“Could you show me that little hand trick again?” Celestia’s long legs allowed her to travel impeccably fast, no matter how clumsy– Sunset had to constantly ask her to slow down or speed up as they strolled by the sidewalks of Canterlot suburbia. “Oh, I just love a good illusion! What was it you did, with the thumb–”
“Ok, one more time, okay? But I’m pretty sure we’re late!” Sunset affirmed, stopping her on her tracks, and putting her hands together.
With her fists united, she moved her fingers in a pattern, and through simple perspective, it looked like she was removing her thumb, and placing it back on.
“O-oh!! Ohoho, how delightful!” Celestia clapped with excitement, and immediately began trying to mimic her movements, with questionable results. “I wonder if anypony has tried tricks like these with hooves? Perhaps that strange girl Twilight hates, Trixie, I think? My, hands are so interesting!”
“Glad you’re having fun, now can we get going?” Impatiently, Sunset unlocked her own phone, checking the time. “Ugh, yeah, we’re definitely late.”
She took a quick glance at the notifications popping in, one where her girlfriend demonstrated concern.
Twilightofmylife♥️
Hey! Checking in, mom is kind of getting impatient, everything okay…?
ShimmerNShine☀️
Had to take the bus, there was traffic, sorry, we’re almost there! Tell Velvet we’re sorry, and it’s my fault. Love u
Twilightofmylife♥️
Love u too <3
“Oh, please, little one.” Celestia waved her hand dismissively, with a relaxed smile. “Our presence is the gift, is it not? Besides, better late than–”
“--Never, yeah yeah...” She couldn’t help but smile, rolling her eyes. “We’ll get there, I’m just quickly telling my girlfriend that we didn’t just explode in a motorcycle crash.” After another hasty check of her phone, she pocketed it, and moved.
“Why would she think as much? We took the bus!” She tilted her head, following her daughter along. “And what a strange journey, that was. Why were the metal poles in it so… greasy?”
“Human skin and pony furs are vastly different; Skin… Secretes more. Eugh.” Sunset spoke without paying much attention, leading the way. “And, well, humans don’t always value hygiene.”
“Oh. Oh dear.” The Princess couldn’t help but grimace slightly.
“Yep. That’s why I gave you a bit of cleaning alcohol– And why I carry it everywhere.” She sighed and groaned. “You wouldn’t believe how useful it is to wash your hands on the go.”
“How strange. We touch many objects with the hooves we walk the floor upon–” She pondered, looking into the city skyline. “And yet humans are less preoccupied with cleaning than even us, despite having it easier?”
“Eh, not every human. Twilight absolutely loves hygiene.” She couldn’t help but grin slightly, even at the simple mention of the girl she loved. “That’s her house right there!”
“Hehe... I was not aware you valued cleanliness in a partner.” Celestia tilted her head smugly. “After all, the state of your room when you were a foal…!”
“H-hey!” She blushed out of embarrassment, fidgeting with her hair. “--I’ve gotten a lot better at routinely cleaning, thank you very much. Your teachings paid off– give or take a decade or two.”
“Or, perhaps, it was simply to impress the girl you love?” The Princess put her fingers together teasingly.
Sunset stopped in her tracks, stopping her mother as well, before they were even in Twilight’s driveway. “Okay, let’s set some ground rules immediately.” She turned to the tall alicorn turned-human. “First of all, the L-word, we’re keeping that on the down low– Sorry, me and Twi are being quiet about it in front of her parents, only for now, okay? Keeping intimacy at the most respectful– Her parents like us, but Twi wants to take it slow in public, so don’t go saying that about us. Second of all, please, don’t embarrass me– Twilight’s parents are really cool, and they like me, and I know how you get–”
“I ‘get’ someway…?” Celestia pouted.
Huffing with embarrassment, she looked down. “Either you brag about me, or you start telling foal stories, or you start trying to plan out my life like I’m a piece on a chess board, or you try to upsell me…”
“If being proud of you is a crime, little one, then lock me up in Tartarus.” She stated with a determined nod, crossing her arms.
Naturally, she couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking her head, being happy to see her mother’s love language on full display. “Look, I’m thankful, I am, I promise. I just… Humans have a different culture, and a clash here is going to be inevitable. But I want to smooth things over, you know…?”
“Please, Sunset. I have had a thousand years of experience at behaving at royal dinners with other races.” She rolled her eyes, smiling. “Surely this will not be so difficult?”
“How many times have you been to a family dinner with your daughter’s girlfriend’s parents?” Sunset raised an eyebrow.
Silence.
“...Does this one count?”
“No.”
“Okay, then I suppose zero.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “But I am certain all will end well!”
“I sure hope nothing ends.” Letting out an exhale, Sunset eyed her girlfriend’s home mournfully. “...Last thing. I think… I think Twilight Velvet might not like you.”
Celestia tilted her head in confusion. “...But she has yet to meet me?”
“I’ve talked to Twi’s parents about you before. And well, Twi’s mom is very smart, and headstrong, and she might have formulated an opinion on her own already.”
“I see.” Celestia nodded pensively, somberly. “So you have invited me here today to change her mind, and to impress her?”
“N-no? I wanted you here–”
“I am joking, Sunset.” She giggled, shaking her head. “Oh, maybe Raven was right about me needing acting lessons…” She began taking paces forward, and her daughter followed nervously.
“S-still! Um, we’re here to get along, alright? So keep that in mind!”
“I am a master of diplomacy, daughter. I am sure even you will learn something tonight!” She strutted confidently, no matter how clumsy her occasional step was. “Well, how about that! Their home is quite quaint!”
The Twilight Sparkle residence was not quaint, in fact, to the average human, this was a mansion.
“...Actually, to humans, this is a castle.” Sunset stretched, and even shook her hands, hyping herself up. “This is royal living, really. Upper class.”
“Oh! I figured those rectangular buildings in the distance would be the castle equivalent?” Celestia pointed towards the distance, at the center of the city and its skyscrapers.
“No, those are the prison equivalents, heh.” She chuckled to herself, shrugging off the tension, as she confidently walked up to the Sparkle household.
“...Ready?” She asked her mother carefully.
“As I’ll ever be, little one.”
And just like that, she reached for the doorbell.
Twilight locked her phone and pocketed it.
“...They are taking a little while, I know, but they’re on their way. They had to take the bus, apparently.” She tried her best not to fidget nervously, as she leaned on the walls of her kitchen– The smell of her mother’s cooking did little to soothe her nerves.
Her mother, skillfully putting the finishing touches on a meal she had just taken out of the oven, raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Do you think the Princess might have to cancel? Considering her ‘royal duties’ and everything.”
“It’s not like that, mom.” Her brows furrowed slightly. “Sunset said that Celestia would prioritize this day, whenever it came.”
