Even before she took the Dual Throne with Luna, Celestia was used to being treated with high regard.
The only natural born alicorns in recorded history, both she and her little sister were gifted in magic at a young age, so much that Star Swirl the Bearded took them under his proverbial wing and sought to ensure they hone their magic and use it to better the lives of the ponies around them. In all the years of teaching them, even through his stern rebukes and lectures, he always respected them as fellow ponies and for the great power they wielded.
Ponies, griffons, diamond dogs, and dragons met her with a bow of their heads and chose their words with care. Cultural barrier and species didn’t matter to others, she found. Her reputation as the dawn bringer and co-ruler of Equestria was more than enough to earn their respect.
By the sun, even the few changelings she’d been able to interact with in the wake of their ill-fated invasion made sure to treat her with the same grace they might extend to their duplicitous queen. Though, admittedly, that was more likely out of a sense of self-preservation than actual respect.
Which was why the three yellow feathers resting on her desk brought forth such a wave of conflicting emotions in Celestia’s heart.
On one hoof, she was a healthy mare, and could appreciate the more physical aspects of a relationship. Just because her subjects liked to pretend she was some pure being didn’t mean she hadn’t enjoyed a romp or two over the centuries. Or in modern time, for that matter. Either way, she could understand the body’s want for that sort of thing.
On the other, there was the matter of respect. Not necessarily just for her, either.
Celestia made it plainly clear to Spitfire that she was expected to show respect for Twilight, both as a mare and as a Crown Princess of Equestria. Or so she thought.
The three feathers before her told a different story.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in through her nose, and held it a moment. Her jaw clenched, she reached out with a bared hoof to touch one of the feathers’ edge, teasing to see if her eyes had betrayed her. A small part of her dared to hope they had, as part of one of Luna’s jokes.
Her hoof touched soft vane.
The feathers were real.
Hot anger filled her chest. Celestia grit her teeth and sucked in another breath. “In what sense of the word ‘respect’ do you derive ‘deflower my student’, Captain?” she asked her empty study.
No reply came.
Celestia snorted and flicked her tail. Perhaps it was for the best that Spitfire wasn’t standing before her to receive the full brunt of her anger. She had made it clear—painfully so—that Twilight Sparkle was like an adopted daughter to her, that she would go to the farthest reaches of the land if it meant her happiness.
She took yet another deep breath. “Calm,” she told herself. “Captain Spitfire is not a foreign threat or a monster. She is a pony. I do not bring harm upon my own subjects, even if they disobey me and dare deflower my student in my own house.”
Her horn flashed a brilliant gold. A spark flashed, fire engulfed the feather touching her hoof. Celestia watched with grim satisfaction as tongues of flame licked at the offending feather, a small part of her delighted in the sight of sunny yellow burning away to a blackened crisp. It curled in on itself as if trying to escape the dancing flames.
Celestia’s magic flashed, the flames turned a blinding white, then dissipated, leaving nothing but a small pile of smoldering ashes and a scorched outline of a feather burned into the wooden desktop.
She wrinkled her snout at the scent and made a mental note to inform Raven to see about finding a replacement. Yet another innocent desk had fallen as collateral damage to her temper.
Meditation, that was the key. The deep breathing exercises she’d taught Cadence all those years ago would help.
They always did.
Deep in, hold, bring my hoof to my chest, release and push out with my hoof, like I’m banishing all my troubles. Celestia went through several iterations of the exercise, the tension slowly leaving her with each exhale and sweeping push of her hoof.
Still, the anger remained. Two more of Spitfire’s feathers rested on her desk, both haunting reminders at her orders—the respect she demanded Twilight be shown—had gone ignored the night of the Gala.
A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts. Celestia’s ears perked up, she quickly swept the feathers off the desk and into an open drawer, closing it as she called out, “Who is it?”
“It is I, sister,” Luna’s voice, muffled by the wood, floated back to her. “May I enter?”
A smile crossed her muzzle. “Of course, Lulu,” she replied, relief filling her chest. A talk with Luna would surely help to ease her mind.
Or, at very least, serve to calm her enough to deal with the matter at hoof.
She turned in time to see Luna’s shimmering blue aura engulf the door handle, the tinkling of bells sounded as Luna pushed the door open and trotted in, closing the door behind her with a flick of her magic. “Good morning, Tia,” she greeted. “Sleep well?”
Despite her mood, Celestia gave an amused snort. “You would know best, Lulu. The dream realm has always been yours.”
Luna tossed her starry mane, a cheeky grin spread across her muzzle. “Yes, but what mare doesn’t like to hear that her hard work is appreciated?”
“A fair point,” Celestia said with a nod. “In that case, yes, I did sleep quite well. I had a rather lovely dream, rather reminiscent of our younger days. You remember when mother used to take us to the lake country?”
“Of course. She loved to take us during the summer.” Luna looked off into the distance. “We always feigned sleep, stayed up late, and watched her play dice with the guards.”
“She never could win. We always had to deal with her grumping the next morning.”
“Indeed. A brilliant ruler, but not one with any semblance of luck in gambling.” Luna shook her head, giving an amused chuckle. “I do believe father was ready to forbid her from wearing her regalia on our trips in fear that she would lose it to them.”
