A paltry two years, according to the standard Equestrian year. During that time, Celestia had made a mask which she wore and tried to hide behind when in the presence of others. But the passage of time felt longer than that to the alicorn mare. Despite those two years of her absence from Equestria’s throne, Starswirl and her advisors had gotten her to return to the throne and rule the kingdom in a capable fashion. In spite of the help from Starswirl the Bearded, and later her assigned caretakers, Luna’s banishment caused Celestia's progress to be glacially slow.

“How is she, Archmage?” Clean Sweep, an unicorn mare with a coat the color of ripened wheat stalks with a mane the color of yellow cinquefoil flowers. Her eyes were the colors of sapphires and she had a broom with small white clouds on either side. She rose through the castle staff ranks and had achieved the position of Chief Maid of the castle staff for several years.

Starswirl sighed, dark rings underneath his eyes, sparing a brief glance at the room he had just come out of, where the only remaining princess of Equestria had ensconced and isolated herself, “I’m worried for her. She is to have a suicide watch detail assigned to her at all times. This order is to remain in effect until she is either deemed psychologically healthy or somepony with higher authority than mine rescinds my order. You may enter and perform your duties, Clean Sweep. Just … understand that Celestia is in pain. She’s in terrible pain. Having to seal her beloved sister, who had gone mad with jealousy and grief, into the moon ...” The old mage’s voice drifted off before he shook his head and walked away.

The guard detail assigned to guard Princess Celestia’s room scanned her before clearing her to enter Princess Celestia’s chambers. She noticed a trio of guardmares silently watching over Princess Celestia. A magic cancelling ring gripped Princess Celestia’s horn, while a set of hoofcuffs bound Princess Celestia’s forehooves together, a silken band restrained Celestia’s wings. Ribbons of white gauze wrapped about Princess Celestia’s forehooves, a dark ruddy brown staining the bandages, a testament of Princess Celestia’s attempt of suicide by bloodloss. Clean Sweep watched with tears blurring her vision as Celestia fitfully tossed and turned, whimpering and crying out in her sleep. The princess lay uncovered, as blankets, sheets, and even pillows had been confiscated for fear that Princess Celestia might hide a sharp object beneath or inside one of them and succeed in any more suicidal attempts.

Clean Sweep blinked and cleared her tear-filled vision before going about her duties as Princess Celestia’s Chief Maid.

Another harsh year passed since and little had changed, the only thing that had changed was that Celestia was not as disengaged from the ponies who served her. After Clean Sweep had passed the guards clearance scans, she entered Princess Celestia’s private chambers to perform her usual duties. However, what had changed on this night, was that the door to Princess Celestia’s balcony was open and Celestia, her guard detail, and her suicide watch were all out on the balcony. Celestia gazed up at the bright full moon in the sky, the glistening tears of Celestia streaming from her eyes as she saw the Mare in the Moon’s silhouette upon the face of the moon, an ever constant reminder of whom she had lost, of whom she had failed. Not only as a fellow princess, but as her sister.

A beautiful, but haunting melody penetrated the whisper of the night wind as she sang a song which she had made during that first year of her sister’s banishment.

Then in a nearly inaudible whisper, “Forgive me, Luna. I don’t know if you can hear me, so far away as you are, but if you can, know that I never wanted you to be banished to your beloved moon. I just wish I hadn’t taken you for granted, that I had truly listened to your grievances about feeling unappreciated, unloved. I love you, sister.”

One day, Starswirl had approached the depressed alicorn with a hoofsized notebook. When asked what it was for, he replied, “It is a diary. I have often heard from outside the castle and from other cities that diaries are often helpful to those who need to release their thoughts.”

Clean Sweep watched as Princess Celestia laid down on the balcony, forlornly gazing up at the moon. The moon upon which her sister had been banished and imprisoned. Celestia’s barrel expanded and contracted erratically, as the sound of choked sobs could be heard by those nearby. Clean Sweep, with tears in her own eyes, moved out to the balcony and threw her forelegs around the barrel of her princess and simply held her, letting Celestia grieve her banished sister, but letting Celestia know that she wasn’t alone and that there were ponies who cared about her. When Celestia had cried all of her tears, she gently squeezed Clean Sweep and nuzzled Clean Sweep in gratitude and whispered, “Thank you,” to the unicorn maid. Then Princess Celestia arose and seated herself at her desk and opened her diary and began writing in it, while Clean Sweep resumed her duties as Celestia’s maid.

“Celestia? Why aren’t you writing in the notebook that Archmage Starswirl gave you?” Clean Sweep inquired, looking over to the desk upon which the aforementioned notebook rested. It had been several days since the last entry.

“I ... Feel uneasy. If I poured my grim and dark thoughts upon those pages and somepony were to open it and read what that notebook contained within … I ... I don’t think I can do this ...”

“But don’t you think Luna would appreciate knowing your true thoughts and feelings entrusted to those papers? You may never recover the time lost between the two of you during Princess Luna’s banishment, but don’t you think she would appreciate being able to look through your entries and being able to know how you thought and felt while you were separated from her?” Clean Sweep replied, “What about writing down about that new maid, Polish and how she panicked upon accidentally breaking one of the display vases?” She watched as Celestia started to write the date. When she busied herself with her given duties, she silently listened to the slow scratching from the Princess’ quill:

Month of May, Day 2, Year 3 After Banishment

I understand that both Starswirl, my guards and suicide watch detail mean well in trying to get me to pour my thoughts and feelings into the pages contained herein, but it really frustrates me sometimes about how often they ‘remind’ me about it! And I’m supposed to take my frustrations out on this ... Diary. I feel absolutely silly trying to put words with the quill pen and make out my thoughts upon these pages. What next? I write in this notebook and treating it as if it’s something sapient?

Although, with me not ruling on the throne, I do have a lot of time on my hooves, “Too much time” Starswirl says. I ... suppose he’s right, without something to focus upon, I greatly fear that time feels as though it moves as slowly as molasses! I’m quite tempted to just speed the sun around her orbit, just to make the days and years go by and so hasten our reunion. Though I imagine that doing such a thing would likely cause the inhabitants of this world to panic and increase the workload under which Starswirl struggles ... and he’d never let me hear the end of it, let alone what my father would’ve said. Maybe I should do it anyways, the nobility could use a bit of shaking up, if you ask me!

~Celestia~

At first getting Celestia to write in her diary required a lot of nagging from her night watch and suicide watch details, and often she quit in the middle of writing exclaiming the necessity of using a diary was ridiculous, but after much persistence, it stuck and became a habit which Celestia did voluntarily and without having to be told by others to write in her diary. And while the thought of Luna later discovering her sister thoughts during her banishment scared Celestia, there were the occasional entry which just recorded observations about the day’s events or something funny which had happened to one of the castle staff.

As Celestia was kept within her room, Starswirl sat in Celestia’s throne while the nobles and military argued amongst themselves. Clarion Call, Celestia’s Majordomo cracked his staff against the marble floor and waited for the gathered crowd to fall into silence, “As Celestia’s right hoof, I am announcing the relocation of Equestria’s government from this castle to one which shall be constructed to the north of here, upon the Canterhorn Mountain.” As expected pandemonium broke out as both noble and military alike clamored for reasons why the seat of Equestria’s government intended to move.

Starswirl waited as Clarion Call cracked his staff against the marble floor once again and once again waited for the crowd to become silent, “As many of you are already aware, Princess Celestia has allowed me to execute the will and interests of Equestria this past year in her stead. But this castle holds too many memories of her exiled sister, Princess Luna. Princess Celestia will never heal if she remains here to be plagued by those memories. I will place a suggestion box outside of the royal throne room and I want you to think of festivals and celebrations which we, Princess Celestia’s subjects, could throw and get her to spend time amongst her subjects. I also implore you all, do not invite Princess Celestia to any festivals or celebrations involving Nightmare Moon’s defeat. I fear for all of Equestria, should this happen. You are dismissed. High dukes and others of high mention and title, remain here.”

After a vast majority of the attendees left to go about their personal businesses or to follow orders, only the dukes remained, “As you are most likely aware, Princess Celestia is too wracked with grief and regret to properly govern Equestria, which is why, as Princess Celestia’s right hoof, I will take administration and governance of Equestria upon myself until such a time when Princess Celestia is capable of resuming her duties and responsibilities as Equestria’s sole remaining princess. The enemies of Equestria would see this as an opportunity to invade and conquer our land and subjects should they hear of this. I want you to vow upon your honor and the sun and moon that you will not speak of Princess Celestia’s weakness in the presence of anypony not employed in Equestria’s military. The assignment of her guard detail and suicide watch detail will not change.”

The dukes present responded, “We hear and obey. We swear upon the sun and moon and upon our honor that matters pertaining to Princess Celestia shall not be spoken in the presence of non-military personnel. We do so swear.”

“You are dismissed.”

Each night, after setting the sun in her course beneath the horizon and the raising of the moon upon which her sister was imprisoned, Celestia would collapse and shed her glistening tears of grief and regret. Each night her barrel would pitch and heave as choked sobs wracked her frame.

One of her suicide watch maidens, Quiet Comfort, a sturdily framed earth pony mare with a coat of royal purple and a mane of silver and eyes like the yellow moon, drew near and hugged Celestia tightly, “It’ll be alright, Celestia.”

Celestia’s sobs and her body froze, before she shoved Quiet Comfort’s foreleg off of her barrel and quickly rose to her hooves, taking a splayed stance, with teeth bared in hostility and her ears laid flat against the back of her head as she glared at the earth pony mare, “No! It won’t! Not until Luna returns! Not until she forgives me for her banishment, for failing to help her! Do not speak lightly of matters which you do not know!” Her guards and suicide watch immediately tensed and prepared to tackle the alicorn, in case she moved from words into actions. Celestia gave an angry snort before she stormed into her chambers, as her guard detail and her fellow members of her suicide watch followed their princess. Quiet Comfort last of all, quietly following on shaky legs and a lump in her throat from Celestia’s hostile outburst.

On another night, after Celestia had shed her tears, she gazed at the moon tarnished by that image of her regret and failure, the Mare in the Moon. Each night and morning, her heart twinged with fresh grief, constantly tormented by the symbol of her failure toward her sister tarnishing the once beautiful moon, “Lulu ... I miss you so much! Please, Lulu ... forgive me.”

Even within her dreams, her mind haunted her with nightmares of the battle between her and Luna over the ruins of their home. As she slept, the night guards and suicide watch were forced to watch their Princess Celestia squirm, toss about, and thrashed against her cuffs, gripped in the cruel embrace of her nightmares. They often heard her soft cries and mutterings as she slept, “Don’t do this!”, “Lulu! Please!”, “Forgive me, Luna”, “Lulu! No, please ... Stay with me ...” and more than once, “Lu- I love you ...”

