//------------------------------// // 21 Tea // Story: Lifegiver // by Meep the Changeling //------------------------------// Scootaloo - 21st of Midsummer ‘15 EoH - Evening They say that you can never forget how Canterlot looks once you’ve been there. It's true. It’s hard to believe that most cities in Equestria used to have soaring domed towers, gold everywhere, and narrow winding roads. Canterlot is a city out of time, and I’m saying that as a pony who lives in a historic architectural preserve. Canterlot existed long before Celestia made it Equestria’s capital. Maybe she knew when it was first built and by whom, but I don't think anypony else would. Except Twilight of course. I’d gotten to see the city a million times, I’d had a friend going to school here after all, but what I hadn’t gotten to see before was the Celestial Palace. Tartarus, I didn’t even know that was it’s proper name until a guard welcomed me through the way too huge gold plated doors! Well… I had gotten to see a little bit of it when Princess Cadence got married. But that was sixteen years ago, and honestly, I remember Chrysalis's invasion more than anything else about that day. This was the time I’d remember the palace itself. Unfortunately, all of the decor sort of flowed together. Long stretches of red carpets, tapestries made from fancy silks on every wall, gold inlays forming elaborate patterns to trim the floors and ceilings… If I just saw one room, I’d have seen everything. As the guards took me through the palace, the truly impressive thing wasn’t the fancy decorations themselves, but how big the building was. That’s when it hit me, the fanciness of the Palace wasn't the point, but rather how much fancy there was. The building and decor was here to show off Equestria’s wealth and power. That took the wind out of my sails just a little… I would rather the palace have been just awesome for the sake of being awesome rather than be designed to impress. You could tell that’s what it was for too. Unless Celestia was really into ‘display all the expensive things possible’ as a home decorating scheme. If the swirling gold trim did something other than look pretty, I’d have gotten a completely different impression. Why couldn’t it from little pictographs depicting Equestrian history? Why not have the tapestries depict fallen heroes, or great moments, or hay even just be pin ups? Anything would be better than geometric patterns meant to look impressive. Maybe I was a bit jaded from getting to visit Twilight’s palace, but honestly, everything here just looked like a theater. A stage if you will. I guess that made sense as well, this was where foreign diplomats would come and you’d want them to get an impression of wealth and power but… We lived here! Couldn’t you make it look fancy, powerful, impressive, and also homey? Hay, the bucking Emerald changelings did that! Their hive’s main entrance was a huge tram that took you right into a huge park located in the middle of their hive. The whole ride down you got to see murals depicting their ancestors journey through the desert, finding the ancient ship within the Boseman caverns, their slow repairs made to their home… But then again, they didn’t really have diplomats come in. Was that the key to understanding this? Was there some sort of political reason to give off the impression the Celestial Palace was going for? Were other species just shallow? Perhaps homey decor would make us look weak? “Announcing Scootaloo Dash of Ponyville!” One of my escorts called, startling me out of my thoughts. Oh! Here it was! The throne room was where all of the homeyness was hiding! The sun shone through the stained glass windows, projecting images from Equestria’s past onto the reflective polished marble floor. Each tapestry here bore the rest of an Equestrian Provence. Each of the quartz columns were decorated with relief carvings which made it seem as if vines crawled up their sides. The throne itself was framed by the tapestries and columns to draw the eye to it’s golden face, the metal lit just right to shine like the rising sun. Or rather, like the rays of the shining sun. Because the sun herself was sitting in the throne. Oh. That’s why everything outside looked bland. To ensure that Celestia herself made your jaw drop clean off. I’d seen Princess Celestia before. Anypony who ever attended a Summer Sun Festival had. But here, on her throne, with the rays of the sun shining across her, surrounded by the shimmering gold, with her