Life of a Queen

Celestia leaned back in her throne. The pain in her leg was only rivaled by the one forming in her head. She spent a moment massaging the base of her horn. Waning sunlight filtered in through the glass ceiling of her throne room.

“Mister Ruby, I understand that you are unhappy with my decision. However, the crown must see to the good of all citizens. These changes have improved the life of ponies all across Equestria. So, as I told you last week, I have no intention of reversing my proclamation. Do you understand?”

The stallion standing at the podium retreated, lowering his gaze from the solar princess.

“Yes, Princess Celestia. I understand.”

“Good,” Celestia rose, standing proudly over her court with a warm smile on her face. “If the situation changes, or if there is some other incident you believe warrants notice, please feel free to bring it to my attention.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Now then. I pronounce this case, closed. Which means this court session is adjourned.” She bowed to the stands crowded with ponies. Most of them watched her through the lens of a camera, the constant flashing only exacerbating the sour note in her mind. “I hope you all have a safe trip home and invite you to return at dawn, when my court resumes.”

The guards snapped to attention as the spectators began to file out through the massive castle doors. Celestia threw her head back, basking in the last few moments of dusk. She kept her eyes closed, listening for the last of the steps against the marble floor.

“Is everything alright, Princess?”

Celestia recognized the voice.

“Just a slight headache, Inkwell.” She sighed, turning toward the scribe. “I hope I wasn’t too harsh on Mister Ruby.”

“Of course not, Princess. If I might speak frankly, you may wish to be more harsh with him in the future. This is the fourth time he’s come here to argue with you.”

“It is his right to do so as a citizen of Equestria.”

“You’ve the patience of a saint, Princess. Well, if you have no further need of me, I will take my leave, then.” The stewardess bowed.

Celestia returned the gesture with the practiced grace of her station. She watched the younger unicorn tidy her desk before filtering out with the last remnants of the crowd. The doors slammed shut, leaving only Celestia and a small contingent of her guards within.

The burning sky extinguished as her sun finally sank below the horizon, replaced by the cool paleness of the moon. With her duties done, Celestia collapsed into her throne, sucking a breath through her teeth as a jolt tore through the muscles of her hind leg.

“Still no improvement, Princess?” one of the nearby guards asked. The rest watched her with grim expressions.

“No need to worry.” She shook her head slowly. “It’s still better than yesterday.”

“Shall we fetch the doctor for you again?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Gathering her strength, she pushed herself back up onto her hooves. “I will be returning to my room for the night. Would you mind having the kitchen send something up?”

The soldier pressed a hoof to his chest in salute.

“As you command, Princess.”

Celestia descended from her pedestal under the gaze of her attendants. She kept her head down and teeth grit, refusing to succumb to the ails of her damaged body. Only when she had climbed to the upper corridors did she let her stoicism falter. She staggered, her face contorting in pain as her knee buckled.

Her hoof searched for the wall as her body collapsed to the floor. She let her head hang, staring back at her leg, twitching and trembling as she tried to put her weight on it. Squeezing her eyes shut, she forced the limb straight. The resulting surge of pain knocked the breath from her, but allowed her to press forward.

She made her way up to her room. A grand set of double doors awaited her, emblazoned with the crest of the sun. A pair of stone-faced guards stood on either side of the gateway, their golden spears ready.

With a wave of her head, Celestia dismissed her sentries. They turned to one another. In the split second their eyes met, an entire conversation passed silently between them. Reluctantly, they complied with their monarch’s commands.

Alone again, Celestia threw open the doors to her chambers. The darkness of a cold hearth and drawn curtains battled valiantly to repel the light from the hallway.

Her horn burned with a golden flicker, pulling the doors shut. The chaotic cadence of her steps echoed in the emptiness. She lifted the crown from her head, relinquishing it to the model head that rested on her vanity. Its unpainted eyes watched as she pulled the clasp from her necklace and added it to the display.

“Good evening, Princess.”

A shock of adrenaline rushed through the princess as she twirled to face the speaker. A pony’s silhouette sat at Celestia’s desk.

The shape took advantage of Celestia’s shock to continue.

“We were wondering how long you planned on keeping us waiting.”

Celestia sobered.

“My sincerest apologies,” she growled, “I wasn’t informed of any visitors.”

“We see. We hope you don’t mind, we made ourselves a drink while we were waiting.” The princess didn’t have to see the intruder’s face. She could hear the smile in their voice. “We made you some, too, of course. Didn’t want to be rude.”

Without warning, a dim green light sparked from the candle on the desk. The emerald flames roared high before shrinking back into a nondescript orange flame. The light revealed black fur and a styled white mane. A single spiraling horn protruded from the mare’s forehead. True to her word, she nursed a small teacup. Another glass sat on a coaster on the desk. The mare motioned for Celestia to take it.

“It’s your favorite,” she explained. “Made just the way you like.”

Celestia stared at the cup but made no move to retrieve it.

