Cuori Intrecciati

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I understand that my sister’s visit did not turn out quite as pleasantly as I had hoped. That is unfortunate to say the least. The truly sad part is that I could have prevented everything, had I taken even a few moments to speak with either of you, but I allowed myself to be blinded by the prospect of the two most important ponies in my life becoming friends. For that, I apologize and offer up what advice I can to forestall any future misunderstandings.

Though Luna’s tone and approach were far from sensitive, she was not lying when she told you that I held little love for math in my younger years. I have learned to appreciate it more in the centuries since, but I do still find many of its higher concepts difficult to grasp. Luna, on the other hoof, has always found even the most abstract theories to be ‘pleasant challenges to fill an eve’. I always envied her, and indeed you, that ability.

As I have told my sister, it is important to remember that, although both of you are very close to my heart, your experiences with me are from very different vantage points, both in time and perspective. I doubt Luna will ever forget the bothersome older sister who once… well, that’s not important.

I would also be remiss not to warn you that Luna is ever ready for a confrontation, be it verbal or physical. It is her way of testing ponies. If she pushes you, do not be afraid to push back. Her closest and most trusted companions have always been those who stood their ground and voiced their own opinions with as much vim and vigor as herself. For Luna, it is the battle, not the victory, from which she takes her joy.

I am pleased to hear you agreed to meet again. Despite how events played out, Luna spoke very fondly of you. If such is the result of a poor visit, I fear you may end up stealing my sister away from me!

As always, if you have need of me for anything, I am only a scroll away.

Your Friend,

Celestia

P.S. I feel as though we have fallen out of touch in recent months. You know my door is always open to you, even if for nothing more than tea and company for an afternoon.

P.P.S. Serve coffee.

Twilight let the scroll roll itself back up. She didn’t need it, she’d memorized every word already, but reading it directly made the words somehow more real. It helped to calm her nerves, reminding herself that neither Princess Celestia nor Luna were mad.

With night already fallen, Twilight occupied herself by setting up the empty beetle-lanterns along the observation deck’s edge. The little glowing bugs quickly crowded in the shelter of the glass cages, providing plenty of light to see by as they fed on the bits of food inside.

Shortly thereafter, she spotted what could only be Luna, her dark silhouette cutting across the stars before gliding in front of the moon for her final approach.

Twilight made use of Cadance’s breathing technique, then did it again. She wasn’t panicking, or even panicky, but she was a little apprehensive. Which was normal, of course. After the barely averted disaster of Luna’s last visit she had every right to be a little apprehensive. It would be weird if she wasn’t just a little apprehensive. Apprehensive was, in point of fact, the proper state of her being at that moment.

She made a note to look up synonyms for apprehensive later.

Twilight watched with appre—with a calm demeanor befitting a princess as Luna descended from the sky, her wings tilting just so to catch the air and slow her approach. This was it, her second chance to not only make friends with Luna, but get some answers to the questions left burning in the back of her mind for weeks as well.

Once she landed, her silver shoes clicking on the crystal balcony, Twilight’s eyes were immediately drawn to the tall, thin object at Luna’s side, but her curiosity about it held no sway over the potent mixture of nervous excitement running laps around her stomach.

While both had made apologies, it hadn’t been enough to cast off the tension between them. After taking their meal in almost complete silence, only the most cursory words traded, Twilight had not felt comfortable broaching any of the topics that had spurred her initial request. Many awkward silences had followed, until she could take no more and feigned tiredness, bidding Luna a good night and retiring for a less than peaceful sleep.

Luna closed the distance and dipped her head in a formal greeting, one which Twilight hastily mimicked.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Luna began in the same tone she’d maintained for the better part of her last visit, not quite formal, but far from casual, “‘tis good to see you again.”

“Likewise,” Twilight said, her tail and ears already trying to twitch.

There was the silence again, sucking up conversation like a hungry void. Just like those horrible school dances that Princess Celestia had insis—requested she attend, their eyes met for only a brief second before falling away.

Twilight’s mind was a complete blank. All the topics and icebreakers she’d prepared since agreeing to see Luna a second time were like a field of carrots dangling just out of reach. She could see them, she knew what they were, but getting one to touch her lips, much less her tongue, seemed an impossible feat.

Thankfully, Luna came to the rescue, her expression seeming to light up when her eyes drifted over the package she still held. Despite the moment of happiness, her voice twisted with displeasure as she presented it to Twilight. “Tis a gift for you… from Sister.”

“Oh!” Twilight’s ears twitched, torn between being excited about a present from Celestia and confused by the rapid shift in Luna’s demeanor. Choosing to focus on the former, she accepted the gift, taking it in her own field. Judging by its size, nearly as tall as herself, and shape, it wasn’t difficult to guess what lay beneath the wrapping.