purple eyes that at once burned into you in judgment and forgave you of your deepest faults… Here she was, the definition of a god. “Thank you, Lance.” Celestia said in a motherly tone to the guard on my left. “Everypony, please leave us. Court will resume in two hours.” I blinked as a selection of finery clad ponies began to walk past me as they left the throne room. I hadn’t even noticed the half dozen various other ponies in the room! Celestia’s mane, no wonder we almost got everything we wanted in diplomatic meetings! “You too, Lance. Please wait outside. No one is to enter until the two of us are done,” Celestia ordered. The guard snapped a salute, wordlessly leaving in unison with his partner, and closing the doors. Sealing me inside with the Princess with a dull boom as the door fell shut. Instinctively, I dropped into a bow, turning my head down as far as the floor would- “There’s no need for that, Scootaloo,” Celestia said kindly. I gulped nervously and stood back up. “I um… but-” Celestia nodded, and stood up from her throne, walking down the steps from the dais to the floor, moving to stand a polite distance from me. I grinned nervously as she smiled. “I know it’s tradition to bow, but there’s another tradition amongst us immortals. We do not bow to one another.” “But you’re… You move the sun!” I exclaimed, still blown away. Celestia nodded. “I do. And if you and Captain Skriit are to be believed, you hold dominion over the winds and rain.” Oh yeah… That’s right. I did! She smiled a bit wider. “There we are. Take all the time you need to get used to talking to me, Scootaloo. You are not one of my little ponies any longer. We are equals, and you’ll need to see me in that way. “There are many ways in which a pony, or even some other species, can come to live forever. Few ever achieve immortality, but those of us who do know we must live with the others for all time. It’s best to treat one another as equals… It prevents problems.” The way she said problems sent my mind into a dark place. She said it bitterly, and with disgust. Like how you might say ‘plague’. “So um… If you knew already… Why am I here?” I asked. “I didn’t know,” Princess Celestia answered. “I’m not omniscient. But I did feel a surge of power when you…changed. But I didn’t know what it was until the good Captain sent me his report.” Celestia chuckled. “Poor Twilight sensed it too. She had half of her guard searching door to door for whatever caused that thaumaturgic wave. And now that I can see you with my own eyes… I know that wave was made by you.” I bit my lip and nodded slowly. “Okay… So um… What do we have to do now? My coltfriend is in the hospital and-” Celestia flinched. “Yes, I know… I do feel sorry for taking you from his side, but it’s very important we have a conversation. But we can only have it properly once you can ask me a question without stumbling over yourself.” “O-oh. Okay,” I said taking a short breath. “Can we talk somewhere else then? Because um… Yeah in here you sort of… Ooze magic.” “Of course we can,” Celestia said as her horn glowed gold. A soft scrape reached my ears, allowing me to turn my head in time to see Celestia’s throne seat-back slide into the wall and vanish into a rippling lavender portal. She turned and moved towards the massive alicorn sized opening in the wall and nodded her head towards me. “Would you like to see my house?” “Uh, don’t you live here?” I asked curiously. “Like, is that a portal to your bedroom or-” Celestia giggled. “Oh no! Luna and I both have our own personal residences. While I sleep here sometimes, I also keep a place where I ca get away from it all. We can have a more…level sided conversation there.” “Alright,” I said as Celestia vanished into the portal. Quickly moving towards the throne, not wanting to make the Princess have to wait on me, I stepped through the portal and- Appeared in the livingroom of a small ponyville style house! I had apparently walked out of the fireplace and into a very nicely decorated, willow floored living room which was decorated as a rustic garden house. Everything was obviously hoof made with great care, top quality, and quite expensive materials. But rather than a crystal surfaced coffee table, this room had a smoothly polished log. Honestly, the place reminded me a lot of Sweet Apple Acres, only with more houseplants, and a persistent smell of rum cake. This couldn’t possibly be where Princess Celestia lived! As my eyes flicked across the rustically decorated room I