.

The key word there is "tried."