//------------------------------//
// Consulting a Princess 
// Story: One Castle, Two Alicorns 
// by James Pwyll 
//------------------------------//

"Hmmm...troubling. Most troubling."

Celestia's concern was as clear as the days she ushered in every morning, and after looking over the many, many, many papers that Twilight had brought in for her, she slowly glanced up to look her former apprentice in the eye.

"This is quite unexpected."

Twilight nodded.

"I know. I'd have come to you sooner, but..."

However, Celestia gave a quick shake of her head.

"You needn't apologise, my faithful student. A matter of this nature no doubt took time to properly study."

Gracefully, the eldest of alicorns rose from her throne, stepping down towards the younger Princess before her.

"This clone of yours...this Midnight Sparkle...what do you make of her?"

Twilight sighed, looking away from her old teacher, to the many stained-glass windows that decorated this chamber.

"Hard to say. When she first came to me, she said she sought her own survival. That her continued existence was her greatest priority."

She paused, and then looked back to Celestia.

"I don't think she was lying when she said that. Chrysalis is now her enemy, and I think we can both agree that a mark like that would make anyone nervous."

Celestia nodded, grimacing briefly.

"Indeed. Having been on the receiving end of the Queen's power myself, I can certainly understand a need to stay away from her. And where better to do so than within the home of ones who have thwarted her? Truly this Midnight has your intelligence at least."

That was a prospect that gave Twilight pause. The older alicorn began to walk past her, and so she soon followed, keeping a respectful distance and listening well as her mentor continued.

"Does Midnight seem like a danger to you? Or a threat to others? She was, quite literally, born to be our enemy, after all."

A difficult question, but one that Twilight had apparently been giving thought to already.

"She and I aren't exactly friends right now, but I don't think she's going to just outright attack anyone."

Celestia's eyes narrowed a little bit.

"Not yet at least."

Twilight nodded in acknowledgement of that.

"She was created by one of our greatest enemies, and her very being is dark magic. Those are two things I would not want to have to think about when it comes to people living in my home, or anywhere else for that matter."

Celestia stopped here, as did Twilight, and the former soon turned to look to her, smiling and placing her hoof on her shoulder gently.

"You did not err, Twilight, allowing her into the palace as you did. If she posed no threat to you, and asked for aid, you acted like any Princess would. I'm proud to hear that you would show compassion like that."

Twilight smiled, but only for a short while, as she continued to seem worried about this whole situation.

"I just wish I could talk about her with certainty. There's just so much about her I don't know. I don't know if she has any ulterior motives, I don't know If I can befriend her, I just...don't know! She's a total mystery to me!"

Celestia nodded.

"I understand. It can be frustrating, being near one who is so hard to read."

A quick giggle on her part.

"Reminds me of whenever Discord and I spend time with one another these days. One moment we can be quite cordial, and the next, he may decide that bringing a hydra into the throne room would be fun."

Though briefly amused by that notion, Twilight's mind would not allow her to stray from what this meeting was all about.

"Midnight's certainly a strange one. I've never met someone like her before."

Celestia looked down to her, raising an eyebrow slightly and bearing a small look of mischievousness.

"You mean besides when you're looking in the mirror?"

Twilight, in stark contrast to how she might have behaved around Celestia years ago, rolled her eyes.

"Princess! Be serious about this!"

Another giggle from Celestia.

"Do forgive me, Twilight. But when you've lived as long as I have, and seen so many strange and wonderful things, you learn to find fun where you can."

The white mare looked away, pondering all of this for a little bit longer.

"So now we have two Twilights. Hmmm...I wonder if there's enough books in the world to satisfy that development?"

In spite of herself, Twilight too gave a laugh to that, shared also by Celestia afterwards. But, as pleasant as this quick moment was, it didn't last, and Twilight calmed down a bit, nodding to what was said before.

"She and I may share the same face...but she was created to be my opposite. To be everything I'm not. She's distant, closed off, blunt, and seems to think only in terms of what's pragmatic for her. We've spoken here and there, but nothing about those talks make me think she's interested in forging any kind of relationship with me or anyone else."

Celestia listened well to that, but said nothing as Twilight again looked to the many windows around them. Specifically, the young alicorn focused on the one depicting the triumph of her and her friends over Nightmare Moon. Celestia silently wondered if that's how her apprentice viewed Midnight, as a dark alicorn bent on little more than domination. A shadow to her, just as Luna once was to Celestia in that unhappy distant past. Worry came to Twilight's expression, and she soon looked down to the ground.

"I just...hope I haven't made a mistake in letting her so close. She isn't doing anything wrong now, but what about later? What if I've only let in a future enemy?"

The older Princess, at last being given a silence in which to respond, stood tall and regal, before speaking in the calm-yet-commanding tone she was known for.

"We can never know what nature a person truly is, how they think, or what they may do, until they do it. It is a risk, that much is certain, and a day may well come when this Midnight does something to warrant being fearful of her."

Twilight looked up as Celestia carried on.

"I said before that you did the right thing in helping her when she asked for sanctuary, and I meant it, Twilight. She may have been born in darkness, but that darkness has touched the hearts of many in this nation's history. Luna, Stygian, even your own apprentice once upon a time."

A smile came to her.

"And as you well know, those who have been marked by shadow can still find a path of light."

Like before, she placed her hoof on Twilight's shoulder, looking to her in the same way a proud and caring Mother might.

"And if there's anyone who might be able to help this lost soul find friendship, or even just a sense of belonging...it's you."

Twilight's smile was a wide one, as was expected when her icon would say such things to her. But, rather than simply rushing forward and giving her teacher a big hug, like every fibre of her being was screaming at her to do, she instead kept her composure, and gave a sweeping bow. Celestia, still smiling, returned the gesture, undoubtedly enjoying this moment. But when the two of them rose, the older alicorn's look was one of seriousness.

"I hope you don't mind, Twilight, but I feel I should inform my sister and Cadence of this development as well. Not only do we now have to deal with the issue of an alicorn made from dark magic, but there's also the rather troubling matter of Chrysalis now knowing of the Elements and their whereabouts. These are things we must all be wary of now."

Twilight nodded, matching her fellow Princess' expression.

"Of course. And I need to get back to Ponyville. I don't want to be away from watching Midnight too long."

Celestia nodded back, stepping aside to allow her younger friend by. Twilight offered her another smile as she left, but before she got too far away, she was stopped by the sound of Celestia's voice.

"And Twilight..."

Twilight turned, seeing the focused and intent expression on Celestia.

"...you know your duty, as a Princess of Equestria. If Midnight does one day pose a threat, to you or others...if she strays back to the dark path of the one who created her...do not hesitate to use the Elements. If you have to."

Twilight didn't like having to hear that, but she nodded in agreement all the same.

"Only if I have to."