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Deep within Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia kept a personal library.
It was a circular room, the walls all taken up by bookshelves, black stone dotted with stars. Most of the floor was covered by soft pillows and blankets, in shades of orange and gold and yellow. The ceiling was a pane of glass so clear it looked like there was nothing there, its stone frame matching the bookshelves. It felt a little bit like lying on the surface of the sun, looking up at the blue of earth.
Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth / Through cloud and through sky and through space
The books were a mixture of important or classified books, and Celestia’s favorite books, and books on things she’d wanted to learn about. There was an entire shelf dedicated to books written by her own students.
The only pony who was allowed inside was Celestia herself. In all the centuries since she had had it built, no other pony had stepped a hoof through the doorway. Celestia was the only one who’d ever been inside.
Celestia, and Sunset Shimmer.
Celestia had never thought she’d get to have a family. Not after… not after Luna.
But then she’d met this filly. This brilliant, brilliant filly.
(A fighter. A street kid. A liar and a thief. All the things that didn’t make a princess.)
Celestia had taken several ponies in as wards of the castle over the years, but she’d never gotten so attached. Then… well, then she met Sunset.
Sunset was also an incredible student. She was smart, and talented, and more dedicated than any of her other students in all the years she’d been teaching.
Celestia- Celestia had even started to think of her- think of her almost like a daughter.
She didn’t think Sunset saw her as a mother, but that was alright. Probably for the better.
(If Sunset loved Celestia- loved her like Celestia loved Sunset- all it would get her was hurt.)
Celestia had never been more terrified of messing something up. If she hurt Sunset- if she hurt her like she did Luna- she didn’t even want to think about it.
Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine
There was a weight against her side. She looked down to see Sunset leaning against her leg. She had a book open in front of her- one on magic theory, Celestia thought.
Celestia herself was rereading one of her favorite novels. Trying to, anyways.
Celestia managed a few more pages of her book. She glanced over and realized Sunset had fallen asleep, her head pillowed on the open book.
Celestia smiled softly. Gently, she set her wing over the filly next to her. Sunset sighed happily, soaking in the warmth of her soft white feathers. She hummed softly, the familiar notes of a lullaby she’d been singing for nearly a millennia.
But into the stillness, I’ll bring you a song / And I will your company keep
If she could, Celestia would stay in this moment for the rest of forever.
She looked up at the skylight. The moon was high above them, the mare in the moon looking almost peaceful.
Carry the peace and the coolness of night / And carry my sorrow in kind
••☀️•☀️•☀️••
Sunset shivered.
It was cold, out on the city streets. She’d gotten used to the warmth of the castle. Used to the warmth of soft white feathers.
And that foolish pony did nothing to stop / The destruction of one who had needed her most
She had wedged herself between the wall of the alley and a dumpster. She’d found herself a small knife, but she wasn’t sure she’d be able to use it properly, what with her new… hands.
Her first few weeks in this world had been a nightmare. Not only did she not know anything about the new world and how it worked, she had to figure out a whole new body.
She had to learn to walk like everypony (not ponies, not ponies, not ponies) else did, on her two legs. She had to learn to grab things with her hands and their fingers. She had to stop reaching to magic that wasn’t there.
She was still working on that last one.
She was glad that the portal had given her clothes, because it seemed that everyone in this world wore them. She understood why; she would feel naked in just her skin, with no fur.
She’d been spending most of her days in the public library, trying to learn as much as she could. She’d found a children’s book on the human body, and it was ridiculously helpful.
The letters here were confusing at first, but she figured it out. They were the same as in Equestria, just- neater.
She’d been reading a weird mixture of children’s books and adult books, on history and science and culture and everything in between.
She’d even found a notebook, and was writing down everything she thought might be important. Writing with her hands was difficult, at first, but she’d gotten the hang of it. She’d even found herself writing more like the humans did.
She’d noticed on the shelf a set of books. The first one was titled Everything You Need to Ace History in One Big Fat Notebook, and the rest were titled similarly, for different subjects. If she were a different pony, she might have thanked Celestia for them.
And neither had she loved her as she deserved
But she wasn’t a different pony, so she just pulled out the first book and read it cover to cover.
Some nights, she was able to hide and stay the night in the library. But tonight when she went to get food, she hadn’t made it back in time. So she was stuck in the nearby alleyway for the night.
She’d found a leather jacket in a bin of clothing someone was giving away. It was a little too big for her, but it was warm.
Sunset remembered the lullaby Celestia used to sing- the one for her sister. Luna. She wondered, for a moment, if Celestia would sing her a lullaby.
The blame was my own, the punishment yours
She could see the moon in the sky above her. It was different, here. No mare in the moon.
And no pony to raise it. No pony to set it, to make way for the rising sun. This earth moved, spinning on its axis, making the sun and moon appear to rise and set like they did in Equestria.
She remembered how desperately she’d wanted to raise the sun. To feel its fire. It seemed ridiculous now; the sun didn’t need to be set. It would stay where it was.
She wondered if Celestia had ever thought of her while she set the sun.
The years now before us / Fearful and unknown
I never imagined / I’d face them on my own
The brick was freezing cold against her cheek. She missed Celestia’s library with a sudden desperation. She almost missed Celestia.
I love you, I miss you / All these miles away