“You do not trust us. That is understandable.” The mare nodded. “We shall get on with our business, then.”

Celestia widened her stance, readying her magic.

“And what sort of business is that?”

The stranger sat up in her chair.

“We’ve come to make a request of you, Princess.”

Celestia’s guard lowered slightly.

“A request? Well, you certainly chose an unorthodox method of asking for help.”

“Our request is best made in private. For all parties involved.”

“I see.” Celestia straightened up. “I make no guarantees that I can help, but you may ask.”

The mare swirled her drink.

“We seek Chrysalis. You will bring her to us.”

Celestia tensed.

The stranger continued, her lips curling into a smile.

“According to our sources, this was her last known location.”

The solar princess nodded.

“Your sources were correct. She was here.”

Setting her teacup aside, the mare leaned forward in Celestia’s chair.

“Was?”

“Was,” Celestia said, a slight tinge of satisfaction in her voice.

“And where is she now?”

“I do not know. She escaped in the night.”

The strange mare took a long, calming breath.

“We see.”

“If our business is concluded then, I would ask that you leave. I would like to rest,” Celestia said, as pert and perfect as ever.

“No. This does not change our request.”

“Excuse me?”

The mare rose from her seat, stepping forward fearlessly toward the princess, despite the obvious size discrepancy.

“You were the last one to know of Chrysalis’ location. Because of this, we will task you with retrieving her.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“We will give you a month. Does that sound fair?”

Celestia lunged forward, rising to her full size as she stared down the intruder. The celestial blaze in her eyes forced the mare to retreat.

“I will not be threatened or coerced in my own castle,” Celestia barked. Her horn flashed.

“Calm yourself, Princess. It was not a threat.”

“I’m not convinced,” she growled, wrapping the mare in golden light and lifting her into the air.

“It was not a threat, Princess, merely a warning. In one month’s time, those I represent will arrive seeking the changeling. We have nothing against you or yours, but we will not hesitate to remove any obstacle that impedes us. Out of respect for your authority, we thought to offer you a chance to end this with minimum bloodshed. But if you would prefer otherwise . . .”

Celestia released her magic.

“Who do you represent? What do they want with Chrysalis?”

The mare took a moment to brush a bit of dust from her coat before answering.

“Neither of those should concern you. Just give us the changeling, and we will leave the kingdom in peace.” She paused for a moment before adding, “As a show of good faith, we will delay our superiors for an additional week. You should use this extra time to decide, Princess.”

The visitor bowed to Celestia before turning and stepping out onto the stone terrace.

Celestia followed.

“And if I refuse to help you?”

The mare stepped up on the railing.

“My dearest Celestia, the game has already begun. The other players have already moved their pieces. And now it’s your turn. I do hope that you won’t disappoint us again.”

When the final word left her lips, the mare’s eyes shifted. Their shimmering green color dissipated, revealing a beautiful blue underneath. As the magic left her, she sobered, her dazed confusion turning to terror as she lost her footing on the cold stone.

With a start, the mare slipped from the edge, plummeting down the edge of the tower.

Celestia reached out with her magic, only to find something much darker in her way. Her spell fizzled and faded. With a feral howl, the princess dove from the edge herself, keeping her wings folded tight against her flanks.

The helpless mare screamed as she neared the stone courtyard below. The guards, roused from their stoic watch, rushed about, looking for something to break the poor pony’s fall.

Celestia narrowed her gaze. Her wings unfurled as far as they could. She pushed her muscles as hard as they would go. With one mighty flap of her wings, the air around her erupted. The overwhelming force of her movement shattered windows as she passed by.

With only feet to spare, she swooped by, snatching the mare from her fall. With no other option, she wrapped herself around the teary-eyed unicorn, wreathing her in angelic fur. Together, they hit the ground, smashing stone and dirt alike as they crashed through the garden courtyard.

Guards gathered at the edge of the rubble, waiting with bated breath for the dust to settle. A captain called for reinforcements, for a medical team. For any pony that might have some aid to offer in their current situation.

When the air finally cleared, the princess as her ward lay at the center of a crater.

“Don’t just stand there, idiots. Get down there,” The captain ordered, leading the charge over the edge and down into the pit. He tossed his spear aside before rushing to his princess’ side.

“Princess? Can you hear me?” He asked, leaning close.

Several of the others forced open Celestia’s wings, revealing a unicorn. She was bruised and battered, but very much alive.

“Captain Lance?”

Every head turned at the sound of the princess’ voice.

“Princess Celestia? What happened up there, Ma’am?”

With a groan of pain, Celestia pried herself from the dirt. Her wings fluttered, sending a rain of angelic feathers over through the air. She brushed the dust from her coat, revealing several patches of bruises and blood.

“Focus, Captain.”

“Don’t worry, Princess. We’ve got a medical team on the way.”

“I don’t need medical attention.” Her neck popped back into place as she flexed. “Get me Inkwell, instead.”

“Inkwell?”

“Yes. I have an announcement to make.”