Squall and Long Shot fidgeted and squirmed in their dresses as they stood in the empty, secondary dance halls of the Royal Palace in my Equestria dreamscape. The last 24 hour had been blur for the two Mares-in-Waiting as they had been relentlessly assaulted by an army of mares assembled by Princess Celestia to prep them for their next mission.
 
Finally after hours in the spa getting their manes, tails, and coats trimmed, washed, and then styled they’d gotten a break long enough to grab a quick lunch. After that they’d been hustled off to the Royal Sisters wardrobe where they were measured within an inch of their lives. Through all this another team of mares brought in what seemed like an endless array fabric on bolts that were held up next to the mares. As they did they muttered an almost constant stream phrases, comments, and words that were utterly incoherent to the two Scales Bearers. While this was going on their teammate Half-cock/Black Rose sat a nearby table and spoke with a couple older mares. They appeared to be regular Mares-in-Waiting that actually attended to the daily needs of Princess Celestia.
 
Around 8 in the evening the two mares were freed from the pastel purgatory and allowed to get a proper dinner and a drink. A drink was something that Squall needed badly at the moment. She’d almost revolted when she’d been required to relinquish her pocket flask. She’d been told it would be replaced with smaller, more elegant version later. Half-cock joined them but spent most of the meal going over what their schedule of instructions. Most of it made no sense to the other mares but it was apparent they were getting a very accelerated, intensive,crash course in learning what Half-cock had spent much of her youth learning. At 10pm they were released from their duties and allowed to retire to their rooms.
 
At 5:30am they were woken by the arrival of the squads of mares who came bearing dresses that somehow had been assembled for them overnight by the palace staff. In quick order they stuffed and cinched into their dresses while another team of mares had brushed their coats and freshened up their mane and tail stylings. Then it was a quick breakfast which Long Shot was not present for.
 
So now the two mares stood in a room with no chairs and no other ponies and waited. Several minutes had already passed when Long Shot spoke softly. “Um, Squall do ya think they sent us ta the wrong room?”
 
“Ugh! I don’t know if this right room or not. All I know is that this here corset is crushing my ribs! And this dress is making the bottom of my wings all itchy!”
 
The palomino earth pony was about to ask how a dress could make the pegasus’s wings itchy when the door on the opposite side of the room opened. Entering the room was Half-cock and one of the older mares who’d been there during their fitting. She was a slightly pudgy, pale pink, earth pony in her mid 40s. She wore a long tailed dress of deep crimson red that flowed on to the floor behind her like a puddle of blood. Half-cock wore simpler, shorter version of the outfit she wore yesterday. She remained about half a step behind the older mare. The two mares stopped about 6ft in front of Squall and Long Shot. Both parties remained silent for a few seconds until the older mare broke the silence.
 
“Good morning my fair mares.” She smiled at them. “Hopefully your evening has left you refreshed and ready to tackle the day’s instruction. Allow me to introduce myself.” She then gracefully did a curtsy. “I am Dancing Blossom, chief mare in charge of protocol and etiquette for the Royal Palace. I have been instructed by our illustrious princess Celestia to impart my knowledge in the art of grace and manners. I look forward in performing this duty.”
 
Long Shot returned the curtsy in much awkward fashion almost stepping on the tail of her own dress. “Uh. Good morning to ya as well.”
 
Squall did not curtsy. She scowled at the mare and then looked at Half-cock. “Hey aren’t ya going ta be teaching us all this fancy stuff?” Half-cock gave a look of surprise and replied.
 
“Who me? Goodness gracious no. Dancing Blossom is much more knowledgeable in teaching ya ta be a right proper mare! I’ll just be acting as an assistant ta her throughout yer instructions.”
 
“That is correct.” Dancing Blossom gave Squall another smile. “Her Highness has assigned me specifically to oversee these instructions.” The older mare raised an eyebrow. “Do you have a problem with that?”
 
“Yeah I do.” Growled the violet pegasus. “Ponies like ya tend ta rub me the wrong way.”
 
The older mare’s eyes narrowed a tiny bit. “I can assure you that so far I’ve done nothing to warrant your distrust or hostility.”
 
Squall grunted. “I don’t distrust ya. I just don’t git along well with mares like ya. Except for her Highness.”
 
Dancing Blossom nodded her head. “Well dear I’m sorry to hear that. However her Highness has instructed me to conduct these lessons and that’s what I shall do. One of the marks of a proper mare is her ability to perform her duties and conduct herself graciously even when in they’re in the company of crass, offensive individuals. That takes discipline, maturity, and a strength that comes from within.”
 
Out of the corner of her eye Long Shot saw the pegasus tense up. Turning her head she addressed her teammate. “Squall let it go. We gotta job ta do, and nothing is gonna be gained by ya getting into a pissing match with her. Besides Celestia ordered us ta do this.”
 
Dancing Blossom glanced over at Long Shot “That’s a bit vulgar but not an invalid assessment of the situation dear. Apparently you possess that strength.”
 
The older mare looked back at Squall and raised her muzzle and smirked. “Apparently you are deficient in it.”
 
Squall stepped right up until her muzzle was almost touching and glared at Dancing Blossom. “I otta teach ya a lesson fer talking like that ta me!”
 
Half-cock sighed and shook her head. Long Shot just rolled her eyes. The older mare for her part calmly returned the younger mares stare. Although her smile dropped just a tiny bit.
 
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were so thin-skinned. You exterior made you look like you were made of sturdier stuff. Ah well! One must be careful not to judge a book by its cover. Now please return to your place so that we may proceed with the lessons.”
 
Squall suddenly reared up in preparation for punching the older mare in the face with her right front hoof. As she did Dancing Blossom quickly stepped forward reared up herself. Violently she drove her right front hoof into the younger mare’s chest spinning her around and knocking her clean off her hooves. Squall went sliding face first across the polished marble floor with the wind knocked out of her.
 
Half-cock groaned and Long Shot whistled appreciatively at the older mare’s performance. Squall gasped and started untangling her back legs from her dress. With that accomplished she scrambled back on to her hooves and back the older mare with a stunned look on her face. For her part Dancing Blossom just looked at her as she wrapped a front hoof around a gold chain on her neck and produced a gold pendant with a scale engraved upon it. She smiled at the pegasus.
 
“I haven’t done any serious field operations in 10 years but the court still recognizes me as a Scale Bearer.” The smile vanished from her face. “Now! You need to leave your ego at the door and remember what’s most important! Your mission! Your teammates! And your duty to our Princesses and the kingdom!” She waved a front hoof at Squall. “Now get over here. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”
 
Long Shot tilted her head slightly. “Excuse me ma’am but I don’t remember anypony mentioning a Scale Bearer with yer name when we were receiving our training?
 
The older mare tucked the pendant back into her dress then smiled at younger earth pony. “Well I was better known by my nickname back then.”
 
“And that was…”
 
“Grave Flowers.” said the older mare.
 
Long Shot whistled again. To be continued.
 
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