In all her life, Starlight had never dreamed that she would meet royalty. The closest she’d ever come to a Princess was Twilight Sparkle herself...the lesser of the four. Despite questioning their methods for years, the unicorn couldn’t help but wonder what it'd be like to meet one of the two sisters that ruled over Equestria each day. However, Starlight was a mare of practicality. What were the chances of a pony like her meeting a monarch?
Yet, lo and behold, there she was.
The Princess of the Night herself slowly descended the Canterlot Castle steps, their gazes firmly locked on each other. Starlight’s daughters stood crowded around her, gawking at the alicorn. Starlight mentally prayed that the disguise spell she had cast on her daughter's held. Princess Luna strode forward with a silent glare before stopping short in front of them. Her eyes swept over the Glimmers, analyzing each one.
“So,” she said at last, her voice sharp as a blade, echoing through the halls. “This is the mare that started up all of this...commotion?”
“I am,” Starlight replied cooly. She stepped forward and gave a small bow. “My name is Starlight Glimmer.” She rose before gesturing to the company around her. “And these are my daughters.”
“You’re huge,” Pearl blurted out. Several eyes fell upon her, some burning with shock and annoyance. “I-I mean, you’re really tall! I’ve never seen a pony with wings and a horn up close before! Does it hurt? I bet it hurts, doesn’t it? How do you get your mane to float like th--”
Pearl was abruptly cut short by Sunshine's hoof in her mouth. “Ha ha...You’ll have to excuse her,” Sunshine chuckled with a strained grin. “She--we’ve never met royalty before.”
A light laugh escaped Luna.. “That’s quite alright.” She silently observed the cloaks and saddlebags on their backs. “Can I get you anything? Any refreshments for the young ones?”
“There’s no need,” Starlight replied, walking past Luna to observe the great hall. “We had a very fine meal cooked up by one of your citizens...free of charge.”
Luna’s mouth twisted. “Yes...my citizens. They’re usually quite peaceful, the ponies of Canterlot. Tell, me, miss Glimmer…” Her expression was unreadable. “What did you say to upset them so?”
Starlight tilted her head to the side. “It’s not necessarily what I said, Princess. Even I know that sometimes, there are things...more powerful than tongue.” the guards present lurched forward with their spears upon Starlight opening her saddle bag, but Luna’s hoof stayed them. The face of a book cover peeked out from the bag. It was only half the cover, but that was all it took, for something flickered in Luna’s eyes.
All eyes trained on the now stiff alicorn. “...Guards,” she said, her voice a little less than steady. “Outside. Now.”
The ponies in armor looked at each other in surprise before bowing low. “O-Of course Princess,” one of them said as they backed out the entrance hall.
After each pony had been cleared out, Starlight turned to Moonlight. “You and your sisters wait here.” Her eyes shifted to Luna, the corners of her mouth turning upwards. “The Princess and I have some things to discuss!”
The throne room sparkled in the early morning light. Sun particles danced in the air, accompanied by the fragrance of Sungold flowers. Starlight’s hooves sank into the magenta carpet stretching across the room as she sauntered through, taking in the majestic sight of Celestia’s throne in all its splendor and glory. Now this is a mare that lets ponies KNOW who’s in charge, Starlight thought. I don’t know if I should be disgusted or impressed. Princess Luna sank into Celestia’s throne with a weary sigh. Her dark complexion was in stark contrast to the bright and colorful atmosphere that surrounded her. “I take it you’ve already shown the books to the public.”
Starlight smiled. “Yes, but the books themselves are nothing compared to the wonders my girls performed in the Square.”
Luna sat up, her eyes wide as dinner plates. “You...you showed your children how to use unicorn magic!? ‘Tis Sorcery!”
Starlight thrust a hoof towards Luna. “To you, maybe! Of course an all-powerful and all-knowing alicorn like yourself would want the power all to yourself! Leaving your subjects in the dark for all these years! Well, Princess Luna. Now your secrets are out for all to see, and you can’t stand it.”
Luna leaned back and pressed a hoof to her temple, closing her eyes. “What is it that you want, Starlight Glimmer? What is it that you hope to gain in all this? Fame? Fortune? Security?”
Starlight grinned and shook her head slowly. “No...I don’t want something as petty as money. No, I want something much better than that.” She lifted her head. “What I want, Princess Luna, is to bring this to court.”
Wind blew in Starlight’s face as Luna suddenly appeared in front of her, her giant wings flared out at her sides. “You wouldn’t dare,” Luna growled.
“Oh, yes, I would,” Starlight whispered, her grin unwavering. She leaned forward, her snout almost brushing against Luna’s. “I already took the rest of the copies to the Monarchy, and they’d like to have more than a few words with you.
