Chapter Text
After months of a blazing winter, spring had finally rung in for the academy. Once empty flower beds were now filled with colourful arrangements that highlighted the glistening and newly green turf where students were free to congregate and race alike.
The most drawing sight was the large oak trees that lined the pathways, now fully decorated with thousands of brightly green and young leaves, as if to represent the young racers that forever bloomed through the academy's care. It was truly a sight to behold from the grand view of the student council office.
The president, Symboli Rudolf, couldn't help but hold a smile as the grounds once again became populated with smiling students. It had been the exact opposite to the harsh winter where nearly no life could be observed. The turn-around was very much welcomed in her arms.
She spun in her chair, facing back to her dark mahogany desk stacked with papers and files that all demanded her attention. While the spring had brought new life to the academy, it had also brought a much larger workload with new student applications and early preparations for the upcoming fan fest. With a calming deep breath she got back to her duties, making quick and efficient work of each paper that passed her gaze.
That was, until, the door to the office creaked. A refined grey-maned mare with confidence in her step strided in with a few files in hand.
“Ah, Air Groove. A pleasure to see you this fine spring afternoon.” Rudolf said with a light smile, briefly looking up from her papers to meet those ever so blue eyes, ones that emulated the warmth of day, the clear spring sky.
“A pleasure to see you too, President.” She returned the smile, her voice reflecting her tranquil presence. “I took it upon myself to go over all the clubs budget proposals, all they need is your sign of approval.” Carefully she slid the papers on a free part of Rudolfs desk.
“Oh, you didn't need to do that, I would have finished those by today.” She said, taking the papers and briefly reviewing them, not a single mistake in sight.
She watched as Air Groove shifted her weight, sticking firm in her place and not conceding to the sofas like usual. “It was no trouble, and besides I am aware of how busy you are around this time. It's the least I can do for the esteemed emperor.” She said with a slight laugh, a playful air about her.
“Though this was not the only reason I came by, be as it may I have a favour to ask of you.” Her eyes darted away, avoiding the piercing magenta gaze of the president.
“Oh my, doing my work just to ask for a favour? I never took you as one to pull that scheme.” Ruldolf laughed as the disturbed mare took her gaze again.
“Of course not! That was-” hurriedly she was cut off. “I jest, I jest. What was it you needed Air Groove? Whatever it is, I'm certain I'll be able to comply.” Her tone rang warm as the mare in front of her shifted once more.
“This is a little unorthodox… but in a few week's time I'll be doing a promotional photoshoot in new racewear I was gifted, and I would like you to attend with me,” Air Groove turned away, but a small prickle of red could still be seen on her cheeks. “If you have the time of course.”
Rudolf was slightly taken aback, she had originally expected something to do with more paperwork, or something concerning the school grounds but this was a pleasant surprise. “New racewear? How come you never mentioned that?”
Air Groove sighed in response. “I really only knew I was acquiring it a couple weeks ago. My mother apparently pulled some strings and got a high class designer to make me new signature racewear for a new spring collection that’ll be finished in a couple weeks.”
“You’ve yet to try it on?”
“Rudolf, I've yet to see it and I only will at the shoot. Which is another reason I want you there. I want an honest opinion and I have no doubt you will be the best choice for that.”
Rudolf smiled widely, “I’m glad you could entrust me, I am sure you will look dazzling.” Her voice was calm and pleasant, a near opposite to her running mind.
Rudolf would be lying if she said she hadn't been trying to imagine what her racewear could possibly be, it was rather uncharacteristic of her to get so sidetracked.. but she couldn't help it. The idea of Groove in decorated floral wear, or in flowing pastels was distracting for the stricken stallion to say the least.
“Such a charmer.” Groove waved off. “I’ll pass along details about the time and place in a message later, possibly when you aren’t so drowned in paper. My apologies for disturbing you in the first place.” She bowed ever so slightly.
“Your presence is never a disturbance, Groove. If anything you’re a healthy break.” She beamed, waving farewell as Groove picked up a set of files off her desk and fled the room with the same confidence in her step. Quickly the door closed behind her, the room empty again.
Rudolf sighed. She's known her vice president for a few years at this point, but her heart ached knowing it was mostly professional. Rarely did they hang out together purely as friends, and when they did she thought that just, maybe, it would go a little farther. But it never did.
Deep down, she yearns to reach out for her, to take her hand and shed the small talk, to spill her heart right at her feet. But she would never dare.
She thought her feelings were wholly disgraceful. A gross miss-use of power she reasoned. And she knew if it were to go awry, the serene routine they've settled into would never be the same again, just the thought of it opened a pit in her stomach that would never heal.
