Cadance rubbed her temples. “This is starting to get rather convoluted.”

Twilight wrote down a few more notes. “Well, it certainly isn't simple, but I do think I have a handle on it.”

Celestia sighed. “Yes, well, I am afraid that this as much information as we are going to get. Considering the…ponies giving it, we can only barely assume it is reliable to begin with.”

Celestia rested her head on a hoof. “The more important question is, what do we do?”

Cadance and Twilight shared a look. Celestia knew that look. They had used the same look the last time.

“Yes?” she asked.

“Well, forgive me for saying so, but last time we had a talk like this, you were not very receptive to our perspective.”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, I suppose I never did apologize for that. I’m sorry. I often forget that the two of you are my equals. And I was not particularly calm about it.” Celestia straightened her head. “But this, this is different. I won’t make the same mistake this time. I know I can’t be objective about it. I know that I need help to solve this situation. And I know that your insight is more important than anyone else’s.”

Cadance smiled. “Apology accepted.”

Twilight smiled too. “Of course it is.”

Twilight’s ear flicked. She scribbled another note on the paper. “Yes, that’s it! Perspective.” She looked up from her notes. “I think that what we need here is more information. We can’t help anypony without knowing just what is going on.” She flipped to a new page in her notebook. “With both of your permission, I’d like to interview the, uhm, other Celestia.”

Celestia frowned. “Whatever happened in her version of reality, there was no Twilight there, you know.”

“That’s just it. Perhaps interacting with somepony besides you or Luna will help give us a better insight into her thought processes. Or perhaps she will provide different answers than the ones you got from her.”

Cadance nodded. “I suppose it is worth trying.”

Celestia took a deep breath. “Very well, Twilight. If you think it’s best, I will trust your judgment.” She stood up. “While you are interviewing our detainee, I think it is best I get some rest.”

“Don’t worry, Princesses.” Twilight gathered up her quills and notebooks. “I will debrief the other Celestia thoroughly and share my findings with you. You can count on me.”

She trotted out of the room.

Cadance giggled. “The same Twilight as ever.”

If only I could share her optimism, without having to construct a destructive facade, Celestia thought. She chose not to share the thought with Cadance.