Princess Celestia focused her energy into her horn, closed her eyes, and turned to the East. Moments later, a flash of white light emerged on the horizon. The white light spread into a single line, cutting in between the darkness in the sky and the land. The colors of night: the blacks, the greys, and the silvers – all of these disappeared, giving way to the multitude of colors of early morning. The sky turned into a symphony of color. The grass became green once again. The buildings of Canterlot became visible.
Princess Celestia opened her eyes and looked down at her work from the balcony of the observatory and turned to her sister. She saw how Princess Luna sighed as she watched the last of her night stars disappear into the colors of dawn. “And now, dear sister," Princess Celestia said, “I must go and head the Day Court. I trust you will find something to occupy your time?”
“Of course,” Princess Luna replied, “I’ve had a few ideas in regards to some celestial bodies that I wish to introduce to the night sky.” The two sisters embraced for a moment, and then Princess Celestia powered her horn once more. She teleported to the throne room. Her assistant, Raven, waited for her with a stack of papers.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” Raven said with a bow.
“Good morning, Raven,” Princess Celestia replied, “I hope that your sleep went well?”
“Praise Luna for that,” Raven said as she shuffled through the papers, “I managed to arrange your schedule today. It took a lot of wrangling, but I was able to get a few of the noble ponies to bring their requests tomorrow instead of today.”
The two ponies made their way from the doorway of the throne room to the throne itself. Two unicorn guards stood on either side of the throne, their faces frozen in their trademark expression of stoicism. Princess Celestia hovered from the bottom of the steps to the throne and took a seat on the cushion. “So what is on the docket for today?” Princess Celestia asked.
“The first of the noble ponies should be arriving within the next half hour, Your Highness. Mr. Fancy Pants was hoping for guidance in establishing a foundation to eradicate the last traces of tribalism in the corners of Equestria.”
“I thought we already had done that.” Princess Celestia mused.
“He says that it still exists in certain areas, even the unicorns in Canterlot seem to have a certain ‘attitude’ about them regarding earth ponies.” Raven made sure to emphasis the word attitude for Princess Celestia’s benefit. “After that,” Raven continued, “We have the standard fare from the other ten noble ponies that will make up the first half of the Day Court. After your lunch, I managed to clear off the other half of the docket so that we can ensure that the final preparations in the ball room are suitable for Princess Bluebelle’s birthday ball tomorrow.” Princess Celestia face hoofed. “You do remember that your niece’s birthday is tomorrow?” Raven asked, trying not to sound accusatory.
“Of course I remember.” Princess Celestia replied. “How could I forget after last year’s Wind Direction debacle?”
“Look, it wasn’t your fault.” Raven reassured her. “You just need to realize that your niece isn’t a filly anymore, but a full grown mare. It was a good thought to bring over Trottingham’s most popular colt group, but she is now officially the Princess of Winds as a fully grown mare. I guess she didn’t appreciate being patronized like that.” Raven watched as Princess Celestia stood up from her throne and began to pace back and forth.
“It’s just strange seeing her fully grown now,” Princess Celestia muttered, “I feel like I don’t know her at all. How am I supposed to make sure that this year’s birthday ball goes well?”
“Do you want us to hire a planner to ensure that all of the details come together?” Princess Celestia stopped in her tracks and turned to Raven.
“What did you say?”
“We can hire a planner to ensure that all of the details come together.”
Princess Celestia thought for a moment and then smiled.
“No,” Princess Celestia replied, “Hiring somepony won’t be necessary. I already have the perfect stallion in mind. Write a letter for me, please.” Raven nodded and pulled out a sheet of parchment and quill from her saddlebag. “Dear Prince Dusk Shine,” Princess Celestia began, only to be stopped by Raven’s quill snapping.
“Sorry.”
Raven reached into her saddlebag and pulled out another quill. She tried not to notice the two guards as they glanced at each other for a moment. She inked the new quill and continued where Princess Celestia left off. Raven smiled to Princess Celestia and ignored the raised eyebrow that she gave to her.
