It was a lazy afternoon in Canterlot. While most ponies were resting, Celestia was hard at work, sifting through documents, a massive pile remaining. She was tired, as she didn’t have much time to rest lately, due to the paperwork piling up out of nowhere.

Like a robot, she signed document after document, staring at each paragraph, barely reading them. It wasn’t long before she fell asleep at her desk…

“Ahem. Dear sister, I’m aware you’re tired, but you still need to set the sun.” she felt a gentle poke in her side. Celestia opened her eyes to see Luna giving her a frown of concern. “Sister, you’re working too hard lately. I could have helped you, if you had asked.”

“No, it’s all right, really.” Celestia yawned and stretched, heading to the balcony with Luna. “You’re already busy during the night with your own work. I couldn’t possibly burden you with mine.”

“Then how about asking Twilight? She says it’s been rather quiet over in Ponyville. I’m sure she’d be willing to help out her former mentor.”

“Well…” Celestia hesitated, looking out over the expansive city of Canterlot. Merchants were starting to close their shops, and the few ponies outside were heading home. “Perhaps a vacation would be in order. But what about the sun?”

“You taught Twilight how to handle that, did you not? I’m sure she could take over for a few days.” Luna watched her sister rise into the air, horn glowing as the sun began to set. Luna lit up her own horn, hovering as she carefully brought up the moon. They focused on their tasks for a while, before landing simultaneously on the balcony.

“Yes, it was a while ago when she learned.” Celestia and her sister trotted back to the throne room. “I suppose I can let her take care of it, but only for a little while. I don’t feel right making Twilight do all my work for long.”

“Fair enough. But you have to promise to try to relax, and take it easy on your vacation. I’ll see if I can find a therapist for you.” Luna smiled, as the two sisters walked past one of the night guards. He bowed as they passed.

“I promise, little sister.”

***

It was the next day when Twilight arrived, and as Celestia expected of her former pupil, she was able to raise the sun, without any major mishaps, although it seemed to take her a little more effort than Celestia. The white alicorn had been looking through advertisements since then, trying to find a place where she could just relax. The spa? No, she had a bad experience last time, where her mane reacted rather oddly to the steam rooms. The beach? That wouldn’t do, either, she wanted some place quiet. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door.

“Princess? There’s someone here to see you.” A guard’s voice sounded through the door. “She says it’s urgent.”

“Who is it?” she answered, setting the magazines down.

“She says the guards overheard your conversation with Princess Luna, and she’s here to help you relax.” came the reply.

“Hmm.” She went to the door, opening it. Next to the guard stood a pastel yellow Unicorn, with a bubblegum pink mane. “Hello there. What’s your name?”

“You may call me Pupa.” She answered, bowing, her voice smooth and soft as silk. “I’m a therapist, just starting out. I know that it’s rather rude of me to expect you to-“

“No, no, it’s all right. In fact, I was starting to get bored of looking through brochures and magazines.” Celestia shook her head. “Come in, I’m willing to give you a chance.”

“Thank you, I am honored.” She rose from her bow after a few moments, following the princess inside. The therapist looked around, taking the sights in. “Goodness, you’ve been hard at work, haven’t you? Crooked banner, unmade bed, half-eaten breakfast… It doesn’t look like you’ve had much time for other things other than your work, just as the guards told me.” 

“I don’t like sitting idly by when there’s things to be done, that’s all.” Celestia moved some books off a couch, motioning for the therapist to take a seat. “So, how do we start?”

“Hmm, well, how about you lay in bed, first, to be more comfortable?” Pupa sat down on the couch. “Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and when you’re ready, we’ll begin.”

Celestia did as she was asked, getting underneath the covers, letting her eyes close. After a few moments, she spoke up. “All right. I’m ready.”

“Good. Now clear your mind, focus on my voice. Think of a time where you felt truly happy. Not just happy, though, blissful, as if there was nothing to worry about.”

Celestia searched her memories, going further and further back… “Well… I suppose when I was a filly, and didn’t have any real responsibilities, was that kind of time.”

“Yes, when you had adults to take care of everything for you. That would be a time where most would feel truly relaxed. Not a bad choice at all. Now focus on those memories, and those memories alone. Try not to let any of your worrisome adult memories meddle.”

The Princess of the Sun attempted to do so, but felt her mind straying to other things. What if Twilight couldn’t handle the workload? Was she wrong, to push her work onto others? “I’m finding it quite difficult…”

“That’s all right. If you’d like, I can help put your mind at ease. You see, I have a talent at calming the minds of others.”

