//------------------------------// // Canterlot Castle // Story: Sweetie Belle and the Moon // by heste //------------------------------// Canterlot Castle The transport came to a halt at the castle gates, where Sweetie Belle was greeted by another one of Luna´s guards, who had come to escort her through the castle. Sweetie Belle said goodbye to Strong Wing and his colleague, before following the new guard through the gates. Sweetie Belle was in awe when she entered into the entrance hall. Sure the castle seemed large on the outside, but nothing could quite prepare you for the sheer size of the interior. The room had to be at least five storeys tall, and all this was just the entrance hall. Canterlot castle truly was a grand place. The guard led Sweetie Belle down a long corridor, lit by torches on both sides, the corridor led to a long circular stairway. At the top of the seemingly endless staircase, was an alicorn-sized door, the door was embedded with stars and in the middle was a large crescent moon resembling the princess´ cutie mark. Lying on her bed Luna heard three knocks on the door, and called “Yes, who is it?” “Your majesty´s guest has arrived!” Came the response from the other side. Luna smiled as she got out of bed, and ran a hoof through her mane to make sure she was presentable. Contrary to common belief, the ethereal manes of the royal sisters were merely enchanted hair, and as such it could curl up, just like mane made of common hair. Confident that she looked as stunning as ever, the night princess called out. “Good let her right in!” The door opened, and in stepped the first creature – except from her estranged sister - to show her genuine kindness, since she returned from her banishment. Well at least her guards were no longer afraid of her. Most of the servants however did their best to hide their terror, when they were around her. Luna wasn’t stupid, she could smell the fear, and some part of her actually enjoyed the feeling. They were right to fear the wrath of their almighty ruler. The blue alicorn smiled at the sight of the white unicorn entering the royal chambers of the night princess. Sweetie Belle looked around, taking in her surroundings. The size of Luna´s chambers made her own room look like a broom closet. The walls were all painted in midnight-blue, matching princess Luna´s coat. Across from the door was a massive four poster bed, along one wall was a bookcase going from all the way from the floor to the ceiling, it had hold just as many books as the Ponyville library. Opposite the bookcase was a set of double doors leading out to a balcony overlooking the city, the windows on either side of the doors were covered in lavender drapes, in the corner opposite the bed was a fireplace and a pile of large pillows. As her eyes ran up the giant bookcase, she noticed the most amazing feature in the room, the ceiling was an exact replica of the night sky, the whole room was lit by the soft glow of the stars. Luna chuckled when she saw the amazed look on the filly´s face. “Beautiful isn't it?” she said. Sweetie Belle jumped and let out a sqeek in surprise, as she snapped out of her trance. Only now did she notice the blue alicorn looking at her. It took her brain a couple of seconds to process the information, before she remembered what Rarity had told her and proceeded to bow deeply. “Just stand up little one.” Luna said in a smooth and reassuring voice. Sweetie Belle got back up, and looked into Luna soft turquoise eyes. “There is no need for such formalities between us.” Luna reassured her. The usually so regal night princess, gave the filly a short nuzzle as she said “I am so glad to see you little one.” Sweetie Belle smiled and returned the nuzzle, and answered “I’m happy to see you too Luna.” “Would like some tea?” Luna asked as she pointed a hoof at a coffee table in front of the fireplace. The table was set with two teacups along with several different kinds of tea. And most importantly, loads of different cakes, cookies and pies. Sweetie Belles eyes grew wide at the sight at all the sugary goodness placed before her. She just nodded in response to Luna´s question, she was afraid she would drool on the carpet if she opened her mouth. The two only just got seated before Sweetie Belle forgot all Rarity´s lessons on proper table manners, and greedily dug in. So much cake, it was impossible to decide what to taste first, so Sweetie Belle concluded that the best solution was to just taste everything at the same time, so she filled her plate to the brim with the sugary goodies. Luna chuckled at the sight of the little filly happily stuffing her head with sweets. This complete lack of etiquette would usually have disgusted Luna, but the little white filly was too adorable for Luna to get mad at her. Sweetie Belle blushed and looked down in embarrassment, her hoofs and face were covered in jam, wiped cream and various kinds of frosting. Luna just smiled and levitated a napkin to Sweetie Belle, and said “Think nothing of it I have seen worse through my many years.” Luna´s thoughts drifted off to ‘the alfalfa monster incident’, a fond memory from her carefree fillyhood. Back when she had a working relationship with her sister. Sweetie Belle cleaned herself and said, “I wish I could use magic to lift my fork, it would make eating easier.” Luna smiled as she got an idea. “If you want, I could teach you. You have reached an age where that should be possible.” Sweetie Belle nodded eagerly, “YES!... I mean yes, I would like that.” Luna lifted a hoof over her head, and with a goofy grin on her face she loudly stated “It’s settled then, your lessons shall begin after moonrise!” The princess put her hoof back down and in a normal voice said, “but first, I believe I promised a certain filly, a tour of the castle.” Luna gestured towards the door with her head “let’s be off then, it’s only two hours to moonrise.” During the tour, Sweetie Belle got her suspicions confirmed; the rest of the castle really was as stunning as the small part she had already seen. Something that really fascinated Sweetie Belle was when Luna told her about the spell that magically changed the decorations, the uses of magic was truly only limited by ones imagination. The tour ended shortly before Luna had to raise the moon, and begin the night. “How does it look when you raise the moon?” Asked an exited Sweetie Belle. “It’s so pretty when princess Celestia raises the sun at the summer sun celebration.” “It actually doesn’t look that special. The summer sun celebration is just for show. Celestia always loved all the public attention.” Luna frowned a little at the mention of all the attention her sister received . “Attention whore” Luna thought with disgust. “But you shall be welcome to watch” Luna said as she stepped out on the balcony, waiting for her sister to lower the sun, and make way for the night, Luna´s beautiful lonely night. But this night was going to be different, because tonight Luna was not going to be alone, she had somepony with whom she could share the mysterious beauty. Sweetie Belle eagerly skipped after the princess out on the balcony. The view was staggering, you could see the white city of Canterlot stretching down the mountain into the farmland below, Ponyville could be seen as a tiny speck in the distance. Luna sat down and lowered her head. Luna closed her eyes and her horn began to glow brightly, the moon peaked op over the horizon. Luna slowly lifted her head beckoning the moon to follow her movements, when Luna sat back up straight and opened her eyes, the moon was on its path across the sky and the started showing, their glow no longer hidden by the sun. Sweetie Belle sat there and took in the view, when she noticed Luna looking at her. She looked back up at the night alicorn who was smiling at her. “Beautiful isn't it?” Luna asked. “It is, I always liked the light of the stars.” Sweetie Belle replied. “I glad to hear that.” The night princess turned her head to gaze at the stars, into the endless debts of space. Authors Note: The final exams are approaching, so there will be some time between updates. But I shall return full force, in the summer.