Morning arrives at Mount Aris, and Queen Novo was still sleeping soundly. This was the first time the ruler of the hippogriffs got any real rest in weeks. She had been so busy maintaining her kingdom, working hard to make sure things have been going smoothly, negotiating new relations with other kingdoms, on top of also managing Seaquestria as well. Even with help from her daughter, Princess Skystar, the Queen was physically and mentally exhausted. So many restless nights and emotional woes took a toll on her. But now, she is enjoying every moment of her sleep. Perhaps she was visited by the Princess of the Night, but either way, she wanted to stay in bed and just sleep. But she may not be able to savor her slumber for much longer.
"Rise and shine, Mom! You know what they say, the early bird gets the worm!"
Skystar walks into her mother's room, eager to get the day started. Novo struggled to get up.
"Skystar, honey," Novo begrudgingly said, still half-asleep, "just 5 more minutes. Momma needs her beauty rest..."
"Come on, Mom." Skystar pleaded. "I made your favorite breakfast and some seaweed tea. Plus we have meeting with the Royal Sisters in Canterlot today!"
Novo reluctantly got out of bed. She loved the smell of fresh hippogriff scones and salmon bagels. It was worth getting up for. As they were getting breakfast, Skystar noticed her mother was starting to dose off.
"Is everything okay, Mom?" Skystar asked. "You seem a little off today."
Novo snapped out of her trance. "Hm? Oh, um, I'm fine. Just a little tired..."
Skystar was still concerned.
"I've just been working my behind off these past few weeks, and last night was the first time I got any real sleep. This whole thing is wearing me out. I think my feathers are starting to dull. Do you see them dulling, Skystar? Maybe I need to see my stylist. "
"You look fine, Mom." Skystar said. "Your feathers are as good as they ever looked."
"I don't know." Novo replied, sipping some of her seaweed tea. "What I could really use is a vacation! But I can't possibly take one now, not when I have so much to do both here and in Seaquestria!"
Novo looked outside and noticed the position of the Sun. She scarfed down the last of her hippogriff scones and salmon bagels, realizing what time it was.
"Perhaps we'll continue this discussion later." She lamented. "Come along, Skystar. We don't want to be late."
Novo and Skystar left the palace and took the Royal Airship to Canterlot, accompanied by several members of the Royal Hippogriff Navy. Novo always enjoyed seeing Princess Celestia. The two have quite the history together, dating back to before the Storm King's invasion. They've only gotten closer once the hippogriffs resurfaced again, and especially when the Storm King captured them and forced them to battle in his Colosseum.
At long last, the hippogriff Royals arrive in Canterlot for their meeting with the Sisters. Skystar and Princess Luna talked outside while Celestia and Novo spoke with each other in the throne room, where the Princess noticed Novo's rather sleepy appearance.
"Everything okay, Novo?" Celestia asked, concerned with the well-being of her friend.
"I'm fine, Celie." Novo yawned. "Skystar asked the same thing this morning. Just a little tired is all..."
Celestia remained unconvinced.
"I know exactly what's going on. Trying to do more than you can handle? I've done that a few times before."
"There's just so much to do, and I can't take a break as much as I really want to." Novo explained. "Even with Skystar helping me out, it's just a hassle doing so much and not getting any time to take a breather!"
Celestia was very concerned. Working yourself to the brink was not very healthy. She had a solution to Novo's problem, however.
"Luna and I once took a trip together, just the two of us. We needed to have a break after so long, and it was quite pleasant for the most part. You should do the same, Novo."
"But I possibly can't do such a thing," Novo sighed, "not at a time like this! Who would watch over things at both Mount Aris and Seaquestria? I couldn't put all that pressure and responsibility on Skystar! She's still so young!"
"Novo, you need a vacation!" Celestia wasn't fooling around. "I don't know what it will take, but you could use a break. Heck, if I have to take some time out of my schedule to go with you, then so be it. But you need some rest and relaxation, and that's final!"
