//------------------------------// // 8: By the Power Invested in Me // Story: The Bucket List of Princess Celestia // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// Late in the evening, it was now Gallus’s turn to spin the bottle in which it now pointed at Celestia. “Okay, Your Highness, truth or dare?” “Hang on,” Ocellus raised a hoof, “I think she could only do dare this time.” The disguised Celestia tilted her head. “What do you mean?” “You’ve already done truth twice in a row.” She pointed out. “We’ve all agreed to the rules that we can’t do the same thing three times, which means that you have no choice but to do a dare.” Now all eyes were on Gallus. “Ooh… now that’s a tough one…” He rubbed his beak with a claw. “What can I dare the very Princess of the Sun herself to do?” “Let her do something crazy,” Yona suggested. “Uh… Are we sure you want her to do something like that?” Sandbar questioned. “I mean, she’s not gonna be around very soon.” Celestia waved a dismissal hoof. “Oh, what would it matter at this point? I’m going to die, after all, I don’t think that whatever Gallus here could come up with would be that insane.” At that moment, the young griffon’s eyebrows were raised. “Okay, I have an idea… but I don’t think you’re gonna like it.” This caught everyone’s attention. “What does Pony mean?” Yona asked. “Is it super-duper crazy or treasonous?” Smolder inquired. “Why not both?” Silverstream suggested, followed by everyone giving her a weird look. “What?” “You know what?” Celestia said with confidence. “Name your dare, after all, doing something crazy is on my bucket list after all. So, give it to me? What’s the most insane thing that I could possibly do?” Gallus smirked. “In that case, Princess, I dare you…” That morning, Doughnut Joe had already gotten up before the sun’s rays could touch the darkening sky, he was prepping his shop in Canterlot. Out of necessity, he had to as he had to make the dough from scratch and plenty of it before it could be run through the machine to fry them up. Not to mention that he also had to prepare the glaze, the icings, organize the toppings, the custards, and the jellies as well. For the stallion, this was something he’s done more times than he could bother to count. Shifting out the flour, mixing up the sugar, and heating up the oil before anyone else could be awake enough to be needing breakfast. However, it was a job that needed to be done before his customers could come in. By the time the sun was rising up to illuminate the horizon, Doughnut Joe had already set up enough doughnuts to be set inside the glass counter to which he felt prepared enough to be open for business. It didn’t take long after he unlocked the doors and flipped the sign to let others know that he was opened that the first customer of the day came in. “Princess Celestia?” The stallion blinked from behind the counter. “What are you doing here?” The Sun Princess hummed, “Well, partly getting breakfast. You mind if I get a couple dozen of these?” She asked as she pointed at a tray of doughnuts that had strawberry icing. After the stallion had placed them in pink boxes and gave them over to Celestia, she took out one of them out and took a bite. “I keep forgetting how good these things are.” “Thank you, Princess.” He smiled and nodded. “And what was the other thing?” “Ah yes.” She put the doughnut down in which she lit up her horn, and a flash of light later, the stallion had on a red velvet cape, a golden crown, and a specter. “Doughnut Joe, for making these delectable delights, and by the power vested in me, I hereby declare you Prince Doughnut Joe, Prince of the Doughnut. Long may he reign.” “Uh…” The stallion looked down at the cape and scepter be lifting the crown off his head to find that it was indeed made out of real gold and jewels. “So… What do I do now?” Celestia shrugged. “I don’t know. Make more doughnuts, I guess. Now if you excuse me,” she said as she picked up the boxes, “I have some stuff to do.” With that, she disappeared in a flash of light, no doubt teleported herself to who-knows-where. “Huh…” Doughnut Joe looked at the crown and scepter once more. “Welp looks like I can retire now.” “All I’m saying,” Lyra said, “is that if the multiverse theory is true, then somewhere out among the countless universes we might be humans going about our day through High School. How can that be crazy?” Bon Bon carefully lowered her cup of coffee. “For one, as far as to my knowledge, there’s not much proof that there is more than one universe. I mean, even with all the secrets I’ve learned during my time in the agency, a bombshell like that never once come up in conversation. Also, you have to remember that not every theory floating around is always proven as a solid fact.” “But how do you know there aren’t multiple universes?” “And how do you know there are?” Lyra pouted as she leaned back in her café seat, folding her forelegs. “Well, I think it’s true.” “But why the whole ‘us as humans and in high school’ thing? Never mind the whole multi-universe thing, why that detail? That seems oddly specific to me.” “Well, what’s wrong with that?” “You keep going on and on about it like you have a fetish of it.” Here, the mint green unicorn blushed. “I do not!” “I’m just saying,” the cream Earth Pony lifted her hooves defensively, “is that if you’re pining after the whole high school look, I could get something to maybe spice up our Wednesday nights.” “Oh, now you’re just