Princess Lenna

“Is that it? That castle on the dune top, over there?” Crystal asked.
“Yes, that is it. The old fortress on the south. In the past, it was our protection from invading ponies. Now, it’s just our most well-protected place, where some family members live, and where our archives are held.” Daryia explained, while they continued to walk on the sandy road on top of the furthest dune. On their right was the ocean, on their left, they had a great view over the dunes. A few houses were scattered here and there, but this wasn’t anything new. In fact, every place was like that. But not the castle. Or fortress. It wasn’t like the palace where the queen lived at all, nor was it like any of the important buildings in the city. It was build of dark grey stones, and it looked heavily protected by them. The walls were thick, and there were only two watch towers on the right and left side of the building. It reminded Twinkle Star more of the old protecting castle’s on the borders of the old lands than of a castle of some sort. But then again, it was meant to be something like that.

As they got closer, Twinkle Star recognised the banners of Madash fluttering in the soft sea breeze. The southern border… for a country as strong as Madash, it sure was small. They could travel through it in two days. The new Friendship Lands were smaller, true, but Madash was so much older. When they got to the gate, Twinkle star noticed the water surrounding the castle. One of the guards that had travelled with them yelled something, and not much later the draw bridge went down. They walked across the bridge, and under the gate. They ended up in a small open space, surrounded by walls.
“Mother! Father!” Twinkle Star heard someone yell, and when she turned around she saw a young woman walking towards them. Twinkle Star was shocked at how familiar the pony looked to her. This pony, which she assumed was princess Lenna, definitely had her father’s looks. Her mane were pure turquoise, but her body was the same color as her father’s, that is, dark pink. Her eyes were deep blue, like her mother’s. She wore a yellow cape with a white brim. Her turquoise mane were tight together with a yellow ribbon with a sunflower pin attached to it. 

“Lenna! It’s so good to see you!” Daryia said, and she hugged her daughter.
“I’m so glad to see you both, mother, father. What brings you here all of a sudden? It’s been long since you two came visiting me unexpected.” Lenna asked, and Daryia pointed at Twinkle Star and Crystal.
“These two ponies are your cousins, Lenna, daughter’s of your father’s cousin and queen of the new Friendship Lands, Queen Regina. Their names are Crystal and Twinkle Star. They asked permission to look through our personal files, but I will explain it later. For now, they will be guests here.”
“Will you not stay, mother, father?” Lenna asked, and Twinkle Star recognised the disappointment in her voice. She had heard it before, in the voices of so many ponies she had left behind in her life. Unfortunately for Lenna, Daryia shook her head.
“I am sorry, dear. We will stay with tonight, but we will leave tomorrow morning at first dawn. There are many things that concern me, and we are needed in the capital. Now, why don’t we get in and drink some tea? We are weary from our journey, and we can definitely use some of your nice tea, my child.” Daryia smiled at Lenna, who faintly smiled back.

They followed Lenna back into the door which she came out of, and they entered a small doorway. They followed it for a short while, then entered one of the rooms. It was rather small, and there was red paint on all of the walls. On both the left and the right wall were two large paintings, one with a large white pony on it with the ocean behind her, but the other was of a light blue pony in a storm, with a red aura around it. The pony was drawn so angry and yet looking so brave, Twinkle Star couldn’t keep her eyes of it. She had hoped the others would explain the paintings to her, but nobody even looked at them, except for of course Crystal.

When they all sat down, Daryia began to explain to her daughter what Twinkle Star and Crystal’s true reason was to come here. She explained of Togli and her mind seal, of the new Friendship Lands, and even explained in great detail about Stelline, something Twinkle Star had told Daryia the evening before. During the conversation they drank some nice tea in a flavour Twinkle Star had never tasted before, but she didn’t really mingle in the conversation, and Crystal even less. Twinkle Star was rather surprised when a waiter came in to announce dinner was ready.

Dinner was rather simple, some sea weeds prepared with some sauce, it was much like dinner she had the evening before in the royal palace. They didn’t talk about mind seals or other uncomforting things during dinner, the main topic was the visit of Lenna’s oldest brother with his wife and two children to this castle two weeks ago. It was obvious Daryia was rather proud that he had two daughters, but Twinkle Star could feel in the air there was something more going on. Daryia definitely was concerned about her daughter not yet having a husband, even though she didn’t speak it out loud.

After dinner Crystal and Twinkle Star were shown to their rooms, on the other side of the open place in the centre of the building. It was a nice and cosy room, with a small picture of the ocean on their red walls, but other than two beds there was nothing in the room. Yet, it was just fine for them. When they were finished unpacking their bags, Twinkle Star was surprised to see it was already dark outside. A clear night, with a lot of stars in the sky. Were there more stars above the ocean? “Hey Crystal, how about we go outside for a bit, on the castle walls? See the view a bit.” She proposed to her sister, who was sitting on her bed.
“Oh, I don’t know Twinkle Star. I mean, I would like that, but I’m just so tired of all this walking. And it was rather late last evening, with all the talking with Daryia and all. I just want to get some sleep.” Crystal said sleepy.
“Oh, that’s okay. You get some rest, you’re right, you look really tired. You mind if I go out on my own a bit? I’m… I don’t know, I don’t feel like sleeping yet. Too much new things going on.”
To her relief, Crystal had no objections. Twinkle Star left their little room, and not much later she was on the open place in the centre of the castle. There was a small fountain here, and Twinkle star enjoyed the sounds of the dripping water.

