Princess Platinum glowered across at her compatriots. "Now see here, I don't see why it's so hard to understand. It's perfectly logical for the nobility to rule our new shared country. That's what the nobility is for, after all."
General Hurricane slammed his hoof down on the table they were gathered around. "Except that all the nobility are unicorns! Your tribe's the only one that ever bothered with that 'inherited title' nonsense. This country's still untamed, it'll take generations before it's completely safe to live in. Whether we like it or not, only the strong will survive. It only makes sense for us to be lead by the strongest!"
Chancellor Puddinghead leapt onto the table. "The Earth Ponies will never stand for that! We have always been led by a council chosen by the people! Any leader not chosen by the people will never have the honor and respect of the Earth Ponies. We must elect our leaders!"
"Elect?" Platinum gasped in shock. "But then I could be bowing to some peasant! The nobility would go into open revolt at the mere notion! Can't you see that we must do things as we've always done?"
"That's what we're trying to do!" Hurricane and Puddinghead shouted together.
Outside the tent, Clover the Clever sighed resignedly, shaking her head. "Sorry about Princess Platinum," she said to her friends.
"Don't mention it," Smart Cookie replied. "But...sorry about Puddinghead."
"It's not a problem, really," Pansy replied. "Although I'm really, really sorry about how stubborn Hurricane can be."
All three friends sighed. "It's not fair, really," Clover said at last. "We were so close! The three tribes were at peace, we were getting ready to start tending the earth and shaping the weather. Everypony was ready to live in peace and harmony..."
Smart Cookie sighed. "And then that one weird lookin' Earth Pony had to ask who was in charge."
"What makes you say he was weird looking?" Pansy asked.
"He didn't look hungry, and he was wearing that weird thing around his neck."
"You mean the tie?" Clover replied. "Yeah, that did look a little out of place. And I don't know what that word he said when he ran away after was."
"Sounded like 'bugger'," Pansy spoke up. "I wonder what it could mean?"
"Not that it matters," Clover said sadly. "Unless we can find some way to solve this rulership issue, the Windigoes will be back before long."
The three friends once more sighed in resignation. "Something tells me this isn't going to be easy."
"Yeah," Clover replied sadly. "It's not like the perfect candidates are going to just drop out of the sky."
WHUMP!
Clover and the others heads snapped up at the sound. Standing in front of them in two smallish divots made by a heavy landing were two ponies the likes of which they had never seen. They stood taller than the largest of earth ponies. Their wide, swooping wings folded gracefully to their sides as musculature shifted noticeably beneath their frames. Long, spiraling horns rose from the center of their foreheads. And to top it off, a curiously decorated crown sat upon the stallions head, and a tiara sat gently in the mare's flowing mane.
Clover stood up, taking a closer look at both ponies. The stallion was as black as a moonless night, and his mane waved in the windless calm, seeming as though all the starry universe were contained therein. His eyes were a deep blue, glowing like stars. The mare's coat was a glowing gold, and her blue/green mane flowed like ocean waves (Clover managed to convince herself that no, she did not see a fish jump out of the mare's mane before diving back in). Her eyes were a deep hazel, no glow within them.
The stallion pawed at the ground with his hoof. "Huh, looks like we missed a blizzard of some sort," he commented mildly.
"Not possible," the mare commented idly. "It was summer when I was here - not a month ago - to choose the spot for our new home."
The stallion shrugged. "Don't know what to tell you, Earthsea. The ground shows signs of frost."
Earthsea rolled her eyes. "Bloody Windigos at it again, probably. Well, time to see about making our home now. Fetch the base, Starfall."
Starfall rolled his eyes. "Right." He lifted his head, and his horn began to glow.
Clover felt herself pressed to the ground by the sheer magical pressure of the spell the stranger stallion was casting. She knew every unicorn in the area would surely respond. Sure enough...
"Clover!" Platinum shouted out as she stormed out of the tent. "What is the meaning of-" She fell silent at the sight of the stranger stallion. "You sir! Just what do you think you are doing! Stop it at once!"
Starfall turned, letting his focus on the spell fade. "Yes? Was there something you needed, Miss?" Seeming without meaning to, he assumed a stance of royal dignity, gazing down his nose at the Princess as he towered over her. The rapidly approaching blazing rock of massive proportions falling from the sky behind him probably helped with the overall impression that sent Platinum to her face in the dirt. "Are you alright?" he asked in concern. "Did you trip? Are you ill?"
