//------------------------------// // Alicorn - Magic // Story: The Alicorn Book // by Nova Star Sparkle //------------------------------// * Chapter Three - Part 4 * After about 5 minutes of waiting there was a sudden knock at the door, signaling that the arranged food for the three mares had just arrived. The cooks even at midnight in peak form and always ready to cook additional food for the princesses, if they requested something. Furthermore, some dishes were already largely prepared and only needed a final touch. Luna was about to invite the guard at the door into the room and had also raised herself from her pillow, but Twilight suddenly stretched out one of her wings and held Luna friendly back. "Wait! Let me handle this. Talking about it is one thing, but you get the best experience by trying.” Raising, Twilight trotted to the door of the room, while Luna let herself plop back onto the pillow. Pulling her wings into position once more, Twilight used her magic to unlock the door from any protective/security spells that were on it. Even though most of them were damaged, as known, and didn´t function anymore anyway. A fact that she would take care of later. After she had opened the door about two third, the lavender mare, spotted a pegasus stallion in front of the door, which wore a dark blue armor with a crescent in blue outline among the chest. The armor had golden accents along the chest and flank. On the latter hung a short, reinforced iron sword inside a holder, the sword made of the same metal as the armor and just as elaborately decorated. Nevertheless, thereby lost not a bit of lethality - but that only so on the sidelines. The stallion would never dare to draw his sword against one of the four alicorn regents of the land -- nor should he, that would be kind of the stupist idea one could do. Not because the princesses punished one for doing so, but one would lose his job immediately on top of everyone else knowing the next day. Finding a new job afterwards was not very easy either, when every pony thought, that for no reason, one had turned against the beloved and respected regents. The Stallion would rather take his own life or go into eternal exile, then attacking the mare in front of him. From the armor, Twilight discerned that the guard was one of Luna's, also one of the higher. Understandable, after all, the night shift was on duty right at the moment. And he didn't wear the common, a little less glamorous, but also enchanted armor, which ensured that each guard had the same appearance. A safety precaution that dated back to times thousands of years ago, when crimes were more common - if you could call an average of five in a month often. Due to the much-improved conditions in Equestria, however, there was now only about one notable crime every 1 - 1.5 months. This whole undertaking was intended to protect the guards and especially their families from random attacks by malcontents. Such a thing didn't occur anymore, as the job of a royal guard was regarded as extremely honorable service, to both Equestria and their princesses. But it had been somehow always so and everyone had become accustomed to it - therefore it made also little to no sense to change that. Yes, it was a little hard to tell who was who among the guards, but as long as you could recognize the lieutenant, commanders and captain - It didn't really matter who you were assigned to the shift with. Talking was not really allowed on duty anyway, and you could memorize the individual voices, shifts and positions of your workmates, if you really were interested. "Your Highness, the dinner is ready," the stallion called out, bowing deeply in courtesy. Behind him was a cart loaded with a total of six plates and three large pitchers of drink. Twilight remembered him; she had seen the young guard before. His name was Swift Shield and he had just finished his training as a palace guard about two months ago. Very well, in fact, Twilight remembered. That was also the reason why he already was a higher ranked guard - namely lieutenant. Such competent ponies, the youngest princess wanted to have in her guard one day. As at the moment, every guard stationed in her castle and the surrounding area Ponyville. Was either a solar or lunar guard, distinct from the other two alicorns. Nodding in a very friendly manner, Twilight accepted the food cart. Swift Shield wanted to intervene verbally, because normally it was the task of the servants, or guards if none of the first was available at the time, to dish up the food. But one look into Princess Twilight's sharp eyes, with her deep caring and friendly gaze, silenced him. He just modestly nodded and pushed the cart further in Twilight's direction. She once again gave a nod, pushed the food into Celestia's room with the help of raspberry-colored magic, and lastly closed the door behind her. Celestia laughed softly, and Twilight gave her a questioning look. “Twilight! Truly, you could easily talk the food out of the mouth of any stallion and possibly even mare. I think that even if you wouldn't be a princess, no one could deny you anything - due to your amiability, as good as everypony lies at your hooves", she added jokingly at the end. Obviously, Twilight blushed like a tomato