Celestia watched the activity in the growing city of Canterlot from the window of her throne room, sullenly watching fillies and colts trot about in costume, guided by their parents. Raven walked up behind her, pulling along a small trolley with her magic.
"'Tis not right," Celestia said quietly.
"No," Raven said. "It is not."
It was silent for a moment.
"There was a moment where I was… outraged. At how crass the citizens could be, to make a holiday of such a terrible event." Celestia sighed. "But… as I am prone to forget, what can sting so freshly for me is nothing more but legend to them before too long."
Her eyes surveyed the city, counting the groups. "Outside of this room, there is no one left alive who knew her. That is… a bitter pill."
Raven simply stood there. Celestia turned her head slightly to acknowledge her. "I know what you are holding back from saying, as there is no way to say it warmly; so I will say it for you." She turned back to the window. "If I had been more willing to speak of that day… to tell the tale myself, before it became rumors and hearsay… this would never have happened. You were right."
Raven said nothing.
"And now that they've even seen fit to decorate my throne room with a stained glass visage of that night… it seems as if there truly is no way to escape it." Celestia focused on her own reflection in the glass for a moment.
Raven took a breath. "Princess… I do have a proposal. Well, two, in actuality." She lifted a teapot off the trolley and poured it into a cup before sending it towards Celestia, who turned to it and softly smiled. "I recalled that you found the Yunnan tea to your liking once before. I thought I would offer it again before we declare once and for all what your ultimate preference is."
Celestia sipped the tea, then lightly smacked her lips. "I certainly can appreciate the honey tones… but I do think I prefer the Keemun." She took another sip.
Raven nodded. "Very good. And now that we have gotten the most important business out of the way…" The corners of Celestia's mouth curled upwards in another light smile.
"...I propose that, perhaps, it is not too late to tell your story after all," Raven finished.
Celestia turned to her, a slight frown on her face. Raven continued quickly. "I am not suggesting an official royal decree, or anything of the sort. Simply… putting it on record. A detached retelling of the context and the events, from as unbiased a perspective as possible. Perhaps the story will merely end up in a compendium of myth and legend one day, but… at the very least, it will be an accurate myth."
Celestia looked into her cup, thinking.
"As you said yourself, you cannot escape it. Perhaps… it will bring some level of closure," Raven said.
Celestia closed her eyes briefly. "I very much doubt that, but…" She nodded. "I am willing."
Raven smiled, and pulled out a few sheets of parchment from the bottom level of the trolley, along with a quill. She used the teapot to top off Celestia's cup, and then sat patiently, quill on the parchment.
Celestia turned away from the window and sat on her side, thinking.
"Drink your tea," Raven said gently, smiling. "It will get cold."
Celestia looked at Raven for a moment, then nodded, taking a sip and savoring the taste. "I suppose we must start somewhere. Detached and unbiased, then?" Celestia paused before breathing in deeply. "...'There were two regal sisters…'"