Cookies for Heaven

[letteropener]

Who: Princess Celestia
When: October 14-21st
Where: All around the Far Shore
What: Princess Celestia brings cookies and, perhaps more importantly, wellness checks to the temples of the Far Shore.


Two things circled each other in Celestia's mind, forming a taijutu symbol in the way each completed the other: A lot of people in the Far Shore really needed some personal attention, friendship, and care; and she had, thanks to practice and effort, gotten quite good at baking cookies.

So each morning, Celestia cheerfully moved dough into her oven on sheet after sheet, the entire kitchen in Inti's temple animated in golden light like Merlin himself had set it all to baking-- and each afternoon, Celestia took wing above the Far Shore, traveling from temple to temple to seek out the inhabitants therein.

So at some point, an alicorn will come knocking at your door, with a bright smile on her face and a basket of cookies floating by her side.

Comments

[letteropener]

[Celestia can't help but grin, every bit as susceptible to a cute kitten as any other pony would be.] A little energetic even by kitten standards, I take it? Would you care for some help?

[Celestia has never had a kitten for a pet, but that doesn't stop her from knowing perfectly well how to care for them. She offers out one hoof, so Miss Snowflake can get a good look and a sniff at her.]

[purr_ince]

That or she's just really unfortunately clumsy. She's always getting into some kind of disaster. I love her though. I love all the girls. [He smiles happily.] That would be great.

[Adrien stills holding the bundle of yarn closer to her but still settled in his arms against his chest so she doesn't get too alarmed. There's a soft mew from the mass then a dark head popping out. The movement of the kitten's tail and her ears reads curious yet anxious.

She's sitting up a bit trying to make herself look bigger. As long as they're patient and quiet the kitten seems to calm by little degrees, shifting foward in Adrien's arms to sniff at her hoof. Then there's another mew, softer this time then there's a slow kitty blink.

Congrats, Celestia, you have been accepted as kitty friend.]

I think she likes you.

[letteropener]

[Truth be told, if that hadn't happened, Celestia would have been very puzzled. Even cats generally appreciated the Princess of the Day, just as part of her gifts.]

[Very carefully, Celestia lifts the kitten with her magic, just far enough that she can send the yarn poofing outwards with her magic. Once it all unwinds, it collapses back into a sensible ball that this time contains no kitten at all.]

There we go. But we should find something safer for her to play with.

[purr_ince]

[He's watching. Nope still not used to magic, every time he sees it the blond is more than a little surprised and impressed. Seeing her untangle the little black kitten he smiles. Adrien can hear soft meows before starting to purr loudly.]

She's got toys.They all do. Marinette made them mice and little balls with bells. Don't be fooled. Snowflake just likes getting into things she isn't supposed to and getting attention. She got herself stuck in the sleeve of one of my shirts.

[It's clear the cat amuses him. Leaning he's picking up the ball moving to put it into the basket that it belongs in this time closing it and flicking the latch before reaching gently to take hold of the kitten.]

[letteropener]

Well, then on her own head it be if she gets in trouble. [Celestia gently deposits Snowflake onto her back, between her wings, a place she's often found cats and kittens appreciate.] Have you considered one of those large cat trees? She seems like she'd benefit from such a thing.

[purr_ince]

I think she just like making me spent an hour untangling her from everything. Not that I mind much? As long as she doesn't get herself in real trouble or hurt I'm okay rescuing her from her own antics.

[He's watching her settle Snowflake on her back and smiles. The cat looks a bit confused but eventually settles to lay there looking like a little loaf of black fur and big eyes.]

I have to say, you're got quite a way with the fluffs. You mean a scratch post with the little level things? It might be a good idea. I could keep it down here on this floor that way there's space and it's out of the way.

[He's leading the way up to the next floor and yes there are two of the other kittens there - Luna and Joli curled up together sleeping.]

That means the tiniest terror must be upstairs in Marinette's room. Make yourself comfortable. I'll get that lemonade.

[There's not much separating the living room and the kitchen just a small breakfast bar. He's crossing over into the kitchen taking down a couple glasses and adding a bit of ice to them before fetching the pitcher of lemonade. After pouring the glasses, he returns it to the fridge, holding a little treat he's taking from it; snagging a small plate and a few other pastries to place on it - even if Celestia brought cookies it's just good hospitality to provide a little something.

Pausing he's getting a fork and a napkin and placing them on the plate. Picking up the glasses, balancing a small saucer of pastries - passion fruit Madeleines, bite-sized cherry clafoutis, and min-strawberry cheesecakes - a top his own cup, moving into the living room.]

It's actually nice to meet people that are making friends with my goddess, I admit. It helps me learn who's welcome here and isn't a stranger just snooping around. So you said you were from some place called Canterlot? What's that like?

[And he's placing the little small plate down gently before reaching for a cookie from that floating plate, taking a bite. Settling onto the chair leaving the sofa vacant.]

[letteropener]

[Oh goodness, so many kittens! Celestia paces quite gently up the stairs, as comfortable a seat for a kitty as any feline could ask for even given her movement.]

[By the time Adrien returns from the kitchen, she's tucked herself up onto the sofa without any problem at all despite her equine anatomy, her shoes kept carefully off the cushions. Her own plate of cookies drops down to add itself to the treas, the better for Adrien to reach them. She herself takes a cheesecake with her magic and a smile of thanks.]

