Even a princess needs to preen sometimes.
Get a bunch of fanfics to read for Celestia day below! This list is different from last year, so be sure to check out the older posts if your favorite isn't here.
Slice of Life
An Oral History of the Two Sisters by Pony with a Pen
One thousand years is a long time to keep a memory alive, especially one so filled with pain and regret, but some things are worth remembering. After all, somepony has to tell her story.
Set before the events of Season 1.
The Past Saw The Future by Coffeebean
The past and the future sat in a room. The future stared in awe at the past, the fear of expectation and heritage beginning to gnaw at her. The past only smiled, as the future looked bright.
Principal Celestia Hunts the Undead by Rune Soldier Dan
"Sunset, you weren't the first unearthly threat to come to this world, and you won't be the last. If we seem calm in the face of strange events, it's not because we're oblivious or indifferent to them. It's because they're not strange to us. The Fall Formal may have been the most important night of your life, but to us... it was Thursday."
Matters of Principle by Bookish Delight
If there are three things Principal Celestia can't stand, it's paperwork, princesses and her past. Unfortunately, the first makes up her job... and she desperately needs the second to help her resolve the last.
The Principal's Project by QueenMoriarty
Sunset Shimmer ran away. There's really no other way to say it. One can call it exile, tactical retreat, or even a permanent change in residence, but the facts are the same. She turned her back on the only reality she had ever known, and ran away. By the time she stopped to look back, the damage was done. It was too late. Celestia would never forgive her. She would never forgive herself.
There's someone else who will, though.
Time and Times by Archonix
Celestia spends an inordinate amount of time talking to herself. One day, she talks back.
Artistic License by Chris
When Princesses Celestia and Luna visit a public art gallery, they come upon a painting of Celestia, banished to the moon. They react to this in the only reasonable way: artistic criticism and analysis.
Never So Far Away by PoweredByTea
Twilight takes a walk in the woods near Canterlot to clear her mind, when a mischievous little phoenix starts dropping chestnut shells on her head. Quite a familiar mischievous little phoenix.
A Little Chat by DungeonMiner
Sunset was enjoying her day, going through school as she was expected to do, when she's suddenly called to the Principal's office.
Confused, but with little choice in the matter, she answers, heading to Celestia's office. There, she finds the Principal sitting, wanting to have a chat.
Sunset was not prepared for anything like this.
A Short Story by Twilight Sparkle by Skywriter
Princess Celestia helps to banish a hoofful of inner demons lurking deep in the heart of a troubled author. Metafiction, again, ensues. Something of a coda to "Princess Celestia Hates Tea".
In All But Name by SPark
Celestia goes to extra effort to make the sunrise perfect for a very special holiday. Yet once that is done, Celestia herself is left sad and alone, for she has never been a mother... (A short Mother's Day story.)
Momlestia is Bestia. At least for today.
Let Them Eat Cake by Ogopogo
Princess Celestia takes a moment on her birthday to recall the cakes she has eaten and the memories they elicit.
Comedy
The Princess' New Clothes by Irrespective
It is a well-known fact that the ponies of Equestria, in general, do not wear clothes. From Princess Celestia all the way down to Applejack, it would seem that the only time ponies bother with such a frivolous thing is for special occasions.
But the truth is far more complicated than that. As it turns out, all of those ponies are dressed.
You just can't see it.
Principal Celestia's Family Reunion by MythrilMoth
Something's been bothering Sunset Shimmer for a while now.
How can there be a human version of Princess Celestia who's in her early forties, when Princess Celestia herself is thousands of years old?
The Rainbooms catch wind of Celestia and Luna's upcoming family reunion, and decide to crash it.
What they find there is...disturbing.
One-Sided Conversation by Rambling Writer
Celestia knows Sunset and her friends are often at the center of "happenings" around Canterlot High. So when she overhears Sunset talking to her friends on a cell phone, she can't help but listen in. Maybe she'll learn something about what they're doing.
Or maybe she'll be completely lost about what they're doing.
"Ultimate Power is Finally... Mine?" by FoughtDragon01
It took many long years and far more defeats than he'd care to admit, but at last—at long last—victory was finally within the great Ahuizotl's reach. Absolutely nothing, not even that meddlesome Daring Do, would be able to stand in his way any longer. Yet even with his arch nemesis facing her inevitable demise and the ultimate power literally in his grasp, he can't shake the feeling that he's forgotten about something.
