//------------------------------// // Court // Story: Entropy // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// I slowly sank into the cushioned seat of the Solar Throne, looking to the side at the empty Lunar Throne, wishing for a moment that Twilight - either of them - could be here with me. I felt a hoof on my shoulder and turned to look at Starlight. “It’s ok,” she said. “We don’t have to hold formal court today, we could just read petitions.” I shook my head, feeling the throbbing in the back from having raised the sun for the first time. “No, it’s ok,” I said. “I promised some of the courtiers a short session and I can’t back out now. No matter how much I wish I could.” She nodded and lifted up a small clipboard. “Ok then,” she said. “But remember you said that, and no banishing anypony to the moon.” I finally laughed and cracked a smile. “No promises if Blueblood pokes his head in, regardless if he’s Celestia’s nephew.” She snorted as she signaled the guards to open the doors. “Rarity might find that arrangement quite agreeable,” she snickered. And true to my luck at times, he was the first one to enter. “I must protest!” he shouted as he and his entourage approached the throne. “As part of the bloodline of the Princess, I should have been the one to assume the seat of Canterlot.” I shot a look at Starlight, feeling my wings twitch in annoyance. “And further, why should some rootless vagabond gain such preferential treatment from our beloved Celestia over her own kin?” I surged from my seat, wings flaring out as I shunted some mana to my horn just to set it glowing for an instant, it’s reddish glare throwing my face into sharp relief despite the well-lit hall. “Do you dare question the judgement of the Princess of the Sun?” I roared, just keeping from using the Royal Voice. I stalked forward to the top step of the dias. “You, who profess to be of royal lineage to Celestia herself, would dare besmirtch her state of mind in choosing someone who was not only one of her personal students but a sister Alicorn?” I glared down at the Unicorn. “Well?” For his part, he did back away slightly and his cronies cowered behind him. Starlight spoke up in the silence. “You promised you wouldn’t banish anyone to the moon today,” she said in a voice that spoke of strained patience, though I could see the glint of humor in her eyes. I heard a whimper come from one of the impertinent Prince’s sycophants. “I believe my exact words were ‘Attempt’,” I said, giving her a glare, winking with the eye shielded from my audience’s view. As I swiveled my head back to face Blueblood, I gave a sign of reigning in my temper and pulled my wings in. “Was impugning your aunt’s judgement the only reason you thundered into this hall like a stampeding herd of cattle,” I asked. “Or did you have a legitimate request to lay before the Crown?” Truth be told, I tuned most of it out. It was all a bunch of self-aggrandized requests for re-writes for the tax codes and other things that went over my head. I was so far out of touch with Equestrian politics that I was glad Starlight had agreed to be my aide. As he launched into another speech, I raised a hoof. “One paragraph or less, Blueblood,” I said. “I do have other petitioners to hear today.” He blustered for a moment. “There are rumors of an uprising in some of the poorer districts,” he said. “Do you intend to deal with them?” I tilted my head. “Uprising?” I asked. “In Canterlot, of all places?” The young prince nodded. “I assume you know of it, since you are privvy to my aunt’s reports,” he said, a snide tone slipping in. I glanced at Starlight, and she flipped through the various reports we had been given upon reporting to the throne. She shook her head. “We have not been informed of any such matter,” I said. “But I will dispatch a few guards to seek information regarding it and offer to hear any requests of those in charge.” I had a momentary flashback to Cadence saying those same words just over three years ago to an coldly placid Sorla. I hoped for a moment that it wasn’t a premonition. “Sunset Shimmer,” he broke into my thoughts. “If I may…” “You may not,” I said, charging my glare with every ounce of remembered spite and hate from my early days at CHS. “And if you deign to return to this hall again, you would do well to remember my title and authority.” With a mixed look of anger and fear, he turned and left, his flunkies following with fearful glances behind. As soon as the doors closed, I slumped back into the throne. One of the guards stepped up and stood at attention before me. “Sergeant-Major,” I said. “Find out anything you can about these ‘uprisings’, if you can. I hope to Celestia that he was blowing things out of proportion, but better safe than sorry.” The Pegasus guard snapped a salute and took off, a second guard taking his place. I looked at Starlight. “Who’s next?” She checked her list. “A representative from the Farmer’s guild about a grant for testing a new breed of apples,” she said. I sat up, already feeling the weight of my wings and tiara growing heavier. “Send them in.” I stood on the balcony in the Tower of Duty, watching the sun approach the lowest point in the sky. I felt a presence coming up behind me and turned to see Twilight, her own crown perched on her head. “Long day?” she asked. “Very first petitioner was Blueblood,” I said. “Ouch,” the lavender Alicorn whispered. “He still here?” “For now,” I said with a quirk of my lips. “The rest of the day was pretty simple, hearing requests for funding on a few projects, some that sounded viable. The rest I asked for more information before I could make a ruling.” “Sounds simple,” she replied, ruffling her wings. “Ready?” I nodded, closing my eyes, and I reached inside for the bright connection that throbbed inside. I felt it draw taut, and I slowly eased the sun beyond the horizon, feeling a similar thrum as Twilight raised the moon a moment later. I released my grip and panted for a moment. “That’s harder than I thought it would be,” I said. “Tell me about it,” she said. “Imagine having to do both for a thousand years.” “I have new respect for them both,” I said, giving my mane a toss. “Are you going to be ok with doing court tonight?” “I’m a little more used to it than you are,” she said. “And there are fewer petitioners at night. I think some people are still slightly afraid of Luna or the Night Guard. Maybe both.” “I don't know,” I said as we descended the stairs. “I was talking to one of the reservists last night. He seemed a good sort, though not exactly fierce as far as Thestrals go.” “You talking about the one that makes the excellent coffee?” “Yeah,” I answered. “Don’t think I’ve ever had a better cup.” Silence returned for a second. “Have you heard anything about an uprising?” I asked, nodding to a pair of Thestrals that flanked the door. The Princess of Friendship shook her head. “Nothing outside of what you’ve heard,” she responded. “I even sent letters to my friends who still live here and none of them have heard of anything either.” I was about to respond when a member of the Day Guard trotted up, bearing a rolled scroll in his aura. “Your majesties,” he said, giving a quick salute. “We just received word from the scouts sent out earlier. In one of the lower districts, a small riot broke out.” “What?” I demanded. “A riot?” “What was the cause?” Twilight asked immediately. “We’re still investigating,” he said. “But this was found at the scene.” I took the scroll from him and unrolled it. It bore a single word, scrawled in scarlet ink. ENTROPY I gave it to Twilight to look at, and she turned to one of the Thestrals. “Cancel Night Court,” she said. “And send additional guards to help with the investigation.” As the Thestrals saluted, I turned to the Day Gaurd. “Go find Starlight and Moondancer and tell them to meet us in my office,” I ordered. As one, Twilight and I headed for the office wing, and I fought the urge to take flight. Something about this felt wrong, and the timing was too convenient to be a coincidence.