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Chapter 8
Reunion
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After Nightmare Moon vanished, Twilight decided it was safe to enter the throne room.
“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” she called, bursting in. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you!”
Twilight was panting from exhaustion, although it was mostly psychological.
“And Luna, you defeated Nightmare Moon! How? And how are you different—I mean...”
Twilight shook her head. This was all just too much.
Celestia, on the other hand, had managed to regain her own composure.
“Princess Twilight!” she said soothingly. “How are things, my faithful student? Hopefully nothing too distressing has happened in our absence.”
Twilight’s eyes got wide. “Oh, you wouldn’t believe the sort of horseapples I’ve had to deal with! First the sun wouldn’t go down, and while I was worrying about that, this ambassador from the Griffin Nation showed up and he was a real jerk and I kicked him out and now I’m worried I may have accidentally started a war.
“And then the sun went down. Good, right? Except then everything went dark because we didn’t have any power, and Spike had to find a backup generator, and it wouldn’t start and he had to open it up and breathe fire all over it just to get it going, and then Derpy and Time Turner got married, again, and I had to preside over their whole stupid muffin-themed wedding.
“And then, when I think things can’t get any weirder, freaking Nightmare Moon shows up out of nowhere and I had to fight her off singlehoofedly until you two showed up!”
The whole time Twilight was talking, Celestia was listening, nodding every now and then.
“My, it sounds like you’ve had one busy day!” she said once Twilight was finished.
“Sister!”
“Yes, Luna?”
“Don’t you think you’ve been a little harsh on your student?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“You see, this,” said Luna to Twilight, “is why I call her Trollestia sometimes.”
“Nonsense, Luna!” rebutted Celestia. “I know what I’m doing.”
“I know. That’s the problem.”
“Huh?” Twilight was confused.
Luna sighed. “I’m afraid what Celestia did to you was a bit of a prank. She knew very well how much insane stuff you’d have to deal with.”
“She did? Then why’d she put me in charge?”
“She thought it would be funny.”
“Funny!? Did she know what I’d have to go through? Did she know Derpy would be getting married today?”
“Of course she knew about Derpy and Time Turner. That’s why she picked today to put you in charge.”
“Did she know that the palace (and half of Canterlot) had no power?”
“Yes, that too. She actually did that herself.”
Twilight looked at her mentor. “Why, Celestia? Why did you put me through all that?”
Celestia smiled. “It was a learning experience for you, my student. Yes, I did put you through those trials quite intentionally. And wouldn’t you say you’ve learned a lot? You got to meet an ambassador from another nation! You learned how to deal with an unexpected situation, such as the sun going down suddenly when you had no power – and you solved it! And you did it all with an extra pair of clumsy appendages that you weren’t accustomed to and didn’t know how to use. And to top it all off, you presided over a Canterlot wedding! How many mares your age can say they’ve done all that?”
Twilight thought about this.
“And yes,” confessed Celestia, “I also thought it was kinda funny. But, that wasn’t the main reason. I did this to teach you to solve problems. To teach you to deal with unusual, even downright bizarre, scenarios. To teach you to lead.”
Celestia had a point. Despite the stress she’d been through, Twilight did come out a better mare because of it all.
“Wow...” said Twilight. “That’s incredible. I guess I did learn a lot!”
“And yes, certain ponies do call me Trollestia.” She shot a look at her sister. “But sometimes a trickster’s lesson is what you need in order to really learn something.”
“Okay,” conceded Luna, “I may have misjudged your decision to put Twilight in charge. Looks like you knew what you were doing after all.”
“Thank you, Sister,” said Celestia.
“Yeah,” said Twilight, her attitude improving. “And I learned a bit about how to fend off a powerful attacker, too.”
…
“I mean, I’m guessing you planned that whole Nightmare Moon thing out as a lesson for me, right?”
Celestia was speechless. Oh right, that.
“It’s okay, I figured it out,” continued Twilight. “You wanted it to look like the real deal—that’s why you did that whole battle scene just now—but there’s no way that was really Nightmare Moon. I mean, come on.”
Celestia looked at Twilight, eyes wide. She shook her head.
“I’m sorry, my student,” said Celestia, “but as far as I can tell, that Nightmare Moon was quite real.”