“Dear Prince Dusk Shine,” Princess Celestia started again, “I am writing to you in hopes that you will assist me in a rather important manner." She paused for a moment so that Raven could finish. “As you know, Princess Bluebelle’s birthday is tomorrow. Though all of the main preparations are in order, I am in need of somepony to ensure that all of the details of the party come together. I know that as the newly minted Prince of Magic, you are most likely surrounded by numerous books of arcane magic and are certainly enjoying yourself doing so. I have delivered this message by royal guard rather than risk interrupting your studies with it popping up in front of you.”
Neither Princess Celestia nor Raven noticed that the two guards were looking at each other with apprehension and trying to make themselves look smaller with each word that was said. “I know you have a reputation for making sure that every little detail goes according to plan,” Princess Celestia continued, “So I can think of no other pony with the right qualifications to assist me in this endeavor. Your task is to ensure that the entertainment is to Princess Bluebelle’s liking, and that all of the elements of her party are brought together to create a ball worthy of a mare who has reached the age of majority. Best wishes, Princess Celestia.”
Raven finished the final sentence and rolled up the scroll. A light aura surrounded the scroll and Princess Celestia levitated it in front of the two guards. She looked at each guard. Both of the guards tried to keep their composure as she looked at each one before deciding which one to send to the Royal Canterlot Archives. “Sergeant Lighthoof,” Princess Celestia said, “I need you to deliver this letter to Prince Dusk Shine as soon as possible.” Sergeant Lighthoof summoned all of his military training to keep a stoic expression. He raised a hoof to his forehead and saluted Princess Celestia.
“Yes, your majesty.” Sergeant Lighthoof replied as he took the scroll in his hoof.
Sergeant Lighthoof bowed to the princess and made his way to the door of the throne room. Before he left, he turned to his companion who remained at his post. Even from this distance, he could still see that Sergeant Boulder Dash’s gave him as much sympathy as he could muster without setting aside his blank expression. The doors to the throne room closed, and Sergeant Lighthoof began to trod towards the Royal Canterlot Archives.
“Perfect,” he muttered, “Why do I always have to be the one who has to interrupt Prince Dusk Shine while he’s studying?”
*****
Prince Dusk Shine’s feathers ruffled involuntarily in the morning light as it streamed through the single window on the east side of the Royal Canterlot Archives. His eyes weighed down heavily on him as he poured over each tome that he previously did not have access to while he was a unicorn. A series of books surrounded him while he read the words of each page as they passed by his eyes. “Princess Golden Dream’s Dilemma,” Dusk Shine mumbled, “What unicorn in their right mind would try to begin a spell where the first couplet ends in orange?”
Time always stood still for Dusk Shine when he was studying. The thought of there being new books or new ideas always filled him with too much fascination to stop for even a moment. Eventually, sleep would take over and he would find himself having fallen asleep in the library with his muzzle in a book. Princess Celestia had even expressed concern about this fact, but he shrugged it off. After all, that was his job as the Prince of Magic; his job was to look over the unfinished spells of the ponies of the Classical Era, as well as to monitor the use of magic throughout Equestria for any signs of new magic.
Dusk Shine began to wonder if he had been studying too much, however, because he swore he could hear voices calling out to him now. But now was too important. He felt he was on a breakthrough with this spell. Just a few alterations and he could finally complete Princess Golden Dream’s Dilemma. He was so close to developing a true love spell; all other attempts before by ponies had resulted in the development of love poisons. He just had to discover the code that would allow him to manipulate the feelings of the ponies involved without completely taking over their minds.
But you’ve never been in love before, Dusk Shine thought, so how would you know what component is missing?
