Princess Celestia was, of course, a patient pony. The sun goddess had lived for over a thousand years and bore witness to countless events of historical significance throughout the millenia. After her discovery of the Elements of Harmony, and with the help of her sister, she had valiantly struck down Discord and ended his tyrannical rule over Equestria. She had poured herself into magical studies, under the guidance of her mentor: Starswirl the Bearded, to undo the damage the draconequus had brought upon the land. She had assisted the ponies of olden time with restoring the chaos-ridden lands back to their former glory.
Celestia had been proclaimed as the new queen, over all the land, after the fruits of her labor and her newfound longevity. The young mare had, very reluctantly, accepted the offer to become the ruler of Equestria, alongside her sister, taking responsibility for the astral bodies that maintained the balance in the world. Her first Royal Decree had been to abolish the title of "Queen" and replace it with that of "Princess", as the former left the bitter taste of old age in her mouth. She participated in the wars, against neighboring tribes seeking to take over the lands she had been commissioned to protect. Even after all this, she had fought off her younger sister when she tried to take over the kingdom for herself, taking over her responsibilities after she banished her to the moon.
She certainly knew about tragedy and drama, having lived more than ten lifetimes filled with both. That was probably why she was starting to feel a teensy bit annoyed by her sister's pouting about not being able to see her for weeks, though admittedly she couldn't deny that Luna, and her sudden sister complex, were very cute.
"We shalt miss ye, dear sister of ours," bawled the night princess aloud, holding tightly around Celestia's neck.
"So shall I Luna, but remember that you will be only be gone for three weeks," she answered, soothingly.
"They might as well be three centuries! Every second spent away from ye feels like an eternity!"
"I'll write to you if it helps?" Suggested the white mare, caressing her back with one of her hooves.
"Will ye? Thou better not break thine promise! Promise us that thou will write everyday, I beseech thee!" Pleaded the dark mare, letting go of her sister and giving her a watery look.
"I promise," responded Celestia with a serene smile.
"Thou hath better not be lying, or ye shall receive thine comeuppance, when we return from our journey, ye trickster!" Proclaimed Luna jokingly, casting an accusing hoof at her sister.
"Oh? And what exactly do you have in mind dear sister?" Teased on Celestia, narrowing her eyes mischievously.
"Thou hath not an inkling of the unspeakable horrors we shalt inflict upon ye, shalt thou fail to keep thine word!" She thundered, waving her right hoof above her head threateningly.
"You haven't thought of anything, have you?"
"...Nay."
The siblings burst into identical fits of giggles.
"Do behave yourself around King Edward, will you Luna? They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...."
Princess Luna frowned. "Ah yes. We hath read of the morbidly obese king and his taste for young, supple females..." she muttered darkly. "Still, t'is the son we wishest to speak with. Thou hast nary to concern thyself with."
An interruption arrived at that moment in the form of an ivory carriage, pulled by a couple of pegasus stallions clad in gold armor. The mares watched them as they descended on the yard, right in front of them, circling around them before they came to a stop.
"Princess Luna, your transport is ready," Spoke the one closest to them.
Luna gave both of them a puzzled look. "What is the meaning of this? We thought we'd be escorted by our personal guards, and on our personal carriage?"
"I'm afraid your guards haven't had enough training for this particular type of mission, your highness," said a rough voice right behind them.
The mares turned around to find a bulky, brown earth pony with a short black mane, he too was wearing golden armor and a crested helmet. Luna seemed to be taken aback from the sight of this stallion, as every visible part of his body seemed to be covered in scars.
"Ah! Commander Storm Chaser," said Celestia pleasantly. "I trust you're obsessing yourself with security as always?"
The stallion gave her a steely gaze and let out a loud snort. "I'm afraid you're far too lax on this matter your highness. These mongrels you're eager to negotiate with once swarmed over this land wishing to make it theirs."
Celestia raised a hoof to her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Oh, relax commander! If anything, it is you who is far too uptight. We haven't had war for centuries, and I certainly don't see a reason why the griffons would want to start one now."
