//------------------------------// // A Party and a Problem // Story: Baby Sitting // by storm the castle //------------------------------// Chapter 1 Twilight Sparkle sighed after the most recent of her daily royal greetings. This particular effete noble had a long name, and an even longer list of titles, but despite his best efforts Twilight could tell they were all inherited. He had come to the “new royal in town” to petition a seat of office, making it sound like she would never get along without his expertise and that it was the most natural thing in Equestria. The fact that the position he was after seemed to place him in direct control of the entire financial assets of her city seemed completely coincidental in his eyes. Celestia had warned her that despite his respectable lineage, the stallion in question was himself a complete oaf, leaving Twilight to gingerly try to politely tell the idiot to go to Tartarus while smiling through her teeth. It had been months since she had taken her position as the newest Equestrian royalty and while the monetary system and minor military requirements came fairly easy, as ever, the societal requirements of being a government figure completely escaped her. Why couldn’t she just tell him what she thought of him and his bubkis lineage? Why did she have to always meet these people? Twilight frowned deeply and just wished she could go back to the Ponyville library, spend the day reading, or better yet with her friends. Despite their presence at her coronation, they all still had lives at Ponyvillle themselves. The last to leave was Pinkie Pie, since she insisted on meeting everyone in the new city situated just outside canterlot. But even the somewhat loopy party pony had responsibilities, and that left Twilight to her own devices, and while she still had spike around, it was still really lonely. The only ones she had regular contact with was the statuesque guards, and they weren’t much for conversation, save the predictable “Yes, your Highness,” or “No, your Highness.” Spike leaned in from cushion next to her throne and whispered “Wow, was he in love with himself, or what?” Twilight could only nod and give a weak “tell me about it” before the chamberlain was again at the door for the next visitor of the day. At first, Twilight was prepared for another high-ender she had never heard of asking for favors they didn’t need, but then Twilight noticed the elderly stallion, who was usually so well composed, was visibly flustered. “P-p-present-t-t… p-presenting the R-R-Royal p-Pony S-S-Sisters, th-th-the Regents-s of,of,of… um” before he could continue his stutter fest, a big white snout leaned in and whispered in his ear, and he smiled weakly before restarting. “Presenting the Royal Pony Sisters, The Regents of the sun and moon respectively, the High Princesses of the Royal City of Canterlot, and Defenders of all Equestria, Princess Celestia Solara Invicta, and Princess Luna Silvermoon Invicta.” Their introductions out of the way, the two alicorn sisters strode in. Once the embarrassed chamberlain had the door closed behind them, Twilight quickly broke her composure, and ran to greet her mentor with a big hug, which Celestia accepted with a level of enthusiasm of her own. “It is good to see you, my faithful student, though I suppose I can no longer call you that. It shall be Princess from now on, hmm?” she smiled. “So, Princess, how are you adjusting? I trust you have experienced no problems?” “Please princess, just call me Twilight or your faithful student like always. It would be weird otherwise. And no, , no problems, though it is a lot more dull than I thought it would be. Don’t I get a moment to myself?” Twilight said, an expression of exhaustion clear upon her face. It was Luna who responded, coming up beside her. “It will get easier with time. Our advice is to try to find a rhythm, to make sense of the minor chaos.” Celestia nodded her accord. Things had not been so different for her after Luna’s banishment, finding herself all of a sudden the sole ruler of Equestria. But, as Luna had said, once the fear of ruling alone had passed and the pain of the Nightmare Moon incident had ebbed somewhat, the smaller things formed patterns, small manageable regularities that became routine over time. “Though are you sure all is well?” Luna continued, “Your Chamberlain seems a bit less than capable.” Spike chose this moment to enter the conversation. “Can you blame him? You two have a pretty big reputation, not to mention your both huge, no offense” “None taken” responded Luna, though it was clear Celestia was sensitive to the term “huge” from her light blush and quick look towards her flank. Luna had nothing to worry about since she had always been small bodied, but the broken chair a few decades ago had brought the situation to light for Celestia. Though no one had dared