//------------------------------// // Starlight's Village Decision // Story: CMC Going Away // by PonyJoel //------------------------------// Night Glider and Booster arrive at the village. They see everypony preparing for the arrival of Princess Celestia. Also, seeing Starlight setting up a voting booth. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo are helping Sugar Belle and Party Favor setup decorations and making dessert. Night Glider sees ponies feeling unnerving and some with confidence with their decisions. Boosters see some waiting for the inevitable. Two hours later, Princess Celestia sees the village from the mountain top. She sees the town preparing for her arrival. Princess Celestia sighs and hopes everything will work out as she plans. Princess Celestia descends to the entrance of the village with her belongings. She takes several deep breaths to recompose herself as she trots. "She's coming!" A random pony shouts. Everypony gets in position and adding the final touches for the Princess's arrival. Princess Celestia enters the village and, everypony welcomes her. Starlight goes up to Princess Celestia. "Welcome back, Princess Celestia." "Thank you, Starlight," She sees the voting booth. "What's with the voting booth?" Celestia asks while knowing the answer. "To determine your fate. To see if we say yes to your stay or no." "Fair enough." Princess Celestia heads over to the large table set and sits in the middle. Starlight sits next to the Princess as everypony else gathers at the table. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo go inside with Sugar Belle to help her bring out food for everypony. Mane Allgood and Snap Shutter sit across from the Princess. Lofty and Holiday have decided not to join but, they have given Scootaloo their vote. "So, how is everyone doing since I last came here?" Celestia calmly asks. "We're doing fine, for the most part, Princess," Night Glider said. "Well, right after you left, we held a meeting to determine whether or not you will live among us. Hearing that you want to live here took us by surprise," Double Diamond said. "Definitely," Party Favor concurs. "How about you, Celestia," Starlight asks. "How have you been?" Princess Celestia sighs. She takes a deep breath. "I've have not been alright for the most part. I found more evidence of the Royal Guards disregarding their morals for bits. Disregarding everypony's lives throughout Equestria except for Canterlot. Thanks to the Royal Guards, my reputation as a Princess is tarnished." Some ponies were quiet. They can feel how the Princess is feeling. So much shame and sadness the Princess is carrying in her. "Do you feel controlled by the Royals and Nobles in Canterlot?" Starlight asks. "Brainwashed is the correct term. Countless meetings with the Nobles and Royals, in the end, it was meaningless and wasted time. I could have used it to bond with more ponies while performing my duties in Equestria. For the first time, I feel like I'm free. I can now concentrate on the betterment of Equestria. No more distractions from them." "Celestia," Snap Shutter calls out. "Do you plan on bringing an attraction with you from your departure?" "Yea?" Some ponies questions, including themselves in the discussion. "No. No pony from Canterlot would be able to follow me here. I gave them something to look at when I left. They'll be watching my sister Princess Luna as she becomes a full-time Princess in Canterlot." "Really? You passed the torch to Luna?" Mane Allgood surprisingly asks. "I did. I saw a lot of reactions coming from everypony in the throne room. The Royals and Nobles were more shocked than everyone else." "Wow, I bet they felt a change of targeting Luna for manipulation," Snap Shutter states. "Nah, Luna is two steps ahead. She is aware of what they have done in the past. Plus, Discord is there to aide her. Princess Luna will become a better Princess in Canterlot than I." Several ponies leave the table to assist Sugar Belle as she and the CMC brought out trays of food. They place sandwiches, cupcakes, fruits, vegetables, spaghetti, pies, cakes, and different types of juices on the table. Princess Celestia sees how everypony works together as a family. During her time in Canterlot, ponies only work together for money and bragging rights. To show off their statues and boast to anypony around. Princess Celestia smiles as everypony sees a tear fall from her eye. "Everything okay, your highness?" Starlight asks. "Just a change in scenery. Something I haven't seen in a long time, Starlight Glimmer," Celestia smiles. Starlight ponders on that statement, something she hasn't seen in a long time. Some ponies are curious to know why Celestia would say that. Are her workers that horrible in Canterlot? "Excuse me, Princess. What do you mean by a change in scenery?" Booster asks. "You mean to tell us that ponies in your castle aren't a family type?' Starlight turns to Booster. He beat her to the punch in asking that question. Princess