"Princess Celestia?"
"Princess Twilight! To what do I owe the pleasure of this audience?"
Twilight stared at her. "I'm never gonna get used to that."
"Me treating you as an equal?"
"Yeah -- it feels... weird. Anyway, can I talk to you, uh, pony-to-pony?"
"Why do you think I sent the guards outside and had them shut the doors when you came in? Please, speak your mind."
Twilight sighed, and squared her shoulders.
"I'm fed up with being a Princess!"
Celestia just looked at her, a faint smile on her lips.
"Well?" Twilight nudged. "Aren't you going to tell me I'm being foolish?"
Celestia feigned shock. "No one tells a Princess her business, Twilight! And I was just realizing how well I've taught you. It took me, let's see, at least a hundred and thirty-six years to get to this point. It's taken you what? A month at the outside?"
"Urrhhh!" Twilight yanked over a cushion and flung herself onto it. "I don't mind the extra tasks, I can organize those in my sleep! I don't mind the formality, the fancy dresses, all that is just fine. It's like a non-stop Grand Galloping Gala, all for me. I love it! It's just... well, I'm supposed to be the Princess of Friendship Magic... and yet I always feel so alone."
"Twilight, I hope you realize you can always talk to me at least. But shouldn't you be taking this up with your friends?"
"That's just it! At first, this whole Princess thing was new and exciting, and I know they all felt the same way about it. But when I talk to any of them now... it's like I can just feel them keeping me at hoof's length... speaking so carefully, putting me on a pedestal. To them I'm the Princess of Ponyville." She rolled her eyes. "And to me, I'm... well... me! Like I've always been."
"I felt the same way." Celestia nodded. "This happens to any young princess, sooner or later -- myself, Luna, Cadance, all of us."
"Well, why didn't you tell me?"
"If they told you in advance that braces would hurt like Tartarus for the first couple of days, you'd never have straight teeth, now would you?"
"I suppose not." Twilight dropped her head onto the cushion. "So... what did you do about it?"
"What I always do... talk! Talk with my friends, talk with my subjects. Help them to understand that I wish to be less formal, to be closer to them. Your friends are your subjects, Twilight. They look to you for guidance. You need to let them know what you expect from them."
"And if that doesn't work?"
Celestia looked left, then right. "Well... I suppose we could always consult the B.S.C.S."
"The... B.S.C.S.?"
"The Book of Strangely Convenient Spells. I always find it helpful."
Twilight perked up. "There's a book like that? Can I read it?"
"Afraid not. You don't get one until you've been a Princess long enough. Which should be... ooh, in about a hundred and thirty-six years."
The two Princesses stared at each other for a long moment.
"You're yanking me, aren't you?"
"I'm yanking you," Celestia acknowleged. "Actually, I make my spells up as I go along, as any good Princess does. But I do have a serious suggestion along those lines. And now that you're more versed in Shadow Magic you'll be able to make use of it. You will need to talk with your friends first, however, since you're going to need their agreement to take part in it."
"Okay. What is it?"
"Hold on!" Rainbow said, staring at Twilight. "What kind of spell again?"
They had all gathered at Fluttershy's house for tea and sandwiches, and Twilight had decided this was as good a time as any to bring it up.
"A Princess of the Day spell," Twilight repeated patiently. "It swaps my alicorn nature onto another pony, making them a Princess in my place for a day. It's only an illusion spell so it's not real, and it's only temporary, but it has a reality-shifting component, so to anypony who doesn't see it applied it's as good as the real thing."
"And y'all want us to swap places with ya?" Applejack looked doubtful.
"Please? I think it would help, being able to share the burden a little. You won't have to do any of the paperwork and such, I'd still handle that. And if any magic is called for, I can remote-cast spells for those of us who aren't unicorns. But it would be nice to get out from under the tiara, so to speak, at least for a day or so."
"Oooh!" Rarity had stars in her eyes for a chance at royalty, no matter how temporary. "I think it sounds fabulous, dahling. Sign me up!"
Pinkie looked doubtful and suspicious. "Do... Princesses still get to throw parties?"
"Princesses get to throw Galas!" Twilight reminded her.
Ding. Pinkie beamed like a lighthouse. "SOLD! COUNT ME IN!"
"Mmmm..." Fluttershy cringed. "I'm not sure I could handle being so famous and influential. I mean, the last time was just terrible, honestly." Then she stood up, and rapped a hoof on the floor. "But you're just as much my friend as Rarity. And I couldn't possibly say no to something that would help you." Then she looked uncomfortable again. "You're sure it'd only be for a day?"
"Just a day, I promise. And if you do find it's too much, you can just go back to your house and shut the door, and we'll cover for you."
"Oh. Okay. All right, then. I'm in."
Applejack shrugged. "Shoot, I'm on board too! I was just lettin' my horse sense get the better of me. Celestia may run the country, but you're our Princess, Twilight. Any way we can help you out we plum well should! But is this really what y'all want? I was surprised as heck when you told us how you felt."
"I don't really mind it that much. And I do feel better having talked about it with all of you. But I'd still like to give this a try, at least once. I think it would help you all to see what I've been going through."
Applejack nodded. "All raight, then. Hey, Rainbow! How 'bout you?"
"Meh. How hard could it be?" Rainbow looked bored. "I'm not gonna be the only one holdin' out. I'm in."
"Okay!" Twilight smiled. "And thanks, everypony! We'll start tomorrow, bright and early. So... who wants to be a Princess first?"
They started with Rainbow. The six ponies gathered in the main room of the Golden Oak Library, and after cluing Spike in on what they were planning, carefully bolted the door and shut the drapes so that no one else would see them perform the spell, or walk in on it unexpectedly.
Twilight unrolled the scroll containing the spell. She could have spoken it from memory, having slaved over it in her spare time for the past week, but it felt more impressive this way.
She removed her tiara, held it up on her hoof, and spoke the fold phrase. As she spoke she felt a strange pulling sensation, as if part of her very being was being drawn out of her body. It coalesced as a gleaming magenta sphere centered on the tiara. She looked down at herself. So far so good -- her wings were no longer visible, and more importantly she felt like her old unicorn self on the inside.
"O-kay..." Rainbow asked nervously. "So what do I do again?"
"For now, just touch the tiara. All I need is contact with the intended recipient."
Rainbow put out a hoof and gently pushed it through the sphere to touch the tiara. Twilight nodded, and went over the monadic bind phrase in her head. This was the important step: mapping not only the alicorn nature itself, but the entire reality behind it, over to Rainbow. That way it would appear to everyone else as if Rainbow had always been the Princess.
We have always been at war with the Griffons, her bookish mind automatically quipped. Then she shook her head, fiercely re-centered her focus, and spoke the bind phrase.
