Princess Celestia sits alone in a plain white room, her mind elsewhere. Figuratively, mostly; her monitoring spell arguably splits her consciousness between two places, as it processes a vast amount of generally useless and trivial information, flags outliers, and stores the rest in the same location she dumps memories of distant ponies from centuries past. (Carefully filed and indexed, of course, though any retrieval spells take a relatively long amount of time if they are searching her archives.) Her little ponies aggregate and synthesize the same material in their daily or weekly reports, helping keep her up to date on the fine tunings of her kingdom, but she likes to read random samples of raw data nonetheless.

She thanks Harmony for giving her a mind and mark that enjoys this often thankless task, that finds meaning in monitoring the minutiae of her little ponies’ lives.

She’s not sure whether or not to see the time she is spending in the Crystal Empire as a vacation. Sure, she’s out of the castle (debatably, as one of her scrying spells is anchored in her main office). The higher courts are taking a week off for the Equestria Games and have made a very good case that they should be closed until after the upcoming Summer Sun Celebration. She could say something similar about her nobles and other managers, if they took a month away from ostensibly working together but more often than not squabbling with their petty games over power and influence and status. The disadvantage of having an independent and free-thinking people, she supposes: they form their own opinions and make decisions contrary to her own. Necessary, however, not just as a foil to her otherwise unchecked power but because such differences are essential to Friendship. Otherwise you’d be making ‘friends’ with a copy of yourself, a reflection! True friendship, she knows, lies in accepting and loving others despite deep flaws and mismatched priorities and fractious personalities.

She thanks Harmony for giving her the opportunity to be friends with so many ponies, every one unique and special.

Sometimes she wonders if a truly harmonious society is even possible. What would it look like? Grogar imagined a land with no quarrels or qualms over doing what must be done, without diversion or hindrance, a land of Order and Accord. A people unified and organized, with every part working in harmony toward a singular goal: to spread their unity and harmony to every corner of the universe. A laudable goal, certainly, if implemented properly; what goal could be greater, what goal could be more worthwhile?

She thanks Harmony for impressing the importance of Honesty, Generosity, Loyalty, Kindness, Laughter, and Friendship on her.

But that is a problem Grogar has been studying for more than a thousand years, their armistice extended time after time when his work remained unfinished. Her own millennium-long ‘experiment’ has gone as well as she could hope, especially considering her Sister’s absence. Practice is so much messier than theory, with variables that don’t turn out the way one predicts, to say nothing of those unaccounted for. But with Radiant Hope, Tempest Shadow (formerly Fizzlepop Berrytwist), and Sombra spreading their message of Grogar’s radical harmony… Could it mean his work is nearing completion? The thought excites her, even as she dreads it. If he has truly found a way to spread harmony - true harmony - more effectively than her? She would be first in line to submit to him, to pledge an endless lifetime of service. But she fears him reaching a false conclusion, a ‘harmony’ built on sameness and tyranny, not unlike the experimental town Starlight Glimmer founded, a town Doug’s three eldest foals are in the process of dismantling.

She thanks Harmony for allowing her the opportunity to fail and then be forgiven, to be rejected and then reconciled.

The minor displacement of air triggers one alarm, the approaching being of high magical potential another. Luna? No, but similar; her focus turns to the doorway, just in time to see her fellow Princess enter, clad in an antique white dress. It covers her entirely, an embellished frock, with embroidered suns and moons along the edges.

“You’ll need to take this next one,” Cadance says, doing a poor job of hiding her scowl. She selects a spot on the floor, turns around three times, then lays down with a palpable look of relief.

“Of course,” Celestia says. The other reason she is helping, as her niece would have struggled to scan everypony who declined, their experimental and hastily set up processing station accepting purely because she and Cadance were there endorsing it.

She thanks Harmony for the many opportunities to practice Generosity, the wisdom to know when such assistance would be detrimental, and the humility to know she is often wrong in her assessment.

She walks to the special processing area, feeling the swing of her swelling belly as she walks. She giggles as she puts a bit of sway in her step, wondering if that alone would be enough for her stallion to be unable to keep his hands off her. She opens the door and spots a haughty white unicorn between two crystal guards, all looking quite disgruntled. Her heart beats faster at his immaculate appearance, barrel chest and long horn, the epitome of what a pony would look for in a mate. A long, thin bag that holds his two rapiers rests at his side, his customary quarter suit impeccable.

