It was time.
Princess Celestia, immortal ruler of Equestria was burnt out. It was a hard job ruling, people came to her for advice about the smallest things; and her polite smile was starting to waiver. There was only so much petty squabbling she could take. She hadn’t had a day off in a millennia and it was starting to show.
Day 365,250 felt like a milestone; and she was going to take it.
When Princess Luna walked into the throne room on the fateful 365,249th day, Princess Celestia was speaking even before the Royal Guard had closed the doors.
“Your talents are many dear sister, you know how to raise the moon.”
“Yes…?” Princess Luna replied, inflecting a question at the end, unsure where her sister was going with this.
“Tomorrow, as you know, is my birthday...” Celestia continued.
Luna repeated her half question.
“…and I’m taking the day off.”
There was silence for a few moments and then Luna moved closer into the room.
“I’m sorry, WHAT?”
“It’s my birthday tomorrow and I’m taking the day off. The sun is basically the moon, if you just apply the same principle you’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be…”
“Fine,” Celestia replied, nodding. “I’ve made up my mind Luna. There’s no argument.”
Celestia left the throne room through a different door, her parting words echoing in Luna’s ears.
~~~
I think there’s something wrong with Celestia. Luna wrote, her beautifully scripted writing flowing across the page. She has decided she needs a day off. Can you please come to Canterlot to speak with her? I don’t know if she is possessed, insane or magically compelled; but something is definitely up with her and I’d like you to check for me. Your Friend, Luna.
~~~
Twilight Sparkle arrived in Canterlot in record time.
Princess Celestia wasn’t stupid, she knew Twilight’s veiled attempts at asking questions only Celestia knew, was an anti-Changeling device; and the probing spells thrown in her direction when Twilight thought she wasn’t looking were sent in love; but it was getting rather old.
“Twilight.” Celestia said gently. “Twilight, I’m fine. Really. I just want one day where I can lay my crown and be a normal pony. Is that too much to ask?”
Twilight knew all too well the weight of responsibility of a Princess and she had only just got used to it. The depressing thought that this was her future: the endless queries; the stress involved in solving problems; and the weight of the crown getting heavier and heavier, assaulted her and almost brought her to her knees. She couldn’t imagine how Celestia must feel after 1,000 years. She suddenly understood. Even when she wasn’t teaching her, Celestia was teaching her by her kind demeanour and gentle voice.
“No, no I understand.”
Twilight Sparkle bowed and left the room.
Princess Luna was waiting on the other side of the door.
“She’s fine.” Twilight began.
“But…” Luna replied, about to launch into a tirade.
“No, she’s fine.”
Luna still looked sceptical; but let it go.
~~~
When the next day dawned, slightly late because, as it turned out, it wasn’t quite as easy as raising the moon – especially for a tired, cantankerous nocturnal pony – Celestia was ready.
She stepped through the shiny portal, arriving in a room with many people. She had deliberately picked this word because it was devoid of any magic apart from her own. There would be no queries to deal with here.
The people looked strange. Some were dressed in outfits which, if one squinted, would look like the ponies she had just left.
“What the hell?” She heard a voice exclaim.
She backed away slightly, under the stares of hundreds of people who had turned round at the exclamation.
“Princess Celestia?” An approximation of Vinyl Scratch asked.
At that, as if broken by a spell, she was surrounded by people clamouring to ask her questions.
What had she done? Where was she? Was she mortal after all and this was the afterlife? She thought she’d been a good pony; but this looked like an approximation of hell.
As the questions continued around her, she fell to her knees and wept.
~Fin~
