PlatinumView OnlineOf PlatinumPlatinumThis morning I was advised to wake the Princess. I asked, "Why?" but the answer I received was entirely what I'd expected. "It would be better coming from you." I do not understand. I was the Princess's adviser. I would have assumed that it would have been better coming from a noble, or perhaps one of her seamstresses to which she is very close. But, it always had to come from me. The Unicorns have always suspected that we had some sort of affair, but we always denied. If anything, I thought of Platinum as a sister. Or a close friend. Not a lover. We had nothing in common, except being Unicorns. She was rich, wealthy, beautiful...and I was simple. Poor. Intelligent. I opened her door to find her already awake. I bowed. "Good morning, your Highness." "Clover, tell me what I need to hear." I looked up. "I beg your pardon?" "I said, tell me what I need to hear." "How did you-" "Clover, I'm not an idiot. Tell me what you know, so I can know that I am sane." I hesitated. "Your father has been kidnapped." She lay her head in her hooves. Have I said the wrong thing? I wondered. After a moment, she spoke. "Thank you." I trotted to her bed. "This means that you are now Ruler of the Unicorns." "I know," she spat. I will admit, I am not one for comforting. Especially Platinum. I am sometimes unsure of why the Princess needed another adviser. Or, why I was chosen. I was a simple student under Starswirl the Bearded. Though he often said I had great promise, I was not his best student. Yet Platinum chose me. Faust herself told me I was the right Unicorn for the job. I couldn't have backed down after that kind of praise. "Clover," Platinum said softly, snapping me back into reality. "Get me a dress." "Yes, you Highness." "What does it matter?" "Well, the plan seems trustworthy. It could be a trap, but the Pegasi and Earth ponies have already began a miniature version of this plan for themselves." "So it doesn't matter whatever I choose. If I agree, we will either be fed or stolen from. If I disagree, everything will be fine." I shook my head. "Not necessarily. Princess, may I say something...caring?" "Oh Faust." "I don't think this is how your first day as Ruler should go." Platinum sighed. "Clover, I am grieving. Can't this proposition wait?" "Might I suggest that you don't use that word?" I hissed. "And no. It cannot. There's a good chance that we will all die no matter what you choose, but I think agreeing to their...proposal may be the only solution." "Why's that?" "According to Starswirl, the blizzards will only get worse." Platinum scoffed. "Of course. We only sent our best Unicorns of to stop the blizzard." I shrugged. "That's only what Starswirl said. You are the Princess." Platinum sighed again. "Fine. Tell Hurricane and Puddinghead that we'll keep raising the sun and moon."
SilverView OnlineOf PlatinumSilver"You're pregnant?" I stood before my Princess, her face seemingly calm. I, however, was quite in shock. When Platinum told me that she was having a foal with Smart Cookie, I was more than just surprised. After all, a few months ago, Platinum told me that she and Smart Cookie weren't a good match. "Yes, Clover. How many times must we go over it?" "I do not understand it, your Highness." Platinum shifted in her throne, setting her hind legs closer together. "Well, let me go over it again." She placed her hoof on her chin, looking upwards. "I am in love with Smart Cookie. Though I plan for this foal to be a...symbol of alliance, I am truly in love with her." She paused. I speculated that she wished for me to speak, so I opened my mouth to begin. Platinum continued: "I used a spell. Starswirl helped me learn it." I did not know what to say for a moment. The thought of my mentor teaching my Princess an...illegal spell wracked my brain. "Your Highness..." "I used some of Cookie's DNA. I turned it into a sperm and implanted it into one of my eggs. What is so hard to believe?" "Permission to say something-" "Yes, Clover." "It is quite hard to believe that you fell in love with a mare!" My voice was louder than I'd expected it to be. "I apologize." "Do not. I, for one, don't know why that is so hard to believe. Love is love, Clover. After all, you were the one so worried about the...rumors." I blushed. "It has nothing to do with you. Or your choices. I only-" "Do not believe the things I believe?" The Princess looked deep into my eyes. I hate when she does that. "Princess. I cannot lie anymore. I am but a mere adviser. I can't just...believe in everything you believe in." "What are you trying to say?" Frustrated, I yelled once more: "Did you ever think that I became your adviser for a reason?" She said nothing. I went on, "You had a dozen before me. I was just a poor student. What purpose could I possibly have?" "You-" "I am an intelligent Unicorn, and I am a mare of the ponies. I know how they think, what they want. I only want what is best for them. My ideals are not...clouded by wealth." Platinum was silent, and then laughed. "You think I do not know all of this? You think I don't know that my father and his nobles have shown me only the 'best' parts of Unicorn life? I chose you to be my adviser." "What?" "When I went to Starswirl's classroom that day, I was immensely impressed. I saw you, the only mare in the class, working harder than the stallions. I don't care if you think you aren't smart enough, or even if you are better than everyone because of where you came from." She came off of her throne, and then walked close to me. "Sometimes, we must all but our beliefs behind us. For the greater good. This foal will be raised in the best place I can imagine, partly because you are here, Clover. Do you understand?" I bowed. "Yes, your Highness."
