Bad Press

by Jay David

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life
Length: 1812

Celestia and Luna come across some less-than-flattering news about themselves

As hard as ruling can be, something that can often seem to be much harder is learning how others feel about the way you rule. It's something Celestia in particular has dealt with many times during her tenure as Equestria's leader, and one morning, after having returned from their recent vacation, she and her sister come across some rather frank talk in the local newspaper.

Will contain some spoilers for "Between Dark and Dawn".

Published 2019-06-30 04:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2019-06-30 04:20:02 UTC

Bad Press

There were fancy breakfasts, and then there was the kind of breakfast Celestia was currently eating. From a glance it looked like the kind of meal that would have taken the combined effort of all the most skilled and talented chefs in all of Equestria, with tiny portions and expertly-arranged plates made to utter perfection. But for now, the Princess of the Sun was contenting herself with simply sipping a cup of tea. She sighed with a sense of calm, smiling to herself as she recalled the last few days. A quick glance to the side found her looking to her beloved sun, still rising high in the sky, and thankfully no longer jerked about by the well-meaning actions of her former apprentice. She afforded herself a brief giggle over the memory. Hard to imagine that the time spent outside of Canterlot would have been more stressful and draining than those within, but then, that's what happened when one hadn't had a proper vacation for a while. And it was right around this point when Celestia's solitude was brought to an end, as the great doors of the breakfast hall opened to reveal her younger sister.

"Ah, Luna. I trust the day finds you well?"

Luna smiled back to her, using her magic to close the doors behind her as she entered the room in earnest.

"Indeed, sister. Time away from the city was nice, but familiarity always has its comforts."

Celestia nodded in agreement, watching as her sibling sat herself down in her chair on the opposite end of the table. Luna levitated the nearest plate of food towards herself, looking utterly famished as she did so, but Celestia's attention was soon diverted to the arrival of one of her aides, who gave a sweeping bow before offering her, of all things, a newspaper. Celestia nodded back to her, taking the offered paper and beginning to read it. As the aide went back where she came from, Luna looked to her sister with curiosity.

"Some good headlines, I hope?"

Celestia did not look to her at first, preferring instead to read through a few of the pages of the paper. A time came, however, when she stopped, her eyes widening. A moment or two later, and she cracked a knowing smile.

"Well, I'd say you certainly brightened up this paper's readers this morning."

Naturally, Luna was confused as to what she meant, and after another giggle, Celestia simply it up her horn and teleported the paper right over to her sister. The page was still open from where Celestia had been reading, and as soon as Luna saw it, her eyes widened with shock. There, in a two-page spread, was a photograph of none other than her, back when she'd taken a nap on her deck-chair on the beach. Whoever had taken this photo had clearly been trailing her, and had taken the opportunity to take a Princess beach photo. As expected, this enraged the younger Princess, and before long the paper was in flames, her eyes filled with disdain.

"We shall find this photographer and banish them! Banish them most...erm...banishy!"

Celestia rolled her eyes.

"Lulu, I think a strongly-worded letter will suffice. It's always worked in my cases."

Luna, calming down quickly, looked to her sister with surprise.

"You mean...you?"

Celestia raised an eyebrow.

"Try not to be too shocked sister. I've looked this way for thousands of years. It's not difficult to imagine there were more than a few who would take an interest in taking my picture."

Luna, now realising that her sister had a greater deal of experience in this matter, calmed down a bit, easing back into her chair and taking her next bite of breakfast, dispensing with formalities and talking while she chewed.

"Well...as long as we get an apology, that will suffice."

Celesta nodded, and it was here that her aide returned, this time looking a bit more worried. But Celestia was calm, and took, as before, the newspapers, of which there were three now, from her. The aide bowed again, retreating back out of the room. Now wary, Luna eyed the newspapers more intently, narrowing her gaze.

"And what sordid things are these ones trying to get away with?"

Celestia, focusing on the papers, looked from one to the other. One in particular seemed to cause her some amusement.

"Our leader, a chicken for fearing a chicken. More on page twenty."

Luna arched an eyebrow of her own, prompting Celestia to wave her off.

"I'll explain later."

The elder sister looked to the next paper, and here she took on a more thoughtful look.

"Princess Twilight can't control sun and moon. Can we really trust her to lead us?"

Luna frowned deeply to that headline.

"How dare those editors make such a suggestion?! Twilight has seen this nation through great dangers many times, and now they condemn her simply because of a few teething problems with new powers?"

Celestia nodded, but only briefly.

