Concentration. That was what Sunset needed right now. She had studied that same passage in the ancient tome over and over again, and now, she was certain she was going to be able to pull it off. Standing in the middle of her personal chambers, she took a few calming breaths, before promptly closing her eyes, her mind focusing hard on what it was she wanted to achieve. Her horn lit up, and soon, the aura she created began to spread all over her body. Within moments, it was as if she were practically bathed in magic, and as this happened to her, her body began the first inklings of changing. Solid form gave way to ethereal matter, to magic itself. But the efforts to maintain this change were taking their toll, and the strain of it was as clear as day on her face. Eventually, her power gave out, and the aura faded, returning her to normal. She panted furiously, clearly exhausted from her exertions, but even so, she was not so tired as to be unable to express her displeasure at this.
"Damn it! How many times do I have to try before I get it?!"
"Patience, my apprentice...Queenstown wasn't built in a day."
The unicorn's head spun around, and she saw, to her surprise, that her teacher, Queen Moon, was standing in her very doorway. Instinct took hold, and she gave a sweeping bow to her.
"Oh! Queen Moon! Forgive me, I...I didn't see you there."
As she heard the Queens hoof-steps approach, the latter’s voice spoke up to her.
"Few do...unless I want them to."
Slowly, Sunset looked upwards, and it was here when she finally noticed that her leader was not appearing as she usually did. Gone was her distinct azure armour and helm, and instead, she entered her chamber bare, her black fur almost shimmering in the flickering candlelight Sunset had about her room. For a time, however, the younger mare didn't say anything, instead watching as the alicorn made her way further in, looking over the tome she'd been studying.
"One day, you will achieve this spell, Sunset...I am certain of it."
Sighing, Sunset offered a smile.
"Thank you, your Majesty. It means a lot to me that you'd say that."
Turning, Queen Moon nodded, before taking a seat in one of the unoccupied chairs that dotted Sunset's room. Her horn lit up, and there was a brief flash of powerful magic, which Sunset was sure to shield her eyes from. When the light died down, she looked on to discover, to her slight surprise, that the monarch had conjured up a tea set, with two already-filled cups.
"Come...drink with me."
Naturally, Sunset was a little uncertain of how to react to a request like that. The Queen was usually so reserved, so professional in all of her dealings with her. To see her like this, so relaxed and informal, it was a little difficult to adjust to. Even so, she'd been given an offer, and she was not one to refuse. So, slowly, the Equestrian went over to her Lunar mistress, taking a seat close beside her and taking the cup that had been offered. For a while, the two simply contented themselves with their drinks, but all through their time, Sunset watched her teacher warily. It was not something Moon was able to miss, even when her gaze was upon her tea.
"I am aware that...I am not a mare one can feel...comfortable with."
Sunset raised an eyebrow, but still stayed quiet as the Queen continued.
"I am seen as many things, my apprentice. Strong...wise...a defender."
There was the barest flicker in her eyes.
"But...warm...has never been one of them."
Sunset sighed, her own expression softening.
"Nopony here holds that against you, my Queen. You're the kind of leader everypony should have. Whatever failings you have...your strengths more than make up for it."
The Queen let out a dry laugh.
"You may be right...but even so...there are days when one...wishes they could connect more with those around them. To be more than simply the mare who stands between them and harm."
Another sip, and after that, a look of resentment.
"My sister, on the other hoof...nopony ever had a difficult time loving her."
At the mention of Celestia, Sunset grimaced, looking away from her leader for a time, even as she continued to speak aloud.
"I may have been the stronger...but she was always the one the ponies looked up to. The one they admired and adored. I may have been respected...but never loved."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And I have grown accustomed to that. It is something I can live with, if it means those who follow me are ensured the lives they have."
Sunset took a gulp of her own drink before, at last, speaking up.
"Your Majesty...if it's alright with you...I'd rather not talk about your sister right now."
Moon turned to her, raising an eyebrow.
"You still bear that anger towards her? Even after all this time?"
Sunset let out a long sigh.
"She...lied to me. All through my childhood she told me she believed in me, that she would do everything she could to help train me. To make me as good in magic as she felt I was capable of becoming."
Anger took hold in her expression.
"But it was all a lie. The moment she felt I wasn't developing into the kind of mare she wanted me to be, she stopped being a teacher...and started being a warden. Always watching me like a hawk in case I strayed too far for her standards."
Her grip on her cup tensed up.
"I was better off having you as a teacher than I ever was with Celestia!"
She looked over to the ancient mare.
"You never held me back. You never feared what I could do. And you...never lied to me."
Again, she stared at her tea, and after having let all of that out, she stopped, instead simply letting out exhale after exhale. Moon watched her, and could hear in her tone that she was almost trying to convince herself of all of that. That she was trying to maintain that same anger she always had whenever Celestia was brought up. So, the Queen watched, studying her face carefully. The subtle twitches, the brief flickers in her eyes, even the way she was breathing. She watched it all, and as such, soon spoke in a softer tone.
"...She misses you, Sunset."
Slowly, Sunset looked to her, surprised.
"...What?"
Moon turned to face her fully.
"I speak truly. My sister...Celestia...misses you."
A moment passed.
"She made a grave error, not trusting you when she did...but I do not doubt that she loves you, even now."
Sunset's eyes narrowed.
"I trusted her...I felt that she would never be anything but supporting of me...and look how that turned out!"
Moon nodded.
"Yes...my sister erred. It was not the first time...and it certainly won't be the last. But...I believe her when she says she wants you in her life."
Sunset didn't reply, and as such, it wasn't long before Moon continued.
"I believe...that barely a day goes by when she does not wish that you were in her life again. To have you by her side, looking up to her, learning from her. Losing you...wounded her...just like it did when I turned from her."
The Queen regarded her student well, then spoke once more.
"And I sense...that you may feel the same."
Sunset looked away, unable to look her current leader in the eye as she spoke.
"You have served me well Sunset. You have carried out my will and become my most capable follower. But in you, I still sense that longing. That need to go to her, to speak to her...and to have things go back to the way they used to be."
To that, Sunset finally looked back to her.
"Maybe...but things can’t be like they were...can they?"
Closing her eyes, Moon shook her head.
"No...they can’t. Some divisions...cannot heal."
Then, she opened those eyes again.
"But...you do yourself and Celestia a disservice by lying to yourself, like you have been doing."
As one would expect, Sunset was unsure of how to feel about all of this. Her expression changed many times over, between confusion, anger, sadness, as well as a plethora of other feelings. But, at the end of it all, she gradually looked up, staring her teacher right in the eye.
"...Why? Why are you saying all this to me?"
Moon considered that, then gave the younger mare her answer.
"Because I do what is in the best interests of my people, Sunset."
Slowly, she got up, having finished her tea. She walked over to the door, looking over her shoulder to her apprentice yet again.
"And my people...are not served...by being heartbroken."
With that, the elder mare turned again, looking to the open door, and taking a single step out of it. But, the moment she did this, she stopped, for she had heard her student mumbling something behind her. She did not turn to look at her, however, merely standing in the doorway, giving Sunset all the time she needed to get her thoughts in order. Then, after that long and uncomfortable silence, her Equestrian apprentice finally spoke.
"Th...thank you, Queen Moon. It's...I appreciate...you know...having somepony to talk to."
Moon finally looked over, giving a small smile and nod, prompting Sunset to speak up again.
"And you know...you may be better at connecting with ponies than you think."
To that, Moon gave a chuckle.
"Well...perhaps I do get a moment in...every now and again."
