Canterlot was burning.
Twilight Sparkle was racing through the seemingly empty streets of her home city, skirting around areas where the smoke was especially dense. The very same streets which were usually teeming with life and activity lay barren and abandoned. Where was everypony? At the very least, where were the firefighters? Why was she the only one trying to combat the flames of silver and orange that swept across the city?
Silver flames? Twilight had never heard that Canterlot’s construction had included large amounts of magnesium. Yet here seemed to be living proof, as she watched helplessly as another house began kindling. She focused her magic to remove the oxygen from around the fresh blaze, watching the fire quickly sputter out and die with a sense of pride.
A sense of pride which was quickly snuffed as she felt the wind shifting, seeming to whirl into a vortex around her. The churning winds pulled both silver and orange flames from the surrounding building onto the streets themselves, cutting off her escape routes in either direction. The vortex was drawing the fire towards her from either side, the heat from both infernos palpable through her coat. The wind buffeted her mane to and fro. Fighting down a rising surge of panic, Twilight gathered magic into her horn and teleported out and away from the center of the vortex…
Only to be abruptly awoken as her side smacked heavily into the marble floor of her castle bedroom, leaving her winded and gasping for air in the wake of the nightmare.
The sounds that accompany trying to recover from being winded are usually not dignified, and the strained gasps and groans emitted by Twilight are no exception. In turn, they are answered with more groans from the other side of the room. Spike was not commiserating with her, but rather expressing sleepy annoyance at having been disturbed at such an early hour. He rolled over, away from the disturbance.
Dreams are such fickle things, and even more so when your ribs are firm in their disapproval of being landed on in such a manner. The pain and lack of air quickly drove any details of the nightmare from Twilight’s mind. Once she had finally got a lungful of air again, Twilight was left only to wonder why on earth she had cast in her sleep. It was embarrassing for a unicorn to lose control of their magic like that, and vivid flashes of the years after she’d earned her cutie mark invaded her mind - she’d had to sleep while wearing an inhibitor.
Shaking her head, Twilight pushed those thoughts out of her mind, trying to ignore her sore ribs. This accident was a one-time thing, an aberration and nothing more, and she wasn’t going to worry about it. And she definitely wasn’t going to start wearing an inhibitor to bed again. Even thinking about it made her shudder slightly. Being cut off from her magic was a disturbing sensation.
On the plus side, the adrenaline that had coursed through Twilight was far more effective than caffeine could ever be. She was wide awake despite her late night. Her mentor’s sun looked as though it had freshly been raised, blazing in its glory. The eastern sky was still awash with the reds and oranges of sunrise. Well, might as well get started.
“Come on Spike, the sun is up and we should be too!” She injected some cheer into her voice as she trotted over to stand next to his bed, trying to forget the embarrassing way she herself had awoken.
“Nnnng” was the dragon’s reply as he tried to bury himself deeper into his basket, pulling his blanket up and around his head, as if that could stop a determined unicorn.
“Nope!” was Twilight’s response as not only did she pull away the blanket with her telekinesis, but the occupant as well, lifting Spike right out of his basket, suspended upsidedown in a magical field. “I know you want to sleep, but we’ve got a busy day ahead of us! Princess Celestia has asked for my help cleaning up around Canterlot, and we won’t let her down!”
“Aw come on, Twi!” Spike whined, flailing uselessly as he hung in the air next to her. “Just because the Princess needs your help doesn’t mean I have to be there too! It’s your fault I was up late last night after all!”
It was Twilight’s one weakness: a reasonable argument, and Spike knew it. She sighed - he was right. His presence would be superfluous. She would be working with a team of experienced ponies after all. She set him back down gently in his basket, the blanket floating back into place. “Alright Spike, but don’t sleep too late. We’re catching the evening train back to Ponyville with everypony else. Do you still have that list of books to borrow from the Archives?”
“Mmhmm.” Spike was already getting sleepy. Twilight just snorted in exasperation, rolling her eyes and turning away. She trusted Spike to get things done and not sleep too late.
A quick glance in the mirror reminded her that she sometimes got bedmane, and she fished a brush out to run through it. It wouldn't do to look ragged for the Princess after all. With that done, Twilight headed out into the hallways, humming quietly to herself as she went. Her mouth was already watering in anticipation of the wonderful cooking of a palace-prepared breakfast.
