The clock ticked in the background of the meeting hall, creating a silence over the heated debate that had unfolded in the royal chambers.
Celestia was patient. Years of watching from both the sidelines and participating in various conflicts had shown her a level of expertise and wisdom that no mortal force could ever hope to attain. A naturally observant mare. She stayed quiet, waiting to take in her information, process it, and then think about a response. All happening seconds before she ever opened her mouth. It was a great trait for a leader, especially in troublesome times. Though some were sometimes frustrated with it, as it was impossible to tell what was on her mind. The alicorn was dead silent tonight, pretty much throughout the entire dispute. Simply listening, taking in, like a plant takes in sunlight. She was being subjected to a heated discussion between two ponies about who owned what tiny piece of land between two lame farms outside of Canterlot. It was rather unimportant to say the least.
Right now the mare before her was agitated.. The discussion was about inheriting a certain area of land from a recently deceased neighbor. She knew both of their families well, and had even visited the funeral of the neighbor, an old pony simply named Buck. He liked it too much to disgrace it with a last name.
Now, the body was not even cold, and somepony was looking to see what of his belonged to her.
“It’s our right. Our land! Promised by Buck himself!” The feisty redheaded pegasus declared, stomping her hooves on the table to add punch to her point. The silence was broken, and the debate resumed.
“It is no right of yours! I’m his cousin dammit! We’re kin! Who are you to start claimin?” Pitch, sitting opposite of Redstone shot back. Brown, a bit scrawny and a lot to prove. Pitch had a lot to lose here, if Redstone had her way.
Celestia simply watched calmly in the background, she had been chosen as mediator of this discussion. A job she found herself doing often. She never tried to avoid the position; in fact it wasn’t even an official duty. Just something she…did. Something she always did. All the ponies that were old enough to question it had died centuries ago. It was simply a fact of life. Although only being one pony, and with Equestria growing much bigger throughout her reign, she couldn’t see everyone like she used to be able to in the old days. Still, no matter what. Every once in a while, two ponies from the middle of nowhere would get an audience with the most powerful being in the world.
She had been asked several times why she kept such a silly, inefficient practice going. She’d always respond with a smile, simply say. “I enjoy it.” And left it at that. And it wasn’t a lie. She did. It brought her closer to her subjects, and allowed her to imbue ponies all important lessons on how to deal with conflicts. She loved seeing two parties come to agreements, settling disputes and getting over grudges. It showed her friendship was still alive and well in Equestria.
“Oh whatever! You stupid foal!” Redstone shouted.
Well sometimes it was.
“Now no name calling. We’re all adults here.” Celestia spoke up. The only thing she had said all night.
The mare huffed, sitting back down in her seat. She had been sitting on the edge shouting during the entire debacle.
“Why have you been so quiet?” Pitch asked, glad that she reigned back Redstone’s fury.
“I’ve been thinking.” She responded simply.
“Well…what!?” Both ponies asked. “It’s me right? I mean, it’s my cousin’s land!” Pitch reaffirmed that for the twelfth time this morning.
“It was promised to me and my family!” Redstone was already trying to fly over the table and go to blows.
“Redstone. What was your claim to the acre again?” Celestia asked, taking a sip of her tea. Tea helped her through turbulent times such as these.
“Buck promised my father. Ten years ago. That when he died, he wanted to give him the farm. My father and him were the best of friends. Dad died six years ago, and now that Buck is gone too. I need a livelihood…and I need that farm!” Redstone ended her story with a stomp on the table.
“But it ain’t yours!” Pitch cried, leaning over across the table.
“It is too mine!” Redstone met him across, their faces only an inch apart.
“Ain’t!”
“Is!”
“Ain’t!”
"Is!"
“Stop.”
Both ponies almost fell over in how they scrambled to get back to their seats. They quickly shut their mouths and stood still like statues.They were worried they went too far when Celestia spoke so sternly...
Celestia took another sip of her tea.
“Pitch. Redstone. I do not understand why you cannot share the farm. You both cannot possibly expect to work an entire farm all by yourselves.” Celestia stated calmly, eyes closed in zen like meditation. There wasn’t a trace of frustration in her.
“I don’t wanna share.” Redstone said flatly.
“Me neither!” Pitch nodded in agreement.
“Why is that?” Celestia was beginning to see the end of this simple debate.
It was one she had solved a million times before, and today would be no different. Ponies sometimes let their petty grudges get the better of them. It was a lesson her student Twilight had just learned. She mentioned it in a letter to her. Just a letter. Not a friendship report. She really missed reading those. She missed the tiny purple unicorn trotting happily through the library while her mentor watched on. Days long, long ago.
“Because. She don’t deserve what my cousin worked for!” Pitch explained. “It’s something that only kin can understand! Plus she’s a mare!”
“What!?” Redstone was at her boiling point. “What do you mean I’m just a mare!?”
“Let’s not continue this train of dialog…” Celestia wisely interrupted. “Pitch. Just because she’s a mare does not mean she cannot manage and run a farm.”
Pitch sighed. Grumpy but…that statement was one made out of anger. Just to discredit her. He didn’t mean it past shock value. Now that he was caught, he’d apologize. Celestia thought to herself.
“Alright…yeah. I didn’t mean that…” Pitch admitted.
That satisfied Redstone, who took her seat once more, still staring daggers at Pitch however.
“So. Why do you not want to work with Pitch, Redstone?” Celestia was watching the time. Despite how much she did want to help them, time was running short, and she had other duties to attend to. They had been in here for a while…
“Cause he’s a tiny little stallion…” Redstone insulted. Pitch fumed silently, though he respected the princess enough to refrain from outbursts. If only Redstone shared that respect.
“Who’s worked on his own farm successfully…” Celestia pointed out. Now she could either accept that or continue to stew in anger.
“I…I guess…” Redstone’s wings were beginning to relax. They had been shot up all night. Pegasi flared like flamingos trying to impress mates. Celestia found that very funny and cute.
“So…seems like a good partnership.” Celestia smiled at the both of them. Though they did not return her optimism.
The clock struck twelve, signaling the meeting was over. A loud chirp emitted out, letting the party know that it was time to leave. Both ponies carried the weight of knowing they'd be here again next week unless they pulled something together.
Redstone sighed. “I need that farm…I can’t…just live off my mom for the rest of my life. I wanna do something…this was my chance…” She looked hurt. They had been trying this debate for at least a week now, and signs of toil were beginning to show. Maybe this was a chance for resolution.
“I’m sick of arguin… I’m sick of these meetings…no offence Princess…” Pitch nodded at her. “But…I wanna work, and I wanna make my family proud. I wanna show that I can manage my own farm.”
“Well…I do too.” Redstone said, looking at Pitch with exhausted eyes.
Celestia watched patiently, saying nothing. She saw that glimmer in Pitch’s eye…maybe…
“Do…do you wanna be partners?”
Redstone mulled it over, frustrated at first. She was a fighter, she wanted to win. She wanted to take all, not settle halfway. But the stallion was earnest and kind, and here was an olive branch. Plus she didn't want to spend another week not working and arguing anyways.. After a few moments, she offered a hoof.
“I’d like that.”
Pitch smiled, and took the hoofshake. Celestia sipped her tea in victory. In only a few questions, she settled the whole conflict. A nice play, even though it took a week to finish. So maybe not so nice. Plus she didn't really do much at all either...
Both ponies got out of their chairs; they had been sitting at least an hour in the meeting room, and were tired and wanted some sunshine. Today had plenty of sunshine to offer.
“Thanks for helping us.” Pitch said with a smile, eager to put the conflict away. He always had, just…he was stubborn. A lot of earth ponies were.
“It was my pleasure.” Celestia said earnestly. Putting away her tea with her hooves and standing up. Even the princess of the sun needed to stretch and go outside every once in a while.
“We can meet again if you would like a formal signed agreement or…?” The princess pushed her luck. If they said yes they could be here for even more hours.
“Nah. I think we got it figured out. If we have any more troubles, we know where to go.” Redstone was smiling too. Seeing two young ponies smiling and happy and taking on the future was a really heartwarming sight for Celestia. She was just glad to give the ponies a helping hoof.
“That’s wonderful to hear.” Celestia escorted the two out by her wings. Both ponies were smiling now finally, a great burden relieved of them.
After several more thank you’s the pair left to go start their new journey. Celestia turned down the hall back to the hectic life of Canterlot politics. The princess chalked their sudden realization together simply to time. Young ponies are quick to emotions, but with time, logic takes over and the situation eases down. It’s just that sometimes they need a voice to help guide them. Celestia never saw herself as a superior or as a princess really. Just a guide.
The meeting room was quickly abandoned after that, it was a small cramped space shoved in between two of the steward’s rooms in the castle. The original architect, a pony called Mortar Block, wanted an elaborate decorated meeting room where the best and brightest of Equestria met to discuss the future of the world. Celestia instead had it a shabby little in-between space, giving more care and attention to the stewards of the castle. They needed it more; she told the agitated earth pony. Mortar never forgave her, a thought which brought a smile to the gentle princess’s face sometimes.
.A brisk walk through the old halls of the castle later and she found herself to her spring of relaxation, a source of her power, she joked to Luna sometimes. Her gardens were lavish and beautiful, maintenance mostly by the princess’s bare hooves. The vineyard made up the center of her garden, lavished with thick, juicy grapes and vines that were radiating with health. Some were used for the wineries, but most were used for medicines. Celestia did sneak a sip or two from the wine…but she kept that hidden. Even she wasn’t perfect.
Other delicacies layered around the vineyard, these were for show, and did not bear any fruit. But to say they were merely just for show was an understatement, they were delicately crafted and handled with great care. Each limb trimmed perfectly, each leaf organized to appear attractive. Celestia did cheat and use her magic for such menial labor, but the effort pulled off, and she had her own tiny slice of heaven. Over the loft of the garden she could see the wide ranges of her city of Canterlot. Since they were deep into the castle, they looked tiny from up on the pedestal.
Time passed as the afternoon rolled out, the sun washing away it's sleepiness and preparing for the new day. A familiar pair of hooves trotted in through the screen door hanging out. Only precious few ponies bothered to travel her, most thought it was just a tiny, lackluster garden. Nopony knew it was the princess's herself. Celestia's gardening skills were superb, but not many appreciate a fine garden. So she knew it must be somepony important.
“Celestia.” Luna’s voice rung out behind her. It was oddly toned, and way too serious even for her dark sister. She did not yet appreciate formal greetings.
Already in that instant Celestia knew something was wrong.
“Luna! What are you doing awake!?” Celestia exclaimed with happy surprise, her sleepy sister was awake before noon on a Monday. A very rare event.
Her voice was…off. For once, Celestia did not know what her little sister had on her mind.
“I’ve been trying to get better about waking up…” It had taken Luna a month to adjust her voice to modern Equestrian standards; her sleep schedule was another matter entirely.
“Your snoring still shakes the rafters…” Celestia said warmly, almost done watering her petunias.
“Sister…” Luna pouted. “Why are you always poking fun at me?” A common past time for Celestia.
“Because you seem so grumpy and serious all the time. You look like you could use a smile.”
Luna did not smile. Usually she liked her little jokes…
The princess of the night contrasted the day sharply. She was dark, the sun’s living shadow, cast out across from Celestia made her look like her shadow as well.
“How are you sister? Mind if we…go for a walk?” Luna asked.
“Really? So soon in the afternoon?"
"Why not? It's a nice day..." Luna said, warmness in her voice. There was obviously something more to this, but Luna left it unsaid.
Well. Yes I’d like that. I suppose my petunias can wait.” Celestia replied with a smile, setting her water bucket down.
It was strange. Luna appearing out of nowhere, in the middle of the morning. Something was very wrong, but Celestia ignored her troubled paranoia. Maybe Luna just had a bad dream or wanted some sunshine.
Luna waited for her companion, like a solider waits for a general’s orders. She looked so tense in the cool early morning breeze.
Celestia smiled and extended a wing, giving her a quick side hug as a sign of affection. It eased Luna, but she made no response otherwise. Normally in public the sisters were stoic and silent, but in private. Celestia was definitely a hugger. Luna was less into it…
“Is something the matter?” The princess asked in a soft voice, filled with concern.
“It’s just…I’ll explain over the walk.” Luna nodded, already moving ahead of her sister. The white alicorn sighed, and followed after her.
The castle was slow on a quiet Monday. The stewards were taking mostly breaks, chatting in the lounging areas. Most of the windows were open, letting sunshine and cold air breeze through the place, making it feel like nature was slowly taking over. The castle did not show it’s age, it’s granite floors spit shined and it’s marble pillars as strong as ever, looking like they could hold mountains.
“Is it…the adjusting?” Celestia asked after they had trotted in silence. The only noise was the clop of hooves against stone. Luna’s were louder; she kept her armor on at all times. Celestia just strutted around naked. Armor was a drag to wear.
“The adjusting? To here? No…not at all…” Luna said sharply, shaking her head.
“You’ve been doing very well since you returned.” Celestia encouraged.
“It has been difficult…but with the nightmare gone. It is…much easier to think.” Luna said, with a pained expression.
“You never quite told me what happened…what it was like…” Celestia had gently poked and prodded her over the years for information. What happened to her little sister up on the moon? It was a deeply sensitive subject, and she tried to tread carefully. She brought it up rather randomly often, but she hadn't done so in a while.
“I am not exactly eager to relive it.” Luna said rather bluntly.
“I understand but Lulu it’s something that has to be discussed eventually.” Celestia’s pet names made Luna cringe.
“Don’t call me that…” Luna huffed, fluffing her wings.
Celestia did not protest, she could see her sister was distressed. “I’m sorry. Force of habit.” She said with solemn eyes. She was fearful her tiny jokes went too far sometimes, especially with how sensitive Luna was since the NIghtmare. She cursed herself for it, but it seemed it was just a bad habit.
Luna spoke no more, Celestia felt badly. Of all the ponies she wished she could understand, it was her sister. No amount of negotiations would help here.
More clip clops of dark alicorn hooves. The passing stewards and guardsmen bowed as they passed the princesses in their daily chores. It received some interest, it was well known around the castle. Luna was not a morning pony and her face showed it.
Everypony around seemed…grave. It was a subtle tone of change from when Celestia had left before. Most ponies wore relaxed smiles and tended to their duties in a quiet way. Now it was anxious, some were sad. It felt like a funeral.
Not a word of it was spoken or said out loud. But something was definitely wrong in her castle. Celestia said nothing, unsure, and figuring the knowledge would come forth soon. It seemed her sister had been appointed the bearer of bad news she guessed. But what could’ve happened to cause this.
“Luna. How was your first diplomatic mission?” Celestia, being an extrovert, found it difficult to simply stay quiet. Plus it was the first time Luna went on mission by herself since her return.
“It was nice.” Luna said shortly, continuing her fast pace.
“Luna…please…talk to me.” Everything was so strange and quick paced. She was just sitting outside relaxing in her gardens a few moments ago…
“I enjoyed it. The miners were frustrated, but they eventually understood why they had to work. We worked with the company, and lowered the working hours with the same pay. They didn’t like this of course, so I have a ton of hate mail now…” Luna said in her rushed voice. Everything was just so strange… At least now Celestia had gotten something out of her, though she felt she had just said it to appease her.
Ponies were saying things in hushed whispers, they looked concerned. Luna kept frowning at ponies and making them quiet suddenly. Celestia looked visibly confused. Luna quickened her pace through even further, heading out one of the small entrances to the larger castle gardens. Much bigger and public than Celestia’s personal one. The white alicorn followed with a very confused expression.
“Did she tell her?”
“No…I know she won’t.”
“How could anypony tell her…?”
“She killed somepony!”
“No one knows why either…it was just so sudden. There are so many stories about it,”
The maid sighed. Rubbing her temples.
“What does this mean!? What’s going to happen? What if she’s…going crazy…like Lu-“
“Don’t say that out loud!” The maid hissed through gritted teeth.
The conversation stopped abruptly, Luna glared at them as she passed by. Their voices had just barely missed Celestia’s ears as she trotted behind her through the gardens. It was deathly quiet thereafter.
Nature however missed the memo. A small chorus of woodland creatures hummed along a babbling brook that danced along the edge of the garden. Whimsical blankets of sunlight fell over the plants, which made them give off a glow. It was empty of nothing but ponies, who kept their distance. As if trying to avoid a dangerous animal. A small pit of anxiety began to form in Celestia’s stomach.
The dark alicorn continued her brisk trot, stopping for nothing it seemed, Celestia faintly followed behind, not as fast.
“Sister…why are you moving so fast?” Celestia asked, a bit out of breath. The royal bakery had spoiled her.
Luna finally stopped; they were at the edge of Canterlot really. Below them was the cliff side, which led to the long fall back down to mainland Equestria. The plains that made up Ponyville and other small town farming settlements.
Luna checked behind, around, and every possible side to make sure they weren’t being followed or anypony was around. They had all left them alone as Luna’s instructions. She was the one to tell her sister. Nopony else. She could stand nopony else to suffer such an awful task. Or nopony else to break her sister's heart.
“Luna….what is going on!?” Celestia insisted. She had enough of this sneaking and running and tension. She demanded answers!
Her stoic sister stayed still, looking at her sister. Her eyes loosened up, losing their rigidness as her form fell slack. She suddenly felt the whole weight of the world on her shoulders.
“Something…has happened. Something…very grave…” The princess said in a quiet low voice.
Birds were chirping quietly in the background of the beautiful garden estate. Such a perfect day contrasted against such awful events.
Luna was finding it very difficult to tell Celestia what her faithful student had done. Celestia looked at her with big purple eyes, full of concern and care.
“There is a conflict brewing in Griffonstone.” She said simply. It was unsatisfying, and unworthy of all the tension brought before it. Celestia knew it was not what this was about in a heartbeat.
“Is…is that all?” She responded simply.
“Yes. It’s serious and you must see to it at once.” Luna was commanding her to go…not giving her a choice.
“Luna…certainly that could not be what this all was about. Griffons always have petty disputes; they very seldom grow into something serious.”
“Well this one is different, and you must attend to it at once.”
Celestia could not neglect her duties, though usually they sent ambassador Flint over with no issues. Luna of course would arrange for him to be on vacation conveniently later.
She had come here with full intention to tell Celestia the truth. And now quickly found herself lying. But how could anypony tell the truth… Luna thought to herself. Her thoughts were at war. Half wanted to tell the truth, half wanted to protect her sister at all costs. Luna was unsure of who would win out.
“How is this so different? Luna is there something you are not telling me?” Celestia questioned her story. The tension, the way her sister was acting…it did not fit with just a squabble in the north.
Luna had to keep to her lie. She had to protect her sister. Like her sister had protected her throughout her entire life. Luna would bear the brunt of this. She would save her sister’s student. Even if the anxiety was beginning to eat away at her already.
Luna stuttered, holding back emotion. “Yes. Yes that is all there is.”
Celestia studied her sister with wise purple eyes, observing her face for any signs of lying. She found plenty, but there was one thing that won out. She trusted her sister, trusted her dearly with her life. Whatever this was, she could maybe find out later.
“Wasn’t that Twilight’s mission?” Celestia asked calmly. Luna’s heart skipped a beat.
“Uh…yes…yes it was! “ Luna coughed, having trouble now.
“It was her task, and she is unavailable so…it falls to you. I have duties here. Cadence is busy in the empire…” She wasn’t. She was coming to Canterlot in wake of the news. Luna had informed her via letter of what had happened. Cadence had avoided telling Shining as well…
Celestia watched her sister fib and lie. It was obvious; the princess was blushing, stuttering and sweating. Her wings constantly twitched, and her eyes avoided direct contact with Celestia’s purple irises.
Luna struggled. She had to tell her! She had to know! She began each time with an exasperated gasp of air, a beginning of a sentence that never could take off. She was trying her hardest.
If she knew what her Twilight had done…
“Very well.” Celestia said simply, smiling again. It was one more out of show, inside she was in deep thought on what all of this meant. “I can take care of it.”
Luna had no idea why she bought her lie. She could tell her sister knew something was wrong. Luna did such a poor job hiding it.
“Thank you! It was…very distressing to me…as you could see…”
“I noticed Lulu.” Celestia stated calmly, putting a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. Luna looked up to her, figuratively and mentally.
"I will visit the griffons, I'm sure it's just another debate over who has the biggest talons or not." Celestia joked with a small smile, and finally a tiny glimmer of one sat on her little sister's cheeks...
"I'll make sure everything runs smoothly up here. I keep a tight ship as you know." Luna favored old school managing and directing, which others were not so fond of.
"I know you will Luna. You always do." The white alicorn hummed softly. Luna internally despised herself for lying to dear sister.
And with that. Luna had lied, and Celestia quickly departed after a few goodbyes. The second her white coat was out of sight, Luna collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily. She was terrified, of what she had done, and if it was the right thing or not. Right now all of Equestria depended on her, and if she failed in this crucial moment, not only would she be blamed, but so would her sister for something she didn't even know about. And the lie itself would create such a heavy strain on her and Celestia's relationship. She never told a lie with such powerful effects since she lied to her about Nightmare Moon…
“You didn’t tell her!?” Cadence shouted, her lovely face flushed red with anger. They were in the throne room now. Luna perched on her dark seat, Celestia’s was empty, and she had left this afternoon with grave misgivings about what her sister was doing…
“How could you not tell her!? She has to know!”
“I know she does!” Luna’s voice retorted back, her tone was distraught and emotional.
Cadence was trotting around frantically, worried sick, unsure of Luna's decision.
“Okay…okay…we can work around this. Where is Twilight now?”
“She left after the murder…she teleported out of Canterlot and nopony is sure where she is. The guards are looking for her.”
"Why aren't you looking for her?"
"Because somepony has to stay here and manage things...I'm sure Twilight will be found. If not, then I will look for her myself."
Cadence looked at Luna with a serious scowl. “Is she dangerous?”
“No! Of course not! This is Twilight we’re talking about! This must be some terrible, terrible mistake…” Luna assured, a hoof under her chin.
“We don’t know what’s happening…nothing is even left of that mare she killed, and nopony saw any signs of a fight or struggle other than they were talking. Most witnesses just described a powerful blast of magic and suddenly that mare was vaporized… nopony knows why she did it…” Cadence described. “And I’m worried something has taken over my sister in law!" Cadence was close to mental breakdown.
"Cadence...calm down. Please. It'll be okay..."
"How do you know that!? Twilight could be in danger...we could be in danger!"
"We don't know anything...do not be consumed by mad assumptions." She paused for a moment after that, developing an idea.
“Twilight is a very capable pony, and smart too. If anything was in that position over her…she would sooner vanish than do that to a pony…there must be some other factor here…” Luna continued, not willing to entertain Cadence’s accusations of Twilight. Twilight was pure goodness. There had to be something more to this story.
It had been four hours after the murder. Most of Canterlot knew now, and news was slowly spreading over Equestria. The main emotion running through the current of information was simply shock and confusion, and a terrible need for answers.
And in their dire time of need, Celestia was nowhere to be found. Many were displeased.
“No one even knows the pony’s name…” Cadence mused, still nervously trotting around. She had arrived by train only an hour ago, and instantly made way to the castle amidst a crowd of onlookers shouting and demanding answers. She had none and said nothing.
“It’s useless to sit here and debate. We need to investigate. We need Twilight…” Luna said wisely, getting up from her throne and walking down to Cadence.
“Where is she…where is my Twily…goodness…if Shining Armor…”
“Now you know how I felt with Celestia.” Luna flat lined, Cadence nodded in understanding.
Things were moving so fast. Celestia had only just left two hours ago and already the media frenzy was building. It was the top news story of today, probably this week, and the next week, and the whole year more than likely. The first murder in Equestria, committed by brand new princess Twilight Sparkle.
“I hope she is safe…” Luna remarked to nopony in particular. Looking out the window.
They were silent for what felt like hours. Nothing but the simple twilight of the world outside as the sun fell laid outside the window. The trees were darkened, and it seemed darkness fell early on this summer day. Cadence’s nervous trots echoed the hallways, most of the staff had gone home by this hour, or stayed in the dorms they provided. Luna despised waiting for this very reason, and it felt like waiting outside of a hospital as a dear friend underwent risky surgery.
Hours into the night, right as the sun went down. A frantic guard busted through the oaken doors, sweating. He had ran the whole way here, for quite a distance. He stopped in front of the regal ponies, gathering his breath for his very important simple words.
“We found her.”