“Go ahead, stop me if you wish. Take the books from the judges, throw me in the deepest, darkest dungeon you could ever dream of. But you cannot take away what your ponies have seen, nor erase my ideals from their heads. Doing so will completely destroy the image you’ve worked so hard to gain.”
Luna glared at her with searching eyes. “What have we done to bring out such hostility?”
“You failed to tell your subjects the truth.”
“And that upsets you so?”
“What upsets the ponies upsets me--”
The ice cold stare was enough to silence Starlight mid-sentence. “How dare you,” Luna said, her voice barely above a whisper. Eyes narrowed, her wings slowly returned to her body. “Very well, miss Glimmer. I won’t try bribing you, or overtake you. If I had it my way, I’d make this go away quietly. Destroy the books, make you rot in the cells of Tartarus for the rest of your life. With the slight exception of your daughters, I doubt anypony would miss you.” Starlight swallowed weakly.
“But I am not the mare I once was. Such things are beneath me now. This is a mistake I have taken part in, and I intend to face it like a mare. I am no coward. Go ahead. bring this to trial, but let me make this perfectly clear…”
She stepped back and drew herself up to full height, casting a shadow over Starlight. “What we chose to keep secret was for the safety of all ponies. We did it out of love, not spite. We are most beloved by our subjects, and that will never change...no matter what you choose to reveal.”
Starlight looked up and frowned at the window panes. “We’ll see,” she murmured.
Moonlight jumped at the sound of a slamming door. “Guess what I found out!” The eldest Glimmer turned on her side to see Sapphire giddily bouncing down the aisle between the two rows of beds.
The other girls roused at the sudden wake up call, save one. “Five more minutes,” Prism snorted, snuggling into her pillow. As the table lanterns flickered on, Moonlight leapt from her bed, nearly tackling Sapphire in the process.
“You left? Without telling us? Do you realize you could have gotten lost?”
Sapphire grunted in slight annoyance and pushed Moonlight off. “I only stepped out for a minute! I couldn’t sleep, so I took a small stroll down the hallway...and then I overheard something behind one of the doors. Kind of...scandalous if you ask me.”
Moonlight was immediately bumped out of the way as Pearl, Buttercup and Sunshine crowded around Sapphire. “Hey!”
“What is it! What is it!” Pearl pressed, almost bouncing on the tip of her hooves. Sunshine pressed a hoof on her sister’s back to keep her still.
“On one condition. You can’t tell mother I snuck out,” Sapphire said pointedly.
Buttercup nodded quickly. “Tell, tell!” she urged softly. “What did you find out?”
Sapphire looked around before beckoning everypony closer. “Now that mother presented the books to the Monarchy, they had to bring in the Sun Princess back from her trip early! So I heard her talking to the Moon Princess--”
“Wait wait wait, back up. Celestia is here?” Sunshine asked, stunned. “Here as in in this castle...right down the hall?”
“That’s what I said, now hush! Anyway, I heard them talking behind the door, and I heard them arguing with each other! The Moon Princess sounded really mad. ‘I knew this would come back to haunt us!’, she said. ‘We should have destroyed those books while we had the chance!’”
The others stared at her, wide-eyed. “And...what did the Sun Princess say back?” Pearl asked.
“She said, ‘We cannot falter now, sister. The only thing we can do is plead our case and hope they understand what we were trying to do.’
“‘We can’t hope that,’ the Moon Princess said. ‘The Monarchy is but foals to our eyes. How can they begin to understand what it was like centuries ago? First the Elements, now this?’”
The girls were deeply enthralled. “And then?” Buttercup asked.
Sapphire sighed regretfully and shook her head. “I didn’t get to hear the rest. A guard came by, so I had to leave.”
Moonlight rubbed her chin in deep thought. “Hm. I wonder what she meant by ‘Elements’...”
“Well I’m just glad that they’ll be revealed for what they truly are,” Sunshine said with a firm nod. Buttercup ruffled and flapped her good wing and tucked it back before pawing at the carpet. “I don’t know...I mean, the Sun Princess seems nice.”
“Seems, Buttercup,” Moonlight pointed out. “The Su--Princess Celestia is all about keeping up appearances. We need to be smart about this. We have to be on our guard at all times.”
Buttercup let her eyes fall to her hooves, and let out a small breath. “It was nice of them to give us this room to sleep in,” she said casually, changing the subject.
Pearl was suddenly jumping from one bed to another, giggling. “These beds are perfect for bouncing!”
“Nothing but the best for the ponies bringing both Princesses to trial,” Moonlight commented dryly, watching her sister sail across the room.
