A knock, gentle and timid, fell upon the polished mahogany door as Princess Celestia sat quietly by a small table in one of her many private rooms with a tea set and a small tray of sandwiches arranged in front of her. “Enter.” She said calmly and regally, aiming an expectant smile at the door. Her command went unheeded for a few moments and she could easily envision the look of trepidation on the face of her guest. The door's handle was immersed in her power, and the door opened, revealing the newest alicorn in Equestria. “Did you not hear me?” She asked, a thin, well disguised smirk on her lips.
Her question was unanswered as Twilight quickly walked in, her body tense and her motions awkward as Celestia closed the door behind her. She made her way to the near side of the small round table. Celestia nodded for her to sit, and she stumbled awkwardly into the chair.
“I have not seen you this nervous in some time, Twilight. Did we not once have these meetings every week?” Celestia spoke kindly where her mind yearned to simply chuckle.
“Y-yes, I'm sorry, Princess Celestia, I just--”
“Ah-tut-tut.” She interrupted. “You know better. You simply need to remember the rule you're supposed to follow. There's no point in titles if we're equal in rank. Unless you want me to call you Princess Sparkle?” Twilight sank into her seat, shoulders slumped.
“I'm sorry. It's been months, and I'm still not used to all the changes...” She sighed, looking down crestfallen. A glimmering light caught her eye as a chess board levitated down between them. Likewise enveloped in magic, a cup filled with tea, with just as much sugar as she liked, gently settled onto the table in front of her.
“Then perhaps something familiar will ease your mind?” Celestia asked, setting up the pieces. “I confess, I never thought I'd miss losing so much when I first allowed you to remain in Ponyville.” She made the first move. “I trust your friends treat you no differently after the change in your station?”
“Most of them,” Twilight said as she moved a piece, finding comfort in the old, worn board. “Rarity was going a little wild at first, claiming that having me wear her dresses in public was the ticket to having all of her dreams come true...She did eventually ease up, but I know she still thinks that way. And Rainbow...”
Celestia made a move. “What about her?”
Twilight made her counter without a thought and sipped her tea before she continued. “Well, she's just constantly trying to get me to blow everything off and go flying with her. I think she's still trying to make up for how she tried to 'help' me learn to fly.”
Celestia examined the board with a critical eye, looking over every possible move she could make. “I do apologize that I was not of more help in my letters. It's been so many lifetimes since I first learned to fly, I'd sort of forgotten how it worked. After a time, it simply becomes something that one does. Ah!” She moved a piece. Celestia's face almost seemed to turn even whiter as Twilight captured it.
“It's alright. I guess I should've asked Cadence, though. She must've learned it much sooner. But then, you know what they say about hindsight.” Celestia was keenly aware of what they said about hindsight as she stared hopelessly at the board, looking for another opportunity. Finally, an opening appeared to her, and she made her move. She seemed almost smug until Twilight's piece hovered from one square to another.
“Check.”
“But you are flying now.” Twilight nodded at this. “And how are you finding it?”
“I love it. The freedom of nothing but sky, above, below and beside me....it's...exhilarating. I almost wish,” She paused, looking at the piece Celestia was about to put down. “You can't do that, you'd still be in check.” Celestia quickly rethought her move. “I almost wish, sometimes, I'd been born a pegasus instead. Knowing that I might've been able to experience it all my life...” Celestia finally got herself out of check. Without even taking a moment to think, Twilight's piece hovered across the board and set into place. “Mate.”
Celestia stared for a moment as Twilight smiled at her. Matches with this unicorn—no, alicorn—always seemed to end the same way. The victor smiling with a sense of innocent pride, the loser laughing softly at her own defeat. “I've missed these little tea-times with you so much. I'm glad we have the chance to do it again.” She sipped her tea, and Twilight absently mirrored her actions. They ate and drank in silence for a short time before Celestia spoke once more.
“I must admit, I had expected an eruption of questions from you.” She said, frowning a little.
“And...you're disappointed that there isn't one?” Twilight blinked, confused.
“Your inquisitive nature is one of the things I most admire about you. If you do have questions regarding your position and ascension, now would be an ideal time to ask.” Her magic set about the task of cleaning away her chess set, placing the board in the cupboard she'd gotten it from.
“...I do have one question.” Twilight said, looking once more like the uncomfortable pony who had first entered the room.
“Yes?” Celestia encouraged, giving her an interested look.
“...Did you always know?” Her eyes met Celestia's. “Did you always know that I'd end up like this?”
“...I had my suspicions from the moment I undid the damage of your test to enter my academy. I knew that even if you weren't already destined for this, I could guide you here.”
“So...Everything was according to some grand, unknowable plan?” She gave a wan smile. “Every part of it was me just walking down a path you set for me?” Tears seemed to be welling up in her eyes, but she ignored them. As painful as it felt to state that she believed Celestia had been manipulating her for her whole life, she tried to focus on the trust she'd always been able to place in her teacher, trust which had never been steered wrong. Seeing her pain, Celestia stood from her seat and walked over to Twilight, eliciting a startled squeak as she folded her forelegs around the younger princess.
“...Twilight, I did have plans for you.” She pulled back a bit to look into her eyes, her grip loosening a little. “And only a few of them ever came to fruition, because the others never had a chance. At nearly every step of the way, you exceeded my expectations gloriously, and you progressed so fast that I didn't have a chance to stick my hoof in and meddle even if I wanted to. I did guide you to Ponyville that you might prevent eternal darkness. But aside from that, it wasn't until the Crystal Empire returned that things reached a point where you truly needed me to direct you toward those wings.” She felt tears on her shoulder as Twilight pulled her closer, returning her embrace. They stayed like this for a moment before Celestia finally returned to her seat.
“...Twilight...As I said, you've constantly exceeded my expectations...and as a result, I've constantly had to raise them. I tell you this now so you won't feel compelled to deny it out of a sense of humility or respect for me when it comes to pass. There is no doubt in my mind or in my heart that, one day, I will be surpassed, and my most faithful student will be the greatest ruler that Equestria has ever seen.” Twilight's cheeks burned bright red, butterflies flapping violently in her stomach.
“I-I couldn't possibly ever manage to...I mean, I'm just...and you're so...and--” She immediately silenced herself as Celestia raised a hoof.
“...One day.” She repeated with a knowing smile. “And given your track record, I'm almost certain it will be far sooner than I expect.” Twilight smiled, a warmth surging in her body, the butterflies not relenting in the beating of their wings even as this warmth set them on fire.
“I'll...Do my best to make you proud, Celestia.”
“And I've no doubt you will succeed, Twilight. You have always made me proud.”