Throughout the nights during Luna’s banishment, the tears of Equestria’s princess streaked down her face, her fur where her tears trailed laid flattened against her face and slightly darker than the rest of her fur. Other nights, her formerly regal posture would slump and droop, dark bags under her eyes, the haggard look of pure exhaustion upon her face. It often required one of her Suicide Watch maidens administering some medicine for Celestia’s insomnia before Celestia could collapse in a shallow, fitful slumber. The following mornings, she’d often look as tired as she had looked when she had taken the sleeping medicines during the previous night.

The unicorn mare on Princess Celestia’s Suicide Watch detail, Aether Cradle, had a pristine white coat, with a royal purple mane and emerald eyes. Aether Cradle coughed politely, getting Princess Celestia’s attention.

“Here, Princess Celestia.” Aether Cradle offered Celestia’s insomnia medicine to her, “You ought to be well rested to take tea with Griffon King Shredder.”

Celestia blinked, her eyes reverting from their previously unfocused state, looking at her medicine as if seeing it for the first time, “Hm? Oh, thank you, Aether Cradle,” Celestia responded absent-mindedly, taking her insomnia medicine before settling down upon her bed, awaiting for the medicine to take effect and grant her a sleep without her nightmares plaguing her this night. While waiting, she opened her diary and began to write in it her thoughts for today’s entry:

Month of Juna 6, Day 20, Year 3 After Banishment

I am to meet with Griffon King Shredder tomorrow. I’ve not spoken or written to him since that awful day when I banished my sister. He has been a staunch ally, even before our parents were slain those many years ago. Luna was especially fond of him, partaking in athletic events and skill-focused games. I remember Luna and him chatting on a picnic blanket, animatedly laughing about some guard’s antics or lamenting on having to deal with greedy nobles. I remember traipsing off into the woods at the base of Mount Canterhorn and Shredder, Luna, and I wouldn’t have to worry about appearances, and could get twigs in our manes, or get our hooves muddy. We could leave our titles and responsibilities in the city for a bit and just be Shredder, Luna, and Celestia, instead of being King Shredder, Princess Luna, and Princess Celestia. I’m a bit of mixed emotion about meeting King Shredder tomorrow. We have been such good friends and I want to hear about what he has been up to since I last saw him. But another part dreads that moment when he asks to visit my sister during the night, or him asking why Luna hasn’t joined us to join us in taking tea with him. How will he react? With anger? Disappointment? I fear that nothing will be the same with her gone.

~Celestia~

“Goodnight, Princess Celestia. Sleep well,” Her hoofmaidens said as they departed to their own restful slumber. Her suicide watch detail and night guard detail entered the room. They went through the usual routine of raising and lowering the sun and moon. She and everypony present returned to her chambers, where she looked at her bed and the shackles which restrained her and kept her from succeeding in her suicide attempts. Celestia looked back toward the balcony and then her wings. The pegasus mare, a sky blue coated mare with a mane the color of white clouds and eyes the color of rose quartz, whose name was Aerial Rescue, blocked Celestia’s vision with her wing and gently shook her head, almost as if she knew what Celestia had been thinking. The earth pony mare, Quiet Comfort moved close and leaned against Celestia’s side, “Princess ... How would Luna feel, when she returns, she found out that she was responsible for you committing suicide?”

Celestia collapsed to the floor, her forelegs covering her eyes, as she cried, wracked with grief and regret, “I don’t care ... I miss her so much! And she’s being punished for me having failed her!”

“How would your sister feel, if she thought that she was responsible for your death?” Quiet Comfort quietly asked once again.

“She’d ... she’d be mad with grief. She’d be tormented, haunted. She’d probably declare war on whatever enemies of Equestria had sprang up after I died, since she utterly scorns those who commit suicide. That it’s ‘the coward’s way out.’ She’d at least rather die at the hands of a foe who had bested her, than do something so cowardly,” Celestia responded, chuckling brokenly in a low volume.

As the alicorn was slowly encouraged to get up, which sometimes involving magic to lift her to her hooves, which often ended with her dangling like a puppet, and was moved towards her bed, a solid and pure beam of silvery light beamed from the moon and shone through the balcony entrance and shone upon her where she stood. The light at first blinded her and she raised a wing to shelter her eyes from the harsh light, while the guards moved to protect Celestia from a possible hostile individual or group, or an attack upon their princess. She looked out through the open balcony doors and into the sky to see the now brightening moon. At first she was afraid that Nightmare Moon had started to fight against the spell that kept her sealed and that she was either winning or had found a way around the spell’s seal upon her.

Then she and the guards around her heard a song coming from a solitary, but melodious voice.

Luna.

It was impossible to mistake that voice. Celestia galloped to the balcony.

“Princess, stop!” Nocturne, a coal black earth pony stallion with a matching coal black mane and citrine yellow eyes galloped after his princess while crying to his fellow guards and tonight’s suicide watch detail, “Somepony stop her! Stop the princess!”

The night guards and Celestia’s suicide watch galloped toward her princess, their heart beating rapidly like a marching band drum within their chests as Celestia’s reared up upon her hind legs and everypony except Celestia feared she might be successful in committing suicide. Aether Cradle and Quick Offense, the unicorn of tonight’s guard detail lit their horns, casting a strong stick-to-it spell to prevent Celestia from jumping.

Princess Celestia paid them no mind, her eyes gazing upon the moon upon which her sister was imprisoned, the image of the Mare in the Moon imprinted upon the face of the moon. Her ears flicked and rotated to face towards the moon in order to hear her sister’s response!

Luna had heard her lullabies. Lulu heard her! She heard everything she said! And she was singing back! Celestia couldn't help but stare with wide eyes at the moon as she heard the young, but beautiful voice being carried by the wind.

Celestia listened to her sisters song with desperate attention as her guards and her Suicide Watch detail gathered around, watching their Princess warily to be sure that she not try and attempt committing suicide again. Luna's song held and conveyed her sorrow and guilt to her older sister. Her lyrics contained a message of acceptance that she had been exiled for not speaking out and for bottling her pain away. It was a song of forgiveness toward her older sister, that what she had done was not her fault, but rather that it had been her duty to protect their citizens from the tyrant she tried to become. It was a song that pled for her sister’s forgiveness. What truly dispelled Celestia's suicidal depression was her dear and precious sister praying for her sister to be blessed with pleasant dreams and communicated of Luna’s love for her beloved sister and spoke of Luna’s loneliness without her big sister to be there for her.

Like a beacon of hope to the lost souls, Luna’s song made Celestia start crying again. She didn’t want to shed her tears with her sister looking down upon her from her celestial prison, but her tears streamed down irregardless of her personal desires. Luna’s song lasted longer than the one which she would sing to Luna, "... Luna ..."

The night guard and suicide watch details watched in quiet awe as for the first time since Princess Luna’s banishment, her sister, Princess Celestia slowly grew a genuine smile upon her face!

When the lullaby ended, she made the motion of trying to push away from the balcony ledge, which after some hesitation from Aether Cradle and Quick Offense released her from the stick-to-it spells, and then looked over her guards and said softly, “It’s time that I resumed my duties as Equestria’s princess and guide Equestria toward becoming the best nation it can be. Though my sister is far away, I choose to see her imprisonment, not as oppressive, but an opportunity. That the kingdom I help build and shape will by a sort of ‘welcome back’ gift to my sister upon her return!” Celestia ended the small speech with a declaration, more for her own benefit than that of her guards, “Good night to you, my little ponies,” Celestia uttered before curling up in her bed and falling into a deep, serene slumber, leaving the guards to stand nearby in amazement at the change that happened so fast they wondered if blinking would shatter an illusion.

But for that night, and the nights that would follow, where once she was plagued by nightmares, she now held fewer and fewer and her slumber would be deep and lasted until it was time to raise the sun and set the moon in her course beneath the horizon. To the relief and happiness from her guard details, they would never hear her mutter or cry throughout the night anymore. The nights which followed that night when Luna first sang her song unto her sister marked a turning point in Celestia’s sleep cycles.

Month of Julie, Day 4, Year 3 After Banishment

It was my sister, Luna’s song which saved me. Well her and Quiet Comfort ... I finally realize how my sister might feel I had successfully committed my own death. I had already failed my sister once and had to hurt us both by this cruel separation of sisters. I couldn’t do that to her ... Not again ... My sister is waiting for that day to come when the spell breaks and she can return home. She’s waiting to see me! If she came home, after waiting anxiously for one thousand years, only to find out that I had died by my own hoof? It would be the most cruel thing a pony could do to her loved ones, and I love my sister far too much to do something which would make her suffer more ... Both of us lost our parents. I can’t afford to have Lulu lose her sister, too. To add grief upon grief is the worst crime to commit as any living being. I need to pick myself up by my horseshoes and return to the pony my sister loves and not this wretch which I have become. I need to return to the throne and make Equestria as close to an utopia as it can be. Not only for my sake, but for that of my sister. I will do everything in my power so that when my sister returns, her nights will no longer go unappreciated! I will await for your return, my beloved sister, and hope that the sister you meet after the time of your banishment ends will be worthy of your love and that you will like the kingdom to which you return.

~Celestia~

Celestia soon resumed her duties as princess, seating herself upon the throne. She waited for Clarion Call to crack his staff against the castle’s floor. Upon having done so, she waited until the room fell silent, “Firstly, I want history to remember Starswirl as not just a peerless wizard, but that thanks to his effort and service to Equestria he is to be known a hero!” She smiled down at her longtime friend, “It is with great honor that I award you this day with the Princess’ Medal of Freedom! I and Equestria thank you for your immense services rendered in her interests!” She levitated the medal around Starswirl’s neck and faced the hushed audience until suddenly a cacophony of cheers resounded throughout the room. She chuckled in a low volume when seeing the stallion wipe away tears from his eyes, and she gave him an affectionate hug, as she pressed her barrel against his. Not so much that he’d be overwhelmed, but still firm enough to communicate the depth of her affection for him.

She waited for the crowd to silence again after the crowd’s cheering had died down, “I, Princess Celestia, Ruler of the Sun, do hereby declare that Equestria is to begin astronomical events and activities. There are also to be festivals which take place during the night. I am also announcing the founding of the Royal Astronomical Observatory and ten positions which will be awarded to the best qualified ponies which try out for that worthy title of Royal Astronomer! I also ask you, my loyal subjects to go to your local mayor if you have any ideas for astronomical events and activities, or ideas about instituting an astronomical festival. One such festival will be the Summer Sun Celebration, where the night prior to my raising the sun to begin the longest day of the year. You, my little ponies, shall stay up all night and have fun and enjoy yourselves throughout the night, before gathering at the stage where the Summer Sun Celebration is to take place at the appointed time, or just going outside to watch the sun rise, if you are unable to attend.

