//------------------------------//
// A Simple Request/Please? 
// Story: Temporary Rulers 
// by Nineveh Orion 
//------------------------------//

Canterlot had changed much since the last time she had seen it, Celestia thought with a smile, as she and Luna exited the train and tried to mingle with the crowd. Even from the station, they could see the changes.

Some of which they didn't have to look far for. Around them, every creature native to Equus went here and there on whatever business they had. Few paid them much mind, and those that did, didn't linger long before moving on.

And that was something that both sisters were happy with. To most creatures, they just seemed overly tall and majestic. But considering who lived in the castle, no one seemed to mind.

"You would think more would recognize us," Luna grumbled slightly as they left the station behind and entered Canterlot proper. Though much had changed, they could still see the city they had once called their own.

Celestia shook her head. "Princess Twilight may keep the Festival of the Two Sisters running year after year, but no one but her, Spike, Cadance, and Princess Flurry Heart, remember us as ever being real."

Luna rolled her eyes. It sounded oddly familiar to her. But even she could recognize that this was not the same as what had spawned Nightmare Night all those centuries ago. Something she still hadn't fully forgiven her sister for.

She watched the crowds. Here and there, mixed-race couples went about their daily lives, and no one said a thing about it. At one time, this might have shocked her to the core. Now, it only made her smile more.

"She really has done amazing things. I never would have thought any of this could have been possible, let alone even tried," Luna said, as she watched a pony and griffon family shop at the market.

Celestia's smile grew as she watched the family laugh at some joke the stall owner had told. "She has. Twilight has done far more for Equestria and the world than we ever did." Her smile softened as she looked up at the castle's towers, and the pink starburst symbol that hung from several banners. "I could not be more proud of her."

Luna rolled her eyes. "Don't tell her that. She'll have a heart attack and launch into an hours-long speech about how everything we did blows what she and her friends did out of the water."

Celestia giggled. "And I would remind little miss Sparkle that it is rood to argue with your elders. She may still see me as her teacher and mentor. But I am proud to have been left behind in what she has done."

Luna nodded. "So am I."

During all of this, the two sisters had come to the Gates of Canterlot Castle. A yak guard was waiting for them. To their surprise, the guard did not stop them and merely pointed them in the direction of the Throne Room.

Luna scoffed as soon as they were out of earshot. "I think we can find our own way around. We used to live here you know."

Celestia gently prodded her sister with a wing. "Luna. She was just doing her job. And it has been a long time since we walked these halls. Maybe Twilight changed things around."

Luna shook her head. "That would require rebuilding the castle again. I do not see Twilight as somepony who would do that."

Celestia hoped that was the case. While Twilight seemed to have outgrown her Twilighting episodes, as Spike called them, stranger things had happened. She hoped she was wrong of course.

It was hard enough knowing the newly rebuilt castle in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bell before they left for Silver Shoals. She didn't want to do that again.

Eventually, after several missed turns and having to be redirected by one guard or another, the pair came to the Throne Room doors. A griffon guard seemed to have been awaiting their arrival, for as soon as they came close enough, he pushed the doors open for them without a word, and silently closed them again behind them.

Walking down the aisle was a novel experience, both Celestia and Luna would agree. Along the walls, the many stain-glassed windows told many stories, some they knew, and some they did not.

The many adventures of Twilight and her friends still brought a tear of joy to Celestia's eyes even now, and while the Young Six's weren't as numerous, she was still proud of them. But two stood out the most for her and Luna.

The window commemorating High Princess Twilight Sparkle's ascension to the sole throne of Equestria was a day that still stood out for them, and the window showing Flurry Heart's ascension to the throne of the Crystal Empire was a day the empire still talked about.

Cadance and Shining Armor had never looked so proud of their daughter than they had that day. And even Twilight had outdone Pinkie Pie in having the biggest smile of those there for the celebration.

Some windows though, only a few ponies knew the significance of. One showed Twilight and her friends facing down a corrupted Sunset Shimmer at the Fall Formal, and another showed the girls all together now, facing down the Dazzlings at the Battle of the Bands.

