Two weeks later...
Princess Luna was on a small stage, standing next to a light blue unicorn, who had a darker blue mane and tail. Happiness was apparent in her brown eyes that scanned the small gathering of ponies in front of the stage. Her cutie mark was an image of a star shaped formation of stars.
"Due to Shining Star's recent retirement, We hereby declare that Miss Constellation is the new Captain of the Stargazers." Princess Luna announced at the ceremony, celebrating the departure of a well-loved stallion, and the acceptance of an almost equally loved mare. "Thank you, Your Highness." Said mare replied, bowing. "You are certainly welcome. We do have one request, however. " Luna added, once the applause had died down and they had moved off-stage.
"Anything Princess."
"In addition to your new duty's, the Captain of the Stargazers traditionally takes on an Apprentice, as We are sure you are fully aware. In light of this, We would like to recommend a certain colt. He has proven to be a very diligent and loyal pony." The Princess informed her. "Not to be rude, Your Highness, but I think I would prefer to meet and get to know this colt first, if you don't mind. I'd rather not make a hasty decision we might both regret." The unicorn replied. "But of course. Sha-...Starry Skies, please come out now. We would like you to meet somepony." Luna seemingly said to the air.
"Yes Luna?" Starry replied, steeping out from behind some curtains. "This is Miss Constellation. Constellation, this is Starry Skies."
"H-Hello Miss Constelleshon."
"Hi Starry Skies. And it's 'Constellation'. Like the images the Princess creates with the stars. But you can call me Stella. Almost everypony does. Royalty excluding." Constellation cheerfully replied, smiling."We feel it is too...familiar. Maybe if We knew you better, as opposed to only seeing you in the hoofsteps of Shining Star when you were his apprentice." Luna gently childed, smiling. "It's not my fault he kept me busy most of the time. I was always forced to take notes on what he said and whatever he was talking about. Along with any other tasks he would have me do. Magical Multitasking might as well have been my talent with how much of my time was taken by it." Stella countered. "Well, maybe you will spare your apprentice the agony of such things. And such is the reason Starry is here." Luna remarked, gently pushing the filly forward with her wing.
"Um..." Starry mumbled shyly, keeping his eyes on the ground. "So, you want to be my apprentice, eh?" Stella asked, lifting his head up with her hoof. "I-if that's okay..." He very quietly mumbled. "That remains to be determined. I believe an interview is in order, right Princess?" Stella suggested. "Certainly." the Alicorn replied, smiling somewhat mischievously. "Um..." Starry mumbled, seemingly a little worried, upon seeing Luna's smile.
"Favorite color?"
"...blue..."
"Favorite fruit?"
"...apples..."
"If there was one thing you could do to make Equestria better, what would it be?"
"...Uhhhhhh..."
"Anything. Anything at all."
"...um...blue apples?"
"......Next question!! What is your opinion on bananas?" Luna cringed at this question.
"Um...they're okay, I guess..."
"How do you feel about being magically carried around?"
"...Uh..."
"It's a serious question. My mentor used to do to me all the time, like when I was moving too slow."
"Welllll...I think it's kinda fun. Like flying...I think..."
"Who is your favorite Princess?"
"Luna."
"Favorite Celestial body?"
"Moon."
"Favorite constellation?"
"Pegasus."
"What quadrant is it in?"
"NQ4"
"...good job...how many stars?!"
"Nine."
"...Square root of one-hundred and seventy-two?"
"...um...what's a square root?"
"Well, he passed! We'll have to work on his math, but overall, he passed." Stella announced, with a wide grin. "So you will accept him as your apprentice?" Luna asked, expertly hiding her enthusiasm. "After I speak to his legal guardian. And then there's the probationary week. After that, if all goes well, I'll be more than happy to take on Starry as my apprentice." Stella replied, smiling.
"I will arrange a meeting with his mother as soon as possible." Luna told her, smiling. "She's not going to be mad with me is she?" Stella asked. "Not at all. She has been looking for a mentor for Starry for some time now." Luna informed her. "Oh! That makes things easier." Stella replied, relieved. "Indeed..." Luna smiled.
The next night, 'round midnight...
"Miss Sapphire Skies and her son have arrived. Shall I send them in?" A guard asked through the partially open door to Luna's chambers. "Of course..." The Alicorn replied, despite how obvious the answer was. "Well...here we go..." Stella sighed.
