//------------------------------// // Lunch Meeting // Story: An Unexpected Twilight // by Redbow Rose //------------------------------// I was feeling awkward. After the slip up earlier with me mentioning how I'm usually like, I was nervous. It seemed that she didn't suspect me of hiding anything, so I slowly relaxed. After the disagreement with the punny town names, Twilight left the room to get the order for food out and invite the others in. I wasn't alone for long however, as she came back with the Princesses and two of her friends in tow. Twilight sat down next to me again, and the Princesses took seats directly across from Twilight and myself. I would normally feel uncomfortable around royalty, but the Princesses had seemed friendly and approachable, especially Princess Celestia. It helped that she had named all the towns, anyone who named things like that had to have a sense of humor. Luna seemed more formal, though she was nice as well. She was very nice to offer to teach me, and I was growing eager to learn about this new world. Behind the royal sisters were two more ponies. The first one seemed to be a pegusus. She was sky blue all over, with a almost bedhead-looking rainbow mane and tail. She had magenta eyes, which really stood out, and a lightning bolt, also rainbow, on her butt. The mare that had walked in after her seemed to have an air of elegance, though not the same as the Princesses across the table. She had a flawless white coat that shone brighter than the pegasus beside her. I noticed that she had a horn but lacked wings, a unicorn like myself. Her purple mane and tail were curled and surprisingly bouncy, her blue eyes large and quite pretty. I saw the trio of diamonds on her flank and idly wondered why she had those. When they saw both me and Twilight, they blinked and stared. They didn't seem to know how to react, and I decided to break the silence after the staring got awkward. "Uh...hello there. I can tell that this situation has you shocked, but I'm pretty sure that you can make the whole thing less awkward by sitting down and not staring." They seemed to snap out of it and went to sit down, the rainbow one by me and the well groomed one by Twilight. Having a feeling that things would stay awkward, I decided to ask the million dollar question. "Princess Celestia, before we get started I have something very important to ask you, something considering the very traditions this nation is based on." I said, my no-nonsense tone giving me looks of curiosity and interest. The princesses were surprised by my statement, but I was given permission to ask by a simple nod. I took a breath and spoke. "Princess Celestia, did you make the name of all the towns in Equestria puns to create one of the oldest running gags ever?" Silence. Rainbow mane and marshmallow coat looked confused, while Twilight look mortified. Her expression rapidly became one of anger however, but before she could say anything a chuckle was heard. We looked over to the Princesses and saw that Luna had a hoof up to her face, groaning, while Celestia was trying to hide her giggles behind a hoof. That failed, however, as she soon escalated into full on laughter. Twilight was confused at the scene, while I simply was glad my assumption was correct. After a bit the princess managed to calm down. "I apologize." While her expression went to her normal, serene smile I could still hear the mirth in her voice. "That is the first time somepony other than my sister has recognized the oddness about it in over 1000 years." It may have just been me, but her smile seemed a bit wider than before, her eyes twinkling. "But to answer your question...yes, it is a joke that I began so many centuries ago. For quite a while I was the only one who understood the joke, but it was quite hilarious none the less. Not even the dragons thought it that odd. In fact, my naming of Equestrian cities has influenced other countries to do the same. I must say, it has been the most legendary running gag." “Makes sense,” I replied. Looking over, I saw Twilight looking the worse for wear. Her eyes were dilated and twitching, her mane was somehow frazzled, and her wings were limp and dragging on the floor. “Uh...Twilight?” I ventured. “Are you okay?” Twilight gave me a stiff nod. “Yes...perfectly fine.” She said oddly. I understand that she was shocked about her princess being a joker of sorts, I’m sure I’d be surprised myself in her position, but she looked like she had her world view shattered. Before I could rub it into the unstable mare, however, Celestia stepped in. “Twilight? Why don’t you go down and ask the royal chefs to make a lunch meal for the 6 of us? I have asked the staff to keep your new wings secret, so you will be able to walk around the castle without news of your ascension getting out too early.” The Princess suggested. Twilight got up and walked to the door, nodding and going out as if in a daze. The two smaller ponies looked visibly relieved. “Is it always that easy to break