spotted a dull-yellow pegasus with a two toned purple and pale purple mane, humming happily as she prepared a tea pot. I knew her! That was Sunny Rays, she worked backup for the Ponyville Weather team. I gently cleared my throat to get her attention. “Ahem… Uhh, hi Sunny… Portal accident, I’ll just get out of your house n-” “Oh! I forgot about that illusion spell. I’m still Celestia, Scootaloo,” Sunny said with a giggle. “Um, what?” I asked. “The portal, it’s enchanted to disguise me when I come through it from the Canterlot side, and to remove the disguise when I go through it from this side. Sunny Rays is my way of getting privacy… After a few hundred years you may wish for something similar. I’ll be happy to help find you a means of avoiding the public eye.” “So… Sunny’s fake?” I asked. She nodded. “Yes. Every pony who has ever owned this house in Ponyville has been me. All the way back to well.. When I bought it as a summer home before I had my wings,” Celestia informed, still messing with the tea set. “How do you take your tea?” “So… You spend your days off being Sunny… Um… I am super sorry about the time Sweetie Belle and I broke your front window!” I apologized, ears drooping flat as I realized all the times I accidentally endangered- “Yes I know. You apologized for that years ago,” Celestia said smiling. “Tea?” “... Right. Uh, two sugars I guess,” I said, nervously shuffling a hoof. “So then um… That time I snuck hard cider from mom’s basement and uh… Flirted with you… Also sorry…” I apologized again, doing my best to stem the tide of horrible realizations. Celestia laughed. “Don’t apologized for that! I still find it quite hilarious. Besides, if you had been a colt, I likely would have agreed to a date. Nopony has dared to ask me out in four centuries now.” I frowned sharply. “But if you’re Sunny… She’s married, I mean, aren’t you?” “No. Birch Chip is simply my coltservent… And is actually three different changelings. They keep this place clean and warm for me, and keep up the illusion that ‘Sunny’ is here when I am in Canterlot.” Celestia said as she set a simple tea set on the coffee table and took a seat on a cushion. I was taken aback at just how…well, normal Celestia was being. She was just…there. Serving me some tea. Like I’d come over to ask how she grew her lilac bushes to be so nice looking! “Please, have a seat,” Celestia said gently nodding towards a cushion. I sat down after a moment, instinctively accepting the teacup as she offered it. “Last question… So that time Sunny came into Miss Cheerilee's class and talked about weather creation as a guest speaker… Was that you?” I asked curiously. “Yes, it was,” Celestia confirmed with a nod. “So then… You’re the pony who showed me how to make a thundercloud,” I said to myself. Celestia nodded. “I am. I may have been born a unicorn, but I’ve always loved playing with the weather.” I could talk to the pony who taught me how to make a thundercloud. “Okay, I’m ready to talk. What are we talking about?” Celestia set her teacup down. “We are talking about you,” she said gently. “There are many ponies I keep tabs on. Those whom I think might have the potential to ascend to a higher state, discover an elixir of life, or otherwise gain power beyond the average pony. But I never expected you to become something more.” I felt just a little insulted by her words. “It’s not because I’m a pegasus is it?” Celestia’s eyes widened, a look of genuine hurt crossing her face. “No! Not at all! Nor was it your status as a cripple. Luna was a pegasus before her ascension-” “She was?” I exclaimed in shock. “How the hay do unicorns get the impression of being superior then?” Celestia groaned. “Let’s please not get into over ten thousand years of racial politics… Suffice to say, few alive read history books. Simply put, Luna was a blind pegasus, and look at her now! It may interest you to know that while I am older than her, Luna has been an Alicorn for longer than me… If only by a few days. “She was?” I asked frowning. “I must have not paid much attention in history class…” “Oh no, you probably did. I don’t think even Twilight knows that Luna ascended first. Everypony assumes that as the more powerful of the two I must have been the first… But I wasn’t. She was, and she did it because she believed it would allow her to protect ponykind… I only did it to prevent my sister from stealing my spotlight… We were not the best of sisters in our youth,” Celestia admitted with an ashamed sounding sigh. “You