Breathing.

Breathing is important.

Twilight tried to breathe as best she could without seeming desperate, though her success fell shy of short.

Once she had teleported the bags which she and Luna had received from Rarity’s boutique away, Luna had started to lead her through Canterlot with the energy of a school filly.

Hopping from shop-to-shop the young alicorn had had a hard time catching up to her fellow princess from time to time, and eventually, once Luna heard music wafting through the masses, she had all but dragged Twilight with her at a breakneck speed to listen to the performance more closely.

Eventually, the two found themselves in front of a small street performance group which had just set up shop in front of an old-fashioned-looking music instrument store.

The music they played was good and the ponies playing undoubtedly had talent, but Twilight had a hard time appreciating it seeing that she could still hear the blood rushing through her ears.

Having become a lot more active since she had moved out of Canterlot and begun her life in Ponyville, Twilight didn’t really understand why she had become so winded after only a bit of running, but the fact that she was still wrapped in Luna’s wings quickly distracted her from the matter again as Luna started to sway to the music.

While it was not really music to dance to, the melodic rhythm still made it impossible to not enjoy it and not get dragged into its energetic flow.

As a young mare stepped out from the group and started to sing along to the music, Twilight couldn’t help but smile as she saw how Luna’s eyes sparkled in wonder and amazement even in her disguise.

The music was catchy, Twilight had to give it that, but at the same time her head spun, with all the thoughts about Luna and by extension Celestia, her friends and fellow princesses. Also, her mind occasionally ground to a halt when it returned to how she had been tricked by Luna to visit Rarity’s boutique and, adding insult to injury, the overall situation she found herself now in with her friend made her somewhat uncomfortable. She was definitely dreading her return to Ponyville already.

Additionally, and despite her best attempts, the memory of the attack on her parents still came unbidden to her mind when she wasn’t looking out for it, making her almost jump at the slightest movement in the corner of her eyes.

Her brother was on that though and Celestia had promised that the best investigation team Equestria had to offer was on the case already.

Yet still, Twilight felt helpless and vulnerable, despite having singlehoofetly apprehended the main culprits already.

As if feeling her distress, the wing around her tightened noticeably and her mind returned to the here and now.

Still, she was not exactly happy about that, nor did she have enough time to even think through half of her problems yet.

While Luna tried to continue swinging to the music, Twilight just kind of stood there. Holding her hoof to her forehead she sighed tiredly.

After a few moments of her just standing there, Luna seemed to slow down as she noticed Twilight’s failure to participate in her merriment.

Craning her head down to look at her young friend, Luna started to frown as she saw Twilight holding her head and her somewhat miserable look.

“Art thou not liking the music?” she asked, her tone somewhat sad.

Getting ripped out of her thoughts once more and flinching slightly, the young alicorn shook her head and tried to smile, “Oh, no, its lovely,”, she started, before forcing herself to relax somewhat, “No, it’s just, I-I don’t know… I don’t feel so good right now,“ she finally admitted.

Her frown deepening at her friend’s answer, Luna looked around to see if there was any way to help Twilight.

Seeing a few benches nearby, Luna guided her friend to one of them and helped sit her down, all without removing her wing from her back.

Smiling gratefully, Twilight tried to speak, but noticed her throat being dry.

Swallowing hard on what essentially was air, she looked up to Luna’s worried face, which made her throat only dryer.

Coughing once and trying to clear her voice, Twilight couldn’t help but get lost in Luna’s concerned eyes, her friend’s lips so close but so infinitely far away.

Cocking her head and lowering her voice, Luna looked concerned, the worry plainly written on her face, “D… Twilight, art thou alright?”, she asked, her disguise name forgotten in the moment, “does thou need us to call for aid?”

Shaking her head, Twilight forced another smile, “Oh, no, it’s alright, I just… need a moment.”

Dejected, Luna leaned back slightly and gave her a once over, “thou look pale,” she stated, “are thee sure?”

“I... yes… yes, thank you Lu- I mean… Moonlight.” Twilight nodded with slightly forced energy, “I just have a bit of a headache,” she dismissed.

Frowning, Luna looked around once more, trying to see if there were any stores nearby which could maybe help.

Spotting one of many Canterlots smaller ice cream parlors, Luna pointed to the store front, “Would thou perhaps care to have a refreshment or a drink?” she asked, earnestly.

Relenting somewhat, and giving Luna another smile, Twilight nodded, “sure, I think that would actually be a good idea,” she stated, her mind realizing only now that Luna had not removed her wing from her back.

The feathery appendage on her back seemed to have only curled around her more securely, spreading downy soft warmth and allowing Twilight to secretly relish in the sensation of Luna's touch.

Helping Twilight over to the ice-cream shop, the two ponies asked for a glass of water and once Twilight had downed that, a set of chocolate milk shakes.

Moving away slowly, and sipping at their treats, Twilight sighed in relief. “I think, I am just a bit overwhelmed with everything that has been going on recently,” she confided.

Nodding understandingly, Luna let herself be guided by Twilight, noticing that the young mare just seemed to wander in circles around the block as the musicians came up again to their left.

“Just to think, my parents… and then… they… I… we have been kidnapped not even a week ago, and I am walking around in Canterlot, enjoying a milkshake,” Twilight explained, briefly pondering the cup she was holding as if it would reveal the secrets of the universe to her. “I… I don’t know why I just now started thinking about it, but… I feel like I should be doing something different than enjoying the market.”

“But tis such a nice day out,” Luna stated, starting to understand the problem, “Besides, thy brother and the royal guards are leading the investigation into what happened and are interrogating the suspects we have.”

“But shouldn’t I be helping with that?” Twilight asked in quiet exasperation, her gaze settling to where she could see the royal castle loom over the city.

“No, thou shalt not,” Luna shook her head, “Tia and I will take care of it, thou already have saved the day and now thou need to get better.”

Frowning slightly, Twilight tried to protest, “But I feel alright! I can help…”

“Thou have just been almost collapsing naught 5 minutes ago,” Luna rebuked. “And while thou have saved thy parents already, and nearly died doing so, we… I shall not let you leave me now to try and help where everything is under control,” Luna said, squeezing Twilight once more with her wing, “Besides thou are going to be too personally invested in it and could hurt the investigative process.”

Blinking, Twilight turned her gaze to Luna, “hold on, what is that supposed to mean?” she asked, slightly annoyed but quickly melting back into Luna’s wing.

Shrugging, Luna glanced to the castle as well, “We don’t know, Tia said something along the lines…”

Frowning slightly, the young alicorn couldn’t help but ask, “And my brother is not too invested? I am his sister, his L.S.B.F.F after all,” she argued back.

“Tis matters not,” Luna shook her head, “Tia made us promise to not let thou run off as thou are to relax and recover for the week.”

“So, you are only here because Princess Celestia asked you to?” Twilight asked, a pit opening in her stomach.

Now it was time for Luna to frown slightly.

Cocking her head and peering down at Twilight, Luna tried to force her gaze into a neutral line, “Whatever made thee think that?” she asked.

Blinking, and realizing how what she said sounded outside of her head, she winced. “I… I didn’t mean it like that…”

Her frown ebbing away and getting replaced by a gentle smile, Luna shook her head, “Tis alright,” she said, “we do not take offence, though, we can assure thee that we are here because we want to spend time with thee, not because our sister asked us or anything.”

Her worries slowly ebbing away, Twilight smiled genuinely, “Oh… well… thank you… it is also nice to spend time with you,” she added somewhat awkwardly.

Seeing Twilight turn bashful once more, Luna smirked somewhat and stopped mid step, hardening her wing and using Twilight’s momentum to turn the young mare around, making her run into her chest before enfolding her into her wings. “Of course, we would not miss an opportunity to spend time with thee,” she said huskily, pressing Twilight into her chest and feeling the young mare grow stiff with embarrassment.

“Besides, how could we not wish to spend time with such a cute mare as yourself.” Luna decided to add, sealing the deal and feeling Twilight stiff up even more.

Holding the hug for a second longer, Luna let go and continued her walk as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, pretending as if she didn’t just make her young friend freeze up in embarrassment.

As she pretended to walk away, Luna couldn't help but blush slightly and smile at her bold move. However, when she heard Twilight trying to follow her, she quickly straightened her face and feigned innocence at what she had just done.

Though, seeing Twilight’s tomato red muzzle once she finally caught up with her tested her resolve to not just kiss the young mare outright and end the fun too early.

With her niece gently snoozing on her back, Celestia’s mind raced.

She had planned to get some more work done once Flurry inevitably fell asleep, she was a young foal after all, but Celestia found that she couldn't concentrate.

Millenia of life and experience, and despite all her efforts, Celestia could no longer focus on anything but her wayward thoughts.

She just didn’t know what to do and despite her feeling sometimes as if years or decades could pass in just the blink of an eye, right now, time seemed to have slowed to a crawl.

Blinking, she glanced ahead, her eyes lingering on a single dust mote that drifted in the castle’s gentle breeze.

She watched it, as if it would hold all the answers in the universe, but before anything, it vanished never to be seen again.

Celestia remembered Twilight’s inquisitive hooves tapping after her, telling her of the new discoveries the young mare had made that day, the new spell she learned or simply how she solved a task intended to keep her hunting for just another day or two.

Celestia never really understood how Twilight managed to amaze her day by day again.