putting words in my-” she stopped mid-sentence when a sudden shadow loomed over her. The two of them looked over who had blocked their sunlight to find Celestia standing there. “Princess Celestia?” “Hello.” She waved at them. “Sweetie Drops,” she nodded to Bon Bon, “you doing well I take it?” “Yes?” There was an awkward pause. “So… Can we help you?” “Oh, nothing much.” Celestia mused. “Except, hold still.” Her horn glowed brightly. “What?” Lyra asked, but before she could get an answer, the alicorn had already cast her spell. Suddenly the two ponies found themselves with crowns, robes and a scepter. “By the power invested in me,” Celestia said waving a hoof, “I hereby declare you Sweetie Drops as Princess of the Lesbians Number One, and you Lyra, Princess of the Lesbians Number Two, long may you two reign.” “Why do I have to be number two?” Lyra whined. “Have a nice day.” And like that, she disappeared with a flash of light. The two mares looked at one another, blinking. “So… Now what?” Lyra asked. Bon Bon shrugged. “Maybe raise an army and invade the Crystal Empire?” The unicorn hummed in thought. “Maybe after breakfast, our coffee isn’t here yet.” “You really mean it?” the foal across from Starlight’s desk asked. She nodded. “I mean really, all you have to do is to keep calm, spend some time studying and do the best you can on the test. I know that they can look like scary things, but when you put effort into it, you’ll be able to pick out the answers easily. After all, I know that you can do it.” She added with a smile and a wink. “Thank you, councilor Starlight,” the filly said as her face brighten up, “I’m gonna go study right away.” “Good luck on the test.” She said with a wave as the filly went out of her office door. Alone once again, Starlight sighed in relief as she kicked back, propped her hind legs on the desk and levitated a cup of cocoa over to her. “Another satisfied student.” She said before taking a sip. “That was really nice of you.” She immediately spat out the hot chocolate when a sudden and unexpected voice spoke up. Spinning around, she found Celestia sitting in a corner of the room, also with a cup of hot cocoa in her hooves. “P-Princess?!” Starlight immediately got up and bowed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that you were coming. Is uh… Is everything okay?” “For now, yes.” She nodded before she took a sip. “This is the first time I’ve seen you in action with your new job.” Starlight blinked. “How long have you been sitting right there?” “About five minutes, give or take.” Another sip. “I was kinda waiting for you to notice, but you were busy.” “Oh.” There was a pause. “So… Can I help you with anything? Like do you need somepony to talk to?” “Not really,” Celestia shook her head, “truth be told, I came here to do this.” “Do what?” Starlight’s question was answered as she was for a split second surrounded by Celestia’s aura before it disappeared. Blinking, she felt something heavy on her head, along with an expensive dress. “Huh?” She lit up her horn to take off what was on her head – it was a silver crown with very large diamonds in it. “Princess?” “By the power invested in me, bla, bla, bla, bla, I pronounce you Princess Starlight of School Counseling, long may you rule.” She smiled as she saw her shocked reaction. “So, I take it you approve?” “I-I uh…” she looked down at the clothes she was wearing, “what?” “You're welcome.” Celestia broadens her smile before she teleported away. It took a good minute or two before Starlight decided what to do with her sudden and unexpected circumstance, “Welp, this will certainly upstage Twilight for sure. Better go in and rub this in her face.” Sheriff Silverstar stretched his hindleg as he walked out in the warm Appaloosa morning. “Wow…” he said under his breath. “That was… Celestia Ah needed that.” Braeburn walked out to the front porch with him. “Ah know,” he kissed his cheek, “Ah told ya Ah know what Ah’m doin’.” “You can say that again.” The sheriff chuckled, his cheeks blushing. “Still, Ah owe ya fer… all of that.” “Oh, nah, not you! Ya jus’ needed a favor is all and Ah happened ta be around,” he nuzzled him, “ya can come back here anytime ya want, sugar.” Before Silverstar’s face could glow any redder, he began to trot off. “Ah gotta head off now, but you take care of yerself, ya hear?” “Eh, same here gotta get these apples harvested before noon, but see ya around, hot stuff.” An embarrassed look and a swift gallop later, Braeburn chuckled. “See ya around.” The yellow stallion turned his attention towards his orchard where he inspected which apples were ready. Breathing in the sweet, dry air of the fruits that brought a smile to his face. Despite what happened the previous night, he still had a spring in his step that he was looking forward to working his fields and the many other things he offered up to do. However, he forced to stop when he heard the unmistakable sound of a crunch of an apple. Although looking around, he saw no one. “Hey! Is somepony here?” Another crunch in which his ears swiveled this way and that. “Who's here? C’mon, show yerself!” Then after hearing another crunch, he quickly located where it was coming from, as well as who was eating it. On one of the sturdier branches of the tree, was Princess Celestia mindlessly gnawing away at an apple. “I hope I’m not intruding.” She said. “Yer Highness?” Braeburn rubbed his eyes. “What the hay are ya doin’ in mah tree?” “Watching,” she told him