Flurry closed the book she had been writing her notes into with a sigh. It had been a week since her return to the castle, and after a couple of days her life came back to being normal and boring. Her parents still talked about that, but not so incessantly as before. For some reason they seemed happy she was taking an interest in the marriage. Which just made her all the more irritated. But, she was a bit content her mother took her up on her offer, and sent a letter to the Duke to arrange a meeting. The response came back quick, and although it wasn't the Duke, the response gave her a relief. The Duke was out on business with his wife, and since Caspian wasn't in any sort of power to arrange anything on his fathers behalf, it gave her sometime to stall and think what her next move could be.
She had checked her history book on the Crystal Empire's traditions a million times (not really that much), but there was nothing on marriage. Yes there was the ceremonial processes for the subjects and the rulers, but nothing on that ridiculous tradition her mother and father yapped about.
She groaned as she slumped on her chair, tired and frustrated. She had thought on going out to find more on the library, but she could not go anywhere alone anymore. Her parents had ordered guards to follow her from a safe distance in case anything else happened. This just disrupted another thought of hers. She wanted to go out and find Sombra again. Mostly to talk to thank him for the advice, but she felt more at ease when she was with him for some reason. He was one of the many ponies in this land that actually listened to her, even though it may have seemed he was uninterested. He did save her from that snow storm after all, she had to thank him one way or another. A banquet? A basket of goodies? Something. And there was something odd with his appearance too. She had also skimmed a bit in nearby tribes of the north, which there were not many, but none described what he looked liked. She had her plate full, but she wasn't about to give in and live so ignorantly.
Flurry Heart took her coat and walked out of her room.
Guards- Good afternoon Princess.
Flurry Heart- Good afternoon. I'll just be going out for a walk out in the streets today.
Guard 1- Excellent Princess. Stretching your legs and clearing your mind is good.
Guard 2- We'll be here if you need us.
They placed each other close behind her, their faces stoic. Flurry thought of maybe trying to get them to stay at the castle, but it was of no use. She had tried it before, but they were on her fathers orders. And what the Captain said, it goes. The three walked out of the castle and into where the crystal heart was. She stared at it. It had a small glow to it and it gently levitated in between the two spikes holding it together. She slightly glanced back at her cutiemark and looked wary.
Guard 1- Everything alright Princess?
Guard 2- Do you feel alright? Would you like to go back to your chambers?
Flurry shook herself from the daze.
Flurry Heart- N-no, I'm fine. I still want to walk around for a bit.
And walk she did, the guards following right behind.
Flurry walked through the main street, vendors with their sweets and shops lined it. Ponies enjoying themselves and making a curtsey at her when she would walk by. Many offered a treat, but she was not feeling hungry. She was trying to think of what to do. What could she do to try and prevent all this? Who could she trust to help her? This seemed a lot more difficult than she had imagined.
As she withdrew from the crowds and into street houses, it gave her some time to breathe. Her book didn't have what she was looking for, and she didn't know where to even start. She could maybe ask her aunt Twilight, she was a grade A+ bookworm. But what if she would tell to her father? They were both pretty close, and even if she was good with books, she could not lie to save her life. Who else? Who else?!
She suddenly remembered. Sunburst! Her counselor! He was maybe sure to help. Yes he worked for her family, but he helped her when she would mess up and cover for her to her parents. Flurry's spirit felt a bit lighter, and started trotting to Sunburst's residence, her guards a little shocked by her hurry following behind.
Flurry slowed down as she approached Sunburst's house. She knocked on the door, and waited. Nobody opened. It can't be that he is not here. Her shoulders sulked and she started thinking fast. His son could also be gone, but it was worth a try. They didn't live together, but his house wasn't that far from Sunburst. She walked a bit more, his house was visible at the end of the intersection on the other side of the street. Tired and nervous, she walked to the door and knocked a little too hard than she intended. She waited a few minutes, her ears moving and straining to hear movement inside the house. The guards looked at each other, uncertain of what the Princess was trying to do. She was about to step down off the entrance stair-steps, when she heard some things knocking over and hurried steps towards the door. The door swung open and an orange pony opened the door.
Inky Dawn- OH my dear! But if it isn't the Princess herself. So sorry for not opening right away! Oh my hair is a mess!
Inky took her hoof and gave it a slight kiss, bowing down to her presence.
Flurry Heart- Thank goodness you're here Inky. I need your help, please. I-
Inky Dawn- Say no more! You don't even need ask. Come in come in Princess.
Flurry Heart- Um, can you guys wait here?
The guards looked at each other.
Inky Dawn- UGH! I'm to be trusted you fools! Gosh give her a breather, do some yoga out here on the lawn or something. The Princess has some matters she needs tending to.
Inky pulled Flurry into his home and shut the door on the guards. Flurry seemed shocked, she couldn't possibly do that to the guards, but it was Inky. He was cocky and confident.
Inky Dawn- AH goodness those guards were never told about personal space! Sorry about my disheveled look. I was having a nap while waiting an order of tea I scheduled yesterday, but your presence is better than some tea. Let me take your coat.
Flurry Heart- It's ok, uh, I noticed your father, Sunburst, he's not home.
Inky Dawn- Oh yeah, he left sometime ago to his hometown. Don't you remember? He also took my mother with him, they aligned their vacation days together.
Flurry was shocked, she couldn't have possibly forgotten that he left. Coincidentally, she now remembers he had left when she ran away.