How a young filly understood topics scholars spend years or lifetimes on in mere days, how she was able to help solve mysteries even she herself found hard to grasp.

The solar monarch knew, had Twilight not ascended, would she have not been put on the path she had been put on, Twilight would have still changed the world more than the young mare could have ever imagined.

But then, she had had plans for her.

Harmony had plans for her.

The thought alone made Celestia question herself once more. It made her question the world, her actions and those of whom she cared about.

Harmony was ever present, yet never there.

It was as if the very balance of the universe sought her out and those she cared about, guiding her with dreams and visions, telling her secrets as old as herself and older.

Showing her a path to take.

Harmony always rewarded whoever followed its design, but never punished those who didn’t.

For millennia, Celestia believed it would reward whoever aided in its making, with what they truly desired, a life they wished.

But could harmony make mistakes?

Could it always make everyone happy? Was that even possible?

Feeling Flurry slowly stretch out on her back and grasping the ancle of her wing which Celestia used to keep her young niece from falling off her back, the solar monarch was dragged back to reality.

And to the door she now stood in front of.

Having asked the guards a few moments ago of the whereabouts of her niece, she had been informed that after a lengthy search of her husband, Princess Mi Amore had returned to her chambers unsuccessfully.

Which meant she was alone.

Now, Celestia stood in front of her nieces and Twilight’s brothers’ chambers.

She didn’t know when she had arrived but judging from the uneasy smile the crystal guards standing post in front of the doorway gave her, she had been there for longer than she or either of them would have liked.

Glancing back, she also saw Brightshield and Lancer awkwardly standing in the middle of the hallway, trying to seem unfazed by anything, but worry clearly written on their faces.

Celestia inwardly sighed and schooled her face into a gentle smile, giving each and every guard around her a reaffirming nod, not that it helped any.

She had come here to return Flurry to her mother, and to… talk… to Cadance.

But right now, she was not entirely sure if she could even meet her nieces gaze right now with all that was going on in her mind.

Hesitating for just a second longer, Celestia decided enough was enough and forced her body to finally knock at the door lightly, startling the guards next to her with her sudden movement.

Today, it seemed, was going to be very difficult.

After a moment of waiting and wondering whether Cadance was even there, the doors opened to a smiling and cheerful Alicorn of love.

Despite her best efforts, Celestia's mind was in such disarray, that she briefly wondered whether she should punch Cadance right now for being too cheerful or run away and hide in her chambers.

Straining to banish the thought, the solar monarch carefully checked over her facial mask to ensure nobody could have glimpsed her momentary slip.

“Finally decided to knock, eh?” Cadance asked, knowingly.

Furrowing her brow slightly, Celestia forced her smile to widen just a bit, trying to radiate her usual motherly calm, though even to her own observational skills, it seemed lacking.

“Oh, come on, do you really think I wouldn’t notice you with all those emotions standing in front of my chambers?” Cadance asked dismissively as she turned around, begging Celestia to come in, “so, what brings you here?”

Schooling her face back into a neutral and gentle smile, Celestia shook her head, “Ah, I’ve merely come to return your daughter,” she explained matter-of-factly, “she has fallen asleep after a while, and I thought it would be better for her to be returned to you and her chambers before she wakes.”

Smiling warmly, the younger pony nodded and lit her horn, levitating the filly from Celestia's back and onto hers without waking her, “Thanks Aunty,” Cadance said, looking at the white alicorn with a gentle smile and mischief in her eyes, “And what about the real reason you are here?” she added, unfaced.

Keeping her face in check and allowing her gentle smile to extend a little once more, Celestia feigned surprise, “whatever do you mean, Cadance?”

Rolling her eyes and head noticeably, Cadance turned around to glance at Celestia over her shoulder, “Oh come on drop the act, Aunty and get your flanks in here” she said, gesturing inside, “I can see plain as day that something is bothering you.”

Opening her mouth to rebuke, Celestia stopped and considered for a moment, before closing her mouth again, and striding in, her carefully controlled mask of neutrality breaking away once she passed the threshold.

Closing the door behind her, Cadance turned around and walked to a crib where she gently placed Flurry in, before returning to a table she had obviously prepared two sets of tea services and a kettle.

Sitting down on a lavishly decorated stool with a pink seat cushion, Cadance flicked a strand of her mane behind one ear and picked up one of the cups already filled with a steaming brew of tea.

Waiting for Celestia, who just stopped in the middle of the room, she inhaled the fragrant scent of the tea, reveling in the smell of chamomile and sugar.

As the moment passed and Cadance had to exhale to breathe again, she opened her eyes, seeking the gaze of her aunt and once she found it, nodded to the chair opposite her.

Her gaze flicking between the tea and her niece, Celestia wondered how long she truly had stood in front of Cadance’s chambers.

Today really was going to be hard.

Sighing, this time without hiding it from the world, Celestia gave in, and trotted over to the other chair, her masks and decorum cast aside for the freedom of being with her family.

Sitting down on the chair which seemed just the right size for her, Celestia gently enveloped the tea kettle with her magic, checking to see if the water was at an acceptable temperature and sniffed the air briefly to confirm that it indeed, just was water.

Smiling at her niece’s habit of brewing inside a cup, Celestia took a spoonful of what she found to be Sencha and added it into her own, her need to brew a kettle of tea carefully suppressed as she was a guest in Cadance’s chambers.

Her gaze lingering on the leaf parts floating in her cup, Celestia thought on how she should approach the subject.

Having denied her the topic earlier, Celestia wondered if it would be alright with Luna if she broke her promise, and if Twilight would be able to forgive her once she did.

Either way, she needed to talk about it.

She couldn’t with Twilight, and while Luna seemed an obvious choice, seeing that she bore witness to it all, she knew her sister’s perspective and she knew it didn’t help her.

Before her thoughts managed to run away though, Celestia felt a gentle hoof lay over her own, her eyes flicking up to meet Cadance smiling face.

“Aunty, is… is everything alright?” Cadance asked, her tone soft and caring.

Pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind for now, Celestia forced a smile and tried to focus on the here and now. “Cadance… I… I need you to promise me to keep what we talk now between us,” she started and despite her eons of live experience, didn’t manage to keep herself from stuttering, “I need you to promise me, you won’t tell anyone. Not Shining, not Twilight, not my sister, no pony…” she continued.

Frowning slightly, Cadance pursed her lips, “Oh? Not your sister? What’s going on?” she asked worriedly, the hoof on her aunt’s carefully pulled back.

“Cadance, please, I… I need someone to talk about this right now, and I don’t know who to turn to otherwise,” Celestia pleaded.

Nodding slowly, Cadance pondered Celestia's worried face for a moment, before leaning back and lighting her horn.

Her magic exploding in a bubble of pink, it coated every surface of the room, suffusing it with her magic and making the room glow for a moment, before her spell vanished into the walls, doors and windows, dispersing but leaving a feelable strength behind.

Anything that would try to come into this room, be it via teleport or physical force, would find their effort thwarted, as the shield Cadance cast was impenetrable to all but everything and Celestia knew she herself would have had a hard time breaking through it if she needed.

Finishing her spell, Cadance looked over to her filly, ensuring despite her magical display she was still fast asleep and cast a separate, transparent bubble over her bed which Celestia identified as a separate sound barrier.

Exhaling noticeably, Cadance turned back to Celestia, her previous smile replaced by a determined glint in her eye as she nodded her head, “I promise, that whatever you tell me now, stays between the two of us and no mortal or other soul will hear me utter a single word of it,” Cadance said, her voice clear and firm, but warm and comforting.

Smiling weakly, Celestia nodded, “thank you, Cadance,” she said, bowing her head.

“Then, tell me, what’s going on Celly, what’s the matter,” the younger pony asked, her tone gentle and soft.

“I… I don’t know what to do, Cadance” Celestia started, her worries returning to her, “I don’t know if I messed up or not. If what I am about to do is right… If… If I can make it even right…” she said, her words almost too quiet for her niece to hear, “Maybe I am wrong and I have already hurt her beyond repair, maybe what I am about to do will only make it worse…”

Returning her hoof back onto that of Celestia’s, Cadance gently grasped the older mare’s hoof and squeezed slightly, trying to be reaffirming but never having seen her elder in such a state.

“Celestia,” Cadance said softly, “tell me what’s going on, who are you talking about?” she asked.

“I…” the solar alicorn tried, “I am talking about Twilight,” she started, her chest feeling as if the weight of a thousand suns was pressing down onto it, “I don’t know if what I did was right, if… what I am about to do is right…”

Giving her aunt all the time she needed, Cadance listened attentively, her worry peaked.

“I… have seen something that I believe I shouldn’t have,” Celestia finally said, looking up for the first time since she started talking and seeking her niece’s gaze.

“You… have seen something?”

Closing her eyes and nodding, Celestia continued, “As… Luna and I watched over Twilight sleep, no… wait… I… I should start from the beginning,” she finally shook her head.

“My sister has come to me to confide in me… she… explained to me how she was unable to tend to Twilight’s dreams… and how she believed she suffered.”

“Suffered?”

“Luna… Luna promised something to herself… a promise to keep those who saved her save in return and to pay back her… debt… in some form if you will,” Celestia started to explain, “she told me how she tended to the bearers dreams, how she made sure that all of them had no troubles, no worries and that their mind was healthy. She explained to me that while she did this as her charge for every pony, she took extra care with these ponies. As her way of paying them back, she made sure that all of them would have been alright for the rest of their lives. But… but then… something happened.”

