My Little Staring Contest: Alicorns can stare for a very long timeby CosmicAfroChapters30 minutes, 18 seconds63 minutes, 2 secondsDay 2, 4 a.m. 42 minutes, 12 secondsDay 3, 7 a.m. 3 minutes, 59 secondsFive minutes later: The conclusion, part 1The conclusion, part 2It begins anew...For the Muffin to end all Muffins10 minutes, 48 seconds128 minutes, 54 secondsEpilogue30 minutes, 18 seconds30 minutes, 18 seconds “Luna, I forgot to tell you, Twilight Sparkle shall be visiting Canterlot with her friends to see the observatory this weekend. You should pay them a visit, I’m sure they’d be more than happy to see you.” “Very well, I shall add that to my calendar when I have won this contest.” The muffin, not forgotten at all by either party, had one small crumb fall off the top. Even if the two sisters could keep up this act for vast periods of time, the chocolate confectionary didn’t have that privilege. But, they kept to their silence. A few members left to go do some required tasks about the castle, but they assured their friends that they would return soon. “Hey ref,” a servant asked almost silently, “I th- “Shhh.” “But Luna’s ey-“ “Shhh!” 63 minutes, 2 seconds63 minutes, 2 seconds “Are they still going at it?” one observer asked in a hushed voice as she entered the room. “Yeah, but Celestia’s eyes have been drooping more and more. They’re only down by half a centimeter, but it’s progress. Luna, on the other hoof, hasn’t moved a bit. She just keeps tapping the ground with the same beat. I’ve never seen anything like it,” the guard responded in admiration. Seeing as there wasn’t anything too different going on, the recent visitor left along with a few others. And so… the staring contest continued… Day 2, 4 a.m. 42 minutes, 12 secondsDay 2, 4a.m., 43 minutes, 12 seconds And for a long time, nothing happened (as is with most staring contests). The jumps of time between actions exponentially increased as both bided their time… The muffin had long since been removed from the tray after they silently agreed it had expired. Regardless of the original purpose being removed, the two kept at it. Neither had moved from their previous position outside of the lone head bob. Their fortitude and adamancy was something to be admired, from the few who chose to stay anyways. Luna finally broke what had been a dangerously long silence. “So, sister, do you feel that urge to blink, that creeping feeling in the back of your mind that’s encouraging you to end your cruel punishment? You and I both know that we’re nearing our limits. My water strapped to my leg has long since been depleted and your mane has ceased flowing as well as mine.” Astounded that she had the ability to speak so readily, Celestia snapped back into full alertness, letting her drooping eyes return to completely open. With it came a terrible burning sensation, one that was akin to a sunburn. She found it ironic… and bad news. “Yes, you see it now, don’t you Celestia? I’m going to win and the subjects will know my will is stronger than the sun!” There was something twisted about the way she had phrased her sentence. Bargaining against her own physical limitations, she spoke, “Luna, what’s happening to you?” She hadn’t taken much notice to it previously, but her coat had been becoming darker and her mane was filling with magical power. Her eyes were just like- “Luna! Cease what you’re doing right now! We both agreed to no magic for this game!” “Yes, Princess Luna agreed to those terms… but I am no longer Princess Luna. I am-“ Miraculously, or unfortunately for Celestia, Luna shifted her body into the form of her darker side. There was no aura, there was no field or cloud or potion that was ingested, it simply happened like a strike of lightning, minus the flashing effects produced by the natural anomaly. The alicorn of the day didn’t know how it was possible, but the transformation was indeed without magic… she had successfully returned to her vile counterpart. “-Nightstare Moon!” The remaining members, all three of them, of the audience gasped in horror, except for one who thought it was really cool and started rooting for her. But, worse news came. With the subtle change came a completely refreshed and reinvigorated princess. Her serpentine eyes glimmered with a newfound reinvigoration; it was comparable to a second wind in a marathon runner. “Fool, you should know that your genre of Rock and Roll developed during my absence boosts my attentiveness and my alertness. I have acquired the ability to listen to the songs for incredible amounts of time without pause. There is no magic about it, it’s a natural occurrence. Most call it a personality disorder, I call it my greatest strength.” Celestia was about to give in and give up, until her eyes noticed an object in her peripherals. A lone, silver spoon. Perhaps… “You should know by now, Luna, that I will never give in. You will not win this staring contest!” she yelled with royal authority. “Foolish sister, I already have won! And when I have made it official, I think I’ll add a new constellation into the sky.” “W-what might that be?” Celestia stuttered due to fear and sleep deprivation. “You and your star pupil, Twilight Sparkle, kissing.” Now it was her turn to blush as the solar princess realized the consequences, her reputation and her student’s would be compromised. It was a low blow but it visually stressed her. Now, Celestia was fighting for not only herself, but for her royalty. The servants in the room were in the middle of signing standard contracts delivered by the royal guard agreeing not to disclose the information released on punishment of banishment. The fight continued… Day 3, 7 a.m. 3 minutes, 59 secondsDay 3, 7 a.m. 3 minutes, 59 seconds But for every bide, there must be a time of attack… The solar alicorn was close to collapsing while Nightstare Moon was flaunting about, giggling and whispering to herself like a little school girl. Through the window… the sun was rising. As was revealed in the pageant play every year, common unicorns, if enough were gathered en masse, could rotate the sun and moon. This was now typically done only in emergencies, for they could not do it as nearly as well as the princesses, but this was an appropriate occasion. A small sliver of light poked through the curtain farthest from her, exactly where Celestia had hoped, onto the floor. Minutes passed and it kept on traveling across the carpet, intensifying as the sun rose up into the sky. A half hour later, it was almost in place. “Nightstare moon, I have a proposition.” Celestia put on her best negotiating face, which was getting harder to keep with the shriveling eye sacks. “Hmm?” she hummed, half intrigued. “If I win, you need to… excuse me, guard?” she motioned with her hoof for him to come over. She whispered the orders into his ear to which he promptly delivered to Nightstare Moon. “That’s preposterous! I accept. And when I win?” “Guard?” He came back over, received instructions once more and then relayed the message. “Ooooh… that’s very tempting. And will this be included with what I already plan to do?” “Yes.” With a nod, the two powers of the universe resumed (though it never really stopped) the contest. A/N: The conclusion arrives soon... Five minutes later: The conclusion, part 1Five minutes later “What are you smiling at, Celestia?” Nightstare moon asked with a demanding tone. “Oh nothing, just a funny little joke of mine.” She’d continue the grin farther, but she knew one twitch and it was all over. She just needed a little more time, her eyes were begging for relief and hospital assistance. It was just her, her sister, the ref, and the pony running the betting table remaining. While they hadn’t been as vigilant in keeping awake, let alone partaking in turning their eyeballs into dust, they had at least remained loyal to the cause. The constant cycle of the servants