***
The idea of holding Court was not a new idea. It had existed and persisted through centuries of monarchies and kingdoms.
"-finest in al-"
It was a simple concept conceived during the time of the Kingdom of Unicornia and continued on when the Diarchs took the throne and it had weathered through chaos, turmoil, and more than a few fall of the kingdom or monarch.
"-lenty of wea-"
It allowed for monarchs to listen to the grievances of the people and actual address them. Although it was also a rather revolutionary concept when it was first conceived given the even longer tradition of absolute rule.
"-spansion of tr-"
The process of Court also allowed for foreign visitors to present themselves before the rulers of the nation. Although helpful as it may be in connecting subjects and ruler, it did not excuse how dull it could be.
"-ality without p-"
Especially as the individual, a diplomat from a foreign land insisted on the longest and most grandiose speech they could muster on economics between the two nations.
"-xcellent in sett-"
The speech had started early morning with “A” probably Agriculture and by now it was afternoon with the topics had slowly moved to Minerals.
"-atches the detai-"
'At least he's about halfway through the alphabet,' Twilight commented tiredly as the diplomat began the next topic, something beginning with "N". Throughout the day as the speech dragged on, Celestia had resorted to linking her mind with Twilight so the two could talk freely with each other in an effort to break the tedium.
'Halfway through the alphabet, but sadly not halfway through the speech. There are far more items to cover in the second half of the alphabet as the agenda shows,' replied Celestia as she looked over the various courtiers who looked to be in varying stages of sleepiness.
‘I think there’s a law against this. I can’t remember which one was the limiter, but there is a law that decreed all speech cannot exceed a certain limit on time, length, or even flourishes,’ Twilight said as spotted another courtier collapsing onto the polished floor in exhaustion. To her the only ones who even still looked attentive were the Royal Guards, although with their spells and the distance it wasn’t easy to tell if they were the same Guards from this morning.
Celestia sighed, ‘While there is one, I cannot invoke it for two reasons. The first and more important reason is standing in front of us and it would be rude to snuff the ruler of a foreign land by forcing their diplomat to hurry up the speech. Secondly is that the only Edict which I am aware of that limits long speeches unfortunately only covers something beyond this and for that to come into effect it must exceed a duration longer than three days.’
‘T-t-three days,’ Twilight shouted almost forgetting not to shout verbally. ‘How does any speech last three days?’
Celestia sighed, ‘I am still puzzled by that and when that happened it took almost five days before somepony finally asked Fair Winds to stop talking. Now that I think of it again it was Luna who proclaimed in her usual way for the Pegasus to stop talking’.
‘I wish Luna was here though, knowing that they are entangling all of the ruling Equestrian Princesses would probably encourage them to end things faster’, commented Twilight although strangely she could hear laughter. She sent a faint nudge as she tried to encourage her marefriend to explain.
‘I am not laughing at you, but your statement is true to an extent.’
‘An extent?’
Celestia nodded, ‘Luna and the current ruler tend to try and outdo the other to the point that negotiations are far more amusing. The two do not sit down to discuss issues, but they instead shout offers and counter-offers over various competitions. But sadly Luna was needed elsewhere today.’
‘It looks like they are finally on “Q”, Twilight remarked as she noticed that even more courtiers had collapsed onto the floor.
‘Sadly we still have “R”, “S”, “T”, and “Y” to get through, those are the long ones.’
‘Do I want to know why the agenda has so many items beginning with “Y”?’
‘Honestly?, Celestia asked before catching Twilight’s nod, ‘There’s a long story, a very long story that you probably do not want to know.’
Twilight resisted to the urge to slump as the diplomat reached “R”, ‘I almost feel like we should have invited Discord.’
‘Discord would likely cause more mayhem and give the next agenda even more items to address, mostly likely issues beginning with a less used letter like “Q” or “X”’, Celestia said as she noticed that some of the Guards were beginning to waver.
“Your Majesties!,” shouted a Guard who charged into the room before making his way away the still speaking diplomat. “My apologies for the intrusion, but we have reports of an incident far to the south of citizens being affected by a large black Pony wielding some mysterious green jewel, mostly likely it’s an emerald of some great power.
‘Ask and we shall receive, here is the break we were hoping for. Although I would have preferred something less urgent,’ Celestia commented before turning to nuzzle Twilight. ‘You should go, I think you and your friends will be needed,’
Twilight returned the nuzzle before following the Guard out of the room, ‘Thanks.’