"ASTEROID!" Clover shouted out in fear.
"Meteor, actually," Starfall commented mildly. "See, an asteroid is mostly ice, while a meteor-" He blinked. "Oh, right." He turned his head, and his horn glowed.
The meteor froze, ten feet above the ground, hovering there with no sign of effort on Starfall's part. "So Earthsea," he asked calmly, "where should I put the new mountain?"
Earthsea took a look at the meteor. It resembled a massive fist of rock, stretching backward into the air like an arm, coming to a point at the terminus. It was also, as Starfall had pointed out, somewhat larger than any mountain Clover had ever laid eyes on. Taking a look around at the area, Earthsea gestured with her horn. The Earth in the indicated spot suddenly tore open, looking like the open maw of a fanged beast awaiting a treat. "Just set it down in there," she said calmly.
Nodding, Starfall gestured with his horn, and the wide base of the meteor settled down into the gap, which closed up around it. Earthsea then sent a beam of magic at the ground around the base, causing the entire area to become briefly molten, fusing the spot together, before rapidly cooling. Earthsea then yawned. "That's enough for one day," she said calmly, laying down on the ground. "Put out the light, would you, dear?"
Smiling, Starfall glanced up at the sun. It immediately completed its - somewhat delayed due to the conference - trip to the western horizon, and the moon rose into the sky. "Sleep tight, dear."
Seeing this last thing, Clover seized on a desperate strategy to restore order to the leaders of the three tribes. Rushing forward, she genuflected before him. "All hail King Starfall, divinely ordained ruler of all ponykind! May his reign last into eternity!"
Catching the hint, Smart Cookie and Pansy joined her. "All hail!"
As the three tribe leaders also bowed from a distance, Starfall was distinctly nonplussed. "Umm...excuse me?"
Clover immediately went to his side. "Look, Your Majesty," she said in a hurried whisper, "we just now started founding a country for our three tribes to live in peace in here in Equestria. But we need somepony to be in charge or it will all fly apart. So please, please, please just take the throne so that we don't wind up going to war and bringing back the Windigoes. You're a king, you know how these things are."
Starfall looked somewhat panicked. "But...but I'm not a king!" he said in desperation. He gestured to the crown. "This is costume jewelry! We were at a party!"
"For the love of the Maker, please never let Platinum hear you say that!" Clover gasped out in desperation. "Look, I'll set the government up, I'm good at that. There will be councils and everything to take care of most political matters, you'll only have to do a few major things at first. I promise, with luck you'll be pampered figureheads within a decade. What do you say?"
Starfall rubbed the back of his head. "Look, this all seems like a really nice offer...but Earthsea and I are newlyweds, and I don't think we really want to-"
"Starfall!" Earthsea called out. "Are you shirking responsibility again?"
Starfall sighed. "No dear," he called back over his shoulder.
Clover smiled. "I take it she was also your childhood friend?"
Starfall nodded. "Okay. I guess I'll be your King...but only if Earthsea's Queen and my equal." He suddenly grinned wickedly. "In power and responsibility."
Clover giggled. "I'll have the constitution drafted by tomorrow."
----------------
An undetermined amount of time that's probably but not guaranteed to be at least several centuries later...
Celestia sighed to herself as she walked along the hallways of Canterlot Castle. At the ripe age of 16, she was beginning her training as a Princess, to see to Royal Duties of tending to her subjects. This did not exactly suit with her own plans for her life, as what she would really rather be doing with her free time was partying, spending time with her friends, and teasing her boyfriend. However, what she was really upset about was that these Princess duties cut into the last bit of time she had to spend with her baby sister, Luna.
As she thought about this, a blue ball with a crescent moon upon its surface bounced off her forehead. "Tia!" a happy voice called out to her.
Celestia smiled despite herself, turning to the source of the voice. A tiny blue filly with tiny wings and horn waddled along on four hooves, running up to her. The diaper she still wore was held with a crescent moon pin. "You'we hewe to pway with me, wight?" Luna gasped out, bouncing happily.
