The Pros and Cons of Being Famous

Sleeping on a Royal Mattress

*NOTE: The beginning of this chapter begins right before the end of the Prologue. Although the Prologue was Luna's point of view, the rest of the story shows different ponies' perspectives during a chapter, while mostly sticking to the main pony.*

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Lily Note looked at the bed that had been prepared for her. It was queen sized, with a tall canopy over head. Several spare and comfy pillows were placed neatly at the head of the bed. A black blanket, placed on top of white sheets, was soft to the touch. The bed had been prepared by Feather Duster, who now stood by the open doorway with Princess Celestia.

"I hope that this room is to your liking, Lily Note," Celestia said.

Lily turned around. The brilliant sun goddess stood in the doorway, the setting sun's rays silhouetting her impressive body. Feather Duster gave her a quick, encouraging smile before exiting the doorway and leaving for the Kitchens. Lily nodded vigorously, impressed by the beautiful room. She excitedly trotted around the room, gazing admiringly at the exquisite works of art showcased in the room. However, there was one work of art which confused her. It was a tapestry.

The tapestry was large, hanging on a gilded bar on the wall facing Lily's bed. It showed a black alicorn with a purple mane being hit by a rainbow made up of six beams. At the end of each beam was a pony. The orange beam led to an orange Earth pony with a yellow mane and brown Stetson hat. A yellow beam ended with a yellow pegasus with a long, beautiful, pink mane. The pink beam led to a seemingly all-pink Earth pony. Strangely, there was a white beam, which led to a white unicorn who had a purple mane. A cyan beam of light trailed to a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane. Finally, a purple one was coming from lavender unicorn with a dark purple mane accented with magenta and purple.

"I see you have noticed the tapestry."

Lily started, and turned around. Princess Celestia was gazing at her, a soft, maternal smile upon her lips. "Yes, I have," Lily said. "What is it of?"

Celestia seemed a tad confused, but told her, "It is of the defeat of Nightmare Moon. She was vanquished by Twilight Sparkle and her friends - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash."

"Who are Nightmare Moon and Twilight Sparkle?" Lily was confused. Why had this black alicorn been "vanquished?"

Celestia stopped smiling all together, and looked surprised. "You do not know who Nightmare Moon is? Did your parents or guardians never tell you about what happened?"

Lily shook her head. "I don't have any parents, Miss Princess. I was brought up in an orphanage, but I-" She suddenly stopped, looking scared to continue.

Celestia looked very concerned. "Did something happen whilst you were in the orphanage?"

Lily stayed quiet, and Celestia gave it up. "How about we go down to dinner, and I can explain the story of Nightmare Moon with my sister, Luna."

////\\\

"... and that is the reason behind the tapestry in your room, Lily Note."

Lily Note looked down into her soup. The aroma drifting off of the bowl was the most delicious smell she had ever encountered, and her mouth watered. The Princesses had called it 'onion soup,' and Lily had been eager to swiftly drink it in one gulp. However, reminding herself she was in the company of the rulers of the kingdom, she levitated a spoon full of the deliciousness to her mouth.

"Lily Note?" Luna had looked up from her own onion soup.

Lily started. She had never really had a decent meal in her life, and had been quickly distracted. Her spoon clattered into the bowl, splashing some of the soup out.

One of the maids - whom Lily instantly recognized as Feather Duster - quickly cleaned up the slight mess Lily had made, while the latter turned red with embarrassment. Feather smiled gently towards the young filly, who had begun to pay more attention to Celestia.

"Lily Note, were you listening to my story?" Celestia asked, a bit annoyed that she might have to re-tell the whole thing. She almost wanted Luna to do it. However, even though it had been over one year since Nightmare Moon's return, it was still a touchy subject for the sisters - especially Luna.

Lily nodded. "Yes! Maybe... I heard bits and pieces..." She trailed off, feeling a little uncomfortable and guilty for not paying attention. Would she punished just as she had been at the orphanage? No, she thought, they are the Royal Sisters. I'm sure they wouldn't harm somepony, especially a filly, for losing one's attention.

Celestia sighed inwardly. "I'll retell my tale. Over one thousand years ago, Luna and I..."

////\\\

Luna quietly ate her soup, listening politely to Celestia. The memory of her... power issue - let's call it - may have been an issue for her to recount, but she found it easier to take when somepony else told it. Granted, most told her story as a lesson for little fillies and colts to not greedily eat their Nightmare Night candy, or stay up to late. However, Luna found it a tad amusing how ponies had found a way to discipline their foals.

"... and I just wish I could have been there for you, Luna."

Luna jerked awake. She had been lost in her thoughts, and did not realize for a second that 'Tia had finished.

"Luna...?" Celestia was looking at her. "Sister, are you feeling alright? Should we send for Nurse Redheart or Doctor Whooves?"

Luna frowned. "I was merely lost in my thoughts, 'Tia. And DO NOT send for the doctor! I am no longer a child!" Luna pouted, enjoying their teasing and joking with each other. Though they occasionally had a sibling argument stemming from these, she preferred them to what had happened over a thousand years ago.

