A Royal Visit
A Royal Visit
Doctor Andromeda Star sighed and thumped her head against her desk. The old dusty lead scientists had rejected yet another draft of her report. “Stick to proof reading our papers dearie, we are the minds of this institution.” Had been their verbal assessment, the written sheet was just as poor. Time for yet another day making sure the fossils hadn’t contradicted their own theories again; it was surprising how often it was now. The dusk blue unicorn mare shook her head at that and thought back to more hopeful times.
When she was in school, even when she was in college she had never thought that life as an astronomer would be this dry! The whole culture was as dusty as the books in the Astronomy section of the library! No one was excited by it; they were just racking up meaningless accolades from each other and counting time to their gold plated retirements. Once one scientist left they would shuffle up the structure adding the next most senior to the left over position. At that rate Andromeda would be old and tired by the time she got high enough to change anything. Sighing again and magically moving her silver mane from her eyes, she opened up her saddlebag to read that morning’s mail.
Slipped in was a little note, ‘Chin up!’ it read in the familiar writing of her husband Latitude Ascendant, he had a much more invigorating job working with the radio telescope he and some clever technician ponies had come up with . The institute was cross about that, but it wasn’t disproving their theories so it was left for now. She smiled; it was nice to have someone supportive in her life. The next letter was welcome and unwelcome; it was from the Amateur Astronomer’s Anthology. ‘Dear Star Gazer,’ a cowardly pseudonym indeed, ‘It would be our pleasure to publish your astounding findings, our expert has corroborated their accuracy and wished to give them front page announcement!’ Andromeda sighed at that, she had published a few papers as a student but once hired by the Royal Observatory not one had been released. Sending in slightly dumbed down findings of lesser importance through an amateur’s magazine was the only way to give her research exposure. ‘At least I donate the fees’ she thought to herself, concealing the incriminating letter beneath frivolous flyer for horn accoutrements.
“Time to get back to work.” She levitated her encouraging note and pinned it to the board. More tedious reports…
*
As the morning trudged by and lunch passed all too quickly the afternoon wore on. As the clock hit that wavering moment that marks a few more hours until home Andromeda became aware of hurried activity and hushed excitement tinged with apprehension. The hubbub was silenced soon enough. Grateful for the distraction but aware of her task at hand, Andromeda returned to work. It was about a half hour later that she noticed the noises outside her door. There was a polite tap. “Enter.” Andromeda said simply. A bearded dusty red earth pony with greying mane and beard walked through the door. “Professor Tome, wonderful to see you…” she greeted through gritted teeth before trailing off at the sight of the pony accompanying him.
“So this is the young unicorn you wished to introduce Us to.” Princess Luna said. Slack jawed Andromeda watched in fright as her superior, an evil glint in his eye beckoned the guest in. “Yes your highness, this is our, ah ha, rising star here at the observatory.” Andromeda knew that look and tone, they hoped to get her into trouble to kick her out. ‘Well, let’s turn those tables around hmm’ she though wickedly. “Princess Luna, how flattering that you thought of me Professor, why, I shall take the tour from here sir!” she gushed, magically stacking her notes and the papers she was working on. “Well, I’ll just leave you then!” The old nag moved with a speed surprising for his age.
“A charming stallion.” Princess Luna huffed. “It is delightful to meet you Ms Star, though We suspect your superior merely wished to escape Our presence.”
“It’s Ascendant actually,” Andromeda automatically corrected, a hoof flying to her mouth as she realised what she had just done. “Ah We see, a case of professional and soulbound names is it? We approve, this practice fell from favour during Our long…absence.” By this point Andromeda was hyperventilating, her harsh breaths dislodging the mail pile and her private papers.
Curiosity piqued the Princess brought some to herself using magic and began to scan them. Andromeda started contemplating some of the self-immolation spells she had chanced upon in an ancient spell book. “Hmm, it seems you take a third name for yourself? We are impressed at your findings. Why is it that you do not publish them through this establishment?”
‘That is it, I am so fired and dead. I hear the moon is nice this time of century…’ Andromeda virtually fainted on the spot. “Now then, that was quite dramatic.” The Princess said, lifting the unicorn up onto her chair. She took a seat adjacent. “We… I do not wish to alarm you. I think I poured too much onto you too fast.” Andromeda nodded weakly, levitating a glass of water to her mouth and taking a sip. “To go from a routine day making sure the dusty brained bosses work isn’t self-conflicted to suddenly having the Princess of the Night in your office can do that to a filly.”
Princess Luna nodded in agreement. “Yes, I am sure it is. I believe you superior was trying to, how do you say it? ‘Drop you in it?’” when Andromeda nodded again the Princess chuckled dryly. “I must say this work you keep secret and those more than impressive submissions to my favoured anthology certainly gives them reason to fear your advance.” She regarded the dingy office and sniffed at what she could see of the official papers. “I came here hoping to see innovation in the science I founded so long ago. Instead I see the good old colt’s gang boosting each other to high wages and keeping their rumps safe. No real new findings, no new devices. No true interest in my night sky.” She sighed but smiled soon after. “You look like a hope for my vision to be realised however. I may have to take you into my personal employ.” Andromeda fainted on the spot again.
“’Rommy honey, wake up now, it’s never a good idea to sleep on the floor is it?” a familiar voice penetrated the safe gloom her mind had thrown up. “Lat, I had a really weird dream, the princess offered me a job…” She opened her eyes to see the familiar dark blue and white of her husband and also the concerned face of the Princess. “Eeep…” was all that came out after that. Latitude lifted her up and placed a comforting wing over her. “It’s fine honey, this is what we’ve been hoping for!” he gave her a reassuring squeeze.
“Thank you fine pegasus. Ms Ascendant, Mr Ascendant. I am seeking clever and hardworking ponies to help me catalogue my sky. To discover new wonders even I myself do not think possible. Those dusty brained old stallions do not support my ideals, they condescend as politely as they dare and until the day I came to their doorstep simply ignored my suggestions!” she ruffled her wings quite crossly. “You two, however, show great promise. I think I shall use some of my political power to remove you from this stifling establishment and we can begin some true study!” her eyes gleamed and Latitude beamed. Andromeda was shocked still. This was what she’d always wanted. She felt like another cutie mark should burst out.
“’Rommy, what do we say to the nice Princess?” Latitude whispered in her ear. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes. YES!” She glowed and started to float.
“Honey, you’re levitating again.”
“But I’m SO HAPPY!” she cried.
“This is quite splendid.” Princess Luna smiled. “I believe that with my patronage you both shall go far, my power simply enabling your intellect to work to its fullest.” A scroll and ornate quill appeared from nowhere. “Shall we get down to planning?”
-*-
Author’s note. Well, this bit slips in prior to my earlier story, a little background to this unicorn I created. I have other stories planned to sit within Andromeda’s Whorls that fit into the story timeline of Facets. I’ll post them as and when they get written.