Ponies Playing Videogames

Celestia’s wings fluttered as she landed gracefully on a balcony in Canterlot Castle. Her golden horseshoes clicked against the marble tile as she walked. Weary from another day of meetings with dignitaries and nobles and the like, she loosed a long, contagious yawn, free from having to maintain her regal posture.

“Good evening, Sister.”

Celestia gave an unprincesslike snort while withdrawing from her yawn.“Luna! I didn’t see you there.”

Luna giggled. “We had thought to surprise you as you came home. We have prepared a pot of night-time tea for you in your room.”

Celestia cocked an eyebrow. “Anxious to be rid of me for the night, are you?”

Luna’s eyes widened. “Nay! That is not what we intended! We merely wanted to provide you with a relaxing welcome home! We had no ulterior motives.”

Celestia chuckled. Luna, as always, was supremely dedicated to her regal composure, but was nonetheless an easy pony to fluster. “Calm down, Luna. I was only teasing,” Celestia assured.

Luna’s expression remained shocked. “Right. We are still not used to this... teasing.”

“I don’t think you ever will be. Ruffling your feathers has always been a past-time of mine, if you recall.”

Luna blushed. “You have always been quite the jester, sister.”

Celestia smiled. “Walk with me, Luna.”

The two trotted down the hallways of Canterlot Castle as they caught up on the events of the day. Celestia vented about some particularly stuck-up nobles she had dealt with, and Luna reciprocated by nodding and offering comfort and assurances.

Before they knew it, they had reached Celestia’s chambers. Celestia sighed in relief. She would never have admitted it, but she was anxiously anticipating the moment she could drop the glib and regality and unceremoniously flop into the comfort of her bed. She probably wouldn’t even touch the tea, although Luna didn’t need to know that.

“Well, my dear sister, I’m going to call it a day. Take care of my little ponies during your reign, tonight, as I’ll more or less be completely inaccessible,” she laughed demurely at her own joke. “You know the drill, though. I’m sure they’re in good hooves.”

“Rest assured, Sister, we will keep close watch over our kingdom. You may rest easy, knowing that the Royal Princess of the Night is in charge.”

Celestia nodded. “Thank you, Luna. Have a good night.” The doors to her chambers slowly opened at her beckoning, and she trotted inwards.

Luna turned and started down the hallway. “One more thing, Luna!”

She turned to her sister. “Yes, Celestia?”

“I don’t want to catch you throwing any wild parties, okay?”

“We had not planned on any festivities tonight, sister. You would have been invited if we had done so.”

Celestia’s smile deflated as she realized the light joke was lost on her sister. “Good night, Luna,” she said as she retreated into her chambers.

“Good night, ‘Tia,” said Luna. She continued trotting away as the doors to her sister’s chambers sealed shut.

Luna retained her composure as she walked down the hallway and past all of the royal guards. She strode unremarkably into her chambers, closing the door behind her as she entered.

She stepped out onto her balcony and looked out at the sky. The sun, while still casting its glow over the land, had receded behind the western mountains. The clouds were beginning to lose the vibrant hues the sun had painted upon them, and the sky was shifting from purple to black.

Luna closed her eyes and reached out to the moon while her horn glowed. The Celestial body slowly began to climb into the sky until it had perched at Equestria’s Zenith. It heralded the arrival of the stars, who one-by-one poked their way into the night sky.

Luna opened her eyes again and looked at her work. It was a full moon, tonight. One of her finest, if she said so herself. She stood there for a moment, admiring the natural beauty of her kingdom and deeply inhaling the cool night air.

She abruptly turned around and into her room. “We are done for the night.”

She trotted over to a desk with a large screen that rested on top of it, as well as a mouse and keyboard. The computer tower must have been hidden somewhere inside. With a flick of magic, the machine hummed to life, and her operating system flashed onto her screen. “Stable 7”, it said. “Brought to you by Ponysoft.”

Luna smirked. “Tread cautiously, my little ponies. Your reckoning is nigh.”

She moused over the Evertrot icon, and double-clicked.