If somepony were asked to describe the perfect definition for the word "uncomfortable", the image they'd have in mind would not be too far from what was now transpiring in the Golden Oak Library. Twilight sat at her table, staring at her mentor, Princess Celestia, who was sitting opposite her. There was a definite silence between them as they looked into each other's eyes. Celestia, through all this, had the most profound look of shock Twilight had ever seen her wear, while she herself looked more than a little ashamed, not only for what she'd just done, but for everything that had happened until that point. Well...it's done. I've told her. She knows why I've been acting so different. She knows why I've been going against her requests and all the rest of it. How is she going to react to this? From the looks of things, I'd say it won't be a happy response. I just...I just wish she would speak to me. But then, almost as if the universe itself had heard her, Celestia finally broke the silence, clearing her throat somewhat before speaking up at long last.

"The...the future?"

Twilight nodded at that, her gaze straying from that of her mentor. After a few more moments of silence, Twilight heard Celestia let out a long sigh.

"Forgive me, Twilight...it's just...this is a lot to take in."

I'm not going to speak up yet. Not until she's finished what she has to say to me, Twilight thought. It did not take long for her teacher to continue afterwards.

"Well...at the very least, this explains everything that's been going on with you. But, I must confess, I never expected this to be the reason."

Looking down at the ground, Twilight finally spoke, albeit in a hushed tone.

"Are you angry with me?"

Celestia looked at her, with her expression making it clear that she was deep in thought over this matter.

"It depends. There are a few questions I need to ask you."

Twilight looked up at her teacher, her eyes almost pleading with her.

"Yes! Please, I'll answer any question you have!"

Celestia raised a hoof, tempering her student's enthusiasm for the moment. After thinking over things for a while, Celestia composed herself before starting the first of her questions.

"First and foremost...why did you accept the offer?"

With her ears drooping, Twilight regained her previous look of shame, her voice quiet as she answered.

"I...I just...I thought it would be a good opportunity for me. My future self was offering so much, and not just memories. To know spells and histories I’d never even heard of. I..."

But, she was stopped by another raised hoof from Celestia, who, to Twilight's surprise, actually smiled a little at her student's words.

"There she is. There's the Twilight I know and love. You took a massive risk...all so you could learn more? I suppose I should have predicted that was the answer."

In spite of how tense this moment had started out, Twilight actually giggled a little, her heart lifting, albeit only briefly. Clearing her throat yet again, Celestia continued.

"Alright then. Your future self...why did she do this?"

That caused Twilight's smile to fade completely, and she looked away, not wanting to look her teacher in the eye.

"She...she'd grown angry. Angry and hurt. Ever since becoming an alicorn and a Princess, she felt as if she bore the weight of the whole world on her shoulders. She lived on for so long...watching friends, family, everypony she knew and cared about grow old and die. And all the while, she was expected to lead. She was expected to be the one others looked to for guidance, even after so much grief had piled on in her heart."

Celestia looked away as her student explained herself, though Twilight didn't take long to figure out why. Celestia and the others have been alicorns far longer than I would be. She probably knows this feeling better than anypony. Even in spite of that knowledge, Twilight continued, though this time, she seemed far more uncomfortable about it.

"In time, she...she began to blame you."

That caught Celestia's attention, and she turned back to Twilight, watching and listening intently.

"She saw you as the one who put her on that path, and thus, the one who caused all the heartache she’d endured. So...she vowed never to have anything to do with you anymore."

Celestia looked down at the table before her, with her expression becoming one of obvious pain. Seeing this, Twilight reached forward, lacing a hoof upon hers.

"I'm sorry! I wish the truth was something else, I really do, but..."

But, she was stopped once more by a glance from Celestia.

"No, my student. You have nothing to apologise for. Those feelings are the feelings of somepony else. They are not your feelings."

Twilight began to form tears in her eyes, and shortly afterwards she began to shake her head.

"But they are my thoughts! Or...the thoughts of the mare I'll become! Ever since I agreed to this, it's like...it's like I've been walking around with a whole other mare inside my head. Somepony who isn't me, and yet...is me. It's been...so difficult to separate what I feel about you and what she felt."