* * *
Granite Clash glared at the gelatinous blob that was his morning oatmeal in sullen silence. He had seen other guardsponies eating what the palace kitchens had prepared, but he wasn’t so sure it was edible. I mean, maybe with some brown sugar and milk, but no, that wasn’t provided. He really didn’t want to spend his entire morning shift on an empty stomach though, and so he tentatively jabbed a spoon into the center of the mass. It stuck upright. He made a face.
“Didn’t anypony ever tell you not to play with your food, Granny?” A feminine voice from above him that was far too chipper for this time in the morning.
“Don’t call me that.” he grumbled reflexively, glancing up towards the offending voice. The grinning face of a pegasus with a pale blue coat and curly purple mane was staring back down at him, her wings beating to maintain her hovering position over top of Granite.
Unsurprisingly, Morning Glory was one of those insufferable morning ponies, only made worse by the fact that she had a persistent cheerful optimism about her. “I only call you that ‘cause you act like a grumpy old stallion, Granny. Just cause you’ve got a white mane doesn’t mean you’re old. Now eat!” she replied happily, setting her own bowl of mush down next to Granite’s with a clatter. She folded her wings, and fell onto the bench next to him with a thunk. Just when Granite thought this morning couldn’t get worse. He grumbled under his breath.
There was a squelch as Morning took a spoonful of the mush and popped it into her mouth, chewing away at the stuff (though why she bothered to chew eluded Granite). “You know,” she began, not bothering to swallow before opening her mouth. “It’s not that bad as long as you don’t imagine it like that goopy stuff the changelings covered us with.” she mused, loudly enough that a unicorn several seats away paused, set his spoon back down and pushed the bowl away slightly.
You know all those things that Granite learned in Guard Training about how soldiers developed a sense of camaraderie with one another? The ones you fought beside, the ones you could depend on day in and day out? Clearly, the ponies that wrote that part of the training had never spent a few hours trapped in changeling goop with Morning Glory. She had not shut up. The entire time.
Granite gave her his best even stare, not wanting to look back at his food again lest his stomach turn at the image Morning had just conjured for him.
“What?” she asked, seeming to wait until she had another mouthful to speak again.
Granite facehoofed and turned back to his food. He tried and failed to keep the annoyance out of his voice. “I think you need to attend another training session on decorum, that’s what,” he shot back, taking his spoon again and shifting the goop slightly. It was almost the same consistency as the changeling stuff. Maybe a little less sticky.
“Pfft, this coming from the pony who keeps playing with his food,” she answered playfully, jabbing his shoulder with a hoof. “‘Sides, all that ‘decorum’ stuff is for when you’re on-duty anyway.” The word decorum was accented by air quotes, courtesy of Morning’s wings. Granite resisted the impulse to facehoof again.
He didn’t bother arguing. He didn’t bother bringing up the fact that even when they were off-duty they still stood as a symbol of Equestria, and that they should strive to… yeah. He’d had this conversation with her before. It was a waste of breath. The worst part is that when she was on-duty, she followed regulations to a tee. She knew how she was supposed to act, she just willfully chose to ignore it.
Maybe a subject change would help. Granite could at least try to be friendly. After all, Morning Glory was somehow even worse if you managed to upset her. Besides, he was still working up his courage to try the oatmeal. “So, do you think the Captain is going to be resigning when he returns from his honeymoon? I mean, even if he is a prince now, it was on his watch that the Changelings got into the city.”
“Prince-consort,” Morning corrected cheerfully, more than halfway through her breakfast already. The distinction between the two was small, but it was important. Granite was a little surprised that she paid enough attention to know the difference. She smacked her lips before continuing. “But probably not. I mean, his sister is the Princess’s pupil and one of the Elements, right? And he’s married to a Princess! Maybe if their family was noble born the embarrassment would matter more.”
See? She can be tolerable - even intelligent! - if she just calms down and talks like the grown mare she is! Granite thought with a smile, popping the spoonful of breakfast into his mouth. It was extremely plain, but it did make a pleasant warmth spread through his stomach. He decided it wasn’t so bad after all. “You’re probably right. Wasn’t the last Captain from a noble house? He resigned right before I joined the Guard, and nopony wants to talk about why.”
To Granite’s surprise, the pegasus next to him actually snorted with suppressed laughter, downing her last mouthful before grinning at him. “Oh… ponyfeathers, I would tell you the story, but I’ve got to be on shift in like ten minutes and I still need to get ready. Gotta go now, but ask me about it later, Granny.” She flicked him playfully with her pale blue wing before scooping her empty bowl off the table and taking off, dropping the bowl into the bus bin and soaring out the mess hall doors. “Don’t call me that!” Granite called after her, knowing it was an exercise in futility.
