Shining and I talked about how we should approach Twilight about their incoming wedding. The planning went nicely until a code red was given to all guards Shining took off towards the throne room and insisted that I should stay behind. It seems some powerful pony had managed to get past the wards and was inside the throne room with Celestia and Luna. I let Shining leave and waited for a couple of minutes before I followed him.
"Like I'm going to sit out and stay still while my aunts are in danger" I talked to myself while flying towards the throne room. Finally getting there I heard some talking and slowly sneaked to peak from the entrance Celestia was speaking.
"My guards meet our mother Faust Lorey." She said. And that info hit me like a train Aunties have never spoken anything about their mother. I jump out of hiding and yell the only thing that comes into my mind.
Your What!
Celestia looked at the entrance seeing Cadance standing there her face full of questions
"Ah Cadance just the mare I was hoping to see come there is someone you should meet." Celestia waved for Cadance to come in and meet their mother. Walking inside, after a short walk, she was in front of Faust. Taking a close look she could see who gave their looks to her aunts, but she had to be sure and she used her magic to see what her heart held. Not finding anything else than motherly love towards Celestia and Luna she let out a sigh of relief offering her hand to introduce herself.
"It's nice to meet you my name is Mi Amore Cadenza Princess of Love, but I like to be called Cadance." Faust took hold of her hand and shook it having a warm smile on her face.
"And I'm called Faust Lorey or just Faust. I was called by my nickname Queen of Magic a long time ago if what my daughters tell me is the truth." Faust said. More guards from both Solar and Lunar guard have arrived to see what was happening hearing the nickname "Queen of Magic" made many unicorns flinch and murmurs could be heard from them all.
Cadance had the same look on her face that Twilight had. She couldn't believe what she just heard wasn't the Queen of Magic just a myth that they told in School?
"I'm sorry I must have misheard you. You called yourself Queen of Magic. As The Queen of Magic from those old stories?" Cadance asked.
"That was our mother's title or nickname she was an unrivaled magic-user back then like she is now." Luna said.
"Stop it Luna it's nothing special. It's just a nickname I got nothing more." Faust said.
"Oh... Saving Equus from demons when no one else could resist their mind magic is nothing?" Celestia commented.
"You two stop this teasing this instant!" Faust raised her voice a little and stomped her hoove down the floor making it crack.
"Alright we stop mom no need to get angry." Luna said. Faust gave a smile, but before she could say anything she fell to her rump and started to pant.
"How? It's like back when I was in the University of Magic this shoul..." Faust didn't get to finish her sentence and she passed out.
"Mom!" Celestia and Luna rushed to her and kneeled next to her passed-out body. Cadance did a fast check with her magic and found nothing wrong except a little magic exhaustion.
"Aunties, she's okay. She's just tired." Cadance said. Celestia gave a nod.
"Day and Night court is suspended for today. We need to take care of our mom and continue as normal tomorrow." Celestia said and took hold of Faust's sleeping form with her magic and started to carry her towards her bedroom and Luna followed.
Faust was having fragments of her time in the void while she was sleeping. Each day in the void was a fight for your life. The void creatures didn't know what mercy was and all they wanted was to consume. Feeling one of these creatures pierce her stomach she woke up. "No!" She yelled placing her hand on her stomach and was looking around where she was. Noticing Luna and Celestia were sleeping next to her on both of her sides she lowered her head down onto the pillow.
"Are you okay mother?" Luna said looking at her worriedly. "I'm alright my sweet little star. Just some bad dreams." Celestia turned to face her too. "We asked for a doctor just to be safe. He told that your magic is fluctuating oddly like something is holding it back." Celestia said. Faust was trying to think what could have happened to her in the void, but she couldn't recall much of her time in there "I'm sorry my little blaze I don't know." Faust said.
"Sister it's time to lower the sun and rise the moon." Luna said and got up and walked to the balcony Celestia followed her. Royal sisters lit their horns and focused on moving their celestial bodies to their place the light fading from their horns they walked back in.
