>Celestia awoke from her bed on this fine morning, stretching and smiling before pushing her warm covers off of herself.
>It would be another fine day.
>The princess trotted into her bathroom to prepare for her day, as she usually did.
>She started by "powdering her nose", then getting into the shower, drying and styling, a touch of makeup, and then.
>The final step.
>Clothing herself.
>She left the bathroom and went to her nightstand, where she usually left her attire.
>Celestia's crown, torc, and slippers were an essential part of her appearance, after all.
>So imagine her surprise when she reached her nightstand and found not her attire, but a note.
>She lifted it with her magic to read.
>"your royal attire had several cracks and bruises in them likely from yesterdays carriage accident. ive taken the liberty of fixing them up for you princess. it should only take a day. -rusty anvil"
>"Oh my," Celestia said to herself, "going out without my jewelry...that's something I haven't done for a long time."
>But did she mind?
>In response to the news, Celestia turned around and left her room, undeterred and ready to raise the sun.
>As soon as the door closed behind her, Celestia confidently moved to her regular sun-raising balcony.
>As she walked, she noticed how cold the tile floor was on her hooves, as a cool breeze blew across her neck.
>She'd worn her things for so long, she'd never noticed how much of a difference they made even as she walked among the halls.
>Celestia shivered slightly.
>Reaching her balcony, she performed her usual routine and flew into the air as her horn lit with magic.
>...except she noticed she'd flown a bit higher then usual.
>Did her attire really weigh her down that much?
>As the moon lowered and the sun came across the horizon, Celestia pondered as to how else she'd be effected by this...nakedness.
>The sun now in the sky, she gently lowered herself down to the waiting tile of her balcony.
>Her hooves made contact, and she flinched at the difference in temperature yet again.
>Even being in the air made her forget the coolness for a moment.
>At least it wasn't as bad as hardwood floors, if what she'd heard of them was anything to go by...
>Nonetheless, Celestia made it her duty to continue her tasks, royal attire or not.
>Although now she figured she could add "placing some carpet on these floors" to her "to do" list.
>Making it to the dining room for breakfast, Celestia met with her younger sister, who arched an eyebrow at the naked alicorn.
>"Sister, what are you doing out of your royal attire?"
>Celestia calmly sat in her seat, looking at her sister.
>"Apparently they were damaged in that small accident yesterday, so Rusty Anvil took it upon himself to fix them."
>Luna touched at her own torc, as if trying to imagine how her sister felt without hers.
>"Has it effected your day so far not wearing them?"
>Celestia nodded.
>"You'd be surprised how chilly the tile is."
>Luna chuckled at her sister's observation, then looked over to the kitchen doors as she heard them creak open.
>Out came breakfast, which both hungry princesses eagerly eyed.
>Once they were served, the two princesses happily ate in silence for a bit, until Luna stopped to ask Celestia a question.
>"So, how is eating without your jewelry?"
>Celestia swallowed her bite, then answered.
>"Oddly different. I can feel the food travel down my throat more clearly, and the heat of it is more pronounced."
>Luna hummed in thought, then shrugged, before taking off her own gear.
>"Luna, what are you doing?"
>The lunar pony ate her own food, then nodded.
>"There certainly is a difference. I am going to try living today without my equipment as well."
>That wasn't something Celestia saw coming.
>Luna's crown, torc, and slippers were set down on the floor next to her chair, her fully blue body now visible.
>"If I could ask another question," Luna said, looking at her food, "how will your appearances in public or to the citizens be without your usual 'clothing', so to speak?"
>Celestia looked at herself, her bare neck and hooves still something of a new sight to her.
>"I'm...not sure," the sun pony answered with hesitance, "Do you think it will make a difference?"
>"Our subjects are an unpredictable sort," Luna replied before taking a sip of her orange juice.
>Celestia contemplated her sister's words.
>While she loved them dearly as if they were her own, Celestia knew her subjects could indeed be rather odd.
>With breakfast finished, Celestia and her sister prepared for phase three of their day: royal work.
>The white princess went off to attend noon court, where she would once again listen to the troubles or proposals of her ponies.
>She made it to the throne room, sat in her throne, and waited for the guards to let in the first pony.
>As she waited, she couldn't help but feel as though she was being watched...
>As if a pair of eyes were fixated on her...
>She glanced at one of her guards stationed below her throne, whom she swore darted his eyes back forward.
>Was he...?
>"Our first guest has arrived, princess."
>"Please see them in."
>The throne room doors opened, and in walked a teal stallion of short stature.
>His eyes didn't meet hers. Instead, he opted to look around in awe of the room.
>"Wow, princess, I never thought your throne room would be so-"
>He stopped as soon as he looked at Celestia.
>"HE-HE-HELLO!"
