Eǫᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I am Stealing Words M8,

“Are you sure I’m the best pony for this, Princess? Wouldn’t Princess Luna be a better choice to meet with the tribes of Nightlorn Vale? I know I’ve seen bat ponies accompanying Princess Luna.”

The most wonderful pony in the world brought her hoof to Twilight’s chin and lifted the newly fledged alicorn’s gaze to meet her own. “Twilight, I assure you that I haven’t the faintest doubt in your abilities. I would be hard-pressed to find a pony better suited to reunite our races than you.”

Luna nodded her agreement. “Indeed, Our sister has the right of it. Although We are truly touched by the faithfulness of those in the Night Guard who would retain their loyalty throughout the generations of Our exile—my apologies, my exile—the tribes of the Canterhorn Caverns compose only the minority of bat ponies.”

She shook her head, a familiar sorrow entering her eyes. “It was my own blackest of spells that twisted so many dreaming pegasi into the form they now bear. No, I’m afraid that my presence would only endanger the negotiations.”

Twilight frowned. That didn’t sound fair to her at all.

She turned to look out over the balcony. The sunset over Canterlot was always a beautiful thing; the white splashed across the city were perfect for carrying the colors that blossomed over the sky, and the gold and purple that made up so much of the rest of the city merged perfectly with the evening ambiance.

Many poets paid homage to the glory of Canterlot under the noonday sun, but it was in the transition between day and night that the city was at its most beautiful. Twilight thought that it was sad that more ponies hadn’t realized this.

Princess Celestia lay her wing over Twilight’s back. Her own wings twitched in response, the feeling of touch through feathers still new to her. “You’ve been at my side for diplomatic gatherings before, Twilight. You know the courtesies expected of an Equestrian princess and are certainly experienced at finding common ground with other ponies.”

“Then you really think I can do this, Princess? I—yipe!”

Twilight couldn’t hold back her squeak as the magically-induced static shock zapped her cutie mark. Her tail reflexively folded over to hide it, while her cheeks blushed red over being punished like a misbehaving filly.

“I believe we’ve discussed the appropriate use of titles before, have we not?”

“Y-yes, Prin—Celestia! Yes, Celestia!”

Her mentor—a claim Celestia would forever hold in Twilight’s heart, no matter that they were legally equals—gave Twilight a reassuring squeeze. “As for your question; yes, I do. Truthfully, my biggest worry is over what’s going on in that head of yours. I’m frankly stunned that you aren’t more eager for this trip. I know you’ve never studied the umbral magic of the bat ponies before, and I’ve never seen you be less than excited over the opportunity to learn something new—particularly if that something relates to magic.”

Twilight chuckled, nervously running a hoof through her mane. “Believe me, Prin—Celestia, I’m excited over the opportunity! But…”

Was it weird that she wished she had Fluttershy’s mane? It would be nice to be able to hide behind her own hair. “I’ve barely gotten used to being an alicorn. The idea of more changes is more than a little unnerving.”

“And there is the crux of the issue, is it not?” Luna rubbed at her chin with her hoof as she mused aloud, calling upon her extensive experience in understanding their fears of her fellow ponies. “Change. Twilight Sparkle, the student who dreamt only of further study, became Twilight Sparkle, hero of Equestria. The unicorn hero of Equestria became an alicorn princess; the alicorn princess now takes the full plunge into her new status and royal duties. Little is more frightening than change.”

She could only nod. Luna had the right of it, although hearing it explained so openly made Twilight feel silly for worrying over something so… small.

Celestia shook her head. “You have nothing to worry about, Twilight. Accepting the full extent of what it means to be an alicorn may seem unnerving, but it doesn’t change who you are.”

“Cadance still seems worried about it.”

“Unfortunately,” Luna sighed, “our niece does seem discomfited over the idea. Considering that she has already assumed rulership over an entire province of the nation, I cannot fathom why.”

Celestia was always wonderfully wise, of course, so she knew the answer (just like Twilight thought she would). “Her closeness to Shining Armor, no doubt. Although she should know better than to think he would distance himself from her simply because she took on further traits of what she already was.”

Twilight didn’t notice her fellow princess glance down at her as she spoke, nor Celestia’s smile when Twilight took a firming breath. “Right. She, um, she really should, because he wouldn’t. Right? Right. Should we get this show on the road, then? If I’m going to leave tonight, that is.”

“Indeed.” A blue glow set itself over Twilight’s horn. “Ready thyself, Twilight Sparkle. We recall Our experience to be rather… bewildering.”

“What do you mea—”

That was when Twilight was abruptly aware of what it felt like to have a shadow,  To be continued.