"Another decree is the establishment of the position of Royal Protégé. This pony will be personally instructed by myself and any other instructors whom I choose. They will be my voice and will bear my authority. You are to treat my protégé as if I, myself, stood before you, and I expect your obedience when my protégé is operating in an official capacity. There is much to be done, my little ponies, if we are to raise Equestria to even greater heights! For Equestria!” she shouted and watched with satisfaction as patriotic fervor surged through the audience.

Month of Argent, Day 7, Year 3 After Banishment

Ever since my sister Luna sang her song to me from her lunar prison, the nights are no longer so filled with oppressive grief and sorrow. My sister always had that special ability to cheer and comfort me whenever I would feel down or if I was worried about something. Sometimes it was with a comforting nuzzle, while at other times it was with a hug. Sometimes she might make a silly face and scandalize her Social Etiquettes teacher, a Miss Prim N. Proper. Or she’d make me laugh with a joke or silly story. It’s strange, but Luna always seemed to be there whenever I needed her. I often envied her ability to find humor in some situation, or to cheer and comfort others. Even now, I wonder how she came by her humor and compassion for others. Perhaps I’ll ask her when she returns home to me.

~Celestia~

Celestia now frequently smiled at the moon now, whenever she set the moon on its course through the night sky. Each evening, with the rising of the sun, her sister Luna would sing her song to her sister, a song of loss and loneliness as well as giving and asking for forgiveness from her only sister whom she missed terribly, sealed away on the moon as she was., Celestia's serene smile grew and changed into a happier grin, "Good night, Luna … . Thank you ..." she whispered, praying the words would travel to the moon.

"Princess Celestia?"

The sudden, unexpected aged voice from behind her made Celestia startle terribly. She squeaked before her forelegs accidentally slipped off of the railing and landed over the rail, making her land hard on her stomach with a loud 'Gh-huh!'

"Princess!" The same voice yelled, this time joined by all her guards. After looking down again and seeing just how high of a balcony her bedroom had, Celestia panicked and started backpedaling desperately as her guards quickly grabbed her with magic and hooves and after pulling herself back onto the balcony, she quickly scrambled away from the balcony rails so as to prevent anything else that could cause her to fall. She panted from her desperate act as her guards looked over her and ushered her further away from the balcony as she looked to see nearby the old unicorn sage, Starswirl. His his horn was lit, mouth gaping in horror and his left foreleg outstretched, preparing to catch her in case the fear that was apparent in his eyes proved true.

"S-Starswirl, how ... can I ... help you?" Celestia gasped slightly, the force of landing on her stomach still smarting and leaving her almost breathless, tears still streaming down and her eyes slightly red.

Starswirl's eye grew with concern as he closed his mouth, "Princess, I was coming to see you. I ..." The sage sighed, his age becoming ever more apparent and looked at his ruling princess with weariness and love, one that only appeared among closest of friends, "Celestia. It's been two years since ... Her exile. I've been watching you and I'm worried for you. There has been some progress from you coming back from where you had been when I found you, but ..." Starswirl moved over to Celestia and placed a hoof over her shoulder.

But Celestia lowered her head ever so slightly, and lightly brushed his hoof off, "I know, Starswirl ... In fact, I ... I think I ..." She sighed deeply but then moved her head to look at her friend, strength finding its way to her eyes, "I've found something to live for now."

Starswirl looked at Celestia, quietly staring at his longtime friend and ruler, seeing the oft lowered head raised in expressive regal majesty, once reddened, blurry eyes fraught with tears now had expressive life and steely resolve. This was a Celestia he had not seen since that awful night when he discovered a heartrending sight of his princess wailing amidst the rubble of the castle and the moon now changed with the icon of a unicorn mare marring the once unblemished face of the moon..

“Celestia? Is that you?” Starswirl inquired in a tremulous voice, as if not daring to hope the sight of his friend restored to the pony she had been was in fact real.

“Of course, old friend,” Celestia replied, raising her right foreleg and giggling demurely behind it in amusement, “I never left. I just … needed a miracle to show me that not all was lost. I needed to know my sister forgave me for failing her, that even now, separated as far as we are, that she still loved me. My sister wouldn’t want to see me brokenhearted and grief stricken. She’d want me to be the pony that I was before the Elements banished her.”

The two longtime friends tearfully hugged as Starswirl marveled at Celestia’s restoration. His eyes became unfocused as he remembered that just last night, he had to keep her company once again through the long, star-filled night, as he felt her body tremble and wrack, and hearing the sniffling and gasping cries of his ruler and dear friend.

He gave her a long and hard stare, searching eyes intently to see if she would look away, blink, or meet his gaze with honest sincerity. If she looked away or blinked, she either had something she was trying to hide, or was trying to deceive him. If she kept her eyes on him, then she was likely being honest and not trying to deceive him or take advantage of his lowered guard. Finding the answer he hoped to find, he moved forward and hugged her tightly, his worries and concerns significantly reduced.

"I'm so glad, Princess. I'm glad." He whispered, as Celestia returned the hug and began to lightly cry again. They held the hug for a few minutes before parting. Starswirl asked, a smile breaking upon his wizened muzzle, "Will you need anything then, Princess?"

Celestia shook her head, "No, my friend. I don't think I do for tonight."

Excerpt from the journals of Archmage Starswirl the Bearded:

I oftentimes wonder if the wounds of the mind and spirit are not worse than those of the flesh. I’ve seen ponykind accomplish the amazing in spite of the loss of one or, in one unlucky case, all his limbs. The body can survive an incredible amount of physical trauma, but what can a soldier do against the incorporeal enemies within the mind and soul? I’ve seen battle hardened generals of war weep inconsolably at the sight of the grief-stricken husk of our beloved Princess Celestia.

Nevertheless, I still hold respect for our guards and soldiers who continue to protect and serve through these hard years where Celestia did not sit upon her throne and govern Equestria and her subjects.

Today, I saw my friend, not the broken husk that plagued me and the guards who watched over her in turn, but the regal and majestic mare she had been before the tragic banishment of Luna. Luna’s song, which she had sung unto her grief-stricken sister as the bright moon beamed upon her sister, appeared to have restored Celestia to us. If anything, it makes reason why there should, and will be, two Princesses to rule Equestria. I, reluctantly, confess that I’m concerned and suspicious that this is a ploy on Celestia’s part for us to relax our guard so that she might finally succeed in committing suicide. It is a dark thought, but given the years of her attempts and when we first discovered her suicidal nature, one cannot help but give cautious doubt. I will leave orders with the current Captain of the Royal Guards that the suicide watch is to remain instituted until that day when Princess Luna is freed from her lunar prison.

I pray that I am wrong upon these doubts.

Princess Celestia’s guards and suicide watch detail watched as their princess arose to her hooves, her posture and face radiating a majesty and grace which had not been there for a long time. The watched as she confidently sauntered out upon the balcony as they followed, whereupon Aether Cradle removed Princess Celestia’s magic cancelling horn ring to allow their princess to raise the sun and lower the moon as she had since attaining her Cutie Mark and her sister’s banishment.

“Nocturne, Night Flight, and Dark Radiance. I thank you for guarding and protecting me through the night,” Princess Celestia expressed her gratitude and regally inclined her head in the direction of the earth pony, thestral, and unicorn who had guarded her last night, “Aether Cradle, Aerial Rescue, and Quiet Comfort, you have my dearest thanks for protecting me and watching over me through this night,” Princess Celestia thanked her suicide watch detail, also inclining her head in the direction of her suicide watch. Her smile turned embarrassed as her stomach rumbled to remind her that, immortal or not, her stomach demanded to be filled, “That sounds like as good an excuse as any to grab some breakfast!” Celestia declared and then giggled in amusement that empty stomachs had no respect for anypony, so long as its demands went unanswered.

Her subjects, from the maid of common breeding and the humble Royal Guard to the nobles who boasted of their famed lineage and resident ambassadors saw not the formerly common sight of the hung head of Celestia, with eyes red from tears and insomnia, or haggard dark bags beneath her eyes. Her head rose high, like that of the regal swan, her eyes dancing with excitement and anticipation, her steps no longer the dragged stumble of a tortured soul, but the nimble prance of one who has emerged victorious in battle. Her voice no longer hoarse from her raucous wailing, nor tremulous in self-doubt, but sounded confident, sure in her authority.

“The Court of the Day is now open! Send forth the first petitioner!” she commanded of her Royal Guards, the majestic doors to the throne room swinging open to admit the petitioners of the Day Court regardless of how noble or base their breeding may be. Pages scurried to and fro to get a summary of which each petitioner desired Celestia’s audience for, whereupon they submitted the petitions to the Chief Page to be organized by order of national importance and to receive instruction on the order of the petition line and to escort each petitioner to their appropriate place within the line of waiting petitioners.

Despite the Royal Guards obeying Archmage Starswirl’s orders to continue to protect Equestria’s citizenry and those who served Equestria’s interests, in addition to quelling any potential rioting amongst the citizenry or stopping the nobility from attempting to gain more power and authority than that which had been granted them prior to Luna’s Banishment. The nobility was nevertheless not placated by the Archmage’s placations that ‘everything was fine,’ despite Celestia’s increasingly prolonged absence from the throne and Equestrian politics. Starswirl learned of the various schemes by Equestria’s nobility, through the network of espionage agents and assassins which he employed while Celestia remained absent from the throne and Equestrian politics. He kept the nobles in line through a mix of tactics which included blackmail, threats, and assassinations which would then be made to appear as unfortunate accidents.

The Royal Guards rattled in their armor, shaking in silent laughter as corrupt nobles issued their petitions, mistakenly thinking that their princess might have become dull of wit or absentminded. However, in spite of the conspicuous absence of either her advisors or Archmage Starswirl, they soon discovered that they were sorely mistaken regarding their princess’ mental acuity. No, their princess had a firm resolve in her eyes as she glared in disappointment at the nobles which mistakenly tried to take advantage of their misconception regarding their princess’ mental state. Her head was no longer bowed in brokenness, but raised in regal majesty. Her will did not yield to the corrupt desires of the nobles, nor was her admonishment of their attempt at taking advantage of their perception of her as she had been not long ago anything less than sharp of tongue or completely humiliating.

