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// A Royal Visit [Slice of Life] 
// Story: Celestial's Half-hours 
// by Celestial 
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	There is no way I'm going to make this. Sweat creases my brow as I struggle to hold the pencil in my telekinetic grasp. At the teacher's desk, Celestia is being busy instructing two royal guards, and what's worse than her ignoring my panic, are the periodical glances she would cast at me, full of hope and confidence that I would ace this test.
I chuckle nervously and returned to my paper. "#19: What taste has the last color of the alphabet?" What in the hay? And the answer I had checked for #18 isn't even there anymore! Did my sweat wipe it away? Oooooooh... This isn't going well at ALL!

A warping sound interrupts my hysterics, as I raise my gaze to notice the blakboard, the wall, the whole room, Celestia and the guards, all collapse and dissolve, revealing behind and around a peaceful, nocturnal meadow. My flanks now rest on soft grass and flowers as I start wondering just what IS happening.

"Our sincere greetings to thee, Twilight Sparkle."

I turn to the voice to notice a tall, midnight blue unicorn... alicorn, climbing the small hill and approaching me, her expression distant, unreadable. "Thy may rest easy now, for thine troubles are now dispelled."

I remember now. She is Princess Luna, Steward of the Night and Protector of Dreams, the princess I saved from Nightmare Moon just four months ago. This was the second time I was meeting her in a dream, although the first had to be cut short, apparently from a little rust in her dreamwalking skills.

"Luna.. I mean- Princess Luna, it is always an honour." I bow to the approaching alicorn.

"Thy do not need to bow to Us, Twilight Sparkle, for it is Us rather who are in debt with Thee. Indeed, this is the first time since our return We have witnessed Our sister partaking in a nightmare, hence We thank thee even more; We felt We needed the reprieve from seeing Our own shadow creeping in the minds of some too impressionable foals." Her frown melts into a faint smile, directed at me.

"Oh, er... Thanks?" I don't really know exactly what the etiquette for conversing with a Princess in a dream was. Just why didn't I look it up as soon as I could, you silly filly? Oh! I remember, I actually TRIED looking for it, only for every book to come completely empty on the subject. So much for that.

However, I quickly reach the conclusion that doing small talk like I do with Celestia is probably better than standing there like a staring stone statue. "Uh... How's Celestia been treating you?" Oh yeah, great. Master of smooth moves right there, miss 'Magic of Friendship'.

She doesn't seem fazed by your question though. "Most understandingly, considering our past errors. Complete amnesty has been sentenced, and We agreed to allow Us full recovery before Our further appearance in public." This 'royal We' business is getting a little confusing... "We do not, however, truly know if Our efforts will ever be able to repay all the damage We've caused to Our sister and Our realm."

She sags a little.... She's actually confessing her tribulations, right in front of you! Oooh, think fast Twilight, think think think... Aha!

"Well... I-I'm sure you wouldn't have to worry about that, Princess Luna. You see, Princess Celestia and I have been sending each other letters and reports on friendship, and... Well, she told me that since you're back from being Nightmare Moon, and finally back at her side... She's-she feels the happiest she's been in a thousand years! She's extremely delighted to have you with her again, and she's looking forward to..."

Our gazes are locked together; she's basically hanging on my lips. "T-to spending time with you, and to confessing to each other, and to have a sister near her to... to share all those long years with, once again. 

"...Oh, and also all the hours of sleep she couldn't afford herself when she was the only ruler, hehe."

I can't weather her inquisitive stare anymore, and I look down. "I-I-I think, as long as you stay by her side and support each other... That would just be everything she could ever ask of you." 

Silence stalls our conversation. I didn't overstep my boundaries in revealing her something Celestia told me in private, did i?.My panic only grows as the seconds tick by.

"Thy are a most wise subject, Twilight Sparkle; and possessing the courage to speak truth when needed, as well. Things may have been very different, having more likes of thee inhabited Equestria a thousand years ago.
"Thy must pardon Us if We have been possessing doubts on the special protege of our dearest sister at first, a new wielder of the powerful Elements, at that, but Our fears are now ultimately erased."

With a silvery metal horseshoe, she lifts my gaze back to meet hers: her smile had grown to a genuine one of pride and understanding.
"Believe Us Twilight, when We say We shall congratulate Ourselves with Celestia for choosing such a gifted student to take under her protection and tutelage."

I still breathe uneasily, trying to recover from the development, and find something to say. "Princess Luna... if I-I ever need it, I woul- I mean, me and my friends would be honoured to be YOUR friends, a-at any point. Or time."

A frown immediately crosses her features. "It is unwise to speak on behalf of other ponies, Sparkle," she says --I'm suddenly feeling a chill at the contact with her metal regalia--, "But I shall keep your generous offer in mind with the utmost respect. Fare the well for now, Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic."

Her expression returns to a neutral one as she walks away from me, and the landscape begins to twist and retreat and fade.

"We thank thee most graciously for all your efforts."