//------------------------------//
// Breakfast with royalty 
// Story: Destiny Book 2: Time Traveling Foal Sitters 
// by SirScribe 
//------------------------------//

	Queen Solaris sighed as she raised the Sun once again. While she may be the Goddess of the Sun, she enjoyed the moment when the Sun sets more than when it rises. The beautiful moment when the day and night no longer exist. That one split moment when time can stop. She remembered when the moment the Sun rose, she was born.
She walked over to her throne and sat down. Upon sitting, she was immediately flooded with ponies with different pieces of her grand agenda for the day. As she checked through her schedule, she noticed that there was one thing that stood out the most. The most important thing on her agenda was also the most risky: the Draconiqui Peace Talks scheduled for that evening.
The queen sighed as she overlooked the plan her husband wrote. While he was in charge of military, she had to overlook the final preparations when it came to things like this. Oh husband, what art thou doing now? She thought to herself.
The plan alone was insane, and probably never work, but she had faith in her husband. His plans almost led them to greater times. 	Key word is almost.
As the queen began to ponder her thoughts on the upcoming evening, the doors of the throne room burst open. Solaris looked up and noticed one of her guards were there with a serious look on his face. He appeared to have been in an argument with that look of annoyance. Solaris knew this guard never got along with the common pony folk, even when she commanded that he should.
“Your Majesty, I bring news,” he said with his chest puffed out.
“Sir guard, while I value your loyalty and longing to the safety of the Crown, I must remind you that every pony who wanders into the forest is not out to assassinate myself or my husband,” she said.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, I have pledged myself to the protection of the Crown and have since remained vigilant,” he said.
“Sea Crest, please. What is your news?”
“Two ponies were seen approaching the castle doors, ma’am. One of the ponies, an Earth stallion, claims he was invited by His Majesty, King Cosmos. He even planned on displaying a blank piece of paper as a letter,” the guard, Sea Crest said.
The queen thought for a moment before she sighed. “And the other?”
“An Earth mare, ma’am. They both seem to be a couple who plans on infiltrating the castle.”
Solaris mentally face-hoofed herself. “Bring them before me.”
“Your Majesty, is that wise? Remember the threat that we face if we allow strangers, especially in this time.”
“I am aware of the Changeling threat, however, we have no proof that they would infiltrate the Crown. Now, bring the two ponies before me!” Solaris commanded.
The guard raised his head. He walked outside the throne room and returned with two Earth ponies. The first one Solaris recognized immediately. The second, however, was new. The new pony had a blonde mane and tail with a bright orange coat. On her muzzle was a series of freckles, possibly from the Sun. On her head was a rather unusual hat.
The guard led them to a safe distance from the throne. Two more guards entered with spears in their hooves. “These two are charged with trespassing and breaking curfew, Your Majesty! What be their fate?”
Solaris scanned the two ponies. The mare looked amazed to be in the room. “I recognized the stallion, however, you have pointed out our recent dilemma with the Changeling Regime, so I shall take that into account.”
The queen rose and walked toward the two Earth ponies. “I have given the stallion three answers to three questions that only we share. If this stallion can correctly answer two of the three questions, then he and his companion are cleared of all charges. Oh, and sir guard.”
Sea Crest looked up. “Curfew doesn’t start when the Sun rises,” she said.
“Told you,” the mare said.
The guard sneered at his prisoners, but instead of submitting, the mare smiled. “I shall ask these questions. Respond correctly, and your clear to leave, is that a deal?”
The stallion nodded. “First question: what is my husband’s pastime while he is not planning war?”
The stallion thought about it for a moment. “Well, it’s a tie between playing with his daughters and baking and eating a fresh pumpkin pie,” he answered.
Ah guess all stallions like their pie, Applejack thought to herself while remembering the Grand Galloping Gala.
Silence filled the room as all the guards looked to Solaris to give the verdict. “He has turned from eating pie to playing with his children, but you are correct.”
Everypony in the room let go of the breath they were holding. “Next question: when my daughters feel sad, I do one thing above anything else to cheer them up, what is it?”
“Oh that’s easy: you fly into the clouds and come back with a beard. Your daughters would normally tear pieces of the cloud from your chin and make mustaches and laugh at each other,” the stallion said.
Everypony looked over at the queen. After a few seconds, she smiled. “You have passed. Guards, they are to be cleared of all charges and released, is that clear?”
They all nodded. Sea Crest walked over to the two ponies and performed a spell on them both. “You magically bound them to the floor?!” Solaris asked.
“In case they tried to leave,” the guard explained.
Solaris sighed as their enchantments were lifted. “Now then, leave us!”
The guards objected, but as they did, their loyalty to the Crown came first. They all exited the room without protest. Once the doors closes, the queen let out her breath. “Oh Doctor, it’s good to see you again,” she said.
“And to you as well,” the Doctor said.
