It’s been a few years in Equestria, and Celestia and Luna knew that very well. Although they had retired from the throne, they didn’t abandon Equestria, only strolled through the cities. They noticed that several ponies got old. They were in Ponyville to visit. Just Celestia seeing her former subjects like that made her think of Twilight Sparkle. How was her former student and friend doing as ruler?
“Just seeing the grown foals makes me happy, sister.” Luna looked at the old foals who were now mares and stallions.
“Yes, Luna,” said Celestia, not paying attention to what Luna was saying.
Luna saw a Stallion come to her with a smile. “Luna!”
The former princess of the night recognized the stallion. “Pipsqueak!”
Pipsqueak hugged Luna. “It’s been so long since I have seen you.”
Luna hugged her back. “Me too. Since our first Nightmare Night.”
Pipsqueak stepped out of his embrace and noticed something. “Luna, where’s your crown?”
“I don’t use her anymore, Pipsqueak,” replied Luna.
Pipsqueak was nothing but confused. “But why not? Why don’t you use it anymore? Aren’t you a princess anymore?”
Luna knew that possibly Pipsqueak would be surprised and saddened by what she would say. “It’s just that I retired. I’m not a princess anymore.”
“Who is the princess in your place now, Luna?” asked Pipsqueak.
“Twilight Sparkle.”
Pipsqueak smiled. “Ah. The same mare that helped you on your first Nightmare Night?”
Luna smiled. “Yes. The same mare that now rules Equestria.”
“She must have been very close to you I suppose?”
“Yes. She was the first mare I ever made friends with.”
Pipsqueak smiled at that. “Well, I’m going. But before you go, Luna. I want to say something.”
The stallion gave Luna a hug. Luna was surprised. “Even if you have retired, you will always be my favorite princess.”
Luna didn’t expect that, smiled and hugged her back. She felt like crying. “Thank you, Pipsqueak.”
Pipsqueak got out of the hug and went on. Luna and Celestia watched the stallion go.
Celestia looked at Luna. “Well, Luna. Let’s check out Twilight Sparkle?”
Luna looked at Celestia. “Yes, Sister.”
Twilight Sparkle was crying in her room. She was isolated from everything and everypony. There was no one in the room but her. Spike was outside, only listening to the cries of the ruler of Equestria. The dragon wanted to come in and help Twilight Sparkle. But the alicorn refused.
“Twilight, let me in to help you,” said Spike.
“No, Spike,” said Twilight Sparkle. Her voice was muffled.
“Twilight, I just want to help you,” said Spike. “Please let me in the room.”
“Please, Spike!” Twilight started to scream, but it wasn’t from anger but from sadness. “Leave me alone!”
Spike sighed before leaving the door. He just wanted to find a way to cheer up Twilight Sparkle. But he didn’t know what to do. He already tried to talk to her, to cheer her up. But Twilight couldn’t stop crying.
The dragon heard hoofbeats and saw two ponies he would never have imagined seeing again. “Celestia? Luna? What are you two doing here?”
“We came to check on how Twilight is doing as ruler of Equestria, Spike,” replied Celestia. “Can we see her? Do you know where she is?”
“Yes. I know where she is, ”said Spike, before pointing to a door and leaving.
Celestia and Luna didn’t understand why Spike left. They expected Spike to go with them to the Twilight room. But despite that, they went to the door. Celestia knocked on the door with a hoof.
“Leave me alone, Spike!”
Celestia and Luna were surprised by the scream, but soon recovered.
“Twilight, it’s not Spike who knocked on the door.” said Celestia with a friendly smile. “it was us.”
Hooves sounded and the door opened revealing Twilight Sparkle. They both marveled at Twilight’s adult form of alicorn, but their expressions shifted from worry to tears in their eyes.
Twilight Sparkle recognized the two mares standing before her. “Celestia? Luna?”
Twilight Sparkle hugged the former princesses of Equestria. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you two. How is retirement?”
Although Celestia was happy to see Twilight, she was worried too. “Twilight why are you crying?”
Twilight Sparkle left the hug and her expression of joy changed to sadness. “Oh. Is nothing.”
“Twilight, you can tell us what you are feeling,” said Luna. “Although we retired, we remain your friends.”
When Twilight Sparkle heard the last sentence, she cried again and lay on the floor. Celestia and Luna were worried.
“Twilight, why are you crying?” asked Luna.
“I just got emotional about it, Luna,” replied Twilight Sparkle. “Really. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Twilight, I’m your friend,” said Luna. “And I’d like to know what’s bother you.”
“You two will be mad at me.”
“Twilight, we would never be mad at you,” said Celestia before lifting Twilight’s chin.
“I know, Celestia,” said Twilight Sparkle. “But the reason for my sadness is very complex.”
“Twilight, are you afraid we will judge you?” asked Luna.
Twilight Sparkle felt possibly guilty for feeling that. “Yes, Luna.”
“Twilight, we wouldn’t judge you,” said Celestia, before taking Twilight Sparkle with her magic to lift her. “If it makes you feel comfortable, we can talk in the bedroom.”
Twilight Sparkle was staring at the floor. “OK…”
Twilight Sparkle entered the room first. Then it was Celestia and then Luna. When the two former princesses entered the room, they saw several tissues around. Celestia looked at Twilight and saw her lying on the bed. Celestia was worried. Why was Twilight sad?
Celestia went to Twilight Sparkle and hugged with a wing. “Twilight, tell us. We will help you in whatever way it can to make you happy as before.”
Twilight Sparkle looked at Celestia. “That’s very kind of you. But I don’t know if I should tell you and Luna. ”
“Is that so bad the reason?” asked Celestia.
Twilight Sparkle felt tears come to her eyes. “Yes…”
“But Twilight, why don’t you want to tell us?” asked Luna.
Twilight Sparkle cried again. Celestia and Luna just looked sad. She didn’t know what to do. Why didn’t Twilight want to tell them?
“Because the real reason I’m crying is because I feel alone!” shouted Twilight Sparkle through tears.
“But you have your friends, Twilight,” said Luna, with a smile.
Twilight Sparkle felt more like crying. “They are no longer here, Luna. They passed away. ”
Luna’s smile fell at what Twilight Sparkle said. Celestia felt sorry for Twilight Sparkle. Twilight was going through what she and Luna go through.
Luna put a hoof on the back of Twilight Sparkle. “Twilight, it’s normal. All the ponies die.”
Twilight Sparkle was now with her eyes closed. “I know, Luna. But they were my best friends. It was from them that I learned the true meaning of friendship. Without them now, it seems that it will be impossible for me to continue ruling Equestria. ”
“But Twilight, you’re now the ruler of Equestria,” said Luna. “How will Equestria live without a ruler?”
Twilight Sparkle wiped the tears with a hoof. She still felt tears in her eyes. “Well, I have a student, Luna. Her name is Luster Dawn. Maybe she can be my successor. ”
Celestia and Luna seemed concerned about the last sentence.
“Why are you wanting to retire, Twilight?” asked Celestia.
Twilight Sparkle didn’t want to tell the truth, but she didn’t want to lie to her former mentor and friend. “Because… I want to get rid of my immortality and die too.”