The magenta sphere gradually shifted hues, becoming cyan in color.
All right then, just one more step.
"Now take the tiara from me, and just hold it."
Rainbow did so, and Twilight carefully spoke the unfold phrase. The cyan glow spread over Rainbow's body.
"Eeegh," Rainbow said. "It feels like cobwebs all over me!"
"That's good, it's supposed to. Now put the tiara on."
"Uh, okay. Now it doesn't feel weird any more. Is that it? Is it over?"
She realized they were all staring at her forehead. Reaching over to a nearby table she picked up a hoof-mirror, then stared at herself in it.
"Hey, I've got a horn! Sweet!" She gently prodded it. "Seems real enough. You're sure this thing doesn't actually work?"
"Not unless you're a unicorn already," Twilight admitted. "How do you feel?"
"I feel like a million bits! Check me out!" She bounded into the air and turned a smooth gliding circle. "I'm the Rainbow Princess!"
Everyone nodded. It was impressive. Even Twilight herself felt as if Rainbow was the official Princess of Ponyville. And the true mark of any good illusion spell was the caster themselves almost buying into it.
"So let's give this a try!" Rainbow flapped over to the door, unbolted it, flung it open, and launched into the sky. The others followed, and saw Rainbow circling overhead, above Ponyville Square.
"Hey, Twilight! How do ya turn on that Canterlot Voice thing?"
Twilight nodded. "Just talk. I'll run it from down here."
HEY! YO! IS THIS THING ON?
Ponies all around them were turning to look up. Spotting Rainbow overhead, they stared for a moment -- and then began cheering.
COOL! I'M LIKING THIS! GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING, PONYVILLE! I JUST WOKE UP AND FIGURED IT WAS A GREAT DAY TO DO SOME LOOPS AND LET ALL MY LOYAL SUBJECTS TAKE A GANDER AT MY TOTAL AWESOMENESS!
She looped and pirouetted through the sky, and amongst the crowd of watching ponies the cheering built up into a regular beat:
RAIN-BOW! RAIN-BOW! RAIN-BOW!
"Uh..." Applejack looked at the others worriedly. "Hope we haven't created some kinda monster here, y'all."
But apparently Rainbow had learned her lesson from the Mare-Do-Well incident. She simply basked in the attention from the crowd, which was growing by the minute, and put on a quick aerial performance for them. Then she swooped lower and hovered above them like an avenging angel.
"Since we're all here," she called out, "we might as well hold Rainbow Princess Court right here in the Square! Soooo... any old business?"
"Has Cloudsdale replied to our weather request for the next month?"
"Well! As a weather pony myself, I can proudly report that our request... eh... has been taken under advisement. BUT! In honor of my total awesomeness, as Princess I hereby decree... that it's gonna be sunny all day today!"
"What about those clouds?" some wag called out.
Ping. Bat. Poof. Zing. Puff.
"Oh, yeah? WHAT clouds?"
The crowd cheered happily.
"And just to top it off," Rainbow added majestically, "let's have a rainbow, right over Ponyville, that lasts all day. Hint, hint!"
Twilight rolled her eyes, but with a little concentration she was able to cast a luminance spell on Rainbow's horn, at the same time as she materialized a grand rainbow that arced all the way from Sweet Apple Acres over to the forest beyond Fluttershy's cottage. It was an interesting challenge making it self-renewing, so it would persist at least into the afternoon when the wind picked up.
Rainbow flexed and strutted in the sky. "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Your Princess delivers! Any other old business?" Rainbow looked around. "No? Okay, any new business?"
"Which team are you gonna fly for in the Equestria Games?"
"Hey! Haven't I made myself clear on this? Ponyville is my home. And as your Princess, I fly for Ponyville!"
The crowd roared. RAIN-BOW! RAIN-BOW! RAIN-BOW!
Twilight smirked. "Well... we'll just see how this plays out."
Then she stared around. "Hey, did anyone see where Pinkie went?"
Twilight was just finishing up a nice dandelion-and-cheese sandwich at the Cafe Hay, when a rainbow bolt from the blue ended with a frazzled Rainbow Dash standing in front of her, shaking like a leaf.
"Twilight! You gotta help me! Turn off the spell! Shut it down! They're gonna eat me alive!"
"Who are?"
"The ponies in this town! I'm mobbed everywhere! I can't land for two seconds or the earth ponies are on me! I can't hover for two seconds or the pegasus ponies are all over me! I have to keep moving or the unicorns will get me! None of them will leave me alone! I've signed photographs, I've signed casts, I've signed things... I don't even know what they were! Haalllp!"
"I thought you loved autographing stuff?"
"But that was just the start of it! They want me to open meetings for them. They want me to do fly-bys for their children's parties. They want to hear my opinion on stuff I don't have a clue about!"
"Again, not seeing the problem. You love attention."
"They want me to bless babies, for crying out loud! I think they're even planning on building a temple to me! And they want me to officiate at weddings and stuff. There are ponies out there right now with scissors trying to snag pieces of my mane and tail." She grabbed her mane with her forehooves in horror. "These ponies are KA-RAY-ZY!"
Twilight just stared at her levelly, unmoved.
"Welcome to my world."
Rainbow stared. "Seriously?"
"Uh huh. It's one of the reasons I try to keep a low profile around here as Princess. Ponies have needs, and a big need is having something bigger than themselves they can give their loyalty and affection to. In moderation it's a good thing, it can give ponies hope when they have nothing else to go on. You can be a symbol for them, of all the things they hope for and care deeply about. But if you let it go too far it turns into monomania or worse."
"Geez!" Rainbow scratched her mane with a hoof. "I had no idea. Sorry, I thought you were just being... well, you! No offense."
Then she froze, and turned to look over her shoulder. There was a crowd coming up the street. "Can't you just... end the spell early? Put the kibosh on it?"
"Sorry, Rainbow, you're just going to have to tough it out. It's only until sundown. The spell has an auto-terminate on it, so the alicorn nature will revert back to me then."
"Sundown! I'm not sure I can last that long!"
Seeing the crowd almost on her, she blasted off and disappeared into the distance. The crowd paused outside the Cafe. They seemed unwilling to cross into it, almost as if they regarded it as hallowed ground.
"Did you see her?" they called. "Which way did she go?"
Twilight gestured wryly with a hoof. The crowds set off again hurriedly.
And Twilight rolled her eyes. At least she'd gotten one peaceful lunch out of this so far. Dropping a tip on the table, she set off to go help rescue Princess Rainbow from herself.
