I’m gone four days and I come back to see that I have 32 unread updates...32! I just thought I’d tell you why this is a little later than I thought it would be, really sorry it’s so late!
I do not own MLP:FiM or any of its characters.
The Winter Sun Didn’t Rise
The night was perfect. The air was cold and crisp, just how Twilight loved it. To feel the sharp air curl around your lungs, it was truly blissful. The stars were all out tonight, shining brightly as if they had all gone supernova. Twilight couldn’t wait to commend Luna on her night sky, in fact everypony wanted to do the same, it was truly a sight to behold. They hadn’t come all this way to celebrate the night sky, but Twilight made it a note to ask Luna and Celestia if they would dedicate a day to the night as well. Twilight was sure that Luna would love the idea, she certainly did. The group of 9 was trotting down the pathway that led up to the palace, it was quite where they were but they could hear the large festival going on at the palace. And Pinkie pie was getting more and more excited the closer they got. She had started out just bouncing around like usual but now it was more like a jackhammer, and Twilight was pretty sure the road was flat enough as it was. Every pony was dressed up warm for the night because it was going to be along one, in fact the longest according Twilight. For this was normally the longest night of the year. But no pony realized it was going to be longer than intended.
Celestia was pacing back and forth in her room, back and forth, back and forth. She was making little ruts out of the massive amounts of pacing around. She thought that writing the letter was hard, but it was like a small bump in her journey compared to the massive mountain she was attempting to climb (figuratively, she already climbed Equestria’s tallest mountain). Twilight was going to be here! Here in the palace! Where it all started, but now this was truly going to the beginning. The beginning of the rest of their lives, which was going to be for eternity. An eternity of love, an eternity of pure bliss and happiness. But that was only going to happen if Celestia could get Twilight to lover her back, and up till now she didn’t think it a problem. Celestia knew how much Twilight looked up to her, how happy she was to see her, but was that all going to translate into love? Would Twilight fall for Celestia as easily as she had for her? So many questions and no answers. Celestia just stopped, her pacing was getting a little out of hoof. And she could actually feel the ruts deepen. Oh but what was she to do? What could she do? Well that last question actually had an answer as Luna had been so kinds as to draft up a list of what Celestia would do. But Celestia had disregarded it the minute she looked at it, because it held only three points. 1) Express love 2) Get love back 3) live happy forever. Not that Celestia wasn’t happy that her sister actually cared about her and getting the mare of her dreams, but in all honesty it wasn't going to happen that easily. Nowadays you had to ask her out a few time before you could even drop the L word. Again it may not be as easy as it was 1000 years ago, but it sure gave more inspiration for romance novels. Celestia was still trying to forget the last romance novel Luna wrote 1000 years ago.
Celestia looked at her ever correct sun dial (as the ruler of the sun, there were a few perks). It was only 11:30; the night was very young indeed. But then why did it feel as if time wasn't moving? She could feel the sun move as time passed by, ever reminded of the never ending cascade of the river of life. But now it was as if the sun had frozen it’s self in place, which it had, which Celestia quickly corrected cursing the link between her and the sun. Ponies had begun arrive, and the festival was quickly picking up pace. Shouts of laughter and squeals of delight floated up to her room, like a sweet honey scent it had drawn her to the balcony. She looked down to where the festival was taking place; thousands of ponies massed its entirety. The festival was indeed huge but the crowd was more so and there were more ponies coming. It was always a night Celestia looked forward to, because it was the one night Celestia and Luna joined in the carnival. And it had become a tradition, which was fine because it meant Celestia and Luna could have fun without being swamped by political members and high society figures. They didn’t dare come to the festival; it was too “unclean”. But Celestia cared not how dirty she became; she spent 364 days being “clean”.
From here she could easily see her sister now; Luna was trying her favorite treat, cotton candy. Celestia chuckled as thought how Luna’s reaction would be to find out that a pink mare she knew actually tasted like Cotton candy (yes, Celestia had indeed tried to eat Pinkie pies mane, imagine how that went down). Luna caught eye of her and began to float up, now she’s going to drag me into all this... does she not know I do not have a full proof plan yet? I always have a full proof plan! The only reason I didn’t put my plan to work when Twilight went nuts was because her friends just had to appear! I was soooo close!
