Waiting in the Wings (Zipp Storm x Fem Reader)

Chapter VII

"What? An arranged marriage?" Sunny asked, amazed when Zipp told her and Izzy everything that happened the night of the royal ball.

"I know. I won't deny that I liked her, but I don't think it's right. We both barely know each other." She explained, still a little distressed.

"That's totally understandable, but how did this happen? Has your mother suddenly decided to push you into an arranged marriage?" Izzy asked.

At that moment, Zipp hesitated to tell, fearing the judgment of her best friends. But they promised to always be honest with each other, so she decided to open up to them completely.

"She said that our kingdom is going through very critical financial difficulties. She said that we have been in this situation for a while, but she only told me this yesterday." She confessed.

"No way. But how did that happen?" Sunny asked again, shocked and confused at the same time.

"She said we took a hit. My betrothed is from a very wealthy family, so I think you all understand where she is going with all this."

"Is the situation that bad?" Izzy asked, in a dismayed tone.

"For her to have to put me in this kind of situation, it must be. Not that I don't care about the situation in my realm, but I don't want to accept that this is the only alternative." Even trying, Zipp couldn't hold back the tears of sadness that rolled down her cheeks.

The two looked at each other sadly and soon enveloped her in a strong hug.

"It's ok Z, we're always here for you." Sunny muttered.

"You'll see how everything will work out." Izzy said sweetly.

Seeing that she had their support made Zipp feel better.

"Thanks girls." She said between prominent sobs. "Do you two think it's okay if I stay here for a few days again?"

"Of course not." Izzy replied.

"You can stay here as long as you need." Sunny added.

"Thanks again, I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Your life would be really, really, really boring." Izzy joked, which got her first laugh that day.

"You smug." Zipp said jokingly.

Meanwhile, in Zephyr Heights...

"What? No, this can't be happening, this is SO not happening, Mom please tells me this is a prank." Pipp said, feeling her world crumbling after Haven told her that Zipp had run away again.

"Darling I didn't want to tell you until this is over so as not to alarm you, but I had to tell you, because if you found out, Y/N can't know about it." She explained.

"I just can't believe how selfish Zipp is, an alliance between the two kingdoms is not the end of the world." she complained.

"Well dear, we also need to understand her side." Haven said, knowing the situation her oldest daughter was placed in was not an easy one.

"And why would we have to see the side of an egoist??"

"Would you like to be forcibly married as you have no other choice to work things out?" Haven asked, which made Pipp shut up and become thoughtful.

She immediately remembered Thunder Striker and how she would suffer if she had to marry someone other than him.

"Okay, you may be right." She admitted it, but her outrage hadn't gone away. "But even so, tell her I won't feed until she agrees to marry."

Haven was amazed at Pipp's decision, but allowed it anyway, seeing that it could be a tactic to get Zipp to accept the proposal as soon as possible. Meanwhile, you had found it strange that your betrothed had not decided for breakfast, but decided to ask later.

"Honey, what are you doing?" Her mother asked, when she saw you looking out the window.

"Oh, forgive me Queen Haven, were you talking to me?" You asked.

"Yes, I wondered what I was doing." She explained.

"Oh, I miss my fiancee very much." You clarified, feeling your cheeks redden. "Where is she."

"Don't worry about it princess, my daughter is only spending a few days in the city of Maretime Bay, but she will be back soon." She assured you.

You had heard of Maretime Bay, where the land ponies lived, you always wanted to visit but never got the chance."

"Oh, could I go there to visit too? So I can make her a surprise..."

"No!" The queen said, a little louder than usual, which confused you.

Seeing the mistake she'd made, Haven soon tried to come up with an excuse.

"I-I mean, don't you think it would be better if you went there with her? So since she's more knowledgeable about everything there, she can be your tour guide." She explained.

You immediately liked the idea, deciding to do as she said.

The pegasus queen breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that in the next few days everything would be resolved.

As the days passed, you began to notice your future sister-in-law's frequent absence during meals, but her mother soon reassured you that she was ill but would soon recover.

You wanted to pay her a visit, but Haven said you couldn't because it was a very contagious disease. You believed her and as the days passed, you looked forward to seeing Zipp again and that beautiful smile that ignited your heart.