Princess Celestia writes letters to Luna during her banishment
During the first year of Celestial peace, Princess Celestia rules Equestria with a gentle hoof after defeating Nightmare Moon. For the many years that come, however, Celestia cannot let go of her past and deals with it by writing letters to her sister, Luna, while she is banished.
It is hard to believe that you've already been gone for a whole year. The days have been passing slowly in Equestria ever since you've left, and I'm having a very hard time adjusting to ruling Equestria by myself. Today the EUP guard was formed for my protection, but honestly, I don't think I really need it. I just humored them by letting them guard me to give themselves something to do of value, but again, I think the whole thing is very silly. Much has been going on since you have left; the royal architects are already designing a new castle on top of a far off mountain in what I presume will be the new capitol of Equestria. What this city's name is, I do not know as of yet, but I'd like to hope that they'd name it "Lunapolis" in your honor because the view from this mountain overlooks the moon in the most beautiful way. I miss your night skies more than anything; try as I may, I could never recreate the beauty of your magnificent night, even if other ponies praise me for my efforts.
I hear that the ponies of Equestria are planning a holiday called the "Summer Sun Celebration" in honor of your defeat, and sometimes I couldn't hate them more for it. It sickens me that they do not remember all of the lovely dreams you have sent to everypony before you had gone, and sometimes their forgetfulness makes me want to scream at them, but I never do. To my blessing and my curse, I have always held my tongue; you were always the most boisterous one at the castle, and I love you for it.
What really stinks about this new castle design is that they're only putting in one throne in the throne room. I know I have to rule alone in your absence, but I know you will come back one day and rule beside me in harmony once more. I miss the days where we could work together to solve the problems of Equestria, for without you I never would have been able to defeat Discord. You were also the one that initially found the tree of harmony, and for this I owe everything to you.
I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings by not appreciating you more, and I'm sorry my subjects would not do the same. I do my best to smile and do my part as the new ruler of Equestria, but to be honest, I'm hopelessly lost without you. I hope that you can come back soon.
It has already been fifty years since your initial banishment, but nothing really noteworthy has happened to me. I now know that the city on the mountain is named "Canterlot" and not "Lunapolis" as I had hoped, but to be honest, I think that Canterlot is a pleasant name for a pleasant city. Most of the ponies in Canterlot are the educated and elite, and I really wish that it was more diverse. Oh well. I'll take it upon myself to increase the diversity of this royal city by building houses for the poor and ailing.
I know you're not here to see it now, but the new castle has an enormous balcony that looks out over the mountain in a place where you can see the brilliant night sky. The whole thing reminded me of you, and I almost cried tears of joy because it made me think that they were thinking of you when they built it. The rest of the castle is so-so: it has standard rooms, a standard throne, one big hall with stained glass windows of both of our accomplishments, and whatnot. It's old news now, but I can't help but feel sad when I look in the throne room and see only one throne. I'm getting a better grip on things and haven't been nearly as moody as I was nearly fifty years ago, but I still have my moments because I miss you so much. I know I've said this before, but I have to say it again: nothing will ever be the same without you, no matter how forgetful or unappreciative my subjects may be.
They've created a new holiday in your honor called "Nightmare Night" about twenty years after you had gone. I was repulsed by the insulting nature of the holiday at first, but in a weird way, I'm glad it exists because it will give the people something to remember you by. I'm sad that they're celebrating you at your worst, but I suppose we can't have things our way all the time. I may celebrate with the masses, but it's only to maintain my regal appearance that my subjects hold in such high regard. I know it's pointless and superficial, but I need my subject's trust to successfully run Equestria. Politics abound. Here's to hoping your returning soon, and that Nightmare Night may then be turned into a big and glorious feast in your honor.
I suppose time flies when you are busy. I cannot believe that it's already been 200 years. I'm sorry that I haven't been writing more often, but much has happened over the years.
The changelings have been on the move lately, and their new queen, Metamorphosis, has attempted to attack one of the villages surrounding Canterlot. Metamorphosis took the form of the village leader and nearly led the entire village to destruction. As soon as I heard the horrible news, I knew I had to intervene and take her on to battle. It was a very difficult battle to say the least, but with the help of my subjects I have been able to defeat her and the changelings, and I have banished them to the deserts above Tartarus. I'm more than sure that you know the loneliness of exile, and for a moment I felt guilty for doing the same to the changelings as I have been forced to do to you.
