Celestia's Coffee

     Luna hummed a happy little tune as she sat down next to her sister at the long dining table made of the finest wood. She wasn't sure what type it was, but that didn't quite matter.

     The sky was a lovely blue, the last etch of orange glazing the edge of a large window nearby. Luna wrapped her magic in one of the velvet curtains and drew it back to let the shine penetrate the room better. A sigh escaped her lips as she realized that she never truly appreciated how wonderful and helpful the sun was (but she didn't forget that the moon was just as wonderful and helpful).

     Luna glanced at the alicorn next to her. The sun hit her pure, white coat and her multicolored, ethereal mane just the right way so it sparkled here and there, subtly on her skin and more so in her hair. Her sister's golden regalia glittered dully in light, shadows dancing here and there while blending beautifully with the light. Her face, however, was obscured by the most popular newspaper in Canterlot as a yellow wave of magic covered her long horn and the newspaper.

     "Good morning, Tia," Luna greeted, her magic taking up her silver dining utensils.

     Celestia flipped a page of the Canterlot Herald and yawned. Then she shot Luna a beam of greeting as she lowered the newspaper to bite the petal of a daisy.

     "Good morning, Luna."

     The younger took her first bite of fried egg, watching her sister from the corner of her eye.

     "Anything interesting on the news today?" she asked as a servant placed her morning orange juice in front of her. She thanked the servant and slid a bendy straw into the glass.

     "A sale on Fancy Flight's Frilly Fedoras and Hoofpicked Fashions Inc. You want any fedoras or dresses, Luna, dear? I heard Hoofpicked has everyday dresses that would go well with your color scheme. And Fancy Flight's Frilly Fedora has hats of all size and colors," added Celestia, peering at her sister over the top of the newspaper with a smile.

     "I like hats, and I most certaintly like Hoofpicked's dresses, but I suppose I'll pass." Celestia frowned into the paper and flipped another page.

     "Would you look at that! Some idiot tried to transform into a dragon for Nightmare Night!" exclaimed Celestia, doubling over with laughter. Luna choked on her fried egg at this and she downed her water in one go, eyes watering.

      "Laws are made for a reason. Do our subjects not see that it is forbidden to turn into any of the dangerous creatures listed at page fifty-two?" Luna managed to saw inebtween coughing fit. "But do go on, Celestia."

       Celestia grinned as she perused the newspaper again.

       "He had somehow became a giant green pheonix and is now staying at an empty elephant reserve due to his size. His name is Tricky Trix Lulamoon and his twin sister, Trixie Trick Lulamoon, was explaining how their family had a knack for getting in trouble because of bragging, a hurdle she had long overcome because of. . . Ooh, Princess Twilight Sparkle got involved with Trixie when she was a unicorn!"

       Luna smirked. "Do you not remember her letter about this Trixie Lulamoon and how she bragged of lies and falsehoods?"

       "I'll be honest enough to say I don't," replied the elder. "But Sugar and Spice Cafe is having a sale with all their coffee and introduced a new addition to their already large selection of their beverages."

       Luna was silent for a moment. "Dear Celestia, would you mind if I said I am no fan of coffee? Well, truth be told, I never tasted it."

       Celestia tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Do you want to try out one of my favorite brews?"

       "I can't say I don't."gggggG

       "Ruby Shine, do you mind getting another cup of my favorite coffee for my sister?" Celestia asked the nearest servant, a mare with a shiny red coat, a silver mane and blue eyes.

       Ruby Shine looked confusedly at the two sisters. As far as she knew, and she knew quite a lot, Princess Luna never had the pleasure of trying out coffee. Nonethless, she bowed respectfully.

       "Of course not, Your Highness." with that, she trotted off with but an inquiring look over her shoulder.

       "Hmm. . . Luna, what would you do if your former star student refused to let her best friend see her assisstant?" Celestia asked after reading a letter.

       "I would deman - wait, why?"

       "Spike is devastated that Twilight never allows him to see Rarity, and when he adresses that to Twilight, she says he's speaking nonsense and it was only because she needs him to do something. He tried asking Twilight if he could visit the other girls, and she consented, even if it meant having him out of the castle for a week."

       "Ask all three about the situation and take it from there."

      Minutes later a cup of coffee slid in front of Luna.

      "Enjoy, sister," Celestia said with wink. "Now, I have to go see Twilight." she slide off her chair and pranced away, leaving Luna to her coffee.

      She inhaled the odd, slightly annoying smell. The aroma made her shiver, however warm it was. It made her strangely fuzzy as she lifted it to her lips and sipped.

      The warm, creamy liquid tasted like. . . something. She wasn't even sure anymore. It was pleasant and tasty, but had a bitter edge that just made it all the better. She lowered the mug and paused to swallow. A shiver ran through her coat and she felt. . . alive. Energetic.

      Luna took a second swig, and it felt like torture to taste all the pleasantries in one go, yet she adored every moment of it. She shivered a second time as she swallowed the sweet darkness, the bitter tang and the warm cream. She licked her lips as she was reminded of the happier times of her life where the darkness serenaded her to sleep, the nighttime coating her body as she happily consented to eternal un-light, the best compromise she agreed to in her entire life.

      Her eye twitched, and she let out a soft squeak of what sounded like fear. Her body felt compressed, not unlike the time demons devoured her into Nightmare Moon. . .

      She let out a calm, deep breath. Surely ponies remembered their worst time of life when drinking coffee the first time, right? Her eye twitched again as she realized what she felt.

      Awake.

     With a smile she levitated the mug and swung off her chair, trotting briskly to the general direction of a meeting room for her morning appointment.

     Little did anypony know that this was the beginning of trouble that Equestria has never faced since its discovery.