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RogerDodger
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Twilight Sparkle's Formality Frustrations
“I’m not ready. I’m not ready! I’ll never get it right in time! Oh, why did the Princess ever ask me to do this? Doesn’t she realize what is at stake? Surely some other pony could have gone! She could have gone! Why does it have to be me?! I’m going to get it wrong and then we’ll have another fifty years of nothing and it will be all my fault and everypony will look back and say ‘Oh, that Princess Sparkle, she seemed so promising, but then came the negotiations with the Lord-Prince of the Southern Ranges, and she mucked it all right up!”
“Calm yourself, darling,” replied Rarity in a soothing voice. “Sit right down and enjoy your tea. It can’t possibly be that bad, now can it? Oh, yes, I know that last time things went a teensy bit wrong, but surely that was just an overreaction! Why, I’m confident they will be quite reasonable when you meet them!”
“Reasonable? Reasonable?!” Twilight’s voice abandoned any attempt at calm, charging straight towards full-blown panic. “This is the first chance in two generations to open talks with the Southern Ranges! We haven’t heard a peep from them in fifty years, and now they reach out and Princess Celestia wants me to be the one to handle the greeting! Me!”
“Well, yes, dear. You did say you wanted to do more than smile and wave, did you not?”
“Yes! I did! But not if it means this much pressure! I have to make sure the greeting is perfect! I’ve read book after book, and they all say the herald said ‘Protector of the White Lake’ instead of ‘Protector of the White River’, and that HAD to be what offended them so!”
“So just say ‘Protector of the White River’, Twilight. Really, it’s hardly something to be so worked up over.”
Wordlessly, Twilight Sparkle slid over the scroll that bore Celestia’s request. Rarity took it up in her magic, and began reading. ‘Princess Sparkle...hope you will take the lead...Lord-Prince of the Southern Ranges...Shining Star of the Lost Llamas...Herald of Peace…” Slowly, Rarity let the paper flutter to the table beneath. “My. That is rather a lot of titles.”
“Thirty-Eight! There are thirty-eight separate titles there and I have to memorize each and every one, and do so perfectly, or I will be known as ‘Princess Twilight Sparkle the bringer of international catastrophes!’”
“Twilight, I say this as a pony who is an expert in the subject. I think you may be overreacting just a teensy bit. Now, again, sit down and enjoy your tea. A little relaxation will do wonders.”
This time, Twilight found herself settling upon the cushion across from Rarity. Though the force with which her magic seized the teacup was enough to slosh the contents about, when the sweetened tea flowed past her lips, a little of the tension drained from her posture. She allowed her eyes to drift shut, took another sip, and then a weary sigh escaped her. “Thank you, Rarity. You’re right that I need to look at this a little more calmly. Still, it’s an incredibly large responsibility, and I worry I may not be up to the task.”
Laughter was not the response Twilight had anticipated, though Rarity’s mirth faded beneath Twilight’s glare. “Oh, I don’t mean to laugh at you, Twilight, but listen to what you are saying! This from the pony who restored Princess Luna, who saved her friends from Discord, who defeated Chrysalis, Sombra, and Tirek?”
Twilight’s cheeks had turned red beneath their lavender fur, and she scuffed a hoof against the ground. “I had help for all of those. I couldn’t have done any of that without my friends, without you, Rarity.”
Rarity waved a foreleg dismissively, “Be that as it may, Twilight, it does not change that you lead us. And while I am no stranger to the pressures of high society, the idea that after all that, Twilight Sparkle could be laid low by the need to study?”
Twilight frowned. “Well, there was the one time with Smarty Pants…”
“That was different, Twilight. We ignored you, and I do admit you sometimes had a teensy-weensy problem with stress. But I promise, it will not be the same! For now, why don’t you put that book away? We will go get something to eat, maybe visit the spa, and you can return refreshed and ready to dig right back in.” Rarity extended a hoof to Twilight, and after a few moments hesitance, Twilight stepped forward and leaned in to embrace her friend.
