All Good Things

by Jasmine_Vonstarlight

Chapter 12

I am so sorry this chapter took so long to write, as I had finals to worry about when I started writing. After words, I thought I would be home free, until a 20 page business paper reared its ugly head, and commanded most of my time. I’ve been working my butt off trying to catch up with this story, and I promise to update more often now that school is less hectic :)

How did I get back in my room? The last thing I remember was that scary gryffin, but I don’t think it was another dream. And why is it dark outside? Was I taking a second nap before dinner?
Regardless, I’m happy to be back in my sanctuary and away from that monster... I grab hold of my sheets and curl back into bed, letting the fabrics caress my midnight blue coat. My room, and my bed specifically, has always been a place of refuge in my little world, shielding my thoughts from the political problems that have always caused me anxiety.

I guess that’s where Tia is right now, dealing with the gryffins. From what I remember, our alliance with the Gryffin Kingdoms has stood since before my time on the moon, and I highly doubt that Tia would have done anything to provoke them.

“Miss Luna, are you awake yet?” I hear Busy Body quietly ask, one of his hooves now opening the door.

“Yes, Mr. Busy Body. Where is Tia?”

“Your sister is currently communicating with the gryffin royalty, who are currently denying any relation to the terrorist.”

“I knew it!” I state happily, jumping out of my covers. “I knew the gryffins weren’t against us!”

“It is indeed wonderful news, Miss Luna, but one mustn’t be so quick to judge. The investigation will still continue, but I have faith in our feathered allies” he says, trotting over to my bed and taking taking a seat next to me.

“Mr. Busy Body, why has the world changed so much?” I ask innocently as I am answered with a look of deep bewilderment. He stammers for a little while, searching for the correct words, before finally answering.

“Well, I, uh- Miss Luna, I personally believe that with time comes change. And since you’ve been... away... things have just passed by. Now, when it comes to our current state in politics, much of the changed can find its root in the absence of your parents, and your sister’s rise to power. Many ponies took the change as a surprise and many long standing policies were altered."

“Like what?”

“Well... let me try to remember my Equestrian History... For starters, Equestrian Citizens had many freedoms during your parents reign, but under Celestia, they were expanded upon. This is the exact reason why you saw the articles written about you, and all the journalists earlier. The press industry exploded soon after the new legislation.”

“But what if they print something about Tia, wouldn’t it backfire on her?”

“Not necessarily, Miss Luna. Even though news sources can print more offensive articles, your sister was willing to take the hit at the expense of her people. Their rights are more important to her than her own image.”

“Wow... I wanna be just like my sister...”

“I know you do Miss Luna”, he says, putting a hoof over my shoulder, “and you will be one day”.

I really like Mr. Busy Body. I know he isn’t my dad or even a family member, but he really is starting to feel like one. More importantly, why am I so hungry all of a sudden? Have I been out for very long?

“What time is it, Mr. Busy Body?”

“Far past your dinner time, and for that matter, your bedtime as well. The princess will be joining you shortly though.”

“Is she still talking to the gryffins?”

In our conversation, I didn’t notice that Tia came in.

“No, I am not, and I’m happy to report that everything is fine and as it should be!”

I bound out of bed, and gallop to her, embracing one of her legs.

“TIA! You’re alright!”

“Of course I am, silly” she responds in a motherly tone, as she bends down to nuzzle me. She picks me up with her magic and starts to walk back over to my bed, sending Busy Body away for the night. I say my goodbyes as he walks out of the room and closes the door, refocusing on my sister.

“Are the gryffins really mad at us, Tia?”

“Of course not, Lulu. Both parties eventually realized that the attack was an isolated incident. The terrorist is most likely a mentally unstable citizen, nothing more.”

“Thats good. I’m just glad you’re okay, Tia” I state lovingly. There is nothing I love more in this world than my sister, and if anything were to happen to her... If she were to be killed, I really don’t know what I would do. The first thousand years without her love was hard enough, but living for the rest of eternity without her...

