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Behind the Night
“And off to Ponyville we go, then. We are sure to inspire the most splendid Nightmare Night ever!”
“You sure are, sister,” said Celestia. “Just remember what we talked about. Don’t go calling our subjects peasants, peons, or anything of the kind, and let them enjoy the festival. It’s important to them.”
“Certainly. You worry about nothing, Celestia.” With a flap of her wings Luna was atop her dark chariot. Around her bats appeared out of thin air, landing on her back and merging to form a long cape. With a nod to her guards, and a last wave to her sister, the fully vested Princess of the Night was off.
The silence upon the palace in the wake of Luna‘s egress was broken by a low cough.
“May I speak frankly, Princess?”
“Always, Kibitz.”
“Don’t you think it’s too soon to let Princess Luna mingle with the people unsupervised?” Kibitz turned to Celestia, eyelids flat in his usual unamused expression. “I fear she doesn't fully grasp the… finer changes during her absence yet.”
“Nonsense. This can’t be harder than the —” Celestia shot a mischievous glance at him “— practical ‘advanced scheduling’ lesson you put her through.”
“Perhaps. But I was on hoof to deal with any problems, and anything larger would have drawn you out of your hiding place.”
Annoyed confusion settled on Celestia's face. “How did you find where —”
“I didn't. Anything I couldn't deal with would involve widespread panic, at least; hard to ignore that. But let’s not change the subject, why send Princess Luna alone? You could enjoy the festivities together.”
“Something just crossed my mind,” said Celestia, chin in hoof. “Could you report on San Prancesco's Street Faire from three years ago?”
“Certainly.” Kibitz started to turn. “I will be back from the archives shortly.”
“No need. I trust your memory.”
“Well, the ponies of San Prancesco worked fast that day. They created the most impressive display in your honor less than hour after your unannounced arrival...” his eyes went wide. “Oh.”
“Yes. I can’t go, least I turn the festival into a parade in my, or our, honor.”
“Still,” said Kibitz, customary flat expression back, “why a backwater town where she is cut from our help? Why not someplace closer, perhaps even Canterlot?”
Celestia's expression softened. “It’s better for her. For all she tries to hide, my sister still thinks she lies in my shadow. Ponyville is far off enough that she won’t feel like I’m watching over her withers; just over the horizon, as ponies used to say. And she has friends there, even if she doesn't realize that yet. Where better to mingle and have fun than the place where the ponies that embody Kindness and Laughter live?”
Kibitz’s eyebrow shot up with a sudden realization. “I wonder if Ponyville being the only town to see Princess Luna at her weakest, when she looked more like a common pony than a princess, influenced your decision. They know she’s not untouchable.”
“There is that, too,” said Celestia with a chuckle.
“Yet I still fail to see why such insistence in having your sister mingle with common ponies, to the exclusion of her royal image even. If not for your dedication to prepare her for the hardships of leading I might think you didn't want your sister ruling together with you.”
“It should be a choice,” murmured Celestia.
“Pardon?”
“We never chose to rule. Equestria needed us, and we stepped up to the task. Even if I wanted to step down now, I couldn't; not when my — our — ascension is still seen as the most important event in history. But with Luna gone for a thousand years, away for so long that most ponies forgot Equestria was even a diarchy in the first place…”
“I see.” A wrinkle in his brow colored Kibitz’s otherwise kind semblant. “I still worry about Princess Luna. Advanced scheduling is easy next to the task you set her to.”
“I’m certain my sister will be up to the task.” Celestia stifled a yawn and looked around, picking a tea tray with her magic. “Now, if you excuse me, I must retire for the night.”
Kibitz stood there, a whiff of Assam tea playing in his nostrils, as the Princess climbed the stairs to her study. The same one where she wrote to her faithful student. Silently, he wished a good night to the princess, though he knew she wouldn't be seeing sleep so soon.
“You sure are, sister,” said Celestia. “Just remember what we talked about. Don’t go calling our subjects peasants, peons, or anything of the kind, and let them enjoy the festival. It’s important to them.”
“Certainly. You worry about nothing, Celestia.” With a flap of her wings Luna was atop her dark chariot. Around her bats appeared out of thin air, landing on her back and merging to form a long cape. With a nod to her guards, and a last wave to her sister, the fully vested Princess of the Night was off.
The silence upon the palace in the wake of Luna‘s egress was broken by a low cough.
“May I speak frankly, Princess?”
“Always, Kibitz.”
“Don’t you think it’s too soon to let Princess Luna mingle with the people unsupervised?” Kibitz turned to Celestia, eyelids flat in his usual unamused expression. “I fear she doesn't fully grasp the… finer changes during her absence yet.”
“Nonsense. This can’t be harder than the —” Celestia shot a mischievous glance at him “— practical ‘advanced scheduling’ lesson you put her through.”
“Perhaps. But I was on hoof to deal with any problems, and anything larger would have drawn you out of your hiding place.”
Annoyed confusion settled on Celestia's face. “How did you find where —”
“I didn't. Anything I couldn't deal with would involve widespread panic, at least; hard to ignore that. But let’s not change the subject, why send Princess Luna alone? You could enjoy the festivities together.”
“Something just crossed my mind,” said Celestia, chin in hoof. “Could you report on San Prancesco's Street Faire from three years ago?”
“Certainly.” Kibitz started to turn. “I will be back from the archives shortly.”
“No need. I trust your memory.”
“Well, the ponies of San Prancesco worked fast that day. They created the most impressive display in your honor less than hour after your unannounced arrival...” his eyes went wide. “Oh.”
“Yes. I can’t go, least I turn the festival into a parade in my, or our, honor.”
“Still,” said Kibitz, customary flat expression back, “why a backwater town where she is cut from our help? Why not someplace closer, perhaps even Canterlot?”
Celestia's expression softened. “It’s better for her. For all she tries to hide, my sister still thinks she lies in my shadow. Ponyville is far off enough that she won’t feel like I’m watching over her withers; just over the horizon, as ponies used to say. And she has friends there, even if she doesn't realize that yet. Where better to mingle and have fun than the place where the ponies that embody Kindness and Laughter live?”
Kibitz’s eyebrow shot up with a sudden realization. “I wonder if Ponyville being the only town to see Princess Luna at her weakest, when she looked more like a common pony than a princess, influenced your decision. They know she’s not untouchable.”
“There is that, too,” said Celestia with a chuckle.
“Yet I still fail to see why such insistence in having your sister mingle with common ponies, to the exclusion of her royal image even. If not for your dedication to prepare her for the hardships of leading I might think you didn't want your sister ruling together with you.”
“It should be a choice,” murmured Celestia.
“Pardon?”
“We never chose to rule. Equestria needed us, and we stepped up to the task. Even if I wanted to step down now, I couldn't; not when my — our — ascension is still seen as the most important event in history. But with Luna gone for a thousand years, away for so long that most ponies forgot Equestria was even a diarchy in the first place…”
“I see.” A wrinkle in his brow colored Kibitz’s otherwise kind semblant. “I still worry about Princess Luna. Advanced scheduling is easy next to the task you set her to.”
“I’m certain my sister will be up to the task.” Celestia stifled a yawn and looked around, picking a tea tray with her magic. “Now, if you excuse me, I must retire for the night.”
Kibitz stood there, a whiff of Assam tea playing in his nostrils, as the Princess climbed the stairs to her study. The same one where she wrote to her faithful student. Silently, he wished a good night to the princess, though he knew she wouldn't be seeing sleep so soon.