laughed outright, not even the castle guards had been able to keep a completely straight face. “So what brings you two by? It’s not like you to drop everything for a checkup.” Spike continued. “We came to help. From the reports, it sounds as if you have yet to assign many of the lesser governmental positions. Such a thing is dangerous, should you have one of your infamous breakdowns, Twilight.” Princess Celestia answered. “While your Want it Need-it spell was inherently harmless within Ponyville, such an occurrence from royalty in such a large city could prove disastrous.” “I know, Princess, and I’ve been trying since I was coronated. But I can’t seem to find the right ponies. Sometimes I find somepony I like, but I don’t want to appoint them in case sompony else is fit for the role. Other times I can’t find anypony I like at all, and I’m just so worried I’ll never find the right one. The only one I’ve been sure about is the royal attendant, and that’s Spike, since it’s just a glorified assistant anyway.” She smiled and nuzzled her number one assistant. “I just don’t know anypony around here.” “Luckily, we have already found the solution to that problem as well.” Said Luna, and as if on cue a familiar cluster of ponies busted open the door, much to the opposition of her chamberlain and guards. “Hey buddy, I told you we don’t need any introduction.” Said Rainbow Dash to the furious chamberlain, “ We’re her friends! We’re the other five Elements of Harmony, so I’m pretty sure she knows us.” She smiled and crossed her hooves over her chest as if it was the end of the argument. “And as I repeatedly told you, miss, that is beside the point. When presenting oneself to Royalty, it is customary to be properly announced by the chamberlain, namely me.” His gray hair was frazzled, and a shade of pink had entered his face, showing through his faded brown coat color. “There are rules that must be followed!” “Don’t be silly!” Pinkie Pie chirped in, “the story said we bust through the door when the princess finishes talking.” “What story?” asked Fluttershy, only to be ignored as the others continued to bombard the poor chamberlain. “Ah understand how ya feel, fella, but we aint like to wait for ya ta announce the lot of us, ‘specially since we ‘aint seen twilight in weeks.” Applejack cut in to take control of the situation before the two could come to blows over the argument. “No ‘fence intended darling, but ya took too long.” The chamberlain just humfed and began leading the thoroughly embarrassed guards out of the room. Rarity stopped him just before the door. “If it makes you feel better, darling, I was personally more than willing to wait and let you do your job, but I doubt anything less than the Princesses themselves could have held them back longer than you did.” She told him, helping him to save a bit of face in the ordeal. He gave a week smile, but still managed to straighten a bit. “Well my little ponies, it’s good to know you’ve not lost your sense of friendship for our dear Twilight.” Celestia spoke up with a laugh. “Though he does have a point regarding Twilights new position. She does now require a certain level of decorum when you meet her.” Rainbow, hearing the feared word “decorum” jumped in “Not if she makes a royal decree saying we don’t have to!” Celestia only giggled, while Luna warned “that would be an abuse of her power. If she were to give allowances and pardons to her friends, her subjects would be less inclined to trust her as strong leader.” Rainbow continued to huff stubbornly though, grumbling about how being the bearers of the Elements of Harmony was about as useful to their status as a bucket of shed feathers. Celestia stepped forward “Perhaps a bit less of politics, hmm? I believe this palaces foyer will be a lovely place for a picnic, just the nine of us.” And all of them voiced their ascent, Pinkie a bit more emphatically than was entirely necessary ................................................................................................................................................... “So she actually tried to make you believe she had bested and Ursa Major?” asked a bemused Luna, to which a giggling Rarity only nodded. After a half hour of watching Pinkie Pie break the laws of physics, having been given a cup of coffee by Rainbow as a prank, the subject of Twilights reports had come up. The six friends, as well as Spike, had always assumed that the princesses knew all about their adventures in Ponyville. However, Princess Celestia made it clear that while she had a rudimentary understanding of what had transpired from eyewitness account, she had never had occasion to know the whole stories behind the reports, and Luna herself had never been able to involve herself in them due to her trying to catch up on history and law. And so, the six friends had taken turns telling