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Celestia looked around the crowded town square. Every single pony was outwardly gaping at her. She could her murmurs being passed throughout the crowd too, and she caught the words “Celestia?”, “The Princess!”, “The daughter of Stella and Sol?” These words unnerved her, and she started scanning the crowd for Luna, hoping the two of them could get the hay out of there! Then she heard a sound, rather like someone rolling down a mountain. That’s when a dark blue blur rolled into her legs, bowling her over. This time Luna was lucky, and landed on top of Celestia, rather than being squashed underneath the older filly.
“Luna! Get off, you’re squishing me!” Neighed Celestia in a muffled voice.
“Oh, hehe, oops! Sorry, Cela!” Said Luna. Stifling a laugh, she hopped off her sister. Celestia scrambled back up to her hooves. With a look of disgust, she looked at her white coat, now smudged with dirt. Her mane, oddly enough, was still flowing against her neck, and didn’t seem to have a trace of dirt on it at all. At least part of me is clean, She thought, so much for dignity. She glared down at Luna, while she looked sheepish back at her sister. Sorry, Luna mouthed. Celestia snorted, and looked back up at the crowd. The ponies were exchanging whispers, and sneaking glances at the two alicorns, while some of the foals were trying to stifle giggles at Luna’s undignified entrance. Soon, the green pegasus stepped forward once again, and this time directed his questions toward Luna.
“Hello little filly. I’m Leaf, what’s your name?”
“Hi, Leaf I’m Luna!” Squeaked Luna, so excited to talk to a pony that wasn’t Celestia or Zelia. “Iwasborninacastleinaforestinequestriain-mph ngh!” Celestia had shoved her hoof in front of the fillies mouth. She gave Luna her ‘you really need to be quiet NOW’ look, and when the filly nodded, Celestia removed her hoof and placed back underneath her.
“Sorry about that Leaf. This is my sister, Luna. She and I are alicorns from the Everfree Forest.” At this, Leaf’s eyes widened, and several ponies in the crowd gasped. Celestia was confused, but continued with her tale. “Several years ago, our parents left to fight in a war, and left us in the care of a zebra named Zelia. When the war was over, Zelia left us, believing our parents would return. However, she was wrong. Our parents did not return, and we found later that they perished in the onslaught of the war.”
Luna interrupted her sister, saying,”We came here to find other ponies, and maybe even a family to take us in.” She turned down her lip, and let her eyes widen, making them reflect the unshed tears in them, giving the crowd the ‘bambi eyes’ her sister so dreaded. It seemed Leaf had gotten over his shock, just to succumb to her cuteness, for he had once again stepped forward.
“Oh, don’t cry little filly, I’m sure there is nice family of ponies willing to take you both in. Now, can you tell us who your parents were?” Luna sniffed and looked up at the green pegasus, slowly nodding her head. Celestia snorted and rolled her eyes. Luna had always been VERY capable at using crocodile tears, as she knew from bitter experience.
At this point, as Celestia had predicted, Luna had started to let the tears slowly, leak down her face as she replied,”S-Stel-la a-and S-S-Sol.”
Leaf gasped, as did the other ponies in the square. He dropping down to his knees he proclaimed,” Your Majesties! I am your humble servant.” Soon, the other ponies followed his lead, drawing one leg close their side, and bending down, in the traditional posture of respect. The white alicorn was looked around, and sure enough all the ponies were bowing. It unnerved her once more, for though she was technically royalty, she didn’t like all of the ponies who were much, much older than she bowing down to her, like she was the one in charge. Walking up to Leaf, she rested a hoof on his shoulder.
“Rise, rise all of you,” She said gently,”there is no need for that.”
A voice rang out from somewhere within the masses,”But your Majesty! You are our queen!” Celestia reared her head up sharply. I guess I am the queen, since Mother died, She thought, But I’m not ready to rule a kingdom! Not yet! She let out a sigh, and dropped head down to her hooves. After a few moments, she lifted it back up, with a new light of determination in her eyes.