The gossip of Celestia’s return to the throne of Equestria and Equestrian politics spread from maid and commoner like wildfire and the excitement grew equally contagious. The Equestrian citizenry initially got up to watch the sun rise in commemoration of this momentous occasion. But as time went on, ceremonies started to be added, festival rides and attractions began setting themselves up by entrepreneurial merchants, and plays began to be performed celebrating Princess Celestia’s return, and many of them had comedic elements of the corrupt nobility being humiliated by their sharp witted princess. Because this happened during the summer and Celestia being ruler over the sun, the festival quickly began to be called the Summer Sun Celebration. Since then, this celebration has been a time of much joy and frivolity, the citizens of Equestria sharing in this joy of their princess becoming better.

It shocked her just how quickly the Celebration spread and became recognized to the Equestrian Kingdom.

In the second year after her return to the throne, she went out onto the balcony to raise the sun and lower the moon as she had for years. Beneath her balcony, outside of the castle walls, Equestrian citizens flooded the streets on that side of the castle, laughing and cheering as they caught sight of the majestic sight of their princess lowering the moon and raising the sun on the anniversary of her return to her throne.

“What is this?” Princess Celestia gestured with a forehoof, the sweeping gesture encompassing the throngs in the streets outside of the castle walls, her face in apparent amazement.

“They are celebrating your return to them,” her Chief Maid, Clean Sweep, answered, hanging slightly back and remaining out of sight from all but the pegasi flying through the sky.

Princess Celestia’s astonishment grew with each successive year as with each successive year, the festival grew more elaborate and more celebrated according to reports by her messengers located here in Canterlot as well as the other cities, towns, and villages of Equestria..

When Starswirl and a few other mages convinced and nearly dragged her out of the Castle and to the center of Canterlot. It stunned Celestia, upon seeing how happy her citizens were to see her that she nearly lost her regal composure. The roaring and ecstatic crowds of royals and civilian ponies had cramped themselves as much as they could into Canterlot to celebrate. Through the noise and bright lights, she learned that during the time of her depression, she had utterly forgotten just how cherished she had been to the Equestrian Kingdom.

As she, rather forcefully by the unicorn mages around her, participated in the Celebration and ended the night with her publicly raising the sun, she cast a revitalization spell upon herself and took a few moments to record her thoughts of yesterday and last night.

Month of Juna, Day 21, Year 4 After Banishment

I wonder to myself how often does anypony see the impact their lives have upon others? How much worse off are we, deprived of the good, the potential that we might have experienced had one of our subjects who had or are contemplating suicide not succeeded in killing themselves? I, myself, have been subject to not a few thoughts about committing suicide. Not a few times have I looked at the railing of my balcony and then the bindings upon my wings and been sorely tempted to gallop towards that railing and with a desperate hope that this time, this time that I’d be successful in plummeting to my death. However, my advisors and court magicians escorted me to a celebration which takes place on the anniversary of my return to ruling Equestria as her princess. I was amazed at how happy our subjects were to see me on this day which our Equestrian citizens celebrate.

I ... Can’t even begin to imagine, let alone bring myself to think of the kind of lives our subjects might have been forced to live in, had I succeeded in my attempts to commit suicide. I, by my own hoof, could have very well undone the efforts of my sister, myself, and that of our founders, in the vision we had for the prosperity and peace our nation of Equestria could be. Luna was not alone in saving me from my path of self-destruction. Starswirl may have been the greater hero to Equestria ... And my sister and I, than I previously thought! And even he alone, was not alone in his efforts to save me.

My night guards and my suicide watch maidens both have my ceaseless gratitude for protecting me, when I attempted to harm myself. It is thanks to these unsung heroes that Equestria can still yet become the nation which the Founders of our great nation envisioned. It is thanks to them that Equestria can still become the nation which my sister and I envisioned. Even if historians forget you, even if your deeds are eradicated from written records, ravaged by time, I will remember you, my unsung heros. I will honor your memory and the deeds you have rendered unto, not only my sister and I, but unto Equestria herself.

~Celestia~

When the day came and gave way to the night, she sang a new lullaby to Luna, while similar to its predecessor, the song now sang of strength and resolve and of a sister who was waiting patiently for her dear Luna to come home with open wings and outstretched hooves.

Equestria’s remaining princess slumbered soundly and deeply while her night guards and suicide watch maidens silently guarded their remaining princess. And after the night had ended and a new day had begun, Princess Celestia returned to her throne.

And there, she brooded.

She brooded over the prophecy of her sister returning after those thousand years. That the stars themselves would aid her escaping. It was all but obvious that Nightmare Moon would be the one returning, holding a very strong hold upon Luna.

In good conscience, Celestia still could not bear nor bring herself to harm Luna, regardless whether she was Nightmare Moon. Celestia could not hurt her, and she would rather perish alongside Luna before she would consider even the thought of killing her.

Worse, the Elements rejected and refused to work for her. Despite both her and the brightest unicorns could do, all it resulted and ended was the Element of Magic to disappear and refuse to return, rendering the rest as useless as they had been. All because of Nightmare Moon taking her sister away ... And her own negligence to Luna.

“... But ... The Tree ..." She muttered. The Tree of Harmony did in fact show that there would be others.

She recalled the Cutie Marks on the upper trunk and branches of the Tree, just above her and Luna's Cutie Marks.

"Does this mean the Tree expected this ...?" Celestia muttered again.

Maybe ...

Just ... Maybe ...

From that "maybe" came a plan ...

Celestia shivered when that plan started to form and grew without burden or moral-standing questions.

Could she do it, though?

Celestia’s plan was a plan which would guide the Equestrian Kingdom into its Golden Age.

But it was also a dastardly plan ... That could very well ruin generations of lives ...

Month of Juna, Day 22, Year 4 After Banishment

I, Princess Celestia, am about to enact manipulations beyond what even the most corrupted noble would commit themselves to. What I plan to do is to find whom among our subjects would be bearers of the Elements of Harmony. Even if I cannot find them in one generation, then I shall look to the next, and I shall make that generation be the bearers.
What disgusts me the most is how I am consciously intending to manipulate these bearers using their fidelity and patriotism regarding their homeland of Equestria and me as her sole remaining princess, to achieve the plans I have for the Equestrian nation. But even worse than this is that I, even now, even before suitable successors for the Elements of Harmony have been found, that I am planning and scheming contingency plans and even contingency plans for my contingency plans. That, even now, I’m thinking of these would-be Element Bearers in conjunction with such terminology as ‘acceptable losses’ and ‘damage control.’ I feel as though an ugly parasite has taken root within me, for having these thoughts in regards to my subjects who end up inheriting one of the Elements for them to bear and wield, and for me to use them like pawns and sacrificial pieces ... .

Oh Faust, how will Luna see me when she returns? Forgive me, my sister and loyal subjects.

~Celestia~

A tall, marble tower of the purest white, piercing through the heavens and any clouds which got in its way of ascension like a spear running through a sheep and continued to climb, even beyond the clouds through which it pierced. It held little to no exterior details but a rising cylinder of marble. There was no door, nor were there any windows, and the very top of the tower could not be seen from the ground.

Surrounding it was rolling green hills, reaching far and forever stretching to the horizon and beyond, sporadically dotted with rocks of various sizes, the largest only as long as six feet and the tallest a mere four. The clouds above, wispy and light, parting ever gently with the Tower of Eternity. The sun was warm, welcoming and bright, but was little more than an illusion.

The air resounded with a banging sound, followed by the sound of a rumble very much like thunder.

There was a sudden explosion of activity within the skies. A ring of rainbow surged with power through the heavens and over the land, impacting the Tower. The Tower shook and trembled, but did not fall or crumble. The ring instead painted the area of impact upon the Tower, and passed through as the arc of light and color raced from one horizon from whence it came to the other end of the horizon, never fading, never losing strength.

The earth rumbled and shook from the sonic boom and resulting rumbling sound which followed in the ring's wake. The vibrations caused by the rumbling sound caused many of the rocks to shake and move, some of them becoming unearthed and shifted.

Celestia sighed with amusement upon reading the contents of her student's letter. Twilight was, out of the two students whom she had taken on to be her protégé, the more literary scholar of the two. Where Sunset ... Celestia physically hesitated, but shook her head as she had learned how to move past such pain over the course of the century. Where Sunset Shimmer had been desperate to the path of power and prestige, Twilight had a far more intense adoration and dedication of her mentor. What Princess Celestia found very interesting was just how low the little unicorn's ear was to the ground.

Or perhaps it was just coincidence that Twilight knew about Nightmare Moon's return? She did have a habit of changing subjects the moment they didn't interest her or when she felt that had exhausted any further intellectual advancement of her understanding of whichever particular subject she had been studying at that time.

She gave a light giggle before lighting her horn and summoning a feathered quill pen in a small bottle of ink, and a scroll before replying,

My dearest, most faithful student Twilight. You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely, but you simply must stop reading those dusty old books.

Celestia giggled again, knowing full well what her student's reaction would be before she continued writing,

My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends.

~By Your Everloving Teacher, Celestia~

She sent the letter on its way before she resumed her duty at the day court. During a change in petitioners, Celestia wrote down on her personal daily task list: Think of some way to reconcile with Twilight ... As the day drew to a close and the guards moved to the entrance doors of the throne room to declare that the day court was over, Celestia sighed again, this time from exhaustion.

Month of Juna, Day 20, Year 1000 After Banishment

I have sent Twilight to Ponyville today with my student, unaware of my machinations in having done so. Though I’m sure the poor dear will be positively frazzled upon having read my missive. She’s probably thinking that I’m somehow banning her from reading her precious literature ever again! I intend to convey to her was that there is more to life than just reading. Books can only do so much for somepony. It cannot replace the wisdom gained from experiencing something. Nor can a book return or give the emotions or partake in activities which friends and lovers can! However, my true purpose in sending her to Ponyville is with the hope that she will make the friends she will need before encountering my corrupted sister! Oh, I'm shaking in excitement already! Long has been my wait for my beloved sister’s return and with the advent of tonight, she will finally be released from her celestial prison! After one thousand years, she will see the many accomplishments which I have made during her time away from home!

However, I can only pray that Twilight never learns of this. Of all that I've done in using her and manipulating her entire life ... She already holds me in such high regard, as do everypony else, but to her I'm akin to her creator herself. I can scarcely imagine her reaction to realizing just how far from the truth it is...

Faust forgive me, for I've been not just manipulating Twilight's life, but the lives surrounding the soon-to-be Bearers of Harmony. I've studied, I've searched, I've hunted and whispered the right words ... Faust, I've even abused my own power upon my loyal subjects. Twisting thoughts, daydreams created, hopes dashed or created, events that could never happen made to happen even to the very manipulation of the weather itself, twisting, corrupting or changing words and causing them to be misheard or misunderstood. My abuse of power as alicorn and as the Princess of Equestria has caused and created not just six little ponies for the sake of freeing my sister, but the creation of Ponyville itself and the little ponies that now inhabit it...

