“So how are we going to get an audience with Celestia in the first place? She’s super busy and I bet there are a ton of ponies who have been waiting to see her for months already.”
Starlight and Spike sat across from each other on the train’s benches as it quickly chugged along, leaving Ponyville behind and making its way to Canterlot. The two of them had made a quick, if not somewhat awkward, goodbye to the Apple family this morning after the event last night. They were both a little upset that they had to leave so abruptly but it was probably for the best. The farmers would just have to accept that their recent guests were a little weird. Starlight was now disinterestedly looking out one of the train’s windows, half taking in what Spike was saying.
“I dunno, I could just teleport inside the throne room when we get there if nopony lets us in first.”
A low hum of annoyance from Spike caused Starlight to turn and look at him, the dragon frowning at her with his arms crossed over his chest.
With an exasperated sigh Starlight rolled her eyes. “But I won’t. Fine.”
“Good. You’ve done enough impulsive things here without having to get the royal guards to dogpile you on sight.”
Starlight snorted. “Oh come on, they wouldn’t be a problem for me.”
“And what happens when Celestia just blasts the crazy unicorn that suddenly appeared and started attacking her guards?” Spike sarcastically asked.
“I could totally take Celestia in a fight!” Starlight answered without any sarcasm. “And if it comes down to it I could just remove her Cutie Mark too.”
“Starlight!” Spike stood up on his seat and glared at her.
“Hey just cause I’m considering the possibility doesn’t mean I’ll actually do it.” Her defense was weak but Spike was tired of dealing with her and just shook his head as he sat back down.
Starlight as well frowned and went back to looking out the window. Her idea of a fun vacation and a good time in Canterlot seemed to be slipping away with every second. Again she and Spike were annoyed at each other for childish reasons, behaving no better than two siblings arguing at the dinner table. Starlight’s continual impulsiveness and apathy towards respecting the past and playing things safe drained Spike, even though the two knew they only had each other and had to stick together. And when it came to Princess Celestia Spike was determined to be even more of a stick in the mud, not wanting to deal with those potential consequences of Starlight’s behavior with her.
Gazing out the window, Starlight began thinking about someone. “I wonder what Trixie is up to right now?”
Spike scratched his cheek and thought for a second. “Considering how she was when I first met her I’d say she’s probably being a really annoying kid right now?”
Starlight frowned and turned to say something to him but quickly shut her mouth. On contemplation he was probably 100% correct. Leaning back on her seat she hummed, thinking to herself about her other friends. And with a gasp she realized something, her pupils narrowing to pinpricks.
“Maud is still on her farm, Trixie is who knows where, but Sunburst is in Canterlot at Celestia’s school right now.”
The way she was saying that made Spike concerned, he recognized that tone.
“Uh, Starlight? What are you thinking right now?”
The unicorn got a devilish grin on her face as she rubbed under her chin with her hoof. “Hmm, there’s so much I can fix there.”
“Starlight...”
“Spike there is literally nothing but good that can come of me helping Sunburst.” She said, eyes glinting in anticipation. “And it’ll help past me a lot too, even better!”
“I feel like I should try convincing you not to do something like that, but experience is telling me there’s no point in trying.”
He was right.
So instead Spike decided to look forward to seeing Canterlot again. For what was his birthplace and home for quite a while he probably didn’t visit it as much as he should. Being the number one assistant to Twilight is probably a good reason for why he didn’t find the time though. Spike was a little worried how Celestia would react to all of this but she’s always been good at making decisions and dealing with this kind of stuff so hopefully it wouldn’t go too bad.
For him at least, he thought as he stole a glance at Starlight.
Starlight was just absentmindedly watching the scenery roll on by while she waited for the train to finally reach their destination. There were so many things to cover, so many things she wanted to do in Canterlot she didn’t even know where to start aside from the obvious of first meeting with Celestia. And who knew just how that would go?
“Canterlot probably isn’t too different from how we know it.” Spike suddenly spoke up. “Not like there’s going to be any absent castles or schools.”
