You Called For Me

At night, most ponies kept to the cities and major roads. Celestia appreciated it, as it gave the forest path a secluded feel despite the wide open and well-trotted lane.

Her hoof encountered a stray twig, and the sound startled Novo from her dozing sprawl on Celestia’s back.

“W-Wha…?” Novo mumbled.

“Welcome back. Did you talk to my sister? You were out for so long I wondered if she introduced herself.”

Novo blinked at her, eyes bleary. “I… what?”

“Oh, nevermind.”

“Where are we? Where’s the bar?”

“Ever hear of the Running of The Leaves? This is the path they take when they shake them off in autumn. It’s scenic, and I thought the night air would do us good.” Celestia smiled. “As for the bar, well I doubt there’s much left there for us to drink or otherwise.”

Celestia shifted her weight slightly when Novo rearranged herself to be cross-wise with her forehooves and hindhooves dangling on either side of Celestia like saddlebags.

“What happened to all the stuff I won?” Novo asked as she shook the grogginess from her head.

“I gave it all back. We only needed the bits to drink, and we did plenty of that.”

“Gave it back!” Novo exclaimed, the sheer indignation sobering her. She cried out a second time when she finally saw what Celestia was wearing. “You still have my hat.”

“Was your hat,” Celestia corrected. “I won it fair and square as I did the rest.” She chuckled. “I thought it’d make a nice souvenir.”

“How did you manage to beat me?” Novo asked, frowning. “You had as many cups as I did.”

“You preferred your drinks warm. I enjoyed mine cold,” answered Celestia. “With ice.”

“Why would that ma— ” Novo blinked then exclaimed for the third time. “You sneak!”

“It was tactics,” Celestia clarified. “Also, you were a bit distracted by trying to sing some exciting renditions on top of the table.”

Novo grumbled for a little while then sighed. “Sorry if I got carried away. I’m really good at spoiling a night out, aren’t I?”

“I wouldn’t say that. This is the most fun I’ve had in years.” Celestia peeked over her shoulder. “Nopony or creature treats me like you do.”

"Is that a good thing?”

“Very much so,” Celestia replied with a smile.

“I always did wonder…” Novo trailed and grew quiet.

When the minutes ticked by with nothing more. Celestia added a small cajoling bounce to her next step. “Yes?”

Novo squeezed at Celestia’s sides to keep from slipping off. “Do you remember when we first met, Celeste?”

The memory drew a laugh out of Celestia. “How can I forget such an adventure? Fit enough to be a Daring Do novel.” She grinned. "The Lost Treasure of the Seapony, featuring Princess Celestia and Princess… ah, what were you calling yourself back then? Princess Aurora the… "

“I’m the seventh,” said Novo before she asked, “Daring who?”

“An adventurous author who’s also quirky with names,” Celestia replied. “I am glad you changed yours when you took the crown, though. Numbers are a pain.”

Novo petted a hoof over the pearl on her neck. “The Queen who brought back the pearl and helped her kind regain their other forms. Novo, a new queen for the start of a new age of mastery over sea and sky.” She snorted then. “Except... you didn’t need to help me. You could have found it yourself. Kept it, even. Why didn’t you?”

“Friendship, naturally.”

It took a full minute of Novo's glaring before Celestia explained further. “I rule the largest nation on this planet. I move the sun, and I am immortal. What need have I for more power? Or more land? If I returned the pearl without you, they would have pledged loyalty to me. I wanted allies, not more subjects.”

Novo’s expression fell. “So it was just politics?”

“My most dearest of friends. You wear a crown like I do, you know that everything is politics.” Celestia shook her head. “But our relationship is something I cherish. Even now, decades later, it feels like not a moment was lost between us. In an ever-changing world like ours, that is worth more than any signed squiggles on some dusty parchment.”

A smile returned to Novo’s muzzle. “It’s funny how we ended up, hmm? Do I complain? My kind is free. My soldiers are celebrating, and I get to tour Equestria on the most royal carriage of them all.”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “If you're feeling sober enough to tease me you're welcome to get off.”

“I’m pretty comfortable like this,” Novo said, her smile now a smirk. “Besides, I don’t know where we’re going.”

“We’re heading to Sweet Apple Acres. It would be a shame to miss a chance to have a taste while we’re in town.” Celestia’s eyes made happy arches. “Nothing tastes quite like Equestria’s heartland as an authentic Apple Acres apple pie.”

Novo snickered. “Pie, hmm?” She made an extra squeeze, this time towards Celestia’s flanks.

“Pie, not cake! Completely different thing! You’ll see.” Celestia made sure to stomp each step for a while.

