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EPILOGUE1,268 words

EPILOGUE

Upon their thrones with Cadance standing between them, sat Luna and Celestia, the trio's gaze resting upon the sunset just beyond the open doors of the castle's throne room. Next to Luna's throne stood her secretary and two guards, who too looked out across the hall as they awaited the sun's departure. In the grand hall stood the usual number of stoic guards posted at their pillars, but only a keen eye would find anything new. Above them, hanging from brass chains, were a series of rolled banners, and from the corner of each banner, hung a brilliantly golden chord of silken rope, the rope being ended with an ornate knot and tassel. The other end of the banner was adorned with a similar feature, however, in their current state, that second rope was shorter, and out of reach without the use of magic.

Luna's hooves tapped excitedly at the cushion of her throne as the sun finally passed the mountains in the distance, and without her input, the guards stationed below the banners were cloaked by an all-encompassing aurora of blue magic. The aurora faded, leaving every guard, including every other guard within the castle, with the exact appearance of her two personal protectors. She laughed, hopping from her throne and trotting to the edge of the platform her and her sister's thrones were stood upon.

Cadance too smiled, watching Luna's expression light up brighter than she had ever seen it as the guards, in perfect unison, pulled at their ropes with their teeth, the banners above slowly scrolling to downward to reveal their deep blue fabric, and at their center, Luna's mark. Though, at the far end of the room, the group could see one guard tugging upon his rope with no avail.

"Your Highness, mine is stuck!" he called, his voice echoing through the hall.

Luna groaned. "Confounded machinery; this is not the first time it has given up conniptions!"

Celestia let out a throaty chuckle as she watched her sister trotting down the stairs of the platform on her way to repair the banner.

"It is your design, after all, sister."

Luna scoffed, looking over her shoulder. "We shalt hear none of it! It functioned perfectly in my tests!"

Again, Celestia laughed as Luna continued on.

"Auntie, you mean to tell me that Luna designed... whatever mechanism controls the banner's raising and lowering?" inquired Cadance, looking up to Celestia, who despite being seated, was still far taller than she.

"Of course. Luna is horribly intelligent. All of those puzzles on her desk are of her own design."

"Wait, really?"

Celestia nodded. "Indeed. That mind of hers has to do something to keep itself occupied," she explained, looking back out to Luna, who had removed the banner from its chains and was doing something with it on the floor.

Cadance stared at her Auntie's gentle smile, the look in her eyes only speaking love.

"I... had a great time with her while you were gone."

"Oh, she told me. It's been a full two days since I got back, and I still haven't heard the end of 'the niece you have gifted me with is more than I could dream of'."

Cadance blushed. "She enjoyed my company that much? I mean, I knew she had enjoyed it; she herself had said so..."

"You have no clue, Cadance. Thank you, by the way, for opening your heart to her. I know she can be difficult to understand sometimes, but you; for the most part, looked beyond that."

"What do you mean, 'for the most part'?"

Celestia laughed. "You suspected her of being an evil tyrant."

Cadance blushed again, hiding her face behind her curly mane. "She made it sound like she was planning something!"

"She was planning something! Just not what you expected. There's a lesson to learn here, Cadance; don't make assumptions about somepony without the whole picture."

"But... I had tons of evidence."

Celestia stuttered for a second. "Well, then you should only confront somepony about something you suspect them of once you're totally positive."

"Actually, she confronted me."

Celestia groaned. "Cadance, I'm trying to teach you a lesson!"

"I know! I know! I'm just saying... I already learned my lesson. Seeing her nearly cry drove your point home far before you made it."

"I'm surprised she wasn't more upset with you. Luna is the sweetest pony I've ever known, and it haunts her that she ever let herself fall so far. It haunts her more than the worst nightmares you or I could ever dream up."

Cadance's ears fell flat. "I know. I've never seen somepony look so... horrified before."

Celestia hummed. "It's in the past, now, and you didn't cause any harm. Don't dwell on it. Be glad you were able to make her so happy. Trust me; she doesn't show it all that often, but she enjoys the company of others probably more than you do."

Cadance looked back out into the hall as Luna's magic floated the banner back up to its chains, her words with the guard below unintelligible. She and Celestia watched as the guard tugged at the rope, this time, the banner properly extending. Luna's triumphant exclamation sang through the hall as she began back towards the throne platform.

"Sister, I shall be going to ensure the rest of the banners have functioned properly! Art thou... are you going to join me?"

Celestia rubbed her neck. "I... am a little worn out after today, and wanted to get some sleep."

"No matter! Cadance shall be there to accompany me!"

Celestia looked down to Cadance. "You're not going to bed soon?"

"Actually, Auntie, I'm adjusting my sleep schedule to be nocturnal."

Celestia rolled her eyes. "Great, now there's two of you!"

Luna laughed as she trotted past, collecting her secretary and guards as she continued on past the thrones, Cadance following closely. "Indeed! Fret not, sister, for I shall not keep her forever!"

Celestia looked past her throne as the group moved further into the castle proper, leaving Celestia totally alone. After a moment, the clap of hooves against marble came from a separate hall, bringing Celestia's head around to see Shining Armor approaching.

"I thought I heard Cadance..." he stated plainly, now stood in the archway of the hall he had come from.

"You did, my Captain. My sister stole her..."

Shining looked worried. "What do you mean?"

"Cadance has declared that she will now be nocturnal."

Shining's face went blank. "What?"

Celestia simply nodded.

Shining's brows bobbed as he smirked. "Now, she won't be tired when I have to work late. I can get behind this..."

Celestia let out a sound of disgust as she waved her hoof in his direction. "Oh, I don't want to hear about it! Keep it in the bedroom."

"We always do, your Highness."

With that, he bowed, trotting back down the hall he had originated from.

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