A Royal Visit
Doctor Andromeda Star sighed and thumped her head against her desk. The old dusty lead scientists had rejected yet another draft of her report. “Stick to proof reading our papers dearie, we are the minds of this institution.” Had been their verbal assessment, the written sheet was just as poor. Time for yet another day making sure the fossils hadn’t contradicted their own theories again; it was surprising how often it was now. The dusk blue unicorn mare shook her head at that and thought back to more hopeful times.
When she was in school, even when she was in college she had never thought that life as an astronomer would be this dry! The whole culture was as dusty as the books in the Astronomy section of the library! No one was excited by it; they were just racking up meaningless accolades from each other and counting time to their gold plated retirements. Once one scientist left they would shuffle up the structure adding the next most senior to the left over position. At that rate Andromeda would be old and tired by the time she got high enough to change anything. Sighing again and magically moving her silver mane from her eyes, she opened up her saddlebag to read that morning’s mail.
Slipped in was a little note, ‘Chin up!’ it read in the familiar writing of her husband Latitude Ascendant, he had a much more invigorating job working with the radio telescope he and some clever technician ponies had come up with . The institute was cross about that, but it wasn’t disproving their theories so it was left for now. She smiled; it was nice to have someone supportive in her life. The next letter was welcome and unwelcome; it was from the Amateur Astronomer’s Anthology. ‘Dear Star Gazer,’ a cowardly pseudonym indeed, ‘It would be our pleasure to publish your astounding findings, our expert has corroborated their accuracy and wished to give them front page announcement!’ Andromeda sighed at that, she had published a few papers as a student but once hired by the Royal Observatory not one had been released. Sending in slightly dumbed down findings of lesser importance through an amateur’s magazine was the only way to give her research exposure. ‘At least I donate the fees’ she thought to herself, concealing the incriminating letter beneath frivolous flyer for horn accoutrements.
“Time to get back to work.” She levitated her encouraging note and pinned it to the board. More tedious reports…
*
As the morning trudged by and lunch passed all too quickly the afternoon wore on. As the clock hit that wavering moment that marks a few more hours until home Andromeda became aware of hurried activity and hushed excitement tinged with apprehension. The hubbub was silenced soon enough. Grateful for the distraction but aware of her task at hand, Andromeda returned to work. It was about a half hour later that she noticed the noises outside her door. There was a polite tap. “Enter.” Andromeda said simply. A bearded dusty red earth pony with greying mane and beard walked through the door. “Professor Tome, wonderful to see you…” she greeted through gritted teeth before trailing off at the sight of the pony accompanying him.
“So this is the young unicorn you wished to introduce Us to.” Princess Luna said. Slack jawed Andromeda watched in fright as her superior, an evil glint in his eye beckoned the guest in. “Yes your highness, this is our, ah ha, rising star here at the observatory.” Andromeda knew that look and tone, they hoped to get her into trouble to kick her out. ‘Well, let’s turn those tables around hmm’ she though wickedly. “Princess Luna, how flattering that you thought of me Professor, why, I shall take the tour from here sir!” she gushed, magically stacking her notes and the papers she was working on. “Well, I’ll just leave you then!” The old nag moved with a speed surprising for his age.
“A charming stallion.” Princess Luna huffed. “It is delightful to meet you Ms Star, though We suspect your superior merely wished to escape Our presence.”
“It’s Ascendant actually,” Andromeda automatically corrected, a hoof flying to her mouth as she realised what she had just done. “Ah We see, a case of professional and soulbound names is it? We approve, this practice fell from favour during Our long…absence.” By this point Andromeda was hyperventilating, her harsh breaths dislodging the mail pile and her private papers.
Curiosity piqued the Princess brought some to herself using magic and began to scan them. Andromeda started contemplating some of the self-immolation spells she had chanced upon in an ancient spell book. “Hmm, it seems you take a third name for yourself? We are impressed at your findings. Why is it that you do not publish them through this establishment?”
‘That is it, I am so fired and dead. I hear the moon is nice this time of century…’ Andromeda virtually fainted on the spot. “Now then, that was quite dramatic.” The Princess said, lifting the unicorn up onto her chair. She took a seat adjacent. “We… I do not wish to alarm you. I think I poured too much onto you too fast.” Andromeda nodded weakly, levitating a glass of water to her mouth and taking a sip. “To go from a routine day making sure the dusty brained bosses work isn’t self-conflicted to suddenly having the Princess of the Night in your office can do that to a filly.”
