Author's Note
This story came to me when listening to A Lullaby for a Princess. I hope you enjoy reading it.
chapter 1
Princess Celestia woke up at the same time she always does every day in equestria. As the lone ruler of the land it was her job to be up earlier than most earth ponies and use her power to lower the moon and raise the sun. Without her power there would be no pony to bring the new day. Every day was a strain on her but today was different. Normally when this day came every year Celestia would feel twice as bad as she normally would but this year was different and for the first time in many years Celestia got out of bed to lower the moon and bring the new day with a spring in her step.
Celestia went to her window and looked at the moon. For several minutes she stood at the window looking at the mare that was trapped on it. Usually, on this day, seeing the moon would cause her knees to grow weak and pain and misery would rack her whole body. But this day was different and she lit up her horn and started to lower the moon with the feeling of joy inside her body. Just before the moon fell under the horizon celestia bid her sister good morning. With the moon lowered, Celestia quickly raised the sun. Normally this was when she would crawl back into bed and wallow in misery but today she would do no such thing. With quick hoof-steps she exited her room and after telling her guards, who usually waited outside her door and followed her everywhere, to take the rest of the day off with cheer; she headed for the kitchens.
Two pony guards stood outside the doors to Celestia’s bedroom with the poster of experts. One was a Pegasus and the other on was a unicorn. These two guards had dedicated their whole lives to follow and protect the princess. Their sole duty was to do as she asked and every year on this day was the one they hated the most. On this day their princess was attacked viciously with something even they could not protect her from and that was this day. Every year they were force to watch helplessly as their princess live out this day and were powerless to do anything to help her. So, like every year, they prepared for the day to start. They would never say it but having to stand outside the door and listen to this day take its toll on their princess always tore at their hearts. She would usually stay in her room all day but sometimes she would leave to get something and the sight of her condition would always cause them to flinch. Her lifeless and dishevel mane and coat was one thing that came with this day but it was her body that seemed to take the worst blow. She could barely walk right and each step caused a flash of pain to show across her face. Last year she left her room and she was just as bad maybe even worst. She had only taken a few steps from her bedroom when she nearly collapsed on the flood if not for the swiftness of the unicorn’s magic to catch her from falling. They told her that we would get what she needs and after agreeing she turned around and moved slowely back to her room. Once the Pegasus was insure she was safe he went to retrieve what his princess desired. This year was different. She flew out of her room telling them to take the day off. The joy coming off her made them smile just a little. She shined as bright as the sun and she looked radiant. She even walked away with a slight skip in her step. The two guard’s posture relaxed and they head home with a newfound joy in this day. This year they could protect her and it seemed like nothing today could harm her and this made them head home with a skip as well.
Celestia skipped through the castle with a smile on her face that nothing in the world could wide off of her. As she walked through the castle she greeted the staff and told them to take the day off and go home. Some of the staff end up looking shocked upon seeing her this way on this day others just accepted it and headed home with as much cheer as Celestia. All the staff know what this day brought for the princess and so did most of the nobles. This is why on this day the staff steered cleared of their Princesses room and the nobles would cancel any events and court appointments. They know what this day did to her and they gave her the space she needed to deal with it.
Celestia made it to the kitchens and told the cook that he could go home as well for the day. After she was gone she put on his apron and his chef hat and started to prepare the things she needed to make a cake. She stopped what she was doing when she saw a tiny lavender color filly walk into the kitchen with a confused look on her face. The filly’s name was Twilight Sparkle and she became her personal student just a few months ago. Twilight looked around in confusion for a few seconds.
“Princess Celestia what are you doing?” she asked trying her hardest to understand why her teacher was in a cook outfit. Celestia look at her student and smiled warmly.
“I’m about to make a cake. Would you like to help me?”
Twilight’s face lit up and she started to bounce the room in excitement.
“Yes of course; of course!”
within minutes she was wearing a chef’s assistant outfit that was meant for a larger pony. Celestia knew that she could easily find an outfit for Twilight that was her size but she decided to make this a part lesson-part cake bake time. So, twilight had to keep the hat she was wearing from falling over her head with her magic. At the same time she had to help make the cake. Twilight quickly accepted the challenge that Celestia asked her to do and promised to not fail. With that said twilight make quick work in organizing everything they both need to make the cake. When Twilight was done Celestia thought her work could make an OCD pony cry tears of joy and proclaim that it was a work of art.
So they both started making the cake. Celestia did most of the mixing while Twilight handed over the ingredients they needed and licked the bowl clean. Once the cake was in the oven, Celestia make them both salads to eat for breakfast. After eating they both got the cake out and Twilight was honored with frosting duty and icing writing. Meanwhile Celestia searched around the kitchen for a cake box.
She found the box eventually and put the cake inside and closed it. She told Twilight that the lesson was over and that she had the rest of the day off to go play and turned to clean up the mess that they had made in the kitchen. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Twilight climb on the counter where the cake was, grab it and jump down to the ground, and gave her a look before bolting out the kitchen door. Celestia looked at the messing kitchen then at the kitchen door and smirked.
“So you want to play that game.” She said before bolting out the door after the tiny filly.
Celestia exited the room and saw Twilight running through the door out into the castle and she chased after her. For several minutes Celestia chase Twilight through the halls of the castle. Every few minutes Twilight would make a sharp turn down a different hallway in hopes of losing the princess but Celestia was right behind her with every turn.