She glanced at Lily Note, bracing herself for a negative reaction. Most fillies and colts were terrified of her, just as were some adults. Lily even looked a bit more drawn, and she wasn't smiling at Luna anymore. Oh, boy, here it comes, Luna thought to herself.

/////\\\

"...and I wish I could have been there for you, Luna."

Lily Note looked at her bowl, which she had emptied about halfway through Celestia's talking. So Princess Luna had been troubled as well? It was one thing for a filly to grow up in a cruel orphanage full of frightened foals and bullying colts. But to be shown your worst fear by a dark and scary stallion? To be tricked into feeling nothing but contempt for your sister? And to be taken over by some evil force...

Lily looked up. Princess Luna was sitting across from her, on Princess Celestia's right.

"... I am no longer a child!" Luna pouted. Then, she glanced at Lily. The alicorn filly suddenly felt aware that she had been staring at the princess, and quickly averted her eyes.

"Does something bother you, Lily?" Luna asked.

Lily looked up once more. Luna gazed at her concernedly, but there was something in her eyes. It looked as if she hiding back disappointment and hurt. Oh no! Have I offended her, Lily thought.

"I.... um, I-I... I feel sorry for you.

/////\\\

Luna was shocked.

Not because Lily had said she felt sorry for her, but the sincerity in her voice. Is that little filly really sorry for me, she wondered. Nopony had ever said that to her, except for maybe Celestia the day after Luna had returned.

"I beg your pardon?"

Luna looked at the little filly. The lunar princess had never heard this from a filly before. On her first Nightmare Night, all of the foals had been running away in fear, even the mares and stallions! Only through the kind actions of Twilight Sparkle had she realized that they were doing it for fun, but she still had the feeling that they had been genuinely afraid at first.

But this filly was different. Luna had been in the dreamscapes of ponies to recognize fear, apprehension, uncertainty, and many such feelings. Lily seemed to be... afraid, but more apprehensive. She also seemed to be uncertain whether or not to continue speaking.

As Lily Note looked up once more, Luna smiled at her gently, as if to give permission to speak.

/////\\\

Lily Note gained a little courage from the genuine smile from Luna.

"Well, I was thinking that I almost had a nice childhood at the orphanage compared to your past, Princess Luna. The colts were always picking on me and the younger or smaller fillies. Many times, I had to protect them from being taunted or hurt. I now realize that even if my life hasn't been the best, I should always consider myself lucky that I had a roof over my head and food to eat: even if the beds were uncomfortable and the food less than desirable."

Celestia smiled at Lily, while Luna mulled over her words. So is this truly how the over half lives? she mused. This poor filly! I wonder if maybe...

"Sister," Luna said aloud, "may I talk to you after dinner?"

Celestia nodded, curious as to where this had come from. "Of course, Little Sister. But remember that we cannot keep our guest waiting. 'Tis rude to do so."

Lily Note frowned. "If this is about me finding my way back to my room, I can find my way! I am a big filly!"

"Of course you are, Lily," Luna said matter-of-factly. She smiled at Lily, thinking of how she reminded her of herself when she was a little filly around her age. "Now, we simply must eat the main course! It is spaghetti, is it not?"

/////\\\

"What was it that you wanted to tell me, Luna?"

After dinner had been finished, they all had a small desert, and had answered Lily's questions on how it was like to be a princess, what they did as princesses, etc. Luna had secretly told Feather Duster to accompany Lily Note to her room, just to make sure the little filly did not get lost in the large castle.

"'Tia, it is about Lily Note. She seemed dreadfully underfed when we found her, and from what I gather, the orphanage was anything but kind to her. Could we not let her stay here?"

Celestia was not very surprised by Luna's question. In fact, she had been wondering about this orphanage that Lily had come from. "I have been thinking this over, too. She accidentally let slip something about the orphanage earlier in her new room, and it makes me feel like she escaped from there."

Luna nodded. "Yes, and I feel like she would have a happier and healthier life here with us. I could care for her, I do not have many responsibilities-"

Celestia held a hoof up. "Are you sure about that? Your sleep schedule is sleeping through half the day and being awake most of the night. She would probably have to adapt to your schedule for you to take care of her."

Luna fell silent. She had not thought about that. "It is true, but perhaps you or some of the staff could care for her in the morning while I was sleeping, and I could be with Lily during the rest of the day."

Princess Celestia looked at her sister. She had that look on her face. The stubborn one. The kind of expression that let ponies know she was not going to give up without a fight or a reasonable argument that would make your rebuttal fall flat on its face.

She sighed. "I'll give you one week to prove yourself responsible to care for Lily Note. If you do, you get to become her adopted older sister or mother or whatever the heck you want. If you do not, the staff and I will take care of her until you are ready for the task. Am I understood, Luna?" Celestia extended her hoof for an agreement hoofshake.

Luna nodded, extending her hoof to shake her sister's. "It is a deal."

