//------------------------------// // A spot of tea // Story: Celestia's Bad Tea Day // by Cocoa Fortune //------------------------------// For Princess Celestia, there are a few very precious moments in the day that just belong to her. One of these moments is that little bit of quiet in the morning, just after she raises the sun and just before she takes audience in the throne room. During this time, Celestia often just relaxes and takes in the majesty of Equestria. “I’m so glad that I asked the pegasus patrol for a clear day today,” Celestia smiled, looking out over Canterlot to the rising ponies she adored, “this is such a beautiful sight…” No matter how many times Celestia saw that glorious sunrise, she always managed to love it. She was utterly thankful that her special talent was for this one purpose. Well that, and she always delighted in meeting ponies all day! Talking about which… “Raven, do you have my schedule for today?” “Mrs. Cozy will bring you tea in just a few moments, then you have audience in the throne room, a lunch with the Hippogriff delegation, and then meeting with the new students at your school…” Raven recited diligently, without needing any reminders, “is there anything else you need, Princess?” “That’s quite alright. Would you kindly send Mrs. Cozy in, then?” “At once, Princess.” Celestia did not particularly enjoy the taste of tea. Quite the opposite, in fact. The last time she told anypony this, it nearly destroyed all of Equestria. Still, she had morning tea and got it over with. She wondered what type she might have this time. “Mrs. Cozy, you’re looking as young as ever. What sort of tea do you have today?” “My, this is one of my favourite teas you’ve been sent. I picked it up last time we went through Trottingham, after your meeting with the Duchess. I made myself a pot of this yesterday and went back for seconds, that’s how good it was!” If nothing else, Mrs. Cozy was definitely the most enthusiastic pony. Even though Celestia grimaced at the thought of drinking tea, she had to admit that Mrs. Cozy was a master of her craft. If she thought the tea was good, it must be very good. Perhaps this cup will be the cup to change her mind on the matter. “That sounds lovely! I’ll get to drinking it right away!” Celestia lifted the cup and saucer to her lips, letting the nectar flow past them. Alas, this would not be the cup that would taste nice. It was simply yet another cup of leaf water, splendidly made as it was. Ah well, she thought, it was but a lofty dream. There was something about this tea, though… “Mmm, this is nice. Familiar, yet not something I’ve had lately. What is it?” “It’s called Tea Tree’s Blend! It’s a mixture of a few leaves… Let me see…” Mrs. Cozy sifted through the leaves, able to identify each one, “it’s mostly mint, with oolong… And this is rare! Leaves of Oculus!” Celestia stared at this leaf, then at her cup. All manner of expletives ran through her mind. It had been four-hundred and seventy-two years, thirty-two weeks, and five days since she last had Leaves of Oculus. She was looking forward to quietly celebrating five-hundred years without it, and even further still to the thousand years from it. Not that anypony would ever know how much she hated this abomination. “Mrs. Cozy, I believe you should share this with some of the council. Would you kindly take them this brew post-haste?” Celestia diplomatically requested, feeling the effects incoming. “Of course, of course! I’m going to share this with the whole castle!” Mrs. Cozy smiled, leaping at the chance to serve it to more ponies. When Mrs. Cozy was out of the room, Celestia flung the cup across the room and hoped beyond all hope that she did not have enough of it to affect her. Leaves of Oculus, or Visio tea, will forever remain her least favourite of all the teas in Equestria. Nay, she thought, the plant is non-native and outlawed. Visio tea is her least favourite tea in all the known world. Visio tea has been known for many great things. For most ponies, it merely gives a slight sense of déjà vu and can be a good luck charm. For the most powerful ponies, it is a very potent magic that grants amazing powers of foresight and divination. In the early days of Equestria, great sages would drink the tea to forewarn the country about any dangers. But Celestia was not a powerful pony, she was closer to a physical god than any pony. The sun and the stars effortlessly bent to her will, Equestria had endured over a thousand years of her protection, and she had mastered magics that did not exist before she created them. Divination tea, for that is what she called it, granted her something closer to prescience. Before the stars appear, two ponies you shall meet. The hero in the shadow and the villain in the light. United, they will be a force to safeguard Equestria. Divided, their battle will threaten to destroy it. “Oh, not again…”