Phoenix Rebirth

Celestia stared in disbelief at the two ponies who stood before her, not wanting to believe her eyes. It had been several days since she had spoken with Luna, and she had decided to give her some space to let her calm herself down, and now she was regretting that decision.

“L…Luna, what have you done?”

“Why nothing sister,” said Luna happily, her black wing draped over Twilights darkened body in an almost playful manner.

“But…but look at you, your Nightmare Moon again…”

“Oh calm down Celestia,” Twilight said to her, walking forward and letting her tail brush under Luna’s chin, right in front of Celestia. “She is not Nightmare Moon, she has just embraced a darker side of herself, it’s not going to be a problem is it.”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed and she had to repress the urge to growl as she spoke. “Luna, I want you to go, I need to have a word with our fellow Princess.”

“No,” said Luna flatly.

“Luna I told you…”

“And I said no, whatever you have to say to Twilight you can say to me.”

Celestia signed, and then turned her gaze toward Twilight. “Twilight, I understand that I hurt you, but I cannot let this continue, I am going to have to ask that you stop seeing my sister.”

“Oh let me think about this for a second,” said Twilight. “How bout no.”

“Twilight I am merely looking out for my sister, and in the state your in you are in no way fit to be with my sister.”

“And I suppose you would be an expert on what’s best for Luna now wouldn’t you?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Twilight gave her a look, “You were what caused her to turn into Nightmare Moon in the first place with your neglect, and I would have never become like this if you had just told me you could not return my feelings for you.”

“You dare insinuate…”

“I’M NOT FINISHED WHORE!” roared Twilight, using her royal Canterlot voice for the first time and causing Celestia to step back in shock. “You hurt me Celestia; you hurt us both by not saying anything. But that no longer matters, because thanks to your neglect we have embraced who we are, and found each other. So no, I will not stop seeing my Lulu just because you say so, it’s not like you could stop us any way.”

Twilight turned and began walking away, and Luna started to follow, but then both stopped as a defining voice broke out behind them, shattering all the windows in the throne room.

“YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”

Twilight looked over her shoulder, seeing Celestia standing behind her, her main and tail transformed into fire and her eye blazing orange with rage. Celestia expected this site to cause her student to cower, but instead all she was greeted with was an amused smirk.

“Careful Celestia, you wouldn’t want me to accidentally hurt the baby now would you?”

It was like Twilight had walked up to her and stabbed her in the heart, and Celestia could only watch as Twilight and Luna left the room, the door closing behind them as they left her alone.

* * *

Hours later Celestia found herself in her room, crying as she snuggled closer to Philomena, trying to forget what had transpired earlier.

“I just don’t know what happened Philomena, she was so strange…she was practically flaunting her relationship with my sister right in front of me!”

“Shh my love,” said Philomena, “she is just angry, it will pass in time.”

“But she threatened our child Philomena, why would she do that, why?”

“It doesn’t matter, now I want you to lie down and rest, I’ll go talk to Twilight.”

Celestia gave her a worried look, but nodded all the same, laying her head down as Philomena got up and walked toward the door, an angry fire burning in her eyes as she opened it to leave.

One way or another, she was going to settle things with Twilight Sparkle.