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// Chapter 11: Princesses Celestia and Luna 
// Story: The Silver Pony Slippers 
// by Nocturn Dreamwrite 
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	The Silver Pony Slippers
Chapter 11: Princesses Celestia and Luna

It was just after two in the afternoon when Twilight and her friends returned to the Castle throne room. But when they arrived they found the hall still empty meaning that Princess Celestia was still busy, and Princess Luna was probably asleep in her chambers getting some much needed rest since she would be up all night. Twilight was able to convince one of the castle guards to take a written message to Princess Celestia saying that she and her friends were here and wished to see her. The guard soon returned with a reply from Princess Celestia saying that she wouldn’t be able to see them until after she lowered the sun at six o’clock. That meant all Twilight and her friends could do was wait until then. Luckily Pinkie Pie had a deck of playing cards in her mane just in case of a playing card emergency.
Finally, the clock stuck six, and just as it did the ponies stopped what they were doing to watch the sun set and the moon rise. Minutes later, Princess Celestia walked into the throne room and greeted the six ponies and dragon.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” said Princess Celestia, “What a pleasure it is to see you in Canterlot, and with your friends. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet with you earlier. Today has just been one thing after another. I’ve finally gotten a chance to relax, and seeing you has made it even better. 
“Thank you Princess.” Said Twilight. “It’s wonderful to see you too.”
“So Twilight,” said Princess Celestia, “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”
“To these actually,” said Twilight as she levitated the box from Spike and put it on the floor in front of her.”
“My friends and I found these yesterday,” continued Twilight as she used her magic to lift the silver pony slippers out of the box and place them on the floor in front of Princess Celestia. “After some research I have determined that these are the magic, silver pony slippers from the Canterhorn Empire, and we have come to believe that they belong to an alicorn. Do you by any chance recognize these?”
Unlike Princess Cadence, the ponies were astonished to see Princess Celestia’s eyes open wide and on her face she wore an expression of surprise rather than confusion. She stood staring at the pony slippers for several seconds before Twilight brought her back to reality.
“Um, Princess?” asked Twilight.
“Oh, sorry Twilight” said Princess Celestia. “I was just remembering something.”
“You look as though you’ve seen these slippers before,” said Twilight. “Do they mean anything to you?”
“Yes they do.” Said Princess Celestia. “I haven’t seen these in over a thousand years.” The ponies leaned forward in anticipation, each one smiling.
“So they’re yours,” asked an excited Pinkie Pie.
“No.” said Princess Celestia. The ponies fell back. “But I do know who they belong to.” Finished Princess Celestia. The ponies brightened up again at once.
“You do?” asked Applejack.
“I do.” Said Princess Celestia. “These are Luna’s silver pony slippers!”
“So Princess Luna is their true owner?” asked Twilight.
“She is.” Said Princess Celestia.
“Are you sure?” asked Rarity.
“Absolutely.” Said Princess Celestia.
“How do you know?” asked Applejack.
“Because I was there when mother gave these to Luna when we were fillies,” said Princess Celestia.
Twilight’s eye’s widened. “Mother?” she asked.
“That’s another story,” said Princess Celestia “and there will be plenty of time for it later, but for now I can’t believe that you actually found these. Oh wait until Luna sees these. She’ll be so surprised.” Celestia used her magic to put the slippers back into the box.
“Excuse me for breaking the excitement,” said Rainbow Dash, “but we still won’t know for sure if these are Princess Luna’s shoes or not until she tries them on and…”
“And they sparkle.” Finished Princess Celestia. 
Rainbow Dash stared in amazement. There was no doubt now that Celestia indeed knew all about the silver pony slippers. 
“I know for a fact that they will.” said Princess Celestia. “Luna will be here any minute. Please, Twilight,” she asked as she levitated the box to Twilight, “will you give these to her?”
Twilight Smiled. “It would be an honor.” Said Twilight, “we all will,” she finished as she was joined by her friends. Princess Celestia smiled. 
They didn’t have to wait long. Only moments later the doors to the throne room opened and Princess Luna trotted in. Having raised the moon she was ready to take care of other matters pertaining to Equestria’s night. She was surprised to see so many ponies in the throne room besides her sister, whom she had come to relieve, but she was pleased to see her friends none the less.
“Greeting’s friends,” said Princess Luna as she smiled. “Tis a delight to see you all again. A wonderful evening to make conversation is it not Twilight Sparkle?” she asked.
“Yes, wonderful, Princess Luna.” Said Twilight.
“What brings you to Canterlot this evening? Is there something I can help you with?” asked Princess Luna.
“Luna,” said Princess Celestia, “I believe Twilight and her friends have a gift for you.”
“A gift? For me?!” asked Luna excitedly. “What a wonderful surprise. What is it?”
Twilight used her magic to carry the box over to Princess Luna with her friends at her sides. 
“This is for you Princess Luna,” said Twilight. “My friends and I found these recently, and Princess Celestia says they belong to you. I hope you like them.”
