What Princesses Need
Part 12: Confidence
Luna sat a little dumb-founded on her throne, staring down at the hopeful couple before her. They had wandered into the night court at the stroke of midnight, by appointment, and asked for a wedding blessing. It was such an old tradition even Luna knew of it. In the olden days it was meant to be a blessing of fertility for the mare, and strength for the stallion. But they were so rare anymore that it really was a pleasant surprise for her. “You… don’t want to ask my sister to bless you?” she said carefully, rising from her throne.
“W-well, we thought it might be easier to see you, your highness, in the middle of the night.” The Stallion admitted. “My fiance and I wanted to start out right, and… and what better way than to get a blessing from one of our Princesses?” he inflated his chest a bit when the mare next to him nuzzled his chest.
Luna blushed just a little bit. Young love always got to her. It didn’t matter the era. Clearing her throat just a little, she descended regally from on high at her throne. Igniting her horn, she waited for them to bow. When they did, he touched both ponies with her horn, “We bless thee in the name of the moon, for fertility, for strength, and a happy union.” She said softly. “For strong foals, for a prosperous house, and a happy future.” The alicorn magic flowed into them. Really, it was just a simple luck spell, but the words meant more to them than anything. While Luna watched, they kissed passionately, wrapping up in each other. The Princess smiled daintily, and soon the couple left.
The Princess of the night wasn’t half-way up her dais to her throne when another appointment arrived. It was so strange-- Usually she was lucky to see half a dozen ponies in a night, but this night she’d seen well over a hundred! Unusually busy, with no discernible reason. Luna was sure there was one, but… to be honest she kind of liked it. It made her feel wanted. She wasn’t solving matters of extreme, world-changing importance, but there was plenty to do! She’d had a property line dispute, several wedding blessings, simple funding requests, a bold stallion wishing for a shooting star for he and his marefriend’s anniversary, several ponies wanting to join the royal guard… it just went on and on! Luna had never been so happy. Not in a long time. She relaxed into the role of gentle ruler rather well, when her ponies actually took the time to come and ask her about things. Being ignored was no good, but now finally things were being brought before her for judgement.
Outside in the hallway, beyond a few turns, Dr. Psyche was hard at work. He had a gaggle of ponies gathered, all of them recruited by mail, by posters, by messenger—all of them with disputes that had been awaiting a hearing in the Noon Day Court. He’d sent letters to all of them promising a much speedier settlement of their issues if they would but come to the midnight court. After all, didn’t Equestria have TWO Princesses? Half the ponies there were chatting amongst themselves, kicking themselves over and over for not thinking of this sooner. Of course Princess Luna had the power to settle disputes and such, she was a Princess! Just as much judge and super-power as Princess Celestia! Pffft, how silly were they? Good thing this Deep Psyche fellow was there with the proper paperwork to let them through the system that much quicker, what a nice guy! Some of them had been waiting weeks, others MONTHS, to get their important cases or other items heard in the royal courts. The Midnight Court was a new thing, not seen in a thousand years, but it did exist and function. They just had to stay up late enough to use it.
The caramel stallion Deep Psyche adjusted his bowtie with a smile, pushing his glasses up his nose. That would get the ball rolling. It would take a few weeks for word to spread properly. Amazing what raw, physical advertising could do. Stepping out of the line that he’d helped make and nodding to the solar guards that had the night shift, he clip-clopped down a private hallway and flopped onto a couch to rest. “Whew…” he said audibly, closing his eyes and rubbing them a bit. Interacting with Luna had flip-flopped his sleeping cycle, but he wasn’t about to complain. Not only had be been hoof-picked by a Princess, but he was helping the other. It was a huge responsibility. He pulled out his notebook to scribble for a bit. Building Luna’s confidence in the Midnight Court by spoon-feeding her ponies eager to see her would definitely help. It was a little under-hoofed, giving her Celestia’s run-off or overflow of ponies… but they were supposed to work together to run the country, so it really did work out for everypony. Trying to shrug off the mild stint of guilt, he flicked a fly away with his tail. Mumbling over his latest notes, he gazed down at the next planned event and moaned a little. This would be the hard part. “The audible letter.” He moaned, pressing his temples and trying to steel himself. The Midnight Court would be over in a few hours, maybe he could nap until then… he laid his head down wearily.
