“Your Highness, I’m sorry—did something happen during young Eclipse’s exam?” The young mare waiting in the entrance hall set down her magazine and bowed deeply to Twilight. She glanced up at her charge, who was curled up asleep on Twilight’s back. “Is she all right?”
Twilight nodded. “Everything is fine, Miss…?”
“Sweet Heart, Your Highness. I was told that Eclipse did very well on her written exam. Normally one of our foals could never dream of attending this school, but young Eclipse received a small inheritance to pay for her tuition, and… well, she’s so gifted that we wanted to give her the chance.” Sweet Heart smiled fondly at the sleeping filly.
“About that, Miss Heart,” Twilight started. “Despite her outstanding entrance scores, and her absolutely stellar practical results… Eclipse will not be attending the School for Gifted Unicorns.”
“She… she won’t?” Sweet Heart’s mane and tail went limp. “The poor dear… may I ask why, Your Highness? She’s the most talented filly we’ve ever housed. Is it her status?”
Twilight shook her head. “Be at peace, dear Sweet Heart. Eclipse may not be attending my School… however, she will be taking her tuition from a far more personal source.”
“Princess?”
Twilight lifted a gilded hoof to her barrel. “Lady Sweet Heart, Eclipse will be placed under the care and guidance of my own former student… Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
Sweet Heart’s mouth fell open, her rosy mane returning to full volume. “P-Princess Twilight? Eclipse, her personal p-protégé? Oh my! Th-that’s wonderful!” She skipped in place. “We all knew Eclipse was going to do great things, but being a student to the Princess of Friendship? That is so far beyond anything we could have hoped.”
Sweet Heart settled herself and bowed. “Er, Y-Your Highness… dare I ask… this morning’s Gazette?”
Twilight smiled and nodded. “It’s all true, my little pony.”
Sweet Heart beamed. “I’m so happy for you, Princess. Oh, but back on track—” she pulled out a briefcase from under her seat in the lobby “—I do have some paperwork for you to sign regarding Eclipse’s lodging… pardon me for appearing to have foregone conclusions, but I did have rather high hopes… anyway, I hope you are planning to keep her at the palace?” She blushed. “I understand it’s a lot to ask, but… it’s just that, with our responsibilities, I can’t promise that any of our staff could take the time to escort Eclipse to the palace for daily lessons.”
Twilight lifted an eyebrow. “You know that I could arrange an escort for her myself, Lady Sweet Heart. Is that the only reason?”
Sweet Heart stuttered for a second before finding her tongue. “W-well, to be perfectly honest, Princess… I think she deserves more than to live in an orphanage.”
Twilight smiled, signing Celestia’s name on the residency forms. “And so she does. No need to worry, my little pony—Eclipse will always have a home at the palace.”
Sweet Heart whooshed out a sigh before nodding and adding her own signature to the form. With both scrawls freshly inked, she tucked it into her briefcase which she then levitated into her saddlebag. She hesitated for a moment, and then extracted another folder from within.
“Your Highness… I know that you and Her Highness, Twilight Sparkle are only recently engaged… and this is extremely early days yet, but… Eclipse is available for immediate adoption. This is her file. Perhaps you might both like to look it over?” She held it out, the form shaking lightly.
Twilight took the folder in her own magic. “Taking Eclipse on as a personal student and giving her palace lodgings is one thing. But adoption is another thing entirely.” She glanced back as Eclipse sighed in her sleep. “But I can promise that we will at least discuss it.”
Sweet Heart nodded, closing her saddlebag and bowing again before turning to walk away. “That is all I can ask for, Your Highness.”
Twilight glanced up at the time, chewing her lip. Vaguely she recalled sleeping for almost a day after her flare as a filly, and being hungry as a full-grown stallion when she woke up. Should I wake her now to eat dinner and then let her go back to sleep? Or should I let her sleep until morning and make sure she has a giant breakfast prepared for her?
