Tales of the Lunar Consort: Volume X

The same time, Soluna Plantation Library

A small warning bell went off in Enoch's head, implying that somepony was intruding into his private quarters at the Castle. Probably Celestia, he thought, leaning back in the chair. I assume she's discovered the contents of the shelf in the bedroom.He chuckled. I wonder if she's jumped on the bed yet.

Back at 1529 East Mustang, sitting room, an hour after the coffeehouse scene/Real-time

A knock sounded on the door. "Come in, Twilight." The male Pegasus answered. In she came. If she was surprised he knew it was her knocking on the door, she didn't show it. "Hello again, Professor. Hi, Vinyl." She said, waving to the other Unicorn. Vinyl waved back as she left, closing the door behind her.

"Hello, dear Twilight. I have asked you numerous times to call me "Enoch". I'm not your teacher anymore. Though, it's fine, of course, whichever you prefer. Please, sit down?" He asked. The Unicorn complied, sinking into the depths of the comfortable chair.

"You've never been to Ponyville, before, have you?" Enoch asked, pouring himself a small drink and replacing the bottle, between the bottles of Canterlot Red and Number Thirteen[1]. "No, I've - Is that Neighermiester?" She asked, looking at the drink. Enoch looked down at the glass in his hoof. "Yes, it is. Why? Would you like a glass?" he asked, somewhat unwilling to deny his favorite student a request. She nodded, and the Pegasus turned back to the bar, fetched another glass and filled it halfway with the Germane drink. He made sure to fill it with the non-alcoholic version of the drink. "Thank you, Professor." She said as the stallion handed - excuse me - hoofed it to her.

"I'm sorry for not offering you a glass immediately, Twi. I still remember the little purple filly in my classroom, taking reams of notes with four quills, studying with Octavia and Vinyl." He smiled at the memory. "Ah, I'm getting old. I'm starting to get maudlin. Still..." he trail off, reminiscing. "I'm surprised at you, Twilight. I never took you for a drinker."

She took a mouthful of the amber liquid. "Only socially. And Princess Celestia occasionally offered me a drink when I had accomplished something big."

Across from her, the Pegasus chuckled. "What? What is it?" She asked.

"This will surprise you, Twilight, I'm sure of it. Princess Celestia is rather a booze-horse!"

Twilight looked absolutely flabbergasted. "What!"

"Mm-hm! I've gotten rather drunk with her a few times! Several times I've tucked her into her bed because she had passed out in a chair after a particularly trying day."

"No!"

"Believe it, my faithful student. For it is true; I do enjoy my alcohol." A gorgeous voice rang out from the entrance to the library; Princess Celestia, Regent of the Sun stood in the doorway. The Unicorn and the Pegasus stood in unison. Enoch immediately knelt before her, but Twilight stepped forward into Celestia's warm embrace. Releasing her student, the Alicorn turned her head to the Pegasus. "Rise, my friend. You know you, of all ponies, need not bow to me."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Celestia sighed. It was a bit like an angel weeping. "I have asked you repeatedly over the years to call me Celestia. Just Celestia." She admonished.

"Yes, you have, Ma'am."

"But you won't do it."[2]

"No, Ma'am."

"I... Are you busy, Enoch?" She asked, appearing unaccountably nervous, shifting her weight from hoof to hoof.

"I was talking... to..." The Pegasus began, but trailed off as he noticed the Solar Regent's feeling.

Uncomfortably, Enoch turned to Twilight: "Um. Twilight? I'm sorry, but, can you come back tomorrow?"

He scarcely needed to ask; the Unicorn was already up. She too had seen the look on Celestia's face. It was not just of nervousness; it combined that, fear, despair, and other, unidentifiable emotions. It was one she had seen only a few times during her education. It was never good.

"Same time tomorrow, then, Professor. See you." She said. waving a hoof as she passed over the threshold of the room and closed the door.

Waiting until her personal student's hooffalls receded form earshot, Celestia crossed to the bar, dug around in the cabinet and pulled out an unexpected bottle: The rarely-used, legendary bottle of Number 14. Oh dear. Enoch thought.

Her face unreadable, she grabbed the bottle in her magic, grabbed Enoch's hoof and pulled him out of the room, up the stairs and into the bedroom at the back of the hall.