Celestia tapped her hoof against the flooring of the castles dining room, occasionally glancing at the clock that read nine thirty pm.

Sunset was surprisingly late. She usually was always on time for dinner, but late for breakfast. Celestia was half tempted to eat without her, but resisted the urge as she levitated a glass of water to her lips.

She had long since sent Raven home for the night. Most of the time Raven ended up sleeping in the spare room next to Celestia’s in case she was needed. Celestia wasn’t entirely fond of that and often encouraged Raven to not be married to her job.

“I’m home!” Sunset called out, her voice echoing down the halls as she trotted towards the dining room, pushing them open with her magic.

Celestia gave her an annoyed look, tapping a hoof on the table as Sunset climbed onto her seat.

“And pray tell, where have you been all night? You know how much I hate you being out after dark after what happened last time. I was about to send out a battalion of royal guards to tear Canterlot apart again.”

“One time I get kidnapped when I’m seven and you never let me hear the end of it,” Sunset rolled her eyes and Celestia decided to not respond to that how she normally did. Which was mostly a lecture that Sunset has heard a dozen times. “As for where I was, I was out working with Silver Spanner on our school project after Twinkleshine went home. Aunt Comet and Aunt Cobalt were with us halfway through until I sent them home to be with their families. And then I teleported here instead of walking.”

“Who is Silver Spanner?” Celestia asked curiously, her previous frustrations mostly gone. Mostly.

“She’s a new student. Started a couple days ago. She’s actually really smart,” Sunset used her magic to pour some soup into her bowl. “She made this thing called a generator. Supposed to power houses if we ever move past controlled lightning strikes she claims.”

Celestia hummed to herself softly, drinking some of her own soup. She didn’t know anypony had tried making an alternative to the old way of powering houses electricity. Every house in Equestria came with a lightning rod equipped. The castle itself had over a dozen.

“I think I would like to this see generator for myself,” Celestia commented and Sunset wiped off her muzzle with a napkin, tossing it into the trash can at the doors of the room.

“Six points. I suppose I could arrange that. She’s coming over tomorrow with Twinkleshine and ugh, Ivory Melody. Silver Spanner said that he reminded her of some eighties movie her mom and dad liked with his overly greasy mane and annoying personality. He’s so awkward and weird. Not the good kind of weird, the bad kind. He makes a lot of ponies uncomfortable. I still have to remind the guards we are having guests.”

“I’ll handle it. What did you and Silver Spanner get up to? I know you, you don’t spend all your time on your homework like that,” Celestia pointed out with a smirk.

“We worked on her other personal project. She’s surprisingly okay with suggestions to her designs. I thought she’d be mad. She has a dozen other designs she showed me in her room. I think one was about a new train engine?”

“Any good inventor is open to suggestions,” Celestia answered and spun some bread in the air. “What’s she like?”

“Smart and nice. She’s a pretty driven individual, which I can always respect. She’s like me in that aspect,” Sunset tossed a carrot into her mouth. “She just moved here from Ponyville with her parents and doesn’t know anypony or have any friends. Something I can sympathize with,” Sunset sighed and stirred her soup with a piece of bread. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what?”

“Have no friends,” Sunset answered and her eyes widened as they both fell silent. “That came out ruder than I expected or wanted. I mean, I never see you having friends over or them spending the night.”

“I have friends. I got Fancy Pants and his lovely wife Fleur De Lis, Comet, Cobalt, Thunder, Raven, Gloriosa Daisy, Solar Shine, Twilight Velvet, Nightlight, Angel Wings and Blue Ivy. Heck, I was at both of those kids birth. You three grew up and played together all the time.”

“I know that Mom. All I see you do is do Princessy stuff, raise the sun and moon and to sleep. We don’t even have real jobs. Being a Princess is something we do twenty four seven. It’s not something we stop after eight hours,” Sunset rested her hooves on her lap. “I don’t know how that doesn’t tire you.”

“It’s very tiring, but I have millions of ponies to look after. They all look to me for protection and even guidance occasionally. I raised the sun to help the crops grow, lower it so they don’t burn the crops. Raise the moon so-”

“So random ponies that like to go to clubs can hang out?” Sunset chimed in and Celestia chuckled.

“I was going to say to say create tides, keep our climate under control and more, but yes I have noticed my ponies to have a sudden fondness for nightly activities such as going out to clubs.”

Celestia didn’t entirely know where that trend had came from, but she did welcome it with open hooves. A part of her did idly wonder how different things would be now if ponies had celebrated the night like they do now.

How would she even explain the idea of clubbing to Luna? Celestia herself doesn’t even know what it entails.

“I mean, I’ve never even had a sleepover since I turned what, nine? I know Angel Wings and Blue Ivy have one every week or so. What about you?” Sunset asked and Celestia looked up at the ceiling. “Wish ponies liked me enough to have one with me. Maybe one day when I’m like, twenty.”

She didn’t even really know when her last one was. She guessed sometime around a little over a thousand years ago. Unless the time she had stayed at the hospital after giving birth to Sunset had counted.

