Author's Note

Okay, so this chapter was ever so slightly rushed, mostly because I lost the original draft due to a saving error, later on, I'll try to go back and 'revise' it.

Chapter 4 - A talk between sisters (Revised)

Queen Celestia watched her sister's beautiful moon rise into the night's sky. She couldn't lie; she missed the duties of raising and lowering the moon, organizing all the stars in the sky and planning constellations. Once the full moon was high and proud, Celestia turned around and walked out of her olive and deep green study and down the Northern wing, where Luna's chambers lay. Finally making it to the Northern wing of the palace, Celestia nodded her head to three guards, who monitored the hallway leading to her sister's room.

"Luna?" Celestia spoke as she knocked on the dark blue door with her sister's cutie mark on it.

Celestia gasped as the door was swiftly opened by none other than the Moon Princess herself. Luna's flowing mane reached nearly all the way to the floor now she was growing up, Celestia thought sweetly. The Moon Princess had also grown and now she stood almost shoulder to shoulder to the Queen.

Smiling weakly, the Moon Princess asked, “Can I help you, Sister?"

The Sun Queen nodded as she glimpsed into his sister's light grey chamber. "I want to bring something to your attention, Luna" Celestia said as she invited herself in. "I think it's best we talk about this together." the Sun Queen said.

"If it is about what my daughter did, I have already swiftly dealt with it, Tia" Luna dismissed her sister as she watched the Sun Queen move around her room.

Thinking about her sister's daughter for a moment, Celestia added, “It's not about that Luna, but while we're on the topic, how is Mona?"

The Sun Queen and Moon Princess now stood in front of each other. "She's asleep right now. I sent her to bed early – that Is part of her punishment" Luna stated.

"Luna, all she did was just go to Canterlot for an hour - perhaps even less time than that" Celestia said. "If one of my daughters were to have done that, I would have been upset, but I wouldn't have banished them like that." As soon as Celestia spoke, she instantly cringed inwardly. “Banished? Could I not have used a better word?”

Luna glared at her sister. "Tia, you raised your daughters centuries ago, before the press was even a thought. When the world was ... safe and quiet" Luna said.

Walking side by side, the sisters moved further into the room.

"Still" Celestia continued, trying to break the ice "Mona did a small thing Luna, and it wasn't something bad like drinking or other things like that."

The Moon Princess nodded. "True, she didn't do those things, but if she were to do something like this again, who's to say she will not drink or do worse?" Luna defended her judgment and decisions as she began to see her sister move towards one of the two sofas that lived on the left side of the chambers, in front of two large French doors that lead out onto a balcony.

The Sun Queen took her seat quickly, grabbing the sofa with the view of the outside. "Alright. I was getting off track anyway; let's move on" Celestia said kindly as she faced Luna once again.

"Okay, What did you come here to talk about, Tia?" Luna asked as she felt herself relax, only a little, but enough to settle her nerves.

"Twilight has recently taken on the duties of her first student" Celestia said. "Her choice of student is, interesting, to say the least. Do you remember the gypsies who sided themselves with Sombra?" Celestia asked.

"How could I forget?" Luna said as she took her seat on the second sofa facing he sister.

"Well, you see, Twilight's student is the daughter of one of those who betrayed us" Celestia explained, appreciating the richness of the sofas.

"The small group that came back had few female members in their ranks. Who is the mother of Twilight's student?" Luna asked, letting a little smile show. "Is her mother even still alive?" The Moon Princess thought.

"Trixie Lulamoon," Celestia said bluntly. Luna gasped slightly. "I knew the family name would be familiar to you" Celestia said, "Yes, she is the great-granddaughter of your first, and only student to date, Luna." Celestia looked down at the white, circular carpet, trying to think.

"Dust Lulamoon," she said weakly as she looked around out on to the balcony.

"Yes, that was her name. Anyway, back to Twilight. I'm concerned that the unicorn is far too old to begin basic magic training. She's around the age of ten, so she was born sometimes during the last days of the Crystal war or sometime afterward" Celestia theorized. "She is the same foal that Trixie was pregnant with when she came here" Celestia added.

Briefly looking towards her daughter's door, Luna sighed and looked back to her sister. "How do you know so much about her, sister?" Luna asked coyly, letting her 'fun' side take over.

"I have done 'research'," Celestia stated as a small smile raced on to her face.

"You have been spying on Twilight and her, if I am not mistaken?" Luna teased.

