"Hmmm...troubling. Most troubling."
Celestia's concern was as clear as the days she ushered in every morning, and after looking over the many, many, many papers that Twilight had brought in for her, she slowly glanced up to look her former apprentice in the eye.
"This is quite unexpected."
Twilight nodded.
"I know. I'd have come to you sooner, but..."
However, Celestia gave a quick shake of her head.
"You needn't apologise, my faithful student. A matter of this nature no doubt took time to properly study."
Gracefully, the eldest of alicorns rose from her throne, stepping down towards the younger Princess before her.
"This clone of yours...this Midnight Sparkle...what do you make of her?"
Twilight sighed, looking away from her old teacher, to the many stained-glass windows that decorated this chamber.
"Hard to say. When she first came to me, she said she sought her own survival. That her continued existence was her greatest priority."
She paused, and then looked back to Celestia.
"I don't think she was lying when she said that. Chrysalis is now her enemy, and I think we can both agree that a mark like that would make anyone nervous."
Celestia nodded, grimacing briefly.
"Indeed. Having been on the receiving end of the Queen's power myself, I can certainly understand a need to stay away from her. And where better to do so than within the home of ones who have thwarted her? Truly this Midnight has your intelligence at least."
That was a prospect that gave Twilight pause. The older alicorn began to walk past her, and so she soon followed, keeping a respectful distance and listening well as her mentor continued.
"Does Midnight seem like a danger to you? Or a threat to others? She was, quite literally, born to be our enemy, after all."
A difficult question, but one that Twilight had apparently been giving thought to already.
"She and I aren't exactly friends right now, but I don't think she's going to just outright attack anyone."
Celestia's eyes narrowed a little bit.
"Not yet at least."
Twilight nodded in acknowledgement of that.
"She was created by one of our greatest enemies, and her very being is dark magic. Those are two things I would not want to have to think about when it comes to people living in my home, or anywhere else for that matter."
Celestia stopped here, as did Twilight, and the former soon turned to look to her, smiling and placing her hoof on her shoulder gently.
"You did not err, Twilight, allowing her into the palace as you did. If she posed no threat to you, and asked for aid, you acted like any Princess would. I'm proud to hear that you would show compassion like that."
Twilight smiled, but only for a short while, as she continued to seem worried about this whole situation.
"I just wish I could talk about her with certainty. There's just so much about her I don't know. I don't know if she has any ulterior motives, I don't know If I can befriend her, I just...don't know! She's a total mystery to me!"
Celestia nodded.
"I understand. It can be frustrating, being near one who is so hard to read."
A quick giggle on her part.
"Reminds me of whenever Discord and I spend time with one another these days. One moment we can be quite cordial, and the next, he may decide that bringing a hydra into the throne room would be fun."
Though briefly amused by that notion, Twilight's mind would not allow her to stray from what this meeting was all about.
"Midnight's certainly a strange one. I've never met someone like her before."
Celestia looked down to her, raising an eyebrow slightly and bearing a small look of mischievousness.
"You mean besides when you're looking in the mirror?"
Twilight, in stark contrast to how she might have behaved around Celestia years ago, rolled her eyes.
"Princess! Be serious about this!"
Another giggle from Celestia.
"Do forgive me, Twilight. But when you've lived as long as I have, and seen so many strange and wonderful things, you learn to find fun where you can."
The white mare looked away, pondering all of this for a little bit longer.
"So now we have two Twilights. Hmmm...I wonder if there's enough books in the world to satisfy that development?"
In spite of herself, Twilight too gave a laugh to that, shared also by Celestia afterwards. But, as pleasant as this quick moment was, it didn't last, and Twilight calmed down a bit, nodding to what was said before.
"She and I may share the same face...but she was created to be my opposite. To be everything I'm not. She's distant, closed off, blunt, and seems to think only in terms of what's pragmatic for her. We've spoken here and there, but nothing about those talks make me think she's interested in forging any kind of relationship with me or anyone else."
