I raised a hoof and knocked on Rose and Lily’s door. After a short while, I received no response and knocked again.

“Lily? Rose?” I nervously pushed the door to their room open. I peeked around the corner, sighing when I realized that both of them were missing. I walked forward and sat down on the couch next to Rose’s television, a spot that I had grown to become attached to whenever the three of us were playing games together or simply talking. An idle hoof brushed through my mane, calming me and reminding me of why I was here in the first place. Only one week remained until we all went back home, and my two new friends weren’t the only ponies who needed to prepare.

I wonder what my sister would have to say about my decision? I let out a nervous chuckle, imagining her surprise when I told her. She would obviously have her doubts, probably arguments against doing it in the first place too. The worst part is that I had trouble disagreeing with those probable arguments. What about your responsibilities as the second princess? What would your subjects think? I only just got you back, and now you want to leave me again?

I shook my head, my blue mane swishing as I dispelled these thoughts from my head. Celestia would understand, right? I needed to do this. Mother knows, being an Alicorn was lonely, let alone being the princess of an entire nation. That was why I needed to do this. I know what my calling is. I know I am meant to rule alongside my sister, but our lives are long. I needed to spend this time to connect with myself, find out who I am without having the role of princess thrust upon me.

I smiled, determinedly. I was going to do this. I was going to live in Ponyville with my friends, and my sister would just have to accept it.

“Luna?” I jumped in surprise and spun around, seeing as Lily walked into the room.

“Ah, Lily! Sorry for the rude intrusion, I just wanted to… to talk to you two.”

“Well, Rose is off helping mum in the garden, but I’ve gotten a splinter in my hoof, so I’m gonna take a little break. What is it you wanted to talk about?” Lily asked calmly, making her way over to the couch and taking a seat next to me.

“I…” I froze up, my nerves taking hold. I tensed the muscles and then relaxed. I was doing this, and I was not going to feel guilty about it. “I’ve decided to stay in Ponyville for a while once we go back to Equestria.”

“What!?” Lily said, a smile plastered itself across her face. “That’s great! What made you think of doing that?”

“I’m… I’m confused, did Rose not tell you?”

“About what?”

“Well, we had a conversation a while ago about me possibly staying in Ponyville for a while. She made quite a convincing argument and I said I would consider it. Rose didn’t tell you?”

“Well, it’s the first I’ve heard of it, but it’s great none the less!”

“Y-yes, well, I’ve decided to be… selfish, for lack of a better word. I’ve spent every minute since my return preparing to become a Princess again, and no time at all thinking of my own mental wellbeing. Before I… before I was banished, I spent a very long time ignoring that and focusing entirely on being a leader. A tyrant, even…” I said, choking back a few tears. “I don’t want to dip down into darkness again. I need to find my bearings again, and I think that they’re in Ponyville, with… with my friends.”

“Well, you’re not a tyrant. You’re a cool pony who I’m happy to call my friend, and I’m glad you’ve decided to come to Ponyville.”

“I know I'm not any more, but… Some ponies think I am. I don't know if you remember it yet, but I gave Ponyville quite the fright the first time I showed up there and I'm afraid that outside of festivals, I don't exactly make many public appearances. I'm just… Worried that it won't be any different. I'm worried that history will repeat itself, or worse.”

“Yes, I do remember that night, but you need to realize that it was a long time ago. You're not the pony you were that night and I'm sure that the ponies there will realize that too. If they don't, I'll have to do a little bit of manual persuasion.” Lily laughed as she jokingly pounded her hooves together.

I giggled along, her jokes actually managing to tug a smile from my cynical lips instead of a groan.

“Thank you, dear friend. Your words of encouragement are greatly appreciated. I do feel we must also break the news to Rose as well.”

------

“Oh my gosh, really?” I shouted in a high pitched squeal of delight. “Lunaaaa~! I'm so happy for you!” I rushed forward and pulled her into a friendly hug.

“Y-yes, Rose, I have decided that I need to reconnect with the civilians of ponyville, and with myself, so to speak. Thank you for suggesting that I live there for a while.”

“No problem!” I said, separating myself from the hug and walking back to where Lily was sitting on the couch.

“Well, now is probably the best time that I tell you, as we only have…. Four days before we leave for Equestria.”

I blanked for a second. What was that?

“F-four!?” My jaw dropped."Four days!? H-holy crud, we’ve got so much to prepare for, I'm not even ready, I haven't spent enough time petting Simon, not to mention packing our belongings! Wh-what if something goes wrong? What if-”

“Rose!” Lily shouted, snapping me out of my panic. "Calm down, you know how infectious our panicking is.”

I breathed in and out slowly, practicing the tactic of calming down that Lily and I had devised together after I had lost my wits over some dead flowers.