“Thank you. I needed to hear that. I could certainly use a break. Still, this is very important, and I will not fail!” At that moment, Twilight’s stomach chose to audibly growl, and she found herself grinning sheepishly at Rarity.
“I know you won’t, darling. Now come along, I suspect you skipped breakfast and you should never work on an empty stomach.” The two friends left Twilight’s quarters behind, and the scroll lay forgotten for now.
“So, what yer sayin’ is that some fancy Prince is comin’ to visit, and you’re all wound up about it being he’s even prissier than Rarity at the Gala?” Applejack looked behind her to ensure she was hitched properly, then gave a hard pull until her cart began to roll behind her. The Ponyville Market had just closed for the day and she was returning home.
“Well, er, yes,” Twilight replied. “You know how Rarity does design work for Sapphire Shores, right? Has she ever told you how demanding she can be? You remember when…”
“Sweetie Belle got jealous, yup. Nearly ruined all of Rarity’s hard work. But in the end, she fixed it.” The two ponies walked through the streets of Ponyville, heading for the outer edge of town. “And even if she hadn’t, they’d have made up, and Rarity would have found somepony else to make dresses for, probably somepony even better’n Sapphire Shores.”
“Maybe she would have,” Twilight conceded, then fell quiet and let time pass, the two ponies walking side by side in silence. Finally, as the buildings began to thin and field replaced residencies, Applejack spoke once more.
“So, what did you two do next? After she’d calmed ya down?”
Twilight bore a slight smile as she spoke, “We got lunch, of course, and then spent the afternoon at the spa. It made me feel better, I know. But I’m still worried, Applejack.” Her friend snorted once, though soon she was chuckling.
“Rarity’s solution to everything is a spa visit. If she had to choose between spa visits or having a roof over her head, I’d consider it a coin flip which she’d pick.”
Twilight’s smile widened at that, and a faint giggle brought further levity to their conversation. “She may love hooficures just a little too much, maybe. But it helped, and right now I’ll take any help I can get.”
“Well, in that case, here’s what I think. You may be a Princess, Twilight, but yer still a pony, and sometimes ponies make mistakes. And y’know what? That’s okay. Nopony likes to stumble, but what really matters is whether you did your best to make an honest effort, and that afterwards you get right back up ready to try again, and ready to learn from what ya did wrong.” The cart slowed as the two reached Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack unlatching the gate before moving forward once more. “And I know you, Twilight Sparkle. Yer the sort of pony who gets back up.”
“Thanks, Applejack. You really are a good friend, and I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
“Probably up a creek without a paddle. Now scoot, I have chores to do and I think y’have some studying to finish.” Applejack headed towards her barn, while Twilight stood there watching her friend amble away. Then, she spread her wings, gave them a powerful flap, and took to the air to return home. Applejack was right. She had a summit to prepare for.
The next week was a hectic whirlwind as Twilight gave it her all to ensure she would be ready for the Lord-Prince’s arrival. An event of this magnitude meant meetings to arrange, banquets to plan, ponies to invite, seating arrangements. These, of course, meant reams of checklists, and that normally should have been something to enjoy, but there was simply too much to keep track of. The quiet halls of her castle had become anything but, for Celestia had seen fit to ensure Twilight had a more than adequate staff to help her prepare. Craftsponies filled the once-empty rooms with furnishings, ministers requisitioned newly-minted meeting rooms in order to plan, and once the kitchen ovens roared to life activity there never ceased.
Twilight tried to be the oasis within the tempest, yet she could not help but be swept up as everything was centered around her. She’d known she would need to sign off on every major decision, yet she found herself pestered with questions like Should the salad have carrots or onions in it, Princess? An onion salad sounded weird, yet apparently the Southern Ranges were rumored to enjoy just that, so she had compromised by ordering 3 different salads for the welcome feast so nopony need feel left out.
Even with all the demands upon her time, Twilight made sure to set aside a half-hour each day to prepare her greeting. The rest of it wouldn’t matter if she offended the Lord-Prince and ruined things for another fifty years! Each notch on her calendar made the worry a little more acute, and as the day drew ever-closer, even her friends were unable to lift her out of that deep pit in her belly.