as she already did several times today, even if not as much as the first times. She was used to experience such moments today and it would certainly not become less in the future. “Oh shush, I´m just polite, nothing more nothing less. If they want to do something for me out of their own will, then they are free to do so. If not, then I also don’t have any problem with that.” Wanting to address another topic, Twilight steered back to the situation at hoof. “So? Who wants some dinner?”, she grinned as she served the food to both Celestia and Luna, with her magic. The meal a rich variety of several vegetables, and also a small steak – Yes, ponies could technically eat meat as their body was mostly able to process the unusual delicacie. Nethertheless, it was very rare for them to actually eat it. Except the princesses, most ponies preferred a more 'normal' meal. But Luna had found quiet a like for having meat once in a while. Probably because, very few off her nocturnal guards hadn´t eaten meat yet, or had a liking for it. Therefore, the other three tried to eat a steak once in the past, and had to consent to Luna. That yes, a steak was very, very good. So, it now was considered customary for the royal alicorn's to have their dish pimped with meat as a nightly feast - whenever they made one. Furthermore, it was not a crime to offer meat in your restaurant. Even several in Canterlot, Manehatten and one in Ponyville offered the unusual specialty. The other two mares could only laugh as well, whereupon each of them took two of the plates and one of the filled jugs for themselves. Afterwards all three goddesses sat down to eat their meal together leisurely. About 20 minutes later all three mares had finished their meal. And after they had put the plates back on the cart and pushed it in front of the door, so that one of the servants could take it with them. The three remained silent for another five minutes. Until Luna took the floor once more. “Hrrhm, all right then. Before we continue with our explanations aka. descriptions, I would like to express an idea that I had during the meal. I am sure you both will like it very much. Exceptionally well indeed, in Twilight's case, at least that's what I'm assuming. While Luna was grinning and looking over at the other two fellow alicorns, trying to read their emotions. Celestia and Twilight exchanged a brief look. To assure each other that no, neither of them knew what Luna could possibly be referring to. It was Twilight who spoke up this time, while both mares pricked up their ears. "Well then Luna, what's that idea? I don't want to insinuate anything, as you know, but you seem quite confident already." Laughing into her own hoof, the dark blue princess began explaining her flash of inspiration. "You're welcome. Well, it occurred to me during the meal and the situation how Twilight dealt with the guard who brought us the food. That maybe, it's time Twilight announces a contest for her own delegation of guards. I am even 200% sure that within a few hours more ponies will come forward, to pledge their lives and faith to one of their princesses, than would be needed. Even if most ponies don't know that the title of princess doesn't protect us, but protects them from us - oh and please, don't take this as a threat to our ponies. It is rather meant to prevent that too many ponies are too close to us, which could get them into danger by attackers of us. Equestria does have more than enough royal guards, both in the solar and nocturnal guard, to provide enough support for each of the three of us - even four, if Cadance wouldn't have her own crystal guards already. Still, I believe it would be best if there was also a distinct Twilight Guard...ehh, or what you want to call it yourself, that is entirely up to you. Obviously, you would benefit from it the most, after all they would be yours fully to command. Your delegation of royal guards would only obey to your command and no one’s else, not even my sister, Cadance or myself. The guards, seconded to you right now, protection your castle and the surrounding governing area, as well only listen to your command because we told them so. Normally they wouldn´t, as they are entirely faithful to us - well okay in a dire, live threatening situation, they would surely listen to the commands of another princess, but so far - no!" Luna had already began to turn back to Twilight, to hear the mares answer dedicated to her idea. But then added something more, nonetheless. "Oh, I almost forgot. We never gave you your royal sigil, after you proved yourself ready to take Ponyville under your own, independent wing about 4 months ago. You still got only the General equestrian one, we gave you the week belatedly to your coronation. Terribly sorry for that. Luckily the documents remain legal either Way, but knowing you, you will probably renew every single one of them." Luna joked, as she conjured a small object with her magic. "Here! That´s the way more important version of the Emblem you already got. You can destroy or keep the old one. Doesn't matter, it's now useless anyway - and probably shouldn't fall into false hooves, even if it is bound to your magic alone." Luna afterwards flicked the coin sized emblem, with her magic