Celestia flinched as the doors to Luna's chambers slammed shut behind her. She cast a glance over her shoulder, eyebrow arched, a look of concern on her elegant face. Her sister was prone to bouts of emotion - like the moon, her moods waxed and waned. Certainly this was no different than any other royal hissy-fit she had thrown in the past... Right?
Something in her tone...
Celestia chewed her lower lip. The variables in this equation were not adding up to a comforting result. The late moonset, the missing crown, the smell of sex on her coat... Luna had a stallion. It was no business of Celestia's, and she would not be the one to begrudge her sister of happiness. The stars only knew how life had tried to deprive the Sisters of any chance of it. Still, Celestia worried about Luna's ability to handle the volatile emotions that accompanied romance. Headstrong and passionate, swept up in the tides of euphoria, was she prepared for the inevitable realization?
Time was Celestia's true lover. His breath was cold, his embrace was harsh, and his affection was undying. When he came in the dark of her sister's night to claim her, to caress the folds of her mind with chilling memories and hot tears, she would curl tightly into herself and shield the palace from her sobs with her mighty wings. Time was the one constant in the alicorn's long life, the only thing she could depend upon to never change.
She would continue to satiate Time's urges. She would spare Luna that pain.
I am overtired, Celestia told herself with a shake of her head.
She would leave her sister to slumber. The delay in sunrise had set Equestria back by many candle marks. Fortunately, it was a day most ponies spent at home with their families, and only the farmers would be cross with her for the loss of light. She had given up long ago trying to please everypony. Starswirl had broken her of that desire before it had broken her. How she missed her mentor...
As she made her way to the throne room, Celestia nodded to each guard and serving filly she passed. Appearance, always appearance. Beauty and elegance strode through the halls, flowing mane and snowy white coat a symbol of Equestria's brilliance and purity. She was their Light and Life. She knew everypony's name that worked in the palace, and graced each with a smile. Asked after their families. Received blushes and bows and curtsies.
She was their beloved leader.
Celestia settled on her throne, basking for a moment in the rays of the sunlight that streamed through the grand windows. In this moment, this brief, silent moment, she simply was. Bathed in the element and essence of her power, she could exist as an entity, singular and whole, fulfilled and complete and -
"Princess, the dignitary from Saddle Arabia are here to discuss the trade agreements for next season," the advisor at her side announced loudly. Celestia took a deep breath, detaching herself from the solar embrace.
Thus was the royal life.
The dignitary approached, dressed in the traditional bridle and blankets of his culture. Celestia nodded in greeting, and the pleasantries began. The diplomatic back and forth was a reflex to her now; her conscious mind did not need to be present for the formalities. It allowed her to daydream.
How awful would it be, for this important pony to know the most powerful being in Equestria is thinking of everything but his concern? Celestia thought to herself.
"Your Grace...?" the advisor began with concern.
"Hmmm?" Celestia replied, turning her head to face him. The elderly pegasus furrowed his brow.
"Ah, Dignitary D'uune was expressing his displeasure at the griffin raids that were occurring along the trade routes at our borders and you... ah... you..." He motioned to his muzzle. "You were smiling."
"Oh my," Celestia blinked, turning back to face the dignitary. A scowling dappled pony - D'uune, she assumed - scowled further. Celestia bowed her head in apology.
"If the Princess finds the raiders so amusing, perhaps our cloth is not as essential to the markets here as we were led to believe," he snapped. His voice was high, and sharp. Celestia disliked it. There was so little worth being upset by in this world... Couldn't he see that? He had warmth and light and love of a world around him that would keep going after he was gone, and not the opposite.
"Sire D'uune." Celestia descended from her throne fluidly, her mane and tail a glimmering waterfall of pastels. She offered him the warmest of smiles, her khol rimmed eyes open and genuine. "I am but a mare. I know you can forgive my mind for wandering. Equestria is progressive and allows one such as I upon the throne, a practice I know your people find uncouth."
"Hmmph," he replied, his thin legs pawing at the palace floor. "I suppose you are right. But the griffin menace must be dealt with. Our government cannot spare the protection each season along the route for the traders to ensure safe delivery of your goods."
"Correct me if I'm wrong," Celestia continued, making her way slowly to one of the large windows that looked out over Canterlot. "Your borders are nearer to the Crystal Empire than Equestria, are they not?"
D'uune made a noise in the back of his throat.
"We do not have a trade agreement with Princess Cadance."
Celestia titled her head slightly as she gazed out over her city. The bustle and hustle of Canterlot was prosperous. The slight delay in sunrise had not affected them in the slightest.
"You do not," she agreed, continuing to study the city below.
"My Czar demands you handle this, or begin to compensate our weavers for lost merchandise!" D'uune huffed, stomping a hoof. Celestia looked back over her shoulder at the sound.
"The Crystal Empire lies far north of Equestria."
D'uune stared. "I know this."
"Saddle Arabia is a vast desert kingdom bordering the snowy lands of the Empire and the verdant plains of Equestria," she continued, beginning a slow saunter toward the dignitary. He lifted an eyebrow and took a step back.
"I do not need a lesson in geography from a mare," he said haughtily.
Celestia came to a stop before him, nose to nose. She towered over the stallion, and offered him a smile that was kindly on the surface, but dangerous beneath.
"Then tell me, my good Sire, why your merchants would travel four hundred miles out of their way into mountainous griffin territory to deliver fabric to my capital city."
D'uune's eyes widened and his nostrils flared. He opened his mouth to speak. Celestia cut him off, her voice soft.
"Not a single shipment has arrived late. Or damaged. And my lovely niece's husband has seen neither claw nor feather of a griffin 'raider' near her border in months."
The atmosphere in the throne room darkened. It could have been a cloud passing overhead outside. D'uune was not so sure. The alicorn princes narrowed her eyes.
"The next time you march into my kingdom and make demands without your Czar's knowledge in an attempt to extort the Royal coffers of Equestria, I will allow my sister to be the one who conducts your audience," she whispered.
D'uune whimpered.
"We are done," Celestia called. She turned her back to the dignitary. "Escort him to Canterlot's gates."
"Yes, Princess," the guard assured.
Celestia pressed a hoof between her eyes.
It was not yet noon.