Celestia was sitting with Twilight in her room, thankfully at a different table than the one from the incident with Luna. Twilight had that other table tucked into a corner with all her astronomy tools on it, while a tube from the strange suction machine slightly poked out from underneath it. The leather bands and the mask were likely hidden under there as well, but Celestia had yet to see them.

The room looked innocent at first glance, but there was the faint smell of something musky and sweet. Some of that was Twilight herself, but there was a lingering scent of something darker. Celestia had a few guesses as to the source, but also wondered if perhaps it was her own mind playing tricks on her. In a way, she worried that she’d find evidence of debauchery merely because she expected to. The thought was eating her mind, and needlessly distracting her from the purpose of her visit.

Celestia hadn’t been able to keep her eyes from drifting to the table, and decided that she needed to directly address the situation. The pleasantries had passed, and now it was time to talk. She hoped that Twilight wouldn’t be upset by the change in plans.

“Twilight, I know that today we had a lesson planned, but I’m afraid I have some other matters to discuss. Do you mind if we put your lesson on hold? I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

Twilight relaxed slightly, keeping her little mouth tightly pressed into a line. “It’s fine, Princess. I was secretly hoping we’d get a chance to talk about your last visit.”

Apologizing for a mistake was always awkward, and this particular one had snowballed into something far more strange. “I suppose I should start with an apology to you. I should have knocked and waited. Please forgive me.” Celestia bowed her head.

Twilight waited a moment, and sighed. “Apology accepted.”

Carefully, Celestia peeked up from under her mane. “Although, I do have several questions.”

A small and amused smile formed from Twilight’s tightly pressed lips. “Of course.”

Slowly raising her head, Celestia started with the most pressing one. “Ever since that mistake, Luna has been needlessly distant with me. It’s only been for a few days, but I don’t like it. I’ve caught her fooling around before, but I’ve never stayed to watch. If what you said is true, then it was her choice to keep me there. Personally, I’d have rather left you to your own devices. Do you know why she made me stay?”

Twilight frowned. “Luna is my friend, and if I did know her exact reasoning, it would have been told to me in confidence.”

Celestia cast her eyes down. “I… see.” It was not the answer she’d hoped for.

Twilight quietly observed her for a moment before slowly speaking. “Although, if I had to guess, it would be because she was angry that you didn’t value her privacy.”

Celestia looked back up, hopefully. This seemed counter intuitive, but perhaps Twilight knew more than she let on—like her brother often did. “Her privacy is so important to her?”

Twilight nodded. “Yes. Privacy is an extension of trust. By not valuing her privacy, you reminded her that you didn’t trust her. That probably made her a bit mad, and she felt the need for a little prank in return. Similarly, she trusted me to act a certain way for her prank. I think I met her expectations.”

Celestia paused a bit. “Do you think she deserves that level of trust, with what you and her are doing behind Shining’s back? I love my dear Luna terribly, Twilight, but you have to realize that she’s abused my trust in the past and even gone so far as to lead an attempted revolution against me. I want to trust her, I really do. When I find her breaking one of the precious few promises she’s made since her return, even if it is something silly, then putting trust in her is hard. Especially considering the trust your brother has in you that you’ve apparently broken. I can’t tell if she’s corrupted you or you’ve corrupted her.”

Twilight angrily glared at her, then took a deep breath. “I can see how it looks like that. I promise you that Shining either knows exactly what we are doing, or has guessed something close. He trusts me. This time, it means he trusts me to try everything possible to get under Luna’s tail. He knows Luna’s self imposed rules as well as I do, and there is no possible world in which he hasn’t come to the same conclusions as I did on how to get around them. He thinks about sex more than I do, and I think about it almost every waking moment.”

Celestia frowned. “I’m not sure I believe that. He’s quite possessive of you, and Luna made a very aggressive and inappropriate comment about her intentions for your… future. Her apparent sidelining of those rules, silly as they are, is probably related to achieving her goals. And if I know her, it’s almost certainly with the intent of deceiving Shining. She sees the lives of ponies as a game, sometimes. I doubt he’d appreciate the situation if he knew of it.”

Twilight smugly smiled. “You mean her goal of stealing me away from Shining and locking me up for her own personal use as her pleasure slave? I know that’s her intent if Shining fails in his task. She does have a bit of a malicious streak, as we saw when you visited.”

Celestia gaped. “That does not bother you?”

