Respect and Respectability

Chapters

1 - The More Things Change
2 - Orders of the Princess
3 - How to Warm a Hearth

1 - The More Things Change

“Mares first.” Smart Cookie stepped aside with a gracious gesture and a friendly smile on his bright beige face. His floppy brown mane, as well as the general unkempt state everypony was in after the night in the cave, rather ruined the image of a gentlecolt, but that made Clover’s smile even more genuine as she passed him.

“Thank you, good sir.” Brushing her purple mane away from her green face with a hoof, Clover stepped onto the steep, narrow path out of the ravine behind Princess Platinum and Chancellor Puddinghead.

“‘Mares first,’ my hoof. You’d just rather have a view of Clover than me.” Puddinghead said with a smirk, glancing back at Cookie.

Clover snorted a laugh considering her social life, or complete lack thereof. “I’ve been wearing these robes for five blessed years, I can pretty well promise that the back of them doesn’t hold much interest for stallions.”

Cookie just chuckled and added, “Though it is true that I’ve seen enough of Puddinghead’s tail for a lifetime.”

The exchange reminded Clover to use her magic to lift her robes as they climbed the rocky path, if only so she didn’t trip on them. They were worn and faded to gray, already frayed at the hem from dragging along stone castle floors and dusty streets. Still, they marked her as the royal mage and had pockets large enough for scrolls.

“We’re loony enough to let you and your ideas loose on this Equestria plan. I’m sure I’ll be instructing you to kiss my tail for quite a while yet.” Puddinghead laughed, setting the massive bun of her mane wobbling. It seemed nearly as large as the small red pony it was attached to, and as far as Clover could tell it defied all laws of magic and physics to stay in place.

Clover smiled. Puddinghead was the last pony she ever might have spoken to, and she’d been told plenty about Cookie’s unpleasant interactions with her. But in the past twelve hours, it seemed like the very world had turned around, and it was easy now to take Puddinghead’s teasing in good humor. The glow from the magical fire still warmed her, a spontaneous bit of spellwork she was itching to try to piece apart, but as she thought of it more practical matters started to sink in.

“Blessed darkness, we’re going to be founding a nation.” Clover blinked in wonder at her own words.

“Yes, we are!” Cookie sounded far more excited than awed. “We’ve got to get the rest of our tribes on board, develop a system of government, establish what land we’re claiming, send messengers to other nations and kingdoms, renew and update treaties—”

“Now Cookie, all of that can wait. Look at this day!” Platinum looked over her shoulder, her blonde mane shimmering like the sun in the clear sky above them. She gave a graceful gesture of her white hoof. “This isn’t a day for politics, it’s a day for celebration. We’re alive, we’re bathed in magic and setting hoof on a shining new path. Let us begin the right way.”

“And that is?” Cookie asked cautiously.

Clover glanced back and offered him a cynical smirk, knowing quite well what Platinum had in mind.

“With a festival, of course!” Platinum said brightly. “One joyful enough to assure that the windigos shall tremble at the thought of approaching us again. Our camp shall host it, and your tribes shall be our honored guests.”

As the earth ponies and unicorns breached the top of the ravine they joined the imposing gray form of Commander Hurricane and the entirely unimposing blue one of Private — now Lieutenant — Pansy. The pair had landed at the edge of the lush forest, where not a sign of ice or snow could be seen.

“We don’t know what condition the camps are in,” Hurricane pointed out, eyeing the clouds in the direction of the pegasus camp.

Platinum nodded to the sky. “The sun is up, so the unicorns are there and awaiting word from me. I shall bring that word, tell them of Equestria, and we shall be ready for you all by early afternoon.”

“It won’t take very long, you see, because we have no food to offer anypony,” Clover whispered to Cookie, loud enough to be heard by all. He rolled his eyes in response.

Platinum frowned at Clover. “We have wine.”

Clover raised an eyebrow. “Oh yes, you’ve always got plenty of that, don’t you?”

“Good enough for me!” Puddinghead stomped a hoof with a grin.

Platinum got a sweet smile on her face. “Chancellor Puddinghead, I hope the earth ponies wouldn’t mind providing some food?”

“We haven’t got much ourselves…” Cookie said to Puddinghead with a look of concern.

She waved a hoof at him and said to Platinum, “I’m sure we could scrape something together. I’ll have carts sent soon as we get back.”

Clover nodded. “Oh, good. We can use the last of everypony’s food.”

“Do you have another solution?” Platinum asked with a raised eyebrow.

Frowning, Clover put a hoof to her chin. “This might take some study, but I think my current theory is… we could not have a blessed party right now.”

Platinum rolled her eyes at Clover, then smiled at Puddinghead. “Thank you, your support is greatly appreciated.”

Clover stood there with the same frown on her face. Perhaps the idea that the whole world might have changed in last night’s magic was a bit optimistic.

Cookie shook his head at Platinum and Puddinghead. “Ladies, I’m afraid that celebrating Equestria by expending the last of our resources — before we know what Equestria is and can explain to ponies what exactly they’re celebrating — might be putting the cart before the pony.”

Puddinghead gave him a friendly shove with her shoulder. “Pleasure before business, that’s what I always say!”

“I’m well aware, Chancellor.” Cookie sighed. “But—”

“Does he always worry like this?” Platinum asked Puddinghead.

Puddinghead rolled her eyes. “Don’t even ask.”

Hurricane tilted his head with a considering look at Platinum. Then he straightened it and looked around the group. “Our scouts have made note of potential sources of wild food. I believe there should be enough to feed us all until the earth ponies can resume food production.”

Platinum smiled. “You see? I’m sure the food in Equestria is lovely.”

Clover shook her head. “We haven’t got an Equestria yet. We’ve got a name and a blessed mess of ponies.”

“Ponies used to three entirely different forms and styles of government.” Cookie furrowed his brow. “Settling on one isn’t going to be a simple matter.”

Platinum fixed her sappy smile on Cookie. “We shall address all of the technicalities tomorrow. Today, we feast and drink and dance in good fellowship. All of us, all of our tribes, have suffered so much in the past months that to deny them this in order to debate and lecture would be cruelty.”

Cookie walked over next to Clover and tilted his head to her. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a situation where the lack of a party might be considered cruelty.”

Clover chuckled. “You aren’t familiar with Princess Platinum. The poor dear has gone a whole three months without a new frock.”

With a soft snort, Platinum shook her head. “And I shan’t have one tonight, either. There’s not much time to get ready and more than enough for poor Nimble Thimble to do in that time.”

Pansy frowned in thought, then looked to Clover and Cookie. “Perhaps we might spend the time at the party talking to ponies, finding out what form of government they might be agreeable to?”

Platinum shook her head. “Absolutely not. There shall be no talk of politics today, at all.” She pursed her lips, then looked hopefully to Hurricane. “Oh, Commander, do you have some ponies who could show off flying tricks? I’ve heard of them, and I’d love so much to see them.”

He nodded. “Our troops have festival drills.”

“They are quite impressive,” Pansy added with a smile.

Hurricane barely glanced at her. “Lieutenant, when we get back I want my troop in parade uniform at the drill clouds to run through the festival drills. You’ll be flying lead.”

Pansy made her expression even and gave a sharp nod, though a small smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Yes, Sir.”

“Thank you both.” Platinum nodded, and then glanced at the woods in the direction of the unicorn camp. “I look forward to seeing you all later and greeting you and your tribes as dear friends. Come along, Clover. We’ll have to hurry back.” She started walking without waiting to see if Clover was following.

Clover heaved a sigh. Perhaps there was something about her lot in life that even world-altering magic couldn’t affect; some overlooked aspect of her cutie mark that made it her destiny to be ignored and ordered about by Princess Platinum. She started after Platinum, casting an apologetic look towards their other friends.

