//------------------------------// // Surprise Acceptance // Story: The Young Princess of Aurora // by Changeling-Writer //------------------------------// ”Mother, this will not be a negotiation, nor a dependent alliance, I merely want to see what Canterlot is like. It is the Crown Jewel of Equestria, after all. When would I get the chance to see it again? Not for another year." The pale blue unicorn on the throne sighed and rubbed her temples, trying to not look at the younger pony as she made irresistible pleads, “My daughter, you know I wish for nothing more than your happiness, but I have been denying Celestia contact for many decades now, just like all our ancestors. How will it look upon are kingdom and throne if I were to accept this one after so long?" She placed a hoof on the withers of the lavender mare before her, “You know why we must do this. Not only that, we have been kept secluded and nothing has happened to us, nor our ponies. Do you not want to keep this peace too?” The young pony nodded reluctantly, shuffling the feathery appendages on her back, her voice timid as she spoke “Of course I do, Mother, and I know, but...” She lit her horn in a magenta glow and an emerald book appeared before her, skimming through the pages of Equestrian history until it reached a bookmarked page, where it fluttered to a stop. The page was a short paragraph about the overview of the history of Canterlot, and pictures depicted the majestic castle on a cliff with the two alicorn sisters off to one side and a rough sketch of the Grand Galloping Gala to the other, her eyes moved over the rough sketching as intrigue and amazement sparkled in her lavender orbs. “I adore knowledge, but all I have learnt on Canterlot, the other Princesses and the nobles, are from my books! The Gala—” She pointed to the respective photograph, “—Is supposed to be the main event. You have let me scour the outskirts of Equestria with a disguise, and for that I am grateful, but I have found that many of the smaller townponies dream of going to their capital just to see this celebration! One we are always invited to, and always decline. Just once I wish to see it for myself." “Reading is my favorite pastime, I am aware, but even reading about things cannot compare to witnessing them firsthoof! I will have an opportunity to meet the Princesses, you have said that I will become Queen one day, does that not include knowing how to behave in the presence of other royalty?” The unicorn arched an eyebrow, “I have taught you well, I already know you understand how to behave yourself perfectly.” The lavender mare slumped, seemingly in defeat, “...I understand Mother.” She spoke, the book thudding softly as it closed once more in her lavender glow. She knew that her mother would have the last choice in the matter. The elder pony frowned at her daughter’s downtrodden look for a few moments, before finally relenting and sighing, “Alright, fine, we will attend Canterlot’s Gala just this once, alright, Twilight?” The beam she received was more than enough to wash away any doubts for the time being. It seemed that even she wasn't immune to the happiness that her daughter felt. Maybe a change of scenery would do them both nicely. Princess Celestia, Regent of the Sun and a Diarch of Equestria, made her way to her private dining room to have her usual dinner with her sister after a tiring day at court tending to the ponies’ needs. One never quite understood everything it took to stand in her shoes. She nodded briefly at the two guards outside of the room, who both gave a stoic, “Princess.” Before opening the heavy doors for her, then shutting them behind her. The responsibility of the throne being left behind at the door. Celestia gave a genuine smile at the sight of her sister having her salad as she greeted her, “Good evening, Luna.” Luna looked up from her bowl, “Oh, Tia! You’re here! How was your day?” The Solar Princess sat across from the navy alicorn and thanked the servant who bought her a serving of Luna’s exact dish, they always ate the same meal. It was simpler, and the meal always came quicker. “It was just the usual, nobles fussing over the slightest things, wishing to change something to benefit themselves... There was a bakery opening I attended though. A highlight to may day." The darker mare snorted, a half hearted frown pulling at her lips. “No wonder your flanks are getting bigger, Sister, you must cease having countless amounts of those chocolate delicacies every time you go to a store opening, I bet you chose the bakery one on purpose, did you not?” Princess Celestia gave an indignant huff, “I most certainly did not! Chocolate cake practically sings to me, Luna! And you know us alicorns have a higher metabolism anyways. I am a Princess of Equestria, I may do as I wish.” She finished her statement by pointing her muzzle to the sky with her eyes closed as an imitation of the Upper Class ponies in Canterlot before breaking down in a short bout of giggles. Celestia could only ever be this way with her sister, she was going to enjoy every moment together. Luna, for her part, merely rolled her eyes and took another spoonful of lettuce to hide her smile. She quickly finished her bite, her mouth opening to deliver another playful jab at her sister. Their meal was interrupted, much to the two sisters’ dismay, by Celestia’s senechal, Raven Inkwell, as she entered with the Princess’ permission after a sharp knock. “Your Highnesses,” Raven bowed at both members of royalty before rising with the nods she received, she pushed up the pair of glasses with a hoof before she spoke. “I thought you would like to know that all the nations you invited to the Grand Galloping Gala have replied, either declining or accepting, Princess.” Celestia smiled, “Wonderful, who’s coming this year, Raven?” The earth pony peered down at her clipboard, using a hoof to flip the page before she