Princess Celestia leaned over him just as he was drifting off. “Doctor?” she said softly. Deep Psyche JERKED upright so hard he launched himself off of the couch and to the floor. “Oh, sorry about that.” The white alicorn smiled apologetically. “I received your message. You’ve decided on what my sister needs for treatment?” she leaned a bit, more than a little interested.
“Yes.” Dr. Psyche nodded, coughing a little and trying to regain his composure. “Yes, your Majesty. My tests have told me a lot, and we’re ready to move forward.”
“What can I do?” Celestia asked. “Anything?” she really wanted to be a part of it all. The white alicorn was like any older sister that truly cared. She wanted to have a hoof in making her sister better again.
“You’re not going to like the next bit.” Dr. Psyche said, scuffing his hoof on the marble tile a bit. “But it’s gotta be done, to make sure she gets all the way better.”
“What is it?” Celestia said.
“I need you to call off Shining Armor.” Said the caramel-colored stallion. Celestia’s brow rose and she opened her mouth to object, but the young doctor quickly added. “Luna needs to have at least a little interaction with Twilight Sparkle. She seems to at least slightly understand that what she did was wrong. I’m going to have her write a letter of apology, and then read it to Twilight.” He told her.
Celestia stared at him, just a little bit stunned. She wanted to forbid it. Forbid him from bringing Twilight Sparkle close to her unstable sister. But… the doctor had been helping Luna so far very brilliantly. She saw the slight upturn in mood, and the Midnight Court had been a little busy tonight when she’d walked past… “I…” Celestia fought a mental battle. “I…” POP! The solar alicorn flinched when a scroll suddenly blinked into existence in a flash of green dragon’s fire.
“What’s that?” Deep Psyche asked reflexively, looking up at her curiously. Celestia flipped the letter open, breaking the seal and unfurling it without a thought. She enjoyed Twilight’s reliable correspondence and all the profound lessons she… found herself… learning…? Celestia’s thoughts slowed and focused on the letter as her eyes raced back and forth across the page. “Princess?” he asked when he saw her face turn from amused to very, very perturbed. He’d never seen such a face on a regal creature like her. “Are you alright?” he put out a hoof to pull her out of whatever thoughts were upsetting her.
Celestia curled the letter into a scroll with a flick of magic, vanishing it to the private collection in her study. “That, Dr. Psyche,” She said it with royal authority, most of the pleasantness gone from her voice. “Was reason enough to bring Shining Armor back to Canterlot, and away from Twilight Sparkle.” She looked down at him, wings opening just a little bit aggressively. “Please, excuse me.” She waited for him to bow as protocol bade him to, and she turned with a snap in her step.
Deep Psyche stood there alone in the hall, scratching the back of his head. Something bad must’ve been in that letter… But! If it meant Twilight Sparkle would be easier to communicate with, he supposed it was a good thing.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Very Next Day…
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Celestia paced one way, slowly, then the other, at the top of her dais. The room was as quiet as a tomb. “Captain Shining Armor, step forth.” She looked down from her throne and platform at the pony before her. He was in full regalia, and took off his helm when she spoke his name. He set it next to himself and bowed deeply. No guards dared stand within twenty feet of him. Though the Princess had not flown into an audible rage—the ponies that saw her daily saw the signs. The stiffness of her wings, the snap in her hoof steps, and the mild twitch under one of her eyes. While the average pony may have yelled and screamed, only the keen eye could see true anger in Celestia’s face. Her face was a neutral frown when she spoke again, seating herself regally on her throne. “Please, explain yourself.” With a flick of alicorn magic, she conjured Twilight’s letter and put it under his muzzle to read:
Dear Princess Celestia,
Something terrible has happened. I thought I was being stalked by a Lunar Stallion, so my friends and I set a trap to capture him while Shining Armor’s help. What Shining Armor failed to tell us was that the Lunar Stallions are actually foals in disguise! I won’t pretend to know what that’s all about, I’m sure Princess Luna has her reasons for that situation—but we had him tied to a chair. Shining Armor and I interrogated him with mean words, food deprivation and ‘got your nose’ games.
I don’t know how to feel right now, Princess. I really did think he was stalking me to take me back to your sister again. I can still feel myself shaking. Please make sure the foal (I think Nightmare Moon called him “Melancholy”) is okay? I know you sent Shining Armor to protect me, under orders-- but he was taking things too far. I hate to throw my own brother under the proverbial bus, but if he acts like that I really shouldn’t have his protection.