coming in and giving a disapproving glare that said, “are they still going at it?" wasn't helping Celestia's morale. The beam of light trailing the floor was soon approaching the target. “Hey… Luna,” she spoke softly and conservatively. “It’s Nightstare Moon.” “What’s duller than the sun, more reflective than the moon, and can easily defeat a power hungry alicorn?” she asked, almost wheezed out due to exhaustion. “What is the purpose of this question?” It suddenly occurred to her that her sister was planning something to defeat her. Darting her eyes across every inch of the room, she searched feverishly for the something in question. The ref allowed her to move about the room so long as she could keep constant eye contact with his own. She ambled across and found an offending spoon on the floor that she never would have seen if she had kept her eyes at Celestia's gaze. “Servants, how have you not found this lone piece of silverware sitting on the floor? Based on the smudge on its reflective surface, it’s been here for a few days. Remove it at once.” Celestia winced in agony, forcing her left eye completely closed. To say it was anything less painful than absolute agony would have been a farce, but the thought of her plan being destroyed was just as mentally damaging. “She has closed one eye Ms. Moon, do you desire to end the match?” spoke the referee. “No, she can still participate with one open as long as the other remains completely shut.” The order was deemed fair by all parties, even princess Celestia, and so the match continued. “Dearest sister, did you really think that a mere spoon would have been enough to finish me off? I’m insulted, I really am. Why don’t you just give up this fight?” “Because… I’m not…” Her legs gave out underneath her and she fell to the floor, landing on her right side. Fortunately, she kept her eye lid from closing; however, the new reclined position was not favoring well on her eye’s strength, but her fatigue. “Look at you now,” Nightstare moon mocked as she approached her fallen sister, “lying on the floor like a-” Her jet black nose began to twitch involuntarily. “Like a-…a!!!” “Sister, listen, you can end this madness… sneeze,” she said, practically begging. “No! I shaaa-aaa!!!!” She held a hoof to her nose, desperately trying to overcome her body’s natural function. Cautiously letting out steady streams of air through her nostrils, she alleviated herself from almost certain defeat. With a large sigh, she breathed out stress she didn’t know she was holding. Celestia knew, by this point, that there wasn’t going to be any hope of a natural win. Her trump card had been played, Nightstare moon had avoided a sneeze, and she was alone. There was enough energy in her being for one final assault. It wasn’t going to be easy, but her time was limited. She predicted that her eyes could only sustain twenty more minutes before relapsing. Picking herself up off of the floor, Celestia, though shaking and in writhing pain, began to step forward to the villain. Annoying Author’s note: Ok, so, you know how I said that I had this entire story written? That was true when I posted the story… when I thought this wouldn’t gain any attention except for the select few people who I wrote it for. Needless to say, it’s expanded well beyond that so I’m going to re-write the conclusion and make it as epic as it should be. This will take a day or two because I am busy with outside priorities, so please be patient. In the meantime, feel free to speculate what our desperate little Celestia is going to do. Will she submit defeat? Will she force her sister’s eyes closed? How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop!? The world may never know. P.S. Seriously, why do you guys even like this story... it's badly written, even by my standards. The conclusion, part 2This was it: her final assault. Each light bounce of her hoofstep further damaged what was left of her remaining fortitude. One could say she was walking towards Nightstare Moon, but it was really more comparable to pony who had too much to drink. While it was true that she wasn’t physically damaged (outside of her corneas being on metaphysical fire), the same could not be said for her mind. “Why do you approach me? Unless, of course, you’re ready to concede defeat by bowing down to me,” the alicorn of night allowed herself an arrogant scoff at her sister and her rapidly declining resistance. Celestia knew that speaking wasn’t the best option at the moment; one misaligned face crease and the fight was over, and she knew it all too well. Yet she was an adamant mare, so she struggled bravely onwards. “Now, really? What could possibly be your plan here Celestia?” Nightstare Moon spoke slightly hurriedly as she noticed a strange sense of vigor… no that wasn’t the word… enthusiasm emanating from her sister. She hesitantly walked backwards one step. One wing, white as freshly laid snow, extended from the princess’s body. A feather, no larger than that of the average quill for unicorn writers, drooped lazily until caught by an extended golden-clad hoof. She lifted it into her mouth and bit on the tip, letting only the soft and airy side protrude. “A feather? That’s your plan? What could you possibly hope to achieve with such a meaningless object?” she inquired, backtracking further with the slightest hint of fear tingling in the back of her voice, anticipating even as she asked. Celestia took a large step forward, as if delivering some great speech, and was now at the half-way point between the two. Nightstare Moon, realizing this, dashed to the nearby curtains and pulled them apart, letting a grand flow of light into the room, and more importantly into the solar alicorn’s face. It had no visible effect on the bedraggled mare; it was probable that she was losing all feeling in that side of her face. The irony was not lost on her that she had just made an attempt to use the sun’s light to vanquish the diety with complete power of said ball of boiling gas; coincidentally, this went against her own philosophies of night, but she continued opening more, just the same. Again, it failed to produce any effect. By the time she had finished, half of the room was unreasonably bright. The other half she wouldn’t dare approach; that would mean confronting her. Nightstare Moon was on the bright side, her sister in the dark. Celestia quickened her pace, taking more imposing steps towards her nemesis, squinting as she went. “C-Celestia? What has become of you… doesn’t that hurt?” “Yes,” she spoke through gritted teeth, once again ignoring her physical limitations, “it hurts more than the time we set Equestria free from the reign of Chaos. As you may remember from our days of fighting Discord, using more than one element of harmony at a time was not free of consequence. However, what would hurt more is if I let myself lose my own stake and sacrificed the reputation of innocent ponies to a sister who couldn’t merely say no to desire over a simple morsel of Bliss. “With this feather, an object that was once a part of me as an extension of my own body, I will end this fight. Through this pain, I will obtain victory and decree your punishment. If you really cared, we would have ended this petty squabble days ago.” “Wait what?” “But how am I to suspect you didn’t have ulterior motives this entire time after seeing me in this much agony?” “Oh, so you thought I was serious about the whole deposing you and making you and Twilight kiss thing.... well, that’s awkward.” “Unlike you, I keep my promises, especially to my relatives and to my kingdom. Nightstare Moon, prepare to meet your defeat!” At the bottom of her closed eyelid, a stream of tears formed. Not closing her eye while speaking that much was like pouring hot water onto a sunburn while in the middle of a sauna. On the sun. What came next was undeniably worse. Like