Cookie called after them, “Could we at least—”

“Tomorrow!” Platinum shouted cheerfully.

Behind them, Clover heard Cookie say, “She’s a blessed mad pony.”

“They all are,” Hurricane answered. “I think it’s the magic.”

Clover wasn’t sure she disagreed as she easily caught up to Platinum in the thick forest. Platinum was taller than Clover and had a longer stride, but she picked her way between trees and brush with far more care.

At the very least they had a good walk back to the unicorn settlement, and Clover could start considering the miracle of the spell she’d just taken part in. She knew that peace and friendship would drive away windigos, but under any other circumstances the thaumic output of three shouldn’t have sufficed. Something greater must have come through them, a core magical force—

“Clover, can you write as you walk? I need a list,” Platinum said, interrupting the silence where Clover was trying to work.

“I could have sworn I was a royal mage. Have I been promoted to scribe?” Clover said with a dry look at Platinum.

Platinum glanced at her, eyebrows raised. “No, you’ve been promoted to a founder of Equestria. And if you would like for Equestria to be what we dreamed of in that cave, I need a blessed list.”

“Fine.” Clover’s purple magic floated a scroll and quill from the large pockets of her robes. “Go on.”

“First I shall need to talk to the nobles, then the common ponies. I shall need to set a time for the start, as well as for the pegasi’s performance. Then my steward, I need to instruct him on where to place the wine and food the earth ponies shall bring, as well as decorations and where musicians might set up. And Nimble Thimble. I’ll need you present for that—”

“Me?” Clover stopped her quill and tilted her head. “What do I need to talk to your seamstress about?”

Platinum smiled. “We shall need to make you presentable.”

Clover met the smile with a stubborn frown. “I’m a mage. I’m wearing my robes.”

“Those robes?” Platinum said, eyeing them. It was true that they were a dusty gray where they used to be blue, and the gold trim had fallen away ages ago, and the hem at the bottom was brown with mud and tattered and frayed from dragging over stone floors and dirt paths.

Still, they were Clover’s robes. She drew herself up. “These robes were given to me by Star Swirl and made the journey from that blasted dungeon in Monoceros to a frozen cave in a new land, keeping me alive long enough to perform a miracle. I assure you they’re worthy of your party.”

Platinum shook her head. “The question isn’t whether they are worthy, it’s whether they are presentable. The ponies of court will be livid—”

“And that would be quite embarrassing for you, wouldn’t it?” Clover snapped. “To have ponies think you might acknowledge a pony who wears ugly clothes and worries about more important things than where to place the blasted wine and banners at your blasted party?”

Platinum glared at Clover. “It would be quite embarrassing for me, yes. And while it seems you enjoy being embarrassed, judging by your career at court, I do not.”

Clover looked down at the scroll and considered ripping the list to pieces. Instead she snorted and narrowed her eyes at it. “There’s nothing about my career at your court I’ve enjoyed, Your Majesty.”

Platinum’s face melted to sympathy. “I know, and I’m sorry. But the world has changed now. I know this is new to you…” She offered a sad smile. “I’m sure the tailor will be able to do something with your robes.”

Clover rolled her eyes with a sigh. Knowing the dresses Platinum’s seamstresses put together for the nobles, Clover had no doubt they’d be able to do something with her robes. As far as she was concerned, it would be nothing good.

Not that her opinion ever mattered in the slightest. She frowned at Platinum. “Believe me, Your Majesty, this is not new to me.”

The first thing Clover noticed when she opened the door to her laboratory in the castle one sunny morning was that the laboratory wasn’t there.

It was the same bright, airy space with large windows looking out over the city, and still held the trace of the rich smell of potions and the dusty smell of books.

But none of her equipment was there. None of her books were there. A heavily embroidered couch, a set of sitting pillows, and a polished table were there on a plush rug, none of which would be the least bit helpful in magical study.

Somepony shoved her from behind. She stepped aside with a muttered, “Excuse me.”

A porter in a brown tunic edged by her into the room, carrying a large painting of fruit in his magic.

“Um, pardon me,” she said to his back as he walked to the far wall and leaned the picture against it. “This is supposed to be my laboratory.”

He glanced at her and shrugged. “Not any longer. It’s Lady Radiant’s sitting room now. Orders of the Princess.”

“Orders of the…?” Clover blinked. “Why would she order such a thing? Where am I supposed to perform my experiments? I’m the blasted royal mage!”

“Your things were removed to the lower quarters. First door at the bottom of the servants staircase.” He nodded in the general direction.

Clover furrowed her brow. “The lower quarters? Isn’t that where the dungeon is?”

“Right next to there.” The porter nodded.

Her face fell to a flat expression. “You’re joking.”

He shrugged again. “I’m just doing what I was told.”

Clover shook her head. “Of course. I’m sorry. Where is the Princess?”

“Entertaining the Duke and Duchess of Maretonia in the morning parlor.”

Clover nodded, and the porter passed her and headed down the hall. Then she tilted her head.

“Which one is the morning parlor?” she called after him.

He stopped and looked at her suspiciously. “You live here.”

Clover shrugged. “So? There are a dozen blasted parlors and sitting rooms, even before this one.”

The porter rolled his eyes. “East wing, next to the gardens.”

“Thank you,” she called, but he was already walking away again.

Clover took off in the other direction, towards the east wing, her face in an angry line. Her hooves echoed on the white stone of the castle hallways as her purposeful pace became a march that was more forceful than she intended, but much less forceful than she felt.

This side of the castle was only vaguely familiar to her. The castle was the size of a small neighborhood, there were bound to be parts a pony rarely traveled, even if Clover had to admit the only parts she knew well were the corridors between her room, her lab, and the kitchens. These polished halls lined with paintings in gilded frames were well off her path. She had been called on for an entertainment in one of the formal sitting rooms once, and a few times she’d brought potions to the fancy guest quarters upstairs, but usually she was led by a porter.

After only a few wrong guesses which interrupted some very busy maids, she found the door that led to a bright sitting room with a pleasant view of some gardens outside. About a dozen ponies sat sipping tea, and one of those ponies was Princess Platinum herself. Clover marched her way over to the princess.

The princess was talking to an old blue stallion in a cravat and didn’t so much as glance in Clover’s direction. Several of the other ponies there did, however, with looks on their faces as if a particularly mangy stray cat had wandered in.

Clover stood there for a moment, then said crisply, “Your Majesty.”

“Excuse me,” Platinum said to the old stallion. She turned and stared for a moment. “Clover, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I needed to ask—” Clover started, but Platinum held up a hoof.

“I’m afraid now is not a good time,” she said gently. “Won’t you join us for tea?”

Several of the ponies around the room snickered, and a orange mare sniffed and said, “She must change her robes first. Those are filthy.”

Clover glared at the mare, then at Platinum. “I don’t want any blasted tea! I want to know what happened to my laboratory!”

Looking her in the eye, Platinum motioned to a pillow. “If you’ll please sit down and have some tea, I’m sure we can discuss the matter at a more appropriate time.”

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry.” Clover frowned, her eyes narrowed. “Did you accidentally schedule taking away my laboratory and disrupting my work for the same time as your tea party? I’ll just have to be inconvienenced later, at your pleasure.”

“You’re not going to join us, are you?” Platinum said, pursing her lips.

Clover nodded. “Very observant, Your Majesty. And I’m not leaving until I find out what happened to my laboratory.”

Platinum sighed with an apologetic look at the stallion she’d been talking to, then turned back to Clover. “It was relocated.”

“To the dungeons!” Clover said with a sharp gesture.