seem to get along well now though,” I pointed out. “Yes. We do. We have Luna’s banishment to thank for that. You never realize how much you truly care for somepony until they are gone,” Celestia said slowly. “But, we are off topic. I never expected you to ascend because you are not an adventurer or a scholar. “Despite being a… Rambunctious filly to the point of me having heard of you, you seemed content to live here with your friends. You have an adventurer’s soul, but you do not feel the need to delve into old tombs. Nor are you a scholar or mage. You simply are not the sort who normally obtains power.” “Oh… Yeah, I guess that’s right,” I decided, nodding gently. Celestia nodded in agreement. “I don’t mean that as an insult. I know enough about you to know you have a good heart. But despite this, you are a… Loose thread in a tapestry I have been weaving for millennia.” I gulped, fear slowly creeping onto my face. Celestia gave me a reassuring smile. “I’m not going to hurt you, or send you away. Equestria is my pride and joy. I have taken a dozen kingdoms and unified them into a single nation, from which I continue to sculpt a utopia… And if I do say so myself, I think I’m getting quite close to obtaining that goal. “Naturally, this means I plan things out very carefully. You becoming somepony who for the first time since Discord has the potential to best me in a fight naturally could put my plans for paradise in jeopardy. I simply need to know what you will do with your newfound power. “ I triple blinked, one particular statement echoing in my ears. “You think I could beat you in a fight!?” “Potentially. I can feel your power… It’s unrefined, untapped, but vast. In a few millennia, with training, you could be a match for me.” Celestia said in one of the most honest tones I had ever heard. “And like I said… Such a thing is rare.” “Yeah… Discord, Tirek, Chrysalis… Am I really that powerful?” I asked. Celestia smiled. “Not now. Having power is nothing if you do not know how to use it. But you could be. One day. So, I ask again, what do you plan to do with your power?” “I want to protect Ponyville and make my moms proud,” I answered without hesitation. Celestia triple blinked. “Is that all?” I nodded. “You seek nothing more than to be a hero?” She asked again. “Yeah… Why? Is that weird?” I asked. “Yes, very!” Celestia said, looking rather shocked. “Most wish to further their own power, or shape the world to their desires. That was how I was upon ascension… Although… It was a mistake to increase my personal might.” “How so?” I asked curiously. Celestia paused, lips moving as she mulled over her thoughts. “I suppose I could use that story to further my point. Very well.” She looked into my eyes, her serious expression making me realize that Sunny’s and Celestia’s eyes were in fact the same. “I am the sun, Scootaloo,” Celestia said. “I do not mean this metaphorically. All Alicorns are the embodiment of the force or object we represent. Twilight is magic. Cadence is love. Luna is dreams, though we call her night so she and I can have the sun and moon motif. And I, I am the sun. “I can move the sun because I am the sun, it is as easy as walking across the room. But at the same time… I am also a pony. In my youth, through dark magic, I sought to unify my pony self with my stellar self, and I did. The Celestia you see day to day is only a fraction of myself. “I don’t mean that I have multiple bodies. I mean the reason I fell to Chrysalis is because I have to lock most of my magic behind several wards for the safety of everypony. If I had fought her at full strength, there would be no Canterlot today. Without those wards, the pony me and the star me become one. My very presence will set creatures aflame. My sister leads our armies for the simple reason of I never had to learn to command an army. Because I am the sun. “My arrogance in my youth created Equestria as it is today, but it did so through many many wars, and with lots of suffering… And not only were those times dark, but I live with the regrets of countless things even to this day. “Which is why I want you to tell me the absolute truth, what do you want to do with your power? Because if you want to reshape the world, or to gain even more power, not only is my Equestria in danger of horrors I have eliminated returning to her lands, but you are in danger of an eternity of regrets for your actions. “I do not mean that as a threat. I mean it as a warning. The path of the conqueror is paved