//------------------------------// // Diplomatic Immunity // Story: Remedial Studies // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// If there was one thing I had discovered since being back, it was just how much I missed everything about being a pony. The feel of magic thrumming through my horn, the subtle taste that oats had that a human tongue just couldn’t grasp, and the feel of lush grass tickling your hooves and fetlocks. If there were two things I had discovered since being back, it was how much I missed everything about being a pony, and how I absolutely, positively, completely loathed court. I sat slumped over in an alcove hidden by tapestries, supposedly to be unobtrusive to the actual proceedings. My assignment for today was to take notes on the various expectations of the ruling bodies when the local magistrates were unable to suitably solve a problem. It was long. It was ardorous. And it was mind-numbingly boring. If not for Philomena being perched nearby I might have gone mad. She was not above being a little mischievous, and helped me pass notes to Twilight during the lulls in between petitioners. As the leader of the farming delegation from Baltimare left, Philomena squawked and gave a strong flap of her wings. A burst of fire flew forth and formed into a scroll; Twilight’s reply from my latest note. I grinned and went to pull it close as the red aura surrounded it. For some reason, it wouldn’t move. I frowned and tugged harder with the same result. Then, as a voice tutted from behind me, I realized that it wasn’t my magic that had enveloped it. And there was only one pony that knew where I was that had a red sheen to their magic. Turning, I tossed a sheepish smile toward Raven, Celestia’s aide. She gave me a long suffering look over the rim of her glasses. “Honestly, Miss Shimmer,” she said as she walked up to me. “Passing notes as though you’re a grade school filly? I thought you would have grown past that in the time you’ve been gone. I certainly expected more given the admirable performance reports your mother had me file about you lately.” I felt my ears wilt as I looked down. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, a little embarrassed. “Problems, Raven?” My mother’s voice was filled with a twist of humor under the curiosity. I groaned as I realized she probably knew I had been writing anything but notes on the events of the court. “No, your majesty,” the Unicorn replied, keeping a tight grip on my confiscated note as she walked forward. “Just a bit of inattention on the part of your student.” “Sunset, would you come here please?” I stood and turned to look at Philomena for support, but all I saw were a few red feathers beneath her perch. Traitor, I thought as I went and stood before Celestia. Her eyes were warm, but filled with a hint of reproach. “Having trouble staying on task, my little pony?” She was at once both ruler and Mother, but she couldn’t let one interfere with the other. “I just…” I couldn’t think of the right way to explain myself. “Bored isn’t the right word. Bored implies disinterest, and I am interested in diplomatic matters, but so far there hasn’t been any diplomatic issues brought to court. I find it hard to care about farm subsidies or import taxes on silver.” “Diplomacy isn’t always for border disputes and foreign relations, Sunset,” Celestia explained as she glanced over the agenda Raven held out. After signing a few forms, she took the note in her magic and held it up. “It may not be exciting, but unless you wrote to Twilight asking for the definition of a term, I hardly find it to be a fair use of your class time.” I winced as she opened the scroll and read it, a small smile cracking through her impassive demeanor. “Raven?” she called. “Take a letter please.” The white Unicorn nodded, clipboard hovering before in a red aura so similar to my own. As she dictated, I saw her soft smile grow, and the light twinkle appear in her eye that I remembered reminded me of Celestia’s eyes when she would foalsit me. “My faithful student, I am pleased to hear that your relationship with Sunset is going well. It makes me happy that two of my little ponies are so content and full of love for one another. “If you want, may I suggest a walk through the royal gardens this coming Friday? The two of you might find it wonderful, as the plants are in full bloom right now. I’ll make sure the weather teams keep it sunny until after your picnic. However, I would like to request you refrain from sending notes to Sunset during her lessons. It is a tad bit impolite. Your teacher, Princess Celestia” Raven rolled up the scroll and with a spark of red magic sent it along its way. I’m sure all three of us heard Twilight’s head implode just a few minutes later.