“So you found the perfect place for her,” one of the other mares said. Clover wasn’t sure which, so she glared at them all.

“A room in the lower quarters,” Platinum said to Clover.

Clover fixed her with a hard stare. “Why?”

Platinum frowned and took a sip of tea from a delicate porcelain cup. “Because the space you occupied was a lovely and central room, and nopony got to enjoy it but you.”

“Yes, but I got to enjoy it because I was working in it!” Clover stomped her hoof. “Your Majesty, my job is to credit you by making your court as an important center of magical study. Moving that study to the blasted dungeons makes it seem rather less an important center and more a slum.”

“Of course study of magic is important to this court, we are unicorns. We’ve always had a royal mage, and dedicated resources and support to their studies.” Platinum looked around the room, then back at Clover. “But magic is not our only concern, and you can work just as well in the lower quarters.”

“Right.” Clover nodded, frowning. “Of course, Star Swirl couldn’t. You never moved the laboratory when he was here.”

Platinum raised an eyebrow. “Well he isn’t here now, is he?”

From somewhere behind Clover a mare’s voice muttered, “Now there was a royal mage. He was always so amusing.”

Another voice answered the first, “Can’t imagine why he might have left such pleasant company.”

Clover bit her tongue to keep her face from cringing, and ignored the stab in her chest. She couldn’t even glare at whoever said it for fear of giving herself away.

“Really Clover, this is very rude. I have guests to attend to and I’m sure you have very important magical…” Platinum waved a hoof. “Things to do.”

She narrowed her eyes at the princess. “As a matter of fact, I do have important magical things to do. Things that might explain how the world or the universe work, and how destiny affects us, and why ponies even exist. And you interrupted my magical things so that one of your ridiculous friends had a prettier place to entertain you, which is a bit more imposing than me interrupting your blasted tea party!”

Platinum just regarded her with an infuriatingly calm expression. “Clover, if you are not going to have any tea, please go and continue your magical things until we have need of a mage.”

Clover snorted. “Did you listen to a blessed word I said?”

“Consider carefully. Would you really wish that I had?” Platinum raised an eyebrow at her.

“Right then.” Clover nodded and turned around, walking to the door. “I’ll just retire to my dungeon. Perhaps there are some rats there I can train up as assistants.”

Somepony laughed and said, “I suppose we all must learn to be sociable somehow.”

“Better company than you lot.” Clover slammed the door behind her as hard as she could.

The unicorn camp, officially called “Unicornia” because the nobles obviously had a rather limited vocabulary, sat in a lightly wooded space beside a river, where tents both bright and magical and dull and ordinary had been arranged with temporary wooden shanties scattered among them. Towards the outskirts of the settlement, Clover and Platinum were met by two white guards in polished gray armor who had been stationed to await Princess Platinum’s return.

Platinum didn’t so much as pause, allowing the guards to fall into step beside her as she assured them that she was fine and knew exactly what was going on. Clover just trotted behind, wondering what that might be like.

It wasn’t long before they came to Platinum’s tent; a huge yellow and silver magical affair that always put Clover in mind of a festival tent. Because of the size and color, of course. Nothing to do with idle ponies who’d had too much to drink, certainly.

The guards waited at stations outside while Platinum motioned for Clover to follow her in. The front room was a large sitting room, already occupied by several mares wearing brightly colored dresses and bored expressions. Their expressions changed when they saw Platinum, to smiles, and again when they noticed Clover, to distasteful confusion.

“What is she doing here?” asked Lady Something-to-do-with-sweets. At least Clover was pretty sure that was who this one was.

Platinum smiled at the peach colored pony. “Clover is quite the hero, Lady Sorbet. She saved us from that dreadful ice, along with some friends she made.”

“You saved us?” a blue one with a purple and white mane asked, but Clover hadn’t a clue who she was.

Clover offered her a modest smile. “Well, I can’t take too much responsibility for saving us. It was a spontaneous magical anomaly, you see. I think it was the three of us together, possibly our magics combined into some kind of thaumic magnifier of an emotional force—”

The blue pony interrupted her, “You made friends?”

With a sigh, Clover’s face fell to a dry glare. “I made friends so well it saved your blasted tails.”

“And I hope she includes me among those friends,” Platinum said, walking over next to her and placing a hoof on her shoulder. “And we’ve determined a path to safety to ensure this never happens again, which is what we shall be celebrating this evening!

“What is this path to safety?” Lady Sorbet asked, eyeing Clover.

“Oh, we shall dissolve Monoceros and form a nation of ponies of all three tribes.” Platinum waved a hoof and went on, “But politics is for tomorrow—”

“Dissolve Monoceros?” Lady Radiant’s face wore a shocked expression not unlike Clover’s when she found that very mare had usurped her laboratory. Clover smirked in her new, personal illustration of schadenfreude.

“Of course.” Platinum offered a sympathetic smile. “We can’t expect the earth ponies and pegasi to kneel to me, that would hardly be fair. And I didn’t think you should like to become part of Girthshire or Hippocampus.”

“They’re going to be part of the same country as us?” Lady Sorbet asked, seeming thoroughly bewildered. “What kind of nation is this?

“It would be nice if we had a blessed clue, wouldn’t it?” Clover muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Quiet, Clover,” Platinum said with a firm look, then she turned back to the others. “Politics is for tomorrow, and I shall answer all of your concerns then. As I was saying, today we celebrate our fortune, and I’ve invited our fellow ponies of both tribes to a festival to do so.”

“Mud ponies and featherbrains!” Lady Radiant gasped.

Clover frowned and raised her eyebrows at her. “Yes, we thought we might invite them over so we could insult them all at once. Much more efficient that way.”

Platinum ignored Clover. “I hope to never hear those filthy old words again. The earth ponies and pegasi shall be our guests, and we shall show them the grace and hospitality for which Monoceros is— was famous, and which we intend to bring to our new land, Equestria.”

The bright grin Platinum wore as she finished was met by silent shock on the faces of her ladies. But Platinum just tossed her head and trotted towards the back room of the tent, calling cheerfully, “Now, I must freshen up. There’s much to do!”

Not having any other directions, Clover leaned against an end table. If the force they’d summoned was that powerful, it had to be a core magic. Most likely destiny or harmony. She’d heard a pony had worked out destiny, though she’d never met her, but perhaps she could—

Behind her, Lady Sorbet said, “You know, you can always tell when a place is on fire when the rats come out of the woodwork. Or the dungeons, as it were.”

Clover sighed and rolled her eyes, both at the interruption and at the dragon’s ass in a dress she had to speak to. “That’s because rats know well enough to find safer ground, something ponies would do well to learn.”

“Why should we trust the rats?” Lady Sorbet asked.

Clover tilted her head in confusion. “Because the rats aren’t going to come out unless they know the blasted place is on fire. That’s the whole point of the bit you said.” Lady Sorbet glared at her, and Clover straightened and glared back. “What? You’re the one who started this metaphor.”

“I was just saying you’re filthy and ought to stay out of sight.”

Clover raised her eyebrows. “And I was just saying that you could try not being such a pain in the tail, since our blessed lives might depend on it. But I’m beginning to wonder if being frozen to death isn’t about what you lot deserve.”

“Clover!” Platinum called as she emerged from the back of the tent, the smile on her face suggesting she hadn’t heard the previous exchange.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” Clover asked, glad for any excuse to leave the tent.

“I must speak to the common ponies now,” Platinum said, walking to the door. “It might be best if you stay out of sight for the time being.”

Clover stared at her, not daring to glance at the smirks on the faces of the noble mares. Her shoulders fell, and she leaned against the table again with a sigh. “Right.”

