Dignity and Decorum

Rarity looked out over the vast patchwork of fields that stretched as far as the eye could see around Mt. Canterhorn as her train slowly made its way up to the capital of Equestria. Yellow fields covered with ripe wheat, green fields would eventually become hay to be stored for the winter.

"So very beautiful…" Rarity thought with a serene smile through the window. Almost subconsciously, she started imagining the squares of farmland as colors of fabric on a shelf in her boutique. If she had brought her notebook, she would already have been sketching down new ideas for the upcoming fall line.

But she didn't have her notebook. She had something even better. Tearing her eyes away from the window, she levitated out a scroll from the saddlebag next to her.

Rarity.

Your many accomplishments throughout these last years have not gone unnoticed. Not by the common pony, nor by the Unicorn Nobility. You have shown great personal valor in your many quests to safeguard Equestria, and in so doing, you have given your own name a connotation of distinction.

As such, we Nobles of Canterlot have motioned to the head of our order, the Heiress of Platinum's Title, to formally bestow the noble rank of Baroness upon you.

Your initiation will be preceded by a customary trial as to judge your tact, decorum and subservience to our ideals. It will be preceded over by the Heiress herself in Canterlot in one week's time, precisely. One of us will pick you up by the train station.

Underneath the letter itself were five personal seals of the highest ranking nobles in Equestria:

Duke Blueblood
Duke Fancypants
Duchess Fleur de Lis
Duchess Lens Flare
Duchess Ivory Tower

Rarity could not help herself and giggled like a filly. The Unicorn aristocracy… the highest token of social respect a unicorn could aspire to. Last time a family was added to the nobility had been three hundred years ago, with the Trueheart family. Rarity knew, because she had checked when she was just a filly and fantasized about being let in. She was not alone in that fantasy, of course. Every unicorn dreamed about becoming a noble at some point in their lives.

But Rarity had made it happen! She felt another giggle coming on, but caught herself this time. After all, she still had a trial of "tact, decorum and subservience to our ideals", whatever that meant, but she was not worried. She was absolutely a tactful pony. Really, this trial ought to be no more than a trifle. Most likely it was a formality more than an actual trial.

The train pulled into the train station, and Rarity all but skipped off it.

"Ah, Mon chéri! 'Ow delightful to see you again."

That voice, like a tingling bell, was one Rarity recognized. She turned around and beamed at her friend and benefactor. If the letter was true, she was one of the five who had made her long-held dream happen. "Oh, Fleur! Thank you ever so much for coming, and for suggesting my name to nobility! I truly cannot thank you enough; it's nothing short of a dream come true for me. If there is anything I can-"

"Tut tut, Rarity," Fleur said with a certain edge. "Remember: Tact and Decorum."

Rarity balked a little at her rebuttal. They were usually informal with one another, like any other two friends. "My apologies, Duchess," she said formally. "I merely meant to express my sincere gratitude."

"Naturally," Fleur said. "Follow me."

She guided her out of the train station and opened the door to a waiting carriage, the three phrench lilies of her cutie mark painted on the door and embroidered on the curtains. "Please, hop in, Mon chéri. We need to talk in private."

"Thank you," Rarity said and hopped into the carriage. She sat down at one of the plush seats as Fleur took the seat opposite to her and closed the door. She said something to her two drivers, and the carriage started moving before she turned to Rarity.

"Excusez-moi, Rarity, for my rudeness before, but you must be careful for your test!" Fleur said with some worry. "Moi cannot let you go in without 'aving warned you."

"Warned me?" Rarity would have smiled if not for Fleur's grave look. "I appreciate it, darling, but surely you know I always maintain my composure? A test of my tact and dignity is a trivial matter, for sure."

"Non, mon Chéri!" Fleur said. "Many ponies have underestimated the trial, and found themselves barred from the nobility because of it!"

That piqued Rarity's interest. She had assumed that since the last noble family to join the nobility had been three centuries before, that meant that the last invitation was then too. But what if all the others merely had failed? "When was the last time a pony was tried?" she asked.

"Two years ago, Capitane Shining Armure made his attempt. He failed."

Rarity felt a nagging worry in her chest. Shining Armor was a trained military commander. He could keep his cool in real life-and-death situations, Rarity knew. To know he failed this test did not bode well. "I… see. Nonetheless, I shall soldier forth and prove myself worthy to stand among the nobility."

"I hope so, and I do believe you 'ave it in you," Fleur said with a nod. "I want to help you further, but I am forbidden to speak of the trial beforehand."