BronzeView OnlineOf PlatinumBronzeThe foal was born in the middle of the night. I ran to Platinum's room when I heard a scream. "What is it?" I yelled. "The foal!" The Princess screamed. "The foal!" I called the nurses, and the foal was born. He was a beautiful cream-colored colt with a white mane. "Oh Platinum," Cookie said. "He is gorgeous." Platinum sniffled. "I am so happy." I must admit, I was not used to having a little Prince run around my hooves all the time. In fact, I was not used to seeing Smart Cookie so often. One morning, I met with Chancellor Puddinghead. "Your eminence." I said, bowing." He waved it away. "There's no need to be so formal." I sat down. "You said...you wanted to talk with me?" He sighed. "I know that the Unicorns and Earth ponies are in a bit of a tough time right about now, and that if anyone found out about us we would get in a bit of trouble. I am glad that you were able to meet me." I nodded. "It was tough to get here, but I am happy to-" "I do not approve of Smart Cookie's choices, and I understand that you are not happy with Platinum either." "I..." My ears grew warm. I leaned in and whispered, "I am not, but Platinum and I have already discussed this." "Clover, I have a request for you." "What is it?" Puddinghead grinned. "I am going out of the country to find new lands for the Earth ponies. Because we are already in an alliance of sorts with the Unicorns, I would like you to come with me. If we find a new land, I would allow the Unicorns to live there in peace with we Earth ponies." I said nothing for a minute. "I don't know if the citizens would approve of this." Puddinghead groaned and rubbed his forehead. "Clover, think about it. No matter what they think, it will be for the best of everypony." Again, I said nothing. I put out my hoof, and he shook it. "Alright, Puddinghead. I will join you."
GoldView OnlineOf PlatinumGold"Tighter!" The Princess wheezed as the seamstress tightened her corset. "Tighter...ah. Perfect." I had only entered the room. "What is the occasion, your highness?" Platinum smiled. "I have a date." I placed my hoof upon my chin. "Really?" I asked, delicately. "Indeed, Clover." "Who is the lucky stallion?" "Smart Cookie, of the Earth ponies." I must admit, I was a bit lost in thought when she spoke those words. "What?" "Smart Cookie. Surely you must remember her." "Er...yes, I do. But why her, your Majesty?" Platinum pushed a snow white curl out of her face. "She is...a mare of honor. She is well known and brave...and not the worst looking Earth pony I've ever seen." "Platinum...permission to say something...discourteous?" The Princess let out a huff, and then nodded. "Your Highness, I am positive that you are aware of the rumours." She said nothing, so I continued. "Um...some ponies, of all races, think that..." "We are lovers." "Yes. To put it bluntly." Platinum looked into my eyes. "What exactly are you trying to say, Clover?" Suddenly, she took hold off my cape with her magic and pulled me close, so we were muzzle to muzzle. "You do not like the idea of loving me?" My ears grew hot. "No! No. Of course not. I only meant-" "Oh Clover." Platinum laughed. The nobles often told me that they hated her laugh. It was loud, and sounded a bit...like a cackle mixed with a bird's screech. I disagree. I do not think it's that bad. "I'm only teasing." She let me go. "I am not a racist. I am not a homophobe. I am aware that both stallions and mares are captivated by my beauty." She looked into her mirror atop her vanity. "Who is to say that...perhaps I am captivated by their's as well? I do not think that me going on one date with an Earth pony mare will cause these blizzards to get worse, or my father to die if he has not, and that is all I care about." She looked back to me. "Clover, you can tell the newspapers whatever you want. But I want you to believe-to truly believe-what I have told you. Understand?" "Yes, your Highness." "Thank you, Clover." Once again, I found myself lost in thought. There is no way that this will work, I told myself, over and over. What is she planning? A marriage alliance? Oh Faust... The doors slammed open. I bowed. "Your Highness, you are back." "Hello Clover." "How did it go?" I asked, removing her coat. "Not well. Or, as well as I had hoped. Smart Cookie and I were not compatible." "Oh?" "Complete opposites, truly." "Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure...Earth ponies have-" "Please, Clover. Smart is a good mare. I just...I don't want to talk about it."