“Hmm.” An affirmative, grouchy hum was all that Velvet let out, as she focussed on what she was doing, placing the meal back on a turned off oven, then pointing at the empty table. “Help me with this?”
Automatically, Twilight waved her fingers, and with her magic, drawers were opened, cutlery was moved, and the table was placed, her purple hue spreading through the kitchen.
“Hah! Wonder daughter.” Letting out a quick snicker, Velvet walked over and kissed her in the forehead.
“Excellent news! The dessert is primed and ready!” Twilight’s father declared with gusto, as he moved his pie from the freezer to the fridge. “And this time, the mold didn’t crumble!”
“Please, honey. I’m sure we’d still eat it, even if it did.” Gently, Velvet walked over to him and gave him a thankful kiss for good measure. “Well, of course, unless it was a repeat of the solstice pie…”
“Pie? Sunset had a better name for it.” Twilight wagged her finger teasingly. “She called it ‘more volcano than food– Even dragons would find it inedible.’ And then she still ate it, hihi…!”
“That girl appreciates the simplistic and yet intricate art of cooking.” Night Light affirmed proudly, smiling.
“Let’s hope her ‘mother’ does as well.” The light sneer in her tone would be invisible to any that didn’t know her well– Unfortunately for her, she was surrounded by family.
“Mom.”
“Honey…”
“I know! Open mind!” She threw her hands up in surrender. “I’ll keep an open mind.”
“Please do.” Twilight affirmed with a pout. “You know how important this is to Sunset.”
After a quiet grumble from his wife, Night Light clapped his hands with excitement, quietly garnering attention. “..So! What are we expecting! Will she have six enormous wings, be ten feet tall?”
“Will she have a tail?” Velvet grinned and raised an eyebrow. “Is her hair gonna glow, is she gonna have a horn, a forked tongue–”
“No, no, none of these things, I don’t think!” Twilight dismissed them. “As far as we know, she’s going to look just like Principal Celestia.”
“Now that is a wonderful woman. So caring! She really likes Sunset.” Nodding sagely, Velvet pouted. “Are you sure we couldn’t have her for dinner instead?”
“Mooooom…!” Twilight groaned.
“Joking! I’m joking!” She raised her arms in surrender once more.
“Heh, maybe you shoulda taken that acting course in college after all, hon.” Night Light nudged her with a friendly elbow.
“Like it or not, this is the mother Sunset has. And it’s not Principal Celestia, no matter how kind they are in each other’s presence.” Twilight huffed, crossing her arms. “And frankly, I don’t think we could handle two Celestias at dinner– Two moms fighting is enough already, don’t you think?”
“We’re not fighting!” Velvet affirmed shyly. “...Yet.”
With a sigh of disappointment, Twilight adjusted her glasses nervously. “...Mom, remember what you told me when we first got Spike, and I was really frustrated with how much he shed?”
“...Make an effort?” She groaned, aware of the mastermind’s tricks, using her own motherly lessons against her.
“Precisely.” Twilight put her palms together. “You make an effort, and just like me and Spike, I’m sure you and Princess Celestia will be absolutely best buddies in no time!”
Velvet let out a quiet annoyed mumble of affirmation.
“...Are you saying Celestia sheds?” Night Light grimaced.
The two women ignored him, and Twilight pleaded. “...Do it for Sunset? Again, I cannot reiterate, this is really important for her. This is the most normal family experience she is ever going to get…!”
“I know, I know, of course I’ll do it for her.” She smiled wearily, looking away. “...I’m only this skeptical because I care about her, Twily. You know that.”
“I know. And as the resident highest Sunset Shimmer appreciator, know that I will be first in line if there is something that threatens her happiness.” She raised a confident finger and nodded. “Today, however, is not the case. And I hereby state–”
The doorbell rang, and she nearly jumped. “She’s here, yay!!!”
She ran towards the door with unyielding determination, then immediately ran back. “H-how do I look?!”
“Cute!” They both affirmed without hesitation. “Bowtie, sweater vest…”
“And of course, the ponytail and knee-high socks. A Twily classic.”
“Oh.” Twilight adjusted her glasses in quiet annoyance. “I was going for sexy…”
“What was that?”
“Nothing!” Channeling that same previous determination, she continued her stroll towards the door and opened it a bit too hastingly.
“...And she has a telescope poking out of her room, too! Just like her princess counterpart!” Celestia commented, Tilting her body on an angle that managed to see above and beyond a side of the household. “How lovely! These little constants between–”
“Holy cow she’s tall!” Twilight breathed out, having to fully look up to make eye contact with this new visitor.
“H-hah, yeah, hey Sparkles– Soooo, in case you were wondering why we couldn’t just take my bike…!”
The alicorn Princess, in all her human glory, was so tall she would have to lean down upon crossing any door– and she had to look down to see the others around her. She wore a regal, yet festive dress embroidered with sun markings and flower drawings, and even some of her regalia, golden bracelets and collars and anklets, despite her daughter’s warnings– Who herself was dressed in her usual jacket wear, with a bit less punk accessories to boot.
“Greetings, Twilight the human.” She bowed lightly, and almost hit her head on the door frame. “It is a pleasure to see you again on this wonderful occasion.”
“U-um, okay, um, wow. I wasn’t expecting– Is she eight feet tall?!”
“M-maybe? Maybe more?! I don’t know, she barely fit through the bus door… She got cat-called a couple times on the way here, ugh.” Sunset sighed.
“Tall feet? Calling cats?” Celestia tilted her head in confusion. “Is this human slang?”
“--Nevermind, it’s wonderful to meet you properly, Princess Celestia.” Twilight offered a professional handshake, and Celestia accepted it, then pulled her into a hug.
“You make Sunset tremendously happy.” The alicorn muttered with a warm smile, embracing the little nerd. “And therefore, I am overjoyed to see you.”
“Thanmk yuo.” Twilight tried affirming while being smothered with affection and the alicorn’s general chest area.
“So, um, I hope everything’s good here, may we come in?” Sunset offered, coming closer, and was immediately interrupted.
Grabbing her by the hand and pulling her inside, Twilight waved at the Princess. “I just need a minute with Sunset in private okay? I’m so sorry, Miss Celestia, we’ll be right back!”
“Um, alright then?” With a shy wave, the Princess was left alone and confused.
Sunset stumbled as she was pulled into a darker and secluded hallway of the Sparkle household, hearing the alarmed and confused exclamations of her parents. “H-hi! Miss Velvet, Mister Night! Twi just needs me for a moment, we’ll be right there!”
Stopping, looking around like she was on a covert mission, Twilight grabbed her girlfriend by the jacket, pulled her down and kissed her almost furiously, an act the redhead was surprised by, but quite thankful. “S-sorry! Sorry. It’s been a stressful day. And it’s nice to see you, that’s all.” She murmured with a fluster.
