Blooming Days

How do I keep getting myself into stupid situations like this?

I took a sip from my straw, the freezing cold iced tea cooling my body -- as well as my temper -- down a bit. It was good. Not too sweet, not too bitter, and a little citrusy.

I guess sugar isn't the worst thing in the world. Who would've guessed?

In spite of my frustrations I kept an artificial smile on my face for the sake of my compatriots. Trix and I were sitting together at one of the fancy tables on the outer perimeter of the restaurant. It wasn't one I was familiar with, the restaurant that is, -- Trix either judging from the nervousness crawling all over her face -- but Raven was convinced we'd love the lighter snacks they served here. Speaking of the Sun Princess' aide, she was just rejoining us. The white unicorn placed a tray topped with elegant looking pastries, a stack of napkins, and a few utensils, onto our table.

"Take whatever catches your eye, girls," she smiled, taking a seat with us. "Like I said, they're all delicious! You can't go wrong! Plus, I can get more for us if we run out, so don't worry about trying too many."

"Thanks, Raven," Trix didn't hesitate for a second. Using her telekinesis she took a napkin and a flaky looking croissant with white frosting drizzled across the top of it. "These are my favorite! Trixie loves- Er, I mean, I. I love cherry turnovers," she blushed, but her embarrassment didn't stop her from nibbling on the treat.

Okay. Guess it's not a croissant.

...

What do you want from me!? I'm not a dessert connoisseur! I didn't even eat sugar a couple of weeks ago!

The blue mare's eyes lit up as soon as she got a real taste of the pastry. It was clear from the look of astonishment on the Element's face that Raven hadn't been exaggerating.

"You're going to love that one even more, Trixie," Raven grinned. "Cafe du Soleil has the best bakery in all of Canterlot." She covered her mouth with a hoof, a devious grin coming to her face. "I'd say it's even better than the one we have in the castle. Just don't tell chef Cacy I said that, okay?" she giggled.

I honestly wouldn't have believed her claim based on the appearance of the establishment alone. The building itself was completely unassuming, looking much like any other half-decent cafe I'd seen in the past. Though the area surrounding the main building was a bit more interesting than the restaurant itself. It was styled in the fashion of a garden or greenhouse. Lots of plants, flowers, and the like decorated the gated area.

It was also evidently enchanted or something similar. The blistering heat of the day was not an issue for any of the patrons outside, the three of us included. Sure, there was an umbrella covering each of the tables, but they wouldn't have done much to assuage the humidity of Celestia's scorching hot day.

Magic had to be playing a role in one way or another, that much was obvious. Putting that aside, I'd have wagered the eatery was one of the more... lackluster restaurants in Canterlot, at least when compared to the other more extravagant looking options.

I wouldn't have guessed a pony like Raven would be the type to frequent a place like this. I'd have assumed she would be more fixated on appearance and status, but I guess not.

Good on her.

That was neither here nor there though. My real concern was how I'd gotten myself into another mess I'd rather not be in. According to Raven, with the princesses talking with Sun and the traitor the three of us would have enough time to stop and eat a small meal. Trix thought it was a fabulous idea. I on the other hoof...

Somehow, I'd been roped into another "day out" with other ponies. And this time I hadn't even been ordered by Celestia to come. And on top of that, they weren't even my friends... Erm friend. I mean, I had agreed to do something with Raven once I'd gotten back from the Crystal Empire, so her presence made sense. I'd just expected that something to involve a whole lot more candlelight dinner and a whole lot less... extra company.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I hated Trix or anything like that. It's just really hard for me to have fun with two mares at the same time. Especially when those mares had completely different sensibilities.

Well, there was the fact that I was totally preoccupied with my current predicament, but I also couldn't get that darned draconequus off my mind.

Not too long ago I'd thought the only ones who might be able to give me a challenge were the Immortal Sisters. I'd been wrong about just how powerful they were. Now, I come to find out I was wrong about everything. Discord had overpowered me without putting in an ounce of effort, much like the pair of alicorns. The world was much more vast than I'd ever thought possible. It was sobering.

I could bend the very fabric of time itself to my will with my magic, and yet, I'd still been trounced like I was a helpless foal by Discord. If creatures like him existed, then I really had no choice.

I have to get stronger.

To accomplish that, I'd probably have to ask him for help. Celestia and Luna were almost certainly no goes when it came to teaching me more powerful magic. I wasn't trapped here so I could get stronger...

At least, not in that sense, I guess.

Discord though? He seemed like a creature that enjoyed being... chaotic. That made sense considering his magic. I could work with that. If I could convince him to teach me, if I could learn how to use it as well, I might be able to hold my own against my mentors.

