…
…
Ever since they had returned home after a thousand years, Cosmo and Galaxia had been trying to get reacquainted to the land that they had once ruled over. Now they were living in Silver Shoals, the same retirement community their daughters had originally been planning to retire to.
"Cosmo," Galaxia called as she was reading a newspaper in the living room about Twilight's coronation. "Come take a look at this."
"What is it?" Cosmo asked, walking into the living room from the kitchen and carefully noticing the date that was on the newspaper. "Galaxia, my dear, that newspaper was from quite a while ago."
"But don't you see?" Galaxia remarked. "Our daughters were featured in it, quite prominently in fact."
Letting out a small chuckle, Cosmo couldn't help but feel slightly amused by his wife's excitement over their daughters' accomplishments.
"I mean look at this picture!" Galaxia went on. "Look at our daughters, being so proud of Princess Twilight. Makes you wonder what could have been had Grogar not imprisoned us all those years ago."
"You're right, my dear," Cosmo sighed with a hint of anger and disgust in his voice. "So much we missed out on thanks to that demonic beast. If I ever face him again…"
"Careful, Cosmo, mind your blood pressure," Galaxia cautioned. "I'm sure Celestia and Luna don't want you to display any of that when we see them tomorrow."
Heeding his wife's advice, Cosmo immediately calmed himself down. "You're right, Galaxia. I should watch my blood pressure, even my doctor agrees," He sighed. "It's just that…seeing Luna being banished to the moon from Grogar's prison walls, among other things…"
"It's in the past now," Galaxia reminded her husband. "We have to move on, Cosmo. Just as our daughters did."
"Easier said than done, Galaxia," Cosmo reluctantly sighed. "Easier said than done."
Meanwhile, with the events of recent, all Celestia could think about was her former student coming home and joining the fight against Grogar. It had been a long time since Sunset Shimmer had been in Equestria on a full time basis and she thought that paying Sunset a visit at her parents' home in Canterlot would do her some good.
Knocking on the door, Celestia waited for whoever was inside to answer and a few moments later, the door opened to reveal an orange coated unicorn stallion with a flaming orange colored mane done up in curls. "Celestia!" The pony remarked, slightly taken aback by the former princess standing in the doorway. "Uh, you still aren't a princess anymore, are you?"
"Wild Fire," Celestia chuckled, placing a hoof to the stallion's chin. "It's okay to forget that I'm not a princess anymore. I've even had some students ask me as if I was not truly retired."
Clearing his throat, the stallion gestured for Celestia to come inside.
"Anyways," Celestia said as the door was closed behind her. "I came to see how Sunset's been doing since she returned here."
"Honestly," Wild Fire commented as he gestured Celestia to sit down on the couch. "Nothing has made Solar Eclipse or I happier than having Sunset home again. It's been such a long time. Who knew that it would take a war of all things to get her to come back, even just temporarily?"
Just then, the sounds of hoofbeats came down the stairs and Sunset came into the living room, slightly taken aback by the presence of the pony she had abandoned long ago. "Celestia, what are you doing here?" Sunset inquired.
"I just wanted to see how you're doing, Sunset." Celestia warmly answered.
"With what?" Sunset pondered.
Celestia smiled. "Getting reacquainted with living in Equestria again."
Although she didn't want to show it, Sunset was beginning to miss all of her Canterlot High friends. But she made an agreement to fight this war and defend her homeland and was going to stick to that agreement. "It's been…strange to say the least," She sighed while sitting next to Celestia on the couch. "In fact, I don't know what I'm going to do now. I clearly need to get a job, obviously. I never even had one in the human world, I was waiting until graduation."
"Well, Twilight tells me that Starlight Glimmer is always looking for more teachers at the School of Friendship," Celestia suggested, much to the surprise of Sunset's father. "Maybe you can teach the students the difference between your world and Equestria? If what you said is true and the Dazzlings are on Grogar's side now, it's imperative we know as much as possible about the world you used to call home so we can be prepared."
To get back into the classroom for Sunset was a tough call, especially given the circumstances of the situation.
"It might do you some good, Sunset," Wild Fire remarked as Sunset looked over at her father. "Give it some thought."
Not saying anything, Sunset nodded.
"In fact, I'll tell you what," Celestia offered. "Luna and I are paying a visit to our parents this weekend at Silver Shoals. Why don't you think about it and then give me your answer when we return?"
Sunset felt her eyes widen at what Celestia said. "Still can't believe your parents are alive," Sunset remarked. "I mean, being stuck in space for over a thousand years. It's not possible."