On the final morning, Twilight awoke to sunlight streaming into her bedroom. She clenched her eyes shut, trying to will the sun down below the horizon and thus free herself of the coming obligation, yet that too was stopped by a rapping at her door. One of the maids poked her head in.
“Princess? Are you awake? The Lord-Prince is scheduled to arrive in two hours, and the Princesses Celestia and Luna in one hour.”
Twilight groaned as softly as possible, yet reluctantly dragged herself out of bed. A hoof to her chest, a deep breath, and then she forced a smile as she replied, “Thank you. I will be down for breakfast in a minute. Please let the kitchens know I would like blueberry pancakes.” They were a comfort food before exams, and Twilight felt today of all days justified the indulgence.
Though Twilight wished breakfast could have lasted far longer, it too had to end, and then she was hustled away to be dressed, have her mane styled, all the primping and preening to ensure she presented the image of a proper princess before the Lord-Prince. She gave a longing look to the room where she and her friends had their modest thrones, but today required the grand hall, one fit to serve for a proper audience. Twilight herself sat upon the primary dais, with Princesses Celestia and Luna flanking her on slightly lowered platforms, while all about the room were scattered nobles, ministers, and other members of the palace staff all poised to make the event as grand as possible. Her friends were standing at the forefront of the crowd, and each gave her an encouraging smile as the room bustled with growing anticipation.
There was a fanfare of horns, and all eyes turned to the doors as they were pulled open by unicorn guards. The procession came in, the Lord-Prince at its head. Each was clad in thick robes and a white porcelain mask, cloaking their features from the gathered Equestrians as the procession made its way towards the gathered Princesses. They marched in unison, and as one, they stopped, raised their heads, and looked at Twilight.
The moment of truth was upon her. Twilight surveyed the gathering, steeling herself against the nervous urge to simply teleport away and hide beneath her bed. She forced herself to take a deep breath, and began to speak.
“Equestria formally welcomes the Lord-Prince of the Southern Reaches, Guardian of the Red Mountains, Shining Star of the Lost Llamas, Sage of the Clouded Lake, Friend to the Shrouded Islands…” As each new honorific was recited, Twilight felt a sense of calm overtaking her. She had prepared for this. She’d practiced enough it had become automatic. A little voice in her head counted ten, then twenty. “Protector of the White River, Steward of the Everdiamond…” Thirty. Thirty-five. “The Radiant One, Duke of New Naman, and the Unflinching Eye. Be at peace, for we welcome you as friend.” Slowly...slowly, Twilight allowed herself to relax. She had done it. And then to her horror, a scribe on the floor below gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head. She’d made a mistake. Everything was ruined.
The masked Lord-Prince lifted his head to her, and Twilight felt her stomach turn to ice. Here it was. They were going to walk away and leave Equestria for another fifty years, just as feared. She couldn’t hide her shock as, instead, he spoke. “I, Lord-Prince Orin of the Southern Reaches, wish to honor Princess Twilight Sparkle, Savior of the Moon, Redeemer of the Chaos-Wyrm, Vanquisher of Tirek, Princess of Friendship, Bearer of Magic, and Steward of Ponyville. I wish to honor Princess Luna, Regent of the Night, Mistress of Shadow, the Dream-Maiden, she who chained Tiamat in Tartarus, Lady of Fertility, and Champion of the Lost. I wish to honor Princess Celestia, the Rising Sun, Lady of the Day, the Bright one, the Bringer of Peace, the Beacon to All, the Ever-Teacher, Friend to the Llama, Friend to the Shimmering Forests, Knower of the Hidden Truths, and bringer of far more blessings than I could ever do justice. I graciously accept your welcome, and hope we may begin a new era between our peoples.”
And then, then he reached a hoof up, placing it against his mask, and drawing it down and away to reveal a youthful stallion of dark blue coat and sea-green eyes. “And, I hope,” he added, voice even warmer without the mask muffling it, “That you will forgive my indiscretion in asking that we may dispense with the formalities, Princess Twilight. Fifty years ago, my grandfather fled in shame rather than admit his own ignorance when after such a grand welcome he was unable to respond in kind, for he had no idea how to give Princess Celestia her proper due.”