After a moment of silence, Cadance gently tried to get Celestia to talk again, “Something happened, what happened?”

“Twilight… seemed to have… noticed. Or… something. She erected a barrier around her mind, preventing Luna from entering her dreams,” Celestia continued.

“And while my sister did not understand how it was possible, she let it be, believing this to be her burden to bear, but… eventually, when… Twilight didn’t wake up, she confided in me… and… and I promised I’d help her.”

“I promise I would help my sister help her, as I thought it was just, and Twilight might merely had made a mistake or something, shielding her mind accidentally, as I didn’t believe anypony, but my sister could even affect the dream space… or willingly shut her out.”

“So… I helped her… I helped Luna break into Twilight's mind.”

“You did what?!” Cadance asked, her surprise and worry almost sounding angry.

“I… I didn’t know any better… we didn’t know.” Celestia hastily continued, “Luna thought that whatever Twilight had was preventing her from waking up… was keeping her asleep and… hurting her in some form.” Celestia tried to explain, seeing her niece calm down a bit. “We suspected that she was trapped in her mind, for whatever reason, and… we were right.”

“You were right?” Cadance echoed, her anger fading and her face turning thoughtful.

“We were right,” Celestia affirmed, “as we… broke in. We found her reliving a memory… no… a dream? Something. We found her reliving and trapped in something, Luna said it might have been a hope or a fear, but I no not the specifics. It… was a loop. A loop of us, I mean my sister and I… punishing her over and over. We… freed her out of this loop, which made her wake up… but… I’ve seen other things before we’ve been able to reach her.”

“Other things?”

“I’ve seen her… feelings Cadance. I’ve had ponies spy on other ponies before, and I had even a delegation of pony’s shadow Twilight shortly after her ascension, monitoring her and keeping her safe… but… seeing into her mind… her inner thoughts… that’s… that’s something different.”

“Luna said I shouldn’t take things I see in someone’s mind to heart, that the unconscious mind should not be held responsible or against the pony it belonged to, but… still… I can’t help but remember, I can’t help but think.

“What… what did you see?” Cadance gently probed.

“I… it doesn’t matter what I saw in detail, Cadance, but I saw her in love with us. I saw her lose us, and… I saw us hurting her.”

“Hurting?” Cadance wondered.

“Yes… like… punishing. She feared that we would strip her of who she was when we did not approve of her, taking away her wings and horn, making her… mortal… again and caging her away for… saving her family…”

“Caging her, for saving her family?” Cadance asked in disbelief.

Shaking her head, Celestia sighed, “That’s the problem, Cadance, I don’t know. I don’t believe that she truly is afraid of us. But… then again… Twilight has always been… high strung… what if she is… what if she is afraid of showing who she is. I’ve taught her basically her entire life, I have practically raised her, I know she is a kindhearted pony, that she is loving and gentle, I know she only has the best for anyone in mind and heart. But… Cadance, what if… she believes she has to hide herself from us… from… me…” Celestia finally broke down, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“Luna and I are now trying to investigate why she shielded her mind; we are trying to understand if… or how… we might have broken her trust, and… we can’t just simply ask her. I wanted to ask her, but I understand why we can’t. If… if she truly believes…” Celestia started, stopping though for a second, “then we would just affirm her suspicions and fears.” She finally finished.

“Adding to this, Luna said we shouldn’t take what we saw to heart, though, we are doing just that right now, Cadance. We act upon what we have seen in her mind.”

“You act? Act how, Celestia, what are you two doing?” Cadance asked, listening patiently.

“We… I… no, we… we believe the reason for why she shut Luna out, why she is acting the way she is acting now is… because… she… she is in love with us.” Celestia stated.

Having heard Celestia say this now a second time, Cadance frowned. Having not thought much of it at first, Cadance now wondered if she was wrong, “You believe she is in love with… you?” she asked, trying to confirm.

“Well… yes… Luna and I. We believe she has feelings for us, but I don’t know exactly.” Celestia affirmed, her gaze fixed on her tea, “Luna suspects that this is also the reason for the barrier,” she continued, “she might have tried to… prevent us… from finding this exact detail out.”

Nodding, Cadance looked at her own tea in thought, “And so you now believe you have broken her trust?” she asked, ruffling her wings.

“Yes, no… maybe…” Celestia rumbled, shaking her head. “I… now that I… know… I can look back at her past actions and see how it could be. I see her in a different light now, Cadance. I can… see… only now that I know… that Luna might be right… that, what we have seen might be right… but… I don’t know what to do now Cadance.”

“What I previously thought as innocent, I see now as loving, how she always… leaned into our hugs, how she… stayed always a moment longer, followed me right to the doorstep of any meeting when she was still a teenager just to get in a few extra words. Her… glances… always trying to hide them, I’ve noticed them though… I thought nothing of it… but… now?”

“Had I not gone, I wouldn’t know… I wouldn’t have these thoughts. Have I hurt her over the years? Since when is she… infatuated? Should I be worried about that? Is it healthy? Is it… okay?”

Celestia rambled, shaking her head after a moment, “Luna wants me to help her though, but I just don’t know if that is the right thing to do, Cadance.”

“Luna wants you to help her,” Cadance echoed, cocking her head, “What do you mean by, help her?”

“Luna believes that… if… Twilight would deny herself much longer, it would… eventually hurt her. Looking back… I agree that she looked pained,” Celestia stated, “the last couple of times she visited Canterlot she seemed more distant and… now looking at it with what I now know… I… I don’t know.”

“And so, you believe that her… feelings, unspoken they might be, might hurt Twilight in the long run,” Cadance deduced.

Nodding solemnly Celestia took a sip of her tea, which had gotten halfway cold by now, “Well, yes, Luna wants me to help her get them into the open before they become dangerous for her, or others, if left unchecked.” Celestia nodded.

Frowning, Cadance looked her aunt into the eyes, “Dangerous if left unchecked… What do you mean by that? “She asked, worriedly.

“Well… you know… the desires of us… how they are different to normal ponies… how they…”

“You mean to say, that you fear that they could grow a consciousness like Nightmare Moon,” Cadance asked, having only once heard Celestia speak of this just shortly after her ascension.

“Well, yes,” Celestia nodded, “You remember when I told you that our… minds are… different from that of mortals, I… I believe I told you that emotions can become dangerous to us. How if we leave them unattended, they can influence us in… certain ways…”

“I… just don’t know… if… if what we are doing now is right, Cadance, we’ve already broken her trust, or… I have… in seeing what I’ve seen, and now. I am acting on these things, trying to… help her.”

“Help her?” Cadance echoed, “You mean you are worried that if you help her resolve her problems, and make her dreams and desires into reality... that... It would be a bad thing?”

“I… Luna and I are trying to get her to confess to us,” Celestia said, a small smile spreading over her lips for just a second, “I know it sounds strange, but we’ve been trying to get her to open up, hoping that this might help resolve those desires and I… I just don’t know what to do then. I… I agree that her… brooding over these thoughts… is… hurting her, but… forcing them out… I don’t know if that is wise.” Celestia continued, “Though, I don’t want a repeat of…”

“Of what happened to your sister,” Cadance finished her aunt’s thought.

Nodding in understanding, Cadance took a sip of her tea, drawing a nod from Celestia as she did so before the white mare opened her mouth once more.

“I don’t think we would let it come to that, but… what if… if we manage to get her to open up, what then. I don’t think confronting her would be any better, but… if Twilight confesses, what then? Luna… Luna seems eager for the idea, having looked for a partner for… I don’t know how long… she is more than willing to reciprocate, she almost seems like to believe this is a good thing and, while… while I love Twilight dearly… I don’t know if I can do the same… if… if I should do the same…” Celestia finally finished, the world seeming lighter already. “If Twilight confesses her love to me… Cadance, what should I do?”

Silence.

Celestia looked at her niece expectantly, hoping to receive an answer to her question, or if not an answer, maybe an idea, a way, to cling to, to help her resolve her problem herself, but Cadance just stared back.

Silent, unmoving, unreadable.

With the barrier around them blocking out most any sensation, the silence around them is deafening.

Celestia just now started to realize how pressing this silence was, now that she stopped speaking. With the weight of her worries already lifted slightly at having them told to someone, for the first time her unusually worrying mind finally shut up enough for her to form a complete sentence.

Though despite her best efforts, her mind infuriatingly mimicked her surroundings. Her words given voice and her mind so mind-numbingly silent, she started to worry.

As she had started talking, fearing she might never be able to stop, she knew that some things she shared with her niece ought to better stay hidden, even from Cadance, but she was unable to stop them.

Now, Cadance just stared, unmoving, unnatural.

As quickly as the moment and the silence came, and as oppressing it felt, it vanished as quickly.

Cadance’s neutral stare finally broken, she smiled at Celestia.

“Hold on for a moment.” Cadance said, a hoof held up in pause, “You are meaning to tell me. That you, Celestia, the unconquerable sun, the ruler of Equestria since its founding and a mare older than literal recorded history, doesn’t know what to say if someone says, “I love you!”?” she asked, quoting with her hooves.

“Cadance?” Celestia asked in aspiration, “I came here for help, not to be laughed at!”