“Citizens of Equestria, I am not your queen.” She yelled definitely. Once more, gasps rang out across the crowd, and a general murmur began to ascend. Celestia gave it a few moments, then raised her hoof for silence. She was obeyed immediately. “I know what you must be thinking, that as next in line for the throne, I should be queen. But, that is not to be. My mother, Queen Stella was your queen, making me, and Luna, your princesses. I see no reason for that to change now. Luna and I are still young, at least by alicorn standards, and we are by no means ready to lead a kingdom, not yet, But if we are to rule someday, I think we should see more of this land, meet more ponies, and understand the ways of our kingdom, not stay locked in a castle our entire lives. Luna and I both know how that feels, and neither of us wish to experience it again. I hope this will be made possible for us, so that when it is time for us to rule, we can create a golden era for this land of Equestria.” Celestia stopped and took a breath, while the scene errupted into talking. She had never made a speech in her life, and was amazed at how easily the words had come to her. She was so amazed by her speech that she didn’t notice leaf trotting back up to her, flanked by two white pegasus stallions with blue manes.
“Fine speech my princess,” Neighed Leaf, his eyes twinkling,”I almost thought you had prepared it in advance.”
“Yeah Cela!” Whinnied Luna,”You should have gotten your cutie mark in boring speeches!” Celestia reached out a hoof and embraced her sister, rolling her eyes. She loved Luna to death but honestly! The things she blurted out sometimes!
“Anyway, Princesses,” Said Leaf, in much more formal tone,”We have decided to take you to Canterlot, out capital, and government central. We have already sent news of your return to our tribe leaders there, and they await your arrival there. Are you up to flying a long distance?”
“Ahh-uhh, Maybe tomorrow, Leaf” Yawned Luna,”I’m too tired right now.”
“Luna, it’s barely an hour after sunrise, how are you tired already?” sighed Celestia, and moved her wings so Luna could jump onto her back.
“Oh, about that...” Said Leaf, his eyes darting back and forth,”The unicorns do not have enough strength to raise the sun and moon anymore. You both saw what happened this morning. The unicorns simply will not be able to control the celestial bodies any longer.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” Said Celestia matter-of-factly,”Our parents showed us how to raise the sun and moon before they...departed. I can raise the sun in the morning, and help Luna raise the moon and stars at night, at least until she gets stronger. We can raise them from anywhere, right?”
“Indeed you can, your highness.” Said a deep gravelly voice from behind them. A grey unicorn with a short, white mane was walking up to them, his horn unusually long and sharp. “Though you could not see them, unicorns all across Equestria were raising the sun this morning, as they have been for generations. It is a good thing you came along when you did, or else the sun would have dropped, and left us permanently in the twilight zone. Before you ask Highness-,” for Celestia had just opened her mouth to speak,”-my name is Striker. I am the appointed head gaurd for this town of Baltimare. The two pegasi with Leaf here are Thunder and Lightning, my best guards. We pledge our service to you, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. We promise to protect and serve you, until our final moments.” At this, the three ponies bowed down to the shocked young alicorn.
“Th-thank you Striker, Thunder, Lightning.” Said a bemused Celestia,”I accept your pledge, and appoint you the princesses personal guards. Leaf, if you will accept, I would like to appiont you royal adviser. You will be our pony to turn to, and our guide to the land of Equestria.”
“Of course I accept, My Lady. I would be honored!” At this Leaf sank to his knees in a bow.
“Now, we will need to find a chariot for Striker and Leaf. We have a long flight ahead of us.” Said Celestia, trying her best to sound like a leader.
A nearby earth pony beckoned the pegasi over, and dragged out a simple, wooden air chariot, meant to be pulled by two flying pegasi. While the earth pony helped Thunder and Lightning harness themselves, Celestia woke Luna, who had been napping on her back, and the two of them went around, making up some bags full of provisions for the journey. Striker and Leaf helped load them into the chariot, and the fillies restocked the saddlebags they had brought from their castle in the Everfree Forest. Luna ran ahead to part the crowd so the chariot had enough room to take off. The pegasi positioned the chariot at the start of the gap Luna was slowly, but surely creating, while Celestia helped Leaf and Striker into the chariot. When Luna came bounding back, the traveling party spread their wings.
“Where to, Princess Celestia?” asked Lightning
“Canterlot!” Exclaimed Celestia. With that, the princesses flapped their wings and took to the air, while the chariot rolled for a moment, then bounced up with the two pegasi easily pulling it. We’re off! thought Celestia, Off to start our new lives!