Luna was not aware of the frustration that Celestia was hiding. But if frustration could seep from a pony then it would be coming out of every single pour on Celestia’s body. She landed daintily on the balcony smelling like sweat and cotton candy which floated beside her head. She attempted to take another bite of the sweet, puffy and infuriatingly sticky treat. She more stuffed her face into the ball of sweet string than nibble at it. And therefore a rather rugged beard stuck to her face, which already had a vast array of candy facial hair. Dear mother, why did you leave me with such a childish sister? What happened next only forced Celestia to ask the same thing of her father.
Luna’s tongue left her mouth, wrapped around her face and in one sweeping motion that would make Spike proud to call her his apprentice wiped all the access candy of her face. I must thank Spike for teaching me such a useful trick again Luna thought. “Sister why do you not join us in the festivities that take place? We fear that thou are missing out on so much, this ball of strangely sweet string is evidence of that. We cannot allow thy self to sit up here alone.”
“It is called candy floss sister, and you should really try not to do that with your tongue anymore, what would mother and father say?”
“Thou see’s? Thou cannot possibly be content when thou are scolding thou sister, and we can do what we wish with our tongue.” She was right Celestia was definitely not happy. Not happy to see that Luna could without any hesitation perform such an outrageous...thing in front of everypony. And she tried not to think about what else she did with her tongue (she did but due to unforeseen magical filters the following text has been censored). CENSORED. Now with a mind free of perverse thoughts she could get back to getting rid of her sister, and get to what was really important. Making the master plan to get Twilight Sparkle to love her, dubbed “Get-Twilight-to-love-you-forever-plan”.
“If I promise that I will come down soon, will you leave me?”
“I could never leave thou sister, but we understand your proposition.”
“So?”
“Yes?”
“Ugh, I do not have time for you little games sister! The love of my insufferably long life draws near!”
“Oh so that’s why thou is so distressed. Sister, thou must learn to,” Luna waved a hoof dismissively “as they say ‘let-go’, it seems to be a very valuable lesson”. Celestia’s face drooped; Luna can’t possibly be trying to teach me a lesson.
“I fear you do not understand the process in which we confess our love these days sister.”
“No we may not, but we do know that the best way to make connections is to have FUN!!” She shouted in the royal Canterlot voice (outdated by 1000 years, the “new” Canterlot voice required the use of a more robotic voice*). As she did her horn glowed as she picked up yet another Candy floss from the vendor below her.
*Celestia was bored when she thought up the new Canterlot policies.
Candy Mane had spent a good 10 years of his life learning all the secrets of Candy floss. His cutie mark bore his signature Candy Cloud™. Business was going perfectly that evening, the bits were rolling in and the costumers just couldn’t get enough. Now as an earth pony you could say that Candy was not very familiar with unicorn magic. No pony told him that when a Unicorn decided to use magic, the subject of the magic was to glow a color specific to that unicorn. So to his great surprise, shock and frustration as he tried to grab at the Candy Cloud™ he had just made literally float away from him. Like a cloud. After a few seconds of shouting at the inanimate object that would most not definitely shout back (even if it could, it would not spend its short time of existence to argue with a Candy floss vendor. It would put its new found brain power to use solving the universes mystery’s, such as why it suddenly could think). He realized it was glowing a dark blue hue, and was floating towards Princess Luna. Candy Mane gulped and forced himself to forget about the lost profit. Sure those extra bits would fit nicely in his pocket but he was in no hurry to see what the surface of the moon felt.
The newly Candy Cloud™ arrived at its destination beside the hungry Princess Luna. She grinned now in the possession of two Candy Cloud’s™, but Celestia beat her to it. “Let me guess, the fun has been ‘doubled’.” She said sitting on her haunches raising her forehooves and bending them at each syllable.
“Hey! That is our line! Thou is truly no fun.” Luna pouted, disappointed that her catch phrase has been taken from her. “But thou must see that Twilight has not come here to sit upon the balcony moping, does thou not see that she has come to enjoy the festival?” Celestia was impressed, maybe her sister wasn't all foal. Hahaha wow you crack yourself up Celestia, my sister not a foal, HA. But Luna had placed a valid point; maybe Twilight didn’t want to go on a scenic walk through the gardens. But Celestia could only imagine that Twilight would want to do anything she wanted to do. Then it was settled, she was abandoning the perfect plan to go have “fun” with Twilight. She could just see the reaction on Twilight’s face when she would ask her if they wanted to ride the upside-down roller coaster. It was Celestia’s favorite, and she would opt it to be on the list of the most important inventions in the last millennia. And she couldn’t imagine that Twilight would hate it, even if she was an egghead.
