Waidmans Heil Flutter-Pie

The next morning, Twilight found herself drawn to her mentor's chambers. The revelations last night had left her with so many questions and who better to ask?

It helped she was staying in Canterlot for a few days while Celestia, Luna, and Cadance helped her adjust to her new role. Though Cadance would be quick for she had to return to the Crystal Empire soon.

Months after Sombra's defeat, there was still so much to do helping the crystal ponies get back on their hooves. It helped Cadance was so well-loved and that Equestria had promised to help as much as possible.

Getting used to her constant companions? Well, that was something that was still ongoing. Nopony held anything against them. But their relationship was something that was new to all.

The fact that they more or less put the Crystal Guard out of a job had been a sore point in early meetings from Twilight had heard. Not only were they mares in a stallion only club, so to speak.

But they put the best of them to shame. In fact, Captain Quartz Ruby himself had challenged them to one on one combat, to see what they were really made of.

Twilight gave him credit. He lasted longer than most who faced them did. After being defeated, Quartz had admitted that they were the better guards and that they had the full support of the Crystal Guard.

Cadance had made a proclamation later that day saying that Light and Charm were only her personal guards and that she would not do away with what had gone before.

Now the Crystal Guard provided security for the empire as a whole instead of for the princess. It helped that Silver Streak, the Guard Commander in Canterlot, had been doing his best to help bring them up to modern techniques, with some success.

Twilight herself, well she honestly wished she had the same kind of relationship they had. Not only as sisters but with Cadance as well.

Being an only child, she could admit she had been jealous of seeing other fillies and colts with siblings. Partly whys he latched onto Cadance, Light, and Charm as she had.

They were the closest thing to siblings she had. And now with all that she knew, her oldest friends outside her mom and dad.

The rest? Well, Twilight had always preferred mares over stallions. So that helped One of her biggest questions to come was how her fellow alicorns had met their, well soulmates as they had.

Right now though, her biggest worry was with who else she would meet in Celestia's room. The time had come for her to face Rainbow Dawn and Solar Aura and own up to how much she had spit on them.

It had taken her moving to Ponyville to ram home how much she owed them an apology. Forgetting that she was a filly at the time, what right did she have to say that to them?

More so because of what she had with Ivory Light and Ivory Charm. She had known how much Cadance valued their friendship. So what had made her say that when it was probably no different with Celestia?

Realizing that worrying about it was getting her nowhere, Twilight focused on what she could do, and hopefully make it up to them.

***

"Do you think she will own up to her mistake?"

The question came from Rainbow and caused Celestia to raise a brow in confusion. "What do you mean?" She asked, even though she had an idea of what she meant.

"Her little outburst years ago about us," Solar said. "She was a smart filly, but that shouldn't have given her the right to question how much we've done for you."

Celestia felt her choler rise. She of course knew what they were talking about. "In her defense, she was ten."

"And knew more than most fillies her age as well," Rainbow replied. "Should we have told her of how many times we've saved your life? Of how many of those were by ponies you trusted?"

"Of our Damocles Oath?" Solar asked.

Celestia blanched at that last one. "She wouldn't know what you meant even if you had."

"Then it is time she did." Rainbow and Solar replied together. "For her own will come in time. For when all hope is lost. The Final Sanction."

"If I should ever turn to darkness and all hope is failed, my life is forfeit and all oaths are void. To strike me down." Celestia finished. It was something that had only come to light after Luna's fall.

They would kill her if she ever became that which Luna had. Celestia had no clear hope that the Elements of Harmony would be able to save her.

It was an oath they all hoped would never need to be made good on.

***

Twilight steeled herself as came to Celestia's door. Thought it wasn't the first time she had been to her mentor's private chambers, now there was more weight behind her visit.

It almost made her wish for the old days when her life had been less complicated. But she quickly shut that train of thought down. She would never be like that again if she could help it.

Knowing that just standing there was getting her nowhere, she finally knocked three times and waited.

"Enter." Came Celestia's faint voice from behind the door. Gathering her courage, Twilight pushed it open and entered the room beyond.

The first thing Twilight noticed was the heat. Her mentor's room had always been warmer than most but Twilight had never asked why. Maybe it was just a quirk Celestia enjoyed?

Pushing that thought aside, Twilight took stock of the room. It had not changed much since the last time she had visited. A cold fireplace sat along one wall with a small stack of logs ready for use next to it.

Bookshelves covered most of the other walls. Many were novels and stories one could find in any bookstore. Some were more ancient. But Twilight's favorites were those composed by Celestia herself.

One whole bookcase was filled solely with material Princess Celestia had done herself. Stories, poems, music, and even artwork on just about every subject under her sun lay there.

Twilight had once asked why her mentor never allowed them to be seen by the public. She was no expert on some of the subjects, but she knew none the less they were beautifully done.

But Celestia had said that they were too private to be shared with all. And some were on subjects that were better off not known to all. Twilight had agreed there, as some had made her queasy.

On the far wall was a queen-sized bed neatly made. In the middle of the room lay a mound of pillows the princess liked to make use of before retiring for the night. Twilight could not count the number of times she had fallen asleep there as a filly after a long lesson.

Twilight saw that Princess Celestia was already there, smiling that same benevolent smile of hers. But it was the two beside her that held her attention.

Rainbow and Solar watched her enter with what could be described as expectation. It only made it clearer that this was something she should have done a long time ago.

Celestia seemed to notice it as well for her smile slipped slightly. "Good morning Twilight. Luna and Cadance should be here at any moment. But I feel that the three of you need to iron something out first."

Twilight nodded. Gulping down her nervousness, she approached Rainbow and Solar. Neither made a move, but she could almost feel the expectation now.

Firming herself she looked them straight in the eyes. "Rainbow, Solar. I owe you two an apology. I said something years ago that I had no right to. I know it's not much. But I'm sorry."

The two shared a look. Both could feel that Twilight meant what she said. But were they really ready to forgive her for that little comment?

Coordinated as they were, they had differing feelings on the matter. Solar was more than willing to let bygones be bygones (maybe a relic of her unicorn past), but Rainbow wasn't so sure.

Call it a relic of her pegasus past, but it still stung years later. She had been ready to knock Twilight upside the head for questioning them as she had. But she would've never heard the end of it from Solar and Celestia if she had.

And no matter what, she couldn't stay mad at her forever. Maybe in time, it would go away, but not right now.

Twilight must have noticed it for she didn't press the issue instead of turning back to Celestia. "I read the journal last night. But I still have so many questions."

Celestia chuckled. "I'm not surprised. Clover was a smart mare, but even she didn't know it all. And we didn't tell her much."

Twilight nodded. She looked back at Solar and Rainbow. "I guess the biggest one I have right now, were you girls born like this?"

Rainbow chuckled. "No, we weren't." She and Solar shared a look. "In fact, we didn't even know each other up until, well..."

Twilight tilted her head. "Until what?" She asked.

"The Calling that brought the three of us together," Celestia said, then continued seeing Twilight's confusion. "It is something that all alicorns experience at some point."

Twilight nodded. "So how did you all meet?"

The three of them shared a loving look. "Oh what a story that is," Solar said.

Twilight made herself comfortable as the tale began.