“Yeah.” Starlight nodded. Thinking about the Friendship School was a bit of a downer to her, she may have wanted a vacation but she still missed her students. And the thought of how they’d react to seeing her and what she’s been doing and plans to do in the past was a bit of a sobering thought.
Not enough of one to actually convince her to stop though.
It didn’t take much longer after that for the train to finally arrive at Canterlot station. Spike and Starlight getting off and beginning their walk into the city. Immediately they drew the attention of many other ponies. Or more accurately just like in Ponyville it was Spike that was drawing the attention. Dragons still not a common sight anywhere in Equestria back now. But the two were used to this after Ponyville and thought nothing of it anymore. The station may have been bustling and the streets already full of far more ponies than lived in Ponyville but that was no issue to Spike and Starlight. They strode briskly through the crowds and didn’t give any of them a second thought or look as they bee-lined to the castle.
“Just as posh and pristine as I remember.” Starlight said. “Don’t take this the wrong way but I never liked Canterlot that much.”
Spike shrugged. “Eh, it’s not for everypony. Say that to Rarity though and you’re in for a big lecture.”
Starlight giggled. “I can imagine.”
She continued on walking with Spike at her heels, looking up and down the streets and checking to see if there was anything she recognized. Her familiarity with the city was lacking though, even if she saw some buildings she knew, such as where Rarity would eventually open up her boutique, it was likely she wouldn’t recognize them. Something she did notice (and Spike too) was that the local ponies seemed even stuffier and stiffer than how they knew them from the present. Starlight couldn’t help but think that Twilight really loosened up all of Equestria with her friendship.
“Hey, that’s where Donut Joe’s is. Or will be.” Spike said, tugging on Starlight’s leg to get her attention. “Remind me to take you there when we get back, you’ll love it.”
“Thanks.” Starlight smiled.
The way to the castle was much as Starlight remembered although it seemed even busier than how she knew it. That made sense, without any other princesses to delegate Celestia handled pretty much everything on her own. It must’ve created quite a backlog of ponies that wanted to see her and petition her for things. Which didn’t exactly bode well for the two of them.
“Maybe when she hears a dragon wants to see her it’ll convince her we’re different from the usual visitors?” Starlight wondered as they turned down another street, the large castle finally coming into view in front of them.
“Who knows?” Spike answered.
“Do you think we’re even going to be able to get inside the castle in the first place or are guards just going to turn us away? How do we even set up an appointment, you should know right?” Starlight continued to ask.
“Uhh, well I don’t see why the guards wouldn’t let us in? Celestia’s always been really open. And I don’t know who it is but there should be someone taking appointments for her?” Spike said.
“So really you have no idea for sure?” Starlight raised an eyebrow at the dragon.
“Nope. Not really.”
Starlight sighed, the contingency plan of teleporting inside and doing things the reckless way was becoming more and more likely every second. Not like she minded but she didn’t want to get nagged by Spike some more.
The beautiful castle got larger and larger in their view. Oh how easy it would be to teleport inside the throne room, Starlight thought.
“I know that look on your face. I can tell what you’re thinking.” Spike said from next to her.
Starlight quickly shook her head. “What look on my face? I don’t let my thoughts play out on my face so easily, Spike.”
“I’ll give you that you’re not as bad as Twilight when it comes to that but you’re not good either.”
The crowds of ponies around the castle area, those leaving it and those entering it, were quite large. Starlight and Spike had to fight their way through, they were thankful at least that there wasn’t some event or party being held. They got more than a few rude looks along the way, Starlight wondered if it was more because of how they weren’t dressed in fancy clothes than anything else.
Finally they made it to the actual doors of the castle. Two guards flanked it, stoically watching Starlight and Spike approach.
“So now what? Doesn’t look like they’re letting any ponies in right now.” Spike asked Starlight.
“Well I’m gonna attempt the direct approach first.”
At that Starlight walked directly up the steps to the two guards with a bright smile and waved hello at them.
“Hi! Can we enter the castle?”
She could hear Spike’s palm smack his face from behind her.