She saw some stairs leading to the top of the castle walls. There were no guards on top, but Twinkle Star was sure they were in the castle towers on the left and right. She shrugged, and walked to the top of the stairs. There was no one there but the calm ocean breeze. She couldn’t see the ocean from here, but she could hear it, and even smell the sweet salt in the air. From on top of the castle she had a nice view over the surrounding dune landscape. It was all so calm and quiet, the only lights were from some small houses in the distance. The silence reminded her of the plains that surrounded the old Friendship Lands, and her time with Aline there. Aline… how would she be? It’s been a while since she had last thought of her friend. Would she be enjoying herself at the castle? Would she be worried? Twinkle Star shook her head. She hoped it wouldn’t be too long before she would be able to return home and share her stories with her best friend.

“Hi.” A voice said in the dark, and Twinkle Star jumped up. Next to her stood Lenna, once again in her yellow cape.
“Oh Lenna, you startled me! I didn’t even hear you coming!” winkle Star said shocked. Lenna simply smiled back.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” She paused for a moment. “A nice view, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Twinkle Star agreed. “It’s so quiet.”
Lenna nodded softly. “I know. It’s a bit too quiet to my liking here. I wish I could go back to the city.”
Twinkle star suddenly realised how childish Lenna’s voice still was. This pony had to be at least as old as she was, and yet, when she looked at Lenna, it was hard for her to imagine this pony being any older than Fleur or Ivy.
“Then why are you here? I heard your own palace is inside the city.” She asked the princess.
“Oh, it is. The palace of the heir… but after someone tried to break into the library, my parents send me here, along with the important documents. They feel it is safer here.” Lenna explained.
“Is it really? I mean, I heard the same about the library, that it was protected by ancient magic. And I felt it, when I was there. Something special. But I don’t feel anything here.” Twinkle Star asked, while she looked out over the dunes in front of her.

Lenna shook her head. “No. It’s not like that. According to the ancient books… during the attack of the sea monster, he has never been able to take this fortress over. He wanted to, because it’s a rather nice spot, and a strong castle. But he never could. I don’t know why. But my family beliefs this castle is protected by something they cannot even begin to understand.”
 “Interesting….” Twinkle Star whispered. Still, it didn’t feel that way. To any of Twinkle Star’s senses, this castle didn’t feel any different from any ordinary building. Did they put all their important ponies and books in a place that was completely unprotected, only because they believed in some myth? Twinkle Star couldn’t suppress a smile. That would be something.

From the corner of her eye Twinkle Star looked at Jenna, who was as much lost in thought as she was. She was a pretty young girl, but Twinkle Star could see clearly she wasn’t completely happy with her life. What kind of queen would Jenna be in the future? Somehow, she just felt too nice and sweet to be a good queen. Would she even be able to make the right decisions? When Jenna noticed Twinkle Star looked at her, she blushed and smiled at her.
“I’m sorry for letting my mind wander off. I was just…” Her voice trailed off in the darkness of the night, in which she was lost once again.
“Just what?” Twinkle Star asked.
“I was just wondering… thinking I was glad there are some other princesses here. I never met one, you know.”
“Eh?”
“Another princess, I mean. My mother was the only girl, I only have brothers, and my uncle… he has never married. It’s nice, to meet someone like me.”

Twinkle Star smiled. “I’d hardly call it that. I feel like… I ceased being a princess when my old Land was destroyed. For sixteen years I was alone, doing everything to survive. Now… I feel like I am once again my mother’s daughter, yes. But a princess of the new Lands? I have grown to like them, and I can see them as my home in the future. But to be a princess of them, to protect them the way I was born to do with my old home…”
“I’d like to see them some day. The new lands, I mean. Meet more of my family.” “Oh, they’re a nice place. Rather different from here, though. Way less sand.” Lenna laughed in response.
“I’m sure they do. I still feel bad that I never got to see the old lands. My father always promised me we would go there when I would become and adult. But by that time… Well, everything had changed. I used to blame my father for not wanting to take me and my brothers there sooner, but he explained to me, a few years ago… the reason he didn’t want to come back.” Lenna’s voice had become as sad as the lonely stars in the sky. It was clear to Twinkle Star she was talking about what had happened with Anrui, Matoe’s sister, and her mother’s sister Reine.

“I’m sorry Lenna. My mother told us the story a few months ago, too.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay. For me, really. Just… I don’t like to talk about it in front of my father or my uncle. They… can’t handle it really well. So please, don’t mention it to them, will you?”
“Of course not.” Twinkle Star smiled.
“Say, it’s getting rather chilly out here. Why don’t you come with me to the living room? I’ll see if we can get some nice drinks.” Lenna proposed, and Twinkle Star happily agreed.