She thanks Harmony for Kindness and patience, to know when to hold one’s tongue and when chastisement is the proper course of action.

“Is this the only way you can lay your hooves on me?” Prince Lunaris Blueblood berates, the guards scowling. He offers, glare as sharp as his swords, “Kindly remove them, or I shall remove them for you.” As soon as the guards see her enter they beat a hasty retreat. He inclines his head grudgingly. “Auntie.”

“Nephew,” Celestia says, returning the gruff greeting. “Need I revoke your diplomatic immunity?”

“This is hardly a laughing matter,” he chides, his public persona as imperious and disdainful as always. His lambaste fails to wipe the smile off her muzzle, though the casual flick of his luxurious mane sends a shudder down her sides. “I cannot abide useless ponies, nor those who take pleasure in ordering about their betters.”

“You embarrassed them for all the Empire to see the last time you were here,” Princess Celestia reminds, her harsh tone removing any sense of acclaim for his and Rarity’s charge through the city. “Perhaps a humble attitude, a gracious deferment toward their efforts, might be better suited.”

“They did manage to corner us at the end,” Prince Blueblood concedes through gritted teeth. He looks around, and she wonders if he can spot the pinpoint scrying spell monitoring her inspection. “Can you get on with it? I would rather not spend the rest of the day here, thank you.”

“Of course,” Celestia says graciously, her scan beginning. She wishes such an antagonistic attitude wasn’t necessary on his part, but has found Equestria’s neighboring nations more willing to accept the idea of a belligerent Prince perpetually frustrated at being forever forestalled, never to ascend higher than a figurehead, than one who eagerly follows her every command. She continues conversationally, “By the way, Cadance has found your gift very helpful.”

Those heartthrob eyes briefly widen at the abrupt change in topic. “I-I am glad.” She can see why Cadance made the attempt with him, anypony liable to swoon at seeing his smile. “Though I still wish she was wearing it under different circumstances.” He clears his throat, struggling to regain his overbearing attitude. “I expect it back when she is done. Dry cleaned.”

Celestia nods, all business. “Your Blessing of the Six and Symbol of Harmony will expire at dusk tomorrow, though I will be overriding with Hoof of Virtue as normal. Your suit, sheath, and swords all match the descriptions given. No other enchantments, buffs, or effects noted.” She smiles, carefully neutral. “Anything else?”

Prince Blueblood inspects a hoof, disdainfully flicking away a speck of dust. “Directions to the nearest spa.” His eyes flick up to meet Celestia’s, a hint of a smirk. “Is it true what they say about Crystal Ponies?”

“That you’ll cut yourself to ribbons if you aren’t careful?” Celestia taps her chin thoughtfully as Blueblood blanches, even through his pristine white coat. “I’m sure the palace staff will be happy to accommodate.”

“Err, yes. I’m sure. Now to see where they’ve misplaced my luggage.” He nods as a way of farewell, trotting out. She hopes he manages to stay out of trouble’s way, and if trouble has any sense it will avoid him. She would much rather spend her night reading reports than lists of charges and casualties.

She thanks Harmony that their diplomatic relations have worked so smoothly this past decade, thanks in no small part to Prince Blueblood’s petulant and quarrelsome personality.

Cadance is happily snoozing away when she returns, and Celestia is happy to let her rest. Today is the last day new ponies should be arriving, though there would undoubtedly be supplies and provisions that need checking. Her little ponies should be up for the task, but there is always the possibility that something gets missed. The consequences of such smuggling… could it end in disaster? The Brave and Glorious Emperor Spike wants those three disciples of Grogar kept from entering the Crystal Empire and spreading their stark message of Harmony. Perhaps he overstepped his bounds when he gleefully commanded Princess Cadance to assist with the security. Juvenile, to take such pleasure in power, but Spike is a juvenile dragon thrust into the trappings of power. He has as good an upbringing as could be asked, but is still a dragon, and a teenage one at that.

She thanks Harmony for the adventure to come, to be a shining example for her precious foal.

An hour later they are called again, this time for Doug, fellow Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie Pie’s luggage. She moves to check the luggage, as it would be improper for her to inspect her stallion and herdmate. She splices into the room’s security feed, watching even as she unfolds what seems to be a dimensional suitcase full of every single item Pinkie Pie keeps on hoof, with enough rooms and hallways to rival her castle.

