Rude Awakening
Celestia's eyes snapped opened. There had been a loud scream moments that came from somewhere deep in the halls of her castle. She wasn't sure of the exact source, but she had a good guess. She jumped and ran out the door into the stone halls lined with drapery and flags. If the scream came from who she thought, it could only mean trouble.
Thoughts of the worst scenario pop into her head as she made her way down dark corridors and stairwells. It could be Discord, or maybe Chrysalis trying to overthrow us once more, it could even mean the return of Nig- She shook her head. No, not that.
She made a sharp turn towards a huge set of doors inlaid with symbols and gems that evoked thoughts of night and the moon. They opened to reveal a petrified alicorn mare standing on top of her bed, staring at one corner of her room.
Luna looked up when she saw Celestia enter. "Sister, thank goodness you are here!” she said. She turned back to the same corner as before. “Be careful, that foul creature might attack at any moment!"
"Luna, what’s wrong? I heard a scream and thought you were in danger!" Celestia's eyes scanned the room, searching for an intruder.
"Can't you see! That, that thing! Just look at it, it reeks death, you must deal with it at once!" Luna said. She pointed to the corner of the room where a small, defenseless mouse stood.
Celestia looked from the small creature to her sister, and then back again. "Luna, that's just a mouse," she said. One of her eyebrows curved up. "Don't tell me you woke up half of the castle just because you’re scared of a tiny mouse."
"It's not just a mouse, it's a creature of plague and disease,” Luna said, her eyes wide with fear. “Just imagine what could have happened if I hadn't spotted it first!"
Celestia sighed. “And tell me sister, what would have happened?”
"Wha-what would've happened? Sister, I'm astounded by your lack of care to our citizens! Imagine how quickly and far this creature could spread the plague!" Luna said. She pointed towards it again. "Just look at it! It came to infect me first, and I'm sure it would have infected you next--it was planing to take us out before moving on to the rest of the kingdom!"
"Again, Luna, it's just a mouse," Celestia said. She approached the creature. "I'm sure it has no hidden agendas or plans to destroy the world." She noticed it was holding something. "See, it only wanted the small crumbs of carrots you left on the floor," she said. Celestia reached out with a hoof to touch the creature.
"Stop! Don't touch it, Tia!” Luna said. “It might feel threatened and attack you."
Celestia ignored her sister's pleas and petted the mouse on the head. "See sister, I told you: nothing to worry about."
The mouse rolled over on its stomach and Celestia began to rub its tummy. "Who's a mass murdering monster? You are, yes you are," she cooed.
"Sister, do you feel sick? Is everything alright? Are you sure it doesn't have the plague?" Luna said, watching from her perch atop the bed. From the look on her face, she didn't seem as if she was going to approach it anytime soon.
"Yes, Luna, I'm perfectly fine," Celestia said. She took her hoof away and waved it to her sister, as clean and white as ever. "See,” she said. “I told you; I dealt with the plague many centuries ago, and I can assure you that everypony is immune to it by now."
"Alright then, but what about me?” Luna said, taking a step back. “If I was gone for a thousand years, couldn’t I still get sick?"
Celestia climbed onto the bed and sat next to her sister. “Luna, you are a princess, and an alicorn as well. There is nothing to fear from germs or dirt.”
Luna looked away. “Oh, right...I forget that sometimes.”
"Besides,” Celestia said, “our magic has come far since we last ruled together. Even if you did manage to 'catch' the plague, we would be able to treat you with the cure immediately." She wrapped one wing around her younger sister.
Both princesses sat upon the bed quietly for a moment, enjoying each other's embrace.
"I am...sorry for overreacting,” Luna said finally. “It is just...so much has changed over the course of these past few centuries." Luna laid her head on the bed. “It hardly feels like the same Equestria that I left.”
"Now, now, it's alright sister,” Celestia said. “It takes time to adjust to new surroundings, and it is partially for not telling you of our progression in the medical field, as well as our treatment of our small furry friends." She gave a small laugh, and her sister followed suit.
"I think I shall be fine, then," Luna said. She stood up, breaking the embrace "You should really go back to sleep, it is now my time to rule." She gave a reassuring smile.
"Well if that’s the case," Celestia said, sliding off the bed," then I'll be going.” She walked out the door, calling behind her, “Goodnight, Luna."
"Goodnight Tia.” The door shut.
Luna looked skeptically at the mouse, having seemingly gone to sleep after finishing the carrot. She slowly walked over to it. Using her magic she levitated a napkin over his tiny sleeping figure, covering it until only its head stuck out.
"Goodnight little mouse," she said. She smiled and left the room, vowing to have a later talk with her sister about what other advancements had come along in one thousand years.
*o*o*o*
The mouse cautiously opened one eye and searched his surroundings. Excellent, nopony around, he thought to himself. He reached for something under the bed, finding purchase and pulling out a timed explosive.
"This is Alpha 1, the bomb has been planted in the moon-chamber,” he said into the miniature walkie-talkie he had pulled from a belt concealed by his fur.
"This is Alpha 3, all is going according to plan," came the call from his squad mate..
There was a short pause before another voice answered, "This is Home Base; Alpha 1 proceed to sun-chamber, and Alpha 3, return to base; Alpha 2 awaiting confirmation of water supply poisoning. Tomorrow we take over the world!"
