//------------------------------// // The Mishap // Story: The Land and Time of Discord // by Wolfsong6913 //------------------------------// “That ain’t quite right, Your Majesty,” The young Earth pony earnestly corrected, bowing so low her forelock brushed the floor. “The oats ain’t dryin’ up, they’re downright vanishing off the stalks. No hoofprints, the ground isn’t disturbed in the slightest, an’ I even hired a passing unicorn to check the area for signs of unicorn or pegasi magic, and there weren’t nothin’ there. It’s a complete mystery, Yer Highness!” Celestia absently noted how her accent grew thicker along with her distress and filed that away as a warning sign to keep an eye out for. “That is a most unusual happening, Mistress…?” “Ryemane, Yer Majesty.” The mare hastily bowed again, lower this time, as if that were even possible. “An’ my farm is just outside of Trottin’ham. About two days gallop.” “Two days gallop! This must be a serious problem if you came all the way to Canterlot then. Is there anyone to keep an eye on your farm?” “Just my parents, Your Majesty, but they’re gettin’ on in years. They said they could keep an eye on the oats for a week or so though, Your Highness, as this is the time of year when they need the least tendin’, an’ the most watchin’. Especially now, as I just explained.” The mare peered nervously up at Celestia, bright blue eyes just visible through her rough, blonde forelock. “I… I don’ really think this is a truly palace worthy problem, but I just didn’t know what else to do, an’... an’ Ah couldn’ find help in Trottin’ham an’ - “ “Calm yourself, my little pony,” Celestia interrupted hastily, before the mare could work herself into a frenzy. “I am happy to do everything I can do help. Before we begin, would you mind telling me what exactly this unicorn said about the magic around your crop?” “She said… um...she said…” The Earth pony’s eyes rolled up as she thought. “I don’t remember perfectly, but she said somethin’ like, ‘I can find no magic around here, except for my great and powerful own, of course.’” The mare’s eyes fixed on Celestia with an apologetic light. “Somethin’ like that, at any rate. She said a lot of things, to tell the truth, but most of ‘em weren’t very, um, relevant.” “I understand completely, Ryemane,” Celestia soothed. “So. No magic was involved, and no creatures snuck in, as far as you can tell, and yet oats are disappearing from their stalks overnight. Is that correct?” The mare opened her mouth to answer, but before she could get a word out, one of small doors spaced around the room opened, and a thin, grey unicorn stallion smartly dressed in a neat waistcoat stepped briskly into the room. He squinted through his monocle around the room until his gaze fell on Celestia. “Princess, excuse the interruption,” he apologised, “But have you checked the time recently? It is nearly  - “ “Sunset! Oh my, thank you Kibtz.” Celestia unfolded her long limbs and stood quickly from her throne, stepping down the floor level where Ryemane stood. “Ryemane, please excuse me for a moment. I’m afraid I lost track of time, and it’s already time to set the sun.” “Of course, Yer Majesty, don’t mind me,” Ryemane backed up until there was nearly three pony-lengths between her and Celestia. “I can wait for you, I wouldn’t want to be the one responsible for making the day too long. Just… may I… ask you for a favor?” She gulped, visibly unsettled by her own bravery. “Of course, Ryemane. What is it?” “May I… may I watch you set the sun?” The Earth pony stammered out. Her chest heaved like she had performed the Running of the Leaves. “Why, of course, my little pony,” Celestia replied, surprised. “Everypony is entitled to the day and night.” Ryemane’s eyes widened, and the muscles along her back quivered as she suppressed a buck of joy. Celestia suspected this had long been a dream she had not expected to receive. She hid a smile of her own, pleased to have made this pony’s day. “This highly irregular,” Kibtz scoffed from behind her. Ryemane jumped fully this time, muscles shocked into motion by the sudden voice. Celestia just managed to suppress a similar reaction of her own, having forgotten about the steward behind her. “Not entirely, Kibtz,” she pointed out calmly. “Everypony watches the sun-raising every Summer Sun Celebration. Why should one pony not watch it now? Ryemane can come and watch.” Kibtz sighed. “Very well, Princess,” he said. “In that case, you’d better hurry. You’re already nearly thirty seconds behind schedule.” “Thank you, Kibtz. That will be all. Come along, Ryemane.” Celestia turned and trotted out of the room, Ryemane following nervously at her flank. The little mare didn’t speak, but simply stared at her surroundings with wide eyes as they moved through elaborately designed and gilded halls. Before long, they reached a tall set of frosted glass doors leading to the balcony where Celestia and Luna managed the cycle of day and night together. A female pegasus in brilliant golden armor stood at attention in front of the doors. Celestia paused in front of her, and looked her over. Though the armor disguised her true coat and mane colors, her eyes shone a bright violet through the helmet. After a moment, Celestia spoke to her. “You’re new, aren’t you?” she asked curiously. “Yes, ma'am!” The pegasus