“S-sorry Lily. So, do you have any idea where you'll be staying once you get to Ponyville? You know we'd be happy to have you in our house. That is still there, right?”

She nodded. “Yes, your house is still there and under your name, and while I would take you up on that offer, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't mind sleeping on your couch.” she giggled and we laughed along. "No, I do have a place in mind, as long as the Twilight doesn't mind me staying at her place. I'm sure she would be more than happy to accommodate me, at least until I find a place of my own.”

“Twilight? I wouldn't have thought that her library would be large enough. It’s hardly large enough for just her and Spike, isn't it?”

Luna stared at us, blinking a few times before a smile spread across her face.

“Silly me, I forget you two have missed a year's worth of goings on in Equestria. Twilight is a princess now. She ascended to Alicornhood after finishing a spell half crafted by Star Swirl the Bearded. She also has a small castle situated in the center of Ponyville.”

It was my and Lily's turn to stare at Luna in surprise this time.

“W-well, I guess we missed a lot more than we thought.” I gulped and smiled nervously. “So Twilight won't mind you staying there while in Ponyville?”

“ I don't intend to stay there for my entire time in Ponyville. Part of the point was avoiding higher lifestyle and trying to feel like a real pony again. I know Twilight can attest that the castle is not exactly the best place to stay if I want to avoid living like a princess.”

“Yeah, castles kinda scare me too.” Lily added with a smile. “I'd really like for you to come visit a lot though. Part of being a normal pony is coming out for coffee with Rose and I. No arguments.” She smiled confidently, Luna nodding with a laugh.

“Of course. I could never forget the two ponies that helped me feel more alive than I have in a millenia. Now, I think, what with our departure right around the corner, it would be reasonable that we think about packing soon?”

“Oh gosh, we have so much to pack.” I paled, the blood leaving my face.

------

“Rose, for the last time! It’s not going to work in Equestria! We have magical energy there, not electricity.” Lily said, her frustration showing.

“I am not leaving without it!” I shouted back, gripping my Super Nintendo to my chest tightly and scrunching my muzzle in indignation.

“To be quite honest, Twilight would easily be able to figure out a way to power it with magic as well.” Luna said as she began levitating more boxes of possessions toward the door, ready for our departure. My dad was still downstairs, calming down my very teary and emotional mother. It was no surprise either. We were leaving. Not even to another country, we were leaving to what was essentially another dimension. I could tell my dad was upset too, but he was too hard-headed to show it.

“Not you too, Luna.”

She shrugged and smiled at us.

“It’s not my fault that your human games are so entertaining. I have yet to finish that Final Fantasy game too. I want to know if Zidane succeeds.” She said guiltily.

I poked out a tongue playfully at Lily and placed my console into an empty box, followed my my games and cables. Transporting the television would be hard as well, but I'm sure Luna would help out with her levitation.

Today was the day. Today was the day that we finally said goodbye to this world and in a way, goodbye to our old lives. Of course, not goodbye for ever. There was no way I’d forget my old life, nor would I ever forget my parents and old friends, as little friends that I did have. Huh, maybe I should say goodbye to those friends. I scrunched my eyes, remembering what had happened the last time we had all hung out and dispelled that thought. If they cared about me at all, they would have tried to get in contact at least once after I had left my parents house the first time.

Regardless, the good and the bad, I would remember it all. I watched Lily as she grumpily helped me pack my games away and I knew she would do the same. She would remember her human parents, as much as I’m sure she wishes to forget them. She would remember our friendship together as humans too.

“Rose? Are you okay?”

“Uh, yeah. Sorry, just kinda thinking about stuff.”

“What kind of stuff?” She asked, stepping toward me and nuzzling my cheek.

“Well, just… stuff that we’re leaving behind. People that we’re leaving behind.”

“Don't forget, it isn't forever at all. Luna promised that we would be able to come back and see mum and dad, and you can play all the games you want. Who knows, there could be something new by the time we decide to come back and visit.”

A knock on the door distracted us from our conversation and we watched as my dad walked in, his eyes red from crying. I felt my own eyes begin to water and I trotted toward him, Lily following behind. I didn't protest as he leant down and picked me up in his arms, his reaffirming hug comforting me more than it ever had before.

“I-I’m sorry, dad.” I whispered into his ear as he stroked my mane with his fingers.

“Shh, no, Rosie. You haven't done a single thing wrong.”

“B-but I c-cut you out of my life for so long, then the second we reconnect, the reason is because I'm going to have to leave. I… I shouldn't have done what I did. I love you so much, dad.”

Another voice came from behind my dad before he could answer.

“Rose, your father is right.” My mum said calmly, her eyes also red from crying. “We don't care that you're leaving, or that it took this long to talk to us again. What we care about is that you,” She stroked a hand on my cheek, “and you,” She smiled, picking up a willing Lily, “are happy. I don't care if you're traveling the world searching for sunken treasure, as long as the both of you are happy.”