>The princess was taken aback at his sudden, loud greeting.
>"I'm sorry?"
>"Celestia, pardon my forwardness, but you look fine today!"
>The solar pony felt a small blush form on her face as she went over the pony's words.
>"...fine?"
>"Like, wow, I've never seen a prettier pony! What'd you do to yourself today to make yourself stand out so much?"
>Celestia was still trying to process the fact that this was happening.
>Because she was stunned by this pony's rather blunt behavior, the guards decided to step in and speak for the princess.
>"Please state your business and be on your way. The princess is on a tight schedule."
>The stallion caught himself drooling over Celestia and focused.
>"S-sorry. I just got taken aback by how GORGEOUS she looks today!"
>The guards looked like they were trying their hardest not to yell out in agreement.
>Celestia was still frozen in her thoughts.
>"I-uh, well...I forgot?"
>Bested by the beauty, it seemed.
>"Please see yourself out," one of the guards told him, visibly sweating.
>"Uh...heh, wow, uh," the stallion stuttered as he left the room.
>Celestia shook her head, snapping out of her reverie.
>Unpredictable.
>How appropriate that word was now.
 
>The throne room doors opened yet again to let out a lovestruck stallion, who wobbled out drooling.
>Celestia was speechless.
>Ten ponies, all with the same reaction.
>Was she really that different looking without her regalia?
>"Noon court has ended."
>As Celestia arose from her seat, she couldn't help but feel...
>Charmed?
>She'd never found herself to be that attractive, but today seemed to tell her otherwise.
>Leaving the throne room, she once again couldn't help but feel as though there were some eyes glued to her.
>Her guard?
>Perhaps even after their rigorous training, even they couldn't resist.
>How...comforting.
>Celestia traversed the hallways to get to her favorite spot after court ended.
>The library.
>Perhaps the expanse of knowledge would get her mind off of what had happened.
>In the great collection of tomes and scrolls, the sun princess bumped into her moon princess sister.
>Luna, oddly enough, looked as though she were trying to hide, a book covering her downward-pointed head.
>"Sister?" the moon pony asked as she looked up at Celestia.
>"Is something the matter, Luna?"
>"I've not been able to find my regalia, Celestia. I want to put it back on. I feel as though the entire male populous of this castle is watching me."
>"I..."
>Luna leaned in to listen to her sister.
>"Yes?"
>"During noon court, every pony I had come in suddenly started finding me incredibly attractive. Is the power of our bare forms really that much on them?"
>"It would seem to be the case. Perhaps you should visit Rusty Anvil and see if he can have your attire repaired in double time."
>Both ponies, in agreement that today was starting to get strange, split up in an effort to try and get their "clothes" back.
>Celestia wasted no time in going to where her personal blacksmith worked, his workshop located at the side of the castle.
>All the while, she could feel them.
>The eyes of the guards, trained on her body.
>It was giving her the heeby-jeebies.
>At least her subjects were forward and said something.
>Guards were a different story...
>Having reached Rusty's workshop, the princess entered to an immense heat and a deep red glow.
>*PING!*
>A hammer was lifted from one of Celestia's golden slippers, one of the dents having been pressed out.
>"Rusty?"
>The figure of a dark red earth stallion became visible beyond the glow, the pony seeming to take off a mask of some sort.
>"Princess? What're you doin' here?"
>"I was checking up on the progress of my royal wear."
>He looked back on his work, waving a hoof and grunting.
>"Won't lie, yer stuff's a bit of a pain to work with."
>"Is there anything I could do to help? Maybe get it fixed faster?"
>Rusty set down his hammer in front of the princess.
>"Now that I think about it, yeah. The hammer I'm usin' has a loose head. If you could get me a new one, I'd be able to have this done much faster then a day.
>"Of course. Where can I get one?"
>Rusty handed Celestia a bag of bits before answering.
>"Go into the market and find the first hardware stall to the left. My wares come from there. Just ask for the Rusty special."
>While Celestia would normally be fine with a task like this, her current situation made her stop dead in her tracks.
>If the stallions from earlier were any indication, the trip into Canterlot would be less then pleasant.
>She could bring some guards, but...
>The staring.
>She got the willies just thinking about it.
>Maybe she should train a special regiment that talks more.
>She could send some guards to buy the hammer, but what if they don't want to so they can keep looking at her?
>This had to be done by her, it seemed.
>Celestia kept the money close and left the workshop, ready to face more awkwardness.
>While she figured she could fly, that might also bring too much attention to herself.
>As if there wasn't already...
>So she silently walked out of the castle and into the city of Canterlot, hoping there wouldn't be too many catcallers or onlookers.
 
>"Princess, you look so..."
>"HAWT!"
>"Where have you been my whole life?"