Celestia blushed and nodded. "I wanted to make sure she was the right choice for Twilight" Celestia said, "And I can tell you Luna, she is most certainly not. I trust you read the paper this morning?" Celestia said more than asked.

"Yes, I did. That report was true then" Luna sighed as she looked over towards her dark oak coffee table. The first page of "The Royal report"showed a blurry photo of Twilight, Zephyr, Skylar, and a light blue mare, whom the press had dubbed 'Snow White' because of her amazingly white mane and tail. Luna sighed as she looked back at her sister. "I am guessing that is her." Luna pointed to Ivory.

"Yes. Her name Is Ivory Wand Lulamoon" Celestia confirmed.

"Ivory Wand? Very Trixie" Luna smiled weakly.

"Indeed" Celestia said as she closed her eyes; it was nearly time for her to go to bed. "Tomorrow, I plan to pay a visit to Twilight and meet Ivory Wand. I want you to bring Mona." Celestia said.

"She won't play with Skylar or Ivory" said Luna, dismissing Celestia's command immediately.

"Luna, it'll just be a chance for her to 'get out' for a while. I know your first two pregnancies ended in miscarriages. It's an awful thing, but I'm concerned you're far too protective of Mona; she's nearly fifteen Luna, and she's never been beyond the palace walls or without you by her side" Celestia frowned. "Just give her a chance to be a teenager" the Sun Goddess told her sister.

"Their names were Moondust and Velvet!" Luna hissed in her mind. "I guess I have no choice, do I?" Luna said as Celestia calmly shook her head. “Alright, just this once I will bring her along." Luna smiled.

. . .

Ivory Wand trotted behind Twilight and Skylar as they finally made it to a grassy meadow on a hill. The picnic spot was in between Ponyville and Canterlot, facing a large body of water, one more used for diving rather than drinking. Twilight smiled as she watched the two young mares look over the edge of the hill. Skylar was dressed in a simple white dress with a blue ribbon in her mane while Ivory was dressed in a grey dress which was very similar to Skylar's, only it seemed 'older'. There was a white ribbon in Ivory's mane.

"Skylar! Be careful!" Came a cry from Zephyr, who had been bribed into carrying everything needed for the picnic, using his wings to balance himself.

"They're fine, Zephyr" Twilight smiled peacefully as she settled down on a white picnic blanket she had laid out.

"They're playing right next to a cliff!" he gasped as he knelt down, letting Twilight levitate the things from his back on to the ground. "They are most certainly not 'fine'" he said, shaking his head.

"Zephyr, I wouldn’t have brought them here if I felt there was any danger" Twilight said as she took out a basket and an old, browning book.

"You brought a book along?" The pegasus teased.

"This isn't just any book, Zephyr," Twilight smiled coyly. "I found it in the library last night. It's ancient and I thought the girls would enjoy it" the lilac alicorn said matter of factly. "It's called "The Legend of the Lost Prince" Twilight said as she held the book up. "I won't read it now; I just thought you might've liked to see it" she said.

"Err, girls?" Zephyr questioned, thinking he had misheard. "Twilight, I'm still not sure about letting Skylar spend so much time with Ivory ... I just don't feel alright with her yet" he added.

"Yes, Sky and Wanda" Twilight answered as she turned her head towards the light purple alicorn and the light blue unicorn. "You'll get used to it in no time" Twilight smiled.

"You're reading to them both now?" Zephyr asked.

"Yes, why wouldn't I?" Twilight asked him, suppressing a hiss.

"Well, Ivory's one of them, and Skylar's our daughter. I just think you should draw a line between where your family life crosses over with your working life" the pegasus 'explained'. "It's just not right ..." he tailed off.

Just as Twilight was about to speak, the unmistakable sounds of Royal trumpets flooded the sky. The two young mares gasped and dashed back over to Twilight, Ivory hiding under Twilight, which only added to Zephyr's current mood.

"The Queen’s here! The Queen’s here!" Skylar bubbled as she zipped around her parents and Ivory, who still looked very concerned.

Finally, the golden chariot landed, just a little walk away from where the picnic area had been set up, right under a giant old willow tree. A lime colored unicorn jumped off from his seat at the front of the chariot and came to the side. "Her Majesty, Queen Mia Solaria Celestia Soleil" he bellowed as the radiant Sun Queen stepped out of the chariot, dressed in a little golden sun-dress and a cream organza with a Phoenix's feather sticking out of the right side. The unicorn bowed as Celestia moved to the side. "Her Royal Highness, Princess Mia Lyrica Luna," he announced in a slightly turned down volume that was still enough to rattle bones.