Celestia sighed as she looked out at the festival taking place below her. The lights were so bright they were dwarfing the real stars. Ponies could be seen taking part in various activates that peppered the festival, the atmosphere was electric. There was so much energy even at 12:00 at night; it was a wonder how everypony managed to go on this long without needing sleep. 12:00 at night and Twilight still wasn’t here; she did say she was coming right? Did she? Oh no oh no no no she isn’t coming! As Celestia’s mind firmly grabbed on to the idea that Twilight wasn’t coming, despite Twilight’s letter explicitly saying she would be coming. She began to mumble to herself, she paced back and forth again and her “ever flowing” mane became erratic. Luna watched as her sister once again fell into discord, ugh what is she fretting about now? But before she could try to calm her sister down for the 20th time that day something caught her eye. Something grey and blonde, flying upside down much to the dismay of something purple. A thought popped into her head, could it be?
She turned her head to see if her assumptions were true, and they were. Twilight and the rest of her group were just walking into the west end of the carnival, and she could see a few others that seemed to be traveling with her. Twilight was currently running and shouting after the grey mare that was flying upside down, Luna didn’t know that Pegasus could do that. And she could recognize the others, the orange mare with the hat was Apple Jack, the pink mare who looked like she could bounce for an eternity and keep on bouncing was Pinkie Pie. The white mare with an impeccably perfect mane was Rarity; the yellow mare who was trying to be as hidden as possible was Fluttershy and the cyan mare trying to get the grey mare upright was Rainbow dash. She could also see Spike, but Luna was clueless as to who the grey mare and the small earth filly were.
“Celestia?” she called softly trying to get her sisters attention without notifying Twilight of her presence (which wouldn’t happen even if she used the Royal Canterlot Voice, she thought). No response, “Celestia?” She tried a little louder. Still nothing. Luna twisted her head round to see what Celestia was up to. Just as I thought, still pacing up and down, she’s going to have to replace those shoes for the 4th time this week. “CELESTIA!” completely abandoning the “stay secret” plan.
“Whah?!?” Celestia was so engrossed in her mental break down that she was unable to react fast enough to being off balance. Celestia toppled, as gracefully as one could topple. Her mane making a large over dramatic arch before resting upon her face. Celestia tried to blow her mane out of her face, but only succeeded in forcing it closer to her muzzle. Celestia was ticklish, so very ticklish and Luna loved that about her. And this was the one situation where a flowing mane of beauty was a burden, because as the hair landed on her muzzle it began to act much like a feather. And as her hair began to tickle her, Celestia’s legs shot out flailing with the express purpose of deposing of the menace. However as she could not see, she could not direct her hooves to the specific area where her muzzle was. Luna watched as her sister flailed her hooves around like a complete maniac. In a rare moment of complete seriousness Luna rated it as the most hilarious thing she had ever seen. Then broke out in side cracking fit of laughter, and she had not yet turned down her royal Canterlot voice.
“WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Does Thou see your face?!?! AAHAHAHA!!” If I said that everypony just carried on and heeded no attention to uproar happening just above them I would be lying out my plot. Everypony within a good 500 meters heard everything, and when I say everypony I put emphasis on a very purple unicorn with a pink highlight. And no I’m not lying this time that would be redundant.
Twilight was having a very care-free evening (with the exception of her friends meeting her parents, we all know how that worked out). She and her friends had arrived at the carnival with the express pourpose of stuffing themselves with as much candy as one could possibly imagine, well at least Pinkie Pie wanted to. Twilight was actually just hoping to spend some time with Celestia and Sunshine (she also wanted to ride the toilet seat, but that’s not something you tell everypony). But as soon as she arrived she heard a loud hearty laugh that would make a pirate jealous emanate from the balcony about 120 meters above them. She instantly recognized the voice; it was the royal Canterlot voice she would know it anywhere. You would too if you had her shout her in your face for a whole evening. But what was she laughing at?
