Chapter 5: Alicorn in the Tea Room

"So when Pinkie Pie tried to tell Twilight about Gilda being a jerk, Twilight here in all her infinite wisdom of knowing friendship for two weeks, immediately assumed Pinkie was jealous?" Trade said with a dry tone, Twilight ducking her head,

"When you put it like that," Pinkie shrugged, not at all bothered,

"Its fine, we're all still learning, and I guess I could have been more clear about Gilda, I just thought the party would improve her attitude," the Mane Six were in the library, Trade taking notes on history topics to talk about with Princess Luna (not that she was telling who it was.)

"Yes, its important to be clear about it, though it also helps to have evidence, otherwise you wind up accused of being a liar and jealous," she rolled her eyes, causing Rainbow to flinch a bit, something the others noticed.

"You okay Rainbow Dash?" Pinkie asked the weather pony looked away,
"Nothing," Trade's eyes cut to her before she turned around,

"I have to get going to Canterlot, see you on Monday," she left the library before the others could stop her, Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash,

"What in the hay was that all about," Rainbow didn't answer the apple farmer's question, grumbling under her breath and flying out Twilight's window, the opposite direction the other blue pegasus had gone.

"Are those two in an argument or something? How do they know each other?" Twilight questioned, Rarity coughed,

"They went to Cloudsdale High together, Rainbow Dash was among the athletes which were the majority, Trade Wind was part of the 1% percent interested in academics, from what I heard they butted heads alot over it," she offered as an explanation,

'There is also the fact her parents are part of the reason the two siblings do not speak with one another' she thought in chagrin, she hoped the two got to talk real soon about it.

As soon as she reached the castle, Trade was escorted to a tea room, though she encountered a little resistance outside of it,

"Move Blueblood," she stated coldly, the unicorn prince sneered at her,

"I took the liberty of hiring my own tutor for my Auntie Luna, she doesn't need to listen to a pegasus tutor who wasn't top of her graduating class," Trade narrowed her eyes,

"You and I both know why that didn't happen, now move, or I will tell your Aunt the truth about what happened on that Nightmare Night and what you did," the unicorn paled and gave her a glare before he disappeared. Though when Trade tried the door it was locked and when knocking didn't produce anything she flew out the window and landed on the balcony outside the tea room. A familiar looking unicorn was speaking with Princess Luna and eyebrow twitching, Trade Wind gave the balcony doors several sharp knocks. The Alicorn saw her and opened the doors with her magic, the unicorn on the other hand paled,

"What are you doing here?" he hissed but she entered, bowed to the Princess, opened the doors to the hallway and with one move, kicked him out of there,

"That's better, I apologize for not being here earlier your Highness, I received a note saying the time had been moved to ten," then she saw the books laid out and her lips firmed, "Excuse me for a moment," she took the books, tossed them in the air, and bucked them into the unicorn's face when he got up and locked the door.

"'You are rather violent," Princess Luna observed, though she was secretly relieved, that unicorn had been getting on her nerves and while she doubted Celestia would change her mind about the tutoring, the Moon Princess had agreed to have the tutor her 'nephew' sent as good faith.

"I apologize for that, but that unicorn should not be allowed to have any position in the castle, I have no idea why Prince Blueblood employed him, but it can't be for a good reason. Oh, don't tell Twilight Sparkle I kicked books at someone, even if they were the worst books imaginable to help you, ugh, there was a reason they were banned from being used by the public. It was written by a noble extolling the uprightness of unicorns and glossing over history to give them a favorable light while other races weren't so favorably seen. Now, I've been looking at the history books that have been recently updated, but I also know we do not have a lot of time, are there any subjects you've been reading up on over the past few weeks?" Luna blinked a few times, taken aback at how relaxed the mare was in her presence.

"I've been mostly focusing on the political scene here in Canterlot, and looking into how Nightmare Moon was perceived all these years," the Alicorn admitted, ears going back at remembering her time as Nightmare Moon.

"I see," seeing where this was going, Trade Wind tapped her chin a couple of times, she's done this tutoring thing before, but never for an Alicorn whose missed the last thousand years before, but it should be easier than tutoring a Diamond Dog.

"You represent the Moon and Night stars correct?" the Alicorn nodded glumly, "So what music would you say best represents what you represent?" Princess Luna looked confused at where the questioning was going but thought about it,

"I'm not sure, I've always enjoyed Classical Music but I never thought about what kind I'd represent, I haven't even heard of any new music styles in the last thousand years. But why is thou question important when ye are supposed to be catching me up on Equestrian History?" but Trade asked her another question,

"Well if you are not sure, how about what music best represents your sister as the Princess of the Sun?" this took quite a while of thought but Princess Luna nodded and gave a small smile,

"I would think a kind of upbeat music, with that hip-hop I've been hearing about from her bedroom at night," marking down her answers, Trade Wind looked at a different item on her list and looked up,

"What kind of cuisine fits your image do you say?" bewildered but not offended, Princess Luna admitted that she always enjoyed drinking a glass of wine with toasted garlic bread and a plate of spaghetti,

"It is not very refined and all, but I do enjoy it, though I admit to being partial to seafood as well. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how much that's developed, but the Canterlot chefs always prepare these dishes that are more catered for those obsessed with calories and the like. I'm pretty sure if it was up to my sister she would enjoy having cake every meal," they continued in this vein for so long that night fell upon them and Princess Celestia found the two conversing about what kind of School Subjects each pony represented, summoning the list to her and reading over it silently.