“...This is what it’s like when it’s nice to see me?” Sunset let out a dumb smile, fidgeting with her hair, then cupping her girlfriend's cheek with a hand, caressing it with a thumb. “I’d love to know what it’s like when it’s good to see me.”
“Shush–Shush shush!” Flustered to oblivion, Twilight patted her lightly, pushing her back, but only barely. “I pulled you here because I need to warn you– we’re on defcon 2 here!”
“Oooohh boy.” Sunset shot a nervous glance towards the end of the hall, where parents awaited. “...That bad, huh? Did she say something, well–”
“No time to get into specifics, but she’s definitely ready to bite.” Twilight huffed, still holding her. “We need to be vigilant and ready to diffuse any fights, okay?”
“I was really hoping it wouldn't come to that…!” Sunset sighed, dropping her head back in frustration. “...But we’ve got this. We saved the world a few times, what’s a family dinner, compared to that?”
“Time to find out.” She looked somberly towards the end of the hall. “...Shall we…?”
“One more thing.” Sunset raised her chin with a finger, bringing her closer. “Love the outfit, by the way. The schoolgirl and teacher thing? Very sexy.”
“Down girl! Down!” Again, flustered to oblivion, Twilight slapped her shoulder lightly, which only resulted in her girlfriend chuckling. “No flirting! Game face ON! It’s family dinner time!!”
“Just saying, if you wanna ‘lecture’ me later, princess—”
She was silenced with an embarrassed, flustered kiss, and a quick recoil. “Later! Later! Right now, we have to focus, so f-focus!”
And with the same frantic determination, Sunset was pulled over to the door.
“Hi, hi, please come in, sorry!!” She desperately shaked the fluster away from her face. “Please, Princess Celestia. Sorry for the delay.”
“My daughter calls you Princess as well…” The alicorn narrowed her eyes with a mischievous smile. “How lovely…!”
“Y-yeah, well, it was accidental at first, but then, well…!” Sunset chuckled, as Twilight fidgeted. “...It kind of caught on.”
“I kind of sort of like it.” The girl noted, nodding with a fluster.
“And I kind of sort of like you, Princess.” Sunset grinned, wrapping an arm around her.
“Adorable.” Celestia noted, suppressing a few dozen pleased words she could say about this.
“Hi, hello, hello! What are you all doing at the door, come in!” Night Light approached, waving a hand, beckoning them.
“Don’t keep the Princess waiting, now.” Velvet wagged a finger as she stepped closer, and extended a hand towards Celestia. “Hello– We are Twilight’s parents. I’m–”
“--Twilight Velvet, and you are Night Light.” With a warm smile, Celestia accepted the handshake with all the grace of a goddess that had been taught the gesture only half an hour ago. “I have met your counterparts in my world already, but still, it is a wonderful pleasure to meet both of you.”
“Holy cow she’s tall!” Night Light murmured, looking up in disbelief, and his wife quietly elbowed him. “And that dress, too…!”
“Please, let’s not just stand here! The table is all set, and the food is all ready– We’ve all waited long enough.” Velvet orchestrated, leading the way.
Chuckling, Celestia followed. “Forgive me, if it seems I overdressed. All my clothes in Equestria have some degree of formality to them– I understood I should ‘dress to impress’ so to speak.”
“And it is impressive! Is that genuine gold?!” Night Light whistled, as he took a seat.
“As genuine as they can be in my world. Sunset seemed against me bringing some of my regalia– Well, I did not bring the crown, did I?” She stated while running her fingers through golden bracelets, reveling on the clinks they made.
“Just saying, there’s thieves and robbers out there, I figured we might be a target.” Sunset shrugged, taking a comfortable seat in front of her girlfriend, as her mother sat in one end of the table, and Twilight’s mother sat in the other, with Night Light beside her. “...Though frankly, I’m pretty sure you’d scare them off with your height alone.”
“I may not be versatile as of yet in this body–” Celestia tested and wagged her fingers and arms. “But I’m fairly sure I could persevere in combat against other humans if it were necessary– Also, if you don’t mind me asking, how is it that there are thieves and robbers in this city?”
“Statistically speaking, there’s no city in the world devoid of crime.” Twilight noted simply, organizing her cutlery. “The bigger the city is, the more likely there is a large socio-economic divide that pushes more people into desperation and to a life of crime– Though of course, some countries handle the prison industrial complex better than others, not to mention police states–”
“That’s my girl, heh.” Her father chuckled, petting her. “Dinner’s just getting started, and she’s already schooling us.”
Twilight giggled, and Sunset joined her, and then addressed her mother. “Crime is different here than it is in Equestria– Poverty, class disparity– Remember what I told you about in the bus?”
“I can scarcely imagine I could learn a whole city’s culture, much less a world’s, in a single bus ride– But I remember, little one.” Celestia noted, nodding somberly. “I suppose it is more in the nature of ponies and our neighbours to coexist, even with class disparities… I am proud to say that Canterlot’s crime rates have been below one digit for decades.”
“Ahem. Bragging aside.” Velvet called out as she tapped an equally tall and wide, closed pan atop the oven, large enough to dwarf a toddler. “Ready for the first dish, everyone?”
“Oh! Delightfull!” Celestia clapped quietly as she stood, an act that nearly had her head reach the ceiling, and if she was not careful, hit her head on the lamp above them. “Please, allow me to help.”
“That’s really not necessary–” She began speaking, but the Princess moved without hesitation, easily grabbing hold of the large pan by its sides and delivering it to the table gently. “Huh. Woah.”
“She’s still got her alicorn strength here, heh.” Sunset noted, suppressing a chuckle. “Not much of her elegance, but I’m pretty sure she could tip over a car if she wanted to.”
“Hm. Maybe we could get her to tip over our neighbor's car.” Night Light noted with narrowed eyes and a pout. “He trimmed my hedges one too many times–”
“Dad, oh my gosh.” Twilight had to stop herself from laughing at the idea, but did so fiercely.
“If there are cars to be tipped, let us tip them after dinner!” Celestia noted with a confident smile. “Being an alicorn does not cease my hunger! What shall we have?”
“Well, um, ahem.” Velvet regained her composure. “What you carried so easily to the table is a vegetable soup mix.”
“Our speciality!” Night Light noted with a wink and a smile.
“And to accompany it, garlic bread– Made by yours truly.” Confidently, the mother removed a beautifully seasoned stack of bread from the oven, organized on a cloven pattern, with the smell wafting through the area.
“Wonderful! Oh, exciting!” The alicorn smiled with glee, then quietly turned to her daughter. “Sunset. Refresher. How does one eat here? With delicacy and decorum, I mean.”
