I finished the sentence and then stretched my wings, putting the quill down as I looked around the peaceful park.

It was one of the smaller parks in the castle itself, being some ten meters across with a couple of trees and brushes. Some flowers too.

I found this one a couple of weeks ago and it was quite nice to be honest. Private.

Yawning a bit I blinked and rubbed my eyes before putting my draft aside to dry and picking up the next one.

I really hoped that this story would work out. One of the first wholly original ones I written for print. At least for wide publication, the ones I wrote just for Luna didn’t count.

Because everyone like air pirates and floating islands are just cool.

Hmm.

Should the ships have balloons or some magical way to keep afloat?

The sound of wings drew my attention from that very important question and I looked up to see a changeling slowly coming in for landing.

“Your Highness,” I said and got up to bow.

Skitter dropped down onto the grass, glaring at me, “Sir.”

I smirked at her, “I’ll keep calling you that until you stop calling me sir.”

The Changeling Princess sighed and settled down on the grass, wings buzzing a bit, “We’ll see about that. Sir.”

I frowned at her in slight annoyance before I rolled my eyes and smiled, “So what’s up?”

“I have no idea what to do,” she admitted, “I have never done this before.”

“Done what?” I asked and got up, moving to lay down next to her, “I thought your lessons were going well? Is it Chrysalis?”

Skitter shook her head, “No,” and shifted slightly to lean against me, “I haven’t heard a word from mother for months. It’s worse.”

“Skitter, what’s wrong?”

“…Princess Celestia gave me a weeks vacation.”

I blinked at her, “What.”

Skitter frowned at the grass, “I’m not allowed to study or do any of the normal duties. My little Hive handle itself most of the time anyway so now I have nothing to do!”

I stared at her before I sighed and let my head slowly drop onto my front hooves, “…Your massive problem is being forced to take a vacation?”

“Yes.”

Don’t laugh, don’t laugh…

Skitter pouted, “Why do you taste like you think it’s funny?”

“That’s because it is, Skitter,” I said with a grin, poking her with my wing, “Just relax, read a book or something. Enjoy the sunshine.”

“I have never done nothing before! I always had my duty, I always had my missions!”

I shook my head, “Skitter, you are a big bug and you have to learn to… not do things. You are royalty now, you will be the Queen of the Changelings one day. I think that may be what Celestia want you to learn here.”

“How do you mean?” Skitter asked with a frown, her wings buzzing a bit before I put my wings over them to stop it.

“What I mean is that someday, the responsibility for the Changelings will be all on you, and that’s a lot of pressure. You need to take time for yourself, relax, recharge.”

Skitter frowned and shifted a bit, “…Not sure how to do that, sir.”

“This is a pretty good start. Soft grass, spending time with friends, warm sunlight.”

“…And what then?”

I grinned, “Go grab some tea or read a book. Visit a museum and then watch a play. Sleep in late. Just do whatever you want Skitter.”

Skitter frowned at the grass, seeming slightly confused about the entire concept.

Rolling my eyes, I floated my bottle of cider in front of her, “Start with this. Just enjoy the sunlight and have a drink,” I said and cast a spell to carefully chill it down to just above freezing.

Skitter picked it up with her magic and peered at it before carefully taking a sip, “…This isn’t bad.”

“Told you.” I said with a smile as I sorted through my papers, getting them in order before putting them to the side, “I need to go soon though, I have a meeting with my printer. Something about a supply problem.”

Skitter nodded, “Can I come?”

I smiled at her, “I thought you were meant to relax this week and not sit in on meetings.”

“I don’t normally have meetings and I could bring the cider?”

“Fair enough I guess.”