Author's Notes:

Did any one get the title?

Canterlot castle- a few weeks after the failed uprising of Twilight

Celestia sat upon her golden throne as she listened to Blueblood give a speech about how the parks should all have statues of him. As if one of you wasn't more then enough already, she thought. "No, Blueblood," she said plainly. "The parks are meant for all. Now, please, leave. You aren't the only pony who wishes to see me today, and I apologize for being blunt, but I'd rather be alive to see them."

Blueblood's eye twitched, though he wisely did not test his aunt's patience. "Of course, auntie," he said with bow, and left the room.

"I'm beginning to wish I had let Twilight win, just so I could get a break from all this," Celestia said with a sigh just as the pony she wished to see the most walked in. "Hello, my daughter," Celestia said with a small smile towards her adoptive daughter, Rainbow Dash.

"Hey, Celestia," Rainbow said. "Sorry I couldn't make it yesterday. The performance got held up." Rainbow, with a word from Spitfire and Soarin, had gotten into the wonderbolts a week after the incident involving Twilight, and had been with them as they did a few big celebrations in cites like Manehattan for various reasons. The public still knew nothing of Twilight's "death", no one knew the truth, but Celestia and Rainbow had decided that they would say she had gone missing, and, after extreme search, was presumed dead. That wasn't due for another month.

"I understand, Rainbow," Celestia said as she got up from her throne and went to Rainbow's side, nuzzling the cyan "pegasus" when she reached her. "It's just good to see you again. I imagine, though, that word reached you of my new relationship?"

Rainbow blushed. "Yeah, and I still can't believe it. I mean, you and Rarity? I don't think anypony could have seen it coming."

"Niether did we, I'm afraid," Celestia said. "It just happened, and we went from there."

"Well, let's hope it turns out well," Rainbow said with a small laugh.

"Yes, that would be good," Celestia said, hiding her own chuckles. "Now come on, Luna's waiting." Rainbow's adoption was a closely held secret. Only she, Celestia, Luna, and Celestia's closest Knights, which included Pinkie, knew of it.

"Right. Wouldn't want to keep her waiting. Who knows how mad she'll get," Rainbow said.

"Yes, we don't need another Nightmare." Oh, Celestia, if only you knew. "Now, come on, Rainbow. It's time for lunch, and I'm certain there's a slice of cake for each of us." Both mares laughed as they exited the throne room and made their way to the kitchen.

"So, Rainbow," Celestia said, "what do you think of Rarity and I, any how?"

"So long as you guys are happy, I'm fine with it."

"Thank you, Rainbow. That means a lot. And you know you don't need your disguise when it's just us and Luna."

"Yeah, I know, but i just like this. Besides," she said with a shrug, "who knows what ponies Twilight brought under her hoof and are still on her cause even with her being, well, you know."

Celestia's smile instantly turned into a saddened frown. "Yes, that may prove to be an issue. Has anything occured with Applejack and Fluttershy since then?"

"Not as far as I can tell, no," Rainbow said. "But then again, the changes I did notice were only with Twilight there, so who knows. Maybe what ever happened just went dormant."

"Let's hope not, and that any other unicorns she enthralled can not cast what ever spell it is she used on the two of them."

A few minutes of silence passed before Rainbow spoke up. "What about Luna? If Twilight really wanted to overthrow you, she would have tried to bring Nightmare back."

"I imagine we discovered and stopped her before she could," Celestia said. "There would be obvious changes in Luna's behavior if that were indeed the case, as there are no recorded spells that can separate essences from their hosts."

"What about her cousin? Didn't she say she did so, and released Nightmare?"

"Galaxy was a special case, as she was her own being, and Nightmare, I imagine she was bluffing on that regard. I hope so, anyway."

Rainbow chuckled. "Yeah, I doubt even Twi could make a spell like that."

"I would not discount that yet, Rainbow. We both know how skilled in magic Twilight was, even before her ascension."

"Yeah, yeah, I guess."

Both of them arrived at the dining room a few minutes later. Celestia opened the door to reveal Luna and Rarity discussing something neither of them could hear. Luna was the first to notice them as they approached, but before they could hear the conversation. "Hello, sister," Luna said. "How did court go?"

"Blueblood," was all Celestia said in a glum tone.

"Ah. I am sorry for that. Rarity here was just telling me as to how you two discovered you feelings for one another," Luna said with a devious grin.

"Rarity," Celestia hissed in embarrassment. "You said we'd never speak of that incident in detail!"