“Wait, what?!” The words burst forth from Twilight’s lips before she could stop herself, and the room went still. “You mean, you’re not upset there was something wrong with our greeting?!”
“Well,” the Lord-Prince began, “If you truly wish to be precise, it is the White Lake, not the White River.” Twilight’s face fell for but a moment, only for him to smile. “It is a trifling thing, nothing to worry about.”
Twilight fought to keep her composure, though she wanted to descend into nervous giggles. Somehow, somehow everything was alright. “Very well, then. I think,” she added, gesturing to a certain pony who was vibrating with pent-up excitement, “That if we keep Pinkie Pie from her welcome party a moment longer, she may explode.” She raised her head and happiness was in every word. “Everypony, today we welcome new friends. There will be time later for audiences, questions, and pragmatic details. For now?”
“LET’S PARTY!” cried out Pinkie, and a loud BOOM made the walls shake as a half-dozen party cannons went off together. Pandemonium turned to cheers as ponies broke up to enjoy the rapidly growing festivities, and Twilight let herself be swept away in the tidal wave of excitement. The formal robes and masks of their guests were soon discarded, and the two groups mingled, made friends, and celebrated as one.
Hours later, and she found herself alone with Prince Orin, and finally could not resist asking the one question that had bothered her ever since he had first spoke. “So,” Twilight began when a lull presented the chance, “We have been wrong this entire time about offending your people?”
“Stars above, yes!” Orin shook his head slowly about, “After the herald’s greeting, my grandfather thought Princess Celestia expected to be greeted in kind. He was terrified he would cause terrible offense, and so chose to flee rather than risk something worse.”
“Then all this time,” Twilight began, and Orin continued for her.
“We have each thought we gave offense to the other. It has all been one grave misunderstanding.”
“I suppose that will make a good lesson for the history books. Had we not both been so concerned over making a greater mistake, we could have avoided this the whole time.” Twilight turned and look towards the window where the sun was sinking towards the horizon. “This is one time I’m extremely glad to have been wrong, especially in light that after all that...I got the greeting wrong anyhow. Imagine if you had been everything we feared. Do you realize how embarrassing it would be to be known as Twilight Sparkle the Title Dropper?”
“Calm yourself, darling,” replied Rarity in a soothing voice. “Sit right down and enjoy your tea. It can’t possibly be that bad, now can it? Oh, yes, I know that last time things went a teensy bit wrong, but surely that was just an overreaction! Why, I’m confident they will be quite reasonable when you meet them!”
“Reasonable? Reasonable?!” Twilight’s voice abandoned any attempt at calm, charging straight towards full-blown panic. “This is the first chance in two generations to open talks with the Southern Ranges! We haven’t heard a peep from them in fifty years, and now they reach out and Princess Celestia wants me to be the one to handle the greeting! Me!”
“Well, yes, dear. You did say you wanted to do more than smile and wave, did you not?”
“Yes! I did! But not if it means this much pressure! I have to make sure the greeting is perfect! I’ve read book after book, and they all say the herald said ‘Protector of the White Lake’ instead of ‘Protector of the White River’, and that HAD to be what offended them so!”
“So just say ‘Protector of the White River’, Twilight. Really, it’s hardly something to be so worked up over.”
Wordlessly, Twilight Sparkle slid over the scroll that bore Celestia’s request. Rarity took it up in her magic, and began reading. ‘Princess Sparkle...hope you will take the lead...Lord-Prince of the Southern Ranges...Shining Star of the Lost Llamas...Herald of Peace…” Slowly, Rarity let the paper flutter to the table beneath. “My. That is rather a lot of titles.”
“Thirty-Eight! There are thirty-eight separate titles there and I have to memorize each and every one, and do so perfectly, or I will be known as ‘Princess Twilight Sparkle the bringer of international catastrophes!’”
“Twilight, I say this as a pony who is an expert in the subject. I think you may be overreacting just a teensy bit. Now, again, sit down and enjoy your tea. A little relaxation will do wonders.”