“So then, what—”
“Nopony knows,” said Celestia, “but we shouldn’t have to worry about that now, thanks to Luna here.”
Luna smiled at Twilight. But it wasn’t the same friendly smile she’d given Mr. Cake way back when.
No, Luna looked sly. Like a weasel. A sneaky little weasel-pony.
“But, how—”
“Hyper Beam,” said Luna. “Works every time.”
“Luna, you have to teach me that spell sometime. Later, I mean. I’m exhausted right about now.”
“I don’t blame you, considering the day you’ve had.” Luna leaned in closer. “And she won’t admit it, but Celestia’s exhausted as well.”
Celestia didn’t look exhausted. She was standing tall, smiling grandly as she always does. But Twilight knew Luna was right.
“And I don’t just mean in the short term,” continued Luna. “She’s singlehoofedly held Equestria together for over a thousand years now. I’ve tried to help out since my return, but she still insists on doing most of the work. And believe me, it is work.”
Twilight thought back on her day. “Oh, I believe you.”
“And that,” said Celestia, “is the other reason I let you be in charge today.”
Yeah, Celestia heard everything. (Awkward...)
“I’ve ruled over this nation for most of my long life, and never have I complained.”
Celestia sighed. “But it’s true, I’m growing weary of my position. For my own health, I need somepony who can take over for me.”
What.
“Equestrian law dictates that the line of royal succession must go from one family member to another. Luna and I could change that on a whim, of course, but there’s no need to—when your brother married Cadance you became our niece-in-law.”
“Well technically, you’re our third cousin, 41-times-removed-in-law, although—”
“You’re ruining the moment, Luna...”
“Sorry.”
“Anyway,” Celestia continued, “your talents and abilities demonstrate that you would make a splendid leader of Equestria. Someday, I mean. Right now you still have much to learn—but you are definitely coming along nicely.”
This was a bit much to take in. Celestia wants me to lead Equestria? As in, permanently? She silently hoped that day would be a long way off.
“You two should talk about this more in the morning,” said Luna.
Celestia pouted, but Luna held firm. “Seriously, Sister, get some sleep. And you too, Twilight.”
“I suppose she has a point,” said Celestia. “Let’s get some rest, and tomorrow we can discuss your second day as Acting Princess.”
Second day? Twilight wasn’t sure she could handle another day like the one she’d just been through. But she was Celestia’s faithful student, and this was perhaps the most important lesson she would ever get from her teacher.
“And where do you think you’re going?” asked Luna.
Twilight jumped, then realized the accusation wasn’t directed at her.
“I’m... going to bed?” replied Celestia, somewhat confused.
“Is that your bedroom?”
“Um...”
“That’s the Royal Bedchamber, which is to be occupied only by a regent princess.”
“Which... I am?”
“But we ceded power to Twilight, remember? She gets to sleep there. You get to sleep in the guest room.”
“Seriously?”
“Really, it’s okay!” piped up Twilight. “I’m more familiar with the guest room anyway. I’d actually prefer to sleep there.”
Luna chuckled. “Come on, I’m just messing around!”
Celestia laughed a little, but it sounded forced. “Alright, enough of that. We’ve all had a very long day, and I’m going to bed before I collapse on the floor.”
As Twilight made her way to the guest room, she couldn’t help but think back to the books she’d read on the strange and convoluted behemoth that is Equestrian law.
As she was opening the door to her room, she saw Luna about to leave the castle.
“Hey, Luna...”
Luna turned to face her. “Yes?”
“I just realized... about the room arrangements...”
“Oh, hope I didn’t cause too much of a stir. I was just joking.”
“Yes,” said Twilight, “but technically, you were right.”
Oh. Luna raised her eyebrows. “I see why Celestia chose you to be her protege. You’re clever and well-read. A surprisingly rare combination in this day and age.”
With that, Luna walked outside and flew off.
Twilight climbed into the guest bed and pulled the covers over her, clumsily pushing her wings out of the way as was necessary. As she settled in, she noticed Spike curled up on the sofa. So that’s where he’s been! Not that I blame him... Spike’s presence actually made sense, as this had been her and Spike’s room back before Celestia sent them to Ponyville. After all that had happened, she was glad she at least got to sleep in a familiar environment.
Good night, little dragon, she thought, before drifting off to sleep.
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Zzzzzz...