One Last Job

In all honesty, Lazuli had barely expected to live to the age of thirty-eight, let alone live a normal life to get to that point. It was a huge shock for her, at first, but it had been surprisingly easy to settle into normality once she knew the last reminder of her past was safely under her control and locked in her closet, and the only living reminder was locked away in Canterlot with no chance of escaping.

Her life, in essence, had reached a point that any mare dreamt of. Living in a small town, sitting behind a desk for some of the day and spending the rest with friends – it was perfect. Working as the mayor’s secretary never really got boring, and she knew almost everyone in town at this point.

Her demeanor had mellowed significantly, her eyes showing more kindness and peace than they used to. She often had glasses on, simply because she was reading a lot during her job, and her mane was tied in a bun rather than a ponytail.

Fizzlepop had changed very little. She still kept her mane in its stylish pink mohawk, and not much else about her could change, regardless, but Lazuli still loved her. Both of them insisted their friendship was purely platonic, but ponies like Rarity or Fluttershy could see right through it.

It was on a warm summer’s day that Lazuli found herself trotting down the street, enjoying the heat and the warmth – both were separate in her mind, as one was the temperature and the other was the simple warmth that surrounded the town.

“Laz!” Called a voice from down the road. She spotted Starlight, a wide smile plastered on her face, waving at her. Lazuli almost resented her, but only because she showed such little signs of change while the Dracony had gained a bit of weight around the middle. Only a bit – she would never admit to anything more.

She allowed herself to walk closer before responding. “Morning, Starlight. What’s up?”

“I haven’t seen you all day! Where’ve you been?”

“Just at the schoolhouse, talking about history.”

“Oof. Sounds uh…” Starlight’s eyes darted from side to side. “Fun!”

Lazuli snorted. “Sure, I guess.”

“Oh, don’t be a butt.” Starlight bumped her hip against the Dracony’s. “It’s good to educate foals!”

“Maybe, and I suppose it’s better than them getting it from a…not-Dracony, right?”

“See, there you go.” Starlight hoisted her saddlebags up on her back, filled with a few papers and writing utensils.

“What’re you up to, then?” Laz asked inquisitively.

“Oh, just going to work on a few spells. Studies never stop, you know?”

“I suppose not.”

“Speaking of work, shouldn’t you be at Town Hall?”

“Oh, no. I got somepony to cover for me. I thought the schoolhouse talk would take longer.”

Starlight snickered. “Well you’ve got a day off now, right?”

“…I guess I do.” Lazuli smiled warmly. “You heading to the castle too?”

“Prrrrobably.” Starlight nodded. “I dunno, I might walk around a little first. I also have to get a dress made…”

“Er…a dress? For what?” Lazuli tilted her head.

“Oh, uh…nothing! I gotta go, I’ll see you later.” Starlight started to trot away without another word.

Lazuli rolled her eyes and slowly continued down the road to the castle. Having been in Ponyville for a few years – one of them filled with hectic problems, a major blizzard and the toppling of a criminal organization – ponies here knew her quite well. It was hard not to know the only Dracony in town, and she was fine with the attention.

She still lived in the castle, as did Fizzle. Why would they not, really? It was the ideal living area, and as long as nopony else needed it, why waste residential spaces when there were alternatives?

She told herself that, anyway. She was still more than happy with living in the same room as always, and she was even happier to nudge open the door and find Fizzle there, the purple unicorn stretching on her bed.

“Oh, hey Laz!” She greeted, her smile beaming in a way that Lazuli half thought she would melt from its intensity. “What’s up? Thought you wouldn’t be back for a while.”

“Eh, turns out it’s not that hard to summarize Dracony history to a bunch of teens.”

“Pssh.” Fizzle snickered and raised her hindquarters up, kicking one leg out, then bringing it back in, then kicking the other one out, and repeating.

“Oh, did I get any mail today, by the way? I was waiting for my issue of-“ Lazuli began.

“Nope!” Fizzlepop blurted out. “Er…I mean…no, sorry. I uh, checked for you.”

“…why?” She tilted her head. “I mean I’m glad, but…”

Fizzlepop cleared her throat. “Well uh…you did get one piece of mail, but uh…I dunno if you…want to see it.”

“What is it?”

“Um…” The stretching mare sighed and flopped onto her stomach, reaching under the bed and pulling out an envelope. “It’s um…from Canterlot.”

Lazuli shrugged and took the envelope from her. “So?” She ripped the seal open with her tail, pulling out the letter and unfolding it.

Dear Lazuli,

I apologize if this letter fails to reach you in time, but I wanted to wish you a most joyous birthday. It is rare that I write such personal letters as this, but I feel that after all you’ve done, your fortieth birthday is a happy occasion. In fact, Princess Luna and I would be most happy to come and visit Ponyville simply to see you for the party, if possible.

Enclosed is a small gift that I offer to you as a token of good will. I know it has been many moons since we last spoke in the flesh, but I hope that your feelings towards us have not soured even further.

Sincerely,

---Princess Celestia.

Lazuli smirked. “See? It’s nothing bad, calm yourself.” She gave Fizzle a poke on the muzzle, making the unicorn snort in an adorable fashion.

“Well what’s it say?” She rolled over on her back, head hanging slightly off the side of her bed.

“It’s just a happy birthday letter. With something else, apparently.” She turned the envelope upside down, but nothing came out. It was empty.

“Um…look on the back?” Fizzle suggested, her expression showing she saw something already.

Lazuli turned the letter over. Taped to the back of it were two shiny golden tickets, each gleaming and quite obvious as to what they granted access to.

“…huh.” She pulled them off, and held them in her hoof. “Why is she only inviting us now?”

“Well don’t be ungrateful!” Fizzle smiled and hopped over to Lazuli’s bed, sitting down next to her. “…oh, wait. Does this mean I need to get a dress made?”

“…and so do I…” Lazuli frowned.

Fizzle playfully pulled Lazuli down onto the bed, a wide smile plastered on her muzzle as she pushed her nose into Lazuli’s neck. “Stop being such a sourpuss, I bet you’ll look great in a dress.”

“Pfft, you’ll look better.”

“Not a competition~”

The two of them laid there in Lazuli’s bed for a while, enjoying each other’s company and chatting about their plans – namely to complain about all the rich ponies – for the Gala.