Granite continued to eat, somehow in a much better mood now than he had been when Morning had first approached him. Maybe she’d infected him with her good humour. That seemed likely. Can’t even be miserable in peace these days.
Another voice broke his reverie: “Dude, fraternizing with someone who outranks you can get you both court martialed.” It was the unicorn sitting a few seats down, the same one that had pushed his dish away a few minutes earlier. He had a peculiar smile on his face, and was looking straight at Granite, whose mood quickly soured.
“I don’t know what you’re talki-”
“Seriously? You’ve been grinning since she left, and you were totally staring at her flank. Not that I blame you.”
“I was not!” Granite said harshly, indignant at the accusation that he was being anything other than proper.
“Oh yeah? What’s her cutie mark then?”
“Just because I know her cutie mark is a star inside a flower doesn’t mean a darn thing!”
“Uh huh, sure it doesn’t. Just saying, watch yourself.”
Granite snorted in annoyance, his nostrils flaring slightly. He stood up, collecting his mostly-spent dish and turning away from the offending pony. He flicked his tail dismissively. Fucking smug unicorns think they’re so smart with their fucking magic.
He stalked off to deposit his breakfast dish and get ready for his shift, his good mood once again ruined. Just the way he liked it.
* * *
Luna was exhausted. Something about being awake for more than twenty-four hours could really wear a pony down. Alicorns were not exempt from biology, and Luna’s body was crying out for rest. She had to keep up appearances though, since her excuse for missing all the Changeling excitement the previous day was that she had supposedly been asleep. It wasn't unreasonable either. She did usually sleep through the day, unless Celestia requested her presence during the Day Court.
And so she made her way to the dining room she shared with her sister.
Bright and glorious sunlight shone in from the windows opposite the door Luna strode through, bathing the room with a warm, comforting glow. Here and there about the room, Palace servants stood at the ready to swoop in to assist the Princesses and their guests with whatever their morning meal required.
Celestia was already at the table. She must've come straight here after they had met to raise the sun and lower the moon. Also at the table was...
"Good morning, Twilight Sparkle." Luna offered as a greeting. Twilight looked up from her rather extravagant breakfast and smiled. Twilight was one of the first ponies outside the Night Guard that had actually made an effort to befriend Luna. She had seen her for more than either a Princess or the legend of Nightmare Moon. It was something for which Luna had been ever grateful. Twilight was Celestia's student though, and Luna didn't want to be seen as trying to muscle in on that. To that end, she held herself fairly aloof around the unicorn, always being sure address her with propriety in mind. She couldn't hide the warmth from her voice as she greeted her though.
"Good morning, Luna!" was Twilight's chipper reply. Luna had asked the ponies of Ponyville to address her without her title during Nightmare Night, but Twilight was the only pony who had seemed to stick to that.
Luna took the seat opposite Celestia at the other head of the table, and began immediately magicking food onto her plate from the various trays set out. The Palace staff always tried to insist on serving her themselves, like she was some kind of foal. Why Celestia put up with it was beyond Luna. She did offer her sister a smile from across the table, forgoing a full morning greeting in favour of beginning to eat.
"Will the rest of your friends be joining us this morning, Twilight?" Celestia asked of Twilight. Luna's fatigue was making her want to eat quietly and quickly so she could go to bed. She had to at least make it through breakfast though, and at least appear a little alert.
Luna noted how Twilight's ear flicked nervously before answering her mentor. "Erm... maybe? I'm not sure, Princess." Twilight said, the uncertainty shown by her body language coming through in her voice. "They're probably still asleep though. I mean... um.. Rarity and Rainbow Dash had a little too much to drink last night." she said, wincing a little as if the behavior of her friends was her responsibility.
There was a sudden - and somewhat ominous, in Luna’s mind - giggle from somewhere in the room. A pink blur shot out from under the table and up onto a seat next to Twilight. The curly pink mess of a mane framed the smiling face of Pinkie Pie. The palace wait staff didn’t waste any time in laying out a table setting for the Element of Laughter, methodical efficiency plain in every movement. The sunlight pouring in the window glinted off the cutlery.
“Did they ever!” she intoned loudly. Her grin was wide and playful as she wrapped a foreleg around her purple unicorn friend. “I mean, did you see Rainbow Dash going at it with that Wonderbolt? Wowie!”