her?” I asked. Princess Celestia smiled at the thought, letting out a slight chuckle. “No, she is much more levelheaded than that. I believe that she is just strained from the stress of everything that’s happened within the last 24 hours. It seems that my admitting of that joke was too much for her, so I sent her for lunch in the hope that she’d calm down a bit.” I nodded at that and looked at the two ponies I didn’t know. “Before we go any farther, we should properly get acquainted,” I said. “My name, as I’ve chosen, will be Dawn. Dawn Sparkle I suppose if I’m now a part of her family. “ The princesses looked curious when I said my new name. They probably were surprised since I hadn’t thought of one that long ago. The first one to speak was the white unicorn. Letting out a small cough to start, she spoke. “My name is Rarity, Rarity Belle. I am a close friend of Twilight’s and a fashionista in Ponyville. I’m pleased to meet you.” Short simple, and I gave her points on the pleasant tone, despite how shocked and confused she seemed to be the entire time. I looked to the rainbow one on my right. She managed to recover quickly as well. “I’m Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in Equestria and captain of the Ponyville weather team!” She said, seeming smug about it. I had no reason to question her claim of fastest flier, however. “I think we should formally introduce ourselves as well,” I heard Princess Celestia say. I looked over to her and Luna. Princess Celestia stood up and gave a nod of her head. “I am Princess Celestia, Diarch of Equestria and Princess of the Sun.” She then sat down as Luna got up. “I am Princess Luna, I am also a Diarch of Equestria and I am Princess of the Night.” She sat down again, though their titles raised a question for me. “Princesses...how come your titles are different like that? I mean, Princess of the Sun and Night? Why not of the Sun and moon, Or Day and Night? It just seems a little awkward to me.” Princess Celestia nodded to my question. “I can see why it is odd, but the answer is simple. I only move the sun across the sky, and do nothing else to earn me the title of ‘Princess of the Day’. Luna, however, Not only moves the moon, but she also arranges the stars and constellations as well as protecting our subjects from night terrors.” She explained. “Oh that makes sen-wait what? Move the sun and moon?” I was very confused...I had to have misheard. “Why yes, we move the sun and moon. I know it seems like a hard task to do every day, but we’ve become used to it. It takes barely any conscious effort these days.” She said with a smile. I almost started questioning it, but then I remembered that I was talking to magical winged horse princesses while being turned into a female purple magic pony myself. So I let it slide for now. “Okay then...what is an average day for you like? I’ve never met royalty before.” I said. This caused Celestia to let out a chuckle. “I don’t think you’ve had much chance to meet any before today.” She said with a smile as I realized my mistake. Crap. “Err...sorry, I guess not.” I said, hoping she didn’t get suspicious. I really had to be careful to not keep slipping up. “It’s interesting the way you talk, you seem to have knowledge and wisdom without any experience to support it.” Damn it, she’s noticed something off. “As for our day, we wake up to raise the sun as Luna lowers the moon, then have day court until the afternoon. My sister and I discuss with our advisors the affairs of Equestria before I lower the sun and Luna raises the moon.” “We spend the night guiding the moon through the sky, counseling any who come to our court, and then we sleep and protect our citizens from any nightmares that appear. This allows us to spend more time with our sister during the day, with only a short nap during day court.” Luna said. I noticed that she talked about herself in plural but decided to not ask about it. It was silent for a little, no one sure what to say, before I found something else to mention. “So...Princess Luna? I asked, “You said you were going to teach me the basics about everything later right? When will we do this?” The Moon Princess thought for a moment. “We believe we can start after lunch, as our sister will return to her day court duties after this.” “That’s good...Princess Celestia when do think Twilight will be back?” I asked. As I said that however, there was a knock on the door. “I believe that’s her now.” Celestia said with a smile. “Come in.” She called to those outside, and the door opened with a maid pony pushing a tray with different foods on it. Twilight followed behind and sat back next to me and Rarity, looking much better, though a tad embarrassed. She did have a freak out about something silly though. The maid set the plates in front of us and pushed the cart out of the room, though not before giving me and Twilight a bit of a stare before leaving. “Well, let's get to lunch. I’m not sure about you all, but I’m quite famished!” Celestia said with a smile.