Princess Celestia and the Summer of Royal Waves Read online

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  For the two most magical fillies I know—Arabella and Beatrix

  Sunrise Over Canterlot

  The sunlight dappled across the castle floor in multicolored shards, softening the appearance of the checkered stones with warmth and energy. The gentle haze of daybreak had always been Princess Celestia’s favorite time. Not just because she was in charge of raising the sun. To her, the dawn was a peaceful and quiet promise of things to come—activities of the exciting day still lay ahead of all the ponies in the land. Today would be a beautiful sunrise.

  Celestia turned to the sun and focused her magic. She watched the progression of the golden orb climbing higher into the sky, turning her attention back to the pattern projected onto the floor every so often with the focused care of an artist creating a grand masterpiece. Even though this picture was one that the princess had painted the same way each morning for hundreds of moons, she gave it the same care every single day. It was her honor and duty.

  The pieces of stained glass set in the center of the main arched window depicted Equestria’s newest princess—an exceptionally talented young scholar named Princess Twilight Sparkle. The new royal and her five best pony friends and dragon assistant, whose images were immortalized in the glass as well, had protected Equestria from peril on more than one occasion. They now nobly sought to spread the true spirit of the Elements of Harmony and, in turn, the Magic of Friendship across its lands. Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Spike had come a long way since they’d all become friends. Celestia beamed with pride whenever the young heroes graced her thoughts or when their image in the window caught her attention.

  A prominent piece of purple glass in the window cast a glow in the shape of a star on the center tile of the floor, signaling that the morning process was almost complete. Celestia closed her almond-shaped eyes, and her dark lashes pressed down in stark contrast against her white cheekbones. She mustered every inch of strength in her body. She felt herself glistening with magical energy, from the bottom of her gilded hooves to the edges of her flowing mane of lavender, pale green, and periwinkle blue and bursting out to the very tip of her long, pearled horn. When Celestia opened her eyes again, the sun had reached the highest peak of its arc in the sky. The world was bright.

  “Gratias ad solis ortum,” the princess recited as she bowed deeply to the sun. “Thank you for allowing me to guide you, and thank you for another day of light.”

  “Beautifully done, sister.”

  “Thank you, Luna.” Celestia smirked without turning around. “I did think that sunrise was particularly smooth.”

  “’Twas, indeed.” Princess Luna stifled a yawn as she stepped forward to meet her elder sister. The contrast of the rich, velvety darkness of Luna’s blue hide next to Celestia’s pale, pearly complexion was stark. It mirrored the colors of the skies that they each watched over. Light and dark. Night and day.

  But the sisters were not so different. In addition to raising the sun and the moon, they both ruled over Equestria, protecting its inhabitants from harm.

  “You seem more exhausted than usual, Luna.” Celestia furrowed her brow in concern as her sister yawned again. “Was the night not tranquil?”

  “I must confess,” Luna offered with a deep exhale, “I am feeling the effects of a nighttime most threatened.” She pointed her hoof toward the eastern window of the throne room. “Peril on the coast.”

  “The coast? Tell me, sister,” Celestia urged. “What happened? Is there anything I need to attend to on this day?” Celestia tried to remain calm as she spoke her words. Perhaps it was because she’d had hundreds of moons of experience dealing with crises under her crown, or perhaps she knew that panicking was the quickest way to derail a solution. Deep breaths and a steady voice were the key. Always maintain a calm composure, and those around would follow suit.

  Princess Luna shook her head. Her dark, flowing mane billowed around the sides of her face. “It was just a manticore disturbance on the coastline,” Luna explained, lifting her hoof toward the east. “Once my presence was known, I was able to reason with them. Until the Carcinus showed up…He came out of nowhere.” She raised her brow in mild exasperation. Luna was tough, so this minor display signaled that the disaster was worse than it had been recounted.