Twilight made a sharp right down a hallway and Celestia was quick to make the turn in pursuit but she stopped once she rounded the corner. Twilight was halfway down the hallway and was looking at the walls with a look of deep concentration on her face. Celestia stopped and waited for Twilight to make her next move.
After a few minutes Twilight ran up to the left wall and jumped against it. With her back hooves she kicked off the wall and landed on the opposite side and repeated the process. She continued to do this and climbed slowly up the room. Halfway up the left side she pause for a second and then pushed herself headfirst into the other wall and disappeared.
Celestia stood still in shock. She knew the castle was filled with secret pathways and traps but she didn’t know about that one. She walked up to the right wall and tapped it with her hoof. It was solid. She knew that the trigger plate was most likely halfway up the left wall where Twilight had paused at. So Celestia started copying what Twilight did and halfway up the left wall Celestia could feel the stone moving back and the wall to the right wavered. With a grin, Celestia launched herself into the wall.
She went through the wall and came out into another hallway. She saw Twilight at the end of the hallway on the right taking a break. Twilight looked up to see Celestia and jumped up and started to run. So, the chase continued throughout the castle. Every now and then Twilight would go through a secret passage or hallway but those were one’s Celestia knew about and kept up with the filly easily.
Twilight had turned down a corridor and started to run down it. Celestia started to smile. This hallway was a dead-end and Twilight had nowhere to go. When she caught up to twilight she noticed how smug she looked.
“This is the end for you Thief!” Celestia said trying her hardest not to laugh.
Twilight raised on her back hooves and raised the cake box over her head.
“I am the greatest cake thief in all Equestria and shall never be caught.” She said striking a weird pose.
…
…
Celestia had a weird feeling that something was supposed to happen and apparently so did Twilight.
“I know it’s around here somewhere.” She mumbled before moving one of her back hooves back an inch.
There was a rumble and the wall spun around and for the second time Celestia was surprised to find that Twilight was gone. She didn’t let this stall her though and without a second thought went to where Twilight was standing and stuck the same pose.
One wall spin later and Celestia found herself at stairs going down into a passage way. She quickly ran down the stairs and through the passage and came up to a wooden wall at the end. After pushing the wall Celestia found herself in a closet.
She left the closet and started to look around the room she was in. It was where she has the gala done every year and at the top of the stairs stood Twilight doing her best evil Villain laugh. It required a little more work but it still sounded pretty evil…and adorable. Twilight saw Celestia and gasped.
“How did you find the pathway to my secret base?” She said with surprise.
Celestia resisted to urge to laugh at the cuteness she was witnessing and decided to play her part.
“Next time you should lock the door to your pathway.”
Twilight looked at her confused. “I couldn’t it doesn’t have any locks.”
Celestia couldn’t help but to start laughing.
“Your laugher has become her downfall princess. Now I shall make my grand escape.” Twilight said.
She jumped up and when she landed she triggered a spring trap that flung her through a hole that appeared into the ceiling. Celestia had to admit that the escape was indeed grand. She claimed the stairs and repeated what Twilight did.
She was flung through the air and was clearly heading toward the castle. Judging by the angle she was going to land into Twilight’s room. Celestia’s estimate proved true and she flew through an open window and landed on a pile of giant pillows. Celestia climb out of the pillows and expected Twilight to be close ready to make some evil Villon speech but she wasn’t. Celestia saw her on the second floor of the library pulling down a lantern and opening a secret hallway behind a bookshelf.
Celestia exactly where that hallway led to and followed her quickly. The first thing she did when reaching the room was close the door. Then she turned to her bed and found that Twilight had made pillow fort at the foot of the bed. Before Celestia could move Twilight called out.
“Spike defense quick.”
A small purple dragon appeared in front of Celestia and tried to growl only to end up sneezing and starting a wave of hiccups that would usually follow a small flame. Twilight watched in horror as Celestia walked by her purple guard and push through her pillow fort with ease. Realizing she was beat she handed over the cake box. She looked up at Celestia with a hopeful look.
“Did I do well?”
“Of course you did. You made the best thief.”
Celestia had cleared off her bed and both she and Twilight moved on it to eat the cake. They spend the rest of the day laughing at everything that had happened and eating cake.
“Princess can I ask for a wish?” Twilight asked suddenly. Celestia looked down at her student and smiled.
“How about I give you three.” She said. Twilight smiled happily and started to think of what she wanted.
“I want to be a princess.” She said looking at Celestia. “I also want to rule Equestria with you.”
Celestia looked at her student calmly.
“I can grant you that wish but you’ll have to work really hard to get it. How’s that?” She said.
Twilight started to jump up and down excitedly.
“Yes! yes! yes!” she shout. “I’m going to start right now. She got up and started to leave but Celestia stopped her.
“What about your last wish?” She asked Twilight. Twilight shrugged.
“I don’t know what I want it to be yet.”
She picked up spike and left the room bidding Celestia goodnight.
Soon it was time to lower the sun and raise the moon. Celestia moved to the window and lowered the sun then she prepared to raise the moon. With every passing moment she grow more sober. By the time the moon was in position there was no sign of joy. Celestia stood at the window staring at the moon for several minutes.
“Goodnight my dear sister.” She said shedding tears. “Happy birthday.”
The end.