The next morning it was Rarity's turn, so they gathered in the Carousel Boutique. All of them were present, except for, strangely enough, Rarity herself. Rainbow was standing at the rear of the group and wearing her cool shades, though it seemed more to avoid catching any pony's eye than out of any attempt to look cool. She seemed unusually subdued, in fact. And so was Pinkie Pie. She was standing next to Rainbow, a clipboard in her hoof and an intensely thoughtful look on her face as she scribbled on it with a crayon.
"So, where is Rarity?" Twilight asked.
"Upstairs." Fluttershy pointed. "She said she wanted to put the finishing touches on her gown before we got started."
"Her gown?"
"Are we readyyyy, dahlings?"
"Oh my lordy..." Applejack whispered. She was looking at the staircase leading to Rarity's upstairs room. Rarity had already reached the bottom of it. Her dress, on the other hoof, hadn't quite caught up with her yet.
The general theme was blue... and then some. It had a hoop skirt with pleats that entire avalanches could be held in, decorated with enough accent bows to tie down a circus tent. The skirt extended out behind her like an upside down rowboat, and beyond it there was a seemingly endless silken train that ran all the way back up the stairs to her room. It had shoulders on shoulders, and a lacy ruff that made Rarity's head look like it was on a silver platter. And it wouldn't be Rarity if the thing didn't sparkle like a glitter snowstorm.
Twilight nodded in appreciative amazement. Rarity certainly looked the part... in fact, she looked far more like royalty than Twilight herself could ever hope to achieve.
Rarity strode over to her dressing platform, briefly checked herself in the mirrors, then swung round as gracefully as she could to face them all.
"Just a little thing I threw together, while I had some time on my hooves."
"Raight," Applejack said, amused. "And... did y'all think to leave room for wings? Princesses have 'em, ya know."
"Really, Applejack! I'm surprised! I have had to redesign a few things for Twilight in the past few weeks." Reaching back awkwardly with a forehoof, she demonstrated the artfully concealed flaps in the sides of the dress that would allow wings to poke through.
"Okay, if you're ready?" Twilight asked.
"Readyyyyy!"
Twilight went through the spell, and this time the tiara glowed white as Rarity took it and placed it on her head. "Really, it feels wrong to be crowning myself like this -- or do I mean ourself? Uh... is that how one says it?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe we can ask Princess Luna to be your dialect coach." Twilight smiled. "Well, the wing-flaps in your dress work, all right."
And so they did. Princess Rarity spread and fluttered her new wings. "Oh, such a pity they're just for show. We'd love to give them a try. Though we promise to keep our hooves firmly on the ground this time. Oh, Spike-yyy!"
"Yessss... Rarity...?" Spike mumbled in a passionate stupor.
"Spike, be a dear and go admit the first of our petitioners for the day. We're just afraid if we try to move in this thing we'll fall right on the royal face. Oh --" she added, hurriedly, "is it all right if we borrow Spike, Twilight? Just for today? To lend us a hand?"
"Fine with me, Your Highness. I'm not sure I'd be able to get a lick of work out of him right now."
Spike wandered dreamily over to the door and opened it. And then was nearly mashed into the wall behind it when it was shoved aside by the pony who marched through it.
"S-s-s-sapphire Shores?" Rarity stared, aghast.
"Princess Rarity!" The Pony of Pop flourished her blue mane as she strutted over to drop an exaggerated curtsey before the platform. "How's my Queen of the Scene?" She boldly grabbed Rarity in a hug. "I always knew I was on to a winner when I placed my first order with you. I always say, girl, when you want the best, go straight to the top."
"Oh, well... thank you!"
"And I just know you've been workin' on some sweet designs for my new concert."
"I have? Oh, oh, yes! We have, Sapphire dear! And you are going to love them!"
"I know I will. And I'm tellin' that to all my friends. So don't be surprised if they turn up here. And be sure to give 'em the royal treatment, just like you would me. Well, won't keep ya, Your Highness!" Sapphire curtseyed again, turned, and strutted out.
It was Rarity's turn to look awestruck. "That... just... happened! Sapphire Shores walked in here and curtseyed to me! ME! Rarity! Yes! It's a dream come true!" She suddenly looked horrified. "Oh, Twilight... this won't go away when the spell ends, will it?"
"Sapphire won't remember you being Princess, but the rest of it should hold true," Twilight said. "I mean, she was already one of your best customers, right?"
"Oh, that's a relief!"
"Uh, Rarity? I mean... Your Majesty?"
"Yes, Spikey?"
"There's uh... another petitioner?"
It was Prim Headline, the premier fashion critic from Manehattan. And she wanted Rarity's take on the trends for the new Fall lines. And she was followed by Photo Finish. She came, snapped the Royal Portrait, and was gone. And then she was followed by a seemingly endless series of ponies who wanted to ask Rarity's advice on what the best-dressed socialite should be wearing this season in order to fit in while at the same time standing out.
Seeing that Rarity seemed to be holding her own, despite looking a little awestruck by the caliber of her guests, Twilight gently motioned with her head and the rest of the Elements trooped out of the shop, heading to their respective tasks for the day.
Twilight herself headed back to her Library. It was nice for once being able to simply stroll down the street as just another unicorn. It reminded her of what she'd nearly forgotten: that Ponyville was a quiet, relaxing village where one could peacefully do nothing all day.
Still, there were a couple Friendship reports she needed to write up, and she needed to finally complete the annual Library budget request. Humming to herself, she settled in to a pleasant day of doing just what needed doing.
Several hours later, Twilight heard a uncertain cough. It was Spike, standing beside her desk.
"Twilight, could you come talk to Rarity for a bit?"
"What is it, Spike? Did something go wrong?"
"No... not exactly." Spike looked uncomfortable. "Just come talk to her, would you?"
Twilight followed him back to the Boutique, where she found quite the line of ponies waiting outside for their audience with the Princess of Fashion. Or so it said on the hastily-lettered addition to the sign outside the door.
Pinkie Pie was standing by the door with her clipboard, apparently playing bouncer. She looked up and glared furiously at Twilight and Spike.
"Who goes there? Are you on the list?"
"Pinkie..."
"Juuuust messin' with ya, Twi! Go on in! Her Highness will see you now!"
Inside was a hive of activity. A small army of dress-making ponies were working at the sewing machine, the dress ponies, the workbenches, drafting, crafting, and creating.
And in the middle, Rarity stood mournful, looking around at the busy activity and occasionally calling out an order.
"Those hemlines need to be shorter!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"And a little more sparkle on those pleats!"
"At once, Your Majesty!"
"Wow, Rarity -- I mean, Your Majesty -- you've got this place humming!"
"Oh, Twilight! We grant thee dispensation to SPEAK NORMALLY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!" She put a hoof over her mouth. "I'm so sorry, dahling. I'm a little frazzled. Please let's just use first names, all right?"