Inky Dawn- Which, but the way, rebel Princess we have here. I heard what happened. You have to tell me every detail. The guards were a little too heavy in the castle to even go in.
Flurry Heart- Wait, why didn't you go with your father?
Inky Dawn- sigh I wasn't here when he left, I was over at Yakyakistan doing some interviews with the chief. I just got here three days ago. And I'd rather sleep than have to deal with my grandmother. I don't have cinnamon at the moment, is laurel fine? Have a seat have a seat, I can hear you from here.
Flurry Heart- Yeah it's fine. Uh, well, I don't even know where to start, everything is just jumbled up and I can barely make out what I have to do.
Inky Dawn- Just spill it out, I'll help you out in anything. It can't be too bad of a news.
Flurry Heart- My mother and father want to marry me off based off a tradition in the empire, and I ran away, almost got frost bite, I met a strange pony in the outskirts of the snow plains and now I have to figure out how to stop this marriage.
Inky just stared at her for a minute while processing everything.
Inky Dawn- Mmmmm....those are...well...not so good news.
Flurry Heart frowned deeply, her eyebrows furrowing.
Inky Dawn- To whom, might the marriage be to?
Flurry Heart- Ummm, Prince Caspian, the son of the Duke of Canterlot-
Inky Dawn- AH! WHAT! I'm gonna pass out! Why him? Oh my hearts, I'm gonna puke!
Flurry Heart- Inky please help me! I already looked everywhere on my history book Sunburst gave me. I can't marry him, not him-
Inky Dawn- Oh no! Absolutely not! Do you know how many mares he courts? I mean, they only like him because big rich daddy pays for the meals, but still so disgusting and dare I say poor self-love from those mares.
Flurry Heart- So you'll help me?
Flurry sat up, her eyes turning bright with hope.
Inky Dawn- Of course I will dummy what you think.
Inky poured some tea into two cups and offered one to Flurry as he sat down.
Flurry Heart- What can I do?
Inky Dawn- Your little history text book will not do. Oh I'll will not stand by and watch you marry that bastard. In all my years ever since I could read I've never heard of this "tradition". I bet even Princess Amore's spirit is turning from wherever she is. This is outrageous! And from OUR rulers to accept this? I cannot. There must be something that bastard did. What could he have convinced them with? He must be doing this out of spite.
Flurry Heart- Spite? To me?
Inky Dawn- Not entirely sure. Have you done something to him?
Flurry Heart- Not really, only apart from ignoring his advances. He could not possibly...you know...
Inky Dawn- Augh! Heavens no! That bastard could not possibly love, much less even describe it. His father maybe is up to something? They could not possibly be working together, I've interviewed the whole family and he can't stand his son.
Flurry thought about it too, Blueblood can't bare to look at his son, much less hear something he has to say. But Caspian wasn't that much of a bright mind, so if anything he has to have somepony helping him.
Inky Dawn- I have an idea! From now on, I'll be his right hand in this marriage!
Flurry Heart- M-marriage? Right hand? But I don't want to-
Inky Dawn- Do not worry Princess, you will not marry him. I'll be your spy in this whole ordeal.
Inky sipped at his tea, while Flurry looked at him concerned.
Inky Dawn- Think about it Princess, I don't think the bastard has ANY idea of how to be a Duke. I'll talk to Blueblood, I have the reputation of traveling and being a superstar in journalism, combined with the fact I'm the son of Sunburst, the Empress advisor, he will not let down my proposal to help the bastard fail at this marriage. Then I'll report back to you in my letters of whatever I can find about these two.
Flurry Heart- You would do that for me?
Inky Dawn- For my favorite Princess. Anything. When do you have to see this bastard?
Flurry Heart- Thank you. It means my life to me. I don't know how I could repay you. The Duke is out of Canterlot for a bit, so we have some spare time.
Inky Dawn- Oh we'll worry about those details later. Well, just give me a few days to see what I can find, and please tell me when, we have to set this in motion as soon as possible.
Flurry took a sip from her tea, which had turned a little cold by now.
Inky Dawn- And don't you think I've forgotten, who was it you met in the outskirts, hmm?
Flurry Heart- Oh, well, it was a stallion-
Inky Dawn- Oh! Was he hot? Like a rouge pony?
Flurry Heart- Uhh, I'm not too worried about that. Inky, do you know of any tribes around here that maybe their fur is, grey or black?
Inky Dawn- Mmmmmm....he was that color? Poor thing, oh well. Not that I can think of.
Flurry Heart- And maybe, red eyes and, ah, a red horn?
Inky Dawn-.......Honey, are you ok? Are you sure you weren't hallucinating?
Flurry Heart- Can you please look into it? I haven't found anything about it as well.
Inky Dawn- Mmmmmm, I'll try, but that kind of pony sounds like it came from the deepest pit of darkness there is on this kingdom. shivers You just creeped me out a bit.
Flurry Heart- Thank you Inky.
Inky Dawn- Yes yes darling, don't mention it. Ugh I should have grabbed some snack to go along with the tea, let me grab you something. Do you want some more tea? It has to be cold by now...
Flurry sat there, finally her mind could rest a bit. The rushing thoughts had dispersed. She could finally feel a bit of peace rushing in. She sat in the chair comfortably, sipping on the new tea and hearing Inky ramble on for hours until the sky grew dark.