With Ponyville’s start as Equestria’s apple basket, Sweet Apple Acres was just as much as a community spot as the town square. Large tables usually used for Apple family gatherings were now set for visitors along with a wooden stage for ponies to perform. Some light music, rustic and country, played in the air, while ponies chatted and mingled.

Novo had slipped off Celestia before they approached and they walked together towards the tables. “You gave away all my bits. How are we going to pay for any of this?”

“We simply have to wait.”

Sure enough, after a little while of standing around Applejack herself greeted them.

“Howdy! Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres. Sorry 'bout the mess, but it’s been all sortsa crazy today.” She gave them both a second glance and raised a hoof to tip her hat back. “Humm. Say... we ever met before? Yah look mighty familiar, yer pardner too.”

Novo stiffened in place, but Celestia smiled and answered for them both.

“Last time was in Canterlot. I’ve gotten fritters from you before. I was just telling my… ‘pardner’ that we can’t visit Ponyville without stopping to get Apple family cooking right from the farm. It’d be terrible to come all this way without a bite!”

Applejack’s nose wiggled momentarily, but she seemed satisfied with that answer. “Ain’t that the truth! Should have known you a mare with some sense with a fine hat like that on ya. What’s yer names ya two?”

“I am Sweet Frosting, and this is Lovely Sunshine,” Celestia said.

This time Applejack’s eyes narrowed, and a small frown touched on her lips. Celestia tried not to fidget.

“... heh!” Applejack laughed suddenly. “Sweet ‘n Lovely? What a pair ya two make. You two kin?”

That made Celestia and Novo startle and share a glance. “No!” They blurted out, nearly at the same time.

“Mmhmm. That other kind of pardner, then. Well ah don’t mind sparing a little hospitality to some visitors. Granny’s cookin’ up a storm, so we bound to have extra pie in any case. Sit right tight, and I’ll bring ya a slice of pie when it’s good and ready. Maybe a little something to wash it down with, too.”

“Hey, your name is Applejack,” said Novo with a dawning realization. “Does that mean you make appleja—” she cut off when Celestia gave her a look.

“Just water for us, my friend lost her bits after a few barrels of cider already,” explained Celestia.

“Sounds ‘bout right.” Applejack chuckled.

When Applejack left them, Novo turned to Celestia and stuck her tongue out. “I lost the bits to you.”

“You still lost them,” Celestia countered, reaching with a hoof to tip her pirate hat.

It wasn’t too much a long wait at the table for Applejack to come serve them a freshly baked pie. Celestia had the pleasure of watching Novo’s expression go from skeptical to surprise to starry-eyed delight while she chewed.

“It’s amazing what one little fruit can do. I wonder if they’ll grow in the south,” Novo commented as she looked at the pie slice with one eye closed.

“Doubtful, but we could always work out a trade agreement,” Celestia replied, gesturing with a spoon held in her wingtips.

“Is there much demand on the pony side for kelp chips or salmon juice, though?”

Celestia had the spoon halfway to her mouth, and she paused, suddenly feeling a queasiness. “Salmon juice?”

Fortunately, any answer was lost as Applejack went over to the wooden stage and spoke to the gathering.

Applejack held up a metal cone and used it as a simple megaphone to address the crowd. “Howdy everypony and everycreature! Ah know it’s gettin’ on in the night, but maybe we can count on Princess Celestia bein’ in a mood to keep the sun down for us a little extra—”

“Achoo!”

“Sun and Stars bless you,” Novo said automatically.

Celestia used a nearby napkin to blow her nose. “Thank you.”

“— so we have enough of a band and enough pairs to have ourselves a best in show hoedown. Come up and have a go. Winners get first go at some fresh jam we’re gettin’ ready.”

Novo leaned.

Celestia kept her eyes forward, slowly chewing the remainder of her pie.

Novo crossed her hooves in front of her and perched her muzzle, looking up with fluttering eyes.

Celestia found an interesting spot on the tablecloth to stare at. Novo slid forward to cover it.

Finally, Celestia poked Novo’s nose with the spoon. “Fish, bird, and horse I knew about, but not puppy. Do you really want jam that badly?”

Novo closed her mouth around the spoon and stole the last bit of pie on it. “No. But it’s a contest! For the both of us! We could win.”

“At dancing? And I would have thought you’d gotten your fill of competition for the night.”

“I’m the best dancer in my court, ” Novo boasted with a wide grin. “Becoming a bachelorette means every suitor asks me to one. Competitions are how hippogriffs impress higher rank, you see.” She polished her hoof on her chest. “I always win, but it’s cute to see them try.”

