//------------------------------//
// Summons to Canterlot 
// Story: Filling In 
// by StormLuna 
//------------------------------//

Morning at Sweet Apple Acres

Another day had arrived in Ponyville and like they had been more often on days when they had nothing to do, Starlight and Spike were helping Applejack and Lemon Hearts at Sweet Apple Acres.  One thing that really surprised Starlight is that Lemon Hearts, who at one time was no fan of getting dirty, was apple bucking just like her siblings did.  

On the days they were there and helped out, the two usually held the baskets to catch the apples as they fell.  Given that she had magic, Starlight had no problems catching them but given his size and not having magic, it was not so easy for Spike.  When Lemon Hearts kicked one of the trees and Spike missed half of them, she was not thrilled.  She gave Spike a slight look of disapproval and sighed, "Spike, you have to catch all of them!  You're increasing our workload." 

Starlight was not thrilled that she would show disapproval towards her assistant.  She glared at her and asked, "Lemon Hearts, why don't you just use your magic to catch them or at least pick up the ones he doesn't catch."  Her glare intensified as she continued, "After all, you are a unicorn and Spike isn't all that big so you don't need to be upset with him." 

Lemon Hearts was not thrilled by Starlight's comment.  She glared back at her and replied, "I know I'm a unicorn but I'm sticking to Apple Family traditions...."

Applejack overheard her and suggested, "Lemon Hearts, you know Starlight uses her magic to catch the apples so Ah don't see anything wrong with a bit of magic being used.  As long as magic isn't used to remove the apples from the trees, it's perfectly fine."  She then took a look at Spike and continued, "No offense sugar cube but Ah don't think you should be trying to catch apples, just let Lemon Hearts catch them." 

Spike looked a bit sad and sighed, "Alright, I just wanted to he..." *BELCH*

Spike coughed up a scroll and Starlight levitated it to herself.  She opened it and said, "Spike, it looks like we're needed up in Canterlot."

Lemon Hearts cast her gaze at Starlight and asked, "All six, I mean all seven of us?"

Starlight replied, "No, just Spike and I."

Lemon Hearts was shocked that Celestia would only want her and Spike to go.  She asked, "So did she tell you why she wants you up there?"

Starlight replied, "No, she just told me that she wants us to go up there."  She cast her gaze down at Spike and continued, "Well shall we?"

Spike nodded and as they headed out Lemon Hearts said, "Well I guess we'll see you later." 

Starlight replied, "Yeah, we'll see you later." 





Celestia's Request

When they arrived in Canterlot, Starlight and Spike immediately headed towards the palace.  When they arrived Starlight was surprised that despite knowing who she was, the guards did not question her.  One of the guards said, "Starlight, we're glad you're here.  The princess needs you right now." 

Starlight's eyes grew wide wondering what was going on.  She asked, "What's wrong?  Is something not going well?"

The guard did not answer her question and said, "Follow me." 

The guard took the two to the throne room where it was not Princess Celestia but a very tired Princess Luna.  Starlight knew that unlike it was with Celestia, that she would need to be formal with her sister.  She approached Luna, bowed and asked, "Princess Luna your Majesty, what is wrong with your sister?"

Luna yawned, "Follow me Starlight.  My sister is not feeling well and needs to talk to you." 

Starlight and Spike nodded and followed Luna to Celestia's sleeping chambers.  Luna led the two in where they would find Celestia laying in bed, looking downright miserable.  Normally she would simply call her by name but with Luna being around, she knew that she couldn't be so informal.  She approached her and asked, "Princess Celestia, you needed to talk to me?"

Despite feeling terrible, Celestia still chuckled, "Starlight Glimmer, how many times do I have to tell you that you do not need to be formal with me?"  Celestia began to cough and continued, "Now for why I have summoned you." 

Starlight asked, "Do you need me to be up here to take care of you?"

Celestia replied, "No, I can take care of myself but I do need you to do some of my royal duties for me."

Not only did Starlight's jaw drop open, but so did Luna's.  Before Starlight could say anything Luna yawned, "Sister, are you sure you wish for Starlight to do your duties?"

Celestia raised up a bit and replied, "Luna, look at yourself.  You are dead tired and given how much time she has spent around me over the past decade, I think she would understand my thought process enough to handle my duties just fine." 

Starlight got a nervous look on her face and asked, "So what all do you want me to do?"

Celestia replied, "There are multiple exams in magic courses this week that I will be unable to make and Luna will not be well rested enough to oversee them."  A slight smile on her face developed as she continued, "Given your advanced knowledge of magic and incredible abilities, I think you should be able to oversee them just fine."

Starlight asked, "Besides those, what other duties will you need me to do?"

Celestia replied, "I will also need you to oversee court and handle my meetings for a few days until I have been cleared by the doctors to be around the popu...."

Luna interrupted, "Sister, you can't be serious!  You honestly want Starlight to do this when I'm....."

Celestia rose up further and interrupted, "Luna, you will be tired and like I said, she understands my thought process well enough that she would rule in the same way I would."  

Luna could hardly believe what she was hearing.  She simply couldn't fathom that her sister was putting all her trust in her protege.  She protested, "But sister,"

Celestia became more frustrated, "Look Luna, if I didn't think she was capable of this, I wouldn't ask her."  She then turned to Starlight and continued, "I trust in you entirely, I know you'll do well." 

Starlight replied, "I promise I won't let you down but I do have one question, where is your schedule so that I will know when I need to do everything." 

Celestia opened the drawer to her nightstand and pulled out a rather large scroll.  Starlight levitated it to herself.  When she opened it and saw how long it was, she got a nervous feeling in her stomach.  She stood there with her eyes wide open reading it but knew that she couldn't show any anxiety, especially around Luna.  She rolled the scroll up and continued, "Don't worry Princess, I'll do just as good of a job as you." 

Celestia laid back down and laughed, "Tsk Tsk Stralight, what am I going to do with you?"  She calmed down and continued, "You have a couple of hours before you have to go and oversee the remedial magic exam.  Why don't you go up to your old study tower and relax?"

Starlight replied, "That sounds like a plan to me."  She leaned down, embraced Celestia and continued, "You get better soon!" 

Celestia gave her a smile before laying down to try and get some sleep.  Luna gave her an intense look and said, "Starlight, I know my sister thinks you are perfectly capable...."

Celestia had yet to fall asleep so she yelled, "Luna, just leave it.  She'll do fine." 

Luna sighed, "Very well sister."  She looked down at Starlight and continued, "Since my sister trusts you to take care of her duties, I suppose I will as well.  Now go and make her proud."  

Starlight nodded and she and Spike headed off towards her study tower.  She knew that she would wind up being in Canterlot for perhaps a week given that is how many days the scroll she was given contained.  She did already miss her friends a bit but did miss her study tower some and wanted to prove to Luna that Celestia's trust in her was warranted.  She said to herself, "Don't worry Princess Luna, I'll make Celestia proud, I'll handle all this to the best of my ability."