Rarity nodded. She was not surprised by that.

Their conversation died off, and they sat quiet in the carriage as it carried them through Canterlot. After twenty or so minutes, it stopped.

"Up the stairs," Fleur said. "Best of luck, mon Chéri." She kissed Rarity goodbye in the phrench way, with one kiss on both of her cheeks. Rarity blushed when she felt Fleur's tongue caress her quickly, adding some heat to the otherwise quick kiss.

"Next time we meet, it'll be mon Chéri Baronesse," Rarity said, regaining her composure, and stepped out of the carriage. She saw Fleur watch her for a moment before closing the carriage door and disappearing.

Rarity looked around. She was in the upper city of Canterlot, where the nobility resided. Fanciful shops clustered around a small square, illuminated by arcane-crystal lamps. Her closest building was a large, gothic one clad in marble that Rarity guessed must be some sort of museum or something, as it very clearly was not a shop or a residence. An inviting light shone from within a pair of heavy oak doors. Taking just one deep breath to calm her nerves, she ascended the stairs.

She came into a vestibule with an opulent marble staircase straight ahead and two doors to her sides. "Welcome, my little pony," a warm, motherly tone greeted her from atop the stairs. Rarity's mouth nearly dropped open from surprise. Princess Celestia, in all her angelic splendor stood on top of the stairs, wings stretched wide and the ethereal mane flowing around her, beautiful and strange like the Aurora Borealis. Her horn ignited with the light of the sun itself, and the doors closed behind Rarity. ”I am happy you decided to come.”

"Princess Celestia… It is an honor and a privilege." She fell to her knee. It was rare that the Princess spoke directly to her, rather than to Twilight or their whole group. Being under the all-seeing eyes of the Princess herself as their sole focus made Rarity's heart flutter from excitement. She was a unicorn, a small, every-day pony, in the presence of a deity.

Celestia laughed softly. "Stand, Rarity. I did not call you here for you to bow. Indeed, I called you here to raise you up."

"You… you are the Heiress! You are…!" Rarity gasped. It was so obvious now. Celestia's glory was so magnificent she dwarfed every other pony. To include her in the noble ranking was to include a goddess in the annals of mortals. It just felt wrong… but her title was answer enough. She was a Princess, higher in rank than even the Dukes and Duchesses. The heiress to Platinum's title.

"I am," Celestia smiled warmly. "And so it falls to me to measure every aspiring noble by the ideals Platinum laid down. I take great pride in it."

Rarity swallowed. She had tried to steel her nerves to be judged by the Canterlot nobility, but the Princess herself was something else entirely. Her mouth suddenly felt dry. She did not know what to say.

Celestia's warm laughter came to her rescue. "Do not be afraid, my little pony. I promise your judgement will be fair and swift."

Rarity took a breath to calm herself. "What would you have me do, Princess?"

"Eager, are we?" Celestia smiled. She stepped down the stairs and came to stand just before her. There was an aura of serenity about her, only accented by the faint perfume she wore. It was… sweet and deep, sending a small shiver of sensual pleasure through Rarity, from her horn to the tip of her tail.

"She smells almost like she is in season." The scandalous, traitorous thought made Rarity flush in shame. How could she think such things about the Princess!?

Celestia only maintained her smile. "Your trial will consist of three challenges. They are not in any order, and depending on your… skills, you might find some easier than others. But enough talking. Come with me, Rarity. We will begin your first trial now."

They started up the stairs. Rarity almost had to trot to keep up with Celestia's long steps. "Now, Rarity, these trials will, among other things, test how well you can maintain your composure in all situations. To quote Princess Platinum: 'A truehearted unicorn maintains her dignity and poise even with mud up to her ears'. These trials may feel uncomfortable; it's what they are made for. Just be aware that I will never look down on you during these trials, and if ever you want to forfeit, you have only to say so."

"But then I will never have another chance, will I?" Rarity asked.

Celestia shook her head. "No second chances, I am afraid."

"Very well," Rarity said, steel behind her words. "Then I shall not fail."

"I hope you won't," Celestia said. "I very much hope you won't." Her tone was just a little bit breathless at the end.

It was rare that Celestia got excited. She had been schooled and bred in perfectly formal behaviour, and she had honed her etiquette to flawless perfection for longer than some of the noble families had even existed. Every step and breath she took was suffused with stone-cold poise.