"Hello Princess." Sapphire greeted, bowing. "Hi Luna!" Starry happily greeted, before quickly rememebering to bow as well. "Hello to you two as well. Miss Skies, We would like you to meet Miss Constellation." Luna introduced. "Hello Constellation." Sapphire greeted, with a smile. "Hi Stella..." Starry quietly added. "Hello." Stella replied, smiling somewhat nervously.
"So...congratulations on the promotion." Sapphire attempting to break the ice. "Thank you." Stella replied.
"Soooooo..."
Starry looked between the two unicorns, before finally leaving his mother's side in exchange for Luna's. "This has gone on long enough. As much as We love silence, this is unbearable. PLEASE begin with discussing Starry's Apprenticship." Luna took a flamethrower to the ice. "Yes Princess!" both mares quickly replied in unison.
"So Miss Skies...I take it you already know everything an Apprenticeship entails?" Stella asked. "Yes, I do. I was an apprentice ten years ago. Book-making..." Sapphire replied, smiling. "Good...so...down to business. How often would you...Uh..." Stella started to ask, rather awkwardly. "Like to see Starry?" Sapphire finished for her, smiling reassuringly. "Yeah..." Stella agreed. "Once a month at least. More often would be nice, but I understand we both have our agendas to keep." Sapphire answered. "That's...actually perfect. Every month, I get three days off, not including holidays, so what day would you like?" Stella asked. "End of the month okay?" Sapphire asked. "Perfect." Stella replied, smiling.
"Now what about holidays?" Sapphire asked. "How about you get holidays? And birthdays. I understand those are important to you, and I don't want to take them away from you." Stella answered. "Sounds good to me." Sapphire replied, smiling even more.
"Now that that's out of the way, is there anything I should know about Starry?" Stella asked, a quill and notepad blinking into existence. "He's allergic to strawberries, he cannot swim, coffee is a very very bad idea, and finally, if he gives you any problems, I suggest, but this is up to you, Magical Timeout. Basically, put him in a soundproof bubble of magic, and put him in a corner or something. I haven't had to do it since the Incident, but I'm sure it'll still work...And that's just about it. He'll tell you anything else I may have forgotten." Sapphire lengthly answered. A moment later, Stella's quill stopped and disappeared, along with the notepad. "Thank you Miss Skies." Stella said, smiling. "Of course, and you can call me Sapphire. Might as well, since you're going to be taking care of my son. Good luck by the way, not that you'll really need it." Sapphire replied happily. "Then Thank you Sapphire, for letting me mentor Starry." Stella added, just as cheerfully.
"Now that that is settled, We believe a little celebration is in order." Luna announced. "That sounds like a great idea...um...where's Starry?" Stella asked, unable to locate said colt. "He is right here." Luna answered, moving slightly to the side to reveal the starstruck filly. Literally. Starry was just staring at Luna's ethereal tail, unable to look away as stars and galaxies danced before him.
"Starry?"
"..."
"Starry? Are you okay?"
"..."
"Um...Princess?"
"Yes Sapphire?" Luna replied, smiling. "Can you...Uh...stop Starry from staring at your tail?" Sapphire asked, sounding a bit worried. "Yes, We can." Luna answered.
Nopony moved for ten whole seconds.
"Um...Princess? Could you do that soon?" Sapphire asked. "Fine..." Luna laughed a bit. Starry was enveloped in her dark blue magic, before being forcibly turned away from view of her tail. The colt looked a little dazed, but quickly shook it off.
"Huh?" He mumbled, bewildered. "It is impolite to stare at a mare's tail. Regardless of how unusual or fascinating it may be." Luna told him, smiling. "I-I'm s-sorry!" Starry quickly yelped, just realizing what he had been doing, provoking a laugh from all three mares.
"So when do you want Starry to start his apprenticeship?" Stella asked. "Whenever's good for you." Sapphire kindly replied. "Considering I've had ample time to prepare, I could take him today if he had somehow already packed." Stella joked. "Great! I can actually get anything he'd need right now. Magic and all that." Sapphire said, taking her seriously. "Oh! Right! Well then...Uh...alright!" Stella stammered, wondering why she didn't think of that. "Let's see...he's gonna need..."
"A scarf, in case of cold weather..." Sapphire listed, as the item blipped into existence around the colt's neck.
"No need for quills, since he usually can get his own...but he'll need...star maps?" Sapphire asked. "Got those." Stella answered smugly.