2 - Orders of the Princess

Clover took a breath as she stepped into Princess Platinum’s throne room and prepared to be frustrated.

The throne room actually wasn’t that grand when compared to the ballroom or the dining hall, with a kind of elegant simplicity that Clover might have respected if it hadn’t been for the ponies in it. The walls were white and unadorned, the floors and columns were white marble, and Platinum’s silvery throne stood at the end of the room. Only the Monoceros banner behind it and the dark purple runner leading up to it provided a dash of color.

But there were ponies, and on the days set aside for castle business and petitions it was full of only the most sycophantic and competitive of Platinum’s nobles.

Today was one of those days, and Clover could feel their eyes on her as she made her way up the aisle to kneel before Princess Platinum.

“Rise. What can I help you with, Clover?” Platinum was smiling as Clover straightened.

“Your Majesty.” Clover nodded. “I’m here today to make a request for some additional funding for my studies.”

Platinum tilted her head slightly. “What for?”

Clover pulled several scrolls out of the pockets of her robes with her magic and floated them to Platinum. “I’ve been trying to advance teleportation, you see, and there’s a fellow at one of the schools along the coast who claims to have gotten some excellent results with thaumic pulsing. But Star Swirl always said thaumic pulsing was only good for parlor tricks, so I’d want to see it for myself before I begin experimenting.”

“Teleporting? But can’t you already teleport?” Platinum furrowed her brow, setting the scrolls aside unread. It was just as well, one of them was nothing but dirty limericks Clover had encoded in ancient symbols anyhow. But it looked properly magical, which was the important thing.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Clover nodded and considered her next words. “But I would like to be able to teleport better. Longer distances, more ponies. And there’s a pony I would like to meet who might have ideas about how.”

Princess Platinum seemed to accept that. “And you’d require funds for visiting this pony?”

“I’d need travel expenses and—”

A voice cut in from the crowd of courtiers, “Something to wear that doesn’t look like an oat sack?”

“— and room and board for an assistant if I do begin experiments.” Clover glared at the crowd.

“How much do you need?” Platinum asked.

Clover cleared her throat. “Three hundred bits for the travel, and if I can’t find a student assistant I should need about fifty bits a month wages, and a room here in the castle for her.”

Platinum frowned, considering. “I’m afraid the budget is very tight this season. The Winter Ball is coming up, you know.”

“Well, that seems appropriate, being as it’s winter,” Clover said with a nod. “However, I should hope that advancing magical knowledge is more important than ponies dancing.”

“This is the Winter Ball, my dear. I’m afraid I can’t grant your requests.” Platinum pursed her lips. Then all at once her eyebrows went up and a grin flashed across her face. “Oh! I could offer you an invitation to the ball, of course!”

Clover just stared at her. “Yes, I’m sure that will do just as well. Very few ponies realize how similar getting one’s hooves stepped on by clumsy young lords is to teleportation.”

A mare in the crowd stepped forward. “Your Majesty, with all due respect, you can’t be considering—”

Platinum smiled at the mare. “It is perfectly proper for our royal mage to attend. Everypony knows mages are a queer lot, anyway. I’m sure she has lots of magical things to discuss, and there must be somepony interested in hearing them.”

Clover narrowed her eyes, considering how nice it might be if that pony was her blasted patron.

“But look at her!” another pony called.

After a considering frown at Clover, the smile returned to Platinum’s face. “You will need appropriate attire of course. I’m sure I have something that can be altered—”

“Your Majesty.” Clover sighed. “Look, I’m sure the Winter Ball is quite amusing if you have nothing better to do and more dresses than sense. But we mages are a queer lot, as you know, and I have magic to study. For that I need funds, not a blasted ballgown.”

Platinum’s face fell to a regal and not at all friendly line. “Well, you’re getting no funds.”

“Your Majesty, please,” Clover pleaded through gritted teeth. “I’m trying to do my work here. If I manage a breakthrough, it will be a credit to us both, not to mention practical applications of improved teleportation spells like—”

“I can easily imagine all of the benefits of supporting your research. I do offer you space, and a room, and meals, and a stipend.” Platinum looked at Clover pointely. “But I have more pressing concerns as well, and right now the most important one is the Winter Ball. Which I take it you are not attending, so I believe there’s nothing else to be said here that concerns you.”

“Right.” Clover gave a sharp nod. “Of course. Well, perhaps we can get to advancing magical knowledge after you finish dancing.” She turned around and started back up the aisle. “Thank you for your time, Your Majesty.”

As she stepped out the door she heard somepony say, “How can you be so kind to that pony?”

About an hour after they returned to the unicorn camp, Clover found herself once again hurrying to keep up with Platinum. The princess was a whirlwind; after announcing the party to the common ponies she’d caught up Clover again and spun her off to see the steward, the cooks, and the court musicians.

Their next stop seemed to be yet another tent with the royal seal on the flap. Or it might have been the same one, Clover wasn’t entirely sure they weren’t running in circles while ponies quickly changed the occupants of a single tent.

Stepping through the flap behind Platinum, Clover could see looms, skeins of threads, and bolts of fabric. She remembered the conversation earlier about visiting the seamstress and glanced around cautiously, preparing to teleport to safety. Just outside the tent would do—

“Don’t even think about it,” Platinum said, not even glancing back.

Clover raised her eyebrows. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, Your Majesty.”

Platinum grinned as a short, stout mare stepped forward. “Nimble Thimble, how lovely to see you again!”

“The honor is mine, Your Majesty.” Nimble Thimble bowed.

“Thank you.” Platinum smiled and nodded as the mare straightened herself. “Now, I have quite a bit of work for you and your ponies. We’re having a festival!”

Nimble Thimble cocked her head. “Oh? When is this?”

“In about four hours.”

A few months before, back in Monoceros, Clover had teleported herself to a balcony that she quickly realized was actually on the other side of the castle, leaving her several stories up in midair. She instantly recognized the feelings behind the wide eyed expression of surprise and terror frozen on Nimble Thimble’s face.

“Don’t worry, everypony knows we’re a bit rushed.” Platinum gave the pony a sympathetic look. “Now, first of all, we are founding a new nation, so we shall need you to design a flag—”

Clover also recognized the strangled cry that Nimble Thimble let out, though Clover had followed hers with an impressive string of curses and a flash of magic.

Platinum laid a hoof on the mare’s shoulder. “Just put together something attractive and inoffensive. If you design a better one later, we can replace it.”

Nimble Thimble swallowed and nodded. “Anything else, Your Majesty?”

“Of course we shall need decorations. Banners, bunting… it should be colorful, I think we’ve all had enough of that dull snow and ice.”

“I’m afraid I may not have what you need, Your Majesty.” Nimble Thimble glanced around at her stock. “We haven’t received any shipments of cloth or threads after what happened to Girthshire. To be honest, I don’t know if we’ve got the right fabric for the flag…”

“I’ll take care of that. I’m sure it will work out.” Platinum gave a wave of her hoof. Then she looked around, her eyes landing on a stallion standing nearby. “Now, Top Stitch, I have a special job for you. Tell me, what do you think of Clover’s robes?

The yellow stallion looked at the robes. He looked at Platinum as if this might be a joke. He looked at Clover as if she might be insane. Then he looked at the robes with a frown so deep that Clover got the sense that he was personally offended by their existence.

Clover narrowed her eyes. “What do you think of them knowing I can teleport you into the river?”

He looked at Clover with the same frown. “Not an improvement.”

“Exactly.” Platinum gave Clover a pointed look. Then she turned to Top Stitch. “But she’s rather attached, you see, so perhaps you could do something with these?”

He sighed and gave Platinum a look. “I’m not the royal mage...”