Princess Luna nodded in agreement. “Yes, I am sure it is. I believe you superior was trying to, how do you say it? ‘Drop you in it?’” when Andromeda nodded again the Princess chuckled dryly. “I must say this work you keep secret and those more than impressive submissions to my favoured anthology certainly gives them reason to fear your advance.” She regarded the dingy office and sniffed at what she could see of the official papers. “I came here hoping to see innovation in the science I founded so long ago. Instead I see the good old colt’s gang boosting each other to high wages and keeping their rumps safe. No real new findings, no new devices. No true interest in my night sky.” She sighed but smiled soon after. “You look like a hope for my vision to be realised however. I may have to take you into my personal employ.” Andromeda fainted on the spot again.
“’Rommy honey, wake up now, it’s never a good idea to sleep on the floor is it?” a familiar voice penetrated the safe gloom her mind had thrown up. “Lat, I had a really weird dream, the princess offered me a job…” She opened her eyes to see the familiar dark blue and white of her husband and also the concerned face of the Princess. “Eeep…” was all that came out after that. Latitude lifted her up and placed a comforting wing over her. “It’s fine honey, this is what we’ve been hoping for!” he gave her a reassuring squeeze.
“Thank you fine pegasus. Ms Ascendant, Mr Ascendant. I am seeking clever and hardworking ponies to help me catalogue my sky. To discover new wonders even I myself do not think possible. Those dusty brained old stallions do not support my ideals, they condescend as politely as they dare and until the day I came to their doorstep simply ignored my suggestions!” she ruffled her wings quite crossly. “You two, however, show great promise. I think I shall use some of my political power to remove you from this stifling establishment and we can begin some true study!” her eyes gleamed and Latitude beamed. Andromeda was shocked still. This was what she’d always wanted. She felt like another cutie mark should burst out.
“’Rommy, what do we say to the nice Princess?” Latitude whispered in her ear. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes. YES!” She glowed and started to float.
“Honey, you’re levitating again.”
“But I’m SO HAPPY!” she cried.
“This is quite splendid.” Princess Luna smiled. “I believe that with my patronage you both shall go far, my power simply enabling your intellect to work to its fullest.” A scroll and ornate quill appeared from nowhere. “Shall we get down to planning?”
-*-
Author’s note. Well, this bit slips in prior to my earlier story, a little background to this unicorn I created. I have other stories planned to sit within Andromeda’s Whorls that fit into the story timeline of Facets. I’ll post them as and when they get written.
Introducing the Team
The sunlight filtered through half closed curtains. A groaning Andromeda buried her face in her husband’s back, his dark blue wings providing cover for the tired unicorn as her magic tugged curtains to cover the gap. ‘The only problem with being an astronomer is mornings.’ She thought, drifting into a light sleep.
*
The night before had been enjoyable for all concerned, Andromeda, Latitude and his team Refract, Receiver and Brunswick had all been invited to an audience with Princess Luna. “So, my little ponies. Please, our earlier introductions were brief could you tell me a little about yourselves. After all, if I am to give you my patronage I should know who you are!” The little group had chuckled at that, their nerves at meeting royalty eased.
Looking from face to face, Andromeda decided to go first. “Well, Princess, I graduated from the school for gifted unicorns and attended Canterlot University, achieving my doctorate in astronomy. I became an employee at the observatory shortly afterwards. I met my husband while studying in university. We married after we had settled into our jobs.” She smiled fondly at Latitude who took his turn. “Well, like many pegasus ponies, I hale from Cloudsdale. However I set my sights higher than the weather and after getting my cutie mark started studying astronomy. Some crafty work on the part of a tutor of mine got me into Canterlot U on merit and I got a masters in astronomy with a minor in metrological theory. The observatory hired me for cloud clearance but one or two of the slightly more open minded seniors allowed me time to develop methods of recording and viewing the night skies. I gathered my team from likeminded ponies from the workshops.” The dark blue pegasus smirked at that and ruffled a wing.
