"I have decided to send you on an errand my sister requested of me, in my stead."
Hubbageebrixagrushmah?!
"Novalis! Are you listening to me?"
Dumbly, I nodded my head. I was listening, but not paying attention. Does that count? I didn't care. I was entranced by her dress. Dark purple velvet, luxuriously soft, ran down her chest and lithe body, dissolving into a black satin skirt by her flank. It was held to her body with crisscrossing straps on her back, allowing her wings room to be free. The straps crossed her back until they were nearly at her tail, at which point the two sides of the dress converged into a v shape which met the skirt. Two straps over her shoulders held it snug over her heart, and it left her forelegs bare. The satin skirt flowed due to the lustrous tail it hid underneath, billowing in a way only the Royal Sisters could obtain. Braided into her hair were strands of silver silk, which were all connected to her tiara. The effect was flowing streamers of silk through the night sky, or at least that's how my numb mind interpreted it. On her right foreleg was a bracelet of intercrossing bands of white gold, traveling from just above her hoof to her knee. Finally, to complete her outfit this evening was a necklace. A beautiful necklace. Thin silver chain. Large gold pendant with a sapphire the size of her eye. Glinting. Shiiiinyyyyy.....
"Novalis! At attention in my class!"
Her voice, coupled with a loud clapping noise, shook my attentions to her face and cleared my mind more effectively than my mother's voice waking me up on a schoolday. She looked smugly at me as I remembered where I was and guiltily dropped my gaze to her floor. Which was immaculate, by the way, so shiny and reflective. Shiny...
"Nooovaaalisss... Waaaake uuuup... My, where is your mind today?"
I shook myself again, trying to clear the last vestiges of stunned amazement from my mind. Here I was, at class, and I was moonstruck(hmm, interesting word choice, brain) by Princess Luna's dress again. I think I have a thing for fashion all of a sudden. I looked from the floor at met her deep turquoise gaze, doing my best to remain professional and reclaim my mind.
"Let me guess. The dress is too much, yet again?"
I almost nodded, but she sighed at the end of her statement. I looked at her and noticed that she seemed disappointed, and for the first time in my life, I lied. I shook my head. I told her that I was merely tired, having been up all night before studying, and all day today meeting her sister. She seemed to perk up a little bit, bringing her gaze back to meet mine. She gave a small smile, then turned to her balcony door, vanishing through it with naught but a whisper of fabric. I followed her outside, pausing at the doorway in amazement.
The sky that night was astonishing. The various stars gleamed brightly, and the moon seemed very large. I could even make out stars and nebulas the naked eyes usually could not. Looking over to Princess Luna, I saw her busying herself setting up her telescope, humming softly as she worked. She was always so happy during these sessions, seeming to be vibrantly alive when teaching. As she busied herself with setting everything up, I leaned my head back, opened my clasps with my mouth, and reached into my saddlebags for my own things.
Using magic I levitated my quill, parchment, and books out, and reclosed the bags with my teeth. I set everything up in front of me, and began to write.
June 17th
Princess Celestia Year, 9
Novalis Shiningeye
The night for this class is bright. The moon is approximately twice its normal size. Several galaxies normally invisible to the naked eye are within sight. Everything is bright and clear, so airborne molecules tonight are low. Tonight's class will be on further than normal galaxies, which are normally hard to see even with our telescopes, which would account for the closeness of the view. My notes on this night are as follows:
After writing the introduction to my notes, I patiently waited until Princess Luna had finished getting the telescope ready and called me over. I joined her in gazing through the telescopes, listening as she named each new star I saw. I periodically returned to my notes to write down their names, along with any notable features. One star in particular caught my interest. Helios, the last star for the night.
Helios, our final topic of the night. It is the central point of its solar system, and the eight planets surrounding it orbit it, unlike our own Sun. What is most strange is the third planet orbiting it on an elliptical path. This planet seems capable of supporting life. In fact, not only is it capable, it DOES harbor life. Whether or not that life is intelligent is unknown to Princess Luna, but she does know that it is populated dominantly by a race of bipedal creatures resembling primates, although hairless. She and Celestia have both tried contacting the planet, albeit with disastrous results. The magic Luna used over 3,000 years ago caused twelve magical catastrophes, scaring the inhabitants of a large desert country, which subsequently caused a migration of sorts. Celestia also attempted, also with poor results. Nearly a thousand years later, she tried to instill good magic onto the planet, but it all magnetized to one of the hairless apes. It gave him incredible magical skill, even allowing him to ressurect the dead, but the others seemed to grow afraid, nailing him to a piece of wood crossed with another. After these failed communication attempts, Celestia and Luna withdrew from contact.
PS: I should mention this star to Lyra, she always was fascinated by primate hands.
After recording all of my notes, and taking her nightly test, I packed my things to leave. Just before saying good night to her, however, she asked me to wait.
"I told you earlier that I would be sending you on an errand."
She did? Oh... yeah... oops.
"As you know, the Summer Solstice is quickly approaching. The day my sister visits the nearby town of Ponyville to raise the sun. She is sending her faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, to Ponyville to oversee the preparations. This is a lot of work for one pony, even Miss Sparkle. So my sister asked me to go. My schedule is unfortunately busy, but seeing as you are my proxy, I will be sending you in my stead. You will accompany Miss Sparkle to Ponyville, and cooperate with her in setting up. Maybe you can make some friends while you're at it."
Friends? Oh no... Last time I tried to make friends I got into a fight over my eyes. Ponies were a little intolerant of differences at young ages. I learned that the hard way. But this was a request by Princess Luna, I would not turn it down. I would go to Ponyville, set up the celebration, and get back to Canterlot as soon as possible. I didn't need to make friends along the way.
I did find it interesting that I, personal student of Princess Luna, and Twilight Sparkle, the renowned magical prodigy, and personal student of Princess Celestia, would both be overseeing this project. Twilight and I had both gone to the same University, and although we studied different majors, mine being Astronomy and hers being Magic, we often shared some courses. She was like me, in a way, always studying, hardly ever making any friends. This was a mare I don't think I'd mind working with.
I nodded my acceptance of my mission, and bidding her farewell, I returned to my home to get ready for my trip to Ponyville.
Oh... joy...