Three~ Ruby 10:30 a.m.

Why can't she just hurry up?  I think to myself.  I hate having to wait on ponies.  I would do it myslef, but it would chip my hooficure.

"MAID!!"  I yell.  Hopefully she hears me.  Plates crash downstairs.  Yep, she hears me. "Coming mistress!" she yells.  Now the sound of hooves rounding the is approaching me.

"You called?"

"Yes, I asked for my meal 15 minutes ago!"  Terrible at keeping time, this one.  I'll just ask daddy for another one.  And if he doesn't, well, we'll see if he keeps that descision.

~MEANWHILE in Sift~

"There goes another one.  Here one minute, gone the next."  he says

"I thought you said it was like this everyday?" I say

"It is.  I just wish I were a part of it." he slightly smiles a jealous smile.

The Pegasus that flew by looked a lot like my little brother, Koda.  But, Koda has reddish hair, the Pegasus had brown.

"Aye, lad, we know." an Irish voice from behind us speaks.

"Hey, Kurt.  Meet Ryder. Ryder, Kurt."  Finn says nodding to me then to Kurt.

"Hi."  I say.  Kurt nods his hello.  A whistle blows in the distance.

"We best be goin'. Bye miss."  Kurt says, and walks back where he came.

"Bye Ry."  Finn says and he walks behind Kurt.  bye.  I whisper.

"Ryder?  Miss Ryder?" a deep male voice sounds from beside me.

"Yes, that's me"

"Please, come with me." he turns to the left and waits for me to follow him, so I do.

                                                              ~~~~~~~~~

"It says here you have a pretty clean record."

"Yeah, so?"

A long pause.  His eyes search mine.

"What do you remember?"

I know what he's asking.  The night I came here.

   I was eating dinner with my family and everything was perfect.  It was my birthday.  The meal was my favorite.  Mom wore her favorite necklace.  Dad wore his favorite tie.  Even Koda cleaned up.  I was about to open my gifts when something was thrown through the window and broke a picture frame.  Colts dressed in black and wearing masks burst through the door.  Containers were thrown everywhere and gas was released.  Koda went down first.  Mom and Dad were yelling at the colts "She's not ready!" "Don't take her!", all the while trying to stay awake.  I woke up in a van for a moment and fell asleep again.

"What do you remember?", he asks again.

"Nothing." I reply.

~ Celeste

"Where on Earth is your sister?", father asks us.

"I don't know your majesty," her servant asks.       Probably doing her mane for the thousandth time.

"Ah, here she is!" father says nodding to the tall threshold of the private dining room.  Her mane is braided with ribbon and her shoes are new.  Again.

"Sorry, Daddy." Ruby says, entering the room.

"That's quite alright, dear.  Have a seat."

  She takes the seat farthest away from Star and I.

"Now, to matters at hoof.  As you very well know, your mother is very ill.  And we know not of when she will return to health.  But if it comes to the...less happy of the choices, I will reside from the throne."

Ruby's ears perk at the word Throne.

"If I do, I want to know which of you will be fittest to rule. Not just by whom is eldest, but by who is willing to protect the kingdom."  Ruby roles her eyes.  Star shifts uncomfortably in her seat.  I just wait.

"Over  the following few weeks, I will observe your skills with the common folk and with the council.  Now, with that out of the way, let's eat."