in Twilight's direction, where the young, lavender alicorn skillfully catched it in her own. The object was a small alicornite emblem with her six-pointed star surrounded by five smaller ones, etched on both sides. Twilight turned the emblem over and over in her magic a couple of times, searching if there was something more special about it. But didn't find anything, that would solve the mystery of how exactly that thing would make documents, she signed more secured. Because of that she looked back to Luna with a kind of incomprehensible look. Face-hoofing herself, for forgetting something so obvious, Luna declared. "Sorry! It's made for hindering others in faking documents in your Name. That was evident I assume. When I gave you this little thing, only documents - well to be honest, every paper that´s related even closely - will be valid, if they have been marked with your sigil. The process for that quite simple. The sigil has been infused with your magic signature, since you took it in your magic, the spell obviously known to you - as it triggers, once some pony else than the creator uses his magic on the object. And as you already know it´s impossible to fake the innate, unique magic signature of someone.” Twilight giggled, but immediately recovered. "Sorry! Hmm, yes sounds more than efficient. Could definitely be very helpful. At least, I have to admit that I was slightly afraid that someone might issue documents in my name. Well, fortunately I haven´t to deal with the problem no longer, am I'm right?” Luna just blinked once, indicating that she had nothing more to add to the subject. Whereupon she quickly sorted through her thoughts. Around twenty seconds later, she had finished the task. “Okay then, back to context. You may have noticed one peculiarity since you became an alicorn. Namely the fact, that you haven't been hungry at all since that moment or felt the need to rest. This I can also explain quite simply. As our entire metabolism alone is about 10x faster than that of normal ponies. Everything we eat we would consume and burn in record time - but as you might suggest, that has its justifications." "The reason why is, that an alicorn has an extreme, never satisfied need for energy. Our alicorn abilities require a lot more energy secondly, than would be needed for the live of a common Pony. It absolutely wouldn´t be possible for us to live the same way as a pegasus would, for example. We would had to suffer massive food and drink withdrawal symptoms in no time, plaguing us within hours.” “But, if you believe that was the worst that will happen, only then comes the worst crux - sleeping. No matter how much we would have suffered from the previous symptoms. They would be nothing compared to the sleep deprivation we would have to endure after about half a day. Beyond that point, I would give any normal pony about 1 more hour until the body could no longer take the deprivation and surrendered. If the Pony itself, psychically didn't have surrendered long ago. Thanks to our superior alicorn body and mind, we would last longer than that. But I nevertheless guess even for us, we would only have 4 to 10 days at the maximum left, until we had the desire to end our lives. Annoyingly, an alicorn can't starve, which would eventually drive us to sheer madness and therefore bring the downfall of all of Equestria in the long run. Not a nice thought in any respect. And thankfully also something we do not need to worry about”, Luna's voice was firm and calm when she said that. "As luckily, our magic is able to supply us reliable passively and compensate the energy imbalance repeatedly without any issues. The amount of energy, an advanced unicorn had to cope, to achieve said effect, would be massive and possibly even unattainable with high-magic (Ritual-magic) artifacts. For an alicorn, as expected, this is not a particularly large amount, since our internal magic store alone is much, much larger than that of a unicorn - no matter how successful it may be, could get. There would be a way around the effect, without this ability, however it would take the entire castle kitchen 24/7 around the clock to keep the four of us from the feeling of starving. And that alone would be a financial ruin." Luna summarized laughingly, with a slightly absent look and her wingtips slightly rustling. Probably coloring the pictures in her mind. "I can only imagine that the cooks and servants would be more than apprehensive, if they had to provide us with oodles of food and we still rampaged through Equestria with ravenous hunger. As we devour everything that is edible. Truly an experience I am glad is not about to occur." The other two alicorns nodded in agreement as well, with the thought in the back of their minds, cringing slightly, as they pulled their wings closer to their body in tension. Nope, not a thing someone would wish to witness. That's why all three mares needed a good minute to process the thought. Should something like this ever happen to them, they would certainly feel so ashamed that they desired the ground to open up and swallow them. Something that with the powers an alicorn possessed, wasn´t actually an such far graped idea if one thought about it. But anyway. * End of Chapter Three - Part 4 *