Celestia was in no mood yet to play nicely and swiped the glass across the room where it sprayed its contents in an arc through the air until it hit the wall, breaking on impact. Twilight flinched inwardly, but allowed no signs of her displeasure to creep across her face. Celestia growled and curled up beside the bed, oblivious to the damp texture she was settling into and gave a few more involuntary coughs before her head lolled and she started snoring loudly.
Twilight took in the pitiful image and wept. She had felt she would always look up to Celestia as her icon; a glowing example of perfection and infallibility, yet for the first time, she could see her as a broken individual, somepony wrestling with issues of such personal magnitude that she was failing not just herself, but everypony else too. Perhaps being the omniscient immortal ruler of Equestria did not imply infallibility after all, but the curse of being condemned to face every wretched emotion in a never ending cycle? The thought made Twilight desperately sad and she lay down next to Celestia to comfort her, irrespective of the unpleasant dampness prevailing around her as she settled down; all that mattered was to comfort this poor sad pony whom she loved so much.
Twilight held no comprehension of the passing of time, other than for her increasing realisation that she was hungry, but this was being kept in constant check by the acrid smell surrounding her, holding back any desire she had to eat. The mess in which she lay had now hardened and felt uncomfortable on her fur, but still she hugged her beloved Princess. Eventually, a few kicks and a head twitch announced that Celestia was waking once more. She braced herself for more abuse which she hoped would not come, but was fully prepared to tackle head-on when it did.
The white mare groaned self-piteously, “Rainbow …”
“It’s alright Princess, I’m here” comforted Twilight, stroking her mane gently with a forehoof.
“Where is my Rainbow?” asked Celestia, more coherently than she had sounded in days.
Twilight summoned another glass of water and lovingly wiped away the bitter residue from her mentor’s mouth so that she may have a nicer taste when the first drops of fresh water reached her tongue.
To her surprise, Celestia accepted the offer and took a few sips before her head became too heavy and sank to the floor again.
“Leave me to die, Twilight …” she implored.
The faithful student thought about all the witty rejoinders she could make about how impossible that was given her immortality, but wisely thought better of it.
“I’m not leaving you, Celestia” she reassured. Had she just called her by her real name? Was it because she had suddenly seen her as vulnerable and exposed instead of her infallible idol? Whether intentional or not, the more she analysed what she had said, the more she realised that it would mark an irreversible shift in their relationship.
“No, but I will only lose you, just like I lost my Rainbow” she sobbed and began to cry; not for the first time, Twilight surmised, moving in closer to hold her with all the tenderness a mare shows her new born foal.
“Oh Twilight, You will never be able to understand” sniffled the white mare, hiding under her lifeless mane, refusing to even lift her head.
“Just talk to me when you’re ready” said her former student softly, “I’m here for you.”
“Thank you, Twilight” she replied gratefully.
“It’s still daylight” Celestia commented suddenly, lifting her head up.
“Yes” replied Twilight, startled into a response, “It’s been like this for some time now, but Equestria has come to no harm. If there had been a problem, I’m sure Princess Luna could have handled it.”
“No, she can’t. She has not raised the moon since her return and has never been able to control the sun. I must do my duty …”
“I’m sure Princess Luna will be happy to see you, but maybe …” Twilight made exaggerated eye movements up and down Celestia’s body.
“Oh. Oh, I see” concurred the dirty and smelly Princess.
“Here, let me help you to the bathroom, Celestia” offered the faithful student, taking control as her mentor gradually became aware of how much she had let things slide over the last few days.
“Perhaps a sip of water first, please?”
Twilight giggled happily; these were the first signs of the Princess she knew returning to her.
They made their way carefully out of the bedroom together, Celestia eyeing the damage and cringing at what she must have done in the throes of her drunken grief. As they passed one of the remaining full length mirrors that hadn’t been broken, she recoiled at the image that looked back at her, covered in all manner of the most dreadful looking and foul smelling stains. Then she looked more closely at Twilight, her faithful student who had uncomplainingly been staying by her and saw she looked little better.
“Come on” she prompted, “You too.”
“What?” asked Twilight, recoiling slightly, “With you?”
“Why ever not? I generally request maid service, but I don’t think either of us should be seen in this state. Come on, I won’t tell if you don’t” she added matter of factly.
It was a perfectly sensible request, but Twilight still hesitated before following the white mare into the walk-in shower.
The cleansing water washed away the external traces of Celestia’s desperate heartache, but Twilight knew it would take a lot longer before the psychological damage would begin to heal. As the warm water played over them, she rubbed the last stubborn marks off Celestia’s back and then closed her eyes in delight as she felt the white hooves of her mentor rub her down too.
When they emerged, it was as two new clean ponies. Celestia had some more water and an apple as she tried to straighten herself out and once she was ready, Twilight went to the door and opened it to see Luna still waiting anxiously for news.
“What hast happened? Hast thou established what ails our sister so?”
“Please come in, Princess Luna” replied Twilight, ushering her in to see her sister in one of the reception rooms in Celestia’s chambers; one that did not betray any hint of what had happened during her breakdown.
“Sister! Oh our Sister! It is with a happy heart that we receive thee again!”
“Thank you Luna. I’m sorry I have failed you and in time will offer my reasons, but for now I believe we are a little off track with our timekeeping.”
“Yes, Sister. Some four days to be precise.”
“Very well, let us lay the sun to rest. I should also be delighted if you would raise the moon please Sister.”
Luna stepped back; the realisation of what she had done when last trusted with that duty weighing heavily on her as she considered the temptation of what her sister was offering her once more.
“Luna, you are welcome to resume your rightful responsibilities when you choose, but what this recent episode has taught me is that it is dangerous for only one of us to have the power over day and night. Please, I should be honoured.”
As the two sisters walked out into the corridor towards the Royal balcony, Celestia turned to see her faithful student left behind on her own, unsure whether to stay or accompany them any further.
“I should be delighted if you could join us too” she stated.
Twilight skipped at the request and happily followed the two sisters.
She may not have been a Princess, but at that moment she felt like one.