"Well, there's nothing wrong here. Right, sister? "
"No. Everything's perfect as usual, sister "
Despite all of Twilight's panicking and hyperventilating (and perhaps working the cogs on her music box conduit a liiiiitle too hard), Starlight Glimmer had an idea of what the problem was. And what she was going to do about it.
Called to Canterlot Castle solo by the Map, both she and Twilight were a little confused as to why it only called one pony instead of two, but it wasn't something Starlight didn't think she could do alone. Until Twilight started to make her feel that way, but putting those thoughts aside, she joined Celestia at the breakfast table once again.
"Wow" She smiled at the stack of pancakes, decorated with peach slices and pineapple fingers and shaped into a smiley face, "I almost feel bad for eating this, it's adorable!"
"Like I said, I enjoy this part" Celestia cheerily gave her reply as she walked to her side of the breakfast table, only having time to pick up her teacup before the door slammed open, the sour face of her sister making an appearance into the breakfast room and taking a banana from the fruit on the table. Peeling it, but eating the peel instead of the fruit, Celestia could only sip her tea in passive-aggressive disapproval as Starlight quickly got to her hooves.
"Princess Luna! Wait!" She approached the moon monarch, only to be made with a Princess with deep bags under her eyes and an expression that could frighten a cockatrice. Taken aback, Starlight glanced at Celestia, who let go of her teacup with a little more abruptness than needed, and seemed to give a look that indicated that she was ready to chew Luna's flank off if Luna snapped at their guest. Sensing the tension in the room was reaching a simmering point, Starlight breathed out, preparing herself mentally and emotionally for confronting the most powerful alicorns in the land about their issues.
"As you both know, the map sent me here for a reason, and I... think I found out what it is" She ended her opening line with an uneasy smile. Celestia rose up and stood next to her sister, her light voice such a contrast to Luna's air.
"Really? That's wonderful, Starlight!" A soft half-laugh. The praise was making Starlight see why Twilight was so happy being Celestia's student, it was nice getting this sort of encouragement, "What is it?"
Starlight almost wished she didn't have the say the next part. Celestia looked so chipper, and even Luna simply looked tired rather than irritated. Both looked at her expectantly, and her unease smile dissolved into an uneasy grimace.
"You two" She stated bluntly. Both Celestia and Luna were startled, and in one voice answered.
"Excuse me?" Was Celestia's enquiry, with Luna being more abrupt with "I beg your pardon?". However, when both were quick on the defence, they also looked at each other uneasily, and Starlight took that as her opening.
"Iiii think you're accidentally hurting each other's feelings, uh, without realizing it" Quickly she added on the last part. Blame never helped, it never helped to have one pony accused of doing something, it was better to have a pony explain how they were hurt rather than accusing the other of harming them. Both sisters looked at each other, but just as quickly, they looked away, seemingly unwilling or unable to communicate. She moved onto addressing specific issues facing the Princesses that she had personally seen, stepping closer to the tall white alicorn, "Princess Celestia, does it bother you that Luna seems to never notice the wonderful breakfasts that you prepare for her?"
Celestia looked away, her head down slightly, her voice sad, " Uh... Y-Yes. It does"
"Princess Luna, how you feel about the idea that Celestia never seems to acknowledge the work you put into lining the hallway with lavender every night?"
Luna was startled at first, but then frowned, more defensive than Celestia, "I... Well, I... I-It's not the best feeling" She admitted, and for a moment Starlight thought she was going to turn to Celestia. With the dire warnings about the last time they had a disagreement, Starlight very quickly moved onto her next point.
"When I was walking with you two, it ... seemed like the only time you see each other is when the other has finished their duties. Luna is exhausted with the night duties and the dream realm, and Celestia is drained from all the day duties and dignitaries. I know that ... well, both your jobs are hard. I've seen it!" Starlight probably said those last words too quick and too loud, but she was very eager to avoid a comparison. That would only end in disaster, she had more than an earful about how one sister thought the other had an easy job.
"It might just be me ... but it seems like you are acting more like coworkers than ... well, sisters"
Celestia and Luna blinked at her, unsure about how to respond to that.
"When was the last time you did anything AS sisters? Not, y'know, a festival or an event or something. Just ... having some fun together? Taking time out to bond?"
"..." Celestia tried to think, while Luna wrinkled her lip.
"I don't know if you've noticed, Starlight, but we have a lot of duties, we simply can't drop everything and go for a day trip"
"Princesses don't get to have some time off?" Starlight rose a brow, "I mean, I know ruling Equestria is a huge thing and it takes both of you to do it" She thought it best to completely avoid the time that Celestia did it alone, for terrible reasons that would hurt them both, "But you need time for YOU. You're not just Princess Celestia who raises the sun, and Princess Luna who raises the moon. You are Luna and Celestia, the royal pony sisters. SISTERS. Even Twilight takes time off, and you know Twilight, she would work 500 hours a day if you let her"
Celestia had to stifle a giggle at that piece of truth, as Luna looked away again.
"What I am thinking is that you two only see each other when you are tired, and that's not good. I know that when I don't get to see my friends, when I only see them at school and they are busy with the students, that I feel resentment. I get jealous. It's kinda bad when they have this history and all these cool adventures together and ..." She sat on her rump and waved her hooves, "I ... don't. I feel left out. And I feel like they don't acknowledge the things I do either. But the summer is here, the students are all home for the holidays, and I get to spend time with the girls, and I can travel to the Crystal Empire to see Sunburst. We get to see each other outside of work and whatever's decided to attack Equestria. And... I think that's what you two need"
"Do you think this can be solved over some pancakes and lavender?" Luna asked bluntly, and Starlight once again smiled awkwardly.
"Well, no ... but I think it will help you rest and see each other more. Please, think about it. Twilight and Cadance can help, I'm sure of it, and you have lots of seasoned royal palace helpers that know how things work here inside out. One of you sleeps during the day and the other at night, sure, but if you take, say three days off, you can meet up your sleep patterns, and have a day to go back to normal!" She swallowed, offering a bright smile to sell the idea, "Sound fair? And if you are really worried, you can still raise and lower the moon, but maybe do that together ... "
Celestia and Luna looked at each other, sizing up the other's opinion. Celestia decided to move first.
"I ... had been hoping that we could attend the next Wonderbolt Fantastic Friday Flyover but I thought that would be too early for you so I didn't want to ask ..."
Luna looked down, sullen, but then brought her gaze back up, "There IS a performance of Manicore Melodies at the Opera I've been wanting to see but was too busy at night to catch and I thought it too late for you ...."
Starlight brightened, "Wonderful! You can do things together! Not as Princesses, but as sisters!"
"... Very well, Starlight" Celestia smiled, giving an air of dignity to the whole awkward affair, "We will try this. Starting next week to give everyone more time to prepare"
"Good choice" Starlight nodded, standing up again and pleased with herself at how it all ended, "... I can still eat the pancakes until then, right?"
Celestia laughed, "Of course ..."