"Say what you will your highness, but as long as I'm the commander of the Imperial Guard it is my duty to see that none of you come to any harm," retorted the stallion with a frown on his face.
"Pray tell, how exactly art my soldiers unprepared to handle this trip?" Inquired Luna indignantly at the commander.
Storm Chaser fought the urge of rolling his eyes at royalty, instead he kept his temper for once in his life before answering. "When you resumed your duties as Princess of the Night you hoof-picked but a handful of guards straight from the Imperial Military Academy: a place crawling with amateurs and greenhorns who have not even learned how to hold a sword straight," he explained. "None of them has even finished their education, much less experienced adverse situations. They wouldn't last a second should the griffons choose to attack us."
It was Celestia's turn to roll her eyes. The sole of her hoof met her face as she vigorously rubbed her brow. "For the last time Commander Storm Chaser, Luna's not going to get att—"
"We hath no idea..." whispered Luna, her eyes growing wide with surprise and awe. "Forgive us, for doubting thine judgment commander," she added as she sank into a one kneed bow. "We wishest thee to carry on thine duties and protect us to the fullest of thine capacities."
A smile flickered across the commander's face as he took a sideways glance at Celestia's incredulous expression. He gave Princess Luna a curt nod, and departed at once to summon more guards.
"Err..."
"Is there something wrong sister?" Asked Luna with a look of innocent confusion.
"No," muttered the Celestia, trying to shake that last scene from her head. "Nothing's wrong at all. Have a safe trip, okay?" Pleaded the white mare.
"Ye should not concern thyself with our fate, after all we art on the hooves of a very capable stallion. Take care dear sister!"
A platoon of white pegasi arrived at that moment, twelve in total, surrounding the carriage on both sides. Luna gave her sister once last hug and mounted on the vehicle, which pulled up immediately and went airborne. Celestia waved her sister off as the carriage lifted her higher and higher, past the clouds.
The princess turned around to find a very excited Twilight, levitating a quill and a long piece of parchment behind her.
"Ah, yes... The preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, right?" Asked Celestia with a very awkward smile. The sun goddess had little time to mentally prepare herself for her student's usual outburst of bureaucratic blabber.
"PrincessCelestiaIvealreadymadethechecklistofallthethingsweneedtomakeachecklistofallthethingsthatwewill—"
"Yesssss, Twilight, I can see that," blurt out Celestia, "but I'm afraid there's so little to keep in check that you won't need to go through all of Canterlot's parchment supply to make a checklist," she added, rolling up yet another one of Twilight's signature checklists of the things needed to make a checklist.
Twilight gave her mentor a disappointed look. "Really? But this is the first time in twelve years that we've held the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot! Are you sure you don't need me to triple check the preparations?"
Celestia merely smiled at the unicorn and rustled her mane. "Don't worry my little pony, I assure you that I've hoof-picked none but the best stallions and mares to help with preparations."
"Yes, but princess—"
"However, if it means that much to you..." Twilight's expression seemed to light up at these words, "I can assign you oversee the preparations—"
No sooner than Celestia had spoken Twilight had jumped up five feet into the air and let out a scream of delight "Yeeeeeesssss! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesye—"
The Princess froze the elated filly with her magic in mid-air, just as she was skipping around her, and levitated her to eye level. "On the condition that you don't over-exhaust with those checklists of yours, okay?" She finished amiably.
"Okay," answered the filly, feeling her face flush deep red.
******
Half an hour later Twilight trotted down Canterlot city, Spike sitting on top of her staring down a long piece of parchment, quill on his hand.
"What is the first item on our checklist Spike?" The filly called over her shoulder at her assistant.
"That would be food," replied the dragon, unintentionally licking his lips, though feeling a stab of disappointment as soon as he read the name of the restaurant aloud. "Greenhouse... you'd think that with all these snobs hanging about they would at least consider adding something that isn't salad to the menu!" He grumbled, crossing his tiny arms in irritation.