Twilight’s ears immediately flattened at Pinkie’s loud declaration, her face flushing bright pink. The unicorn’s head dipped low to the table, trying to hide as Celestia looked on with a smile. Luna couldn’t resist a small giggle. Rainbow Dash had certainly been… enthuastic, though Luna had left the reception before seeing if any resolution had come from the rather sloppy makeout session.
Pinkie wasn’t curbed by Twilight’s embarrassment though, plowing on heedlessly. “Oh, oh oh!” she exclaimed, bouncing in her seat like a foal at a birthday party. “Rarity was making some moves too! At that fancy dressed stallion!” she stopped bouncing suddenly, almost seeming to hang in midair a moment before falling with a soft *pomf* onto her cushioned chair. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as her voice dropped an octave, a thought having struck the pink pony. “I thought he was married.”
Twilight was still burning with embarrassment, her eyes fixed solidly on her plate, so it was Celestia who stepped in to address Pinkie’s concerns. “Actually Pinkie, Fancy Pants is indeed married. Though from what I understand, he and Fleur-de-Lis have a fairly open relationship.” Celestia’s tone was matter-of-fact, but Luna thought she caught the beginnings of a light-hearted coyness around the edges of her sister’s mouth. “If you catch my drift.” Luna had almost missed the smile, as the particulars of Fancy Pants and Fleur-de-Lis’ relationship caused her to stop a moment and think. While extramarital affairs had always been a part of life, Luna was somewhat taken aback that it seemed to be public knowledge. Another new part of culture?
“Oh!” Pinkie seemed to perk up slightly at that, looking thoughtful for a moment before wrapping a foreleg once again around the still-red Twilight, trying to get her friend into the conversation. “Didja hear that Twi? That sounds like a party every day!”
“Pinkie!” Twilight shouted desperately, her embarrassment finally pushed past the breaking point. “That’s not really appropriate for the breakfast table!” Once again, Luna couldn’t help but giggle quietly. Her fatigue was probably making this more funny than it was, but Luna couldn’t help it.
“Oh, now Twilight.” Celestia said soothingly, adopting a motherly tone. Luna swore there was still that almost invisible coyness to her expression. “It’s a perfectly natural thing for ponies, and there’s no reason to be embarrassed. Last night was a celebration of love, after all.”
Luna caught the twinkle in her sister’s eye.
"I didn't realize how truly proficient Applejack is with knots either." Celestia shifted the conversation back to Twilight’s friends. Her hoof came up to rest thoughtfully under her chin. Luna was pretty sure Celestia was enjoying her student’s continued flusterment. Pinkie cut in once again, eager to share the memories of the previous night. "Yup yup yup! Applejack totally roped Dash away from that guy! Was all grumpy and muttering something like” Pinkie paused and cleared her throat, putting on her best Applejack accent (which was, honestly, pretty bad). “Durn pegasus cain't hold her liquor." Losing the accent, Pinkie continued on: “And then whoosh, rope around Dash’s wings and legs just like that! ”
Luna was sure now. There was just a slight playful curl to the corner of Celestia's lips which gave away the game. She was enjoying how embarrassed Twilight was getting. I mean, you know a pony for hundreds of years and you start to notice even the subtle parts of their idiosyncrasies. It was why Luna was being so careful about her fatigue - it was a two-way street. Celestia knew her just as well as she did her.
Twilight couldn't handle it anymore. "Princess!" she interjected, her desperation reaching a crescendo. "Can we talk about something else, please?!"
"What ever for, my faithful student?" Celestia asked curiously, her eyebrows raising in feigned shock. "I'm glad Applejack stepped in when she did. It takes bravery to stand up to your friends when you think they are making a mistake. Especially when they might resent you for it. You should ensure there are no hard feelings between Rainbow Dash and Applejack, Twilight. I'm sure there's a report for you and your friends could send me about all this. After all, sometimes we have to help our friends even when they don't want that help." Twilight mumbled into her food, her flush not fading in the slightest.
During the conversation (and between giggles), Luna had been eating away. Her plate was nearly empty at this point. Her fatigue was slowly creeping into her features. Her posture was slightly slumped and her head ducked a little. The flowing quality of her mane and tail was tapering slightly.
"Everything alright, little sister?" asked Celestia after a few moments of silence around the table.