“Okay, let’s do this.” Nodding, patiently, she scooted closer. “For the soup, you use these spoons with your hand, for the bread, you can use your hands only, and if you want to achieve maximum flavor, dip the bread on the soup then eat it– With your hands. At no point should your hands go in the soup.”
“Wonderfull, I understand.” A smile crept up in her lips. “You would make for a good teacher, daughter.”
“Psh. you’re just saying that.”
Quietly, yet observing the scene, Velvet served them all as agile as she could. “...Do royal ponies like you not have forks, knives and spoons?”
“Oh, on the contrary! The Equestrian elite has a great emphasis on dining etiquette!” Celestia corrected, as she grabbed a spoon wrong, beheld her daughter, who showed her how to hold it, and mimicked it. “But in a world without fingers, you must question how to adapt your skills to another.”
Velvet did not answer, instead, choosing to simply observe the princess.
Sunset, quietly, showed her how to bring the spoon to the soup, then to her lips, putting great emphasis on where the fingers were placed.
Celestia imitated her, and was giddy when she succeeded. “This is quite fun! With magic, I simply tell the spoon to move. But as a human, I tell my fingers to tell the spoon to move!”
Even Velvet couldn’t help but snicker slightly, with the whole table agreeing that this was an interesting way to look at it.
“This is wonderful, by the way.” Celestia skillfully noted in between biting the garlic bread, and testing out how it would taste united with the soup. “These two flavors are mixing incredibly well. It is a strange feeling to get my fingers dirty with the bread, but I do not mind. It is a fun experiment!”
“Thanks, I'm… Glad you like it.” narrowing her eyes, Velvet studied the Princess, who ate with somehow both clumsiness, and yet regal politeness.
“So! Out of curiosity–” The alicorn took special care not to chew and speak at once. “What are your professions? In this world, I mean– In the other, I already know.”
The two parents exchanged silent glances, as if they communicated telepathically, considering their responses, and who would speak first. Night Light cleared his throat and spoke with enthusiasm. “I’m an astrophysicist! It’s the study of the stars, space and astral bodies, what they’re composed of; Not to be confused with an astronomer, heh.”
Twilight, with excitement, couldn’t help but note. “One is studying the internal component of things in space, while the other simply observes them and makes notes. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” Her tone implied otherwise. “But still!”
“It’s a wonderful job! Leaves us quite well off– I’m sure you noticed one telescope poking out of our windows– It’s just the tip of the iceberg, I tell you. Wait until you see my study!”
“How curious!” Taking another sip of her soup, Celestia smiled warmly. “Interesting, to see the little connections between humans and their pony counterparts– In Equestria, the study of stars is directly linked to magic. Astral bodies are where many spells are drawn from!”
“That’s fun!” Night Light clapped. “I’d like to think it's kind of like that here too– We just don’t feel it.”
“Human constellations are pretty cool, I’ll give you all that.” Sunset smirked, shrugging. “Mom, they’ve got one that’s just a big crab. It’s funny.”
“That is quite amusing!” Celestia chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. “Does it have any correlation to Karkinos?”
“Kind of! A different history, for sure. Here it's mostly mythology.”
“Interesting…” Dipping more garlic bread onto her soup, the princess looked away absentmindedly. “It is interesting to see a world automated, devoid of magic. There is no need to raise the sun, the beings here can’t control it, they can’t reach for the stars, and call them down…”
“I’m a writer.” Velvet interrupted her thought process, tilting her head, raising an eyebrow. “Mostly professional, for research magazines and otherwise– But everything’s on blogs these days, so I have to be too... Though I’ve been dabbling into fiction recently.”
“I think you’re on the right track, mom!” Twilight noted with a cheerful nod. “Not that your research papers aren’t incredibly well composed and interesting, but I wouldn’t mind seeing more fiction from you!”
“It’s wonderful to expand your horizons, honey. Create for the sake of creation!” Night Light added supportingly.
“That one story with the Valkyries was sick.” Sunset noted, chewing on bread, nodding. “I wouldn’t mind a sequel to it.”
“Family is flattering, isn’t it?” Velvet snickered, shaking her head, addressing the princess. “They’ll jump on any bandwagon just because you do. What am I going to do?”
“Continue pursuing your passions, I hope.” Celestia smiled warmly. “If you live comfortably enough, I would say it’s your responsibility to follow your inner whims and desires, to create for the sake of creation.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Velvet cut her off, narrowing her eyes.
“I am merely thankful that you all live well, and I am happy that you have the time to create.” The Princess noted, not yet sensing the full scope of the hostility. “After all, through Sunset, I’ve heard many tales of failed artists in this world, and I do not wish the same for any of you. Especially you, daughter.”
“Do you think what Sunset is doing right now is a dead end?” Leaning forward, Velvet prodded, and now Celestia could sense the hostility.
“Mom! She didn’t say that!” Twilight attempted to diffuse with questionable results, all while Sunset began sweating.
“To what exactly are you referring?” The Princess raised an eyebrow, putting her spoon down.
“Oh you know. How your daughter found her home here, how she is happily playing in a band with her friends, how she is enrolled in a college here, to study arts…” There was a lot of pent up frustration behind her words, that she carefully hid. “I’m curious to what you think of her aspirations and her desires.”
“If Sunset is happy with what she is doing, I am happy for her.” Celestia stated without skipping a beat. “If what she wants is to be with her friends here, it is what she should do. They have been incredibly welcoming and kind, and she is enjoying herself.” While she spoke, Sunset and Twilight watched the two moms carefully, even Night Light looked between them fearfully. “And if her desire is to continue to pursue the avenue of human education, I will not stop her.”
“But you don’t approve?” Velvet tilted her head.
“I approve of her being happy.”
“But you don’t approve?” Velvet insisted.
“I am partial to Equestrian education.” Celestia huffed, narrowing her eyes. “And I am partial to wanting my daughter closer to me.”
“Regardless of what she wants, huh?” Again, Velvet stared her down.
“What exactly are you implying?”
“Okay! Okay! Fun dinner!” Sunset chuckled, sweating, garnering their attention. “Mom, why don’t you tell Twi’s parents about your profession? Haha!”
“Certainly.” She nodded, shaking away the hostility from the other mother. “My job is, essentially, to guide my country’s future– And to enforce strong and positive relationships with the other creatures of our world. I spend tireless days and nights ensuring that my people will prosper, and I also have raised and lowered the sun for a thousand years.”
“...And you still didn’t have time for Sunset, huh?” Velvet murmured.
“Excuse me?”
“Weeeeell we’re all done with soup, aren’t we?” Incredibly nervously, Twilight smiled. “Hey mom, how about we bring out the next dish?”
“Yes, yes, I'm on it.” Breathing out, she stood, all while her daughter helped her with magic, removing the now lighter soup pan from the table, and even the now-empty basket of bread.