She basked in her self loathing, staring off into space before an interruption rang. The doors to the office opened once more, a stalky figure waltzing in, one she knew far too well as her blunt and slackish vice president.
“Whats wrong with you?” Brian called, huffing as she fell down onto one of the deep red upholstered sofas.
Hurriedly, Rudolf snapped out of her daze, composing herself to her usual demeanor. “Brian! You startled me, I hardly realized you came in.” She flashed an insincere smile.
Brian narrowed her eyes at her. Rudolf knew not much passed by Brian, she could only hope she didn't question her.
“Avoiding my questions now? Don't make me pry.” She grumbled, crossing her arms while staring daggers at the president.
The emperor let her smile falter, a small frown and huff of slight annoyance taking its place. “Brian… you can keep a secret, no?”
Brian groaned in response. “I shouldn't have pried.” she mumbled to herself. “I can, but that doesn't mean I wanna hear your life's story.” She spat.
“Of course not,” Rudolf said, shaking her head. “But.. to my horror, I’ve become selfish,” she murmured, holding her head in her hand. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Brian raise an eyebrow.
“I am letting my own emotions usurp my logic, my heart seems to know no bounds no matter how much I lecture myself for my thoughts. It has made me.. impulsive.” Her voice was almost shy, nowhere near the strength she was famously known for.
She looked to Brian once more, her expression reflecting one of slight disgust. “Dont tell me you’ve got a crush.” she said in perfect monotone, her brows knitting together.
“You make it sound so childish,” her frown strengthened, “But I fear this is more than an innocent crush. Have you any advice for my ails?” She slumped back in her chair, defeated.
“Like hell I do. You’re on your own for this one, prez. Keep me out of this.” It was obvious she was no help, yet the emperor couldn't pass the chance to air her misery.
“I don't know what I expected from you…” She spun her chair back towards the grand-viewing window. “This would be so much easier if not for my position, and of course, If I knew her true feelings. No matter how hard I try I simply cannot decipher the world behind those beautiful sapphire eyes and refined demeanour.” Her voice remained stable, but no matter how much she tried to look and sound confident the pain she felt in her heart leaking into her words was unmistakable. “But no matter how much I adore the sight of her, the sound of her voice, I shall never push her to me. Lest I ruin everything.
Brian groaned, holding her head in her hands. “Oh goddesses.” She groaned incessantly, "Don't tell me this is about the vice prez.”
Rudolf shifted. “Then I won't tell you.” She said, longingly looking to the sky, the same sky that so perfectly reflected the object of her affection.
“This is ridiculous.” That's all Brian could say. That's all she could repeat in her head. Suddenly all of the two’s interactions had been recontextualized and she was third-wheeling all of it. It made her cringe.
“I apologize for dropping this on you. I hope this does little to impact your opinion of and trust in me as president.” She turns around to see Brian, a very noticeable grimace on her face.
“Maybe not as president, but as Rudolf?... Definitely.” She shivered the more she thought about it.
“Such is a price to pay for the truth. But I will bother you no longer, I must return to my work anyways.” With a deep breath she refocused, her mind torn away from the problems of her heart, and to the only matters that could properly redirect her.
Time flew by as Rudolf reviewed papers and Brian napped on the sofa. Soon enough, the sun was nearly set, the day had gone by in a blink and the piles of papers once stacked ceiling high were now done away with in appropriate files, signed and organized.
She gathered her things, woke up Brian, and closed up the office. Calling a small goodbye to the vice president as she walked the now empty halls of the academy to her dorm. In due time she arrived back to her room, creaking the door open to reveal an all too familiar cold and empty space.
Papers were strewn across the place in a neat-mess. She could swear that she spent more time looking at files and documents than she's ever spent talking to another person. She drops her bag by the edge of her bed, immediately taking place at her desk, opening her personal laptop to drown herself in more work to distance herself from any lingering thoughts.
In the back of her mind, however, no matter how many spreadsheets she made or how many events she prepared for they still lingered. When the moon was high she finally shut her laptop, rubbing her eyes, quickly changing, and falling into her single bed.
There she laid, along with the thoughts that troubled her so. Is this what her life was doomed to be? silently chasing, never catching up. She was supposed to be the emperor, get anything she wanted, whenever she wanted. She could command at will and brighten the hearts of her disciples. Yet love simply eluded her, and she was convinced it forever will. She turned on her back, looking up to the darkened ceiling.
“Why must it be so lonely at the top… why must I be damned to solitude.”
The rest of the night didn't come easy for the lion-maned emperor.