Chapter 4

October 13, 967 A.F.

Princess Twilight Sparkle

10:17 P.M

"AND IF YOU EVER SET A HOOF IN THIS CASTLE ONCE MORE, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY EVER AGAIN!" I huffed angrily before slouching on my throne in a very un-princess-like manner, watching the pony dash out of the room. I always hated court, well at least when it came to doing it in Canterlot. I aways looked forward to court in my region for the simple fact that there were barely any snotty nobles there, with the exception of Filthy Rich and his family. Still, they were nowhere near as powerful as most of the nobility here. A great example would be my parents, but he was nice and had my respect. Anyw-

"That's all for today, your highness," Raven had broken me for my thoughts. Which was probably for the best considering I ramble a lot. I felt relief when she had said those three words, I wasn't sure I could take it any longer. Now, most ponies would wonder why I was holding court at Canterlot, well the simple reason was I wanted to give Celesta and Luna time to be with their long lost mother. It was way past dinner time when we finished but Luna, and Faust said that they would wait for court to end before we started supper. Which meant I could see Faust one last time before going to bed. I needed to go to bed early due to the fact my court was held around the times of twilight as you would guess with a name like Twilight.

"Thanks for helping me out Raven, I appreciate it." She nodded while I slid off the carved spruce wood throne that was covered in some of the best-decorated platinum plates you could find here in Equestria, along with cushions made of the softest clouds in Cloudsdale, and finest red silk imported from Saddle Arabia. Soon, I found myself walking down one of the many over-the-top hallways that lead to the private dining rooms. To gold-plated guards used their magic to open the large wooden double doors that gave way to the place where no doubt Luna, Celestia, and Faust were. Really this day was going to be great I would sit down with Faust and have a long chat about the possible hundreds of thousands of adventures, and wonders she's seen in the universe.

Only there were two problems. One, Faust was nowhere to be seen. And two, Celestia and Luna were arguing with each other again. 'And things were going so well.' I thought.

Princess Celestia

I don't think Luna or I have ever soon happy in our lives since our dear mother returned, she would once again lead Equestria into another golden age. Now thinking about it, I never asked her about what she thought about the Equestria I worked so hard to build. I would have to ask her when she came down for dinner, she simply said she wanted a quick flight and shower before coming for the feast. Entering the room I saw Luna preparing the table instead of the maids. No doubt she wanted to do it out of 'Love' or something in that nature. It was silly because we were going to sit near the fireplace but I didn't bring it up.

"I didn't think you would be down here so soon," I commented.

"Yes well, I wanted to make sure everything was ready when mother arrived."

"Where you at evening court? I thought you would have been there for a bit longer or was that because you threw out all the ponies once more before even seeing them?" I asked. A bit of scorn in creeping in my voice. Luna as of late had been brushing off her duties for some odd reason these past few months, and when she actually did do them, she would throw in the towel, as they say nowadays, a little while later. That hadn't made my job any easier.

"We did not have court this fine evening because our dear friend Twilight Sparkle was kind enough to take care of it these past few days. Relieving us of quite a large amount of burdens," Luna replied bitterly.

"And are your burdens the ones the Princess Of Friendship should have to bare? I'm sure she as done more than enough of that in her time," I chastised her. She needed to learn that there won't always be ponies beside her to help if she needed it.

Luna raised her voice. "Twilight Sparke has always been happy to help, so of course we would let her. And thou art a hypocrite, for thou should stop dumping workloads upon her if you wish to 'ease her of her burdens' as it is you who continually does so."

"I do it because I am too busy to take care of it myself. Not because I didn't feel like it. On top of that, she needs the experience," I explained.

"Then do explain how Twilight Sparkle needed experience in exploring ancient ruins, what use is that? More so, she has already been to plenty of them before well before ascension. May we remind you of our old castle," Luna retorted.

"Are you two done?"

Before I could respond, Twilight had interrupted this time, causing me to close my muzzle. I was so caught up in the moment I didn't notice that she had trotted in, in the first place. Which was bad because I didn't like it when she saw as argue, yet she seemed to trot in every time regardless.

"I don't understand why you two argue all the time. Whenever you get a second alone you with each other you immediately bicker at one another over something so trivial. I'm starting to think I should be around one of you twenty-four seven just so you won't make foals of yourselves when I trot in." She said in a scolding voice. I shook my head, she simply didn't understand that the only way I could get Luna to do anything was to be a bit more aggressive with her, I didn't like that, not one bit, sadly however, it was necessary. But that wasn't my foremost concern, right now I was thinking about my ex-students outburst, she had always been upset when we 'fought' as she puts it. But she never raised her voice, I pushed the thought aside, she was merely still angry from being at Luna's court.