This time, Twilight found herself settling upon the cushion across from Rarity. Though the force with which her magic seized the teacup was enough to slosh the contents about, when the sweetened tea flowed past her lips, a little of the tension drained from her posture. She allowed her eyes to drift shut, took another sip, and then a weary sigh escaped her. “Thank you, Rarity. You’re right that I need to look at this a little more calmly. Still, it’s an incredibly large responsibility, and I worry I may not be up to the task.”
Laughter was not the response Twilight had anticipated, though Rarity’s mirth faded beneath Twilight’s glare. “Oh, I don’t mean to laugh at you, Twilight, but listen to what you are saying! This from the pony who restored Princess Luna, who saved her friends from Discord, who defeated Chrysalis, Sombra, and Tirek?”
Twilight’s cheeks had turned red beneath their lavender fur, and she scuffed a hoof against the ground. “I had help for all of those. I couldn’t have done any of that without my friends, without you, Rarity.”
Rarity waved a foreleg dismissively, “Be that as it may, Twilight, it does not change that you lead us. And while I am no stranger to the pressures of high society, the idea that after all that, Twilight Sparkle could be laid low by the need to study?”
Twilight frowned. “Well, there was the one time with Smarty Pants…”
“That was different, Twilight. We ignored you, and I do admit you sometimes had a teensy-weensy problem with stress. But I promise, it will not be the same! For now, why don’t you put that book away? We will go get something to eat, maybe visit the spa, and you can return refreshed and ready to dig right back in.” Rarity extended a hoof to Twilight, and after a few moments hesitance, Twilight stepped forward and leaned in to embrace her friend.
“Thank you. I needed to hear that. I could certainly use a break. Still, this is very important, and I will not fail!” At that moment, Twilight’s stomach chose to audibly growl, and she found herself grinning sheepishly at Rarity.
“I know you won’t, darling. Now come along, I suspect you skipped breakfast and you should never work on an empty stomach.” The two friends left Twilight’s quarters behind, and the scroll lay forgotten for now.
“So, what yer sayin’ is that some fancy Prince is comin’ to visit, and you’re all wound up about it being he’s even prissier than Rarity at the Gala?” Applejack looked behind her to ensure she was hitched properly, then gave a hard pull until her cart began to roll behind her. The Ponyville Market had just closed for the day and she was returning home.
“Well, er, yes,” Twilight replied. “You know how Rarity does design work for Sapphire Shores, right? Has she ever told you how demanding she can be? You remember when…”
“Sweetie Belle got jealous, yup. Nearly ruined all of Rarity’s hard work. But in the end, she fixed it.” The two ponies walked through the streets of Ponyville, heading for the outer edge of town. “And even if she hadn’t, they’d have made up, and Rarity would have found somepony else to make dresses for, probably somepony even better’n Sapphire Shores.”
“Maybe she would have,” Twilight conceded, then fell quiet and let time pass, the two ponies walking side by side in silence. Finally, as the buildings began to thin and field replaced residencies, Applejack spoke once more.
“So, what did you two do next? After she’d calmed ya down?”
Twilight bore a slight smile as she spoke, “We got lunch, of course, and then spent the afternoon at the spa. It made me feel better, I know. But I’m still worried, Applejack.” Her friend snorted once, though soon she was chuckling.
“Rarity’s solution to everything is a spa visit. If she had to choose between spa visits or having a roof over her head, I’d consider it a coin flip which she’d pick.”
Twilight’s smile widened at that, and a faint giggle brought further levity to their conversation. “She may love hooficures just a little too much, maybe. But it helped, and right now I’ll take any help I can get.”
“Well, in that case, here’s what I think. You may be a Princess, Twilight, but yer still a pony, and sometimes ponies make mistakes. And y’know what? That’s okay. Nopony likes to stumble, but what really matters is whether you did your best to make an honest effort, and that afterwards you get right back up ready to try again, and ready to learn from what ya did wrong.” The cart slowed as the two reached Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack unlatching the gate before moving forward once more. “And I know you, Twilight Sparkle. Yer the sort of pony who gets back up.”