  Celestia stiffened. “Carcinus again?” she said with a frown, picturing the beast in her mind. The giant crab species were the size of small buildings and could be quite temperamental. But they were also gentle and understanding. A pony just had to know how to talk to them, to use kindness. “There have been far too many disturbances for my liking as of late. Perhaps I should not go to Monacolt after all. I’ll just head to Horseshoe Bay and—”

  “Sister, no.” Luna stepped in to block Celestia’s path to the door. Her face grew stern. “You must keep your promise to Duchess Diamond Waves. You’re the only pony who can help her, correct?”

  “She seems to believe that the students at her magic school need my help.” Celestia bit her lip and reconsidered. It was a struggle for her to relinquish responsibility of Equestria by leaving the capital, but even more of a struggle to let down an old friend in her hour of need. Celestia nodded. “You’re right. I must go to her. With any luck, I’ll have the students of Monacolt back on track within a few risings of the sun.”

  Celestia glided toward the balcony again, and Luna soon stood beside her. Both princesses watched over the stirrings of the waking city below in silent reverence. The Canterlot ponies were just beginning to fill the cobblestone paths.

  A pair of royal guards in their golden armor trotted toward the castle, their blue-feathered helmet plumes bobbing up and down as they stepped in time. Across the main plaza, a milk pony was making his morning rounds and placing glass bottles of fresh cream in front of each café and residence. On the other side, a group of rambunctious colts and fillies trotted together, giggling and teasing one another. Celestia smiled to herself as she watched them surreptitiously. Her young unicorn students were vivacious—bright as the sun and bursting with talent. What could be so different about the students at Diamond Waves’s academy? Celestia wondered. Whatever the reason for their struggle, Princess Celestia was about to find out. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t intrigued by the adventure.

  The Princesses of Equestria

  Princess Luna raised an eyebrow at Celestia. “Are you really asking me that again?” The blue mare trotted around her sister in a circle, wondering if her sibling would ever learn to trust her. Celestia hardly ever let anypony know when she was worried, but Luna always could tell. And right now, Celestia’s golden neckplate jewelry was on slightly crooked. Otherwise, Celestia was the picture of perfection.

  “I know I need to start my journey, for it is long, but I just want to be absolutely sure,” Celestia replied from the seat of the carriage. A soft pink glow came from her horn. She lifted a saddlebag bearing a picture of her golden sun cutie mark onto the seat next to her. “You’re positive you can handle Canterlot on your own? Even with the situation at Horseshoe Bay?”

  “I wish you would have more faith in me, Celie.”
>
  “I do, it’s just that—”

  Luna’s face grew serious. “All right, you caught me. I’m planning to transform to Nightmare Moon mode as soon as you leave the border!” It was her favorite way to fuss with Celestia. After Luna had acted up and been banished to the moon, her sister was very touchy about the subject. But the two sisters were past that now. Celestia rolled her eyes, and Luna’s face broke into a devious smirk. “Just teasing you, sister. I know that you worry about me watching over the day, so I’ve brought in somepony who is very competent to help out at your school and to look over Canterlot while I rest.”

  “Surprise!” a purple Alicorn with a pink star-shaped cutie mark trotted up to meet them. “Princess Luna said you needed a little bit of assistance.”

  “Twilight Sparkle!” Celestia exclaimed, embracing the pony. “What a pleasure it is to see you again, my faithful student. I hope you’re not too put out by this request.”

  “Not at all, Princess,” Twilight replied with a grin. “I can think of nothing more exhilarating than watching over your class for a few days.” Twilight revealed a gigantic jalopy full of books. “In fact, I’ve even brought some special reading material that I know your students will be delighted with! I can’t wait to discuss Wing Theory with them. Have you guys covered metamorphosis spells yet? Maybe I’ll start with the good old apple-to-orange experiment.” Twilight laughed and added, “I’ll make sure all the class frogs are out of the room for that one.” She winked. Twilight had once accidentally transformed a poor frog into an orange by mistake.