Giggling softly, the alicorn of love shook her head with a tint of a smile remaining, “Ah, yes, yes… I am sorry, truly I am.” She tried to calm her aunt, “but please, just for a moment, see it from my point of view, you are the one who taught me, you have to admit, it is kind of…”

“Cadance, please! Would you just help me, you are the only one I can turn to aside from my sister!” Celestia said sharply, clearly infuriated.

“Yes, yes, I am sorry, I am sorry,” Cadance said, her hooves raised in surrender.

Needing a moment longer to compose herself, Cadance brushed a strain of her hair out of her face and behind her ear as she inhaled deeply, “Okay, so, what… exactly… is your problem here?” she asked after a moment. “Do you not know how to respond? Cause, that is the easy part, or is it that you are unsure of your own feelings.” She added, her usual professional calm returning.

Gulping silently after the shock of her niece making fun of her, Celestia eyed her for a moment before answering, “Well, to be honest, I think it’s both,” she explained, her voice carefully optimistic.

“Okay then, let’s begin with the hard part.” Cadance nodded. “Do you love Twilight Sparkle?” she asked simply, her gaze fixed upon her aunt and making her recoil.

“Well… of course she is dear to me… I was her teacher… I practically raised her, that is the- “Celestia tried to answer, though was interrupted by Cadance shaking her head.

“No, Auntie, that isn’t what I asked you, I asked you if you love her, don’t explain anything, just answer.”

Hesitating for a moment and thinking, Celestia finally nodded meekly in response, “Yes, but…”

“Yes, wonderful, that is good to hear,” Cadance interrupted again, her voice authoritative, as if she had had this conversation hundreds of times already, if not thousands of times. “Now, please, describe this love to me, would you?” she added, her voice soft and understanding.

“I…” Celestia started, her words failing her though as she thought for a moment, “She’s like… I mean… she kind of is…”

Placing a hoof gently on top of her aunts, Cadance smiled gently, “Aunty, it is alright, just say it, I won’t judge you and you are save here, nothing will hurt you here for how you think.”

“I… I loved her like a daughter, like a daughter I never had but… now…”

“Now?” Cadance echoed gently trying to coax more out her aunt.

“Now… I don’t know anymore. She isn’t my daughter, she never has been, but I still helped her grow up. I watched her turn from a foal into a young mare. I watched her become an adult, watched her ascend beyond any mortal measures. I watched her take her place beside us, Cadance.” Celestia explained, her voice damped and sad.

“I am one of the few who know that she didn’t ask for any of this, that she wanted to live a quiet life. To find love, grow old and have a family. I watched her bawl her eyes out when she had a nightmare as a foal. I also watched her as she threw a pot against my wall in frustration when I told her that she would never be able to have that, Cadance. I’ve already hurt her, squashed her dreams. But now?” Celestia asks, a shimmer of wetness adorning her eyes, “Am I supposed to repeat this cycle over and over? Destroy her dreams every time they pop up? I am the one who sat her on the path to becoming who she is today, I could have refused harmony, I could have done all of it myself. But I didn’t!”

Listening to Celestia for a moment, Cadance nodded along, knowing most of what her aunt speaks of. Leaning over the table and taking her aunt’s hoof into hers, she squeezes it slightly, “Why do you believe you need to destroy her dreams though? If you love her, why don’t you accept her love in return?”

“How could I? I am as close to a mother to her as her real one, it…”

Interrupting Celestia by squeezing her hoof once more, Cadance shook her head, “You said it yourself, you are not her mother. You may have had a hoof in her upbringing, but you are not her mother. Tell me, Celestia, you have helped me grow up, taught me statecraft and helped me ascend, but you and I both have slept together in the past. Where is the difference?”

“Cadance, I am sorry, but you have never been so young, at least for me. We first met when you were almost an adult and I merely taught you. Besides, when we slept together, we had known each other for over a hundred years already, you weren’t a young adult any longer and we were both in heat, you can’t compare…” Celestia tried to explain.

Interrupting her aunt once more, Cadance pushed forwards, “So, what you are saying is, she needs to be older than she is right now?” she asked, the jab deliberately.

“I… no… yes… it…”

“What if Twilight would have asked you in a hundred years, a thousand?” Cadance continued, “Would the time she had spent as a young mare matter as much? Would you deny me if I asked you, knowing we share the same interests and passions?”

“Cadance, you are married!”

“Yes, I am, happily so I might add, but my lover is a mortal, Celestia.” Cadance returned with finality, “If I were to ask when he is no longer, would you deny me?”

“No? I… yes? I don’t know.”

Smiling softly, Cadance flicked an ear, “So, then, aunty, why is it that you believe you need to deny Twilight right now? Knowing that she needs you now more than ever and knowing in your heart that in a hundred years or so, you wouldn’t bat an eye.”

“But she is so young, what will the rest of Equ…”

“The rest of Equestria doesn’t matter right now, Celestia. What matters is do you love Twilight Sparkle?” Cadance continued to push where she knew Celestias problem was.

“I… I do, but…” Celestia said, but tried to amend it a moment later.

“Then don’t deny her. You know in your heart what is right, why fight it?”

“Because I fear what would happen, Cadance.” Celestia explained.

“What do you believe would happen?”

“I fear that this would be unhealthy for her mind and soul, that she would get fixated on us and…”

Chuckling softly, Cadance shook her head, “Celestia, we both know Twilight. And while she is a lovely mare, we both know that being mentally stable and healthy isn’t something she can claim reliably. I don’t say she is dangerous or anything, but we both know that she has her… episodes… as do we. Celestia. Ours might be more seldom now a days, but I remember you sitting in your chambers and burning stone to ash in a fit of rage. Twilight’s element is Magic, yours is the Sun. If you let go of your controls, you could rage in a way Equestria or the world has never seen, but for Twilight this might be different. It might just be part of who she is, the same way this is part of who you are.” Cadance explained with a small smile.

“Your love and that of your sister, might be unhealthy for some, but maybe it is exactly what she needs? A stable influence, a place to return to? Magic is always changing, malleable and fleeting. What if Twilight is looking for a stable place to return to, a place where she is loved?”

Listening to Cadance words, Celestia nods after a moment, “So… you are saying the same thing as my sister… that I should accept.”

“Yes, I am, Aunty.”

Sighing softly and letting her head fall, Celestia felt strange.

Both her sister and Cadance now said not to deny herself, or Twilight in this matter. The thought alone felt strange. The thought of giving in after all those millennia and that with Twilight. But at the same time, Celestia couldn’t help but feel a sense of happiness at the thought of Twilight loving her.

Blushing slightly, Celestia tried to reel her mind into order as it unhelpfully supplied images to her conscious self that weren’t for when she wasn’t alone, or with Twilight.

Seeing her aunts relive, Cadance smiled coyly, “So… about the how… as I’ve said this is the easy part… all you have to do is…”

Scratching her chin in thought, Luna wondered how she ended up in the situation she was now in.

Having led Twilight over the market all afternoon, she had tried to get her young companion to participate a bit more than just follow her around. Sure, Twilight was the one who suggested snacks, but she wasn’t really into any shops she had been led by. Even in her friend’s boutique, where Luna had expected her friend to loosen up a bit, the whole situation had seemed to only stress her out.

This then made the current situation all the more interesting for her.

For Twilight seemed to be genuinely interested in something for the first time since the two had donned their disguises.

It wasn’t like she was not good company, far from it actually, but Luna had, despite her best attempts to tease her friend, failed to see the spark in the young mare she had seen in her friend when they last watched the meteor shower a few weeks back.

It genuinely was curious that a mare of Twilight’s age and upbringing was so entirely disinterested in what most other mares would swoon over.

Then again, Celestia's tales of Twilight’s upbringing seemed to make more and more sense with everyday Luna spent around her friend.

It made Twilight endearing to her if she had to be honest, though at the same time Luna wondered if it was a good or bad thing for the young mare.

She was studious, Luna tried to find an apt description for her friend. Maybe bookish? If that even was a word. Either way, it was a quality Luna valued in her friend as her priorities seemed to have far more depth to it than mere beauty or the amount of bits something cost.

It would make choosing gifts for her, especially gifts of appreciation, easier though if Luna could figure out if Twilight had interests and small guilty pleasures with which she could be bribed with.

Not that Luna wanted to bribe her.

It simply was easier to gift someone a bar of chocolate to brighten a day, like in Cadance’s case, or in her sisters have something sweet in general at hoof or in a five-meter radius.

It was a mere tool, a gesture of goodwill so to speak. Luna simply adored such gestures and even made sure to find out the specific tastes of her personal guards so she could brighten their days after long arduous days of duty.

It was important to Luna, simply to uphold her image as a kind, more approachable monarch compared to her sister, a relic from her time before Nightmare Moon perhaps, she didn’t know.

To Luna’s anguish, while she had shown her friend various ways of indulgences, Twilight had mostly seemed uninterested by them, only now she was as if she had been when Twilight had taught her about the new and advanced world which she was now living in.

Maybe Luna was overthinking it and Twilight was simply content with company and more physical gestures like a hug and a kind word.

At least Luna was able to figure out that Twilight liked the few sweets she apparently enjoyed in a liquid or semi liquid form, considering the shakes her young friend had consumed.

It was an observation which Luna congratulated herself with, feeling smart and thinking her ability to read ponies to have improved.

Though, at the same time, her mood dampened, as Luna had absolutely zero clue about the apparatus Twilight currently was poking at.