a tiger, she jumped into the air, forelegs stretched out as far as possible in a pouncing formation, and lunged the feather at her solar opposite. Nightstare Moon sidestepped to avoid the oncoming assault, but it was so sudden that her joints locked up in tension. She finally knew what was going to happen next. If there was one thing her sister knew from their foalhood together, it was her ticklish spots. And she… was quite ticklish. Her own body convulsed as Celestia’s plumage swathed across her neck, sending jitters and spasms to her face. One eye had to close, there was no other way. “Pl-please Celestia I –ha ha- can’t t-take it!” she said in half giggle, half terror. But, the onslaught refused to cease. Celestia moved down to the bottom of her sister’s hooves, the second most ticklish place of all. Nightstare Moon couldn’t help but have laugh after laugh forcibly escape her mouth, all while attempting to stay in the fight. If Celestia kept it up for even a few more seconds, that would be it. So, she fought back too, quickly plucking one of her own from her jet-black wing and counter attacking. Like swords, they wielded their mouth weapons with valor and courage, scanning for weak spots in the opposing’s defenses. Nightstare Moon would assault one spot, only to be tickled double in return. The door to the great dining room opened and a servant walked in to find the two going at it with feverish haste. He wondered where the referee was… but then he realized that if he found him this glorious fight would end. Seeing as it was, for the most part, harmless, he just stood there, cheering on the both of them. ___ By the time they stopped, it was eighteen minutes into the battle. Celestia only had one stroke of energy left which was on par with her sister’s. She knew what had to be accomplished. With an all-powerful leap of super intense ticklish justice, the solar alicorn in all of her great glory tackled her relative and tickled right under her chin! Or, so was her intentions. Knowing she might have tried to engage in such a noble and valiant manner, Nightstare Moon ducked and used her own weapon to attack. With laser point accuracy, she hit her sister’s chin at the exact most sensitive spot. “No! No!” Celestia screamed in terror, “this wasn’t supoosed to be how it ended!” “Unfortunately for you, this is how it shall end.” She couldn’t help it, it was inevitable. Her royal eye, the one proclaimed to have the will of the sun and stronger than the moon, shut. Nightstare Moon… had won. It begins anew...Twilight shut the door as fast as possible and rested her back against it, panting heavily and holding a hoof to her heart. Never once would she have ever imagined something like… that happening in the bath. It didn’t make sense, and she certainly didn’t think of the princesses that way. Celestia’s mane was so frazzled as well as Luna’s. And those clothes they were wearing? It was so… She didn’t know the word for it. Twilight Sparkle, newest Princess of Equestria and Egghead Extraordinaire (her unofficial title by Rainbow Dash), didn’t know the word for what she was feeling. She groaned as she slid down the door. Her mind returned to the next thing on the list. Just what were the guards doing in there with them? She didn’t want to think about it anymore. It was giving her a headache as she tried to digest the information. She picked up her towel and decided it’d be easier for her to take a shower that evening. The next morning… She awoke with a letter sticking to her face. As one might expect, she smacked her lips lazily and then stretched out for her morning yawn. She pushed some bedhead out of her eyes and then was going to begin reading it, until she looked past what was in front of her and realized the scroll it was on had unraveled itself beyond her bed. She looked at the first paragraph. Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle I have sent you this letter to help ease your confusion on the issue of what you momentarily observed in the Royal Bath. It’s a terribly difficult scenario to explain, but I know you’ll eventually come to make sense of it. It was an unannounced thing, but I hope that next time you can come and join us. As if her morning drowsiness had sprouted legs and walked off, she immediately began to read more. It all started one very odd evening just three nights ago… The Indirect Sequel Begins Here... Author's Note Did you know it's been almost a year since I finished this story? I felt it was appropriate to continue it. Thanks for all the love and support you've given me and go read that indirect sequel (meaning no events that transpired here will be referenced in the next installment) by clicking that green link at the end of this chapter sneak peek! For the Muffin to end all MuffinsAnnoying Author's Note: If you see any errors, please feel free to let me know. I'd like to thank overdonefictions and Samaru for inspiring me to write this. You guys are... strange. “Good morning, Luna,” Celestia promptly greeted her lunar counterpart as she entered into the breakfast room. The alicorn of the night found her normal seating space at the opposite end of the elongated table draped with a decorative cloth that gradually darkened/lightened based on the princess sitting at the table. She returned the gesture with a polite bow and a hearty hello before seating and then readied her own plate. There were many foods to be had, from toast and waffles to soup and salads. While one was there for their dawn of work, the other had yet to see dusk close on hers. The muffins had been exceptionally exquisite, or so Celestia had boasted, so Luna decided to indulge in one. She was inclined to agree, and she helped herself to but a few more. “’Tia, what flavor is this?” the younger sister asked with a mouthful. “Officially it’s chocolate chocolate chunk with a pudding filling that’s been heated perfectly over an undisclosed period of time, but I prefer to call it ‘bliss.’” “Well they’re absolutely scrumptious, I wish these could be made more often.” As she finished the line, Luna levitated the last one on the muffin tray and beckoned it to come towards her so that she may enjoy its wonderful flavors. However, the polar power had the exact same idea, so the muffin refused to budge as it floated in place with both auras of magic swirling amongst each other. “Luna,” Celestia spoke, “would you perhaps mind if I finished this one?” “But ‘Tia,” she nearly whined in reply, “you get these all the time while I had only these today. Surely you could spare this one?” She tapped a hoof on her chin in perspective thought, but ultimately came to the conclusion and said, “Normally yes, but I think you’ve had enough today.” A blush burned into Luna’s cheeks. Catching the undertone of the phrase, she replied, “A-are you calling me fat!?” “No,” she rolled her eyes, pretending as if nothing insulting was said. She only then realized that the aforementioned action didn’t help disprove her argument, but she stuck with it. “I think you’re calling me fat, ‘Tia.” “Well, the moon has been rather large as of late,” she managed to mention this while looking not at Luna’s face, but at her… moon. Slamming her hooves on the table, causing a silver spoon to drop to the floor, the night Alicorn furiously demanded that she have the last muffin as retribution for the childish mockery from her sister. “No.” “Fine, I see that thou wishest it no other way,” she said, returning to a mix of her archaic speak and common tongue. “We challenge thee to a staring contest! The winner who’s lids refusest to drop last wins the chocolate muffin!” “Luna, must we res-“ “Art thou afraid of losing?” “No, but fee-“ “Or… art thou chicken? Your enlarging thighs wouldn’t disprove mine theory.” With a sly smirk, Celestia rose out of her seat. “Very well sister, I shall accept your challenge. What are the terms