"She...she did what?!"

Celestia looked upon her Captain of the guard, Shining Armour, with a look of utter shock. Currently, the two of them were in her personal chambers, at the royal palace of Canterlot. It was, by stark contrast to the royal trappings of the throne room, quite comfortable, and even homely. There was old and soft furniture throughout, a number of bookshelves containing magical tomes, and a large balcony to the side, looking out upon the city below. But by far the biggest attraction to this place was the massive fireplace, which blazed and lit the room well, even now, in the middle of the night. As for Celestia, she was sitting on her usual, large cushion, looking as if she was ready for a calm and quiet evening. However, that turned out to not be the case, as she stared intently at her Captain, who stood there, at attention, giving her a standard salute. In time, the stallion broke the silence between them.

"It's true, your majesty. Twilight's magic was unlike anything I'd ever seen. She threw that beast around like it was a ragdoll. It didn't even stand a chance against her."

Shining lowered his hoof from it's salute before puffing out his chest with pride, a smile forming upon his face.

"Truly, our family was blessed to have you accept her as a student, Princess. Your teachings have served her well."

Celestia looked away from him, keeping her voice hushed and calm.

"Yes...my teachings."

However, in mere moments, she cleared her throat, turning to the Captain and putting on a smile for him.

"Thank you for your report, Captain. And congratulations on a job well done. I would not have asked you to participate in this, but it seems to have turned out for the best. You are dismissed."

Shining gave another salute at that before turning around, making his way outside. Now, Celestia was alone, thinking over everything she'd just been told. So...she chose to do this without her friends. Celestia let out a sigh. Not only does my student go against what I asked of her...she seems to have become more powerful than I expected. A look of sadness crossed her face as that knowledge sank in. Have I truly become so out-of-touch with her? Time was, she couldn't go anywhere or do anything without me being aware of it. But now? Now I don't know what to think. As she sat there thinking on those matters, she did not notice the silent movement from her balcony, as her sister, Princess Luna gracefully landed upon it, walking towards her elder with a look of concern. Eventually, Celestia finally took note of her younger sibling, smiling warmly as she entered.

"Your night sky is beautiful tonight, Luna."

The blue alicorn smiled and bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you, sister. But I did not come here for compliments. I sensed that you are worried about something."

Putting on a brave face for her sister, Celestia looked away slightly.

"It's nothing, Luna. I'm fine."

Luna raised an eyebrow at that, after which she walked over to Celestia, kneeling beside her. The elder alicorn watched as her young sister placed a hoof upon hers before speaking gently.

"Sister...I know better than anypony how bad it is to keep one's concerns bottled-up. Please...let me help you."

Celestia looked to her, seeing the sincerity and genuine desire to help, and let out a sigh, forming a warm smile on her face. However, that smile faded when she actually started to speak.

"It's...it's Twilight."

Luna nodded at that, listening carefully as her sister continued.

"Ever since she moved to Ponyville, it's like...it's like there's some kind of rift between us. I don't know what it is. I can't put my hoof on it, but it's there."

The Princess of the sun looked down to the ground as she continued, her tone one of melancholy.

"When we last met, after you gained your freedom...I've never seen her act that way. The way she spoke, the way she looked at me...it was like I was seeing a completely different mare."

Luna thought on that before smiling to her sister, wrapping a warm and comforting wing around her.

"I know little of the modern world, but it's my understanding that many youngsters change when they experience great shift in their lives. Consider what Twilight went through before you saw her. She had just been through a rather difficult battle, and I should know."

Celestia nodded briefly, but still looked deep in thought.

"I thought about that. And at the time, that's what I used to reassure myself. I kept telling myself Twilight was just harrowed by her experiences, and that she'd get better."

Luna watched as her sister fell silent, not wanting to rush her in any way. But, eventually, she looked on as Celestia's horn lit up, and nearby, a chest of drawers began to open. Luna observed with some curiosity as a roll of parchment began to float out from it, levitating towards the two Princesses. Seeing the paper hovering in front of her, Luna looked from it to Celestia before eventually taking it into her hooves. After reading it for a little while, she turned to her elder sister with a degree of confusion on her face.

"A letter from Twilight?"

Celestia nodded.

"It's one of the friendship reports she sent to me not long after she moved to Ponyville. Tell me, Luna...what do you make of it?"

Luna looked to the paper again, still not sure where her sister was going with this. It took a few minutes of silence, but eventually, the younger alicorn turned back to Celestia, a look of uncertainty still evident on her.

"I do not understand, sister. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong here. It's written well, the lesson is fine. Nothing is unclear. Is...is there something I'm not seeing?"

Celestia shook her head.

"No. What you see is true. It's just...I've been Twilight's teacher for a long time now. I know her many works well from those years she studied under me. Every essay, every project she wrote always had such passion put into it, like she was completely in love with whatever it was she'd learned about."

Turning, Celestia pointed to the letter in Luna's hooves.

"But these...there's no love there. They seem so...cold. So to-the-point. It's like...it's like she writes them just to satisfy me."

Luna, raising an eyebrow, turned to the letter once more, looking it over carefully before turning back to Celestia, her expression now softened somewhat.

