My sister sighed quietly to herself as she processed the news- so quietly, in fact, had I not been seated next to her I most likely would not have heard it.
Noble Thornguard, seated at the four o'clock mark of our circular table, had brought news to the council concerning the discovery of a faction of ponies in his city bent on overthrowing my sister and myself.
Noble Thornguard, one of the eleven nobles present, was the Prince of Stalliongrad- despite sharing no blood with either of us. Politics were very different back then, you see. While my sister and I controlled Canterlot itself, ponies spread out across the land. We needed a way to keep control over them so we established a system where we would select officials and dub them as semi royalty, giving them control over a city to do whatever they pleased.
Of course, while we could not directly control the fates of those outside of Canterlot, no information escaped our ears.
"And how art we to believe this information, Noble Thornguard, when thee bringth nay proof of such doings? Nary a scrap of information save for a simple rumor." my sister questioned. The time was old back then and ponies still spoke archaicly- for it was a few years before my banishment.
"Your majesty," Noble Thornguard began uneasily. "while I cannot speak with great certainty that these art more than just rumors, all I would ask of thee is for a small detachment from the Royal Guard to investigate the matter more carefully. Stalliongrad lay poorly defended after the snow wolf attack, and as such we have nay the means to conduct a full fledged investigation effectively ourselves. Would thee nayeth wish to crush this matter while it still sits as but a rumor?"
My dear sister furrowed her brow and focused her eyes in the distance, struggling to think about...Something. To this day I do not fully know what exactly she was thinking about, and nor do I ever think I shall.
"Indeed, Noble Thornguard; thou art correct in thy assumptions. Thou shall be granted a troop of twenty to conduct thy investigation, and we doth pray that for thou's sake this all is just a simple case of incompetent neigh sayers. Until next time, Nobles." Celestia said, her voice reminding me very much so of cold stone.
Back then I was so incredibly attached to my older sister. I could tell something was wrong, and so as we left the Council room I began to devise a plan to personally lead the detachment of troops to Stalliongrad and head the investigation.
"Tia," I began as my silver and her gold leg coverings quietly clicked on the floor, echoing throughout the empty hallways. "Dost thou think thee would let us lead the attending guard to Stalliongrad and perhaps...And perhaps conduct the investigation personally?"
Celestia turned to look at me as her pace slowed. Her eyes held the worry that any sibling would have if their other were to ask to partake in such dangerous tidings, but they also held something else as they searched mine.
Celestia was suspicious of me, for whatever reason.
We began walking at our normal pace after a few seconds, and she replied shortly after that. "Lulu, why would thou ever wish to leave the castle? Let alone to travel into the harsh north with battle hardened ponies..."
"Sister, thou appears to hath forgotten who thou art speaking to. It is I, thy darling little sister and the Goddess of War, among other aspects." I replied with a sarcastic smile.
Celestia shared my smile before continuing. "It appears I hath indeed forgotten whom I was speaking to. Regardless, Lulu, the answer is nay. If there is, indeed, a conspiracy against us and our throne, then I doth nay wish to put my sister in harms way."
"Tia, we hath slain countless ponies on the battlefield together when called for. We hath encased Discordias permanently in stone and placed him in the Gardens after he terrorized and ravaged our kind. I doth believe I will be able to survive a small trek through a blizzard along with twenty, strong soldiers."
Celestia sighed as we reached the fork in our paths. "Thou art indeed correct, Lulu. Thou hath proven thyself numerous times in the past. However, it is late and I doth believe thou hath a Night Court to attend to. I will sleep on the decision and give thee my final answer by morn. And Lulu? Think carefully for what thou art asking of I to do. Thou doth nay know what lay ahead, dear sister. Goodnight."
And with that, Celestia had retired for the night, leaving me to the throne. Her words made me curious and confused.
ῼ
Night Court was never particularly popular, for understandable reasons. Most, if not all, ponies worked during the day and were too tired come nightfall to ask us for things.
Mostly, I received letters rather than ponies. However, there were a few times where ponies would show up at the foot of the throne, questioning me about my night sky and the stars. I attracted astronomers and soldiers while my sister attracted farmers and politicians.
I did not envy my sister, but I am quite certain she envied me at times during our courts. I respected the farmers but loathed the politicians while my sister adored the soldiers and explorers that found themselves in my presence and, before I knew it, Night Court had ended and it was time for the moon to lower.
I envy you normal ponies sometimes, myself. You have no idea what it is like to have such power flowing through your body as you move something as large as the moon. It is not a pleasant experience.
But I seem to be straying from the main topic.
After my duty had been done, I exited the throne room and waited diligently outside the door to my sister's room.
Eventually, she came and opened the doors slowly and gracefully with her magic and stared rather shocked at me. "Lulu, I did nay expect thee to be waiting for me. I trust Night Court went well?" she asked as we began to walk down the halls.
"Night Court runs the same as every night, sister. I trust thou hath thought hard upon our plea?"
Celestia sighed as we stopped in front of the dining hall. "We shall discuss the matter over breakfast."
I nodded in understanding as we made our way into the large room with a laughably small table in relation to the room itself. While the table was long and- wait, why am I explaining the dining room to you? Forgive me, I know that you have been in the dining hall before.
Where was I...Ah, yes: Celestia sat at the far end of the table while I took my place on the opposite side. Servants brought us our respective courses and 'Tia began to dine cautiously as if she believed her food would attack her if provoked. I, on the other hoof, never saw the point to eating so painstakingly slow and ate however I saw fit.
"Lulu, table manners." Celestia warned softly. I rolled my eyes and corrected myself slightly.
"Thou art doing this on purpose, 'Tia."
"Indeed, I am. It is important for thee to learn the proper eating etiquette if-"
"Nay, sister. Thou art prolonging the inevitable. What is thy decision?"
Celestia stared long and hard at me for a moment before turning back to her food. "Luna, if thou truly wishes to venture with the Guard, thou must understand that conspirators art a ruthless breed. They will undoubtedly attempt to sway thee with lies and perhaps even coin, if they are foalish enough. Thou must keep thy wits sharp and thy blade sharper, sister."
"I understand, 'Tia."
"Then thou may venture with the soldiers once more. Make haste, however, as they art scheduled to depart in a few moments."
If the pink pony- Pinkie Pie, was it? -were alive back then, she would have been proud of my reaction. I clapped my hooves together giddily before hoarfing down the rest of my meal, much to 'Tia's disgust, and rushing out the doors to pack.
A long, dark road stretched on before me; one I was eager to follow.