Tales

by geopol

13

It was quiet for a few moments. Then Celestia said my name.

I turned around and saw her watching me. War was standing where he had been. Even after the dragons' flapping faded away, he was looking up into the mist, like what was up there was the only thing that interested him at that moment.

I asked Celestia what would happen to Spike now. She said he'd be proclaimed king and that his mother would be his regent until he came of age. It would be kind of the opposite of Celestia's situation: Equestria's king was too old and infirm to rule, so Celestia was his regent. This was long before the king died. On the other hand, Spike was too young to rule, so his mother would handle things for him.

So I asked what Spike's mother was like, and Celestia said she met the lady dragon when she – Celestia – was on her exchange to Pyra generations ago. She said Spike's mom was very smart and devoted to her husband and her son. "They were a very loving family," she said.

Then I kind of debated asking something, and I finally did. I asked if his mother would try to, well, manipulate Spike. He was just a child, I said.

Well, Celestia heard that, and she leaned her face toward mine and narrowed her eyes. And I thought, "Oh, this won't end well."

She said – and she was very cool when she said it – yes, she remembered me telling Ambassador Loueng something like that. I sort of cringed.

But she sighed and said she'd always thought Spike's mom was an honorable individual and would always act in his best interests. That was her impression, anyway.

I said it sounded like Spike was going to have it rough for a long time. Poor kid.

Then Celestia nodded and said I was right – Spike was still just a child. But he'd have to grow up fast now. But fortunately, she said, dragons do that, anyway. And she said, "I think he'll be fine. You've been his friend for a while now. Don't you have faith in him?"

I thought. And I realized that no matter how little I knew about Spike, I knew him well enough to trust him. To have faith he'd be all right. So I said that. And Celestia smiled when I did.

Then a throat was cleared – conspicuously. It was War, who had finally stopped looking at the sky. He turned to Celestia and asked, "Are we donehere?" Celestia nodded, and War said, "I'll hitch up the team. Please have your team hitch me up when I'm done." And again, there was a pause before he seemed to remember something:

"Highness."

And then he walked away. I waited until he was out of earshot to ask Celestia directly why she let him treat her with, well, not as much as respect as she deserved. She said he did respect her and that she, in turn, respected his service. His team could lay waste to an entire land, if it had to. "Thank The Steed they work for us," she said.

Then she thought. And she said, "I think …"

I really didn't understand any of that.

Then she said it was time to go. We walked over to the team's chariot, and she nuzzled me goodbye. She told me to tell my friends what happened, even though there'd be an official announcement soon. And she said, "Growing up means accepting that things change. I know you're strong enough to do that."

She glanced at the team, and her pegasuses were hitching up War. She suddenly made me turn my head away from the team and asked – quietly in deathly seriousness – whether War had warned me not to get too close to the pale pony. I said yes.

She said, "Good. It's far too early for you to be introduced to him. Be safe. Goodbye. Go in peace." Then she kissed me on the forehead.

I got on the chariot, and we took off. I remember Celestia standing where I left her. Her coat is white, so as we flew away, she disappeared into the mist fast. Like a ghost.

Actually, I was kind of numb on the trip home. Can't even really remember it, to tell you the truth. I do remember us landing – in front of the Ponyville library, not at the flying field – and noticing that when we did, the few ponies on the path in front of it froze, went bug-eyed and galloped off at top speed. I guess the team made an impression, after all.

I got out, but I was still numb. I kind of mechanically thanked War and the team for their help, and War nodded. And he said, "Our pleasure, Miss. Most of our missions aren't this pleasant. Goodbye." And then they left.

I remember going into the library. It was midafternoon, but I locked the door and went up to the loft.

I saw Spike's basket at the foot of my bed, and I stared at it for the longest time. Finally, I got into bed. Then I curled up in the sheets and covers like they were a cocoon, and I buried my face in the pillow.

And I remember clearly that after a while, I cried myself to sleep.