A long evening of reading essays later and the two Princesses had whittled their choices down to the final two, Scootaloo and a colt from Fillydelphia who wished to expiereince the thrill of shepherding a bill through the legislative process. However, what had began as friendly bickering had turned into politely concealed hostility. “Why must you be so stubborn Tia?” Luna sighed, completely exasperated by her sister’s refusal to give in on an insignificant issue.
“I am not the one who is insisting that we take it upon ourselves to fix every broken family in the kingdom!”
“There is only one broken family in all of Equestria?! Then I submit we should absolutely do that. All I am proposing is that we use your desire to show how miserable you are with the burdens of the crown to actually help a sad filly.”
“I am not miserable. I would just rather the opportunity go to a child who would cherish the experience rather than the ends she can achieve!” Celestia fired back.
Luna took a deep breath, not wanting to continue the same argument they had been having for the past hour. “Tia, there is a sad and lonely filly, who only wishes that somepony would notice her. Can you allow for the possibility that I know precisely how she feels,and that I might wish to help her before she does something she'll regret?”
“You would invoke Nightmare Moon to sway my opinion? Scootaloo poses no threat to Equestria,” Celestia said rather crossly.
“There is no worse feeling than being alone Tia.” Luna replied softly.
Celestia looked at her sister carefully. Hidden behind her eyes was a profound sense of pain. Ever since they were reunited, Luna had hidden a part of herself that she let out only when she thought Celestia wasn't looking. Celestia couldn't be sure whether it was guilt from letting Nightmare Moon control her, the pain of being isolated for a thousand years, or sympathy for what she put her sister through, but the pain was unmistakably there. “Lest you forget, I too know that pain. For a thousand years I was separated from my little sister.”
“Then grant me this boon Tia. I promise to let you show Scootaloo how awful being a princess is,” Luna said, with the faintest hint of a smile.
Relieved at being able to resume their friendly bickering Celestia capitulated and grinned wryly back, “It is only awful because I have to share it with someone as willful as you,” Celestia said, playfully sticking out her tongue.
“Imagine how I feel; I share it with you.”
“I’m glad your're back, little sister.”
“I’m glad to be back, big sister.”
***
After a typical weekend crusading and getting into garden variety mischief Scootaloo woke up early Monday morning. She went to the kitchen, as usual her mother had already left for work, and so just like most mornings at the Scootaloo household she made herself a bowl of cold cereal and orange juice for breakfast, all the while wondering what it would be like to have her Mom cook her pancakes, or waffles, or even just be there to tell her to have a good day at school. Once she finished eating she rode her scooter to meet her friends at the tree they liked to convene at so they could walk to school together.
“Do ya think Celestia read your letters over tha weekend?” Apple Bloom asked, opening their conversation, once they had all united.
“We don’t even know which letters Cheerilee sent,” Sweetie Belle replied, causing Scootaloo to shut her mouth, just in case she stumbled into a situation where she would be forced to lie to her friends.
“Eh, as long as Diamond Tiara doesn’t win,” Apple Bloom said.
Sweetie giggled. “Can you imagine what that would be like?” Sweetie stuck her nose in the air and stood on her tip-hoofs. “Shine my tiara, and when you’re finished banish all the blank flanks from Equestira for not having their cutie marks,” Sweetie said in a high pitched whine.
Apple Bloom laughed but Scootaloo could only manage a small chuckle. Their conversation had gotten her thinking about the contest again. She didn’t really think she had any chance of winning but she also couldn’t think of any other idea to make her mom notice her. Sweetie’s voice snapped her out of her malaise.
“What’s wrong Scootaloo? I don’t think Celestia would let Diamond would banish us, besides she probably won’t win.”
“Yeah I know, it’s nothing, I’m fine,” she responded quickly, trying to cover up her previous worry.
“C’mon Scoots, we’re a trio. What’s botherin ya?” Apple Bloom prodded.
“It’s nothing, really. C’mon we’re gonna be late for school.” Before Apple Bloom or Sweetie could protest, Scootaloo fluttered her wings and sped off down the road, leaving her two friends hurrying to catch up.
School proceeded like a typical Monday. There was math and reading and a recess where Snails got tangled in the swings. However during arts and crafts time the normal routine was interrupted by an unfamiliar visitor.
A tan stallion with a short blue mane knocked on the open door and stood in the doorway. “Is this Mrs. Cheerilee’s classroom?”
“I’m Cheerilee, may I help you?” Cheerilee asked brightly. Some students noticed the guest, but most were too involved with their art projects or their own conversations to notice.
“I come bearing a message from Princess Celesita,” the stallion said.
