General Coriolis was arranging forms and papers into perfect piles on her desk when a firm knock at her office door broke the orderly silence. She frowned. “Come.”
The door glowed golden, like summer sunshine. It opened, and the sunshine flooded the room.
“Princess Celestia …!” The General leaped from her chair and hurried around her desk to snap to attention and salute, stiff as a statue.
The Princess waved a broad wing downward. “At ease.”
Coriolis was anything but as she dropped her hoof. “I wasn’t notified of any inspections or audiences. To what do I owe the honour?”
Celestia sat down and folded her wings. “Oh, this isn’t exactly a formal visit. More of a … personal matter.”
“Ah, what do You mean, Princess?” In close quarters, the Alicorn’s faint magical aura really did feel like direct sunlight. Coriolis felt sweat bead on her forehead.
A crystal decanter in one corner glowed with magic and unstoppered itself, and two empty snifters rose up before it. Celestia nodded at them. “Shall we?”
Coriolis swallowed despite a suddenly dry mouth. “I don’t usually when … ah … yes. Of course, Princess. As You please.”
The Princess stood and strode over to the corner. The decanter poured two generous portions of aged pear brandy. “I received a letter today. Rainbow Dash relayed it to me from a friend of hers on the squadron.”
Coriolis straightened her perfectly straight tie. “I see.”
The decanter stoppered itself and returned to its proper spot. “Rainbow was entrusted with safeguarding the Element of Loyalty for a time — did you know that? I trust her implicitly in such matters.”
The General nodded silently.
Celestia turned to face her. The filled glasses hovered on either side of her. “Considering what the letter brought to my attention, and what I’ve learned since then, I believe you and I need to have a talk about history.”
“History, Princess?”
Celestia nodded. “You’re quite concerned about the good reputation of the Wonderbolts, aren’t you? About preserving their legacy?” Her ears pinned back very, very slightly. “Well, so am I. I knew General Firefly. Personally. I know better than anypony alive what the Wonderbolts stood for, and stand for.”
One of the glasses floated within Coriolis’s reach. When she took it, the other raised into clinking range.
The General smelled the heady, sweet vapours of the brandy. She raised the glass. “Wh-What are we toasting, Your Highness?”
Celestia smiled demurely as crystal met crystal. “Your retirement.”
THE END