>Not even a yard into the city itself and Celestia was already getting comments.
>Pictures were taken and stallions tried flirting with her, but at this point, she was trying to tune it out.
>How far was the market, anyways?
>"Hon', you are quite the stunner!"
>Please, stop.
>Please.
>The first stall could be seen not even a few yards ahead, which meant all she had to do now was find the hardware stall.
>"Look at them hooves! Yowza!"
>She walked at a faster pace, having gotten tired of the comments a long time ago.
>"Please, princess, could I just kiss your hooves?"
>The ponies were now almost completely blocking her path, with many walking in front of her and trying to get her attention.
>She didn't need this.
>To think regalia changed this much.
>Thankfully, the stalls became closer, and Celestia swore she could even see one with a hammer on the top.
>That had to be her destination.
>"Please, just a little peck!"
>The stall was only a few feet away now.
>Once she reached it, she ignored all the ponies clamoring for her and threw the bag of bits on the counter.
>"The Rusty special, please."
>The mare who ran the stall chuckled.
>"Certainly a change in voice there, Rusty," she told Celestia, her back turned to the princess.
>"I'll have some of what she's having."
>"Me too!"
>The mare turned around, confused at first, then utterly shocked.
>"P-princess Celestia!"
>"Please, just give me what I need. I'm in a hurry."
>"R-r-right away!"
>A crowd started to form around the stall, causing Celestia much more distress then she was already feeling.
>The mare behind the stall fumbled with the tools she had, trying to find the "Rusty special".
>"A moment of your time, princess?"
>"Look at that neck! I wanna touch it!"
>"Please," Celestia pleaded.
>"It's gotta be around here somewhere!"
>A stallion got uncomfortably close to Celestia's hooves, staring at them.
>From the crowd, a sharp whistle could be heard, as if to compliment to Celestia's looks.
>The crowd was slowly converging on her at this point.
>Were this maybe one or two ponies, Celestia wouldn't mind the compliments being thrown at her.
>But this...
>This was a large crowd of possibly over thirty of them.
>"I've got it, princess!" the vendor shouted in triumph as she threw the special tool onto the stall counter.
>Celestia grabbed the hammer and bolted into the air, a few of the pegasus ponies slowly flying after her.
>Not much effort was put into their chase, and Celestia lost them within seconds.
>She didn't care why they didn't try, she was just glad to be free of them.
>The sun pony flew right past the castle wall, going right back to Rusty's shed.
>Barging through the door, she dropped the hammer, sweating and panting.
>"GUH!" Rusty flinched at the princess' sudden entrance. "Yah scared me, princess!"
>"I'm sorry, Rusty. It's been...rough."
>The blacksmith came over to pick up the hammer.
>"I can tell. Yer sweatin' all over and ya look outta breath." He observed the features on the hammer as he spoke. "Hmm..."
>"Yes?"
>"With this, I'll have yer stuff done in a good hour or two."
>"Thank goodness," Celestia said with a sigh of relief.
>Rusty took the hammer back to his anvil and struck at Celestia's torc.
>As he worked, he himself couldn't help but feel a pair of eyes watching him.
>He glanced up to find Celestia patiently waiting for her regalia to be finished.
>"Uh, you gotta be somewhere, princess?"
>She flinched a little as she realized she was just standing silently.
>"Oh, well, would you...would you mind if I stayed in here until they were finished?"
>He eyed her curiously a moment, then wiped his brow.
>"Guess there's no harm in it, as long as you can stand the heat."
>Following up his statement was another whack at the torc.
>In this case, it was better she was naked, then.
>At least she wasn't out there.
 
>The grounds of Canterlot Castle were silent, as the guards diligently patrolled the perimeter.
>Princesses Luna and Celestia were only heard, but not seen, as both refused to show themselves.
>It suited the guards, as long as they were safe.
>The usual hustle and bustle of the castle was left uninterrupted by the absence.
>A sudden slamming of a door, however, alerted guards to a possible disturbance.
>A few dispatched to the area to check on the sudden noise, dashing through the halls at lightning speed.
>Reaching the source of the noise, the guards skidded to a halt, then bowed.
>Celestia, in full regalia, awaited them.
>"You may rise."
>The guards did as they were told.
>The princess walked past the guards, and for the first time today, felt no unwanted attention on herself.
>"It's good to have my clothes back," she thought, chuckling.
>Feeling the world was in balance again, Celestia went off to her chambers to fill out paperwork for the trillionth time.
>It was better then being chased around...
 
>Unbeknownst to Celestia, Luna was still at a loss as to where her regalia had disappeared to.
>She searched high and low, but to no avail.
>And the peering eyes of the staff certainly helped her none.
>Where could her things have gone?
>They were only left in the kitchen...