  “Thank you,” Celestia smirked. “Whatever lessons you decide to work on, I know my colts and fillies are in good hooves now. But, Twilight?”

  “Yes, Princess?” Twilight perked up, eyes wide and purple wings outspread. She looked electric with excitement about her impending stint in academia.

  “Please make sure they have a little fun as well, okay? It’s almost the summer break, for Star Swirl’s sake.” Celestia nudged the young Alicorn with her hoof. “You have a good time, too.”

  Luna giggled. Twilight crinkled her eyes in confusion. “What’s not fun about speed-reading through the entire Encyclopedia Equestria and then quizzing each other on it?”

  Celestia laughed, patting her faithful student on her purple mane. “You be sure to let me know when you figure it out, Twilight.”

  “Oooh! With a letter update?” Twilight Sparkle brightened. “Just like I used to?”

  Celestia’s thoughts flashed to the mountain of letters about friendship from Twilight in that one closet of her bedroom quarters. “On second thought, only send me a letter if necessary—to update me on the kingdom news. You and Princess Luna together, okay?” That seemed to be a good compromise and a perfect way to set Celestia’s mind at ease.

  “That’s it?” Twilight’s face contorted. “But what if I learn about—”

  “We’ll do just as you ask, sister,” Luna interrupted, bowing her head. She winked at her sister. Twilight was obviously still learning to rein it in. “No more. No less. We promise you that. Right, Princess Twilight?”

  “Of course.” Twilight sighed, fighting her addiction to friendship letters. The princesses smiled and waved their hooves at Celestia. “Have a wonderful trip!”

  “I shall try.” Celestia nodded solemnly. She thought of her friend’s desperate plea and couldn’t help but imagine it wasn’t going to be much of a lighthearted vacation. Celestia trotted off down the corridor to pack her saddlebags, reassuring herself with the fact that the kingdom would be just fine in her absence. She only looked back over her shoulder at Twilight and Luna twice to make sure that nothing had gone awry yet.

  A Princess Abroad

  A few hours and a thousand miles later, Princess Celestia was beginning to feel a twinge of anticipation about the impromptu visit, despite the worried tone of her friend’s letter. Teaching another group of Unicorn students wasn’t going to be difficult. Compared to what Celestia had to contend with in the past few moons, it would be downright simple. Celestia dealt with threatening foes in addition to running her own magical academy. At least the return of Princess Luna from the moon and the rise of Twilight Sparkle and her friends had eased some of the pressure of events such as Discord’s attempt to seize the kingdom, a full-fledged changeling attack, and the near rescue of the Crystal Empire from evil King Sombra’s curse. This was probably all just an elaborate ploy by Duchess Diamond Waves to get her friend to visit. Yes, Celestia decided, she had plenty of relaxation and catching up over tea awaiting her in the faraway land.

  “We’re almost there!” Princess Celestia shouted ahead to her royal guard companions. They flapped their wings and bore to the right to ready for descent.

  Princess Celestia took a satisfying breath and peered down onto the landscape below. For the past hour, they’d been flying over green countryside filled with rolling hills, punctuated by quaint little villages. But the true jewel of the territories surrounding Prance was the coastal state of Monacolt. And it was growing nearer with each passing minute. Celestia inhaled the familiar sweet scent of pastries from the decadent bakeries mixed with fresh salt air of the ocean and felt happy.

  When it came into view, Celestia gasped in reverence. Monacolt was the epitome of glamour, recognizable by its lavish structures trimmed in gold details and docks filled with hundreds of boats of all sizes. Celestia always loved how they swayed in the water, their tall masts waving as if they were saying hello just to her. As the carriage began its descent through the clouds, Celestia began to rack her brain for why she hadn’t visited Duchess Diamond Waves sooner. She loved this gorgeous city by the sea. Last time Celestia had visited, she remembered standing on the beach at the little inlet known as Unicorn Cove, watching the waves crash up against the sandy cliffs. The blue droplets glittered in her warm sun, splashing upon her muzzle and mane. The water looked calmer today.

