A More Magical Experience

"...In... and out... In... and out..." the tall figure repeats to herself. Raising the sun is always quite a task if she's not well rested, and as of late her sleeping habits have been a bit out of whack. A cool morning breeze flows over the balcony where the alicorn stands. Celestia, clad in a very light pink robe with a puffy collar, inhales once more as she concentrates on her magic. A calm expression bubbles up from within her being and settles across her brow as the sun begins to peek across the horizon. Sighing in relief, Celestia looks outward upon the rays of light being cast across the landscape below.

"Another beautiful morning, Tia," says a somewhat worn voice.

Celestia pivots on her hooves to face the intruder. She had not called for anypony, so her chambers should be empty. But a warmness surrounds her heart once she sees who has entered her room.

"Ah, Luna," Celestia says happily as she smiles at her sister. "I did not hear you enter."

"I noticed," Luna replies, stepping forward to join her sister on the balcony. Celestia leans down a smidge and nuzzles the smaller alicorn in a loving manner. "How are you doing this fine morning Tia?" Luna asks as she returns the sisterly embrace.

"Fine, fine," Celestia answers, all the while trying to keep a yawn from surfacing. "A bit tired, stressed, but still fine." Celestia looks back over the edge of the railing, shivering as the morning mist bombards the side of the cliff below. "Let us return inside, Lulu. It is rather chilly today."

With a nod, the smaller alicorn follows her sister into the confines of her bedchambers. With the glass doors to the balcony closed and warmth returning to the room, the sisters wonder off to the small kitchen-like portion of the room. With neither of the princesses wearing their royal armor, the sound of bare hooves on linoleum seem almost non-existent. They take their seats, and Celestia's horn is enveloped in a golden glow. A moment later, a small, but thick, white blanket floats over to the smaller alicorn and wraps around her form. Luna snuggles deeper into the fabric, and Celestia chuckles at her sister.

"Can I get you anything, Lulu? Cocoa, tea?"

"A cup of tea sounds divine, sister," Luna replies warmly.

Within the span of a few minutes—which was filled the soft clinking of china—a small tray carrying a teapot, steam flowing through the spout to indicate how hot the contents were, two plates with two small cups, a small pitcher of milk, a very small bowl of honey, and a smaller plate with sugar cubes, sets down on the table between the two princesses. The teapot lifts up from the tray and gently pours the steaming contents into the two cups, and the sisters begin adding their customizations to their drinks.

"So Luna," Celestia asks while letting a small amount of honey drip into her teacup, "were you able to gather any information about our... guest?"

Luna, whose horn is aglow as a few sugar cubes float into her drink, simply nods with a smile. "Yes, I was Tia. I was successfully able to enter his sleeping mind, and I did as you asked." With that, she took a small sip from her tea. "Mmm, peppermint."

Celestia nods while sipping from her own cup. "...Please, tell me what happened."

Luna complies with her sister's request. Her short tale of how the human wondered aimlessly around the palace until he had encountered the training rooms lasted nearly ten minutes, but only because Luna could not help but give every waking detail of the human's reactions. His calm collectiveness when he was 'nearly skewered' by a trainee's sword, his demeanor when they talked, his cunning intellect. Luna explained how he had seen through her ruse partway, which Celestia somewhat expected from the human. 'He certainly is full of surprises,' the sun goddess thinks as her little sister recounts the dream.

"—Oh, and you should have seen the look on his face when I told him about the physical aspects of the dreamscape," Luna continued, a smile on her face. "He went down on his knees, looking absolutely mortified when he thought he could have hurt me."

"But he didn't," Celestia says.

"Of course not, Tia," the darker alicorn answers. "I would never have been in any real danger. Sure, the dreamscapes allow minimal feeling, but real pain? Absolutely not."

Celestia nods and pours herself another cup of tea. 'This human seems odd, as if his motives are somewhat strained.' She shakes her head, returning her attention to her younger sister. "Luna, what do you think of the human?"

"From what I've seen in his memories..." Luna closes her eyes. "...I think he is strong-willed. He has a good heart, and a brilliant mind. He is a very unique creature. And no, Tia," she says as her eyes open once more, "I do not think he will harm anypony... Apart from self-defense."

"I do remember him saying something along those lines," Celestia mumbles. "How does he seem now? Does Silver Star's magic seem to be having any sort of effect on his body?"

"Other than just keeping him alive, no," Luna says.

Celestia nods again. "And what of Silver Star herself?"

"From what I was able to see in the human's mind, she is rather clingy at the moment." Luna sips from her cup, then refills it and adds a few more sugar cubes. "Something about her trying to stay close the rest of her magic."

"Makes sense," Celestia agrees. "With half of her magic in the body of another, the best way to harmonize would to be in the general vicinity of said being." The sun goddess sets her cup down on her plate. "I believe that they will be spending a lot of time together. I think I shall have her report his behavior."

"You really do not like Maverick's presence?" asks her sister.

Celestia shakes her head. "I don't know, Lulu. Those crystals of his were laced with a foul magic, but now that we've removed them, the magic is gone. They're nothing but hunks of stone, but that still doesn't explain why he was giving off such a wretched presence."

"I'm sure Wild Berry can figure something out," Luna replies. "She did help with the original designs of the Changeling lanterns."

"And look where that got the human." Celestia shakes her head again. "It is my fault he is in the ward. I did not know what effect the lanterns would have on him."

"He holds sour feelings for you," Luna says curtly. "He does not care for your tactics, but deep in his mind, he knows you are just doing what you think is just."

The sisters sit in silence as they finish off the pot of tea. A few more things to chat about, the nobles, the daily tasks at hoof, any possible plans for the future are exchanged, and the two princesses clean up their mess.

Luna heads to the door, but pauses before opening it as Celestia speak up. "Luna?" she asks quietly.

"Yes, sister?"

"Can you fill in for me for the next hour or so if anything comes up? I wish to be alone for a bit."

"I shall alert the maids to come and change the sheets when you are done." With that, the lunar princess exits.