Tia scoops me up gently, guiding my fatigued body into her soft fluff. Nuzzling me gently, she lays a kiss on my forehead. She snakes her hooves around me, and embraces me in a tight hug, the affection practically dripping out of her pores. In this moment, I feel safe. Nightmare Moon has no ability to appear before me while Tia is here to protect me.

“I bet I know a filly who still needs their dinner” she muses.

“Oh right! I completely forgot!” I exclaim, wriggling out of her hooves, causing her to grin. “I’m completely starved, Tia! What is there to eat?”

“That is a question for the cooks, Lulu. Let us head down to the dining hall, there are some things we need to go over.”

Tia nuzzles me once more before I start to climb down from the bed. But before I make my first hoof- fall, I feel her magic raising me once more, as she places me on her back. She rears back on her hind hooves, and with a loud “Tally Ho!”, I respond with a “Giddy up!”, as she charges out of my room in a full gallop.

I giggle wildly as she weaves in between esteemed nobles, maids, and guards, most of whom are wearing expressions of pure shock, or annoyment. Her laughs match my own while she rounds a corner and narrowly misses another maid, this one pushing a cart precariously stacked with an assortment of fancy desserts.

I hear a guard shouting from behind, “Your highness! Please slow down in the castle!”

“Now why would I do that?!” she responds irrelevantly. This is the Tia I remember, the carefree filly that I became so close to! How I longed to be back in her arms, ride around on her back, and have her call me "Lulu".

There are multiple guards galloping behind us now, trying their best to calm Tia, as they obviously don't feel comfortable taking her down physically.

"Your highness, what if the press were to see you?!"

"Just imagine the headlines!"

Their words fall on deaf ears as she rounds another corner and continues to her throne, where she comes to a screeching halt. I hold on to her mane as I nearly fall off, but Tia catches me with her magic just in time.

She levitates me above the seat and gently sets me down, as the guards that were chasing us try their best to avoid my sister. She removes her crown, and places it on my head, causing a gasp from the many guards lining the throne chamber.

"One day, you'll be the one on the throne, Lulu", she coos lovingly, as I try to hold my head up under the immense size and weight of her crown. Regardless, I can finally feel the love that has eluded me for such a long time.

"I love you, Tia", I stammer. I really know how else to respond, given my current feelings, except with such a basic complement. She is my sister, and I adore more than anything else in Equestria!

She gives me a playful nip on the ear as she fixes the crown behind my horn and lifts me back down, this time to my feet.

I stay close to her hooves as we walk, feeling a sort of motherly comfort emanating from her. We trot into the grand dining hall, the crown gently bouncing in my mane in beat with my canter. To my side, I notice multiple mares poking their heads out of the kitchen, making stifled "awws" at the sight of me.

How am I cute and "aww" worthy? I'm just a filly, not even trying to be adorable. I swear, grown ups can be so weird sometimes. I could lightly protest to a food I don't want to eat, and they would call it 'pouting', or 'puppy eyed'. Isn't saying 'no' to a grown up a bad thing? They're all silly...

I clamor up on the chair next to the head of the table, where Tia is currently seated. Within short order, plates holding many types of greens fly out of the kitchen. Daffodils, fine hay, dandelions (for me), and a large selection of breads.

How I have longed to fill my stomach with one of the castle's feasts. On the moon, there was obviously nothing to consume, save the more powdery rocks which I had to eat the last 300 years. No matter how hungry I was, and how deprived I may have looked, some inexplicable force kept me alive all those years.

I happily filled my entire mouth initially, trying to take in as much of the food as possible. Tia shot me a smirk as she ate her meal in a much more dignified manner.

"So, here we are. The first real time we've had to sit down and talk to each other again" she starts. "As sisters".

I look up with a stalk of hay sticking out of my muzzle and smile stupidly, overjoyed to sit down to a family dinner once again.

"As happy as I am to have you within my arms again, there are some things that seriously need to be addressed. I am still a little dazzled after the events that have unfolded earlier, and I expect that you are too. Equestria is still a relatively safe place, but times have certainly changed, Lulu".

"How so?" I answer, not exactly sure what she means. Canterlot has always been safe to walk around in, even at night! I'm pretty sure Tia was telling the truth when she said that the bomber was only a one-time incident.

