The Pegasus Paradox

"So do we why don't we go get her then?" asked Dash.

"Because we don't know where she is." The Doctor replied, rubbing his face with a hoof. "Wait...that's it!"

"What's it?" asked Twilight.

"A Locating spell!" he exclaimed excitedly.

"I'm not sure I follow..." began a very confused Twilight. "Wouldn't it just lead us back here to our Princess Celestia?"

"If it was cast by anyone else, then that would be the case." he turned around to face the princess. "I know you're feeling weak, but if you could just try casting a spell to locate your past self..."

"I'll try..." she replied, before closing her eyes and with some noticeable effort her horn began to glow with its golden aura.

Almost as quickly as it had been cast, the spell faded as Celestia collapsed back onto her throne.

"PRINCESS CELESTIA!!" The two mares shouted in unison, rushing to her side.

"I...I'm fine." she insisted. "I just need to rest and I'll be alright..."

"Do you know where she is?" asked The Doctor.

"Yes...in the caves beneath Canterlot." she replied. "Doctor...Rainbow Dash...I would like to speak to Twilight in private for a few moments."

The two exchanged glances.

"All right, we'll be outside if you need us." Rainbow Dash assured her before they went outside.

Once the door closed Celestia returned her gaze to her faithful student.

"Twilight, I...I'm so sorry."

The younger Alicorn's ears perked up.

"What?"

"Not long after I took you under my wing as my student, I began to see you as something more...like a daughter." she explained, choosing her words carefully. "When you gained this newfound power...I was afraid it would corrupt you."

"Like Princess Luna?" she finished. "But, I don't have any anger or jealousy in my heart..."

"Neither did my sister, at first." Celestia replied, sadly. "It took centuries, but those feelings festered and boiled within her heart-to the point where I couldn't save her and had no choice-but, to exile my own blood to the moon for the safety of Equestria."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want you to understand that the only reason I was being so selfish was because I had convinced myself that the only way to avoid more heartache was to control you...I knew that your royal duties would pull you away from your friends and in time you would begin to resent me for saddling you with this burden."

Twilight remained silent as her teacher spoke.

"For many centuries it has been believed that our destinies are assigned to us at birth and they are only revealed to us once we've earned our Cutie Marks..."

"But?" prompted Twilight.

"But, now because of you-my faithful student-after what you said to me that night, I am beginning to believe that they merely guide us to the right path...why else would thieves, murderers, and tyrants exist in ponykind?"

The younger Alicorn could only stare blankly at her.

"I have come to the conclusion that despite whatever a pony's Cutie Mark is telling them, they still retain their free will as I've yet to see a natural one representing such atrocities." she explained.

"Despite all of my years, I am far from infallible as you have seen for yourself...and even if you can't find it in you heart to forgive me-I hope that at the very least you'll understand."

"I do understand, Princess." replied Twilight. "And I do forgive you...I'm sorry too for the way I yelled at you-but at the time I felt it was totally justified."

Celestia nodded in understanding.

"I am glad that we had this talk, Twilight...but, time is running out for all of us...you should return to The Doctor and Rainbow Dash to see if they have any other leads."

“What about you?”

“Now that my fears have been alleviated, I will rest.”

“You’re not coming with us?” Twilight asked, slightly disappointed.

“Nothing would make me happier.” Celestia replied, smiling warmly. “But, I’m afraid the spell I cast earlier drained most of my remaining strength and I require rest…besides, if my doppelganger saw me-or if were even in the same proximity to one another the results could be even more disastrous than the effects of Discord’s magic on its own.”

She then draped a wing around Twilight.

“When you completed Starswirl the Bearded’s unfinished spell, I told you how proud of you I was…and I still am.”

Celestia then looked down at Twilight still smiling, but with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“After taking you on as my student, you’ve become like a daughter to me-and I’ve grown to love you as such.”

“Now,” she continued releasing Twilight. “Go. I have the utmost faith in you and The Doctor to set this right.”

“Thank you, Princess.” She replied before heading back outside to meet up with Rainbow Dash and The Doctor.