"Okay. How much of Sapphire's order have you completed so far?"
"Oh, that! Done and boxed and shipped this morning. I'm working through the backlog now! Sapphire wasn't joking when she said she was sending additional business my way. I'm swamped with orders! Everyone wants a dress designed by the Princess of Fashion!"
"And... that's good, right?"
Rarity looked like she wanted to cry. Instead she turned and pointed.
"Would you give me your opinion, please? Of this?"
There was a dress on a dress-pony to her left. It was green. That was about the best that could be said for it.
"Uhh... honestly? It's hideous."
"Oh, thank you!" Twilight found the Princess of Fashion hugging her tightly and sobbing into her mane. "Yes! Someone who'll tell me the truth to my face! It's gruesome, most assuredly! But I had three of Manehattan's top fashion experts in here and they all praised it to high heaven! I think they're actually going to make it part of a new trend in their own lines! And I had it done up as a joke! I couldn't believe anyone would take it seriously!"
She pulled back and stared at Twilight. "I live on feedback, on hearing ponies' reactions to my creations, so that I know what works and what doesn't. And as Princess I can't get two words out of anyone that's the least bit critical of any scrap of fabric I toss on a clothes-horse around here!"
"I suppose that comes with the territory," Twilight said. "When you're the Princess, ponies expect you to set the example for them. When I'm talking with ponies who come to me for advice, I've found I have to really keep digging to be sure I know how they really feel!"
"I had no idea!" Rarity sighed. "It's certainly not what I expected. I had all kinds of wonderful plans at first. I mean, I was going to be the Princess of Generosity, establish all kinds of charities and programs to help ponies. But if I can't get an honest opinion on a simple dress, how in the world can I get useful advice about what causes to back, what solutions to try?"
"Sounds... like you could use a second pair of eyes. Would you object to me sitting in for a bit?"
"Oh, rather, dahling! Should I create you as my Grand Visier or something? Am I allowed to do that?"
"I... think I'd have to work on my evil laugh first. Maybe just a Friend of the Princess, that's as much as I'd ever want!"
"Twilight, you are a friend whether I'm a Princess or not! Thank you!"
The next morning, they assembled at Fluttershy's hut to give the butter-colored pegasus her turn. After Twilight finished the spell, Fluttershy examined her horn in a mirror. "I've sometimes wondered what I might look like as a unicorn," she said. "I think it's kind of nice! Strange, but nice!"
"Just be thankful you don't have to worry about having it filed, dahling!" Rarity said. "Aloe is an expert and she's as gentle as can be, but it's still like hooves on a chalkboard, and it's inside your skull! Uuuuhhh!"
"Eeeyeah... more info than needed," Rainbow said. "So okay, Princess Fluttershy! You ready to start showin' what pegasus Princesses are like? Struttin' your stuff? Kicking some royal hiney?"
"Oh my! I hope not! Um. Actually, I've been thinking about it, and I think what Ponyville really needs instead is a Princess of Kindness! In fact, I think I'll hold a Kindness Court, right here in my cottage where it's so calm and safe and quiet. And anyone, either critter or pony, is welcome!"
"Sounds like a great idea, Fluttershy!" Twilight smiled.
"Thanks!" Fluttershy smiled back. "Could I ask all of you to mention it when you get back to town? I'm not sure how many ponies would happen to come all the way out here on their own just for a visit!"
"Ah don't think that's gonna be a problem..." Applejack said, staring out the window.
The rest of them looked. There was a line of ponies on the house's front path, stretching back as far as the eye could see. "Oh dear!" Fluttershy said. "Looks like I'd better clear my calendar!"
In the end, they all hung out to lend a hoof. Pinkie posted herself at the door again, clipboard at the ready. Rarity took charge of the Princess's appointment calendar. Applejack played emotional bodyguard, glaring at anyone who looked like they might try to intimidate or badger Princess Fluttershy. And Rainbow appointed herself as the Royal Air Force. She ran messages to and from town, and in between entertained the ponies waiting in line with her aerobatics.
And Twilight sat on the sofa near the window, ostensibly reading a book, but every now and then catching Fluttershy's eye and lending advice with a nod or shake of her head. She needed to be on hand in any case, if any magic was required, though Fluttershy rarely called on her for that.
She found it interesting, being the Power Behind the Throne, and also somewhat relaxing, since she only had to deal with the practical issues.
Yet she was also impressed with how Fluttershy was handling the social side of being Princess. Rather than quailing in terror, she simply put all four hooves on the floor and became a solid rock of gently smiling understanding. Twilight had always loved that about Fluttershy: the core of solid, nonjudgmental caring that came out whenever she wasn't thinking too hard about it.
And her subjects loved it. The line never got any shorter. They came for advice on issues. They came to cry on her shoulder. They came for tea and hugs. They came just to see the way Fluttershy smiled at them, with absolute and unwavering confidence. They came because Fluttershy's cottage seemed to be the place to be, and it was where all their friends were. The Kindness Court was a hit.
So it was a surprise to Twilight when she looked up from her book and found Princess Fluttershy standing next to her.
"Um, Twilight? Can we talk privately for a moment?"
They trotted out the back door to Fluttershy's garden.
"I'm not sure I can keep doing this..." she said sadly.
"You don't really like it? I'm so sorry, Fluttershy. I should have asked!"
"Oh no! It's wonderful. I've been enjoying every minute! The way ponies smile when I help them... it's just like when I help my critters! And that's just the problem!"
"Uh... sorry?"
"With all the ponies around, the critters are all keeping away from the cottage. Even little Angel's gone to ground. I haven't seen any of my little furry companions all day long!"
"Hmmm... that's a fair point. And even if we had Pinkie move the start of the line back to the main road, there still would be ponies trooping in and out of here all the time. Still, you have the animals you're tending here at the cottage, right?"
"But my subjects just won't hear of it! They think it's beneath me, as Princess, getting my hooves dirty. Whenever I bring the subject up, someone volunteers to take care of the animals for me! And I just don't think they'd know what to do to care for them properly. So I haven't said anything and just let it slide. But I really can't do without my animal friends! They're just as much a part of my Kindness Court as my pony subjects."
Twilight nodded. "You know, someone I trust once told me that as Princess you need to let your subjects know what you expect from them. And I think it's finally starting to sink in. C'mon, I have an idea!"
A few minutes later, the ponies waiting in line outside the cottage's front door were suprised to see the Princess of Kindness come trotting around the corner of the house. She was wearing a beekeeper's helmet and knee-length Wellington boots, her coat and mane spattered with mud and chicken feathers.
"Um... anypony want to come help me muck out?" she asked.
The ponies in line all looked at each other. Then several hooves went up.