Dusk Shine’s ear twitched as the sound of a bell rang through the air. He immediately placed the source to his ink wells. Somepony had hit his ink well and knocked it out of alignment with the others. His concentration now broken, the books that had been twirling around him all fell to the floor. He immediately turned his head to the offender and faced a wide-eyed Sergeant Lighthoof.
“Why did you interrupt me?” Dusk Shine shouted. “You know I hate being interrupted while I’m studying!”
“I’m terribly sorry,” Sergeant Lighthoof replied, “But I had to deliver this message to you from the princess.”
Dusk Shine sighed as he left his cushion and trotted over to Sergeant Lighthoof. Sergeant Lighthoof rummaged through his saddlebag and retrieved the scroll. He levitated it from the guard’s hoof and unrolled it. He turned to the small ink well and levitated it back into place.
“I am sorry for the intrusion, My Liege.”
“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” Dusk Shine replied, though he could tell the guard didn’t completely believe him nor was he sure that he believed it himself, “I’m just trying to figure out one of the more difficult unfinished spells.”
“Of course, sir,” Sergeant Lighthoof replied, “I did try to knock, and when that didn’t work, I tried calling out your name, but you were-”
“Studying, I know.” Dusk Shine replied as he read the scroll. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me. I know you have a reputation for making sure that every little detail goes according to plan?”
Dusk Shine scoffed and turned to the guard, who simply stood at the doorway.
“Well, I guess she’s right.” Dusk Shine added. “I did tell her about how I fixed Ponyville’s Winter Wrap Up Fiasco, so I’m not surprised. We don’t want another Wind Direction debacle, do we?”
“No sir,” Sergeant Lighthoof replied, “we don’t.”
Dusk Shine squinted his eyes, and the scroll burst into flames before his and Sergeant Lighthoof’s eyes. Sergeant Lighthoof backed away and began to leave, but Dusk Shine placed a hoof on his shoulder to prevent his escape.
“I promise I’m not angry with you, okay?” Dusk Shine said, “After all, you know the saying. Don’t shoot the messenger.”
Dusk Shine smiled at Sergeant Lighthoof, but he must have smiled wrong, because Sergeant Lighthoof’s eyes went even wider as he bowed and made his way out the door, closing it behind him. Dusk Shine sighed and turned towards the window. The rays of morning light seeped through even stronger than before. Prince Dusk Shine turned to open book and reread the beginning of Princess Golden Dream’s love spell.
You, who take the moon’s soft glow and its world of shadow
You, who take the sun’s colors into your eyes and make fire of orange.
As you reap these labors of your love, I shall sow.
“Why didn’t these ponies think about what they were writing instead of just jotting down whatever was on their mind?”
Prince Dusk Shine slammed the book down. A small discharge erupted from his horn, sending a shock wave around the room. He turned when the familiar sound of ink dripping on the floor caught his attention.
Drip… drip drip… drip… drip drip.
Prince Dusk Shine sighed and began toying with the book in his hooves. He knew that he was the go to guy for anytime ponies needed help with planning things. But this was different. He had to make sure that there was no way in Tartarus that anything could go wrong. He began to think about all of the times he had made mistakes on matters such as these. He continued to flip the pages of the book in his hooves.
Flip.
Drip… drip drip. Flip.
Drip… drip drip. Flip.
Prince Dusk Shine watched as his door opened again, and there stood a Pegasus Royal Guard with a blue mane and orange fur. Oh no, Prince Dusk Shine thought, not Flash Sentry…
“No!” Prince Dusk Shine shouted. “We don’t need a song! Not now!”
But he was too late. Already, the Royal Guards lined the halls of Canterlot Castle and waited for him to continue. Prince Dusk Shine walked out of his study and into the hall. He turned to the first guard. There was a line of six of them, and they began to strike poses.
Bats! Six! Blitz! Apples! Parasprites! Want it!
Bats! Six! Blitz! Apples! Parasprites! Want it!
Bats! Six! Blitz! Apples! Parasprites! Want it!