It was round, had tubes sticking out of it, was made of glass, and used for potion making. That’s all Luna could ascertain from the plaque and her own observations of the strange devices.

Twilight, on the other hoof, seemed to know exactly what this was though it seemed, as she turned knobs over and over, observing how it changed the behavior of the boiling water inside a flask-like body.

All in all, the potion brewing set Twilight was looking at reminded Luna just about another thing she meant to have studied one day but eventually always postponed it for another day as she didn’t have time for it right now. Just like cooking, or so many other interesting things.

Luna knew that if her sister were here right now, the two would undoubtedly have a technical discussion about this thing which would entirely go over her head.

“… ah and with this you control the airflow to the second basin,” Twilight said aloud, pulling Luna back to reality and making her shake her head briefly.

“Erm… yeah… it seems like it,” Luna nodded simply, hoping Twilight hadn’t noticed her having zoned out for a moment.

“Yeah, I definitely have to get Zecora into this shop one day, I bet she would love it,” Twilight said, finally turning around and walking over to Luna, “Maybe it would be a nice gift for her too, maybe on Hearth's Warming or her birthday,” she added, “what do you think?”

“It would most definitely be a nice gift for a friend, yes, though mayhap thou should ask her first?” Luna said smiling while eying the price tag.

“Oh, I just know she would love it, and it would replace her old set which looks a bit ragged after all those years of rigorous use,” Twilight explained.

“While we are sure it would, we have to point out only because something is old it hasn’t to mean it is bad.” Luna replied, her wing gently poking at her companion as the two slowly strolled out of the Alchemy supply store.

Blushing slightly, Twilight shook her head, “Oh of course not, that wasn’t at all what I was trying to imply, it is just…”

Giggling softly, Luna interrupted her friend by playfully bumping her hips into Twilight’s, making her spontaneous blush only brighten, “We are aware, just making sure anyhow.”

Knowing that because of their disguises nobody would think anything strange of two mares showing some mild affection on the streets, if even seen by anyone, Luna enjoyed her role of teasing Twilight maybe a bit much.

She got her to blush over the course of the day now 23 times.

Definitely a good number to start and the day wasn’t even over yet, well… almost.

Crossing the street, Twilight gravitated from one shop window to the next, her curiosity peaked at each window anew.

After the two had left the general market, Luna had listened to her sister’s advice and taken Twilight to the more intellectual areas of Canterlot’s markets where materials and equipment for various arts of magical research could be found.

Being the home city of her sister’s school for gifted Unicorns, Canterlot had a lot to offer for ponies who were looking into materials for the arcane.

Ranging from enchanters to supply stores, Canterlot was most definitely one of the few beating hearts in research and development for Equestria.

While Luna herself was well versed in magic and had learned and taught many a skill or technique over her life that have long been forgotten, her heart was more firmly found on skills that required her to use her wings and strength. Remembering a time when sparring was more socially acceptable than it is today, she silently vowed to renew her subjects’ interests in such activities in the coming next hundred years or so.

Though, on the other hoof, the blacksmithing shop Twilight was currently inspecting seemed to willingly supply anyone able the pay the price with what seemed to be very finely crafted enchanted armor.

Maybe she should ask her sister about the matter.

Continuing on, the two mares turned around a corner and Luna felt Twilight almost jump in happiness as she laid eyes on the alley they had turned into.

“Oh, I haven’t been here since I left for Ponyville!” Twilight happily explained, her tone hushed, and her glee poorly suppressed as the two found themselves in front of a small selection of various book and rarity stores.

“Well, we thought it would make a fine conclusion of our little excursion today,” Luna said with a smile, watching Twilight canter along the sidewalk with a slight bounce in her step.

“Back when I was a filly, Cadance sometimes took me here just to look at stuff, and sometimes my parents when they tried to bribe me for something,” Twilight said, nostalgic, “Then I even sometimes got a book or two.”

“Bribe you? Pray tell what did thy parents need to bribe thee for?” Luna asked with a chuckle.

“Well, when my brother left for the academy, I remember my mother taking me here to make me feel better,” Twilight said after a moment of thought, “And every time when my great uncle Lantern Sparkle came to visit. His misogynistic world view always made me feel unappreciated, even after being accepted by Celestia and becoming her student. So, my father came here with me to distract me…”

Chuckling good naturedly, Luna smiled and mentally added to investigate this great uncle of Twilight one day, “Well, we did not intend to bribe thee, we just hoped thou might like to come here.”

“Oh, most definitely,” Twilight said with a nod, “Though the bookstores here are very expensive, I loved to look at what was on display. They have some books here you can’t find anywhere else in Equestria, some originals and scriptures being the last of their kind even.”

Dragging Luna along, Twilight rushed to the third store in the row upon her spotting it, “Oh, it is still here! Mr. Ambrosius was always such a nice person to meet,” she explained happily.

Left behind at the door, Luna looked up at the rustic looking building with a big wooden panel arching over the entrance door. A visibly sun-bleached book with a stack of loose pages framed the panel and the name “Merlin’s Notes” was proudly displayed atop the panel, etched into the wood and showing signs of age.

Two giant windows to the doors right, would have let in enough sunlight to light the store, had it not have been for the backs of two large bookshelves to stand just inches behind the glass, the empty space filled with displayed tomes and some memorabilia gathering dust.

Luna, having watched Twilight vanish into the store, couldn’t even see her friend anymore once she too finally stepped in.

Though, she had to admit, the sight was one to behold.

The mage light lit room was filled with stands, bookshelves and scroll holders, almost any of which were reaching the ceiling or crammed into one another. Any free surface the night princess could see was filled with books, scrolls or writing utensils to make more of such. It wasn’t messy or obstructive, but definitely well used.

Inhaling deeply in resignation at having to look for her friend, Luna couldn’t help but notice the room smelled of books and ink, a scent that welcomed anyone to come in, take their time and sit down.

A strong feeling of home quickly crept up on her and it gave her pause for a moment.

Slowed down to fit the ambiance, Luna couldn’t help but associate the scent with Twilight and it made her smile.

Hearing pages rustle, Luna opted to follow her ears more than her eyes in hopes of finding her friend, and as she turned around a bookshelf, almost bumping into a small bust at its head, she was awarded with the sight of a gleeful Twilight rustling and perusing some books she already had gently pulled from their shelves.

“This store is quite well packed,” Luna said looking around and glad to not have lost her friend in its maze-like construction.

“Oh, yeah. Mr. Ambrosius is a well-recognized collector throughout Equestria, his collection gathered throughout many generations and fabled to be more complete than some sections in the archives,” Twilight said, her eyes almost doing as her name suggests.

“You seem to know quite some stories there, young filly,” a gruff voice came from behind a shelf.

Stepping out from behind the shelve, an old and gray stallion unicorn slowly waddled towards them, “I wouldn’t exactly wager money on that fact, young missy, but in my years of experience, I have heard such words once or twice,” he added, a proud smile displayed on his elderly face.

His gate marred with signs of old age and one of his hoofs was even held stiff by a wooden splint along his leg. Carrying in his white ethereal magical glow, the old stallion held firmly a tome the size of his head as it gracefully hovered next to him as if it was supposed to be there.

“Ah! Mr. Ambrosius, it is good to meet you aga- at last,” Twilight said cheerfully, almost forgetting that they were still in disguise.

Nodding with a smile at Twilight, the old stallion just gave a curt nod to Luna in his greeting, “And it is always good to see some young mare finding their way into my humble shop,” he said.

“It is great to be here,” Twilight returned, her smile infectious to Luna.

“Well, young lassie, what brings you into this part of our great capital? Haven’t quite seen you before I believe,” the stallion continued, his attention wholly focused on Twilight as if Luna didn’t even exist.

“Oh, nothing in particular,” Twilight said with a smile, “We simply came by on our trip to the market, Sir.”

“A trip to the market you say?” he echoed, “I reckon a new student to her majesty’s school then perhaps?” he added, “Well, either way, excuse my interruption of your perusal, I perhaps thought for a second you were somepony different.” He explained, trying to shimmy his way around the two mares in his way, who both stepped back instinctively, “you remind me of a bright young filly I once knew,” he said finally, his back turned to the two disguised princesses, “came by every so often with her parents I say, always viewed my shop as the highlight of her day,” he chuckled, “well, if ya need anything, just head to the front and ask, I am here all day every day,” he added with another chuckle and almost more energy to him than Luna would have thought possible of such an elderly pony.

Having walked past them and now slowly making his way towards the front of the shop, Luna blinked in confusion at his dualistic nature of kindness and elderly roughness.

Once the stallion had vanished from sight, presumably heading to the front end of the shop, Twilight returned to her perusing of the books, “it's almost as if I am young again, I remember that I held this particular book here in my magic and begged my mother to buy it for me,” she conversationally continued.

“I assume she hasn’t then?” Luna asked quietly and looked if anyone would be able to hear them.

“No, she hasn’t,” Twilight explained, leafing through the book with her magic gently.

“Well, why don’t thee buy it now?” Luna asked after assuring herself that they were once more alone. “Thou are an adult now, thy mother shan’t be able to say no to any books thee wish to purchase now,” she added lightheartedly, trying to read the books title only to notice its lack of such.

“Oh, no, I already got this one, or at least, a copy. A few years ago, while I was still under Celestia’s tutelage, she gifted me this one as if she knew I always wanted it,” Twilight explained, shaking her head, “this is the original though, so it holds a much greater value than a copy.”