Celestia wipes a tear as everypony else gathers at the table. "Well," Celestia clears her throat. "My workers and maidens at times are not the family type in Canterlot Castle at times. Whenever they serve me, they used it for bragging rights towards other ponies in Canterlot. Some boasts, some showoff, and some didn't like each other. When they work together, they don't work as a family but as separate. Trying to get a paycheck as money talks in Canterlot. When I see some of you helping Sugar Belle, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo just now, you decided to help them on your accord as any family would." "So, would you say there is some corruption in Canterlot, and you were blind to it?" A random pony asks. "Yes," Celestia nods. "Being in Canterlot keeps me busy when I'm not having meetings with the Military." "If you were to stay, what are you planning to do next?" Booster asks. "Relax for the first time in my life. Plan on creating the Equestrian Protection Unit. Become a better Princess of Equestria." "Will you promise to keep our village isolated? Will you allow us to give the justice bad ponies had made in our lives? Be part of the Justice System? Be part of the family-type we have here and not use us as servants?" Night Glider asks. Without hesitation, Princess Celestia removes her crown and places it on the table. She turns to look at everypony. "I will not bring unwelcomed attention to the village. It shall remain off the grid as promised. Your justice system, I will not be part of it, but I will respect it. I want to live here and build a family-bond with my fellow ponies. I have not done that since I left the Castle of the Two Sisters. Its time I get back into it. I will not use you as my servants. When I need something, I'll go get it." Everypony now rethinks their decisions. Some are chatting with each other. Night Glider didn't anticipate the Princess to respond the way she has. Night Glider was expecting something different from the Princess. "Hey, are you just telling us what we want to hear, or are you saying that from the bottom of your heart?" A random pony shouts. "What I say is from the bottom of my heart. I'm not a Princess that lies to my fellow ponies," Princess Celestia calmly replies. "Alright, I think that'll be enough questioning," Starlight said. "Yea. We heard what we needed to hear," Double Diamond said. "Let's eat," Party Favor said. Everypony in the village eat and chat more. Opening themselves to the Princess and sharing stories that made them happy and laugh. Princess Celestia looks up at the sky. She excuses herself for a second to lower the sun as Luna is raising the moon. She goes back to listening to some stories Snap Shutter is sharing. After a while, everypony gets up and goes to the voting booth. Princess Celestia is eager to know the results, but she knows what the outcome will be. After a half-hour of voting, Starlight takes the ballot box and counts the votes. "It's unanimous. Princess Celestia, you can live here in the village." Princess Celestia smiles. She wasn't expecting a unanimous result. She had a feeling she'll get to live here for sure. "So, where will I be staying?" "We have a house for you, Princess," Starlight said. "Yea, we'll show you," Scootaloo said. Starlight leads the way as Celestia follows. She uses her magic to levitate her belongings. After a two minute walk, Starlight steps aside. The house is next to Booster. Celestia walks in to see the household. She smiles and turns to her fellow neighbors. "Thank you," Celestia smiles as she becomes teary. "You're welcome," Everypony said in unison. "One more thing, call me Celestia. No need to address me as Princess since I'm your neighbor now." "Will do, Celestia. See you tomorrow," Starlight said as she closes the door to Celestia's new home. "Alright, everypony. Let's clean up." As everypony starts cleaning up, Princess Celestia wanders around in her new living quarters. She walks upstairs to find a bathroom and a bedroom. She places her belongings in the bedroom. "Hi, Celestia," Discord greets, coming out of Celestia's bag. "Hey, Discord. Were you in my bag this whole time?" "Yes. I shrunk myself and heard everything that was said. I am this village's protector, after all." "Oh, that's right. I forgot about that." "It's fine. Just thought I check and see how you are doing." "I'm better than ever, Discord. A new chain of events will unfold for the better of Equestria. I'm free from the wealth. Free from Canterlot. How is Luna doing?" "Luna is turning things around in Canterlot already. Prioritizing what is important in Canterlot and what isn't. I have a clone spying on her to inform you of all the crucial details." "Thanks, Discord." "My pleasure, Celestia." The two embrace as Discord teleports himself to Canterlot. Princess Luna has asked of him to handle the nighttime duties of entering the dream realms. Princess Celestia decides to call it a day. She'll write to her sister and Twilight tomorrow morning.