/////\\\

Lily Note walked down the large hallway with Feather Duster at her side. The maid had a light, greyish brown coat with a white main and tail that were softly streaked with pale blue. Her cutie mark was, of course, a feather duster. Her eyes and magical aura were a soft purple, and she was levitating a candle.

"Your room is right here, Lily Note. If you need anything, just pull the tassled rope by the door."

Lily looked to Feather Duster one last time. "Thank you Feather Duster. Is it all right if I call you Feathers? It's just that your name is long and it seems strange to repeat it over and over again."

Feathers smiled. "Of course you can! You know, most of my friends call me Dusty. I think I'll try to get them to call me Feathers. Have a good night's sleep, Lily." With that, she placed the candle on a nightstand next to the bed and walked out the door.

"Oh!" she suddenly exclaimed. 'I almost forgot. If you need to talk to Princess Luna, her room is down the hall. You turn left, and her doors are straight ahead."

Lily nodded to show that she understood. With a final wave good-bye, she quickly trotted into the bathroom connected to her room.

"Wow," she said softly. She had never seen such a large and luxurious looking bathroom! The taps on everything were gold, the sinks, toilet, and bathtub all porcelain. With the giddy excitement only accessible to a happy filly, she began to wash and comb her hair.

/////\\\

Dark. Quiet. Scary. If asked to describe the room she was in now, those were the three words Lily would have used.

After she had finished making herself more presentable, she had put her mane into a loose ponytail, so it would be a bit neater when she woke up. She had climbed into the massive, cozy bed, said her nightly prayers, and blew out the candle.

In her dorm at the orphanage, there were other fillies with her, and the sound of nine different sleeping ponies had lulled her to sleep. But in this room, it was quiet. Too quiet for her likings.

She pulled the covers over her head, wishing that she had a nightlight in the corner of the room, where it was the darkest. Lily regretted her choice, because it was hot and stuffy under the blanket. She tossed and turned some more before thinking back to what Feather Duster had told her.

"If you need to talk to Princess Luna, her room is down the hall. You turn left, and her doors are straight ahead."

Well, maybe the Princess of the Night could help her.

Lily threw the cover off of her, and looked at the candle she had blown out. Maybe if she concentrated hard enough, she could make a lighter spell to light the candle. She stared at the dim outline of the candle, silently willing it to flicker with a flame.

Suddenly, she felt warm in her horn, and she gasped with delight as a few sparks of fire gently grew at the tip of her horn. Concentrating, she willed the sparks to light the candle. As she levitated the now lit candle, she felt immensely pleased with her progress in magic.

/////\\\

Lily Note walked down the large hall. Her candle cast flickering shadows over the vases and suits of armor in the hall, but she did not particularly mind. All she thought of was, Down the hall, to the left. Down the hall, to the left.

She eventually reached the end of the hall, and turned left. This hallway was shorter than the one before, and she could easily see the double doors at the end. As she got closer, she marveled at the exquisite woodwork. The doors were polished cherry wood, and there was a large crescent moon over the doors. The handles were silver, inlaid with moons as well.

Suddenly, a light breeze came from somewhere in the hall and eventually blew her candle out. Very afraid of the dark, she started knocking rapidly on the doors. When Luna did not immediately answer, she knocked harder and faster.

One of the doors opened. Inside was Princess Luna, without her Royal Jewelry. She looked somewhere above Lily's head for who was knocking, and then looked down when she didn't see anypony.

"Oh!" Luna said. "It's just you, Lily. Is there something the matter? Was the mattress not comfortable?"

Lily shifted uncomfortably. "I'm a bit scared of the dark. May I sleep in your room tonight?"

////\\

Luna, of course, had welcomed Lily Note in with open arms. She understood that most young fillies and colts were afraid of the dark, as you could not see if there was something there. She was about to ask Lily if she wanted an extra blanket when a loud clap of thunder announced that the storm had returned from earlier that day.

Lily Note scrambled to the bed, opening her wings and flapping them rapidly. The momentum helped her to get on the bed fast. A bit too fast, as was proved when she accidentally threw the extra blanket onto the ground.

As Lily hastily apologized, Luna smiled at the young alicorn's antics. She had been afraid of thunderstorms as a filly, too. She was getting more and more amused at how much this filly was like her.

Eventually, she managed to calm down Lily and got her to sleep by singing a lullaby Fluttershy had once taught her.

Hush now, quiet now

It's time to lay your sleepy head,

Hush now, quiet now

It's time to go to bed.

Drifting off to sleep

Exciting day behind you,

Drifting to slumber deep

Let the joy of dream land find you!

Hush now, quiet now

It's time to lay your sleepy head

Hush now, quiet now

It's time to go to bed.

Lily fell asleep about halfway through, but Luna finished simply because she liked to sing. As she finished the song, she tucked the slumbering filly into her Royal bed, and blew out the candle the filly had been using.

Luna silently walked out of the room, pausing by her door. "Good-night, Lily Note." With that, she quietly closed the doors, and set off to hold the Night Court.