“Thanks, Applejack. You really are a good friend, and I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
“Probably up a creek without a paddle. Now scoot, I have chores to do and I think y’have some studying to finish.” Applejack headed towards her barn, while Twilight stood there watching her friend amble away. Then, she spread her wings, gave them a powerful flap, and took to the air to return home. Applejack was right. She had a summit to prepare for.
The next week was a hectic whirlwind as Twilight gave it her all to ensure she would be ready for the Lord-Prince’s arrival. An event of this magnitude meant meetings to arrange, banquets to plan, ponies to invite, seating arrangements. These, of course, meant reams of checklists, and that normally should have been something to enjoy, but there was simply too much to keep track of. The quiet halls of her castle had become anything but, for Celestia had seen fit to ensure Twilight had a more than adequate staff to help her prepare. Craftsponies filled the once-empty rooms with furnishings, ministers requisitioned newly-minted meeting rooms in order to plan, and once the kitchen ovens roared to life activity there never ceased.
Twilight tried to be the oasis within the tempest, yet she could not help but be swept up as everything was centered around her. She’d known she would need to sign off on every major decision, yet she found herself pestered with questions like Should the salad have carrots or onions in it, Princess? An onion salad sounded weird, yet apparently the Southern Ranges were rumored to enjoy just that, so she had compromised by ordering 3 different salads for the welcome feast so nopony need feel left out.
Even with all the demands upon her time, Twilight made sure to set aside a half-hour each day to prepare her greeting. The rest of it wouldn’t matter if she offended the Lord-Prince and ruined things for another fifty years! Each notch on her calendar made the worry a little more acute, and as the day drew ever-closer, even her friends were unable to lift her out of that deep pit in her belly.
On the final morning, Twilight awoke to sunlight streaming into her bedroom. She clenched her eyes shut, trying to will the sun down below the horizon and thus free herself of the coming obligation, yet that too was stopped by a rapping at her door. One of the maids poked her head in.
“Princess? Are you awake? The Lord-Prince is scheduled to arrive in two hours, and the Princesses Celestia and Luna in one hour.”
Twilight groaned as softly as possible, yet reluctantly dragged herself out of bed. A hoof to her chest, a deep breath, and then she forced a smile as she replied, “Thank you. I will be down for breakfast in a minute. Please let the kitchens know I would like blueberry pancakes.” They were a comfort food before exams, and Twilight felt today of all days justified the indulgence.
Though Twilight wished breakfast could have lasted far longer, it too had to end, and then she was hustled away to be dressed, have her mane styled, all the primping and preening to ensure she presented the image of a proper princess before the Lord-Prince. She gave a longing look to the room where she and her friends had their modest thrones, but today required the grand hall, one fit to serve for a proper audience. Twilight herself sat upon the primary dais, with Princesses Celestia and Luna flanking her on slightly lowered platforms, while all about the room were scattered nobles, ministers, and other members of the palace staff all poised to make the event as grand as possible. Her friends were standing at the forefront of the crowd, and each gave her an encouraging smile as the room bustled with growing anticipation.
There was a fanfare of horns, and all eyes turned to the doors as they were pulled open by unicorn guards. The procession came in, the Lord-Prince at its head. Each was clad in thick robes and a white porcelain mask, cloaking their features from the gathered Equestrians as the procession made its way towards the gathered Princesses. They marched in unison, and as one, they stopped, raised their heads, and looked at Twilight.
The moment of truth was upon her. Twilight surveyed the gathering, steeling herself against the nervous urge to simply teleport away and hide beneath her bed. She forced herself to take a deep breath, and began to speak.
“Equestria formally welcomes the Lord-Prince of the Southern Reaches, Guardian of the Red Mountains, Shining Star of the Lost Llamas, Sage of the Clouded Lake, Friend to the Shrouded Islands…” As each new honorific was recited, Twilight felt a sense of calm overtaking her. She had prepared for this. She’d practiced enough it had become automatic. A little voice in her head counted ten, then twenty. “Protector of the White River, Steward of the Everdiamond…” Thirty. Thirty-five. “The Radiant One, Duke of New Naman, and the Unflinching Eye. Be at peace, for we welcome you as friend.” Slowly...slowly, Twilight allowed herself to relax. She had done it. And then to her horror, a scribe on the floor below gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head. She’d made a mistake. Everything was ruined.