Celestia sighed sadly. "I'm sorry, Luna, but I can't. Now that my training is complete, I have to actually start seeing to Royal duties. I just don't have time to play anymore." She started to reach out to Luna.
Luna frowned, backing away. "You nevew have time fow me anymowe!" she pouted. "You'we aways off smoozing ow fwiwting ow studying! I just wanna pway with my big sistew!" Luna turned and ran off, crying.
Celestia sighed sadly. "Oh, Luna," she said sorrowfully. "I wish I could spend more time with you. If only you were big enough to go out and make some friends." She turned to head back to her duties.
Then she stopped. "Maybe you're not big enough...but I am." Forgetting her duties for the moment, she headed out into Canterlot.
Walking the streets, she quickly came across her destination, a day care center. She stepped inside. "Hello?" she calle out.
The head of the center, an elderly unicorn mare, immediately turned. "Yes, can I help- Princess Celestia!" The mare immediately bowed low. "Please, tell me how I can possibly assist you on this fine day."
Celestia smiled. "Yes, you see, my parents and I are having difficulty making time to spend with my little sister, Luna. She's been getting lonely, so I was wondering if I could bring a few fillies and/or colts her age up to the palace for her to play with. I know it's not exactly regulation, but-"
"Oh, of course, Princess!" the matron replied eagerly. "Please, choose whichever ones you like!"
------------------
Now, before anyone speaks up about how irresponsible this is of the matron, let's cover a few things.
First off, Clover obviously failed in turning Starfall and Earthsea - Celestia's parents - into figureheads by the end of the decade. The exact reason for this is unimportant, but is partially due to the fact that most of Equestria began viewing the King and Queen as flesh and blood gods. It took a long time, but eventually they managed to get the populace to treat them as just monarchs without worshipping them. All effort along those lines went out the window when Celestia was born.
You've likely heard about parents who would - metaphorically - move heaven and earth to make their children happy? Well, Starfall and Earthsea were that sort of parents...except they actually could move heaven and earth. Now imagine what it's like living under doting parents who can reshape the world to their child's whims. Once more, the royal family was seen as gods.
As much as Celestia disliked it, had she asked the matron for her immortal soul to dine on, she would have asked how she wanted it seasoned.
-----------------
Celestia sighed to herself, but stepped into the main area of the day care center. She glanced around at the fillies and colts, looking for a group she could bring back to the palace to play with her sister. She glanced around. There were so many, but she didn't want to flood the palace with children, nor did she want to overwhelm her sister. She decided that just six would be perfect...but which six?
"Incoming!" a small voice shouted out, causing Celestia to duck instinctively. A rainbow blur passed over her head, crashing into a nearby pile of books. Celestia turned to look. A cyan Pegasus filly with a rainbow colored mane and tail with a magenta lightning bolt pin on her diaper was tumbled together with a purple unicorn filly with a pink and purple mane and tail. Her diaper was held with a star shaped pin.
"Wainbow!" the unicorn complained. "I'm twying to wead hewe!"
"Suck it, Twiwight!" the Pegasus - Rainbow, presumably - spat out. "I'm twying to fwy!"
"You can't fwy yet, you too small!"
"Nuh uh!"
"Yuh huh!"
"Nuh uh!"
As the two fillies continued their argument, Celestia looked on. Hmm... she thought to herself. Luna always did like when we played adventures. Rainbow would likely be adventuresome enough for her. And Twilight there would keep things in check, keep her from getting in too much trouble. Glancing around, her eyes briefly skimmed over a large pile of stuffed animals, until she realized that there was a filly in the middle of them by the light glinting off her pink butterfly diaper pin. The yellow Pegasus was practically buried under her pink mane and tail and the surrounding plushies. She was clinging to a large white bunny plushie, only one blue eye visible, staring out at the other ponies. On noticing Celestia's eyes upon her, the filly "Eep!"ed and pulled behind the bunny.
Too cute...Must get a picture of her and Luna cuddling... Managing to shake herself out of her cuteness induced stupor, she noticed a white unicorn filly standing near the plushie pile. Her purple mane and tail was immaculately curled, and she had two filly dresses behind her. Her diaper pin was a purple diamond. "Fwuttewshy!" she called out to the Pegasus in the pile. "It's time to pway Pwetty Pwincess Dwess Up!"