the full stories behind the reports, and Rarity had been describing the events of “The Great and Annoying Trixie’s” first pass through Ponyville. “Surly she is aware that I” said Luna “am the only one to ever deal with one, and that was before my banishment? The constellations, as a former part of the night sky, have always been mine to deal with.” “I doubt it, and it would definitely ruffle her mane to know that her favorite lie had no chance of ever being true.” Said Twilight, laughing at the show ponies misfortune despite already having forgiven her. The story, however, was destined to be unfinished, as one of the solar guards approached Celestia and spoke in her ear. “I am sorry, girls. This has been the most fun I have had in some time,” she said with a resigned sigh, rising from the large cushion that had been laid out for her “but I am afraid Luna and I have overspent our expected stay, and must now return to Canterlot.” Luna gave a small pout at the idea of being separated from the first friends she had made since her return, and asked “Surely we have slightly more time sister? We confess, we know of no pressing issue that would cause such haste.” “I am sorry sister, but we must continue the heavenly cycle; A duty that cannot be put off.” “But sister, Canterlot is not essential to the task, it can easily be performed from right here.” Luna seemed to be gaining a bit of excitement. “Perhaps we can have one of Twilights slumber party’s? We have never heard of such a wondrous idea, and it would surely be fun.” Pinkie rose from her caffeine crash, a rare energy-less moment for the pink spaz, long enough to say “Would you say it would DOUBLE THE FUN??” eliciting a giggle fit from Rainbow Dash, and a groan from Luna. “Please, miss Pie, we said that only because we had but a rudimentary understanding of the concept of fun and modern equestrian speech. ‘Twas an accident, so please let it go.” She pleaded, though she expected it would haunt her for as long as at least one of the six continued to live. Celestia, however was not amused. “Luna, I cannot be the adult for both of us. Come, we must return to Canterlot.” She stated flatly, as though she were speaking to a filly. “We are no newborn, Tia, we can make our own decisions, and we wish to stay. We wish to have fun with our friends, and they have voiced no opinions to the contrary.” “Actually, princess, ahv got chores in the morning, plus Fluttershys got her animals, so…” tried to interrupt Applejack, but to no avail. “Luna, you can have fun; back in Canterlot, where we are expected to have been hours ago. This is not a discussion.” Celestia said with an air of finality. Luna bristled at being treated like a child. “We are Just as mature as thee sister! And we shall not stand for being so disrespected. You may return to Canterlot alone sister, and you may do so in the dark. We will be staying right here!” and so Luna’s horn began to glow, and the sky to darken. “Oh, my.” Fluttershy worried, complimented with a gulp from Rarity. “NO SISTER! IT IS TOO EARLY!!” Celestia shouted, and indeed it was six o’clock in summer, which meant it should remain light for at least another hour and a half, but Luna paid her no heed, continuing to raise the moon and stars. Celestia began casting her own magic, in the hopes of stopping Luna, and so the power struggle began. Luna and Celestia fought over control of the skies, while the others in the garden foyer, the Elements of Harmony as well as the various categories of royal guard, watched in growing dread. Futtershy passed out into the arms of Applejack, and even Rarity began to swoon. Rainbow just watched with mouth agape, but Twilight could feel the coming crescendo of magic and feared its consequences for those too close to the conflict, in particular her and her friends. The sparks began to fly between the two, literally so, as the strain caused by the standoff grew. Soon both were panting, and only Luna’s determination to not be ignored kept her strong in the face of Celestias superior might. Soon the sky was nearly black, yet the sun still hung in the sky, beating back the darkness. Unwilling to see the normally loving siblings fight any longer, and hoping to head off some sort of catastrophe, Twilight teleported between the two and flared her wings in a physical expression that would strengthen the barrier she cast around herself to deflect the magic passing between the two. Both horn and Element of Magic tiara aglow, she shouted “STOP FIGHTING NOW!!” and suddenly expanded the bubble she had placed around herself, and altered it to stop their magic temporarily. Anticlimactically, the two mighty alicorns horns simply fizzled out, and they both went cross-eyed from the sudden ending of their exertions. They recovered together, and looking around, Luna excitedly switched to the Royal Canterlot Voice as she