I gulp as the Princess of the Sun, herself, sits inside the Living Room. I make sure to have her back turned against the Basement Door at all times, of course. Lyra, on the other hoof, quickly went into the Kitchen to get a pot of coffee (since we're out of Tea at the moment) boiling, so that Princess Celestia at least feels welcome before she decides to bani-

I mentally slap myself in the face. KEEP IT TOGETHER! YOU CAN DO THIS!

"So... I've not only come to speak with Lyra Heartstrings, but you as well, Bon-Bon." Princess Celestia says, clearing her throat.

My ears fold back and look up at her in a panic. "Y-you have?!" I then quickly take a deep breath and release, using an age-old Breathing Treatment that I've learned long ago.

She nods her head. "Indeed... I suppose while Miss Heartstrings is in the Kitchen, and focused on something else, we can discuss this matter relating to... well, yourself, actually."

"I... uh... m-me?" I stammer.

She smiles, before leaning a little closer towards me. Instinctively, I lean back a little, but she unfolds a wing to where she can whisper without fear of her voice being heard anywhere else.

"I know who you are... Sweetie Drops."

My blood immediately runs cold. I knew that the organization had ties with some of the most powerful Diplomats, but never was I informed that Princess Celestia herself was on the list!

"Y-you... you do?!" I ask.

She nods her head. "Indeed... rest assured, your secret is safe with me. I just wanted to make sure that my Student is safe living in this town. After all, I know that you've seen your fair share of battles, since you're the Agent of Ponyville. And furthermore, I can easily count on you to keep me informed on any... odd circumstances... that may or may not occur."

She then clears her throat. "That being said... is there anything odd that you'd care to report?"

I grin sheepishly and sink deeper into the couch. "Y-ye-NO," I clear my throat, "... I-I mean... no, Your Highness... n-nothing to report!"

DID YOU SERIOUSLY JUST LIE TO ROYALTY, CANDY-FLANKS?! DO YOU REALIZE THE LEVEL OF HOW ROYALLY FKED YOU ARE JUST FOR WITHHOLDING VITAL INFORMATION FROM HER HIGHNESS, HERSELF?! my thoughts literally shout at me, imitating the voice of The Sergeant, himself.

Princess Celestia stares at me questioningly, while the sweat begins to pour from my head... of course I've been busted! She's the Princess of the Sun! The wisest of all living beings! There's absolutely no way that she'd buy that load of horse sh-

"Well, I'm glad to hear that... I'm certain Twilight will be safe with you around, Bon-Bon." Princess Celestia says, her demeanor glowing (no pun intended) with joy.

I sigh in relief, as a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

"But!"

And now, my panic is back into overdrive. I flinch when I feel her wing drape around me... but then, I notice that she's now... embracing me?

I open my eyes and look up at her. She then smiles motherly at me.

"I couldn't help but notice your unease around me... just know, that whatever ill rumors you hear of me, you can vanquish. I love my subjects as much as I love my own family... and I don't want you to think that I'd make you suffer like some sort of criminal if you accidentally let slip a few minor details..."

Oddly enough, I feel myself calming down quickly... could she be using Magic on me, though? Should... should I tell her?

...

FK NO!

"T-thank you, Princess Celestia... I'll... I'll keep that in mind." I finally reply.

She smiles at me, then nods her head, before removing her wing from my shoulders, and shifts back to her own side of the couch.

Lyra soon clears her throat, and trots inside, gliding a teapot and a few cups into the Living Room with her.

"Coffee, Your Highness?" she asks, catching Princess Celestia's gaze, and diverting it from me... much to my relief.

I'll be sure to give Lyra my thanks later.

... But then, she starts to accidentally pour coffee onto the Coffee Table. My eye immediately starts to twitch, as the poor Oak Table begins to soak up the coffee. So many stores looking for that particular type of Coffee Table... and now it's ruined, ironically, by Coffee!

... Right after I'm done beating her to a bloody pulp!

"Of course, Miss Heartstrings... thank you!" Princess Celestia says with a graceful bow.

I can already feel the sweat starting to pour from my forehead, as I shakily begin to pour the coffee over the Coffee Table. I spot Bonnie starting to do the twitchy-eye thing again, which makes me immediately straighten up the coffee pot, and move it towards the next cup.

Like the last one, it begins to miss the cup, landing smooth on the Coffee Table. I'd try to apologize to Bonnie, but I'm pretty sure she's already thinking of multiple ways to beat me to a bloody pulp.

... Not that she would, of course.

