Luna's room was chilly. Then again, it was a cold night. For this reason, both sisters had decided not to wear their regular accoutrements and fine dresses. Instead, they were both dressed in similar faux fur coats over deceptively warm, plainer dresses, so as to still look 'princessy' in Luna's terms. Gild had not been invited to this particular meeting, and there was a reason behind that. Or, so Celestia assumed.
"Sister," She began, pulling her coat a little tighter around herself, "Why is Gild not here? I would think that, since all of our other meetings have had him here, you would have told him to attend as well."
Luna nodded quietly. It was true, normally the Guard Captain would attend a meeting such as this. And she had considered inviting him, for once not out of spite or malice either. But in the end, she'd come to a rather simple conclusion.
"Guard Captain Gild requires sleep, like any other pony," She replied, not as bothered as her older sister by the cold breeze that blew into the room from her open window, "I thought, rather than keep him up another night, I would allow him rest, and did not tell him of this meeting entirely. If I had notified him, he would have demanded he attend, out of a sense of both duty and personal responsibility concerning Septimus, both a grudge and duty. It was simply too much conflicting interest and too great of a cruelty to keep him up just to override any argument he'd make against my decision."
Celestia gave that some thought, and frowned, "So, you're circumventing him, to save him the trouble of being overridden."
"Basically, yes," Luna replied with a smirk, "But to save him the irritation really. Well, to save me the disappointment, him the humiliation of being overridden over something he thinks he needs to deal with, but he doesn't need to."
Celestia's face was neutral, but she felt a small amount of both amused and concerned. It was an interesting move. Certainly a rather shady tactic, but a viable one for diplomacy to prevent issues... Perhaps Luna was growing up faster than she thought.
"Besides, Septimus is my problem," Luna continued stiffly, "My responsibility. I won't have him looking over my wings and judging me because he thinks he knows best."
Celestia remained silent. She was here to observe, so... I suppose I'll wait and see what happens.
It didn't take long before there was a knock upon Luna's door. Luna smirked, "Perfect timing. You may Enter."
The door was opened, and in came a pair of Luna's guard. Held between them was Septimus, who wasn't terribly impressed to be being restrained as he was. Plus, it was cold, and he was wearing a thin shirt. Not fun.
"Septimus," Luna smiled diplomatically at him, "Glad you could join us."
Septimus looked at the sisters. Celestia frowned. He did not look like he had the first, or last, time she'd seen him. He was thin. Dangerously so, and any light that had been in his eyes around her sister was dim or too dark to see anymore. He had deep shadows under his eyes, and his arm was in a plaster cast. He looked like death that had been heated in a microwave for a few minutes.
"I agreed to come here to talk," Septimus replied hollowly, "And you put me on trial instead. Why should I trust your word now?"
"It wasn't me who told you I just wanted to talk," Luna replied archly, "That was my subordinate. It's not my fault if something gets lost in translation along the way."
Sep's eyes turned to Celestia, and she felt a prickle at the back of her neck as they hardened.
"Princess," He said coldly, "Still trying to get your ponies to kill me, or can I actually step outside now?"
Celestia's cheeks reddened in combined outrage and shame, but she didn't speak. Nor did she look away. Instead, her visage only turned stern. This wasn't her meeting, she was here as a witness, not as a judge. Not this time. This was her sister's duty this time, as strangely as that sounded in her mind. Instead, she let the jab at her pass. He was right to be angry, after all. Twice he had nearly been seriously injured, if not killed, by her guards.
"Enough, Septimus," Luna said, and his attention returned once more to her, "I haven't brought you here to be petty. I've brought you here to hear the details of your punishment for crimes you have committed, as well you know. Antagonizing myself, or my sister, will do you no good, and will only serve to further the depth of your punishment's severity, do you understand me?"
Septimus scowled, and looked away. Had his arm not been in a cast, he'd likely have crossed his arms. But then, they were also being restrained at the moment by two guards, so even if he'd wanted to...
Caught. Like a rat in a trap, waiting for the lethal blow. Great. Typical really.
"Septimus, when last we met," Luna began, then gesturing slightly, "Before the trial, we had a slight misunderstanding. A falling out between us, and that was brought about by a combination of miscommunication, a lack of self control, and anger on both sides. I had just been given a modicum of authority back by my sister, and I was excited to use it. My trip lasted longer than it had, and I had you released from your imprisonment, because I felt partially responsible for your actions."
Celestia managed to keep a straight face, but felt a stab of guilt and surprise at her sister's admission. She'd thought that Luna had simply been flaunting her authority to get Septimus freed, not that she'd felt partially responsible. She'd never told Celestia that. Not once.