“AHAHAHAHAHA!! Thou act like a little foal! AHAHAHAH! OH my sister you are too funny!” So she’s laughing at her sister, the ruler of Canterlot where everypony can hear. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Twilight’s last thought just dripped with sarcasm.
“If anypony is wondering I shall be investigating as to why Luna seems to be laughing like a maniac.” And with a poof Twilight teleported to the balcony, in no way expecting to see what she did. Twilight tried, she really really tried to keep a straight face in the “face” of what she saw. She steeled her mind with every reason not to laugh ranging from “she’s your mentor!” to “she might banish you!” but nothing helped. And now we see one Alicorn flailing in vain in attempt to right herself, one Alicorn flailing in laugher and a unicorn pounding her hooves on the floor. And after a minute of said uproar Celestia was able to regain her sight, sense of balance yet she could not regain her dignity. But could care less about her dignity, Twilight sparkle was here! On her balcony! Laughing at her with Luna! *error 404: brain not found* So Celestia fainted.
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“Who on earth could that be?” Rarity asked as Twilight disappeared away.
“I believe that Twilight said it was Luna.” Apple jack replied.
“Do you think it would be a good idea check on them?”
“Nah, I think Twilight can handle it.” Apple jack said completely unaware she was wrong.
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Celestia smiled, she was laying on the beaches of Prance with the lasts issue of mare vogue in one hoof and ice cold tea in the other. As the master of the sun you would think that Celestia knew the true meaning of sun tanning. But she hardly got out, and she hadn’t experience a good holiday since she banished her sister to the moon. And you can’t really gauge the amount of time a pony spent in the sun by their coat. Otherwise some really unlucky ponies would be unable to move for the rest of their lives. Celestia sipped her ice tea as she read an article on how a certain lavender pony had risen to the top as the greatest model of all Equestria. After a while she flipped to the next page that had an easy questionnaire to see if you were in love with the Lavender mare. And no matter how random Celestia was with her answers she always got the same verdict. “Your completely head over hooves for her”, Well finally! A questionnaire that actually give a true verdict. “Celestia?” Celestia put her magazine down, to see that there was no pony on the beach except her. Odd. She picked up her magazine and turned to the next page that read in bold letters “Celestia?”. Well I know I’m famous for being the ruler of Equestria but I didn't know I was becoming fashionable again. She flipped to the next page where the text literally jumped out at her screaming “CELESTIA!”
“Gaaah!” Reality hit her like a brick. In her shock she managed to flip herself from her right side to her left. And now was sprawled out in a complete mess, “Oooh, my head. What happened?”
“Are you okay?!? I was so worried, you just fainted out on the balcony so I brought you inside and I thought the cold knocked you out so I put you in bed and got a hot water bottle but then you didn’t wake up so I got some books on fainting which surprisingly had a lot on how to feign it which I don’t really see why anypony would do that but then I read this medical book and it said that you could have fainted due to hypothermia and that you could die so I got more hot water bottle but now your okay but I was so worried you could have died because of me and I couldn’t live with the fact that I managed to kill my mentor and teacher you just mean so much to me can you ever urp!” Celestia stuck a hoof in Twilight’s mouth, aaaaahhhh peace and quiet. But she didn’t stop Twilight because she was ranting; Celestia was quite capable of surviving several hours of her lectures. No, she wanted to hear that last segment again.
“What was that last part, I’m afraid my hearing became impaired for a second there.” Twilight muffled a little, so Celestia withdrew her hoof hesitantly.
“The part where I said I managed to kill my mentor?” Twilight asked with caution, she didn’t know any spells that helped you breathe on the moon.
“No no, after that.” Celestia said as she sat up on her haunches.
“How you mean so much to me?” Celestia began to chuckle. “W...what’s so funny?”
“Oh my lovely Twilight, I’m just happy you still care for this old mare. And I find it rather humorous you would go to such lengths just for a simple fainting.”
“But...but I thought you were going to die!”
“Oh my dear Twilight it would take much more than a chill to kill me, you know that. I’m just happy you’re here.” Twilight blushed, Celestia was happy she was here? Her foal’s dreams were coming true!
“R...really?”
