//------------------------------// // Chapter 12- Aftermath of ZiCS // Story: Trade Wind: Royal Tutor // by BlackBonitaCherry //------------------------------// After two hours of talking with Lyra and Pinkie Pie about how unimpressed she was with their antics while catching up with castle rebuilding, Trade Wind quickly flew back to Canterlot. She had her other job to work on. Spotting the dark blue Pegasus waiting for her at the train station, she landed quickly and gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that Dream Catcher, I know I said the whole weekend but-” Dream Catcher shook her head. “Tis fine, what is the next ‘lesson?’” “That’s up to you. Did you pick any restaurants or activities from the bundle I gave you?” the older ‘pegasus’ thought about it. “We-I saw something about a spicy restaurant near the StarDusk entrance, one that served ‘tacos’?” oh, Trade knew exactly what she was referring to and smiled. “Let’s go then, shouldn’t take long,” they flew there, none of the royal guards stopping them since they were briefed the previous morning on who Dream Catcher really was. Entering the restaurant, Trade Wind found a table near the kitchen which had an open window so that diners could see into the kitchen. Trade after conferring with her 'student', ordered the ten tacos (rice, beans, cheese and oat filling) platter and the spiciest sauce they had on the menu, and she saw the other’s shock upon seeing the Nocturne chef in the kitchen. She knew it was a surprise, but this particular restaurant had opened before the construction of the town when Nocturnes first started moving to Equestria’s capital city. "They are known for their Ghost Peppers, if you keep staring they might mistake it for something else," the black pegasus blushed and settled within her chair. "So how big is the Nocturne presence within Canterlot?" Dream Catcher questioned as a Nocturne waiter who knew Trade Wind came out with her order, "Thanks, Spice Rice," the Nocturne saluted with a wing and returned to the kitchens to take out the next order, "Growing, over the past 8 years they slowly trickled into Canterlot and some opened up shop, others joined the library or Royal Guard (no doubt waiting for their Moon Princess to return.) the rest after a while returned home or to other towns or decided to start building StarDusk. This restaurant is six years old, but its popular among young ponies looking to test their endurance in spiciness," she nodded to a corner with different sauces, from mild cheerful looking faces to really red faces with x’s on their face. "Those range from mild to realllly spicy, care to test your endurance," the dark pegasus returned the look. "Thy Challenge has been accepted," she stated darkly, not one to turn down this kind of challenge. A white pegasus entered the cafe, heading straight towards the table where the two pegasus had their heads on the table, each having a taco left with the spiciest sauce on the menu. "Is this what you two have been doing since Trade Wind came back?" the pegasus asked with dismay, "Nay! This is merely the beginning, I have learned a good amount of things about Canterlot and the surrounding areas, but excuse me as I prove my superiority with the strongest tolerance in this challenge," the white pegasus dropped her head as her sister with steam still coming out of her ears, reached for the taco to dip it in the sauce. She exited and returned with two pegasus guards, who picked them up and, ignoring their protests, had them taken back to the palace. Upon reaching the balcony of the room they did their sessions in, she dropped the illusion of being a pegasus and stared at the now blue Alicorn and the blue pegasus who was reaching for the sauce that one of them had pocketed along with the remaining tacos. "No, while I admire that you are more outspoken Luna, that spiciness is even above the Ghost Peppers, and if Trade here is feeling the heat, you know it is not something to continue eating. You were down after eating nine tacos, and it wasn't because of being full, how about instead you two rest for a bit and watch that video you prepared for the rest of the afternoon." Trade when her face wasn't red from the spiciness, blushed with embarrassment. "Sorry Princess," she turned to Princess Luna who also looked embarrassed, "We can still go to that club you mentioned," the Alicorn lit up and nodded. Celestia shook her head and closed the door, but she was smiling, it was nice to see her sister and one of her favorite researchers getting along so well, though it made her slightly