Twilight nudged Eclipse softly with her nose and smiled as Eclipse continued to sleep. “Well it seems that decision has been made for me. Sleep tight, Eclipse.”
Twilight slowly crept out of the room and smiled at the young mare outside. She was a new recruit who Twilight had found in—in her mind—the most boring position: overlooking the palace gardens. Even though there was nothing to watch or guard, she was alert, and sensed Twilight’s arrival before she was even in view.
“Your Highness, is she still asleep?” the unicorn asked quietly.
“Yes, Starshine she is. And she should remain asleep until tomorrow morning. However if she does awaken, will you bring her to me? I’ll be attending dinner with my sister and my fiancé for the next hour or so, but after that I’ll be in my room for the remainder of the evening—excepting the sunset.” Twilight smiled as she stretched her wings out.
“You can count on me, Your Highness! Enjoy your dinner.” Starshine beamed before saluting and taking her spot next to Eclipse’s door. “I shall guard Eclipse with my life.”
Twilight settled into her cushions with a gentle sigh. She looked over at Luna, who continued to peruse the same large book she had been muzzle-deep in during lunch.
“Luna. Have you moved since lunch?”
Luna blinked as she looked up from the book and blinked a few times. “Huh? is lunch over already?”
Twilight blinked, resisting the urge to facehoof; instead she just shook her head and chuckled. “Lunch has been over for hours now, Lulu. It’s dinner time now.”
Luna stared between the thick book and the dining room clock before snapping the book shut. “Oookay, that’s time enough spent on your biography for today then! Pray tell, sister, how has your day been?”
Twilight yawned, laying her forehead on the table. “Long, very long. Can we talk about it when T-Twilight and Spike arrive?”
Luna shrugged, her horn glowing. After a few moments of concentration, Celestia and Spike appeared, their eyes swirling.
Twilight groaned. “I didn’t mean right now, sister. Twilight and Spike could have easily flown here, or I could have sent a chariot to pick them up.”
Luna shrugged and rang a small crystal bell. “Faster this way. Missed lunch. Hungry. Background check.”
While Twilight snorted with suppressed laughter, a light-blue mare entered the room and bowed. “Yes, Your Highnesses?”
“We are ready for dinner, now, thank you.” Luna flashed a grin at the serving mare who nodded quickly.
“But of course, Your Highness. Gems for Lord Spike?” she asked.
Spike grinned and rubbed his claws together, licking his lips. “You betcha! I’d never ever say no to a good bowl of gems!”
The serving mare nodded and bowed again to everypony before galloping back into the kitchen.
Luna stretched her wings and popped her neck. “Urgh, what a day! So, how was everyone else’s?” She smiled down at Spike, who was taking in the Sister’s personal dining room. “Spike, let us start with you. Anything exciting?”
Spike lifted a claw, paused, and then shrugged. “Eh. After the article in the Foal Free Press came out, I spent most of the day keeping the Ponyrazzi away from Twilight since one, she was adamant about wanting to reorganize the library, and two, wait until she and Princess Celestia would be able to answer all the questions together. You know, reporters really need to learn what ‘no comment’ means.”
Luna and Twilight snorted, each disguising their outbursts as a cough.
“It continues to astound me that ponies cannot grasp the meaning of a simple word,” Luna remarked. “Unless its meaning has become so obfuscated in one thousand years?”
At the expected shake of her sister’s head she nodded firmly. “I didn’t think so. So, Twilight—” she turned to the smaller princess “—you spent most of the day organizing the library?”
Luna blinked as Twilight continued to look outside.
“Twilight Sparkle?” Luna frowned as she watched Celestia nudge Twilight.
“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry, Luna. It has been a rather long day. What did you want to know?” Celestia smiled in a manner which she hoped seemed Twilight enough.
“I asked how your day went, Twilight. You seem a bit… dazed? is that an appropriate word?”
“‘Flustered’ would probably fit, sister,” Twilight said. “All those reporters must have been taxing on her. I’m honestly surprised I myself did not receive so much attention.”