The two guards looked at each other before the one on the right responded. “Do you have an appointment with the Princess?”
“Yep!” Starlight’s answer was instant.
The guards looked back at her unflinchingly. After a few moments the same one spoke up again. “Do you really have an appointment with the Princess?”
Starlight’s smile fell and she rolled her eyes. “No, I don’t really have an appointment.”
“If you’d like to make one you can still go in and see Sharp Schedule.” The guard on the left told her, giving both Starlight and Spike a pitying but also annoyed look. It was clear he didn’t want to deal with two clearly troublesome individuals so the guards were pawning them off on another official.
The doors were opened for them and Starlight and Spike stepped inside the pristine entrance. The moment the doors were closed Spike turned to Starlight.
“Could you at least try to be a better example for your students?”
“I’m on vacation!”
The insides of the castle were still relatively busy and filled with a good number of guards, they both knew their way around well enough though and made their way to Celestia’s throne room despite not having an appointment. Attempting to circumvent the whole issue.
That didn’t work however.
“No going further without the Princess’s express permission.” A large guard told the two of them. Their direct path having met a blockade.
“Ugh, fine.” Starlight groaned. “Can you tell us where Sharp Schedule is at least?”
“Should’ve just gone to see him… or her, in the first place.” Spike grumbled.
“You know it’s kind of funny.” Starlight said as the two made their way to Sharp Schedule after being directed their way by the guard. “I never really gave the guards much credit but they’re actually doing their jobs. I mean, just after all the times Canterlot has been in trouble and all that you kind of start to lose your faith.”
“Don’t let Shining Armor here you say that when we’re back.” Spike said.
“No doubt.”
The two made their way to one of the many offices in Canterlot Castle, the placard out front identifying this specific one as belong to Sharp Schedule. Starlight gently opened the door and the two of them walked in to find an unassuming room with a sparse look to it, not exactly fitting the grandeur of most of Canterlot. Behind the lone desk sat a single middle-aged pony. Brown of coat with a gray mane and tail, the stallion could only be Sharp Schedule. He was hunched over the desk with a quill in hand, writing something or other on a piece of parchment.
Upon hearing the intrusion he looked up at the two and raised a single bored eyebrow. “Yes?”
Starlight, as upfront and direct as ever, walked forward. “Hi, we want to see the Princess.”
Sharp Schedule’s expression didn’t change. “I see. You can fill out a form and return it to me then. The Princess will have an opening for you to speak with her in about three months, depending on if your petition is approved and nothing more important comes up.” And he returned to his writing without a second thought.
Well that wasn’t good enough for Starlight.
“Sorry, but this is important. When I said we wanted to see the Princess I meant now.” Starlight said as she walked up and put her front hooves on his desk while Spike watched with dismay.
Sharp Schedule looked up at her in annoyance. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. Allow me to notify her right away.” He said and then returned to writing. Again.
“Grr.” Starlight grumbled. “Look, this is really important, could you at least tell her that? Just send a message along to her and let her decide if she wants to see us or not.”
“I’ll get right on that.” He said without bothering to look at her this time.
Her eye twitched and a vein popped out in her forehead, Starlight’s anger rose to a peak as she stared down the desk jockey.
“Oh boy...” Spike said as he slowly backed away.
“If you’re going to cause a ruckus can you at least do it outside?” Sharp Schedule said.
“Oh for the love of-” Starlight’s horn glowed. “I’m done with this.”
Sharp Schedule glanced up at seeing the glow. “What are-”
And before he could finish, Starlight’s spell hit him in the face. His eyes spun around in his head and he momentarily fell back into his chair like a doll.
“Starlight! Are you crazy?!” Spike yelled at her.
“Well we weren’t getting anywhere!” Starlight said angrily as she gestured at the now temporarily vegetablized Sharp Schedule. “Besides, he’ll be fine. It’s just a little brainwashing spell. I’m good at them. No lasting consequences at all.”
Spike kneeled down on the floor of the office and held his head, shaking it back and forth. “Oh this is gonna be so bad...”