“Actually, I am the royal mage,” Clover noted quickly. “And I think my robes are fine.”

Platinum ignored Clover and smiled at Top Stitch. “I’m sure you can at least improve upon them.”

He nodded. “I’m not sure how I could fail to, Your Majesty.”

“Perfect.” Platinum nodded to Clover. “Clover, give Top Stitch your robes.”

Clover frowned and shifted back a step. “No.”

“Oh, come now.” Platinum sighed. “Everypony is very busy. Just give the pony your robes and—”

“I said no. I like my robes the way they are.” Clover held her head high and looked at Platinum with a challenge.

“Well they are unacceptable,” Platinum said, rolling her eyes.

“To whom?”

Platinum motioned around the room. “Everypony agrees they’re awful.”

Clover shot a glare around the room that seemed to make every pony there fascinated by the nearest object at hoof.

Turning the glare on Platinum, Clover stomped her hoof and shouted, “Everypony can discuss exactly how awful my robes are on their way to Tartarus!”

Platinum pursed her lips, then looked at the ponies around the room. “Excuse us.”

Platinum walked over to a dressing screen and motioned for Clover to follow. Once they had that small bit of privacy, she whispered, “Clover, you are making far too much fuss over this.”

“Well I think it’s worth making a fuss over,” Clover whispered harshly. “These are my robes, and they’re none of your business.”

“As a matter of fact, they are very much my business.” Platinum raised her eyebrows. “There are a number of ponies here who do not have a high opinion of you. We must fix that, and the very first thing those ponies will notice are those robes.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Clover said, locking eyes with her. “I know what you think of me, you and that lot of poison butterflies. And allow me to make this perfectly clear: I do not give a flying feather.”

Platinum’s face softened into a pitying smile. “Oh, Clover… that’s just darling, but I really do not have time right now. We’ll have a talk later. In the meantime, I am your friend, your patron, and, until tomorrow, your Princess. You may decide the reason for yourself, but you will give Top Stitch those robes.”

Clover lit her horn to teleport away, which she figured she should have done as soon as they got in the tent, or possibly when they got back to the camp. She wasn’t entirely sure she shouldn’t have done it the minute Star Swirl brought her to that blasted castle in Monoceros years ago.

“You do want Monoceros to join Equestria, don’t you?” Platinum did not arch an eyebrow. She didn’t look like she was making a threat at all. She simply looked completely and utterly serious, which did more to turn Clover’s stomach to ice than any glare or hoof stomping ever could have.

Clover let her horn cool and stared at Platinum for a moment. Then she closed her eyes and lit her horn again, this time pulling her robes from her body and flinging them at the princess. “Fine. Take the blasted robes.”

Platinum looked at Clover with pity. “Why don’t you go relax for a bit? I’ll find you when things are ready.”

With only a sigh for a response, Clover turned and walked out of the tent with her head hanging nearly as low as she felt.

The throne room was freezing, and Clover couldn’t stop shaking. Those were correlated, but not actually causative, as Clover’s robes were quite warm. But outside the freezing and, most importantly, magical blizzard howled. Clover knew perfectly well why she’d been summoned, but she wasn’t exactly sure why she had shown up rather than hiding under her bed.

She forced herself to walk up the aisle, step by step. She wished the throne was a gallows; at least being hung was a fate ponies didn’t have to live with afterwards.

When she got to Platinum at the end, for once she was glad to bow; it let her avoid looking at the princess for a blessed few moments.

“Rise. Thank you for coming, Clover.”

“You summoned me, Your Majesty?” Clover looked up to see the Princess smiling gently.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed the weather.” Princess Platinum’s smile turned to a frown. “I’ve had to cancel my garden party for snow. And we also seem to be running out of food.”

Clover swallowed and tried to delay the inevitable. “Yes… Yes, I noticed.”

“The pegasi say it’s not their magic,” Platinum said, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course it’s not.” Clover gave a shaky smirk. “I can’t imagine why they’d want these blizzards, they must be murder to fly in.”

“I’m sure.” Platinum nodded. “But if it isn’t their magic, what kind is it?”

Clover closed her eyes and swallowed again, this time trying to keep the tears that were stinging her eyes from making her look like even more of a fool.

Biting her lip, Clover opened her eyes and answered the wall behind Platinum. “Well… you see, finding a signature on wild magic can be… I mean to say, it’s not a simple… that is, there are many magics we understand very little about, which is why we focus on study, categorization, experimentation—”

“Yes,” Platinum cut in. “So what have you found?”

Clover took a deep breath. “… I don’t know, Your Majesty.”

The courtiers began a rustle of whispering that soon grew to a racket of murmurs. Clover was sure she could make out bits and phrases: “Worthless... Waste of space... Pretends to know magic…”

Princess Platinum’s voice cut through them, clear and calm. “Clover, may I speak with you privately?”

Clover cringed. “Of course.”

Platinum stood and led Clover to a doorway on the side of the room, stepping inside. Clover followed and found a small comfortable room with paintings of flowers on the walls and two sitting pillows on either side of a low table.

On the table was a crystal decanter and two glasses. Platinum sat on a cushion and filled one of the glasses. She motioned to the other cushion, and Clover sat uncomfortably. Not that the cushion was uncomfortable, of course. Clover’s very existence was uncomfortable at that moment.

“Wine?” Platinum nodded to the decanter as she floated the full glass to herself.

“No, thank you.” Clover shifted on her cushion.

Platinum took an un-princessly gulp of her drink. “Now, what do you mean, you don’t know?"

“I don’t know.” Clover hung her head. “I have no information on it, no way of testing, not a blasted clue where to start. If Star Swirl was here—”

“Star Swirl is not here, Clover.” Platinum looked at her, pleading. “You are the royal mage.”

Clover swallowed and nodded. “I know. I’ll keep searching. There must be a clue, somewhere… some hint, some methodology for testing, some… thing!” Cringing, she covered her eyes with a hoof. “Perhaps if I had more books, or better equipment…”

“Just tell me what you need to stop this, and I’ll arrange it,” Platinum said, leaning forward.

Clover stared at her, mentally running through every book she’d ever heard of, every item she had the vaguest idea how to use. “...I don’t know! I don’t know if anything would do any blessed good.”

“Very well.” Platinum took a breath and drained the rest of her wine. “I have a summit with Girthshire and Hippocampus regarding the issue, and I shall have to tell them that. They’re going to think we’re liars or fools.” She frowned, and her magic floated her glass and refilled it from the decanter. “And if this continues, we shall have to evacuate Monoceros.”

“I’m sorry, Princess.” Clover gave her sympathetic look. “I know how you feel.”

Platinum took a long drink from her fresh glass, then sighed. “Clover, you have no idea how I feel. Please just return to your laboratory.”

Clover swallowed and nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“If you’ll excuse me…” Platinum rose to her hooves and took another drink of wine before setting the glass aside. She floated a handkerchief to her face and wiped the red from the corners of her mouth.

The princess took a deep breath, and as she let it out her usual bright, gentle smile fell over her face. She walked out the door into the throne room, leaving it open behind her.

“What did she say?” one of the mares outside asked.

Clover edged to the door to hear more clearly. Her face was already burning with humiliation, she might as well hear exactly why. She stood to the side, just out of sight.

“Oh, the problem is very complex, she’s still working on it.”

A different voice spoke up. “She really isn’t—”

Platinum ignored it. “In the meantime, I’ve decided we shall have a concert instead of a garden party.”

Clover frowned. While she hadn’t exactly wanted to hear the rest of that, this didn’t seem quite the time to be concerned with parties.

“But what will you tell the other tribes?” a stallion asked.