and conditions?” “We shall meet, after I have lowered the moon, back in this room. We shall not move from our side of the table so that we may both keep our eyes on each other and the prize. There shalt not be any magic. Taunting shall be allowed. The winner receives the muffin.” “Very well, sister.” They met at the middle of the table and shook hooves before taking off for their respective duties. Meanwhile, a servant who had been eavesdropping through the door had overheard the challenge and was already well working on spreading the news. ___ “My my, it seems we have garnered quite the crowd,” Celestia stated with a smile. “Do you think you can handle the attention?” Taking her position at the table, wearing a light blue headband and sucking on a straw that led all the way down to a bottle of water on her leg, Luna stated her resolve, “I do not fear my subjects, sister. For when they see that I have the stronger, keener, and watchful eyes of the sky who can see the slightest movement in the blackest darkness, they shall know who has the stronger will power.” The audience, who had set up benches and betting tables in the royal dining hall, oooooooh’d at the Solar Princess. “You forget, Luna,” Celestia continued with her trademark grin, “that my eyes are set to view in the brightest day. When they are done following your rouse, they will come to terms that my sharper, healthier, and observant eyes are superior to yours. Always have, and they always will be.” They jeered and jested as the crowd became split with indecision about who they should root for. “Very well, art thou ready for the contest of visual combat?” she boomed with her astoundingly vocal voice. “Yes.” “Alright,” a referee took his queue and stood in the middle of the table, “the terms and conditions have been stated so I expect both princesses to follow them. I want all audience members to stay at least fifty feet from the table at all times. Anyone caught trying to interfere will be escorted out of the room by the royal guard. Is everyone clear?" “Yes!” the audience yelled in response with vigor. “Very well.” The ref put a flag in his mouth, one that was adorned with both crests of the celestial royalty. “On the count of three, you’ll stare.” They closed their eyes, awaiting the moment to begin. “One.” Celestia didn’t seem phased in the least as she kept a perfectly stoic expression, a mask that she had created over the few millennia she had lived. “Two.” Luna was pumped, eagerly trotting in place, and had put in her earbuds to her Mp3 at some point. The genre of her music was unknown. “Three.” There was a tangible silence… the room fell completely still. “GO!” They cheered and yelled before they were almost immediately silenced. “Hey, so, how long do these things go for?” a servant asked the referee. “A long… long time.” 10 minutes, 48 seconds10 minutes, 48 seconds Even now, there were no signs of weakness. While ten minutes might be an exceptional length of time for any normal pony, they had the strength of the universe behind their corneas and they weren’t going to give up the food without a fight. Celestia was apparently unamused at the prospect, fearing no signs of a promising win from her sister. Speaking of, Luna was tapping a hoof and bobbing her head, carefully minding not to get too entranced into the unknown song playing in her ears. Both didn’t leave the other’s eyes for a moment, except for maybe a quick glance at the muffin. Despite the appearance of a boring atmosphere, the sheer intensity of the silent duel is what kept the audience enthralled and consequentially glued to their seats. When words were spoken, they were either hushed or extremely quiet. Even the betting table, though extremely active and robust, was eerily silent minus the clacking of pens. “So, Luna,” Celestia broke the tension, “how are you doing?” “Fine,” she answered, even with the headphones blocking her ears. Most suspected she could read lips, which was by all means a fair assumption. “How goes the friendship lessons with Twilight Sparkle?” “She’s learning much. I’m very proud of my student.” That was it; they went back to their previous stances. The common observer could only just now see a small strain of red coursing through their eyes. 128 minutes, 54 seconds128 minutes, 54 seconds The sun was now at a reasonable height in the sky and it had risen just as much as the audience’s numbers had dwindled. Only the sternest and most invested ponies dared to stay in the remote silence of the hall. Luna, as always, was bobbing her head and listening to music. She, nor her sister, had said a word. Celestia’s eyes had fully reddened. She took comfort in the fact that her sister was suffering the same fate. A rim of water was forming under each eye. She desperately wanted to blink it out, it was bothering her to no end, but this had become more than just a silly contest. It was for will power… who would survive the longest? Was it the sun, the object that glowed passionately all days of the week only to set over an imaginary line called the horizon? Or, was it the moon? Even though it produced no light of its own, it could reflect all light and give its own luminescent glow. It did not run on fuel, it was willing to shine as long as the sun was. Truly, the match was even. She thought of speaking… but moving her mouth might cause an involuntary twitch. Celestia waited… EpilogueDear Twilight Sparkle Today, I am writing to you, or to put it more accurately I’m having a scribe transcribe my thoughts to paper, from the infirmary, reflecting on a lesson learnt about friendship. I suppose even Luna and I still have some things to learn despite our age. Over the past few days, as you may have learned from articles in the newspaper, my sister and I engaged in a battle of steeled visual determination over an object of corruptible albeit delicious value. There was no real winner as we are now both hospitalized with bandages wrapped around our eyes. It will be some time before we can resume our duties with the sun and moon, though our current condition does not interfere with us meeting with our subjects. Various medicines have allowed the pain to be subdued enough for us to continue such obligations. As of this writing, I am attending to the need of my subjects giving out justice where it is most appropriate. I suppose there is some irony in that statement seeing as justice is supposed to be as blind as I am now. I did however lose a wager in the heat of our skirmish and am now wearing some attire inappropriate for somepony as myself. Fortunately for me, we’re both unable to see how demeaning I must appear so the entire prospect was lost on Luna even though she bested me. The point of the message being is to not get carried away with petty fights. It’s ok to argue with your friends and relatives once in a while as it will only boost your relationship further when the issue has been resolved. If you get carried away, pardon my expression, you might both get burned. Do not try to be so overly demanding that you cannot see the trouble you might put yourself through won’t be worth the effort it expends. Your Eternal Mentor ~Princess Celestia of Equestria ___ Dear Twilight Sparkle The next time you’re in a staring contest, bring a fully charged personal music device and plenty of fluid to keep you from quitting due to natural functions. My wounds were not as severe as my sister’s so I was able to view her rather… risqué costume while she’s appealing to her subjects. I reccomend you come visit post haste as you may never have the opportunity to enjoy such a comical sight. Don’t speak of this to her, but she has yet to find out my condition has been cured. We’ll remove bandages in unison in four days’ time. Your Regent of the Night ~Princess Luna of Equestria P.S. I’ve sent you a muffin called “Bliss”. It’s absolutely delectable.
