Princess Celestia’s Vacation
Painting? She has the day off and she chooses to spend it painting? Clearly this called for an intervention.
Captain Brave Heart knocked on the simple door to the cottage. “Coming.” The door opened to reveal a cute yellow with pink mane pegasus. “Can I help you Ms…”
“Captain Brave Heart. I could use you help Ms. Fluttershy. Do you know where Discord is? I need to speak to him.”
The pegasus’s eyes widened slightly. “No, but I can contact him. Why…he didn’t do anything wrong did he? He hasn’t had a relapse for decades!” The voice was soft, worry clearly present.
“No, nothing of the sort. I need his help actually.”
“Oh…please come in.” The cottage was pleasant, full of pictures and a very homely air. Small animals darted back and forth. It was well kept, not a speck of dust or dirt anywhere.
“Please, sit down at the table. I will call for him, and then make some tea.” The young mare did so, taking further stock of the area. She was curious how Fluttershy would call Discord.
The young looking pegasus pulled open a drawer…and pulled out a giant rubber chicken. She squeezed it twice, eliciting two squawks from the device. Brave Heart blinked.
“I guess I should have expected something like that…” Fluttershy laughed, and began to fill the kettle. Soon the pot was on the stove, merrily heating under the fire.
“So…how is life in Ponyville?”
“Its…been hard these last few years. Though the town hasn’t changed much, the ponies…most of them are gone. Granny Apple Bloom is still kicking in Apple Acres, but the rest…”
“I heard that your husband had passed away recently. I am sorry.”
A single tear gathered in Fluttershy's right eye, and slid down.
“I miss Big Mac. He was so sweet…I do visit the children often on the farm, but, it is hard knowing I will outlive them. Still, I will be happy for them. There is no need to push my burdens onto my children, or this town.”
Brave Heart nodded. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like. Immortality had been a surprise gift from Discord. Speaking of the devil; there was a poof of smoke, and there he was.
“You rang, Fluttershy?”
“Yes I did. Captain Brave Heart here is looking for you.”
“Indeed. I am in need of your talents.”
“Oh?” Sunglasses that hadn’t been on his face before were lowered by a clawed hand. “Do tell over the tea.”
Princess Celestia was finishing the painting of Canterlot’s skyline. It had taken several hours, and couldn’t compare to a true master artist’s work, but it was still nice. There was a soft knock on the door.
“Come in.”
“That’s a nice painting, Princess Celestia.”
“Why thank you, Fluttershy. You always have such kind things to say.” Her horn flashed, and the sun was lowered. On the other side, hidden by the castle, the moon began is rise through the sky. “What brings you to Canterlot?”
The eternally young pegasus slowly walked to the balcony. “I heard you had today off, and decided to visit. Why painting?”
More strokes of the brush. “I may not be the best at it, but I do enjoy painting. It helps me to relax, and to think.” A few final strokes. “Done.”
“I like it. I heard that Twilight and Princess Luna are out with some foals?” Celestia nodded. “Why aren’t you with them?”
“It wouldn’t be…right. As much as I enjoy the young ones, I above all other princesses have an image to maintain. Let Luna and Twilight have fun among them. I will still be happy hearing their tales. Much like I am reading your letters, or talking with Spike.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I see. Brave Heart was right, you do need help. Discord?”
“My pleasure.”
Princesses Twilight and Luna had met at Sunny Joy’s and Bubbly Laughter’s house, dropping off the young ones they had spent the afternoon with. The two were walking back to the palace when there as a sudden pop.
In the air appeared Discord, along with a giant stage. The avatar of chaos was in a well ironed suit and tie, complete with a black hat.
Tied up neatly, complete with a bowtie, was Princess Celestia. “Mares and Stallions of Canterlot, I present to you this production: The Tickling of Princess Celestia!” A snap, and then there were feathers light rubbing on the Sun Princess’s belly.
Twilight and Luna, along with a good portion of Canterlot, watched slack jawed as Princess Celestia was mercilessly tickled by the feathers. Uncontrolled laugher escaped from her as she rolled around on the stage, trying desperately to get away.
“What in Faust’s name?”
“She was painting.” The two princesses turned to the captain.
“She was painting for her vacation. She ‘couldn’t’ be among the crowds; she had an image to maintain.”