I’ll understand if you want to punish me first, but please send somepony that will protect me and not actively try to harm anypony else in my honor. So long as Nightmare Moon stays far away, I’ll be perfectly happy.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
Shining Armor felt so damned by the last sentence or two that he sank to his knees, ears wilted. He bowed his head, unable to even look up at Celestia. “I… I…”
“I know you thought you were following my orders and protecting your sister, Shining Armor.” Celestia said, a slight tension in her tone that made the other ponies in the room shudder a little. “But I cannot condone you holding another pony against his will, knowing the… circumstances.” She said it delicately, remembering how many ears were in the room. The true nature of the Lunar Stallions was secret, and she didn’t trust every single politician, squire, and handmaiden to hold their tongues. “And the fact that you did this despite the circumstances disturbs me even more. That stallion did not have the capacity to harm Twilight Spar--!”
“You sent me to protect her!” Shining Armor blurted, tears in his eyes. “I was just following orders!” he held up the sentence like a shield. One mare in a far corner, a maid that was responsible for bussing drinks, fainted. Nopony just interrupted Celestia like that! “I did what I had to, so nothing bad would happen to Twilight! If even one of the Lunar Stallions knew what was being planned--!”
Princess Celestia’s horn IGNITED rather aggressively. A zipper flashed into existence over the stallion’s mouth, zipping closed. “Captain.” She said a little less gently. “Do not interrupt.” Surely his military training had taught him better than that. One didn’t rise to the coveted rank of Captain of the Royal Guard by interrupting one’s superiors. Celestia seated herself regally once more, drawing a deep breath. “Perhaps it was wrong of me to send you to protect your own sister. While you are undoubtedly the most skilled unicorn in Canterlot, in protection magic and shielding spells… being too close to your charge clouded your judgement.” Shining Armor fretfully played with the zipper on his mouth. There was no little thing to grab and unzip himself with! Celestia sighed just a little, her mind racing. “Captain.” She spoke his title to draw his eyes up to her. They were afraid. “You are a shield, not a sword. I sent you to Twilight Sparkle, my most precious student, to protect her and nothing else. If something beyond your ability had occurred, you should have contacted me. Actively striking out against a foe was not in your orders.” She turned to one side, profile, and her horn lit briefly. The zipper came off, vanishing. Shining Armor gasped a few times, rubbing his lips. “Recite rule seventeen of the Solar Guard Oath Contract.” She bade him with royal authority.
Shining Armor licked his lips a little, recalling the proper rule, “Rule seventeen of the S.G.O.C: 'I shall never stray from my orders for any reason beyond harm to myself or any ponies in my immediate vicinity. My orders are my bond.'” He wilted even as he said the words.
“You’ve broken your contract, Shining Armor.” Celestia said with a neutral expression. “Not only have you been called away from your post because of your actions, but you actively harmed another pony in the process. He was not yours to capture or interrogate.” She said, recalling the scroll from the floor in front of him back to herself. “Even Twilight Sparkle seems disturbed by your actions.” He looked at the floor again, deflating visibly. Celestia could see him shaking just a little bit. There was a long and terrible silence. Ponies looked back and forth between Princess Celestia and Shining Armor. Had… had he really interrogated somepony? Why? They didn’t understand. Finally the white alicorn spoke her most damning sentence. “Take off your stripes.” She whispered.
Shining Armor flinched like he’d been punched in the gut. “B-but… Y-Yes, your majesty.” He bowed his head and slowly obeyed, peeling the rank insignias from his shoulders. The purple covering bits of his armor fizzled out of existence, and his armor suddenly seemed dull and featureless. Celestia took the two little markers, setting them next to herself by magic. “What is my punishment?” he said boldly, without looking up at his Princess.
“I don’t know the answer to that, Shining Armor.” Celestia said, the gentleness returning to her tone. Her eyes betrayed a certain weariness. “I’m going to deliver you to my sister, Luna, and she will decide what to do with you. After all, it is she whom you’ve wronged, when you think about it.”