All the windows though led to one point, the centerpiece of the whole room. At the far end of the room sat the High Throne of Equestria. On it sat Princess Twilight Sparkle in all her regal glory. Her expression remained neutral as Celestia and Luna came to the foot of the throne.

As one, the two sisters bowed. "To what do we owe the honor, Princess Twilight?" Celestia asked formally, her expression one of reverence.

"What would you have little old us do?" Luna asked, bowing just a little more.

Princess Twilight rose from her throne and walked down the steps to the same level as the sisters. Here, the height difference between them became obvious. Where once Celestia had been the tallest of the alicorns, now Twilight Sparkle stood even taller than her.

For a moment, nopony said anything as the three stood there. Finally, Twilight's mask broke, and she broke out into a fit of giggles. "Oh, would you two get up already! I won't have you, above anypony, bowing to me."

That broke the damn as Luna and Celestia both started to giggle as they stood up. Twilight was quick to pull them into a hug, one they were happy to return. They held it for several moments before breaking apart.

Celestia smiled up at her former student. "It is good to see you again Twilight."

"Indeed. I was becoming bored with Silver Shoals if I am, to be honest. It feels good to be back in Canterlot after so long," Luna added.

Twilight's smile slipt somewhat. "I just wish this was a social call. But I need your help," she sighed.

Now Celestia and Luna shared a concerned look. They did not like the tone Twilight was using. "Is there something wrong Twilight? Is it about Equestria?" Luna asked.

Twilight shook her head, her ethereal mane whipping around all three of them. "Not quite. Normally I'd ask Spike to handle this. But he's deep in his first Dragon Nap, and who knows when he'll wake up."

Celestia nodded. That had been an interesting letter between her and her favorite dragon, to say the least. She hoped he would be alright. "Then what is it? You know you can tell us Twilight," she said, placing a hoof on her fellow princess' shoulder.

Twilight nodded, sighed, and smiled sheepishly. "Celestia, Luna. Will you take over the rulership of Equestria while I am away for a bit?"

Neither Celestia nor Luna said anything for a moment, their mouths hanging open in shock. Finally, Luna replied for her sister as well in the only way she knew how.

WHAT?!

Twilight flinched as the full volume of the Royal Canterlot Voice hit her like a ton of bricks. She rubbed her ears to try and stop the ringing in them. "Oooh. I forgot how loud that is."

Celestia, while no less shocked than Luna, had the good graces to keep her response at a normal volume. "You cannot be serious Princess Twilight. Why would you even ask us?"

Twilight wilted under the looks she was getting. Somethings she had never grown out of it seemed. "Because I don't know who else to ask. Flurry Heart will be too busy with the anniversary of King Sombra's final death, and nopony else has any experience of running a country."

Luna scoffed. "Yes. Five hundred years ago maybe. Or have you forgotten that we are retired? And I for one plan to stay that way, thank you very much."

Celestia nodded, her gaze falling slightly. "Even if we wanted to, Twilight. I highly doubt that how we ruled is the same as you. I would be disappointed if you didn't try and change some things with us gone."

Twilight's ear fell, an old fear she had once had reawakened. "I know, and I have changed things. A lot of things." She shook her head, smiling a little. "I don't know how you managed Equestria for so long, even with each other."

That got a chuckle out of the sisters at least. "Long experience, and after a while, I just got used to it," Celestia replied.

Luna nodded. "I did not have the same length of time as Tia here to get used to it, but I hope you learned from some of our mistakes." She shot her sister a knowing look. "Like the Royal Cake Advisor."

Celestia shot her sister a hurt look, while Twilight giggled. "I did after the one you hired past on. I mean, I like cake as much as the next pony. But not to that extent."

Celestia grumbled as Twilight and Luna chuckled. But the mirth was soon cut short as Luna turned back to the princess. "Be that as it may, that still leaves what you are asking of us. You are asking us to take back the thrones we tried to get away from, a life we have put behind us."

Twilight nodded sadly. "I know. I wish there was literally anything else I could do, but I can't put this off any longer. The Lion Khanate has asked for me personally. I can't send anyone else. They're a young country, and this is their chance to start on the right paw."

