It hurt when he thought too much about it.

So many centuries have passed since the last one died. He was beginning to think that maybe that was the last one after all. Maybe the four of them had what it took to maintain their sanity, and see everything the wide world would offer them. Certainly, Yunas Gong had shown no sign of mental deterioration those last few weeks. He’d been totally himself, maintaining his tiny realm as carefully as ever, ensuring nothing seriously bad happened to the few inhabitants he looked over. To think, all it took was an Ursa Major looking for a den to topple the delicate mental balance that had held him together for so long.

After letting the over-sized beast tear his physical form apart, Yunas Gong’s consciousness ran rampant, destroying the small peninsula that was his realm. Although there hadn’t been much on it, some few ponies had chosen to settle there anyways, savoring the view and the out-of-the-way-ness the peninsula offered. Even though they still worshiped their Princess, Yunas was still pleased to have something to look over. He’d been depressed, and had thought having something to occupy his time would keep him sane. As it turns out, he had not been ready for the full duties it had entailed.

After the destruction of the small sea-side town, Yunas Gong’s consciousness lost the last attachment to this world, and had departed. That left only him and the two sisters. So far, they had shown remarkable stability, most likely due to their interaction with their frequent with the mortals. Sure, there had been that one bit with the younger going mad and all, but seeing as that was the only deviation they exhibited over all the eons, it was hardly troublesome, most likely just a release of tension.

He briefly wondered if Yunas could have maintained himself better if he had mingled with the ponies of the now-destroyed town. It didn’t matter. The past was the past, and no amount of worrying of fretting or thinking about it could change that. Certainly, he should know that better then anypony else.

He supposed he should inform the sisters about this latest passing. Whether or not they cared for such news now, with their duties to attend, their realm to watch over, he no longer knew if they even remembered their old pact, the promise they made to each other, as the last of their kind. But even if they no longer cared for that centuries-old promise, he did. After all, it was his idea in the first place. He thought that if they had that extra bit of connection to each other, then, maybe, it would keep them from losing their connection to themselves. Certainly, it had brought him back from that point, when he had began to think that the world no longer required their kind. Hearing the sister's tale brought him back from the pit of despair, and renewed his desire to live, even if the mortals had forgotten him.

With these thoughts in mind, he began writing his letter. He would prefer to come visit them in person, but, given their position, he thought it better to keep his distance. If they wanted to see him, they would know where to find him, but he did not think it best to reveal himself to their subjects. After all, to most ponies, he didn’t even exist!

Celestia would often be found in her personal quarters after audience hours were over. It was during that time between audience hours and sunset that she did most of her thinking. While Luna, after a thousand years of imprisonment, was at first overjoyed to spend that time with her, her lack of knowledge on more recent events soon lead her to peruse history books, eager to learn what had happened in Equestria during her absence. Not that she minded, of course. It’s only natural to be curious about the past, after her long absence.

She had just finished reading another letter from Twilight when another one arrived. Strange, Celestia thought. Usually, a day or two would pass before she received reports. Maybe Twi merely forgot something in her last letter, or Spike had the hiccups again. Last time, she was bombarded with various incomplete sketches and notes. It had taken her quite some time to sort through it all and afterwards-

It was not from Twilight Sparkle.

Suddenly apprehensive, Celestia carefully opened the letter. Instead of the red ribbon with the insignia that marked her usual correspondence, this one was marked simply with a drop of nearly blood-red ink with an B delicately carved in the center of it. She knew who it was from, but hadn’t heard from him since their last get together 2500 years ago. She had almost begun to believe that he had forgotten them and their old promise, even though he had been the one to suggest it in the first place. Why the sudden correspondence now? What had been keeping him too busy to talk until now?

As she slowly read the letter, her mood shifted from curiosity to sadness, from longfulness to hopefulness, from memories of days long past towards hopes for what tomorrow will bring.

After finishing the letter, Celestia held back a tear of longing, and headed towards the royal library, where Luna would most likely be. There was still some time until she was supposed to raise the moon, and Luna spent nearly every available hour catching up on her history.

As Celestia entered the room, Luna looked up from her books. It was funny, Celestia thought, how much like Twilight she would look, absorbed in her books. At times, she wondered how the two would get along, both absorbed in their respective book, barely moving at all, off in their own little worlds.

“Is it already time to raise the moon?” Luna said upon see her big sister. “I thought it wasn’t to be for another hour now!”

“Not yet,” Celestia replied. “But I did get a letter from an... old friend of ours. I thought you should see it.”

The mood suddenly solemn, Luna and Celestia read the letter together, reliving their pasts. When they were done reading, they looked at each other for a brief moment, then nodded to an unspoken agreement. Leaving the library, the two of them went to their private rooms, thinking about the letter and what it meant. After Celestia lowered the sun and Luna raised the moon, they each went to their rooms, not so much to sleep, but instead to ponder the ramifications of what they just read, letting their minds go over it all again and again. Next Chapter: Chapter 1: Just Another Day Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 15 Minutes