Twilight shrugged. “She’s the princess of the night, not the princess of kindness. I’ll admit that I even find the… hmm…” Twilight licked her lips as she thought of a word, “finality… of it alluring, in a way. I’ve never been truly treated like that, and the prospect is exciting. If Shining fails then I’ll give myself to her, mind and body. Assuming, of course, that she makes Shining watch every us so often.”

Celestia stared blankly, unsure of what to say. This sounded like an utter betrayal of Shining, and Twilight had stated it so casually.

Twilight shrugged again. “Didn’t you wonder why he mandated Luna come in person and not use her dream magic? He wanted me to get physical with her. I don’t know his task, but my guess is that he needs the threat of failure to be real. My full entertaining of Luna’s desires makes it so.” Twilight tapped her hoof on the table lightly and smiled confidently.

“He’d lose you.” Celestia was having an incredibly hard time understanding Twilight’s position. She’d thought that the siblings were far and away the most important things in each other’s lives.

Twilight snorted back a laugh. “Don’t worry about him. He’d enjoy Luna permanently wrapping my legs around her horn more than you think. He’d get off knowing that I was once his pet, but Luna stole me from him.” Twilight nodded, and glared, momentarily very serious. “Make no mistake, I’d let her steal me. I’d do it whole heatedly, in every way. Partially to entertain him. At least at first…”

Celestia gulped, while Twilight licked her own upper lip, seemingly lost in thought. She blinked, and then shook her head. The room smelled noticeably sweeter, and Celestia coughed. Twilight shrugged.

“He’s weird and pathetic like that. One of his favorite pastimes is to watch the girls all have a go at me one after the other. Sometimes we spend all night and he never even touches me. He just watches as they each exhaust themselves, using me in turns until morning and leaving me a panting, mindless shell. He even let a quintet of stallions have at me while he watched, once.”

Celestia blinked, wide eyed and alarmed.

Twilight kept talking, frowning at the memory as Celestia’s mind raced to keep up. “He was way more into that than I was. They didn’t last nearly as long, and weren’t very nice to me. We both liked their roughness, but they just didn’t know how to work a mare, you know? And their stamina was laughable. After they left we decided to stick to his official harem. Aside from Shining, I much prefer mares. If we want the stallion experience nowadays, we just use magic to give the girls…”

Celestia’s mind finally engaged and she coughed again to interrupt. “You’re oversharing, Twilight. We’ve talked about this.”

Twilight shook her head, her purple eyes glaring from under her straight cut mane. “No, not this time. This time it’s necessary information to explain to you why my behavior isn’t in any way betraying Shining’s trust. I don’t know what grand thing you tasked him with doing, but he’s considered failure a possibility. Even so, he’s not obsessed about failing. Therefore, neither am I. Instead, I’m pursuing Luna because I like her, she’s interested in me, and I want to. It’s a case of mutual interest and opportunity. Shining understands that entirely, and would be disappointed in me if I didn’t seek out my own happiness, all other reasons aside.”

Celestia stared for a moment at Twilight’s outburst before begrudgingly accepting the reasoning. On one hoof, Celestia was glad that Twilight had an independent streak, as odd as it was. On the other, this whole conversation was deeply unsettling for her. It was certainly not how she chose to live her own life, but Twilight had a deep enough conviction that Celestia was willing to drop the subject.

Worse, now she couldn’t get the image of five different stallions just having their way with the little mare before her. She scrunched her face, trying to wipe the image of Twilight splayed out and wrapped around five large and throbbing…

“Fine. You’ve convinced me. Neither of you are betraying his trust.” The logic was unpleasant for Celestia, but made a certain sense. Did each stallion aim for a star? Did Twilight take all five at once? How much did they stretch her little body? More to the point, she had to not think about it. She still needed an explanation for Luna’s current behavior.

“Why do you think Luna is still being distant? She had her little prank already, and yet she still refuses to look at me for longer than an instant.”

Twilight leaned forward, and spoke low and slowly. “I’m not sure, but I think that she feels guilty. She’s second guessing herself and in her heart probably feels like she made a selfish choice that hurt you. I’d re-iterate that she’s also still a little mad at you.”

Celestia nodded, trying to pry out what Twilight really thought. Twilight had seemed eager to continue that night, and didn’t appear to feel any guilt on the matter. That would have been odd for any other mare, but then again, this was Twilight. “Do you think she made a selfish choice?”