"Well back then they didn't have an established educational center for everypony and the two of us had tutors, but I was always the one best with the Mathematics and Astronomy, Celestia always slipped all the financial papers into my paperwork when I wasn't looking," she rolled her eyes, "But Philosophy was something she used to ring circles around everypony, she so loved seeing the looks on her subjects faces when they didn't understand what she was saying at all, but I would say her worst subject was Anc-" a wing covered her snout,

"Well this sounds like a lively discussion," Princess Celestia said brightly, "Though I must say that of the cuisine I represent, it is not just cakes you know, why don't you write pizza down there, or pancakes," Luna frowned,

"What is pizza?" the two other mares shared a look and Celestia winked,

"I'll be right back," she disappeared outside the window and the two stared after her before Luna attempted to continue what she was going to say before, but found that for some reason her tongue was stuck,

"Ooh, I hate it when she does that," the blue mare stomped her hoof as she huffed,

"I'm actually surprised you were able to speak more normally with me, I heard back then it was required for royalty to speak in a loud voice, and you barely slipped back into your ancient speak," blushing a bit, Luna coughed,

"My sister told me about the Canterlot Voice being thrown out a few centuries ago when I asked about why she wanted me to speak in a normal tone with you. She also felt it prudent for me to do a course on common speak with one of my new Nocturne guards during the two weeks you were in Ponyville, a combination of memory and imitation magic and it was quite easy to do," Trade hummed in thought,

"Well, I think I gathered enough information on what we should be covering each weekend, and you say you can cover the whole political thing by looking through your sister's notes?" the Alicorn nodded just as Celestia returned with a box,

"They were still open," she said delighted, placing the large box, "I got the Alicorn sized one," Trade Wind deadpanned at the two-foot long box,

"Right," she said slowly, can three ponies even eat that much pizza by themselves.

Flipping open the lid, Luna stared at the tomatoes and spinach decorating the top and the amount of cheese on it,

"Sister, are you sure this is enough to satisfy our appetites?" the question caused Trade Wind to barely facehoof, how large were these Alicorn appetites?

Halfway through the supper, a scroll appeared in a burst of fire, almost dropping on Celestia's slice of pizza but she took it in her magic, reading through it briefly.

"Is that another Friendship report?" Princess Luna asked interested as Celestia smiled,

"Yes, Twilight had an interesting run-in with a unicorn named Trixie and some colts caused an Ursa Minor to rampage through Ponyville," Trade's ear twitched while Luna frowned,

"An Ursa Minor? I hope they returned it to its mother before she went looking for it, this pizza is very filling," Luna rolled up the rest of her slice and bit into it.

Staring at her own half eaten sliced, Trade wondered if there was a to go box she could take home.

"So how are the lessons going?" Celestia asked upon finishing her third slice, "This list is rather interesting," she poked it with her hoof at the list of questions and answers for each one.

"Rather fine, a little hiccup with Blueblood at the beginning I'm afraid," the Sun Princess looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I made it clear that you were my chosen tutor, what unicorn did he try to slip in as my sister's tutor?" she took a sip of tea as Trade Wind answered,

"Black Runes," the tea spewed across the table, Celestia coughing a bit as her sister rushed to her side,

"WHAT! That unicorn was banned from the castle," she exclaimed, "How did Blueblood get him past my guards?" the princess saw her sister's expression and calmed down, "Sorry for my outburst, but Black Runes has proven he has no regard towards how he uses his magic and especially after the events at Equestrian Western University. The fact Blueblood somehow has him in his employ is worrying, I trust the matter was settled quickly?" she directed this to Trade Wind who nodded.

"Yes, I kicked him out as soon as I saw him, as well as those pompous books he had with him, that was after I had to enter from the balcony when knocking on the door provided no answer. Blueblood left easily enough when I threatened to tell you about Nightmare Night," Celestia rolled her eyes,

"I already know what happened, does he honestly think I'm unaware of anything that went on while he was there? I had hopes for him maturing away from Canterlot, but unfortunately his attitude seems to be permanent," Luna frowned at her sister's words,

"What did happen at this Equestrian Western University?" her curiosity was eating her up,

"We do have the rest of the weekend," Trade Wind observed, Celestia stared at the pizza box,

"I think I'll go get us another pizza, ooh and maybe some cake!" Trade's eyebrow twitched as she thought about it,

"I don't suppose you know a spell that makes digestion faster," she asked Princess Luna dryly, who gave her a sympathetic look.

"No, but I do know the kitchen has some tea for that," hopefully Celestia remembers that their third party isn't an Alicorn.

Thankfully that wasn't much of an issue, as when Celestia returned, it was with a familiar pink Alicorn that greeted them,

"Hey!" then she narrowed her eyes at Trade Wind, horn glowing, "Is something wrong?" realizing what happened, Trade Wind groaned,

"Nothing you can fix Cadance," she warned the Love Princess who huffed,

"Really, because I have no idea how you are walking around with that hanging onto you," Trade Wind looked unamused.

"Maybe I'll ask Princess Luna if she wants to help with the magical books at the Castle of the Two Sisters instead," Celestia stopped the conversation.

"My little pegasus, is something wrong?" she asked concerned, Trade Wind grimaced.

"I'm sorry your highness, but it is nothing that can be solved except with time and logical thought," she smiled bitterly, "Anyways, let's get started on that pizza," she took a slice, ignoring Cadance whispering to Celestia and Luna in the background.

"Well, I'm sorry but I am still not feeling up to helping with dark magic books, which I do know the castle contains, so Cadance will have to be the one to help you," the Princess of the Night tapped her chin, "Do you remember what books are in that castle Sister?" she asked, but received a shaken head.

"I do not, I left the entire library behind when they built Canterlot, which in hindsight wasn't a very good idea, but I wasn't really feeling up to it at the time," the tallest alicorn admitted, Cadance threw a wing over the Pegasus.

"Which means we'll have plenty of time to talk together about your problems!" Trade's ears fell.

'Crap' she just knew the subject would not be dropped, now what was she going to do?