30 minutes, 18 seconds30 minutes, 18 seconds “Luna, I forgot to tell you, Twilight Sparkle shall be visiting Canterlot with her friends to see the observatory this weekend. You should pay them a visit, I’m sure they’d be more than happy to see you.” “Very well, I shall add that to my calendar when I have won this contest.” The muffin, not forgotten at all by either party, had one small crumb fall off the top. Even if the two sisters could keep up this act for vast periods of time, the chocolate confectionary didn’t have that privilege. But, they kept to their silence. A few members left to go do some required tasks about the castle, but they assured their friends that they would return soon. “Hey ref,” a servant asked almost silently, “I th- “Shhh.” “But Luna’s ey-“ “Shhh!”
63 minutes, 2 seconds63 minutes, 2 seconds “Are they still going at it?” one observer asked in a hushed voice as she entered the room. “Yeah, but Celestia’s eyes have been drooping more and more. They’re only down by half a centimeter, but it’s progress. Luna, on the other hoof, hasn’t moved a bit. She just keeps tapping the ground with the same beat. I’ve never seen anything like it,” the guard responded in admiration. Seeing as there wasn’t anything too different going on, the recent visitor left along with a few others. And so… the staring contest continued…
Day 2, 4 a.m. 42 minutes, 12 secondsDay 2, 4a.m., 43 minutes, 12 seconds And for a long time, nothing happened (as is with most staring contests). The jumps of time between actions exponentially increased as both bided their time… The muffin had long since been removed from the tray after they silently agreed it had expired. Regardless of the original purpose being removed, the two kept at it. Neither had moved from their previous position outside of the lone head bob. Their fortitude and adamancy was something to be admired, from the few who chose to stay anyways. Luna finally broke what had been a dangerously long silence. “So, sister, do you feel that urge to blink, that creeping feeling in the back of your mind that’s encouraging you to end your cruel punishment? You and I both know that we’re nearing our limits. My water strapped to my leg has long since been depleted and your mane has ceased flowing as well as mine.” Astounded that she had the ability to speak so readily, Celestia snapped back into full alertness, letting her drooping eyes return to completely open. With it came a terrible burning sensation, one that was akin to a sunburn. She found it ironic… and bad news. “Yes, you see it now, don’t you Celestia? I’m going to win and the subjects will know my will is stronger than the sun!” There was something twisted about the way she had phrased her sentence. Bargaining against her own physical limitations, she spoke, “Luna, what’s happening to you?” She hadn’t taken much notice to it previously, but her coat had been becoming darker and her mane was filling with magical power. Her eyes were just like- “Luna! Cease what you’re doing right now! We both agreed to no magic for this game!” “Yes, Princess Luna agreed to those terms… but I am no longer Princess Luna. I am-“ Miraculously, or unfortunately for Celestia, Luna shifted her body into the form of her darker side. There was no aura, there was no field or cloud or potion that was ingested, it simply happened like a strike of lightning, minus the flashing effects produced by the natural anomaly. The alicorn of the day didn’t know how it was possible, but the transformation was indeed without magic… she had successfully returned to her vile counterpart. “-Nightstare Moon!” The remaining members, all three of them, of the audience gasped in horror, except for one who thought it was really cool and started rooting for her. But, worse news came. With the subtle change came a completely refreshed and reinvigorated princess. Her serpentine eyes glimmered with a newfound reinvigoration; it was comparable to a second wind in a marathon runner. “Fool, you should know that your genre of Rock and Roll developed during my absence boosts my attentiveness and my alertness. I have acquired the ability to listen to the songs for incredible amounts of time without pause. There is no magic about it, it’s a natural occurrence. Most call it a personality disorder, I call it my greatest strength.” Celestia was about to give in and give up, until her eyes noticed an object in her peripherals. A lone, silver spoon. Perhaps… “You should know by now, Luna, that I will never give in. You will not win this staring contest!” she yelled with royal authority. “Foolish sister, I already have won! And when I have made it official, I think I’ll add a new constellation into the sky.” “W-what might that be?” Celestia stuttered due to fear and sleep deprivation. “You and your star pupil, Twilight Sparkle, kissing.” Now it was her turn to blush as the solar princess realized the consequences, her reputation and her student’s would be compromised. It was a low blow but it visually stressed her. Now, Celestia was fighting for not only herself, but for her royalty. The servants in the room were in the middle of signing standard contracts delivered by the royal guard agreeing not to disclose the information released on punishment of banishment. The fight continued…
Day 3, 7 a.m. 3 minutes, 59 secondsDay 3, 7 a.m. 3 minutes, 59 seconds But for every bide, there must be a time of attack… The solar alicorn was close to collapsing while Nightstare Moon was flaunting about, giggling and whispering to herself like a little school girl. Through the window… the sun was rising. As was revealed in the pageant play every year, common unicorns, if enough were gathered en masse, could rotate the sun and moon. This was now typically done only in emergencies, for they could not do it as nearly as well as the princesses, but this was an appropriate occasion. A small sliver of light poked through the curtain farthest from her, exactly where Celestia had hoped, onto the floor. Minutes passed and it kept on traveling across the carpet, intensifying as the sun rose up into the sky. A half hour later, it was almost in place. “Nightstare moon, I have a proposition.” Celestia put on her best negotiating face, which was getting harder to keep with the shriveling eye sacks. “Hmm?” she hummed, half intrigued. “If I win, you need to… excuse me, guard?” she motioned with her hoof for him to come over. She whispered the orders into his ear to which he promptly delivered to Nightstare Moon. “That’s preposterous! I accept. And when I win?” “Guard?” He came back over, received instructions once more and then relayed the message. “Ooooh… that’s very tempting. And will this be included with what I already plan to do?” “Yes.” With a nod, the two powers of the universe resumed (though it never really stopped) the contest. A/N: The conclusion arrives soon...