between bites, “and thinking.” “Over what?” “Well, that I couldn’t help but notice the kiss you gave, what I can guess is the town’s sheriff.” Braeburn froze. “And before you say anything, whatever happened inside your home is none of my business. Although, if I may ask you a personal question,” she took another bite, “are you two an item, or is it more friends with benefits sort of thing?” “U-U-U-Uh…” Braeburn fidgeted uncomfortably. “Ah mean… Ah don’t exactly have an official coltfriend per-se and… well… Ah just… help the fellas out now and then, ya know? Not that they’re payin’ me, mind ya, more like… doin’ a favor of sorts.” He laughed just as anxiously. “Ah, I see…” Celestia nodded. “Well, in that case…” Her horn flared up in which she put a golden crown that was fixed comfortably to his Stetson and placed a red cloak with white fur at the trim, all the while holding a golden apple. “By the power in me as Princess of Equestria, I Celestia hereby dub you, Braeburn Apple, Prince of Friend with Benefits.” “Uhhh…” She flew off the branch and landed in front of him. “Oh, and before I go…” she conjured up a quill and paper in which she jotted something down before placing it underneath his hat. “I have a nephew of mine that might benefit from your famous ‘favors.’” She winked. “Just showed that to the guards in Canterlot and they should take you up to introduce him to you. Have a good day.” After she vanished, Braeburn dropped the golden apple and quickly took off his hat to see what the paper said. He gave a low whistle. “So, he’s inta fellas too… Huh, who knew.” Despite being alone on the side face of a mountain, with the wind blowing and nothing with her except for a rock pick and a bucket, Maud didn’t mind the still quietness of her isolation. She wasn’t there because of the view behind her that no doubt would have inspired a fleet of a thousand inspiring landscape artists, but rather she could tell by the feel, color, and texture of the mountainside that caught her interests completely. It was because of that layer of the mountain that wasn't consistently as its neighbors, one where it stood out like a light color gash, a scar that compelled her to have a closer look. She broke through the outer surface of the stone which gave way to the sedimentary lines of gray and white that were compressed together. “Interesting.” She said to herself in her monotone voice. “For this metamorphic sediment to be so high up here.” Using the pick again, she proceeded to chip a couple of samples from the rock face. As she did so, her ears perked up a new sound among the wind and the ringing of her pick. She couldn’t make it out at first, but within a moment, it slowly became clearer and louder as the sound of singing with trumpets and harps. Not only that, but she noticed how the mountainside was becoming brighter. Her curiosity made her turn around to the bright clouds that were hovering within reach. Not only the light became brighter, but she found the source of the heavenly music. The clouds had pegasi in white, flowing robes either playing their instruments or singing odes to all things light. And there, in the center of all this illumination was Celestia herself who was nearly outshone by the sun behind her. Maud gazed at this, her face petrified in a stoic look. Celestia descended from above like a goddess of light towards the ridge of the mountain while the angelic, pegasi choirs sing in vowels such as “Aaa,” or “Ooo.” The Sun Princess was hoping that somepony like Maud would be impressed by the gaudy majesty of her entrance. That it would inspire all who saw such sight awe and wonder. However, from the gray earth pony, all she could get out of her was blinking upon her unreadable expression. So, touching down on the side of the mountain, she held up a wing to shut the choir and band up. “Greetings my little pony,” Celestia said with a smile. Maud blinked again. “Hey.” She said, her voice sounding disinterested and bored. There was a pause between the two mares. “So…” Celestia began again, “What’s your name?” “Maud.” “Ah…” The alicorn nodded. “I see. And what are you doing now?” “Field research. Looking into a geological phenomenon of having this pattern of metamorphic rock is far above sea level.” “So… collecting rock samples.” Another still moment. “Well… I can work with that.” Celestia lit up her horn where Maud suddenly had a silver crown and a bejeweled rock pick. “By the yada, yada, yada within me, I dub thee Princess Maud of Rocks, long may she reign.” The gray mare’s response, after slowly looking down at the glorified rock pick and taking the crown off her head, only said: “Thanks.” “You’re welcome.” Celestia opened up her wings. “Have a nice day.” And to that, the choir sang back up again as she ascended back into the clouds and the light. From there, the luminous clouds drifted away. Maud went back to chipping away the mountainside. Celestia finally was able to return to Canterlot Castle by the afternoon, and the first thing that she said as soon as she got back that cast a spell of dread to every palace staff and guard was: “I have a head-splitting headache, I think I need to lie down.” Ever since then, the Sun Princess has retired to her room in which the entire palace waited. No court was called, no petitioner dared to enter within its walls, even the whiniest of nobles decided to leave the Royal family alone – out of mutual respect. As evening drew close, Celestia called for most trusted