"Oh, Celey, I simply told her in the barest of details how it happened. Nothing specific. A lady doesn't just kiss and tell, as I thought you knew," Rarity said in a playful manner.

"Yes, I do suppose your right," Celestia said. "But then again, we did do more," she said with a grin.

"NOT LISTENING!!" Rainbow and Luna yelled, covering their ears, which got laughs from the other two, and laughs from Rainbow and Luna as well soon after.

Celestia and Rainbow then took their seats next to Luna and Rarity, Celestia seated between the two.

"So, sister, what have you been up to since we last saw each other," Luna asked.

"Oh, just the usual, Luna. Paperwork, dealing with annoying nobles and Blueblood."

"So, nothing of note, then?"

"No. But then again, with what usually goes on in Equestria, that's not really saying a lot."

"No, I suppose not," Luna said. "And what of you, Rainbow," Luna asked, turning towards Rainbow with a small, glare you could only see if you looked for it. Or knew it was there.

"Oh, not much. Just flying with the wonderbolts!"

"Nothing else," Rarity asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nope."

"Well, I guess it makes sense. After all, she does need to practice a lot to make sure she can do the new tricks," Luna said. "I, for one, can not wait for their next performance." As well as their final, she added mentally.

"I think that goes for all of us, princess," Rainbow said.

"Indeed, I know I look forward to it," Rarity said just as the food for the four mares arrived. For the most part, the dises were salad with varied dressings, and, for Celestia, a small slice of cake.

When they were all done fifteen minutes later, Celestia got up, saying, "Now, if you all will excuse me, I must return to day court."

"Of course, sister," Luna said. "Don't let us keep you."

"Yeah, and Spitfire wanted to see me, too," Rainbow said, getting up as well.

"I suppose we'll see the both of you later," Rarity said as she nuzzled Celestia. "See you later, my love."

"And I you, Rarity," Celestia said as she returned the nuzzle.

"Well, see ya guys later," Rainbow said as she flew to the doors and flew out, with Celestia following after breaking the nuzzle.

Once the two of them left and the door closed, Rarity said, "Well, it's about time they left. I hate having to act like I'm in love with Celestia. Especially since she adopted Rainbow."

"Rarity, calm down," Luna said. "We can not risk the guards overhearing us."

"Buck the guards, and Celestia, and Rainbow. They deserve to burn in tartarus for Twilight."

"I agree, but you and I both know she is being trained by one of it's rulers, and will return in a year."

"Yes, I know, and I know we have a plan for Celestia that, unfortunately, doesn't involve sending her to tartarus," Rarity said. "On the other hoof, when it succeeds, then I may be interested in her."

"That is still far off, Rarity," Luna said, getting up. "Now come, we must contact our friends in the Empire."

"Of course, Luna," Rarity said, getting up from her seat as well and following the alicorn of the night to her room.

Approximately three months after the "Twilight incident"

Celestia was in her personal quarters, Rarity being out to do shopping for her work, when she heard a knocking on the door. "Come in," she said, and the door opened to reveal Twilight Velvet and Night Light, Twilight's adoptive parents. "Ah, Velvet, Night, how nice to see both of you again."

Both unicorns bowed, Velvet saying, "And it's good to see you again, princess. We just wanted to check on you."

"Thank you, but I am doing fine," Celestia said. "In fact, I am more worried as to how you are taking the news." It had been released that Twilight was presumed dead after an extensive search throughout the entire country after she went missing on the coasts. Velvet and Night Light had taken it hard, and they were, eventually, told by Celestia about Twilight being the alicorn's daughter, after promising not to spread it. Not that they needed to, as Twilight and her allies had already done that.

"We've, well, we could be better," Velvet said. "Even though she isn't our daughter by birth, it's still hard to believe she's dead."

Celestia smiled, and decide to give them some hope, as crazier things then Twilight surviving her magic and reappearing one day free of corruption had happened. "Were it so easy for her to die, something tells me it would have happened before now."

A small smile came to the faces of the two unicorns. "I guess so, princess," Night Light said. "I guess."

Both bowed and left the room. Once they had left, they turned to the left, and headed towards Luna's room. When they arrived three minutes later, they knocked on the door. "Come in," Luna said, and the two unicorns entered and bowed to Luna. "Does she suspect?"

"Not as far as we can tell, Empress," Night Light said. "I do not think so. She believes too much in ponies loyalty to her, a mistake she has done once before."

"Indeed," Luna said. "What do you think, Rarity?"