“Well, if thou value it, then this does not speak against thee buying it,” Luna pointed out, “if it is an original as thou say, it wouldn’t hurt to have a copy at hoof but the original stored somewhere safe.”

“Well, yeah, maybe, I imagine that it would be expensive though, I don’t think I should,” Twilight answered after a moment of contemplation, her eyes reluctantly looking up at Luna telling her friend all she needed to know to continue.

“We shan’t believe that this tome is as expensive as thou claim,” Luna explains dismissively, failing to see any price tag on the book displaying its value, “Besides, tis a book, the treasures have had to deal with way bigger expenses in recent months considering Tia’s habit of stained-glass windows and mosaics.”

Sniggering slightly at hearing Luna’s slide to Celestia’s love for puzzled art, Twilight shakes her head, “No, L-Moonlight, besides it isn’t like I could use the treasury for something like this.”

“Why ever not?” Luna asked, genuinely confused, “While of course we have to see to it to not overdraw from it, the treasury is from where we draw our funds.”

Smiling softly, Twilight rolled her eyes slightly, “I can’t just go and ask Celestia to use government money to buy me things,” she dismissed.

“Whatever has sister to do with such a decision?” Luna asked, her head cocked in thought.

Pausing for a moment, Twilight considered Luna for a second before her eyes widened in understanding and she shook her head, “Oh sorry, well, I… uh of course I could ask you too, but, no, I couldn’t ask for something so selfish,” she tried to explain and apologize at the same time.

Growing even more confused, Luna shook her head gently, “Why ever would thou have to ask us in her stead,” she stated, frowning slightly in attempted understanding.

“Well, I thought if Princess Celestia could draw from the treasury, I assumed you could perhaps, uhm, too?” Twilight tried to explain herself, “I have to admit, I am not entirely sure if even Princess Celestia can, but the media always made it sound like it.”

“Well, of course our sister can draw from the treasury and so can we,” Luna stated, confused, “how ever does thou think we pay for expenses and labor in our name?”

“Well, I… the treasury,” Twilight said, “You and Celestia, as princesses, can use government money to pay for expenses in the name of Equestria,” she explained, trying to recollect her admittedly almost forgotten lessons on modern politics.

“Exactly,” Luna nodded, happily, “so why would thou have to ask anyone if thou where to buy something then?” she added in question, her hoof pointing to the book, “or does thou need to commune with thy companion Spike before thou do make such a decision?”

“Spike? No. But I can’t just afford a purchase such as this without proper thought,” Twilight tried to explain.

“Of course, thou could,” Luna explained, rolling her eyes, “Equestria shall not be in ruin because thy decision to buy even an expensive tome, we could have palaces build if we decided so a mere tome shall not bring our ruin.”

“Well, you could perhaps, but I can’t afford to,” Twilight shook her head, amused at Luna’s belief for Twilight to be rich, “my palace was gifted to me by the tree of harmony, I could never afford such a thing on my own.”

Sighing, Luna shook her head, “Friend, Twilight, what ever does thou mean thou can’t afford to?”

Confused, it was Twilight’s time to cock her head, “well, I can’t draw from the treasury like you or Celestia?” she asked rhetorically, “I only have the money Spike and I get from the government because I was Celestia’s student,” she explained, “well and that what we get from hosting the library in Ponyville, though most of that is spend on paying for food and all for Starlight, considering she is officially an employee with a wage.”

Staring at Twilight as if she suddenly had grown a second horn, Luna blinked, “whatever does thou mean thou can’t draw from the treasury?” she asked, without waiting for an answer. Looking around briefly, Luna leaned closer to her friend and schooled her tone, “of course thou can draw from the treasury if thou desire,” she explained, her tone hushed but insistent.

Blinking, Twilight shook her head, “No I can’t only you and Celestia can,” she tried to explain, but trailed off at the sight of Luna’s confused frown.

“Twilight, thou are a Princess of Equestria, thou are our equal in anything but age and size, thou are a member of the royal family just as much as sister and I,” Luna said, “had thy brother and sister in law not currently taken over the reign of another country, they too would be members of the family and as such entitled to the treasury in equal measures, and once Cadance returns to us, be it with the empire or alone, she too will have the right once more.”

Confused, Twilight gently placed down the book back into the shelf space she took it from, “I-I have what?” she asked in disbelief, “Luna that can’t be right I-“

Gently silencing her friend with an insistent hoof, Luna couldn’t help but snigger at the conversation, “Ask our sister if thou does not believe, or go to the royal treasurer themselves, they shall not deny thee coin or land for anything thou believe to need for anything. Only the biggest of sums have to be agreed upon by all of us and if we can go and build a palace in our name because we feel like it, a mere book shall not come close to the limit we can draw upon at will.”

Falling to her haunches in disbelieve, Twilight stared at Luna, her mind racing with the implications, “I… I don’t know what to say,” she finally confessed after a moment, “Princess Celestia never mentioned anything when we discussed my duties and responsibilities.”

“We believe our Princess Celestia merely forgot or thought thou would simply know that such things came with thy titles and family ties,” Luna said with a gentle shake of her head, having to actively suppress laughter at this point, “and we do believe that Princess Celestia has asked thee to drop her title in conversation has she not?” Luna added, a wing daintily held in front of her mouth to hide her mirth.

“Uhm, y-yes, you are right I… sorry Princess,” Twilight nodded, a slight blush adorning her cheeks.

Unable to hold herself any longer, Luna burst out in brief laughter at watching Twilight becoming so lost into her own thoughts to resort back to her own title, “Well, we are glad we could resolve this matter, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Luna added, the title spoken with pressed formality making Twilight lay her ears back onto her head at its sound.

Watching her companion lost in thought for a moment longer, Luna finally shook her head and extended a comforting wing around her friend. “Come now, we are sure we can talk to our sister on a later date on the matter. It is important now to get thee thy book and have fun today. Thou are supposed to relax and not ponder over life altering revelations,” the night Princess said, trying to light the mood.

Feeling the soft downy feathers gently settle around her and squeeze slightly, Twilight couldn’t help but melt into the embrace. The warmth of her friend, and she had to remind herself of the fact that despite everything Luna was merely friendly with her, made her inadvertently cheer up. “Well, okay,” Twilight said after a moment, looking for the book only to see it missing from the shelf where she knew she had placed it back onto.

Frowning slightly at the empty space, Twilight blinked and glanced around, had she perhaps placed it somewhere different, she wondered?

As if Luna had read her thoughts, the night princess raised her wing which was not hugging Twilight, the book she had inspected gently placed on the top of her feathers and definitely held between her primaries, “Come now, Friend, we shall show thee that there is no cause for concern when it comes to affording something for us,” she said, gently booping Twilight with the backend of the book.

Giggling softly, Twilight tried to grab the book from Luna’s grip, but it turned out that the night princess was insistent to not give up her price, “We shall purchase this for thee, as a present, and we shall not take no for an answer,” she nodded.

“Wouldn’t that mean, from what you said earlier, that you buy this from my money as well, for me?” Twilight asked after a moment of consideration.

“Of course,” Luna nodded proudly, “and it shall not lessen the value of the gesture,” she added.

Smiling softly, Twilight couldn’t help but shake her head in disbelief, “Of course not,” she said, “thank you anyway.”

“Thou are most welcome,” Luna exclaimed, starting to move into the direction of the front desk.

Lingering behind for a moment, Twilight felt the wing slide over her back and eventually leave her, the absence of the appendage stinging slightly in her heart. If only she could have such embraces whenever she wanted, wing hugs were something she had come to love.

Following Luna to the front, the two navigated through the shops maze like construction to end up on a sturdy looking counter behind which the aged stallion sat, a mage light faceted above him into the ceiling, illuminating his workplace on which he was studiously copying a section of the tome he had been holding earlier onto a piece of parchment.

As Luna and Twilight slowly approached him, he glanced up from his work.

Noticing the book held in Lunas wing, he frowned slightly but smiled curtly at the unicorn disguised alicorn next to her.

“Mr. Ambrosius, was it?” Luna asked, her voice clear and deliberate, “My friend and I have found what we were looking for and would like to make a purchase,” she stated, gently placing the book onto the counter.

Having been addressed by the pegasus disguised alicorn, the stallion laid down his writing utensils and picked up the book Luna had presented in his magical glow.

Opening the book carefully to the first page, his frown deepened, “I highly doubt the two of you can afford this,” he said with a gruff voice before closing the book and placing it behind him on the counter, “Do you even know what you have there?” he asked, his gaze piercing into Luna.

“I do not, no, but my friend wants to have it and that is all that matters to me, she said its an original of a book she already has in her collection, so I wish to present it to her,” Luna explained deliberately, her statement underlined with a gentle bristle of her wings to show she was not intimidated by his glare.

His gaze flicking from Luna, who had been talking, to Twilight, who let her friend handle the transaction by keeping a respectful distance, her eagerness though unable to be suppressed at the prospect of a new book.

“Fifty thousand bits then,” the stallion said dismissively as if he was talking of the weather, his interest already faded and returning to the parchment he had been inscribing on.

Blinking, Luna frowned and exchanged glances with Twilight for a moment, who seemed equally shocked at the price, “Excuse me, could you please repeat that, I think I have misheard?”