“I am starting to see what you meant about her and her feelings about me, daughter.” Celestia muttered to her, huffing.
Sunset exchanged incredibly careful glances with her girlfriend, in which they silently wondered how to defuse the situation.
“So, how did you two meet?” Night Light pointed between Sunset and her mother. “We’ve heard it from her already, not much, though. But I’m curious about your side!”
“Oh?” Celestia side eyed her daughter cautiously. “What did you tell them, exactly?”
“Eh, just, well…” Sunset fidgeted. “The summed up version.”
“I see. I can clarify the rest.” She nodded somberly. “Sunset Shimmer was an orphan. No parental records were given, no parent officially abandoned her, providing the authorities with their identity– Nor was her orphanhood an accident. She was simply abandoned at the foot of an orphanage, without rhyme or reason that we know.” Her gaze was of sadness and disappointment. “I wish… I only wish I had found her sooner.”
“I was a fan.” Sunset looked down at her empty plate, fidgeting with her spoon. “A superfan, really. I don’t need to get into the details, but I tried for well over a year to get Celestia’s attention when I was little– All I wanted was to be her apprentice.”
“And with good reason! She excelled at magic, and was quite the little overachiever!” The alicorn beheld her proudly. “My little sun. After she accidentally nearly burned down a museum trying to get my attention, I could not deny her raw potential. And the rest is history!”
“Next dish.” Velvet noted, delivering a large plate onto the middle of the table. “We’ve got carbonara gnocchi, minus the bacon, which we replaced with nuts, of course– I hope you all like it!”
“It looks wonderful.” Celestia spoke genuinely, and smiled as she was served.
A brief period of silence passed, as they all served themselves and reveled on the flavor of the dish- The succulent pasta seemed almost uniform with all the flavors it was bound to.
Velvet cut the silence. “Sunset, dear… If you don’t mind sharing, how were your years before Celestia?”
“...Cold.” She muttered, fidgeting with her hair, looking down. “I don’t… Remember much from those days. My caretakers were nice, and the place I lived in wasn’t the worst, I guess… That’s about it. I was a poor orphan.”
“You don’t have to share if you don’t want to, Sunset.” Twilight reached out and held her hand across the table. “You’re here now. And you’re okay.”
“And you don’t have to be cold anymore.” Celestia leaned towards her and kissed her forehead.
She reveled in that comfort, that love, and exhaled, smiling. “...Thanks Twi, thanks, mom.”
“And how was your life with her? With Celestia?” Velvet prodded, faking disinterest by focussing on her meal.
“Well, she was the best teacher I could have ever asked for at the time.” Sunset danced around her words carefully, knowing a lot more could be said. “I was considered one of the most magically capable unicorns in the world– I set records back then. I did struggle socially, though. Making friends…!”
“But you don’t anymore, Sunset.” Celestia noted, comforting her. “And I am so proud of you for it– You have mastered harmony.”
“T-thanks, mom.”
“She really has!” Twilight raised a finger proudly. “She’s our leader, you know? Of our friend group. All of us agreed completely that there’s no one more suited for the challenge, and we’d follow her to the ends of the earth!”
“Heh, I try.” Sunset blushed and fidgeted. “I guess it's an understatement to say that I wouldn't be here without you girls…!”
“Technically, none of us would be.” Twilight noted with a cocky grin. “After all, we saved the world– And we did it together.”
They held hands again, smiling truly at each other.
“So Celestia was your teacher, not your mother, back then?” Velvet tilted her head analytically. “And she was teaching you to be an… Alicorn? What’s that?”
“Mom, didn’t I tell you already?”
“Oh, an alicorn is what I am.” Celestia stated simply, while delighting herself in the dish before her, smiling warmly. “An ascended being with powers above the norm, such as raising the sun. We live for well over a millenia, with our duties being to lead our people for a milenia more… And I am one of the first of my people to be this way. I trained Sunset to take my place one day– To lead our people. But, well…”
“Alicorns have wings and horns.” Sunset added almost rehearsedly. “They have the strength of Earth Ponies, the elegance of Pegasi, and the magic of Unicorns… It’s a lot to get into if you’re human, but they’re powerful, to say the least.”
“Sort of a ‘best of both worlds’ situation!” Twilight nodded. “My pony counterpart, she’s an alicorn. And she’s pretty good at it too! She’s gonna rule over the country and everything. She was Sunset’s replacement when she left.”
“And Sunset, why did you want to be an alicorn, once upon a time?” Velvet squinted, looking into her.
“...I wanted to matter.” Her smile did not reach her eyes, she shrugged a bit, leaning back on her chair. “I wanted to have my name engraved in stars. And I wanted to live for a thousand years, to be loved, revered, I don’t know… I wanted to fly.”
“And you will, someday. I promise you, little one.” Celestia spoke with complete confidence. “You have grown so much since you were young– Not just physically.”
“Psh, sure, thanks mom.” She shrugged again, focussing on her food.
“I mean it, little one. I believe in you wholeheartedly.” She added with insistency.
Sunset did not argue, and did not say anything else, she just looked down.
“That’s sweet. It is.” If looks could kill, Velvet’s gaze could have burned the Princess of the Sun. “So, where was all that faith when Sunset spent years alone in this world?”
The table went silent. Two daughters exchanged worried looks. The alicorn tilted her head. “...Excuse me?”
“Your daughter, who you seem to hold in high regard, spent a significant part of her life living in a strange world, alone, in poverty, cold. AFTER she met you.” Velvet crossed her arms, no longer eating. “Where was your motherly love then?”
“It’s not like that–” Sunset tried interjecting, and failed.
Celestia’s gaze narrowed. “I do not appreciate what you are implying– I have always done the best I could, and yes, I have made mistakes–”
“Where were you when Sunset was crying in my daughter's arms?” Velvet insisted, leaning forward. “Where were you, when she honestly told me that she couldn’t remember the last time she had stable, consistent, hearty meals?! Where were you when I had to drive her to the hospital because the scars on her back were BLEEDING?!”
The table was completely silent– Celestia’s gaze landed onto her daughter, and her expression hardened with anger. “...Show me.”
“I didn’t want you to worry–”
“Show me.” She commanded.
Slowly, Sunset removed her jacket, dropping it aside.
She then raised her shirt slowly, showing her back, and her mother pulled it up fully, exasperated.
Celestia’s expression softened into pained sorrow, as she felt betrayed.
There were two incredibly visible gashes on Sunset’s back– In the places her wings would have been, once upon a time, after a certain transformation– Said scars were healed, but had left permanent marks.
“Why, why didn’t you tell me about these, why?! Why did you not tell Twilight, at least?!” And she immediately silenced her daughter, raising a finger. “I know dozens of incantations, dozens of professionals, dozens of enchanted ointments that could have ceased any pain, that could have helped you heal without–”
“--We weren’t as close back then– I didn’t want you to worry, okay!?” Angrily, Sunset put her shirt back on.