"Don't worry, I'm sure the Princess hasn't forgotten about your liking for gems," Twilight assured him.
The couple made their way down the stone pavement, towards a two-story building that seemed to be made almost entirely out of glass. They could distinguish several sets of circular tables, most of which seemed to be occupied by customers, spread throughout a shiny cherry-wood floor. There were several planters filled with daisies, roses, and daffodils pushed up against the glass walls. There were about four orange trees that seemed to be growing out of the floor, and through the first floor ceiling, also made of cherry-wood. The front yard had been decorated with a couple of white planters, which had lilacs growing out of them.
Twilight stepped in to find herself greeted by a lime-colored unicorn with a neatly parted maroon mane.
"Welcome to Greenhouse, table for two?" He asked them, giving them a polite bow.
"Err...No, thank you. I've been sent by Princess Celestia to oversee the preparations for tonight's banquet," explained Twilight.
"Oh, yes of course, please follow me around to the back."
The pony led them around the tables, where customers were still being served, and through a set of double doors that led right into the kitchen, incrusted on the building's only wooden wall. Upon entering the place Twilight had trouble making sense of anything as her world turned upside down at the chaotic scene in front of her.
The air was filled with at least a dozen different smells, metal and white linoleum replaced the familiar brown and green she'd seen before, the temperature seemed to have risen significantly, but all of this was absolutely nothing compared to the movement in the room. Several ponies, wearing white uniforms were running around the place, yelling instructions at each other, flames rose randomly out of frying pans as the cooks cast their contents into the air and caught them yet again as they came down, busboys ran out pushing trolleys filled with plates, about a dozen ponies quickly arranged different ingredients to form a variety of plates.
Twilight was snapped out of her trance as the unicorn right next to her pulled out a clipboard and began listing off some hors d'oeuvres.
"As you can see we've already worked our way through the canapés, the vol-au-vents, and deviled eggs," noted the stallion, gesturing towards several trays stacked neatly on a large carrier. "Our chefs are still working on the caviar, and the crudités, and we're nearly done with the cheese. Care to sample some?"
Almost immediately, four ponies zoomed in out of nowhere carrying trays neatly arranged with Swiss, Gorgonzola, Cheddar, Gruyère, Gouda, and more cheeses than Twilight or Spike could even recognize.
"Sure," said Twilight, helping herself to some Gouda, while Spike gobbled down several pieces of Cheddar.
An electrical current shot unpleasantly through her mouth as her taste buds went to work. The cube of cheese she was chewing on was soft, yet still felt firm enough against her dentures. The taste wasn't too strong, but it wasn't weak either, it was just right. "Delicious!" She exclaimed, licking her lips. Gouda was her favorite kind of cheese after all.
"I'm glad you like it miss," said the stallion, waving the servers away (Spike, still chewing on his Cheddar, moaned with longing at the vanishing trays).
"Don't worry Spike, there will be plenty of time for food later on," she assured him. "Carry on please," she added, casting the stallion a nod of approval.
Twilight stepped outside only to be greeted by the familiar sight of a cyan pegasus zooming through the skies above her.
"Hey there Rainbow. Where are you going in such a hurry?" She called out.
Rainbow Dash slowed down at the mention of her name and hovered over Twilight. "Hey there Twi! Can't stick around, the Wonderbolts will start practicing their routine at four!" She blurted out excitedly.
"Is everypony still at the castle?"
"Only Fluttershy. Rarity went to visit some friends of hers and Pinkie Pie and Applejack went off to see the city. Well, gotta dash! Catch you later!" She yelled out before darting off towards the stadium.
"Looks like everypony is keeping themselves busy today!" Said Spike aloud.
"Yup, and so are we," replied Twilight. "What's next on the checklist Spike?"
"Weather," said the dragon, inspecting the list, "the air squadron of the Imperial Guard is supposed to be taking care of it."