“The truth: That our musicians make music more lovely than flowers anyway.”

“I meant about—”

“I think my gown shall be pink velvet… something bright if we’re to have no flowers this year.”

Clover glared through the wall at the general direction of Platinum’s voice. At least they’d be able to spot her dress when they had to evacuate the country through a blasted blizzard.

“That will look lovely on you, Princess,” one of the mares said happily.

Clover sighed and slipped out into the throne room, staying close to the wall. She left without a word and made her way back to her laboratory,

Walking into the small, dimly lit room full of her books and equipment, she selected one of the books and went back to work. She knew perfectly well it was useless. She wasn’t going to find an answer, the princess didn’t give a flying feather, and if this kept up they’d either starve or freeze to death.

But she also knew perfectly well that she was the royal mage, and this was a magical threat, and if the worst happened it wouldn’t be Platinum’s fault. It would be hers.

So she kept reading, praying to the stars, and generally trying to be useless in the right direction.

Clover felt naked without her robes. Which she was, obviously. Of course, so were most ponies, but as Clover walked down the street between the row of tents she couldn’t help feeling she’d lost some kind of desperately needed armor.

“Clover!” a stallion’s voice called out, vaguely familiar.

Clover cringed. She was fairly sure she didn’t know anypony she wanted to speak with right now. She looked over to try to see who might be about to bother her, and her entire demeanor softened as she saw Smart Cookie walking towards her.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said as he caught up to her. “Puddinghead sent me with the carts of food, primarily to make me stop talking to her since she can no longer order me to shut up.” He tilted his head. “Where are your robes?”

Clover sighed. “Abducted by a tailor. Orders of the Princess.”

He gave her a wan smile. “That’s the problem with monarchy. In Girthshire we have to use taxes to steal the shirt off your back, which at least takes a bit more time.”

She chuckled and smiled back. “And in Equestria?”

“It’d be nice to know, wouldn’t it?” Cookie rolled his eyes.

“Yes, it would.” She frowned and shook her head. “Perhaps we hadn’t ought to be allowing the ponies who got us into this mess to be directing things?”

“Well, we’ve been promised politics tomorrow. I’ve got dozens of ideas, none of which involve leaving those three in charge without oversight.” He gave a resigned shrug and continued, “But for now they are still in charge. At the very least Puddinghead has stopped treating me as a dog she fears might get rational ideas all over the carpet, and Pansy got her promotion and a shiny new pin on her uniform to go with it.”

Clover was quiet, looking at the tents they passed.

Cookie raised his eyebrows at her. “What about you? Has your lot improved?”

She raised her eyebrows back. “Have I got my robes?”

“Surely Platinum appreciates that you saved her blessed life.” He frowned in confusion.

“Perhaps she does, who can tell?” Clover rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe there’s room in her head for more than one thought at a time, and she does her best to make sure it’s always dresses and teas and parties. She drives me batty.”

Cookie nodded in sympathy. “At least it’s harmless enough. I’m sure her entertainments have racked up far fewer casualties than Hurricane’s warmongering, and bound ponies’ freedom less often than Puddinghead’s deals and agreements with the guilds.”

Clover gave a snort. “Directly, perhaps. But I’m a student of Star Swirl the Bearded, I’m meant to be making magical advances that might benefit all ponykind, not begging for scraps in a dungeon while the princess worries what wine goes best with squash saute.”

“Red. Probably something earthy.”

Clover eyed him suspiciously.

“I’m an earth pony. We know food.” He leaned in to brush her side. “In any case, we’ll see to it you have your own library. Having been founded on an unknown spell, I’ll happily argue that getting a grip on this magic business might be useful to Equestria.”

“Thank you.” She leaned into him as well; the first time in years she’d felt a friendly touch without her robes. She smiled up at him. “I mean it, I’m not used to having a pony who supports me.”

He smiled back. “We’re all your friends, Clover. Even Platinum. I’m sure she means well, even if she doesn’t know how to show it.”

Clover hadn’t noticed they were approaching the center square until she looked up and noticed the princess’s tent. She eyed it, wondering if she should turn around and avoid the area, when a voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Why Clover! I hardly recognized you without your rags!” Lady Radiant said, trotting towards her with Lady Sorbet.

Clover glared at them.

Lady Radiant smirked. “Oh. Now I do. Same lovely expression.”

“Perhaps whatever magic saved us saved her from those nasty things.” Lady Sorbet snorted a laugh at herself.

Cookie frowned and drew himself up, with an unamused look at the mares. “Since she was in part responsible for that magic, a better use might have been to save her from the nasty things before us.”

Lady Radiant smiled. “How perfect, she’s gotten herself a mud pony suitor!”

In a flash of purple magic, Clover had Lady Radiant dangling upside down in her magic. Teleportation and levitation made a damnably useful combination. “Say that again and I’ll—”

“Excuse me.”

Glancing over, Clover saw Platinum frowning at the scene with a package in her magic. Her eyes went wide and she dropped Lady Radiant in a heap.

3 - How to Warm a Hearth

Princess Platinum looked from Clover to the noblemare on the ground, then back to Clover with her eyes narrowed. “What is going on here?”

“Your Majesty! Clover has gone mad!” Lady Radiant gasped, standing and straightening her dress.

“Clover, if this is about your robes, you really have gone too far.” Platinum tilted her head in disappointment.

Clover glared at Lady Radiant. “It’s not about my blasted robes, they can say all they want about those. But she called Cookie—”

“We were just making conversation with Clover and her… suitor,” Lady Sorbet cut in, looking at Platinum with wide eyes.

Platinum looked to Cookie and raised her eyebrows.

His face was set in a dark line as he answered her, “I might have corrected them as to my intentions with regards to Clover, but the more pressing matter was the language they used.” He gave Platinum a pointed look to make his meaning clear. "Considering that half of Girthshire is on their way, I’d say Clover was correcting them rather gently.”

“I see.” Platinum nodded, then turned to her courtiers. “I’m not sure if you heard me before, but the earth ponies and pegasi shall be our honored guests. And anypony who fails to honor them shall be seen to by the guards.” She met Radiant’s eyes with a glare. “And I mean anypony, Lady Radiant.”

Lady Radiant frowned. “Princess! I—”

“Furthermore,” Platinum went on, “Clover and Smart Cookie are personal friends of mine, and leaders of our new nation. So I expect to see my court offer them the respect such positions entail.”

“Of course, Princess.” Lady Radiant bowed and swallowed, turning to Cookie. “I didn’t realize… I do apologize, Sir.”

Platinum caught her eye and nodded pointedly towards Clover.

Lady Radiant swallowed again and turned to look at her. “And… to you as well, Clover.”

Clover and Cookie exchanged glances.

Cookie nodded, so Clover looked back at Lady Radiant. “Thank you.”

“There are bound to be some bumps as we learn to get along,” Cookie added with a nod to Lady Radiant.

Platinum smiled brightly at Clover and Cookie. “Now, both of you shall join me in my tent. I’ve brought Clover her robes!”

She trotted off without waiting for an answer. Clover glanced at Cookie and rolled her eyes.

Cookie shrugged and started towards the tent. “At least you’re getting your robes back.”

“Yes, how bad could they be?” Clover frowned as she followed. “I bet they’re pink. I hate pink.”

“You’d look awful in pink.” Cookie wrinkled his muzzle.

Clover glared at him as he held the tent flap for her. “I know that, but you’re not supposed to say it, you fool.”

Inside, Platinum had set the package on a side table and was pouring herself a glass of wine. She sighed when they walked in. “I must apologize to you both as well. Those with money and political clout often have atrocious manners.” She pursed her lips and lifted her glass. “Do you have any idea how much wine it takes to socialize with those ponies daily?”