“Of course, now are we going to sit here and talk about how happy we are to see each other or are we going to join in the festival?” Twilight wished nothing more than to just sit there and talk, she had so much to talk about. But then she knew that Celestia as understanding as she could be wouldn’t want to sit there for hours on end.
“Go join the fun?” She said hopeful that Celestia would not catch her blatant attempt at a lie, with a horrible pony face to boot.
“That’s my Twilight!” She threw the covers of and scramble to her feet in a flurry of action. “Shall we go?” Twilight was confused; she had never seen the princess so active, maybe you got a fit of energy after being revived?
“O..Okay!” And so they headed out the door leaving Luna to try and gauge exactly what just happened.
____________________
“So where do you think she is now?” Rarity asked getting quite worried about Twilight’s disappearance.
“Ah don’t yah fret yerself over her, she’s ah full grown mare and she can handle herself. Ahm sure she’s fine.” Apple jack was trying to land a ring around one of the many little poles for the prize of one humongous rock in the shape of a diamond. She won it and then stuffed it in Rarities face “Here I got you a nice big diamond, so stop yer frettin kay?”
“Apple Jack! I thought we agreed that we would never talk about that again!” She shouted as she flung the “plush” rock at Apple Jack.
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Twilight had to admit she was having the time of her life, she didn’t know Celestia was so much fun. Nor did she realize that Celestia’s mane could still look as it always did even after riding the Upside-Down Coaster. It was like a thousand invisible brushes ran through her mane all day. And it was really horrible when it blew into her face, because every time it did she would just blush. Never in all her years as Celestia’s own student been so close to her mentor for so long, she felt hot. But Twilight just thought it was because she was sitting next to the ruler of the sun. And every time she thought of the sun she was reminded that she had kind of ditched Sunshine and the crew. Maybe I should go check on them? No, I bet their fine. But Twilight wished Celestia could meet Sunshine; Twilight could only imagine that with Celestia in such a good mood things would go “swimmingly”. Maybe she would pop the question after this ride. For your information all these thoughts were taking place as Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs while being spun round at G-4 forces. She turned her head with much effort to see that Celestia was also screaming her head off while she had her hooves in the air (Celestia just didn’t care what her subjects thought at this moment), and raised her own hooves. This much to Twilight’s glee only made the ride more thrilling. “TWILIGHT!” Celestia called.
“WHAT?!?” Twilight couldn’t hear her over everypony else.
“I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU!”
“WHAT?!?”
“THE TRAPDOOR BEHIND YOU IS A BOUT TO OPEN!”
“WAIT WHAT?!?” *KA-SHUNK!* the trapdoor behind Twilight flew open causing Twilight to fly out of the spinning ride at break neck speeds into a large net. After about a minute of trying to catch her breath and having no apparent ability to do so, Celestia joined her flying out of the ride. Twilight’s eyes went wide as she realized that Celestia’s current flight path was going to land Celestia on her. “AAAAAHHH!!!! OOFFFF!!” Twilight lost all ability to breath for the second time that night.
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“Are you sure we shouldn’t go check where Twilight is?” Rarity asked as she took a piece of the Candy Cloud™ she had just bought. Apple Jack was munching on a caramel apple.
“I told ye once I don’t want ta have ta tell you again. She’s fine; in fact I saw her getting into the toilet seat with Celestia.” Rarities eyes grew three sizes that night.
“You mean to tell me that our Twilight sparkle got into a ride designed to make you lose your lunch with the ruler of Equestria?” Rarity couldn’t believe what Apple Jack was telling her.
“Ya think I would lie? I am the element of honesty remember?”
“I guess, but the toilet seat? Of all things...”
“Come on now, she’s just trying to have a little fun, unlike you.”
“H..Hey! I’m having plenty fun thank you very much!”
“Whatever ya say sugercube.” She grinned as she took another bit of her apple completely expecting the meeting of her face and the Candy Cloud™.
_________________
“Well Twilight sparkle I didn’t know you were so soft.” Celestia said as they trotted away from the Toilet Seat. Twilight blushed again, why she was blushing so easily
“U...Umm thanks?” She tried to say. Wow, she really blushes easily. Or am I that good? They were heading out of the carnival, towards the palace gardens. Come now Celestia, the time is nigh. Celestia’s blood was boiling; her mind swam with thousands on memories none having any relevance to the task at hand. Her wings were trying to force themselves up, but Celestia was fighting back. The time is almost nigh. They arrived at an opening where a gazebo stood upon a slight hill, the night was still prevalent but path was light by beautiful lanterns. They were in the shape of the sun and gave off a soft orange glow.