responded. “Well, dignitaries from Saddle Arabia, Griffonstone and Heilberg, along with Queen Meadow Blades of the Kirinia Empire and Queen Eventide of the Aurorian Kingdom.” The Sun Princess nodded, “That’s a—” She froze, staring at her aide in disbelief, her spoon full of vegetables halting before her muzzle. “...My apologies, what was the last name on that list again?” Raven Inkwell blinked, anxiety gathering under the wide eyes of both sisters, “Uh,” She fumbled with a quill, her eyes reading over the page once more. “Queen Eventide from the Kingdom of Aurora, Your Majesty.” The two alicorns just looked at each other for a moment, as if communicating through their facial expressions and causing Raven to grow uncomfortable, before Celestia cleared her throat, “Thank you Raven, would you prepare some suites for them just in case they require accommodations please?” The beige mare nodded and bowed once more before retreating from the room. Her quill scratching over the parchment as she started working on getting everything done for the Gala in three days. The sisters stayed in silence for a while, lost in their own thoughts before Luna decided to break the spell, her voice quiet as she asked what they were both thinking. “I do not understand, Sister, she has not been accepting our invitations or contact attempts at all, why would she be coming now?” Celestia shook her head, “I... I have no idea, Luna, I’ve been trying to set up relations with the Aurorian Kingdom for a while now. I send her invites for all our celebrations and events every year, Eventide never responds except to give a letter of decline. She doesn’t even attend the mandatory meetings with the other races herself, she sends a trusted ambassador in her stead. After the death of King Astrid she seemed to have gotten even quieter." She continued her train of thought, “I was starting to think that she was deliberately giving us the cold shoulder, it concerned me that such a powerful nation, a pony one at that, was cutting us off, but from the intelligence I have gathered, it seems like the Aurorians are secluded to all others as well, preferring solitude. A kingdom full of its own and only worried for her own. Isolationist to a fault for many generations of rules." Luna tapped her chin, “When we last saw Queen Eventide, she came as a young mare, she was cold and distant to the servants too, only interacting with us for business and hurrying off when it was concluded. I believe she said that she was not looking to pursue any alliances? Only to do her duties to her kingdom and her people. A noble goal if odd. Not even assisting with the griffin and dragon conflict. Or assisting with rebuilding after it was over." The Solar Regent hummed, “Yes, that was three decades ago, I remember she hid her emotions well behind a mask too... Eventide must have aged since then, no? I don’t think she has an heir…” “Indeed,” The Princess of the Night furrowed her brows, “King Astrid of her kingdom passed a decade ago, did he not? I do not recall them announcing a new Princess or a new King Consort since then either. Meaning she is likely the last in her line.” “What brings Queen Eventide to Canterlot this time then?” Neither royals spoke, for none knew the answer. They sat in this silence for a few minutes, not eating or speaking as they contemplated what would be happening. Finally, Luna let out a sigh and pushed her partly empty dish away from her, her sister following suite, “I guess we shall just have to find out on the day of the Grand Galloping Gala then,” She stood and smiled to the alabaster mare, “I bid you a good rest, Sister. As always, I shall guard the night. Rest well and may tomorrow be well.” Celestia returned the smile and bit her lip as Luna turned and walked off to her chambers. As a maid came to clear the plates, she could only think of the possible reasons why the elusive Queen would reach out now, of all times after countless years of ignoring the neighboring pony land. Yet for everything she thought nothing seemed to cover everything. She didn't have all the information. Sleep did not come to her easily that night. Her nerves kept her mind running over everything that could become of the situation. She lay, tossing and turning before in the late hours of the night she slowly drifted off to sleep. Luna sat on her throne, a small smile forced into her lips as she ran the night court. She could hardly pay attention to the few petitioners that squabbled over land or something. "Your majesty, there is no documentation on who marked the land first. Or any showing who actually started using the land first." Her aid said as her magic levitated a few documents in front of her face. Eyes squinting slightly as she looked over what little information the two parties had given her. "Then we believe that we have the perfect solution. One shall split the land in half, and the other shall have first pick of which half that they want." Luna spoke, glad to have the night court ending, her mind was too busy to do any real work. "Velvet, please close the night court. And have anything else moved to another time. We have too much on our mind to be able to get anything done. We will be retiring for the night," The dark alicorn spoke as she looked over at her aid. The off white mare nodded, her white and light purple mane bobbing as it framed her face. "As you wish your highness, other than a meeting with Fancy Pants your night is open. I can handle it, allowing you to get some extra sleep and to check on some dreams before you have to raise the moon." Velvet spoke before she marked something down on her parchment. Then she turned away. "Thank you Miss. Sparkle, everything should be finished for the evening. So you may take the rest of the night off. May you have a pleasant evening." The dark alicorn spoke, distracting as she turned and walked through the side door of the throne room.