Cadence's Crackship Collection

As the sun rose high above all of Equestria, the two royal sisters in Canterlot did their morning routines. Princess Luna returned back into the castle for some well-deserved rest after monitoring dreams all night, while Princess Celestia walked around the castle grounds, already doing the daily chores, making breakfast, and being briefed on the different meetings she had for the day.

“Good morning, Luna,” Celestia greeted as she saw her sister walk through the doors. “Any exciting dreams today?”

Luna waved with the level of enthusiasm expected of someone who had spent the entire night up. “Morning, sister. Nothing out of the ordinary tonight. Unless you count Braeburn swimming in mango pudding, I guess.”

“Hmm, I guess not, did you want some waffles before you went to sleep?” Celestia offered. It was always a gamble whether Luna would get in one last meal before retiring for the day.

Luna was about to decline when her stomach started growling the moment she opened her mouth.“Mmm, maybe just one or two…” she sheepishly smiled as she sat down at the table.

As Luna helped herself to some pancakes, Celestia went to check on the knocking at the door.

Just as she expected, the daily mail had arrived. A gray pegasus stood at the door holding a stack of envelopes and scrolls.

“Delivery, your highnesses!” the mailmare brightly chirped.

Celestia’s magic took hold of the mail to transfer ownership, smiling and nodding at the pegasus. “Thank you very much.”

“Ehehe, you’re welcome!” The pegasus giggled and did a brief bow before rushing off to complete the rest of her deliveries.

Celestia closed the door and walked back to the table, flipping through the letters and scanning the names and locations of the senders, just to see if any of them were urgent. There was one in particular that caught her attention. A vibrant pink envelope that stood out from all the other dulled white ones.

Luna caught the smile on her sister’s face as she set aside the rest of the mail on the table. “Another love letter, sister?” she asked with a mouthful of waffles and syrup.

“I haven’t got a pink envelope that wasn’t, yet!” Celestia said, practically dancing her hooves in place.

“I still don’t understand why you’re getting so excited over this,” Luna rolled her eyes. “Is the love of the rest of Equestria not enough for you?”

“Oh, you’re just jealous that I’m getting these and you’re not,” Celestia scoffed as she opened up the top.

“Why would I ever be jealous of the attention some random pony is giving you?”

Celestia immediately raised an eyebrow and gave her sister a look.

“I…Yeah, fair enough.” Luna guiltily looked off to the side, letting Celestia go about her business.

Celestia opened up the letter and read it out loud.

Dear Princess Celestia,

It’s always wonderful to see the beautiful sunrise every day, but it’s even more wonderful to see the beautiful mare that’s responsible for it. Whenever I get the chance to see you, it’s like my heart wants to leap out of my chest! I get a bubbly feeling all over just thinking about that warm, kind smile you give to everypony. And one day, I’d love to be the reason to make you smile and feel all bubbly inside.

Luna examined the opened envelope. “Still no return address, huh?”

Celestia let out a longing sigh as she held the letter close to her chest. “No, but perhaps one day my secret admirer will reveal themself. Until then, I’ll be content with what they write to me.”

“Well, I should be off to sleep,” Luna said as she stood up from her seat. “Might wanna check the rest of the letters, that letter from Vanhoover looks quite important.”

A week had passed, and Canterlot was in the same routine as usual. Princess Celestia was setting the table, leaving an extra plate out in case Luna was hungry today.

Right on cue, Princess Luna walked through the door, letting out a huge yawn as she stepped into the room.

“Ah, good morning, Luna! Care to join me for breakfast today?” Celestia responded with her usual cheery tone.

“Mmm, I suppose some food before sleep wouldn’t hurt-” Luna’s head perked up, doing a double take as she looked back at Celestia. More particularly, her choice of wardrobe.

“What?” Celestia casually asked with a mouthful of banana. She was still wearing her pajamas, a yellow two-piece set with a slightly darker shade of yellow for the hearts that adorned her soft sleepwear. Though despite still being dressed for bed, her usual royal regalia was placed over her pajamas.

“Are you serious?” Luna asked, flabbergasted. “Don’t you have like, other meeting stuff to do today?”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “I have time to change.”

“You had time to put all that on!” Luna said, gesturing to her crown, peytral, and shoes.

Celestia waved her hoof dismissively. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like anypony else has seen me in my pajamas.”

Right as she finished that sentence, there was a knock on the door.

“Alright, well, you get the mail, I’m busy eating breakfast,” Luna snarked, biting into some toast.

Looking down at her outfit, Celestia shrugged and went to answer the door.

Standing there to greet her was a familiar-looking gray pegasus with another stack of letters, who was quickly taken aback by Celestia’s current clothing choice.

“...Oh! Um, good morning! Here’s your delivery today, your highnesses!” she said, holding a stack of letters.

Celestia eyed the stack, seeing another bright pink envelope hidden in the middle. Her face immediately lit up as she took the mail from the other mare. “Ah! Thank you! I appreciate your service.”