Clover raised her eyebrows. “There was that much wine in Monoceros?”

Platinum smirked and took her wine over to a cushion, where she settled herself in. “You’re well aware I always keep plenty on hoof.”

“I had heard that unicorns bought most of our alcohol exports. I wasn’t aware that was you, personally.” Cookie smiled at Platinum and leaned against a table.

“You’re more than welcome to some,” Platinum said, motioning to the decanter. “But Clover has to try on her robes first.”

“Very well.” Clover sighed and untied the package, then held the robes up in her magic.

She tilted her head and stared at them. They were a familiar deep blue with gold trim. Some gold lining had been added, and some decorative stitching in a blue just a shade off from the robes themselves, but those were hardly noticeable and, she had to admit, looked rather fine.

She looked to Platinum, “These— look the same as they did when I got them.”

“Of course they do.” Platinum grinned. “I had them made for you, dear. Star Swirl wouldn't have known where to find a tailor unless it was etched in magic symbols on a crystal ball."

Clover gave a snort. "I never thought of that, but it sounds about right."

Platinum nodded with a fond smile. "I remember what they’re supposed to look like. Put them on!”

Smiling, Clover pulled them over her head. Platinum floated a mirror over to her, and in it Clover saw a new beginning. She felt as bright and hopeful as she did the day she’d been officially appointed.

She rolled her eyes at herself, hoping this beginning turned out better than that one had.

“You look lovely, Clover,” Cookie said with a smile.

Platinum smiled and nodded, then turned to Cookie, floating a strip of fabric in her magic. “Here now, Cookie. I obviously don’t have a gentlecolt’s wardrobe, but I can at least tie you a cravat.”

His eyes went wide, but Platinum’s magic was already at work, and in a moment he had a charming bit of lace falling on his chest.

Clover grinned. “Quite fancy. The ladies of court will be turning their heads.”

Cookie chuckled and admired himself in the mirror. “Oh yes. Judging by those mares earlier, I’m sure the nobility will see me as quite a catch.”

“One never knows,” Platinum said, arching an eyebrow.

Clover smiled and shook her head. She glanced over at Platinum, feeling more kind than she had since they left the cave. “What are you wearing, Princess?”

“Just my old amber silk.” She smiled apologetically. “I’m afraid my wardrobe is significantly diminished.”

“What happened to it?” Clover asked. “I know you brought a whole cart of dresses with you.”

Platinum raised her eyebrows. “Well we simply couldn’t have a party without decorations. What would the other tribes think of us? And Nimble Thimble has made the most glorious flag! And, of course, my winter ball gown went to trim your robes.”

Clover looked down at her robes, her eyes wide. “You— you shouldn’t have.”

Platinum chuckled. “Of course I should have. I’ve always liked my amber dress the best anyway. And it’s far more important for you to be seen tonight…”

“I’m not exactly fond of being seen,” Clover said with a wry smile.

“Yes, and I’m sorry for this…” Platinum sighed, and the smile fell from her face, replaced with a look of sympathy. “But you, along with Cookie and Pansy, shall be our guests of honor. And as my last act as Princess, I’ll be granting you the duchy of Unicornia.”

Clover blinked. “Pardon?”

She nodded. “You shall outrank all of the courtiers, since yours would be the only title with a claim intact.”

“They hate me,” Clover pointed out, trying to be helpful.

Platinum smirked and took a sip of wine. “It’s a good thing we have a change of regime scheduled for tomorrow, isn’t it? Perhaps they’ll enjoy Equestria more if it means they aren’t required to kiss your hoof.”

Clover’s eyes went wide as she stared at the Princess. “That’s brilliant.”

Cookie chuckled. “So, what exactly does guest of honoring entail?”

“You’ll be up on the dais with Commander Hurricane and Chancellor Puddinghead and myself, and I’ll introduce you in a short speech and tell of your heroic feat of magic.” She leaned forward with an excited smile. “Oh! And you and Clover shall lead the first dance, and Commander Hurricane has Pansy leading the flying.”

“Um, princess?” Clover blushed and bit her lip. “I’ve no idea how to dance.”

Platinum waved a hoof. “I’ll call out the steps for you. I’m sure it’s not as hard as your magic things.”

Clover considered that and nodded. “Well, I’d imagine I’m less likely to collapse our dimension, but far more likely to step on Cookie’s hooves.”

“Look at it as practice.” Cookie smirked and leaned against Clover. “Tomorrow we’re building a country, and we’ve no blasted clue how to do that, either.”

Clover sat staring at a miraculous magic that she had somehow helped to cast, and which saved her life and likely the entire pony race, and she didn’t care. There would be time later to study the whys and hows, to categorize and experiment… there would be time later, bless the stars.

And at that moment, there were other ponies. Smart Cookie and Pansy, who’d bared their souls to her and seen hers in turn. The ponies who’d made her grin in the face of death, glad for that one thing in her entire life, sat cheerful and alive and sharing dreams of a bright future they’d build together, for all of them and everypony else.

They’d been joined, as the ice thawed, by Commander Hurricane. The gruff warpony had been told of the dream, or Equestria, and to everypony’s surprise he’d shown a level-headed practicality and cautious good humor towards the idea and the ponies who’d had it. Chancellor Puddinghead had been rather easily persuaded by the prospect of saving her own skin, but was even quicker to flood the cave with fellowship and good cheer towards everypony present as thanks.

Clover smiled and let the magic warm her through to her heart as she listened to the pegasi calmly explain to the baffled earth ponies their complex and rigid system of official and unofficial ranks and honors that encompassed the entire tribe.

Cookie furrowed his brow and looked at Pansy. “So… you’re a lieutenant now, but you’re a fresh one so that puts you lower than other lieutenants, but you’re in Hurricane’s personal troop and you’ve done something notable, so that puts you higher than even some of the captains?”

Pansy nodded. “Yes, as well as the senior officials in most of the support crews except for the Weather Corps.”

“Be honest. You lot keep scrolls in your wings to keep track of this rubbish, don’t you?” Puddinghead smirked.

Hurricane gave a snort and opened his mouth to speak when the now familiar crack rang through the cave. He shut his mouth and glanced behind Clover, but she didn’t need to turn around to know what was happening back there.

Cookie and Pansy looked to Clover.

“Well…” Clover smiled and rose to her hooves. “I suppose it’s my turn now, isn’t it?”

“Do you want us to help?” Pansy asked seriously.

“Let me give it a go.” Clover took a breath and let it out.

She turned around to see Princess Platinum just starting to move.

The princess shook her head, then looked at Clover with wide eyes. “What— why— I was just—”

“It’s alright now, Princess,” Clover said with a calm smile, walking over to her. “You’re alive, and things will be fine.”

“How?” Platinum asked in awe.

“That’s a bit complicated…” Clover started.

Platinum bit her lip, but didn’t say anything, looking at her expectantly.

“Princess… I know you don’t like me very much. And I know you don’t care about my work,” Clover said looking her in the eye. She went on quickly, “But you’ve got to listen to me now, because I’m not speaking on behalf of myself, or magical knowledge… I’m speaking on behalf of everypony in the world. I know how to end this curse.”

Platinum shook her head and then looked back at Clover with a smile. “That’s how I thawed? You did this?”

Clover nodded. “It is. This is caused by creatures called windigos, they’re drawn to hatred and conflict. I overlooked them because Monoceros is peaceful, I couldn’t see what might attract them. But when I saw your behavior with Commander Hurricane and Chancellor Puddinghead and thought about the feelings between all three tribes…” She trailed off with a frown.

“I see,” Platinum said, looking down.