"We have much to catch on mother, but I must attend to the realm of dreams. I hope we can have time together later." Luna said and flew towards her tower. Celestia sits down on the bed next to her mom.
"I... we missed you so much. When we were told you were gone I didn't know what to do. That stallion who looked after us after you were gone did his best and raised us like we were his own." Celestia talked.
"Discord... You sweet idiot. Thank you once more." Faust thought to herself silently while listening to Celestia.
"Did you... Were you two an... you know an item... Together I mean." Celestia asked. Faust's face went red hearing the question.
"That's a little harder to explain. If you don't mind I wouldn't want to talk about that right now." Faust said while having crimson red cheeks.
Celestia had a smile on her face. "I won't press it if you don't want to talk about it. He would have been a nice stepdad and I'm sure dad would have wanted you to be happy." Celestia said and in turn, her face went red before asking.
"I missed our little cuddle time back when I and Luna were foals could we do it again?" Celestia finished trying to keep a straight face.
Faust smiled warmly "Of course Tia. I know we can't get back lost time, but this is a good replacement." Faust said and tapped her bed on her left side and Celestia laid down next to her mother. Faust starts to rub Celestia's mane and starts to hum an old lullaby and soon Celestia falls asleep and not long after that Faust follows her into the realm of dreams.
The night moves forward while Celestia and Faust are asleep. Faust wakes up hearing someone entering the room through the balcony. Opening her eye a little to see it was none other than Luna. Opening her eyes completely she looks at Luna who had a very downed look on her face.
"I know that look, Lulu. You know you can talk to me about anything." Faust said while carefully getting into a sitting position as not to wake Celestia. Luna sits on Faust's other side looking like she's ready to burst into tears.
"I'm sorry" Luna says without looking her mother into her eyes. Faust looks questioning at Luna.
"Sorry? Sorry for what?" she asks. Luna looks into her mother's eyes and Faust can see her crying and feel her sadness and guilt radiating from her.
"I almost destroyed Equus by bringing eternal night into the world and tried to kill my only sister all out of jealousy. I failed you, father and Celestia. And I'm sorry for doing it. I'm just a monster." Luna said with shaky words and letting her tears flow freely. Faust couldn't take it any longer and pulled Luna into a hug.
"Shhh... My little star. There is nothing you must apologize to me. I'm the one who failed you both so I should be the one apologizing, not you." Faust says while holding Luna close to her and rubs her mane calming her down.
"How can you say that? Didn't you hear what I said? I'm a monster who tried to destroy all you and father stood for." Luna said still speaking shakily.
"You might be a monster, but you are my daughter. There is nothing you can do that would stop me loving you." Faust says while continuing to rub Luna's mane.
"But... I..." Luna tries to speak up but is interrupted.
"I don't know what happened to you when you did what you did. But I love you and so does Celestia. I'm sure whatever you did it wasn't you. I know my little star and she couldn't do something like that not willingly." Faust tells Luna and continues to soothe her.
Luna stays near her mother and holds her more tightly "Thank you." Luna says and Faust starts to hum her lullaby again while rubbing Luna's mane continuing to soothe her. It takes a while but Luna's tears are used and she falls asleep. Helping her to lay next to her Faust lays down in the middle of Luna and Celestia.
"Oh, Sun where ever you are I know you are proud of our daughters. Thank you for everything, Sun." Faust said before closing her eyes once again drifting back into sleep.
The night passed and three alicorns got up. Luna and Celestia lowered the moon and raised the sun. Celestia was little taken back on seeing Luna back in her room sleeping with them, but after Faust explained what happened Celestia understood why. Celestia guided her mother to the dining room to get some breakfast. All three ate some salads and hay fries after that Luna left for her room to continue her sleep.
"So Tia what are you going to do today?" Faust asked while they were walking through the halls of the castle. Faust could hear whispers and murmurs coming from ponies around them.
