Chapter 17: The New Nobles.
Rarely Celestia used her royal voice, and now was the time, she felt, to grace them all and burst their ear drums.
“CITIZENS OF CANTERLOT! I SUMMON YOU ALL HERE TODAY FOR A FEW GRAND ANNOUNCEMENTS.” There, that would grab their attention all the way from the palace to the badlands. Her own voice had created shockwaves! No wonder Luna loved to use it so much, it felt powerful.
Beside her stood a freshly groomed Astra and Eclipse. Astra had to have most of her horn removed so ponies didn’t think her an alicorn, but enough remained so she could harness her Vampyre powers, and it was all hidden by her hair.
On that day, Astra wore a large black hat, and a lovely black velvet dress with tiny diamonds in it. The dress arms covered her front legs, while the back gracefully drapped across her back legs. Her front hooves had gloves, so only a little skin showed, and she wore a necklace with a rune carved into it so the sunlight wouldn’t bother her eyes. Whatever skin was left bare was covered by her lovely large hat with a feather sticking out of it, and a diamonds circling the rim.
Eclipse was dressed in a dress that matched her silver eyes. It was a shiny fabric that rippled in the bright sunlight on the cloud-free day. All the way down it, slightly darker silver vines had been stitched into it, and though they were barely noticeable it prevented her from seeming monotonous in color. Around her neck she wore a golden necklace that had tiny strings of golden beads hanging off its front. Her hair had grown longer since the first time she met the twins in their little tent.
Both stood on the right side of the Sun Princess, while Luna stood on her left as her equal. The princesses needed no fancy gard to be fabulous, their astral manes provided any sort of awe-inspiring fabric that they needed.
In the crowd, a pony stood near the front, yet apart from others. On her she was a dark heavy cape that no one would be able to see past, yet when Astra laid eyes on it she already knew it was her twin.
Celestia began, enhancing her voice so all could hear, but not lose their hearing in the process, unlike her overpowered royal voice. “Greetings, my loyal subjects!” She said, staring at them all with love and warmth, while Luna remained silent, but carrying the same look of happiness and love.
They all waved back, and suppressing a giggle she got on with the announcements they all wished to hear. “Today, I have the pleasure of introducing not just two new nobles, but two new species to our wonderful, and accepting lands.” She stressed that part. “Astra, please step forward.”
The covered Vampyre stepped up and flared her leathery wings and had been laying against her sides.
“Eclipse, please step forward.”
Eclipse walked closer to the princess gracefully, and got into view for the whole country to see and judge.
“These two worked together with a third pony who could not make it today, to discover a new species. Yet, the ancient powers they found stuck to them instead.” She couldn’t tell them everything, but she didn’t have to. All they really needed to know was who they were, and what they were. “Astra had been transformed into a creature known as a Vampyre, extinct, along with the next species I shall announce soon, for over 1,000 years. Though she can stand to be in the sunlight, it bothers Vampyres greatly. Astra, I dub you a noble of Equestria, and grant you the private land, which location I shall announce later when you are settled. I have had workers working on an old house we found so you may live there in peace.”
“Thankyou, Princess Celestia.” She bowed and stepped back.
“Eclipse is a Lycan, a type of shapeshifter that must turn into a grey wolf on the full moon, but after three months of being one, can turn on will. She will live alongside Astra, on the private property that will be granted to them along with their nobility. Eclipse, I dub you a noble of Equestria.”
Mimicking Astra, she bowed and thank the princess.
Celestia spread her wings wide and began to wrap it up. “I have already had five different ponies start on creating books to inform you all about these two new species to our lands. Inside, you will find briefings on them so you can get the basic knowledge. I thank you all for gathering here today.”
It was a clear dismissal, but ponies wanted questions answer, and when they tried to speak, Luna stepped up.
“I am sorry, but that is all for today. Your questions might be answered inside, if you go look at the knowledge we have presented.” She said and the four ponies and four guards left the balcony.
Inside the castle and away from public eyes, Astra collapsed in relief.
“Thank goodness I made it through that!” She gasped, taking off her very expensive hat. “I was sweating like race pony, with all this black sun absorbing velvet!”
Celestia chuckled, but her face grew stern. “Focus please.” She chimmed. “I have cloaked your house with my magick for a few moons as the pony population gets used to you. No pony will be able to find you, not even by random chance. Only Shimmer will be able to, if she wishes. If they walk to the edge of your land, they will suddenly find themselves going the other way, and not sure why. I have given you a starter treasury along with all the bits and information, save for the Lycan stuff, from the Night Cave. The information will be in your added on Library, and your treasury can only be accessed by you two, not Shimmer.”
Astra bowed low to the ground. “Thank you so much Princess, but why all the trouble?”
Celestia looked down at the ground, her face shadowed. “Ponies are frightened easily, and I fear that after the changeling attack, though it happened over 50 years ago, those still alive will have some sore feelings for new species. Also, I plan on sending the two other Lycans your way at the end of the month. I have also put up money making ideas in your study rooms. You two have no idea how to be nobles, so I plan on helping you anyway I can. So does Luna.” She grinned. Already her sister had gone off to bed, that night owl.
“Thanks, Princess Celestia.” They said together.
“No need for thanks, my little ponies, I simply want your species to join the world as calmly as possible, and sometimes secrecy is needed.”