A New Ruler

Chapter 15: A New Ruler

“Mares and Stallions of Equestria,” said Winter loudly and with authority, “Today marks a historic day in the history of Equestria and Solstice. Today, we crown a new Princess of Equestria!”

The entire court cheered like there was a sale at a really expensive clothing store.

“And now," Winter bellowed, "I give you the newest Princess of Equestria, Princess Ella!”

The doors opened and I walked down the aisle, closely followed by Rarity and Othelia. The court was cheering my name so loud I couldn’t hear myself think, and then there was the fanfare as well.

I stopped in front of Winter as the fanfare came to an end.

Rarity and Otherlia stood on either side of me and turned to face the crowd. I finally noticed that Twilight, Celestia, Luna and Cadence were seated in their thrones, and were all looking at me. Twilight was whispering somthing to Celesia, who nodded. I hoped she was asking about Starlight. She deserved a ceremony like this at least to acknowledge what good she’d done if not to make her an Alicorn Princess.

Winter lifted a gold crown, similar to Luna’s, off a pillow a guard had brought. I bowed my head.

“By the powers vested in me by the Princesses of Equestria and the Kings and Queens of Solstice, I name you Princess Ella.” He placed the crown on my head. “Rise now and claim the mantle.”

I rose, to which the entire court cheered. I turned to face them, and saw Starlight with a guard on either side of her near the rear of the room. I had always been a good judge of character, and knew that Starlight had been sincere when she said that she’d only helped the ponies of Equestria and the people of Earth. It made me sad to see her this way.

“Rarity, please step forward,” said Winter. This caught everyone’s attention, even Celestia and Luna’s.

She stepped forward slowly, and I moved out of the way, confused.

“I have watched you in your journeys across Equestria to find your family, and admire the great lengths you’ve gone to help others along the way," Winter said, "I know that you fought off a Wendigo to save a child from a village nearby, and that you also fought and ursa minor and sucessfully drove it off."

I looked at Rarity. Her face said ‘how does he know’ quite clearly.

“For these great deeds, I offer you the title of Princess," Winter said, "Is there anypony in this court challenges my authority to do so.”

A silence followed, only broken when Winter resumed. “Do you accept this offer, Rarity?”

I looked at her. She already was an alicorn, but she seemed unsure.

She looked at me with a questioning gaze, and I nodded. She nodded in turn and bowed her head.

“Then by the power vested in me by the Princesses of Equestria and the Kings and Queens of Solstice, I name you Princess Rarity.” Winter’s hands glowed and a purple amethyst crown appeared in his hands. He placed it on Rariy’s head. “Rise now and claim the mantle.” As Rarity rose, she spread her wings, making herself look very grand and important.

She folded up her wings and moved back to her spot as Winter continued. “Today, we have had two new Princesses grace us with their presence, but I believe there is one more in this hall who deserves to be a Princess, and has wanted to since she was a filly.” I’d mentioned this to Winter before the ceremony, and he’d agreed with much enthusiasm. “Starlight, please step forward.”

The entire room went complete still, except for the waving of the banners.

“Starlight, please step forward, now.” Still nopony moved.

“Starlight, as your Prince, I command you to step away fro the guards on either side of you and approach me, now.”

Starlight did as she was told. The two guards tried to stop her, but Winter used his magic to freeze them. This turn of events sent the entire court into an uproar.

“SILENCE,” Winter bellowed in the Royal Canterlot Voice, causing the entire court to fall dead silent.

“Starlight, for centuries, we have believed it was you who caused devastatiaion all across Equestria and Solstice when you were only trying to undo the damage of Darklight, your twin sister. For this, Princesses Ella and Twilight have requested I bestow the title of Princess upon you.”

“I challenge this,” said about half of the court.

“And there is not one thing on Equus or on Earth that will stop me,” Winter continued, angered by the oubursts from the court. They all shut themselves up quite quickly after that. A crown of platinum appeared in his hands.

“You’re just going to let him do this,” one pony cried.

“Yes,” replied Celestia bluntly.

“By the power vested in me by the Princesses of Equestria and the Kings and Queens of Solstice, I name you Princess Starlight.” He placed the crown on her head. “Rise now and claim the mantle you’ve yearned for so long.” Starlight rose, and as she did so, she grew. A blinding light washed over the entire room. When it disappeared, Starlight stood as tall as me, and had grown a pair of beautiful wings.

The entire crowd was murmuring about Starlight even after they all left.

“Thank you for this,” Starlight said after everyone had left.

“It’s the least we could do after all you’ve done,” said Twilight.

“Really,” I said, turning to Rarity, “An Ursa Minor?”

“And a full grown adult one, too,” Rarity said, “I’ll admit, I was never so scared in my life! It was HUGE! And when I say huge, I mean ‘makes the Empire State Building look tiny’ huge.”

“Can you verify this,” I asked Winter. “It was smaller than the Empire State Building, and it was a young adult by our standards.”

“It was still really big,” defended Rarity.

“Indeed,” Winter agreed. “Well, I best be off to Solstice.”

“See you soon, then,” I said as he walked off.

“You can count on that,” He said as walked out, Luna close behind.

Something told me that the adventures were just beginning.