envious, 'Hm, maybe I can convince Cadance to handle a day's work while I go out with my sister, I really want to try that flying arena' the Alicorn of Love needed more political experience anyways. Luna watched Trade set up the projector and place a white sheet on the wall, "This method of storytelling is still new to me, what are we watching?" Trade finished putting the projector in and smiled at Luna, "Something familiar," she placed the reel in and the Night Princess was shocked when on the screen an entire group of Nocturne appeared on screen with dragons flying in the background. "Welcome to the first Nightwing Festival," Trade's voice was behind the camera, "Now in two years they prophesied that the Princess of the Night is returning, what does everyone want to say when she does?" there was a chorus of "Welcome Back Princess Luna!" tears came the Alicorn's eyes as she watched the video of different interviews and the amount of culture the Nocturne had. "But what if it hadn't been me that returned, but Nightmare Moon?" she whispered, Trade lied down next to her, "But that did not happen, and they are looking forward to seeing you coming to the Nightwing Festival this year as the VIP," the mare raised her head. "VIP?" "Very Important Princess," Luna cried‌ taking the handkerchief the pegasus handed her with thanks and blowing into it. "If you knew about the prophecy, why didn't you say anything?" Trade gave her a small smile. "Everyone knew about it. Some paid it no mind, others thought that there were those in power that had plans on how to handle the situation. I knew that there were still the Elements of Harmony and the time would come for the new Bearers to come claim them, and none of them were me, so like the Nocturne, I waited instead. So, as the VIP, you'll be one judge on the panel for most of the contests. They haven't really declared what they were yet, but one of them that is most popular is the Wing Decorating Contest. Any pony or species without wings can create their own wings, from magic or materials is up to them, and whoever comes up with the most beautiful gets to sit with the Princess and the 'Queen' at the front of the parade," Luna's eyes shrunk. "Parade?" she asked, Trade grinned, "Yep, and its up to the Princess on what the float looks like, want to see the Princess Floats from the last two years?" that got Luna's interest as Trade pulled out the album and the two spent the rest of the day giggling over some of the pictures from the last two albums. "And this is when Lyra decided to create wings made from musical notes and somehow she cast a spell that had everyone dancing and breaking into song for two whole hours! She wasn't even invited, she snuck in and got herself drunk," Trade was giggling, Luna was still laughing at the picture of her sister doing the chicken dance to comment. "You said this Queen gets chosen from biting into a cake, are Alicorns eligible?" Trade tapped her chin, "Well, the other two didn't get it in their slices of cakes, the first year I know a Minotaur got it and was 'King' of the Nightwing Parade, the second year was a griffin. Huh, no ponies have one it yet, are you interested?" she asked but Luna shook her head, "I am already royalty, and Princess of the Night, it would not be fair to ruin the chance for someone to get the privilege," Trade hummed, "Okay, but if it does happen there is no point in saying no, I don't even know why they decided to go with Queen or King, kind of presumptuous with having a visiting Princess," Luna nodded even as she frowned. "Isn't there a princess among the dragons? Why hasn't she been chosen as a VIP?" Trade shrugged, "Probably because dragons and Nocturnes are primarily in charge of it, plus she's been in school the last two years, and this year the Nocturnes really wanted you as the VIP for the reveal of the new discoveries," this caused a blush to rise on the older mare's cheeks. "Shall we head towards the nightclub you were talking about?" Trade grinned. "Yeah, hope you are ready to dance till you drop," Princess Luna scoffed, "I will take that challenge," unfortunately they were only there for a few hours before Sunny Days had to go get them from the flying arena, Dream Catcher obviously drunk as she tried to outfly her sister. "I thought you guys had high alcohol tolerance," Trade muttered apologetically as she and Sunny flew after Dream Catcher. "Maybe in full power, but Luna was always a bit of a lightweight. I thought you two would be at the nightclub. Why are you two here?" Trade grimaced. "She found out that a bunch of