exclaimed “HA TIA! IT IS DARK, SO WE HAVE WON!” “No LuLu. We both lose.” Celestia said, almost whispering, her face turned up and a look of utter horror on her face. Everyone else looked up as well, and Luna visibly blanched. Both mighty orbs now hung in the sky,the moon infront of the sun in a solar eclipse, neither truly visible, the moons shadow casting darkness over all of Equestria. “Oh dear.” Both sisters promptly collapsed. The silence was broken by Rainbow Dash, whose first thought on the subject was predictably “That. Was. AWSOME!” she finished with a squeaky shout, throwing both hooves in the air as she began to hover excitedly. “You think they can do it again?!” “Hold it right there sugarcube, they're both pretty tuckered out ta just drop like that, ‘sides ah don’t think they did it on purpose.” Applejack threw in, stealing Rainbows gusto. “Princess Sparkle! What are your orders?” one of her royal guards had come up next to Twilight, and despite his training, he could not keep the fear from surfacing. None of them could. “Princess!” Twilight jumped a bit, shocked out of her zone by his shout “What?! How should I kn-?!“ she began, only to notice all eyes were on her, hoping, begging for an answer. She made you a princess for a reason; prove she was right. Twilight thought to herself. She sucked in a deep breath and released it slowly, accentuating it with a motion of her hoof. “All-right. I want you to spread the word that this was a minor event, one required for the princesses health. Tell the rest of the royal guard to keep a patrol in the major citys and towns, we need to keep panic to a minimum. You!” she pointed at the guard who had approached her, causing him to flinch and jump to attention. “What’s your name?” “Stalwart, Your Majesty. First Lieutenant Stalwart.” He responded quickly, hoof to helm in a salute. “All right, First Lieutenant, you’re my acting Captain of the Guard. Give my orders to all the other officers, and then come back. I’ll need you by me to relay any new orders. Got it?” he saluted and the entirety of the guard, even the solar and lunar guards that had accompanied Celestia and Luna took off simultaneously. Twilight looked at her friends. “All right girls, I need your help. Rainbow, go tell the castle doctor to get ready for a doozy. Fluttershy?” the yellow Pegasus was still passed out in AJs hooves. “FLuttershy!!” “I’m sorry Mommy, but I don’t like asparigus!” Fluttershy woke violently. When she realized where she was, she blushed. “Oh, sorry Twilight, I was… umm, whys it so dark? Was I asleep that long?” everypony pointed at the solar eclipse, and once she saw it, she passed out all over again. A few prods from her friends and reassurances that it would be OK, and Fluttershy was ready to listen to what Twilight needed. “Okay, Fluttershy, I need you to keep an eye on the princesses while we get them to the medical wing of the castle. Tell me if anything is wrong alright.?” And when Fluttershy nodded, Twilight gently picked up the princesses in her magic, and began to carry them through the castle. “Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, can you three clear the hallways in front of us? If anypony sees them like this, the jig is up and ponies may start to panic.” With a quick “sure thing darling’” from Applejack, and a similar response from Rarity and Pinkie, Twilight was able to focus on running through the hallways. While her wingspan was small enough for her to fly through the wide corridor, she still wasn’t a strong enough flyer to fly and perform magic at the same time, and she wanted to give the others time to perform their assigned task. Not to mention if she face-planted now, she would never hear the end of it from Rainbow Dash. “U-um Twilight? Their manes are changing color. I-is that bad?” said Fluttershy beside Twilight, and indeed their manes were changing. Lunas had grown shorter, and had taken on a lighter shade of blue, and Celestia’s pallete of various pastel colors had taken on a distinct pink hugh. “T-Twilight?” “I don’t know, Fluttershy. I really don’t know what it means. It could just be because they’re asleep.” It was a half-flanked answer at best, but it was the only one she had at the moment. Thankfully, the hallways were clear, save a few streamers that marked Pinkie Pie’s tactics. So she ran down the emptied hallways carrying the princesses with Fluttershy hovering nearby monitoring their conditions, and in short order made her way to the doctor’s office. Dr. Stable, who had recently moved to the city and was given a shining recommendation by Twilight, met them at the door and had Twilight place the two unconscious alicorns on a large tarp laid on the floor, since the two were far too large to fit on any of the tables in the room. She could already tell, this was going to be another one of the weirder events of her life.