Of course, now that I think about it... I could always just accept the Nightmar-

"Are you gonna pick something, Starlight?" Raven asked, breaking me from my reflections.

"Huh?" I turned to the mare, completely caught off guard. "OH! Uhm, sure," I quickly took a napkin and glanced around at the five other pastries. I settled on a muffin of some kind, moving it onto my napkin and thanking Raven.

Later, Starlight. Try to focus.

...

"So! How was the Empire?" Raven asked as she took her own treat from the tray. It was a rolled something or other, filled with what looked like thick blueberry jam. I'd never seen whatever it was, but it did look tasty. I sampled my own baked good, taking a small bite. It wasn't too hot and crumbled in my mouth, seemingly almost melting as soon as it touched my tongue.

Cherry and bananas? My heart skipped a beat. Just like... I took a much larger, angrier bite. Whatever.

"It was freat unfil Fhrysalis fried tu-"

"Starlight!?" Trix cut me off, a look of panic coming to her features.

"What?" I asked, placing the remains of my muffin back onto the napkin. "Cause my mouf fis full?" I pointed at my face, chewing all the while. She shook her head, looking around at the other customers, but keeping her gaze low profile.

Then, what?

"We're not supposed to discuss things like that in public, Starlight," Raven explained quietly, drawing my irritation like a lightning rod. I swallowed my mouthful.

"Then why'd you ask!?" I flipped a hoof face up, beyond annoyed.

"I'm sorry." She didn't fight me, looking a little embarrassed due to my aggressive query. "I meant more along the lines of; did you girls have fun? Go to any nice shops? Stuff like that."

"Well, you could've just said that!" I huffed, crossing my forelegs and lifting the remnants of my muffin with my telekinesis to take another bite. Raven slumped a bit due to my obvious annoyance, but managed to keep a chipper demeanor.

It wasn't just the fact that she could've been more specific. It was also really weird.

Why can't we talk about it?

An order like that had to have come directly from the top. Directly from Celestia's mouth. It probably had to do with the press getting ahold of information she didn't want getting out or something like that.

...

You're not just imagining it. Stay sharp.

I glanced sideways, --barely moving enough to be noticed -- looking at one of the tables in my peripheral vision. I activated my horn, keeping the energy as dull as possible so that nopony would notice. It had just been an odd, unexplainable feeling at first, much like back at Cadenza's reception. As soon as we'd stepped off the train I'd felt eyes on me. On us.

When Discord popped up, the discomfort went away, but thinking more about it now, that was probably due to his chaos magic. It's not like some weakling could be watching us while we were in Discord's proximity. I hadn't felt the same feeling again until just now. It was the only reason I could come up with as to why Celestia would forbid us from discussing risqué topics.

The peach colored unicorn sitting at the table a few meters down was trying her best to act like she wasn't glancing our way. She was doing a terrible job of it. She had a menu propped up in front of herself in an attempt to blend in better with the other patrons. With my spell powered I could easily see the pencil and notepad she was trying to hide in her magic just behind it.

She'd been there when we first arrived in the city too, I just thought nothing of it then. There were a lot of ponies around at the time and I'd gotten distracted by Discord, but now that I noticed her here I knew it couldn't have been a coincidence.

She's following us.

The very idea that a disrespectful, loathsome, insignificant little... NOTHING was spying on ME was nearly enough to blind me with rage. I wanted to set her ablaze. I wanted to watch her burn. I wanted to set an example for any and all peons that would even think of doing the same. Thankfully, I was pulled out of my less than pure thoughts.

"She's not the only one," Trix said quietly but kept a smile on her face as she continued to eat. I moved to check out our surroundings a bit more but she stopped me before I could. "Don't look," she shook her head, though it was barely perceptible. "We just have to deal with it."

Deal with it?

...

DEAL WITH IT!?

"It comes with the territory, Starlight," Raven was still being optimistic, her smile not artificial in the least. "Let's just try to enjoy ourselves."

"THAT'S ST-" I moved forward aggressively, placing my hooves on the table. My horn was burning brightly. And then I stopped, remembering back to Celestia and Luna's lesson.

"Even if we wished to keep things a bit more... discreet, any action we take to do so will be met with outrage and condemnation by the citizens of Equestria."

I sat back in my chair, crossing my forelegs.

So that's how it is then?

Trix wasn't even their student and Raven was just an aide, but vultures like that mare followed them around like this? I couldn't even put up a dampening field or I risked stirring up suspicions. If I did, I knew what I could expect in tomorrow's papers.

"Princess Celestia's aide, student, and confidant caught discussing illicit matters after returning from the Crystal Empire."

What a pathetic joke.

