Celestia skipped merrily through the halls of Canterlot castle. The day had been one of those rare days that were completely uneventful, and she was looking forward to meeting her former student for a light supper.

She had been overjoyed when Twilight’s letter had arrived, it was so rare these days that Equestria’s newest princess would write to Equestria’s olde… most seasoned princess. Ever since Twilight and her friends had started their own diary, Celestia had heard far less from her former pupil.

But Twilight had finally written to Celestia, not as a pupil, not as a princess… but as a friend. Celestia had long desired a true friendship with the younger mare. She had long admired Twilight Sparkle, the four times saviour of Equestria (and one time assistant savior of the Crystal Empire), and had hoped that her ascension to alicornhood, as well as her new status as royalty, would endear the mare towards building a closer relationship with Celestia, and hopefully, her sister.

She slowed to a walk as she approached her private dining room, though her heart was still a flutter. Pushing the door open with her magic, she slipped into the room to find her former student.

Pacing.

Muttering.

Breathing rapidly.

Celestia sighed. Okay, so this might not be a social visit.

“Twilight Sparkle, how good to see you!” she said with cheer in her voice. While she was somewhat disappointed this was looking less like a social call, it was still good to see her former pupil.

“P— Celestia! I didn’t hear you come in…” Twilight stammered. “N-Not that you can’t be here… or that I think you should not be quiet—

“Maybe I will have to wear a bell instead of my peytral, then?” Celestia chuckled, but was met with silence. Twilight fidgeted nervously, shuffling from hoof to hoof. Celestia sighed, her humor wasn’t that stale, was it? “Perhaps we should sit, and we can speak of what ever is on your mind.”

The solar alicorn sat down on the velvet cushion, but her former student remained standing. Twilight’s breath became more labored and panicked.

“Twilight, please sit… what ever has you concerned, I am happy to help.”

“I—” Twilight choked out the word. “I think I need to stand for this.”

Celestia’s brow furrowed. While she did not expect it from Twilight, normally when she was given an instruc— polite suggestion, she would do as the Solar Alicorn instr— suggested. She wondered what would have the youngest princess in such a state.

Celestia lit her horn to pour some tea. She was taken aback when Twilight let out a scream of “Please don’t banish me,” and her grip on the teapot slipped. The silver teapot landed with a clatter, the tea spilling out on to the clean table cloth.

“Now, Twilight, please don’t be alarmed,” Celestia said with some exasperation to the cowering mare. “I am not going to banish you, I am just going to clean this up.”

Waiting for the nervous mare to nod, she lit her horn up a second time, the tea evaporated from the cloth, though it did leave behind an unsightly stain.

“Now, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said, adopting her ‘teacher’ voice. “Please sit down.”

Twilight did as she was instruct—

Suggested!

“Now, Twilight. I thought we were past this,” Celestia said, shaking her head. “I am not going to banish you, or throw you in a dungeon, or throw you in a dungeon in the place I banish you to—”

“But—”

“No buts, Twilight. I will not banish you. Now, with that in mind…” Celestia’s face softened. “What is it that has you so distraught?”

Celestia watched as Twilight stared at her hooves, wringing them around each other.

“I— You see—”

“Take a nice, calming breath, Twilight. Just like Cadance showed you.”

Twilight did as instructed. She closed her eyes, pulled her hoof to her chest, and let it out as she breathed deeply.

Opening her eyes, she saw Celestia was still there, and started panicking again.

One breathing exercise, a fainting spell and an application of smelling salts later, Celestia presumed Twilight was ready to speak.

Or explode.

Twice.

“Twilight… you know I consider you a good friend.” Celestia sighed. “I had hoped we had gotten over this part of our relationship, but it seems it is not so. So, shall we initiate the Sphere of Safety?”

It was a silly little game Celestia had played with the younger Twilight, when she was still a filly in the princess’ tutor. The young Twilight, though inquisitive, had always been worried about asking things of her teacher that she suspected was the ‘wrong’ thing to ask. Celestia had told the filly that she knew a powerful spell, the Sphere of Safety, an agreement between Celestia and Twilight that the filly could ask any question without fear of repercussion. Even if they were awkward questions about that gentlecolt caller Twilight had seen entering Celestia’s chambers when she was young.

The older Twilight had learned that the Sphere of Safety was nothing more than a simple light spell Celestia channeled as they spoke, but it had served its purpose.