Novo finally caved in. The prospect of going on vacation is tempting. She never had the chance to go on one because she had been too busy running her kingdom. She especially had to double down on her work when her husband died. She was worried about handing so much responsibility to Skystar, but she needed a long, relaxing break to rejuvenate herself.
"Alright, fine. I'll do it. But you really want to take time out of your busy schedule to join me?"
"If it means making sure you get the best vacation ever, then yes." Celestia was strong with her statement. "Plus we get to spend some quality time with each other and properly catch up! And we won't be fighting in the Storm King's Colosseum ."
Novo wasn't sure how to respond to that last comment. But she was delighted to hear that her best friend would accompany her on her vacation. A girl's trip was exactly what she needed. But how would she break the news to Skystar, and more importantly her subjects? It was something she had to think over.
"When do we start our little trip then?" Novo asked.
"Oh dear, I didn't think of that." Celestia pondered a bit. "When exactly do you want to start it?"
"As soon as possible!" Novo said. She was getting very excited about the whole thing. She looked a little embarrassed. "Um, sorry about that."
"It's fine." Celestia chuckled. "We can start first thing tomorrow."
And with that, the meeting wrapped up. It was starting to get late, and the hippogriff royals had to get back to Mount Aris. While on their way home, Skystar noticed Novo looking particularly excited. She's never seen her mother like this in a long time. She got curious.
"Okay, Mom. What's the big news?"
"What big news?" Novo tried to dodge the question. She wanted to wait until they got home to drop the news.
"You and Miss Celestia were talking about something. Something that's got you all bubbly. I wanna know what it is!"
"We just talked about important, kingdom-related things, honey." Novo said, again trying to dodge the question. "Its all things you would find boring."
"Anything else?"
"Skystar," Novo tried to keep her composure, "you're being nosey..."
"I've just never seen you this excited in forever!" Skystar pleaded. "Not since you and Dad were still together, or when you and Miss Celestia reunited. So please tell me! I promise not to tell anygriff else!"
Novo sighed. "Okay. Celestia is going to take me on a vacation."
"A vacation?!" Skystar beamed. "That's great, Mom! You definitely need one! I can totally run things while you're away!"
"Are you sure?" Novo said, feeling very concerned. "It's a huge responsibility running a kingdom, let alone two."
"Trust me, Mom," Skystar said, with beaming confidence, "I am a Princess. I've helped you out with plenty of royal business before, and besides, I'll be Queen someday. Think of it as training for the future!"
"Alright, if you insist. But it won't be easy." Novo felt a little at ease that Skystar would be able to handle things, but at the same time she was incredibly worried that her daughter might just be a little too eager. After all, she had a lot to manage.
While the reaction to the news seemed to have gone over well with the hippogriffs, it was a completely different story back in Canterlot.
"I can't believe you would agree to this, dear sister!"
Luna was not too happy when Celestia told her about taking Novo on vacation. In fact, she was fuming.
"Wasn't going on vacation enough for you? Now you decide to take another?!"
"Its not like that, Luna!" Celestia attempted to plead her case and calm Luna down. "I'm only doing this because Novo needs one. You saw how she looked today! She's working herself to the bone!"
Luna was still unconvinced. She hated the idea of covering Celestia's royal duties alongside her own. However, she did notice that Novo was a lot more tired when she saw her today, especially compared to Skystar, who was filled with so much energy.
"Please, Luna." Celestia said. "She's been through a whole lot. More than you know. Let me do this for her."
Luna thought about it. She was never close to Novo like her sister, but she understood the devastation she went through.
"Alright, fine." She sighed. "But I want you to cover my night shifts next weekend."
"Deal." Celestia said with glee. Finally, she was able to give Novo a vacation worthy of a queen. As she pranced to her room, she was pondering what she and Novo would do. There was so much of Equestria to see and experience! But then she thought it would be best to approach this at Novo's pace. Even so, Novo could barely contain her own excitement.
One thing was for certain, however: Celestia wanted to give Novo the best vacation ever.