“M-mummy…” Lily murmured and buried her face into my mum's hair. “Th-thank you. I'll never forget what you've done for me. For us. I… I love you, mum.”

Instantly, tears dripped down both Lily's and my mum's faces, causing the dam holding back mine to burst. My dad walked toward my mum and wrapped an arm around her, holding us all together in a hug.

I heard a quiet little snap sound emit from next to us and I turned my head to see Luna holding onto my old Polaroid camera with her magic.

“I apologize, I just could not let such a touching moment go uncaptured.”

“No, it’s fine.” My mum said with a wide smile. “In fact, I think that this photo would be a perfect first picture for your photo album, right Rose?”

My eyes lit up and my dad let me down to the floor, allowing me to rush over to a packing box and pull out the large leatherbound album with “Precious memories” emblazoned on the front. As Luna levitated the photo over to me, something came to mind.

“Wait, no. This shouldn't be the first picture in the album.” I looked up to her with a smile. “Somepony’s missing. Luna.”

“Wh-what? Me? No, this should be for pictures of your family.”

“I know, and that's exactly why I want you to be in it.”

“Rose, what are you-” she stopped as the realization hit her. “No, Rose, I'm not… I'm not worthy of being-”

“Nope, shush.” I silenced her. “You're just as big a part of the family as Lily is.”

“Rose is right.” Lily grinned, trotting toward us. “Sometimes, a friend can mean even more to you than family. Sometimes you can say that… you don't love your parents. And that isn't wrong. Being your parents doesn't give them the right to make you feel bad for being you. Just as much as being related doesn't make them family. You’re more family to me than they've ever been.”

Luna looked between us, a look of disbelief on her face.

“I… I don't know what to say.”

“You don't have to say a thing. What you might have to do is take the picture, since none of us have magic.” Lily said with a giggle. Luna nodded, wiping tears from her eyes as my parents sat down on the couch next to us, lifting us onto their laps. Luna stood happily beside us as she levitated the camera upward.

“Smile, everyone.” My dad said. “This is the beginning of your new lives.”

Smiles stretched across all of our faces as a click resounded throughout the room.

------

“Mum, please.”

“Nope.” She said with a teary smile as she continued to brush my mane slowly. “I always wanted to brush a horse’s mane, and you don't seem to dislike it too much either.”

“Th-that’s not the point. We’re leaving really really soon, and I want to be ready.”

“Oh hush, Luna explained exactly how it would go down. She'll open up the portal thing, you three will walk through, and Luna will close it behind you. Your luggage is all packed and ready to go, so all we’re waiting on is Luna.”

“She is right, honey.” Lily chuckled. “You don't seem to mind it at all.”

I pursed my lips and dropped my head. She was right, I was enjoying it greatly, but I was not about to go and admit it.

It was only a few minutes later that Luna walked into the living room, my dad following behind.

“Rose, Lily, I do believe that it is time for us to depart.”

“No.” My mum wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug.

“Mum…” I pulled myself out of her grip. “You know this won't be goodbye forever. I promise, I'll write to you every second day-”

“Every day.” She interrupted. I rolled my eyes with a smile.

“Fine, yes. I'll write to you every day in the tome, and I promise to try and come visit at least before the foal is born.”

She smiled apprehensively and released me from her grip, allowing me to jump to the floor and take my place by Lily's side.

“This is amazing, Rose.” She said with a tear in her eye. “We're finally going home. To our friends, our home… the place where we can raise Breeze, and she can grow and learn.”

“I know. Oh gosh, I hope Lyra and Bonnie recognize us.”

“Of course they will, silly. Not to mention, Luna said they already knew the whole situation. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to see us.”

“I hope so…” I murmured as Luna stepped forward, her horn beginning to glow brightly. A quiet humming sound started and rapidly rose in volume, almost to a point that I thought I might have to cover my ears when a bright golden light shot out from seemingly nowhere and connected with Luna's horn. The deep blue of Luna's magic swirled and mixed with the gold until a bright purple ball of energy was clinging to the tip of her horn. There was a small pulse of force emitted from her horn and the ball of energy split apart, stretching until it was double the height of Luna. She turned to us with a smile and offered a hoof.

“Are you ready?”

“I…” I trailed off, trying my hardest to say yes, but my nerves kept my mouth wired shut.

“I think she's trying to say yes.” Lily nodded to Luna and I slowly extended my own hoof. Luna took hold of it and stepped forward. I turned around as we walked and smiled at my mum and dad, both hugging each other and crying.

“Goodbye, mummy. Daddy.” More tears fell from my own eyes as we moved away from them. “I love you!”

“We love you too, honey! Don't talk to strangers!”

I giggled as my vision started to fade to white.

“I promise.”