She wasn’t wrong.

It was an oil painting. A landscape of the Unicorn Range, and nothing else. Twilight scanned it for a minute, taking in the finer details, examining the brush strokes and color use, hoping to find something that made it stand out in any way. Not having had any particular expectations for the surprise gift didn’t mean she wasn’t expecting something a little more… well, more.

“Tia was quite happy when she found it,” Luna said, her tone shifting once again, this time to something a bit more playful, “rosewood being such a rarity.”

Twilight hummed in idle agreement before the words clicked, and she almost stumbled back, eyes widening to take in the thick wooden frame. Carved to look like the flower that named the wood, four full blooms marked each corners with four buds at the centers of each side, looping vines and leaves between. The crafts-pony had gone to great lengths to portray the intricate details of the petals, thorns, and even the veins of the leaves.

A bit of tension dropped from Twilight’s withers. For a moment there she’d thought Princess Celestia had given her a completely mediocre painting, like she was just trying to get rid of it and didn’t think Twilight would notice. The only thing more silly would have been to give her an empty frame.

“Thank you, Prin—Luna, for bringing it. I’ll be sure to send a letter thanking Princess Celestia.”

“Of course.” With a mischievous smile, Luna added, “I am certain Tia would be most amused should you find a more fitting piece to mount.”

There it was again, that little lilt to Luna’s voice, like she’d told a joke with the full knowledge that nopony but herself would get the punchline. Why would Princess Celestia be amused? Why was Luna annoyed about giving her the painting?

Before Twilight could dwell on it further, she was interrupted by the soft click of the door latch. As the door opened, a delicate crystal tea-service was wheeled out, followed by an already bowing Petunia.

“Your Highnesses.”

Setting the painting aside, Twilight acknowledged the pegasus with a small smile and nod, gesturing toward the small pile of cushions off by the telescopes. “You can set it up right over there, Petunia. Thank you.”

Petunia bowed once again before following Twilight’s instructions. With practiced ease, she unfolded the crystal wings to make it an impromptu table and set out a collection of scones along with a pair of cup-and-saucers. Waiting for Petunia to finish, Twilight thanked her again and bid her a good night. Once they were alone again, she formally invited Luna to join her for a cup.

Taking a mere two steps closer, Luna paused to sniff at the air. The first genuine smile of the night spread across her lips, and her pace picked up. Twilight watched with a growing smile of her own as Luna hovered over the pot, taking in a large breath and sighing. “‘Tis coffee! But the aroma escapes me. What is this divine brew, Twilight Sparkle?”

“It’s a blend, actually. I believe it’s one part Palomino and two parts Prench Vanilla. But I would have to speak to Zuppa to be sure.”

“I would be most pleased if you would do so.” Lifting the pot in her magic, Luna poured herself a cup of the coffee and held it below her nose for a second, far longer inhalation before taking a generous sip. “Mmmmm, wonderful.”

Twilight’s best effort failed to repress her giggles at the sight of the otherwise regal, often aloof princess wearing an expression more akin to a happy drunk than a member of royalty. With a shake of her head, Twilight sat down to began preparing her own cup.

She’d only just started when Luna gasped. “Twilight Sparkle, what are you doing?”

Thrown by another sudden shift in Luna’s demeanor, Twilight’s ears swiveled to attention, worry that she’d perpetrated a serious faux pas fluttering in her stomach. Her eyes locked onto Luna’s as she ran through her all of her etiquette lessons, only to notice that Luna wasn’t meeting her gaze. Tracing her line-of-sight, it was the cup still resting on the saucer that Luna was staring at, the white cream swirling amid the dark brown coffee, tinting it a lighter tan color as it mixed. “I’m… uhm, adding cream?”

Their eyes met, Luna’s hard and unforgiving. “Why?”

“Because I don’t like the bitterness?” Twilight said, shrinking her back, her ears falling slightly.

“Would you also take the sweet out of honey?”

Twilight’s eyes fell away for a second at the odd question. “Well, no, but—”

“Yet you steal the bitter from coffee?”

Twilight flinched at the accusation in Luna’s voice. “But all honey is is sweet. Coffee is full of other flavors.”

“Which you mask with cream.”

Twilight stared at her hooves, then at the cup and the settling cream. Off balance, worried, and a little frightened, she didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t even certain she knew what was going on. One moment Luna was happily enjoying her coffee, the next she was berating her for adding cream to her own. It wasn’t like she’d tried to pour it into Luna’s cup. Why would…

Violet eyes flicked up to meet teal. Without looking away, Twilight’s field grasped the bowl of sugar and the spoon within. She watched Luna’s eyes carefully as she moved a large spoonful of the white granules to hover over her cup. They were cold and hard, daring her to do it.