“And I…um…love your outfit!” The mare briefly blushed before bowing and running off to continue her route.

Celestia immediately picked the pink envelope out from the bunch and started eagerly opening it as she walked back to the table.

Luna recognized the giddy look on Celestia’s face and the pink envelope she was holding. “Ah, another one, huh? Well, I suppose it has been a while…”

“I know, right? Oh, I wonder what it’ll say this time!” Celestia grinned, pulling out the letter and reading it.

Dear Princess Celestia,

As I went out for a stroll today, I could feel the sun’s warmth on my back. Sometimes I like to imagine that it’s like a big hug you’re giving to everypony in Equestria, and it makes my wings flutter thinking that I’m part of that hug, too. I know you’re probably busy with a bunch of boring political stuff, but I like thinking that you’re spreading your love over Equestria all day. I hope that when you’re not super busy, you get to enjoy some warm hugs, too.

Celestia looked once again for any sign of a name or even address, but there was still nothing of the sort. “Sometimes I wish my secret admirer wasn’t so…secret.”

“Well, the letter did say ‘my wings flutter’, so it’s probably a pegasus,” Luna pointed out.

“True, but that doesn’t narrow it down by that much,” Celestia sighed, before looking back at Luna with a growing smile of inspiration. “Although…if there were a way of finding out who dreams of me…”

Luna was quick and firm to cut her off. “There are thousands of dreams every night, sister. Even among the ones that involve you, I cannot determine how much of it is based on reality instead of the random thoughts of their subconscious. Even so, you do not know the extent of how those dreams involving either you or me go…” She stared at her sister with a deathly serious look in her eyes. “...and I pray we keep it that way.”

“Eh, worth a shot.”

Another week passed as usual. Luna burst through the door and immediately took a seat at the table.

“I’m not even hungry, I just want the gossip,” she explained as she put her hooves up.

“You’re rather excited despite it being this early in the morning,” Celestia chuckled. “Some important dream you wish to share with me?”

“Oh nothing like that,” Luna scoffed. “I’m just waiting to see if there’s a new delivery for you.”

“I don’t see what you’re getting so worked up over my own love affairs,” Celestia coyly smiled. “It’s not like I’m any closer to figuring out who it is.”

“Well, maybe there’s going to be another hint in the next one you get!” Luna pointed out. “If not, you can always just ask the delivery pony where the letters come from. Surely they know who keeps sending them.”

“I suppose so, but I assumed these letters were being sent anonymously for a reason,” Celestia said, not entirely convinced.

They both turned their heads to the door as they heard a familiar knock.

“Worth a shot, right, Tia?”

Celestia reluctantly nodded as she answered the door to see the same gray pegasus from the previous weeks.

“Good morning! Here’s your mail for today, your highness!” the mail mare grinned as she presented today’s stack of letters.

Celestia’s face lit up as she saw another pink envelope in the pile. “Why, thank you!”

“You’re welcome!” The pegasus did a quick little bow before turning around.

“Ah, hold on!” Celestia called out before she started walking away. “My apologies, I know you must be busy with so many other deliveries today, but do you mind if I ask you a few questions, Miss…erm…”

The mare turned back around, now grinning nervously. “Um, go right ahead! A-And my name’s Derpy Hooves.”

“Well, Derpy, I don’t mean to hold you up for too long,” Celestia picked out the pink envelope and pulled it from the pile. “But do you know anything about these pink letters that keep getting delivered?”

Derpy slightly flinched, still keeping up her smile. “Um…sorry, but I have no idea!”

“That’s a shame,” Celestia pouted. “They’re quite lovely letters. I was hoping you’d be able to help me figure out who keeps sending them, since they don’t seem to have any sort of return address.”

“Ohyouactuallyread-I, uh, wish I could help more, Princess! But I don’t know who keeps sending them, I just see where they need to be delivered, and I send them over!”

“That’s quite alright,” Celestia said calmly and warmly. “Well, I’ll let you get back on your route. Thank you again for the mail, Derpy!”

“Ahaha…y-you’re welcome!” Derpy giggled as she rushed out of the castle as fast as her hooves could carry her.

“Nothing helpful?” Luna asked, leaning against the table as Celestia walked back to the breakfast table.

“I wouldn’t say nothing…” Celestia smirked, holding the love letter with her magic. “But let’s see if this week’s letter has anything to say.”

Dear Princess Celestia,

Like the sunrise every morning, you have a beauty that I hope that everypony else is able to admire. And like how the sunrise looks great whether it’s a warm summer or a chilly winter, you always look great, no matter if it’s your regular royal wear, or a fancy stunning gala dress, or cute pajamas! It makes me feel so lucky that I get to see so many beautiful things every day.

Luna looked over the letter again. “...Huh…that’s oddly specific.”