“Okay.” Celestia agreed with a small nod. “Just…. Be careful.”

She felt a kind of warm aura in her mind, as the therapist worked her magic. The concerns she had moments ago now seemed miles away.

“Can you try again, please?” the therapist’s voice was gentle, motherly. “Think about your time as a filly.”

Celestia was able to do it this time, focusing on those innocent memories, where the days were filled with play, gentle care, and bliss.

“Tell me what you see.” The therapist’s voice flowed through her mind like a river. “Try to remember as much as you can.” 

“I see… my mother…” Celestia paused, her vision of her memory growing sharper, as if she was there all over again. “I think… yes, I’m in a crib. I remember that crib. Father made it for me himself.”

“Very good. What do you hear?”

“She’s talking to me… but I guess I was too young at the time to understand her. Her words are just gibberish to me.” As Celestia described her senses, the memory grew even clearer in her mind. “But… her voice is soft, kind.”

“Yes, that’s it. You’re doing great.” The therapist encouraged her, in a way that one would encourage a child. “Your other senses, describe them to me.”

“I smell foal powder. Oh…” her memories were proceeding. “Mother’s giving me a change…” She blushed, a little embarrassed that her memories had reached something like this.

“That’s all right, there’s no need to feel awkward. You feel safe, loved, don’t you?”

“Yes…” Celestia gazed at her mother’s smiling face. “Ah, I hear Father bringing Luna to bed. I can’t see her, though. But it sounds like she’s already asleep.”

“Your family loved you very much.”

“I loved them so much, too. I miss Mother and Father…”

“Shh.” The therapist soothed. “Just keep focusing on those memories, where you were too little to do anything, where you had your parents taking care of it all.”

“Okay…” The memory was now clear as day, and Celestia was no longer aware of the present world.

“We’re going to try something different this time, Princess. Can you move around?”

“Of course not, it’s a memory.”

“Just try.” The therapist insisted.

Celestia thought it over. Well, no harm in trying. She sat up from the changing table, surprised she managed to do so.

“Ah, ah, I’m not finished with you yet, Tia.” Her mother gently chided, laying her back down. She powdered Celestia, taking out a fresh diaper, with yellow and pink trims. “Hold still, sweetie.”

“I can move!” Celestia spoke, but she only heard baby babble.

“Yes, you’ve entered a state of deep meditation.” The therapist’s voice could be heard in the air. “You should be able to move around in this world. But you cannot exit this memory without breaking the meditation. Stay in this one, and accept these memories, as if they were reality.”

Celestia looked up at her mother. “Mother…” she said softly, tearing up. It had been so long since she had seen her mother’s kind face.

“Aww, shh.” Her mother wiped at Tia’s tears, still unable to understand the baby talk. “It’s all right, almost done, then we can go play.”

“How is our little ray of sunshine?” her father came up, looking tired. Luna had obviously been a hoofful through the night. Celestia reached up for him eagerly, and he picked her up, giving her a gentle hug.

“She’s a bit fussy today.” Her mother answered, kissing her father. “How was the little moon?”

“She had a lot more energy than this old man.” He chuckled. “I’m just glad that that music box got her to fall asleep first.”

“Get some rest, love.” Her mother took Tia back.

“Good morning, my darling.”

“Good morning.”

Tia watched her father leave, a little saddened she couldn’t spend more time with him. The memory stuttered a little.

“You need to focus on your current memory.” The therapist reminded her. “Think about your mother caring for you right now.”

Celestia regained her attention, as her mother carried her to a fridge, taking out a bottle of formula. “Time for your breakfast, sweetie.” She cooed, setting the bottle in the warmer. Her mother gently pet her mane, letting Celestia relax. She was barely aware of taking a lock of her mother’s mane, chewing on it.

“No no, Mommy’s mane isn’t for chewing.”

A pacifier was set in her mouth, and she suckled instead, closing her eyes as her mother bounced her around gently. A few minutes later, the pacifier was removed, the bottle held to her mouth.

“Drink up, Tia.” Her mother encouraged.

Celestia obeyed, latching onto the bottle and suckling. The formula tasted wonderful to her, and she realized just how hungry she was. She drank a little more eagerly, dribbling some in her haste.

“Whoa there, don’t give yourself a tummy ache.” The bottle was tilted to slow the flow of formula. “There we go, that’s the ticket.”

Celestia suckled, her mother gently rocking her. Before long, the bottle was empty, but she felt an uncomfortable feeling in her belly.