Princess Luna opened the top of the box with her hooves, looked inside, and gasped. Her face showing both disbelief and recognition. She closed her eyes and looked again. Then she looked at Celestia, her mouth hanging open with surprise.
“Celestia,” Princess Luna began. “Are these…?”
“They are.” Said Princess Celestia.
“My magic slippers.” Said Princess Luna. Her face broke into a wonderful smile.
“I’d almost completely forgotten about these,” said Princess Luna as she used her magic to pull the silver pony slippers out of the box. “I haven’t seen these since I was a filly. I can’t believe it. Mother was right. They did find their way back.” 
Princess Luna wasted no time in removing her usual fleur-de-lis styled silver pony slippers and slipped her hooves into her magic silver pony slippers. They fit perfectly, and as soon as she fit the last one on the slippers at once began to sparkle merrily like the stars in the night sky. The silver pony slippers had at last returned to their owner, Princess Luna. 
Twilight and her friends let out the breath they hadn’t realized they had been holding. Pinkie Pie did more than that though. She broke out into a big smile, jumped into the air, and yelled “We did it!”
“Ah, yeah,” said Rainbow Dash as she did a high hoof with Applejack.
“Mission accomplished.” Said Applejack.
“They look fabulous on you princess,” said Rarity.
“Yes, lovely.” Agreed Fluttershy.
“I’m glad we were able to get these back to you Princess Luna” Said Twilight.
“Thank you everypony.” Said Princess Luna. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Princess Luna used her magic to pull all six of the ponies and Spike close to her so she could give them all a big group hug. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were a little surprised at first, and Fluttershy was shy, but they all soon accepted her embrace. Pinkie Pie enjoyed every moment of it.
When Princess Luna finally let them go she said “Fair friends, since you went through all the trouble to get my slippers back for me. Is there anything thing I can do for you in return? Anything? Any wish at all?”
“Thank you for the offer princess,” said Twilight, but I don’t think there’s anything that I need.”
“I don’t need anything either,” said Fluttershy. “I’m just happy to help.”
“I’m already tons of awesome.” Said Rainbow Dash. “I’m good.”
“Don’t reckon there’s anything I need that I don’t already got.” Said Applejack, “But thanks for offering.”
Rarity and Pinkie Pie were silent.
“Is there anything I can do for you fair Rarity, or you fair Pinkie Pie?” Princess Luna asked.
“Well, actually, there is something.” Said Rarity.
“I have one small something too.” Said Pinkie Pie.
Twilight gave the pair a questioning look.
“Please name it.” Said Princess Luna.
“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” said Rarity, “I wish Pinkie Pie had the biggest, and tastiest cake she could possibly eat waiting for her back home in Sugar Cube Corners in Ponyville. Oh, but not too big, of course.”
This made everypony look at Rarity. Nopony had expected her to wish for something like that. Pinkie Pie’s eyes were beginning to fill with tears of joy, before she remembered what she almost forgot.
“Oh,” said Pinkie Pie, “And, if it’s OK, I wish that Rarity had a set of pony slippers that looked just like those and a matching fancy dress to match them waiting for her in her shop.” 
Everypony was amazed all over again. Rarity and Pinkie Pie hadn’t wished for anything for themselves, rather they had made a wishes for somepony else.
“Done and done.” Said Princess Luna. She quietly made the two reasonable wishes on her silver pony slippers, then looked up again. “They are both ready and waiting for you.” she said.
“Thank you Princess,” said Rarity.
“Thanks a bunch,” said Pinkie Pie.
“You’re welcome,” Said Princess Luna. “Anytime.”
Princess Luna then looked back to Twilight. “I have a bit of time, before I’m needed, Twilight Sparkle, would you please tell me how you came to recover my slippers. I would very much like to hear the story.”
“It’s kind of a funny story when you think about it.” Said Pinkie Pie.
The other ponies couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle.
“Well, I suppose so” said Twilight with a clever grin on her face. “If you and Princess Celestia tell us about your mother, whom you both mentioned before. That’s a story I’m sure we would all like to hear.”
“I don’t mind,” said Princess Celestia. “As long as you all promise not to tell anypony else what we tell you.”
“We promise.” Said the six ponies and dragon in unison.
“It’s a deal.” Laughed Princess Luna. “Let’s go to the Castle Library where we’ll all be more comfortable.”
The ponies were just beginning to walk toward the throne room doors when Princess Celestia looked out the window and suddenly said, “Luna! Look out! A tornado!”
Princess Luna jumped. Her body tensed. She looked wildly from one window to the next, looking for what Celestia had seen, when she realized something. There was nothing there.
“Celi!” Said Princess Luna. “That’s not funny.”
“Just kidding.” Said Princess Celestia. “Sorry.”
The two Princesses stared at each other for a few moments before they both realized how funny it actually was and burst out laughing together. Since laughter, as they say, is catching, Twilight and her friends couldn’t help but start laughing too, and Pinkie Pie laughed loudest of all.