I have formed a school for gifted unicorns here in Canterlot. There are many brilliant teachers and students in the academy, and I'm feeling rather pleased with my accomplishments. I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but I've founded this school because I fear you may never be coming back, and I need an assistant to rule with me in your place. I'm so very sorry that it had to come to this, but I am afraid that I don't have any better choices. I hate to admit it, but I feel rather confident now in raising the night sky for the ponies of Equestria; raising the moon is pretty similar to raising the sun when you think about it, and if you come back I'll let you raise the sun for me for good measure. Despite this, I miss you and your mastery of dreams; this I could never accomplish even with hundreds of years of effort.
I know hope of your return seems rather bleak as of now, but here's to holding out hope that you will return to me and rule with grace and honor besides me once more.
It's been a lonely 450 years. I still can't believe that the last letter I wrote to you was over 200 years ago. I feel so ashamed for not making the time to write you more letters. The crown is heavy upon my head as the sole sovereign ruler of Equestria, but I digress.
I've discovered some good news and some bad news about your banishment. The good news is that you will definitely return to me, but the bad news is that it will be another 550 more years until the end of your exile. 1,000 years of banishment seems excessive to me, but I unfortunately cannot fully control the power of the elements of harmony. They did their job, and now all I can do is wait impatiently for your return, though to be honest I'm actually a little scared of the prospect now. Do you hold this against me? Will you come back only worse than before, with a great thirst for vengeance?
It pains me so to write these letters knowing that you cannot reply, but it pains me more to know that you let your jealousy and rage overtake you, turning you into the monster my subjects fear and loathe. I know I should be more forgiving of you, my only sister and family, over these hundreds of years, but your actions against me and Equestria have truly disappointed me and have made me angry. It's strange that I'm only now starting to lash out at you considering your treason, but honestly, this anger and hurt has been building up inside of me for all of these painful 450 years. I hope you can forgive me for saying this, but sometimes I think it may be best that there is only one throne. I've tried to help you Luna, but you have refused my gestures of peace all of those years ago. I hope that when you come back, you will personally apologize to me and the subjects that you have callously hurt.
It's been 825 years now, and the time has been passing quickly despite that nothing really eventful has been happening. I saw a Wonderbolts show today, and they did my favorite flight choreography: the Icaranian Sun Salutation. I've been thinking about you a lot, and I read my last letter that I wrote 375 years ago. I realize now that I was very cold to you in my last letter, but the uncertainty of your return was and still is heavy on my mind. All I hope is that you might forgive me for what I had to do to save Equestria, as I am sure that if you were in my position you may have done the same thing.
My school for gifted unicorns has failed so far in procuring an appropriate heir to the throne. I know now that you'll return, but I'm not sure that upon your return you will be ready or willing to rule with me harmoniously, so I have tried and failed to find a proper heir through the academy. This has been frustrating me so much, and I fear my anger has been getting the better of me lately. I don't understand why it has been overtaking me so often lately, for I have always been able to keep a calm face in the face of adversity such as this.
I know you won't be happy with me when you come back; in fact, I know you will want to seek vengeance for what I have done. Despite this, I want you to come home soon. I miss you more than I could ever miss anything; even if you have turned into a beast, you will always be my sister.
The 1,000 years have finally ended, and you will be coming home any minute at this Summer Sun Celebration. I find myself actually calm and serene about this because, though I haven't found an heir to the throne, I have found you something even better:
Your salvation.
My personal protégé's name is Twilight Sparkle, and though she doesn't know it yet, she is to be the new bearer of the element of magic. I feel like you will like her: she is smart, kind, and very devoted to what she does. I have sent her to Ponyville to find the other bearers of the elements of harmony; based on what I have heard, it is an uncanny coincidence that the ponies who represent honesty, loyalty, fun, kindness, and generosity all live in the same area. I know that saving you is a dire matter, but when I heard this about the future bearers I just had to laugh.
I know that it will be painful for you to face the full force of the elements again after all this time, but it is a very small price to pay to get to see you again as you once were: bright, youthful, and full of life and harmony. I am eagerly awaiting your return now that I know you will be saved and reunited with me. I'm so glad that you will be home.