Twilight tipped the spoon.

“Fiend!” Luna shouted, throwing her head to the side as though the scene before her were unwatchable. “You are worse than Tia.”

All the tension in Twilight’s withers fell away, and her ears relaxed. She smiled triumphantly, making sure to click the spoon against the cups edge as she stirred. “Honestly, I don’t understand how you can stomach something so bitter.” Luna turned back with an unreadable expression, watching with interest as Twilight brought the cup to her lips. The moment she finished, Luna seemed to relax. Twilight almost let that slide, but enough was enough. “What was that for?”

Luna shook her head, taking a sip of her own before answering, “I simply wished to ensure that you were not in fact a clone of my sister. One of her is more than enough trouble.”

A small warmth deposited itself in her chest and cheeks at that comment. Though many ponies had compared her to Princess Celestia in the past, few of them could claim to be closer to the princess than herself, and none were her sister.

The silence that followed was far more comfortable than any that preceded it. It was a type of silence that she had learned to appreciate over a cup of tea with Princess Celestia. She once referred to it as ‘steeping your thoughts’, taking as long as five minutes to acclimate to the others presence and allowing her mind to settle. Twilight rather liked that metaphor, though it worked better with tea than coffee.

It was as Luna started to pour herself a second cup that the silence was finally broken. “I have brought you a gift as well,” she said, producing a book and setting it before Twilight. “You were curious how Tia kept the stars in line while I was… away.”

The book was not just old; it was ancient. Academically, Twilight knew that books were once bound between thin slabs of wood, but never before had she seen it done. Turned an almost silver grey from magically induced petrification, every inch of the cover was carved by rune-words that pulled at the ambient aether, drawing in the necessary magic to maintain its protective enchantments. Many important books in the Canterlot Archives sported similar wards: protection against moisture, fire, and insects, but none so esoteric. Were it not for their obvious age, Twilight would have thought them crafted by an amateur. Each rune-word overlapped with the shielding offered by at least two others. Had the wood not been petrified, she would have expected it to catch fire from the sheer excess of aether absorbed.

Opening the cover, she shouldn’t have been surprised by the wall of indecipherable text. Though she recognized it, she could not read it. She’d only ever come across references with occasional examples of the chicken scratch that was pre-unification Unicornian. No living pony other than Princess Celestia and Luna would be able to read it. Whatever it said, the next page was something Twilight could read no matter the language: equations.

Even across the span of ages, the form of math never changed.

Without trying to read it, Twilight began flipping through the pages. Each turn revealed more and more of the seemingly endless string of numbers and variables, only occasionally interrupted by more writing.

Twilight’s wings were nearly vibrating by the time she tore her eyes off the pages to look back up at Luna. A giddy smile split her muzzle as she tried to say something, only to give up and turn back to the book, flipping once again to the second page. With only the structure and numbers as her guide, her coffee was cold by the time it hit her like the proverbial kick to her gut.

“This…” Twilight started, only to have to catch her breath and start over. “This is the base formula. This… this is the entire night sky.” Her forehooves were trembling as she tore her eyes away. “This maps out every star in the perfect exactness of math!”

Luna’s expression was one Twilight had only seen on Princess Celestia only a few times, mild shock hidden behind a mask of approval. “That, it would be, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight barely heard her. “With the necessary adjustments for the date, time, and position of the caster?” She picked it up, hugging the book to her chest as though she could take it in by osmosis. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

There was no mistaking the amusement in Luna’s voice. “‘Tis my pleasure, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight reopened the book and dove back into the first equation, only to catch herself. “But don’t you need this?”

Luna’s lips twisted into a sly grin. “No. The pages you hold are but the backup copy.”

“Backup? This isn’t the original? But it looks so—”

“‘Tis the original, or, the original that was transcribed. The primary,” Luna said, tapping her head, “is in here.”

Twilight glanced between Luna and The star map. It was an easy thousand pages worth of equations, even accounting for the notes in between. “You memorized this? All of it?”

A soft smile on her lips, Luna bowed her head slightly. “Practice carves all mares into masters, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight almost wanted to argue the point, but couldn’t think of how. Instead, she turned her attention back to the equation. Knowing what it was, it only took her a few minutes to assign labels to the various variables. With all the variables in place, all the notations identified, and everything wrapped up nice and neat, Twilight noticed something familiar. She stared harder, running it through her head three times before saying, “I—we could simplify this.”

