The ground below her shifted as Twilight poured everything she had in the last spell. Her eyes glowed white and the surrounding area was briefly eloped in magenta signifying her magical aura.
Celestia held her hoof on her side for support. Being the only one in the vicinity to be able to get close to the caster Celestia allowed herself to be as much of a supporter as she wanted without the peering eyes of the world telling her it was improper for her to share such a close relationship with someone. Entering the forcefield of Twilight’s powerful magic, a sudden wave of nostalgia washed over her. It reminded her of their first meeting, where instead of a high-stake project, it was just a simple entrance exam that somehow blew a hole in her roof.
Feeling the last reminisce of the spell flee from her soul the spell made an audible sound and a gaping hole appeared and the fleeting shadows of the ponies on the other side waved at them. She had produced the final portal that connected Manehatten to Trottingham.
Celestia beamed with pride from seeing such a feat be completed, it made her heart weld. The ponies beyond the hill watching at a safe distance cheered just as loud as the feeling of pure love that she held within her.
“Twilight! You did it!” She yelled ecstatically, her arms were in the air and her features were etched with genuine glee, not the mask she became so accustomed to.
Twilight stood eerily still in place not acknowledging the presence beside her she was still on looking at the perfect portal she had just created. Celestia’s face contorted to concern immediately, her face furrowed and she nudged the young princess. Twilight’s leg gave in and she bent to the ground to stabilize herself she huffed overexertion was overcoming her. Celestia rushed to support her back up, she gladly took her hoof.
Turning to meet her worried eyes Twilight smiled trying to dispel her concerns for her well-being, “We did it, Celestia…” she managed to muster before collapsing right into Celestia’s shoulder.
Celestia held her close, “Yes, we did, Twilight. Now get some much-deserved rest,” she whispered close to her ear. She hadn’t heard it as she was sleeping in her grasp. Celestia couldn’t help to smile at how small she looked at that very moment.
☆ ☆ ☆
Back in Canterlot tried to guide Twilight to her room, but because she was utterly knocked out carrying her seemed to be the more effective method. The castle staff stared wildly at their appearance. Sometimes she would see a noble around the corner with a scowl, probably readying to complain about how unbeknownst it was for her as the ruler to do something so trivia as to tuck an exhausted pony to bed. ‘That job should be left to a servant!’ She could already hear the complaints for the day court. How dare she not uphold the status pretentious quo?
She paid them no mind.
Celestia turned her attention behind her after hearing the huffing of another presence. It was Raven her aide, with a clipboard in hand furiously jotting down with a quill. She smiled and waited for her to catch up.
“Raven, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Raven’s normally bank expression was rather unpolished, her features were a bit more eccentric, “Your majesty, I didn’t know you would be back so early!”
Princess Celestia smiled, “Twi- Princess Twilight’s spell worked more efficiently than we anticipated,” she explained.
“Perfect, it gives you the chance to talk to the nobles outside, they want an audience with you,” Raven said adjusting her glasses.
“On what basis?” Celestia asked flatly.
“They want to congratulate you on the success,” Raven said nervously.
Celestia firmly shook her head, “I do not need to entertain them if it’s just a congratulation.”
“Very well, Princess,” she said pushing up her glasses.
“Is that all?” Celestia said and raised her eyebrow waiting for another status update. Raven was in the middle of opening her mouth until Celestia spoke up again, “No? Then I want everything cleared today.”
“Princess!” Raven nearly shouted.
Celestia perked up, “Oh? Is something the matter?” she urged.
Raven cleared her voice to forgo the embarrassment, “That would mean that you will have to do everything tomorrow, we’re already on a tight schedule with you taking impromptu trips to see Princess Twilight Sparkle,” she muttered and almost glared at the resting princess on her back.
Celestia sighed, tired of having to explain not having to appease the nobility, “They’re not as pressing as ensuring her health, Raven. Everything that was pressing has already been dealt with. I can, and I will push an audience to tomorrow, it will not be the end of Equestria.”
“I might be speaking out of turn when I say this, your majesty,” Raven started, she looked blankly at the Princess before her. Celestia perked up an interest that she was going to be challenged. “But, how come, no matter if Canterlot is burning, or a Changling invasion happened, your priority never fails to lie with Princess Twilight?” Raven asked a hint of resentment peeking through as she almost spat out the last lines.
Celestia smiled, “Shouldn’t your first priority be someone whom you care about no matter the occasion? Does that make you selfish for wanting to be in the company of someone you love immensely? Or want them to be safe?”
Raven stayed silent. The feeling she noticed for years since Twilight moved into the castle as a filly was confirmed.
Celestia defaulted to her signature smile once more, “If you would excuse me.” Raven nodded and went on her way leaving the two princesses alone. She let out a sigh of relief before turning back towards the south-winged corridor and making it up the stairs to Twilight’s room.
She opened the door and tucked her into her bed. Celestia was about to pull up a nearby chair and stay a little while at least to make sure for certain that her condition was stable. Twilight had other plans, although unconscious she latched onto Celestia’s arm in a weak effort to not have her leave her side.
Celestia’s heart melted, she could’ve easily shaken the weak grasp off and carried on, but she didn’t want to leave just yet. Feeling the tug she gave in and got into her bed and laid close to her. Twilight immediately registered her presence by snuggling closer to Celestia, curling herself into her chest, and nuzzling her head into her fur. She hummed satisfied finally comfortable with her position.
