//------------------------------// // 1 A Clerical Oversight // Story: Celestia's Darkest Secret // by Bronyxy //------------------------------// “Thank you, Princess” smiled Twilight as she rose to leave her weekly audience with her mentor. The graceful white alicorn rose too and leaned her head down to give her lilac protégée a gentle nuzzle, her love for her prized student shining in her eyes. “I always enjoy our little chats, Twilight” she spoke softly, “It shows me how much you have matured since you first arrived as a timid young filly. Equestria owes you a lot, and so do I.” “Thank you, Princess” said Twilight, blushing as she reached forward to give one last tender kiss before leaving Celestia’s private chambers and heading back to her own duties. “Oh, just one more thing Twilight, while I remember” added her mentor, “I have a meeting with delegates from Saddle Arabia next week at this time; I’m so sorry, but can you talk to my secretary and reschedule a time to suit yourself from my diary?” “Sure thing, Princess” acknowledged Twilight, “Love you.” “Love you too” came the reply, a simple token of the deepest bond each felt for the other. Twilight trotted happily up to the desk where Celestia’s secretary, old Grey Tail, usually sat, but noticed that although her diary was there, he was nowhere to be seen. She knew that the diary was confidential and should not be left unattended, so decided to wait until Grey Tail returned, just to make sure it was not left unguarded. As she waited, she became curious. She had made friends in Saddle Arabia herself, and was interested to see who would be coming. She knew she shouldn’t, but she edged up closer to the diary and studied the outside intently. Then she looked around to see that nopony was coming and flipped the cover open in her magic. She didn’t look straight away, but instead kept a sharp lookout for Grey Tail’s unexpected return, or anypony else for that matter – it wouldn’t do to be seen nosing into Princess Celestia’s private business, even if she was a Princess herself. She allowed her head to turn just enough for her eyes to start scanning through the entries and quickly read the first few items before snapping her head back quickly, thinking she had heard a sound. There was nothing. Nopony had seen her. She turned back and looked some more. As she flipped through pages and pages of a packed schedule, she developed a profound respect that Celestia had given her such privileged access, considering all the other competing demands for her attention. However, the more pages she turned, the more she noticed one item appearing on a recurring weekly basis, ‘VT’, always on the same day, always at the same time. Everything else was flexible, but not this entry; it was there irrespective of whatever disaster may have been befalling the kingdom. She looked more closely and suddenly noticed that it occurred just after her own visit; Celestia would be coming out shortly and catch her! Quickly she slammed the diary shut, just as her heightened senses heard Celestia’s door start to creak open. She panicked. She couldn’t get out fast enough without being seen, and her hoofsteps would echo if she tried to run, so she hid behind the desk and prayed that Grey Tail wouldn’t come back and find her cowering there whilst the Princess was still around. Celestia’s hoofsteps, calm and measured, echoed as she walked slowly towards where she was hiding. Clip, clop, clip, clop. It sounded like a death knell. Drawing nearer, nearer… The hoofsteps stopped. There was a tutting sound and a gentle scraping as Celestia picked up her diary. She was only a few feet away! Twilight’s heartbeat grew loud and fast in her chest, her panic rising. The hoofsteps started again, this time moving away. Clip, clop, clip, clop. A door opened. “Princess!” stammered a male voice nervously, “I’m so sorry …!” “Grey Tail, you need to be much more careful” the Princess reprimanded sternly, “This cannot be allowed to be seen by anypony else. You have many privileges associated with your position, and all that is asked in return is that you keep this diary safe. Word could get out when sensitive meetings are taking place and that information used to compromise the delegates or even mount an attack where the meeting is being held.” “I’m so, so sorry!” stammered Grey Tail, fear evident in his voice, “There was something in the food at breakfast, and a lot of us have been ill, and …” “Be that as it may” said Celestia, her tone silencing any further excuses, “Your position is held because of trust, and if I cannot trust you, then you rule yourself out of performing this important duty.” Twilight had never heard Celestia speak so unforgivingly to any member of her entourage like this before, and redoubled her prayers that she wouldn’t be found right now. Celestia’s few stern words about trust made her feel dirty, as by reading her diary, that is exactly what she had done to betray her trust herself. She fought to control her breathing as she really did not want to give herself away. With Celestia in this kind of mood, she was doubtful whether such an encounter would turn out particularly well for her. Eventually, Celestia finished tearing Grey Tail off a strip and Twilight listened intently as a set of authoritative hoofsteps left and a door closed firmly behind. Was the secretary still in the room? Had he gone? Would he be coming over to the desk where she was hiding? She stayed still and waited. Eventually she heard some quiet cursing; a male voice. There were more hoofsteps and a door opened, then it closed again. She risked peeping around the desk for the first time and noted that she was alone as far as she could see, then leaned round a little further until she could see the whole room. Empty. She heaved a sigh of relief and crossed the room. When she got to the door, she listened carefully. Once having convinced herself it was safe, she cracked the door open, checked that all was clear and left, closing it quietly behind her; each step further away making her feel safer and less fearful of being caught, but not any less guilty.