However, Celestia couldn't help but feel slightly touched by Sunset's remark. Her parents had only been back in Equestria for a short time and part of her was asking herself the same question.
"Well," Celestia awkwardly and uncomfortably chuckled. "You know us alicorns, we don't really age. For us, a thousand years is only a couple of years at most."
Naturally, Sunset had her suspicions about Celestia and Luna's parents. But she had her own issues to worry about. "All right," She declared. "I'll think about your offer this weekend, Celestia. I mean, this might be the first real part I contribute to during the war."
"I know you'll make the right decision, Sunset Shimmer. Goodbye." Celestia smiled warmly as she hugged Sunset and her father.
As she left, Celestia could hear Sunset's remark about her parents playing over and over in her head.
"I just hope Luna can understand and forgive Mom and Dad for not being there for her when she needed them the most." Celestia thought to herself as she flew back towards the Castle of Friendship.
…
…
At the Castle of Friendship, Luna was in her room packing all of her essentials for her weekend trip to Silver Shoals. Although she was excited to be seeing her parents, part of her was angry at them for what had happened over a thousand years ago, despite them not being there to resolve it.
Hearing a knock at the door, Luna turned to see Starlight Glimmer coming into the bedroom.
"Hey Luna," Starlight greeted while holding a book in her aura. "Here;s the book you wanted to take to Silver Shoals."
"Thank you, Starlight," Luna replied, taking the book from her and placing it in a book bag. "Just another in the stack. There are so many great books I want to show to my parents."
"Um, Luna," Starlight asked, inspecting the stack. "These are quite a lot of books here. Are you sure that you plan on reading all of them over the weekend?"
"Why do you ask, Starlight Glimmer?" Luna asked while folding a shirt to be packed into her suitcase.
"Well, because…you're spending time with your parents and…I don't think all these books are really necessary to bring. Maybe just bring a few small ones." Starlight nervously suggested.
"Starlight," Luna sighed while turning around to face her friend. "There's something you must understand. Despite the fact that Twilight and her friends managed to help me overcome my past, there's a part of me that feels like…like…my parents are partially to blame for me becoming Nightmare Moon."
Starlight was somewhat taken aback by this statement! "Luna, are you sure about that?" She gasped. "I mean, Grogar did imprison them in whoever knows where! Even in the days of my hatred of cutie marks I didn't blame my dad for not being around to help me. In fact, I felt like there was no point in telling him because he wouldn't care and would just think I was being silly."
"Well that's just it, Starlight!" Luna cried. "If Grogar hadn't interfered then things would have been different. My parents wouldn't have allowed things to get so bad between my sister and I that one had to banish the other. Part of me wishes I could go back in time and save my parents from being captured. Then all of the sorrow I had to endure would never have happened"
"But you can't change the past!" Starlight protested. "If anypony knows that it's me, because I sure tried."
…
Meanwhile, Celestia came into the Castle of Friendship's front door and made her way up the stairs as Twilight also walked down the stairs, holding an important document in her magic.
"Oh, hi Celestia," Twilight acknowledged as they both stopped on the stairs. "Where'd you go off to this morning?"
"I just wanted to check in on Sunset," Celestia replied. "See how she's doing with getting used to being back in Equestria."
"It's likely going to take time for her to get fully adjusted to everything," Twilight replied before frowning. "Which is something we unfortunately don't have a lot of. But maybe you and Luna visiting your parents this weekend will be a good distraction. After all, we're going to need you both at one hundred percent for the war. And we may have to consider involving your parents if things really get dicey."
"I hope it doesn't come to that. And I hope all goes well this weekend at Silver Shoals," Celestia commented as she briefly looked away from Twilight. "I don't know about Luna, though. Ever since we agreed to this trip, she's been acting like she can't let go of what happened to our parents. But what could we have done? We had no clue they'd ever been abducted."
"Perhaps something else is going on with her," Twilight suggested as she walked with Celestia up the stairs. "I mean, neither of you could help it when your parents disappeared without a trace. Had you known you surely would've searched for them."
"Of course, Twilight," Celestia reluctantly nodded. "It's just that…you know Luna can be very stubborn when it comes to letting go of her past. Not even forming the Nightmare Knights could help her fully move on, there are times when she still seems to think about Nightmare Moon. And I fear those times have only been happening more often since we agreed to this trip."