But underneath all of that, she too was a pony of flesh and blood. She too had wants, and this cute, beautiful little pony was one thing she had wanted since first they met. It had taken plenty of time to maneuver the rest of her nobles, especially Blueblood, into allowing Rarity among them, but it was going to be worth it this evening. In a rare gesture of indulgence, Celestia moistened her lips with her tongue, as if she was about to taste an especially fine wine.

The analogy really was not too far from the truth. She looked down on Rarity, especially noticing her shapely flanks and coiffured tail. "Soft and sweet like a marshmallow…" Celestia mused to herself. She magicked open another pair of doors. "This will be your first trial, Rarity."

The room they came into was empty save for a simple door straight across the room, and a small table with a round silver lid on it.

"Do you mind?" Rarity asked formally.

"Not at all," Celestia smiled. Together they went up to the table and Rarity lifted the silver lid.

Underneath was a plate with several long stalks of asparagus on a mirror of butter and flakes of salt. One of Celestia's favorite appetizers. Hopefully Rarity would like it as much as Celestia did.

"I presume this will be a test for my table manners?" Rarity asked. She sounded almost disappointed in the simple task.

"I suppose you could say that," Celestia said warmly. "But table manners is not the right word…"

"No?" Rarity asked quizzically.

"No," Celestia smiled kindly and ignited her horn. With a clatter she tipped the table and sent the dish to the floor, the asparagus stalks rolling about and the butter forming a puddle around her left hoof.

Rarity involuntarily took a few steps back, looking around in befuddlement. "Princess?"

"Table manners are not the right words," Celestia repeated in a sing-song voice. She lifted her hoof a little and stepped onto the small pool of butter. "You will not be eating from the table."

Rarity looked shocked for a moment, before the implication dawned on her. "Oh, I… I suppose I should have expected to be licking your hooves," she said. Then she slowly bent her forelegs and dipped her head low, even if she did have a slightly uncertain look on her face as she did. Celestia gave her a nod to alleviate that feeling. Rarity was doing precisely what she should be doing. The Princess grinned in satisfaction when Rarity's tongue lapped over the floor, licking up the spilled butter and munching on the crisp stalks. As expected, she used her magic to keep her mane from getting soiled. It was good she did, or Celestia would have had to fail her trial already.

And she most certainly did not want to fail her already. To see such a pretty pony debase herself like this for her was enough to make her tingle wonderfully.

"Make sure you get everything, little pony," Celestia cooed. "When in another's residence, one ought to leave it just as they found it, no?"

"Certainly," Rarity said. "Will my princess lift her hoof for me?"

Celestia's heartbeat quickened when she did so. Butter dripped. Rarity laid in front of her. She did not guide Celestia's hoof to her mouth with her magic, nor did she try to get a better angle to lick from. She knew she was the servant. She was not to make any demands at all. Instead, she licked round the hard rim of Celestia's hard creatine hoof wall, carefully cleaning every nook and cranny.

"I don't think I am clean yet," Celestia hummed happily and angled her hoof upwards to let Rarity reach the soft underside.

"Indeed not, Princess," Rarity said and dabbed carefully with her tongue.

"Hmmm…!" Celestia produced a loud sound of pleasure deep in her throat. It was part of the trial. Rarity had to maintain dignity at all times, but Celestia did not. On the contrary, she liked to be quite vocal. Why wouldn't she be, when she had the cream of the unicorn crop licking the sensitive underside of her hoof?

Rarity licked and suckled and nearly had to press her entire face in under the hoof the get to the last few parts.

Then, finally, after leaving Celestia's sole with a nice tingling (and clean) sensation, she finally stood up, the floor spotless under her.

"Is my princess satisfied?"

"We shall see," Celestia said and leaned down to Rarity's eye level. With a gentle hoof she cocked Rarity's head upwards so she could see her cheeks and jaw.

They were still pristine white. She had licked up the butter from the floor and Celestia's hoof without getting the slightest stain on her coat.

As befitting a noble.

"I am satisfied," Celestia said. "You have passed the first trial, Rarity."

Celestia swept past her towards the door at the other side of the room and opened it. Celestia had to resist the urge to already lift her tail, but she did take the opportunity to swish it around a little. Just a little peek.

This room was larger than the last and had a basin carved in the middle of the floor. It was filled with water, and on a stone slab next to it stood an assortment of soaps, brushes, perfumes and towels. Without waiting, Celestia stepped down into the basin, wings lifted. The warm water almost reached up to her withers. She lowered her massive wings slowly and a sigh of pleasure made it past her lips as they were finally enveloped in the warm water.

"Your next trial, Rarity," Celestia tittered, "is to help your princess bathe."