Five minutes later: The conclusion, part 1Five minutes later “What are you smiling at, Celestia?” Nightstare moon asked with a demanding tone. “Oh nothing, just a funny little joke of mine.” She’d continue the grin farther, but she knew one twitch and it was all over. She just needed a little more time, her eyes were begging for relief and hospital assistance. It was just her, her sister, the ref, and the pony running the betting table remaining. While they hadn’t been as vigilant in keeping awake, let alone partaking in turning their eyeballs into dust, they had at least remained loyal to the cause. The constant cycle of the servants coming in and giving a disapproving glare that said, “are they still going at it?" wasn't helping Celestia's morale. The beam of light trailing the floor was soon approaching the target. “Hey… Luna,” she spoke softly and conservatively. “It’s Nightstare Moon.” “What’s duller than the sun, more reflective than the moon, and can easily defeat a power hungry alicorn?” she asked, almost wheezed out due to exhaustion. “What is the purpose of this question?” It suddenly occurred to her that her sister was planning something to defeat her. Darting her eyes across every inch of the room, she searched feverishly for the something in question. The ref allowed her to move about the room so long as she could keep constant eye contact with his own. She ambled across and found an offending spoon on the floor that she never would have seen if she had kept her eyes at Celestia's gaze. “Servants, how have you not found this lone piece of silverware sitting on the floor? Based on the smudge on its reflective surface, it’s been here for a few days. Remove it at once.” Celestia winced in agony, forcing her left eye completely closed. To say it was anything less painful than absolute agony would have been a farce, but the thought of her plan being destroyed was just as mentally damaging. “She has closed one eye Ms. Moon, do you desire to end the match?” spoke the referee. “No, she can still participate with one open as long as the other remains completely shut.” The order was deemed fair by all parties, even princess Celestia, and so the match continued. “Dearest sister, did you really think that a mere spoon would have been enough to finish me off? I’m insulted, I really am. Why don’t you just give up this fight?” “Because… I’m not…” Her legs gave out underneath her and she fell to the floor, landing on her right side. Fortunately, she kept her eye lid from closing; however, the new reclined position was not favoring well on her eye’s strength, but her fatigue. “Look at you now,” Nightstare moon mocked as she approached her fallen sister, “lying on the floor like a-” Her jet black nose began to twitch involuntarily. “Like a-…a!!!” “Sister, listen, you can end this madness… sneeze,” she said, practically begging. “No! I shaaa-aaa!!!!” She held a hoof to her nose, desperately trying to overcome her body’s natural function. Cautiously letting out steady streams of air through her nostrils, she alleviated herself from almost certain defeat. With a large sigh, she breathed out stress she didn’t know she was holding. Celestia knew, by this point, that there wasn’t going to be any hope of a natural win. Her trump card had been played, Nightstare moon had avoided a sneeze, and she was alone. There was enough energy in her being for one final assault. It wasn’t going to be easy, but her time was limited. She predicted that her eyes could only sustain twenty more minutes before relapsing. Picking herself up off of the floor, Celestia, though shaking and in writhing pain, began to step forward to the villain. Annoying Author’s note: Ok, so, you know how I said that I had this entire story written? That was true when I posted the story… when I thought this wouldn’t gain any attention except for the select few people who I wrote it for. Needless to say, it’s expanded well beyond that so I’m going to re-write the conclusion and make it as epic as it should be. This will take a day or two because I am busy with outside priorities, so please be patient. In the meantime, feel free to speculate what our desperate little Celestia is going to do. Will she submit defeat? Will she force her sister’s eyes closed? How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop!? The world may never know. P.S. Seriously, why do you guys even like this story... it's badly written, even by my standards.
The conclusion, part 2This was it: her final assault. Each light bounce of her hoofstep further damaged what was left of her remaining fortitude. One could say she was walking towards Nightstare Moon, but it was really more comparable to pony who had too much to drink. While it was true that she wasn’t physically damaged (outside of her corneas being on metaphysical fire), the same could not be said for her mind. “Why do you approach me? Unless, of course, you’re ready to concede defeat by bowing down to me,” the alicorn of night allowed herself an arrogant scoff at her sister and her rapidly declining resistance. Celestia knew that speaking wasn’t the best option at the moment; one misaligned face crease and the fight was over, and she knew it all too well. Yet she was an adamant mare, so she struggled bravely onwards. “Now, really? What could possibly be your plan here Celestia?” Nightstare Moon spoke slightly hurriedly as she noticed a strange sense of vigor… no that wasn’t the word… enthusiasm emanating from her sister. She hesitantly walked backwards one step. One wing, white as freshly laid snow, extended from the princess’s body. A feather, no larger than that of the average quill for unicorn writers, drooped lazily until caught by an extended golden-clad hoof. She lifted it into her mouth and bit on the tip, letting only the soft and airy side protrude. “A feather? That’s your plan? What could you possibly hope to achieve with such a meaningless object?” she inquired, backtracking further with the slightest hint of fear tingling in the back of her voice, anticipating even as she asked. Celestia took a large step forward, as if delivering some great speech, and was now at the half-way point between the two. Nightstare Moon, realizing this, dashed to the nearby curtains and pulled them apart, letting a grand flow of light into the room, and more importantly into the solar alicorn’s face. It had no visible effect on the bedraggled mare; it was probable that she was losing all feeling in that side of her face. The irony was not lost on her that she had just made an attempt to use the sun’s light to vanquish the diety with complete power of said ball of boiling gas; coincidentally, this went against her own philosophies of night, but she continued opening more, just the same. Again, it failed to produce any effect. By the time she had finished, half of the room was unreasonably bright. The other half she wouldn’t dare approach; that would mean confronting her. Nightstare Moon was on the bright side, her sister in the dark. Celestia quickened her pace, taking more imposing steps towards her nemesis, squinting as she went. “C-Celestia? What has become of you… doesn’t that hurt?” “Yes,” she spoke through gritted teeth, once again ignoring her physical limitations, “it hurts more than the time we set Equestria free from the reign of Chaos. As you may remember from our days of fighting Discord, using more than one element of harmony at a time was not free of consequence. However, what would hurt more is if I let myself lose my own stake and sacrificed the reputation of innocent ponies to a sister who couldn’t merely say no to desire over a simple morsel of Bliss. “With this feather, an object that was once a part of me as an extension of my own body, I will end this fight. Through this pain, I will obtain victory and decree your punishment. If you really cared, we would have ended this petty squabble days ago.” “Wait what?” “But how am I to suspect you didn’t have ulterior motives this entire time after seeing me in this much agony?” “Oh, so you thought I was serious about the whole deposing