“Mmhm,” Celestia nodded. “I think I may know the identity of my secret admirer now.”

“So what now?”

“Well, now I’m going to finish breakfast,” Celestia chuckled. “But I have a letter of my own to write later on…”

After yet another week of waiting, both Celestia and Luna were now eagerly awaiting today’s mail delivery.

Celestia smirked as she looked over to Luna excitedly chewing on an oat pancake. “You don’t think being here might kill the mood just a touch?”

“I’ve been watching this unfold in real time, I am NOT missing the payoff!”

“I mean, we don’t even know if it’ll be the same delivery pony today,” Celestia mused. “We might have to wait another week to see if she shows up.”

“Don’t do this to me, Tia.” Luna pointed an accusatory hoof at her sister. “It would break my heart if I needed to wait any longer for this!”

“...You know she’s got a crush on me, right?” Celestia teased.

Luna quickly turned her head and blushed furiously. “I…er…I’m just…excited for you, that’s all…”

“I’m sure,” Celestia chuckled, though she was also feeling antsy herself. It had been quite a while since she had actually tried to pursue romance. There were a myriad of ways in which she could make herself look foolish. But if one mare could work up the courage to keep sending love letters, then surely Celestia could meet her halfway.

With the knocking at the door signaling the mail’s arrival, Celestia walked to the door. Though she made a joke to tease Luna, the thought that she may be encountering a different mail pony today worked its way back into her mind. There was a lot she wanted to say, and she hoped that it didn’t have to wait another minute.

Thankfully for Celestia, she wouldn’t have to wait for long. “Ah, good morning, Derpy!”

Having Celestia remember her name made Derpy blush and giggle uncontrollably. “Eeheehee! G-Good morning, your highness! Um, here’s your mail for today!”

“Why, thank you!” Celestia graciously took the delivery. “Before you go, do you mind coming inside for a bit?”

Derpy’s wings started to flutter. “Um…sure?” She tried to put on a big grin, but her trembling hooves gave away how nervous she was.

She walked in to see the bounty of food made for breakfast, and Princess Luna sitting at the end, casually enjoying some fruit.

“Please, feel free to help yourself if you’re hungry,” Celestia insisted.

“Oh wow, thanks!” Derpy happily grabbed one of the oat pancakes and chewed into it.

As she was busy filling her stomach, she looked around the room. It seemed just as fancy and classy as the rest of the castle she was allowed to look through as she delivered her mail. Next to the table where they were eating was another table where Celestia had placed down today’s delivery. And right next to that was a pile of opened pink envelopes.

Derpy audibly gulped, her hooves trembling even more as she took a nervous bite.

Celestia walked up to the table, her horn aglow with magic. “I’m glad you’re so dedicated to delivering the mail, Derpy. You’re quite the mailmare.”

“Oh, you know…just doing my job!” Derpy nervously laughed, constantly looking back to that pile of pink envelopes.

“Well, I hope you’ll continue doing it. Would you mind adding one more letter to your route today?”

Derpy quickly nodded. “No problem! It’d be my pleasure!”

Celestia’s magic brought an envelope in front of Derpy’s face. “Thank you, I trust that this letter will have no problem finding its recipient.”

Derpy took it in her hooves, turning it around to look for the address, but instead, the only thing written was her own name.

She looked upwards at Celestia, who only smiled and nudged her head back towards the envelope.

Derpy’s heart pounded as she opened up the letter, almost afraid to read the contents inside.

Dear Derpy Hooves,

Thank you for all the wonderful letters you’ve sent me over the past few months. I know you may have wanted to stay an anonymous sender, and I am sorry to say that it is no longer a secret. However, I want you to know that reading your letters has filled my heart with joy every week. To know that somepony appreciates the work I do and finds comfort in the sun means so much more than you may have guessed. You’ve been so dedicated in telling me your feelings for so long, and I regret not being able to tell you mine sooner. I want you to know that you are the reason I smile and feel all bubbly inside, and I would love for it to stay that way.

Lovingly yours,

Princess Celestia

With tears welling up in her eyes, Derpy looked up. “P-Princess…I…”

Celestia leaned down to gently kiss the mare on the nose. “I know. But I think I’ve held you here long enough.”

“Wha…huh?”

Celestia tapped Derpy’s mail bags. “You still have the rest of your route to get to, do you not?”

“Oh! I…uh…Yes! I should…really get…going…” Derpy wiped the tears from her eyes, forcing a grin even though everything about her tone and body language screamed that she would rather stay.

“Far be it from me to keep the mail from being delivered. And I’d hate for you to get in trouble because of my own selfish desires,” Celestia said with a warm smile.

“Hehe…right!” Derpy chuckled, feeling her heart racing with excitement.

“But I do hope you return soon,” Celestia said, holding the unopened pink envelope that was recently delivered. “I’m sure what’s written in here is beautiful, but I think it would sound a lot better coming directly from the lovely mare who wrote it.”