Celestia closed her eyes. “You have no idea…”
“Twilight! Twilight! Wake up! We have a problem!”
Celestia blinked a few times as she felt small, clawed hands tugging at her hoof. For a split second, she was certain she had been captured, and began gathering energy until she realized exactly where she was—and who was tugging at her hoof.
“Huh? What is it, Spike? The Sun is barely up yet…” Celestia lifted a foreleg over her eyes. How odd to actually be awake after the sun.
“You and Princess Celestia are on the front page, Twi!” Spike climbed onto Celestia’s bed, the newspaper curled under his arm.
Celestia sat up carefully, rubbing her eyes. “That’s not so unusual. What’s the big deal this… time… oh.”
Celestia stared at the picture: taken right after she proposed to Twilight, the ring still being held within her golden aura.
As if on cue, loud knocks sounded from the palace doors. Her ears pinned back.
“All right, Spike, here’s the deal. I’m going to be in the library all day. The only ponies you let in are our friends. If a reporter comes by, just say ‘no comment’ or ‘The princesses will discuss this once they are together.’ Okay?”
Spike saluted and headed downstairs while Celestia rubbed the base of her horn. This is going to be a nightmare…
“It… it was a busy day,” Celestia spoke when she snapped out of her reverie and noticed all eyes on her. “I spent most of it in the library trying to get work done, but I must have had at least ten reporters try to break in.” Not to mention trying to figure out Twilight’s filing system. I love you dearly, Twily, but sometimes your mind puzzles me.
Luna frowned at that. “Twilight, I think for your safety that it may be best for you and Spike to stay at the palace until you and Celestia are safely married.”
Celestia considered the suggestion. Well, I would feel better having Twilight here, plus it’d give us time together… She glanced up at Twilight, who gave the barest of nods. Celestia turned back to Luna with a smile. “Yes, I think we’ll do that. Thank you so much for the invitation!”
Luna sighed before turning her gaze to her sister. “Well, Tia, how was your day?”
Just as Twilight opened her mouth to speak, the dining room door opened; four platters were set before them, the stainless steel domes lifted with a quick burst of magic to reveal three curry dishes and a platter of amethysts.
Twilight licked her lips as the spices flowed up into her nose. She lifted a mouthful and—without any fanfare—shoved it into her mouth, her eyes closing in rapture at the taste.
“Your day, Tia? Or should we leave you with your curry?” Luna smirked.
Twilight’s own stomach rumbled, but she kept her composure even as she watched ‘herself’ dig in like a ravenous timberwolf. “Oh! My day. Right. Well, court was fairly benign, although Blueblood did come in demanding that I correct the slander from that article.”
Luna rolled her eyes. “Oh, nephew. Sometimes I’m unsure whether to hug you or hurt you. What happened then?”
“I simply told him the truth.” Twilight blew on the end of her spoon before raising it to her lips. Gods, this curry is amazing! “He’ll be at the wedding, and he swore he would not cause a fuss.”
She smiled at the thankful look that crossed over Celestia’s face.
“After court,” she continued, “I went to the School to observe the newest little ponies as they took their practical entrance exams. Most fortunately so, because—”
There was a soft knock on the door.
“Enter,” Luna called, “but be quick about it.”
Starshine opened the door. Standing beside her was a very sleepy-but-sad looking Eclipse, her sky-blue eyes rimmed red.
“See, there she is, Miss Eclipse. I told you she wouldn’t just leave you.” Starshine smiled at Twilight nervously. “I heard her crying from my post outside the door. I can hardly blame her—she awoke alone and in a foreign place.”
Twilight nodded and slowly walked over to the little filly—her mane and tail rumpled from sleep—and smiled gently. “I’m sorry for leaving you, Eclipse. Normally, little fillies like yourself who flare so spectacularly sleep for much longer.”