"Oh Luna... Where to begin. Lets put it this way, every time you leave the castle, I want you to have at least to guards with you, at all times."

"TWO? Why?! Canterlot is safe!" I protest, still not sure what Tia is getting at. But some of the earliest memories of my childhood include being flanked by guards every time I left the castle. Only when I got older did I only have to have one follow me around, but even then I protested.

"Yes, Luna. As much as I hate to do it, you are going to need at least two guards everything you go out. And unfortunately... there is only so much I can do to keep the streets safe."

"What could possibly be so bad these days? I don't understand..." I admit depressingly.

"Well, you saw what happened earlier. While nothing has ever been that extreme, there are multiple conflicting political parties now that would love to use you... for a ransom."

Her words ring in my ears, and the words she then tries to force out turn to mumbles before they can hit my ears. A ransom? On me? By the sun, is this still Equestria, or the dragon kingdoms?! What is wrong with these ponies?

She notices my shock, and quickly amends her statement.

"Maybe that example was a little extreme, I'm sorry Luna" she says somberly.

"No, it's okay, but is Equestria in that much turmoil?"

"Well, there are some parts of the region that I would not recommend traveling to at night, no offense."

I try to grunt "none taken" through another mouthful of dandelions at Tia's polite gesture, but all that comes out is a mess of food. Tia chuckles as she wipes off my muzzle with her napkin.

"But you understand where I'm coming from, right Lulu? You aren't in any immediate danger, but because of the political climate, I just want you to play it safe."

"Don't worry Tia, I'll be just fine!" I offer assuredly, but Tia still seems uneasy.

"I know you will be Luna, I'm just worried, that's all. Could I bring another concern to your attention?"

"Anything for you, Tia" is what I say, but what I'm really thinking is closer to "what else could POSSIBLY be on your mind?!"

"When you were watching me on the stage earlier, who did you see in the audience?" She asks. Ponies obviously, but I'm guessing she means something specific about them.

"Well, there were a lot of ponies in these silly hats with scraps of paper tucked into the fabric... and... uh, they had strange boxes hanging around their necks".

"Very good observation, Luna. Those are called 'cameras'. Did Busy Body tell you about those yet?"

"I think so" I respond, but I'm still pretty lost as to their nature.

"The camera is a fantastic device, it captures a moment in time, and puts it on to a picture. Do you remember when the family portrait was painted all those years ago?" She asks, motioning to the large painting hanging proudly behind her.

"How could I forget? The artist probably took ten hours to finish!"

"And ten hours was a miraculous time time finish a painting that detailed. But imagine an image as detailed as a painting, being made instantaneously"

"Insta- what?"

"Well... Let's put it this way, a camera is a little box that produces an image through the use of that flash you see, and puts it on special paper, from which it can be copied" she explains.

"Ooohhhhhh. But why is it so important for the picture to be copied?"

"That question is related to the silly hats the ponies you saw we're wearing. They were ALL from the press, trying to get the latest scoop or gossip on the government, or the royals. They use camera's to capture images they deem important."

"They don't print embarrassing ones, do they?"

"How I wish that was the case, Lulu, but unfortunately, there is a special type of news, called 'tabloids'. The only purpose they serve is to embarrass ponies and spread gossip. And that is why I am being so protective of you, I don't want one of the bad reporters to get any dirt on you."

"But how do I tell the good ones from the mean ones?"

"My rule of thumb is to just avoid them all, because you can never really know who they are working for" she said, her tone obviously revealing that has had more than a few run ins with these ponies with the flash boxes.

"I'll be safe, Tia. I'll be sure to look around for the... What do you call them?"

"Paparazzis. Never get mixed up with them, Lulu. You are just too precious to me", a worried tone now taking over her voice.

I originally thought that I was going to miss mommy and daddy even more now that I'm home, but since Tia has grown up, and I was left a filly, she really feels like the mommy I don't have right now.

After finishing up my meal, I carefully climb down from my chair, and trot over to Tia's legs, putting my fore hooves on her seat. Smiling sweetly, she helps me up with her magic and cradles me...

Just like mommy used to...