Celestia and Luna shared a look. They had heard of the Lands of the Golden Pride. A young but proud country founded on the ruins of Zebrica, a country only known from its last surviving member, and resident Ponyville shaman, Zecora, from the time when Twilight and Spike had first moved to the then small town.

Nopony really knew what had brought Zebrica low, for Zecora never spoke of it. Only saying she was the last of her kind. Now the Lion Khanate was sure of itself it seemed, that it was reaching out to the most powerful country on Equus.

Twilight's head bowed, her eyes distant. "Please. Don't make me do it. Don't make me cross that line. Don't make me say it. Not to you two."

Celestia and Luna shared a concerned look, for they knew what Twilight was speaking of. When they had handed over the reins of rulership to Twilight all those years ago, they had also cut each and every tie they had to Equestria's government or rulership. Which meant only one thing.

Princess Twilight Sparkle could make it a Royal Command that they take over for her while she was away, and they, as citizens of Equestria, would have to follow the command to the letter, and they had no choice in the matter.

It was a power Twilight hated and had tried for years to get rid of it. But some things it seemed could never be changed. She had even asked Discord for help once. He had just laughed and wished her luck, before bouncing off to Fluttershy's cottage for tea.

Stupid Chaos Spirit.

Both Celestia and Luna could see that Twilight, now of all times, did not want to have to use that power. And neither of them wanted her to have to either. They didn't like the power any more than the princess did.

Celestia put a hoof on her former student's shoulder. "Twilight. You know we wish to help. But what can we do? Where would we even start? So much has changed since our time."

Twilight smiled at that as she ignited her horn. In a flash, a rather thick stack of papers floated before the three of them. "And that's why I have these! This is everything you need to know about how Equestria."

Luna rolled her eyes. Of course, Twilight had been prepared for this. Very rarely was she ever not ready for something it seemed. "And what of the sun and moon? They no longer recognize us or respond to us. For a time, they did. No longer. And Starswirl is no longer alive to help us to do so."

Twilight nodded as her horn flashed again, and now next to the papers floated a familiar-looking pendent. "This still has some of your magic in it. I haven't had to use this for almost four hundred and eighty years. I doubt either of you is that out of practice."

Celestia giggled a bit. That was true. And if she was being honest, she had been growing bored with retirement for some time now. Maybe it was time to do something new. Silver Shoals had been picked clean of all fun things to do a long time ago.

Even Luna would agree that she was bored out of her mind at the moment back home. There was very little to do that she hadn't already done. Her mail mare days were long behind her, and there were no monsters to keep her busy. Boring, in other words.

They had thought of moving to the Crystal Empire for a time. But the city seemed full enough with two alicorns already living there, even if Cadance was now a full-time foalsitter, as she had once been during her teenage years. From what they had heard, she was the most popular in the empire.

Who wouldn't want a former princess as a foalsitter after all?

Twilight could see the sisters thinking it over. She hated to have to drop all of this on them, but she had no other choice. She never wanted to have to make it a Royal Command to them either, afraid it would destroy the relationship she had with both of them.

She didn't want that. She had made that mistake once before, when she and Spike had moved back to Canterlot, instead of staying in Ponyville as, literally every creature, said they should. Twilight had to try to justify it at the time with excuses. But now she would change all that in a heartbeat if she could.

Finally, Celestia sighed and smiled as she looked again at the princess. "When do you leave?"

Twilight tried not to bounce happily in place, instead just grinning widely. "In two days. It's a long trip to the Lion Khanate, and I need all the time I can get to learn all I can about them."

Luna sighed, but she too smiled. "Well then. Off your royal tushy missy! Tis my throne now!" And with that, Luna teleported to the throne and sat down like she owned the whole place.

That got an eye roll out of Twilight and Celestia both, who both soon broke down into hopeless giggles.





"Now. Are you sure you have everything you need?" Twilight asked, eying Celestia and Luna, as the Royal Bagge Train was loaded onto her personal airship, the Amicitia.

The three of them stood off to the side, the princess and her entourage about to leave for the Lion Khanate. All was in readiness around the castle, the guards and staff slowly getting used to the two new alicorns in charge.

At least temporarily.