Meanwhile, behind the cottage, Twilight was taking the opportunity to have another private conversation. "Thanks for not barging in today and trying to liven things up. That's the last thing Fluttershy would need!"
"Oh, reaaally, Twilight! You'd think you and your little friends were the only ones who ever cared about Fluttershy's feelings!"
"Well... you do have a tendency to think of yourself first!"
"Hmmm... I suppose so. But in this case, I'm definitely learning how to get that whole Friendship thing going. Say, I don't suppose I could interest you in a regular get-together? A book-reading, perhaps?"
"Don't push it, Discord. And get that talking book out of my face."
"Oh... fine!" Snap. Poof.
"Afore we get started," Applejack said, taking off her Stetson and running a hoof through her mane uncomfortably, "I have a small confession to make. I felt it wasn't quite raight putting the whammy on my kin without warning 'em, especially if they're gonna think I'm Princess and all. So I swore Granny Smith, Big Mac, an' Apple Bloom to secrecy and told them 'bout the spell. And ah hope that don't bollux up the works or somethin'!"
"It's not a problem. And it shouldn't hurt anything, A.J.," Twilight said. "The spell mainly affects you, not them, so they'll still see you as a Princess. Though they may also remember you telling them it's not real. I'd be interested to find out what they recall after the day is over, if you wouldn't mind telling me for my research!"
"Nary a bit!" Applejack said, relieved. "If'n there's one thing we Apples don't mind doin' it's jawin' 'bout stuff!"
Rainbow sniggered. "Eee-yup!"
"Wallll, Big Mac saves it up for the important thangs!"
"Okay..." Twilight took off her tiara. "Ready, A.J.?"
"Why do they keep askin' that? Yup! Ready as razors!"
Twilight went through the ritual, and when it was done Applejack carefully put the tiara on underneath her hat. Rarity had kindly brought a full-length mirror over to the Library and Applejack went to it to look herself over.
"Well, looky there!" she said, rearing up and flaring her wings. "The very first Princess Apple! Yee haw! Wish we could get a picture of this for the family scrap album! But it'd probably just disappear when the spell ends, raight?"
"I could always do a sketch from memory for you," Rarity offered. "Though I probably should wait until after the spell has ended, just to be on the safe side!"
"We thank thee kindly, Rarity! We does appreciate that!"
She looked around at all of them. "Well? What are we waitin' on? Let's go show the kinfolk!"
Then she looked again. "Hey, where'd Pinkie go?"
Shrugging, she led the way out the door.
The trot out to Sweet Apple Acres was long but pleasant on such a sunny morning. And everywhere they went ponies pointed and waved to Princess Applejack, who found herself alternately blushing and tossing her head back in pride at the attention.
When they passed through the gate at the Farm, they saw Granny, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom waiting for them.
"Land sakes alive!" Granny quavered, peering at Applejack as the Princess trotted in a circle, showing off her horn and wings. "When you told us 'bout this last night, Applejack, I thought it was all just a bunch a hooey! But my granddaughter's a alicorn, sure as shootin'!"
"Eeeeeee-yup!" Big Mac was staring in wonderment.
"Um, Your Majesty?"
"Apple Bloom! What did I tell y'all?" Applejack ran up to touch noses with her. "I may be Princess of the Day, but I'm still your big sister, and you're family! So don't you get all fancy with me! What kin I do ya fur?"
"Is it okay if I tell my friends at school, 'bout you bein' Princess?"
"I'd be surprised if'n they don't already know. But I don't see no harm in it! Just don't be goin' on about it tomorrow, or they'll think you've been eatin' at the Poison Joke!"
"Well, Your Highness," Twilight asked, "where do you want to hold Court?"
"Hmm -- good question, Twi! Granny, we ever had any royalty in the clan? I mean how would a Apple Princess hold Court?"
"Sounds like one of the family get-togethers," Granny hesitantly suggested. "Like a social of some kind?"
"With... cider?" Rainbow asked hopefully.
"Not a bad idea!" Applejack nodded. "We can hold an Apple Family Cider Social, raight here at the Farm. Open to all our loyal subjects!"
"Eeeee-yesss!" Rainbow punched the air. "Called it!"
"Not somethin' we'd do every day," Applejack acknowledged. "But since it's only the one day it should be fine. Of course, it wouldn't feel quite raight chargin' ponies for the cider..."
Twilight smiled. "I'll double-check, but I'm pretty sure Princess Celestia wouldn't mind covering a reasonable amount per keg as a Friendship Research expense."
"Well alraight then! Let's get the tables set up, and let folks know!"
It turned out that getting the word out wasn't a problem. Curious ponies had already been showing up at the Farm gate, wanting to pay a call on the Apple Princess. And when word got back to town about the Cider Social, pretty soon the entire front yard was bustling with activity.
Apple Bloom was given a day off school, much to her delight, and she and Granny worked together at the cider stand to make sure everypony was served.
Rarity put herself in charge of accounting. Wearing her red-framed work spectacles, she carefully noted down each keg opened and each pony served so they could turn in a proper expense report for the Palace Accounting department.
Rainbow was on weather patrol, carefully nudging aside the day's few rainclouds so they unloaded on the orchards rather than the farmyard... after, of course, getting the very first mug of cider, which was her one condition for doing the work.
Just so the day wouldn't cut into the Farm's schedule too badly, Twilight and Big Mac gathered the day's harvest from the orchard, with Twilight using magic to gather the apples, and Big Mac drawing a heavy cart back and forth to bring them to the storage bins in the barn. And Fluttershy was more than happy to look after the Farm's livestock for the day.
There was still no sign of Pinkie, but Twilight assumed she must be around somewhere, with that mysterious clipboard of hers.
Applejack herself worked the crowd in the farmyard, talking, laughing, and generally making sure everypony there felt comfortable and right at home.
On occasions when Twilight and Big Mac swung by the farmyard, Twilight marveled at how easily Applejack had fitted into the role of Princess. Her subjects loved her down-home, unassuming style. And when they asked her honest opinion, they got it -- sometimes far more than they expected.
"Have you ever thought about living in Canterlot, Your Highness?"
"Wayall, I dunno. Be a awful long walk to the barn ever mornin'!"
"This is our daughter, Cookie Crumble! Say hello to the Princess, Cookie!"
"Aww, isn't she the cutest thang! Looks just laik the runt piglet in the litter Betsy had t'other day -- darling little dear, and happy as a pig in muck!"
"I got this dress in Canterlot, Your Highness. They said it was the latest fashion! What do you think?"
"Uh, it's green! And, to be honest, it wears like a tent on ya! Ya'll need something a little more... streamlined for a figure like that. I tell you what, you go talk to Rarity over there by the cider stand. She can set you up with something to die fer! And ya don't haveta go all the way to Canterlot for it!"