One tiny, crucial detail. Something very important. As in, 'could easily ruin his plans if not attended to' important.
...
Eh, maybe he just left the oven on again.
As Celestia Is My Witness by adcoon
Celestia has had enough of half-arsed promises from her loyal subjects. It's time to wear a different hat.
"Thanks, Mom." by naturalbornderpy
"Thanks, Mom." Two simple words said by a simple guard.
Not so simple when those words are accidentally addressed to Princess Celestia.
Legality Abnormality by alexmagnet
While on a trip to Canterlot to do some research, Twilight happens upon a dust-covered book titled Insane Edicts: A Legal History of Equestria. Sure, the book seem innocuous enough, but when she opens it up she discovers that Celestia is far more eccentric than she'd like to believe.
Fat Stacks... of Books by Justice3442
Celestia prepares for another routine day at the castle with the recent addition of teaching her new, young student. However, an impromptu structure made from books causes a slight change of plans.
Sad/Dark
Mortality Report by Bad Horse
Princess Celestia writes a report to her teacher on what she has learned about mortality.
Shipping
My Farrier Lady, Sunspot by Georg
Once upon a time, there were two friends who ran a farrier shop in Canterlot. The oldest fed the forge and used his earth pony magic to produce strong steel shoes, which the younger enchanted with his powerful unicorn magic. They worked together in harmony, creating beautiful shoes for all who visited until one day they met a young mare in their local bar. She was a mysterious creature, overstressed by her job in the palace and needing the company of two friends far more than she realized.
Until one night, when her sister returned during the Summer Sun Festival…
Blood From a Stone by AugieDog
Not long after her and Luna's retirement, Celestia receives a visit from an old...friend? Comrade-at-arms? Fellow immortal? Hopeless crush of her distant youth?
After everything that's happened over the centuries, Celestia's not at all sure what Scorpan is to her any more. The almost-forgotten stirrings in her chest, though, tell her quite clearly what she'd like him to be...
Time Enough For Love by Horizon
Clover the Clever never asked for his life to get so complicated. It was bad enough tricking a drunk Imperatrix Celestia, war goddess of the Three Tribes, out of her accidental coup against Queen Platinum. But now the most dangerous pony in Equestria has returned to trade her claim on the sun for a chance to woo him.
On top of that, his erstwhile mentor Star Swirl the Bearded has saddled him with a mysterious magical necklace and a uniquely bleak and pointless prophecy: If he's brave enough, and if he's clever enough, he just might survive Celestia for long enough to break her heart.
Ascension, or Celestia's Purgatorio by Undome Tinwe
Celestia ascends the slopes of a mystical mountain to purify herself.
Just Like Old Times by Krickis
Throughout her marriage, Twilight Velvet has ignored every romantic feeling she felt towards other ponies. She was a good wife, and good wives knew better than to dwell on thoughts like that. But as they grew older and experienced other ways of thinking, Twilight Velvet and Night Light realized her feelings don’t cheapen their marriage and the love they share.
With her husband’s encouragement, Velvet finally pursues the pony that’s been on her mind for twelve years.
Drama
Distance Beyond Any Measure by Ice Star
How do you tell a child that she will never be enough?
Time to Burn by Aragon
Only Princess Twilight and Principal Celestia can save the world, but it's really not their top priority.
Adventure
Pastorality by TheBandBrony
Celestia has a disturbing revelation about the limits of alicorn mortality. With time suddenly turned against her, she must embark on a journey to find the source of her unrest: an ancient memory drawing her inexorably to a forest that time forgot.
The Golden Alicorn of the Sun by Georg
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Princess who sacrificed herself to save all of Equestria from a terrible fate. Now it is time for those who were saved by her actions to repay that debt, and bring back the Sun. If they can.
Exiles by Coyote de La Mancha
Before recorded history, there was the Age of Chaos, when Discord ruled the world.
And in this age, there were two sisters.
The elder, a unicorn, possessed unprecedented refined senses and magical might. The younger sister was a pegasus, with insight beyond her years and the strange gift of walking through shadow and dream.
One day, they would be alicorns. Ponies and other intelligent beings would debate over whether they were goddesses.
But first, before anything else, they were children.
This is their story.
Thanks to Whisper Key for gathering them up.