"Actually...now that you mention it...that does seem to be the case."

Celestia turned and let out a sigh.

"Perhaps I'm just reading too much into this. After all, Twilight's living in a whole new place now. The youth of our world often change when they gain independence like that. Maybe this is all just part of her growing up and I’m overreacting."

Luna raised an eyebrow at that.

"Sister...which of us are you really trying to convince of that?"

Silently, Celestia cursed. There are times when I wish Luna wasn't as perceptive as she is. Slumping her shoulders in a gesture of defeat, Celestia raised a hoof and began rubbing her temples.

"I...I just don't know what to think, Luna. By all accounts, Twilight has done nothing wrong since she moved to Ponyville. She's been proactive, she's been taking the initiative, and from what her brother tells me, it seems her training in magic has progressed well. There is nothing overtly wrong with anything she's done. And yet...I can't stop thinking about it."

The two sisters sat together, in utter silence, thinking the matter over. However, in time, Celestia looked to Luna, looking almost guilty about what she was thinking. Eventually, and after a few false starts, the elder sister finally spoke up.

"Luna...I...I would not normally ask this of you..."

The younger alicorn turned to her sister with curiosity upon her face, listening as Celestia carried on.

"...but, might you, in your night-time duties, have perhaps glimpsed any insight into Twilight's mind?"

Luna seemed utterly taken aback by that.

"Celestia...not once have you ever asked me to divulge a pony's innermost thoughts like that before. You must truly be concerned for her if you are willing to consider such an option."

Like before, a look of guilt crossed Celestia's face as she looked away, almost ashamed to look her sister in the eye at this point. However, it was not long before she was drawn to look upon Luna again, as the latter gently placed a hoof upon her shoulder. Although, when Celestia looked to her, she found, to her surprise, that she seemed to be concerned about something.

"In truth...I doubt I could offer you such help, even if I wanted to."

Celestia's expression became one of confusion, prompting Luna to explain herself.

"Look...I didn't want to give you cause to worry, but..."

Letting out a sigh, Luna took a moment to compose herself before carrying on.

"After I gained my freedom and took on my night duties again, I made it a point to try and visit the dreams of the mares who had released me. I thought that it's only fitting to get to know them better since they saved me. I learned so much about them, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie and Applejack. Good mares, all of them, with much love and potential for friendships within their hearts. But..."

Luna showed hesitancy, as if scared to tell Celestia what happened. However, in time, she finally managed to get her words out.

"...when I got to Twilight, I...I couldn’t see anything!"

Celestia's eye widened with shock after hearing that.

"Wha...what do you mean you couldn't see anything?"

Luna shook her head.

"I mean exactly that! I was able to see into the minds of all of her friends. But when it came to Twilight herself...I saw nothing! It was as if...I was being prevented from peering into her mind."

Celestia looked aghast at hearing that.

"But...no magic in history has ever been able to keep you out of a pony's dreams like that. How...how could Twilight have learned such a spell?"

Luna looked to her sister.

"She told me she was going to study tomes and artefacts from our old castle, back in the Everfree. I thought it acceptable at the time but...it never occurred to me that she could learn something like this!"

Celestia's eyes widened upon hearing that. Twilight has been researching the magic of the old castle? Well, I guess that explains where her newfound magical strength has come from. Still...the power that resides in that old place is advanced, far more so than what most unicorns would be capable of wielding. I know Twilight is skilled, but...is she pushing herself too fast by tapping into such ancient powers? However, the Princess of the sun remained silent, watching as her sister continued to explain herself. A frown formed on the younger alicorn's face as she considered what she'd already said.

"More to the point...how did she learn I could see into dreams to begin with? I don't remember ever telling her."

Celestia nodded.

"Nor did I. I suppose...it's possible she learned of such a talent from the castle, and then took steps to protect herself from it, perhaps not knowing that you had the ability yourself."

Luna thought on Celestia's words for a moment, her expression softening somewhat.

"I suppose...still...the notion that one so young could have such power."

Celestia nodded again.

"I know. Still...her talent is magic. I suppose it's to be expected that her power would grow to be as strong as this one day."

The two sisters sat there, their conversation sinking in, but neither of them looking particularly happy about what they'd been discussing. In time, Celestia let out a sigh again.

"Twilight is a good mare. I've known her most of her life. I refuse to believe she would do anything wrong. I have to trust her to make the right decisions in her life."

Luan looked to her sister, and for a brief moment, she wondered if this was another case of Celestia trying to convince herself. Looking to her younger sibling, Celestia put on a warm smile, one that was promptly returned. So, the two Princesses stayed together for some time, before Luna eventually had to part yet again to assume her night-time duties. When Celestia was alone, however, she once more gained a look of concern. She rose to her hooves, walking out onto the balcony and looking out across the vast countryside beyond the city. Sadness crossed her face as she was left alone with her thoughts once more. Somewhere, out there, is my beloved student. Twilight, I know you can’t hear me, but I hope you know that I only want what's best for you. You've been such a wonderful student. And...whatever path your life in Ponyville takes you...know that I believe you do it for the right reasons. Looking to the ground, a small smile formed on her face. Just...remember who your friends are.