Twilight kept an eye on the sun. Luckily enough she never needed to aid it across the sky with magic, but she did need to keep an eye on it to know when it was ready to set.
She entered the Grand Gala Ballroom and found a table laid out by the door. Now she was able to tick off three more items. She used a magic spell to engrave a tick next to each completed task.
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.
Twilight just had one more official princess duty for the day.
She rolled the scroll parchment back up and slotted it into her satchel. She made her way through the large hall to the grand double doors at the far end. She passed the stage and the eighty-seven tables folded away in the corner. She knew there was eighty-seven, she was reminded about it by Fancy Pants exactly three times a year.
Once when the invitations were drawn up, once when they were double checked, and once when they were sent off. For all eight-hundred and sixty guests she was constantly reminded about. She shook her head, amused and made her way down the stairs to the ground floor corridor.
As she trotted to the north tower staircase she heard a set of hoofsteps approaching from behind.
"Princess!" They called in a raspy tone just at the same time as Twilight turned to engage her follower.
"General Spitfire, is everything okay?" She inquired, happy to see Spitfire again.
"I'm glad I caught you, everything's fine. Are you just off to reply to your correspondence?" She asked.
"I am, would you care to join me?" She offered the place next to her.
Spitfire nodded. "Thank you. I need to check with you about your patrol this morning." She mentioned, strolling with Twilight down the long corridor. A long carpet blanketed the floor beneath their hooves, and tall violet drapes hung between every window, tied up with crimson ropes.
It was cool in the castle. Spitfire was glad for the escape from the battling mid-day heat outside. A trickle of sweat evaporated from her forehead to the cool castle air.
"Well, Captain Gallus was very accommodating and everything seemed to go smoothly. Has Officer Cadet Mirror Blaze received her armour yet?" Twilight asked.
"She's being fitted now. It was actually her I wanted to speak to you about." They reached the spiral staircase and Spitfire hesitated to allow Twilight to walk up in front of her. "Did you get a chance to observe her this morning?"
"I did, she's a very capable guard, a little nervous but that will pass with experience. I actually used to tutor her at the School of Magic. She's a very talented defence artist." She called behind her as she ascended the stairs. "Why are you observing her?"
"Well, Major Ward Blocker of the Unicorn Counter Defence has expressed interest in following Shining Armour to the Crystal Empire guards. I've had my eye on Cadet Blaze for a while, her understanding of counter-spells is unmatched in our ranks." She explained as Twilight reached the third floor.
Twilight rolled her eyes. It wasn't the first member to leave and follow her brother to the Crystal Empire. "It'll be a shame to lose Ward Blocker, he's been so valuable throughout the years. But is Cadet Blaze really ready for a promotion so soon? That's a big leap." Twilight asked concerned.
"Major Ward Blocker is giving us six months notice Ma'am. We'll see how things go, but I'm putting Cadet Blaze onto an intensive training programme once she has settled into the castle routine." Spitfire explained joining Twilight on the third floor. The tall golden doors of Twilight's office stood proudly a few meters away.
"I will keep an eye on her. You're right, she's extremely talented. I'm sure she'll make an excellent addition for the castle."
"Thank you Princess. That's all for now."
"Thanks for keeping me updated Spitfire. I look forward to seeing her around. I'll catch you tomorrow morning?"
"As always." Spitfire gave a salute and then a bow. Twilight nodded and Spitfire went on her way back to her office on the ground floor.
She turned back to her own office and opened the door. The grand golden door swung inwards. Upon her desk sat a pyramid of scrolls. Each tied up by a red ribbon and stamped with the Royal seal. She rolled her eyes at this too. Ponies never cease to need royal advice or avocation in one way or another.
She dropped her satchel off at the side of her desk and took a seat, rolling her shoulders and rolling her neck to settle into the correspondence routine. She deliberately chose to leave the door open in-case anypony fancied to drop by for an important conversation... or, you know, pretty much anything else.
Leaving the door open also opened up the confines of the room too, giving it a lighter feel.
She opened the satchel and pulled out the three important documents of the day: Fancy Pant's list, Moondancer's Syllabus, and The scroll that landed on her head in the courtroom. She knew exactly what this was.
Softly, she peeled the roughly printed and slightly melted wax. The ribbon gracefully unfurled onto her desk. She gently unrolled the scroll and held it up. The parchment was scribbled with scrawny blue ink, as per usual.
Dear Princess Twilight of Equestria,
Princess Ember of the Dragon Lands would be
happy to accommodate you and your friends to
attend this year's Great Dragon Gauntlet.
You will be in attendance with Minister Thorax,
Prince Rutherford, Princess Skystar, representative
Greta and their associates.
Although you may not be permitted to partake in
the events of the Gauntlet, we would like to
share our traditions with you once again.
The inferno banquette will take place in the
usual manner, with non-dragon guests attending
after the traditional blazing ceremony.
Reply soon,
Princess Ember.
It read. Twilight smiled; this was exciting.