“What drove them off was friendship overcoming that hate.” Clover nodded back to her friends. “Private Pansy and Smart Cookie and I got to talking, and we found we had more in common than we’d ever dreamed. Then, just as we froze over, a spell was cast from the magic between us.”

Clover looked Platinum in the eye. “Your Majesty, we need that magic, from all three tribes. And it’s not going to happen between Monoceros and Girthshire and Hippocampus. It’s going to happen between ponies who live together and get to know one another. For that we need one nation, a new one. Equestria.”

Platinum just stared at her, not even blinking.

“You said you’d get me whatever I need to save our ponies…” Clover took a breath. “Well, I’m going to need your kingdom.”

Without hesitation, Platinum nodded. “Then you shall have it, on one condition.”

Clover blinked. She wasn’t expecting this to be so easy. “That is?”

Platinum looked her in the eye and raised her eyebrows. “You must allow me to assist in building the new nation. I don’t ask for a title or power, but I have experience to offer… experience which you are desperately in need of.”

Clover smiled and shook her head, but held out a hoof. “You can join us as co-founder. I’m sure we’ll consider your input based on how desperately it’s needed.”

Platinum gave her hoof a gentle shake with a bright grin. “Wonderful!” She looked over Clover’s shoulder. “Now please, introduce me to your friends. This seems like a fine company.”

By the early hours of the next morning, Lady Mage Clover the Clever sat on a dais in the center square with her friends.

Ponies of all tribes mingled in the square before them. Musicians played on every corner throughout the city, and dancing and laughter filled the streets and pathways between tents. Food and drink were distributed freely, and after months of hardship this in itself was a celebration. Where tensions might have taken hold the day before, they now melted in the face of wonder, contentment, and curiosity, a shift lubricated by barrel upon barrel of cider and wine.

The three ponies who’d cast the spell were hailed by all as the Heroes of Equestria, Bearers of Hope, and Friends of All Ponies. They agreed that those titles were entirely too much and the drink had to be playing a rather large part, but none of them had been able to keep the bewildered grins from their faces all evening. Clover had danced with Cookie and stallions she didn’t know of all three tribes. She’d heard her name shouted cheerfully by any number of ponies she was almost sure she’d never seen before and received compliment after compliment on her magical abilities, saving the pony race, and, she had to admit, her robes.

Considering that a day ago she had been frozen to death, Clover wasn’t entirely sure this wasn’t a pleasant sort of afterlife, except that she had to believe the afterlife wouldn’t be thrown together by Platinum in a morning. She would probably take at least a day with it.

Cookie stood on the edge of the dais, looking out just over the crowd with a grin. “Have you ever seen such a sight? Ponies who wouldn’t have said two words to one another are dancing and singing and falling over drunk together.”

Pansy nodded from the cushion where she sat straight and tall, sipping a mug of cider. “I do believe we’ve taken care of the ice for good.”

“And good riddance.” Clover nodded, laying with her forelegs on a cushion. She smiled and looked around at the ponies with her. Her friends. Her eyes fell on Platinum, and she frowned, considering that she hadn’t exactly been very friendly towards her today.

“Your Majesty…” Clover said, pausing as the princess looked over to her. “I want to say, I’m sorry. I was a bit prickly today, with regards to my robes and this party, and they both turned out lovely. You trusted me enough to give up your whole blasted kingdom, I suppose I could have trusted you with a festival and a bit of cloth.”

Platinum tilted her head in confusion. “Clover, dear, you’ve been prickly since I’ve known you. I’m not sure why you’d apologize for today.”

Clover chuckled. “I suppose I apologize for that as well.”

Platinum smiled and waved a hoof. “There’s no need. As I said earlier, this is new to you. I’m told you’re supposed to be clever, so I’m sure you’ll catch on.”

“Catch on?” Clover raised an eyebrow.

Nodding, Platinum took a sip of wine. “We still have quite a lot to do.”

“Yes, tomorrow is for politics,” Hurricane said with a grim smile, standing behind Pansy with a mug of cider in his hoof. “And when the wine runs dry, many ponies will still need to be convinced, both of Equestria and of the qualifications of you three.”

He looked down at Pansy, and her eyes went wide. She took a long drink from her mug.

Puddinghead smirked and chugged the last of her own cider, placing the mug down with a thump. “Of course, not near as many as we would have had this morning, thanks to Princess Platinum here.”

“I suppose that’s true...” Cookie said with a nod and a suspicious look at Platinum.

“She’s always been genius at this.” Puddinghead smiled at Platinum and shook her head. “I’d argue for a month over a treaty, and she’d have the Saddle Arabian Caliph to tea and get it over with in an afternoon.”

Hurricane nodded. “The last peace I negotiated with the griffons included wrangling an invitation for the king to the Monoceros Winter Ball.”

Platinum smirked and took a sip of wine. “You still owe me a month of lovely weather, you know.”

Clover raised an eyebrow. “You’re saying an invitation to a blasted party was what the griffons required to stop trying to kill you, and it was worth a month of weather dealings?”

Cookie looked over at her, incredulous. “An invitation to a ‘blasted party’ where sovereigns and the most powerful beings in the world gather? I’d have given my cutie mark for an invitation to the Winter Ball. Imagine having their ears for an evening!”

Puddinghead snorted a laugh and nudged Platinum. “There’s nothing Cookie loves like a captive audience.”

Clover blinked, not thinking about Cookie at all. She looked at Platinum out of the corner of her eye. “So, a pony looking for funding for important magical research might have been in a good spot to find a patron or investor...”

Platinum just raised her eyebrows and took a sip of wine.

Clover nodded firmly. “I think I might make a better mage without my head up my rear end.”

“At least you opened your eyes long enough to befriend Lieutenant Pansy and Smart Cookie.” Platinum smiled. “But now you see why I insisted on offering you help with Equestria.”

Smiling, Clover shook her head at the princess. “You’ve had your eye on politics since we stepped out of that cave, haven’t you?”

Platinum raised her head high with a gentle smile. “When tasked with leading a nation, one controls almost nothing, yet everything is at stake. One of the very few things within our power is presentation: where to direct ponies’ focus and what messages we send with our priorities, behavior, and appearance.” She motioned to Clover’s robes, then nodded out at the crowd of ponies.

“We need Equestria, in order to keep our hearths warm, whether ponies like it or not. But shall we present it to them as the political ambition of three ponies they know nothing about, or a party in honor of our dashing heros?” Platinum finished, raising an eyebrow.

“It is a lovely party.” Pansy smiled. “I’m nearly convinced we’re worthy of it.”

Cookie grinned and gave a nod. “Well done, Platinum.”

Clover just stared at her with an expression of disbelief. “You couldn’t have perhaps mentioned this to me earlier?”

“I was a bit busy. Do you have any idea how much work it takes to plan a festival in five hours?” Platinum smiled as Clover shot her a look. “If you still care, you need more wine… As a matter of fact, you’re responsible for a country now, you need more wine anyway.” Her magic floated her glass to the cask in the corner of the dais and picked up a second one, filling them both.

Cover accepted it and chuckled. “You’ve had far too much wine.”

She returned her own and offered the other to Clover. “I don’t see the problem with that. It’s good wine, I’m in fine company, and there are five other ponies who are equally responsible if this blasted thing goes to Tartarus.” Platinum grinned and lifted her glass, looking around the dais. “To Equestria, and the best possible start to fortune or folly!”

“Here, here!” Hurricane agreed with a smile, raising his mug. Each other pony there joined in with nods or shouts.

Clover lifted her own glass with a nod and added to the wishes, “...And to Princess Platinum, who knows how to warm a blessed hearth.”

Author's Note

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