A visitor
After a long day of court I spent what little free time was left relaxing in my chambers. Delegates had been dealt with, and the audiences with my subjects were finally sorted out. Now the Empress of Cauchemar deserved some time for herself, or so I thought.
The sudden flash in my room ruined that very notion. After blinking the blinding white spots out of my vision, I stared at the dark blue alicorn now standing near my desk, smiling at me.
The very next moment I hastily shrugged the stallion that was also in my room, off my back, and flung him at the window with my magic. A mix between annoyance and embarrassment crossed my face.
Luna barely raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly. “Daughter, Did you just attempt to throw a stallion out of your window?”
I flicked my ears back against my mane and replied with an innocent grin. “Of course not mother, what are you talking about?”
“He’s laying right there sweetheart, your shutters were closed.” Mom replied with a deadpan stare before sitting down.
Damnation, had I closed them earlier? Slowly turning my head revealed Lieutenant Weave laying on the ground, dazed and with his speckled prize on full display, just to make it more awkward.
“Tis a fine specimen.” Mother mumbled.
“Verily.” I agreed, momentarily distracted by the situation.
The stallion Lieutenant Dusk Weave gathered his wits, got to his hooves, smoothly gathered his armor and bowed before me. “Your Majesty.”
His gaze flicked towards mother before bowing again. “Your Highness.” He said before he calmly trotted out of my chambers as if nothing happened.
I should really make it up to him later, I thought. He was a good stallion and a loyal soldier. Especially since I tried to toss him out of my tower on reflex. I turned slowly, And gave mom a glare that could freeze lesser beings solid, yet she could barely hide her snicker.
“What the hay mom!?” I sputtered in renewed anger.
Mother smiled awkwardly. “Well you said you would drop by Canterlot with Eclipse remember? It has been two years since then, so I decided to see what kept you dear.”
Okay that stung a bit, I had indeed promised that. Nevertheless! “So you just appear in my room, startle me half to death, and ruin one of my rare moments of alone time?”
More awkward glances at each other didn’t help the situation. “I did not expect you to be… Entertaining, a suitor at this time of day, maybe I should have knocked?” She asked sheepishly.
I rolled my eyes and simply pushed past her on my way into the bathroom to clean up.
“So how is Eclipse doing?” mom asked, while the two of us trotted down the spiral staircase of my tower towards the living room. I decided to ignore the fact that mother tried to change the subject in the hope of mollifying me.
“She’s doing well, picked up some nice etiquette lately, like not barging into rooms.” Sadly I was the type to hold a grudge.
“Sweetheart,” she pleaded while nuzzling my cheek. “I did say I was sorry. I just longed to see my daughter and grandfoal.”
I huffed, and nuzzled back. The not so angry part of my brain could see the logic in that. “Yes well, it’s still embarrassing, mom.”
She nodded and kissed the tip of my ear. “I know and I will make it up to you later. But first let’s see what my grandfoal is up to.”
Eclipse as it turned out, was amusing herself in the gardens along with her pair of bodyguards. The two were more her playmates than protectors these days.
That was fine though, seeing as Eclipse was happy with their presence, and needed ponies her own age to hang around with. Especially since I was often occupied or away from home. They had not noticed us yet, so we settled down to look at the three of them for a moment, curious how they acted when not aware of my presence.
Naturally it didn’t take long before Moonchaser noticed me and hastily stood to attention, she had always been the perceptive one. I smiled at her and made my way to them, with mother not far behind me.
“Hello you three, I trust the afternoon treats you well?”
They nodded, smiling as Eclipse rose to her hooves and made her way to me. She wrapped her forelegs around my neck for a brief moment. “Hello mom, I see grandmother is here.”
I hugged her back before she hopped over to Luna, giving her the same treatment. “Yes dear she arrived not so long ago.”
“Exactly so.” Luna replied, trying her hardest not to break out in laughter. That earned her a scathing glare from me.
Eclipse missed that little exchange, chipper as ever. “What a pleasant surprise grammy, are you staying for dinner?”
Luna thought for a moment then nodded while looking at me. “If your mother does not object then I shall indeed do so dearest.”
Well I could hardly refuse my own mother a place at my table now, could I? So I simply nodded in return. “Don’t be silly mother, of course you can dine with us.”
With a cheer, Eclipse danced around us and returned to her friends. The two of which finally relaxed a little when it was clear this was just an informal visit.
At times I wondered what kind of empress my daughter would become, she was so vastly different from me. I admit that there were even days I feared she would not be strong enough to bear the weight of the crown. Yet those days were far off, and until then she could enjoy her days of carefree leisure. It brought joy to my dark heart to see my filly happy and well.
