Princess Celestia smiled as she laid out the paperwork in front of her in my Equestria dreamscape. Even reading the Annual Canterlot City Public Works Audit couldn’t dampen the smile on her face. Today was a beautiful day and since she had no court or formal meetings scheduled she had decided to work out in the main garden. So with that plan she’d set out on her expedition.
 
Of course one did not embark on an expedition without provisions, so her highness had obtained rations. A thermal carafe of freshly brewed coffee with the correct amount of cream and sugar already mixed in it. Accompanying the coffee was a small plate of still warm, iced oatmeal raisin cookies. With these rations she would be able sustain herself until lunch time.
 
There were several tables and sitting areas scattered around garden. Celestia found one such table and claimed it for herself. It was close to one of the wings of the palace but the thick stone walls and closed windows muffled most of the sounds coming within the bustling palace. Beside it had beautiful view of the roses and the goldfish pond.
 
Lifting the carafe she poured herself a cup of coffee. She could hear the gardeners working on the hedges across the way. From the parade grounds one could hear the muffled sounds of the guard doing drills, and if one really listened you might hear the sounds of ponies working out in the gymnasium.
 
With coffee poured the Princess of the Sun turned her attention to the cookies. Many of Canterlot’s elite would turn up their noses at something so rustic as a oatmeal raisin cookies, but Celestia loved them. She might not serve them when entertaining visitors, but she’d instructed the kitchen staff to make them at least once a week for her.
 
Gracefully she levitated the bone china cup from its saucer. Then a cookie and the first page of the audit joined the cup in the air. She moved the cup toward her lips as prepared to take a sip of the hot, creamy, bittersweet—
 
BOOM!
 
From the palace there was a thunderous roar that shattered the peaceful quiet of the garden. The concussion of the explosion tousled the mare’s mane and tail. The princess was also aware of the whizzing sounds caused by former parts of the palace that now had new, exciting, short-term careers as shrapnel. One particularly enthusiastic piece of masonry went whistling pass her as it obliterated the carafe and the plate of cookies on the table.
 
Only with great self-control did she avoid dropping the items she had levitated.Doing a quick self-examination to confirm she wasn’t perforated she rose and trotted toward the blown out gymnasium window. All over the palace she heard ponies shouting and galloping toward the sound of the explosion. Dust and smoke obscured Celestia’s view into the room but from within she could hear a couple of ponies coughing. Then after a second they started laughing. The alicorn sighed as recognized one as being her sister and the other being one of her Mares-in-Waiting.
 
Shaking her head Celestia closed her eyes and teleported into the now wrecked gym.
 
To be continued.