"Well, it looks like they've got their work cut out for them..." pointed out Twilight, taking in the large formation of altostrati covering the sky like a huge blanket.
Their attention was suddenly diverted by the thundering sound of hooves marching on the ground, they wheeled around to find a contingent of white pegasus soldiers, led by a cherry red pony, shouting out a cadence as they went along.
"One mile - No Sweat
Two mile - Better yet
Three miles - Gotta run
Four miles - Just for fun
Come on - Let's go
We can go - Through the snow
We can run - To the sun
We train - In the rain
A-I
R-B
O-R
N-E
Can you be - Like me?
Airborne - Infantry"
"A-ten-hut!" Yelled out the pack leader, suddenly coming to a stop. The soldier's followed the command of their officer and quickly lined themselves up into two rows, breathing heavily. The pony turned around and gave them all a harsh, disapproving glare, making them cower. Twilight had to wonder how was it that he commanded such respect over the troops, being much smaller than the rest of them.
"You call yourselves soldiers?! Why you're the sorriest bunch of pansies I've ever laid my eyes on!" Shouted the crimson pegasus, pacing back and forth in front of them.
The soldiers shifted uncomfortably in their spots, sweating buckets underneath their armor. One of them in the back had his tongue sticking out as he gasped for breath. The officer seemed to notice this and zoomed in on him like an angry bee. The soldier immediately adopted a straight posture and went into a salute.
"What's the matter with you soldier?! Tired?!" Demanded the officer, sending spit flying into the soldier's face.
The soldier recoiled a little at the sudden invasion of his personal space, but kept his stance nonetheless.
"Sir! No, sir!"
"Then why are you gasping for breadth like a pathetic unicorn snob?!" Barked the officer.
"Sir! I my chest was just swelling with excitement at the thought of further training, sir!"
"You're a scrawny pile of dung! Aren't you, you weak little runt?!"
"Sir! I am not weak, sir! I am proud to be a part of Equestria's toughest squadron, sir!"
"You calling me a liar private?!"
"Sir! No, sir! I just believe you are mistaken, sir!"
"Mistaken?! Drop to the ground and give me twenty!"
The pegasus immediately dropped to the ground and started doing push ups. With a grin of satisfaction, the officer backed away and resumed his pacing.
"Alright you sorry lot! We've been given orders by Princess Celestia to clear the skies before sundown. And I sure as hay won't have a clean record of discipline and diligence stained by you lazy bums! So get to it!"
Stamping their hooves hard on the ground, the soldiers took off in a "V" formation towards the clouds. Twilight recognized this as a good moment to introduce herself.
"Ehem, excuse me sir, my name is Twilight Sparkle and I've been sent by the Princess to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration."
The officer gave a dismissive nod without turning around to look at her. "Yeah, yeah... tell your Princess that we have that covered."
Twilight and Spike exchanged awkward looks. Wanting to make a good impression, Twilight persisted on her commentary.
"So...these soldiers of yours seem to be well-trained, mister...?"
"That would be Miss Tempest, or rather, General Tempest," the officer corrected her, taking off her golden helmet to reveal a messy blonde mane with crimson highlights. "And those soldiers, are the sorriest bunch of losers I've ever seen, they're far from well-trained," she added, flashing her gold eyes.
Twilight seemed to be taken aback at the fact that the officer, that had so roughly commanded the troops before, was in fact female. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that she was quite young, perhaps in her mid twenties? How she had managed to snatch such a position, considering her age and gender, was beyond what Twilight could imagine.
"Ah, those fools are messing up as usual," commented the filly looking none too happy with the work of her subordinates. "Well, if you'll excuse me, it seems I have some work to do," she told Twilight, and promptly took off from the ground at an impossible speed.
Twilight gawked at her as she sped through the sky, leaving a stream of air behind her as she drilled through the massive clouds with ease.
"Rainbow Dash's long lost sister?" Suggested Spike stupidly.
Twilight shook her head and resumed her usual sternness. "C'mon, we still have stuff to do."