No. I cannot let my own guilt destroy what I've done, diary. I cannot let everything stop because of my actions and manipulations. I already made the promises and plans a far long time ago, and I am already past the point of no return. I have made all the preparations necessary for my sister to be purged of her negative emotions so that she might return the princess she had been before her fall. I’m so excited at knowing that in mere hours, I will be seeing my sister soon.

It's only now do I remember what Starswirl and Gentle Comfort said when I was given you, diary. And this is all I can say to you, Luna. My precious, so beloved, and only sister who I have left in our family. Please forgive me, I know you hate the nobles who abuse their own power for their own gain, and to learn that your own big sister twisted and turned our subjects to her whim for the sake of freeing you. I'm terrified of your reactions to this, but please, do not hate me for focusing on you when all of this could have been avoided had I known then what I've learned now. You've already forgiven me for being forced to send you away, but please forgive me of abusing everything that I have and had to bring you back.

You're all I have left.

~Celestia~

“Princess Celestia?” Calm Comfort queried, her voice sounding somewhat tremulous.

“Yes, Calm Comfort?” Celestia peered down at the earth pony mare of her suicide watch detail. Calm Comfort was a descendant of Quiet Comfort, the suicide watch maiden first assigned to Princess Celestia’s suicide watch detail.

“Would you have still sent Lady Twilight to Ponyville to prepare the Summer Sun Celebration even if she had not been the inheritor of the Element of Magic?”

“Yes, Calm Comfort, I would have still sent Twilight, even if it had been discovered that she wasn’t the most powerful unicorn of this present age. Her capacity for organizing and capacity for seeing tasks completed make her invaluable to me, even had she not been the most powerful amongst the unicorns of her generation. I’m also going to be ordering Twilight to stay in Ponyville in order for her to learn the social skills and manners she is going to need in order to be the charismatic leader that I know she has the potential to be. It’s time for the filly to step out of her mother’s shadow, in order to make the mistakes that are necessary for her to grow into her own mare, instead of becoming a miniaturized clone of me."

"She need to learn not only what it takes to be a good friend, but also what it takes to be a good leader, and I believe the other Element Bearers are going to be an essential catalyst in helping Twilight learn those lessons which can only be gotten through experience and living life, even if it means not being perfect. Even if it means making mistakes. I am hoping that through her experiences in living life out away from my shadow, Twilight will gain an understanding that her beloved literature will not hold all of life’s answers. That not all knowledge and understanding is going to be found in books. And I’m also hoping that Twilight will come to an understanding of recognizing the true treasure that true friends are for those who have those true friends,” Princess Celestia explained.

Princess Celestia pulled out her Twilight Sparkle scrapbook as she spoke, showing the many photos of the young filly who still retained her foal chubbiness as she rested against her mentor and princess’ side, the sounds of her suicide watch maidens cooing at how cute and adorably awkward Twilight had appeared in the photos of her fillyhood. Thanks to Celestia’s explanation to Calm Comfort earlier, the other suicide watch maidens understood why Twilight was being sent away from her mentor and surrogate mother’s side. With Twilight having now attained the age of being a legal adult, it was time for her to live her life out from under Celestia’s shadow. For her to grow into her own mare and not some mini-Celestia.

“What will you do if she comes home and shows off a significant other?” Arcane Weave, the unicorn of her suicide watch detail inquired of Celestia.

“I hope ... No, I pray that she does. She’s a grown mare now, and I would very much love to know that Twilight started exploring that miracle called love. That there was somepony she had found to whom she wanted to share her life with, to open her heart to. Somepony out there that loved Twilight enough to place her happiness and well-being before their own. And if that day comes, then I’m going to let her know that I’ll be there for her, if she wants to ask for my advice or she feels that she wants or needs my support as she builds her relationship with her special love,” Celestia replied.

“Excuse me. I have some matters to attend to,” Celestia announced, suddenly getting up and striding out of the room, the door closing behind her as the guards posted at either side of the door closed them after Celestia had left her room and no one else immediately followed her.

Aether Weave looked at Kite Shield, the night guard detail’s unicorn of the group, “Let’s go,” Aether Weave simply said as both unicorns cast a tracking spell with Celestia as the targeted lifeform. The others of the night watch detail and suicide watch detail silently followed the two unicorns. Celestia was up to something, something she felt like she ought to do alone, otherwise she would have asked them to accompany her. However, because her protection was entrusted to them, then they were going to stay close to her, regardless of whether she approved of them following her or not.

An excerpt from Celestia’s diary:

And so it begins. I will leave my castle in Canterlot, as I am certain that my corrupted sister will seek me there. I would not confront her for she would damage any of the buildings or potentially risk any debris falling and harming or worse, killing, any of my beloved subjects. With me not present at Canterlot, she will likely depart and look for me in Ponyville, where this year’s Summer Sun Celebration is to be celebrated. The pawns are all in place and I have made the first move. Now I shall await to see what move my corrupted sister responds with.

~Celestia~

Celestia's mind immediately drifted off to her memories. She dozed off, remembering the whole fight, what had been said, what she should have said. She remembered what had been done … .

She physically shook her head roughly enough that her hair almost lost its beautiful style. She couldn't stay in Memory Lane any longer, she spent a good millennium in there and now was not the time to do it again … Not yet, at least.

To Night Guard General Stronghold:

Prepare two regiments of Night Guards to be teleported to Ponyville in preparation to defend the civilians living there from both Nightmare Moon as well as any harm which might be incurred by their panicked rioting. I will allot you two hours to prepare these regiments and will mass teleport them to the outskirts of the village. The are to be in the parading grounds to the south of Canterlot two hours after you have received this message.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia

Princess Celestia used a spell to send her missive to her Night Guard General. Confident that General Stronghold would have the two battalions ready and waiting in the designated location outlined in her missive, Princess Celestia trotted into the castle kitchens to prepare some food to snack on during the night hours. Celestia packed an entire cartload of food into the worn, but trusty saddlebags she had used as a schoolfilly. They were imbued with a special magic which enabled her to carry as much as she wanted, but without being subjected to limitations such as space or weight. This task completed, she trotted to the observatory which doubled as both Twilight’s personal library as well as her bedroom.

She sighed as she saw her student's old ‘bedroom.’ Even now, as Celestia moved to the center of the library, she still saw that small ‘bed’ Twilight had converted the couch that was nearby the front door. Celestia shook her head from the nostalgia before she turned her attention to the library. Moving up the stairs, she stopped in front of a pedestal containing a hoof-sized, translucent, teal colored orb. It was a minor scrying orb that allowed somepony to view a person or place that they had seen and know within a limited range. It had been a small gift from Celestia to the young Twilight Sparkle so as she could still ‘participate’ in lessons from both the Unicorn School and from her castle bedroom whenever Twilight fell ill.

The alicorn quickly pocketed the orb and left the library, fearing she would get too caught up in her memories, again, when she needed to hurry. Already, she could feel the sealing spell that the Elements had used to seal her sister in the moon was starting to strain. The position of the sun was showing that the sun had to be set in its course on the other side of the horizon, and she did not want the chain of events she worked hard to set up go to waste.

After quickly moving the sun down beneath the horizon, and in her haste forgone to give Luna her last lullaby, Celestia had returned to her room in order to give the appearance that she was preparing herself for the Summer Sun Celebration. In truth, she was preparing a teleportation spell, In addition to the food which she had stored within her saddlebags, she added several tomes, her favorite doll, Paper Mâché, a few candles, as well as a spare pillow and blanket. She then added the coordinates for where she wanted to go to the teleportation runes.

Celestia immediately winced as she felt the seals strain again, this time with more force. In fact, it almost fell apart sooner than she wanted had she not placed some of her reinforcement magic to ensure that the seals held out for just a little longer.

Now hurrying, she activated the runes with her standing inside the circle, her destination set and fed the runic glyph spellwork the activation magic it needed to power up and execute the spell spelled out by the runic arrangement.

A brilliant flash of light erupted around Celestia's room, just as a maid entered and saw her Princess leave.

She shielded her eyes then blinked at the remains of the teleportation in confusion, before shrugging it off and believing it to simply be Her Majesty's way of appearing down at Ponyville for the Summer Sun Celebration Festival which was about to begin in a matter of hours. She set herself to the task of cleaning up the Princess' room.

The Tomb of The Warrior, or rather the ancient site Celestia discovered and had been named long after, had ever since remained undisturbed. For over a thousand years, the site had passed and faded away from the minds of both young and scholar. Its legend fading into myth before becoming but simple memory and passing mentions, as no pony could discover anything more than what the pictures upon the walls could give, while the mysterious language remained untranslatable.

The thrum of arcane power and a sudden burst of light destroyed that silent peace, the thrumming sound of teleportation magic quickly followed by light panting from a white alicorn, who had a pair of saddlebags secured on her barrel.

Celestia gulped more air before smiling. She never did tell Luna that she kept coming to this site during their reign as Princesses. Not once did she ever mention visiting and using the site as a place to be away and have a refuge in which she might enjoy a semblance of peace and quiet. It was the perfect getaway location that kept her within Equestria’s borders and close to Canterlot and Ponyville that nopony knew of; Or rather, anypony would have remembered.

She quickly bustled herself on making the site a temporary home for her. She laid the blanket and pillow at the base of the small flight of stairs which led to the statue, as it was the only comfortable spot within the room. After a quick Malleability spell at the ground, leading the stone to act more like a sponge rather than rough and hard stone, she turned and placed an Invisible spell over the entrance of the Tomb so as to shield herself from anypony from accidentally stumbling upon her place of refuge during her stay away from Canterlot and Ponyville.

Celestia then stored her saddlebags over into a nearby corner, taking one cupcake as a midnight snack, she trotted over to the Statue so as she could lie in its lap before activating the orb to watch the events unfold.

She was just about to make herself comfortable when her eyes lazily trailed up the statue.

Celestia immediately froze and her heart leapt as she saw a very long crack across the Statue's leg.

"No ... No, no no no. Please, no ..." she whispered as she tried to find a way to seal and fix the crack, her magic flowing over the statue, "Please, not on this ..." However, regardless of her knowledge and power, she couldn't fix the damage. She continued to fuss and worry over trying to fix the Statue before she gave a cry of pain from feeling the seal finally break. Celestia nearly collapsed as she felt Nightmare Moon's presence exert itself over Equestria before instantly fading.