"That's complete exaggeration Twilight just because we are having a debate doesn't mean we are angry at each other."

"Then why do you choose to raise your voice, you practically scream each other's heads off sometimes," She retorted.

"That's-"

"I don't even want to hear it I know where this is going. I'll be seeing myself out." She cut me off like Luna did before doing a simple breathing exercise and trotting out the door in wich she came. I turned towards Luna she was clearly just surprised as myself at the anger despite not showing it. Right as she finished organizing the plates she began trotting towards the door.

"Let her go, Luna she'll come crawling back to apologize later, she's just upset from court. Give her some time to cool off." Luna looked back at the door one more time before nodding in agreement, returning to the table.

Princess Twilight Sparkle

I may have closed the door a lot more forcefully than I normally would, but I didn't really care. I was... upset to put it lightly, Ever since becoming a princess all those years ago I noticed Celestia and Luna were far from perfect, granted I never thought of anypony being perfect, and yes believe it or not that includes the princesses. Although, I may have admittedly at one point in time idolized Celestia more than anypony else, but in my defense, I only went as far as buying one plushie of her. Nevertheless, I did get rid of it in recent years after my opinion of Celestia and Luna changed. Don't get me wrong I still love them, and I still see Celestia as a second mother. However, times have changed, Faust has returned and I have high hopes that she will return Equestria to its 'Golden Age' as Celestia like to put it. Something I felt like the sisters could have brought time and time again.

"Oh, hello Twilight. You haven't forgotten about the dinner, have you?" My thoughts were once again broken by a voice I most definitely recognized. Looking up, I see Faust looking down on me with a small smile on her face. It reminds me of the one Celestia wears when she puts on her mask. But this one was different, this one was genuine.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there. No, I haven't forgotten. It's just that I don't think I want to attend this evening."

Faust gave me a quizzical look. "Oh, and why is that?"

I really didn't want to be the one who told her that her kids... 'Wow that sounds really weird to say.' were fighting again over petty reasons and that they've been doing ever since you left them all those years ago.

"Just tired is all. I didn't really get that much sleep last night and I just want to to get a nice rest."

"You got ten hours and thirteen minutes of sleep last night." She dropped that sentence on my head without missing a beat. 'Well, at least I tried.' I thought sadly whilst making an audible sigh.

"It's just that-" I could only start my sentence.

"You encountered my daughters fighting again, didn't you?" She was being really blunt and serious, unlike her normal joke like behavior. That's when I got the hint that she wasn't in the mood for my games. Not that I was intending to play them to begin with.

"Yes." I simply stated looking down at my hooves.

"I thought so, they tend to do that a lot as you have no doubt noticed."

"I've tried multiple times to get them to stop. Trying desperately to get them to see the way of friendship but they just never listen. It's one of the reasons why I was so happy to go and explore your castle. So I could catch a break from it all."

"Celestia and Luna have never seen 'eye to eye' as most ponies call it these days. I don't think the ever will either. I have tried for eons and as you can see I have made little progress."

"But why don't they listen to you?" I may have raised my voice a little but Faust didn't seem to take offense.

"They are just stubborn like that, always believing that they are one-hundred percent correct."

"Even if that's the case, they should at least put their differences aside when they rule, Equestria only suffers for it. So why don't they do it?"

"They're simply bad at ruling in that regard. King or Queen, Princess or Prince. Leaders should always put the people and land they love in front of themselves. For leaders are only as strong as the people who follow them."

I stood flabbergasted, she had just called her daughters... Bad rulers? I mean yeah I didn't think they were the best... But... Bad?

"Is... That why you're here?" I asked unsure as to why.

"No, I just came to see them again. I'm not going to dethrone my own daughters," She responded.

"I knew that, but are you at least going to reclaim your place?" Faust was right, I ask a lot of questions.

"No, I'm not going to do that either, I've had my fair share of ruling and I'm growing tired of it. But I will still be around to help and guide everyone."

"Oh..." I clearly sounded disappointed, which I was in a way. Faust took note of my drop in mood.

"I know it's not something you wanted to hear, and no question you three perhaps all of Equestria wanted to see me on the throne once more, but all things fade in time." She paused letting that thought sink in, "Now, as much as I would love to talk I have two particular ponies waiting on me." She said, a smile forming on her lips once more.

"Oh, yes of course, sorry about that. I'll be on my way."

"There is no need for an apology, I was the one who started the conversation after all."

