Life at Canterlot High

While it was true that the average student was largely unaware of the exact details of what a Principal's job entailed, there was no doubt that the overall goal of "just keep the school from blowing up" was common knowledge. And for a school like Canterlot High, where magic and monsters were known to frequent it, this job was doubly difficult. So if one were to look now upon their own Principal, Celestia, they could definitely see the worry she wore upon her face. Of course, she would try her hardest to cover that, putting on a smile and a welcoming tone of voice for the sake of her students, but when she was here, alone, in the comfort of her office, she could let her defences down a bit. Looking over the various papers for the school's budget, it was undeniable that the woman was tired, so much so that when the last of said papers had finally been poured over, she set them to one side and just casually leaned back into her chair, releasing a long sigh. "Uuuuuuuuuuugh...what a day."

"Oh dear, that bad, was it?" a second voice spoke to her.

Celestia didn't need to look to know who it was, and she put on a small smile all the same. "Just the usual thing, Lulu. Tighten our belts, don't get careless with the money, the normal routine." Finally looking to the door of her office, she watched as her younger sister entered, carrying a tray of two piping hot cups of coffee, to which Celestia looked to with appreciation. "Oh sister, you know me so well."

Luna, chuckling a little to that, entered the office in earnest, and with both hands currently occupied in carrying the tray, she had to resort to closing the office door with her heels. Once the two were finally given some privacy, she set the tray upon Celestia's desk, after which the two took their respective cups, giving one another a respectful clink with them, before downing their first gulp. Luna, for her part, looked rather fond of her drink. "I swear, I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't have one of these every day."

Celestia shuddered. "Please, don't even joke about that!" The two shared a laugh to that, during which time Luna pulled out the chair in front of Celestia's desk, then sat herself upon it.

Taking another swig of her coffee, the younger sister looked to her elder with concern. "So...anything disastrous this time around?"

Celestia shook her head. "Thankfully no. It's just all the usual drudgery. There's just...so much of it."

Luna nodded, turning her attention to the massive pile of papers that lay on one side of her sister's desk. "You know, if you wanted, I could help you out with them?"

Thinking on that, and looking at least a little bit tempted, Celestia let out a sigh of her own, shaking her head. "I appreciate the offer, Luna, I really do, but it would be irresponsible of me to just hoist my work onto someone else."

The school's Vice-Principal couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Honestly, Tia, with all the work you put on yourself you're going to get yourself into an early grave. Besides, I've been bored out of my mind today, so I'd appreciate at least a little bit to do."

Celestia gave a smile to her younger sibling. "I'm in quite good health, Lulu. But thank you for being so concerned. As for your boredom, there's always the library. I hear Cheerilee's been struggling to get some of the books back in their right places after a few of the students decided to swap them around for fun."

To that, Luna gave a quick shudder. Thanks, but I'll pass. You know how she gets if even one book is put back in the wrong place. Being around her with all that mess would just be a nightmare." The two shared a laugh, getting back to their drinks, which they were keen to do given that there was the risk of said beverages getting cold any moment now. During this time, Luna's eyes strayed to the window behind Celestia's chair, and it was right around this time that she spotted a particular group of seven girls. They were all chatting and laughing with one another, as they so often did in their free time, but while Luna was certainly happy to see smiles on the faces of her students, there was something that troubled her. "Do you ever worry about them, sister?"

Celestia didn't even need to turn around to know what she was talking about. "I do. I've known those girls for years now, even Twilight. They're my students, and seeing them put in danger as often as they are is always keeping me up at night." Here, she finally turned, though the girls had long since departed. "Sometimes, while I'm making my dinner, I'll look out the window and wonder what they're up to. Are they fighting some new Equestrian monster? Perhaps another shoplifter? Have they faced something that's finally too strong for them?"

Seeing the distress her sister was feeling, Luna offered a reassuring smile, even though it was obvious that they were concerns she shared as well. "Well, given everything we've seen of them, perhaps we needn't worry too much. It really does seem like the world just can't bring those girls down."

Celestia smiled back, silently thankful to her sister's attempts to cheer her up. But alas, the smile faded as quickly as it had come. "I want to believe that'll keep on happening, sister. That no matter what comes their way, Sunset and Twilight and all the others will be able to rise above." She grimaced. "But...luck doesn't last forever. Sooner or later it'll run out. And I won't be there to help them."

Luna raised an eyebrow. "Well...not to sound disrespectful, Tia...but you haven't really been helping them with any of that magical stuff so far, right?"