Going into Celestia's room, Twilight watched as the former princess began her last minute packing. "Um, Celestia, I just had a thought," Twilight remarked. "Do you think that maybe Luna might be suffering from survivor's guilt like I am?"
This made Celestia stop her packing and look at her daughter figure. "In what way, Twilight?"
"I mean, Luna does tend to not let go of her past fully," Twilight suggested. "Even after the Tantabus, it sounds like she still struggles with not being there for her parents. Perhaps Gentle Gust and Gentle Breeze could help her, once they get back from their vacation anyway."
"Even the greatest of minds must relax every once in a while, Twilight," Celestia chuckled, taking her attention off of her packing as she grabbed a ziplining helmet. "I know Luna isn't that big in high adventure, but it might do her some good. She needs to get her mind off her troubles."
…
Still Twilight had her thoughts and that night, Twilight paced back and forth across her bedroom trying to figure out how to help Luna. At that moment, there was a knock at her door, interrupting her train of thought. "Who is it?" Twilight whispered.
"It's me, Starlight." Opening the door, Starlight walked into Twilight's bedroom looking just as restless as Twilight was.
"Guess you can't sleep either?" Twilight remarked.
"Ya think?" Starlight sighed as she shut the door. "Luna's been really bothering me all day. She seems so determined to just read in Silver Shoals this weekend and not spend time with her own family. And she's talking like she wants to do what I once tried to do, rewrite history."
"I'm getting the hunch that Luna might be suffering from Survivor's Guilt, since my last visit to Gentle Breeze and Gentle Gust I've been doing more research into mental health in my spare time," Twilight remarked as she pulled a book on Mental Health from her bookshelf and showed it to Starlight, opening it up to the section on Survivor's Guilt. "A mental condition that occurs when a creature believes they've done something wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not."
"Where did you get this book in particular?" Starlight questioned. "I never recall you having it on hoof before."
"Gentle Gust and Gentle Breeze gave it to me as a coronation present," Twilight answered. "It's very useful. At first it was just for the knowledge, but now I think it's really going to be useful."
The more that the two mares discussed Luna's hidden condition, the more they began to realize that they needed to be there for the two former princesses.
"It makes me want to go with them this weekend," Starlight sighed. "Just to keep an eye on them in case something comes up."
"I agree with you, Starlight," Twilight remarked as she climbed into bed. "Celestia and Luna are not just my mother and big sister figures, but also my subjects. Anything that concerns them concerns me."
"Should we tell them that we're going with them then?" Starlight reluctantly asked.
"We'll tell them in the morning," Twilight answered before lying back down in bed. "Now try to get some sleep, Starlight."
"Of course, Twilight." Starlight nodded in reply, and left Twilight's room as they prepared to accompany Celestia and Luna to Silver Shoals the next day.
…
…
The next morning, Celestia and Luna left the Castle of Friendship preparing to catch their train to Silver Shoals. Luna continued to harbor her ill feelings and yet tried to keep them hidden from Celestia. Eventually, they proceeded to the train station only to discover that the platform was empty.
"Um, Luna?" Celestia asked Luna. "Is there any reason why nopony's here?"
"Maybe it's a light train schedule, sister?" Luna remarked. "We can't be the only ones travelling to Silver Shoals."
Going over to the ticket window, Celestia knocked on the glass, catching the attendant's attention. "Excuse me," She chuckled with an embarrassed smile as she looked at the attendant. "Are there any trains coming today?"
"Uh, where are you bound?" The attendant asked while looking at the schedule.
"Silver Shoals." Celestia answered.
"Silver…silver…silver…" The attendant muttered. "Ah, yes. There was a train scheduled for this morning, but it got cancelled."
"What?!" Celestia gasped! "Why?!"
"It was cancelled this morning because Princess Twilight is also bound for Silver Shoals, and thus special arrangements had to be made." The attendant answered as the sounds of chugging came closer and closer.
Turning her attention away from the attendant, both Celestia and Luna saw Twilight's royal train make it' way into the station.
"Twilight, just what is going on here?" Celestia asked as Twilight emerged off of the train. "Why are you going to Silver Shoals as well, and on today of all days?"
"Official Princess Duties," Twilight answered while holding a wing out to her fellow alicorns. "Shall we go?"
"But…" Luna started to say.
"-Don't worry," Twilight interrupted. "Since we're all going to the same destination, there really is no need for you to have your own train. You can ride with me."
Confused, Celestia and Luna boarded the royal train as it departed for Silver Shoals. As they boarded, they could see that they were the only ones aboard the train.
