The Timeless Chronicle

The lights gather, and from my elevated position I see a line of ponies. I'm in a throne room, but not Canterlot's one. I know the place, but it's name resides on the edge of my mind right now.

One of the ponies exits, and another comes up. I turn around, and see, on the rooms thrones, both Princesses. The farmer mare walks up to the steps before the thrones, and kneels. She is offered fruit, but politely declines, at which point of time they begin talking about this years apple harvest.

I remember where I am. This is the Castle of Royal Pony Sisters, prior to Luna's banishment. Which means that Princess Luna is slowly turning into Nightmare Moon right  now. I look back at the scene before me.

The farmer mare is walking away, seemingly happier than before. The next pony in line comes forth. He seems more like a scribe, in a violet robe, and still organizing a messy pile of paper in his hooves. He too is proposed fruit, but hastily declines.

Princess Celestia takes an apple out of the basket next to her, saying, "Statest thy name and business." She takes a bite of the apple and looks down on her subject.

"Focus Glass, Milady," — he stands up from his knees — "and I have come here to highlight the significance of the upcoming stellar events."

Luna, seeing her sister still eating, inqired, "What is this eve—"

A loud crunch sounds, a bite Celestia has taken from her apple.

"As I stated previously," Luna continues, "Why is it of signi—"

"What is this event of which thou art speaking?" Celestia butts in. Luna's eyes shine light blue for a moment, but it might just be me, having overlooked something.

"The Constellation of Cancer is in a few weeks to be co-linear with the Moon." He seems very excited by this and I know exactly why. "The effects of the Moon will be the strongest in a thousand years. Can ye imagine what effects this will have on our economy?"

Princess Celestia is just eating a next apple, but Luna seems awfully interested in the talk, even though Focus is exceptionally boring.

After hearing of the positive and negative effects of the Moon on the economy, in particular orange and potato farming, and an extensive explanation of precautions to be taken in the ports of Manehattan, Baltimare and Las Pegasus, Luna once again speaks, "Dost thou think there are other areas where the Moon's effect hath landed? What doest thou think the effects on magic would b—"

"Thank thee, we shall take thine words into consideration. Thou mayst go now." Celestia is definitely impatient and, grabbing another apple, asks for the next subject.

I think I know where this is going, but I start sympathizing with Luna. While what she did was unforgivable, although forgiven, I begin to understand how much of a jerk Princess Celestia could be. She obviously doesn't want to be on this meeting, but does she have to show this this ostentatiously. The nervous eating, the tapping of her hoof. She is even looking towards the door from time to time. And during all of that time, overshadowing Luna. Driving things herself, to the quickest end.

A few more audiences have passed and the sun is slowly setting. Just as the pinks and oranges reach the window of the throne room, Celestia stands up and excuses herself to her sister and subjects, telling them that her time has come and she has become tired. The crowd mostly disperses, although e few ponies stay, for an audience with just Princess Luna.

Luna looks at Celestia's back, as the latter exits the room through a side door. She then orders the guards to change to night watch, and takes in the last few ponies remaining.

I follow Princess Celestia, as she is being escorted by her guards, up to her room. They banter on the way, and she laughs with them from time to time. At the door she parts with them, wishing them all a good night. She enters her room's door and I contemplate going after her, but side for going back to see Luna's doings.

Halfway through turning I hear a rumbling, and something falling down, both sounds coming from the bedroom, at which I race to the inside. I see someone clothed in a tall cloak with the hood deep over their head. Not someone, but Celestia. I begin questioning what I am seeing here, but have little time to do so, as the Princess jumps out of the window.

I run up  to it, and look down, believing to perceive a tragedy, but then it hits me. Princess Celestia can fly. I see her gently floating down to the tower, and landing, without any harm, at its bottom. I clumsily follow her, although my descent from such a height incorporates a greater amount of silent screaming. Levitating is one thing. Levitating two hundred meters above the ground is another.

Celestia sneaks through the small city that has built itself up around the castle and then through the forest surrounding it, and as I follow her I finally have some time to think things through.

Some things have cleared up, somewhat. I understand what made Luna take her decision about destroying the world. However I don't understand why Celestia is how she is right now. The question, what she is doing, sneaking out in the night, also arises. What could be so important that Celestia would allow herself to step on her sister's nerves constantly?

Before my questions have any chance of getting resolved, the lights flicker again. I think I'm getting used to this. They start moving.