"So what's next?" said Celestia impatiently. She had been at this royal meeting in a sweltering hot room for 5 hours reviewing the economy and times when the princesses would need to make appearances across Equestria and plans of renovating the castle with her sister Luna, nephew Blueblood, and the captain of the royal guard, Shining Armor. While Luna was immersed in the conversation, Celestia was just about ready to scream in boredom.

"Well," said Blueblood, "The last thing for today is to review Cadence's proposal." Celestia remained silent, trying to make it look as though she was thinking, but Luna knew that face well. That it what her sister looked like whenever she was confused.

"Good gracious sister, dost thou not remember?!" said Luna with exasperation. "We hath reminded thou plenty of times."

"I know what the proposal is." said Celestia in a futile attempt to look informed. "I was just waiting for details."

"Deus bone, soror es, frustraneus" said Luna, "Cadence has requested that We travel to the changeling Hive and extend Our hoof in peace."

"So", said Blueblood, " Let's start by listing out pros and cons of an alli-"

"No" said Celestia.

"I beg your pardon?", said Blueblood in confusion,"Did you just say no?"

"Why, yes I did indeed. Now that that can be checked off of our agenda I believe the meeting is over."

"Auntie Celestia, why are you in such a rush?" said Blueblood, "Nopony else is acting hastily and you are by no means the only pony with plans today."

"Oh, so you have plans tonight, Blueblood?" said Shining Armor with a smirk, "What are you gonna do, get rejected by Rarity again?"

You would have thought a bomb went off based off the noise. Everypony was laughing, even Luna who seldom laughed, and Blueblood who was the butt of the joke.

The meeting room's doors burst open. In galloped an orange pegasus with bright blue eyes. He was clad in the standard gold armor showing he was part of Celestia's royal guard.

"Is everypony okay?", said the guard, "I heard a lot of noise and thought Queen Chrysalis was attacking again."

"At ease Sentry", said Shining Armor, "Come on in, Flash. We were just sharing a laugh. Nothing to worry about." He watched as the look on his second-in-command's face turned from concern to confusion.

"With all due respect, sir, I don't quite see what could be so funny at a royal meeting." said Flash Sentry

"Oh we were just poking fun at Blueblood's inability to bed Twilight Sparkle's friend, Rarity" said Celestia, still trying to hold back laughter.

"Twilight Sparkle?" said Flash Sentry, " Isn't she that new princess?" When he got the confirmation from everypony else he said, "Oh I like her. She's cute."

"Don't you have something better to be doing Sentry?!" said Shining Armor in annoyance. "What were you doing before you came in her?"

"Just guarding the door, sir." he replied.

"Well get back to it! And when you're done I want 50 laps around the castle!" spat the captain.

"Yessir!" said Flash, a bit confused at what had just transpired. He turned to the door when already psyching himself up for his punishment that he didn't deserve when Celestia spoke up.

"That won't be necessary." said Celestia, "You will have to excuse Shining Armor. He tends to be a bit overprotective of his little sister."

"Permission to speak sir?" said Flash, directing his unblinking eyes to his captain who looked angrier than a hippo with a hernia.

"Granted, though make it brief" said Shining.

"I would just like to say, I'm sorry. Sir."said Flash, "I simply didn't know, although I probably should have. She's just as brave as you, sir."

Shining Armor seemed to think. He mulled Flash's apology over in his head. "Apology accepted Sentry and your punishment has just been expunged. But I still need you to guard the door. And stay away from my sister!" he said as an afterthought.

"But before you leave Flash," said Celestia, "I need you to help us reach a consensus."

"Anything you wish, Princess." said Flash, "I am at your command and will try to be as helpful and honest as possible."

"Well, honesty is exactly what we need. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, more known as Cadence, has suggested us extending the olive branch to the changeling queen. What do you think we should do."

"No disrespect, but I think you should tell Princess Cadence to lay off the cider." said Flash after considering shortly. "Any alliance with Chrysalis would be more trouble than it's worth. It would fall apart the moment she has an opening to overthrow us."

"See? Shining, you said Flash Sentry was the best long-term combat analyst you've ever seen. If he thinks its a bad idea, it is a bad idea." said Celestia knowing she has won the argument.

"Fine" said Blueblood, "But this is not over. Me and Cadence will write up a treaty and overview. Then we will bring it here so you may check it and reach a final decision."

"Well, now that we are done here, I will have to ask you to leave." said Celestia, a hint of impatience in her voice. One by one, they all filed out. All except for Shining Armor.

"Excuse me, your highness." said Shining Armor. Oh no,thought Celestia, he only refers to me as "your highness" when he's joking or nervous. And i bet it's the latter.

"At ease Armor. What is it?" said Celestia

"Well" said Shining Armor, " I was just wondering, I mean my work has been above satisfactory and I've been doing a lot of overtime, and… well… I guess what I am trying to say is… Can I please have a short little vacation. Just the weekend. I just really want to visit Twily, and Cadence and I haven't had a date in ages. So would it be too much to ask if I could ha-"

"Well of course you can have a vacation. You have certainly earned it. How about this?" said Celestia, "You can have paid leave-of-absence until either we are under attack or you feel like coming back."

"Oh thank you so much, Princess." said Shining Armor, squealing like a little filly with excitement. He hasn't been able to see his sister in months. He couldn't even remember how long it's been since he had… alone time… with his special mare.

"Well you should get going if you want to make the next train." said Celestia. She watched as her captain galloped out of the meeting room like a little school-filly. When she was sure he left, she ran toward the back wall.

"Aperi ostium secreta" muttered Celestia as her horn began to glow, not it's usual yellow, but an orange-red color. The wall split open just a little wider than her but touching all the way to the ceiling. She entered the crevice, closing it behind her. I remember Shining Armor's first day, she reminisced as she started down a long flight of cracked stone steps, he was so nervous. Answering every question with "yes your highness", never having an opinion different to mine. He was so cute. 15 years old when he joined. Who'd have thought he would have grown so fast. I remember at the end of that first day I said, "You're so stiff. I've been wanting a nice stiff stallion around here" The look on his face was priceless.

Finally reaching her destination, she looked in the large cage before her."Are you asleep?" she said tenderly.

"Asleep? I've been asleep for over 1000 years. I don't need sleep." said the prisoner bitterly, "Oh but I am forgetting my manners aren't ?" He knelt down and bowed. " Oh, Great Princess Celestia, goddess of the sun, lord of Our land, to whom We owe our lives simply for allowing Us to live, for what reason do you bless Our worthless existence with your presence?" says the unknown prisoner, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I just want to talk to you Starswirl." said Celestia, with more regret and sorrow than anger.