Luna cocked her head at an angle. “What do you mean?”

“The equations... they work, but… here, let me show you.” Twilight’s horn shimmered as she stood, teleporting a blackboard our of her study. Taking a piece of chalk she quickly reproduced the first equation from the book, taking up more than a half of the board to do it. Without saying a word, she drew a long line under it and started on another equation, this one taking far less space.

Luna’s eyes widened as she too rose to her hooves, stepping closer, the primaries of her right wing idly flicking at the open air. “What is this?”

“It’s called Quartz’s Quotient. Theorized by Sible Quartz in the year five seventy six, and proofed by Hard Tangent in six eighty three, it—”

“Is wrong.”

“What?” Twilight spun to reexamine the board, making sure she’d copied it properly.

Before she could finish, Luna picked up a piece of blue chalk and altered key pieces of the equation. Adding one final mark to both equations, Luna smiled. “There, much better.”

Twilight gaped at the changes, her eyes flitting between the two as she crunched numbers over and over again. “But that…” Her eyes locked on that final variable Luna added. It had been in the book, but between its odd placement, having never seen it before, and that the equation worked without it, she assumed it was an errant mark. Circling it, she asked, “What’s this?”

“That, Twilight Sparkle, is the most important variable,” Luna said with a smug smile. “My age.”

Two more chalk boards were summoned, along with a number of references books. Hours slipped by in a cloud of chalk and debate as the two alicorns went back and forth, working and reworking the ancient long-form equations down with the discoveries and insights of the past thousand years. They made it to page three before Twilight Sparkle noticed her blinks lasting multiple seconds and made the decision to call it a night… or more accurately, pre-dawn.

With only three hours before day-break, Twilight and Luna bid each other a far fonder farewell than they had previously, both promising to make room in their schedule for another such get-together.

Drowsily, Twilight watched Luna take off, flying back toward the distant capital. It was only when she blinked, and Luna was no longer in sight, that she was able to gather up the brain cells necessary to return to her bed, immediately falling into a dream of scrawling equations on the moon.

—————————————

“Uhm, Twi?”

Twilight nearly jumped at the sound of Applejack’s voice. She pushed her mental chalkboard, her attention returning to the real world. She was in her ‘throne room’ with all of her friends for their bi-weekly meeting to discuss… well, everything. Or that’s what they normally did when Twilight wasn’t so distracted by a stupid math problem that she couldn’t focus on anything else.

“I don’t mean to sound impatient or nothin’, but if that’s all, I gotta get back to the Acres. Chores ain’t gonna do themselves.”

“What? Oh!” She shrank back, hoping that they didn’t notice the flush of her cheeks. “Sorry, girls. I… Yes, I believe that’s everything.” Glancing around, she made sure that nopony objected before continuing, “Okay. I’ll see you all in two weeks.”

There followed a round of agreements and goodbyes as everypony rose and began making their way toward the door. “And remember everypony,” Twilight added, not quite glaring at the back of Rainbow’s head, “we start at three o’clock sharp.”

“Hey,” Rainbow gripped, taking off and crossing her forelegs, “it’s not my fault if my alarm clock doesn’t want to wake me up.”

“Just cause you’re nappin’ in my trees don’t make you my responsibility!”

Twilight rolled her eyes as AJ and Dash’s voices rose the closer they got to the exit. She’d almost bet on there being another contest by the time they stepped outside, but that would assume they didn’t start a race on the way there. Either way, she was content to sit back and let it happen. Fluttershy wasn’t and did her best to intervene, but she couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Pinkie, meanwhile, bounced along behind them all, spouting plans to make whatever they came up with into a Ponyville wide event.

When the door closed behind them, Twilight sighed. It wasn’t a frustrated or annoyed sigh, but a tired one. Spending time with her friends was always nice, but alongside everything else… she was exhausted. And she still had a long day, and night, ahead.

A nap would probably be wise.

Turning to Spike to see if she could fit one in, Twilight made it as far as opening her mouth when an odd tickle fluttered at the back of her brain, making her ear twitch. She’d missed something. A quick reply of the last few seconds showed her exactly what it was, and her head snapped to the left.

Rarity, still perched on her throne, gave Twilight a coy smile. “Am I really so forgettable?”

“Not at all!” Spike chimed in, earning an appreciative smile from Rarity.

Twilight blushed, mentally kicking herself for yet another lapse in attentiveness. That nap was beginning to sound less than optional. “I’m sorry, Rarity. I don’t know where my mind’s been today. Was there something you needed?”

“Need?” Rarity asked so sweetly that it could have sent Pinkie Pie into a sugar coma. “No, there’s nothing I need. I’m simply… curious.”