Cadance rushes to greet Twilight with their Sunshine Song and dance, though a waggle of Celestia’s hips is all it takes to draw his attention from the rump-thumping, his choked greeting music to her ears. Celestia takes a deep breath and pushes in, hoping she doesn’t get lost.

She thanks Harmony for that assurance that, no matter how much junk collapses on her, things will be just fine.

“C-Cadance,” Doug says as he recovers, waving to her in that human fashion. His eyes travel down her barrel, whistling approvingly. “You look good in that dress.”

“Thank you,” Cadance says liltingly, a quick twirl swirling the edges.

“You look even better without it on,” he continues, smirking, though his leer is mostly directed at Celestia’s back end, the other half in the suitcase.

“Doug!” Twilight scolds.

“You are incorrigible,” Cadance says, flipping her mane and clearly enjoying the attention. “Do I need to tell you to keep your hands where I can see them?”

“Would that work?” Doug jokes, though dutifully scratches her ears when she presents her head to him. “Is it some Crystal Empire fashion, or…?” He traces the large sun on the front, glancing between her dress and the identical tattoo on his chest.

“A loan from-” Cadance starts before her jaw clenches. It takes her a moment to recover. “The Prince.” She takes a deep breath. “His dam wore it, and hers before, for some fifty odd generations. It has a wide array of monitoring spells, protective charms, resizing and self-cleansing. It saves me the trouble of casting them myself. And with how voracious the baby is?” She struggles to smile, made quite easier when Doug goes back to scratching her ears. She steps forward, her horn laying on his neck while her head rests on his muscular chest. “Any little bit helps.”

“Glad to be of assistance,” Doug says, running his hands along her back, though he frowns at how little give the dress has. “Though if you want a proper massage, you might need to strip out of it.”

“Your room or mine?” Cadance asks with a wink.

“Cadance!” Twilight scolds.

The unrepentant alicorn rolls her eyes while Doug stammers. “Mine, then. Don’t worry; Shiny will be there, and he’ll want tips.” She pulls back to inspect him, her purple eyes shining white. She frowns. “No enchantments?”

“They fell off almost immediately,” Doug says with a disappointed huff. “Like the cloudwalking spell, there’s nothing to anchor to.”

“And linking still isn’t a good idea.” Cadance sighs, giving him a nod and turning to Twilight. “Virtue? Six and Harmony is a better combo, especially for alicorns.”

“I was worried about slots,” Twilight admits. “Plus, it’s not like I’m emptying my reserves anytime soon.”

“Six clickies?” Cadance shakes her head. “You must be really worried about dispels.” Her eyes suddenly widen. “Oh. Oh. I see. Will that also trigger if you’re silenced?”

“Or muted.” Twilight’s muzzle pulls tight. “Dangerous, yes. But it should be non-lethal.”

Cadance’s frown lengthens. “And since it won’t trigger offensively, it’s technically a defensive measure.”

Doug chimes in, “Technically correct is the best kind of correct.”

“You’re cleared,” Cadance says, drawing her words out. “But this will be noted. If you provoke anypony…”

“Who, me?” Twilight beams, fluttering her eyelashes innocently. She looks around. “Celestia?”

“In here,” Celestia calls from between a lifesize replica of Gummy and a stuffed caiman. Even more reptiles are crammed further in. She backs up and, despite being several rooms in, immediately exits the suitcase. She turns to Doug, who hesitantly picks it up. “It’s clean, with the standard disclaimer about extradimensional storage space interactions.”

“Then we’re ready to go?” Doug grins, eager to hop on her back and wrap his arms around her neck, a soft kiss to the bottom of her mane. She appreciates the fondness, even as she occasionally pines for a more fiery and passionate stallion. Earth is useful, and those that dig it. It’s just… boring.

She takes off as soon as they are outside, flying up to the balcony of the Crystal Castle, just in time to set the sun. She exchanges a quick kiss with Doug, careful not to prime his pump too badly before he leaves with Cadance.

She thanks Harmony for him, and for all the blessings in her life.

Next Chapter: Ch. 189 - Overwhelming Odds, Part Four Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 9 Minutes