you and making you and Twilight kiss thing.... well, that’s awkward.” “Unlike you, I keep my promises, especially to my relatives and to my kingdom. Nightstare Moon, prepare to meet your defeat!” At the bottom of her closed eyelid, a stream of tears formed. Not closing her eye while speaking that much was like pouring hot water onto a sunburn while in the middle of a sauna. On the sun. What came next was undeniably worse. Like a tiger, she jumped into the air, forelegs stretched out as far as possible in a pouncing formation, and lunged the feather at her solar opposite. Nightstare Moon sidestepped to avoid the oncoming assault, but it was so sudden that her joints locked up in tension. She finally knew what was going to happen next. If there was one thing her sister knew from their foalhood together, it was her ticklish spots. And she… was quite ticklish. Her own body convulsed as Celestia’s plumage swathed across her neck, sending jitters and spasms to her face. One eye had to close, there was no other way. “Pl-please Celestia I –ha ha- can’t t-take it!” she said in half giggle, half terror. But, the onslaught refused to cease. Celestia moved down to the bottom of her sister’s hooves, the second most ticklish place of all. Nightstare Moon couldn’t help but have laugh after laugh forcibly escape her mouth, all while attempting to stay in the fight. If Celestia kept it up for even a few more seconds, that would be it. So, she fought back too, quickly plucking one of her own from her jet-black wing and counter attacking. Like swords, they wielded their mouth weapons with valor and courage, scanning for weak spots in the opposing’s defenses. Nightstare Moon would assault one spot, only to be tickled double in return. The door to the great dining room opened and a servant walked in to find the two going at it with feverish haste. He wondered where the referee was… but then he realized that if he found him this glorious fight would end. Seeing as it was, for the most part, harmless, he just stood there, cheering on the both of them. ___ By the time they stopped, it was eighteen minutes into the battle. Celestia only had one stroke of energy left which was on par with her sister’s. She knew what had to be accomplished. With an all-powerful leap of super intense ticklish justice, the solar alicorn in all of her great glory tackled her relative and tickled right under her chin! Or, so was her intentions. Knowing she might have tried to engage in such a noble and valiant manner, Nightstare Moon ducked and used her own weapon to attack. With laser point accuracy, she hit her sister’s chin at the exact most sensitive spot. “No! No!” Celestia screamed in terror, “this wasn’t supoosed to be how it ended!” “Unfortunately for you, this is how it shall end.” She couldn’t help it, it was inevitable. Her royal eye, the one proclaimed to have the will of the sun and stronger than the moon, shut. Nightstare Moon… had won.
It begins anew...Twilight shut the door as fast as possible and rested her back against it, panting heavily and holding a hoof to her heart. Never once would she have ever imagined something like… that happening in the bath. It didn’t make sense, and she certainly didn’t think of the princesses that way. Celestia’s mane was so frazzled as well as Luna’s. And those clothes they were wearing? It was so… She didn’t know the word for it. Twilight Sparkle, newest Princess of Equestria and Egghead Extraordinaire (her unofficial title by Rainbow Dash), didn’t know the word for what she was feeling. She groaned as she slid down the door. Her mind returned to the next thing on the list. Just what were the guards doing in there with them? She didn’t want to think about it anymore. It was giving her a headache as she tried to digest the information. She picked up her towel and decided it’d be easier for her to take a shower that evening. The next morning… She awoke with a letter sticking to her face. As one might expect, she smacked her lips lazily and then stretched out for her morning yawn. She pushed some bedhead out of her eyes and then was going to begin reading it, until she looked past what was in front of her and realized the scroll it was on had unraveled itself beyond her bed. She looked at the first paragraph. Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle I have sent you this letter to help ease your confusion on the issue of what you momentarily observed in the Royal Bath. It’s a terribly difficult scenario to explain, but I know you’ll eventually come to make sense of it. It was an unannounced thing, but I hope that next time you can come and join us. As if her morning drowsiness had sprouted legs and walked off, she immediately began to read more. It all started one very odd evening just three nights ago… The Indirect Sequel Begins Here... Author's Note Did you know it's been almost a year since I finished this story? I felt it was appropriate to continue it. Thanks for all the love and support you've given me and go read that indirect sequel (meaning no events that transpired here will be referenced in the next installment) by clicking that green link at the end of this chapter sneak peek!
For the Muffin to end all MuffinsAnnoying Author's Note: If you see any errors, please feel free to let me know. I'd like to thank overdonefictions and Samaru for inspiring me to write this. You guys are... strange. “Good morning, Luna,” Celestia promptly greeted her lunar counterpart as she entered into the breakfast room. The alicorn of the night found her normal seating space at the opposite end of the elongated table draped with a decorative cloth that gradually darkened/lightened based on the princess sitting at the table. She returned the gesture with a polite bow and a hearty hello before seating and then readied her own plate. There were many foods to be had, from toast and waffles to soup and salads. While one was there for their dawn of work, the other had yet to see dusk close on hers. The muffins had been exceptionally exquisite, or so Celestia had boasted, so Luna decided to indulge in one. She was inclined to agree, and she helped herself to but a few more. “’Tia, what flavor is this?” the younger sister asked with a mouthful. “Officially it’s chocolate chocolate chunk with a pudding filling that’s been heated perfectly over an undisclosed period of time, but I prefer to call it ‘bliss.’” “Well they’re absolutely scrumptious, I wish these could be made more often.” As she finished the line, Luna levitated the last one on the muffin tray and beckoned it to come towards her so that she may enjoy its wonderful flavors. However, the polar power had the exact same idea, so the muffin refused to budge as it floated in place with both auras of magic swirling amongst each other. “Luna,” Celestia spoke, “would you perhaps mind if I finished this one?” “But ‘Tia,” she nearly whined in reply, “you get these all the time while I had only these today. Surely you could spare this one?” She tapped a hoof on her chin in perspective thought, but ultimately came to the conclusion and said, “Normally yes, but I think you’ve had enough today.” A blush burned into Luna’s cheeks. Catching the undertone of the phrase, she replied, “A-are you calling me fat!?” “No,” she rolled her eyes, pretending as if nothing insulting was said. She only then realized that the aforementioned action didn’t help disprove her argument, but she stuck with it. “I think you’re calling me fat, ‘Tia.” “Well, the moon has been rather large as of late,” she managed to mention this while looking not at Luna’s face, but at her… moon. Slamming her hooves on the table, causing a silver spoon to drop to the floor, the night Alicorn furiously demanded that she have the last muffin as retribution for the childish mockery from her sister. “No.” “Fine, I see that thou wishest it no other way,” she said, returning to a mix of her archaic speak and common tongue. “We challenge thee to a staring contest! The winner who’s lids refusest to drop last wins the chocolate muffin!” “Luna, must we res-“ “Art thou afraid of