Luna looked to the three others. “I believe that we were not formally introduced beyond the announcer this evening.” She smiled at the shy unicorns, trying to dispel their obvious fear. The earth pony gave a nicker and clomped an emerald hoof. “’Scuse the twins yer highness, they’re a mite shy.” He forwarded a hoof and shook mightily with the alicorn. “Tha name’s Brunswick Green.” He bowed his head slightly. “Oh, the Greens?” Princess Luna asked. “I believe I have met some of your family. Dartmouth and Laurel?” Brunswick smiled widely.
“Aye, that’ll be my kinfolk alright. They’re my second cousins. Their ma and pa run the Canterlot end of the family business. We Greens are only equal only in size by tha Apple family.” The emerald stallion nodded, his straw coloured mane briefly covered his eyes. “Ah got into tinkering with machines and that back on the family farm. Got a job out with the family down here but moved along to these sky-minded types after I trained young Lawn. Got nabbed by that pegasus.” He playfully hoofed Latitude. “Been working on their bigger equipment since.” As the earth pony finished a member of the night staff discreetly entered and deposited some snacks and drinks, leaving swiftly. The six set about eating the twin unicorns relieved their turn had been delayed.
Food consumed Luna looked expectantly at the twins. The mare blushed and ducked her head, the white stallion gulped and then took a breath. “I’m Refract Device and this is my sister Reciever.” The pale pink unicorn made brief eye contact with the princess before burying her nose against her brother. “We are from Fillydelphia, we studied magical theory in the university there. We were invited to the Royal Observatory after a paper of ours was published. ‘Magical Communication with Spatial Bodies’.” He finished there and nudged his sister. She looked up with a blush and an apologetic expression. To Luna’s surprise the girl’s horn began to glow. “I am Reciever.” A voice came, not from a mouth and not into ears but directly into the mind of the ponies present. A delighted look spread across the nocturnal princess’ face and Andromeda smiled encouragingly at her pastel pink colleague. “I was sadly born bereft of the faculties necessary to communicate normally with ponies.” Her tone was sweet and gentle but a sadness dwelt in her soft amber eyes. “As I grew I developed a method of communicating with others, at first only my brother but soon with other close friends and family. Through this I discovered that all things magical in nature had their own ‘voice’ and eventually found even the stars in our sky ‘speak’ to us.” The glow of her horn subsided and Refract took up the narrative. “We met Andromeda and Latitude and worked with them to develop the radio telescope. We are very glad you are interested in our little project.”
Luna beamed. “My little ponies! You are the most interesting ones I have met since the elements of harmony! Your magic Ms Receiver, We thought ourselves the only one to hear the voices of the sky.” The little unicorn mare blushed even deeper. A small smile crossed her face.
“It was the music I heard first. Such a comfort to me. It chased the lonely silence from my nights. I started to focus on it and call to it, eventually I could share it with others.” It was Luna’s turn to blush now. “Thank you, Receiver, I am glad my night is a comfort to you.”
The group settled into a companionable silence, nibbling the leftover snacks and simply enjoying company. The night drew on and a breeze rustled leaves outside the window. Canterlot was clear of clouds. Noticing that she was not alone in gazing at the night sky, Luna stood. “Would you like to see my personal observatory?”
In her bedroom, Princess Celestia smiled and rolled over in bed. Excited voices and the slight pressure of unfamiliar magic came from her sister’s quarters. “Well done Lu.” she mumbled, returning to sleep.
*
It was midmorning when the alarm clock blared only to be silenced by ice blue magic. “C’mon Lat’, time to get up we’ve got a busy day today.” Almost as soon as they had accepted the Princess’ offer they had been removed from the control of the Royal Observatory management and were instead working with her to plan out their new location. “Kay ‘Rommy,” he groaned and rolled from bed.” The unicorn moved around their house preparing a light meal before they would meet Princess Luna.
Refreshed and fed they attended the palace. The rest of the team were taking a break. The twins had purchases to make and Brunswick was helping out at the family business. The day guard saluted as Andromeda and Latitude entered, their passes allowing entry to the palace. One of Luna’s staff was waiting for them and they were taken to the princesses’ study.
“Good afternoon my astronomers, we have much to discuss.” She rolled out a map of Equestria with her magic. “How much do you know about Ponyville?”