“How exciting. Everypony quiet down,” Cheerliee said, stomping her hoof in her "quiet down rhythm", three distinct stomps.
Recognizing the signal, the classroom quickly settled and soon all the students were eagerly waiting to hear the message . With the eyes of the room upon him the stallion unfurled a scroll and cleared his throat with a cough. “Be it known that today, the twenty fourth day of Ignatus in the year one thousand and two C.E, Princess Celestia Sol Invictius, the Dawn Bringer, Bane of Nightmare Moon, Princess of the Sun and Diarch of Equestria has declared that Scootaloo, will be crowned a Princess of Equestria on the twenty sixth day of Ignatus in the year one thousand and two C.E. So it is said, so it shall be.”
The room went silent save for one shocked voice. “Blank flank!” Diamond blurted out.
“That’s Princess blank flank to you,” Sweetie shot back, before glancing sheepishly at Scootaloo. “Or Princess Scootaloo, that would work too.”
Diamond Tiara confidently strolled up to the front of the class. “Are you sure there hasn’t been a mistake? Maybe you meant to say Diamond Tiara?” she asked pleasantly, sure that whoever this pony was they just had a very selective reading problem.
The messenger looked down at the royal decree. “No, it says Scootaloo.”
“I won?” Scootaloo squeaked out, before a round of applause and congratulations overtook the room.
The stallion, whose name was Regal Herald, not that anyone asked, walked over to Scootaloo’s desk. “You won. A parent will need to sign this permission slip. Tomorrow at seven p.m a chariot will take you from here to Canterlot. The rest of your itinerary will be presented to you when you arrive. You may, of course, bring a parent with you.”
“I won?” Scootaloo squeaked again.
Regal laughed. “You won. Congratulations Scootaloo, I look forward to working for you.”
In light of the good news, Cheerliee canceled the history lesson she had planned for the rest of the afternoon so that the rest of the class could share in Scootaloo’s good fortune by enjoying a relaxing hour of games and cupcakes. Most of the class spent their free hour crowding around Scootaloo’s desk, offering suggestions for what she should do with her newfound power. Diamond Tiara spent the hour in the corner playing a very angry game of checkers with Silver Spoon.
Scootaloo excitedly burst through the doors of her house, before the realization that there was no one home hit her. “I get to be a princess!” she said out loud to the empty living room. There was no reply. She tried to push her loneliness down and focus on the good news. She cleaned the kitchen, did her homework and fell asleep on the couch waiting for her mom to come home.
Dizzy came home late and unlike yesterday when she was sympathetic toward her daughter, this time she was just annoyed. “Scootaloo we talked about this yesterday. I need you to go to bed in your own room.”
Scootaloo rubbed her eyes, disorientedly looking around, before she remembered why she was sleeping on the couch in the first place. “But Mom, I won! I’m going to be a princess!”
Dizzy blinked her eyes, unsure if Scootaloo said what she thought she heard. “I’m sorry, what?”
“There was a contest at school and I won and now I get to go to Canterlot and be a princess for a day and they say I can take a parent. So can you come with me?” Scootaloo pleaded excitedly.
“I’m not sure I can take the time off work. When is it?”
“We would go to Catnerlot tomorrow night and then I get to be princess the day after tomorrow.” Scootaloo said proudly.
Dizzy shook her head. “I’m sorry sweetie, I can’t just leave for Canterlot so quickly.” Seeing the disappointment on her daughter's face she tried to recover as best she could. “But I’m very proud of you and want to hear all about it when you get back.”
“Yeah okay.” Scootaloo sighed; this was far from the first time her mother couldn't make it to something important. “You need to sign this,” she said, grabbing her permission slip and nudging it toward her mother.
“There you go sweetie,” Dizzy said as she quickly scribbled her name at the bottom. “I really am very proud of you,” she offered, hoping to cheer her daughter up at least a little bit, after disappointing her yet again.
“I know mom.” Permission slip in hoof, Scootaloo trudged upstairs and tried to get excited about tomorrow.
And so it begins. Hopefully, Dizzy Twister will be able to see her daughter as a princess at some point.
great chapter and nice to see Diamond Tiara mad
5241004 I'm useuing adblock and getting a strange message as well.though it disappears sometimes
very nice, can't wait for the next chapter
5240978 She just better not try anything, because when you mess with a princess, bad things happen. Like, oh, I don't know:
5241319 ooh I actually found out that Lemon is voiced by Ian James Corlett
one actor I idolize.