"Good...then...Oh! A pony should never be without a journal!" Sapphire exclaimed, as a expertly hoof-made book appeared. The cover was pitch black, with royal blue corners and marks on the spine. "Starry, I made this for you after I got you back." Sapphire told him, as the book hovered next to him. "Thanks Mom." Starry replied. "Sapphire, you made that?" Stella asked, amazed. "It's my 'special talent'. I make a book for everypony I care about. Starry used to have a book just like this one, only white. So, now I'll just use that one for his photo album. Constellation, you should expect a book as well. Might be mailed, might just appear, but you're getting one. Princess, with your permission, I would like to make you one too." Sapphire said. "Of course." Luna replied calmly. "Thank you." Sapphire thanked happily.
"Now...that's just about everything I can think of. Did I miss anything?" Sapphire asked aloud. "Toothbrush." Starry answered.
"Right!" and it appeared.
"Now, I know I got everything." Sapphire declared. "Toothpaste" Starry reminded her.
"Drat!" And it too appeared.
"Anything else? Do I need to send some bits to?" Sapphire asked. "No, that's it." Starry answered her first question. "You do not need to send any money whatsoever. Apprentices are paid for by the government, do you not recall?" Luna reminded her.
"Okay then...I...I guess thats it..." Sapphire sighed, as Starry gathered up his few possessions and wrapped them in the scarf to keep them together, before tucking them under his wing.
"Goodbye Starry..." Sapphire said somewhat sadly as she hugged the young pegasus. "Bye Mom, I love you." Starry replied, carefully returning the hug, so as to not drop his bundle. "I love you too my little Star..." Sapphire sighed, forcing a smile as she pulled away.
"Okay Starry, remember to brush your teeth, wash behind your ears and behave for Miss Constellation. Do whatever she tells you to do, and pay attention to what she'll be teaching you. 'Taking notes never hurt nopony' as Granddad always said. On that 'note', don't forget to write every now and then. I would like to keep up with your life, even if I'm not always in it. And don't forget about your book. It only has about three-hundred-and-fifty pages, so try to make whatever you write in it matter, okay? Alright...I love you Starry...and thank you Constellation..." Sapphire emotionally said, her eyes threatening to cry every moment. "No...Thank you Sapphire. I promise to make sure he...uh...does everything you just said." Stella replied, feeling a little awkward about the whole thing. "Good..." Sapphire mumbled.
"Well, I guess we better get going Starry. It's almost Dawn, and if I'm correct, neither of us want to try to go to sleep after being blinded by that burning ball of unforgiving light..." Stella announced. "At least We are not the only ones who hold that opinion." Luna agreed, smiling. "Good night Princess. Good night Sapphire." Stella said, bowing before leaving the room. "Good night Luna...G'night Mom..." Starry added, coping Stella's motions, before following her out of the room.
"Princess? May I ask you a question?" Sapphire quietly asked. "You already have." Luna replied, hiding her smile. "Excluding that one." Sapphire added. "Yes, you may." Luna answered.
"Do you know where Captain Shield can be found at this hour?"
"He should be heading to the barracks in...about an hour. With the sunrise." Luna answered, slight confusion momentarily appearing upon her face. "Thank you." Sapphire thanked, smiling a bit. "Why, pray tell, didst thou wish to know?" Luna asked, intentionally using ye olde archaic speak. "Mine own house shall-eth be-eth quiet without mine child...Wouldst a Stallion not be-eth welcome in the house of a single and lonely mare?" Sapphire answered with a question, clearly not the best in usage of archaic terms.
"Good attempt. Needs work. But, yes, We understand your predicament and agree with your decision. We assume Captain Shield will as well. Though, We do have one question." Luna assessed. "Shoot." Sapphire replied, smiling. "Who?" Luna asked, with deadly seriousness. "No, I meant ask the question." Sapphire quickly corrected. "Oh. In that case...Are you trying for another foal? To make up for Starry's absence?" Luna asked, without showing a single hint of emotion.
Sapphire's blue face turned redder than...than a...um...
Redder than a Burning barn!
"N-no P-Princess! I am certainly not! Shield and I have only been out on two dates! And even then I...I'm not trying to replace Starry...if anything...adoption would be a better idea than foal-birth...but No! I'm not 'trying' for another foal. I'm just going to be lonely without Starry...and Shield seems like a great candidate to fix that." Sapphire bounced through emotions. "We understand. Go find him." Luna smiled, gesturing towards the doors.
"Goodbye Princess..." Sapphire said to the floor she was bowing on. "Goodbye Sapphire. Do not forget to remind Shield about the next time you will be in heat." Luna returned, smiling even wider upon seeing Sapphire's face go even redder, as she politely Galloped out of the room.
"If only ponies reacted in this manner a thousand years ago..." Luna happily wondered.