Luna sat across from her sister at breakfast. Her thoughts were full of strange and alien notions, but she pressed them aside, "Sister."

Celestia looked up from her tea, "Yes? You've looked distracted all morning. Are you well, Lulu?"

Luna smiled thinly at the personal name, "I am well, but there is a matter of grave import we must discuss. Silver Lining consented to have his soul laid bare to me, and I have seen much."

Celestia tilted her head faintly, "I have never heard you do that with one that is not a pony."

Luna was about to argue it, but the alien things she saw returned to her mind. Silver was not a pony, even if he desperately wished it to be so. "Be that as it may. He was clearly assaulted that day. She used physical intimidation to get him to go where she wanted, magic to hold him down, and did not stop when he asked her to clearly. It was only Rough Draft's sudden appearance that caused her to stop."

Celestia let out a slow breath, "Luna, my dearest sister."

"Your only sister," corrected Luna.

Celestia nodded, "I know you speak the truth, but it is not enough. I believe you. I believed you before. I believed Silver before."

Luna brought a hoof down on the table, rattling the fine ceramics, "Then why do you do nothing?! This is a mockery of all that is good in Equestria. You told me, Tia, that you were proud of the good your little ponies had risen to. Is this what you meant? Is this the uplifted kingdom that you mean me to see?"

Celestia looked away a moment, the words stinging sharply. "We are not without faults... I have not done nothing."

Luna settled slightly, lowering her hoof to the cushion she sat on. "Tell me then, what have you done?"

Celestia concentrated. A paper appeared. Luna gripped the paper in her magic and brought it over. It was a royal offer to one Carrot Plate for a position in the royal court. "I do not understand," murmured Luna as she read on. The letter went on and on about the honor and privilege that Carrot Plate would look forward to, serving just under Celestia herself. "Why do you reward her?" She read on until she reached the next part, when a delicate frown overtook her features. The actual position was of a supervisory position with orphaned foals. "You have thrown the wolf to the chickens in the hope the wolf will become friendly?!"

Celestia shook her head, "She is being watched very closely. It is a prison sentence with gilded bars. Her parents insisted she accept when they realized the prestige in it." She brought her hooves together, "We have arrested her without offending the elite."

Luna set the paper aside, "Very clever, but it is still most foul. Why do we have to approach justice so carefully? She has done wrong, she should be punished swiftly, that other ponies may learn from her mistake, that the victim may know his hurts are felt by all and his princesses care." She leaned forward with a delicate frown, "He thinks that you hate him. He believes there is no justice in the world, and that to hide is the only answer. He... he cries inside, thinking that he has burned his bridges with you and you have turned from him."

Celestia spun an ear back, "That is not true, and you know it. He is a curious creature, an alien in the body of a pony, but his heart seems good." She tapped her chin with a hoof, "Should we invite him again, to clear the air?"

Luna huffed, "A few lashes across the back of that mare would do wonders. But, failing that, speaking to him would be good."

Celestia paled, "Lashes have not been served for over half a millenia."

Luna gave a slow sigh, "Has it been for the better?"

Celestia switched topics, "The guards say you had Silver's alien artifacts brought to the castle. Are they functional?"

"Indeed," replied Luna. "They are clearly built for a species with fingers and hands, but magic suffices. It is a wondrous artifact, able to entertain and facilitate work all at once. We do not yet understand even the start of how it functions. He looked sad when I took it from him."

Celestia canted her head before she took a delicate bite of a morning cake, "Why did you take it?"

"Because I could," spoke Luna. "He needs to learn defiance, just a little. He had some when he first arrived. He stood up to me when I wanted to visit swift wrath on a changeling in Manehattan, and was unflinching when I visited his dreams, even when he was lost in the wilderness. Even with Discord, he showed no fear."

Celestia rose a brow, "Why would he protect a changeling?"

Luna set her chin on a hoof, "Do you know of one Nicole Foalman?" Celestia nodded. "She is a changeling queen." When Celestia's eyes widened, Luna continued, "Her hive consists of two drones. She hasn't a mean-spirited plate on her chitinous body. I have dug thoroughly into her past. She gives away roughly half of the bits she earns as an actress to various funds to support the downtrodden. Her body is whole and pure, free of the rotting disease that has overtaken the other changeling hives."

Celestia shook her head, "Why did you not tell me of this earlier?"

"To what end?" asked Luna. "She is a citizen of the kingdom. She pays her taxes, she obeys the laws, and she is a good pony. I dare say she is better than most of the 'elite' of this city. Would that Carrot Plate could aspire to her level."