“That ship has sailed, little one!!!” Just as angrily, Celestia crossed her arms. “Are there any more scars, any more injuries– Any more horrible things you had to live through without my presence that you have not told me?! Did you live under a bridge when you fled here, and you have simply neglected to share it with me?!”
Velvet sat back in her chair, beholding them both with surprise.
“Look, it’s done now, I have a nice apartment, I have friends to take care of me if I’m struggling, we don’t have to run through this again–”
“Sunset, for the love of Harmony itself– I've forgiven you for fleeing– But you should not lie about your state to me, emotional or physical, EVER. Never again, little one!” She gripped the tablecloth, shutting her eyes. “All I’ve ever wanted was to see you thrive– And I would have forgiven you–”
“-- I know, I know, I know!” She covered her face, with both shame and anger. “Look, can we just talk about this later?! I just want to have dinner. The food is nice, and I love seeing you all together–”
“This conversation is not over.” The alicorn stated, shaking her head. “Far from it. If I must ground you later for this, so be it. You can do so much more, Sunset– I believe in you–”
“Look where that faith’s gotten her.” Bitterly, Velvet looked down. “Sunset might never heal from what you’ve done to her.”
“I’m the one that ran away, Miss Velvet!!” Exasperated, Sunset nearly stood from her chair. “I was the fuck up, I was the unruly pupil, I was the bad kid– I was literally, as of proven by the Elements of Harmony themselves, unworthy to be your apprentice, mom! The Princess is living proof of it– My replacement! So let's not pretend I’m some innocent wounded puppy in this, because I did this shit to myself!”
“Sunset, c’mon–” Twilight tried suggesting.
“Sunset you're not giving yourself any credit–” Velvet tried assuring.
But Celestia dominated the room with a single foot stomp under the table. “Sunset Shimmer. I love you, and your failures are mine as well.” She affirmed through gritted teeth, beholding her. “If I had been a better teacher, a better guardian, a better–”
“--You weren’t nearly as bad as I was, it’s MY fault!” The redhead barked back. “I’m the one who chose to run away, who chose to steal that crown– Despite all you taught me! I made my own mistakes, with my own free will, I got myself into my own fucking messess! It’s not all on you! ”
“It is. It is.” She murmured, shaking her head. “Because I fiercely believed that I was only your teacher, and that you were only a wayward student. Little did I understand– What I should have understood, long ago– Was that you were my daughter, and I owed you so much more.”
“You gave me a palace, you gave me everything!” Sunset sat back on her chair, letting out a sigh of exhaustion. “And I still turned out like shit! That’s on me!”
“Can we stop fighting please–” Night Light’s suggestion wasn’t even heard.
“Sunset–” Twilight tried getting her attention. “--You’re so much better than you’re giving yourself any credit. The cards were stacked against you–”
“No offense, Twilight, I love you–” She interrupted. “But you met me when I was already doing better– You’re biased. You too, Miss Velvet!”
“I don’t think that’s right.” The mother frowned, leaning forward. “I think you deserved better care, much better than what you received. She was your guardian, and despite all her godly poise, she neglected your needs, no wonder you wound up–”
“I have never, not ONCE claimed to be perfect.” Celestia’s voice rose above the rest, as she gripped the tablecloth. “Forgive me if you have presumed me to be some sort of god, Miss Velvet, but I am not. I was born a mortal, like any of you– This position was thrust upon me, and me being here, alive, is proof of nothing else but my qualifications and survivability.” She stood, nearly hitting the lamp with her head, glaring down at the other mother. “Now, I don’t know if you have put this together yet– But I have never, in my thousand years of living, ever had a daughter before! And somehow, you seem to hold me to some higher standard, you think somehow I would be entitled to be a better mother than anypony else?!”
She sat down, with a defeated sigh. “...Do you honestly presume I could have been a better mother than you?”
Velvet exhaled, sitting back on her chair, fidgeting with slight embarrassment. “...I don’t know, I… I thought you wouldn’t be capable of… Well…”
“Making mistakes?” Celestia let out an almost ironic laugh.
“She makes mistakes all the time.” Sunset tried taking a more lighthearted tone, shrugging. “After all, she chose me as her pupil, once. Bad investment, am I right?”
The joke did not land, since she was sitting at a table surrounded by people that loved her.
Celestia shuddered. “S-Sunset, do you–”
“Okay, can we all breathe, please?” Twilight Sparkle stood up, commanding the attention of the entire table. “Look, we can all agree we love Sunset, right?”
The entire table was filled with nods and affirmations, and Sunset stood there with a poker face.
“And we can all agree that we want her to do well, right?” She continued.
Again, agreements and nods.
“Good. So, for the sake of Sunset–” She gave her girlfriend a supportive wink. “No more fighting tonight, alright?”
Begrudgingly, exhaustedly, the two mothers accepted.
“Good.” With her magic, she removed the empty and the not-so empty plates. “Dad?”
“Oh yeah! Time for dessert!” he clapped with excitement, standing up. “Gosh, with all that fighting, I figured we wouldn't ever get to it!”
“Forgive me, I…” Celestia hesitated. “...I did not finish my plate, through all the commotion… It really was delicious.”
“It’s okay, Princess.” Velvet shrugged, giving her as supportive of a smile as she could. “I didn’t either– Emotions were high, you know how it is.”
Sunset and Twilight exchanged glances– One was relieved and tired, the other was worried and attentive. Dinner was not yet over.
“So, Twilight Sparkle the human…” Celestia smiled warmly again, beholding her. “I’m afraid we have neglected you tonight. You seem to hold much of the diplomatic skills and wonderful qualities of your pony counterpart– What are your plans for the future?”
Sunset nearly began snickering, knowing this was a floodgate– Twilight even adjusted her glasses, ready for a lecture.
“Lemon pie time!” Night Light declared gleefully, placing it before them. “It’s a bit crumbly, but I hope it’s up to snuff!”
“Ooooh, extra crumbly, niiiice.” Sunset nodded confidently. “Looking good, Mister Night Light!”
“Thank you!” He bowed without realising the compliment was targeted at the pie.
“Let’s dig in, then!” Velvet declared, cutting slices. “You have pies in Equestria, right?”
“And a few hundred dozen kinds of pastries.” Celestia nodded, smiling warmly, with weary eyes. “...But I find that a home cooked dessert always has a certain something to it…”
As she tasted, she smiled even wider, and even closed her eyes– Nodding even more. “...And there it is. Well done, all of you, this is wonderful.”
And Sunset agreed wholeheartedly. “Wow, yeah, this is awesome, seriously! Not too sweet, but very savory!”
