//------------------------------// // Trust But Verify // Story: My Little Teelo: Winter's Silence // by Ardwolf //------------------------------// In which we learn that power has its price and what a lady-in-waiting actually does. At noon, assembled in the field in front of Canterlot castle stood both princesses and the troll delegation, with as many ponies as could find an excuse to attend. Word had spread like wildfire that Celestia was going to lower the sun at noon as a demonstration of her power. Across Equestria swift pegasi had traveled from the capitol to spread the incredible news. In Ponyville, five minutes before noon the word had blazed across the town with the speed of rumor everywhere. The townsponies had stopped what they were doing to gather in groups. Twilight Sparkle and her friends were in front of the library to watch the history-making event. ooOoo Bells rang out, signaling high noon. “Snøskred Bevis Mot Lyn”, Celestia proclaimed, using the Royal Canterlot Voice. “I swear to you Mountain Heart is no longer in the world, and that I am indeed the Shepherd of the Sun. In proof of this, behold my power, and that of my sister!” Princess Celestia spread her wings and reared, her horn flaring until it was too bright to bear. As the crowds looked on, the sun suddenly accelerated in its path, crossing the sky in under a minute to settle on the horizon in a glorious blaze of red and gold. Then Celestia’s glow faded and she dropped to all fours, folding her wings. In turn Luna reared, her horn glowing much less brightly, a cool blue hue that still hurt the eye. On cue the moon rose in the star-studded darkness. A thunderous roar of pony-applause rose across the city as the ponies stamped their fore hooves in alternating rhythm. “The night will last for one hour.” Celestia told the troll delegation. “Then you will see the sun rise once more. And then, Snøskred you will return to His Majesty bearing my assurance that Mountain Heart is no longer in this world. And there shall be harmony between our kingdoms once more.” Clearly shaken the troll ambassador said nothing, merely nodding. When the hour had passed Luna reared, lowering the moon and Celestia brought the sun back to its appointed place, as though the demonstration of magic had never occurred. “I bear your king no ill will, Snøskred. Tell him I wish him a long and happy rule.” Celestia said. “Please, do not delay your departure on my account. I’m sure you are eager to see the mountains once more.” “As you say, Princess.” The troll said, bowing. “It is good to know such power resides in one who keeps her word. Be well, Shepherd of the Sun.” With that the troll delegation took their leave so they could make preparations to depart. ooOoo Tišina noted the surge of power flowing through her target, and then a second surge an hour later. The watcher felt cold anger at such a useless flaunting of the natural order. It was done merely for pointless gamesmanship! To impress mere barbarians. Her resolve hardened. It was fitting the punishment of such shameless waste would also end aeons of disorder in the world, and do so with a single, elegant stroke. The thought filled her with peace she hadn’t felt since the world was born… ooOoo That night Celestia went to bed, completely exhausted from changing the sun’s position three separate times in one day—on top of having to deal with Equestria’s delicate politics. What made it worse was the fact she couldn’t let anyone see how tired she was. Her little ponies depended on her the way they depended on the sun. Her enemies would be sure to note and leverage the slightest appearance of weakness. Therefore for the sake of her subjects she dare not be less than perfect. It was an endless game, and days like today were all too common. She slept the deep sleep of exhaustion, too far gone for her subconscious to note the growing magical nexus at the foot of her bed. Safe in her own private chambers where no pony dared intrude, the Princess slept on, untroubled. Over the course of an hour the portal slowly formed, less than a foot from her rear hooves as she slept on, unheeding. The sudden draft of cold air as the portal finally opened did not disturb her slumbers, and she never sensed the slender white tentacles as they slithered out of the black portal, their tips glittering like shards of green ice. It wasn’t until the needle sharp stingers plunged into the muscles of her flank, directly through her cutie mark that the alicorn’s eyes snapped open. But by then it was already too late. She felt the venom’s fire race through her as she instinctively struggled to rise, and then felt the icy numbness following the fire. It reached her madly racing heart, which rapidly grew cold and slowed to a crawl. Celestia’s vision dimmed and she collapsed back on the bed, unmoving. The tentacles withdrew and ice encrusted slender limbs with enlarged but delicate claw tipped digits slid out and closed around Celestia’s rear ankles. They tensed and slowly dragged the thousand pounds of victim off her bed and back through the portal. The limp alicorn tumbled off the bed, slamming her head against the floor with a loud clok. The icy limbs stopped moving, their owner waiting to see if anyone had heard the thump. Satisfied it was still undiscovered the limbs resumed dragging the unresisting pony back through the portal. The last part of Celestia to disappear were her eyes, frozen wide in paralyzed terror as they vanished from sight. With a barely audible pop the black circle instantly shrank to a point and disappeared; leaving Celestia’s bedchamber largely undisturbed, save for the blankets dragged over the foot of the bed and a single flight feather torn from one wing. Three hours elapsed before there was a discreet knock on the door. “Your Highness?” An attractive female voice called softly. “It’s time to rise and shine, Princess. You asked me to make sure you didn’t oversleep.” “Highness?” The door opened and a lavender head peered through the dimness. “Are you there?” The delicate pegasus minced into the room, moving carefully. She uncovered the night lamp and turned up the flame. That’s when she saw the bedclothes and the single shining feather.