Celestia furrowed her brows. “As I recall, he did once.” Slowly, a smile made its way across her muzzle. “Mother snuck it all in our luggage. She was always so stubborn.”
“How very much like the two of us.” Luna sniffed, then wrinkled her snout. “Tia, is something burning?”
Biting back a curse, Celestia forced herself to hold her smile. “Oh, don’t mind that. I was just practicing a bit of basic magic to pass the time and managed to put a bit too much into a candle lighting spell. Nothing to worry about.”
“Nothing, you say?” A single brow arched, Luna regarded her with a quizzical stare. “T’is quite unlike you to make such an error.”
She shrugged. “Even I make mistakes, Lulu. You know that more than anypony else.”
Wincing, Luna looked away. Though not before Celestia could catch the pain that flashed across her face. “I suppose I do.” She stayed silent a moment, her head hung low. She sighed and gave her tail a flick, raising her head to add, “Though, I have seen you at your best, and you’ve seen me at mine.”
“Quite so.” Celestia nodded, a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company this morning?” She eyed the clock, tutting at the time. “Especially so early! Normally, you’re still in bed or enjoying your morning bath at this hour!”
Luna’s ears stood up straight. “Oh, yes!” She turned, beaming as bright as the morning sun. “Late last evening I happened upon Twilight Sparkle and Captain Spitfire as they returned from their date.”
“Oh, did you now?” Celestia’s voice strained.
“Yes! They both seemed quite tired, though Twilight was quite a bit tipsy.” Luna brought a hoof to her mouth to stifle a laugh. “The good captain had to help the poor mare up the pathway until her friends could escort her back to her room. I do believe she will be in for quite the rude awakening.”
Nodding dutifully, Celestia considered the news. “You say Captain Spitfire escorted Twilight home?” At Luna’s nod, she pressed further, “I am curious: how was her behavior around Twilight?”
“Her behavior was fine, if a bit playful.” Luna shrugged. “Quite a bit different from the suitors I remember, but I suppose that’s just how ponies are these days. She did make sure Twilight was in good hooves before making to leave, and was quite accommodating when I requested she join me on a walk so I might have the chance to speak with her.”
Her ears flicked. “Oh?” Celestia leaned forward, the gears in her head began to turn. “And what, pray tell, did you discuss with Captain Spitfire?”
Luna turned and trotted a couple steps toward the door, giving her a sidelong look and the tiniest of smirks. “Now, that, sister dear, would be telling. You know there are some things I am honor bound to keep between our ponies and myself.”
A groan escaped Celestia’s lips. “A dream?” she asked.
“Yes.” Luna nodded, giving a merry swish of her tail. The smirk tugged into a full grin.
“Your oath makes it so you can’t tell me because of its nature?”
“Correct.”
Celestia stared, her brows flatlined. “You’re enjoying this a bit too much, I think.”
“Perhaps,” Luna admitted. “But that is a discussion for later. I came to retrieve you for breakfast with a rather special guest.”
There was a beat of silence, then Celestia sighed. “You want me to guess, don’t you?”
Huffing, Luna flicked her tail. “If you’re going to be a fuddy-duddy, then no.” She stuck her tongue out in a manner that would’ve made their mother gape in muted horror, then resumed her smile. “Since I kept the good captain out late, enough so that she fell asleep at my side, I had her spend the night in one of the guest suites.” Her eyes shone with mischievous light. “I may have used the dream realm to extend out talk when she could no longer stay awake.”
“Luna. Your oath.” Celestia warned.
“Oh, fie on the oath! I’ve not given you anything but surface details!” Luna gave another flick of her tail, then added, “As I was saying, Captain Spitfire now sleeps in our castle. On the condition that she join us at breakfast with Twilight and her friends, that is.” Her smirk turned decidedly smug. “I believe this is the part where we make the prospective suitor ‘run the gauntlet’, yes?”
Celestia kept quiet a moment, her tail swished as she considered the prospect. She stole a quick glance to the drawer where she’d hidden Spitfire’s feathers, she screwed up her snout in irritation.
Spitfire had disrespected her by not treating Twilight properly on the night of the Gala. Yet, if Luna was to be believed, she was the perfect lady when dropping her off after their most recent outing.
Surely Luna wouldn’t fabricate such a scene, especially when Twilight is concerned.
She fought back her ire and fixed her typical serene smile on her face. “Yes,” she replied, rising from her seat with a little rustle of her wings. “Let us see how Captain Spitfire fares when she’s under careful watch.”
Very careful watch.
Luna fluffed up her feathers. “Excellent! Shall we, then? We may as well inform the chef what we’d like to eat!”
“A fine idea, Lulu. What would you say to blueberry muffins this morning?”
“I would prefer the chocolate chip, myself. Quite an interesting thing, that sort…”
Celestia half listened as they trotted from her study, casting a quick glance back toward her desk as she pulled the door closed with a flick of her magic. Unwitting though it may have been, Luna had just provided her with a rather fitting solution to her problem.
Let’s see how you treat my former student firsthoof, Captain. Her jaw tensed, hot anger flared within her chest. Your actions will determine how our next discussion goes.
Disrespect, whether toward herself or her family, would not be tolerated.