Celestia listened well to that, but said nothing as Twilight again looked to the many windows around them. Specifically, the young alicorn focused on the one depicting the triumph of her and her friends over Nightmare Moon. Celestia silently wondered if that's how her apprentice viewed Midnight, as a dark alicorn bent on little more than domination. A shadow to her, just as Luna once was to Celestia in that unhappy distant past. Worry came to Twilight's expression, and she soon looked down to the ground.
"I just...hope I haven't made a mistake in letting her so close. She isn't doing anything wrong now, but what about later? What if I've only let in a future enemy?"
The older Princess, at last being given a silence in which to respond, stood tall and regal, before speaking in the calm-yet-commanding tone she was known for.
"We can never know what nature a person truly is, how they think, or what they may do, until they do it. It is a risk, that much is certain, and a day may well come when this Midnight does something to warrant being fearful of her."
Twilight looked up as Celestia carried on.
"I said before that you did the right thing in helping her when she asked for sanctuary, and I meant it, Twilight. She may have been born in darkness, but that darkness has touched the hearts of many in this nation's history. Luna, Stygian, even your own apprentice once upon a time."
A smile came to her.
"And as you well know, those who have been marked by shadow can still find a path of light."
Like before, she placed her hoof on Twilight's shoulder, looking to her in the same way a proud and caring Mother might.
"And if there's anyone who might be able to help this lost soul find friendship, or even just a sense of belonging...it's you."
Twilight's smile was a wide one, as was expected when her icon would say such things to her. But, rather than simply rushing forward and giving her teacher a big hug, like every fibre of her being was screaming at her to do, she instead kept her composure, and gave a sweeping bow. Celestia, still smiling, returned the gesture, undoubtedly enjoying this moment. But when the two of them rose, the older alicorn's look was one of seriousness.
"I hope you don't mind, Twilight, but I feel I should inform my sister and Cadence of this development as well. Not only do we now have to deal with the issue of an alicorn made from dark magic, but there's also the rather troubling matter of Chrysalis now knowing of the Elements and their whereabouts. These are things we must all be wary of now."
Twilight nodded, matching her fellow Princess' expression.
"Of course. And I need to get back to Ponyville. I don't want to be away from watching Midnight too long."
Celestia nodded back, stepping aside to allow her younger friend by. Twilight offered her another smile as she left, but before she got too far away, she was stopped by the sound of Celestia's voice.
"And Twilight..."
Twilight turned, seeing the focused and intent expression on Celestia.
"...you know your duty, as a Princess of Equestria. If Midnight does one day pose a threat, to you or others...if she strays back to the dark path of the one who created her...do not hesitate to use the Elements. If you have to."
Twilight didn't like having to hear that, but she nodded in agreement all the same.
"Only if I have to."
Took you long enough. I'm just glad that this story is not dead.
I really like this story
Loved the update, keep up the great work!
9170963
Okay, I'll admit my comment was a bit rude, but you have to admit, it took you a while to write such a short chapter. I do hope this story does continue to do well I'm just a bit disappointed by how little anything has happened.
9170963
One or two updates a month is not slow. It's a steady and good update schedule.
9171169
Meh, I guess... more frequent than mine, but my chapters are usually over 3000 words.
9171173
Every writer has their own pace. The better they are, the longer I'll wait. I've waited months for some writers and some I'll read one chapter and bounce. Every reader determines what their own wait time is worth to them. I just read a ton of stories and then if one good one doesnt update then hopefully another does. But yeah, be nice to the writers please. You all do this for us for free.
9171221
I just read too fast so I'm always waiting on like five stories to update.
I still want to see Shinning Armor come in to see two Twilights. Just to freak him out lol
one may hope for the best yet prepare for the worst
9171241
This. Must. Happen.
I agree with about, half of this. Telling Luna and Cadance is a good idea. But thinking that even with Cheeselegs knowing of the Elements means anything bad is just plain stupid.
The episode made it clear that she is nothing now without a hive to back her up. Otherwise she would have done all this herself. Or had the Mean 6, oh I don't know, go into Ponyville and fuck with everyone's minds by being evil and thus turning the town against the Mane 7.
