In Canterlot castle, things were going as usual.
Luna was still asleep after her night shift, Celestia was just ending a small
meeting with a banker from the outskirts of Canterlot.
“So Mr. Money Bags, we are in agreement?”
“Yes your highness, I believe we are. You will offer financial support for the
restoration of the banks office building after that unfortunate incident
with the robbery-gone-wrong.”
“Unfortunate indeed. It’s hard to believe so much damage could be done
by such a small creature.”
“Truly. I must say though, I never thought a pink breezie would
be able to even enter the building. Much less blow up half of it.”
“That specific breezie has a tendency to do things breezies should not
be able to. He’s a repeat offender. Anyway, I’m afraid I must cut
the meeting short now, I have many other matters to attend.
I hope you understand, Mr. Money Bags.” Celestia said with a polite smile.
“Oh, I understand completely. I myself do not have much free time
anyway, so I would have had to cut the meeting soon anyway.”
The old stallion bowed down slightly and then left the room.
Celestia stayed for a few more minutes before leaving,
and walked back to her throne in the throne room.
Just as she was about to sit down, a small burst of green fire appeared
in front of her and a rolled-up parchment materialized before her.
“Oh? A letter from Twilight?” She mumbled to herself as she took the
scroll and unrolled it.
“Dear Princess Celestia.
I am writing this letter to inquire about two black orbs,
made of glass or crystal (inconclusive data.) which were found
here in Ponyville. I found no record of them in any of my
available books here in this library, and thus I reach out to you.
First, I want to ask if you or Princess Luna know what these orbs
may be. Secondly, if you do not, I would like permission to visit
the castle as soon as possible to search for answers.
The orbs are, like I said, black and made of either glass
or glass-like crystal. They are both the same size, 2 1/2 inches.
They appear heavy for their size, which leads me to believe they are
NOT hollow. The outside is polished and shiny, despite the fact that
both orbs was dug up from beneath the ground.
I could feel a very faint trace of magic in both orbs,
but was not able to determine what type or level of magic,
only that it was something there.
As of this moment, that is all I can tell you. Hopefully YOU can tell ME
more regarding these orbs.
Awaiting response.
Best regards,
Twilight Sparkle”
Celestia looked at the letter for a moment after reading it.
“...Could it be?” She mumbled.
“Kibitz!” She said in a raised voice.
Her servant, an old stallion with a moustache, came in to the throne room.
He was dressed in a red suit jacket, his mane perfectly combed.
On his muzzle sat a small monocle over his left eye.
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Is my sister awake yet?”
“Not yet, but she usually wakes up around lunchtime, which is
quite soon. If it is something important I can have her woken up.”
“No need, it can wait until she wakes of her own. However, as soon as
she does wake up, send her here after she’s had her coffee.”
“As you wish, Your highness.” Kibitz said and left the room.
* * *
Luna awoke slowly. The night had been long and demanding,
with many ponies needing her assistance within their dreams.
When she finally decided to get up, she called out for a servant.
“Moon Melody? Are you there?”
From outside the door she could her a female voice.
“Yes, Princess. I am here.”
“Come in, I wish to speak with you.”
The door opened, and a dark grey batpony walked in.
Her hair was silver, almost white. Her eyes were bright yellow.
“How may I be of service?”
“First, I need some coffee. Then, while I drink that, I want the daily update.
I need to know what to expect when I leave my room.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
Moon Melody bowed down and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Ten minutes later, the door opened again and she walked in pushing a small
cart in front of her. On it stood two cups and a pot of coffee.
Moon Melody was Luna’s personal servant, but often treated more like
a friend. Therefore, she usually had a cup of coffee with Luna when she
woke up, and told her the daily on-goings of the castle.
Luna stood at her open window looking out over the gardens below.
“How did my sisters meeting with the bank manager go?
That was today, was it not?”
“It was indeed, Princess. I was not there in person,
but Kibitz told me that the meeting went as expected and without
complications. As discussed, the Royal treasury will finance the repairs
of the damaged building.”
Luna smiled slightly.
“And what of other news? Has anything worth mention happened
elsewhere in Equestria while I slept?”
“The new chef-in-training burned Celestias toast. Again.”
“What is this now, his fourth burning?” Luna snickered.
“Fourth toast, fifth burning in total. He also managed to somehow
set the teapot on fire. I do not know the details, but if I understood correctly,
he spilled a bottle of cooking oil on the stove while making the tea.
The bottle must have stood near the stove and he stumbled into it somehow.”
“Sounds likely, yes.”
After they had finished their coffee, there was a knock on the door.
“Yes?” Luna said.
From the other side they heard Kibitz’ voice.
“Her Highness Celestia wishes to see you when you are done
with your coffee, Your highness.”
“Very well.” Luna answered. “Tell her I will be there within ten minutes,
I shall require some time to have my mane brushed.
It is... not quite presentable, to say the least.”
Moon Melody snickered. It was true, Lunas ‘out-of-bed’ mane
was a horrible sight unless you had seen it a few times and gotten used to it.
“You know what to do, Moon.” Luna said to her with a half-serious,
half-smiling expression while Moon grabbed a brush and a comb.
* * *
In the throne room Celestia sat waiting when Luna came in through the
side door from their private quarters.
“You wished to see me, Sister?” She said when she approached Celestia.
“Yes. Here, read this and tell me what you think.” She said and levitated
Twilights letter over to Luna, who took it in her magic and held it hovering
in front of her face.
After reading, she scratched her neck with one hoof, looking upwards.
“Hmm... It sounds like the Dream Stones, but can it really be?”
“That was my thought as well.”
“Those stones were lost over a millennium ago.. Around the same time
I was consumed by Nightmare Moon and banished.”
“Yes.. But her description sounds just like them, and they were found
in Ponyville. It does make sense.”
“Indeed... After all, our old castle was where the Everfree is now,
next to Ponyville. It is safe to assume the stones did not go far from
the castle, but rather went into the ground and went dormant.”
“Yes, but it seems they have awoken again.”
“Two of them has at least... Maybe the rest has too, or will soon.
We need to talk to the ones who found them. And we also need
to examine and make sure it it really is the Dream Stones.”
“I thought about that. I think you should go, since you know more than I
do about them. And if it is the Dream Stones, that means ‘They’ might
have awoken as well. If so, only you can stop them. I will stay here in
Canterlot and handle our usual business while you go handle this situation.”
“Very well, It’s settled. Write and inform Twilight. I leave tonight."