Thunderlane smiled, at first he had been confused but then it all clicked. How many times did Rumble come up with some fantastical tale that he would enjoy watching unravel at the seams as more details came out. How many times had his little brother did things that he thought was clever that he already knew all the details of because he had done them himself umpteen times before. It was at that moment Thunderlanes opinion of Celestia changed, not by much, more like an added piece of his image of her. He had all ways envisioned her regal, godlike, majestic and all powerful, but now he tossed in older sister. It was such an odd thing, like how he still regarded Luna as a powerful alicorn, a mysterious pony whose lifespan had surpassed Equestria itself but also that she liked it when you kissed her behind the ear. Thunderlane picked up his own teacup for the first time since he boarded the train to which Celestia guided over a teapot magically and poured him out a serving.
Sugar? she asked.
Yes, please, he replied as she lifted two cubes to his glass. Thunderlane looked at the princess and found her smiling at him, not as a Princess would her subject, but as one passenger on a train would another. He decided he liked Celestia. So, I guess, heres to you, umm, making a foal out of your sister? he offered, not so much a toast as it was a question as he held the glass teacup out.
Im sorry my little pony I surmise you thought differently of your princess, and now, she mused, you must think me quite the bitch.
Nah, Thunderlane grinned at her for the first time. But I do think youre a pretty cool older sister.
Celestia levitated her glass to his allowing them to clink.