//------------------------------// // Resists - ultra1437 - March 26, 2016 // Story: The Sun and Stars: Lightning Round // by JKinsley //------------------------------// !!Minor spoilers ahead for the Season 6 opener!! Yet another returning author, Ultra1437 brings us yet another tale in his efforts to participate in the most LR of any of us. It had been a long day. Finally back in her own castle, Twilight wanted nothing more than to relax. After grabbing a bottle of wine and one of her favorite novels, she practically flopped down onto her favorite cushion, intent on doing just that. Her weary body eased into a laying position as she opened the book to the bookmarked page. A small pop sounded in the room as the cork unsealed the bottle, the liquid’s smell wafting up to her nose quickly. Fate had deigned to intervene for the day, it seemed, as somepony knocked on her door. “Ugh, I just want to relax…” she groaned as she set the bottle down, closed the book, and put far more effort than it felt like she should have to stand back up. The day’s stress catching up to her left her temper short. As she reached the door she launched into the start of a rant, “I swear, if this is some kind of–” As she opened it and saw who’d knocked, the words died on her lips and her ears pinned back. ‘Oh, horseapples.’ “Some kind of what, Twilight?” The voice belonged to her previous mentor-turned-kind-of-equal, Princess Celestia. The large mare stood, looking alert and smiling faintly, yet still equally as tired as Twilight herself. The small smile on Celestia’s face seemed to brighten Twilight’s mood a little. “Nothing… It’s just been a long day, Princess.” Twilight stepped aside, allowing Celestia entrance. The door swung shut softly, behind the older princess. As it clicked, a bottle floated out from behind Celestia into Twilight’s view. “Twilight, I had hoped we could relax together this evening.” Twilight fixed her former-mentor with a questioning glance, noting that Celestia had chosen a particularly strong rum, not a wine like she’d picked herself. “It’s not often an alicorn is born, nor is it often that a foal that powerful nearly destroys an entire capital city.” Twilight nodded, before floating a second cushion out for Celestia. “Yes, I was hoping to relax tonight, too,” she said, plopping down on her own cushion, and setting the second down next to her own. “Well, why not do it together?” Celestia’s voice wasn’t commanding, nor did it have it’s usual temper, it was almost… pleading. She fixed her eyes on Twilight’s, also it seemed they were asking, not commanding, or stating. Celestia really wanted to relax with her, but only if Twilight was really okay with it. “That sounds wonderful, Prin-Celestia.” Twilight shook her head softly as Celestia laid down on the offered cushion. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you want me to drop the title.” She brought up her own bottle and took a small sip of the fruity wine, not bothering with a glass, much to Celestia’s surprise. “I can’t say I would ever turn down the chance to spend time with you.” Twilight closed her eyes, and nodded as if to emphasise the statement. That piqued Celestia’s attention. “Oh? You want to spend time with an old mare like me?” “I would.” Twilight sipped from her wine again before a realization hit her. “Where’s Luna? You two seem to be attached at the flank it seems.” Celestia’s eyes widened at the comment. Before she could answer, Twilight grinned widely and laughed. The tension in the room seemed to break at the joke, and Celestia smiled and joined in. After a few moments, they calmed down and Celestia spoke, “Sometimes, I can see how one might come to that conclusion. To answer your question, she’s back in Canterlot, overseeing the night.” Celestia drank from her own bottle, the smell much stronger and pungent, overwhelming Twilight’s wine. Twilight nodded again, the bags under her eyes showing just a little more. “Good. I hope she’s well after today…” The two spent most of an hour in silence, occasionally drinking from their bottles, each just enjoying the other’s mere presence. As the alcohol started to affect her, Twilight’s thoughts turned from introspective to comparing herself to Celestia. The perfect princess who really wasn’t, but strived to do the best she could. Just like herself. Celestia occasionally looked out the window toward Canterlot, as if expecting the mountainside city to fall down because she wasn’t there. “You know, after today, I know how you feel sometimes.” Both ponies were surprised at the words. Twilight was more surprised the words were her own. “Know how I feel? I’m sorry, Twilight, I don’t quite know what you mean.” Celestia’s eyes met Twilight’s, a concerned look on Celestia’s face. “Today, I couldn’t fix the problem myself.” She held up a forehoof as Celestia’s mouth opened. “I know I was more than powerful enough to solve the problem through brute force, but I couldn’t use that much power without hurting or possibly killing somepony.” She took another swig of wine before continuing, “You control the sun, and the moon occasionally, but for all the strength you can bring to bear, it comes at the cost of possibly hurting your subjects if you use enough of it.” Celestia thought of the major events in the last decade, Nightmare Moon, Discord twice, Chrysalis, Tirek, even the storm earlier today. She shuddered as she thought of Nightmare Moon, she couldn’t exorcise the spirit from her sister without possibly vaporising her. Her ears pinned back as she thought of Discord, who could bend reality to his will at any moment. A shiver ran down her spine, her blood feeling cold as she remembered Chrysalis threatened her in Canterlot, where she couldn’t use much of her power without threatening the city’s stability or population. A spike of rage grew in her breast as she thought of Tirek, a monster who was the only one she could truly face, but their plan demanded she give her power to Twilight instead of fighting the centaur, to keep it from his hands. Like with Canterlot, she could have banished the storm with the sun’s power and warmth, but it would have had much more dire consequences, like flooding the area on the ecosystem, than trying to delay the storm for Twilight and her friends with her sister. Twilight watched Celestia seem to shrink, the larger mare slouching as she seemed to pull in on herself, curling up slightly. Celestia tried to choose her words carefully. “I… Yes. There have been far too many days I failed to protect my little ponies. Each time it happened, they insulted and slandered myself for weeks.” Celestia blinked a few times. Why was the room suddenly so blurry. “They were right.” She sniffled once. “I couldn’t protect them, but what they didn’t know was if I did what they wanted, Canterlot wouldn’t be standing. Nor would the Everfree.” She took a swig from her rum, the alcohol’s burn helping steel her resolve. “My sister likely wouldn’t be alive. Discord would likely be ruling Equestria, or Tirek if he’d gotten free.” The tears started flowing freely. “I only want what’s best for them, but I’ve failed multiple times now. Maybe I should step down and let you and Luna lead. That’s what the majority of the naysayers want anyways.” A wing fell over Celestia’s back. She looked to see Twilight had moved over and was doing her best to comfort the much larger mare. “Shh. Don’t say that. I had just a taste of what you’ve likely felt for years.” She nuzzled under Celestia’s chin comfortingly. “I’m here for you. No matter what you need.” She looked Celestia in the eyes, going as far as using a hoof to force Celestia to turn her head. “Day or night. I don’t care if you have to wake me up, or if I’m in the middle of something. If you need to talk, vent, or whatever else, I’m here for you.” Celestia’s eyes widened as Twilight nuzzled back up against her. “I… Thank you, Twilight.” A hoof found its way around Twilight’s withers, squeezing her into a hug. “I offer the same promise. If you need me, I will be there.” Twilight let herself be hugged. “For you? It’s never a problem, Celestia.” She brought their drinks up, floating Celestia’s to her. “How about a toast?” “To what?” Celestia asked softly. “Shared misery?” Both ponies laughed softly. Twilight felt more than saw Celestia’s nod. “Alright.” She clinked her bottle against Twilight’s. “To shared misery.”