with regrets. As time goes on, if you truly make the world better as I have, those regrets will fade, but they never vanish completely.” When Celestia finished talking, I realized that I had stood up and taken a few steps backwards. “I don’t want to do any of that,” I said, voice just a little shaky. “I have never wanted to rule anypony. I have wanted to hurt a few ponies… But well… Diamond Tiara was very cruel when she was a filly… I don’t like the idea of being in charge. I also don’t really like to follow, but well… There are some ponies like my moms, Twilight, Luna, and you that make me feel… I respect you. “You are the reason why everything good in my life could happen. You shaped Equestria to be as it is. I don’t feel like I owe you, but… I do feel like I should support you. I don’t want to overthrow anyone. I just want to live here, and protect the home that I love from monsters, evil people, and everything else. “Because it would give something back to everypony I care about, and it would help the ponies I respect… You know? But also because… Well… I’ve always just want to be a hero. Now I can be.” Celestia stood up and stepped over to me. I flinched as she lifted a hoof, fearing that I had angered a pony who it was clear I didn’t even begin to know the power of! She reached around me, and pulled me close in a hug. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I frightened you, and you didn’t deserve that. You’re selfless and kind. Exactly the sort of pony who deserves to have power. Can you forgive me for misjudging you?” I froze. “Y-you want me to forgive you?” I asked. “I do,” Celestia replied. I thought about it. To be honest… I didn’t know how powerful I was yet I didn’t even know. I could understand throwing my weight around to see what sort of a person an unknown powerful person was. “I forgive you,” I said honestly. “Thank you,” Celestia said, letting go and returning to her seat. “Let’s talk about more pleasant things… Would you like some tips?” “What sort of tips?” I asked. “Immortal tips,” Celestia said taking a sip of her tea. “Living forever has…consequences. I can help you avoid a few of them.” “Oh!” I exclaimed ears standing up on end as I sat down. “Yes! Please!” “First… Come up with an alternate identity for doing your heroing,” Celestia said sighing around her teacup. “Notice how I have this home here, and am sitting under twelve illusion and transformation spells? The longer you live, the more… Locked in your public perception becomes. Equestria sees me as the perfect pony whom all should ascribe to be. “That is… Well it means that I can not be myself as myself. Which is very discomforting. If I could do it again it would be Sunny who was the Princess, and Celestia who lived in Ponyville.” I nodded, frowning slightly. “That's… That’s a good point. I’m sorry. That has to be hard.” “It is, but I’ve had plenty of practice,” Celestia dismissed. “Next tip, change your hobbies every few hundred years. I don’t care how much you might love cartography. If you do not learn something new or rotate what you do… You’ll lose love for your well, loves. Luna knew that long before I did… She has a certain…fascination with games, but she makes sure to never focus on playing any one kind too much.” “I suppose I’d want to go back to school every so often too,” I said thoughtfully, tapping a hoof to my chin. “I’m bound to get out of the loop eventually.” “Yes! Definitely continue your education. You do not want to look like a fool when an astronomer comes to you and asks if you will help fund the construction of a deep space viewing telescope and you ask ‘What is space?’ … That is one of the worst embarrassments I have ever had…” Celestia admitted with a light blush. I triple blinked. “But doesn't Luna control the night and the stars? How could you not know what space is?” Celestia cleared her throat. “No, Luna controls dreams. Either of us can move the moon, hence why it kept moving while she was banished. I was doing it. The night sky looks wonderful when Luna is here because she puts everypony into a daydream… Er, Luna loves the night, and shares her vision of the stars with everypony. But she doesn't truly control the night, only dreams. “Think of the night sky like a massive illusion spell. Luna’s true power is using the magic of dreams to give them substance, like an Illusionist whose illusions can affect real things as they have gained a semblance of reality. “Which as they are associated with the night, and since