Celestia frowned, "If she is so good, we could use her to show changelings can be redeemed."

Luna gave the table a light tap, "You would kill her."

Celestia reared her head back, but it came to her soon enough. "Her career would end." Celestia looked crestfallen, "Such an opportunity. The changelings were always a pitiable lot. If they came as friends, there would surely be love enough to feed them all."

Luna snorted, "They would starve in Canterlot. Or, mayhaps, their invasion was more successful than we knew."

Celestia frowned at Luna, "That is enough. I will not be nettled over breakfast." She sipped softly at her tea. "I will send her a letter in any event, extending my welcome. If she is as pure as you say, she is a valued addition to the kingdom, changeling or pony."

"Do not forget her companions," spoke Luna. "She has two drones. They are almost mindlessly obedient to her, but she seems to endeavor to give them freedoms and respect. It will warm her heart if you remember to call them out specifically in your letter and welcome them." A wiley smile spread on Luna's snout, "In fact. Why don't you invite just one of them to visit?"

"Why just one?" asked Celestia, "I've seen that expression, Lulu, what have you in mind?"

Luna clopped her hooves together idly, "Oh, nothing... I just assume if they are separate, and one is in a new city, they will have more chances to think for themselves. We should endeavor to see he is well treated for. He will be confused and lost, but he may grow."

Celestia nodded softly, "I approve of this idea, but we should move with care. He could get alarmed, scared. We will have to be very gentle."

They went on to discuss idle matters of the state and finished up breakfast, with Luna heading to bed and Celestia moving to oversee day court.

Silver sat in front of Trixie and Rough, "And she told me to go, just like that."

Trixie turned red with an obvious fury, "How dare they turn away a student of Trixie's without giving him a chance to show off her amazing techniques!"

Rough frowned and reached for Silver. Silver went stiff, but was soon drawn into the embrace. "I messed it up again, didn't I?" asked Rough.

Silver perked his ears, "Wh-- oh... I mean... You did what you thought was best."

Rough flopped over on his side, dragging Silver right along for the ride, "And got you kicked out of the academies before you even got in."

Trixie scoffed, "The blame rests squarely on that spoiled foal and her parents. Trixie will not accept any responsibility." She rubbed her forehooves together with a thoughtful expression, "We should find out where she works or attends school, then get revenge properly."

Silver shook his head from the furry prison of Rough's hug. "That'll just make me look like even more of a troublemaker. That reminds me. I need to get a letter to Nicky."

"The changeling?" asked Rough, "Why?"

Silver wriggled a little before he found a comfortable position, "It's for my friend, Soft Blush. I think she has a future in film and theatre, and I want Nicole to help. She has to know a million people in the industry."

Rough bobbed his head, "That makes sense. I can get a letter to her."

Trixie waved a hoof dismissively, "This is all well and good, but does not get Silver his chance to take the test. He may not pass, but he deserves the chance to try, and learn." She raised a brow, "You will need to tell about this adventure with changelings, but that is beside the point."

Rough smiled, his whole face brightening, "I know!" He sat up, bringing Silver along, "The house. We should talk to Fancy Pants and Fleur. They have connections."

Trixie raised an ear, "They have all the connections. Carrot Plate and her family are nothing compared to them. The elite of the elite, as they say, and Trixie has seen nothing to prove it wrong." She waved a hoof around the house, "This was a quaint weekend home for them to use. For us, a spacious house."

Silver smiled with growing hope, "Do you think they'd help clear things up with the academies?"

Rough nodded, "If we played our cards right, I wouldn't be surprised if they could just sponsor you right into an academy."

Trixie shook her head quickly, "Silver deserves the chance to take the test, fairly. If he cannot pass it, he should wait a year and try again, like any other hopeful student."

Silver noticed something, "Trixie?"

"Yes?" she asked, looking down at him.

"Did you..." He rolled a hoof a little, "ever go to academy yourself?"

Trixie flushed dark, "Trixie is... self-taught. She did not need any fancy academy to pry into the mysteries of the arcane! She learned from many books she traded hard to get." She gestured over the bookshelf in the den, full of magical tomes.

Silver shook his head, "Did you pass the test?"

Trixie suddenly rose and departed from the room. She slammed the door shut behind herself.

Rough nuzzled the top of Silver's head, "I think you upset her."

"Ya think?" asked Silver sarcastically, frowning at the slammed door.

Author's Notes:

Luna and Celestia share an overdue chat, and Silver delivers news of his aborted test.

Luna insisted on using old Equuish for the spelling. I tried to convince her it wasn't right anymore, but here we are.