"I plan to show you what I normally do and when we have a break there is a certain pony I plan on to show you around." Celestia said. Entering into the room many ponies were sitting at the table and they all had some odd dresses on them or so Faust thought. One pony got up from his seat.
"Your highness may I ask what is she doing here?" Unicorn said pointing at Faust.
"I'm showing my mother what I do around here and you have no right to tell where she should be, Fire Spirit" Celestia said annoyed.
"Your mother yeah right. I can sense her magic reservoirs and she has nowhere near your level. If she was your mother I'm sure she would be stronger than you. I challenge this imposter to duel with our magic." Fire Spirit said. Celestia's face was starting to turn red from anger, but before she could say anything Faust beat her to it.
"Oh, like those training battles back in the academy I could use little refreshing." Faust said and Celestia slammed her face. Nothing could be done now the duel was accepted so there was no way for her to stop it. That young noble is so rash and I'm sure his family will be angry after his defeat after this one.
"Very well, clear the area I will make you two an area to proceed with your duel." Celestia said and lit her horn to summon an area where they could continue with their duel. The rest of the nobles gathered around to see the event. Fire Spirit was one of the most powerful Unicorns in Canterlot, but his opponent was an alicorn.
"Since I'm overseeing this dual I make the rules. Fire Spirit and Faust each of you must cast a spell to break others' defensive spell. The one to do it faster wins or the one whose defense isn't broken wins. Are the rules of this duel clear?" Celestia says and gets nods from her mother and Fire Spirit.
"Since you challenged her to duel you get to be the first to cast a spell to destroy Faust's defenses. Faust Lorey, which item or spell or other are you using to defend yourself?" Celestia asks.
Faust starts to think for a moment and sees some papers on the table. Lifting one with her magic she presents it.
"I defend myself with this." Faust says having a giddy smile on her face.
A clear tick mark could be seen on Fire Spirits head. "Are you mocking me!? Fine, you are somepony who should be in the institute for mentally sick ponies." Fire Spirit said and started to gather his magic and unleashed a devastating fire spell at the paper.
Celestia was looking at the display and gritting her teeth at the mention of her mother being somepony who is mentally sick it made her angry, but she held it back and didn't show it.
"Easy, as I said she is just a fraud." Fire Spirit said, but after the smoke disappeared the paper was there completely unharmed.
"That's not possible! She must have cheated somehow!" Fire Spirit yelled angry while pointing and accusing Faust of cheating.
"Rule number 1 of magic-using is Imagination. You are welcome to try it again." Faust said waving the piece of paper.
Fire Spirit was already charging up for the next spell, but Celestia landed between them.
"It's over Fire Spirit. Faust won the duel now back off." Celestia said while looking angrily at the unicorn.
Fire Spirit mumbled something to himself bowed down and left the meeting room.
"Now that's settled how about we continue onward to the meeting." Celestia said as the area she summoned disappeared into nothingness. Everypony gave an approving nod and the meeting was on the way. The meeting and the talk could be compressed into a one-word boring. After the last of the subjects were dealt they left the room and headed towards the dining room.
"Celestia? Are all your days like that?" Faust asked.
"Not all, but most of them are. Those nobles are so annoying they are like kids who want another dessert after the first one." Celestia answered and let out a long sigh. Arriving at the dining room the chefs bring some artfully crafted foods in front of them and they both begin to eat.
"So who is this special pony who is going to keep me company while you are busy?" Faust asked
"She should be here soon." Celestia said while eating and soon the main door to the room opened.
"Cadance welcome." Celestia said.
"So should I call you a grand-aunt or just Faust?" Cadance said while smiling.
"Faust is enough Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." Faust answered.
"Then I ask you to call me Cadance. After you're done with your food I'll show you around Canterlot." Cadance said.
"Thank you Cadance. Can't wait for it." Faust said eager for the chance to explore around this new time she was in, eating the rest of her food, and left the room with Cadance to explore around Canterlot.