"How do you and the other Elements know what to do when you go on one of your adventures, Your Majesty?"
Twilight's ears perked up at that. Applejack paused for a moment, looking around, and then saw Twilight and motioned her over. When she arrived, Applejack put a forehoof around her shoulders.
"Y'all want the honest truth? This here's Twilight. She may look like just another librarian pony to y'all, but she's the real brains of this outfit! Whenever we go on one of our adventures, I generally follow her lead. She's never steered us wrong yet!"
Twilight blushed, and smiled thankfully at A.J.
"What?" Applejack said. "It is the truth, hon!"
The Cider Social turned into a pot-luck lunch, and ponies shuttled back and forth to town bringing all manner of dishes and desserts. And afterward, well into the afternoon, ponies were still gathered in the farmyard either paying a call on the Princess, or just gathering with friends of their own. It was like a never-ending, low key, family-and-friends get-together. And the Apple clan knew how to handle those with ease.
As sunset approached, Twilight and A.J. sat on the porch, thinking about what a nice day it had been, all round. It had meant some hard work for Twilight and the others, but Twilight couldn't have been happier. She'd spent time with her friends, applied her magic to practical use, and the whole event had finally given her the reason she'd never had to put the books aside and get out and enjoy the fresh air and open countryside of the Farm.
"I suppose I should give this back now," Applejack said, lifting her hat and reaching for the tiara.
"No rush! You can hang onto it until after sundown. It suits you, Applejack, it really does!"
"Walll, thanks, Twi!" She put her hat back on. "Though to tell ya the truth, I'm kinda glad it's almost over!"
"What ever for? You've been doing great all day! If any of us had wound up as Princess instead of me, we could do a lot worse than you, A.J.!"
"I know! And believe me, I'd be proud as punch if that were true. Except..."
"What?"
"Waallll, it's Apple Bloom. I can't shake her from callin' me Your Highness and such. It's laik she's hero-worshipping me. Me! Her big sister! And Big Mac... I haven't gotten two words outta him all day!"
"This is news?"
"He always talks to me when we're by ourselves! But he's been tighter than a clam around me, all day long! And Granny Smith! I know that look a mile off! She don't feel comfortable, havin' royalty livin' under the same roof. Feels like she should be doffin' her hat to me and such."
"She doesn't wear a hat."
"Makes it worse -- she keeps doffin' the hat she don't have." Applejack sighed. "I laik bein' Princess and all, I laik making ponies happy and content. If called to it like you were, I know I'd give it my all and not mind a hoot. But if it means being set apart from my kinfolk... waalll, I don't think anything's worth that much to me."
"I hear you, A.J. Believe me, I do... because I feel like that all the time!"
"Seriously, hon?"
"Seriously. Even when I'm with the five of you, I feel like you're all pushing me away, putting me in a different class from the rest of you. And I don't feel that way at all. I'm still me! But everypony is treating me like I'm different somehow. And they're all depending on me!"
Applejack nodded. "I guess that's right, we have done! Wall, shoot, Twi! I'm powerful sorry 'bout that. It's never really sunk in before. Well, you know what? From now on thangs'll be different, I'll make sure of that. We'll all treat you no better than the rest of us. Uh, I mean..."
"I know what you mean, A.J. And thanks!"
"Shoot! It's the least a Apple Princess can do, I reckon!"
Finally, it was Pinkie's turn. Twilight ran through the spell. Pinkie Pie put on the tiara.
And everypony waited with baited breath.
"What?" she asked, staring around at them.
"Oh, uh... nothin'" Applejack realized she had a death-grip on the floor, and forced herself to relax.
"Okie dokie!" Pinkie smiled. "Hey, is the spell done yet?"
"It was done ten seconds ago," Twilight said.
"WHAT?" Pinkie leapt in the air. "WE'RE ON A SCHEDULE HERE! AND THERE'S NOT A SECOND TO SPARE!"
She blasted away through the door in a pink blur.
Applejack stared in horror. "Uh, did that door even open and close as she left?"
They looked at the door. It was still closed and apparently unharmed.
"O-kay..." Rainbow muttered. "Maybe this wasn't such a great idea!"
"Oh, please!" Rarity said. "Pinkie Pie can't do magic on her own like Twilight and me. How much trouble could she be? I mean, more than usual?"
"I do have to admit," Twilight said worriedly, "I still don't quite understand why Pinkie can pull off some of the strange things she does. And mixing that with my alicorn nature... well..."
There was a knock on the door.
"Oh, that wouldn't be her, would it?" Fluttershy asked.
"If it was Pinkie," Rainbow replied, "she wouldn't bother to knock!"
Twilight went to the door and opened it.
"mHi, Tmimight!" It was Derpy the postmare. In her mouth were a hoof-full of small pink cards.
"What are these?" Twilight asked, taking them.
"Invitations," Derpy said happily. "To the P.P.P.P.P.G.!"
"The what now?" Applejack asked, almost afraid to guess.
"The Pinkie Pie Party Princess Party Gala?" Twilight said, reading it from the hoof-painted lettering on the card."
She looked up at Derpy. "There's no names on these. How do we know whose is whose?"
"Pinkie gave me one for every pony in Ponyville!" Derpy said, nodding to the large sack on her back. "She told me to just hand one out to everypony. And you're my first stop of the day! Well, gotta post!" She trotted away happily, with the jaunty step of a mare who knows exactly what she's going to be doing for the next several hours.
"Uh, girls?" Twilight said, staring out through the door. "You might want to have a look at this!"
Ponyville Square looked like someone had built a confetti factory, a balloon factory, a streamer factory, a banner factory, a bunting factory, and a party store right in the middle of it, and then detonated all of them in one huge decorating blast. The Town Hall was almost invisible, buried in celebratory bunting.
DJ PON3 was already set up at the end opposite the library, surrounded by towering speaker stacks. She was looking at a watch on one forehoof, nodding her head to beats from her headphones.
In the distance, Twilight heard the town clock slowly striking seven.
On the sixth stroke, the DJ's hooves went up. On the seventh, they came down. And hot techno-pop beats began thumping across the square. Ponies looked out of doors and windows all around the Square. And then started cheering and poured out of their homes and shops to join the festivities.
"Isn't it kinda early for a Gala?" Applejack shouted above the din.
"This isn't the Gala!" Twilight called, staring at the invitation.
"It's not?" Rarity yelled, shocked.
"It's the pre-pre-pre-party!"
"Hello, all you smiling ponies!" Pinkie jumped up on a stage in front of the DJ's equipment. She was audible all the way across the Square. And she wasn't using a microphone. "Ponyville's Party Princess is here! Is everypony ready to PAR-TAY!"