Celestia raised an eyebrow at that.

"Is that why you wanted to come clean to me about that?"

Twilight, with her eyes still welling up, gave a single nod.

"Yes. These memories of the future...they've been like a rot. Tainting the way I see you. I didn't want that. I guess...I just wanted to prove, to myself if nopony else...that I'm not willing to let those thoughts make me hate you."

Celestia considered that for a few moments before, to Twilight's relief, breaking out into a small smile.

"My student...that you have come forward to me about this is proof enough that you meant only the best."

Although feeling a great deal of tension leave her at those words, Twilight nevertheless remained nervous in her demeanour. Wanting to put her at ease, Celestia sighed a little before continuing with her questions.

"Tell me...what did your future self hope to accomplish with all this? Did she, perhaps, wish to avert the future deaths of your friends?"

Twilight shook her head.

"No. In the years to come, my friends don't pass because of some great battle, nor terrible monster nor even in a fight against any force of evil. It was just...time. In the end...it was simply old age that claimed them. Them...and every other friend that future Twilight made afterwards. And she knew, even with her great power, that nothing could change that, not even knowing about it ahead of time."

Celestia tilted her head, showing clear confusion.

"But...if she knew that...then why do this?"

Twilight looked down at the ground, a look of sadness filling her eyes.

"As time passed...she came to look upon these early years of her life in Ponyville as the happiest in her life. No matter what came before or afterwards, this was the time she viewed as the most beloved, the most sacred in her eyes. But, in her later life, she came to dwell on all the bad, all the negative. She regretted not embracing the friendships as much as she should have done. She regretted every missed opportunity. She...she wanted to do it again, knowing how precious those moments were, and to appreciate the time she spent with her friends, more than she did the first time."

Celestia frowned slightly, though still looking a little confused.

"So...she used this great spell...risked changing the entire history of Equestria...just to make you love and appreciate your friends more?"

Although looking somewhat ashamed, Twilight nevertheless nodded. She kept her gaze away from Celestia, imagining all the things going through her head. She'll be angry with me, I know it! She'll say I was irresponsible with time, that I risked too much for something so comparatively small. And she's right! Future me knows that her time her was good, but she overlooked all of it because she just wasn't satisfied. Celestia will be so disappointed in how I turned out! But, to Twilight's utter shock, she heard no anger nor a berating voice from her mentor, but rather, laughter. Raising an eyebrow, Twilight looked up, seeing Celestia put a hoof to her mouth to stifle the giggles that were coming out of her. Seeing the look of confusion upon her student's face, Celestia calmed herself down a little before explaining herself.

"Oh, Twilight. Do forgive me, but...that is so...you!"

Twilight looked taken aback by that, prompting Celestia to explain herself.

"Using magic that powerful, trying to re-write history...just so you could get it better the second time around. If there is a more Twilight-y thing out there, I don't know of it."

With her eyes shifting a bit, Twilight, while still looking apprehensive, began to speak up in a quiet tone.

"So...you're not angry with me?"

Wiping away the last tear that had come with her laughter, Celestia shook her head.

"No, my dear student. I know now why you've been the way you've been lately. Everything that's happened has all been because of your love for your friends, and wanting what's best for them. If anything, I'm proud that you regarded such connections so highly. Though, I'll be the first to admit that I would never have expected you to go this far for them."

A brief giggle escaped Twilight at that, but it died down a little as a new thought came to mind for her.

"So...what should I do now? I still have all this knowledge, and all those memories. What path should I take?"

Celestia's smile faded after hearing that question, and she raised a hoof to her chin and pondered that question. After a minute or two of silence, a small smile appeared on her face as she spoke up.

"Well, firstly, I want you to know that I don't want to know it myself...nor do I think you should tell your friends."

Twilight's eyes widened with shock after hearing that.

"But...I trust you and my friends with my life! Why wouldn't I tell you or them about all the things I know?"

Celestia's expression became one of seriousness as she answered.

"Because you should know by now that knowledge of the future can be a dangerous prospect. Having one pony know it is one thing, but many? There is little telling what damage could be wrought if such things were to be known. As for me...well...for me, it's simply a case of not wanting any surprises spoiled."