“I— I—” Twilight stammered. “I don’t know if that is enough.”

This response had Celestia truly intrigued. What could be so heinous that even the SoS was not enough?

“Y-You have to Pinkie Promise.”

Celestia had read about the Pinkie Promise, a silly little rhyme Twilight and her friends would recite to prove their sincerity in keeping said promise. She thought back to the friendship letter in which Twilight had described the oath.

“Cross my heart and hope to fly,” Celestia recited from memory as she went through the motions, “Stick a cupcake in my eye.” She ended the oath with the customary hoof in the eye, which she assumed was likely more comfortable without the golden shoe.

The solar alicorn watched as some of the tension seemed to melt from Twilight.

“Thank you…” Twilight whispered.

Celestia waited for Twilight to speak. The younger mare seemed ready to speak a few times, before clamming back up.

“Your Majesty,” Twilight finally spoke.

Celestia was quite surprised to hear Twilight call her ‘Your Majesty’, considering in the current Equestrian triarchy, they were considered equals.

“Your Majesty,” Twilight repeated, surprising Celestia a second time. “I have been greatly honored to call your sister, Princess Luna, a close friend. As you are aware, the Princess and I have become close in these past few months.”

It was true. Celestia was a little jealous of Luna, she had managed to find more time to spend with Twilight. Luna had been making regular trips to visit her, where they shared their love of astronomy. And Twilight had been joining Luna on some of her patrols of the Everfree, though Celestia was not keen on her sister putting her former student in potential danger.

“Princess Luna is, as you are well aware, very steeped in tradition, for which I have the utmost respect,” Twilight said. “And it is in respect to her, and to those traditions that I find myself here. While traditionally it would be proper to seek the blessing of a mare’s father, that is… uhhh…” Twilight stumbled, hanging her head in embarrassment. “That is, ummm, not exactly possible anymore, so I must defer to the most senior member of her house.”

Celestia held her breath. Twilight couldn’t be… no!

“Princess Celestia, I seek your permission… and blessing… to court your sister, Princess Luna.”

Discord relapsed. Sombra returned. Chrysalis had come to the doorstep of Canterlot seeking Celestia’s forgiveness.

As these implausible things had not actually happened… but the bottom of Celestia’s world fell out like they had.

Her former student… and her sister.

Her former student and her sister!

She thanked the millennia of rule that had taught her to steel herself from showing any emotion. The turmoil and chaos that she had been plunged into barely manifested as a slight tic below her left eye.

“Who is that?” the filly asked, looking up at the large painted portrait of a midnight blue mare.

“That is a Princess, from a long time ago,” Celestia replied. It hurt, looking up at the picture. Remembering who her sister was, who she had become… what Celestia had had to do.

“She’s beautiful!” the filly gushed. “When I grow up, I’m going to marry somepony just like her!”

No, that meant nothing! It was just the idle talk of a filly enamored by a pretty picture. And it was an amazing portrait, Celestia still kept it in her private gallery.

“Princess…” the unicorn asked, nerves apparent in her voice. “C-Can royalty be… uhh… special someponies with… ummm, commoners?”

Celestia had staggered a bit, as Twilight had asked the question. Surely her student… no, her student was far too smart to fall for the likes of the alicorn’s nephew.

“Y-Yes, Twilight,” Celestia answered with caution. “If a member of the Royal Family so chooses, they may marry one of non-noble blood.” After a thought, she added, “It is very rare though, most Royals look to consolidate their own power, and marriage is, sadly, a powerful way of doing so.”

“Oh…” Twilight replied, her head sinking low as they walked.

“But it is not outside the realms of possibility, no,” Celestia said, hoping to buoy her students feelings. “Love can do amazing things.”

No! Of course Twilight had not been talking about herself, it was obvious from the way Rarity had acted at the Gala, that Celestia’s student was merely asking on behalf of her friend.

“Oh, my beloved moon,” Twilight moaned as she sprawled out across her down mattress. The room was dimmed, dark drapes covering the windows. A gramophone played gentle music in the background. The newest alicorn’s breathing was ragged and laboured, her moans barely stifled as she bit down on a hoof.

Celestia severely regretted not knocking on the door before entering Twilight’s personal boudoir.

Okay, yeah, maybe Celestia should have seen that one coming. Next Chapter: Chapter Two Estimated time remaining: 12 Minutes