"Um, shouldn't there be other ponies aside from yourself on this train, Twilight?" Luna asked as she and Celestia sat down in the car. "Where is the press?"
"There is no press," Twilight shook her head. "They weren't invited. It's only Starlight, Spike and I."
At that moment, Starlight and Spike came into the cabin, adding further confusion to Celestia and Luna.
"Look, Twilight," Celestia explained. "It's not that Luna and I aren't grateful that you want to escort us to Silver Shoals for the weekend, but what exactly is going on here? What are you really up to"
"You'll see soon enough," Starlight vaguely replied as the royal train began to depart. "But for now, just sit back and enjoy the ride, okay?"
Throughout the train ride, both Celestia and Luna could only wonder what the visit with their parents was going to look like. For Luna in particular, all she could do was read one of her books while trying to keep her emotions in check.
From another part of the train, Twilight, Starlight and Spike were wondering just how this visit with Celestia and Luna's parents was going to go.
"Do you think they might be onto us?" Spike asked.
"I don't know," Starlight answered. "For some reason, part of me thinks that Luna might want to turn this train around and head back."
"This is for her own good, Starlight," Twilight firmly insisted. "Letting go of the past is important for everypony, especially Luna. If what you said about her earlier comments is true then this is something she must face!" As Twilight spoke, she began to reflect on the time that Luna revealed she was punishing herself by creating the Tantabus. In fact, part of her even wondered if the Tantabus would somehow get out again and become stronger than ever as a result!
…
Eventually, the train arrived in Silver Shoals and the three alicorns, unicorn and young dragon stepped onto the platform. The smell of the salty sea air couldn't help but brighten the spirits of them all.
"Do you know where Mother and Father are staying?" Luna asked Celestia.
"How should I know, Luna?" Celestia retorted. "You know that I'm very bad with directions."
Luna said nothing and proceeded to walk away in a huff.
Celestia felt somewhat insulted by her younger sister's behavior. "What is with her?" She cried to Twilight and Starlight. "She just seems so pigheaded. We both agreed to this visit, but now it seems like she just wants to back out of it."
"I think I may have a guess," Twilight declared. "But it's going to be revealed in time. Come on."
Confused, Celestia followed Twilight, Starlight and Spike as they left the platform and they soon arrived at the retirement home just off the shore from the beach (with Luna reluctantly following them). Looking at all the elderly ponies walking past them, they all proceeded towards an apartment with a gold star on the door.
"This must be their apartment." Starlight whispered to Twilight as Celestia knocked on the door while two guard ponies guarded it on each side.
A few moments later, the door opened to reveal Galaxia on the other side, happy to see her daughters again as she immediately pulled them both into a hug.
"Mother, you're embarrassing me!" Luna groaned as Galaxia tightened her grip on both of the royal sisters.
"Oh, I can't help it! It's just so good to see you both," Galaxia declared. "Come on in! I've been waiting for this for a long time," And as her daughters walked in, she also saw Twilight, Starlight and Spike standing in the doorway. "Why, if it isn't Princess Twilight!" She remarked, gesturing for the others to come inside. "Care to join me?"
"Of course." Twilight replied, taking up on the offer as all walked inside.
"Your father and I were looking at this recent newspaper of Twilight's coronation," Galaxia explained to her daughters. "I mean, look at how happy you all were."
Passing the newspaper onto Celestia, the two sisters looked at it and right away, Luna began to get a sickening feeling.
"It certainly was an important day," Celestia said with a hint of remorse in her voice. "Shame that Grogar ruined your chance to see it."
"Along with many others," Luna bitterly whispered. "My return from the moon, Cadence's wedding, Twilight's first coronation…"
"-Well, we were there in spirit," Cosmo sighed, coming into the living room with several glasses of water. "Still it never defeats the purpose of being there personally. But at least we have Silver Shoals to make new memories at."
The more her parents spoke, the more Luna grew bitter and thus looked away in disgust.
"So, what have you both been doing since you came here?" Celestia asked her parents.
"Oh, trying out various forms of activities," Cosmo answered. "I've been trying my hoof at rock climbing, surfing and anything else extreme. Your mother is more reserved though."
At that moment, Galaxia turned her attention to Luna, who was trying to hide her negative emotions. "Luna, if it makes you feel better," She declared. "I've recently joined a book club that Dusty Pages runs once a week. Given how much you love to read and relax, maybe you could join me. If you're not too busy teaching at the school that is."