staff and guards in which, one by one, they entered her chambers in which they were left alone with her for only a few minutes. When each one exited, they refuse to speak a word before exiting the palace. Then she called forth those she considered friends, from the friends of Princess Twilight to Discord, each one too entered and left without saying a word to anyone. By the time the sun was beginning to set on its horizon, she called for her family. First with Cadence and Shining, then Prince Blueblood, until finally, Luna was called for. When the Princess of the Night approached the doors that lead to her sister’s chambers, she wasn’t exactly sure if her sister is still buying into the prank or she’s finally figured it out. But once she was inside its walls, she quickly deduced that it was most likely the former. She found her sister in her bed, her face scrunched up with an icepack on her head. Near her circular bed, the room was packed full of flowers that there was only a small trail between the door to where Celestia rested. The only ponies with her were the maids and Doctor Orange tending to her. “Celestia?” This got the older alicorn’s attention. “Lu, I want to speak to you.” She then turned to her servants and the doctor, telling them to give them privacy as she wanted to speak to her alone. They obeyed, leaving no one except for the two sisters. “Well… I had quite the week.” She joked weakly. “So… is it true that you’ve gone around the country to dub random ponies as royalty?” This got a laugh from her. “Well yes – but don’t worry, I didn’t turn them into real alicorns and I’ve made sure that I’ve altered the words so that it isn’t official. Of course, the crown and robes I gave were real, but their titles are fake.” “Ah, good thinking.” Luna nodded as she approached the bed. “Tell me honestly how you are feeling now.” “Doctor Orange told me that I will pass very early in the morning, so I will be most likely asleep by the time that happens. But as of now…” She took hold of the comforter over her. “I just… I wish I had more time.” “Are you feeling scared?” Celestia nodded, and Luna got on the bed in which she opened a wing to drape over her. “Is there anything I can do?” For a long, uncomfortable moment, her elder sister lay there in thought, as if choosing her next words carefully. Finally, she shook her head. “You have done more than enough. Up until this very week, I have never been able to live as if it were my last. And now… it’s happening… and I can’t do anything about it. But as I think, as I go to sleep tonight, I’ll look back to the, let’s face it, ludicrous things I was finally able to do. I have no more secrets to hide, got to be involved in a snowball fight while fighting a war in a day, pigged out on the finest and unique food I’ve eaten in a long time, lost my virginity to those I care and trusted the most, became a teenager for a night and did something truly crazy. How many ponies could brag in doing all of that in a matter of days?” Luna smiled, “Do you regret doing all of that?” Her sister snorted. “Buck no! If I could I would do that again and more. Still… I have you to thank. If you hadn’t come to me, I might still be here drowning in ice cream.” Celestia then took hold of her sister’s hoof. “Luna, I know this whole time you’re trying to put on a strong face for all of us. I know that deep down you’re trying to hold everything back. But I will say this – I do have faith in you. I never gave that up, despite what occurred between us over the years. You are a strong mare, full of courage and does everything in her power to make sure that her ponies may sleep peacefully each night. While I have to go, just remember that you are not alone in your responsibilities, nor alone in your grief. All I ask, don’t blame yourself when I pass away.” The Night Princess scrounge up her face, trying very hard not to make a sound. “Will you do that for me?” Luna opened her eyes and calmly nodded. “It would be rude to refuse you.” “Good…” Celestia nodded, adjusting her ice pack. “Is there anything you want to say to me? Anything at all?” “I’m going to miss you.” Luna nodded, “We all will.” To this, the Sun alicorn drew her sister into a hug and biding her farewell. Luna told her that she’ll visit her in her dreams tonight before she left the bedroom. Celestia’s maids and the doctor entered once again to tend to their princess. But then, from her bed, after she lowered the sun, she told them that it was time for her to sleep. While the maids obeyed, Doctor Orange froze from where he stood. Celestia turned to look at him. “I don’t think I’ll be needing you from this point on. You have taken excellent care of me in the time we’ve known each other. But now, I release you, Doctor Orange Juice.” But with a heavy conscience, he shook his head. “Princess… you must know that I-” She put a hoof to his lips and shushed him. “Doctor,” Celestia said softly, “everything’s going to be alright. I promise.” “B-But Your Majesty-” “All will be well. Remember that,” she smiled, “all will be well. Now leave me be, it’s time for me to sleep.” For a moment, the doctor wanted to tell her the truth right then and there, to let her know that he had been bribed by her sister and end this cruel joke. However, seeing that she won’t listen to him from that point, he gave a low bow, wished her good night and left the room. Now alone, she closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile on her face.