Twilight blinked, and thought about it. It was always Princess Celestia. Even now she still called her former mentor that sometimes. It just seemed like she never wasn’t a princess.
“I see. Well, I will have to deal with this. Coming Luna?”
“Oh yes. I agree, this must be dealt with at once!”
There were a pair of flashes, and the two remaining princesses were on the stage. “Discord, we are displeased with your actions.” The feather’s stopped, and hope rose in Celestia’s chest.
“Indeed. Only four feathers? Not nearly enough. By royal decree, the tickling has been tripled!” With that bellow, Luna and Twilight talked Princess Celestia, and the tickling resumed for full two minutes.
By the end, Princess Celestia was a mess. Her mane was dusty and tangled, and no longer flowing. She was coated in sweat, which shined in the street light of Canterlot. Her breathing was ragged, and her crown knocked off.
Princess Luna marched to the front of the floating stage, where the ponies of Canterlot looked on in disbelief. “Citizens of Canterlot, you have just witnessed Princess Celestia be tickled. Now I ask you, because of this, do you think less of her?”
“No.” There were a few voices in the crowed.
“Do you think that she is unfit to rule?”
“No!” The voices were louder, and more numerous.
“Is she still the Princess you love?”
“YES!” It was a roar now.
“Then our point is clear.”
Twilight stroked her former mentor. “You don’t have to always be a princess. You can be silly, and have fun, and we won’t mind. We will still love you. Sunny was right to worry about that stick.”
An offended look crossed her face, and then a thoughtful one. “Perhaps she was indeed. What a wise filly.” She slowly stood up.
“Thank you, citizens of Canterlot, for being so accepting of me. I promise that I-“
“Yah yah, enough of that, time for something fun!” A snap of the fingers, and the platform was gone; the princesses on the ground. Also, there were pillows lying everywhere. “Pillow fight!” Chaos ensued.
Captain Brave Heart was quickly finding out that being in a guards armor simply made one a more promising target. She was being bombarded from all sides by pillows.
A unicorn ran past, three pillows circling overhead. “Down with the princesses! For Queen Chrysalis!” The now clearly false unicorn was charging straight towards the area where the princesses were dumped, only to be blindsided by a pillow to the face. The false unicorn disappeared into the crowed.
Brave Heart blinked, and then shrugged. She was off duty, and it wasn’t like any changeling who shouted that could be a threat. There would be time later to find it.
Discord was having a blast, sending pillows every which way. Sometimes simple chaos was the best. A pillow fell on his head…and another…and another.
“Huh?” He looked up, and a full load of pillows fell onto of the Lord of Chaos (reformed).
His arms flailed, and he saw the culprit: Fluttershy on a cloud! She jumped up and down, and out rained more pillows!
“How did you know?” She simply smiled.
“I know you very well Discord.” He laughed, and jumped up on top of the cloud.
“Let’s get the rest!”
“For Calm Meadows!” With her magic, Sweetie Belle launched the pillow across the battlefield into the enemy line. Fillies and colts flung some towards her in retaliation.
Spike, being a full head taller than anyone else, was a prime target for both sides. His hands did give him an advantage, and he took it in stride. Pillows flew from him in all directions, landing with surprising accuracy.
What was far more surprising was Diamond Tiara wading into the battle. “Foals! Quit disturbing my peace!” She grabbed a fallen pillow in her mouth, swung herself in a circle, and released.
Just for old times’ sake, Sweetie flung a pillow onto Diamond Tiara. Apple Bloom was going to be so jealous when she read about this!
The Great Pillow Battle of Canterlot lasted a full hour. Everpony was involved, and even some non-ponies. Diplomats from foreign kingdoms, Diamond Dogs and Zebra’s selling their wares, everyone was involved. Surprisingly little damaged resulted from the fight.
“Well Celestia, did you enjoy your vacation?”
The solar princess was panting happily. “Yes…yes I did. Thank you.” There was a sudden slap, and Celestia turned to find Sunny Joy holding the pillow that had hit her rear.
“Got your butt!”
There was a short silence. Then a few chuckles, and then finally deep belly chuckles as everypony around started laugh. Everpony was happy.
There was a flash, and a circular yellow smiley face appeared on Sunny’s flanks.