But Luna said nothing, her emotions starting to come out.
"Um, Luna?" Cosmo questioned. "Is everything alright? You're not looking like yourself."
"Sister?" Celestia asked. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?!" Luna cried with tears starting to come out of her eyes. "I'll tell you what's wrong! All of the conversations we are having of past events, it's making me wonder what could have been if not for Grogar!"
"Luna…" Celestia started to say, trying to help her younger sister.
"Don't touch me, Celestia!" Luna snapped. "Coming here was a big mistake and you know it! You all know it! If that Grogar never took you away from me…I…I…" Her emotions coming out, Luna activated her teleportation spell and disappeared in a flash.
"Luna!" Galaxia cried as all in the room recoiled in what just transpired!
…
…
Absorbing what just happened, all in the living room were shocked by Luna's sudden outburst. What began as a candid conversation had turned into something completely different.
"What is with her?" Cosmo cried. "Of course Galaxia and I wish we were there for you and Celestia. It's just that things didn't work out that way. We had no way to contact you or any clue as to where we were for the longest time."
Sighing, Celestia rose to her hooves. "I think Luna may have been harboring ill feelings about coming here, particularly because of what happened between us in the past," She solemnly declared. "But we had to come here to visit you. After all that we've been through, we barely even get to see you as it is."
"We know you had to do it, Celestia," Galaxia sighed. "We feel just as bad for not being there for you both. Luna must know that."
"Well I'm afraid it goes much deeper than that," Twilight reluctantly replied. "Luna has something inside of her that could pose a danger to Equestria. Something that's been laying dormant inside of her."
Hearing this, both Galaxia and Cosmo became concerned. "What are you talking about, Princess Twilight?" Cosmo asked.
…
Meanwhile, Luna sat down on the beach looking at her tear stained reflection in the water. Her sadness and anger trying to consume her every feeling. "Why did I even bother coming here?!" She cried as her tears hit the water. "This was all done to make the Tantabus come back out! That's what it was!"
In a fit of anger, Luna pounded her hoof into the sand in frustration.
"Luna!" Called a voice, but Luna kept her focus on the water.
At that moment, Galaxia stepped forward and sat down next to her youngest daughter, draping a wing over her shoulder. "Luna, I'm sorry you're feeling like this. I really am, you must believe me."
"It's too late now isn't it, Mother?" Luna sadly replied while looking over at Galaxia. "When I became Nightmare Moon where were you, huh?! All this talk about what could have been had Grogar not interfered…did he…did he want me to become Nightmare Moon?! Is that it?! Was I always destined for this because of him?!"
As Luna silently cried, Galaxia pulled her daughter close and got Luna to look into her eyes. "Luna," She explained in a tender voice. "Princess Twilight told me everything about how you created a tantabus to punish yourself for becoming Nightmare Moon. I will admit, your father and I feel somewhat responsible for what happened to you. But we can't change the past, my daughter. Even if we may wish we could."
"What do you mean? Of course we can!" Luna protested. "There's a spell for it!"
"If we used the spell," Galaxia cautioned in a calm tone of voice. "Then we would just be living the same events repeatedly. Do you want that to happen? Because I certainly wouldn't. I love you, Luna and your father, your sister. And your little sister figure loves you just as much as anyone else in Equestria. You've got to stop living in the past and look at what you've got in front of you."
"And what would that be, Mother?" Luna asked.
"Us, Luna!" Galaxia replied And with those words she pulled Luna into an embrace, pledging her commitment to being there for her youngest daughter.
…
Returning to the apartment, Luna faced her family and extended family figures with a sort of guilty look on her face.
"Luna, we're all sorry for what you're going through," Cosmo told her. "And it's not healthy that you were trying to keep such feelings bottled up. We're all affected by what happened in the past."
"Thanks, Father," Luna quietly replied. "Grogar took something away from each of us, but he took the biggest piece away from me."
"Each of us were thinking," Twilight then declared. "Perhap a visit to Gentle Gust and Gentle Breeze may be in order for you, Luna. If they can help Discord, Spike and I then they can certainly help you."
Sighing, Luna slowly began to accept what she needed to do in order to continue combating her demons.
Meanwhile, back in Canterlot, Sunset Shimmer had finally come to a decision. Sitting in her bedroom, she made a quick note to herself on a piece of parchment. She was planning to be involved with the School of Friendship. "I'll interview with Starlight Glimmer for a position as soon as she comes back from Silver Shoals." She thought to herself.
…
…