The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab

by Fuzzyfurvert

356. Pigtails by Ragabash

by Ragabash

***

As close as they were, Twilight always was a bit nervous around Celestia. And as high as her own status was, she had an incredible respect for the older mare. That made it hard to be alone with her, just as now, as she was with her in her room. She was on princess duties here, but that didn't mean that they couldn't have some leisure time. But since those times were rare, especially now that she was living in Ponyville, it was even harder. On top of that, she never considered what her new title might mean for her relationship with her mentor, that might not even be that anymore.

Due to all that, it was hard, nearly impossible, for Twilight to ask what in Tatarus Celestia had been thinking. Not even if she put in a nicer way. It wasn't easy to question her decisions and actions, especially when she didn't know the motives. But there was no way around it. She knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep if she went to bed completely ignorant.

“Umm...” Twilight began.

“Yes, Twilight?” Celestia replied with a smile.

Ignoring the odd sense of dejá vù, the purple alicorn looked over Celestia, before she hesitantly answered: “If it's not too intrusive... Why are you wearing your mane like... that?”

Celestia looked to both sides at her head, to the pigtails that were braided out of part of her mane. “I thought it was time for something new. I nearly always wear my mane open and I thought it was becoming a bit boring. Don't you like it?”

“Oh no, I like it very much, Princess Celestia.” Twilight couldn't help but feel bad about what she was saying. It was probably the biggest lie she ever told. “It looks really... great on you.”

It wasn't that Twilight disliked the style in itself. It just didn't fit the princess at all. First of all, the nature of her ethereal mane made it unfit for such a hair style. The way the hair was flowing made it look like the braids were constantly pulsating, which looked weird. Also, the pigtails were floating in the air, as if they were held by magical scrunchies, which looked stupid.

But even if she had a normal mane, it wouldn't fit. It was such a youthful hairstyle, it simply didn't work with a mature mare like Celestia. Twilight considered that this might even be the reason, that she wanted to look younger. But the princess wasn't the kind of pony to get worried about her age. And if she were, she'd probably get a crippling depression, considering how old she was.

Without saying anything, Celestia looked at her student for a while. Then she sighed, before she said: “Twilight, my feelings aren't so easily hurt. You don't have to lie to me.”

For a moment, Twilight wanted to deny it, but she knew better than that. Of course, Celestia knew it when she lied. She couldn't even hope to convince her otherwise, when she found her out.

“Well, it serves me right, at least,” Celestia continued. “I wasn't entirely honest with you either. I didn't do it, just do look different, I actually did it for somepony else.”

“Somepony was making you wear pigtails?” Twilight asked in disbelief.

The princess chuckled. “No, I did it on my own. I just wanted to look nice to them.” With that, she untied her mane, setting the scrunchies aside and let her mane flow freely.

Somehow, Twilight didn't like the sound of that. It had to be something private, there was no way she was talking about something political. Why would she wear pigtails for a diplomat or a foreign ruler? But why would she wear them for anypony? Twilight considered something, but she couldn't imagine her doing that and didn't want to think about it.

Still, she couldn't help but object, as Celestia untied her mane. “Why don't you keep them like that? Maybe they'll actually like it.”

“No, you are right, it looks really bad,” Celestia replied. “Even if I'm told that it looks good, it'd be just a white lie. I just thought that if I'd wear it, I'd be noticed. Positively, I mean.”

Twilight didn't like how her suspicions got stronger. She wanted to drop the subject and pretend she'd never heard it. But still, a part of her thought that she should give advice, if she could.

“Maybe you should just ask them, what hair style they like,” she said. “It's not exactly subtle, but it could help prevent mistakes.”

Celestia looked oddly at her first. Then she smiled and replied: “Yes, I think you are right. After that horrible idea, it's the best way to prevent future disasters.” She chuckled at that.

And with that, that conversation ended and they moved to another topic. Twilight was relived, even if she couldn't quite forget what just happened. Still, it was a good distraction until they had to go to work.

“The king of the Griffon Kingdom is bound to arrive soon,” Celestia finally said.

Twilight shuddered as she sat up. “Then, I'll ha... I'll go greet him.”

“Relax, you don't have to endure him for long. That 'pleasure' will be mine.”

The purple alicorn smiled at that. It was nice to hear that she wasn't the only one who wasn't fond of him.

As she was about to leave the room to attend her duty, Celestia stopped her. “Oh, before I forget it.” The princess smiled. “What kind of hair style do you like?”

Comments

[OldMan]

Elegant.

[BarrenBaron]

That was so smooth if I was an ice road trucker I'd have just careened to my death.

[Opponent]

Yes, that's what you get by dealing with ageless diplomat. She can pull things like that at her worst day. Smooth is an understatement.