Twilight quickly nodded. “Absolutely. You were obviously uncomfortable being there, while I was panicking and acting without thinking. When I saw you come in, I had a flashback to when you burst in on Shining and me years ago. In my panic, I might have been a little overly eager to share everything with you. She was in charge, so she could have reigned me in or calmed me down. I’m sure she noticed the change in my behavior.”

Sighing, Twilight’s ears drooped. “Everypony was very uncomfortable, and that was her choice first and foremost. I wasn’t going to act against her wishes, and she knew it.” She took a deep breath. “Luna was cruel to both of us, and I don’t believe she has apologized to either of us.”

A frown grew on Celestia’s face. Twilight should have had the sense of mind to not participate in anything sexual that made her uncomfortable, but considering Twilight’s history, Celestia decided not to comment on it. A healthy adult should not give up agency and responsibility to another like Twilight had with Luna.

Twilight was far from healthy.

Worse, Celestia hadn’t considered the possibility of Twilight panicking. She especially didn’t like that it was from trauma that Celestia had caused years ago. “I’m sorry that memory causes you so much anxiety, Twilight. I never meant to betray your or Shining’s trust.”

Twilight slowly shook her head. “No, it wasn’t that. We were new at the castle, and you didn’t know us. Everything that happened in that moment was very easily forgivable. But I…“

She looked away and took a breath.

Clearly this was hard for her to say.

Twilight struggled to get the words out, keeping her face turned so Celestia couldn’t see it while she mumbled. “I thought I was over this… I guess I need to say it out loud. Can you give me a moment?”

Celestia nodded. “Of course. Take all the time you need.”

There was silence, and then Twilight spoke emotionless and mechanically. “The look of disgust on your face when you saw us. When you saw me… I haven’t been able to forget it. I don’t think I ever will.”

Celestia didn’t know what to say, so she waited awkwardly until she heard a sniffling noise.

Twilight was crying.

Immediately, Celestia stood up and rushed around the table to comfort her. Wrapping her in a large, feathery hug, Celestia soothed her. “Twilight, no. It wasn’t at you. I’m so sorry. I was disgusted with myself. I still am, but not at you. You’re the only one in that room who was not to blame.”

The little purple mare felt delicate in her hooves, and began to shake as the tears became sobs. “I was there. I saw it.” Twilight accused, almost shouting with her cries. “Ever since then you couldn’t even look at me without me seeing the disgust in your eyes. I had to save your sister before you would acknowledge that Shining and I are siblings. For years, I wasn’t even a real pony to you. You’re so nice to everypony, but you hated me. I was less than dirt.” Twilight looked up, her rant fading off into a quiet admission “Only me.”

Celestia held her tightly, and whispered sweet lies. She wasn’t sure if they were for Twilight or herself. “Not you, Twilight… Never you.”

They held each other for a while, until Twilight slowly stopped crying.

Celestia snuck a quick, affectionate kiss to her forehead, just to the side of Twilight’s horn. “Please forgive me Twilight. I am so terribly sorry.”

Twilight kept her head tucked into Celestia’s chest, refusing to look up. After a few quiet moments, she whispered with something between a chuckle and a sob. “I’m pretty pathetic, aren’t I?”

Celestia continued to hold her. “No, Twilight. You’re strong.”

Twilight gave an empty laugh. “Strong? One pony doesn’t think the world of me, and I collapse. That’s not strong.”

“Shining mentioned that you think rather highly of me. I think your respect is misplaced, but I intimately understand how it feels when somepony you respect seems to look at you in scorn.” Celestia remembered Luna’s betrayal and paused a moment.

The memory of the first time she saw Nightmare Moon’s hate still hurt.

“That destroys a pony. It’s a festering fear that anchors into your very soul, and nips at your hooves while you sleep. The fact that I’ve unintentionally tortured you so is in and of itself proof that I do not deserve your respect.”

Twilight spoke quietly into Celestia’s chest. “There’s another reason Luna isn’t allowed into my dreams.”

Celestia stayed quiet, letting the pained mare speak.

“I see things in them, like my brother does but different. I dream that I am your student. That we send each other letters. The dreams feel real. The girls are there, and they’re mostly the same. You’re there, but there’s no pain when we talk. I have a little dragon named Spike. Everything is almost the same, but Shining is the most different. He’s the captain of your guard over there, and he’s married to Cadence.”

Celestia’s blood turned to ice, and she started to feel dizzy once again.

Twilight spoke quietly into Celestia’s fur. “Last night, in my dreams, you sent them up north. You’re going to send them away soon, aren’t you?”