“Fifteen years ago,” Celestia decided on her hospital theory. “I was the first to fall asleep.” But she credited to all the insanely fast working pain meds the doctors had hopped her up on. Modern medicine had come far in her life time.

“Huh. Just curious, I guess. Anyway, dinner was good as always mom,” Sunset levitated the bowls into the air. “I’ll do the dishes, have a good night.”

“Thanks, Sunny,” Celestia yawned as she stood up and started to head to the door. “Sunset?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

Sunset gave a tired smile as she stretched her forelegs out.

“Love ya too, Momma.”

Silver Spanner and Twinkleshine trotted down the castle hall together, Silver Spanners jaw was practically touching for floor.

“I’ve never seen so much art or stained glass windows or such shiny floors in all my life,” Silver Spanner whispered and Twinkleshine chuckled, patting her on the back quickly.

“The castle is beautiful. I’ve only been here a few times. Once or twice for the Grand Galloping Gala, that one time I randomly got invited to Sunset’s eighth birthday party. Don’t know how that one happened. Assumed if was a mixup,” Twinkleshine mused and she tapped a hoof agaisnt her chin. “I don’t know what she ever did with that guitar I got her.”

The two stood at Sunset’s door, Twinkleshine knocking softly.

“Oh hey,” Sunset called out from her bed, using her magic to open the door and the two peered inside.

“What the..?” Twinkleshine trailed off as she stared at the guitar resting against the wall. “Sheesh, ironic. That’s the exact same one I got you.”

Sunset gave a nod, idly using her magic to pluck one of the strings. Twinkleshine hadn’t entirely expected Sunset to keep it or even remember she had given her it.

Celestia trotted around the corner and Silver Spanners eyes widened to plates, extending a foreleg and bowed along with Twinkleshine, though the white unicorn did it much more gracefully than Silver Spanner. The brown unicorn practically face planted out of surprise compared to Twinkleshine more experienced bow.

“You can stand,” Celestia chuckled and Twinkleshine subtly nudged Silver Spanner. “My apologies, I know you three have a large project going on, but I was wondering if I could borrow Silver Spanner and Twinkleshine for a brief moment. Is that okay, my dear daughter?”

“Of course Mom. Just don’t scare them please,” Sunset requested with an eyeroll and smirked at the worried looks the two unicorns face. “I’ll be here.”

Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner both exchanged a nervous look as they walked beside Celestia down the hall, the pair idly noting the amount of royal guards lining the hallways or trotting down other halls, occasionally using light spells to light up dark halls.

“You know, my daughter talked a lot about yesterday she spent with you two,” Celestia started and closed her wings. “She was quite impressed by Twinkleshines ability to look past who she is and Silver Spanners impressive mechanical skills and knowledge.”

“Thank you Princess,” Twinkleshine bowed her head slightly. “I try my hardest.”

“It’s certainly appreciated, my little pony.”

“I didn’t know she told you or well, anypony about my hobbies. Nopony except Cherry Berry back home showed any real interest,” Silver Spanner admitted and rubbed the back of her mane as she continued examining the castle in awe.

“She tells me everything. I must say, I’d like to see something you’ve created one day,” Celestia commented and Twinkleshine had to use her magic to keep Silver Spanners jaw closed.

Like she had said, nopony other than Cherry Berry had a strong fascination in seeing anything she had created.

“R-really?”

“Yes,” Celestia glanced at the teen unicorns. “I’m quite interested in potential inventions that will bolster Equestria forward. Sunset did talk a lot about the pair of you. Which made me hope you two would do me a favor.”

Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner exchanged a confused look. But neither really wanted to refuse and risk angering the sovereign ruler of their nation. Especially since they both attended her own personal school and could easily ruin their lives with a single swipe of her quill.

“Name it Princess Celestia,” Silver Spanner answered after she and Twinkleshine had a silent conversation based purely on looks.

“Have a sleepover this Friday at the castle with my daughter,” Celestia told them and paused, gesturing at some pictures of Sunset on the wall. “As you can see, Sunset is my pride and joy. I do everything and anything for her. But she doesn’t have a normal childhood and I feel terrible about it. She is already seemingly fond of you two and you have a right to say no. But you’d be doing me a favor and I always repay my favors.”

Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner looked at each other, having another silent conversation.

“You sure?” Twinkleshine asked and Silver Spanner nodded.

“Absolutely, what about you?”

“Mhm.”

“We’ll do it,” Twinkleshine flashed a smile and Silver Spanner matched the smile, nodding her agreement.

“Thank you,” Celestia rested a wing around the pair. “Now, what do you want as your favor?”

“Not a thing” Silver Spanner decided and Twinkleshine wiped away some sweat off her head.

“Hmm. I must admit, I didn’t expect that. Most ponies would jump at a offer like that,” Celestia mused and she gave a nod of approval her way. “I’m impressed.”

Thank the maker she decided that, Twinkleshine thought as she followed the two back where they came.

Silver Spanner was just glad she didn’t manage to anger the Princess.

Author's Note

Happy New Year! First chapter of 2025! Whoo!