Eclipse sniffled before rubbing her cheek against Twilight’s leg and following her back to the table “...Princess?”
Twilight glanced down as Eclipse curled up into a small ball. “Yes, Eclipse, what is it?” She watched as Eclipse’s mouth formed words and lowered her head to hear more easily.
“Can I stay here next to you… I’m still sleepy but I don’t wanna be alone…”
Twilight smiled and stroked her head with a single pinion. “Of course. Starshine, would you join the other two guards outside? Eclipse is fine here.”
She watched as Starshine saluted before leaving the room. She looked up to see Luna and Celestia staring at the curled-up filly. “As I was saying: it was a good thing I attended today, because Eclipse here had quite the flare-up. She created an illusion of fire, to be exact. Very realistic—hot to the touch, even. She’s a very bright little filly. She passed the written exam with flying colors, but Top Marks would have rejected her from the curriculum… because her flare came from dark magic.”
The others gasped, spoons floating in place before their mouths.
“So I asked her if she’d like to be m-your personal student, dear Twilight. With my guidence of course.”
Celestia smiled at Twilight before looking back down at Eclipse. Oh, isn’t she adorable? She looks just a little like Twilight, too…
“Is there something else, Tia? I mean, I love the idea of having my own student, even though I am a bit nervous…”
“Well, yes, there is more to this. It seems Eclipse lived at Canterlot Orphanage, so she’s going to be living here at the palace.”
Twilight cocked her head at Celestia, the question in her eyes obvious. Celestia just shook her head; it was too soon, adorable though she was.
“I do hope you’ll allow me to assist in her lessons as well,” Luna stated quietly. “After letting myself fall to dark magic, I can help her understand things to watch out for. She reminds me of myself, somewhat.”
“Of course, Luna. I wouldn’t dream of keeping you away from her.” Twilight smiled before returning to her meal, every so often glancing down at the dark little sleeping ball of fluff.
The rest of the night passed by quickly, with Twilight and Celestia filling out paperwork together. Eclipse lay on a cushion between them. Twilight left just long enough to set the sun before returning to the small office.
“So, this is nice, Tia. Can we do this more often?”
Celestia looked up from reading over a budget proposal. “Hmmm, you are enjoying this? But it’s just normal paperwork.”
Twilight laid her cheek onto the top of Celestia’s head. “Sure, but you know me, Tia—I enjoy things like this. Always have. And doesn’t having both of us here doing it make it nicer? I mean, we could even cuddle between proposals!”
Celestia chuckled. “Only you could find paperwork romantic, Twily.”
At Twilight’s hurt expression, she licked the tip of her nose. “And that is one of the many reasons I love you so much. You are one of the most unique ponies I have ever met.”
Twilight smiled and snuggled into Celestia before kissing her muzzle.
A flash of light covered them.
Celestia blinked once before pulling back to see a very short purple mare smiling up at her. “Well, that was an interesting experience.”
Twilight nodded, rubbing her numb lips with the tip of her tongue. “Did you have to make me eat so much curry, Tia? I’m a bit sensitive to spices like that.”
“You mean it did work?”
Twilight and Celestia looked up as Luna gaped in the doorway. “I… I can’t believe it. You had Tia down pat today, Twilight. I must admit, I am both impressed and slightly disturbed.”
Twilight shrugged before yawning and glancing at Eclipse. “I think the little one has the right idea, Tia.” She lifted Eclipse onto her back. “We should get some sleep. All three of us.”
Celestia looked at her remaining paperwork and nodded. “Indeed. Please excuse us for the night, sister. We shall rise at dawn.”
“As you wish.” Luna paced into the room and nuzzled them both before departing. “Peaceful dreams to the three of you.”
“Come on then, let’s get you into bed, Eclipse,” Twilight whispered as she carefully carried her out of the study and into Celestia’s room. Climbing into the bed, she settled Eclipse next to her. Not long after, Celestia climbed in behind and wrapped a large white wing over both of them.