Though it had been two days since the sisters had once more taken the throne, the news of such was still a huge talking point around Canterlot. No one could ever remember something like this ever happening.

Celestia rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time. "Yes, Twilight. I am sure we have all need while you're away. We did do this for some time in case you have forgotten."

Luna nodded, smirking. "I for one am glad you got rid of the Grand Galloping Gala. I never saw the need for it. Among other things as well."

Twilight giggled. "I couldn't agree more. I don't know what was more useless. The Gala, or the Swanifying." She shuddered. "I still hate those swans. Even Fluttershy wondered why it was a thing."

She and Luna giggled while Celestia silently fumed. But there was little she could about those, but that didn't mean she had to like it. One thing though did strike her as odd, as she looked around. "Where is your student, Twilight? I thought you had one?"

Twilight nodded, looking eastwards. "Pearl Rose is indeed my student. But she's home visiting her family. She knows I will be gone for some time, so I told her to be with her family for as long as she wants."

Celestia nodded, smiling softly. "I am glad you're teaching her better than I did with you." She smirked. "I remember a certain filly who refused to go home and be with her family. I had to make it an order one year if I remember correctly."

"Hehe," Twilight giggled as she averted her eyes and looked at anything but her former mentor. "Pearl is a hoofull. I haven't seen a Pegasus with this much energy since Rainbow Dash. It's been even worse since she got her cutie mark."

Luna tapped a hoof against the ground. "I don't think you ever told us what her cutie mark is?"

Twilight nodded, smiling. "It's a red dragon, curled up and asleep. We're still not sure what it means. But Pearl's been bouncing off the walls with excitement ever since she got it."

Celestia's smile grew. She could not have been prouder of her former student for finally breaking with tradition, and taking a non-unicorn as her Faithful Student. If she remembered correctly, it had been Luster Dawn, Twilight's first, who had finally convinced her to do so. She smirked as a certain memory came to mind. "Did she, by chance, happen to hatch a dragon's egg?"

Twilight snorted in amusement. "Oh good grief no. I still don't know how you got Spike's egg, but I've never asked Ember if she could give us more for the School for Gifted Ponies."

Celestia and Luna shared a look. They weren't sure what to make of the change to the old School for Gifted Unicorns. While Celestia had finally admitted to Twilight some years before that it had been established, at its core, to find the next Element of Magic, she had hoped that now since Twilight was permanently bonded to it, she would leave it unchanged.

And speaking of Magic, Luna's eyes drifted upward to Twilight's crown and the starburst that sat there. While it had once been only a symbol on the crown, it was now in fact the actual Element of Magic itself, melded into the crown, and with Twilight at all times.

Twilight saw Luna's gaze and rolled her eyes. "The Tree of Harmony is fine. She does wish you two would visit her more often though." She sighed sadly, as her ears dropped. "The Treehouse is abandoned and deserted now. It's been like that for centuries. I'm the only one who even really knows it's still there, and I barely find time to go and just spend the day there. Smolder comes by now and then, but that's becoming rarer and rarer."

"She doesn't blame you for anything, does she?" Celestia asked.

Twilight shook her head. "No. She knew what it meant when she became friends with the others." She chuckled. "I think Harmony is just hoping she didn't waste so much by turning into a treehouse, and only one she built it for is still alive, but doesn't want to be in it."

"You could move there. Make the court come to you," Luna said.

Twilight giggled. "I've thought about doing just that. I'm the Princess of Friendship. Why not make my home in, basically, the source of everything that I am. Harmony is even coming to me now, all but begging me to move in. I think she's lonely. I still find it odd that she hasn't changed her appearance and still looks like a much younger me."

That got a giggle out of the three of them, as a guard came to Twilight's side and whispered something in her ear. Twilight nodded solemnly before looking at Celestia and Luna in earnestness. "The captain says everything is ready, and that if we want to be in the capitol in time, we have to leave soon."

Celestia and Luna nodded before they both pulled the princess into a hug, one that she had happily returned. "Then don't waste time with little old us. Go on. Equestria is safe hooves while you are away," Celestia said.

Luna nodded. "It's only for a month. What can go wrong?"