“I’m glad you both like it.”
“Can I talk about my thing now.” Twilight raised a shy hand, as if she were in class.
“Of course.” The alicorn agreed with a giggle.
She nearly made the motion to stand, as if she was going to present a thesis, but sat down and focused. “As you may know, the girls have all agreed to enroll into the same Community College– And we’ve done so. I had considered enrolling in a university, but for now, I want to be with my friends.”
“Let’s face it, you could be president if you wanted to.” Sunset grinned.
“A career in politics isn’t nearly as appealing to me as one in science.” Twilight dismissed the idea, no matter how funny the visual was. “Besides– My choice of enrolling in a smaller, easier college is strategic.”
“Oh? Strategic?” Celestia smiled as she ate her pie, invested.
“We are stronger together– And Equestrian magic still leaks into our world on occasion. On the following years, we want to discover the source, the cause–”
“--And shut it down for good.” Sunset grinned, letting out a relieved exhale. “...Then I can rest easy knowing the magic I brought here won't hurt anyone else ever again.”
“It’s not your fault, Sunset.” Twilight assured.
“It literally is, but I appreciate the sentiment.” She gave her girlfriend a thumbs up.
With a light pout, Twilight huffed. “Be that as it may– I’ll gladly let go of a more prestigious university at the moment, if it means that we will all be together… And if Sunset and I can be together.” She smiled dumbly, with a light blush. “And well, after that, who knows? Even if we’re separate, our bonds can’t be broken.”
“And it also helps that you can drag me to whichever prestigious university you go to after.” Sunset snickered mischievously. “Collecting PHDs like pretty rocks you find.”
“Research and development is pointless without a girlfriend next to you to fill your–” She paused, glancing around the table, adjusting her glasses, blushing. “...To fill your free time with, um, cuddles and stuff.”
The parents snickered it off, and Sunset nearly had a laughing fit.
“How lovely. It is truly wonderful to see how you two want to be together.” Celestia smiled warmly. “Have you considered living in Equestria…? Living as royalty, no less. I am sure Princess Twilight could use the assistance.”
There was a moment of confused, stunned silence.
Sunset was the first to break the silence, trying to make a joke of it. “Heh, wouldn't that be something! No wings, no entry, though. Neither of us have them, so I guess we can’t help rule.”
“I’m sure, if one Twilight is worthy, that another could easily be as well.” Celestia noted, still smiling confidently. “It would be wonderful to have you and my daughter work together to improve Equestria, I am merely suggesting…”
“I’m sorry, what exactly are you offering my daughter right now?” Velvet grimaced with confusion. “Are you… Seriously offering a seat of power in a nation through a family dinner?”
“Yeah. That’s what she’s doing.” Sunset cupped her face with her hands in embarrassment.
Twilight was speechless, jaw agape.
“I am just saying, I'm sure the Princess could use an understudy.” Celestia giggled, waving a hand. “Remove the glasses, and the Canterlot elite couldn’t even see the difference!”
“MOM.” Sunset called out, gritting her teeth, turning to her, slamming the table. “I’m only going to say this once: Do you want me to be an alicorn? Do you want her to be an alicorn? Then give us wings now, or just stop talking about it!”
Celestia was taken back, silenced, and Sunset continued.
“I get it– You’re proud of me, but all that pride doesn’t amount to much if I’m not actually worthy!” She called out angrily. “So please. I’m not your Rook, your Bishop, or your Pawn, I’m your daughter, and I just want to have dinner with you, okay?!”
Silence, as the alicorn ruminated, face contorted into a grimace of sadness, she silently, quietly, nodded. “...Okay.”
A hush spread through the table, cut only by the occasional noises of cutlery.
“...Bit of advice, mother to mother…” Velvet spoke up carefully. “You’ll get better mileage out of your relationship if you let her chart her own course.”
“Forgive me for not wanting to outlive my daughter. Would you?” The alicorn sputtered almost spitefully, looking down.
Silence.
She stood, once again nearly hitting her head on the lamp once more. “...I believe I’m finished here. Where is the restroom?”
“Um, well… Second door to the left.” Twilight pointed out shyly.
As the alicorn left, having to duck under the door frames, silence spread through the table once again.
“Well… You didn’t burn down the house fighting.” Night Light offered with a smile. “Pretty good dinner overall, right?”
The living room was quiet, parents had absconded to elsewhere in the house, and now the two girls were alone.
“Well… That was really something.” Sunset muttered, cuddling with Twilight on the couch, the girl sitting on top of her, resting her head on her shoulder. “Could have gone worse, I guess.”
“I think we did the best we could.” Twilight affirmed softly, eyes closed.
“Story of my fucking life.” Sunset exhaled, running her fingers up and down the length of her girlfriend's arm slowly. “I don’t live every day of my life thinking about when I’ll die anymore, you know? I fuckin’ used to. But now, I just…”
“You’re just here.” Twilight kissed her on the cheek. “And here is good.”
“Here is so fucking good, Sparky.” She let out weary, exhausted chuckles. “Here is so good.”
“I don’t mind taking a page out of your book and just… Not worrying about the future.” Twilight affirmed quietly, wrapping an arm around her. “We can just be.”
“Sounds pretty damn good to me.” Again, she let out an enormous exhale. “I don’t want to make any plans for tomorrow or next week. If Pinkie texts me she wants to go to the arcade I’ll tell her I broke a leg.”
“Then she’d be at your apartment to try to help you heal, hihi.” She leaned even closer, resting her head on the crook of Sunset’s neck. “For the record… You’d look really good with wings. I’ve thought as much since Daydream Shimmer.”
“Oh really? Goes both ways, Sparkles.” She giggled, kissing her on the forehead. “You’d make for a sexy princess.”
“As my first decree, I’d like to enact the ‘Sunset Shimmer kissies law’, in which if a Sunset Shimmer is left unkissed, she must be kissed post haste, lest our world be torn asunder.” She spoke almost seriously.
“Uh oh. Bad news, Princess.” The redhead spoke somberly. “I’m unkissed.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it!!” Twilight sat up, and began enacting her law.
“You’re allowed to say if any of the food I gave you tonight is bad, okay? It won’t hurt my feelings.” Velvet spun the wine cup with her hand absentmindedly, “I mean– You’re literally royalty. I’m aware a home cooked meal might not compare.”
Celestia, who simply let out a weary chuckle, observed the stars above the Sparkle household’s garden, and considered for a moment how little they were visible, amidst the light pollution of this world. “...Well, this wine is garbage.” She snickered, shaking her head, and Velvet followed suit.
“Want some more?” She offered.
“Of course.” She lent her cup immediately.
