//------------------------------// // Soar // Story: A Leaf on the Wind // by Visharo //------------------------------// Princess Celestia trotted down the hallway of Canterlot castle. It was just yesterday she was a pegasus called Sunny Skies traveling like a peasant. Was it wrong of her to prefer those days? Those incredibly short days compared to her magnificent lifespan? She didn't have any obligations, no worries besides a rock in a horseshoe or perhaps the most comfortable sleeping position. She sighed, it wasn't meant to be. "Princess, you are done for today." "I highly doubt that, Raven." Celestia peered down on her aide. "Pardon?" The white unicorn looked up with slight concern. "I've been gone for nearly three weeks and you say I have no work overflow?" "...yes, that is correct." "Liar." Princess Celestia giggled. "Princess?" "Come on! I wish to go out, visit my little ponies." The alicorn skipped through the ornate halls, baffling the guards. "Come ooon, Raven. Do I need to make this an order?" "...no. No! No need. I'll...I'll come." Raven put away her itinerary with small hesitation, before scampering after her highness. "What...what are you planning to do, Princess?" "I have none!" She tilted her head back and laughed, a huge smile playing on her lips. "I shall simply follow the wind." "And whatever do you need me for?" Raven asked, still confused. Around them, the help and guards didn't even bother hiding their open mouths. "You shall be my plus one." Princess Celestia nodded confidently. "I wish to know more about you, and a stroll is a great way of knowing a pony." "Oh..." Raven giggled a little, then caught herself. She coughed behind a hoof, but Celestia noticed the red-tinged cheeks. She grinned cheekily. *** "Princess! Princess! Look! They have a Quill and Sofa's shop here! Finally! I no longer have to travel to Ponyville or further, just for quills and ink." Raven bounced like a filly getting candy. Celestia smiled softly. It took about 4.6 seconds before her aide realized what she was doing, and recovered quickly. "Ahem. This store will make errands more efficient." "How quaint." Raven looked up, saw the playful smile, turned away looking a bit red. "Princess. I am...confused. Why are we here?" The smile grew wider. "No reason." "...what?" She pondered for a bit. Princess Celestia took the time to take a look around her surroundings. When was the last time she took a walk through Canterlot proper? She smiled leisurely at her little ponies gawking. She breathed in the scents of the markets and stalls, restaurants and cafes. She let her gaze comfortably rest on each new landmark, a well here, a clocktower there, a statue around the corner. Many things have changed about the city, it was...a saddening thought, Celestia hadn't been there to have seen the city grow up. It moved on, right under her nose. "Princess?" Raven asked softly, bringing Celestia's attention back to her aide. "You...you said you wanted to know more about me?" "I did say that and I must say, you are adorable!" The princess chuckled at Raven's mortified expression. "The way you squee at anything exciting." "It's...it's not my fault!" Her aide stammered, blushing furiously. It complemented very well with her white coat. Celestia giggled. "I am merely teasing." "Hmph. That wasn't nice, Princess." The two fell to a comfortable silence. Every step Celestia took, Raven took three. The asymmetry made her smile a little. A nice detail she wouldn't have noticed before. She looked back up, perhaps more innocuous details would catch her attention. Sure enough, there was a small sign poking just outside an alley. It was quite simple, wooden, turquoise background, and a small white coffee cup. That's not what caught her attention though. It was because there was a small dying plant next to it. The branches all barren, except one tiny leaf, hanging on for dear life. "How about a cup of coffee, Raven?" "That would wonderful." "Then we shall acquire coffee!" With that boisterous exclamation, she turned and marched straight for the plain looking alleyway. Ignoring the spluttering protests, Celestia plowed forwards. A small hole in the wall, one table with two seats, and a very bored stallion in said hole in the wall. When he saw the Princess heading straight towards him, he panicked, slipped, and promptly fell on his back. "My good sir, are you alright." "I am perfectly fine, Your Majesty." The stallion recovered at record speed. He grinned and presented his lone table. "What brings you here to my despot of an establishment?" "The wind brought me here." "Ah, I understand." "May I ask what your business is about?" While Celestia spoke with the surprisingly delightful stallion, Raven tentatively took the other seat. "But of course. This is Pony Joe's, my name is Joe, and I serve all sorts of confectionaries as well as beverages." "All sorts?" "All sorts." Joe replied with a confident nod. "Well you heard the stallion, what shall you have Raven?" "But...but, Princess! You mustn't taint your appetite with such...vulgar food!" Her aide threw up her hooves in the general direction of Joe and the hole in the wall. "Raven! How insensitive!" "It's perfectly alright, Your Majesty. I am but a simple baker, I take no offence." "Then I shall take offence on your behalf. Apologize." She glared at her aide. "I...Why should I?" "Because there is no such thing as 'Classy' or 'Vulgar' food. As long as it's edible, that alone makes food valuable." "...I apologize, Mr. Joe." "And...?" "And you, Princess." "Thank you." Celestia nodded, her smile returned. "Now, Raven. What shall you have?" "Do you have, perchance, éclairs?" "We do indeed!" Joe grinned. "Any drinks with your order?" "Jasmine tea?" "Coming right up! And what about you, Your Majesty?" "You did say 'all sorts'." "I did indeed, Your Majesty. I am quite confident in whatever you may suggest." "Then, my fine gentlecolt, I require the largest cherry chocolate cake accompanied with Prench red wine." "But of course, Your Majesty." Joe bowed, then disappeared behind the counter. "Princess! Think of yourself, such an exorbitant amount of sugar! It'll go straight to your flanks!" "Oh, you worry too much Raven. I've never had cake before that wasn't made by the castle cooks. They make fine sweets, but that's exactly it, they are fine. I'm actually quite excited!" Celestia gave a giggle as well as clapping her hooves together. *** It's been a considerable amount of time since her very first outing from the castle since her trip with the Wanderer. The cake was delectable, the wine was fantastic, even Raven appreciated the éclair. It was so good in fact, Celestia paid quadruple the amount Joe asked for. Since then, however, it's been all work. There has been the occasional break, but not enough time to stop by her favorite hole in the wall. Instead she watched the world outside her window. It was beautiful no matter what time of day it was. She sighed as she placed the last piece of paper on the 'out' stack and glanced outside her window. Without warning, her shutters burst open as a gust of wind blew through her room. It was quite startling, leaving Celestia stunned. Her door burst open as Royal Guards barged through, looking for the perpetrator. "Princess! What's the matter!?" "There is nothing the matter, good sir. In fact..." Celestia's eyes traced the mess the gust of wind made and slowly felt a grin form. "In fact, the matter is beyond delightful. I shall take my leave, I require no escort." And with that, she leapt through the window and plummeted towards the ground at high speeds. The wind whipping past her face was exhilarating, then, moments before splatting on the cobblestone, she stretched her wings and took flight. As she glided over the rooftops of Canterlot, she took the time to lower the sun and raise the moon. As the final rays of sunset cast its branches, and the cursed depiction of her ultimate failure took its place, Celestia felt hope. Perhaps she'll follow the wind with this one.