That was a voice Twilight knew well. That was a voice that could crumble empires. That voice said, ‘I smell gossip.’ with every syllable.

“Curious? What about?”

Instead of answering, Rarity’s gaze shifted to Spike. “Would you be a dear and bring us a pot of tea? Jasmine, I should think.”

“Of course, Rarity!” Spike nearly jumped off his little throne, scuttling out toward the kitchen with hearts dancing in his eyes.

“Oh—kay.” That was a little troubling. Either Rarity thought this was going to take some time, or she didn’t want Spike around to hear them. Twilight wasn’t thrilled about either prospect. She could already see her dream of a nap floating away into the distance. “Nothing’s wrong, is it?”

“Sooooo,” Rarity began leaning forward as though to share a secret, despite being an easy two lengths away with nopony else to overhear, “what’s his name?”

Twilight blinked. “Uhm… whose name?”

“Why, the lucky stallion who has stolen your heart, of course.”

“W—what?”

“Come now, Twilight, I’m certain we will all simply adore him, whoever he is.”

“No.”

“Really, darling, there’s no reason to keep him a secret… Unless you don’t think we’ll approve.” Rarity gasped, holding a hoof to her muzzle. “He isn’t a dashing rogue, is he? Come to whisk you off your hooves—”

Twilight stomped a hoof on her throne, cutting Rarity off before she could pick up steam. “I’m not keeping a secret. There is no him to keep secret about. What makes you think I have a coltfriend anyway?”

Rarity huffed. “You are quite obviously twitterpated.”

“That’s not a word.”

Rarity’s voice lost the airy, romantic tones and turned serious. “I will not be side tracked into an argument about linguistic semantics, Twilight Sparkle. You are showing all the signs of infatuation, and I wish to know for whom,” the last said with a huffing pout.

“I am not—”

“Daydreaming.” Rarity tapped her hoof on the legrest. “Extra makeup.” Tap. “Though I am glad to see you finally use the eyeshadow I gave you last Hearths Warming. It looks simply divine, if I do say so myself. But most importantly,” her eyes narrowed with accusation, “you’ve been humming.” Her hoof hit with a final, definitive tap.

“Humming?” Twilight asked, her voice catching in surprise.

Rarity nodded once. “Almost constantly.”

“Are you certain that wasn’t Pinkie?”

“Quite so.” Rarity drew in a breath, letting a bit of theatrics back into her voice. “It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me.” Her head fell back, hoof draped across her brow. “I know I have a reputation as being something of a gossip, and if you aren’t ready to tell your best friends, then, well—”

“No. Rarity…” Twilight said with something between a whine and a plea. “There really isn’t anypony. If there was, you’d be the first to know. I promise.”

Rarity pouted. “Then what about the makeup, the distraction, the humming?”

“I… Well, I finally decided to take your advice. With the makeup, I mean. You’ve been so adamant that I wear some more often, and I knew we’d see each other today.”

“Aww, that’s sweet,” Rarity gushed, her eyes sparkling, only to lean forward again with an expectant tilt to her ears. “And?”

“And,” Twilight braced her own ears, “you were right,”

Rarity squealed, clapping her hooves together in excitement. “Oh! Next, I have this wonderful shade of lipstick for you to—” She bit herself off, dropping back into a serious expression. “And nice try, Missy, but you aren’t getting off that easy. What about the humming, hmmm? And the staring off into space?”

“Oh, well that’s easy,” Twilight shrugged her wing dismissively. “Luna and I have been working on this equation for the past few weeks, and I’m having trouble focusing on anything else. I really wanted to figure it out before she comes over tonight, but… Uhm, Rarity?” The smile that had been growing across Twilight’s lips flipped upside down. “What’s that look for?”

“Princess Luna?” Rarity nearly gasped, covering her muzzle with her forehooves.

“Yes. Like I said, we’ve been working on—”

“Oh-my-goodness! I completely understand ,Twilight, darling!” Rarity leapt to her hooves, wrapping Twilight in a tight hug. “Don’t you worry at all. My lips are sealed.” Drawing a hoof across her lips, she spun and started heading out. “But when you decide to go public, promise me you’ll give me a heads up. Coordinated dresses don’t just pop into existence, you know! Oh!” She paused to stamp her hooves and squeal like a hyperactive filly. “The color schemes! Inspiration has struck! I must be off. Do enjoy your date tonight.” Rarity was already halfway out the door when she stopped again to glance back at Twilight. “Whenever you are ready, I want to hear all the juicy details! Ta-ta!”

And she was gone, leaving Twilight with her hoof raised and a protest on her lips, staring at the closing door.

“What just happened?”