Rarity, in her Nightmare form, stepped out of the nearby shadows and said, "I doubt it, Luna. How an idiot gave birth to a pony as smart as Twilight is beyond me."

"I imagine it's simply that she is too much of an appeaser, and has let peace cloud her mind," Luna said. "She wasn't like this before my banishment."

"And let's hope it remains that way until it is too late," Rarity said.

"Agreed."

The crystal empire-approximately six months after the "Twilight incident"

Cadence was giving Celestia a tour of what had been unofficially and officially dubbed the "Princess Twilight Sparkle" memorial, which was a rather large building that had a fair portion of Twilight's feats before and after her ascension in there, and even a few well drawn portraits of her as a filly, including her getting her cutie mark.

"And here's the part of it that took the longest," Cadence said as the two reached a rather large hallway. "The part of the museum that has to do with her time as a princess."

"I idn't think it'd take that long," Celestia said.

"Well, most of the workers did break into tears during this part of construction, so that set construction back a bit."

"I suppose it would." Celestia sighed. "I know it's been three months since we announced it, but I still can't get over the fact Twilight might be dead."

"I don't think any of us will be able to, auntie," Cadence said as she hugged Celesia with a wing.

"Yes, I know," Celestia said. "It doesn't make it any easier, though."

"I know, auntie, I know," Cadence said, shedding a tear, but laughing mentally. Too trusting.

Celestia pulled out of the embrace, smiling. "Thank you, Cadence. I needed that."

"Of course, auntie," Cadence said. "Now come on, Shining has something to show us."

"I wonder what it is," the solar alicorn said as she followed Cadence out of the soon to be open memorial building.

Approximately nine months after the "Twilight incident"

Celestia was upon her throne just as day court ended, and the time of day she set aside for her meetings with her top Knights was upon her. Once the last noble left, she immediately used her magic to create a topography table, showing the whole of Equestria, similar to the map that had been in Twilight's castle.

Ten minutes after this, the Knights came in. Among them were Spitfire, Rainbow, and Pinkie, though there were three others as well. They took positions around the table, with Celestia at the end closest to the throne. "What do you have to report," she asked.

"Well, your Highness," Sapphire Spirit, a mare with a, quite obviously, sapphire coat with teal eyes and mane and tail with cyan accents, "we've had reports from the other Knights in Manehattan that some ponies are being infected with dark magic, though the effects, as far as we cn tell, haven't surfaced. They're keeping an eye on those who are infected."

"That's good." Celestia turned to face Spitfire. "Anything from you, Spitfire?"

Said mare shook her head. "Nothing significant, ma'am," she said. "Nothing I noticed, anyway."

"Same here," Rainbow said.

"Oh, I have something," Pinkie said. "The changelings that think they're hidden in Ponyville? They seem to be getting ready to leave, and I'll be going with them to make sure we know why."

"Of course. Be careful when it starts, Pinkie," Celestia said.

"You got it," Pinkie said with a smile and salute.

"Anything else?" Celestia asked,to which their were shakes. "Good. If any of you need something while you are here, you need only ask."

"Of course, Princess," Sapphire said. "Thank you, and see you next month," she said as she and the other Knights excluding Rainbow left.

Rainbow noticed the look on Celestia's face, a small one of fear mixed with happiness, if that was possible. "What is it, Celestia," she asked.

"Nothing, Rainbow. I just. . . have a feeling, I guess you could say that I'll see Twilight just once more before the year is out, and she'll have forgiven me for what I did."

"Well, let's hope so," Rainbow said, moving to nuzzle her adoptive mother, who took it in pleasure.

The night of Twilight's return

Celestia tossed and turned in her bed. She was having visions, not nightmares, of Equestria in flames, ponies everywhere, dead, dying, and injured, a sight not seen for over a thousand years. But, amazingly, none of these got her attention the way the last part did. What it was, as far as she could guess, was a large army, two, large armies, doing battle in the area between Canterlot and the Everfree, a large, black castle in the background, and ten beings of immense power doing battle in the skies. The strange thing? Seven had an aura reminiscent of the Elements. One resembled Twilight's aura, but one was a complete unknown, but even in this dream, or vision, what ever it truly was, she could sense it's power.

The last thing she saw were, in a darkness blacker then space, were six. Red. Eyes, staring at her, as well as two purple iris' surrounded by purple, the corneas being somewhat like Nightmare's. The last thing she heard was, "I'll see you soon."

"Mother."