The Statue long forgotten, Celestia levitated the orb to her quickly and activated it. She focused upon Canterlot and the orb first turned grey before the orb colored and gave almost a picturesque view of her castle. She studied and waited before she found a trailing dark “wisp” flying towards the Castle at fervent speeds. After getting the orb, by use of the tomes that allowed her to expand the uses of scrying, to focus and follow Nightmare Moon, she watched as her transformed sister break through the throne room and appeared in her terrible glory.

"SISTER! THY TIME HATH COME!" Nightmare Moon cried, making Celestia wince at her sister’s suddenly loud speech before using another spell to adjust the “volume” of the scrying orb, "The night is here to reign fore-" Her speech was suddenly cut short as she opened her eyes to find the throne comically empty.

"Wh- What?!" The blackened alicorn looked around, confused and infuriated that not only did her speech get cut short and go unheard, but that the subject for which it was meant was not even there! She stomped over to one door, shoving it open with magic before giving a loud groan when not even a single guard was present, leading Celestia to giggle madly at cutting her sister's thunder incredibly short.

After marching through and scouring half the entire castle Nightmare Moon, in a growing foul mood, finally had enough. She transformed back into her wispy form before flying off to the servant's quarters, where she immediately found one maid that was just about to sleep. The mare was suddenly lifted and held tightly as Nightmare Moon's head formed and demanded, "Maid! Where is she?!"

The poor maiden immediately screamed and began struggling before she was silenced with part of Nightmare Moon's 'mist' wrapping tightly around her muzzle and neck, covering both mouth and nostrils and held her there until she nearly passed out. Once she nearly stopped struggling, the 'mist' moved away from her muzzle and Nightmare Moon hissed as she demanded once again, "Where. Is. Celestia."

The young maiden shivered and tried to struggle again, but couldn't avoid looking at the corrupted alicorn in the eyes, "Sh- She's—she's at the Summer S-sun C-Celebration in P-P-Ponyv-ville! S-She said sh-she would go there early!"

The aforementioned alicorn quickly made note to give the poor maid a day off to be with her family so as to recover being interrogated so harshly.

Nightmare Moon snorted in anger before she returned into a wisp and flew out of the maid's window, smashing it along the way. The scrying orb continued to follow the wisp as she made her way to to the small town. Knowing that it would take a while, Celestia focused the orb away from her corrupted sister to Twilight Sparkle.

The orb turned grey for a moment, then colored to show her student with her assistant Spike on her back trotting over to a heavily decorated building in the town center. After a few moments of Celestia appreciating and looking at the decoration, and somewhat ignoring her student's blatant unhappiness at her given duty, she listened and watched as the mayor of the town began the speech in introducing the white alicorn who happened to not be there at all.

It didn't take long for Nightmare Moon to take to the stage, after some drama from some of the ponies of Ponyville when Celestia didn't appear as they clearly expected.

The corrupted mare blinked in concealed surprise, realizing that Celestia was not at the Festival either. However, she seemed to have mentally decided to simply try and establish her rule before she would hunt for the white alicorn.

And so Celestia watched, somewhat bored, at Nightmare Moon's speech as every stupid villain seemed to be compelled to provide a lot of exposition regarding their evil plans and why they were executing their evil plan. After a while, once she had heard one villain gloating and exposition regarding their evil plan, then she had pretty much got the formula for every villain that follows afterwards..

“Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun-loving faces,” Nightmare Moon gloated, feeling secure in her victory with her sister nowhere to be seen to stop her usurpation of the Equestrian throne.

“What did you do with our Princess?!” Rainbow Dash shouted, her posture radiating aggressiveness as she prepared to tackle the corrupted alicorn.

“Whoa there, Nelly …” Applejack cautioned through a mouthful of Rainbow’s tail, stopping the pegasus mare in her tracks.

“Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?” Nightmare Moon queried her captive audience, semi-annoyed at how she wasn’t recognized.

“Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about ... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty-” Pinkie Pie guessed before Applejack crammed her hoof into Pinkie’s mouth to prevent antagonizing this new powerful alicorn any further. Celestia couldn’t help but snort at the Earth Pony comically missing the point.

“Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?” Nightmare Moon asked the ponies gathered within the atrium of Town Hall, flitting from here to there taunting the ponies and using her mane to stroke Rarity’s chin.

“I did. And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon—Nightmare Moon!” Twilight Sparkle declared, startling both the ponies within the Town Hall and Nightmare Moon.

“Well, well, well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here,” Nightmare Moon inquired, leering at the unicorn with a victorious smug smile.

“You're here to ... to …” Twilight trailed off, not wanting to finish that horrid line of thought.

“Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!” Nightmare Moon declared while gloating victoriously.

The alicorn mare continued to doze off, away from the encounter between her protege and her corrupted sister. Celestia summoned her to-do list and at the top, wrote:

) Publicly scold my generals for improperly preparing their troops for threat scenarios such as the return of Nightmare Moon.

) Review training tactics and allot two hours of my workday towards military matters. The P.E.U. guard had three tribes of ponies for a reason. The unicorn was to be the arcane offense/defense in a three pony squad. The pegasus was intended to serve as an aerial scout/bomber/aerial ranged unit. The earth pony was intended to be the muscle on the ground. They were to protect their unicorn squadmates and be a fearsome juggernaut when on the offensive. The unicorns should have provided magical support, while the earth ponies ought to have provided an offensive distraction through a surface-to-air ballistic assault, instead of the pegasi alone attempting to stop her corrupted sister.

She stopped dozing off and idly writing her complaints of her Royal Guard's tactics when Nightmare Moon left the pavilion while Twilight returned to her, unbeknownst to her, new home.

Said home was as expected, a library. While it was a tree house serving as a library, Celestia sighed amusedly from Twilight picking the obvious.

A sudden chill rippled over Celestia’s back and she immediately threw a blanket over the scrying orb before she blew out the few candles that had been lit. The ancient tomb immediately went dark as she casted a sensory charm and found her sister’s wispy form flying around. It would often move to and around the old castle that had served their home, then the cloud flew off to another part of the Everfree Forest.

Like a filly who was trying to read at night after being told to go to sleep by her parents, Celestia slowly relit the candles before uncovering the scrying orb and trying to figure out what had happened.

Twilight had returned to her tree house and seemed to have discussed a plan of action with five other mares, two each of a different pony race. Celestia chuckled again at Pinkie Pie’s antics as she found the book Twilight had turned her library upside down in search for.

However, it seemed Celestia would never be able to watch all the events unfold as an explosion of magic and energy erupted at the entrance of the Tomb, causing her to give a filly-like shriek before bolting behind the Ancient Warrior and hid behind it.

Fearing that Nightmare Moon had found her already, she began to hastily erect hiding spells, illusion spells and powerful shields before holding her breath to wait out her arrived visitor.

“The Tomb of the Warrior? Kite, I know you’ve had some interest in ancient history, but you are aware that we are trying to find the Princess?” An unmistakeable mare’s voice resounded around the Tomb, causing Celestia to flinch.

’They followed me here?!’ Celestia mentally yelled as she relaxed, but did not lower her shields and spells, ’I thought I told them to meet me at Ponyville!’

“Oh bite my horn, Silent. Both mine and Aether’s tracking spell said the Princess was here. And she can’t have gotten far, look.” The sound of hooves walking around the Tomb as Celestia’s personal guards investigated and reported finding proof of her presence here.

She heard a soft, yet loud ’POP’, causing her to look to her left and immediately shriek again, tripping and falling over as she saw both Aether Weave and Kite Shield with their horns lit as they had dispelled her shoddy cast spells for shields and illusions.

-_

Upon later note, when Celestia was more coherent and reflected back to the event, she would somewhat regret allowing the unicorns of her personal guard to be taught by both books and written lessons of powerful and efficient magic from Starswirl, the likes of which would have placed her own unicorn Guards to be more powerful than her and Twilight would have given all four of her limbs to have and read even one of the spells. That is until she remembered that she didn’t allow Starswirl to do so and that the unicorn mage had done so for her behalf.

But that didn’t happen yet.
_-

“Princess! There you are!” Both unicorn mares chorused, causing the rest of both personal and suicide watch guards to look up and trot over to their charge. Celestia didn’t respond except hold a hoof to her chest and breathed deeply, trying to calm herself down from the sudden shock. Calm Comfort came around and helped the Princess onto her hooves before giving a gentle hug to help the alicorn a little more before Celestia asked, “Why were you tracking me?”

Both Aether Weave and Kite Shield stood at attention proudly, quickly followed by the other mares and stallions, “It was our sworn duty, Princess. That, and Starswirl had long since left standing orders to stay with you until Princess Luna was freed. Given that Nightmare Moon was freed, but not yet returned as your sister, we still had our orders to follow.”

Celestia sighed but didn’t argue, realizing that while Starswirl had believed his dearest friend had recovered from her dark suffering, he didn’t completely trust her to be on her own yet. She looked up and said, “Very well.”

Both unicorns gave a gentle smile before saying, “Would you like for us to fetch your belongings as we return to Canterlot?” They almost lit their horns again before the Princess shook her head and said, “No. I’m afraid we cannot return to Canterlot just yet. My sister is still hunting for me and the Elements, as she likely knows that I and those magical artefacts are the only magical items that can defeat her.” Celestia moved over to her scrying orb to find Twilight and her unknowingly newfound friends travel past a river that had been troubling them due to an errant Sea Serpent, “And it is up to six young mares to do this, as I cannot harm neither my sister or Equestria.”

And so, her guards gathered around their Princess to see her protege and the other mares continue their way to the ruined Castle of the Two Sisters.

Both Princess Celestia and her guards watched as Twilight's new friends proved themselves to her through their talents, from Applejack her honesty and trust, from Fluttershy her gentle kindness, from Pinkie Pie her ability to cheer up anypony from even the most scary situations, from Rarity her generosity to willingly give what she had to even the most complete strangers, and finally from Rainbow Dash her loyalty to stand by and help in anything, even when tempted with fame and glory.

When the six mares finally reached the Castle and found the five crystal orbs that were once the Elements of Harmony, Celestia couldn't help but tense up at the coming battle. Celestia, her night guards and her suicide watch all watched the scene unfold as the six mares entered into the ruins of the old castle. In the foyer of the castle, stood what appeared to be a stone solar system model which held crystal orbs about one-third the size of a pony.

“Whoa. Come on, Twilight. Isn't this what you've been waitin' for?” Applejack asked in awe as she looked at the mobile pedestal upon which the crystal orbs sat upon. Each orb having a different geometric shape carved into its surface.