She pulled open the bottom draw in the nearest filing cabinet and slid a fresh piece of scroll parchment off the top of the pile. She led it out on her desk. gently picking up her gold tipped feather quill, she dipped the end lightly into the gold pot of ink on her desk.
She thought for a moment, hovering the inked quill over the ink pot. Then she lightly pressed the end against her parchment, letting the ink slide gracefully from the nib to the paper.
Dear Princess Ember of the Dragon Lands,
We would be delighted to attend the Great Dragon
Gauntlet. I will be in attendance with the six members
of my council: Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy,
Commander Rainbow Dash, and Advisor Spike.
Spike was extremely excited about the Great
Dragon Gauntlet and was hoping he would be
able to attend the inferno banquette and partake
in the lava flume events again.
If possible, we would like to be in attendance for
the whole week.
Reply soon,
Princess Twilight Sparkle.
The brief sign off was traditional for dragon correspondence. They were just very direct in their mannerisms. She appreciated that about dragons.
Rolling the parchment up, she tied it with a red ribbon and picked up the stamp with her hoof at the side of her desk. She floated a block of wax over the two ends of the ribbon, heating it with magic, and gently melting it onto the ribbon, before quickly stamping it with her hoof stamp.
Then she placed it into her satchel. She could give that to Spike later.
She pulled the other letter from her bag, the bursary application, and added it to the pile in front of her. Then she proceeded to work her way through the rest of the letters.
There were letters concerned with the preparations for the Two Sisters Celebration, letters concerned with the water... again, letters about the School of Friendship applications, letters about taxes and letters asking advice.
She replied to each one by one, making sure she did take the time for each. She never received these letters unless they really were important. They took a day to be filtered through by the post section of the castle, and she knew that today, that department would be replying to all the other letters, while sorting through the next batch for tomorrow.
She finished up, sealing the final scroll of parchment, placing it into a sack in front of her desk. One of the guards ponies would be along shortly to pick up the bag and take it back down to the mail department for distribution.
She took a deep breath and let the task settle. She made a move for the window and once again looked over the grand city before her. Then she inked her quill one last time, dipping it in the ink pot gently. She pulled her list to the centre of the desk, and in one swift movement, she swept the ink upon the paper.
[✔] Respond to diplomatic correspondence - See latest post.
Check.
She let out sigh of relief. A smile crossed her face.
Now it was time for her to go grab some dinner... in perhaps a controversial sense.
A knock came from the door.
"Come in." She called, "Good timing, I just finished today's..." She looked up and suddenly realised she was speaking to the wrong pony. "Oh, Gallus, hi. Please come in, what can I do for you?"
The grey griffon in golden armour made his way into the room and stood to attention.
"Ma'am I was wanting to talk to you about applying for a promotion." He said straight up.
"I see Gallus, but isn't this something you should take to General Spitfire?"
"Well, that's what I was doing in her office this morning. The training programme I'm looking at requires royal permission. So she said I need to speak to you." Gallus replied. He was clearly nervous about how this conversation was going to go.
"Please, at ease Gallus." She insisted. Gallus let his posture slacken a little. "What are you looking to do then?"
"I'm looking for a promotion to Commandant of Defence Ma'am." He replied, covering his nerves with the confidence of a soldier. Twilight was surprised. Gallus had once wanted to join the Royal Guards for the action and adventure that came with being posted. He had once aimed for the role of Squadron Leader because the Flyers flew around Equestria the most, seeing the sights of the land.
"Are you sure Gallus? If you take a position of Commandant in the guards, you won't be able to switch and become Squadron Leader in the Flyers."
"Ma'am, I'm sure. I want to keep helping out around the palace. I'm close enough to see my friends in Ponyville, I've been here long enough that I can run day-to-day chores. I'm older than I used to be I'm ready for more responsibility. And anyway, professor Rainbow Dash once taught us all the importance of loyalty, and this is my way of being loyal to the friends I've made here, as well as my old friends. If I join the flyers, I'll visit Canterlot and Ponyville a lot less."
Gallus seemed sincerely reflective. He'd evidently given this a lot of thought. Twilight looked at him from behind her desk with a renewed perspective on her old student. She was proud of him, it was a big decision to make, to settle down in one place rather than adventure Equestria.
"Captain Gallus, if this is what you wish, I will speak to Spitfire about it in the morning to make it official." She took a pause to allow her words to sink in for Gallus. She could see a sense of relief from behind his well kept poise. "If you need, come straight to me, you can still apply for the Squadron Leader post until you are officially promoted."
"Thank you Ma'am. I won't." He bowed to Princess Twilight before making his exit.
Twilight took a moment to reflect upon their conversation.
Gallus really had come a long way, and even now, he was continuing to surprise her.
She started to well up, but she shook it off and smiled. She checked for her mailbag and satchel. Picking them both up with her magic, she allowed the satchel to rest over the dip of her back. Then she trotted back down the same corridor she had earlier, towards Canterlot tower. Closing her office door sweetly behind her.