"YEAH!" called Bulk Biceps from the crowd. And he was almost drowned out by all the other ponies shouting with him.
"Raight..." Applejack sighed. "We're doomed!"
It only got crazier from there. All the shops and businesses in Ponyville were buzzing with activity. Sugarcube Corner was turning out tons of cupcakes and sweets. Sweet Apple Acres was shipping in baked apple snacks by the cartload. The costume store, party store, and even Rarity's Carousel Boutique were roped into providing partywear for everyone. The weather patrol made cloud sculptures, and moved all the rainclouds well out of sight. And every street of the town was decorated end-to-end with streamers and bunting.
And the truly scary thing? Everypony loved it. It was like when Pinkie went into one of her spontaneous dance numbers and somehow sucked in every pony around to dance with her -- but it was the entire town, and no pony was complaining about it. They loved their Party Princess, one and all, young and old alike. There were smiles everywhere, joyful and unforced. And Pinkie was in the middle of it all, totally in her element. Everywhere she looked she saw smiling faces. Everywhere she went she was making someone's day better.
Twilight wondered how long it would last before ponies started dropping in the streets from sheer exhaustion. Thankfully it was just for the day. Maybe it's best to just wait it out.
Yet she found that was impossible when she heard a knock on the door of her Library and opened it to find the Cutie Mark Crusaders on her doorstep.
"Hi, Twilight! Pinkie said we should come by and help y'all get ready."
"Ready? For what?"
"Storytime, of course!" Applebloom gave Twilight the look she reserved for elders who didn't understand the concept of an extra cookie before dinner. "Princess Pinkie said y'all would be happy to do a story or three for the young'uns whilst their folks are at the pre-party!"
"Oh, she did, did she?" Twilight stared at them for a long moment. "Storytime. Ah, hah."
Suddenly she smiled, brightly and dangerously brittle. "Girls, come right on in and make yourselves comfortable! Now, would you please excuse me for juuuust a bit? I need to go have a talk with our Party Princess!"
As she was walking out the door, she heard Applebloom's voice behind her. "Uh oh! Princess Pinkie is in trouble now. I've heard Twilight use that voice before!"
"Since when?" asked Scootaloo.
"What d'ya mean? Since..." Applebloom was stymied. "Uh... ever, I guess!"
Twilight shut the door. Do I really come off like that? she wondered. Is that what I sound like, being Princess? Hmmm. She grimaced, not liking the idea. Well, that's going to change, starting right now!
It was a difficult job locating Pinkie. There was her normal tendency to appear and disappear seemingly at random, of course. But today it was even worse because whenever she was visible she was always in a hurry to be somewhere else two seconds ago. In the end Twilight finally managed to catch up with Pinkie, though it was only by dint of accidentally colliding with her head-on as the Party Princess blasted around a corner. Her carryall was filled with party supplies, her eyes set with grim determination, her mane even more frizzled and frazzled than usual, her wings flared as if she was about to launch herself into the air any second.
"Pinkie!" Twilight said, once she'd recovered and could focus again.
Pinkie Pie shook her head, then noticed Twilight. And beamed at her, with an unnervingly unhinged smile.
"Hi, Twi! How ya doing? Huh-huh-huh? Didja get your invite for the big bash yet? Huh? Derpy says she's handed them out to everyone by now. And so everyone's RSVP'd! And everyone who hasn't, eh, I've planned for extra so they can come anyway! It's gonna be one heckova Gala, yes indeedy! We're gonna have live acts and music and games and a whole bunch of other stuff I'll be able to name once I come up with categories for it all! I've even invited some of those stuffy ponies from Canterlot, although since I AM the Princess of Ponyville, we're gonna party down the PONYVILLE way!"
"Pinkie, you don't think you're carrying this all... a little too far?"
"Why, Twilight? It's just the biggest-bestest-all-time-super-duperest Gala bash of all time! What's so excessive about that?"
Twilight sighed. "And... I know how much fun you have planning parties..."
"FUN? FUN?" Pinkie was suddenly glaring in Twilight's face, making her draw back worriedly. "I've never been so serious in All. My. Life! I've been planning this shindig all WEEK! I've gone through ALL my files, cross-checked everything and everypony! I know EXACTLY what each pony wants out of a party, and what to do and when, for every single SECOND I'm Princess!"
Her tortured voice rose to a very high, very brittle crescendo.
"And if I am not allowed to make this the best darn party EVER for every pony in Ponyville, then... I... I...
I WILL EXPLODE AND I WILL TAKE YOU ALL WITH ME!
She paused, breathing heavily, looking about to pass out. And suddenly she landed on her rump, looking totally exhausted.
"... or maybe I am taking this all a bit too far..." she said quietly.
Twilight carefully sat down next to her, and gently put a hoof around her.
"I know, Pinkie. You want ponies to be happy."
"I want ponies to be happy..." she murmured.
"And you love planning parties for them."
"I love planning parties for them..."
"And it's all a little much for you to handle isn't it?"
Pinkie's lip quivered. "YEEEEESSSSS!!!" She buried her face in Twilight's mane and sobbed. "I'm supposed to be the Party Princess! And I'm falling behind! I've only planned up to the pre-party! And I may not be party pony enough to pull off the Grandest Gala of my entire life!"
Twilight just held her for a while, letting her get it all out of her system. Then she spoke.
"I've been there, Pinkie. I've had days when it all seemed just too much for me to handle. Because it is. Being Princess is a team effort -- me, my friends, and all of Ponyville besides. A Princess has to learn when it's time to delegate, to share the load. I know I had to. And I still have to! It's so easy for me to be a control-freak and try to do it all myself. And there's no way I can. No pony can!"
"But Princess Celestia..."
"... has the entire dominion of Equestria to call on when she needs help. Just as I have all of Ponyville to call on. And especially my friends. The five of you..."
"... and Spike ..."
"... and Spike, thanks! When I need help, I ask my friends!"
Pinkie lifted her head, and looked sadly in Twilight's eyes. "Sorry I forgot that, Twi! You're not mad at me are you?"
"Me? Mad? Pinkie! Perish the thought! Who am I ..." Twilight reminded her, "... to tell the Party Princess her business?"
Pinkie snuffled and rubbed her snout. Then she pulled herself together. She sat up straight and tall, trying to look as formal as possible.
"My Faithful Friend, Twilight Sparkle --"
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Would you be good enough to summon the Elements? We got a Gala to plan!"
"At once, Princess!"
"So, I know I've gotten a little power-crazy lately..." Princess Pinkie said when they'd all re-convened in the redecorated Town Hall.
"A little!" muttered Rainbow, only to be shushed by Fluttershy.