pegasuses was trying to beat her record and felt she needed to beat her previous one to prevent anyone else from doing it," Sunny groaned. "Oh, of course, you wait down there, I'll make sure she does nothing," Trade flew down and waited on the floor as Sunny attempted to catch the very drunk 'pegasus' who gave a loud shout whenever she was almost caught and sped up even more. This got to the point that two rings, one orange and the other blue were above her, 'Oh, I hope she doesn't have her version of the Sonic Rainboom' but her fears were unfounded as Dream passed out in one of the loops and she flew up to help Sunny get her out, "Well, I can say for certain that she'll fit right in with others her 'age'. At least I got to fly with her. You up for some pizza while she sleeps it off?" this got a nod. In the morning Princess Luna found herself on a very plushy floor with two bodies lying next to her and an annoyed pink Alicorn glaring down at them, well more like Trade Wind. "Did you three have another wild night without me?" she asked with disbelief, the large pizza box in the corner and various half-eaten cakes telling the story. "Lower thy voice down, thee head feels as if they pierced a chisel into it," Princess Celestia woke up as well, blushing at Cadance's look. "You should not be annoyed, it was Trade Wind's idea," she pointed at the blue pegasus who was still out cold, leaving the Love Princess to shake her head. "Another one of her unorthodox teaching methods. I don't recall her tutoring others like this," Celestia gave her version of a dry look. "I wanted her to teach my sister about modern culture and what she missed over the past thousand years, which is a bit different from those who grew up in this age. Yes, it is rather unorthodox, but Luna is having a lot of fun, which is more than I can ask for," Cadance's ears dropped. "Sorry aunty, I'm still ‌worried she's overdoing it with Luna," Celestia frowned, "To avoid her own problems, you mean?" Luna came over at that point, having used magic for her hangover so that she was more coherent, "She slipped last night about what was bothering her," she raised a hoof at their interested looks, "I can tell no more than yes it does involve this dragon called Garble, she made me swear a Pinkie Promise not to tell anything beyond that," Princess Celestia sighed, "Of course that puts a stop to it," Cadance grimaced. "Yeah, even I know what happens to those who break a Pinkie Promise, I just wish she could open up about it, I'm the Princess of Love and seeing her in this state physically hurts," this earned her looks, "I'm the Princess of Love remember? Its just something I can sense, and if she told you that she's dealing with it, I'm afraid it is not working," Luna bowed her head, "Last night I tried to get her to turn her current opinion on her situation, but she is convinced that it will just go away," Cadance got a determined look on her face. "I'm going to go see those who might have a clue, and haven't sworn a Pinkie Promise," she disappeared in a flash of pink. "I should probably raise the Sun now," Celestia went off, leaving Luna who bit her lip, she was still too weak to handle the moon. "Thanks for not telling," Trade's voice spoke up, and she glanced at the blue Pegasus. "There is no need for thanks, but are you sure?" she stopped at the sad smile. "Yes, I am, it should have never happened in the first place, I'm just sorry that Cadance is pained by it, I did not realize that part of being the Princess of Love was like that. But she has to know this is something she cannot do, so, remember anything from last night?" the Princess of the Night blushed, "Did we really fall asleep in a hoop?" she said with embarrassment, darkening at the snicker that came from her tutor. ------------- Cadance teleported (and she is very happy that she can teleport now!) to Ponyville, finding the party planner with Lyra and Fluttershy, the latter speaking to them in a low voice and looking very unhappy. Lyra spotted her first. “Oh hey Princess Bang-Bang What’s up?” Cadence resisted the urge to dye the unicorn’s hair into her most hated color. “I’m here on important business,” she landed and looked at Pinkie Pie who was sulking from whatever Fluttershy talked to her about, “I don’t suppose there’s a loophole in Pinkie Promise.” instantly her hair flattened and the pink pony growled at her, sinking into the ground as if it was quick sand. The Alicorn watched her disappear with pop and sighed. “I’m going to take that as a no,” and she was not going to admit how creeped out she was.