At the Canterlot palace, the throne room was rarely a quiet place. Each and every day the princess of the sun had to deal with all sorts of nobles and politicians. Since her sister’s return, things had been easier on her heart and soul, but lately time seemed to go by much slower than it should. Being more efficient at each gathering didn’t help much, as it only resulted in more questions to answer. Being less efficient resulted in complains, though most was delivered quietly as glares, yawning and the occasional untraceable letter. After an early morning of fooling around like a normal pony-sister with Luna, an idea eventually took shape…
The nobles were slowly finding their places, and for the first time in a long time, Princess Celestia was already at the throne before anyone had entered. Normally she would enter with horns blowing and a royal statement after all had taken their seats.
She sat at her throne, looking down at them all with faint scowl, causing many ponies to simply divert their eyes elsewhere. An announce from a certain brown coated mare standing not too far from the princess settled any murmuring that was.
“This Royal Court is in session!”
A few ponies had yet to enter and take a seat, so any sound made was heard clearly. Blueblood confidently walked to his seat, and just as he sat down, a loud farting sound came from the seat. To everypony else though, it sounded like it came from him. Everything went deathly silent. A cough from somepony clearing their throat sounded.
For some reason this was seemingly ignored by Celestia, but the scowl remained all the same. “I will not answer any questions regarding the recent event of Discords release and capture during this session. Such questions are to be lettered to me at a later time.” And then the court actually started
Just as the first question was to be asked, a loud belch came from the middle of the room. The responsible mare shrunk into her seat, wishing the ground would swallow her whole. Those seated around her didn't know what to make of this, and merely looked at the mare silently.
“Your question, Minister Gun-Powder?” Celestia prodded, again ignoring the interruption.
“Err… Yes.” The pony with a seemingly permanent frown cleared his throat before continuing. “Seeing as how the Elements of Harmony were clearly able to dispatch these last threats that have passed this year so far, are there going to be any changes to the unicorn and pegasi military situation?”
“I can assure you, the Elements will only do what they are expected to do; they are not soldiers. The military is still to be used just as before, regarding the uneasy peace with the griffons and southern dragon tribes. No changes are planned, you may ease your frown,” Celestia calmly stated, earning a few hushed chuckles. Seeing another hoof being raised further back, Celestia cast her eyes there and nodded to the earth pony.
“Your majesty, the different farmers from the villages surrounding Canterlot have all complained about a lack of rain, but the pegasi weather teams have clearly stated that there have been no changes in their weather schedule. This has led to heated arguments between the two, but has only now been requested to be talked about in the Royal Court. What is your opinion on the matter?”
Seemingly bored, Celestia rolled her eyes before answering. “Is it really that hard to convince the weather teams to simply add a few more days of rain on their calendar? Do you need the support of royalty to do this?” There appeared to be a mocking tone in her voice, something that had never been heard before from the princess.
“N-no, your majesty. There has simply been major communication problems a-and… well…”
“Enough! Simply do as I said, straight up ask the pegasi to do as I suggested, if ‘no’ is what you receive, bring this…” she sighed before continued, “Devastating news to the farmers that they will simply need to cut a little down on harvesting. Are we clear?” A nimble nod answered her question. “Good. Major Snob, I have a request.” A few snickers sounded through the hall, seeing as few ever dared to use the major of Canterlot’s middle name so openly, only to be openly referred to by the princess no less in the Royal Court in this manner.
With a faint blush but a seemingly emotionless face, the major looked up at the princess. “Y-yes, what it’ll be, your majesty?”
“I need a few of the economical charts after this session, to be more precise, the ones including the fashion articles and the art-and-music education articles. Would that be too much to ask?” The entire hall fell silent at this request, but Celestia seemed ever stoical in her behavior.
The mare being spoken to mentally shook herself out her stupor. “Not at all, princess. I-I uh… hope you don’t mind, but, what do you need these charts for?” All eyes turned to the alicorn on the throne.
“There are a few minor shortcomings in education, economically that is, and I was simply going to see what funds would be easiest to turn from the fashion board. Seeing as how everything involving fashion has skyrocketed after Rarity of Ponyville’s fashion debut, I find it perfectly alright.” Other than the silent gasps that erupted in the room, silence prevailed. “Next question?” Celestia continued, apparently completely oblivious to the looks of shock directed at her. A hoof was slowly raised. “Yes, Lady Thunderstrike?”
The mare gulped. “After the Element of Magic’s clear show of talent and potential, would it be wise to invest more time on combat magic rather than other schools of magic?” A few ponies that dared silently agreed.
