//------------------------------//
// Prompt #423: Six Hours 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
//------------------------------//

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Celestia eyed her office clock. Six hours until dinner. Six hours of approving bills, of signing laws, and the dreaded afternoon session of the Royal Court. While her clock was a little loud this afternoon, she could agree with the sentiment. Each tick of the clock was pure torture for Celestia, taunting her with how far away dinner, and the all-important dessert was.

She had snuck in a quick snack out of her emergency cake supply, which would give her the energy to last until dinner, but until then, she had to make her way and deal with the nobles, who had somehow managed to get the idea that they actually ran Equestria. As far as Celestia was concerned, they could have it, but she was convinced that none of them actually had any idea as to what went into simply keeping the country from exploding every other day.

With a sigh, and a mental note to herself to get a clock maker to have a look at her suddenly loud clock, she strode off towards the throne rooms.

*****

Tick. Tick. Tick.

“And, furthermore, we feel that we should put into place some measures on who is invited to the Grand Galloping Gala. After the catastrophe that took place last year,” said Blueblood, pausing to appropriately shudder. In mock or actual horror, Celestia wasn’t sure, because all she could concentrate on right now was that Blueblood was the last pony for this court session. There were now only three hours between her and dessert.

“We feel that the quality of attendees should be raised, so as not to overly tarnish the Gala’s, and by extension, Canterlot’s reputation,” finished Blueblood, tossing his mane back in what he probably believed was an attractive move.

“I understand your concerns, nephew,” said Celestia, “Both myself and Princess Luna will carefully consider who we choose to invite to this year’s Gala, and we shall keep the Gala’s reputation in mind while we do so.”

“Thank you, Princess Celestia. It pleases me to hear that both you and your sister are considerate of the regular attendees of the Gala,” said Blueblood, dipping his horn, and backing up. Celestia smiled. She would indeed keep in mind the types of pony who usually went to the Gala, and then invite Twilight and her friends anyway. Maybe even she’d invite Discord this year. He’d be sure to shake things up. It may have been petty, but Princess Celestia had started the Grand Galloping Gala to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. It was supposed to be a party, not the stately and quite frankly, boring affair that it was these days.

Celestia sighed, and glanced up at a clock on the wall as the Royal Guards cleared the hall. Two hours, and fifty-eight minutes left.

****Time****

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Celestia’s quill scratched along the peice of paper, adding her signature to yet another trade agreement. Oddly enough, her clock seemed even louder now, and Celestia renewed her mental note to get a clock maker to look at it. However, Celestia was quite capable of tuning such background noises out when she had to. She was also pointedly not looking at her clock, because every time she did, she was reminded of how far away her delicious, delicious dessert was.

There was a knock at the door, and Celestia sighed. She could have used a quick break about now, anyway. With luck, it was her secretary, coming to tell her that it was time for dinner.

“Come in!” called Celestia. Luna strode into Celestia’s office, and curious smile fixed upon her mouth.

“Sister,” said Luna, “Do you know what time it is? My clock appears to be broken.”

“It’s,” began Celestia, glancing at her clock. That was odd. The clock was showing a time that Celestia knew was about five hours ago.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

“Luna,” growled Celestia. 

“We wondered how long it would take you to notice” the Princess of the Night giggled.

“Not funny, Luna,” said Celestia, but a smile was twitching at the edges of her frown.

Tick. Tick.

A thought occurred to Celestia. If her clock had been stopped, then what could she hear ticking? The ticking had started just after she had raided her cake stash, and had been following her around all day.

“Luna, did you do anything to my snack fridge?” asked Celestia.

“No, why?” said Luna.

Tick. Tick.

“Because I think somepony put a timed explosive in there. I may have eaten it,” said Celestia. Luna’s eyes widened, and she immediately dashed off, yelling for the castle physician. Celestia gently prodded her stomach.

“I really should learn to chew my food properly,” sighed Celestia.

Tick.

*********

There was a muffled boom just as Princess Luna returned with the castle doctor. The two pushed open the door, just in time to see Princess Celestia let out an almighty burp, which included a burst of flame, and thump her chest. She glanced at the doctor and Luna, and smiled.

“I’ll be fine, doctor. It was just a little heartburn. Is it time for dinner yet?”