To Be A Princess

Seeing the sunset-painted doors of Celestia’s study twice in one week was nothing to Twilight. When she attended the School for Gifted Unicorns in her youth, she had entered those doors every morning, afternoon, and night for her twelve years of school. Twilight needed to see Celestia that often, back then.

But now, Twilight was incredibly nervous. Deep in her heart, she knew that Flurry Heart would do just fine, but the overpowering thought of “Celestia will be so disappointed” hung over Twilight’s head like a storm cloud.

Flurry pushed the heavy doors open. Celestia sat there, with her hands folded neatly, resting atop the large desk. Her eyes showed curiosity, but her lips curled upwards, as always.

Twilight once again felt minor. She was standing in a room with two Goddesses, ultimately beautiful, talented, intelligent, above all:

Powerful.

Why didn’t Celestia invite Luna and make it a party?

“Flurry Heart, what an honor.” Celestia said, her words calm and a bit surprised, Twilight suspected.

Flurry quickly bowed. “It is my honor, My Queen.”

Twilight resisted the urge to face-palm. She knew what Flurry was doing. Normally, in any kingdom, including Equestria, flattery was highly accepted, and very much appreciated in a non-modest way. Flurry was only trying to make herself lesser, and Celestia higher. Twilight knew that Flurry was in no way ready to be known as The True Crystal Princess, and Flurry was trying to get her evaluation off to a good start, but Celestia hated being called a Queen. She had once told Twilight that she felt that it was incredibly disrespectful to the true Queen of Equestria, Queen Lauren, who was currently only a spirit that drifted through dimensions, taking many different forms, and ruling over all in secrecy. Lauren was of course, not Celestia’s real mother, but did decide in her Fate form that it would be young Celestia and Luna to rule Equestria for the next few eons.

But how was Flurry supposed to know?

Celestia merely raised an eyebrow, and said nothing. She rose from her chair, and directed Flurry and Twilight outside.

The three Princesses found themselves in a small room. There was nothing but a table and two chairs. Celestia, politely, asked Twilight to go have a look around, see what’s changed, for that part of the evaluation would take a while.

Twilight had toured Canterlot Castle probably thousands of times, and knew nothing would ever change, so she sat. And waited.

It took hours, and Twilight was growing nervous. Finally, Flurry and Celestia emerged from the dimly lit room. Celestia whispered to Twilight that she would speak with her later, and Flurry sat and sighed as Celestia walked away.

Twilight sat next to her daughter. “What happened in there?”

Flurry didn’t look up from her lap. “Well, she just asked me if I, honestly, wanted to be a princess, and I said…”

“No,” Twilight finished for her.

“Yeah. I’m really sorry, but...like I told you, that’s what I honestly think. Then, she told me that she would help me, and that…” Flurry put her head in her hands.

“What?”

“She told me that she knew that you weren’t that good of a mentor, and then she called you a bad mother, and I was afraid to say anything because, you know, she’s Celestia. I’m so sorry Mom, I don’t think that you are either of those things.” Flurry paused, and looked up to Twilight.

Twilight said nothing.

“Then,” Flurry went on, “she sat there, waiting for me to say something. But I was afraid. And then we were done.” Flurry sobbed. “I’m awful! I can’t ever be a Princess!”

Twilight still said nothing. She held Flurry’s hand, and pulled her out of the chair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You called me a bad mother! What is wrong with you!?”

Celestia pursed her lips. “I said nothing of the sort, I can assure you.”

Twilight slammed her fists on Celestia’s desk. “Of course. The Princess never lies, I can assure you. I said nothing of the sort, I can assure you. You’re a terrible mother, I can assure you, even though all of my children have died, and it was my fault. I have never seen your parenting skills, I can assure you, though, they are awful.”

“Twilight…”

“Shut up. Shut up. I swear on Queen Lauren that I will kill you if you ever talk to me or my daughter again. Do you even know how hard that I am working to make sure that she feels loved, and appreciated, and capable? She is the most amazing young woman I have ever met, and I admire her more than I have ever admired you. I can’t believe that you would ever say something like that to anyone, including her.”

“Do you really think, that that will change anything?” Celestia folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t even think you understand how selfish you sound right now.”

Twilight left, slamming the doors behind her.