//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Demonic Possesion 
// by SquidSwarm 
//------------------------------//

Princess Luna sits at her desk reviewing the final treaty, a trade and agreement of alliance between Equestria and the griffon kingdom. She turns her head and looks out the window, the moon is low, almost touching the horizon, Celestia will be raising the sun any minute now, she thinks to herself. Luna sighs, looking back to the document before her. She is only halfway through, and it already is making outrageous demands in exchange for military support.

The Griffon King, Grover, is claiming that it is only fair that the older country which is providing support, should hold more territory on the grounds that they are far better equipped to protect such large territories. 

Luna lets her head fall to the desk with a sigh. “We can’t ratify any of these treaties,” she says, sitting up and walking over to the balcony, watching the moon slowly dip below the horizon while the sun crests the edge of the world, raising all from their slumber, “Every one of these treaties comes with outrageous demands which we simply cannot yield too!” she shakes her head. 

The princess turns around and walks towards the doors, enveloping the stack of treaties in a blue aura along with two quills and an ink pot. Opening the doors with a push of her hooves, then proceeds to walk toward the breakfast nook in the kitchens on the eastern side of the castle, to meet with her sister over dinner/breakfast. The bright morning light streams into the windows of the halls burning Luna’s eyes slightly having been in darkness during her waking hours. She can hear the birds of the forests singing their songs and playing in the morning sun, warming themselves after the cool night. A couple of butterflies pass by the window, catching her eye, Luna stops and watches them for a moment, it’s a sight she rarely sees in her duties. The leaves of the forest sway gently in the morning breeze and after a moment of staring at the sight before her, Luna breaks free from her trance and continues toward the kitchen.

After a short walk Luna arrives at the Kitchens, greeting the two Lunar guards as she passes them. The guards, one human and one pony, respond in kind followed by a short bow and continuing on their way, no doubt headed towards the barracks for some food and rest after being relieved by her sisters Solar guards. The Princess bids good morning to the two Solar guards, two white unicorn stallions in shining gold armour, making their route through the castle on a routine patrol stopping only to return the greeting, bow, and open the door for their princess. Luna thanks them for their polite gesture and walks into the kitchen. 

Luna looks around for a moment, noticing the the tall arched ceilings decorated with the same tapestries one could see throughout the castle, although none of them glowed at this time as the brilliant light from the sun streaming through the cathedral windows sprawling over the kitchen walls let in more than enough light to allow the staff to see their work.

The smell of a freshly baked breakfast fill Luna’s senses as she walks to the cozy nook off to the side of the kitchen, the smell of the croissants and bagels, as well as the eggs and the tea all make her stomach growl in anticipation. Luna steps through the doors to the nook, a small bright room lined with windows, bathing it in yellow light. A small, round, polished mahogany table sits at the center, decorated with delectable baked goods all sitting on gleaming silver platters, filling the room with their delicate aroma. The floor of the room is covered with the softest decorative seating pillows on which Princess Celestia sits, sipping her breakfast tea, waiting for her sister. 

Celestia greets her sister with a gentle nod and smile. “Good morning Luna, have you reviewed the treaties?”

Luna lets out a sigh as she sits down across the table from her sister where there is already a place set for her with two over easy eggs, toast, and orange juice; she takes a moment before answering to take a bite of her eggs. After she finishes chewing, she looks at Celestia to respond.

“I have, all of them,” Luna clears a small space on the table with her magic and sets down all of the treaties in a neat stack on the table, “I believe that we cannot ratify any of these, it is clear that in all cases, the nations which have offered us help are trying to take advantage of Equestria while its government is still new, they assume we are fools!” Luna takes a sip of her juice.

“I agree that their demands are more than we should give in too, however, we are not in a position of power right now, and we must make concessions if we are to rebuild this country. We only defeated discord ten years ago and the economy is still in shambles, our military is still far to weak to protect us, and ponies are starving, the farms are still being rebuilt from Discord’s rule and trying to produce enough crops to feed everypony after those arduous years, it would seem that his magic still lingers in the soil and farmers end up losing crops because they run away.” Celestia trails off, taking a bite of a bagel with cream cheese.

Luna finishes chewing a bite of toast, “Yes but if we were to give in now, we will never be respected and our country will remain in the shadows, being controlled by foreign leaders bent on keeping their place at the top of the world. We must demonstrate our strength as leaders, and as a country, if we don’t now, how long do you think it will be before another tyrant like Discord wages a battle of supremacy?”

Celestia ponders this for a moment, “Luna, I understand your position, but we must make these concessions, we need everything that all of the other nations offer desperately, it’s the only way for us to rebuild our economy as well as our military force. If we fail to attain the assistance we require now, we will be overrun sooner rather than later, and hopefully by that time Equestria will have its strength once more.”

“I cannot give any consent to these treaties, not without making a new offer. We can offer to make weaponry and armour for the griffons, our blacksmiths magic creates some of the strongest equipment in all the lands.”

“Luna that is enough! We will not risk these alliances because you don’t like them, we will do whatever it takes to secure these alliances; and as for your impromptu trial last night regarding the Baron Drackis, I will be overturning your sentence, and you will apologize to him, I understand why you took such actions, but we need him, and all he offers.” the solar princess glares at her sister.

Luna doesn’t say anything, just stands and walks out of the nook, after which, a blue aura envelops the stack of treaties and throws them, scattering them all over the room.

Celestia lets out a long sigh, then continues with her breakfast.