“At least they have good hospitality,” Sunshine said, looking around. “I wonder why she isn’t back yet.”
“Mother said she had to take care of a few things before we went to sleep. I thought she would've been back by now.”
Sapphire looked up and squinted at the clock on the wall before gasping. “It’s two-thirty in the morning!” She rushed over to the bed Pearl was currently bouncing on. “Ponies are still asleep!” she hissed.
“These mattresses are softer than a foal’s rump on a spring afternoon!” Pearl whisper-shouted. “Nopony’s gonna hear a little bed-bouncing!”
“That didn’t make any sense,” Sunshine deadpanned.
Pearl leapt horizontally onto another bed, causing the lump under the covers to shout.
“Ow! Pearl!”
“Oops! Sorry, I forgot you were under there!”
Prism sprang out from the bed sheets and lunged forward. “C’mere you--!”
“Eeek!”
Pearl launched herself onto another bed as Prism started to give chase.
“Pearl! Prism! Stop that!” Moonlight shouted, trotting after them. Prism tackled Pearl, sending the pink pony flat on her back, squirming. “Let me go!” she squealed. “HELP!”
Buttercup glanced towards the door nervously. “Um..girls…”
“I’m not letting go ‘till you say Uncle!” Prism sneered.
Pearl struggled in earnest, but laughed uncontrollably. “Never!” Without warning, she took a deep breath and blew ice-cold air in Prism’s face, making the pegasus stagger back.
“Yow!”
Pearl sat up and blew more air; ice and snow circled around her, transforming into a protective bubble. “Ha! Let’s see you get through this!”
Prism simply smirked. She inhaled deeply and blew out tongues of fire, melting the ice bubble Pearl had made. Sunshine slapped a hoof to her face while Sapphire stared blankly at her sisters. “Girls,” Buttercup repeated with growing insistence. “I really think we should--”
“Knock it OFF!” Moonlight yelled, shoving herself in the middle and using her hooves to keep them apart. “Ponies are trying to SLEEP!”
“We’re being awfully loud…”
“Why are you yelling at me? Pearl’s the one that used magic on me!”
“Prism attacked me!”
“You JUMPED ON ME!”
“Somepony’s gonna hear us…”
“I SAID I was SORRY!”
“What’s going on in here!?”
Everypony’s head whirled around to see Starlight glaring at them in the doorway. “Why aren’t you all in bed?”
Everypony immediately scrambled to their respective beds, some mumbling fervent apologies as they threw the covers over themselves. Starlight shook her head, closing the door behind her. “Don’t you know how loud you were? I could hear you from all the way across the hall!”
Buttercup poked her head out from her blanket. “That’s what I’ve been trying to--”
“Not now, Buttercup. Honestly, I expected better from a group of young ladies! I know you are still growing up, but for goodness sake! Are you eighteen, or are you ten?” Her daughters blushed deeply.
“We’re sorry mom,” Prism mumbled. “We..we were just…”
“Excited for the Trial?” Pearl suggested with a nervous grin.
Starlight paused before sighing with a smile. “Well. I can’t expect you not to be.” She dimmed down the lanterns with her magic. It’s a shame they don’t use fireflies anymore, she thought. “Tomorrow will determine the fate of many. Including or own. That’s why I need you girls to get some sleep tonight. The Trial starts bright and early.”
“I can’t believe we’ve come this far,” Moonlight said, stifling a yawn. “And so soon.”
Starlight moved over to Moonlight’s bed and tucked her in further. “Hard work always pays off, my starlings.” She leaned in, kissing Moonlight on the cheek. She looked up to see Pearl and Prism already snoring up a storm. She chuckled.
“...Mother?”
Starlight turned to Buttercup, who fidgeted underneath the sheets. “What if…” She frowned worriedly. “What if the court rules in the Royal sisters’ favor? What do you think the Princesses will do to us?”
Starlight walked over to the little pegasus’ bedside and caressed Buttercup’s cheek. “Don’t you worry your little head about that,” she said tenderly. “The ponies of Canterlot are on our side, and so will the judges once they see my secret weapon.”
Buttercup’s brow furrowed. “Secret weapon? I didn’t know we had a secret weapon. What is it?”
Starlight shook her head slightly and winked. “You’ll see.” She gently stroked Buttercup’s powder pink hair, making her large teal eyes roll up in fatigue. “I’d never let anypony hurt you,” Starlight whispered with a soft firmness. “You’re my children.” Starlight’s eyes wandered into space. “Nopony’s going to take you away from me.”
“I love you, mom,” Buttercup yawned, drifting off to sleep.
