Twilight's the Last Gleaming

After doing so well on my trial run as a royal secretary I was off to my first board meeting with Celestia's advisers this should be a relatively easy task, beside the highly likelihood of it being dull as can be I should breeze by this fairly and should Twilight get here as a result of a slow meeting? Blueblood can sit on his head for all I cared either way he would be without me a while longer....I had zero clue what that stallion would have me do anyways..

The Board room was a decent sized room but lacking the drab office building theme, it was more lively colored with cream wall paper, a polished red stained oak table and nine violet fabric rolling chairs with one leather chair for Celestia of course, there was a window to the outside, the board room was located in the west wing of the castle, third floor room 150.

The board members consisted of four stallions four mares, of that there was three unicorns male & female; two pegasi male, three earth male & female.

"Good afternoon to all of you." Celestia addressed them, the board greeted her as well.

"This is my new secretary and he will be joining us."

"Greetings, pleasure to be meeting you." I responded in a professional yet friendly tone.

The board's reaction was mixed, some nodded some looked at me, some outright spoke, first was a gun-metal gray unicorn stallion in a lighter blue suit with silver mane.

"You? You are going to be Celestia's secretary?"

"Yes he is Galvanized-Steel." Celestia replied coolly.

"No need to be defensive Princess he was just being sure, we also are curious about him and why." the unicorn mare beside him queried, she was a light brown in a red woman's suit and long pants with a blonde mane.

Celestia however was not fooled and it took every facial muscle to resist twitching either eye at this conduct.

"As for why it is my business and if you question his ability to perform his duty allow him to prove himself." Celestia retorted calmly hoping against hope it would appease them.

"We shall be quite open Princess I assure you." An Earth Stallion said in a friendly tone, he was blue with a silver mane & tail.

With the situation defused the meeting began and for the most part it was over stock, national debt, income revenue, trade agreements; general information you would expect, all the while I tried to maintain focus despite the droning on of statistics and logistics, I then went to each pony grabbing papers they have and handing it to Celestia to view herself.

"How are you doing Jesse? You alright?" Celestia whispered to me when she noticed I was showing understandable boredom.

"Yes Princess I am doing alight." I said rubbing the sleep from my eyes resisting a yawn.

"You are doing alright, it's justifiably boring believe me." She whispered with a small giggle.

"Thank you." I replied with a smile before tending to one of the staff members, signing what I needed to sign for Celestia while she signed other papers.

"Now Celestia I have a particular question on a more...Developing matter; if I recall you mentioned that you plan on making Equus known to the human's world?" The blonde maned unicorn asked her name was Katrina or addressed as Ms. Copper-Ore.

"Yes I am; why is this so pressing?" Celestia asked wondering what she was going at.

"Your Majesty while I see the nobility of this how do you know if those creatures will behave civilly?..."

"I have made very special and covert meetings with foreign leaders myself and I assure you the reveal shall be handled with ease and professionalism."

Celestia was trying her best to be patient but the way they spoke of humans poked at her a smidgen especially with me in the room hearing this and atop that while taking it well and paying no mind it embarrassed her and upset her.

"Even if things go according to plan how will you handle a negative reaction from either species be they human or pony?

"You can't expect immediate harmony because you make a grandiose appearance and give a speech there will be backlash mostly from humans and ponies in kind from their prejudice and mentality."

The third unicorn made was a pale-light lavender with a jet black mane and tail styled like Twilight had it when she got a make-over while her castle was being made more homey for her, her name was Helena Ink-Well.

Celestia was reluctant to think it let alone agree with it but she had a legitimate point, there was the chance humans and ponies will have an animosity at first because of difference in species, both having a superiority complex and biased ideals about the other, man for have a tainted view of its importance and ponies feeling superior for reasons of having skills and strength above mortal humans.

Nevertheless she saw the bias and prejudice in the mare's remarks and replied in kind to counter the mare's elitist views and show interest in the legitimate worries she was correct on.

"I have contingency plans in place for such things Helena...I needn't be concerned with that 'may be', I am focused in what 'will be'."

Celestia replied calmly adjusting her suit and regaining comfort in her seat giving a serious and composed expression toward the mare.

"With all due respect your Royal Highness this is not a personal matter for selfish intent, this is the concern for the success of your plans Princess; my only wishes is to see two worlds join peacefully with any nuisances standing in your way or being a thorn in your side."

Helena retorted hoping that would help her case and give some believable care and concern.

Celestia showed no mercy and also shot holes in that veil but rather than call her out on her faux-genuine care, being was too old to be fooled so easily by misdirect and flattery and thus too experienced to be upfront, Celestia tactfully replied again.

"I am pleased you show such care and compassion for you fellow ponies and the humans that will be involved as history is being made; I see very well your intentions and I shall repay in kind your remarks with affirmative action so that your worries shall be laid to rest."

"Furthermore..." Celestia continued intentionally cutting Helena off, "I may ask you to assist me in where you show such interest so that I may effectively ensure that this contact with humanity is met with security, prosperity, and peace without room for prejudice to spoil this prospect of trade and harmony between Equus and Earth."

Celestia finished attempting to hide her amused smirk as Helena was left utterly speechless, she looked like a ship that had its mainmast shot away her jaw hanging limp.

Even I had to repress a chuckle at how Celestia so calculatingly she disarmed the mare, I almost felt bad for how Celestia outwitted her and called her bluff.