The masked Lord-Prince lifted his head to her, and Twilight felt her stomach turn to ice. Here it was. They were going to walk away and leave Equestria for another fifty years, just as feared. She couldn’t hide her shock as, instead, he spoke. “I, Lord-Prince Orin of the Southern Reaches, wish to honor Princess Twilight Sparkle, Savior of the Moon, Redeemer of the Chaos-Wyrm, Vanquisher of Tirek, Princess of Friendship, Bearer of Magic, and Steward of Ponyville. I wish to honor Princess Luna, Regent of the Night, Mistress of Shadow, the Dream-Maiden, she who chained Tiamat in Tartarus, Lady of Fertility, and Champion of the Lost. I wish to honor Princess Celestia, the Rising Sun, Lady of the Day, the Bright one, the Bringer of Peace, the Beacon to All, the Ever-Teacher, Friend to the Llama, Friend to the Shimmering Forests, Knower of the Hidden Truths, and bringer of far more blessings than I could ever do justice. I graciously accept your welcome, and hope we may begin a new era between our peoples.”
And then, then he reached a hoof up, placing it against his mask, and drawing it down and away to reveal a youthful stallion of dark blue coat and sea-green eyes. “And, I hope,” he added, voice even warmer without the mask muffling it, “That you will forgive my indiscretion in asking that we may dispense with the formalities, Princess Twilight. Fifty years ago, my grandfather fled in shame rather than admit his own ignorance when after such a grand welcome he was unable to respond in kind, for he had no idea how to give Princess Celestia her proper due.”
“Wait, what?!” The words burst forth from Twilight’s lips before she could stop herself, and the room went still. “You mean, you’re not upset there was something wrong with our greeting?!”
“Well,” the Lord-Prince began, “If you truly wish to be precise, it is the White Lake, not the White River.” Twilight’s face fell for but a moment, only for him to smile. “It is a trifling thing, nothing to worry about.”
Twilight fought to keep her composure, though she wanted to descend into nervous giggles. Somehow, somehow everything was alright. “Very well, then. I think,” she added, gesturing to a certain pony who was vibrating with pent-up excitement, “That if we keep Pinkie Pie from her welcome party a moment longer, she may explode.” She raised her head and happiness was in every word. “Everypony, today we welcome new friends. There will be time later for audiences, questions, and pragmatic details. For now?”
“LET’S PARTY!” cried out Pinkie, and a loud BOOM made the walls shake as a half-dozen party cannons went off together. Pandemonium turned to cheers as ponies broke up to enjoy the rapidly growing festivities, and Twilight let herself be swept away in the tidal wave of excitement. The formal robes and masks of their guests were soon discarded, and the two groups mingled, made friends, and celebrated as one.
Hours later, and she found herself alone with Prince Orin, and finally could not resist asking the one question that had bothered her ever since he had first spoke. “So,” Twilight began when a lull presented the chance, “We have been wrong this entire time about offending your people?”
“Stars above, yes!” Orin shook his head slowly about, “After the herald’s greeting, my grandfather thought Princess Celestia expected to be greeted in kind. He was terrified he would cause terrible offense, and so chose to flee rather than risk something worse.”
“Then all this time,” Twilight began, and Orin continued for her.
“We have each thought we gave offense to the other. It has all been one grave misunderstanding.”
“I suppose that will make a good lesson for the history books. Had we not both been so concerned over making a greater mistake, we could have avoided this the whole time.” Twilight turned and look towards the window where the sun was sinking towards the horizon. “This is one time I’m extremely glad to have been wrong, especially in light that after all that...I got the greeting wrong anyhow. Imagine if you had been everything we feared. Do you realize how embarrassing it would be to be known as Twilight Sparkle the Title Dropper?”