A jolt of adrenaline shot through Luna as her mind jumped to the conclusion that her plans had been discovered... but no. No, Celestia was just concerned. She straightened slightly. "Yes, sorry. I adjourned the Night Court last night and spent the night patrolling with the Guard. I am exhausted. I should probably go on to bed.”
Celestia’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, but Luna caught it. Celestia knew she was lying about something. The Sun Princess pushed the issue. “Are you sure, Luna? You know that you can talk to me about anything at all.”
Not about this. The thought came to Luna instantly. She knew she had to keep up the act. “I’m fine, ‘Tia. I really do just need some rest.” Luna quipped back, standing as she did so. Her plate was mostly empty anyway.
“Give my compliments to Epicure for the meal, ‘Tia.” Luna said, doing her best to sound casual. “You three have a good day.” She says over her shoulder as she made for the door, and then onto her chambers.
* * *
“You too, Luna.” was Celestia’s cheerful response. Twilight had initially been glad that the conversation had shifted away from her and her friends, but that exchange between the two Princesses had been beyond strange. That niggling thought from the previous night was back in full force. Something about… Luna? Argh! This is so frustrating!
“Princess... is everything alright with Luna?” Twilight asked uncertainly. She knew that Luna was probably still trying to adapt to the cultural shift between a thousand years ago and now.
Celestia just sighed a little, glancing at the wait staff and the guards near the door. Twilight followed the glance curiously.“I think she’s lonely, Twilight. Rarely does she have any petitioners when she holds the Night Court, and there’s only a few ponies other than me whom she speaks with regularly, and all of them are members of her Guard.”
“Oh…” Twilight said, falling quiet for a moment before brightening up considerably, about to speak when Pinkie cut her off, bouncing in her seat once again.
“She has to know she’s welcome in Ponyville any time! I’ll throw her a party whenever she wants! Heck, my party cannon’s here!” she reached under the table and pulled the colourful siege weapon out from a place it surely couldn’t fit. “I could have a party ready for her by the time she gets to her bed!” Pinkie exclaimed happily.
Twilight wanted to be exasperated with Pinkie, really, but her friend’s abundant cheer just made her smile. It was hard to fight that level of happiness. She tried to go on with what she was going to say before she was interrupted. “Pinkie is right, Princess. Everypony got along with her really well when she visited during Nightmare Night. Well, after a while anyway. She could come and stay for a while.” The solution seeming to be obvious. I mean, Twilight had been lonely before coming to Ponyville too.
Celestia allowed herself a smile at Twilight’s youthful naivety, but shook her head after a moment. “I wish it were that simple, my faithful student. It’s not just her responsibilities here either. Things can be a little different for royalty. Ponies treat us differently. You yourself may not understand because you have been around royalty all your life, Twilight, but I know you can understand how the presence of a Princess can make many ponies very nervous. Even those that know us and are comfortable around us.” Celestia explained with something of a sad smile forming,
“Even Twilight gets like that sometimes, Princess!” Pinkie added in happily. “I mean, you should see her trying to get the town into shape when you come to visit Ponyville!”
Celestia chuckled. “Yes, even Twilight can get carried away at times.”
Twilight was a bit lost for words at that, unsure if she was being chided or not. Celestia continued on. “I have thought of suggesting to Luna that she find a student as I have.”
Twilight perked up at that, her ears straightening along with the rest of her posture. The Princess was favouring her with a warm smile. “After all, Twilight Sparkle, I value our friendship very much. It certainly helps me to feel less alone.”
For the second time this breakfast, Twilight flushed, ears flattening out. This time though, it was with a huge swell of pride at her mentor’s words. She felt practically giddy from the surge of emotion at what Celestia had said. She wanted to say something equally as moving in return, but Pinkie barged in once again:
“Ooo, ooo! Me too, right Princess?”
Celestia laughed aloud, the joyous sound filling the room. “Yes, of course. All seven of you are wonderful friends to me.”
Pinkie's cheer was somewhat undignified given the Palace setting, and several of the wait staff frowned at the rambunctious behavior. At least, Twilight thought, she's not setting off that cannon in here.
Don't tempt fate like that Twilight. She chided herself.
Celestia’s warm smile remained while she waited for Pinkie to calm down. Several moments passed, and she dipped her head slightly to indicate Twilight and Pinkie’s unfinished breakfasts. “Now eat up, my little ponies. Twilight, you’re meeting with the repair team in less than an hour, and you don’t want to be late, right?”
“Right!” Twilight replied happily, the giddy feeling making butterflies dance in her tummy and down the back of her neck as she finished her meal.