Spreading her wings, she opened her mouth out of instinct, yawning at the open, warm air. The wind brushed against her lightly damped feathers as they raised higher. Her horn glowed of golden brilliance as she dipped her torso with hooves outwards, a satisfying 'pop' was the result.

The skies were an ocean of darkness that began to slither away to the bleeding glow of gold that arose ahead. As the sun shined, Celestia let her wings extend out to the morning air. A smile began to grow on her face. With the volume of a whisper, she spoke to herself as she saw the golden peaks of her precious sun.

"Today is going to be a good day."

Humming a tune she heard long ago, her horn stayed illuminated as her magic grasped a hair brush and a mirror from the nightstand. Levitating the mirror to the front of her face with a brush to the side, she smiled happily at the mess that was her morning hair. Turning to the right with her face to the side, her face practically glowed at the tangles and knots of her hair.

Floating more items into the frame of the mirror, she confirmed the exact materials she needed for the task. Though the reminder of why she had to do it herself this morning made her smile droop a bit, she kept her cheery spirit alight.

Floating over a spray bottle with a collection of hair clippers, she took hold of a string of hair with a particularly bad knot. Putting in a rainbowed clipper, she tugged at it whilst moving it away from her scalp. She used the spray bottle to spurt at the entanglement.

Closing her eyes, she began to envision the bedroom. She was ninety-nine percent sure she had left the comb underneath her bed within a box. Without a second guess to her memory, she heard a 'pop' in front of her. Opening her eyes to it, she saw the golden sheen of her prize. A black box with golden stars etched into the top of the case all around with one big full moon at the center of it. Using her magic to hold the box, light shined within the key lock, she used her golden energy to mold itself within the lock. Turning it, she heard the satisfying 'click'.

Opening it, she saw a dark purple plastic comb with a white crescent moon embroidered into one of the top corners. Smiling softly, she looked back to the mirror as she let it slide through her mane effortlessly.

She was grateful her sister had been with her from start to end. Though they had their failings, they were as thick as thieves.

A hoof tapped at the long oak table. A dark purple colored mare held a tight frown whilst still tapping away. Dark bags held boldly underneath the eyes that threatened to stab at any who dared cross her sight.

"Chef Suckle, when will my sister be arriving?"
Honey suckle, cringed at the use of only her last name however Honey was surprised that Luna spoke evenly with no distaste or malice that was evident in the frown the princess was holding.

"I'm unsure Princess, she seemed very pleased with the idea of taking her time to herself."

This information only further displeased the royal mare, as the only response she gave was a loud horse-like exhale.

While Luna was more than willing to let Celestia take her time usually, today was not the day to test her patience. A loud thud resonated in the dining hall, pulling Luna out of her thoughts she looked to the door hearing a small whispered voice before it busted open.

The opening revealed the solar diarch and Luna's sister; Celestia, with a grin.

Practically skipping to the table Celestia was ecstatic as she sat down. While Luna was in a disastrous mood she still held interest in her sister's mood even if it was not much different than her usual one.

"What has you shining as much as the sun?"

"I combed my mane!"

Luna just stared at his sister. Celestia's proud smile never wavered.

Luna just felt like moving past the conversation, " Well good for you, Tia, I hope that wasn't your only main interest for the day."

Celestia waved off the idea. "Of course not," she paused as Honey suckle came by and they exchanged words before continuing. "I wanted to go over the damages from the wedding crash we experienced yesterday." Celestia adorned a serious face. "How bad was it?"

Luna quickly adapted to the shift and narrowed her eyes in focus. "Most, if not all of the guards will require counseling and we will most likely have to do the same for the populace." A purple glow began from her horn as a small 'pop' noise came when Luna materialized a folder.

Opening it, her eyes ran through the reports as she scanned them. "We will have to create a budget, however, this will likely come at most of the expenses of public education like schools, library donations, and museums. Delaying scholarships, school constructions, and most likely our new project."

