//------------------------------// // Morning's Arrival // Story: For Everything Must Have a Beginning // by Golden Dusk //------------------------------// Celestia was awoken to the sound of birds chirping, and the light pouring in through the openings in her shutters and drapes from Novus's Sun. She laid in bed, still in a blissful state of half-sleep, when she at last recalled the events of last night. She immediately jumped out of bed, though somewhat unsuccessfully as her back right leg was caught up in her blankets, tripping her and sending her sprawling out on the floor. Ignoring this, she hopped up once more, untangled herself from the hold of her downy sheets, and rushed towards the door. She opened the door with a flare of pink magic and burst into the parlor. But, as a small part of her expected, the keeper of night and day was not present. Instead, there were only guards flanking the doors and several servants cleaning or performing any other task that needed completion. A single butler, an old stallion with wrinkled features and a bushy moustache, came up to Celestia. "Why, young princess, thou art never awake so early. What art thou about?" He said with a kind smile. Celestia looked about the room helplessly for a few moments before responding. "Is Novus here? In the castle?" She asked. The old butler looked at her with mild shock at first, then settled back into an understanding smile. "Why, young princess, on what business would the keeper of night and day be in the castle for so early? I believe that he did raiseth the sun not even an hour hence." Celestia looked up at the butler with mild frustration. "He said that he would come and speaketh with me and mine sister after he had raiseth the morning sun." Celestia said with a stamp of her hoof. The old butler regarded her curiously for a moment. "Why, princess, thou must hadst had quite the dream this last night. " He said. Celestia gaped at the old stallion. "'Twas not a dream!" She protested, her shrill voice sounding more of a common foal and not a princess. The butler raised one of his hooves in the air in a gesture of mock defeat. "Be that as it may, princess, thou art awake early enough to eat with your mother and father. They are both in the dining hall, most probably still waiting for their morning meal. Shall I escort you to the hall?" Celestia smiled broadly up at the old butler. "I shall take that as a 'yes'." The butler opened the door to the parlor for Celestia and followed the filly through the corridors and passageways of the castle. They reached the dining room doors, which the old stallion pushed open for the young princess to enter through. Within the hall sat a long table of polished wood, inlaid with precious metals and covered with a snow white cloth. Golden candelabras, now devoid of flame, were set in regular intervals down the whole length. And cushioned chairs were all lined up either side of it. Currently though, only two were occupied by two unicorns, chatting in hushed voices. The king and queen looked up as the doors opened into the dining hall, to see their eldest daughter coming in with one of their oldest butlers. The queen smiled softly at the new arrivals, and called out to her daughter. "Celestia, thou art awake much earlier than normal this day." She said. "Indeed," the king added "most days we must wake you with a herald's horn to get thou out of thine bed." Celestia trotted across the hall and hugged her mother. Then, she asked her mother in an expectant voice: "Mother, is Novus in the castle?"The old butler stepped in at that moment. "My queen, I believe the question comes from a dream the young princess hadst last night." Celestia looked up at her mother incredulously for a moment before the queen spoke. "No, no. I believe it may have come from another source." The old butler looked at the queen curiously, before returning his gaze to Celestia for a moment. He shrugged. "Well, if Novus doth arrive to the castle, I will inform you of it." The butler said. Quite suddenly, the doors at the front of the hall swung open. "I do appreciate thine offer, but I believe myself to be more than capable of making mine own entrance." Novus said in his powerful voice as he strode into the dining hall, a worried looking herald close at his heels. The herald ran up to the king and queen and spoke in a hushed, nervous voice. "Please, forgive me your highnesses. I-I couldn't stop him." The King looked at the herald in amusement, then waved him away with a hoof. "'Tis all well. Novus needs little introduction here." The herald's face lit up with relief and he quickly returned to his post outside the hall, shutting the doors behind him. Celestia looked back to Novus. She was always curious how the alicorn's ethereal coat and mane changed color and appearance depending on the time of day. Where he had been the night sky last night, now he was a golden color, his mane no longer of shadow but bright sunlight. His coat held all the colors of day, and still had the subtle pinks of dawn still present. Only the alicorn's cutie mark remained constant; the solar eclipse never changing as his body did. Celestia looked over to the old butler, his face now filled with shock and awe of the alicorn's sudden appearance. Celestia smiled at her small triumph; the butler's realization that the young princess may not have been in the throes of some waking dream when she had said that Novus wished to speak with her. She turned her gaze then to Novus, who had since walked up to her mother and father, and was engaged in all of the formalities associated with greeting