//------------------------------// // 1: Breakfast // Story: Twilight Sparkle: A Canterlot Day // by Blues Rider //------------------------------// A smell of freshly cooked pancakes wafted through the halls of Canterlot Castle. The steaming plate, piled high with gorgeously topped breakfast desert made its way through the dark halls of the morning. They were aided on their ascent from the kitchen to the chambers of Princess Twilight Sparkle by her Royal Advisor, Spike - The Brave and Glorious dragon. As Spike made his way from the kitchen to the Royal bedroom he passed security personnel a plenty, from geese to guards-ponies. The halls were lit with a lovely golden hugh from the lavender scented torches on the walls. He took in the fragrant smell, but most of what he actually smelt was the sugary scent of the golden syrup and freshly cut apple topping on the pancakes. He sighed a sigh that only a Monday could bring and knocked on the door to Princess Twilight's bedroom. Inside, Princess Twilight awoke. She slowly came around to her room, still not entirely accustomed to being awoken while the moon was still arisen. She let her eyes adjust to the low lighting in the room, feeling the warm, cosy blankets of her bed, and the soft mattress, perfectly supporting her weight beneath her. Then she took a deep breath. Closed her eyes for just a few more moments, and then let herself come around to the agenda for the day. She took another deep breath; the lavender scents of the corridor filled the air in her room. It was luxurious. "Come in Spike!" She called. Just then the door opened and her faithful friend came into the room, holding his rather large stack of pancakes. "One order of breakfast coming up!" He exclaimed, proudly jesting with Twilight. "They look perfect, thank you!" Twilight beamed as she sat up in bed. Spike exhaled a thin sliver of flame up to the chandelier in the centre of the bedroom while simultaneously placing the pancakes carefully on Twilight's bedside table. Then, before she could ask, Spike pulled her list from out of his satchel; all in one smooth motion. "Fancy Pants delivered it this morning, the Gatekeeper Guard said he was around before three A.M. today!" Twilight chuckled. "Well he does like to keep me informed. It's so useful having him around. He knows just about everything that needs to be done, Canterlot won't be the same when he eventually retires." "Yeah he keeps saying he'll do that but the he never does!" Spike chuckled, "Anyway, I'm don't think he'll be leaving before you're ready to train up his replacement." "No Spike, I KNOW he won't" The two of them laughed joyfully at this. He really was the pony to know around here, Rarity was right about that. Good at what he does, and humble about it too. That's what made him so easy to work with, as long as you don't just disregard his help, you'd be okay in Canterlot. At this break, Twilight gathered the list Spike held up and rolled it out in front of her on the duvet. Then she grabbed a fork from the silver platter and cut a slice out the pile of pancakes. She would eat the sickly sweet mixture as she read the list in front of her. The list read like this: A.M. [ ] Confirm water pollution levels in the moat are safe with the Waterworks and sign off [ ] Meet head of Canterlot Primary to discuss next year's School of Magic intake students [ ] Court Action: Expansion of Saffron Masala's storefront to match the beginning of the building's steps P.M. [ ] Meet Fancy Pants and party committee to discuss proposals for TSC day [ ] Lecture at School of Magic: Cutie Mark synchronicity 109 [ ] Arrange a new croquet layout with the gardener for Two sisters celebration day [ ] Respond to diplomatic correspondence - See latest post. "Well Spike, the work is never done here." She retorted taking another bite of pancake from the pile. "Anything for me to do today?" "Not from Fancy Pants, but I would like you to travel to Ponyville and sort some things for me there." "Just give me the word and I'll be on my way." "Thanks Spike, I know I can count on you. Now let me finish this breakfast and have a shower and I'll give you my list. I have one more task to complete before I get on with this particular list." "Aye Captain!" Spike exclaimed, "I'll meet you in the office or the throne room?" "The office this morning please." Twilight replied, taking a final bite of pancake. And with that, Spike gathered up her plate and headed back to the kitchen. Twilight rolled the list up and floated it over to her satchel by the door, dropping it in with ease. She made her way to the shower and cleaned herself up, then dried off and headed up to the overwatch tower at the end of the corridor, taking her satchel with her. As she went, she stopped by the guards at the door. "Any news from overnight?" "Nothing dangerous to report princess." The guardspony saluted back. "Fancy Pants arrived at three A.M. to deliver your to do list. The day's post is delayed at the post-office. Apparently they're still waiting for a very important letter for today's correspondance. The midnight Wonderbolt patrol found nothing to report of significance." "Well, sounds like this will be a fairly straight forward day then. As long as Gallus doesn't try to steal a second doughnut from the mess hall again." she jested. The guard tried not to laugh at that, but his colleague next to him started to snigger, and instantly he lost it, nearly bursting into tears of laughter. "Oh your highness, If only he'd known he was ALLOWED to take two rather than trying to smuggle it in." Twilight had a comfortable relationship with her close colleagues in the palace and liked having a laugh with them occasionally. It helped break the ice and keep the palace a lovely place to work and socialise. As long as on important occasions and visits they were regimented, everything worked like clockwork. "Indeed! Anyway, lesson learnt. Time for dawn I make it." The Royal Guard looked at the watch on his armour. "Yes, I make it five minutes to." "Well I had better get up there then. See you later on!" Twilight chriped back hapily.