“No.” Celestia stared directly at the mare. “All schools are important. The different versions of alteration and illusion can be used as an alternative combat magic should there be shortcomings. Of course, if it would help ease your appetite for more bolts, I could make those changes within the royal guard.” Just as she finished she conjured an ethereal teacup in front of her, using magic to keep it in place. “While on the subject of magic, I wonder if any of those who knows artists within painting, could tell me why all of them uses magic? It makes the pieces seem cold, like the one hanging over there,” she pointed to a large painting hanging above the many windows on her left side. Again they were all stunned into silence, seeing a painting of Celestia, with her flank being the focus.
After a minute of no answers, she sighed again. “Any other important matters to be brought up before we continue the usual pointless banter?” Again all eyes rested on her. They thought she was joking, some trying to laugh it off, but seeing the princess acting completely serious made many reconsider even being here. A cyan hoof brought things moving again. “Yes, Miss Dash?” For the first time since this session, her scowl almost broke into a grin. Almost.
“Celestia, is there any way to have a cool painting of the Wonderbolts replaced with any of these… uhm, nice, ones already in here?” Almost everyone turned to look at the rainbow maned mare, hardly believing what they heard.
“Certainly, Miss Dash.” And a third time all eyes rested on the occupied throne.
“Awesome!” was the reply earned from the cyan pegasus.
“Next question?”
“Really sis? You didn’t!” Luna gushed at her sister, laughing so hard she fell to the floor.
“Indeed I did! And then Rainbow Dash raised her hoof, asking about the possibility to change any of the, nice paintings already hanging in the room with a cool one of the Wonderbolts.”
“No!” Luna sat right back up, mouth open in a ‘O’.
“You know what I said?” Luna shook her head, thinking it would be obvious. “’Certainly, Miss Dash’. Oh my, you should’ve seen how the court fell silent yet again. I almost lost my mask there but I was able to continue the pranks throughout the entire session.”
“Trollestia strikes again!” Luna playfully saluted with a serious face before falling back on the floor, laughing so hard she looked like she was about to choke. Hearing no reply, the princess of the night looked up at her sister, seeing a dead serious scowl.
“This calls for revenge… Lulu,” and then the scowl was replaced with an evil grin, making the younger princess gulp in fear. What Luna failed to notice was the bucket of ice cold water resting at the edge of Celestia’s bed behind her, along with many other secrets scattered throughout the royal sister’s quarters.
On the walls outside Celestia’s quarters, two guards stood and gazed down at the never-sleeping city of Canterlot. One of them was just about to say something to the other when they both heard a thunderous voice, booming from the balcony high above them.
“Celestiaaaaa!”
“I’ve never heard Princess Luna use the Royal Canterlot Voice before,” casually commented one of the guards.
The End.
BOOOOOM!
It was a dark and stormy night that our story shall take place. High upon the mountain side rested the capitol, ever stoic in its glory. The main attraction of the city was the castle where the rulers of this nation lived and governed. At the top of the highest tower, the one place not specked with gold and white marble, but violet and midnight blue, stood a lone mare. The top was not dominated by a spire, but rather a narrow, flat platform with intricate patterns carved into it. There was only two ways to get to this place, and that was trough flight or magic.
The mare at the top stood silently in the rain, soaked to the bone, yet her mane seemed unaffected, flowing in a breeze much fainter than the gale force wind ripping through the air. She had the wings of a pegasus, but it was through magic she arrived at this place. She had many tittles, but like any pony, only one name: Luna. Her dark coat appeared to look black in the night, yet her teal eyes shone brightly against the darkness. The Princess of the Night gazed at the kingdom far below her, with a sight that allowed her to see clearly even to the horizon where the landscape curved to the planet's shape. The lighting flashed and the thunder sounded, the rain pattered and the wind tore, yet she still stood still against the nature's forces.
After what could be minutes or hours, a blue aura lightened on the tip of her horn, and a similar colored swirl of magic started to whirl around her. The first thing to be noticed was that she grew in size, reaching about as high as the Princess of the Day, followed by her coat becoming the opposite of the white her sister carried. Within the magic solid objects slowly took shape, six in number. She lifted one hoof at a time, letting horseshoes that fit snugly apply themselves. A breastplate somewhat resembling a yoke fixed itself against the base of her neck, denying access to the chest where her heart beat calmly. Finally a helmet settled on top of her head, her flowing mane somehow disregarding the presence entirely.
She opened her mouth to take a deep breath, revealing fangs similar to those of a predator, then let out a content sigh through her nose. Throughout the entire process her eyes had been closed, and when she opened them they draconian in nature, keeping their teal coloration. A smile slowly crawled across her face, a twisted kind. A low chuckle escaped her, then a louder one, until it built up to a full blown laughter, one that would cause shivers to run down the spines of anypony if they could hear it.