Prince Dusk Shine trotted down the hall towards the wing where Princess Bluebelle spent all of her time. The guards began to whisper to one another as he trotted, as though he couldn’t hear them.
Dusk had it coming, Dusk had it coming
The Princess ordered him by name
With his OCD, the way he nit picks
I betcha you would have done the same
Bats! Six! Blitz! Apples! Parasprites! Want it!
Prince Dusk Shine reached the end of his hall, slammed a hoof against the wall, and stared one of the guards in the face.
You know how Butterscotch has this little habit
That gets you down? His way with animals!
Butterscotch likes animals. No, not likes, loves!
Well, I go to Sweet Apple Acres
And I'm really irritated
because the bats have eaten the apples, so no cider.
and there's Butterscotch
Lying on the dirt, trying to like, no, not like,
Love! Love the vile creatures!
So, I said to him, I said
"Butterscotch, you will stare at those bats so we can get that cider."
and he did.
So I used my magic and made the vampire fruit bats not like apples.
But I put the love of apples... into his head.
Prince Dusk Shine continued down the hallway and across the main ballroom. The guards continued to whisper to one another. Did one of the guards just do a pirouette into the hooves of another guard, he thought to himself.
Dusk had it coming, Dusk had it coming
The Princess ordered him by name
With his OCD, the way he nit picks
I betcha you would have done the same
By this time, Prince Dusk Shine had made it to the Hall of History, where the stained glass windows of the history of Equestria stood. He looked up and saw the stained glass figure of a white unicorn with a purple mane.
I remember Elusive in Ponyville two years ago
He wanted to make six tuxes for the Grand Galloping Gala
And the rest of us agreed to it
He put stars on mine, but by Celestia, were they innacurate.
Then I found out, Orion, he thought?
Orion, my ass!
Not only did he use four stars for it, he confused the Canis constellations.
Something about it being artistic
So that night, when I saw the astronomical offense
I said that is Canis Major, not Minor
You know, some stallions just can't take constructive criticism.
The morning sunlight bled into the hall, and Prince Dusk Shine was bathed in the prismatic light of a rainbow that shone through the multicolored window. The guards, however, didn’t seem to notice it.
Dusk had it coming, Dusk had it coming
Like when he tried to control time
With his messed up mane, he looked so insane
Elusive called it a fashion crime
“It didn’t look that bad.” Prince Dusk Shine replied as he continued down the halls.
He didn’t see where he was going and bumped into one of the guards. The guard stumbled and knocked over a line of guards. He suppressed a giggle as the line of guards went down like dominoes.
That reminds me of when I was standing in the library
Studying flight patterns and whatnot
This was before I became an alicorn
in storms Rainbow Blitz babbling on and on
"I gotta do a Sonic Rainboom."
He says
He was crazy and he kept on screaming
"I gotta do a Sonic Rainboom"
Then he ran into the bookshelves
How many times has he rammed his head into my library?
The guards interrupted Prince Dusk Shine’s quick reverie.
Dusk doesn’t like to… be interrupted
The guards who’ve done it all have bloody manes
Prince Dusk Shine turned around at the words the guards were saying.
“I am not physically violent!” He shouted. “You all have no idea how hard it is trying to study these arcane spells and to find a logical working method for them!”
Dusk looked out the window as he continued on to Princess Bluebelle’s room. Outside, he noticed a single apple tree in the Royal Canterlot Gardens. He shook his head as another memory ran through his mind.
Applejack thought he could do it... Buck all of the apples on his own.
I offered to help, but he said no. Then things started happening in town.
The Baked Bads incident, the bunny stampede,
He made Rainbow Blitz crash into my library… again.
It’s as though when I stay out of it, things go from bad to worse.
Flash Sentry appeared from seemingly out of nowhere and tapped Prince Dusk Shine on the shoulder.
“Yeah, but didn’t you help him in the end?” He asked.
Prince Dusk Shine stared angrily at Flash Sentry.