“The Elements of Harmony, we've found them. Careful, careful!” Twilight cautioned Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy as her two pegasus friends carried each crystal orb off of the pedestal and placing them upon the ground.

“One, two, three, four ... There's only five!” Pinkie Pie cried.

“Where's the sixth?” Rainbow Dash queried, looking around the room for a sixth orb.

“The book said: when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed,” Twilight replied, staring intently at the five crystal orbs already before her as though she might discover the location of the sixth Element in doing so.

“What in the hay is that supposed to mean?” Applejack groused, stomping her hoof in frustration at the non-straightforwardness of their clue regarding the location of the sixth Element.

“I'm not sure, but I have an idea. Stand back. I don't know what will happen,” Twilight cautioned her friends, each of whom began to back away, looking nervous at not knowing what consequences the strange magics which Twilight was intending to cast might have.

“Come on now, y'all. She needs to concentrate,” Applejack cautioned, leading the other five ponies out of the room so that Twilight could cast her spell without them either distracting her or being affected by whatever magic that Twilight intended to cast.

The miasma of Nightmare Moon entered the room while Twilight closed her eyes and scrunched her face in concentration. Nightmare Moon’s miasma began picking up the crystal orbs and began swirling them in a magical micro-cyclone. Twilight opened her eyes to see the crystal orbs swirling in the magical micro-cyclone and cried out in surprise. “Aah!”

“Twilight!” Twilight’s five friends cried out upon hearing Twilight’s cry of surprise and turned around, galloping back toward the room they had left her in.

“The Elements!” Twilight cried and leaped to thwart the intentions of whatever was causing the Elements of Harmony to spin in the micro-cyclone. Twilight vanished from the foyer of the castle, as she accompanied the Elements of Harmony to wherever they were being teleported.

“Twilight?” Fluttershy cried frantically, extremely concerned for the well being of her newest friend.

“What?” Applejack cried out in consternation, not seeing Twilight in the room where she had left her.

“Where did she go?” Rarity cried out, staring at the spot where Twilight had been.

“What happened?” Pinkie Pie frantically queried, hoping her new friend was okay.

“What's going on?” Rainbow Dash shouted, frustrated that her new friend had disappeared from the room so quickly.

“Twilight, where are you?” Applejack queried, tapping around on the floor in search of some hidden passage.

“Look!” Rarity cried, pointing to one of the castle tower rooms from which brilliant white beams of light shone from its windows.

“Come on!” Applejack cried to her friends as they all began galloping through the castle in order to get to where Twilight was.

Twilight arrived at the destination of the teleportation in a cloud of purple smoke, coughing to clear her airways of the breath-taking odor and irritants.

Nightmare Moon cackled arrogantly, confident that her dominion was secure if all that tried to stop her was one mere unicorn mare.

Twilight glared at the dark villain, snorting in anger as she pawed the ground with her ears pinned against her head, “Hmph!”

“You're kidding. You're kidding, right?” Nightmare Moon scoffed at the audacity of this unicorn mare challenging her, but not willing to leave the mare’s display of aggression go unanswered and began charging the unicorn mare when Twilight began charging at her!

Twilight ignited her horn during the charge, preparing a teleportation spell in order to get past the Night Mare. She teleported to where the Elements of Harmony orbs rested on the ground of the dais of where Princess Luna’s throne had once been. Twilight lowered her head and ignited her horn with a zap spell. “Just one spark. Come on, come on. Aah!” Twilight cried as the spell surged through the Elements of Harmony orbs and then ended up zapping her!

“No, no!” Nightmare Moon cried, fearful that the unicorn’s zap spell might have been the spark needed to summon forth the sixth element. That is until the zap spell simply dissipated without anything else happening.

Twilight gasped in dismay, having had confidence that the spark from the zap spell would have summoned forth the final remaining element necessary to defeating Nightmare Moon. “But ... where's the sixth Element?!”

Nightmare Moon cackled in arrogant delight when Twilight’s zap spell failed to summon the final element which might have defeated her. “You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me? Now you will never see your princess, or your sun! The night will last forever!” Nightmare Moon resumed cackling evilly, now that the magical artefact which might have conceivably defeated her could not be used to defeat her, incomplete as it was.

Twilight turned her head to look in the direction of the door and spiral staircase beyond where she could hear her friends calling out to her!

“Don't worry Twilight, we're here,” Pinkie Pie called from the depth of the spiral staircase.

“Don't worry, we'll be there,” Applejack reassured Twilight from beyond Twilight’s line of sight, farther back down the spiral staircase.

Twilight gasped as looking at the silhouettes of her approaching comrades sparked an idea. Choosing to gamble on her hunch, she turned to Nightmare Moon and began to address the would-be dictator. “You think you can destroy The Elements of Harmony just like that? Well, you're wrong, because the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are right here.”

“What?” Nightmare Moon queried, appearing incredulous that there was anypony that would still stand against her, even after their apparent defeat.

“Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of ... honesty!

“Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of ... kindness!

“Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of ... laughter!

“Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of ... generosity!

“And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of ... loyalty!

“The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us,” Twilight turned, looking defiantly upon the dark alicorn mare.

“You still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!” Nightmare Moon cried, looking apprehensively upon the sextet of mares standing defiantly before her.

“But it did! A different kind of spark. I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all ... are my friends! You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the ... the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of ... magic!” Twilight cried as from above her head, the crystal orb for the Element of Magic manifested over her head, and the shards of the other elements joined together and reformed as tocs with the icon of each respective mare’s Cutie Mark forming the centerpiece with the newly shaped gems seated in the center of each toc. The Element of Magic changed into a tiara with the Element of Magic shaped like Twilight’s starburst Cutie Mark, the gem inset at the pinnacle of the tiara. Then the sextet of mares were enveloped in white light, Twilight’s eyes also emitting the white beams of light as ancient, untold power flowed through their mortal frames, becoming a rainbow of light, which began swirling around Nightmare Moon in a colorful cyclone.

“Nooo! Nooo!” Nightmare Moon cried fearfully as the rainbow of light spun around her and quickly engulfing her in the ancient magic which soon hid her from the sight of the other mares.

“Ugh, my head,” Rainbow complained, rubbing her right forehoof against the side of her head and squinting her eyes closed tight as an aching sensation lanced through her head.

“Everypony okay?” Applejack asked, looking around at her friends and feeling concerned for their wellbeing.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Rarity cried in delight, upon the discovery that the Elements of Harmony regrew her fabulous curled tail and making it appear as though she had never sheared her tail off for their sorrowful sea serpent friend.

“Why Rarity, it's so lovely,” Fluttershy complimented her friend.

“I know! I'll never part with it again!” Rarity declared, waving her plot in the air, her styled tail waving back and forth from the wagging motion of Rarity’s swaying plot.

“No. Your necklace. It looks just like your cutie mark,” Fluttershy replied, redirecting Rarity’s attention to her newly acquired accessory.

“What? Ooh. So does yours!” Rarity responded, pointing out the appearance of Fluttershy’s gem’s appearance inset within her toc.

Fluttershy looked down, gasping in delight upon discovering that Rarity’s observation was true, that her toc had her gem shaped like one of her butterfly Cutie Mark.

“Look at mine! Look at mine!” Pinkie Pie skidded across the floor, puffing her chest out so that her friends could get a better look at her new toc and the gem inset within it.

“Aw yeah!” Rainbow Dash excitedly exclaimed, looking down with pleased satisfaction at how awesome her toc looked, also puffing her chest out and gazing down at her newly acquired toc.

“Gee, Twilight! I thought you were just spoutin' a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship,” Applejack declared, announcing both her opinion and her surprise at the ancient magical artefacts choosing them to wield phenomenal cosmic powers.

Because Celestia had not been willing to leave anything to chance, the outcome of the battle had never really been in question, since she had taken personal responsibility in turning the six little ponies she saw before her that would be accepted by the Elements of Harmony to wield against Equestria’s foes. Despite her surprise that the battle between Twilight and Nightmare Moon had not escalated to physical violence, she felt herself smile in smug satisfaction when Twilight realized that the physical form of the Elements of Harmony did not matter, but rather what mattered were the ponies who exhibited the virtues embodied by what each Element represented.

She felt inordinately pleased when the Elements changed into beautifully designed tocs with the inset gem taking on the appearance of their respective bearers Cutie Mark. Luna’s Night Mare had finally been defeated and Celestia heard the cheers and hoofbumps and rumpbumps of her night guards and her suicide watch detail, all of whom displayed their joy at Celestia’s beloved sister being purged of her corruption and saved from her Nightmare.

After quickly packing up what Celestia had brought, the Princess ignited her horn as she prepared to cast the teleportation spell that would take her to her protege, but before she cast the spell, she looked at Aether Weave to determine if they were about to follow.

The unicorn Guard noticed her inquiring stare and informed Princess Celestia, "Our orders were to look after you, that was until Princess Luna was freed from both the moon and her corruption. Now that both has been completed, we won't have to watch you as closely as before."

The answer satisfied Celestia as she activated the teleportation spell which she had prepared and watched as the world around her and her waving guards disappear and reappear in front of Twilight, her friends, and Princess Luna, the latter semi-conscious.

"Princess Celestia!!" Twilight cried joyfully, who had been under the assumption that Nightmare Moon had imprisoned her beloved mentor, and galloped towards her with exuberant glee while her newfound friends bowed.

“Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. I knew you could do it!” Princess Celestia declared, looking upon her protégé with pleased satisfaction and an affectionate smile.

“But ... you told me it was all an old pony tale!” Twilight accused, looking a mix of wounded feeling and confused at Princess Celestia’s seemingly contradiction regarding the orders she had been issued.

“I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more. If anything had been addendum to my orders, I suspect that it was your number one assistant, Spike who added anything extra. He was likely pranking you due to your extreme bibliophilia and to enjoy your reaction to being told to get your muzzle out from your books!” Celestia giggled demurely from behind her raised forehoof, upon placing the blame of her prank on Twilight’s assistant. “I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart. Now if only another will as well. Princess Luna!”

Princess Luna gasped, her eyes dilating, surprised that the rainbow of light had not obliterated her, but instead purged her of her corruption and freed her from her waking nightmare.

“It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister,” Princess Celestia declared, hoping that her beloved sister would accept her offer of clemency and restoration as the highest authority in Equestria, as Equestria’s Princess.

“Sister?” Twilight and Rainbow queried, appearing incredulous.

“Can you ever forgive this foal of a sister? Will you not be restored by my side and be my sister near, rather than my sister estranged?” Princess Celestia pleaded, kneeling beside her collapsed younger sister.

