Princess Luna sat at her desk, staring at the many papers in front of her. Usually by this late in the day she would have managed to finish, perhaps taking an hour before lowering the Sun to spend time with Twilight discussing her latest findings.
Not today though.
Today Twilight was on a quest to somehow make friends with complete strangers, something Luna, in hindsight, was beginning to think was a more and more terrible idea the more she thought about it.
As for her lack of productivity Luna had no excuse. The orders and bureaucracy were the same, some diplomatic tensions, but nothing she couldn't handle after all these years. If anything the Summer Sun Celebration had decreased her workload, as most ponies took the day off.
Yet still she found herself staring at the page in front of her as if it were a beast from Tartarus ready to attack at the slightest movement.
It made no sense.
It made all too much sense.
Yesterday paperwork had been just another task in another day, one that had passed almost exactly the same way for the last 900 years.
Today that same pile of paper seemed as insurmountable as the passage of time had a thousand years ago.
Forcing her mind to clear Luna turned over the paper, realising that if it hadn't registered by now, it was likely a lost cause, at least for today. It would have to wait under after..After the Summer Sun Celebration.
She moved onto the next document.
Following on from the latest general budget were the new proposals for increases to Equestria’s naval budget. Much as she hated the idea a strong navy was becoming more and more necessary, especially now.
Reading through she was pleasantly surprised to find Blueblood had put considerable effort in this time. Unusual but not unprecedented. Perhaps that latest lesson had finally set him back onto the right track. It was too bad she wasn't in the state of mind to appreciate it.
She put it aside.
Turning to file it away her eye caught the locked cabinet in the corner. A single scroll seemed to glimmer inside.
Gritting her teeth she forced herself to turn away.
‘One more hour, just one more hour.’
She went back to staring at the papers on the table, praying for something, anything, to take her mind off that locked cabinet and what it held.
‘What do I even pray to anymore?’ she wondered.
She looked back at the cabinet.
On the longest day of the thousandth year she shall return.
Perhaps it was simply nerves. One did not simply see one's long list sibling after a thousand years after all.
‘Especially when it was your fault in the first place.’
She screwed her eyes shut trying to force the voices out of her head.
They only grew louder.
And the Sun shall never set on her reign.
Growling she flung the papers off the table. An empty cup fell to the floor, shattering. She paid it no mind.
Turning from the room she strode down the corridor, eyes narrowed.
Ponies stumbled trying to get out of her way.
The words still refused to leave.
And the Sun.
‘NO! Tia’s strong she would NEVER!’
Shall never set.
She flew for Ponyville.
555.
Hmm...
7724864
She can summon it after Celestia comes back too.
Or else Twilight will have some 'splaining to do when Sunset Shimmer comes back.
Sunset Shimmer dealing with pre-reformation Discord would be delightful. Even if I like her human version's design much more than her pony version's.
Well, not as the same people at least.
I'm going to post comments on the four last updates since I last reviewed after this reply.
So Luna didn't even plan anything for the eventuality of Celestia coming back completely insane? I guess that proves they are sisters, they're both as useless and incompetent as the other.
Glad to see she's realizing her idea about Twilight making friends sounds terrible. Even though it's what will save Equestria.
I'm wondering if anything will come out of a strong navy "becoming more and more necessary, especially now."
I found two mistakes;
Today Twilight was on a quest
Add a period at the end
Wait... Oh merciful emperor.... Solar Flare....
7731714 Glad you seem to be liking my story.
Yup not by blood, but certainly by spirit. If you want to see StewardVerse Sunset in the flesh the prequel Sunset Impossible has her breaking into the castle ala Mission Impossible and even has some cute filly Twilight mixed in.
Yup even in this universe Twi still ends up with a crashing Rainbow on her hands.
Well, what would any Summer Sun Celebration be without some sisterly bonding?
Unfortunately sunset's still a couple chapters off though I am definitely looking forward to getting to it.
In the meantime I highly recommend the two prequels that started this whole series Ready and Waiting to Fall and The Cost of Harmony which set the backdrop for whats happening now, particularly with the Nightmare.