“You don’t say...” Celestia mused and glanced sidelong at Novo.

Novo was now looking at the stage where several pairs of ponies were congregating, seemingly gauging the other entrants. When she caught Celestia’s look, she tipped her head. "Well?"

"Let’s win some jam," Celestia said, smiling.

“So do you know how to do a hind hoof waltz?” Novo asked in a low voice as they took a corner of the stage amongst the other dancing couples.

Celestia reared herself back on her hind legs and matched forehooves with Novo. “Of course, Platinum herself taught me.”

“One, two, step,” Novo murmured as she started them off. Her ear flicked at the name. “Who?”

“Visit again in the winter time and we can watch the Hearth's Warming play together,” Celestia replied then continued the pace. “Three, four, turn.”

“Visit again? Not tired of me yet?”

“How could I be? Every minute with you is an experience.”

For all her boasting, Novo truly was skilled at dancing and Celestia fell into an easy match to the movements. Without the need to watch hooves, Celestia looked up and caught the smile on Novo's muzzle. She returned it with one of her own, the idea of them winning didn’t seem that farfetched at all.

At least until the band changed the music from the slow twang to a more lively song with a quicker beat. Celestia started to fall out of sync and lag behind.

“Mmm? We have to match the tune,” Novo whispered to her while giving a coaxing pull at the hooves. “Swing your hips a little.”

“That’s alright… this is fine,” Celestia replied. Embarrassment and a missed step had her looking towards their hooves again.

A gentle touch came on Celestia’s cheek as Novo leaned forward and bumped her. “Think less like a princess and more like a griff.”

Celestia arched her brow. “What does that mean, pray tell?”

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Besides, I’m the only one who knows who you are, Celeste.” Novo drew her muzzle back and dropped her a wink.

Platinum’s own disembodied voice started to chide Celestia, but she fought against it and centuries of ingrained etiquette. Slowly, she hitched her tail and began to sway herself. A part of her was poised, expectant for the telltale snap of a paparazzi’s camera.

None came, and a glance showed that even the couple behind her were more interested in each other than gawking. Celestia relaxed and put more spring in her hindhooves and returned to matching steps.

They fell back in rhythm and bounced along to the music. Distantly, Applejack declared it to be a proper hoedown and instructed them to give the partner a dosey do. Celestia spread her wings and let herself be lifted clear off the ground when Novo swung her through a turn. The landing left them both giddy and laughing.

So caught up in the moment that Celestia didn’t have time to warn Novo when another dancing pair, less agile than they were, stumbled into their corner.

Novo grunted, falling forward and wobbling until Celestia steadied her. She threw a sour look over her shoulder. “Watch it— ” she began before doing a double take. “YOU!”

“Sorry about that,” Tempest said sheepishly.

Celestia was as surprised as Novo but even more startling was the look of the commander. Without the bulky armor, Tempest wasn’t quite the imposing figure she had been, and even her cutie mark was innocuous. She was also just about tall enough to shadow her more recognizable dance partner.

“Two… three… three, you have to do step three, Fizzle,” Twilight mumbled before she looked up and blinked.

“You better be sorry!” Novo shot back. Anger had frazzled her Rarity-like curls.

Tempest winced at that tone and bowed her head.

Celestia tried to tug Novo with their linked hooves, she resisted and kept her glare focused on Tempest.

Twilight opened her mouth to speak but Tempest replied first.

“I figure this is about more than just the dance, huh…” Tempest swallowed. “If I hurt anypony you knew or your family. I’m sorry about that, too. If you want to buck me in the face right now. I deserve it, and I’ll let you. I don’t have much else I can do to make things right.”

Novo for her part shifted on her hindhooves and Celestia was afraid that she was considering doing just that. The tension went on for a beat longer before she sagged in place.

“We all make mistakes,” Novo admitted through what sounded like clenched teeth. “Best we can do is not make them again and try to move on.”

She nudged Celestia to resume the dance and Celestia followed automatically, simply watching Novo.

“What’s with that smile?” Novo muttered once they were away and out of earshot.

“I am so proud of you,” Celestia said, her smile growing even broader.

“Oh, shut up and dance, pony.”

After the dancing and festivities, the winning couple came up to the table beside Applejack and held up the jar of jam to the hoof-stomping applause of the other ponies.

Celestia and Novo themselves lingered more towards the back, far enough away that they could talk without the other ponies listening.

“How could she win?” Novo asked with a shake of her head.

“Now, now, we must be good sports. You said yourself the dance was more for the fun of it than a prize.”