royalty. This persisted for a short time, and when at last all of the due conversation was finished, Celestia walked up to Novus, who looked down at her with his fiery golden eyes. "What was it that thou wisheth to speak with me about?" Clestia asked him. Novus gave the princess a radiant smile and leaned his neck down so that he was just above her eye level. "Thou didst a poor job of listening to me last night, young Celestia." Celestia looked dumbstruck. He had said he wished to talk. And now he was making her look like an utter foal. Novus continued, though. "I said that I would speaketh with thou and thine sister when I had raised the morning sun. Now, I do not believe thine sister is present. Thus, we shan't talk quite just yet." Celestia was perhaps a bit frustrated, but content that at least Novus did not go back upon his word. And so, the young princess sulked over to the chair opposite her mother at the table. Servants came not long after Novus's arrival, bearing a chair that her mother and father insisted be made especially for the alicorn. And despite several small protests, Novus did not refuse the seat when it had at last been brought out. Their places at the table were set, and a morning meal was brought out before them all. Queen Platinum had also dispatched a maid to go and wake princess Luna so that she may join them all at the table. In the meanwhile, Celestia was peering over the table to see what was brought out and laid before them. There were platters of fruit, freshly cooked breads, and an assortment of delectable pastries. Celestia was eyeing the sweets in particular, waiting for her mother to finish taking several off the platter before taking several for herself with a bit of pink magic. As she focused on levitating the pastries she had selected over to her own plate, she heard Novus make a small remark to her parents about the harvests made by the earth ponies that year. There was also something about the poor harvests and terrible winters of past years, but Celestia was too engrossed in her magic to make much note of it. As Celestia happily took a bite from a tart, she noticed that Novus's own silver plate was entirely empty. Celestia swallowed her morsel of food and waited for a break in her parent's bland conversation over taxes and politics, before speaking up herself. "Why hasn't thou taken anything to eat?" Celestia asked the alicorn across the table from her. Novus looked a bit surprised, and glanced down at his plate as though he himself did not realize that nothing was on it. He looked over to Celestia and gave a small laugh. "I have no need to eat. I have not felt hunger for a very, very long time." Novus said simply. Believing this to be sufficient, he turned back to the king and queen's conversation, but just before he could engross himself once more, Celestia spoke again. "Why?" Was all she asked. Novus turned to her, his face bearing curiosity and mild amusement. He looked up at the ceiling as if in deep thought for several moments before looking back to the young princess to reply. "I do not exactly know. I simply haven't." Celestia was about to ask yet another question when the doors to the hall opened once more, this time allowing a maid to enter, with princess Luna in tow, looking still half asleep. After Luna sat down at the table, and food was placed before her, Celestia looked expectantly at Novus. Unfortunately, though, the alicorn was still listening intently to her parents' conversation. Celestia waited for another lapse in conversation before loudly clearing her throat. All eyes turned to her, and Celestia pointed towards Luna. No pony seemed to understand her meaning, except for Novus, who gave a small chuckle. "A bit impatient, aren't thou?" He asked. Celestia saw him look over to her mother and give an inquiring look. Her mother seemed to understand this and stood. "May we clear the dining hall? We require privacy." She said. All of the present servants and guards bowed and made for the nearest door. Just as the last guard was closing the door, he stopped for a moment. "Should you require anything, your majesties, simply call." With that said, the door closed, and those seated at the table were the only ponies left. Novus, who had been watching the door, now turned to Celestia. "Young Celestia, young Luna," Novus began, looking to each filly in turn. "I Have spoken with thine mother, who hath in turn relayed my words to thine father." Celestia noticed that her mother seemed a little ill at ease, and her father was simply staring dejectedly down at his plate. "I and I wish to tell thou both," Novus said, though now looking at Celestia's parents. It appeared he had noticed their unease. He turned back to Celestia and Luna, who both were staring at him. "I wish to tell thou both that I will be personally overseeing thine instruction upon magic and all subjects in any relation thereof. In other words, the both of thou are to be mine students." Celestia's eyes widened, and her sister's mouth was agape. Her parents looked at Novus as though he had said something incredible, their previous unease gone. Novus simply smiled at all. ******** Author's Notes: Just a bit longer this time. I hope to make the next few a bit longer than this, to avoid a F***load of chapters. I also don't really have an update schedule. It seems to just be whenever I feel like writing, so, every few days or thereabouts. Also, constructive criticism is welcome, as this is my first real fic. Finally, the "sad" tag will come in later (probably). Other than all that, I just hope you enjoy the story thus far!