“Come now Twilight let us sit and talk before I must raise the sun.” Okay, that was good, keep it up Celestia. Celestia said pointing to the spot next to her.
“O...Okay.” Why are you acting so nervous Twilight, you’ve known her for more than a decade!
“Tell me Twilight what do you think of my sunrise?” Celestia asked, eager to see if her student had truly been thinking of her when the sun rose.
“I...I think their beautiful.” *ffffffooooooommmmmmmppppppphhhhh* Celestia could no longer hold her wings down, but she managed to raise them softly enough that Twilight didn’t hear. Or at least that’s what she thought. “Umm... Celestia?” Twilight was beginning to become unsure of her mentor’s behavior, why would her wings be extended? Was it something I said?
“Ah! Oh pay no attention to my wings Twilight, they...I need to air them once and a while, you have many Pegasus friends I’m sure you know that.” Yes that I do but I also know that they can put it down when they want to.
“C...Celestia I’m worried, are you sure you’ve recovered from your faint. You do not seem to be acting as yourself.” Twilight looked up at her mentor.
“I...I’m okay Twilight, but there is something I’ve been meaning to tell you. I’ve waited far too long to tell you.” Celestia’s heart raced, any more and it would fly out of her chest. There’s no time like the present...No time at all.
“Yes...?” Twilight wasn’t sure she was so on edge waiting to hear what Celestia had to say. As soon as they had decided to leave the carnival in search of something more private she had been on edge. And the bad thing is the feeling she felt was familiar but she could not place it, where have I felt this before?
“Twilight...I watched you grow from being a little filly with no control over her magic, to a full grown mare able to rid of anything. I’ve watched you go from an insecure egghead to one with a multitude of friends.” Twilight could help but blush, and blush crimson red. “I’ve watched you grow into the beautiful mare you are now Twilight...but I’ve never told you...but I want to...”
“Yes Celestia?” Twilight was on the edge, don’t stop now!
“I...I...I love you Twilight!” Celestia threw her hooves around Twilight and her wings embraced her too.
All the color in Twilight had disappeared; her face wore the blank expression of a mask. She was just a husk of Twilight, an exoskeleton. She couldn’t believe her ears, but it made so much sense now. Her mentor was being so kind, complimenting her every few seconds. All because she was in love with her. Why!?! Why did she have to be in love with her! Did Celestia no know she was in love herself? But I forgot to tell her! Now what is she going to think of me!?! She’s going to banish me! That’s what! Celestia let go off Twilight to see that it wasn’t the same purple mare she had hugged that she let go. “Twilight! Are you okay my love?” No! Please don’t say that! Twilight was shedding tears.
“no...no...No...NO...NO!” She shouted, at the top of her lungs. Celestia tried to comfort her, but Twilight knocked her hooves away. “Y...You can’t do that! Why would you do that!?!” She screamed, tears beginning their short journey to the gazebo floor. Celestia was so shocked she began to shed tears of worry for Twilight.
“Do what?” her voice was shaky, and it cracked halfway through.
“Love me! It’s not fair! Why do you love me!?!” the once trickling stream of tears was now a torrent. Twilight was completely shaken to the core, her mind was not working at it would.
“F...f...fair?” Celestia wanted so bad to just embrace Twilight and comfort her but every time she tried Twilight was swipe at her hooves.
“You can’t say you love me!” Twilight’s voice lowered, it was beyond shaky and large fissure had cropped up in her voice.
“I...I...I’m already in love...” And with that Twilight teleported away, she couldn’t bring herself to see the reaction of the princess.
It was as if the life had been sucked completely out of Celestia’s system, her whole body convulsed. Sobs racked her body, shaking her to the very core. She had lost her only love, she had made the only mare she loved in all of Equestria hate her. Celestia lay on the ground, crying to herself. It was all supposed to go smoothly, she was supposed to tell her and then they would raise the sun together. But now...The sun wouldn’t rise.
Authors notes:
I’m really sorry this is so late! But I hope the wait was worth it. Thanks for being so patient!
Hope you enjoyed it!