“Yes,” Luna said. As soon as she said it, she knew she regretted it, but it was too late.
Celestia collapsed in tears. Nothing compared to the pain and self-hatred she felt right now. It was worse than when she sent her sister to the moon. All those years of reassuring herself melted away. Dirt stuck to her tear stained face.
“Celestia, please, compose yourself,” Autumn said coldly.
“Wait, Celestia and Luna? What are you doing here?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Why are you fighting in front of Twilight’s castle?”
Flower and Autumn explained the situation in great detail, and with a couple of sarcastic comments and rude remarks.
“I think you’re out of luck here Lu-Autumn. If Twilight already loved your sister before all this, there’s no real competition to continue.” Rainbow Dash said, hovering above them.
“Even if Twilight already felt one way, the competition was never fair to begin with. It didn’t have any rules.” Applejack reasoned.
“It doesn’t matter how fair the competition was! Twilight loves who she loves! Flower’s clearly right here!” Rainbow Dash argued.
“No, Autumn is!” Applejack argued back angrily. Y're only sayin’ that ‘cus y’re a cheater!”
“I am not! Rainbow Dash yelled.
“Are you guys okay?” Twilight asked, walking out of her castle.
“Just fine,” Applejack said bitterly. “Fluttershy’s having a picnic around lunchtime and asked us to invite you.”
“Neat! Where, and what time exactly do you want me to be there?” Twilight asked.
“In that clearing we found out about y’re brother’s wedding, we meet at about 11-ish,” Applejack answered, back to her cheerful self (almost).
“Can my new friends come? These two are new to town.” Twilight explained.
“I don’t see why not,” answered Rainbow Dash. “I’ve got to go to work. See you later?”
“Actually, before you go, I was wondering if there were any openings in the weather team?” Autumn asked hopefully.
“I’m not sure, but you’re welcome to tag along.” Rainbow Dash answered, shrugging her shoulders.
Rainbow Dash and Autumn flew off into the distance.
***
Everypony except Twilight gathered in the clearing for lunch. They were all a bit early, and Twilight planned on arriving exactly at 11.
“Hi, Celestia and Luna! How nice of you to join us!” Pinkie Pie greeted, unpacking a cake from its box.
“Rainbow? Did you bring the bottle?” Rarity whispered.
“You mean her anti-hallucination meds? Yeah, but she doesn’t need them. Those two really are the royal sisters. They’re normal right now, remember?” Rainbow Dash said.
“Your highnesses!” Rarity gasped, bowing.
“Don’t bow! You give us away to Twilight!” Flower whispered.
“You mean Twilight doesn’t know?” Fluttershy asked.
“That’s the whole point! We’re trying to win her love. How better than to prove just how much we’re willing to give up for her.” Autumn explained for the second time today.
“All of that doesn’t matter now! Twilight’s admitted her love for Celestia!” Rainbow whisper-yelled.
“Luna was never given a fair chance! You ain’t got a lick a sense if think Celestia can just call off the competition because Twilight happens to love her! Celestia has to have true love’s kiss with Twilight. That was the one condition, and she should have to follow it.” Applejack stated matter-of-factly.
“I have to agree with Rainbow here. Competition or no competition, Twilight loves who she loves.” Rarity said, pouring herself some tea and sipping it lightly.
“It’s not fair for Celestia to just end things. She should follow the rules!” Pinkie Pie stated.
“I just wish she knew Fluttershy said.
“Knew what?” Twilight asked, trotting up to the blanket.
“How much we appreciate your company!” Autumn said quickly. She wasn’t the best liar.
“Thank you!” Twilight said smiling.
As Twilight sat down, nopony spoke. They knew they couldn’t give the sisters away by discussing their opposing opinions, but what else was there to talk about? Fluttershy shifted nervously. This wasn’t going to end well. Rarity opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. Even the birds had stopped chirping. Flower coughed awkwardly. Rainbow Dash, however, seemed perfectly content glaring at Applejack who purposefully ignoring her.
“Is everypony okay? Did I miss something?” Twilight asked, breaking the silence.
“Gummy is sick!” Pinkie Pie wailed, tears forming in her eyes. She winked at her friends. Pinkie lies to the rescue! “He isn't eating much,” Pinkie added with a slight sob.
“That’s terrible!” Rainbow Dash said with fake sympathy.
“I didn’t know alligators could get sick,” Twilight said. “Do you want me to research a cure?”
“Nah, that’s okay! The readers will help me.” Pinkie said enthusiastically.
“The readers?” Rarity asked confused.
“Yeah! The creatures out there who call themselves ‘humans’ are reading this moment in time like a story. I call them the readers. Hey writer, can you make me do something fun?” Pinkie said excitedly.
Pinkie teleported away for a minute, then she teleported back.
“I saw the writer! She told me not to say anything about them. Sorry guys!” Pinkie said with a shrug of her shoulders.
“I always thought there was philosophical value to imagining our lives as a story,” Flower said, looking off into the distance. “The writer must be very bored.”
Everyone was silent for a minute, then they burst into fits of giggles.
“When you put it that way, it does sound a bit silly,” Pinkie admitted, sharing in the laughter.
Once the laughter died down, they started eating food.
“So Twilight, Autumn here tells us you’re letting her and her sister stay at your castle. Care to explain?” Rarity asked, breaking the silence.
“I think the previous owner took their money and ran. The only problem is the fact that the mayor has no clue who they are.” Twilight replied, a worried look on her face. “I plan to sort it out today.”
“Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve heard of them either. I wasn’t supposed to read the files in Town Hall, but I did scan the names.” Pinkie said, thinking back.
“Not helping,” Rainbow Dash said through clenched teeth.
“Well ‘Ah think it’s real nice of ya’ to to help ‘em out like that. It’s no wonder why both princesses love you so much.” Applejack said, making a point to glare at Rainbow Dash.
Twilight blushed and looked down.
“I see somepony blushing! You look like a filly with a crush!” Rarity pointed out. “Which sister is it? Luna, or Celestia?” She put a little more emphasis on Celestia than she meant to.
“I prefer not to say,” Twilight said, mildly flustered. “Well, this has been fun, but I really need to get going.”
“I’m coming with you!” Applejack and Rainbow Dash said simultaneously. “I said it first!”
“Why don’t you both come?” Twilight offered.
Begrudgingly, Applejack and Rainbow Dash followed Twilight, Autumn, and Flower to town hall.
***
“I told you this before Twilight. There is no record of those two anywhere.” Mayor Mare said, placing her hooves calmly on the desk in front of her.
“There must be something we can do.” Twilight reasoned.
“‘Ah have a guest room one of y’all can stay in.” Applejack offered.
“Flower can stay in my guest room.” Rainbow Dash said, wrapping her hooves around Flower.
“‘Ah guess it’s settled then,” Applejack said, glaring at Rainbow Dash.
“I guess that it is,” Rainbow said bitterly.
Both pairs of ponies walked sideways out of Town Hall, glaring at each other.
“What was that about?” The Mayor asked.
“I have no idea, but I’m going to find out,” Twilight said, squinting her eyes at the empty doorway.