An Affinity With the Sun: Act I: Chapter X

~An Affinity With the Sun~
{Act I}
[Chapter X]
|Salving the Sunburn|
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>The next morning Tia is nowhere to be found
>Day Court is closed and the Sun is dim and moves sluggishly across the sky
>You wonder the halls in deep thought
>Skulking like a ghost haunting through the castle
>You sub-subconsciously search for the kitchen mare you managed to make friends with
>Only to realize that she doesn't exist as far as you're concerned
>A particular voice calls out to you on your stroll through the garden grounds
>It's Princess Twilight running up to you like a girl who spotted a lost puppy
>It annoys you
>"Hi Anon, have you seen Celestia? I can't seem to find her anywhere."
"Nope, haven't seen her all day. Why?"
>You take a seat on a garden bench and invite Twilight to join you, to which she does
>"Well, after what happened the other day...."
>She trails off, not really wanting to remember the spectacle
>"By the way, I'm sorry I wasn't able to introduce you to my friends. Distractions keep occurring. They all can't wait to meet you though, I hope it'd be soon."
>You take comfort in the fact that at least someone other than Celestia is interested in you
>Just then it hits you
>You've been trying to deal with your problems without any insight from anyone else
>And who better to ask than Ms. Twilight Sparkle of Friendship
"Hey Twilight, what do know about friendship?"
>A rhetorical question she answers anyway
>"What do I know? Anon, my entire life revolves around friendship! I practically know everything on the subject!"
>Her boasting doesn't bother you
>You're actually glad that she shows signs of being willing to help
>You ask for her help and she gleefully agrees in an instant
>She begins to tell you her story of how she met her friends, the obstacles they've over came together
>The entire recap of her life takes hours to catch up to the events of today

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>"And that is why I came to find you. Well, you already knew why I was here."
>You are bored to tears
>Who knew her life of adventure would be so boring to listen to?
>"Anon? Are you listening?"
>You assure her that you are and she begins to tell another story, which you promptly interrupt
"Hey Twilight.Everything Cadance said at the wedding was true. She completely turned my life upside down, brainwashed me, and trapped me in this castle. Don't you think she's a bit insane?"
>Twilight settles down from her excited persona and takes in the subject
>"Yes. I have noticed her behavior lately. But I never thought she'd do anything like that. I've often seen her staring off into space and she'd always seem so lonely even though I was practically around her everyday."
>You knew that Twilight had been Celestia's protege for sometime now
>And lately you've been wondering if any signs of Celestia's behavior ever shown through to Twilight
>"I understand how you must feel Anon. But she's a good pony, honestly. And she really does love you. I can see it when ever she talks about you. I think you should at least give her a chance and get to know her. Who knows, maybe you'll end up loving her in return."
>You take Twilight's words to heart
"Y'know. You might be right. But Twilight, I'd like to find a way to make her see what she's done. I want her to be able to see what she does to me and what it means to truly love someone."
>Twilight is captivated by your resolve
>"Anon, that's a wonderful thing to do for her and it's really admirable. I would like to help you in this. For your happiness and hers."
>Twilight stands from the bench in determination matching your own
>She says it's getting late and she retires to catch the late train to Ponyville
>You also decide to head 'home'
>Maybe Celestia is there waiting for you
>As you stride through the halls you feel a lot happier and determined to bring Celestia her peace
>Revenge couldn't be further from your mind

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>You walk into your chambers seeing Celestia laying on the bed curled up in a ball
>She greets you
>Though without the sincere gratitude of seeing you
>You approach her and sit by her side
"Hey Tia, I've been talking to Twilight."
>"Oh?"
"Yeah, we talked about what happened and she gave me advice on how I should approach you."
>"Oh."
"....Celestia, right now you're....like an egg."
>She cranes her neck to look at you
>"What?"
"You're like an egg that hasn't been hatched yet. Or, a baby that doesn't know what it wants or how to get it."
>"If you're trying to insult me you're doing a fine job dear."
"No, here me out. Celestia, do you have any empathy for me at all? Have you ever though about how you make me feel when you keep me locked up in this castle? I can't even have friends or my own property because of you.."
>Celestia smiles at you
>The kind of smile a mother gives to her clueless child
>"Oh Anon, I do these things because I have to. It's the only way to make you see that I care for you. Where would we be had I not done that? You'd still be slaving away doing dishes and never realizing your love for me."
>She coos in your ear
>But you resist
"That's exactly what I'm saying. You treat me like I'm just some pet. Don't you feel any guilt for what you put me through?"
>She breaks eye contact with you and lays her head back onto the bed
>"Of course I do. But if you weren't so resistant in the first place I-"
"If you didn't fly off the handle and were willing to be patient maybe you wouldn't have had to brain wash me!"
>She falls silent
>You keep your eyes fixed on her for any kind of responses
>She says nothing
>You sigh, feeling a little defeated
>Just when you were about to resign and give up before you even try, she speaks
>"Perhaps you're right Anon. Maybe I have been a little inconsiderate of your feelings. Even so..."
>She turns her entire body to face you
>"Will you stay with me, and teach me how to please you?"
"Of course I will."