“Fifty thousand bits, I said,” Mr. Ambrosius repeated, his writing feather not even stopping his work as he leaned closer to the book, from which he was inscribing from.

Shaking her head, Luna felt anger bubble inside of her at the audacity, but kept hold of her control, “I highly doubt that this book is valued at such a price,” she said, glancing once more to Twilight who confirmed her suspicions with a nod, “why do you demand so much for it?”

Snorting as if offended, Mr. Ambrosius glanced from his work to Luna, “because you don’t even know what you are buying, young lady and you seem to have more bits than brains,” he says dismissively.

“Excuse me?” Luna asked, bewildered.

“You’ve heard me,” he said, “now get out featherbrain and take your marefriend with you,” he spat his demeanor outright hostile at this point.

Confused, Luna looked back at Twilight, who stared back with equal measures of confusion.

Having had only good memories in this store from back when she was young, Twilight stepped closer to the counter, “Mr. Ambrosius, Sir, why are you asking fifty thousand bits for this book and why are you suddenly so… hostile?” she asked, confused.

“Because I won’t let a book like this end up as a cheap romance gift for someone who’s gonna forget it in an attic not a week later,” he explained much more gently to Twilight than he had spoken to Luna, “I am sorry young one, but this book deserves to end up in a good home and collection, perhaps the archives if I die before I find a worthwhile buyer beforehoof.”

“But I am a collector, and it shouldn’t matter who buys this book anyway,” Twilight explained.

“Well, it matters to me and if you are a collector, then, young lassie, tell me who you are and I might change my mind,” he said, placing down his writing utensils once more.

“I… well, I am…” Twilight tried, not having expected to have to explain to the stallion who she was in order to make a purchase.

If she revealed that she was Twilight Sparkle, Princess and Librarian of Ponyville, her disguise would slowly loose its value as more and more ponies would figure it out over time, though if she lied, she could very well back herself into a even bigger corner.

“You are talking to the personal aid of Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said deliberately, “she was chosen because my friend here shares Princess Twilight’s interest in literature and ancient history,” she tried to explain in her stead.

Snorting, Mr. Ambrosius shook his head, “And I am Princess Celestia’s scribe. Lassy, you’ve got to stand up early for once so you would know that that’s a lie. Princess Twilight, impressive her collection might be, does not have an aid, at least not a pony one,” he explained, “now, get out, or do you wish to insult me further?”

“Insult you?” Luna spat, “You are the one insulting us, we wished to buy from thy establishment, and thou show nothing but hostility.”

Shaking his head, the stallion pointed to the door, “I can sell to whomever I please, and it takes more for me than two young fillies stumbling into my shop to part with such an artifact of knowledge. If you had asked for a copy, sure, another book, okay, but this? An original almost 800 years old, not a chance I sell that to young and impressionable fillies who will lose it within minutes of buying it.”

“I will have you know; I will report this to the princess!” Luna exclaimed in a last-ditch effort, her wings bristling in a deep-seated annoyance.

“Oh lassie, how often I have heard that,” the stallion said, shaking his head.

Fuming, Luna glared at the old stallion only stopping as she felt a gentle hoof on her shoulder, “Moonlight, please… let's just… go,” Twilight said, her gaze downcast but insistent.

Her anger boiling hot, Luna wanted to refuse, wanted to tear this pony a new one, drop her disguise right in front of him and make him cower in front of her, but at seeing Twilight’s saddened gaze, she calmed down quickly and nodded after a moment and took a deep breath.

Laying her ears flat onto her head, she let herself get led out by Twilight, her friend's saddened expression breaking her heart.

As the two stepped back out onto the streets, the door lightly closing behind them, Luna fumed inwardly, “How dare he deny us purchase of the book,” Luna exclaimed, her gaze returning to the store with a withering glare.

Sighing softly, Twilight shook her head, “It is sadly what it is, it is his right to sell and ask for prices as he sees fit,” she tried to explain, “if he only wants to sell to reputable buyers, I can understand, but he could have been nicer about that,” she added.

“He was nice, to you, or at least nicer,” Luna said, fuming.

The two of them started to walk down the street but stopped at the alley directly next to the store they had just left and the next.

Wincing, Twilight nodded, “So, you noticed that too…” she said, righting her jaw.

“It is almost as if we were back in the old days, when unicorns, pegasi and earth-ponies were all treated differently,” Luna groused.

“Well, Canterlot has sadly sometimes some… conservative… ponies too,” Twilight said, carefully, “no matter how much one might wish otherwise.”

“Twilight, we remember a time where we had to beg for food and scraps, in a time where civilization was not yet as established as it is today,” Luna said sourly, “We had hoped we had left these times of barbarism behind us,” she added sourly.

“Well, they are,” Twilight said, trying to smile but having to add, “mostly.”

“Yeah, mostly. When we returned, we saw that our sister had almost removed such stench from the world entirely, it saddens me to see that such out hold still resign within our capital,” the night princess bemoaned.

Thinking weather or not her next words would be wise, Twilight decided to speak them out loud anyway, “Well, if we had gone in as who we are, I doubt he would have had such a reaction,” she said, “I think most of that goes unnoticed for us, as ponies tend to… treat us differently.”

“Yes, differently thou say,” Luna echoed in thought, “We are of the mind to teach this pony a lesson, one he might never forget.”

“Luna?” Twilight asked, worry creeping into her voice, “What do you want to do?”

Smirking slightly, she dipped into the alley they had been standing next to, a cruel smile on her lips, “Well, thou said it earlier, he would have not reacted to our true forms as such, so if he needs a reminder that every pony is to be treated with kindness, we are gladly the one delivering it to him,” she explained, dropping her disguise.

Her horn shooting out of her head in blue-green fire, Luna changed back from her disguised form to her normal one.

Her formerly stranded hair returning to ethereal slices of night sky, Twilight could see Luna undo changes all over her body, her muzzle straightened, her wings fluffing up and even her height changed slightly.

While Luna had retained most of her features, all the subtle changes she had made over her body, from her cutie mark to the shade of her fur, became apparent as everything change back all at once and in mere moments where Moonlight had stood just a second ago, Princess Luna with all her regalia and regal aura stood in her stead.

Twilight had to admit while she had admired her friend in her disguised form, the sight of her true form gave her pause once more.

Especially regarding the subtle changes which seemed to enhance her beauty many times over.

Though, she had not much time to admire Luna's form, as the Lunar Princess swiftly left the alley, they had entered moments after her transformation had been completed.

With deliberate steps, she returned to the store they had been in mere moments ago, her gaze and currently unpleasant demeanor warding off any curious onlooker as Twilight, still disguised, hurried after her, “The times of us begging are over my friend, we shall not allow them to return,” Luna had said, making Twilight lay down her ears onto her head.

“Luna, wait, you can’t…” Twilight tried to exclaim, though her words fell on deaf ears as the night princess stormed into the store, the door banging inwards displaying her anger.

“Oh-oh” Twilight muttered under her breath, as she watched Luna vanish into the old store. Glancing around once, she noticed many eyes having turned towards her and she quickly winced before dipping into the store as well.

With her anger having a deliberate target, one she could chew out without having to worry about having to deal with her sister later complaining about the fact that she shouldn’t yell at nobles because it scared them, Luna strode into the shop with confidence.

As the door banged inwards, her gaze swept through the room, a silent “Oi” hearable over the blood rushing through her ears from the old inhabitant of the store wondering about the commotion.

Swiftly turning to her left, Luna marched up to the counter of the store, behind which an unsurprisingly pale looking old stallion stared back at her, his writing feather held in his magic stopped mid air as he had looked over to the door to see the cause of the sudden noise.

Once his old eyes had fallen onto the Night Princess, he had essentially stopped anything that he was doing and stared.

Through many a decade of experience at having to deal with court, Luna held her anger mostly inward, her heavy hooves hitting the floor the only immediate indication of her temper, “Good evening, young clerk,” she said briskly, her authoritative voice coming easy from her lips and her play on his age deliberate in its sting.

Behind her, the door was opened once more, much more silently this time around as Twilight darted in, closing the door swiftly behind her before looking around, “Luna, wait, please don’t do anything rash,” she spoke loudly over to her friend.

Glancing over from Luna to Twilight coming into the store as well, Mr. Ambrosius instantly connected the dots in his head and gulped, he had, after all, just shewed out this filly not even 10 minutes ago, “P-Princess Luna, i-it is an honor to have you in my humble s-shop,” he said, putting down his writing feather and trying to stand up quickly, his old body making it hard form him to do so, “W-what can I d-do for your highness this fine evening?” he asked, already knowing where the conversation was likely to be going to.

“Tis indeed a good evening, Mr. Ambrosius,” Luna nodded her head curtly before straightening up proudly and high at seeing the old stallion trying to bow awkwardly behind his counter, “Though despite all the good, a sad truth was just carried to my ears not mere moments earlier which might taint the day in an unkinder light, one might say,” she explained, nodding to Twilight, who was still disguised as she drew closer.

“Luna please you don’t have to-“Twilight tried, but was interrupted by her friend.

“The personal aid of my friend and her marefriend who, I might add, is an aid to my staff as well just informed me of a great injustice happening within in the walls of Canterlot, not mere minutes after I gave them the rest of the day off to enjoy themselves,” Luna spoke clearly, seeing Twilight suddenly stop and blush at the mention of marefriend from the corner of her eyes, “Not only has she reported to me of the way you have insulted her by race, but also the way you tried to scam her out of coin I gifted those I consider my friends to further their interests,” Luna continued, her wings bristling in annoyance.