I tossed the rest of my muffin in my mouth, opting to keep it shut instead of saying anything else.

"A-anyway, it was nice!" Trix was more willing to keep up appearances than I was. "Princess Cadenza was absolutely beautiful! And Prince Armor couldn't have been more handsome if he tried!"

Before or after the wedding? I scoffed.

"The Princess of the Empire is truly breathtaking," Raven played along, though I did notice that when she glanced my way she looked a little disappointed. "It's good to hear the wedding went off without a hitch."

...

...

...

Ugh! FINE! Screw it!

"The wedding dress Cadenza wore was pretty nice too," I reached out with my mana to grab a second sweet. It was a pretty basic looking glazed doughnut, but I really wasn't concerned with what it was, I just wanted to bite something.

"Y-yeah!" Trix nodded enthusiastically, the smile on her face more organic now. "Yeah, it was really pretty!"

"That's..." Raven's grin grew several sizes. "That's great."

+++++++++++++++++++++++

"So what did you girls think?" Raven was positively beaming as the three of us made our way to the castle. "It was good just like I said, wasn't it!?" She was practically hopping at this point, a small bag of pastries for the princess' held in her telekinesis.

"It was delicious!" Trixie chuckled, bumping gently into my shoulder with her own to draw my attention. She was in high spirits as well, a wide smile plastered on her face.

"It was good, I guess," I acted disagreeable, returning her playful shove. In spite of my theatrics, I had a smile on my face as well. The blue mare had been ecstatic since we'd settled into a fairly friendly conversation about mundane topics back at the cafe. It was also probably due to the fact that I hadn't made a fuss about all the flies buzzing about around us.

We'd spent a good two hours or so at the cafe. It had actually been... pleasant. Again. Raven was quite the talker so me and Trix only had to respond in short replies or keep our mouths shut. It was a little annoying hearing about Raven's work, -- since it mostly revolved around just how great Celestia was -- but she had such gusto while speaking about it I couldn't be too mad at her.

Shortly after we left the restaurant, -- as we made our way to the castle -- I'd noticed several more ponies tailing us. It was clear from Raven and Trix's demeanors that they were used to it. I, on the other hoof, was having trouble acting natural, especially since these hacks were so terrible at their job.

Sure, I hadn't really noticed them at first, but once I knew what I was looking for, it was as easy to spot them as a zebra at a Canterlot elite's party.

...

As if they'd ever actually let one of them attend.

Regardless of my distaste for the leeches, I'd just have to ignore them until we got to the castle anywa-

"Just a little bit further," Raven said as we entered the gates separating the castle grounds from the rest of the city. The two guards standing at their post saluted the aide as she walked by. It was obvious she commanded quite a bit of authority despite the fact that she was just an assistant.

Thank Cel- goodness.

We'd probably still have to be careful about the elites and whatnot, but at least they would have to...

I glanced back, behind myself.

Yeah. That's what I thought.

Several of the journalists were standing at the gate, barred entrance inside. They'd have to answer some questions before they were allowed passage onto the grounds.

Good riddance to bad trash.

At least for a while.

...

"So, I'll be dropping you off at Celestia's room," Raven explained as we entered the castle proper. "Did you girls have any questions for me before we get there?"

"Not me," Trix shook her head.

"Celestia isn't in the throne room?" I asked.

"Not currently," Raven shook her head. "Not when what happened is so important," she whispered shortly after.

The privacy. Makes sense.

"Just one more thing then," I smirked, drawing the pair's attention, though we all continued on our way. "Did that count as the date we agreed to before I left, or are we still gonna do something together?"

Raven blushed immediately. Trix's eyes shot open as her stunned gaze darted back and forth between the two of us.

"Well, I didn't know it was a date per se," Raven pushed her glasses up with a shaking hoof. "But I really hope that wasn't it. Like I told you before, Starlight, I want to get to know you better. I hope you'll still do something with me. Even if it is a... d-date," her blush grew in intensity, and this time Trix's complexion joined the aide.

"Alright," I lifted a hoof in a playful shrug. "I guess we can still do something. How about later tonight? I should be free then." She cleared her throat, facing forward once again.

"Very well. I'd be delighted," she replied calmly, but the dark maroon tinge had spread to the rest of her body.

Interesting... Did she think I wouldn't say anything in front of Tri- OH CRAP!

"TRIX! I'm sorry! Discord asked me to go to-"

"It's alright, Starlight," The blue unicorn giggled, seemingly unperturbed by my carelessness. "If you have other plans... we can get together some other time."

The way she said that...

Nah.

She's way too innocent.

"Alright, girls. We're here," Raven announced.

We'd arrived at our destination.