Starlight sat there for a long moment. “I love you too…” Fluttershy.
“I can’t believe we almost overslept!” Moonlight near growled as they rushed through the Canterlot Castle halls.
“Now, now, Moonlight,” Starlight panted, slowing herself so that her daughters could keep up. “The important thing is that we arrive on time.”
“We have Pearl and Prism to thank for keeping us up last night,” Sunshine grumbled.
“It was Pearl’s fault,” Prism sniffled. “An’ her stupid ice blast gave me a cold!”
Pearl stuck her tongue out. “In my defense, we were already asleep when Sa--mmmph!” A blue aura concealed her muzzle, silencing her.
“So help me…” Sapphire hissed from behind her. They finally reached the double doors leading to the Canterlot Court room. Dozens of highly ranked ponies had gathered. Most were lingering in the large hall conversing, while others strolled into the court room.
The girls followed Starlight as she went to talk with one of the guards stationed at the double doors. “Starlight Glimmer,” she stated with the toss of her mane. “I trust my evidence is tightly secured inside?” The guard looked her over and nodded. “The Princesses are already inside. Your legal team the council has appointed for you is stationed at the Prosecution desk.”
“Excellent!” Starlight said brightly. “Are there enough chairs for my daughters?”
“I’m sorry, miss Glimmer, but your children will have to remain out here.”
“What? why ever not?” Starlight asked, shocked.
“And we’re not children,” Prism frowned. “We’re mares!”
The guard’s unamused gaze shifted to Prim. “Are you twenty-one or older?”
“W-Well...no,” Prism said relecutantly.
Pearl popped up in front of the guard’s face. “But we’ll be nineteen this Julyyyy~!” she sang, waggling her eyebrows.
The guard’s mouth formed into a line as he pushed her away. “Sorry. Ponies twenty and below are not permitted at court unless they are called upon as witnesses.”
“And the legal age of official mares and stallions is twenty-one,” the second guard said. “That law passed five years ago. Didn’t you know that already?”
“I guess not,” Starlight murmurued.
Pearl looked around at her sisters. “Sooo...does that mean we’re still kids?”
“I don’t care what their law says,” Prism grumbled. “I say we’re mares.”
Starlight gave an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry my starlings. But, I think I can take it from here. I will call for you when I absolutely need you.”
Suddenly, angry mutterings floated towards their ears. The Glimmers turned to see a tall, pink alicorn storming over with a unicorn stallion at her heels. The girls reeled at the sight of yet another alicorn. “Who’s she?” Sunshine asked.
Before anypony could answer, the alicorn brushed past the young ponies and stood face to face with Starlight. “You did this,” she said in a low, tremulous voice.
“All I did was expose the lies,” Starlight said calmy, unfazed. “You should be directing your anger towards your aunts...not me….Mi Amour Cadenza. Such a vain title.”
Princess Cadence drew in a sharp breath between clenched teeth. “This is treason.” Starlight leaned forward, her eyes alight with fire.
“The only treason here is the secrets the Princesses kept from all of us for their own benefit! If treason means trying to give everypony a happy and normal life, then you are more confused than I thought you were.”
Moonlight raised her eyebrows at yet another pink aliorn trotting over. But this one was smaller, perhaps around their age. She had a curly purple mane and tail with light blue streaks. Magenta-rimmed glasses rested on her snout. She eyed the Glimmers suspiciously as she stood beside the male unicorn, folding her large wings at her sides.
“The subjects are loyal to my aunts,” Cadence said. “They’d choose them anyday over a witch like you. Come on, Shining Armor.” With that, she lifted her head and went inside the court room.
“II’ll be right there,” Shining replied, crouching down to his daughter’s level. “It might be awhile. Where’s your Governess?”
“She took White Charger to the bathroom,” the young alicorn said.
Shining nodded. “When they get back, I want you to stay with them, alright? Keep your brother as entertained as possible. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes Dad,” she sighed as he planted a kiss on her brow. Shining Armor gave her a firm pat on the shoulder and trotted towards the courtroom.
On the way, he bumped into Moonlight, who gasped. “I-I’m sorry,” she squeaked.
Shining steadied her and smiled. “No worries, kid.” He ruffled her mane before disappearing behind the doors.
Starlight gave each daughter a hug before stepping back. “You will remain here,” she ordered. “Do not go anywhere else. Moonlight, I’m leaving you in charge. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, mother.”
Starlight glanced around, biting her lip. I wish I had somepony to watch them.
“Miss Glimmer,” the first guard warned. “Trial will commence in four minutes.”
Starlight nodded and flashed a confident smile. “Well...here we go!” Starlight finally went inside the court room, and the guards closed the doors behind her. The young Glimmers glanced at eachother and went over to the nearby wooden benches.
