"It is good we can all meet." Celestia looked to Twilight, who had finished her greeting ritual with Cadance, who was also coming closer. "We are all princesses of Equestria. It gladdens me to know you all take that seriously."
Twilight bobbed her head. "Of course, Princess Celestia." She had been told to stop with that first part, but habits were slow to die. "How can I help?"
Umbra dipped her head at who was queen, even if she refused the title. "With great powers come great responsibilities." Tired? Cliché? Maybe in human land! To the ponies, fresh and clever. "Do we get to be part of the meeting?"
"You do not." Another alicorn joined them, dark of pelt, mane like that of flowing stars. "But, as sister said, it is good to meet you all. It is indeed comforting to know there are other princesses ready to assume that mantle."
Umbra gasped suddenly, drawing eyes. "Luna!"
"That is me." Luna quirked a little smile. "Ah, this is the first time in person, is it not?"
"It is." She prowled forward, circling Luna. "Hello, fellow princess of darkness. Don't suppose you're ready to share with me?"
"I prefer princess of peace, and inspiration." Luna set a hoof on her chest as she wove less worrying titles. "Introspection, a fine word for it."
"That all comes in the dark," countered Umbra. "Speaking of, dreams are part of my domain too, but I can't find that spell. Please help?"
She was suddenly pushed, magic sliding her back and away as Celestia moved between her and Luna. Luna wandered off to other business. Celestia was watching Umbra intently. As soon as Luna was far enough away, Celestia began to speak, "I would thank you not to press on this matter. I gave the task of dream walking to Luna. She holds it very dearly to her heart." She leaned in closer. "Why do you want it?"
Umbra crossed her arms. "I'm not trying to step on any toes. I just want to help people, and if I can give them nice dreams, that would be doing it. Besides, she lives... what, a million miles south." Umbra pointed in the direction the tracks had gone. "Can she help the ponies up here?"
"Physical distance is a... It doesn't work the same in the dream realm." Celestia took a slow breath, a faint hiss. "I haven't walked it myself often. I am a creature of light. Of day. Dreams do not come intuitively to me, as a magic I control. They are instead thrust upon me, sometimes with dread import." She seemed to consider Umbra freshly. "But you are a shadow creature. The night is your home."
"No arguments." She waggled a hoof at the large Celestia. "But I don't do the night schedule, or I wouldn't be here."
Celestia booped Umbra on the nose. "Luna does keep a night schedule, yet she is here. Sacrifices need be made at times."
Umbra winced at that. "No wonder she was cranky... I stay up late once in a while, but not as a habit."
"So be gentle with her."
"Right, right... Except." She leaned in closer to Celestia. "You said you gave her dream magic. That means you know it, so...." She curled her hooves on herself. "Hook a sister up?"
"You are not my sister." Though a smile was worn, looking more amused by Umbra than offended. "We should begin the summit. Keep Twilight company, if you would. I am glad she'll have the company of at least one princess."
Before then, a public appearance. All the princesses went up to a balcony to wave properly at the gathering crowd below, cheering at their sight. They called and hooted and stomped in obvious joy at the sight of their protectors, rulers, and just generally pretty in most cases ponies.
As they went back inside, Umbra was grinning. "I feel so... Important."
Twilight hiked a brow. "All we did was wave. That's not important."
Umbra zipped around to be in front of Twilight. "You take that back. If it wasn't important, they wouldn't be cheering so loudly. We made their day." Even as they argued, the 'real' princesses went on without them, vanishing into a room with heavy doors. Closed doors.
"But is that all there is to being a princess?" sighed out Twilight. "Smiling and waving? I thought... There'd be more to it."
"There is! But that's also part of it." Umbra moved two hooves like tips of a scale. "A princess that doesn't make appearances is doing a disservice. But you do other things beside that. I've heard about you, Twilight."
Twilight blinked softly at that. "What did you hear?"
Umbra leaned in with a big grin. "You're a hero. Like, over and over. If trouble comes along, you're on it." She burst into a cackle suddenly. "Like me, come to think. You see trouble, and you just can't let that stand. Now... we're done with princess duty, for the moment."
Twilight peered back at the balcony they had left. "That was princess duty?"
"What else would it be?" Umbra shrugged softly. "So, wanna trade arcane secrets?"
Twilight was quiet a moment, but a nod came. "Alright. Better than moping around waiting for them." She gave the closed doors a glare, but was soon walking alongside Umbra. "Have you only studied shadow magic?"
"Shadow all day every day." Umbra nodded firmly. "I am a shadow wizard, right? Why?"
"I'm just curious." Twilight shrugged softly. "If you like learning magic, why not try something else? There's a lot of magic out there that isn't shadow related."
Umbra came in, pressing side to side with Twilight. "Well, seems to me a teacher just dropped in on me out of nowhere. Maybe if I ask her really really nicely, she'll show me something neat."
"We can't be sure." Twilight inclined her head with a smirk. "Suppose you'll just have to try and see what happens."
"I'll share a secret for a secret." Umbra willed her door open. "Rainbow Dash is embarassed to bring it up, so I'm going to guess she didn't go too heavy about preening."
"This came up earlier." Twilight nodded firmly. "I am aware of the practice, yes, why?"
