"WHAT?! SHE DID WHAT?!"

"Lulu, not so loud." Celestia frowned at her sister, then looked at her teacup. The Royal Canterlot Voice hadn't chipped it, thankfully, but it had made some tea spill out onto her coat. She dabbed at it with a napkin, then took another sip of her favourite brew, some sweet and gentle oolongma straight from Chineigh. She needed it right now.

"Okay, okay, but...Chrysalis' daughter?" Luna hissed, looking at Celestia, then looking past her at the bedroom, glaring at the egg that sat so innocently in its basket. "What do you intend to do about this? Will you destr-"

"Lulu! No! I...I won't hurt it...won't hurt...her." Celestia bit her lip. "It's not fair for me to deny a creature life just because its mother was a tyrant. She is not her mother. She will be...whatever she will be."

"But..."

"No, Lulu, no. I know you were more incensed with Chrysalis than I was..."

"Were? I still am! Just because she's a lawn ornament now doesn't mean my ire has lessened one bit! I just...I want things to be normal for once." Luna said softly, pouting and looking like a young filly and not like the immortal mare she was.

"Oh Lulu, the first thing you've got to learn is that life refuses to be normal. It isn't normal. Nothing and nopony is normal. We're all unique and wonderful and strange, and I wouldn't have it any other way." Celestia put down her teacup and rose, turning towards her bedroom.

"Tia?"

"One moment." Celestia stepped into her bedroom, leaning down to pick up the basket with her teeth. Then she did an about face and brought it into the living-room, sitting down on her cushion and placing the basket beside her. "It's probably best if I keep her close."

Luna groaned and facehoofed. "Tia, seriously? What is happening to you? Fine, I understand you don't wish to harm the changeling, but shouldn't you wait until you talk with Thorax about it? Twilight may know a lot, but if you want to know about changelings, go right to the source."

"I fully intend to do just that, Lulu. But for now, I'm going to do what I feel is right." She picked up the egg, gently cradling it against her belly, letting it sit against her soft coat and drink in her body heat. "Surely keeping her warm will help. R-right?"

Luna shrugged. "I know naught on the matter, sister. You probably know more than me, truly." She snorted, then chuckled, looking at the scene before her. "You're totally nesting right now, just like a pegasus."

"Wh-what? I am not!" Celestia rebutted, a blush forming on her cheeks. "I'm just...I don't know, I just want to take care of it. Chrysalis, she...she got me good. Like she said in the letter, she knew me well enough to entrust her daughter to me. She must have known this would happen."

"Well, I guess they call you Equestria's mother for a reason." Luna got up and trotted over to her sister, giving her a soft nuzzle. "How about I write the letter to Twilight, and let you and the egg get to know each other."

"Lulu!" Celestia balked. Luna just giggled and made her way out of Celestia's apartment, leaving her sister to huddle protectively over the egg.

* * *

Quill, ink and paper at the ready, Luna sat at her writing desk, taking a moment to compose herself as she pondered over the letter she was about to write. Ire at Chrysalis bubbled up again, but she forced it back down. Celestia was taking this more positively than she was, and Luna was determined to follow her sister's example. She closed her eyes and did the breathing exercises that Cadence had taught to her, then opened them and began to write.

Dearest Twilight,

While I wish this letter were one in which to share how Celestia and I have been faring, it sadly is not. Something has come up.

I do not think there is any cause at present to be worried, so be at peace. That being said, what I have to say to you will no doubt disturb you somewhat.

How shall I put this? Probably best to just say it. Chrysalis, though she may have been defeated, has played a trick upon us from beyond her stony prison. It appears she had a contingency plan to ensure that her as yet unhatched daughter would survive, and that plan is, namely, to have Celestia raise her.

We do not know how the egg reached us, though I assume a changeling must have secretly delivered it and then left. I do not know if there is any grand plan beyond Chrysalis merely wanting her brood to be cared for, and truly for Equestria's sake I hope that is all it is.

Instead of writing two letters, I thought it best to write to you, letting you know the situation and asking you to contact Thorax. Celestia and I do not know nearly enough about changelings, and we surely know very little about their young and how they raise them. If he could visit us as soon as he is able, that would be much appreciated.

As it is, I should probably return to Celestia now. When last I left her, she had begun nesting. My sister's motherly instincts truly know no bounds, and I think she is determined to look after the pitiful thing.

Yours truly,
Luna

"Hmm...could have been worded better, but that shall suffice." She murmured to herself, blowing softly on the page to ensure the ink dried. Then she lifted up the page, rolled it up, and burned it with magical fire, watching it dissipate in the air before her. "Hopefully she doesn't freak out...though she has gotten better at remaining calm, hasn't she? She's better at it than I, I must admit."

She stood up and stretched, letting out a yawn. Having retired, she had found herself doing more during the daylight hours than before, and it left her in want of more sleep. Perhaps she'd check on her sister once more, then have a nice afternoon nap. Yes, that sounded like a good idea.

Leaving her apartment, she trotted next door to her sister's place, letting herself in as she usually did. Stepping inside, she noticed that Celestia was no longer sitting in the living area, her cushion next to the tea table now empty.

Peeking into the bedroom, she found herself having to suppress a snort of amusement. There was Celestia, laying on her bed, curled up around the egg, humming softly and caressing it. Luna softly shook her head, smiling lovingly at her sister. Celestia had been like a second mother to Twilight Sparkle, and likely did just as much parenting of the young mare as Twilight Velvet had, if not perhaps more. But now Twilight Sparkle was all grown up, and leading Equestria with her friends, and it was as if she'd left the nest.

Perhaps this situation may not be a bad thing after all, she thought. She'd noticed how off her sister had been, how confused and lost she had looked, but now? It was the first time in months Celestia had looked fulfilled and at peace. And Luna couldn't bring herself to disturb her sister, so she quietly left.

"I never thought I'd say this but...Chrysalis? Thank you."

Author's Note

A robin feathering his nest, has very little time to rest~