“So you went there to bring me home?” Sunset asked, to which Luna confirmed with a nod. Sunset could’ve face-hoofed. That really would’ve explained a lot about Luna’s mannerisms in the other world. Speaking of which… “Then…you already knew that I represented the Element of Empathy?” Luna nodded.
“To be more precise, I came with the knowledge of the existence of the new Element of Harmony, but I only realised what the Element was after our talk.” She said. “And when I returned…”
FLASHBACK
“Luna!” Luna had returned in time to see the Sun practically being thrown up into the sky before Celestia appeared with a flash. “Did you meet her? What did she say?”
“Please treat your Sun with more care, Sister. We wouldn’t want another repeat of the time you dropped it just because you wanted to get back to bed quickly.” Luna scolded, deadpanned.
“Nevermind that, did you get to meet Sunset? How is she? Is she ok?”
“Rest assured she is doing well, Sister. However, she cannot return yet.”
“Why?! What do we have to do for her to wake up?” Luna shook her head.
“Nothing. She has a purpose she has yet to fulfil there. Once she has attended to her duties there, I’m sure she will return.”
“Duties?” Celestia asked. “She is an Alicorn here. So does that mean she’s the Princess over there?”
“Not quite, but I do know that her accomplishments there have proven her to be worthy of being one.” Luna said, her eyes twinkling as she added, “As well as to be the Bearer of the Element of Empathy.”
“The Element of-?” Celestia had confusion on her face briefly, before realisation dawned on her. “The new Element of Harmony!” Luna nodded.
“That’s right. And I have a feeling the reason for her current state might have something to do with the mirror you showed her.”
“The Crystal Mirror?” Celestia put a hoof to her muzzle thoughtfully. “Now that you mention it, she did say that she saw herself as an Alicorn in the mirror. And she is an Alicorn now…”
“Right. The spell she accidentally casted on herself put her to sleep, and if we assume that the Crystal Mirror had an influence on it somehow, then it would explain why her dream manifested as a nearly entirely new world, a world that’s not quite part of reality, but not completely just a dream either.” Luna explained. It would explain why the events of this world occurred in her dream.
“I see… So she really did take her lessons to heart after all. I’m so proud of her.” Celestia relaxed with a smile. “I can’t wait to see her again and hear more about her achievements.” Luna nodded.
“I’m sure you do, Sister, but before that, we need to have a talk.” Celestia tilted her head.
“About what?”
“About Sunset Shimmer, whom I just found out to be your daughter and effectively, my niece.”
END OF FLASHBACK
“Believe me when I say I was utterly flabbergasted when I realised that she had done the same thing to you as she did to me.” Luna shot a piercing gaze at Celestia, who quickly averted her eyes. “I made her spill everything about how she had met you and how you grew on her over the years, as well as how she really felt about you. Everything which she should’ve told you, but never did.”
FLASHBACK
“So, let me get this straight. You see her as a daughter,” She paused, squinting her eyes at Celestia, who nodded. “and yet you didn’t tell her? And me?” Celestia nodded again, squirming under Luna’s deadpanned stare. “Are you bucking kidding me?”
“I was- I was afraid of losing her. I had come to love her so much, I didn’t want to lose another pony I love.”
“Well, you’re off to a great start, Tia.” Celestia winced at the sarcastic jab from Luna. “You did the exact same thing to me! You pushed me away when I needed you most, and see where that got us! What could’ve possessed you to think it was a good idea to do it again?!” She gave a frustrated growl. “And to make matters worse, you adopted Cadance as our niece, allowing her to address you as ‘Auntie’ but didn’t allow Sunset Shimmer to do the same! Do you have any idea what that looked like to her?”
“I know now, after you lectured me for so long about it.” Celestia murmured, lowering her head.
“And? What are you going to do about it when she comes back?”
“I know. I’ll tell her the truth.” Luna nodded in satisfaction.
“Good. And you better do, or so help me, I will force it out of you.” Celestia gave her a small smile.
“I will, I promise. Thanks, Luna.”
END OF FLASHBACK
“I never knew you had that side to you.” Twilight commented. “I mean, you always seem so calm and collected. It’s hard to see you in any other way.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised.” Sunset smirked. “Just because she doesn’t show them doesn’t mean she doesn’t have other sides to her.” She chuckled. “For one, she’s just as prone to overthinking and panicking as you are, Twi.”
“Really?” Twilight’s eyes were wide and curious, almost like a little filly’s, discovering something new.
“Sunset!” Celestia had an embarrassed blush on her face while Sunset just stuck her tongue out at her playfully.
“Indeed, she is.” Luna spoke up, sporting a similar smirk as Sunset. “Even when Sunset first returned earlier, we were late because she was too busy overthinking and worrying in her room.”
FLASHBACK
“What if she doesn’t want to see me? What if she hates me? What if she doesn’t forgive me?” Luna watched, her face impassive, her eyes following Celestia’s movements as she paced anxiously back and forth in her room. “What if she’s still angry?”
“Forget my niece, I am going to be if you make us any later than we already are, Sister. We were supposed to be in the throne room to meet Twilight Sparkle and her friends nearly an hour ago.” They had been in the throne room, patiently waiting for Twilight and her friends, when there was a sudden surge of magic from Sunset’s old room. As soon as they sensed it and recognised its source, Celestia teleported back into her room in a fit of panic, followed closely by Luna, and had been pacing about frantically ever since.
END OF FLASHBACK
A sudden surge of magic? Must be that bright glow when I talked to the other Celestia, Sunset noted to herself as she listened to Luna with an amused smirk on her face. “Sounds like mom all right.”
“I tried coaxing her and almost had to literally drag her to the throne room because she was worrying so much.” Luna sighed. “Really, Sister, you shouldn’t dwell so much on-”
“-what ifs and what could be.” Sunset cut her off, gaining her a smirk from Luna.
“Exactly. You took the words right out of my mouth, my dear niece.” Sunset met her smirk with a grin.
“I learnt from the best.”
“Well, I’ll be!” Celestia huffed. “My daughter and my sister ganging up on me! Oh, woe is me!” She exclaimed with a dramatic flair on par with Rarity, making all of them laugh.