The queen stepped down from the throne and hugged the Time Lord. Applejack had no idea what to do since she always referred to Princess Celestia and Luna as friends more than authority figures. All she could do, however, was remove her Stetson.  The Doctor noticed this and smiled.
Solaris released the Time Lord. “I know I’ve never met you. Care to tell me your name?”
“Mah name is Applejack, proud owner of Sweet Apple Acres,” she said.
“Your own business? How extraordinary,” the queen said. “Well, I cannot hold you two anymore, yet I am hungry. Care for a late breakfast?”
The two ponies nodded.


Solaris poured the tea for herself and the Doctor. Applejack, deciding that she wanted something other than hot leaf juice, mashed up a few apples and made a personal mug of cider. While she did so, the Doctor and Solaris talked about the last 300 years they spent away. As Solaris talked about how Luna and Celestia were getting along, the Doctor munched on his breakfast: an English muffin with butter. As it seems, Luna had already named some of the constellations that her father brought into light for the pony folk below. The Doctor smiled as Luna’s fascination of space bore fruit young.
“And so, Doctor, how art thou with thy life?” Solaris asked.
The Doctor smiled. “Well, I seem to have stumbled onto some more friendships recently. Applejack here is the bearer of the Element of Honesty, a powerful ingredient in all friendships. She holds the power of the alicorns,” he said.
Applejack turned around when she heard her own name. “Pardon?”
“Oh nothing, just telling Her Highness about you,” he said.
Applejack smirked as she finished making her personal batch of apple cider. “As I understand, there are others who wield the other stones?” the queen asked.
“Oh yes, and I’ve seen them in action. Tis a fascinating subject that I can study first hoof. Speaking of the Elements, have you heard from them?”
“Yes, the cave below houses the Elements, however neither I nor my husband can wield them. I fear their magic will be kept for a long time.”
The Doctor sipped his tea. “The Elements are harsh to begin with, but I fear their future.”
Solaris nodded. Seconds later, Applejack came back with four mugs of apple cider on a silver platter. She set the platter down on the table and took one. “Mah granny’s special cider. Been in the Apple family fer generations. Well go on then, Yer Majesty, try it,” she said.
Solaris took one look at the mug of cider. “Maybe once I am done with my tea. Perhaps my husband will want to try your cider,” she said.
Applejack smiled as she sat down next to the Doctor. The queen took one last sip of her tea and sighed. “As you know, Doctor, Silverstar has been the foalsitter for Celestia and Luna, right?”
The Doctor nodded. Applejack froze at the name. Guess it is a real pony, she thought to herself.
“Well, the other day, we discovered that Silverstar passed away. We feel that maybe you and your companion can take his 	place for tonight, especially tonight,” Solaris said.
The Doctor’s eyes widened. “It is just for a few hours while my husband and I take care of some political matters. Since you are familiar with Celestia and Luna, seeing as you have helped with us before, we thought it was a good idea that you two should spend some time with them.”
“Why not tell ‘em about Silverstar?” Applejack asked.
Solaris fidgeted in her seat. “Well, why not ask me?” someone said.
Applejack and the Doctor turned to see King Cosmos standing at the doorway. He had on a Navy blue uniform with several badges on his chest. He appeared to be worn out like he was bored for several hours. The Doctor stood up and walked over to the king of the night. “Cosmos,” he said.
“Doctor,” the king said back. “It’s been 300 years.”
“300 years and two regenerations, but nevermind that.”
“Is that why you look like a donkey’s plot?”
“COSMOS!”
The two stallions laughed at Solaris’s outburst. “Oh Doctor, so good to see you again!” Cosmos said as he hugged the Doctor.
“And you as well. Good to see you!”
The two stallions eventually let go of themselves and Cosmos approached his wife. He gave her a kiss before picking up a pot of tea. “I see we’re having tea again,” he said while looking into the pot.
“Well, the Doctor’s friend made a beverage using apples earlier if you want that,” Solaris said.
Cosmos looked up. “Ah yes, that does look like a beverage. I tell you, it’s nothing but hot leaf juice.” He made a disgusted face while his wife smacked him playfully. He picked up the mug and took a sip. Immediately he licked his lips as he went for another swing. The king finished his drink in 10 seconds flat. “Delicious drink, and I am sorry if I am rude. Who might you be?”
“Mah name is Applejack,” she said.
“Applejack, eh? Nice name,” the king said as he sat down next to his wife. “So, what are we talking about?”
“Foalsitting for starters,” the Doctor said, “But I am curious about Silverstar. It’s one thing to mourn a fallen soldier, but I have yet to see any signs of grieving from you two. The way you decide not to tell Celestia and Luna that their favorite foalsitter is dead is also alarming. I sense he wasn’t a casualty for the Alicorn Empire like the others.”
The royals looked at each other. The Doctor leaned in. “So what’s the real reason why you won’t tell them?”
Cosmos sighed. “He tried to destroy the Draconiqui Empire without mercy or diplomacy. He tried to commit genocide,” he said.