Celestia stroked a hoof across her mane and allowed herself to feel the seeping warmth comfort her and have her affection comfort Twilight. Perhaps if she kept the position until Twilight woke up the nightmares will stay at bay. She truly believed her company was a protective force, or rather she wanted it to be a protective force. Actually, Celestia had always wanted to do more to help subside all her troubles. Pull them out of her heart and replace them with only the love she held for her.
“Sister!” Someone was calling her, she didn’t want to be brought back to reality just yet.
“Luna,” she breathed. “Is everything, okay?”
Luna took her time looking at her surroundings, and an expression of curiosity manifested. It was clear that it had been a long time since she stepped into the room. The shock that encapsulated her face from the glace at the first-edition titles gave it away too. “I was going to ask you the same question!” she exclaimed, her arm outstretched in an accusation. “I heard you cleared your schedule for the rest of the day, I thought something terrible had happened in Manehatten!”
Celestia shook her head and smiled, pride was seeping into her features once again. “No, in fact, today went really well. I was surprised myself. Not a single hiccup, and now Trottingham will have resources pouring in to help sustain the city!” She said joyously. “Luna, I wished you were there, she was amazing,” she said looking down at her sleeping company and she felt the love overcome her again.
“Three portal spells in one day would be a sight to behold,” she said earnestly.
“Except it seemed to worn her out completely.”
Luna stood by the bed and closed her eyes. A quick glow of her horn and a singular line of concentrated magic reached Twilight’s forehead. Then a slight smile appeared and that was all she needed to know that Twilight was alright. “She’s doing well, sister. There is nothing to worry about. I’m glad you were able to break her shields down.”
Celestia smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead, “Me too, me too,” she whispered.
“I ran into Raven, she was the one to tell me about the change in your abrupt schedule,” Luna said and moved towards the nearby bookshelf to bask at the limited edition titles.
“Oh?” Celestia urged the former to continue.
“Oddly, she hadn’t seen angry. What did you say to her, sister?” She asked.
“Just what needed to be said.”
Luna hummed, flipping through a dusty book as she did to ponder the statement. “She was angry for a moment because of, Twilight Sparkle, am I correct in that assumption?”
“You are,” Celestia admitted. “Where are you going with this?” she asked. Luna had always been a little too perceptive. It was as if the moon itself gave her the ability to be able to see a pony's whole story with just a subtle glance. It didn’t help that she used her spare time to lark and stalk. The night gave her the power and practice to be uncomfortably quiet in her movements.
“Do you understand why she’s constantly angry at you for dropping everything at a moment’s notice for Twilight?” Luna asked.
Celestia frowned. “Because I dropped everything at a moment’s notice for Twilight,” she reiterated jokingly.
She laughed weakly, “No, rather it’s because of her inability to understand your feelings for Twilight. For you, it feels reasonable to prioritize her but for anyone else, it seems rather obscene.”
“Luna, what are you getting at?” Celestia asked more firmly.
Luna shrugged carelessly putting the book back onto its respective shelf before turning to meet Celestia. “Just voicing out some observations, sister,” she replied. “Emptying the caffeine out of the castle in a weak attempt to get her to sleep, making her favourite grilled cheese sandwich, the time you travelled across Equestria with Spike for her birthday present. Or the little things you remember about her love for dark coffee for example,” Luna said in such valor like she was checking them off of a list, one by one.
“Luna–” Celestia tried to halt the memories and not admit to the favouritsm she was giving.
“It’s the extra lengths you take for her, which you don’t take for anyone else may I add, which makes ponies wonder,” she finished.
Celestia shook her head, “Then allow them to wonder and doubt and protest, I don’t care.”
Luna smiled, “You really love her, sister.”
“I do,” Celestia whispered softly. It had become to admit the simple and true fact over time. “With everything I am, Luna. I don’t think words, observations, or– or skepticism can truly put into words.”
“You care about her more than anyone else,” Luna repeated. It was a question she once asked her long ago one faithful morning when she had longed for the exact presence she had right now.
Celestia closed her eyes before answering, “Yes, I do.” It was so easy to say those words now, she didn’t need time to mull it over, she was saying it as if it was an obvious fact the sheer truth of their relationship bent by the love she had felt for someone she had practically raised. If anything, if she had said anything other than a ‘yes’ she would have been lying and hiding something that didn’t need to be hidden.
Luna smiled, “That’s what I thought, sister. All those years ago when I was in a ruined castle. I was amazed because you found someone to treasure after all these years. I was scared one thousand years ago that because we kept every pony at an arm’s distance we would only have each other.”
“But love isn’t finite it is something meant to be shared. Love is infinite. We’re never deprived of it, it’s not something sacred,” Celestia said softly.
She nodded, “Truly beautiful. The love between mother— mentor and student, is truly heartwarming!” Luna said, though she tried to slur the words together to not make them noticeable it just brought more attention to it.
Surprisingly the protesting and denial that Luna had expected didn’t come. The silence was enough to translate everything that needed to be admitted. And for once, Luna was the one who was stunned. Her smile fell not because of distaste but at the new realization and what that would have met for her sister.