As some of them sat down, they spotted the young alicorn across the room sitting at a similar bench, glaring at them. “Wonder what’s her problem,” Prism whispered.
“Maybe she’s just lonely!” Pearl said, walking over. “I’m gonna say hi!” However, a purple aura gripped her tail and pulled her backward.
“You can’t just go over there!” Moonlight reprimanded. “She’s related to the enemy!”
“You know I can hear you guys, right?” the alicorn deadpanned, sliding off the bench. “Bet you have me all figured out by just looking at me...don't you?”
“You tell us,” Sapphire said, looking her up and down.
The alicorn trotted over to them, placing a hoof to her chest. “I’m Flurry Heart. Princess of the New Chrystal Empire, and daughter of Princess Cadence and Captain Shining Armor.”
Moonlight frowned. “You’re sure full of yourself.”
“I could say the same about your mom. If she thinks she can take on my great aunts, she’s clearly mistaken. They’ve ruled Equestria for thousands of years...they obviously know what’s best for their subjects.”
“Your great aunts wants to discriminate against everypony!” Sunshine fired back. “They let their 'lower' subjects struggle through society when they shouldn’t have to! We saw most ponies living on the streets on our journey here!”
Flurry shook her head. “You just don’t understand how everything works. How can you expect Great Aunt Celestia to go and help each and every citizen that’s out there! She's got enough on her plate as it is. That’s why they come to her for assistance when they really need it! That’s how it’s always been.”
Before Moonlight could retort, a little colt scampered in, leaping up and blasting the air with his horn. A yellow magical aura stopped the colt’s spell from hitting a nearby window.
“White Charger, stop that right now!” a mare yelled, lifting the giggling colt up with her magic. She had a bright red mane and tail with yellow streaks tied up in a loose ponytail. Rectangular glasses shielded her cerulean eyes, which narrowed at the colt before her. “What have I told you about using magic like that?”
The mare looked down at the group of girls and coked an eyebrow. “Oh? Who are your friends, Flurry?”
Casting a glare towards the Glimmers, she turned her back on them and trotted next to her Governess. “They aren’t my friends. They’re too delusional to be my friends.”
“That’s not nice, Furry,” the colt said, furrowing his brow.
“Flurry, Charger, Flurry,” his sister corrected him.
White Charger smiled as his Governess finally set him down on the floor. “I like Furry better.” He paused when his eyes fell on Buttercup’s grey colored cast. He tugged on his Governess’s tail. “Sunset, what’s wrong with that girl’s wing?”
“There’s nothing wrong with my wing,” Buttercup muttered.
Pearl suddenly touched her nose and brought her hoof back. Blood was stained on it. Huh. Must be the climate change. "Oookay!" she trilled, breaking the awkward silence. “So! Where’s the bathroom in this joint?”
“Further down that hall, eight doors down to the left, hon.” Sunset replied kindly.
“Thanks!”
Moonlight lifted a hoof. “Wait, Pearl, wa--!” But Pearl was already gone with the others following close behind her. Sputtering, she galloped after them. “WAIT! We were supposed to stay put!”
“With her in the room?” Prism called back over her shoulder. “I think not! Besides, it’s only for a few seconds!”
Moonlight muttered swears under her breath but followed them. As they turned a corner, she saw the last of Sapphire’s tail dissapear inside the filly’s room. “Alright. Fine! Just hurry up!” She leaned against the wall and huffed. “I swear, they never listen to--hey!”
Across the hall, Prism went inside an important looking office, leaving the door open. “Hey!” Moonlight ran in after her, her eyes bulging out of her head. “Are you out of your mind!? Get out!”
“Relax,” Prism whispered, circling around a large desk with books and parchments clustered on the surface. “I saw a tissue on the desk, and I need to blow my nose!”
Moonlight refrained herself from jumping on her sister and followed, avoiding a discarded compass on the floor. “There are tissues in the bathroom, for Pete’s sake!” Prism ignored her, grabbing a few tissues from it’s box. “I’ll jus' be a second,” she snuffed.
The little unicorn groaned, throwing her head back. “We’re gonna be in so much trouble.” Her eyes traveled along the blue wallpaper with silver stars on it, wondering who’s office it was.
Then her eye caught something on the bookshelves. Her head tilted to the side as she walked up to the shelf. She retracted her hoof when she reached for it, shaking her head. But after a moment’s pause, her curiosity got the better of her. Carefully, carefully, she pulled a book off of the shelf and took in the big, bold letters.
“The Elements of Harmony…The Tragedy that Changed Equestria.”