//------------------------------// // 1- Lemonade and sleeping spells // Story: Something worth fighting for // by Mr Andrews Pupil //------------------------------// Something worth fighting for By T. Andrews pupil Chapter 1 It was a hot, sunny day in canterlot. A very hot sunny day. Even though it was only half way done already the heat was starting to become unbearable. Celestias star was unrestricted by a cloudless sky and the only source of relief came from the shaded areas inside or under trees. Most ponies had just finished lunch and were all but frying. That explained the surge in business for ice cream shoppes and lemonade stands. But why? All this heat could be caused by only one pony.......or alicorn in particular. Princess Celestia stood on her bedroom balcony with a look of glee on her face. The day was going swimmingly, which seemed fitting given that the only habitable spots in all of equestria were the ones you could immerse yourself in. However that day was not hotter than most for any reason. That blisteringly hot day happened to be the first day of summer. Celestia had gotten into the habit of making the arrival of summer more noteworthy. She figured that because of it being the day all of the schools released their grasp on Equestrias youth, they would enjoy kick-starting summer by frolicking in the many ponds, pools, lakes, rivers and streams with their families and friends. This seemed to be the case because the only time they got out was to nap in the shade, lick at an ice cream cone or sip at a glass of ice cold lemonade. Even the princess had a glass at her side. Everypony was happy. Well, almost everypony. There was one pony that was less than pleased by her annual baking of the lands. And that somepony was approaching her from inside her bedchambers. The princess of the night stopped just short of crossing into the suns reach. She pushed the curtains out of the way and made her presense known by clearing her throat. Celestia turned and smiled. “Luna? Whatever are you doing up at this hour? You do know you need to raise the moon in a few hours don’t you?” Luna just glared at her blankly. “I know, unfortunately your sun is ensuring that I get anything but sleep” Celestia raised an eyebrow. Luna was rubbing the sleep out her eyes with a hoof. It became apparent to celestia that she had awoken recently. “Luna”, celestia began, “what do you mean”? “It. Is. Too. Hot." Luna replied, pausing between each word for effect. “But this is as hot as it was last year” celestia stated. “I was up north last year” Luna briefly recalled her trip to a resort which name and location escaped her. Come to think of it only thing she vividly remembered was breaking multiple ribs after careening into a tree. She never was good as skiing. Now the polar regions of equestria were becoming more and more appealing as the day dragged on. “Oh yes, how could I forget, but what about the year before??? Oh yes, you were...absent” Celestia said while glancing skyward. “Please” Luna pleaded. “Just cool it down a little bit, for my sake?” Celestia looked over the railing into the courtyard. Various trees, shrubs and greenery outlined the deserted white gravel paths that snaked around the entire inner complex of the castle. The ones with fruit were now boasting a baked version to anypony crazy enough to venture into the sun unprotected. “When the apple pies bake themselves without the aid of an oven, it’s gone overboard” she thought. She turned back to Luna. “Alright Luna, if you’re that uncomfortable then I will. “Thank you sister” Luna said with a slightly less pessimistic tone. She leaned in to nuzzle the sun goddess before retreating back into celestias bedchambers then into the still stifling castle halls. Many of the curtains were drawn back due to the heat. Leaving the castle nearly dark on the inside. Even so this did little to help. Most of the servants had left for the day and all but the essential skeleton crew of guards remained. A few minutes into her journey across the castle she began to wonder if anypony had remained at all. It was then she happened across a maid. The young mare was sitting against a statue of a dragon which was holding a candelabrum suspended beneath its outstretched fist. There was at least one on every corner and in each hall. But it was necessary to light up the cavernous passageways at night or when all the curtains were closed. The candles emphasized the shadows on her face and for a second Luna was unable to identify her, however Luna could tell the servant was not being spared the summer days wrath any more than her. She sat sitting against the stone figure panting while fanning herself with and empty silver tray. The entire castle was that of a sauna and not one pony was to be spared. when she was close enough Luna saw that it was none other than Tiffany shine. Tiffany was one of the longest employed Servants at the castle and had tended to the princesses for decades. Yet every day it seemed as if she was able to introduce a new side of herself. She had a vanilla coat with a tan mane that was rumoured to smell like like an ice cap mocha. She was an earth pony mare of many personalities, But today tiffany’s personality was bland and tasteless like a sponge cake from sugar cube corner with no icing. “Good afternoon princess” She tried to get up and bow to the approaching monarch but Luna dismissed her with a lighthearted wave of her hoof. “Please, don’t bother. You look exhausted my dear. Have you been working all day?” Luna