Yes, It's A Bit Confusing, But Still, Why Would You Expect Anything Else?
Avoiding the gaze of the two alicorns in front of her, Citrus muttered, "Is there a p-p-problem, P-Princess?"
"In fact there is," Celestia answered, bemused. "You are not in trouble, don't worry, I... just have a few questions."
"As do I," Luna confirmed, although she wasn't as frustrated as Celestia was.
"I'm not w-worried ab-bout you two in p-particular, I'm always a b-b-bit like this." Citrus smiled awkwardly, though inside she was screaming at the top of the lungs. Her eyes darted around wildly, searching for an escape route, knees clashing together. No, she was completely doomed.
Celestia tried not to sigh in annoyance. I had forgotten that the premiere genetics expert in Equestria was like this. Just imagine how Twilight must have reacted when she found out. She looked at the papers again. Exactly the results she would have expected. Almost. One segment on the pie chart was annoying her.
"Please, calm down, Citrus. I'm not sure about Celestia, but I am not that worried at all. It would explain a lot, actually, and I'm relieved we know a little more about our ancestry." Luna was not good at winning smiles. She was good at sincere smiles, and the occasional reassuring hoof on another pony's shoulder. Citrus inhaled, and exhaled, and inhaled again.
"R-right. Well. Um. Your results are... interesting, t-to say the least," Citrus explained. "Y-your genetics are largely of equus sapiens unicornis, at least sixty percent, maybe more."
Celestia tried to focus on the matter at hoof. "Ah. Yes. I was wondering why that percentage wasn't larger."
"W-well, you two h-have been alicorns for a v-very long time, and we think, um, that may have had an e-effect."
"Interesting. So, because Luna and I have the magic of two other types of pony as well as unicorn magic, and we've been around for such a long time, that extra magic may have changed our very genetics. That explains the five percent each of equus sapiens pegasos and equus sapiens terras despite there being no records of pegasi or earth ponies in our family. Then again, there are no records of the other thirty percent."
Citrus shuffled the papers on the desk in front of her. "A p-pony isn't sup-posed to ask a q-question like this, but, um, how old are each of you?" She gulped, and Luna watched the lump travel down the pony's throat.
"One thousand four hundred and seventy two," Celestia rattled off. "Luna is one thousand four hundred and sixty nine."
"One thousand four hundred and sixty eight, Celestia, not sixty nine. My birthday is in eight months' time," Luna reminded her elder sister.
"I can't remember everything, you know."
"No, but your sister's age and birthday are two of the things that you must remember, Tia. Forgetting those is like forgetting how much your sister really means to you. Then again, I doubt you remembered when I was stuck on the moon for a thousand years."
"Do you know how hard it is to rule alone?"
"Do you know how hard it is to be completely alone?" Luna took a deep breath. No, it can't happen again. If it's going to happen, I want it to be Celestia first. I have to win the competition. "Anyways. You were saying, Citrus?"
"Well, um, that makes sense, act-t-tually. The thing is, that was d-during the reign of D-Discord, when many creatures had d-difficulty in s-surviving. You two were the ones t-to defeat him, were you not?"
"Indeed," Luna pondered, engraving stars and crescent moons on the wooden desk with a quill. "I was only sixteen. Both of us were far too young for such immense tasks, really. Never mind, though. The DNA test makes sense, because Discord's reign lasted for several centuries. Certain creatures had to stick together to survive, and two of the species that did were equus sapiens unicornis and equus sapiens progenitrix. Tia, the test is, in fact, accurate."
"But how? We have no records of family history from that era."
"Except our memories of what it was like. Tia, you and I can both remember the times that it happened, and we dismissed it as Discord's chaos magic for such a long time, but maybe it was something more."
"You're both being ridiculous." Celestia folded her forelegs across her chest. "That's enough. It seems we shall have to go abroad to find out the true nature of our lost heritage and answer Twilight's questions." She stood up from her seat and prepared to leave.
"No, Tia, now you're the one being ridiculous."
"We're leaving."
"I refuse."
"I said, we're leaving."
"No. Citrus is a very kind mare, and she has spent a lot of time running these tests. It all lines up."
"I thought I said we were leaving," Celestia snapped at her sister, whirling around, and it happened. Her mane and tail became streaks of flame behind her. Her corneas turned brown, her pupils shrank to slits and her irises changed to the same gold hue as the fire moving in a nonexistent breeze behind her.
Citrus could take it no longer, and fainted.