"Umm... is everything okay, Miss Heartstrings?" Princess Celestia asks, making me leap up in shock. The coffee pot jerks into the air, forcing a stream of it to fly towards Bonnie.

OH, FU-

Then a golden glow encases the coffee in the air, and overtakes my own grasp with the dishes. I look towards Princess Celestia, whose horn glows the same color.

When she looks at me, I blush and sink down, ever-so-slightly.

"S-sorry, Your H-Highness..." I stammer, only for her glow to encase me, and lift me over towards her.

I gulp, and am half-tempted to scream, when she gently sets me beside her, and drapes a caring wing around me.

In truth, I'm supposed to feel comfortable with hugs, but... well, something about this one makes me want to hyperventilate!

"And the same goes for you as well, Miss Heartstrings." Princess Celestia begins, catching my attention.

"W-wha?" I blurt out, only for her wing to pull me closer into a warm hug.

"I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me, Miss Heartstrings. I know you and my pupil were good friends back in Canterlot, so I just wanted your advice on this town."

"M-my... advice?" I ask, as my nerves begin to tense at where this may be going.

"Indeed... I wanted to know from your experiences here if Twilight Sparkle would be safe in this town." she clarifies.

I gulp, as I once again grow more nervous. I could just tell her "yes" and be done with it, but on the flip-side, I... might have one of the worst Poker-Faces out there!

And so, I'm trapped in a moral dilemma... should I tell her, or... or should I... s-should I...

I look into her warm gaze, and at once, my eyes begin to water.

"I-I... d-don't know, Your Highness..." I finally mumble.

She tilts her head confusedly. "You... don't know? Why not?" she asks, more out of curiosity than out of anger. But that only makes it worse!

And so, I decide to face the music. Of course I won't tell her everything, but... perhaps I can at least get something off my chest that's been bothering me.

"I... m-might have hired a few buddies of mine to disguise themselves as me, so that I can stay inside a bit longer...?" I confess.

Her confusion only grows. "Oh? And why is that, exactly?"

I gulp before sighing. The tears finally leave my eyes, as I fess up.

"B-because... because it's my fault."

"And... what is your fault, exactly?" she asks.

I turn my head away from her. "I-I... I'm the reason Nightmare Moon came back, and nearly threatened Equestria."

I place a hoof over my mouth to hold back my gasp.

No, no, no! Lyra, what the hay are you doing?!

"I'm the reason why the world was covered in extended darkness for an extra day... a-and... and I... I... I'm the reason why y-your student had to go into the Everfree Forest to save the day... s-so... I-"

Before Lyra could finish, however, Princess Celestia pulls her into an even deeper hug, forelegs and all... something I've not actually seen her do before!

That, and cry like the way she's doing now.

"P-Princess?" Lyra asks, only for Princess Celestia's wing to gently pet Lyra's mane.

"It's alright, Miss Heartstrings... that was fated to happen, and... and now I see, that I owe you a debt that I can never fully repay..."

"B-but Princess, I-"

"- You... simply followed in the path that Father Time paved out for you. You helped spark my Student's path of Friendship, that I know will bring her one step closer to greatness... but most importantly, you helped bring my sister back to me, after a thousand years of painful memories and regret... and the fear that Fate, itself, would turn a blind eye towards us." Princess Celestia says, while smiling graciously at Lyra.

... Wow... for once, I actually feel proud of Lyra! Owning up for one of her mistakes... I never thought I'd actually see the day!

Okay, scratch all of the mean things I've thought about her before. She's definitely redeemed herself, after a heartfelt confession like that!

"I-I... I'm at a loss for words, P-Princess..." Lyra stammers, as they break from the hug and sit in a more casual posture... though Lyra still seems to be sitting like the Human, but I decide not to bring it up.

"It's quite alright, Miss Heartstrings... though I do have to ask, how exactly did you accomplish such an amazing feat?" Princess Celestia asks.

Lyra smiles and waves a dismissive hoof her way. "Oh, I just read a strange book that showed up from out of nowhere!"

My smile soon falters. Don't do it, Lyra!

"A... strange book? Do you still have it, by any chance?" Celestia asks, rubbing her snout curiously.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

She nods her head. "Yup! It's in the basement over there!" she says, pointing towards the basement door.

Her eyes then shoot open, and she immediately shoves her hoof in her mouth.

"Oh... mind if I see?" Princess Celestia asks, as her horn starts to glow. The aura covers the basement door's handle, and the knob turns, before the door starts to slowly creak.

... I'M GOING TO FKING KILL YOU, LYRA HEARTSTRINGS!