A small white unicorn with a pink mane lifted her hoof to knock on a door, then paused, placing it back on the ground. She tried again, with the same result, and began to pace in front of the three-story family home.
Take a deep breath. You can do this. There is no way that what is about to happen could be anywhere near as bad as what you’re imagining.
She took a deep breath before lifting her right hoof for the third time, and finally knocked.
After a few moments, a platinum unicorn mare opened the door with an inviting smile. “Yes? May I help you?”
The smaller smiled a touch nervously. “Good evening. Sorry to bother you, but I’m a friend of your daughter. I was hoping to speak with you and your husband about her?”
The platinum mare blinked before frowning. “A friend of my daughter?” This hadn’t been the first time some pony had come to her with a similar claim; she was certain this pink-maned mare wouldn’t be the last. It was rather easy to get rid of them, though. All it ever took was just a few quick questions.
“Funny, I’ve never seen you before. I don’t believe my daughter has ever mentioned you either. How long have you been friends?”
“Oh, Twilight and I have known one another for a very long time. If you allow me to come in, I promise everything will make sense.” The white mare smiled hopefully. “Please, Mrs. Velvet, if you aren’t happy with my explanation, you may ask me to leave and I swear to never return.”
Twilight Velvet frowned, but opened the door enough to allow the younger mare inside. “May I take your cloak?”
The white unicorn blinked, then looked at her dark blue cloak. “Oh, um, actually, if you’d allow me, may I keep it with me please? I will of course remove it, but this cloak belongs to my sister, and she can be quite the trickster. Her cloaks tend to turn into temporary animals such as bats if left unsupervised.”
Velvet shivered at the mention of bats and nodded, showing the white mare to the cloakroom where she would be able to borrow a saddle bag to carry the cloak within. She carefully slipped it off and folded it neatly before sliding it into the borrowed bag. With it gone though, her cutie mark could be seen for the first time: a very familiar sun that rested on her flanks.
Velvet gasped. “Pr-Princess Celestia?”
Princess Celestia smiled, subconsciously biting her bottom lip. “Please forgive the deception, Lady Velvet. I would prefer the entirety of Canterlot not knowing I was here. As such, the easiest way to accomplish this was to disguise myself.”
Her horn glowed and slowly her body grew back into its normal proportions. Large wings flared from her sides as she gave them a welcome stretch, but she folded them back in soon after. She turned to see Twilight Velvet prostrated on the floor, and sighed. Why is it no matter how close I am to any pony they all do this?
“Lady Velvet, please rise. I came to speak with you on equal terms. Look—I am not even wearing my regalia. I beg of you, treat me as any normal mare when I am like this. Because I… oh dear, this is difficult... I have a most un-princessly question to ask you and your husband. Is he home?”
Twilight Velvet climbed to her trembling hooves. “Yes, Your Highness, I mean Celestia. Night Light is upstairs, gazing at the night sky as usual. I swear he and Twilight can’t keep their noses out of it for a single night… n-not that your day isn’t perfect! I mean, the sunshine is wonderful!”
Celestia smiled. “I quite enjoy stargazing as well, sometimes with Luna and sometimes with Twilight. In fact, Twilight is the reason I came here. If you would be so kind as to summon your husband, while I prepare us some refreshment…?”
“Oh! Oh, yes, Celestia—everything is in the same spot. I’ll be right back with Night... well, maybe not right back. You know how obsessed Twilight can be with her studies, and she gets that from her father.”
Celestia simply grinned and both mares laughed before separating. Twilight Velvet climbed the stairs while Celestia trotted to the kitchen and set about preparing tea. As she waited for the kettle to boil, she looked around the kitchen. While most families preferred to keep their photos in albums or on the walls, it seemed Velvet was quite fond of putting them up all over the house, keeping the more sensitive ones out of high traffic areas.
Celestia scanned the pictures. These must be ones Twilight sent her. Her eyes stopped on a particular photo of herself, passed out on her back, with Twilight laying against her as if she was a giant pillow and reading a book. Celestia snorted, a small blush covering her cheeks; she hadn’t even been aware that such a picture had been taken.
Tearing her eyes from the photos, she began to dig through the cupboards, searching for the cookies which surely must be there. Once located, she arranged several onto a small plate and carried everything into the living room, where she sat on a large cushion to wait.
It wasn’t long until she heard hooves on the stairs. She smiled at the two ponies that entered the room. “Good evening, Mister Light. How are the stars tonight?”
Night Light paused before bowing his head. “They are spectacular, Princess. Your sister must be the greatest artist Equestria has ever known.”
“I quite agree. Even when we were foals, her artistic ability made all of my paintings resemble mere stick figures.”
Night Light chuckled. “Oh, yes. I quite understand what you mean, Princess. I myself have very little artistic talent.” He poured three cups of tea and added sugar to his own. “Now, my wife told me you wish to talk about Twilight?”
Celestia mixed a large spoon of sugar into her cup of tea and took a sip. “Yes, yes I did. It’s very important, too. I.. oh dear, this is harder than I ever dreamed.”
Twilight Velvet glanced at Night Light, both of them raising a single eyebrow.
“Is this about her taking over the stars for Princess Luna?” Night Light asked, setting down his tea cup. “If it is, we aren’t surprised, what with how much our Twilight has always adored the night sky. Of course, it will be difficult finding time to see her since in all likelihood she’ll be awake during the night, much like our dear Princess Luna.”
Celestia smirked. “Actually, Luna is in the midst of a switch to a diurnal schedule, so she’ll be ruling alongside me in reality, not just in word. Also, Twilight is the Princess of Friendship, so she will be far too busy with that to also handle the stars.” She took a sip of tea, the saucer rattling a little in her aura.
“Well then, what is it? Twilight didn't—” Velvet started to breathe heavily, clutching her chest “— she didn’t fa-fail did she? Oh no, she did! Night Light, Twilight failed some grand, pivotal test!”
Both ponies stared up at Celestia with a very familiar frantic look, which she recalled having graced her former student’s face quite often.
Well, I guess it makes sense she inherited that.
“Oh no! I promise, she failed nothing. I simply wanted to ask you a question regarding her and I.”
Celestia licked her lips waiting for them to settle back down, their full attention on her as she took a deep breath. “As you are well aware, Twilight and I have been dating for some time now, though we have attempted to keep that knowledge private. However, now that Twilight is a princess, I feel that we should be able to take the next step in our relationship.”
She knelt before them, eyes closed. “I, Celestia Everfree, ask your permission to make your daughter, Twilight Sparkle, my bride.” She opened her eyes and looked up at her marefriend's parents.
After a few moments, Twilight Velvet beamed at Night Light. “You owe me twenty bits.”
Celestia blinked cocking her head as Night Light grumbled gathering the bits from his wallet “I-I am not certain I understand?”
Velvet took the bits with a smile. “Oh, nothing to worry about, Celestia. Just an old bet between my husband and I. Of course you have our permission! Just, don’t wait until the day before to tell Shining Armor—no matter how much Twilight may want revenge for that.”
Celestia blinked then nodded. “Of course. Thank you, thank you both, Lady Velvet, Lord Night Light.”
Night Light laid his hoof on Celestia’s with a firm look. “Just make our little filly happy. Thats all I ask.”
“That I can promise I will always do.”
Celestia bowed her head, calm on the outside, yet prancing like a filly on the inside. Now all I have to do is ask Twilight!