“Here we go.” She was pat on the back, and emitted a loud burp, her mother expertly catching the spit-up onto a cloth. “There, now my little sunshine has her tummy all full. Let’s play some, shall we?”

 Her mother trotted to the next room, closing the door behind. The room unfolded, like a pop-up storybook. It was the playroom she loved as a filly. She saw her favorite toys around, the soft plush carpeting, colorful wallpaper…

“Down you go.” Her mother set her down, giving her diaper a little pat to set her off in the direction of the toys. “Go on and play, Mommy will watch.”

“It feels so real… what should I do now?” Celestia asked.

“Do what you want. This is your mind, after all.” The therapist replied. Celestia felt her mind even more at ease now. She could play so innocently, just like when she was a filly. She attempted to walk over to her toys, but stumbled, and flopped onto the soft floor. 

“Oopsies, someone’s too young to walk.” Her mother giggled, walking over and patting her head. “Good effort, though.”

Celestia giggled, enjoying her mother’s playful tone. She crawled over to a set of blocks, remembering fond times of building towering castles with them. It was time to do that all over again. She started stacking the blocks, finding it hard to get a grip on anything. She couldn’t use her magic, and her hooves weren’t very coordinated. Celestia dropped a lot of blocks, and knocked the tower over without intending to a few times. But there was some satisfaction of watching the colorful toys fall to the ground and scatter. She kept stacking, and knocking over the blocks, this time on purpose. She felt so little, so carefree.

“That’s perfect. You’re so small, so happy.” Pupa’s voice was so soft this time. “Don’t you always want to be like this? A clumsy, cheerful filly, with zero responsibility?”

“If only…” Celestia thought to herself.

“Sometimes, wishes can come true.” The therapist replied. “Now focus on that innocence alone. You don’t need to worry about anything. Getting fed, cleaned, all handled by your loving parents. You don’t even have to stop this fun to use the bathroom.”

As the therapist said this, Celestia felt an odd feeling down below, but it soon passed. Her flanks felt warm for some reason… But her mind felt foggy with all the bliss. It was hard to think straight. However, she was in such a state of euphoria, that she did not care much at all.

“Ah, ah, someone’s wet.” Her mother checked her diaper. “All right, sweetie, one more tower then we’ll get you changed.”

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Pupa asked, her voice barely audible.

“It is…” Celestia agreed, stacking the blocks up again. “I want it to be like this all the time…”

“That can be arranged… Just let your filly mind roam free, let all those pesky adult thoughts go. You don’t even need to understand grown-ups, because they take care of everything for you anyway.”

“Okay…” Celestia obeyed, feeling a kind of nurturing authority from Pupa.

“Let it all go, sweetie.” The therapist’s voice cooed at her. “Just relax, and let others take care of it all…”

Celestia felt her mind blank out for a moment, then replaced with pure, untainted happiness. She didn’t really understand what her mother was saying, but that wasn’t important right now. She wanted to finish her tower.

“Now… push over that tower with the last of your adult responsibilities. You wanted this to last, right? I promise you, as soon as you do that, it will.” The therapist’s voice was now like a thought in her mind, and she perfectly understood it all.

Celestia eagerly shoved over the tower, watching the color of the falling blocks spread into the world… then fade into black. She opened her eyes, finding herself gently cradled, by an odd grown-up pony, a black coat, and a green mane. She had funny holes in her hooves and horn. Celestia giggled at this. But then, there was a magic trick! Green light flowed over the weird pony, before she took on a white pony’s form, with flowing rainbow hair. Oooh, so pretty, it flowed just like her mother’s mane! She hoped she would have hair like that one day.

“I didn’t expect that to work.” The pony spoke, but Celestia didn’t understand. “Hmph, foolish ponies, letting my drones infiltrate their Royal Guard so easily. And now with the Princess of the Sun out of commission, I can-“ she paused, as the now-filly gurgled at her.

This pony was holding her carefully, so she had to be nice, right? Celestia suckled on her hoof, gazing up at her. She trusted this pony very much.

“Ah…” Chrysalis felt the faint tinges of love from the regressed Princess. “Family love is the strongest… Perhaps if I raise you like my daughter, you could feed my entire hive with this kind of love.” She thought it over. “But of course, I will still have to take your place, or things will look suspicious.”

Celestia’s answer was only a confused coo.

Chrysalis sighed to herself. “So it shall be. Come now, little one, let’s get you in a diaper. After all, I did promise you that I would make this happiness of yours last. I will not break my word.”