Ceremonial baton by DCFTEF

(19/04/2016)

https://desuarchive.org/mlp/thread/27053171/#q27134521

(No spanking)

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Little Flurry Heart had earned a reward
Though she was only a 10 year old blank flank she and her Honorary Aunts the Cutie Mark Crusaders had saved the Wonderbolts Derby and taught a raging Minotaur the Magic of Friendship. They had done something with Breezies too, but nopony gave a fuck because Breezies have always sucked.
And...lets see, Flurry Heart learned that you don't have to have a cutie mark yet to do great things or some shit like that.
>This will be an episode in Season 28...trust me.
>You'll just have to wait until then to hear the full story.
So for her heroism; today, Flurry Heart would have the honor of participating in her first Official Ceremony.

She was so excited
She rehearsed her role a hundred times until the maids complained that she was wearing out the staircase carpets
>"This is an important, traditional ceremony that opens a new annual session of City government."
Flurry's mother explained;
>"Your role is easy, sweetheart.
>"You accept the ceremonial baton from the City Guards,
>"Hold it in your mouth, keep your head up high
>"And walk down the staircase just like we practiced."
Shining Armor continued;
>"At the bottom, the Mayor of Crystal City will accept the baton.
>"It symbolizes another year of Royal consent for the City government, understand?"
Flurry really didn't. Politics were still above her head.
>"I understand, Daddy.
>"And look what I've been practicing!"
She concentrated; a few seconds and sweat beads later the practice baton levitated
>"I can do it! I don't have to carry it like a little foal!"

Mother and Father were supportive, but tempered their praise with some advice
>"Oh, Sweetheart, that's wonderful
>"But don't you think you might be biting off more than you can chew?"
Flurry was defensive;
>"I'm not biting anything...I can levitate it, I'm not even using my mouth!"
Cadance chuckled.
>"Dear, what your Father means is that this is going to be stressful.
>"It's your first time participating in a Royal Ceremony,
>"There's going to be thousands of ponies watching.
>"I think for your first time you should just keep it simple and carry the baton in your mouth.
Daddy nodded to show his agreement
Flurry stamped her little hoof
>"I can levitate! I'm not a baby! My magic has always been strong!"
Both parents rolled their eyes
There were enough shattered windows in the palace to confirm that
>"Strong but unpredictable...difficult to control
>"You'll have enough to concentrate on. It would be much safer if you hold the baton in your mouth."
Shining explained more about the item she was carrying;
>"It's a very old relic. We only take it out of the Crystal Empire Museum once a year for this ceremony.
>"We just don't want anything to get broken."

>"But I can do it! Mommy, Daddy...pleeeaasssee?"
The Princess & Prince of the Empire were skeptical
This could potentially turn into a big mess
But Flurry would not be denied.
>"I'll practice non-stop until the ceremony! Please, I promise I won't screw it up!"
At last Cadance sighed;
>"Alright, sweetie, but you have to be very careful."
Flurry broke 3 windows and a vase celebrating. 

The wonderful day had arrived
The pegasi weather squads cleared the sky for a perfect sunny afternoon
Thousands of ponies showed up
They lined both sides of the Grand Staircase
Flurry Heart could only see an ocean of heads
>"Oh boy"
She was nervous, but excited
Auntie Pinkie had a word for that...no time to think of it now

The curator from the Museum arrived
He had an important looking suitcase with him
The Ceremonial Baton!
>"Is that it!?"
She was hopping up and down in place while he opened the protective box
>"Yes it is, my lady. Now be very careful. Grip it firmly with your teeth, we've given you a clean towel to bite down on"
Shining Armor cleared his throat
>"Princess Flurry Heart wishes to levitate the baton with her magic."

The curator almost swallowed his dentures
>"I beg your pardon?"
Flurry answered cheerfully
>"I'm not a little foal...I can levitate it, see?"
She snatched the priceless ceremonial baton and flew it around the room like a toy
The curator nearly had a heart attack
>"Young lady, PLEASE be careful! That is an artifact of the pre-exile Crystal Empire!"