Lulu has always been a night owl, had her decide to call herself the ‘Alicorn of the Night’ so the two of us could have our sun and moon theme.” “So then her true power is her dream walking?” I asked, actually interested to learn a little about Princess Luna. “No. Remember what I said before? Alicorns are their bonded concept. Luna IS dreams. She can visit your dreams because she IS that dream… Sorry if that’s a bit metaphysical. Um, her dream walking is a very minor thing for her. She can create dreams and give them to anypony or anyone. She can literally make dreams come true by taking things from dreams and making them real… Though that does put a heavy toll on her and won’t always work. I think it has to be a particularly strong dream.” “That’s pretty cool! But well… Why the night thing? Was it just because you asked if you could do a sun and moon theme?” I asked in confusion. “No, not at all. She loves the night, the first thing she ever saw was the stars. She’s loved them ever since,” Celestia said slowly. Her mouth opened as if she was about to say something else but froze. “I-I’d rather not talk too much about the past… Let’s discuss the future instead. I imagine you might want to talk with me more.” I nodded quickly. “Yes! I have a lot to learn.” Celestia smiled again. “Yes, you do. You can visit me here anytime that isn’t between noon and four, or a diplomatic function. Just tell ‘me’ you would like to have lemon tea. It’s the code phrase. I’ll come over, and we can talk.” “Thanks!” I said, trying to remain calm about the fact that I just became friends with mother bucking Princess Celestia! Celestia’s face turned sad for a moment. “Oh yes… You mentioned a coltfriend. Who is he?” My lips stretched into a smile. “Azur Lily.” Celestia smiled gently at me. “You’re a lucky mare. I know him. Here’s another immortality tip… Love him as dearly and keep him close. Every second you have a lover is precious… Although… He is a biomancer. Perhaps you will be lucky and he will find a way to stay with you through the ages.” I felt my heart hit the floor. “Oh… I’m immortal and…” “He’s not.” Celestia said sadly. “Don’t dwell on it. Just love him, cherish your time together. Over time the short lives others lead won't hurt you as much when they pass. You’ll learn to appreciate their memories and they will live on in your heart. But the first one always hurts. So please, for your sake, don’t let time get away from you. Be sure you two lead a full life.” “I will!” I said half firmly and half fearfully. “Oh Celestia! He’s in the hospital and I’m not there for him and he’s not going to live as long as-” Celestia gently set a hoof on my shoulder. “Scootaloo, would you like me to teleport you to him?” “Please!” I begged. “The Emerald hive, correct?” Celestia asked, closing her eyes. “Yes,” I confirmed. “There he is. I can feel his energy now. Goodbye Scootaloo,” Celestia said, the air where a horn would be on a unicorn flashing gold. A heartbeat later I was standing on the shining steel floor of the Emerald Hive, in the circular room filled with beds and blinking lights had basically been my home for the last few days. I knew every last inch of it, Lily was behind me and to my left. “That’s it. Trixie is all done!” Trixie’s voice said as I turned around. “Good, that one stung a bit I think the painkillers are about to- Scoots!” Lily exclaimed, happily standing up as he noticed me. The nurse yelped. “Argh! Why won't they let me ward this place!?” I zipped over, hopping up onto the bed and pulling him into a tight hug. “I love you so much! I’m sorry I had to go I wish I had been here to see you wake up!” I blurted rapidly, pulling him tightly against my barrel. Trixie cleared her throat. “Uh… Trixie thinks that she and T’ilk should give these two space.” “Yeah… I think I’ll go get lunch,” the changeling nurse agreed. “Yes! Lunch. Let's go get something nice to eat! We need to celebrate you being better,” I insisted. “That sounds like a great idea.. Can you loosen your grip please?” He wheezed. Blushing deeply, I gently loosened my grip. “Sorry hon. I love you…” “I love you too,” he replied, giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek. Celestia was right. This was too nice to let worrying about my lifespan spoil it. Instead, I decided to worry about how to get a table at the nicest restaurant in Ponyville on short notice… And how to get from here to there. Because that’s what was really important. Spending time with the person I loved.