Shining Armor’s ability to see the future must be blood related if Twilight could do it as well. Or maybe Shining was guiding her in her dreams, as he insinuated once. Celestia spoke, but it felt far and away. “He asked me to watch over you while he was gone. We aren’t sure how long that will be.”

“He knows exactly how long, I’m sure.” Twilight let another quiet chuckle out. “Heh. I’m a full grown adult and I still need a babysitter.”

Celestia had opinions on that, mostly denigrating Shining, but kept them to herself. Instead she decided to see what Twilight thought. “Does it offend you?”

“No, I can’t sleep unless there’s somepony with me. He’s right. I need somepony to calm me down sometimes. It’s usually him or Cadence that holds me.”

Celestia stiffened. “I can keep you company, but I won’t do anything sexual with you, Twilight.”

Twilight sniffed. “I don’t need anything like that. Just… Somepony to talk to and be near.” Twilight shivered, then slowly pulled away as she seemed to remember exactly who was holding her. “Actually, don’t worry about it. You’re too important to waste your time with me. I’ll ask the girls for a favor.”

Celestia re-grabbed Twilight, pulling her close once again and refusing to let her leave their hug. “You are absolutely not a waste of my time. Shining asked me to help and, against all odds, I do consider him a friend. I also sincerely consider you my friend, Twilight, and would love to spend time with you.”

Twilight stayed mostly quiet, waiting for her tears to stop.

Celestia rubbed her back slowly as she thought out loud. “We can treat this like a sleepover. A normal sleepover. It might be healthy for you to spend time with a pony that you don’t have sex with. I’ll go about my daily business, and assign a carriage to you for travel. Just four guard pegasi on a rotating shift.”

“You shouldn’t waste their time on me, Princess.”

Celestia chuckled. “I daresay they’ll enjoy the assignment. Guarding you and providing transport to and from Ponyville will be far more interesting to them than standing at attention in front of a few castle doorways all day.”

Twilight didn’t respond.

Celestia was cheering up just thinking about it. It had been a while since she’d had somepony to properly dote on, and Twilight felt so fragile and precious in her hooves right now. “It will be fun! Luna and I will treat you like a little princess until Shining gets back. You’ll have a royal guard, we’ll invite you to our meals, you can even participate in court proceedings if you’d like. Although, normal court is quite boring.”

Twilight looked up, her eyes were still teary, but a small smile of wonder was on her face. “That’s too much.”

Celestia’s smile grew large as she looked at the little mare. “I’m sorry, Twilight, but this is a royal decree. Until Cadence and Shining return from their trip, you’ve been conscripted to public duty.”

Twilight blinked away the last of her tears. “Public duty?”

“Yes. You’re going to be, temporarily mind you, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight smiled brightly, and she hugged Celestia back.

The world started to spin, and Celestia saw double. There was the little frail Twilight shaking in her grasp, the one who up until recently was too timid to properly speak to her. Standing behind her, glaring at the little mare with a concerned and deathly serious face was something wholly different.

Princess Twilight Sparkle was easily as large as Celestia, and radiated magical power far greater than even Luna’s at the height of her nightmare. She wore a tiara embedded with all of the Elements of Harmony, and stood with the bearing of a warrior, an academic, and a matron. Her mane was aglow with raw elemental power as both the stars and the sun could be found within.

The vision intimidated Celestia on a primal level. This princess apparent was more than Celestia had ever been, and ever would be. The only reason Celestia did not immediately bow in deference to the imposing specter was the tempered look on its face. The vision radiated love and concern as it stared intently at the younger, smaller Twilight. Without thinking, Celestia tried to protect her little Twilight from the terrifying power, wrapping the small mare completely in her wings. The imposing princess’s eyes flashed with incomprehensible magic before she looked up to meet Celestia’s protective gaze, locking eyes with her.

Celestia froze as Princess Twilight Sparkle smiled lovingly and faded from existence.

Twilight spoke up. “That sounds… nice… Princess, but why are you shaking?”

Celestia’s world slowly stopped spinning as she held held Twilight like an anchor.

“I’m still…” She was still what, exactly? She didn’t know. “It was just a dizzy spell. I think that I may ask you to keep holding me for a few moments, just to be sure that it’s over.”

Twilight happily did.

Author's Note

Another chapter. Another day in the life of Celestia. I should write a story with no dialogue next. Yeah, that's my next pet project.