"...and well, I may have bitten off a bit more than I can chew, planning this whole Gala thing. Sooooo... can I possibly ask you gals to lend a hoof?"
The other five ponies looked at each other. "Of course, my dear!" Rarity replied, speaking for them. "What do you need?"
"Well, if you could manage to run the pre-party for me, then I could focus on the Gala itself."
"Hey, I may not be the Apple Princess any more," Applejack said. "But I feel pretty shore I can keep a nice shindig goin' for ya. With some help from everypony else!"
The others nodded. Pinkie smiled thankfully, but then shook her head.
"But that's not all -- I really need some help pulling this Gala together. I thought I could just wing it, but that's not really my style!"
"I had a feeling you might say that," Twilight said. "So I took the liberty of calling in -- a consultant!"
She gestured towards the doorway, where a shadowy figure stood. A figure wearing a flat brimmed hat, with a rubber chicken sitting on his back. Flinging aside his hat, cape, and chicken, he bounded into the room.
The Super-Duper-Party-Pony
That pony is ME!
You'll never meet another Party Pony
JUST LIKE CHEEEEESE!
He grabbed Pinkie by the hooves, and danced around with her.
Hey there, super-duper-party-planning-Princess-pony!
I heard you're in a bit of jam!
When it comes to planning a super-duper GALA party,
I'm your PONY!
"What?" Rainbow shouted. "That doesn't even rhyme!"
Ha ha! Who ever said it HAD to?
"Hi, Cheese Sandwich! I'm crazy-daisy glad to see you! We've got a Gala bash to pull together, and almost no time to do it! Can you help?"
Oh, we've got to plan a Gala now,
And have no time to spare!
And you've been fretting long and hard
And yanking out your hair!
Don't let another tick go by,
It's time to take a stand!
We're gonna hold the best par-ty
A GA-LA THAT IS GRAAAANNNNDD!
Sure I can handle pulling together the show, Princess,
But I'm gonna need some help from an expert!
Someone who knows the guests, what they like in a bash!
I need Ponyville's Premier Party Pony backing me up on this!
ARE YOU WITH ME?
"YEAH! Uh huh! You know it! Pinkie and Cheese, back in action!"
They gleefully sang the chorus together:
Oh, we're gonna host a Gala now,
The greatest in the land!
And guests from all Equestria
Will come to understand
No one can ever top a show
Host-ed by you and me!
The Greatest Team of Party Planners,
Pinkie Pie and CHEEEEEESE!
"Aw, geez," Rainbow grumbled. "And we settled for hosting the pre-party!"
"Good evening, Twilight!"
"Princess Celestia! And Princess Luna! Welcome to the Ponyville Gala!"
"Thank you, Twilight! We were going to be fashionably late..."
"But we wished to be fashionably early," Luna interrupted.
"So we compromised, by being fashionably on time." Celestia glanced around. "It's kind of you to be here to greet us! But where is Princess Pinkie? We had hoped to meet her before the spell ran out."
"Sorry, Your Highnesses," Twilight said. "She was just here but she had to step away for a few minutes. This whole Gala has been very important to her, and even with all of us helping it's been a bit of a stretch!"
With a sound like the air itself being torn in half, a blur of pink resolved itself into a vibrating Princess Pinkie, standing in front of the two Princesses as if she'd always been there.
"Hi, Princess Celestia! Hi, Princess Luna! Welcome to the Gala!"
"We're honored to be invited, Princess Pinkie"
"Hee!"
"The Town Hall looks quite splendid." Celestia looked around its interior. "Though it doesn't seem quite Rarity's style. It's rather -- pink!"
"Uh huh! Cheese Sandwich helped with the decorations, but I chose the color scheme. By the way, we've already finished the Championship Dance-off. But we're gonna start Tournament Pin the Tail on the Pony in a minute. You want to play?"
"Tournament..." Celestia looked studiously blank. "I think... I may pass on that!"
"Lead us to this tailless pony!" cried Luna, holding out a hoof, a blindfold already wrapped around her eyes.
With absolutely no reservations, Pinkie grabbed Luna's hoof and hauled her bodily into the melee on the main floor.
"Well, Twilight..." Celestia said, as the two of them watched the teams being chosen. "How has the spell been working out? I've been looking forward to your usual detailed report on your project, but I'd love to hear the highlights!"
"I think the best way to put it is, I've gotten to see sides of my best friends I never would have otherwise. And they've gotten to see what it's like being a Princess. And I'm still not sure who's luckier here!" Twilight smiled. And then leaned closer to Celestia.
"Do you think you could delay the sunset, just for a little while? I've never seen Pinkie so happy and I'd hate to take that away from her!"
"Oh, I could never shirk my duties like that, Twilight!" Celestia said, in an affronted tone. But then she leaned closer to whisper in Twilight's ear.
"But if we keep Luna distracted, maybe she'll forget to raise the Moon. And then I can blame it on her!"
The two of them giggled at that, as they watched a blindfolded Luna throw the pin from across the main floor, so that it smacked directly on the rump of the Pony. "Huzzah!" she cried. "We demand a challenger to top that!"
"I... don't think that'll be too hard," Twilight whispered back mischievously.
Twilight slept in the next morning. When she finally awoke she yawned and stretched, then leisurely went downstairs to thunk herself down at her desk with a cup of tea and a little pre-breakfast reading.
It was nice not having to worry about running the Princess spell for once. Maybe at some point in the future she might try it again. But for now, she was happy with there being just one Princess in Ponyville.
There was a tap at the door.
Hmmm -- Derpy's a little early today. She usually waits until we're open.
Shrugging, Twilight went to the door and pulled it open. It was indeed the mailmare, but she was looking unusually agitated.
"Twilight," she asked immediately, "is something the matter?"
"Why, Derpy? What's up?"
"Well... there's been a new Princess every morning for the past week. And then suddenly this morning, it's you again. Are we holding tryouts or something?"
Twilight blinked. "You noticed that?" Her thoughts raced. Only those present when the spell was invoked should have any recollection of the illusion itself. Except...
A Princess would not have been affected. And would have noticed.
Twilight stared at Derpy, who looked positively mournful.
"Am I doing it wrong?" she asked.
The End
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, its characters and indicia are the property of Hasbro.
No infringement is intended. This story is a work of fan fiction, written by fans for fans of the series.
Author's Note
If you're wondering about that ending, see the last chapter of The Sixth Element for its source.
Also, a tip of the keyboard to this story by MythrilMoth: A Princess For A Day, which makes use of the same concept. I honestly came across it after I started work on my story, so as far as I know I'm not borrowing someone else's idea here. Great minds fall down the same flights of stairs sometimes...