  “Would you like us to land on the beach again, Highness?” one of the Pegasus royal guards called back to her. His blue mane rustled in the wind, hitting the sides of his golden helmet.

  “Just in front of the school, please,” Princess Celestia directed her guards as she brought her attention back to the reason she’d traveled to Monacolt in the first place. “I’m already late. Lessons ought to have begun for the day, and the duchess will be expecting me. She gets very upset when things don’t run on schedule.” Celestia watched Unicorn Cove disappear behind them, and a sad feeling hung low in the bottom of her stomach. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll stop by,” she added as a promise to herself.

  “As you wish.” The Royal Guard ponies soared through the city and finally touched their hooves down onto the ground. Though normally stoic, the stallions couldn’t help but suppress a smirk at their beautiful surroundings. Glimmering Shield, the lead pony, nudged his partner Golden Flight, pointing his hoof at a row of brightly lit buildings across the plaza. The oscillating blue and orange lightbulbs promised CARD GAMES & CIDER as well as APPLE TREATS & AMAZING FEATS. The guards always argued over which ponies got to accompany Celestia on trips abroad. Monacolt was, in particular, a destination they all wished to visit. These two had hit the jackpot of assignments, and they knew it.

  “Gentlecolts?” Celestia raised her brow at the two mesmerized stallions.

  “Oh! Apologies, Highness!” The guards snapped to attention and cleared their throats, bowing low to their princess. “Please welcome her Grand Royal Highness to your beautiful land—preeeeesenting the princess Celestia of Canterlot! Protector of the sacred sun and all that its golden light touches for all of time and—”

  “That’s quite enough, Glimmering Shield.” Celestia laughed. As the carriage steps unfurled onto the glittering cobblestone street, Celestia grew anxious to disembark and stretch her wings. She had placed but one hoof on the ground before she heard a familiar voice.

  “Celie!” Duchess Diamond Waves, a tall, willowy Unicorn mare trotting out the main door of the school building, exclaimed with an inviting
smile upon her sweet lemon-colored face. Instead of a crown, she wore a golden band across her forehead. “Do my eyes deceive me? Is it really you? Or is it some changeling sent to trick me?!”

  Princess Celestia made a love-sucking vampire face just like Queen Chrysalis, using her magic to grow some fake fangs for added effect. The duchess gasped in mock horror. The two ponies laughed and embraced. It was like they had never been apart. True friends always picked up right where they left off. Princess Celestia put her hoof on Diamond Waves’s back. “It feels like it’s been a hundred moons!”

  “Only fourteen, but who’s counting?” the duchess teased. “Actually, I was.”

  “Far too long.” Princess Celestia shook her head. “But I’m here now, and I’m so glad to see you, my dear friend.”

  “And I, you. But…” Diamond’s face fell, and her voice began to quaver. “But it means so much more since… since I have nopony else in the world to turn to right now.” Duchess Diamond Waves looked to the ground, and her ocean of blue mane locks fell down in a cascading waterfall to the stones. They weren’t as shiny as Celestia remembered, and her tail wasn’t fashioned into its usual perfect waves of varying light blues. And was her cutie mark of a glittering blue seashell looking dull as well? Diamond Waves didn’t look like herself. She looked tired.

  “Are you all right, Diamond?” Celestia asked in the gentlest tone. “You seem so… different.”

  “So you noticed that my mane isn’t sparkling?” The duchess smoothed her mane and sighed heavily, the weight of stress visible on the Unicorn’s delicate shoulders. “It hasn’t for a while, actually. But let’s not talk about manes; let’s get to business—my school.”

  Celestia frowned in concern. “What is the matter?”

  The duchess shook her head robotically, getting lost in her thoughts. “None of my students are ready for what lies ahead.…”