"Ahahaha, Ahahahaha! Muhahahahahahahahahaha-"
"Sis, what are you doing up here?"
The interruption caused the laughing pony to exchange laughter with a very loud 'eep!', followed by suddenly losing her balance and tripping on her own hooves, sending her tumbling to the floor with an 'oof!'. She quickly scrambled herself into sitting on her haunches, turning her attention to the white alicorn on the opposite side of the roof.
"Shouldn't you be holding court? Wasn't it you who demanded to re-establish the Night Court?" Her sister tried again.
"We, uh... Uhm... We were just, like... ah..." The black alicorn feebly tried to come up with an excuse, but nothing seemingly reasonable came to mind. Eventually she settled with a plain, "We were bored."
Celestia raised an eyebrow, apparently not affected by the rain in the least, even her coat remained dry. "So you came up here and decided to practice your Nightmare Night act?" she asked, keeping her tone level and her face emotionless.
"No, We decided to try and make night eternal, and become Nightmare Moon once again, thou arrogant fool!" the younger sister bellowed with the Royal Canterlot Voice.
Waving a white hoof that was lacking a golden shoe in front of her face, Celestia merely replied, "When was last time you brushed your teeth? And haven't your time with Fluttershy taught you not to shout?"
"Ugh, ruin Our fun and complain all day and night, wouldn't thou, sister of mine?" Luna accused her sister, reverting to her original shape in the blink of an eye, seemingly without magic as her horn didn't even glow.
Celestia's lips seemed to twitch slightly, but it could easily have been the trick of the light the lightning momentarily cast. "Come now, Luna, don't be like that. I'm merely keeping you on track so you can actually rule along with me."
"How come 'ruling' is listening to ponies complain about a doughnut shop not serving on 'on time', signing or declining laws about what ink to use and reprimanding Bluebal- We mean, Blueblood, for not acting like a proper prince?" Luna then asked with a scowl, barely catching herself with the slip.
"Those ponies are those who trust us the most, these laws and similar ones are entertaining to watch being developed, and my nephew is acting like a proper prince... if it was 1200 years in the past, so what's there to complain about?" This time her lips did twitch, no question about it.
"Art thou making fun of Us? We should shout those ponies through the doors when they are closed, burn all the paper and lynch that damned fool!" she then claimed, fire burning in her eyes brighter than the sun!
"I'm not making fun of you, I'm trying to teach you how to make fun of all the ridiculous things going on about the castle so we don't go insane from boredom," Celestia explained, then added with mirth dancing in her eyes, "and leaving a prank here or there doesn't hurt anypony."
Luna's eye twitched, the feathers on her wings bristled and her mouth turned to a snarl. "Thou art telling Us thou did this on purpose to Us? For thine entertainment?!"
"Oh, don't sound so hurt, it's all in good fun, right Lulu?" Celestia said, finally letting herself crack a big, smug grin. A bolt went flying through the air, missing the white alicorn's cheek by an inch, yet she didn't react physically. "Now now, no Prank Spells, we agreed to stop using those because of the disasters the castle staff experienced as casualties of war."
At this Luna looked like she was about to sprout more, but instead let out a long sigh and lied down on the floor with a pout and a longing look in her eyes. This caused her sister to drop her smile and carefully trot over to the pouting princess. She lied down next to Luna and draped one of her wings over her sister. Luna closed her eyes and let out another sigh. "We art sorry sister. Tis just... So much has changed and," another sigh, "We don't know how to feel about this."
A short, tentative silence, in which the weather took time to calm down a bit. "Look, I'm sorry if it got a bit much, what with all the staff often reacting so randomly to your presence, Quill Pen giving you pointless assistance, Twilight arriving believing you had a crush on her, Discord being allowed to cause light chaos around you, ink being enchanted wi-"
"Sister of mine, shut up and let Us cuddle under thine wing in silence." At this Celestia let an awkward chuckle roll out, then looked up a small crack in the clouds allowed the moon to shine down upon the two ponies. "We hope thou know the consequences of thine actions," Luna then said with a cold tone.
"Wouldn't change it for the world," Celestia replied with a smile only meant for her sister. "My kin..." They cuddled some more before separating for business, Luna watching over the night and Celestia arriving at her quarters with a bucket of liquid rainbow waiting above her door.
Author's Note
A short something that just came to me... along with multiple ideas for this silly story of mine XD
Oh, and if something can be improved, don't be shy about pointing it out... just sayin'...