The rest of the room stared in surprise as well while the Earth Ponies tried to hide their amusement as much as Celestia and I.

Helena then showed at last her true colors and her mood, she tried but she was plainly furious how she had been made a fool of so ruthlessly.

"Was my words taken as a joke to you Princess?" Helena asked barely keeping her outrage contained.

"Not at all Ms. Ink-Well, I was being of the utmost serious and I ask you to show me exactly how you wish to deal with the humans and ponies who would have presumed thoughts about equinety & humanity."

"If you have an idea please, share it." Celestia said softly yet flatly.

Helena was unable to say a single word in reply, Celestia had thoroughly disarmed her and she couldn't utter anything to reply to her sovereign; Celestia had won without a single insult, backtalk, harsh word or anything to stoop to her level.

"Nothing? I'm sorry about this Helena perhaps I should ask you when you have come up with an actual plan."

I nearly lost it, the earth ponies also were beside themselves how Celestia handled herself so professionally and with such graceful composure.

"Does anypony else have something they wish to contribute or suggest?"

No one had an answer for Celestia, there was silence until finally a pegasus spoke; he was named Typhoon-Gust.

"Now that you present the chance and so we can have an input at last Princess we ask when will you have this reveal of our world?"

"I plan on the reveal to take place in the Fall around October I suppose." Celestia replied.

"That sounds like a perfect time of year for a meeting your Majesty."

"Excellent; now is there any pressing matters needed to be made known?"

The group hadn't another remark or issue to address to her it seemed they had gotten out what they wished to say and that was that.

"I hereby close this meeting for the day and we shall meet up again another time." Celestia said as she took to her feet as did everyone else.

The ponies bowed heads in respect as Celestia nodded to them then they left leaving Celestia and I alone.

"Not bad Jesse I am pleased how you carried yourself; I am so sorry for the insulting attitude of my staff."

"I learned to bite my tongue, and I am on the job so I could not think to say what I felt if someone insults me."

"I didn't say you couldn't defend yourself but that is very noble of you to control your words so cautiously Jesse, you are showing great maturity by thinking before you speak; but try not to be so silent thinking it is better because you have a very expressive personality and it would be a crime to stifle your enthusiasm."

"I just want to avoid driving people or ponies away because I chatter so much."

"You fear your weak social skills and want ponies to like you; I understand you completely Jesse, but silencing yourself and barely speaking is not the way to do it, let me help you with your social skills or Luna can help you as well but be yourself it's the best thing for you."

Celestia was right but I was afraid to let her down or prove her task impossible; I was a butterfly but one with repressed energy wanting to escape due to a lack of interaction with people or ponies consistently, I now more than ever wanted to impress Celestia and please her.

"Okay Celestia, I will try." I shyly promised.

"Wonderful, I believe in you; failure is part of learning so never fear failing, only giving up." Celestia cooed softly and motherly as she cups my cheek making me blush.

Celestia in turn gave me her signature warm, maternal smile of assurance as I repaid her back with a stronger smile.

"Now then there is work to be done for you and let's see if Twilight has come yet; if not...Well I shall wish you luck with Blueblood." She said chuckling a little feeling sympathetic for what I may face tailing the stuck up prince.

I agreed and we walked out of the Board Room to the Throne Room where visitors go to meet before they do anything.

"Why did you choose October to make your reveal Celestia?"

"I like the Fall a lot; the air is so clean, pure, crisp. Also it symbolizes the end of the isolation between our world and yours, and the beginning of what I hope is like the Autumn a clean, pure meeting where there is peace, calm and harmony."

"My mother also loves the Fall for a similar reason."

"Seems we would get along well then, and I would wish to as well as meet your friends one day; as you may know and I wish to be made clear I become close to those I befriend and I see them beyond friends and more like family."

"A trait many admire about you and would admire more to know is true, you and Luna do so much at personal cost of what you enjoy you just as much Celestia, years without your sister, the other world's Sombra, Sunset Shimmer..."

"You went through more than one should and lost what no one should even if you regained some of what was lost."

Celestia was rather moved by my words and how I spoke, I seemed to have got her understood her, I had what some fans may have and that is a deeper understand and respect for her and what she had to endure for so long often alone even with other ponies helping her but it wasn't the same when those she cared most were not meant to be, driven away by her own hand or by the pony themselves for their own flaws.

"Thank you Jesse; I am so touched by your care and sympathy, it also was so comforting like that of empathy; you spoke as though you had shared my pain yet you didn't go through it."

"I was said to have a subliminal empathy and sympathy, that is why I stood out because my autism should not have these emotions yet I have both in spades."

"A blessing and a gift, given for a reason Jesse and your spiritual gift shall be rewarded one day I can bet you this and I have had time & practice so I say, like with Twilight I see a potential in you."

"Will I be getting wings and a horn? Did Larson put you up to this?" I asked with a smirk, this got her.

Celestia had the warmest and most heart-tugging laughs, it was something anyone once they heard would want to hear from her again because she gives you the feeling she doesn't laugh enough and should do so more.

"Oh Jesse you clown." She giggled wiping her eyes.

"I try~" I replied then pinch my nose then saying 'Squawnky', making her giggle again.

Finally we reached the Throne Room, we looked to see who would be there waiting; it was to my relief that there waiting patiently was the one I wanted to assist first, Princess Twilight.

TO BE CONTINUED.