“Oh no,” He replied, “We are not pinning those accidents on me!”
In the distance, Prince Dusk Shine heard the sound of music coming from the ballroom. His mind turned to thoughts of the parasprite infestation.
Who would have guessed that Bubble Berry knew how to do it?
He could have just said, ‘Hey guys, I know what to do.’
But no… I looked like an idiot
When he showed up with ten instruments in tow
Maracas, tamborines, drums, that stupid trombone,
Cymbals, one instrument right after the other
Didn’t he see that we were trying
To get rid of the parasprites?
The five of us, herding them together and running them out of town
Only to return to Butterscotch’s…
We come back, open the door
And hundreds of the little bastards
Start flying to the last place we wanted them… Ponyville
Well, I was in such a state of shock, I completely blacked out
I can't remember a thing, though I’m pretty sure
There was something about rebuilding the town.
I didn’t even know they were gone.
Prince Dusk Shine noticed that the guards were all nodding their heads and continued with their somehow choreographed dance. He watched as guard after guard tossed himself into the hooves of a waiting stallion.
The trombone blowing, the guitar strumming
All that they needed was a song
He made Prince Dusk Shine, a stupid equine,
For not knowing how to fix it all along
“I would have figured it out.” Prince Dusk Shine muttered, but the guards continued.
He wasn’t trying, and now he’s lying
To cover up how it went down
It could have been worse, like casting some curse
To make the creatures eat up the town.
“All of you guards can suck my hooves.” He continued.
Dusk Shine stood at the entrance of Princess Bluebelle’s wing of Canterlot Castle. He sighed, but as he went to open the door, a familiar squeak echoed through the castle. He turned around and saw that a small foal had dropped her doll and that a mare was picking it up. He looked at the small crowd of ponies gathered near the entrance of the castle. Oh yeah, he thought to himself, Princess Celestia authorized castle tours to help with the economic issues. He stared at the doll for a moment.
I loved my Smartie Pants doll, more than I could ever know,
She even had her own quill and notebook to do homework.
But I had to find a way to make a letter for the princess
I was up all day trying to find a problem to report to the princess
And on the way I found Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Big Mac
Brainwashing adults into fighting over a pony doll does sound a bit dumb…
If I ever get my hooves on whoever stole Smarty Pants…
Prince Dusk Shine muttered the last words ominously as a group of guards surrounded him in a circle.
“What the?” he asked, “What are you all doing?”
He’ll kick his bum, bum, bum, bum, bum
“Unless he’s a lot bigger than me, then I’ll-”
He’ll kick his bum, bum, bum, bum, bum
“I didn’t say that!” he shouted
Dusk had it coming, Dusk had it coming
He wants to prove to the princess
Though an elemental, he’s not gone mental
He has no choice but to take this test
Dusk had it coming, Dusk had it coming
The Princess ordered him by name
With his OCD, the way he nit picks
I betcha you would have done the same
Prince Dusk Shine made it to the final corridor leading up to Princess Bluebelle’s room. Even from here, he could hear the sounds of wind coming from behind the door. Great, he thought, I’ll be the one interrupting her. The door behind him remained open, and he could hear the sounds of the guards as they whispered.
“Wait, how did his magic turn Butterscotch into a bat again?”
“Orion as a belt… yeah, how original, Elusive...”
“How does Rainbow Blitz not have permanent brain damage?”
“He only helped Applejack because he wanted apple whiskey.”
“Bubble Berry must be really good with his hooves…”
“Did the Prince ever find out who took his doll?”
Bats! Six! Blitz! Apples! Parasprites! Want it!
Prince Dusk Shine turned around and slammed the door behind him. Maybe if we spent more of the Treasury’s money on combat drills rather than choreography, we wouldn’t have had that changeling invasion.
He stared for a moment at the door to Princess Bluebelle’s room, and then he raised his hoof and knocked on the door.