Plus the Tree showed that it can defend itself against those with evil in their hearts.
9171005
Useless 90% of the time, makes things worse 9% of the time, and only useful 1% of the time? I'd say yes.
9172492
Hey, it's not her fault that the writers like to use her for The Worf Effect! It's hard for powerful characters to not get beaten up once in a while! Poor Celestia, now it looks as if she only has Informed Abilities.
...
9174301
Still mostly useless...
Interesting story so far, nice work.
9174389
Well she does raise and lower the sun. It's kind of important. Not to mention that whole running a country thing. The problem really is that the show is about Twilight, not Celestia or Luna. Therefore it has to be Twilight and company having the adventures and saving the day. If the powerful mentor does it, it doesn't allow Twilight to shine... but having the wise mentor around to ask questions and seek advice is still important it's just not the hero's role anymore so they have to Nerf her. Let's face it, Celestia already won her kingdom... just like Conan eventually does. But then he is no longer an adventurer, pirate, thief, but a King with the responsibilities and a crown upon a troubled brow. I understand how you feel, but if Celestia had teleported right next to Tempest Shadow and bitch slapped her back to Fizzlepop Berry Twist there wouldn't have been a story, it would have been all over before it started.
9180149
Isn't it her JOB to protect Equestria? What use is she if she's not doing her job? As lore would have it any group of unicorns could raise or lower the celestial bodies.
9180587
I would argue that she is the head of State and Commander in Chief of the Equestrian Military. Like a President or Prime minster that run countries they have Chief of Staffs and generals to do the hands on defense of the nation that answer to them or her. They are very seldom on the front lines. Also remember that for a thousand years she was the sole being capable of raising and lowering the sun. It would not be wise to put her life on the line because it is that of the planet as well. Her sole backup during that time was Luna who was banished to the moon. Think of it this way she is the King in a chess game, essential, but not a really active part of the war. Also sure the unicorns could do it at one time but either they lost the skill in some stories or it used them up beyond belief. Either way that option is unavailable. That's my answer and my head canon. Your mileage may vary.
9180784
Agree to disagree.
9182757
Look at all the threats Equestria's faced since the show started. Look at the ones that needed the Elements to stop. Or who were too big and powerful for a handful of guardsponies to deal with. All the things Twilight and crew handled.
Now, picture that for a thousand years, these things which only Twilight and her crew could deal with? Celestia was alone. Her army couldn't deal with these things. The Elements were inert and no longer bound to her (former Bearer of Magic, Kindness, and Generosity). She had no Luna backup. Cadence was a very, VERY recent thing. No Pillars, either.
So, with the frequency of world-level disasters and Equestria-destroying threats in the last 2-3 years in-world in the show, over the course of a thousand years, the only person who could have dealt with it all iiiiiis: (drumroll) ... Princess Celestia. That is one thousand years of being the only alicorn in Equestria. The only ruler in Equestria. The only one capable of dealing with threats to Equestria beyond the scale of some soldiers with spears and telekinesis. And yet here's Equestria, peaceful, safe, in one piece - which means by all logic, Celestia had to have handled all of that on her own.
The only reason Celestia never does anything in the show is because, again, it's written for children. One of the most common tropes in kids' writing is the great and experienced mentor can't do anything and it's the younger apprentice who comes to their aid, growing and learning lessons the whole while. Or, to subvert it a bit, the venerable mentor acts like they can't handle anything and is using these disasters to train said apprentice. Either way, to become the powerful and veteran mentor they are means that they were kicking ass famously before we join them via their apprentice as audience.
9297234
Dumbledore...😡
Honestly the story hasn't sold me on that aspect of Midnight. Her dialogue is curt and tepid, but there's little physical description of her body or face to convey any combativeness, anxiety or paranoia. The only one she's really interacted with is Twilight, and she hasn't really been given the chance to be rude to anyone else. And when she is with Twilight, they actually do seem to be getting noticeably closer to each other. Last chapter she was talking to Twilight to understand the concept of childhood and family, for pete's sake. How is thaf NOT at least an INTEREST in forging bonds?