It was a beautiful night. The star were gleaming, the moon shone with silver-blue light, illuminating all the land in sleepy shades of midnight blue, and Princess Celestia was getting ready to enjoy a good night’s rest after a long day of statecraft. Celestia sighed and smiled a content smile. She took a relaxed sip of Jasmine Tea and looked out at the beautiful night sky that Luna had created.
“Luna, you did such a good job tonight…” Celestia took a long sip of tea. She pulled off her Regalia with her magic. With a clink, they landed in their appropriate place in her wardrobe, to be left until the morning. She then levitated the letter Twilight had sent her over to read it.
“It’s always refreshing to read a letter from Twilight.” Celestia opened the letter and began to read.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Hello! It’s been such a long time since I wrote to you like this! I’M excited to hear from you! Anyways, I’m LEAVING for the Crystal Empire in two days to attend the Royal Festival. It’s going to be so much fun! MY friends are coming with me. They seem excited too. I’m not surprised; after all, it’s not everyday you get invited to the royal festival.
“Hmm, that’s odd…” there were words on the paper that were in all-caps. Celestia sighed. Twilight must have been writing in her sleep again.
Anyways, afterwards, my FRIENDS and I are going to my aunt’s funeral. It’s sad that my aunt DIED.
…No, she was definitely awake. Celestia stopped reading. She looked at the words that were in all-caps. There was a pattern here, she knew it. Twilight wouldn’t be so foolish as to mis-write several words. When she found it and the phrase written, she could only stare at the paper.
I’m leaving
My friends died
“What…?” Celestia skimmed the paper. She found several more hidden messages:
I’m sorry
Don’t follow me
Goodbye
“Twilight…” Celestia quickly stood up. She put her regalia back on.
“GUARDS!”
“Twilight, where are you!?” it was a dreadful night. “TWILIGHT! ANSWER ME!” Many were searching. They looked all over Equestria, in the forests, in the mountains, in the clouds, and in the bogs for their missing princess. They searched all the cities, from the great Capital Canterlot to the brightly lit metropolis Manehatten, to the majestic sky cty of Cloudsdale, even to the little hamlet of Trottingham.
“TWILIGHT! WHERE ARE YOU!?” Celestia herself was looking in the Everfree Forest along with an entire troop of guards. She had been shouting at the top of her lungs with the Royal Canterlot Voice for over 5 hours now, but had made no progress in finding her dearest Princess Twilight. On top of that, her latest shout had knocked down some trees, putting them in the way of the search.
“TWILIG--” Celestia was cut off by Princess Luna landing next to her.
“Sister, if you continue to carry on like this, the only thing you’ll accomplish is losing your voice. You’re already raspy.”
“Aren’t you calling too?”
“Yes, I suppose I am calling for her. I concede. Still, though.”
“Yes, yes, I understand.” Celestia let out a shaky sigh. “I just don’t want to lose Twilight.”
“I know. I too wish for Twilight to be found safe.” Luna nuzzled her older sister. Celestia hugged back.
“I wish I’d never sent them out on this mission, Luna…” Luna sighed.
“You couldn’t have known what was waiting there for them. It’s not your fault.”
“But it makes me feel guilty to see Twilight disappearing like this even after her friends…” Celestia shook her head and sighed.
“I know.”
“How will we find her, Luna? If she’s really gone, then…”
“Cadence and Chrysalis are both searching for her. We’ll find her, I promise.” a guard came up to the sisters.
“Princess, we’ve found a new area to search through, but it’s covered in a highly acidic bog. Shall we proceed?” Celestia sighed.
“Yes, but use caution and proceed only with Pegasi and Unicorns who can levitate themselves.”
“Of course, Princess.” the guard nodded once and left. Celestia looked down.
“We have to find her.”
“Of course we do, sister. She is the fourth in our rank. I also know how dear to you she is.”
“She’s like a daughter to me, Luna. I love her… and I can’t lose her. Not now, of all times, just when she’s ready to take our place!” Celestia squinted her eyes shut and rubbed her forehead. Luna nodded.
“Indeed. To lose such a precious mare would mean not only the ruin of all Equestria, but of ourselves as well.”
“Oh, Luna… she’s your friend too. I shouldn’t rub my friendship with her in your face.”
“I am fine, sister. That you see her as a daughter is no surprise to me. It only makes it even more important that we find her. We’ll find her, I promise. I won’t stop until we’ve found her.” Celestia smiled.
“Thank you, sister.” a guard came up to the princesses once more.
“Princesses! We’ve found something!”
“What is it?”
“This.” the guard levitated a small crown over to Celestia.
“Twilight!” Celestia took the crown and held it close.
“We also found this note.” the guard gave Celestia a note. Celestia took it and read it.
Let me go Celestia
please
Celestia dropped the crown. With a thud, it landed and cracked. She watched as splinters spat themselves away from the crown and landed on the dirt. The world disappeared in an instant. Everything went silent for Celestia. It was pin-drop silence. While there were noises, Celestia didn’t hear them. She could only stare at the broken crown, devastation on her face. Nothing else mattered. Not her sister, not the search, not even her own health. Celestia had shut down.
“Sister…” Luna looked at the guard. “We thank you for finding this. Do a full sweep of the surrounding area and bring back anything else you find.” the guard nodded and left.
“Sister, we will find her.” Celestia didn’t respond. “Sister?” Celestia
“Call off the search.” Luna did a double-take.
“Sister, wh--”
“Call all the guards back. And Cadence and Chrysalis.”
“Sister, you can’t possibly--” Celestia shook her head.
“We have to let her go, Luna.” Luna looked at Celestia.
“Sister, this is absurd. We can’t just let her go!” Celestia sat down.
“We have to let her go.” Luna sighed. she could see this was going nowhere. She sat down next to Celestia.
“Alright, sister. We’ll call everyone back.” Celestia nodded.
“Thank you.” Luna nodded and flew off to cancel the search. Celestia sighed once Luna was gone and she was alone. She was finally able to let the tears flow.
“I’m sorry, Twilight…” Celestia sighed a shaky sigh. She stood up when Luna returned.
“It is done, sister. Let us go home.” Celestia nodded. She walked over to a budding tree and put the crown down upon it.
“Goodbye, Twilight…” Celestia flew away with her sister. She took one last look at the crown before leaving it there forever. As she flew she could barely whisper the two words she wished she’d had the ability to tell her former pupil.
“I’m sorry…”
Celestia sat in her royal chambers once more, staring out at the stars. She looked at the letter, sighed, and went to bed after saying goodbye to Twilight for the last time.
“Goodbye, Twilight Sparkle…”