It is the capital of Equestria, and considered to be a very high-society town because of that. It does often tend to be the site of the most prestigious of social and cultural events...

[purr_ince]

[So now there are three fluffs on the couch between then; Snowflake curling up against Celestia as she hunkers down. Adrien is happily eating his cookie blinking.]

This is a good cookie. [He's not a judge exactly but it's as good as one of Marinette's therefore - good. Bright green eyes are watching her listening curiously.] So it's kind of like the center of all the important things? Kind of like the meeting hall here and that one temple - Amaterasu's? [He thinks anyway.]

And you said you'd been to the Palace there or lived there? Something like that? Do you miss it there?

[letteropener]

Yes, I have lived in the palace for a thousand years now -- so being here is honestly quite a delightful vacation. [Celestia smiles with unreserved happiness. She doesn't miss the palace, or the duties, though she does miss the ponies.] So much politics, and duties, and formal occasions, there's never a rest!

[purr_ince]

[He's staring at her with wide eyes - clearly he's surprised.] A thousand years? You don't look that old. [A frown settled over his features.] Formal events? Like that party in the hall? I mean it was nice but it's got to get bothersome - especially if you're in charge of trying to make everything just right.

[letteropener]

I'm much older, but thank you for the kind words. [As usual, her response is warm and amused, because really, he's a human -- how does he know what a thousand-year-old magical pony is supposed to look like?] Luckily I have staff and planners to handle those sorts of things, but that doesn't make them any less grating to endure over, and over, and over again. If last year's Grand Galloping Gala hadn't ended up in absolute disaster I think I would have cried!

[purr_ince]

Really? I'm just surprised. I've never known anyone or anything to live so long so it's kind of amazing.

[He's finishing his cookie then nodding.]

Having help is always good. You must have had a lot of responsibilities. Was being a good here and easy transition then? you know since you're already used to people depending on you.

[letteropener]

Oh, well, it was rough in certain ways. My uniqueness remains unabated all this while. [She says this airly, waving one hoof to emphasize that she certainly isn't staying up nights crying over it.] In terms of responsibilities, however, I do far, far less as Inti than I ever did in Equestria. I feel like I'm on vacation here.

[purr_ince]

I don't think there's anything wrong with being unique. We're all set apart somehow. I could see wanting friends and people like you around, though.

[Adrien smiles before giving a little nod.]

That's a good way to look at it.Really, that's wonderful I wonder if more people feel that way. I mean I'm just taking it as some really neat adventure, meeting new and interesting people.

[letteropener]

Some do. But there are many who object, because they were taken away from something important, or simply because they were not asked. Understandable, in both cases -- I would be far more upset a few years ago, had I been brought here then.

[purr_ince]

I.. could understand that, too. If I remembered anything I would be trying to get back myself - well maybe. But really there's not much we can do about that at least not right now. It's a goal to possibly work toward if that's what you want to do.

[He laughs softly.] It is bad manners not to have asked first but something tells me that that was kind of impossible.

[letteropener]

I think the level of irritation some people show is irrational, myself -- after all, we are all stuck here, and raging and being angry about it will not accomplish anything. But who am I to judge? [She shrugs, a motion which causes her wings to spread just the slightest bit before she tucks them back in again.]

[purr_ince]

[Adrien shrugged a bit.] Depends on the circumstance? Being a Shinki and not having memories is kind of an unpleasant thing. It's kind of a blessing and a curse. I'm missing things parts of myself but I don't know what I'm missing.

But like you said being angry gets me nowhere and it could hurt me or my goddess so I'm not going to dwell on bad things. [His gaze flicks to her wings curiously.] Can you fly with those?

[letteropener]

[Celestia quickly tucks a hoof over her mouth to muffle a giggle.] Yes, I certainly can. As an alicorn, I have a pegasus's virtues, which means not only can I fly, I can control the weather as well.

[purr_ince]

Alicorn? [It's okay to laugh at his confusion. He'd laugh at himself, too. He takes no offense.] So you can fly and control the weather? That's amazing. I don't think I know anyone that can do anything like that?

[letteropener]

[Celestia doesn't laugh at confusion! It's not in her nature at all.] Well, if you lived in Equestria it would be very commonplace. Equestrian nature does not do its own thing, as it all does here or in human worlds. We ponies are the stewards of the land.

[purr_ince]

[At the moment he's feeling rather small. Does everyone have something amazing like this? All he's got is.. music?] It seems like you were already pretty much a god before you came here.

[letteropener]

People have made that comparison before. [She wouldn't call herself especially thrilled with it.] But it's simply that we ponies are a different species, on a different world. And you mustn't think that makes us any better. I've learned clearly that we're all very much alike, where it counts.

[purr_ince]

Well, I mean it's not a bad thing? I didn't mean to make it sound like it was. What I mean is, maybe you have enough experience to not feel as uncertain as some.

[He shakes his head.]

That wasn't what I was thinking at all. I don't think anyone is better than anyone else - I can just acknowledge when people have super impressive skills I don't is all.

[letteropener]

Everypony has their own special, personal, unique talent. Just because some are more obvious or may seem more impressive doesn't mean there is nothing about you or anypony else that isn't amazing and special.

[Humans may have a much harder time of it, she muses, without cutie marks. Cutie marks do so much to help ponies understand what makes them unique and special. Humans, on the other hand, seem to often struggle with that knowledge, or even forget it entirely.]