Shining Armor looked up, aghast. “What?! No! NO!” guards closed in on him and he was dragged, kicking and shouting, out of the throne room.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Next Evening…
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Twilight Sparkle looked up, startled, when there was a firm knock on her door. She closed the book she’d been studying, warily leaning up to peer through the newly made peep hole. A Lunar Stallion’s breastplate blocked her view of the outside world. She moaned, pressing her forehead to the door. Then, gathering up her willpower, she pulled the door slightly ajar. “What do you want?” she asked the would-be stallion.
He seemed to wilt at her words, but threw his chest out to announce. “Her Majesty Princess Luna wants to see you!” he’d clearly been fed this line, and was parroting it for her.
“No!” Twilight shrieked. “Tell her to go away! I don’t want to see her, or any of you!” she slammed the door animatedly. There was a silence, and the Lunar Stallion stood there staring at the door. He looked over his shoulder, mouthing ‘now what?’ at the others. They made wild gestures, and he nodded firmly. Turning back around, he knocked firmly again. Twilight, against her better judgment, opened the door a few inches again. “What?!” she demanded. “Stop harassing me!” she was getting more and more upset. To placate her, the pony stepped meekly back off of her doorstep.
“Princess Luna has been real sad lately.” He told Twilight. “She wrote you a letter, and doctor Psycho wants her to read it to you out loud.”
“Doctor Psycho?” Twilight said, brow going up.
“Doctor Psyche, thank you.” A stallion further out in the darkness said. “Forgive the intrusion, Twilight Sparkle.” He emerged into the light that Twilight’s windows were giving off. Twilight studied him critically. He was clean, groomed, and had a cutie mark of a brain with a question mark on it. “I’m Princess Luna’s therapist. Could you spare just a minute, to help our Princess get better?” Well jeez, when he put it like that--- she slammed the door again. Buck them all! Why couldn’t they just let her be?! “Miss Sparkle!” The caramel stallion stepped up onto the porch, past the pony that had knocked on the door. “I know you’re hurting! I do! You yourself may need therapy for what’s happend! But right now I’m more worried about Princess Luna!” he said it with such complete honesty Twilight was dumbfounded. She stared at her door, almost able to see the stallion on the other side as he knocked animatedly. Her brow lowered angrily. “She has to confront what she’s done before she gets well again, and to do that I need you!” He knocked more firmly. “Please! Please just open the door and stand there, you don’t have to do anything else!” he promised.
Twilight considered, but turned her nose up. She didn’t have to do ANYTHING for the mare that tried to… tried to… she shuddered, her throat constricting. She shuddered again, squeezing her eyes shut and breathing a little shakily. She hadn’t told Spike, or the others, for that matter, all the little details. She had a tiny, tiny little pair of marks on her lower pelvis. Nightmare Moon had all but MARKED her, in a very private area. With those curved… terrifying fangs! She whimpered a little, then stomped away from the door.
Suddenly there was more knocking, but lower on the door. “I have a Crunch-licious!” promised a small voice outside. Twilight stopped. Who was that? “Please come outside?” it said hopefully. The purple mare came to the window, looking outside. On the ground was a Lunar Stallion’s helm, and on her doorstep next to the doctor was a peach-colored little colt with a candy bar. He was waving it at the door, as though the deliciousness would seep through the wood and tempt Twilight Sparkle outside. She stared. They really were foals.
In the gathering of Lunar Stallions, another suddenly pulled his helm off. Before her very eyes, he shrank down onto a powder blue little unicorn with bright red eyes. “I’ve got a bag of marbles!” he shouted bravely, running forward and putting it on the doorstep. When no Twilight emerged, he jingled the bag a bit. “There’s even a cats-eye in there! Please come outside!” his tiny, shrieking voice crackled like a stallion in puberty.
“I’ve got this super rare Yugimon the Gathering card! Mint condition!” Another foal emerged bare-headed from the herd of stallions and placed his offering in front of the door. Twilight stared, her mouth slowly going agape. “Please come outside?” he begged for his Princess. One by one, until the herd of armored stallions was moving as a unit, they piled offerings up onto Twilight Sparkle’s doorstep to get her to open the door and come outside again. Trading cards, crayons, candies, marbles—anything of value they had on them. They wanted so badly for Twilight Sparkle to like them, so Princess Luna could be happy again. A massive pile of magic helmets lay to one side.