"I was too proud to admit it before, but I should have at least left you a message," She admitted, "We'd started spending so much time together, that I should have done just that. But I didn't. That led you to thinking that I had abandoned you, and left you to yourself. Well, that was never my plan. The ensuing argument and disagreeable actions on both sides left us further from each other than I'd like to admit, and I felt terrible. So, to begin this meeting, I'd be eternally grateful if you accepted my deepest apologies for my actions, and I hope that, perhaps in time, we can be to each other what we... what we were before."
Septimus was quiet. This wasn't what he'd expected. Like before, he'd expected her, once in close quarters, to be as she was before. Stern, angry even, and violent. But she wasn't. Now she was asking for his forgiveness? He wasn't sure how to react to this. It was a lot more like the Luna he'd come to know so well in his visits, as opposed to how she was when she'd come back. Almost refreshing. But at the same time...
"Can we get on with this please," Septimus asked, sounding more uncomfortable that he wanted to sound at that point, "I... I want to go home."
For a moment, Luna looked a little lost, but only for a moment. Truthfully, she had expected a worse answer from him. This was... promising? More so than what she'd predicted would happen.
"You won't be going back to your old home," She replied, "I've deemed it unsafe, and therefore I won't allow you to return. I still remember the reasons you found yourself here to begin with, and I won't allow that to happen again. Instead, you'll be making a temporary home within the confines of a small housing facility we have built for labourers from outside the city who are working for extended periods of time. You'll find all your belongings have already been relocated to your allocated room. Whilst you're there, you will be expected to carry out your sentence each day. Two months of community service, as found appropriate in court. Your handler will-"
"My handler?" Septimus interjected, sounding distinctly offended, "What're you talking about 'handler'?" Luna glared at him, and when he went quiet, she continued as though he'd never said anything.
"Your handler will receive orders in concerns to what task, and how long or the stipulations of finishing said task, at the start of each day, and will be sure to tell you exactly what, when and how long you need to do each chore for that day. Once completed, the day will be yours to do with as you wish, but your handler will remain with you for the duration of the day. Is this clear?"
"So, I'm to be walked about like an animal on a leash," Septimus growled, "Figures."
"No, you're to be watched like the potentially explosive boy you are," Luna corrected archly, "I hate to tell you this Septimus, but had you not slammed me against a wall upon seeing me again, I wouldn't have felt threatened enough to throw you across the room. You were angry. I understand. But until you learn to control your anger, you'll always be a danger to yourself, and those around you."
She paused, then looked at Celestia, "I think that just about covers it. Is this satisfactory sister?"
Celestia started, and looked at Luna, wide eyed. She'd... actually forgotten what she was doing here. She'd not needed to say anything the whole time, and now Luna was asking her whether or not her sentence was satisfactory?
"I," She began, then cleared her throat, "I think it's just fine Luna. Well done."
Luna smiled, and Celestia's heart melted. It had become a rare thing, to see her sister smile at her. And to see it now was... Celestia wasn't sure. She didn't have the words to describe what it was like, but she wanted to see it more. Celestia had heard of her smile described as the sun coming up. Whilst that was a beautiful sight, she found the full moon more so. One could gaze upon the full moon without harm, and admire it's beauty. Luna was just like that when she smiled. She could probably just smile, then steal the souls of all their allies if she'd wanted to.
Luna had turned back, and said something to Septimus, Celestia noted with minor concern. She wasn't listening anymore. She'd done her job. She'd keep her composure for now, let things play out as they would.
She smiled. She watched as Septimus left, and Luna finally sighed, letting her shoulders fall. Without a word, Celestia embraced her sister warmly.
"I'm so proud of you Lulu," Luna's breath hitched in her throat, "You're acting like a Princess of Equestria, being fair, but just, and to somepony who means so much to you."
Luna swallowed a sob, and hugged her sister back, "Th-thank you Tia..."
Celestia suddenly had a thought. Back to the conversation she'd had some time back, with one of her guards
You're not helping her Anymore Princess, with all due respect. You're holding her back. Give her some responsibility, even if it's only an inch. She'll show you if she's ready or not.
"I'm also so sorry sister," Celestia continued, swallowing back a sob of her own, "I've... I've refused to see you as anypony but my baby sister, who needed to be protected, and was still so young... I've lived without you for a thousand years, and now that I have you back, all I've done is squash any chances you had to grow again. You were more than ready for your title, a long time before I gave it to you. I just... I didn't want to see it."
Within the embrace of her sister's arms, head hidden within her warm bosom, and hearing the mighty heartbeat of the Princess of the Sun, seen by some as a deity or goddess, Luna smiled, and gently patted her sister's back.
"It's okay... but I am totally going to make you make it up to me."
Celestia couldn't help but laugh a little, "I look forward to it little sister."