“I’m going to be a bigger person and just say it…” Sitting back down, Velvet sipped her own wine cup barely. “I misjudged you. Honestly, when I knew you were coming, I figured I’d spent the entire dinner commanding you to try much harder for Sunset. To make an effort… But, well…”
“This is me making an effort.” Celestia sighed before drinking all of the contents in her wine cup. “I post poned several potential meetings and treaties to be here tonight– And I did so with a smile. I want to be here.”
“Sorry for giving you a hard time.”
“I deserve it.”
“You did the best you could–”
“I’m meant to be better.”
“You’re just a mother.”
“But I’m meant to be better.”
“And yet… You’re just a mother.”
Celestia chuckled, grimacing, and Velvet joined her.
After a minute of silence, the alicorn had to speak up. “The first night Sunset spent in my care… She had a nightmare. She asked me how to defeat nightmares, in the dead of night– And I had no answer. All I could offer was to protect her in her sleep.” She looked down, beholding her empty cup of wine. “She slept under my wing– And in that night, I was too foolish not to realise that I finally, finally after a thousand years, had a family again.”
Velvet just watched her carefully, sadly, as the Princess continued. “And I never wanted to hurt her. I only ever wanted to see her thrive…!”
“She is thriving.”
“Far from me.” She responded bitterly, regretfully. “She is doing so well… But so far from me.”
“Well… Sounds like you should keep making the effort.” Velvet stretched and yawned, placing her wine cup down on a nearby garden table. “...I know she really wanted you here tonight. She doesn’t want to be away from you.”
“Time does not move any faster for me, you know…? I live at the same pace as you.” Celestia’s mournful gaze moved to the moon. “But I am cursed– Cursed to understand the passage of time– Cursed to understand that every moment is precious. Cursed to understand that after a while, every loved one… Will wilt like a flower, and be gone. And if I’m lucky, I will remember them…! If I'm lucky.”
“You’re living in the future too much.” Velvet came closer, placing a consoling hand atop the alicorn’s. “You’re too focused on what good moments you can still make with her, that you’re not living in the present with her.”
“She is capable, you know…? Of earning her wings, of taking my place.” She spoke carefully, afraid. “...But I fear that by accepting what she has, she would not… She would not want to have more anymore. I do not wish to see her old and grey, I do not wish to see her... To see her..." She shuddered, inhaling shortly."…I wish for her to live life my way so she lives longer... Is that selfish of me?”
“Is it selfish that you want your daughter to live as long as you have, if not more?” Velvet chuckled ironically, shrugging. “Is it selfish that you love her so much that you would hand the reins of a nation to her…? I’m not sure. I don’t think so. Motherly, maybe, but selfish…?”
“I’m not sure anymore… Loving a daughter is so complicated…!” She placed her wine cup down, and closed her eyes. “...But it’s worth it.”
“It sure is.” Velvet gave her an assuring smile. “If it makes you feel better… Sunset is a wonderful kid. She’s going to do great things, no matter what. All you need to do is be there for her and just…”
Celestia chuckled, shaking her head. “...Abandon my worries? Is that the simple lesson here?”
“Maybe.” the mother shrugged, and chuckled. “Carpe Diem. Seize the day, live in the moment…”
“...I think, in the moment, I need some more wine.”
“See you tomorrow?” Twilight offered, holding Sunset closely by the door, embracing her.
“I dunno. I’m not making any plans.” She grinned tiredly, kissing her sweetly. “But I love you.”
“Love you too.” They kissed again, and some more, until the noise of shuffling forced them to separate.
“Hey, lovebirds.” Velvet grinned, winking. “If you want to make out, you don’t need to do it at the door.”
“We weren’t doing anything!” Twilight lied poorly.
“I have taught you many things, Sunset.” Celestia joined them, walking towards the sidewalk. “But I’m afraid proper stealth was not one of them.”
“Well, um, thanks for the dinner, Miss Velvet. We’re all good?”
“Of course. Come back anytime, please.” The mother hugged Sunset, warming her up. “And cut your mom some slack. She’s pretty new at this.”
“Believe me, I know.” She chuckled, leaving the embrace. “But we’ll be okay.”
“You will, I’m sure of it!” Twilight hugged her quickly. “Goodnight to both of you! Text me when you’re home!”
“Will do, Princess.” She grinned, sneaking a not-so stealthy kiss onto her.
“We’re looking forward to seeing you both again!” Night Light waved from inside. “Maybe next time we can have dinner at your place, huh?”
“Sure, we’ll get a banquet ready.” Sunset joked. “Good night, everybody.”
Celestia waved behind her, wishing them the same.
And now they were alone.
“...Shall we take the bus again, then?” The alicorn offered.
Sunset briefly checked her phone, and then shook her head. “...Actually, want to just walk back to CHS? It’s not too far– I don’t really know the schedules of buses at this hour, and well… I don’t mind walking.”
“Me either.” The Princess shrugged with a smile.
The walk was long, and it was quiet, even if not necessarily uncomfortable.
At rare moments, Sunset would check her phone, seeing the dozens of messages Twilight was exchanging with her friends, retelling this strange night their parents had spent together.
At other moments, Celestia would ask quick simple questions about the environment they were in, and Sunset would provide a concise answer.
And finally, after an hour of nightly walking, they made it to their destination. Sunset looked around and let out a relieved sigh, seeing that her bike was still in the CHS parking lot.
And Celestia stood at the foot of the statue, with the portal open, looking back at the school that had housed Sunset when she couldn’t.
“Well… That didn’t go so bad.” The redhead exhaled, stretched and yawned. “I’m happy we did this. I hope you… I hope you’re happy too.”
All Celestia could do was nod slowly, silently, as she observed her daughter.
“...Well–”
“Sunset.” Her mother spoke weakly. “In my many centuries of living… I have made many mistakes. I have.” She shuddered out, looking down. “...And I am so, so sorry, if I ever made you think you were one of them…!”
No more words were needed. Sunset hugged her tightly, and she hugged back, and there they remained, and the night wasn’t so cold anymore.
“Mom…?”
“Yes, little one?”
“Can I sleep in your place tonight?”
Author's Note
Nothing like sleeping back at your moms house. Even if its a palace, heh.
Hope you liked this one! I thought of including stuff like Shining Armor, Cadance and Spike, but I realized it'd just be a bit bloated.
if you've read all my stories, you might be catching onto recurring themes here, I sure hope my fics aren't becoming repetitive xD themes like momlestia, the tug between worlds, dealing with immortality. I love those, heh.
But for now, I'll take a break from them lmao. For now.
Also the idea of Scitwi as the understudy of Princess Twilight is just so funny to me. no one could even tell the difference, lets face it.
Un-added to this fic was Celestia just nudging the Princess to go with whatever the hell is good for Sunset lol. Going to her daughter and saying "You seduced one Twilight, I'm sure you can seduce another!"
Anyways