The doctor stood stone still, positively flabbergasted at the scene. “You’re all colts! Little colts!” he shrieked, pointing at them in disbelief. The herd of little ponies romped around him, penning him in and pulling him away from the doorstep. They didn’t want him touching their pile of cool stuff, after all, that was for Twilight Sparkle.
The doorknob turned, and the doctor whipped around quickly, stepping back. Twilight stood, silhouetted by the light coming from inside the library behind her, in the doorway. “I… just have to stand here?” she said quietly, looking down at the children’s toys piled in front of her. The herd of little ponies looked on, beaming. Dr. Psyche nodded quickly, and turned. He made a gesture at the deepest shadows nearby.
Twilight’s heart and throat constricted fearfully. Luna emerged from the blackness, head submissively low. She barely dared to look at the purple mare, she was such a pathetic-looking creature. It crossed Twilight’s mind that yes, she did look like a therapy patient with a face like that. She looked ashamed and very vulnerable. The dark alicorn was sheepish, looking about herself as the herd of colts gathered around her and seated themselves. One of them, a little unicorn colt called Pen Maker, leaned into his tiny saddlebag and got the letter. Princess Luna had written it herself, but he’d been given the special job of carrying it all the way to Ponyville with them. He leaned up and Luna took it gingerly.
Dr. Psyche watched Twilight Sparkle the entire time. The poor mare looked ready to bolt. It wasn’t everyday that somepony was directly confronted with their molester. She was being very brave. Very, very brave. Was she trying to prove something to herself? That she could stand up to her aggressor and still be left standing when things were over? He stifled himself, trying not to analyze the harassed mare too much. He was here for Princess Luna. Perhaps another day Twilight Sparkle could receive help from him. For now, it was time for Luna to heal. One case at a time, he coached himself. Trying to maintain a level of professionalism, he heaved a steadying breath and stepped off of the doorstep and to one side. He didn’t want to obscure anypony’s view.
Princess Luna looked meekly at Twilight Sparkle. Those eyes. They accused her. They feared her. Just like so many eyes before them, but on a more personal level. She felt her back legs shaking, and the confidence boost she’d gotten from the Midnight Court began to fizzle out. Swallowing quickly, she noisily unfolded the letter that she’d written. Clearing her throat. “T-To Twilight Sparkle.” She recited, holding the page up to hide her face. “We art sorry for what happened in the cave some days ago. We are not well, and are seeking professional help at this time. Perhaps after time has passed and we art well again, we might become friends.” Luna perked her ears, looking up to see if Twilight was still there. She was. “We know thou may not ever forgive us for what happened, but we wish thou to know we’ve seen how sick and wrong it was—we wish to make amends in any way we can, if thou names it in the future.” She paused again when a lunar colt nuzzled one of her shaking legs. “Thou deserves a better Princess. We shalt be better. Luna.” She finished out with her name. It was a short little note, but she meant every word.
There was a long silence as Luna clumsily folded the letter and gave it back to Pen Maker, who put it back in his little pack. Twilight stared, unsure of what to do next. “That was all, Twilight.” Dr. Psyche stepped in before anything fell apart. “Thank you for helping us.” he smiled brightly. Twilight felt her left hoof moving, and she slowly closed the door. There was an INSTANT scramble by the foals to recover not only their helms, but their valuables. Finders keepers losers weepers! Luna stood there, a little stunned at herself. Her doctor appeared at her side, smiling grandly. “That was very good, Luna!” he praised her. “That was very brave of you. I’m very proud.” Luna smiled faintly, but looked at the door that hid Twilight Sparkle. She had so, so much more to say. Please forgive us, we shalt give thee anything! Anything at all! We art a monster, being tamed, please do not cast us out! But no… no the little letter she’d had was all she could bring herself to say. “Wait until we get back to Canterlot, your sister will be glad to hear about your progress!” Deep Psyche said, grinning. “How do you feel? Any better?” he asked.
“A little.” Luna said in earnest. “Saying it to Twilight’s face made it count for more, we think.” She said it slowly, as though unsure of herself. Her therapist smiled and nodded. She was beginning to understand. And a patient who understood could begin to heal.
Inside, Twilight Sparkle was writing a letter to Princess Celestia. Spike had already gone to bed, so she had to do it herself. That and, well, it was a personal subject. “Dear Princess Celestia.” She was quietly reciting, even though she was the one writing it. “Princess Luna came and apologized to my face today. That was very brave of her, I think…”
End of Part 12