The crowd grew silent, and soft hoofsteps drew my attention before I could think of retaliating, or anything else for that matter.
She smiled her normal soft smile as she looked at me before she moved past to stand before Razorwing, “Ambassador, Perhaps it would be time to retire for the evening?” she suggested, “After all, you'll have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”
“Princess?”
She smiled and shifted her wings a bit, “After all, you have a long journey back to Griffonstone, just to inform your King that you need to be replaced.”
“You can’t just...”
Celestias expression never changed, “Or perhaps His Royal Highness would rather be reminded why the Minotaurs named me Solarflare.”
Razorwing seemed a bit loss for words for a moment, “…Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize for my actions, I intended no insult.”
Celestia smiled at him, “No insult taken, Ambassador. But I was also not the one you struck. Perhaps you should think twice before striking my Ponies. Especially when it’s Lord Page, Ambassador.”
He blinked, “Lord Page?”
“Indeed,” Celestia agreed with a smile at him, “Vanquisher of Lord Tirek and betrothed of my sister. Of course, Ambassador… if you would prefer to stay in Canterlot, I’m sure something could be arranged.”
Ambassador Razorwing looked over at me, eyes widening slightly.
“As I said, Hi,” I said and shifted my cloak and wings a bit.
He quickly bowed down, “…My greatest apologies, Lord Page.”
“I’m sure. But perhaps you should follow Princess Celestias suggestion? Or would you rather take this outside?”
Bowing again, he quickly retreated with his guards, the door closing behind him and the room erupted into whispers.
Oh for crying out…
Celestia looked around and then smiled softly at me, “Are you unhurt, Page?”
“I’m fine, thanks. You didn’t need to do that though,” I sighed and rubbed my cheek, “He hit like a mare anyway.”
“Watch it, I resemble that remark” Sunset said and walked up next to me, “You okay?”
“Fine.”
Celestia nodded and moved to head out of the room.
Sunset nibbled at another cucumber thing, “At least we’re out of the party.”
“Well, there is tha…t,” I said and frowned, moving a bit forward and reaching out with my magic and scooping up a couple of small bits of gold from the floor.
Beads of gold.
Gathering them all up with my magic, I glanced back at Sunset, “See you later, okay?”
“What did you find?”
“Later,” I said and moved to exit through the door Celestia left through. Something was going on and I really wanted to figure out what it was.
Looking around the empty hallway, I turned to the closest guard, “Which way?”
“Sir?”
“The Princess? Which way?”
He looked to the right.
“Thanks,” I said and moved to trot in that direction. It didn’t take long to track her down to be honest, just follow the guards.
No more flecks of golds though.
I knocked on the door but didn’t waist for an answer, slipping inside, neither guard by the sides of the door moving a muscle to stop me.
Celestia were laying on one of those large pillows she favoured, looking out the window towards the view across the city.
“Hey,” I said, moving to settle down next to her, “You okay?”
She blinked and turned to look at me, “Of course, why do you ask?”
I held the specks of gold up for her, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think these are yours.”
“Oh.”
“Mhmm,” I agreed and put the gold down on the low table, “Are these droplets from your regalia?”
“…I haven’t melted something like that for centuries,” she admitted, looking down at her necklace, “When I get angry… things burst into flames at times unless I keep in control. One of the dangers of being as deeply connected to the Sun and having fire such an interconnected part of my Realm.”
Nodding, I looked at the drops of gold on the table, “Don’t remember Chrysalis bursting into flames.”
That got a small smile from her, “Didn’t have time for any spells strong enough and I didn’t want to set the entire room on fire. I… almost lost control tonight. I didn’t expect to see one of my ponies get hurt.”
“Sunshine, it was barely a punch. Luna has literally hit me harder by accident with her wing during… well, should likely not tell you that.”
“Oh, I could stand to hear a little more,” Celestia teased and poked me with her wing.
I stuck her tongue out at her, “Be nice. If you want details, ask Luna. I just don’t want to know about it. Now for the real question.”
Celestia raised her eyebrows, “Which is?”
“You welded that necklace of yours to your coat, didn’t you?”
Her cheeks turned a bit red and she looked away, “…No.”
Smiling, I shook my head and then sighed and leaned against her, “Sunshine, if you are so tense you are melting your jewelry, you need a vacation.”
That got a laugh from her, “Page, I can’t just take a vacation.”
“Why? Plenty of Alicorns around now. You managed everything on your own for a thousand years, I’m sure we could handle it for a couple of weeks,” I said looked at her, “Just relax on a beach somewhere, away from all the general bullshit.”
Celestia frowned, “…I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t put all that on Luna.”
“Sure, you can,” I said and smiled at her, “Come on, please? I’m trying to convince Luna to go on a vacation with me and she won’t. She says you have the right to take one first.”
She hesitated, “Page, I don’t know,” and her wings shifted, “…I wouldn’t know what to do. I never done anything like that. What would I do?”
“Relax on a beach somewhere with a larg… sorry… tall, earth pony stallion massaging your wings. If you think it’s something Skitter need to do, then you can take one too.”
That got a small sigh from her, “That does sound nice, but I…”
“No buts. We can handle two weeks, Sunshine. Trust us to take care of things for you.”
Celestia hesitated and then looked down at me for a couple of moments, “…I’ll consider it on one condition,” she finally said with a small smile.
“Name it.”
“That you…” she said and then hesitated for a split second, “…handle my duties while I’m away.”
“If that’s what it takes.”
…Wait, what did I just agree to do?