losing?” “No, but fee-“ “Or… art thou chicken? Your enlarging thighs wouldn’t disprove mine theory.” With a sly smirk, Celestia rose out of her seat. “Very well sister, I shall accept your challenge. What are the terms and conditions?” “We shall meet, after I have lowered the moon, back in this room. We shall not move from our side of the table so that we may both keep our eyes on each other and the prize. There shalt not be any magic. Taunting shall be allowed. The winner receives the muffin.” “Very well, sister.” They met at the middle of the table and shook hooves before taking off for their respective duties. Meanwhile, a servant who had been eavesdropping through the door had overheard the challenge and was already well working on spreading the news. ___ “My my, it seems we have garnered quite the crowd,” Celestia stated with a smile. “Do you think you can handle the attention?” Taking her position at the table, wearing a light blue headband and sucking on a straw that led all the way down to a bottle of water on her leg, Luna stated her resolve, “I do not fear my subjects, sister. For when they see that I have the stronger, keener, and watchful eyes of the sky who can see the slightest movement in the blackest darkness, they shall know who has the stronger will power.” The audience, who had set up benches and betting tables in the royal dining hall, oooooooh’d at the Solar Princess. “You forget, Luna,” Celestia continued with her trademark grin, “that my eyes are set to view in the brightest day. When they are done following your rouse, they will come to terms that my sharper, healthier, and observant eyes are superior to yours. Always have, and they always will be.” They jeered and jested as the crowd became split with indecision about who they should root for. “Very well, art thou ready for the contest of visual combat?” she boomed with her astoundingly vocal voice. “Yes.” “Alright,” a referee took his queue and stood in the middle of the table, “the terms and conditions have been stated so I expect both princesses to follow them. I want all audience members to stay at least fifty feet from the table at all times. Anyone caught trying to interfere will be escorted out of the room by the royal guard. Is everyone clear?" “Yes!” the audience yelled in response with vigor. “Very well.” The ref put a flag in his mouth, one that was adorned with both crests of the celestial royalty. “On the count of three, you’ll stare.” They closed their eyes, awaiting the moment to begin. “One.” Celestia didn’t seem phased in the least as she kept a perfectly stoic expression, a mask that she had created over the few millennia she had lived. “Two.” Luna was pumped, eagerly trotting in place, and had put in her earbuds to her Mp3 at some point. The genre of her music was unknown. “Three.” There was a tangible silence… the room fell completely still. “GO!” They cheered and yelled before they were almost immediately silenced. “Hey, so, how long do these things go for?” a servant asked the referee. “A long… long time.”
10 minutes, 48 seconds10 minutes, 48 seconds Even now, there were no signs of weakness. While ten minutes might be an exceptional length of time for any normal pony, they had the strength of the universe behind their corneas and they weren’t going to give up the food without a fight. Celestia was apparently unamused at the prospect, fearing no signs of a promising win from her sister. Speaking of, Luna was tapping a hoof and bobbing her head, carefully minding not to get too entranced into the unknown song playing in her ears. Both didn’t leave the other’s eyes for a moment, except for maybe a quick glance at the muffin. Despite the appearance of a boring atmosphere, the sheer intensity of the silent duel is what kept the audience enthralled and consequentially glued to their seats. When words were spoken, they were either hushed or extremely quiet. Even the betting table, though extremely active and robust, was eerily silent minus the clacking of pens. “So, Luna,” Celestia broke the tension, “how are you doing?” “Fine,” she answered, even with the headphones blocking her ears. Most suspected she could read lips, which was by all means a fair assumption. “How goes the friendship lessons with Twilight Sparkle?” “She’s learning much. I’m very proud of my student.” That was it; they went back to their previous stances. The common observer could only just now see a small strain of red coursing through their eyes.
128 minutes, 54 seconds128 minutes, 54 seconds The sun was now at a reasonable height in the sky and it had risen just as much as the audience’s numbers had dwindled. Only the sternest and most invested ponies dared to stay in the remote silence of the hall. Luna, as always, was bobbing her head and listening to music. She, nor her sister, had said a word. Celestia’s eyes had fully reddened. She took comfort in the fact that her sister was suffering the same fate. A rim of water was forming under each eye. She desperately wanted to blink it out, it was bothering her to no end, but this had become more than just a silly contest. It was for will power… who would survive the longest? Was it the sun, the object that glowed passionately all days of the week only to set over an imaginary line called the horizon? Or, was it the moon? Even though it produced no light of its own, it could reflect all light and give its own luminescent glow. It did not run on fuel, it was willing to shine as long as the sun was. Truly, the match was even. She thought of speaking… but moving her mouth might cause an involuntary twitch. Celestia waited…
EpilogueDear Twilight Sparkle Today, I am writing to you, or to put it more accurately I’m having a scribe transcribe my thoughts to paper, from the infirmary, reflecting on a lesson learnt about friendship. I suppose even Luna and I still have some things to learn despite our age. Over the past few days, as you may have learned from articles in the newspaper, my sister and I engaged in a battle of steeled visual determination over an object of corruptible albeit delicious value. There was no real winner as we are now both hospitalized with bandages wrapped around our eyes. It will be some time before we can resume our duties with the sun and moon, though our current condition does not interfere with us meeting with our subjects. Various medicines have allowed the pain to be subdued enough for us to continue such obligations. As of this writing, I am attending to the need of my subjects giving out justice where it is most appropriate. I suppose there is some irony in that statement seeing as justice is supposed to be as blind as I am now. I did however lose a wager in the heat of our skirmish and am now wearing some attire inappropriate for somepony as myself. Fortunately for me, we’re both unable to see how demeaning I must appear so the entire prospect was lost on Luna even though she bested me. The point of the message being is to not get carried away with petty fights. It’s ok to argue with your friends and relatives once in a while as it will only boost your relationship further when the issue has been resolved. If you get carried away, pardon my expression, you might both get burned. Do not try to be so overly demanding that you cannot see the trouble you might put yourself through won’t be worth the effort it expends. Your Eternal Mentor ~Princess Celestia of Equestria ___ Dear Twilight Sparkle The next time you’re in a staring contest, bring a fully charged personal music device and plenty of fluid to keep you from quitting due to natural functions. My wounds were not as severe as my sister’s so I was able to view her rather… risqué costume while she’s appealing to her subjects. I reccomend you come visit post haste as you may never have the opportunity to enjoy such a comical sight. Don’t speak of this to her, but she has yet to find out my condition has been cured. We’ll remove bandages in unison in four days’ time. Your Regent of the Night ~Princess Luna of Equestria P.S. I’ve sent you a muffin called “Bliss”. It’s absolutely delectable.