“That was meant to be a serious question,” Novo pointed at the blonde, gray-coated pegasus standing next to a pink unicorn. “Maybe being able to see the floor at the same time gave her an advantage?”

Celestia had a vague sense of familiarity that she’d seen the bubble marked mare before. Listening to the crowd, the unicorn’s name of Sparkler was easy enough to pick out. For the pegasus, it was all a mess and everypony seemed to have one nickname or another.

On the stage, the bubble pegasus merrily ate the jam to the crowd’s cheers, happy no matter who called her what.

“I wouldn’t worry too much over it,” replied Celestia. “I hope it doesn’t spoil the evening for you?”

Novo made a shrug with her wings and chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m having fun. Even meeting a mortal enemy did… didn’t ruin… hey... do you hear that?”

“I am so happy that you could forgive Tempest. Holding a grudge is like keeping poison within yourself. You will find that once you’ve made peace wi…err… hear what?” Celestia paused her friendship speech when she found that Novo had wandered towards the barns somewhere in the middle of it.

Annoyed, Celestia trotted to catch up, though she soon heard what Novo had: Giggling and two very excited voices that carried.

“One time my friends started acting reaaaallly weird and I thought it was because they didn’t want to do any more parties and that made me super duper sad, and I had to go make friends out of bags and rocks to do a party with but then my real friends were actually using this barn to throw me a surprise party!” Pinkie said without needing to pause for breath somehow.

“Oh wow! That’s amaaaaaazing!” exclaimed a yellow-coated and blue maned hippogriff next to Pinkie. “But what happened to the friends you made?”

“Hee! I couldn’t let my new friends down because of my old friends turned out to still be friends. So now I throw parties for them and for Sir Lintsalot, Madam le Flour, Rocky, and Mister Turnip, too!”

“Do you think Shelly and Sheldon could go to one of those parties?” The hippogriff asked in a wondering voice that sounded earnest and genuine.

“Welllllll, I suppose I might be able to fit them in,” Pinkie dawdled in what passed for a serious tone for her, and even then she quickly broke into a grin. “Of course they can come, silly! Anything for my bestest feather and fish friend, Skystar!”

“Oh!” Celestia turned towards Novo. “Skystar... isn’t that—”

“My daughter!” Novo cried and started to advance down the path towards the barn.

Celesta hurried to circle around and step in front of Novo. “Hold on, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to twist her earfeather and drag her back to Canterlot. She’s supposed to be grounded. Not out carousing with a pony!”

“Oh? Is that something only queens can do?” Celestia asked pointedly.

Novo flustered. “That’s different.” A thought struck her, and she grew even pinker. “Very different! Sun and Stars help me if she’s been drinking!”

“I’ll help you be reasonable,” replied Celestia as she glanced over her shoulder. Pinkie and Skystar looked to be holding up various farmyard objects and making funny voices with them. They both burst into giggles afterward.

“They’re not drunk that’s just Pinkie being Pinkie… I think,” Celestia said with some uncertainty. “But how old is Skystar? She doesn’t look that much a filly.”

“She’s twenty,” Novo grumbled. “But it doesn’t matter if she’s twenty or fifty. She’s not allowed until I say she is!”

“You were younger than that when we found the pearl together. A night out with a marefriend is magnitudes less dangerous.”

Novo stared at her, an expression of abject horror on her muzzle. “...marefriend?” she whispered.

“Oh come now, I didn’t mean it lik—”

“Mwah!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Mwah mwah!” Skystar answered.

A second glance over showed Pinkie and Skystar rubbing a bucket and a rake together.

“Okay, that’s adorable,” Celestia said then grunted when Novo pushed on her.

“Out of my way. I’m putting a stop to this before pretend becomes reality,” Novo said, her voice hard with steely determination.

Celestia stumbled backward several steps before bracing her hooves and pressing back. “Wait, Novo. Let’s think on this, what is the harm of those two together?”

Another bout of distant giggling had Novo trying to look over Celestia’s head. At the question, she focused back to answer, “I have to protect her. She’s innocent to the world.”

“Protect her?” Celestia echoed. “From Pinkie Pie? Pinkie is the last mare who would hurt your daughter.”

Novo stomped a hoof on the path in her frustration. “You don’t understand!” After a moment her voice softened. “Celeste, I’m sorry, but you don’t know what it’s like to be a mother.”

“You’re right, I don’t. As much as I would like to be one.” Celestia sighed. “But I have raised students before, and I know what happens if you grip too tight. She’ll grow to resent and hate you.”

