//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Perks 
// by Donraj 
//------------------------------//

	Celestia watched as Twilight galloped off to retrieve the promised papers. She continued to smile for several seconds after her student disappeared before saying, "You can come out now."
A sparkling blue cloud flowed out from the shadows behind one of the exhibits. It coalesced into the tall, dignified form of the Princess of the Night. Luna cocked an eyebrow.
"Are We truly so predictable, my sister?"
"Only to us," Celestia said, automatically mirroring her sister's manner of speaking. She was still staring intently at the newly recovered paintings. Luna followed her gaze and chuckled.
"Ah, Starswirl's piece. You have a fine pupil indeed if she could track it across the centuries."
"Don't play coy," Celestia snapped. "Some of these pieces are by some of the greatest artists in Equestrian history. They are priceless. Whoever had them would not have given them up willingly. Twilight would not have gone alone and if she had tried to use the Guard then Shining Armor would have told me. Where did she find them?"
Luna looked at her hooves, uncharacteristically abashed. "Sister, please understand—"
"WHERE?!" Celestia demanded, breaking into the Royal Canterlot Voice for the second time that century. 
Luna shrank back for a moment before meekly saying, "There were these pirates..."
"Pirates," Celestia said flatly. "And you let my student risk herself for paint on canvas."
"She was in no danger!" Luna insisted. "Even without my support she could have handled them easily. She is a prodigy bar none, as you well know. Starswirl himself would have envied her talents."
"That is beside the point," Celestia said. There was a tremor in her voice that Luna hadn't heard since the night they had reconciled. "She's far too precious to risk over a relic."
Luna walked over and laid a wing across her sister's back. Celestia flinched, and Luna spotted tears in her eyes before she turned her head away.
"You know as well as I do that she did not go seeking them for their own sake."
Celestia gave a muffled sob. "If something had happened to her trying to please me..."
"It didn't," Luna reminded her. "Though we do have some new plants being transplanted into the castle gardens now."
Celestia couldn't help but laugh at that. She turned back to Luna. Luna nuzzled her comfortingly. Once Celestia regained control of her face she turned her attention back to the painting of her younger self seated at a feasting table and holding her indignant looking sister in a headlock while administering an enthusiastic noogie. The smile came back.