******
The couple made their way down Starswirl avenue, a long strip of road lined with restaurants and businesses. Twilight had forgotten how crowded the streets were, having moved to Ponyville last summer, and therefore had a little trouble navigating through the pack of ponies walking around with groceries and shopping bags.
"Yoohoo~ Twiligh~~~t!"
Twilight looked around for the source of the familiar voice and saw a white filly sitting in a table at a local Coffee house. Though she recognized Rarity at once she had trouble identifying the stallions accompanying her. Ignoring Spike's jealous grunt at the sight of his beloved enjoying the company of two males, Twilight walked towards the table, where Rarity drew up a chair for her at once.
No sooner than she'd sat down one of the stallions, a navy unicorn with a silver mane, got up and covered his head with a fedora.
"Excuse me, I really must get going," he said in a gruff voice Twilight found none too friendly.
"Oh Silver, don't be rude now! Another esteemed guest has just arrived!" Protested a familiar voice. Twilight recognized this pony to be Fancy Pants, an acquaintance of Rarity and a Canterlot bigshot she'd met months ago at her birthday party.
"I apologize for the rudeness, but staying any longer would really be pushing it. My office is getting swarmed by an unnecessary amount of paperwork," replied the navy unicorn tersely.
"Won't you at least stay and say hello to our friend Twilight Sparkle? She's Princess Celestia's protégé and one of the most magically talented unicorns in Equestria," said Fancy Pants, trying to spark some interest in his friend.
The unicorn's expression seemed to soften with these words and his brow lifted with surprise, taking an interested look at Twilight and Spike, it wasn't everyday that one met such a notorious pony or a dragon for that matter. He lifted up Twilight's hoof and shook it, "Delighted to meet you Miss Sparkle, I've heard of your exploits before. It's a shame circumstances can't allow for any more exchange of words, but I really must get going. I have an excruciatingly huge pile of paperwork waiting on my desk for me to fill."
"Pleasure is ours," returned Twilight, "though I can certainly understand where you're coming from: I've been assigned to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration this year. I'm afraid we won't be relaxing much ourselves."
"I really look forward to seeing your work then," said the unicorn politely, "if...I manage to get everything done before sunrise tomorrow," he added with a dejected look.
Fancy Pants laughed heartily at this, "Now, now my friend! I'm absolutely positive you'll make it for the party tonight!"
"I sure hope so," said the unicorn with a smile. "Miss Rarity, Miss Sparkle," he added with two short nods, and departed.
Twilight tilted her head as she watched him blend into the crowd. "He looked vaguely familiar, but where have I seen him before?"
"Oh don't concern yourself with him," interjected Fancy Pants waving a hoof jovially, "do tell us what you've been up to Twilight my dear. Are the studies coming along nicely?"
"Yes, I've been doing quite well actually. Princess Celestia is pleased with my work and has lately been assigning me with more difficult tasks," she said thrusting out her chest with pride.
"Oh, you never told me of this before!" Complained Rarity, "well? Do go on, tell us everything the Princess has been sharing with you!"
Twilight smiled awkwardly. "Well, it mostly has to do with official stuff, like handling the preparations for the celebration. I know she sent me to oversee the preparations in Ponyville a year ago, but the celebration in Canterlot is so much bigger," she explained, widening her eyes.
"I can attest to that!" Exclaimed Fancy Pants. "For such an enormous city the job is usually much harder than on small towns like Ponyville."
"Which is why ponies visit Canterlot at least once in their lifetimes just to see the Summer Sun Celebration," explained Twilight, "I read it in this book called 'A progression of Equestrian rituals throughout the ages'."
"Well, I for one, can say that they couldn't have picked a better pony to supervise the preparations," said Rarity, making Twilight blush. "I hope they don't overwork you too much though, remember that we still have a party to attend to."
"Of course not Rarity, and anyway, doing things like these is what I like best!" Piped up the plum filly enthusiastically, painfully unaware of the horrors that were to come the next morning, as well as their consequences.