//------------------------------//
// 431. Return by Knight of Lycaeus 
// Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab 
// by Fuzzyfurvert 
//------------------------------//


by Knight of Lycaeus


***



Celestia sighed allowing herself to finally relax, everything for the moment was done and everypony, courtiers, petitioner, servants, Guards, had all been asked to leave her quarters alone. The faint smell of her favourite tea permeated the air of which she poured herself a cup exactly the way she preferred it, a little sweet and a hint of milk.

Everything was calm, peaceful; free of the usual distractions and demands on her time.

That was until a small flash popped into the room unimpeded by the strong wards. Celestia tensed at the sight of the light before relaxing when she realized who had teleported into her chambers. Her visit was unexpected, but it might be nice to spend her time with a friend.

“Twilight,” Celestia greeted as the lavender Pony came into view. “I was just about to have some tea, won’t you join me?”

Twilight was unusually silent and instead of answering she merely marched up to the table and took a seat opposite of Celestia before unceremoniously dropping a loosely rolled scroll in front of Celestia.

Celestia quirked at eyebrow at her friend’s unusual behavior, but grasped the scroll with her magic and began reading it over. Not even a sentence later her eyes widen as she realized just what she held in her magic.

“How?” Celestia whispered.

“I had come here to ask the same thing Celestia,” Twilight said curtly, “Mind explaining this ‘letter’ for me?”

“I-“, Celestia started before stopping. She allowed herself to take several deep breaths before she started again. “This letter was private. I had never intended for anyone, but me to see it.”

“Then why write it?” Twilight said quietly as she tried to keep her composure, “You already know I’m with somepony else.”

Celestia sighed again as her posture drooped slightly, “It was my release.”

Celestia looked up and noticed that Twilight had said nothing which she took as a sign to continue.

“One of the subjects I’ve taught you was history, you know for how long my reign has been. For all those millenniums I had few I could count as a friend, Luna was my constant companion except for one of those millenniums. I found it…. hard to express myself freely with others. So many heartaches, heartbreaks, and sorrow; my life wasn’t all sad for I also found happiness and joy. But it was hard to speak about myself especially during my sole reign. There were so many expectations on me as Princess; I was distant yet caring, unapproachable yet warm.

Eventually the pressure became too much and for a time I nearly lost myself. A physician I had on staff at the time suggested I find a way to vent and express myself and I began writing down everything. It was how I could express myself in the absence of somepony I could trust.”

“Yet somehow this letter,” Twilight said cutting into Celestia’s explanation, “found its way to me.”

Twilight sighed and said in a softer tone, “Why Celestia?”

Celestia shook her head; she knew all the unsaid intricacies wrapped up in that one question. She focused on the question in an attempt to maintain her composure, but she knew it wasn’t working. Slowly she began to speak, “It all began after you rescued my sister, after we began moving from teacher and student to friends. There is much I love about you and not just your intelligence, but your kindness and resolve to do what was right. I never wanted for you to read this, I don’t know how you got it either.”

Celestia took a few calming breaths before continuing softly, “But please Twilight forgive me?”

Silence filled the air, heavy silence without the usual warmth or comfort that they shared. After a long pause Twilight slowly began to speak, “I want to forgive you, but from what you wrote I feel uneasy about our relationship right now. You want me deeply and I know this and you would also never hurt me, but…. I need time.”

Twilight walked around the table and firmly hugged Celestia, “I’m sorry Celestia.”

The purple Unicorn backed away from the Alicorn Princess and bowed, “Please excuse me Princess”, before she teleported away leaving the Princess alone.