It was always an exciting time whenever Twilight Sparkle or any of her friends came to Canterlot.
Celestia couldn't help smiling as her student bowed before her. Despite her recent rise to royalty, Twilight was still as humble as ever. "Come now, Twilight...I sent the guards away for a reason."
Immediately perking up--literally, her wings immediately rose to each of her sides--her prized pupil came towards her at a full gallop, practically throwing herself at her.
Naturally, she arranged for Twilight to stay in her own room in the castle. As far as she was concerned, she and the other Elements of Harmony were welcome to stay here for as long as they liked or needed.
Or at least, she tried to, but was cut off by Luna. "Nonsense, Sister," she said, waving a glass-covered hoof. "Why not allow her to stay in my quarters?"
Celestia frowned. "Are you sure, Luna? We've got plenty of room." That was an understatement. Truth be told, the only reason Celestia knew her way around the castle was because she was over a millennium and a half old and had dedicated a lot of that time to map out every room, every hall, every nook and cranny within her immortal mind.
"Of course!" Luna beamed up at her sister. "I insist." She turned her gaze to Twilight, who, right then, seemed to find her purple hooves particularly interesting.
She almost managed to hide the bashful smile on her warm velvety muzzle. Almost.
"Well, all right. If you're certain."
That might have been the end of it, but some time after Luna had raised the moon and most ponies had gone to bed, Celestia stayed up a bit later than she usually did. Curious about her sister and her prized pupil, she made her way through the castle's elegant hallways and to her sister's room. Once there, she used her magic to open the doorway.
They hadn't spoken about it since Luna's return, but she'd ordered the castle maids and custodians to keep Luna's room tidy, but to always return everything to its rightful place after their cleaning was done. Even all those centuries ago, she'd wanted her sister to come home to find her room left exactly the way it was.
Celestia's lilac eyes widened as she took in the one difference. Luna and Twilight had already retired for the night; Celestia could see that almost as clearly as if the scene before her were illuminated by sunlight. They hadn't bothered with the dark blue bedspread on Luna's bed; their wings were draped over each other, lavender shining brightly against deep blue. Twilight's head was tucked beneath Luna's, having shifted her horn underneath Luna's jaw. Luna's head, meanwhile, rested against Twilight's neck. Celestia couldn't recall a time when her sister had ever smiled in her sleep, let alone one that was so contented.
Celestia backed away, taking care to place her golden horseshoes so they wouldn't clink too loudly against the floor, and slowly shut the door before her.
She trotted down the hallway to her own room. That certainly explains a lot, she thought with a smile. She decided right then and there that they would tell her when they were well and truly ready.