The newly titled Bearers of Harmony waited with baited breaths and leaned forwards slightly, causing Pinkie Pie to give a “Whoa!” as she leaned over too far forward and ended up with her chin, chest and forelegs on the floor.

Not even a second passed before Princess Luna cried, “I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!” Tears in her eyes as she pressed against her big sister’s side, nuzzling Celestia affectionately.

“I've missed you, too,” Princess Celestia responded, her voice sounding thick with emotion, tears filling her eyes as she hooked her head over the back of her sister’s neck and rubbing against her younger sister with affection.

After establishing Twilight’s new mission, which was to study the Magic of Friendship from her new location in Ponyville, Celestia and Luna returned to the Canterlot Castle.

“Mine Sister, whyfore doth the guardians and maids give us such strange looks? Is it so strange there art other alicorns besides thee? Doth not our subjects not remember I am thine sister?”

“After you were banished on the moon, it was too painful to be constantly reminded of how far away you were, to be reminded of how I failed you. I believe Starswirl ordered the literature and artistic treasures which depicted you stored within the treasury of the castle, so that it might spare my bleeding heart from bleeding even more. Then as time went on, your fame faded to that of lore and fables, and as generations passed, our subjects only knew the rule of the one remaining alicorn princess, me. Our staff stare for they can hardly believe what their eyes see, that not only is there more than one alicorn, but that she’s also my sister and entitled to rule by my side, with all the rights and responsibilities thereof.”

As they made a small tour to Luna's new bedchambers, Celestia started to shiver, overwhelmed with fear and apprehension despite finally being so close to the one and remaining family member she had left returning to her after a thousand years.

“What troubleth thee, mine sister?” Luna queried, feeling her sister’s coat shiver as they walked side by side through this castle which had been built during her absence.

Celestia scrunched her eyes closed tightly as she once again shivered violently but did not respond. And so she continued to show her young sister around the castle’s layout which had been built during Luna’s absence while her emotions begin to overwhelm her.

Luna waited until she was shown where her personal chambers was and before she decided to take a look at her new room, the younger alicorn turned around and used her magic to close the door and sound-proof it before demanding, "Sister, thy attitude hath been silent upon our questioning and this hath become far unlike thee! Just what that hath thee so troubled? Angered and upset, we expect such, but thou hast been most tremulous and silent upon our pry!"

Celestia at first stared at Luna before she bowed her head, her hair covering her expression. Luna waited and waited, with each passing second causing her to grow even more annoyed and concerned. As she was about to demand something from Celestia, it was quickly forgotten as Luna found herself being tackled and held tightly by a now sobbing Celestia. She was barely able to breathe, let alone hear her own thoughts at the sound of her eldest crying and holding her tightly akin to a foal who had just awoken from a terrible nightmare, holding their parents just as close and tightly.

Luna, hesitatingly at first, hugged Celestia and held her as the eldest simply wailed on. There were times she said, ‘I am so sorry,’ ‘I missed you so much,’ ‘I love you,’ and ‘Please don't leave me’ in random order.

"S- 'Tia?" Luna asked tentatively, unsure and afraid of what happened to Celestia during her “solitude”.

Celestia flinched from Luna's voice before her sobs quickly quieted into soft, choked gasps, "I have missed you. So very much! I am scared, Luna. I’m so scared that my responsibility to govern Equestria will demand so much that I will ignore you again as I had so long ago. That you would be consumed with jealousy and sorrow once again and return to the nightmare you were freed from. I cannot handle losing you again, my sister. I am scared of repeating the mistakes of my past and having to banish you again ... or worse.” Celestia's tears ran anew as she whispered, "Not again. Just not again."

At that, she continued to hold Luna as if she was about to be banished to the moon once again.

It was almost an hour later when the sun was to set did Celestia finally let Luna go, however that also meant the elder sister had cried herself to sleep, resorting Luna to use her new bed for Celestia while the night would allow Luna to wander the now candle-lit Canterlot Castle.

However, just as she got outside her chamber's doors, she saw a small detail of Royal Guards who looked at her in questioning expectation.

"Wh-What doth thee want? Why have ye abandoned thine posts?" Luna asked.

One mare stepped forwards, "Princess Luna. My name is Calm Comfort, and we are ... well, were a personal guard division assigned to watch over Princess Celestia, that had been on standing orders since the era of Great Archmage Starswirl the Bearded."

"From Starswirl?" Luna asked, incredulously, "And what situation doth demand such an order, and what were thy orders?"

"From what our parents could tell, and from their own parents ... It was because Princess Celestia had been acting suicidal since your banishment, Princess Luna ..."

This startled and almost made her heart stop in the instant the word "suicidal" broke upon her ears, "S-Suicide ... Suicidal …?" She nearly fainted when Calm nodded, "But ... explain thyselves, why?!"

"My grandmother once told me through her mother, Gentle Comfort, that Archmage Starswirl had placed a suicide watch on Princess Celestia after he discovered her trying to slit her forelegs. She used to tell me horrible events during those dark years while you had been gone. Archmage Starswirl had even made every Royal Guard, maid and hoofmaid to swear in secrecy about this. When I applied to be a maiden in Canterlot Castle, I was told of Princess Celestia’s condition. In fact, there is a diary that Starswirl had given to Princess Celestia, he said that when you returned, it was to be shown to you. Would you like for it to be retrieved for you?"

Luna considered on the option. To pry on the written state of mind her sister had been through during these "dark times"? It almost felt as if she were tempted to enter a forbidden garden ...

Yet it's because of who it is, did she fall for such temptation, "Yes, Calm Comfort, we would very much like to see what has placed our sister in such dark condition."

And so, Luna then spent the night reading and peering into her sister’s mind, not having any duties to attend to during her night, not just yet.

By the first and second pages of her sisters entries, everything she read nearly broke her heart, seeing the headstrong, loyal, kind, and happy Celestia fall into such a deep and dark pit. Adding upon that not thirty years after losing their parents … .

It was only when she read the time when Celestia heard her lullabies that prevented her in believing that 'Tia was completely and mentally broken.

Reading that she had heard Luna singing to her made Luna pause. She thought that the lullabies that she heard from Celestia was nothing but dreams that she had as she waited alone with nopony but the poison in her mind called Nightmare Moon. It was only around some time later that she decided that singing back was enough to make the dreams stop. All that did was make the songs come back more emotional and stronger and in different lyrics. Now that she read from Celestia's side of the 'dream' it made more sense.

Her sister had suffered just as Luna had because of the Elements choosing to banish her corrupted self into the moon. It was a bitter realization she had come to back at their reunion within their old home, but to learn about the fallout from such an event? To hear and read just how close she lost her older and only sister, not from Nightmare Moon, but from the aftermath of her transformation and rebellion?

Thus, Luna passed her first night after her return and being freed from her Nightmare, that she read through the journal entries her sister had kept during her banishment. Even if it was merely recording her thoughts about what happened upon those days, or amusing anecdotes she’d heard from her staff, it was a look into her sister as she saw, thought, and felt during those many painful years of her absence. Though Luna had spent the entire night reading her sister’s journal entries, she was not capable of reading a millennium’s worth of journal entries in a single night.

Her moon neared the horizon, and its keeper Luna arose to her feet, igniting her horn, setting the moon along its course on the other side of the sphere. And with the setting of the moon, the sun nagged its keeper to set it in its course to journey across the celestial expanse of the sky.

Pestered by her charge, Celestia awoke from her slumber with a start, realizing that it was time to return the sun along its ancient path, as it had since time immemorial. Igniting her horn, she performed the same spell she had ever since she had gained her Cutie Mark. She stared sleepily at her sister, as though Luna was some waking dream and not truly there. Celestia mumbled, just audible enough for the younger alicorn to hear, “Sister? Am I dreaming? Have you truly returned? Or do I envision my heart’s desire and not see the bleak and dreary reality of you being gone?”

“Nay, sister mine, far be it from we to torment thee with dreams held near the secrets of thine heart. Thine sister is before thee in very flesh, Celestia,” Luna reassured Celestia, trotting up and nuzzling her to prove her words. The white alicorn blinked before giving a genuine smile as she slowly moved her head to nuzzle Luna back in a loving manner, “I’m so glad.” She whispered.

A new era had arrived with the coming dawn. No more was the royal sisters divided, but reunited together once again. Now was a time of new beginnings.

Luna’s Diary

Month of Juna, Day 22, Year 1 Of My Return (Post-Nightmare Moon)

We suppose We wouldst follow the advice from Our eldest sister, Celestia. As much as We hath reservations upon keeping records of Our thoughts, t'is useful to prevent bottled thoughts and emotions from doing harm, accordance to her. We cannot help but wonder if she meant to what led to Our banishment.

We hath been gone from Equestria for a millennium, since that fateful day when Our sister’s hoof was forced to wield the Elements of Harmony against Our corrupted self. Despite Our absence, We remain the only one who truly knoweth mine sister as completely as We do. T’is strange to knoweth a time many years ago, We wielded the Elements of Honesty, Laughter, and Generosity. Yet, in spite of holding and processing these virtues, We made the choices which wouldst turn Us into Our Nightmare and Our consequence wouldst be banishment, imprisoned away from everypony. Our jealousy, and selfishness wouldst result a millennium of, not only being separated from Our sister, but the appreciation and to be forgotten by the ponies from whom We sought their love and adoration. Our sister shakes and shivered beside Us as she gave Us a tour of the castle she had built during Our absence, fearful of committing making the same mistakes beforehoof. Though We art no longer connected to the Elements which We once wielded, We can not help but feel 'Tia hath not told Us everything.

And We art determined to know, so as to return Our sister to the glory We hath knew her.

~Luna~

Author's Notes:

*Opens chest then 'digs' around despite that there's only a single item in there. Then jumps away from the chest and lifts a someone up:*

*YOU GOT AN(other) EDITOR: AuthorGenesis!*

*YOU ALSO GOT TOLD YOUR WRITING STYLE!*:
Hybridized American and Non-American and you tell instead of show, because you're weird like that.

Oh, sweet baby Jesus, that block was a pain. And oh Sweet Mother of God, it's relieving when you get past it.
Not entire sure that I got through all that well, either.
Anyway, I got you another chapter.

Oh yeah, by the way, I sat down to go through the Seasons. (Currently on the second) So... Yay?

As much as I would love to have an extended sound effect with that Rainbow Ring, I couldn't find it or get access to it. So unfortunately, we'd have to let the imagination run with how the sound fades into the distance.
My first thought was the sound effect from Star Conflict's Biomorphs (Cookies to those who know.)
BWOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAANG

EDITS! GOD I LOVE EDITS!
God I hate editing and being inconsistent....