Flurry was having fun, and she was confident in her skill, but Mom put a stop to it
>"Flurry Heart put that down this instant!"
She was using her 'do not test me' voice
Suitably chastened, Flurry set the relic back in its box
But before the adults could talk about it more the ceremonial Flugelhorns sounded
>"It's time!"

The crowd of thousands applauded when their Royal Family stepped out onto the balcony.
A purple carpet a half a furlong in length was rolled out to the foot of the Grand Staircase, where dignitaries of city government waited in their finest attire
>"Alright, are you ready, Flurry?"
>"I'm ready, Mommy!"

The curator carefully set the baton on a pillow
Two highly trained Crystal Guard troopers escorted as it was carried out to public view
>"Be very careful, honey..."
Cadance and Shining held their breath
The museum curator hyperventilated
But Flurry levitated the ceremonial baton flawlessly and raised it for a thunderous cheer from the citizens

Dignified, mature and poised, Flurry Heart started down the Grand Staircase
Her adoring public applauded as she passed, floating the Baton of Civil Governance high and to her right side
Everything was going perfectly
All she had to do was get it down the stairs and give it to the Mayor
Ceremony complete...and Mommy & Daddy would see how ready Flurry was for more Princess duties

And then she tripped.

The newspapers would report that Princess Flurry Heart caught her hoof on a poorly fitted piece of carpet
But that was a cover story to preserve Royal dignity
In reality, she wasn't watching where she was going and just plain overstepped a stair
>"Oh, NO!"
Flurry hit the marble staircase hard
The ancient baton bounced down the stairs, making a sickening, clunking sound
The crowd gasped

Dazed, Flurry picked herself back up
But her right front knee hurt
It was bleeding
She looked around in alarm
And then, disregarding the ceremony and the crowd of thousands, Princess Flurry Heart did what any foal with a skinned knee would do
She went running for her mother 

>"M-Momma...I *sniff* hu-hu-hurt my knee."
Ignoring the crowd, Cadance tenderly kissed it
Then, like any rural mare with an injured foal, she licked the scrape clean
Pausing to demurely spit a few flecks of gravel into a dutiful courtier's handkerchief

The crowd was silent, save for a quiet, concerned murmurer
They could all clearly hear as Prince Shining Armor gallantly tore a strip from his expensive silk under-shirt
Once his wife had ministered to their filly's bo-bo, he wrapped the bandage around her knee gently
>"There. Better?"
Sniffling, and wiping away a few tears she replied;
>"Yes...it's better."
Cadance nuzzled her to restore a bit of confidence and said;
>"Go ahead then, finish the job."

Flurry looked at her with terrified eyes
>"Oh, no! Momma, please! I can't, I dropped the baton! They'll all hate me!"
But Cadance turned her foal's head;
>"Silly, look out there. Do you see anypony who hates you?"

Every face was smiling, encouraging her on
>"Come on, Princess, you can do it."
Blushing, little Flurry began walking down the stairs
Head held low this time...trying to force a smile through the waterfall of embarrassment
But all she saw were friendly faces
A few called to her;
>"It's over here, Princess!"
She found the baton where it had bounced, laying on the marble steps
And with humility, picked it up gently in her mouth
The crowd erupted in applause

Sheepishly, still blushing, the little filly walked the final few yards to where the Mayor awaited her
She carefully gave it to the stallion
He whispered;
>"Are you alright, my dear?"
Flurry Heart smiled, but blushed even deeper pink at his question
>"Yes, Sir. Just clumsy."
He nodded, and lifted the symbol of leadership and co-operation between the Royal and civil government high above his head
As flashbulbs popped, the crowd cheered wildly, and the festival began.

Flurry Heart would never forget this day.
And the baton wasn't dinged too badly.

END