"Now look what you've done," Luna muttered. "We aren't supposed to be seen acting like this in public. What happened to rest and recuperation once the two of us had retired?"
"It's just, sister, it's impossible! It's scientifically impossible!" She threw her hooves into the air.
"Or that's what you believe. Stop acting like a foal and extinguish those flames whilst I bring our dear friend Citrus back to consciousness."
Celestia took a breath, and focused. Calm. Calm. You are calm. It's fine. You are fine. Everything is completely fine. The sudden transformation reversed just as quickly as it had happened. She was back to being regal Princess Celestia. Mostly. She was frustrated that she didn't know more. She had always been just like Twilight Sparkle, studying as much as she could, learning everything she was able to about the world around her. In her just-short-of-fifteen-hundred years, she had learned a lot, including how to keep a lid on her emotions. However, there were times when she forgot about it, and they were embarrassing. Luna forbid the papers ever find out about this.
Whilst Celestia was struggling to control her frustration, Luna used Beating Heart’s Basic Bring Back to Consciousness spell to revive Citrus. The latter awoke with wild eyes.
"It's fine, Citrus. I told Celestia off. By the way, sister, I believe I won the bet you and I made before we came here."
"Do you want me to burst into flame again?"
"Hmm, I'd rather you didn't, and Citrus here is probably thinking the same as I am. Here." Luna offered a hoof to Citrus, who stood up shakily and made her way back to her seat.
"W-w-well, if you don't mind me s-saying, I think that s-s-serves as proof," Citrus muttered.
Luna chuckled, "I think it does, sister. This probably does, too." Luna closed her eyes and ignited her horn. Her fur changed to a deep blue-black; she grew taller, until she was of equal size to Celestia; her mane and tail changed to a solid blue, with tiny white stars embedded; and when she opened her eyes her cyan irises had engulfed her pupils. She focused her magic a little more, and the tip of her horn turned white, whilst at the same time the stars in her mane and tail grew and turned red until they resembled tiny bursts of flame. "No need to worry, Citrus. I'm not here to make the night last forever. I'm just proving to Celestia that, yes, she and I are part Kirin."
There was the word. It hung in the air. It irked Celestia. How could she be related to Kirins, and only find out now?! She questioned Citrus, "I don't suppose there is a way of finding out which Kirins, is there?"
"We w-were able to t-t-trace Princess T-Twilight's heritage and-d find one Autumn B-Blaze. However, um, the rec-c-cords from your family are even harder t-to trace."
"I have another question. Is this the same with Princess Cadance? If it is, then it may have something to do with being an alicorn."
"N-no. She was a p-p-pegasus before, so, um, she has n-not one p-percent of equus sapiens progenitrix in her g-genetic makeup." Citrus flushed. "I'm s-sorry, your highness."
Celestia took a breath. Calm. "It's fine, Citrus. Although it has given me an idea for our next holiday destination, Luna. How would you like the Peaks of Peril?"
"You can climb the peaks and get yourself into serious danger, and I can go and talk to some of our possible relatives and relax." Luna reverted back to her usual appearance. If she was seen in public like that, the papers would have her guts for garters.
"We'll do both of those things, together. Deal?"
"But I really don't want to go abseiling. What is the point if we have wings?"
"Deal?"
"Ugh, fine."
Celestia and Luna each shook hooves with Citrus, and left. Citrus boiled a nice cup of tea and tried not to think about what she had witnessed.
Autumn Blaze watched carefully as the two Royal Sisters of Equestria approached the entrance to the Kirin Village. At just the right moment, she jumped out from behind a bush and said, "Hello my name is Autumn Blaze it's so good to see you! You two are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna oh wait do I need to say Princess or not since technically you're not the Royal Sisters you're the ex-Royal Sisters but that doesn't sound quite right so I'll just go with Royal Sisters but to say Princess or not to say Princess that is the question and hey I should probably introduce you to Rain Shine since she's like a princess around here and oh my gosh there is so much to talk about!" She let out a squeal of delight.
Luna chuckled. "Tell us everything. I think Tia and I want to know what we have missed."
Celestia harrumphed, then followed the others into the village. This was going to be a long week.
The end of her tail caught fire.
Author's Note
Once again, the original story belongs to Dewdrops on the Grass. (Go check out her user page when you get a chance. She's got some other awesome stories too.) I just wrote this as an unoffical sequel because, well, why not?
Hope you're all enjoying your day/night,
~ Angel