In spite of herself, Twilight giggled yet again at her mentor's rather jovial approach to the whole thing. But that laughter stopped when Celestia spoke again.

"As for you...I know you've been using this foreknowledge to do what you think is right. Your goal in this, right from the start, is to use the memories and powers you've gained to help others, your friends most of all. I can think of nopony better than you to bear such a task. So, if you are willing, then continue in your quest, Twilight. I have the uttermost confidence that you will succeed in making the future brighter than how your future self left it."

In moments, Twilight felt her heart lift. I...I have her blessing. She doesn't hate me and she thinks I'm doing the right thing. She let out a sigh. I can't remember the last time I felt this relieved over something. Smiling up at her teacher, Twilight watched as Celestia finally got up from her chair, walking around to gently place a hoof upon her shoulder.

"It will be most interesting to see what path you set for history, Twilight. And through it all, I want you to know that I trust you completely to make the right choices here."

Still smiling, Twilight once more began to form tears in her eyes. Though this time, they were tears of joy, as she leapt forward and embraced her teacher in a warm hug, one which Celestia gladly returned.

"Always remember this, Twilight. You became my student, not just because of your skill in magic, but because I could see the kind of mare you'd become. I saw compassion, a willingness to help others above yourself, a burning desire to do what was right. Those were the qualities that drew me to you, and those are the qualities that I know will make you the perfect mare to carry what you know."

Twilight pulled away slightly, tears still streaming down her face as she smiled.

"Thank you, Princess. But...erm...will you tell Luna I’m sorry for blocking her out of my mind? I'd tell her myself, but..."

Celestia smiled back and nodded.

"Of course. She'll understand when I explain the situation. And I assure you that, like me, she can keep a secret this big."

Nodding back, Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, and the two parted fully from their hug. Well...that went a lot better than I expected. But then, this is Celestia after all. I guess I was kinda silly to think she'd outright reject me or something because of this. Looking around, Twilight gazed out of the window and out into the streets of Ponyville. I guess a lot of ponies out there will be wondering what I'm doing with her in here. Better get back out there before they get worried. Turning back to Celestia, Twilight put on a smile as she began to lead her monarch towards the door. However, before she reached it, there was, to her surprise, a knocking sound. Although confused as to who it was, that confusion soon disappeared as Twilight used her magic to open the door, revealing that it was none other than Trixie waiting on the other side.

"Sorry for interrupting, Miss Twilight, but Trixie was wondering if...she...could..."

After just one second of looking past Twilight, and seeing who it was that was with her in the library, Trixie immediately prostrated herself on the ground, much to Twilight's slight amusement.

"Trixie apologises for disturbing you, Princess Celestia! Please forgive her!"

Twilight gave herself a well-earned face-hoof at that, and Celestia briefly laughed before a look of recognition crossed her face.

"Wait...don't I know you?"

Trixie looked up briefly, but then went right back to staring at the ground.

"Um...Trixie is nopony important, your majesty."

Twilight seemed shocked at those words. Did Trixie just say she wasn't important? Wow, that's a pretty big thing for her to have said. Then again, Celestia always did have that kind of effect on ponies. However, Twilight remained silent as the Princess stepped forward.

"Yes...I remember you. You were one of the students at my school some years ago, weren't you?"

Slowly, the former show-mare got up onto her hooves, still looking nervous at being near the Princess, but nevertheless shocked to hear that she recognised her.

"Er...yes, your majesty. Though it is Twilight that I now call my teacher these days."

Oh, right. I guess I have left a few things out of my explanations to Celestia. Gaining a blush, Twilight slowly turned, seeing combination of mischievousness and curiosity upon Celestia's face.

"Well well, a student of your own? I see you've indeed been getting up to all sorts of things in your time here, haven't you, Twilight? I hope you'll be sure to tell me about all the rest of it."

Letting out a brief and nervous laugh, Twilight soon calmed herself, looking up at her teacher and, for the first time in a very long time, looked comfortable around her.

"Of course, Princess."