Princess Luna stepped out of the chariot in a dramatic dark blue, almost black organza and the sort of hat you would wear if you were in mourning. She wore a small smile on her face, not a 'happy' smile, yet not a 'sad' smile. The unicorn cleared his throat as Luna made way and stood next to her sister.

"Her Excellency, Countess Mia Lunar Mona!" Out stepped a beautiful white unicorn mare, her light blue mane hidden underneath a black hat, not quite as dramatic as Luna's but just as imposing, partial concealing her sparkling green eyes. The countess briefly joined her mother and her aunt, just before they all moved towards Twilight and the small family gathering.

"Celestia!" Twilight smiled as she nuzzled up next to her mother figure.

"Oh, I have to thank you again for allowing us to visit on such short notice!" The Sun Queen beamed as the two broke their embrace.

"Princess Luna, Countess Mona," Twilight bobbed her head to acknowledge each of the other two guests.

"Your Highness" Mona greeted Twilight in a 'stock standard' way.

"I haven't seen you in almost a year" Twilight tried to break the ice. "You look lovely" the Crown Princess smiled.

"Mona" Luna hissed as her daughter jumped forward.

"T-thank you" the white unicorn said finally. "You look lovely too" she said with a hint of bitterness in her voice.

"Celestia!" called the familiar voice of a certain young alicorn as she raced towards the Sun Queen.

"Oh, Skylar!" The Sun Queen helped the light purple mare up to her eye level. "That dress looks stunning!" she praised Skylar and then placed her back on the ground. "Oh, Zephyr," Celestia smiled as she hugged her honorary 'nephew'. "You must be so proud of your daughter" she smiled.

"I am aunt Celestia" said the pegasus. "Why, just last week she passed her "Basic's in Flying" test in Cloudsdale" the deep blue stallion praised. "She's also on her way to being accepted into your school" the Crown Prince smiled.

"Wanda pasted her first test, Celestia!" Skylar boomed as she dragged the light blue unicorn forward.

"Oh, did she now?" Celestia looked to Twilight, who hurried forward.

"Err, let's go eat. I think Wanda has made something for us!" Twilight said as she led the small entourage over to the picnic spot.

Once they were all settled, Twilight began to levitate plates of food to her guests. Luna kept a close eye on her daughter, who looked bored and uninterested. Luna sighed, she had hoped this would help break the ice between them, but, it would seem it had only made that ice thicken.

"So, I hear you have recently taken on your first student. Is my information correct?" Mona asked Twilight as the young Moon Princess poured some tea for herself and Luna.

"Why, yes. I have. This here is Ivory Wand. We just call her Wanda, though" Twilight smiled sweetly as she pointed to Ivory.

"The daughter of Trixie Lulamoon?" Mona said with a hint of coldness.

"Y-yes," Twilight said, slightly caught off guard. Mona had never been very warm to a lot of ponies.

Mona smiled and sipped from her cup. "I see. Were no other student available?" Everypony turned to look at Mona, who wore a bemused smile on her face. Luna looked ready to have a 'little talk' with her daughter.

"Excuse me?" Twilight said uncertainly.

"Traditionally, all students of royalty have been selected from the schools the said Royal founded. I was just surprised that you had not selected a unicorn from your school, that is all" Mona said quickly.

"Oh," Twilight giggled awkwardly. "I misunderstood your statement; sorry" the lilac Princess smiled.

"Um, Crown Princess?" Twilight turned to her left to see Ivory.

"Yes, Wanda?" Twilight asked the unicorn.

"Would you like a piece of cake?" Ivory quietly asked Twilight.

"Why, yes. Do you want anypony else to have some?" Twilight smiled and asked.

"No, I made just enough for you" Ivory smiled.

"Oh, thank you" The Crown Princess smiled back as she took a slice.

"I used to make it for ma" Ivory added, "Sometimes, if she was upset or just annoyed or just really sleepy after going to a 'party', I would make it for her." The way Ivory said ‘party’ made it clear to Twilight what she really meant.

Twilight smiled and took the cake. "You take good care of your ma, don't you?" she said softly.

"Yes, somepony has to" Ivory answered sombrely.