The push against Celestia eased up, and Novo’s eyes fell away, wavering and unsure.

“Hey! There’s a lot of hay in that barn!” Pinkie observed. “Wanna go roll around in it?”

“Roll in the hay with you? That sounds fantastic!” Skystar chirped eagerly.

Celestia’s third glance over her shoulder caught the sight of Pinkie doing her signature bounce-hop towards the barn while Skystar did her own imitation of it, fluttering her wings each time.

When she looked forward, she found Novo’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks and her mane utterly frazzled. It was all Celestia could do to rear back in time to catch Novo when she charged forward and tried to scramble over Celestia.

“No no no! Let me go!” Novo was still a pony, but her voice sounded out like an avian’s shriek.

Celestia teetered on hindhooves, ironically all the time dancing with Novo helped her with the balance now. “It’s… it’s not… what… you think!” She gasped as she struggled with the hoof-full of squirming pegasus. “Trust in Pinkie!”

“Trust? Trust?!” Novo retorted. “You want me to trust that pink mare with my daughter’s virtue!” She doubled her efforts, her pushing becoming a shove.

Celestia lurched and turned the push of their locked embrace into a spinning tango step. It took them both off the road and into the nearby muddy ditch. Her hind hoof slipped until she anchored it with a stomp in the squishy earth. “Then trust in friendship. They will become ha— ”

“Oh stuff it with your friendship speech!” Novo interrupted, angrily. “I already forgave your thief for stealing and a conqueror for destroying. I’m not going to give up my daughter!”

The pearl’s golden magic swirled around Novo, and she lost her wings. Celestia was confused by the action until the next shove came with all the force of an earth pony and lifted her clear off her hooves.

Celestia splayed her wings and started to pump them. Despite the effort she was beginning to be carried backwards. “Then believe in love!” she called out desperately. “If they feel it for each other let them have their love!”

Novo let out a laugh. It was short, derisive, and bordering on the maniacal. “Oh, that’s the best one yet! Let’s see you believe in love when it leaves you helpless and lonely.” She shook her head violently. “Love makes you an idiot. Skystar will thank me for stopping it now, before she can get...att-attached to some...some...mare. Before she spends years w-wanting and...and... wishing for things that can’t be. Hoping she can win the love of a pony...”

Midway through the rant, Novo’s tone had dropped from the shrill highs to a low halting mumble. Her cheeks glittered wet in the moonlight and Celestia understood.

“I am a pony, and I love a hippogriff,” Celestia said into the tense air. “I love you.”

Novo’s eyes widened. “W-what…! You don’t...bu— ” It was all she managed as she’d halted her push and left no stop to Celestia’s counterbalancing.

It pitched them both back, and Novo landed flank first into the mud with Celestia soon falling on top, splattering them both as they rolled in a jumble of wings, hooves and wet earth. They struggled, but more to untangle themselves until they both sprawled out on their backs panting for breath.

A rhythmic thunk sounded nearby.

“Wow look at that!” Pinkie said, “Those two know how to have fun.”

Skystar bounce-landed next to Pinkie, still with a few stray bits of hay in her feathered mane. “Ooh! Can we do mud wrestling next?”

“Sure! I know the best spot, it’s right by the pigs! Come on, before they take all the good mud!” And they were both off again, bouncing in tandem.

A few minutes of quiet passed.

“Told you so,” Celestia murmured while she idly traced the constellation of one of the Ursas above.

“Did you mean what you said? Or was that just ‘tactics’ again?” Novo muttered. She sounded tired and worn.

Celestia raised herself on one hoof, enough to give her room to bring a muddy wing around Novo and draw her close.

“There was a time when I didn’t believe in love. I would keep it shut tight and away and never let myself feel it for other ponies. Doing so drove my sister into a rebellion and turned my first student into a runaway.” Celestia sighed. “It also kept me from pursuing a young queen who touched my heart.”

Novo leaned her head on Celestia’s shoulder, huddling under the hugging wing. “And… now? It’s different?”

“My sister returned from exile, my wayward student reconciled... and that queen came when I called for her." Celestia shook her head. "You've been on my mind lately, as another one of those old regrets. Maybe that's why I could only think of you in the heat of the attack.”

“You… you could have said that before when I asked, you ninny.” Novo chuffed. “Why be so mysterious?”

“Let me break my bad habits one at a time, love.”

Novo shook her head and chuckled faintly. “What happens now?”

Celestia considered. “Give me back my horn, and I’ll take us back so we can have a good long shower.”

“And tomorrow?”

“We’ll worry about it tomorrow.”