I smiled sheepishly and continued trotting along the white halls, only to be stopped after a few clops. Faust had rested a hoof on my shoulder before saying

"One day, you will have to step out from my daughters shadows." After that, she continued down the pathway as if we never had a conversion.

'Shadow?' This conversation had turned out quite strange. Wanting more information I looked towards her confusion plastered my face, but I was too late she somehow was already far down the corridor, as if she never encountered me in the first place.

Rumble

'Maybe I should ask her after a nice dinner.' I thought sheepishly.

Queen Faust

I take a deep whiff of the air, the mouth-watering scent of steamed vegetables, hot soups, and warm breads, fill my nostrils. Opening my eyes I look around the small dinner, relatively speaking when it came to this massive castle. I turn towards the polished wooden table and levitate some cheese and crackers to me, popping them in my mouth. Hearing a distorted voice I change focus from the cheesy goodness to the mare speaking to me.

"Mother?"

I shake my head. "Oh, I'm sorry Lulu, what was it you were saying?" I asked some crumbs flying out of my mouth, Luna knew what I was like however, so it didn't faze her,

"That all the food is ready and if you would like to come sit with Tia and I near the fireplace?"

"Yes, of course, Luna, I would love to." A small smile formed on her muzzle, she turned towards the fireplace, three plates being held in her magical aura, no doubt it was filled with the foods what the royal chefs had decided we should eat. Sitting down, I brought one of the enormous silver platters in Luna's grasp to me, eyeing all the delicious foods.

"I hope you didn't get lost on your way over here, I completely forgot to send somepony to you, apologies," Celestia spoke up.

"It's alright Tia, I enjoyed the walk anyway." Finishing that sentence I turn to Luna to start a new. "How did this go during my absence, surely you both have many tall tales to tell?"

"Oh, well, umm, we..." Luna clearly struggling to find the right words to make up a story. That was until Celestia came to the rescue.

"There is one interesting story that we have, it doesn't directly have to do with us, but we certainly played a part in starting it all. Would you like to hear one about the reformation of Discord?" I pretended to act surprised when she mentioned Discord. Widening my eyes to put icing on the cake, I wasn't a great actor but they seem to have bought it. 'Guess I'm better than I thought, then again they both have bigger things to worry about.'

"That sounds really interesting I would love to hear about it. No doubt it must have been quite difficult." I responded while looking at the hot, comforting fire.

"You would be entirely correct like always Mother. It all started when Luna and I had a crazy idea to release Discord, to try to get him to see the errors of his ways."

The story was rather long and I already knew the story behind it, even some of the parts Tia had intentionally left out. Specifically, the part where Luna had actually not thought of the plan with Tia but once she found out about it, argued against it, not that I could blame her. Celestia always had a ridiculous sense of prophecy that always worked out in the end because of a certain purple pony. I asked questions now and then to make it look like I had no idea what would happen next, along with other fake reactions to throw them off from the fact that I already knew everything. They would find out one day, but until then I would toy with them. Though I didn't want to tell them because I wanted them to build up the courage to tell me that this entire time they were lying. It saddens me that they did it in the first place, but it was no surprise considering they've always done that for as long as I can remember.

"That is quite the story, interesting, as I put it earlier. Though I find it truly strange that Lulu agreed with your plan, it doesn't seem like her at all."

Luna was quick to answer this time. "Yes, though I normally wouldn't have made such a bold decision, I may have been a bit intoxicated at the time."

Celestia glared at Luna under her mask, one I would only be able to see through. My daughters were such terrible liars, Luna especially, she never stops to think before speaking, if she did, she would have known that alicorns can't get drunk. The only time they could is if they drank moonshine, but that had been banned a long time ago because it could kill a pony with just a single gulp. But I played decided to play dumb.

"Oh is that so? Well, next time you will not make decisions while under the influence, notably ones involving something as dangerous as Discord." I willfully made sure the last sentence was a very clear command. Though it didn't happen because Tia had made up some parts of the story, both had done it in the past with different choices when I was gone. I was extremely angry when they had done that the first time.

Luna cleared her throat "Rest assured It will not happen again, Mother."

"Good," I turned to Celestia. "That goes for you to Tia, I would be very disappointed in you if you did the same at some point." Celestia simply nodded in response.

Completing the delightful meal, wanting to continue our conversation elsewhere, and having the desire to discuss a brighter topic. I stood up. "The weather is pleasant this evening, would you two care to join be for an evening walk?" I asked despite already knowing the answer.

Luna and Tia looked at each other for a split second before speaking in harmony "We would love to."