"Why?" Umbra kicked the door shut behind them. "Because it feels nice. Doing it to yourself is a calming thing, like brushing your own hair or taking a nice bath. Self care!" She backed a step from Twilight and pointed at her. "But preening someone else? A whole different game."
Twilight's eyes half closed in a suspicious squint. "Communal grooming techniques are often used as a social bonding tech--" She stopped. Her wing had been grabbed in magic and Umbra was gently working over her feathers in slow motions. "Techniques!" she squeaked, trying to talk despite that distracting touch. "Oh..."
"Yeah, feels good." Umbra released Twilight, laughing gently. "But that's all you get. Preening every pegasus I see will get me looked at oddly."
Twilight's wings fidgeted on her back. "I... see... I'm still getting used to them." She spread those wings out. "I didn't ask for them."
"Me neither." Umbra looked over her shoulder. "But also not complaining. Wings are fun. Now, magic!"
"Alright, alright." Twilight's horn began to glow, plucking a book out of nothing. "Shadow magic has a lot in common with transmutation magic, so..." She tapped at a displayed spell. "Let's give this one a try, hm?"
And so it was that they practiced the fine art of turning things into oranges. Apparently a classic in Equestria. "I will never want for vitamin C in a hurry!" The magic didn't come quickly. The rhythm of that spell felt... odd. More accurately, perhaps, it was shadow magic that had an odd sound to it, and she was used to that.
But she was learning it, and turning things into oranges, which amused her greatly. "You are the best, Twi." She grabbed Twilight in a hug that wasn't resisted, but also wasn't returning, the smaller princess looking more surprised than affectionate. "But it's getting late. We should both get some sleep."
Twilight peeked her head out of the room. "Are they still in there?" The doors, closed. "What could they even be discussing...?"
"Secret princess things." Umbra rubbed her hooves together. "One day I will earn the right to discuss property ownership mandates!"
Twilight hiked a brow at that. "What?"
"Just joking around. Sleep well, Twi."
"You too." Twilight retreated at a casual walk. "Good job. That wasn't your specialty, clearly, but you stuck to it and you have it working, which is more than most unicorns could claim."
A new voice spoke up, "Did you enjoy yourself?"
Umbra jumped in place with a squeak, coming down facing Purple Polish. "How long were you there?!"
"The entire day, ma'am." She dipped her head. "One talent one learns in this position is to fade into the background."
Umbra colored with realization. "So you were watching me..."
"Groom Princess Twilight's wing?" Umbra sagged, but Purple seemed unphased. "You made good progress with that spell, ma'am."
"Thank you." Umbra rubbed behind her head. "But I really should get some sleep."
"Not before you eat, ma'am." And off Purple went to make that happen.
Umbra shook her head at where Purple had been. "I need to be more aware of my surroundings..." For being a prey species, ponies were not that hard to sneak up on. How did they survive predators? She hopped up onto her bed and divested herself of her clothes, minus her tiara. That stayed on! She had everything neatly folded by the time Purple returned with a tray on her back. "What sort of tasty treats have you got for me?"
"Your favorite." Purple approached as Umbra applauded. It was good to be appreciated.
Twilight sat up with confusion. "Wha? Hey!" She ran off after the intruder that had taken her tiara, not knowing what adventure she was rushing towards.
Darkness plunged the hallway ahead out of sight, but the pony fleeing her didn't slow, going through it as Umbra emerged from her room, the darkness fading along with it. "That didn't stop them."
"Good try." Twilight hadn't paused, still running. "They stole my tiara!"
Umbra looked up to be sure hers was still there, yep! Phew. "I won't stand for jewel thieves on my watch!"
They arrived in the mirror room just in time for the figure to vanish through it out of sight. "What?" Twilight slowed her approach, confused at the mirror. "What is this?"
"Don't!" Umbra hurried to get between Twilight and the mirror. "That leads to a whole other world. I got a peek though."
"I did too." Twilight nodded, regaining her breath with soft puffs. "Yellow and red." She ran a hoof through her own mane. "With a sun for a cutie mark."
"Oh dear." Celestia arrived in the room, along with the girls and Spike. "She returned." Her voice was not certain, as if she wasn't entirely sure how to feel.
Umbra pointed at the mirror. "And she stole Twi's tiara. Does the mirror work both ways?"
Celestia perked her ears at Umbra. "The portal is two ways, yes."
Twilight took a firm step forward. "Then I'm going in."
"And us!" The girls clearly didn't want to be left behind.
"No." Celestia put out a hoof. "Too many things out of place can create... problems. In this, Twilight will have to go alone."
"Leave it to me." Twilight saluted sharply before advancing up to the mirror. "I can handle this..." She took a slow breath before pressing through into the shimmering surface of the mirror. Spike raced in after her, even if told not to. Kids...
Umbra hiked a thumb, which she didn't have, so the motion with a hoof would have to do. "I'm going too. I know that world. She doesn't. Someone with local knowledge will get this done, faster."
Celestia raised a brow at Umbra. "You are less likely to cause issues."
Applejack frowned. "Wait a moment. That ain't fair. Why is Umbra alright but we ain't?"
Celestia set a hoof on Umbra's nose. "Because she may be from there. And even if not, there will not be another Umbra there. The imbalance of her presence is smaller as a result. Go, but be careful."