Chapter Text
The celebrations rang out so all of Ponyville could hear, well, if Twilight was honest with herself, Appleoosa could probably hear it too. Streamers fluttered in the sky, music rang out loud, from where Twilight wasn't exactly sure, and Pinkie had somehow summoned an entire feast of baked goods from who knows where.
Princess Luna was back. Though outside of scholars like Twilight, few ponies even knew who she was—being stuck on the moon for a hundred years made you easy to forget, but that wasn't what mattered. Equestria had gained yet another Princess, and that, like most good news, was cause for a party. So, why did Princess Celestia look so tense? She was stuck to Luna's side, that was fair enough, of course; missing a sister for that long would make one protective, but Twilight had been under Celestia's tutelage for a while now, her whole life practically, so she could see the little tells. The slight flutter of a wing, the way her magical mane shimmered with a tad more urgency.
Twilight decided to take a moment away from her new friends to talk to the Princesses, she hadn't exactly had the chance since they returned from the Castle of the Two Sisters anyway. Bobbing and weaving through the hordes of ponies, Twilight almost considered just teleporting herself. Were there really this many ponies in Ponyville? But she finally had found herself in front of the Alicorns, Luna standing tall, but her smile stretched just a bit too wide, like she was trying to remember how to make one, and of course, Celestia, as regal as ever.
"Excuse me," Twilight bowed her head in respect, "I was wondering if I might have a chance to catch up with you, Princess Celestia?"
The sun princess looked down at her student, smiling elegantly, "Oh, Twilight, my dear, why not take time to spend with your new friends?"
Luna said nothing, and for a moment, Twilight felt... exposed. Luna's eyes pierced through her, and it almost felt harsher than when she was Nightmare Moon; it seemed examining, and of course, the silence didn't help. But Twilight persevered, as she always did,
"I just wanted to uhm..formally introduce myself to Princess Luna..." She swallowed thickly, eyes darting to the dark blue mare, before looking back to Celestia, mostly for approval.
But Celestia didn't reply at first, her expression got just that small bit tighter, in a way that Twilight knew was disapproving,
"Ah..or maybe I should just-"
"We would be delighted to be formally introduced, Miss Sparkle."
Blinking for a moment, the purple unicorn didn't know exactly what to say, before her brain finally kicked into gear and she smiled brightly and bowed down, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your majesty, I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's student and newly appointed Ponyville Librarian."
Luna bowed her head slightly in response, smiling softly. She reached out and lifted her hoof under Twilight's chin, lifting her up from her bow, and just for a second, she paused, like the act had thrown her in some way. There it was again, Twilight saw it-- no, she felt it, that examining gaze, that questioning look, but now there was something more, almost a familiarity. She cleared her throat slightly and gave an awkward smile, brushing off those feelings as lingering effects from using the elements; it was powerful magic after all, and she didn't fully know how it worked -- which reminded her, maybe she should ask Celestia if she had any more books on the elements and their history...
"Miss Sparkle?"
Luna's voice cut through Twilight's thoughts, bringing her back to reality and causing her to blush, "Ah- My apologies, Princess. My mind was elsewhere for a moment."
"It is no worry, Miss Sparkle," Luna held up a hoof with a reserved smile, "It is a pleasure to formally be introduced to such a talented pony, you were the one to free me from my..." She cleared her throat, "Unpleasantness..."
"One of the ones," Twilight corrected, on reflex, "My new friends also helped me, the elements of harmony did most of the work though, in fact, Princess Celestia..."
And so began a long rambling query about books that caused Twilight to almost completely forget anything else, in fact, if it wasn't for Rarity coming and dragging her away to try some of 'The best cider in Equestria, Darling.' She probably would have continued talking for another hour or more.
As Twilight was being pulled away, however, she noticed something. A look, a small glance shot between the regal sisters, though they were different in tone, Luna looked confused, almost, whereas Celestia was unreadable. And then they were normal again. Shaking her head slightly, and deciding that it was best not to think about it (right now anyway), Twilight allowed herself to be practically smothered by her 5 new best friends, enjoying a party for what was the first time in a long time.