Celestia's face soured inward, "Must we really take bits from the public schools? I understand cutting from various stipends like libraries but education?"

A page was pulled away from the folder floating towards Celestia waiting for her to grasp it with her magic. "Most of the treasury for this month will be pulled from other budgets to cover the public infrastructure. We are already handling private property damage along with having to reassure other nations of our validity."

Celestia's face became bewildered. "Validity?"

Luna only sighed whilst rubbing her temple with her hoof's frog. "The news spread fast among other things, they have concerns if our deals along with our negotiators and treaties were truly real." Luna paused as she let the back of her head rest on the chair. "Even though these 'changelings' can change to anything and any creature, griffons, and yaks are becoming weary of our letters and words. We will most likely have to come ourselves and show 'proof' of our ponies."

Celestia soon began to feel the effects her sister was experiencing, leaning forward with her hoof on her chin she blew a raspberry at the whole idea. "Show 'proof' huh, Is that really necessary?"

Luna groaned at the question as she brought her head back to the reports. "It is, as unsavory and time-wasting it is, we will have to begin a voyage within the next week, I was able to convince them to give us time to keep trades open but they are so skeptical, it's destroying our profits. They are very keen to poke and prod at products, occasionally breaking something along the way."

Celestia gave out a horse-like noise. "I assume that is also bringing to the question of our security among other things?"

Luna smacked the folder down onto the table as she pulled her hooves up, gripping the bags under her eyes, slowly stretching down. "You have no idea."

Celestia giggled. "I am glad I have you here, Lu." Honey put down a plate of pancakes with a cyan glow from her horn before setting waffles in front of Luna.

"Thank Tia, I'm glad I do not have to suffer alone."

Just as Luna was about to dine she had a spark in her mind go off. "Oh! I nearly forgot, there was something of interest in a report lately. Her horn glowed once more with another pop of existence of a folder with pages held by a clip.

Looking towards her sister Luna found Celestia had already opened her maw with a fork holding two layers of pancakes.

Luna just ignored the sight, opening the contents of the folder she skimmed the documents. "Damage reports showed a particular anomaly in the town," She paused as she squinted her eyes to make sure she was reading it right. "'Star Night's Bastion'?"

Celestia's brow raised as she was still in the motion of chewing, quickly swallowing the chunks she licked her lips before speaking. "I don't think I remember that town."

"I share the same sentiment but it is not out of the question we have both forgotten the name of a far-off town." Luna's interest only grew at the strange name.

"I suppose so, what was the anomaly?"

"The town had banded together to fight off the invasion and-" Luna paused. "-won?"

Celestia's face was gaping in shock, trying to move her jaw she found no words to the revelation except. "How?"

Luna's brows furrowed in focus, "It was led by a pony named Chipped Shield." She turned pages and pages in confusion and bewilderment. "He was very skilled, numerous sources of our guards had compared him to 'top rank generals and possibly better'. He also only used his...hooves."

Celestia shook her head. "Hooves? Sister if this is a joke I don't think this would be the time."

Luna was just as confused as her sister. "I- I am not." Luna just read aloud as she went further on "'A Pegasus with wings that shot blades at his opponents with a bracelet that summoned a retractable shield-'"

Celestia was slowly beginning to believe this was real. Looking away she spoke in a lower tone."It's not unheard of for a warrior as adept as this."

Luna was still reading away but responded to the off-comment. "It isn't but, in this generation? A warrior like this? This experience and skillset must be fine-tuned for years with various background knowledge. This is not some ordinary civilian."

Celestia nodded. "We should make some time to visit this 'Star Night's Bastion."

Luna hummed in agreement. "Yes, a warrior able to lead a town to drive away an invasion is worth looking into if not to watch. A danger he could pose, but an incredible ally if he is not a threat." She paused as her eyes narrowed. "Still-"

Celestia's ears leaned in interest. "Yes?"

Luna's face began to grow dark. "There is no information about him living in Equestria whatsoever."

Author's Note

Trust me, this is tagged Alt. Universe for a reason.