inquired. Tiffany swallowed and took another breath. “I guess you could say that” This puzzled Luna. Normally she would start relaying everything that had happened to her throughout the day or something. She quickly dismissed it and continued. “You’ll get heat stroke running around like that” Luna warned. “You should go home on a day like today” Tiffany raised her head and locked her now grateful eyes onto lunas. “Oh thank you do much!" she replied starting to cheer up. “Please feel free to leave as soon as you wish” Luna said. Tiffany staggered to her feet. “I will” Luna chose her next words carefully. “Alright then, I’ll see you tomorrow Tiffany” Luna said in a cheerful farewell. She decided not to question about the unusually “boring” mood she was in. The last time she had asked her to take time off during hearths warming, she had to convince her to go home. This time tiffany had accepted without a second thought. Was the heat getting to her? Luna wondered. “You go on ahead dear” Tiffany gently urged. Luna was brought out of her thinking bubble by her voice. “Oh yes, I will, have a nice day Tiffany” Luna said turning to leave. Luna resumed her route to her bedroom. It was located on the far side of the castle from her sisters and in The time she was walking until encountering tiffany, she had only gotten half way. It was beginning to cool down slightly and Luna was able to increase her pace. Soon she reached her bedroom. The Persian blue door had a painted milky white crescent on it silhouetted by a lighter blue background. Beneath the emblem and flanking the door were two motionless guards. “Princess” they quipped as she neared. “Gentle colts” she smiled back. She used her magic to unlock the door upon reaching it and within a matter of seconds she found herself alone with the door closed behind her. Luna’s room had a vaulted ceiling with stars painted all over that were magically enchanted to twinkle at night. It used to help her get to sleep as a filly by counting them. This and a candle on her bedside table was the only light in the darkened room. To her left was an oak dresser painted blue to match the desk and mirror beside it. Further down the same wall with navy blue curtains blocking out all the light was the door to her balcony which she often stargazed from. On the opposite Wall was a marble fireplace which was tinted blue like the dresser. It had taken months to find the perfect marble to colour in such a way that it wouldn’t fade. And after a year Luna was convinced that the sculpture ponies assigned to the job were well Chosen. Lastly To her right was the door to her bathroom. She approached and flopped on the end her queen sized bed which was completely stripped of sheets. She wiggled her way up to the pillows and rolled onto her back, she then rotated her upper half onto its side letting her face cool of in the (As celestia called them) “overstuffed” pillows. It was only minutes before the promised reduction of celestias seemingly endless inferno of a day began to cool the room. The princess was asleep not long after. The golden armoured guard ponies of canterlot castle were known for their ability to remain at attention for hours on end. But sleeping while on watch quickly became an issue for the bat winged watchers of Luna. They could not help but be more easily tired during the daylight hours than their waking hour comrades. After all it wasn’t normal for them to be up anytime except when there was moonlight. So until dusk when they could be vigilant without nodding off, celestias day guards pulled double duty. Not long after Luna had fallen asleep, a figure approached the two sentinels. It was Tiffany. “Excuse me but I have a glass of lemonade that Princess Luna has requested for. Would it be possible for me to quickly drop it off?” The guard answered without a second thought. “Certainly, one moment miss” He approached the door and pressed his hoof against a phony carving near the handle. This caused a panel with a dozen buttons with symbols to rise from the floor next to him. This is what earth ponies/guards used to gain access to lunas chambers, however very few knew the combination of buttons which needed to be pressed. This helped ensure her safety. He quickly entered the illustration combination, and moments later the tumbling of a locking mechanism could be heard. One of the doors slowly opened a few feet. “Thanks” Tiffany chirped as she slunk inside the room. The guard had only just looked away when she stuck her head out. “And goodnight” Without warning the two guards suddenly collapsed to the ground, their armour clattering upon impact. "Sleeping spells, never fail" Tiffany chuckled as the door closed and locked with her inside. “Now for my revenge...the only way this draconequus knows how” //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Meanwhile on earth......... Somewhere outside Halifax, Nova scotia, Canada August 14, 2012 9:26 PM The sun was almost down on the east coast of Canada. Most places, people were just turning in for the night. All across the Maritimes, towns slipped into a somewhat “empty” state. After all, most of the excitement in Life occurs during the day. But while that may be true for some people, for one young man, hardly past the age of 20, the night combined with the emptiness of the towns, (which included the highways connecting them), was the most exciting part of the day by far. Little did he know that that night’s events would change his life and lunas in ways he thought not possible.