As she always did at the end of every night, Luna returned exhausted from her duties. She couldn't wait to get to bed and call it a night, but she joined her sister for breakfast/dinner first. She hadn't forgotten about last night.

"Good morning, sister," Celestia greeted her happily as always. "I know you're tired, but I hope we can still talk before you fall asleep and I have to leave for my duties."

"You were about to die of laughter, I'm sure," Luna recalled in jest.

"I couldn't help it," Celestia told her. "It's a funny thought, but it's not true. I'm not perfect, sister, and I never will be. I laughed at the idea, but I'm a little sad you think that way of me."

"You are?" Luna asked. "Why? What's to be sad about if someone thinks you're perfect? Everypony thinks you're perfect! Especially Twilight Sparkle. Don't tell me you're sad everypony adores you."

"No, but you know who I am and you think just like everypony else," Celestia explained. "You're the one pony I hoped would see me differently."

"I'm not sure I follow."

"Keeping a smile on my face doesn't mean I'm happy. I've had a lot of practice. A millennium's worth. More than that."

"What's the worst that could happen if you stop smiling?" Luna asked.

"You might be surprised," Celestia answered. "It doesn't sound hard, but you work alone. Try to imagine what it's like to be watched every minute and have every small thing you do publicized. Every small thing."

Luna had to admit it did sound like something out of a nightmare. Her job wasn't easy either, but she did have the privilege of pacing herself since her only deadline was sunrise.

"Well, you never had to be perfect for me," Luna told her. "And seeing you smile so much like that is kind of creepy."

"Tell me something I don't know," Celestia laughed.

"But why are you telling me this now?" Luna asked, almost sounding accusing. "Why after a millennium?"

Celestia felt embarrassed. It was a question she couldn't answer. Well, she could, but she was positive Luna would hate her for it. But it wasn't fair for Luna to be open and not her, and she didn't want to ruin the good mood, so she answered.

"The truth is I thought you knew back then."

"What?" Luna asked flatly.

"I didn't know you were resentful of me until Nightmare Moon was too close for me to do anything," Celestia explained. "I only knew you thought nopony liked you because they slept at night. I didn't know I was part of it. I thought you knew I faked it."

"That doesn't make sense! Every time I tried to talk about it, you just gave me a silly lecture!" Luna replied, temper rising. "And if I had blatantly said how I felt about you, you still would've lectured me!"

"I almost wish you had," Celestia admitted, lowering her head. "I left you alone because I thought if I gave you space, you'd calm down."

"Wait a minute!" Luna exclaimed, raising a hoof. "You mean you weren't ignoring me?"

"Is that what you thought? Of course not! I didn't know how else to help you," Celestia replied. "All of my mistakes..." Celestia swallowed her food nervously. "All of my mistakes came crashing down on me after I exiled you. That was what it took for me to see where I went wrong. And I am more sorry for that than I express, Sister."

Luna's temper cooled and she had no idea what to say. She wasn't sure what stunned her more: that Celestia didn't know how to do something, or she was admitting to being a victim of pride. That perfect pony was gone, but Luna suddenly gained a new respect for her sister.

"You have to leave soon," Luna told her. "I guess better you tell me extremely late than never." She got out of her chair and walked over to her sister. "What if from now on, I just see you as Celestia, my big sister instead of Celestia, who rules over Equestria, perfect and loved by all?"

"To anypony else, it'd sound crazy, but I would love that."

"On one condition," Luna added.

"Yes?"

"Stop smiling so much. It's really creepy. I can tell when that's fake."

Celestia relaxed her facial muscles and let her smile shrink a little. It really did feel good. "Force of habit. You do get used to it."

Breakfast was over and Luna headed off to her quarters for rest while Celestia headed out for the day. It really was a load off both ponies' minds to get their thoughts out in the open. And they wanted things to stay like this.

Suddenly, Celestia had an idea. It would have to wait until the day's end, but if she could make it work, it would undoubtedly bring her and Luna closer. Perhaps more than they'd ever been. But first, she needed a little help. She took some time to write and send out a quick scroll before starting on her to-do list for the day.