“I-I have done no such thing, your highness, this is clearly a misunderstanding, I would never,” the stallion tried to speak up, his rebuttal cut short as Luna merely raised her hoof in a gesture of silence.

Delighted that her presence had the desired effect and the stallion visibly gulped, Luna let a small smile play over her lips for just a brief moment, “Does fifty thousand bits, a sum, I might add, would be sufficient to buy a small sized house in most of Equestria, ring a bell, Mr. Ambrosius?” Luna asked, watching the stallion grow paler by the moment.

“I-I-I am sure that all of this is just a terrible misunderstanding, your majesty, I-I, “Mr. Ambrosius tried to explain himself, his eyes widened in fear as Luna interrupted him.

“The term, featherbrain, was mentioned,” Luna added, shaking her head with deliberate motions.

Seeing the futility of his actions, Mr. Ambrosius sighed and hung his head slightly as he visibly made a decision, “Your Majesty, y-you are right, I-I am sorry,” he said, stopping Luna in her anger visibly.

Having not expected such a turn of events, Luna’s harsh stare turned gentler, and she silently watched as the stallion shakily got up onto his hooves properly.

Stepping out from behind the counter, his stiff leg making the motion almost seem awkward in the reign of the silence permeating through the shop, he carefully maneuvered around Luna, his gaze cast to the ground in apparent shame and stopped before the unicorn at her side, “The Princess is right,” he finally said, breaking the silence he had created, “Young filly, I am sorry,” he added, bowing his head slightly.

“I should not have lashed out the way I have, no matter the reason, nor should I have insulted your friend… marefriend… companion,” Mr. Ambrosius explained, fumbling with his words slightly, as he kept his head bowed low.

Having not expected this turn of events in the slightest, both Luna and Twilight glanced at one another, Luna suddenly missing the steam which had carried her into the store so suddenly.

After a moment of silence, Twilight cleared her voice, “Erm, thank you,” she said, unsure of what to do now.

Glancing at Luna for help, Twilight was relieved as she finally cleared her voice, “Erm, yes, I… have to admit I did not expect this turn of events,” Luna said, drawing Mr. Ambrosius’s gaze upwards.

The old stallion looked at her in incomprehension for a moment, before a small and tired smile ghosted over his lips, “I guess that makes three of us then, your Majesty,” he said, finally lifting his head once more with a sigh, “after all, it isn’t every day a Princess of the Realm comes into my shop to reprimand me,” he said, a gentle touch of mirth audible in his voice, “though I have lived long enough to know when I am in the wrong, and, that I have done something wrong,” he added.

Sighing wearily, Luna shook her head, “While you are right, this does not correct the wrong, or take back the insults you have spoken,” she explained, irritated that the target of her anger had vanished, leaving her to feel uneasy.

Nodding slowly, the old stallion bowed his head again, “Once again, your majesty, you are right, and given the opportunity I shall try to make amends,” he explained, slowly walking back towards his counter.

“An admirable decision,” Luna nodded, unsure if she should just leave now and return as Moonlight or what she should do now.

Stepping behind the counter, watched by both ponies as he slowly picked up the book Twilight and Luna had been inspecting earlier, he turned around, “Your Majesty, I believe your young companions might have had an interest in this,” he said, his gaze lingering onto the book held in his pale magic as he sighed heavily, “and I have… for the lack of a better term, shooed your friends out, followed by insult and unreasonable demand in fear of hurting the nonexistent feelings of an inanimate object,” he explained, placing the book onto the counter between them.

Nodding slowly Luna glanced from the book to Twilight, who seemed just as lost as she was.

Stifling a brief laugh, Mr. Ambrosius nodded, “If… you are willing to, young lady, I would like to re-discuss the value of this tome,” he explained.

Raising an eyebrow, Luna looked from the book to the stallion, “re-discuss?” she asked, trying to understand whether he tried to bribe her off with the book for free or what this meant.

Nodding once, the stallion looked up to Luna, “Yes, re-discuss,” he asserted, “While I have been in the wrong, and I will, as I’ve said, make amends with actions what I have wronged with words,” he explained, shaking his head, “I cannot give this book away for free, not for a need of bits, but care.”

Furrowing her brows, Luna cocked her head in confusion.

“I understand,” Twilight said from next to Luna, startling her slightly as she spoke up so suddenly.

Nodding slowly, the stallion shifted his gaze to Twilight, “then please, young filly, tell me of who you are and how you will make sure that this valuable artifact shall not be damaged or lost to time,” he queried, his eyes portraying a kind of sadness to them that Luna had not expected to see in this old stallion.

Visibly thinking over her next words, Twilight glanced at Luna for a moment, contemplating what she could say and how much she could tell the truth.

Seeing her companion visibly conflicted, Luna gently extended a wing over Twilight in a friendly gesture, “She is a friend of mine, and a…” Luna tried to explain, but was interrupted by a single firm shake of Twilight's head.

“No, Luna, he values books as much as I do, he… might have been mean but,” she looked into Mr. Ambrosius eyes with pressed lips, “I can understand where he is coming from,” she added.

Before Luna could bring in anything edgewise, Twilight lit her horn in her normal purple aura and undid the transformation spell she had laid upon herself in a moment.

Green-purple fire quickly washed over her entire body, where Duskshine the unicorn had stood a moment ago, now Twilight Sparkle the alicorn, princess and Equestria wide known collector stood in her place.

Watching the transformation happen before his own eyes, Mr. Ambrosius couldn’t help but stare at Twilight then Luna and back at Twilight with awe and a slightly opened mouth.

Once the transformation had been completed, he seemed to remember his manners, closing his mouth and looking even more ashamed than before, “I… see…,” he said thoughtfully, before looking at Luna once more, “so I assume, that I…”

Luna nodded, accepting Twilight's decision and having a wry smile play over her lips, “called me a featherbrain,” she said with a mischievous smile.

“Oh boy,” Mr. Ambrosius said, having to sit down onto his stool.

Sighing at length, Luna glanced over to Twilight, who, in turn, glanced back with a small smile on her lips.

Before the stallion had found his voice again, Twilight cleared her voice instead, “Mr. Ambrosius, I… I am sorry as well,” she said, glancing at Luna briefly, “we were not entirely truthful either when talking to you earlier, and I can understand that this might be much to process, but, well, I guess you know who I am and… despite all, I am still very much interested in this book,” she explained slowly.

“I… yes, of course, your highness,” he said after a moment, his gaze fixated on the book and looking for all the world as if he had seen a ghost.

Looking at the old stallion, Luna furrowed her brow, “are you alright, Mr. Ambrosius?” she asked, hoping they had not scared him too much considering his old age.

“I… yes… yes I am alright,” he said at length, “please, your majesties, forgive me for my insubordination earlier, I did not know it was you and I am deeply sorry.”

Shaking her head, Luna smiled slightly, “Alright then, Mr. Ambrosius, I am sorry as well, for deceiving you earlier,” she added, “though, perhaps next time, you might choose your words more carefully in the future, it shouldn’t matter who we where to extend common courtesy to anyone.”

“Ah, yes, of course, your highness,” Mr. Ambrosius said, nodding.

Looking around, Luna couldn’t help but add, “I would have thought that, as a merchant of many books, you would have already learned not to judge a book by its cover.”

Unable to suppress a snigger, Twilight bumped Luna with a wing, “c’mon, I think we’ve scared him already enough,” she said, her reprimand light at best.

Mr. Ambrosius on the other hand, shook his head, “No, no, your majesty, Princess Luna is right, I am old enough to know better,” he said, slowly feeling himself calm down.

Nodding along, Twilight gave the old stallion a small smile, “Well, with all of this put behind us, how about the book we had been interested in,” she asked, pointing a wing at the book laying on the counter between them.

“Ah yes… of course…”

When Twilight and Luna finally left the bookstore, the world had become considerably darker with the sun having already started its descent past the horizon.

The last couple of hours having been spent conversing with Mr. Ambrosius, Twilight had a huge smile spread over her lips as she carried a small bag filled to the brim with books, booklets, and scrolls, “Well, after a rough start, I think that this went well,” she eventually said as the two where slowly making their way back to the palace.

“Indeed,” Luna nodded, “Merlin indeed seems to know how to entertain his guests with good, brewed coffee and interesting tales,” she added.

“Told you that he was a nice stallion,” Twilight shot back.

“If he keeps his word to consider his tone in the future, yes,” Luna nodded again, draping a wing over Twilight's smaller body next to her.

Blushing slightly, Twilight continued to walk with her friend, the sensation of her downy soft feathers on her back too enticing than to risk anything for it to vanish.

“Well, what was the total the two of you have agreed upon finally?” Twilight asked, averting her gaze from Luna and looking at the bag in her magic.

“Well, that is something we shall keep to ourselves,” Luna added with a squeeze of her wings, “it wouldn’t be a good present to thee if we’d tell.”

“I… uh… thank you…” Twilight stammered, her blush only redoubling and the sensation of Luna’s wings making her quickly forget everything around her.

Laughing merrily as Luna guided Twilight through the night, the stars above them slowly twinkled into existence one after the other.

There we go, finally, sorry for the wait, I try to not wait another year for the next chapter :D