"I understand your concerns, sister. I too have nothing but faith in my old student. Seeing that others do not is troubling, to be sure, but to the average pony on the street, seeing the heavenly bodies go about in such an erratic manner would have been a fair cause for concern."

She glanced up to her fellow Princess.

"It concerned us, did it not?"

Luna paused here, saying not a word, but sighing, which silently indicated her acceptance of her sister's words. Nodding to that, Celestia looked to the third headline, and here her look became perhaps the most serious it had been all morning. Luna, realising that it wouldn't be good, asked nervously.

"...Well?"

Celestia sighed deeply, then read the headline aloud.

"Is Celestia tired of the ponies she rules? Is her retirement an excuse to abandon us all?"

Silence fell over the room, and Celestia gently placed the paper aside, preferring instead to take a few bites of her breakfast, which had been largely neglected since she started reading. Luna, by contrast, just stared at her quietly, not believing what she'd heard. But a time came when she knew she had to speak out.

"Tia...how could they say such things about you?"

Celestia did not look to her, instead taking a knife and cutting a particularly stubborn bit of toast.

"Ponies will always believe what they want, sister. Let them say what they will. It does not change my decision."

Luna frowned.

"They show nothing but disrespect and contempt for you, sister. All these long centuries you have guided Equestria, defended it, stood as an example to them...and this is how they would repay that debt?"

She gestured angrily to the paper.

"Making you out to be some callous and uncaring mare who would discard them as soon as it is convenient?"

Celestia shook her head.

"It is mere sensationalism, Luna. An eye-grabbing title to get readers."

Luna was not satisfied though.

"Call it what you will...I call it insult, plain and simple."

She sighed angrily, retreating back into her chair.

"How, Tia? How can you stand to read those papers when they are so clearly filled with those who have naught but flippancy towards you?"

Here, Celestia stopped with her breakfast, considering her sister's words. She thought long and hard about it, then, to Luna's surprise, actually started to smile. The younger Princess had no idea what her sister had to smile about, but it seemed as though Celestia was already in the process of answering. After a flash from her horn, Celestia conjured forth what appeared to be a small cardboard box of some sort, which she promptly floated over to Luna. Taking it, Luna gave it an odd look, then opened it up. Inside were what appeared to be old newspaper clippings, going back for many, many years. Reaching inside, she took out the one on the top, reading out what was written.

"Princess Celestia is always so nice. I'm glad we have a pony like her as our leader."

She paused, taking the next one and reading it also.

"I want to be like Princess Celestia when I grow up."

Again, she took another.

"Princess Celestia came and visited my Mom in hospital. I haven't seen Mom that happy in a long time. Thank you, Princess."

Putting the box down, Luna looked to Celestia with confusion, and Celestia, seeing that look, began to explain.

"Not all of them do it, but some papers here in the city like to invite their readers to send in letters taking about this or that topic. Those clippings are from times when ponies have wanted to talk about me."

She used her magic to levitate the box back to her, and took out one of the aforementioned clippings, which she smiled to.

"I see these and...well...it makes me feel that, however imperfect I may be, whatever mistakes I might have made, there are still those who care. Still those that I've made a positive impact on."

She glanced briefly to the other still-intact papers beside her.

"I know there will always be those who will want to condemn or criticise, or who simply do not care for me. To say that I am unaffected or unhurt by their words would be a lie."

Slowly, her smile returned, and she looked right back to her sister.

"But then I get days when I'm blessed by the sight of those letters. And I know that, no matter my shortcomings...I've ruled well in the ways that matter. I do not lead Equestria for praise and affirmation...but to get moments where I can hear of some sweet child wanting to grow up to be like me, well...it's something that makes the job worth it."

Luna didn't know what to say, but looked down to the clippings she'd been holding onto this whole time. She didn't really have as much of a handle on all this as her sister did, and yet, as she thought on all Celestia had said, a small smile came to her. She looked back to her sibling, and the latter too smiled to her. And so, after taking another sip of their respective cups of tea, the Princesses allowed the comfort of this moment to settle in for them.

"So...I don't suppose I have any such letters speaking of me, do I?" Luna asked.

A quick giggle from Celestia.

"Oh, certainly. The children especially adore you."

A wider smile on Luna's part began.

"Then yes, sister...that does indeed make the job worth it."

Author's Note

Since we're in the final season, I think it's safe to say that this was the last focus episode these two will ever get. And if that's the case, then I can safely say I was satisfied, because the moments between these two were simply delightful :twilightsmile: