//------------------------------// // Interlude: Prime time talk // Story: Son of the Sun // by Buckeye49 //------------------------------// Princess Luna made haste to head to the capital to have her meet with Prime Minister Graceful-Pen, many thoughts were bouncing around in her mind as she flew home, 'What could he want?' 'What if Parliament is impatient and wants David to arrive soon?' "That is a matter I must know," Luna said to herself as she soared through the night, "I also must get to my 'Dream Walking' duties as well," she added. Luna soon arrive at Canterlot and then headed to bed again in her room to wait for the dawn to meet with the Prime Minister. The next day Luna arose to lower the moon for the dawn, as she did her thoughts ran rampant. "Morning sister, I hope you and the others slept well," Luna said watching the sun rise as her moon set's for another day. She after lowering the moon she headed off to have breakfast, but as she made her way toward the dining room a guard stopped her but not just any guard. "Nightshade!" Luna said running to hug him. "Luna?!" Nightshade said with an alarmed yet happy expression. "What are you doing here my love?" Nightshade asked surprised off his butt to see her here as he grabs her upon contact. "The Prime Minister wanted to talk with me about something," Luna replied breaking the hug. "I see....May I walk with you?" Nightshade asked. "I would love that dear," Luna replied with a smile as they soon turned to head to breakfast; their journey was a quiet one for the most part until Nightshade spoke. "How is the tour going Luna?" "Oh it is going quite well, David is enjoying Cloudsdale, it is good that we have him comfortable being in Equestria, one issue we had was Applejack had an incident after a drinking contest with Rainbow Dash," Luna replied wincing a little at the memory of the spill Aj had. "What kind of 'incident'?" "She passed out and fell from her seat," Luna said showing an embarrassment that you would think it was her who had the incident. "Ouch..." Nightshade remarked with his ears flipping back. "She is fine now, she was re-awoken from her stupor and later the group afterwards headed to Rainbow's residence to end the day," Luna iterated. "Sounds like quite a day at a bar you had," Nightshade chuckled lightly but not to mock anypony. "I did; but enough about me, what of you?" "I had nothing special done, I was just doing my duty and paperwork..." Nightshade stated, groaning at the mention of paperwork. "I am sorry you had to suffer in my absence," Luna giggled trying not to laugh at her coltfriend's misery. "It's not all bad, you're back now so I am feeling better already," he replied hugging Luna to his side. "You're sweet Nathaniel," Luna chimed nuzzling him. "I am your stallion Lulu," he responded lovingly; the walk then went on with no more said between the two lovers. The two eventually arrived at the dining room but when they entered the room there seated and sipping from a cup was none other than the Prime Minister himself! "Greetings your Majesty, I hope you don't mind me joining you for breakfast; but we need to talk, this is about....Prince David," Graceful-Pen said with a caringly concerned expression. "Prime Minister...." Luna said calmly. "Should I return later?" Graceful-Pen asked; Jefferson Graceful-Pen is a faded-walnut Pegasus with a light brown mane styled like a powdered wig complete with tail and emerald eyes, at a height of was 6 foot 2 inches with a slim build, and his Cutiemark is that of fancy capital 'G' with a tan quill completing the 'G'. "No; please I would love to eat breakfast with you," Luna said with a smile to show Graceful-Pen's request was accepted genuinely. "You are most generous; thank you Princess Luna," he replied warmly. "I shall leave you two alone," Nightshade said moving to excuse himself from the room. "Nay Nathan; please stay," Luna said gently grabbing his wrist. "I agree by all means Captain Nightshade who am I to dismiss the Lunar Captain and lover of our Princess?" Graceful-Pen said invitingly. "Th-Thank you Prime Minister," Nightshade replied unsure why he would be allowed. "You are Captain of Luna's Guard, keeping secrets is what you do, but welcome all the same," Graceful-Pen remarked as he moved to serve himself some of the food presented. Luna only moved to sit across but also beside the Prime Minister while Nightshade took a seat directly next to Luna and the two prepared their plates before Luna spoke. "So what of my nephew David do you wish to discuss about?" Luna asked sipping her coffee. "Well first; Parliament has been breathing down my neck over this, it is to the point where they want to pluck my wings!" he expressed showing for once in this meeting stress and fatigue to his overall calm composure. "Are you serious? Parliament is now demanding my nephew makes his return?" Luna asked hoping this was just speculation on the Prime Minister's view of however Parliament was acting. "I'm afraid so Princess Luna; Parliament's patience is worn thin, they are indeed demanding that Prince David make his return to Equestria at once," Graceful-Pen stated with a regretful look. "Lord above..." Luna replied with a groan and a pinching of the nose bridge, Nightshade in response placed a hand on Luna's shoulder out of concern which Luna placed her hand on the one he had on her to show her appreciation for his concern. "Celestia, David, Sunset....Their fears are true..." Luna groaned. "I wish I could say that was a lie, but Parliament is unhappy and is in a level of mistrust and agitation too great to ignore," Graceful-Pen said in a tired tone. "They are demanding that David make his return, I have done all I can but they're leaving no maneuvering room they want David to make his return as soon as possible I have no choice!" He added. "Damn Parliament! Who are they to show such arrogance?! I am Princess Co-Ruler! They are there but the grace of God himself and whomever put them first in their blasted position!" Luna snapped in as dangerously close to the Canterlot Voice as one could get. Graceful-Pen now suddenly less tired and startled jumped at Luna's angered tone, as was Nightshade who too was caught by surprise by Luna's outburst and now quite frightening angry expression which after a moment slide from her face replaced with sadness and guilt. "I'm sorry; that was uncalled for, I apologize for my anger but this is news I dreaded hearing," Luna said her voice sounding as if she would start weeping in her frustration. "I know Lulu, I know..." Nightshade crooned tenderly to sooth Luna from her sad state of anger and dismay while hugging her tight. "I wish I could do something, anything at all to ease your discomfort Princess Luna; the last thing I want is to cause more trouble on you, Celestia, and your family," Graceful-Pen said trying himself to soothe the Night Princess. "Do what you can because David will upon his return be meeting with you, then? He will speak to Parliament face to face," Nightshade said with a dead serious expression. "That is quite courageous of him, bit mad but brave; I hope he can handle an Address to Parliament," Graceful-Pen said with a face with mixed emotions one being impressed, the other worry. "My sister will see to his training as a Prince before he takes on this challenge; I assure you he do well, though he has not had formal schooling in the way of royalty, maybe this somehow will work to his advantage," Luna finally said recovering from her previous distress. "I pray that it does; has he ever given a speech in public?" Graceful-Pen asked. "I'm not sure, I never asked if he did," Luna stated showing now a level of concern about this situation again. "Now now Princess, no need to get worked up again over this," Graceful-Pen said quickly trying to prevent another Princess Panic attack. "He's right dear; you need to be calm," Nightshade soothed now just with his hand on a sitting up Luna's lap, "As you said Celestia will make sure this is done right," he added. "You're right my love...I need to trust in my sister's skill and God's grace with this trying time," Luna said sounding relented. "Very true; like you implied, David may be a natural at speeches," Graceful-Pen suggested. "Sounds like him; David seems to be quite a fast learner on certain things, he has areas where he seems to possess a natural skill when it comes to topics or subjects of his interest." "From the determination he showed on this decision to speak to Parliament I think he will be very meticulous and precise on how to present himself," Luna observed. "This helps me feel more confident in David's chances of success in dealing with Parliament," Graceful-Pen said with an interested expression with a relaxed tone. "Now that I talked about it and thought about it, it does; sure there will be hard times and there is no sure guarantee for flawless success, but as long as we remain confident Parliament will not be so quick to act against us or David," Luna stated in agreement. "Excellent! So now that that was resolved; how are we going to do this? What action is being taken right now?" Graceful-Pen asked sounding eager to keep the ball rolling. "We have just thought of this; no real plans until David meets with you," Luna informed. "Oh....I was hoping that we would have something," Graceful-Pen sounding a little bummed by the kill of momentum. "I believe you will but when David decides to return openly," Luna informed. "Do you know at least when he will return?" Graceful-Pen asked looking hopeful for something. "He plans to wait until a week after Earth's New Year," Luna replied. "That is a month from now, that is perfect...considering they gave him 3 months to appear" Graceful-Pen said mulling on the idea. "What?" Luna asked looking perplexed. "They are being most hostile and even dangerous as in being recklessly demanding," Graceful-Pen stated seriously. "And what if David fails to return by a certain point?" Luna asked in a tone that would say she was taking this ultimatum as a joke. "They will deny David his crown...Or rather the crown of his birthright as Heir to the Solar Throne," Graceful-Pen stated gravely. "They can't be serious!" Luna said flatly in a 'you're serious?!' tone. "It is apparently in Legislative rights to make this decision," Graceful-Pen informed. "Parliament has the right to deny an heir their crown if they deem him or her unworthy of the title if in addition the good of the nation is threatened by a successor of whom is incompetent, is incapable, and/or unwilling to handle the position and authority of Ruling Prince," Graceful-Pen added in. It was then Luna looked like at any second as was, looking like she was about to blow her top as she balled her fists with her teal eyes darting side to side with her face expressing great rage like she wanted to rip somepony a new one, or fry them where they stood. "Lulu? Honey? My love please, don't do this...Calm down," Nightshade said looking absolutely nervous. "Please Princess Luna; remain calm, no amount of anger will change the Article of our Constitution," Graceful-Pen said softly trying to avoid setting off the pissed of princess sitting within striking distance from him. Luna just sat their continuing to breathe through her nose in a angered way, she was absolutely livid, positively seething with loathing of what she was just told. "Is this the game Parliament is playing?" Luna said with enough venom in her tone to murder millions, "They dare to dictate to royalty? To threaten the birthright of my sister's foal??" she added her tone low, lethal, and horrifying. "They dare pull this sort of stunt on the precedence of a law built on mistrust of their Royal?!" Luna said her anger building at a terrifying rate. "Luna!" Nightshade said hoping she will cease her angered rant in the making. "WHAT?!" Luna barked in response toward Nightshade's calling of her name interrupting her venting rant. "Luna; yelling and screaming at Parliament over a albeit so-so Article of the Royal Constitution, will not help our case! Or David's...." Nightshade said with the last part said softly and placing his hand on Luna's jaw and cheek. "You're right...Dammit it is true; as much as I hate it this law is justified and legitimate; how could I have let this anger me when I knew it existed?" Luna said calming down but still showing disdain toward the idea her nephew's crown can be denied if he fails to show up to take the job. "The reason for your anger I can guess is reasonable; perhaps you never thought about how bonded you would become to your nephew perhaps?" Graceful-Pen asked. "Maybe...Or perhaps it is because unlike Sunset Shimmer, David's situation is different than his sister's and I am disliking the difference in treatment; meaning with Sunset she was given grief on account of she being the first told of her existence to Parliament and the backstory to her," Luna's reasoning began. "For that reason I suppose they gave her grief but the resistance to her was justified due to her even existing plus what she did with her life," "With David he is another story; David was known about but has no experience of being in Equestria, hence they don't know if he will accept his native world openly or still cling to the world that adopted him; furthermore David's lack of knowledge on Equestria's culture, politics, and traditions is another reason to question whether he should be Prince of the Day let alone Equestria," Luna continued. "In short David may face losing his Crown solely because of how he was raised and an assumed reluctance on his part to accept the title of Prince Apparent to the Solar Throne," Luna finished summarizing. "Of which the reason I cry 'Nonsense' is because David is more than willing to accept the crown and the responsibility and duty to the country of his birth," Luna added. "I say that right there, is the best case in David's favor we got; using the ridiculousness of Parliament's fears and denouncing their paranoia by showing David's willingness and devotion to duty for his native nation's good," Graceful-Pen stated. "Proving David is ready and willing to take the Throne of his mother and lead the nation with the ponies' best interests at heart and in his mind," Graceful-Pen said with a passionate and motivated tone. "Now we have a plan; we need only to put it into action, then David can take the wheel, and motion himself to the position of Prince Apparent of Celestia's throne along side his sister already seated as your heir as future Princess of the Night," Graceful-Pen finished sitting back in his seat looking quite relieved. "I agree, this is good news; I feel we may have solved our problem for sure, now to see it through and believe me...I intend to see this through," Luna said in a determined tone. The meeting went on without incident and was now far more relaxing than when it started; soon breakfast was done and Luna, Nightshade, and the Prime Minister parted ways and went about the rest of the day. "You heading back dear?" Nightshade asked. "Mmm...Nay, I think I want to stay here just a little longer; besides~ I believe I promised you steamy romance upon my return," Luna cooed licking his cheek. "But you came back early," Nightshade argued. "I still returned~ So like it or not you're going to be pleasured," Luna said in a assertive tone giving him bedroom eyes to drive home her point. "My my, aren't we the eager one?~" Nightshade crooned back playing with her, "What do you have in mind?~" he asked her giving her his own bedroom eyes. "I believe all that stress made me break a sweat, an intimate bath perhaps?~" Luna suggested in a low, husky tone. "I would love that~" Nightshade replied in a low tone; then Luna and Nightshade shared a tender yet very deep and passionate kiss of which was long and messy too, upon breaking the kiss it was broken with a steamy and audible 'smack' of their separating lips. "Shall we?~" Luna cooed. "Yes~" Nightshade sung back; the two later headed to Luna's room and the two later engaged in their intimate and romantic private bath. TO BE CONTINUED.