//-------------------------------------------------------// Not Being So Regal -by Evictus- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Defending Herself //-------------------------------------------------------// Defending Herself It was a splendid morning in Ponyville. The sun shone, the sky was blue, and people-not, wait, PONIES- were happy everywhere you looked. This most fine of mornings, Twilight was working hard. She had been given a MASSIVE pile of pamphlets to sort through. Containing information about every conceivable upcoming event in that delightful little town, Twilight fastidiously sorted the pamphlets with precision and speed. Twilight knew that, although she could have requested a better job, or even turned it down, given her status, she had decided not to as, like her good friend Thomas on the Island of Sodor she wanted to be really useful. So here she was, sorting through the pile, working carefully yet quickly, as a single error would cause her to have to start the entire pile all over again! The work took her all morning, but once the bell for lunchtime went, she had completed her work. Twilight set off for the mayor’s office and dropped of the leaflets in her letterbox. She then walked back to her castle, enjoying the wonderful sites of Ponyville. Returning home, she stepped out onto her balcony, and beheld the sight of Ponyville below her, glimmering like a jewel in a crown in the summer sun. Just then, Celestia appeared behind Twilight, which startled her. Keen to get off to a better start, she smiled and greeted Princess Celestia with a hoofshake. "Celestia, what are you doing here?” Twilight made her enquiry. Normally she went to Celestia, and not the other way around. “Any updates about our strained relationship with Seaquestria?" Recently, diplomats had insulted the denizens of Seaquestria, a land deep underwater. This had led to a brief skirmish known as the ‘War of the Seashells’. Although the war was long over, relationships were still awkward. It rapidly became obvious that Celestia was not here for that at all, if her facial expression was anything to go by "Twilight, where were you yesterday?" Celestia asked. Twilight shuddered. She didn’t want to admit where she had been, and so hoped a lie would have the desired effect. "I-I was polishing the elements of harmony?" She stammered. Celestia didn’t buy it. "Then why were you captured on CCTV in a club in Canterlot?" "Dance club? Is that really a crime to go to a dance club?" Twilight defended her actions as best she could, but it was ineffective. "I do appreciate that you need a rest, but is dressing in that amnner appropriate for a Princess of Equestria?” Celestia produced an image of Twilight dressed in a rather risque manner. Twilight was less concerned about the contents of the image, but rather how Twilight how Celestia could have possibly gotten that image. "Why is it such a problem?" Twilight answered in response. "Fleur De Lis was walking home until she noticed your voice coming from the club in question, which may I remind you has a drug problem? She went in and says that you where rapping expletives, as well as abusing drugs. She witnessed you masturbating on stage and took this photo, so you go ahead and tell me that this is not you! Try it Twilight!" Celestia was furious. "So what!? Everybody does drugs! I inject myself with heroin every single day and doesn't affect my way that I govern. May I remind you about your relationship with cake?" Twilight was on a role. "Drug abuse can kill you Twilight! Do you have any idea what evidence like this can do to your reputation? What were you thinking Twilight?" Twilight grabbed the photograph from Celestia’s hand once Celestia’s little tirade was done. "I don't give a shit about what you think, I'm an equal to you! I didn’t break any laws! You criticize me about taking drugs and dancing, and yet you permit dancing at the Grand Galloping Gala? Who the hell do you think you are!? Did I ask for your opinion?" Twilight ranted. Celestia's was shocked. "Twilight, how dare you! I'm your mentor! Given all that I did for you, giving you a headstart in magic training, permitted your elevation to Princess, but You're not being the Twilight I know right now! You're not being the one who saved Equestria from Discord, or the little girl I remember from the old days! Don't the elements of harmony and the respect of the throne mean anything to you?" "Silence!” That silenced Celestia. “I saved Equestria with the elements of harmony several times over and you never saved it when I was around! Remind me what you were doing when the Storm King was running amok? Who saved Equestria from Discord? Who saved your sister from herself with the help of my friends? Who saved Equestria from Tempest Shadow, and reformed Starlight Glimmer? Now go, before I mess you up!" Twilight ranted. This was certainly a Twilight that Celestia had never heard before. She was completely speechless; not only was the response blunt, the language was vulgar. Celestia was shocked as she had never seen this side of her former student before. "Twilight, what’s what's gotten into you? This needs to stop! Remember who you are, and how that does not match with stumbling out of clubs drunk at 3 in the morning!" "Oh, who cares! I'm the princess, aren't I? I can do whatever I want!" Tears began to form in Celestia’s eyes after this outburst. She could not believe how far Twilight had fallen from all those years ago, and she had clearly let the power go to her head. "But Twilight..." Celestia tried to start, but Twilight cut her off. "I don't care! Now get out of here before I encase you in stone!" Celestia couldn’t bear it. How could Twilight have got so raunchy with her speech? It reminded her of some of the darker streets in Manehattan. Seeing she was getting nowhere, Celestia sighed and left. Twilight rolled her eyes and went off to do her work. She would rule as Princess of Friendship her own way, without undue criticism.