//------------------------------//
// Loop 13 Part 1 
// Story: The Time Thief 
// by Reading4HalfMyLife 
//------------------------------//

"Sweetie, what are you doing up?" Twilight asked, puzzled that her daughter was up at this time. In response, Astral gave her the letter and the notes, which she quickly read. Eyes wide,she turned to Astral.

"I need your help with something," Astral said, pulling out a small, crumpled note and handed it over.

Twilight's eyes narrowed as she skimmed the younger ponies messy writing. "You want my help with a prank?" She asked, and Astral nodded.

"Yeah, well, you and mom really."

The alicorn didn't try to suppress her grin at what the unicorn had in store.





The Canterlot Court simultaneously did a double take when Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Starlight Glimmer burst into the throne room, a small band behind them being led by Pinkie Pie. Twilight was wearing an old, ratty robe, much to the Elite's clear disgust.

Their daughter Astral was also wearing a cloak, though this one was white and fur lines. She was also walking the royal way, nose and legs high, steady pace and eyes straight ahead, much to the rooms clear approval.

Celestia and Luna were both sitting on their respective thrones when Twilight mounted the steps and turned to face the room. Their faces were caught somewhere between confusion and anticipation. 

The purple mare cleared her throat while her wife and daughter lined up behind her. "Good morning, everypony," she said, and waited for the murmurs of sycophantic responses to die down. "As you all know, I am the Princess of Friendship, and as such it is my job to keep harmony throughout the land. It is an honour to watch friendships new and old flourish, and I have loved every minute of it."

"However," she paused for dramatic effect, waiting until she was sure she had the whole courts attention "I hate doing paperwork, it keeps me from spending time with my family and friends. So, effective immediately, I am abidicating from the throne," and, with a theatrical flourish that Rarity would be proud of, Twilight threw off her tattered robe to reveal her wingless form. She was a unicorn once more.

Gasps rang through the throne room, and Twilight resisted the urge to look around at Celestia and Luna. Thankfullly, she could see their reflections in the gaping guards armour. Celestia's eyes were on stalks, and she looked seconds away from an anuerism. Luna on the other hand looked like Heartswarming had come early.

Especially when the now unicorn announced "and since I am stepping down, I have chosen a new heir to the Friendship Throne."

Remembering her mom's lessons, Astral took a couple of graceful steps forwards, back and legs ramrod straight. "My daughter, Princess Astral Plane," and with that, Astral's cloak was also ripped away to reveal a pair of lavender wings.

Thump.

The Princess of the Sun slumped to the ground in a dead faint.





Lucky mom knows a simple transformation spell, Astral mused as she watched the ponies around her, preparing for her coronation. It would take place in three days time, which meant the day the loop ended she would be crowned Princess of Friendship.

She had very specifically asked for her Aunt Rarity to make the dress, but others were bustling around with fabrics or equipment, and the rest were more focused on her physical appearance; her mane, coat, tail and hooves to be precise.

Wow, I can see my face in my hooves! Astral realized as she stared at her newly shined hooves. "Thank you," she told the maid, who simply bowed and backed away. She wondered whether she could get a masseuse in; her joints felt weirdly creaky.

Her parents entered the room, and everypony froze, seeming caught between bowing or treating them like normal ponies. Their new Princess took pity on them however. "Everypony clear out please," she requested, and they all filed out, shooting the two mothers looks out of the corner of their eyes as they did.

The second they were alone, Astral used her wings to propel herself into their arms. "This is so much fun!" Pranking wasn't nearly as panic inducing as she thought it would be. Her moms were also turning out to be great prankers, a useful thing to remember for the future.