//------------------------------//
// Prompt #473-Putting Her Hoof Down 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
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“No,” said Twilight Sparkle, and the silence was deafening. To her sides, Princesses Luna and Celestia may have well been statues, so still they sat, though inwardly they wanted to jump and shout for joy. Celestia in particular had never seen the court this quiet since the Pie War of 648. She couldn’t be more proud of her ascended student. Living in Ponyville had indeed been good for her.

“No,” repeated Twilight Sparkle, both because that two-letter word needed to be said, and to confirm that yes, that was what she had said. “I will not remain in Canterlot.” Princess Luna allowed a single smile to flit briefly across her lips. Finally, Twilight was learning the most important lesson of all-the lesson of command.

Down on the floor, the gathered group of nobles were in shock, clearly unused to the blunt and honest response. One dared to speak up.

“Princess Twilight, please reconsider. Canterlot is where the seat of power is. You would be constantly called back and forth between here and...Ponyville.” The unicorn stallion had to suppress a shudder as he uttered the name of the small town. Celestia and Luna did not miss it. Neither did Twilight. “It only makes sense that you should move here.”

“So you can have another claim to fame, another princess to kiss up to?” was Twilight’s blunt response, “no thanks. I will be staying in Ponyville for as long as I am welcome there. Besides, Princess Celestia and Luna can send anything they need me to sign via dragonfire.”

The stallion wavered, perhaps because he had not expected such a logical counterargument. Neverless, he pressed on, “But Princess, think of our relations with other countries. What would they think of Equestria if one of our Princesses lived in a dirt hut?”

With a sideways glance at Celestia to get a confirmation nod, Twilight responded.

“Likely, they will think the same things they did when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna ruled out of a cave. And I will be living in the Golden Oaks Library, not a dirt hut. The place where Equestria is ruled doesn’t matter, as long as the rulership is competent.”

As the stallion went to speak again, Twilight interrupted him.

“I have given my answer. It doesn’t matter what you say, I will not be moving to Canterlot Castle. I will be staying down in Ponyville. Because do you know what Ponyville has that Canterlot doesn’t? My friends.”

[Time]

His hopes dashed, the stallion left the room with his nose in the air, and Twilight signalled the herald for a recess.

“The Court of the Princesses will now have a ten minute recess. Please wait patiently, and the Princesses will address you as soon as they can.”

Twilight, Celestia and Luna retired to an adjoining room, which had in a rather brilliant bit of foresight, been very well soundproofed when it had been built.

“Ugh!” grumbled Twilight once the door shut, “I can’t believe them. He was the fourth today!”

“You are doing just fine, Twilight,” said Celestia, rubbing a hoof along the youngest alicorn’s back.

“Indeed, Twilight Sparkle. We would have handled that last noble with less decorum. And more shouting,” said Luna, a smile spreading across her lips. “Though it would have been funny to us were you to unleash the Royal Canterlot Voice upon the next pony who asks you such a question.”

Despite her slightly irritated mood, Twilight laughed as she envisioned it. Feeling much better, the three headed back out to the court, and let in the next pony.

“Princess Twilight, my dear sister,” said Prince Blueblood as he pranced into the room, and Twilight could feel Luna tense up by her side. “I was just wondering if you would consider staying in Canterlot, instead of returning to that ghastly town down by the Everfree.”

Once more, silence pervaded throughout the court. Twilight took a deep breath in, and let it out slowly. Then she took another, and once more, exhaled. Then she breathed in once more.

And then she blew out all of the windows in the room.