To Luna's surprise, her words had not prompted irritation or even anger, but rather sadness, as Celestia sunk further into her chair. "I know. And that's because I haven't been able to help them. I'm their Principal, Luna. Their well-being, and the well-being of every boy and girl in this school, is my top priority. But tell me, what am I supposed to do when magic and monsters become the problems my students face? What good can I do, what...what can I possibly do to keep them safe?"

Luna took a deep breath, putting down her now-empty coffee cup on the table. "You think I haven't worried about the same things? You think their parents haven't been having those same worries?"

Celestia grimaced, rubbing her temples. "Oh, I don't even want to think about how stressed all those mothers and fathers are when they see their kids go off like that."

Luna nodded. "I imagine they're feeling even worse than you. Yet they still let them go. You know why?" When she saw her sister look to her with interest, she continued. "It's because they trust them. They know they have an important job to do and that they're the only ones who can do it. It likely tears them up inside to let their own children fight dangers, but at the same time I'm sure they're also proud of them for having the courage to do the right thing." She smiled, reaching forward and giving her older sister a pat on the hand. "I know you care about them, probably moreso than any Principal has ever cared for their students, but you have to put your faith in them."

Celestia stared at her sister for the longest time, taking in all the words she'd been told. Then, at the end of it, she cracked a smile. "And here I thought I was supposed to be the wise one."

Luna chuckled briefly. "Hey, let it never be said I can't get a few good words in here and there." The sisters shared another laugh together, and when it died down Luna looked to Celestia with more thoughtfulness. "You know, if it really concerns you that much...there is always the option of, you know, forbidding them from going out." When she saw Celestia give her a confused look, she elaborated. "You know, when they're here at the school, just tell them they're not allowed to use their magic and stuff. Like when I instructed them during the Friendship Games?"

Celestia remained silent for a time, very much looking like she was giving serious consideration to that option. But, in the end, she let out a long sigh, shaking her head. "No...no, I couldn't. Like you said, Lulu, they're doing good. I may care about what they face when they're out there, but to tell them not to try and stop it would probably not result in anything good." She tapped the end of her coffee cup with her finger, musing on new thoughts. "You know...I do wonder if this is what that other me feels sometimes."

Luna, having heard that, let her gaze stray to the window once more, and particularly to the plinth that once bore a magnificent horse statue. "It's funny to think, isn't it? Over there, just a short walk away, there's a door to a whole other world."

Celestia nodded, glancing over her shoulder to that exact same sight. "One that was there right from the beginning, and we never even knew about it."

"One where there's a different version of each and every one of us," Luna continued.

"Including you and I, sister," Celestia remarked.

A silence fell, and as it continued, Luna would sometimes let her eyes dart down to Celestia, then returned again to the plinth. "Do you ever feel tempted? Maybe to just go over there and have a look at this other place?"

A smile crossed Celestia's face. "It would be a lie to say I haven't thought about it, at least a few times." She paused, pondering the possibility. "To meet with another like me. To talk with her. What kind of conversations would we have?"

Luna smirked, gesturing to her sister. "Well, just as one example, you might discuss your respective career paths. Not to put too fine a point on it, but a Principal isn't all that impressive when compared to a Princess."

But Celestia was unconcerned with her sister's words, instead looking back to her with an equally-sly smirk. "Says the Vice-Principal?"

Luna sighed, giving a quick shrug. "Okay, yes, point taken." The two shared another laugh, with Luna walking off to the side, to a table where there was more things ready to get them some further coffee, and as she started preparing to do exactly that, she again found herself looking to the window. "From what I've heard, I think we can say we're better off. Sure, we may have the occasional monster or day of bizarre happenings, but if what Sunset has told me is anything to go by, what we deal with is tame compared to what Equestria has to go through."

Celestia mused on that, clearly worried at the prospect of there being even greater levels of danger that they might have otherwise been dealing with. "In that case, consider me fairly satisfied with the problems we've faced thus far."

Luna chuckled. "I'll drink to that." And drink she did, having just poured a freshly-brewed cup of coffee. But of course, she had not done this for herself alone, as she'd also made a second cup, which she now carried over to her sister. Celestia, naturally, accepted it graciously, and for a while the two just sat opposite one another, enjoying their drinks. After a while though, Luna once more looked to Celestia, her expression more serious than it had been before. "Tell me truthfully, Tia. When you look back, thinking on all the time we've had here at the school, with all it's ups, downs and moments of outright craziness...would you say you were happy here?"

The look Celestia had gave the impression that she was giving that question her absolute focus, but after a few stray sips of her drink, she eventually offered her sister a genuine smile. "Dear Lulu...I wouldn't change my time here for anything."