Twilight drew in a deep breath and held it for just a moment before slowly exhaling. It had been some time since she had heard from her middle child, Eclipse. They had grown so distant in the years they went to live with Tempest and Ditsy. It used to be a rule that they would return to Ponyville on the weekends, but that seemed to have dispersed so quickly. After all, being a princess was incredibly time consuming and with the added stress of arranging meetings with Starry Knight, keeping Lunar Spectrum on track with her princess duties, and teaching Deimos, Twilight never really had time to think of much else.

Today, Twilight was hoping to spend time with Eclipse and convince them to move back to Ponyville with her. After restless nights of conjuring up a plan with the help of Flash, Twilight felt ready. She felt confident in herself as she trotted up to the doors of the Crystal Empire castle. Twilight had asked Eclipse if they might meet her, Cadence, and Flurry Heart for tea. It seemed like the best place to ask Eclipse since their best friend, Flurry, would be there and Cadence would be able to help mediate. What could go wrong with the help of company!

Making her way down the long hallway of the castle, Twilight made it to the tea room where guards were standing by. Nodding her head, the guards opened the doors for Twilight and revealed a brilliantly lit room, the walls filled with beautifully arranged plants. The smell of steeping tea filled the mares nose as she stepped further in.

"Aunty Twilight!" a cheerful voice squealed and Twilight was quickly met with a constricting embrace with her niece, Flurry Heart.

"Hello, Flurry" Twilight nearly gasped as the mare finally released her. Across the room, Cadence turned to greet her with smile and it slowly faded into a troubled look. Standing next to her was a fairly built alicorn that Twilight could barely recognize as her own child. Had they really grown and changed so much since Twilight had last saw them? Her heart faltered as she realized… she could barely remember the last time she had seen Eclipse.

"Eclipse," Cadence began, the alicorn turning their head, "tea is ready".

Flurry brought the tray of freshly made tea and set it on the table. Twilight felt frozen as an unreadable expression was plastered on Eclipse`s face as they neared the table, staring at Twilight without saying a word. Twilight gulped and suddenly all of that confidence from earlier was quickly fading. Cadence cleared her throat and Twilight snapped back to reality, quickly taking her seat at the table.

The tea time began and everyone made small talk. Flurry talk on and on about the effort it took for her and Moonstone to finally arrange the tea room exactly how they wanted it and it gave Twilight time to think over exactly what she was going to say. Taking in another deep breath, she looked to Cadence who gave a small nod. Twilight nodded back and released her held breath. Clearing her throat, she drew the attention of both Eclipse and Flurry.

"Eclipse. I..I wanted to have this tea time to, talk to you about something," Twilight began.

Eclipsed raised an eyebrow at the mare and set their tea cup down on the table. They gave no signal for Twilight to continue other than a slightly risen ear that symbolized that they were listening.

"I know that, you`ve been busy here in the Crystal Empire and visiting home hasnt been your biggest priority, but I dont want things to stay like this," Twilight explained. Nervously, she looked to Cadence who nodded in reassurance that she hadn`t said anything wrong yet. Swallowing hard, Twilight nearly couldnt say another word as it felt like her nerves had turned to stone in her throat. "A-and well, I think it would be good if you, came back home," Twilight said.

Twilight`s heart was racing as she watched Eclipse`s face for an indication of, anything! Eclipse furrowed their brows and seemed somehow, confused about what Twilight had said.

"So… what are you really trying to say?" Eclipsed asked.

"I, I want you to move back home, Eclipse. You can live in the castle with me, your father and siblings. Oh Deimos has already been raving about how he wants you to move in and be his roommate. Though, I told him you`d probably prefer to have your own room," Twilight explained.

There was a moment of silence before Eclipse let out a cold chuckle. "You can`t be serious, right?" they scoffed.

Twilight`s heart sank as she was met with an icy cold rage in Eclipse`s eyes. Eclipse shook their head and rose from their seat at the table. "This has to be a sort of joke. You couldn`t possible think that a little tea and a 'heartwarming' plan could possible turn me. Not after what put me here in the first place," Eclipse growled and started out of the room.

Flurry looked to both mares and began to rise from her seat to chase her cousin, but Cadence lifted a hoof and sadly shook her head. Twilight could feel a cold sweat as she stared at the table in disbelief. This couldnt be the end. Hurriedly rising to her hoofs, she scrambled out of the after Eclipse who was stomping down the hall. "Eclipse, wait!" Twilight called after them. They didnt stop, not even for a moment when they heard Twilight`s voice.

"Eclipse please! I only want you to be back home! With me! Your father and siblings. Do you even know how much Deimos and your father miss you?! You dont even write to us anymore!" Twilight shouted.

Eclipse abruptly stopped their hooves came down with such great force that Twilight swore they had cracked the very foundation of the castle. A crackling noise so hideous was heard as Eclipse whipped their head towards the mare. Their broken horn sputtered and sparks of magic shot from them as tears were seen in their eyes. The mix of rage and sadness was nearly enough to stop Twilights heart as she could feel her own tears spill from her eyes.

"I.. am NOT YOUR PROPERTY!!" Eclipse shouted. The walls of the castle echoed these words and it felt as though they were shattering Twilight`s heart. "You think that I could ever just, come back home and pretend that, that the only reason I wasnt there in the first place was because YOU, YOU sent me away! All because I ever did was try to make you love me! But no! I was never good enough! And it only took one mistake for you to decide I wasnt good enough. Not good enough, to live in your castle, to be your child.. to even be heir to the throne! Now its all Lunar, and dont think for a moment that I couldnt tell how much you favored her. Princess, huh, well I hope she makes the perfect princess since thats all you care about! Perfect!".

With that, the magic receded from Eclipse`s horn and they turned their head away from Twilight. Head slumped towards the force, they stormed off, feathers ruffled as they made their way from down the hall, leaving Twilight to her self.

Sniffling, Twilight stared at her reflection in the crystal flooring. Tears streamed down her face as she couldnt believe the unrepairable damage she caused. If only she hadnt sent Eclipse away. If only she hadnt waited so long. If only time couldve healed her child`s wounds.

If only..