“I need to talk to you,” Celestia had said. “About your... special project.”

I was surprised at this, and for all my skill at hiding my feelings I don't doubt that Celestia saw right through me as she always does. I thought we'd finished that particular discussion many generations ago. She disapproved, and tried her best to persuade me to abandon the plan, but wouldn't forbid me outright. So the plan went on, and since it didn't seem to be driving me mad or destroying my subjects, Celestia eventually let it lie. Oh, I knew she wasn't happy about it, but my aunt takes the Princess's Oath seriously, and she couldn't forbid another Princess from acting within her own domain.

So yes, I was surprised. It had been many years since Celestia last even hinted at my 'special project' in conversation with me, so for her to broach it so directly immediately raised my suspicions. Was she going to stop me at last? Why now?

“No, I'm not going to try to stop you,” she said, already knowing what I was thinking as she always did. “Actually I want to ask you a favor. I need to, shall we say, borrow one of your subjects. You heard about the School for Gifted Unicorns entrance exam?”

Of course I'd heard. My little Twily had only destroyed the old records for the intensity of a magic surge, she had transformed Mama Twily and Night Light into potted plants, and had blown a hole in the testing hall ceiling via dragon. It practically gave me a heart attack when I heard, and I'd raced down in a show of speed entirely undignified for a Princess to check that they were all okay.

Then, once the adrenaline had worn off and I'd chased away the fears that my beautiful little Twily had been hurt, I'd joined in the celebration for her incredible achievement. The glow of happiness on her face was so wonderful it even made up for the fact that it wasn't me who'd been responsible for it.

Barely.

No, that's unfair. She wanted nothing more than to share her triumph with me, her best friend in the world beside Shiny, and listening to her tell the story was entrancing. Seriously, that filly was the most adorable thing in the world. I wondered how Mama Twily and Night Light ever got anything done when they could spend time playing with her and losing themselves in her eyes instead.

I remember thinking that finding a stallion who could deserve her down the line was going to be tough, but hoo-boy, he would be the luckiest colt in the world.

“You want to borrow Twily?”

“She's special,” Celestia said. You have no idea, aunty. “She could be a great magician on par with Star Swirl the Bearded. I'd like to take her on as my own personal student, to help her reach her full potential. But since she's one of yours, I want to ask for your blessing.”

I wasn't sure what to make of that. She knew it, and gently put me at my ease. “I know we've had our disagreements about your special project in the past.”

“I know you've sworn not to interfere with another Princess's domain,” I reminded her.

She nodded. “That hasn't changed. But little Twilight... I'm not sure you quite realize what you've created.” Oh, I do. “She's very special. I think... I hope that she might be the pony I need for a special project of my own.”

Auntie never ceased to amaze me. As the Princess of Love, I could read anypony I pleased like an open book, except for Auntie Celestia. Even after all this time, I never knew everything she was thinking. I had no idea what project she meant. She'd kept it secret from everypony, even me, her only companion for centuries except her phoenix. I suppose she knew even then, but I took her on her word.

“I don't know,” I said, frowning. “Twilight is... sensitive. She will need help to bring her out of her shell.”

“It's true, she would need to spend a lot of time studying with me for many years,” Celestia said. “But think of it this way. I'm offering her a unique opportunity for an exceptional career path. And once her studies with me are over, she'll be all yours again. You can stand to spare her for a while, don't you think? And besides,” she smirked at me, knowingly, playfully, as though we were teenagers trading gossip, “I think you already have your sights set on her brother, Shining? He's a dishy one, isn't he?”

I sighed heavily as Shining's smile filled my mind. His smile and his... other attributes.

That's a gift of being the Princess of Romantic Love. Eternally young. I don't just mean my appearance either, but all the passions of youth are ever-fresh, every experience I feel as strongly as if it were the first time. On the one hoof I would never be as big as Celestia, or as calm, or as wise. On the other hoof, I get to keep enjoying my body in ways she hasn't done since she was in her first lifetime. I blushed like the teenage filly I still resembled as Shining Armor came suddenly into my thoughts and took over, I imagined lying beneath him, his strong hooves roving down my side and stroking my flank...

I was brought out of my reverie by Celestia chuckling, a light and musical sound. “That's what I thought. I can't blame you, I've stolen a peek myself here and there, and I hear he's already making quite an impression at the Academy. So, how about this, my niece. You take Shining Armor, and do every wicked little thing you can think of with him, and in the meantime you let me borrow his little sister for a while, and I won't bother you about your special project again for the next two hundred years. How does that sound?”

I grunted in annoyance and forced myself calm again. Celestia usually got her way from me, to be honest, but I wasn't going to just give away Twily just because I was suddenly distracted by thoughts of Shining Armor and wanted to go polish the royal rubies.

“If you can promise me that she'll be safe,” I said, “and that you'll give her back when you're done with her.”

“She will be as safe as Equestria itself,” Celestia said, “and I will adhere to the Princess's Oath.”

Between us Alicorns, there is no greater vow than that. I nodded. “In that case... all right.”

Author's Note

Next time: "The Song of Warding Glow."