5241347 Oh wow, I didn't know that.
5241016 It gave me that message right under a Toyota ad.
Also, I feel bad that I forgot the author of this, but at one point you said, "We would go to Catnerlot tomorrow..." Lol, Catnerlot. Well I do like kitties.
pain was
__________
All in all this chapter was (from what I can see) was structurally sound. Nice chapter and I look forward to the following chapters of this adorable fic. It'd be cute if Scootaloo got her Cutie Mark for being a Princess XD. I wonder what Ta would do if that happened ^_^.
A thousand years surrounded by all sorts of ponies and with all the luxuries Equestria can supply.
Celestia is such a drama horse.
Geez, Scoot's mom can't even comprehend that maybe it would sorta be kinda really INCREDIBLY INCOMPREHENSIBLY IMPORTANT to take a single day off to go to Canterlot and TALK DIRECTLY WITH THE PRINCESSES... of whom her daughter would BE ONE for that day...
Talk about mare with blinders on!
5241861 Can't just let me have my touching moment can you?
5242251 Some parents can't get off work on such short notice.
5242256
I also enjoy asking you questions that you're unable to answer.
5242275 I always have an answer, it's just sometimes the answer is ...reasons
THE FEELS
Give me moar!
5242256 I'm sure that'd go over great as an excuse with Queen Elizabeth.
Basically, when your SUPREME RULER says "Jump!" you ask "How high, oh great one?"
It's good ta be da king! (Or alicorn princess...)
Seeing Diamond Tiara's selfish little dreams get shattered make me feel all warm and fuzzy I LAUGH IN YOUR FACE DIAMOND TIARA!
5242251 If she works for the government then getting time off on short notice is next to impossible. Of course... the day Scootaloo is a princess her mom might receive a royal summons to Canterlot.
5245674 I can see it now: Scoots sighs to Celestia, "My mom wanted to come, but her evil boss wanted to keep beating her all day today so she couldn't make it."
Scoot's mom's boss soon finds himself on the Moon.
But seriously, what part of 'Scoots is going to meet the RULERS of the country, who are essentially demigods, and is going to be granted equal status for a day' are you not getting here?
Other than death and Pony Ebola infection, I can't think of another better reason that would be an automatic excused absence for anypony.
Let's make a real-world comparison: say some kid gets invited to meet the President of the United States, and his/her parents go along after requesting time off. Now, do you think any employer is going to be stupid enough to either deny the time off or fire them for going? The federal government can make life VERY unpleasant when it wants to. Not to mention the media involvement. The boss'd be BURIED under the blizzard of negative press!
In Scoot's case, we're talking literal 'WRATH OF GOD'-level stuff. Scoot's mom's boss would be sweating bullets just at the idea one of his overworked employees' kids was going to be given full Princesshood for a day. I'd think he'd roll out the red carpet and play REALLY nice.
5245896 I'm gonna jump in on this. 1.) The messenger didn't say her mom had to come, just that she could. 2.) If her mom comes it ruins a lot of the rest of the story. So yeah once again I respond with because...reasons.
5245896 Sadly, I DO work for the Federal Government and if you call in sick suddenly or on a day you were denied leave things get nasty. But I can just see Celestia visiting Dizzy's boss and placing the paperwork to promote Dizzy on his desk with only his signature missing. "I've reviewed this mare's case and she has been an exemplary employee. Either promote her or I"ll find someone over your pay grade her will sign this."
5241861
A thousand years taking over hers and Luna´s duties, in the company of ponies which have the nasty habit of dying in the blink of an eye (from Celestia´s perspective) to actually form any long term relationship.
Omg the feels it just... omg... I cant
Tia has a point. Also, will this FIX Scoots' problems? Or just be an emotion high, that'll result in a horrible crash?
Welcome to reality Scootaloo. Or a very thick mother who doesn't see a golden opportunity.
You may want to change "Catnerlot" to "Canterlot."
5242251 I don't know what world you live in but most people have to give more then a few hours notice to get time off. If she had like a week or something it might have been ok. That' also only if there was someone there to cover her shift depending on the job.
"Scootaloo poses no threat to Equestria"
Maybe, but Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom together?
5438668 um ya lets not push r luck scootaloo is the weakest link for them but all 3? i don't like to think about it
5438668 well im pretty sure if that happend even discord would run screaming in fear from them
6394696
Or he'd be estatic.
Dawwwwwww.....
6394696
If that happens I would laugh so much I would die
I think you mean 'Canterlot'. (Don't worry, i have done this myself when my fingers start to fly over the keyboard; this and much worse...)
Canterlot
______________
9003481
XD, I've read this numerous times, and I kept missing that typo till you pointed it out.
I blame the brains ability to decode jumbled words on a subconscious level.