Blah blah blah blah “Are you sure I’m the best pony for this, Princess? Wouldn’t Princess Luna be a better choice to meet with the tribes of Nightlorn Vale? I know I’ve seen bat ponies accompanying Princess Luna.”

The most wonderful pony in the world brought her hoof to Twilight’s chin and lifted the newly fledged alicorn’s gaze to meet her own. “Twilight, I assure you that I haven’t the faintest doubt in your abilities. I would be hard-pressed to find a pony better suited to reunite our races than you.”

Luna nodded her agreement. “Indeed, Our sister has the right of it. Although We are truly touched by the faithfulness of those in the Night Guard who would retain their loyalty throughout the generations of Our exile—my apologies, my exile—the tribes of the Canterhorn Caverns compose only the minority of bat ponies.”

She shook her head, a familiar sorrow entering her eyes. “It was my own blackest of spells that twisted so many dreaming pegasi into the form they now bear. No, I’m afraid that my presence would only endanger the negotiations.”

Twilight frowned. That didn’t sound fair to her at all.

She turned to look out over the balcony. The sunset over Canterlot was always a beautiful thing; the white splashed across the city were perfect for carrying the colors that blossomed over the sky, and the gold and purple that made up so much of the rest of the city merged perfectly with the evening ambiance.

Many poets paid homage to the glory of Canterlot under the noonday sun, but it was in the transition between day and night that the city was at its most beautiful. Twilight thought that it was sad that more ponies hadn’t realized this.

Princess Celestia lay her wing over Twilight’s back. Her own wings twitched in response, the feeling of touch through feathers still new to her. “You’ve been at my side for diplomatic gatherings before, Twilight. You know the courtesies expected of an Equestrian princess and are certainly experienced at finding common ground with other ponies.”

“Then you really think I can do this, Princess? I—yipe!”

Twilight couldn’t hold back her squeak as the magically-induced static shock zapped her cutie mark. Her tail reflexively folded over to hide it, while her cheeks blushed red over being punished like a misbehaving filly.

“I believe we’ve discussed the appropriate use of titles before, have we not?”

“Y-yes, Prin—Celestia! Yes, Celestia!”

Her mentor—a claim Celestia would forever hold in Twilight’s heart, no matter that they were legally equals—gave Twilight a reassuring squeeze. “As for your question; yes, I do. Truthfully, my biggest worry is over what’s going on in that head of yours. I’m frankly stunned that you aren’t more eager for this trip. I know you’ve never studied the umbral magic of the bat ponies before, and I’ve never seen you be less than excited over the opportunity to learn something new—particularly if that something relates to magic.”

Twilight chuckled, nervously running a hoof through her mane. “Believe me, Prin—Celestia, I’m excited over the opportunity! But…”

Was it weird that she wished she had Fluttershy’s mane? It would be nice to be able to hide behind her own hair. “I’ve barely gotten used to being an alicorn. The idea of more changes is more than a little unnerving.”

“And there is the crux of the issue, is it not?” Luna rubbed at her chin with her hoof as she mused aloud, calling upon her extensive experience in understanding their fears of her fellow ponies. “Change. Twilight Sparkle, the student who dreamt only of further study, became Twilight Sparkle, hero of Equestria. The unicorn hero of Equestria became an alicorn princess; the alicorn princess now takes the full plunge into her new status and royal duties. Little is more frightening than change.”

She could only nod. Luna had the right of it, although hearing it explained so openly made Twilight feel silly for worrying over something so… small.

Celestia shook her head. “You have nothing to worry about, Twilight. Accepting the full extent of what it means to be an alicorn may seem unnerving, but it doesn’t change who you are.”

“Cadance still seems worried about it.”

“Unfortunately,” Luna sighed, “our niece does seem discomfited over the idea. Considering that she has already assumed rulership over an entire province of the nation, I cannot fathom why.”

Celestia was always wonderfully wise, of course, so she knew the answer (just like Twilight thought she would). “Her closeness to Shining Armor, no doubt. Although she should know better than to think he would distance himself from her simply because she took on further traits of what she already was.”

Twilight didn’t notice her fellow princess glance down at her as she spoke, nor Celestia’s smile when Twilight took a firming breath. “Right. She, um, she really should, because he wouldn’t. Right? Right. Should we get this show on the road, then? If I’m going to leave tonight, that is.”

“Indeed.” A blue glow set itself over Twilight’s horn. “Ready thyself, Twilight Sparkle. We recall Our experience to be rather… bewildering.”

“What do you mea—”

That was when Twilight was abruptly aware of what it felt like to have a shadow