Snapping out of my thoughts I saw mother trot to Eclipse and perked my ears.
“Hello grandmother!” Eclipse exclaimed while a smile formed on mother’s muzzle, something that was beautiful to behold. She had so much love for her family, even if ponies like me strayed from the light now and then.
Mother wrapped a feathery wing around my daughter before nuzzling her cheek. “Hello little one, hast thou been well? Been a good filly?”
Eclipse nodded and returned the nuzzle before looking back at me. “Yep! Mom has been teaching me magic lately.” Heh of course that would be the first thing she would tell her grandmare.
“Has she now?” mother replied as she too, stared in my direction. Her stare was different to the look Eclipse gave me. “What kind of magic dear?”
I was so unsure of whom she asked that I was about to answer her before Eclipse cut in. “Telekinesis and elemental magics.” Luna relaxed with those words, what mom? Thought I would teach her dark magic this young? Preposterous.
Mollified by Eclipse’s answer I left the four of them in the garden, before making my way back into the castle, somewhat annoyed with my mother again. I swear you eradicate a few yak villages and everypony expects you to do horrible things all the time. For the record, those Yaks started it, sheesh.
It was then I remembered that I owed somepony an apology. So I decided to look for him in the halls of the palace, he would most likely be doing his rounds in the eastern wing at this time. As expected, I found him near the living quarters and smiled, it was time to simple be Nimbus Nebula, instead of his Empress.
“Dusk Weave.” I greeted while trotting up to the stallion, before nuzzling the side of his muzzle. “At ease~”
The stallion cautiously looked left, then right before he changed from my faithful guard into the more casual stallion I enjoyed spending my time with. “Hello Nim what can I do for you?”
I flattened my ears and kissed his lips tenderly. “I came to apologize for trying to throw you out of my room when my mother teleported in.” I truly meant it. I’m ruthless not heartless.
A chuckle escaped my stallion when he returned my kiss and moved to nuzzle my neck. “I understand why you had that reaction love. Don’t worry, I forgive you. Where did you leave Her Highness, by the way?”
I snorted and sat down. “In the gardens with Eclipse, when my filly told her I have been teaching her magic she assumed the worse and it annoyed me some.”
“Well to be honest you can be a little over the top at times my beautiful flower.” He replied. I withdrew from him and pouted.
“Even you betray me, my stallion?” I groused, but followed it up with a chuckle seeking his lips again. “But alas you do speak truth, yet I have a softer side and you know so Dusk.”
“You mean your lower belly?” he quipped, raising an eyebrow at me wearing that cocky grin on his face.
I sputtered and flared my wings, while feeling my cheeks heat up with embarrassment and poked him in the chest with my horn. “Hush you or you can sleep in the barracks tonight.
“Empty threats Nim, especially after that earlier interruption.”
Huffing I turned up my nose. “Hmpf bully, isn’t my position complicated enough without you being mean to me?
Grinning he brought his muzzle to chin and kissed me softly once more. “I love you though Nimbus, isn’t that worth putting up with me?”
It was, and I could never really get angry at him. He was always good to me and had my back when I needed him, so after making sure Lieutenant Weave knew what was waiting for him after the day was over, I returned to the gardens to see if my mother and daughter were done gossiping.
Apparently they were and together the three of us headed into the palace to find out what the royal chef had prepared for us tonight. I hoped that mother’s arrival had not caused his schedule too much trouble.
Later that night I sat in my observatory, when the sound of hoof steps alerted me to somepony’s presence. Turning my head revealed that it was simply Eclipse, who sought out my company.
As she sat next to me I wrapped a wing around my daughter’s withers. “Hello sweetheart, are you done with your studies?”
She nodded and looked up at me with a smile. “That I have mom, and now that grandmother left I thought it would be nice to come see you before bed.”
A slight pang of guilt found its way to my heart and I hugged her against me some more. “I know I’m often occupied with matters and can’t give you all the time you deserve dear.” It was a hard truth I could not escape from.
She shook her head however and nestled herself into my chest fluff. “I know that you are a busy mare mother, and I don’t doubt you spare all the time you can for me.”
Did I mention I have the best daughter on Equus?
Kissing between her ears I chuffed protectively and nodded. “I do, I love you so very much my little Eclipse. At times I just wish I had more time, I feel these moments with you and your grandmother are exceedingly rare.” The irony of that statement was not lost on me.
“But no less valuable mother.” She replied, and if I had foreseen the stress that the coming weeks would bring. I would have held onto her longer before sending my filly to bed that night.