"...okay," Fluttershy replied from the pile.
Luna playing dress up...must see! Having now selected four, Celestia looked around for the last two perfect potential friends for her sister.
"Beg pawden," a little voice said from her hooves. Looking down, she saw an orange earth pony filly with a blonde mane and tail, with an orange apple diaper pin. "Ah ya hungy?"
Celestia smiled at the little filly. "Maybe just a little."
The filly pulled the oversized Stetson hat she was wearing off her head and pulled out an apple. "Hee ya go!" she said happily.
Celestia smiled, levitating up the apple in her magic. "Why thank you," she said, taking a bite. The apple was delicious. Well, she certainly seems nice enough. A bit more of an anchor, to keep things grounded in reality. Luna might need that-
"Fun?" a happy voice said from above her head.
Celestia tried to look up. "Who said that?"
"You going to the pawace?" the voice said, this time from her tail. "Can I come?" it asked again, this time from between her forelegs. "Pwease, pwease, pwease, pwease, pwease?!" The voice came from all over her body, and Celestia felt...something randomly appearing across her body.
"If you'd hold still for ten seconds, I'd be happy to take you!" Celestia gasped out in desperation.
A pink earth pony filly with a poofy pink mane seemed to appear in front of her, sitting calmly on the floor. The blue balloon diaper pin glinted in the light of the room. Celestia examined the filly carefully.
"Time's up!" the filly said happily before bouncing up onto Celestia's head, grabbing the edges of Celestia's mouth and pulling them into a smile. "Smiwe big fow Pinkie Pie!"
Celestia blinked her eyes. And I promised to take her to the palace...what have I gotten myself into? Celestia looked towards the matron. "These two," she said, gesturing to the pony who had given her an apple and Pinkie Pie, "those two," she gestured to Rarity and Fluttershy, "and those two," she finished, gesturing to Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
"Alright," the matron said. "I'll let their parents know they're up at the palace when they come to pick them up."
Celestia nodded, hoping she'd be able to keep control of them until she got there, let alone until their parents arrived.
---------------
"Awe we thewe yet?" Rainbow complained.
"No, not yet," Celestia sighed as she pulled the small carriage she'd borrowed to transport the fillies.
"I'm so excited!" Twilight said happily. "I'm going to get to see the Woyal Pawace!"
"I know!" Rarity - the white unicorn - yelled happily. They hugged each other with a high pitched squeal.
"Ah don' wanna go to da castwe," Applejack - the orange filly - complained. "Ah didn' even wanna come to Cantawot. I don' wike big cities. I wanna go home."
"Don't be such a pahty pooper!" Pinkie said happily. "This is going to be so much fun!"
Fluttershy, thankfully, was quiet for the entire ride, still clinging to the large bunny plushie that Celestia had convinced the matron to let them take with them, for her comfort.
Finally pulling in to the palace, Celestia sighed. "Alright, we're here." She glanced around. "That's strange. Why are all the light off?" She stepped inside. "Mother? Father? Luna?"
"Did you seek to wepwace me so easiwy?" a small, angry voice spoke up. "Just because I compwained, you thought to bwing these six to take my pwace!"
Luna stepped out from behind the basement door, a flash of lightning illuminating her. She had donned Starfall's war helm in an attempt to look menacing, but the fact that it was big enough to cover her entire body except for the slippers that stuck out the bottom hindered that intention.
Celestia struggled not to squeal. "Luna, I would never replace you! I know I haven't had time to play with you lately, so I brought these six fillies your age over to keep you company. So you could make friends-"
"WIES!" Luna proclaimed. "I shaw not twust youw woods! I am Woona no more! I am Nightmawe Moon, and I pwocwaim that this dawk night shaw wast...fowevew!" She reared back on her hind hooves. "MUAHAHAHAHAHA-whup!" She overbalanced, and she - along with the helm proceeded to bounce down the stairs to the basement, accompanied by several clanging sound and the occasional "oomph" from Luna.
"LUNA!" Celestia called out, rushing forward to aid her sister. However, in the dark, she tripped on an upturned rug corner and wound up crashing face first into the wall, knocking herself out.
The six fillies sat there, staring at the unconscious princess. At last, one voiced all their thoughts.
"Wuh oh!" Pinkie Pie said, a huge grin on her face.