replied stiffly. “Swift Spear, at your service.” Her words were formal, and disguised all feeling, but Celestia sensed an edge of discomfort and annoyance beneath the words. “At ease, Swift Spear. Let me guess, you were placed here because it’s the simplest and least dangerous job?” “So Commander Shield says, ma'am.” “Ah, I see. Well, let me tell you a secret. Did you know that the sun is thousands of times hotter than the largest bonfire? Or that the moon is bigger than all of Canterlot? It used to take nearly a dozen ponies to move each one once, and now it’s managed by only two. Isn’t that pretty dangerous?” “If I may, ma’am,” Swift Spear replied. “You and the Lunar Princess are not the same as most ponies.” “That is true,” Celestia acknowledge. “But we are still two doing the job of two dozen.” When Swift Spear did not appear convinced, Celestia sighed, and simply said, “I am glad you are here, Swift Spear. Truly, I am. Now, shall we head in?” “As you wish, Princess.” The Pegasus mare turned sharply on her back hooves and swung open the door. Celestia stepped calmly through, with Ryemane at her side. Swift Spear waited until they were all the way through, then followed, closing the door behind her. Luna was waiting on the balcony already, head raised as she considered the lush gardens spreading out below. “Good evening, Sister,” she yawned, without looking back. “You are late.” A Thestral Lunar guard stood at attention beside the door, and after a moment’s hesitation, Swift Spear moved to stand stiffly at his side. Celestia could hear Ryemane’s breath stutter uncertainly as she suddenly realised she now stood in the presence of not one, but two princesses of Equestria, and she glued herself closer to Celestia’s side. Celestia smiled to herself as she moved closer to Luna. “Good evening, Luna,” she replied smoothly. “I’m not that late, I hope. You seem tired. Did you not sleep well?” “Not very, no,” Lua mumbled in reply. “Old dreams.” She lowered her head and rubbed it nervously against her foreleg, catching sight of Ryemane in the process. She raised her head abruptly, releasing a snort of surprise. “And who is this?” she asked demanded. Ryemane flinched, startled by the unexpected venom in Luna’s voice. “This is Ryemane, an oat farmer from outside Trottingham,” Celestia explained, trying to defuse the situation as fast as possible. “We were discussing a problem with disappearing oats when Kibtz came and warned me it was getting close to sunset.” Ryemane bobbed her head nervously in Luna’s direction, hardly daring to lift her eyes. “Greetin’s, Yer Highness,” she stammered. “It’s… it’s an honor ta meet ya.” “Greetings, Ryemane,” Luna replied, relaxing as she spoke. “I apologize for snapping. I thought you may be one of those reporters who has been trying to bother me all day.” “Reporters again, Luna?” Celestia sighed as Luna nodded solemnly. “They’ve been trying to get my attention all day too.” “The sooner we end the day, the sooner they will have to stop,” Luna philosophised briskly. “Let the night come now, Sister, and then maybe you can get some sleep.” “A good idea, Luna.” Silence fell around them as the two mares raised their heads, light forming around their horns. The coronas of magic intensified rapidly, brightening to such a degree that it was painful to watch. Dusk began to fall, and the first glimmers of stars became visible in the higher reaches. Ryemane watched in awe, eyes wide and mouth open. For a moment, all was still and perfect. Sudden shouts and a clattering of hooves broke the peaceful silence. The balcony doors swung open with a crash, and before the startled guards could do more than turn to face the intruders, a pair of unicorns, both with blazing horns and furious expressions burst onto the balcony. Both were shouting at the same time, angry voices overlapping and creating a cacophony of sound. “...Princess! Tell this stupid reporter that…” “...It is the right, the right of the press to…” “...Just because I happen to teach...” Before Celestia and Luna could respond to this unexpected intrusion, horns still blazing, the stress of keeping two celestial bodies under control evident on their faces, another unicorn came galloping in behind the intruders. Kibtz’s face was contorted, and he was shouting too. “...Not allowed! The Princesses are not to be disturbed… Oof!” Unable to stop, Kibtz slammed into the pair of intruders, causing all three of them to collapse into a pile, which slid across the balcony into Ryemane, who fell into Celestia, who knocked over Luna. With a cry of pain, the magic slipped from the Princesses’ control, and flared, wild into the air. For a moment, the magic hung, suspended in midair. Then, suddenly, there came a sound like an explosion, and a great yellow circle of flaring, crackling magic grew over the balcony. Before anyone could react, there was a great suction from the circle, and the pony pile that lay beneath it began to be drawn up into the air. The guards gave shouts of alarm, flying up to try and pull their princesses down. But the magic drew them in too, and amid cries of fear and anger and confusion from all eight ponies, they vanished into the circle. The magic collapsed after them, leaving behind a silent balcony. A curious day bird gave a cautious chirp from somewhere below. And all was still.