As dawn drew near, Twilight was the only one of her friends awake, having hardly slept the night before. She had spent the past two hours on one of Canterlot Castle’s many balconies, looking up at the sky, and over at the mountain waterfall that was visible from where she stood. Everything felt wrong. Yesterday morning she was a small town librarian, a protégé of the Princess as well, yes… But that role had started to take second fiddle to the peace and quiet of Ponyville, and the joy of her friends… But now- Now she was to take the throne?! For Luna to say that so… Abruptly! It was ridiculous! Yesterday, librarian, tomorrow Princess?! No, she had heard Rarity say Queen. Six queens, the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, to take the place of the Solar and Lunar Princesses.
Once again, Twilight found herself blinking back frightened tears as she tried to wake herself up from what must be a bad dream. However, with every breath she could feel what a simple dream could not convey; The ancient magic surrounding her, and the sharp beauty of Canterlot.
Turning slightly to look behind her, Twilight’s eyes searched the room Luna had given her and Applejack to share… For now. Luna had made it quite clear that after the Coronation, Twilight would have Celestia’s old room… Luna had merely called it the “Solar Tower.” Pinkie and Rainbow Dash shared a room on the other side, and Twilight’s endless curiosity couldn’t help but wonder which of them were going to get the Lunar Tower.
Applejack and Spike were fast asleep. AJ had confessed to her that she was worried and overwhelmed as well, which had made Twilight feel slightly better- That she wasn’t alone in her panic. Spike, on the other hand, much like Rarity, had seemed happy and excited about the turn of events. Twilight wondered if Spike’s joy was directly connected to Rarity’s, or if it was for another reason. If she kept thinking about pointless things like this, perhaps the panic of how her world was inverting inside-out would stay away.
Twilight knew Rarity had always been obsessed with Canterlot’s glamor and nobility, as well as with the concept of Royalty… And now, she herself was going to be made into Royalty… It was no wonder that Rarity was exuberant really, although she had started to worry and fuss about Sweetie Bell and her shop after sundown. Sundown… Luna had said she was raising the moon for the last time, laughing about how she had returned to her old job for such a short time… Did that mean that they were expected to raise the moon tonight..? The panic returned in full force, clutching at her throat and making her heart race.
No, don’t think about that… Think about something else! Sweetie bell- Family! Twilight’s mind reached back frantically for the notes and letters that had been written last night.
As Luna had headed out to raise the moon, she had called to her some of her servants, said she had a job for them, also asking them to assist Twilight and her friends in sending letters and invitations to their family. She knew Applejack's letter had reached four pages, and Rarity had merely asked for someone to show her how to do the teleportation spell and permission to go and bring her sister here. Rarity was positively convinced that Sweetie Bell would burn her boutique down overnight, and Luna had taken her personally once the moon was high in the sky where it belonged.
Twilight had planned to just write the same small letter to her brother and parents, but things hadn’t turned out like she had expected. Although the short letter to her brother had gone as planned, asking him how his trip to Cadence’s country was going and telling him in short what had occurred, and hoping to see him tomorrow; The letter to her parents had refused to stop there, and had quickly spilled out in childish worries and fears, fussings and frantic thoughts. Her letter, by time it was finished, was nearly as long as Applejacks, and it was then that AJ had confided in her.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, having little family outside of Dash’s estranged father, and Flutters’ mother in Cloudsdale, had spent most of the night simply talking with each other, and eventually helping Fluttershy write to her mother. Apparently they hadn’t spoken since Fluttershy had moved to Ponyville.
Pinkie Pie had written no less than five letters. One to her parents back home, one to Octavia who was on a tour in Phillydelphia, one to Baralinka who was part of a singing group in Las Pegas (A.K.A little Blinky, as her older sisters had nicknamed her), one to the Cakes back at the bakery, and then finally one to Mayor Mare for everypony else. To be honest, Twilight was looking forward to meeting Blinky, as Pinkie had excitedly told them of all the amazing shows Blinky and her friends did in Las Pegas.
A rush of old magic blew by her, and Twilight knew without going to look that Luna was raising the sun in her sister's place. As the sun was lifted to its place in the sky, clouds changed from pale violet and dark blue to soft gold and white as the sky turned to a gentle, clear blue that promised a beautiful day.
Watching the sky change reminded Twilight of her first Summer Sun Celebration, and of Celestia. Last night, she had finally had the chance to see Celestia again, but now she almost wished she hadn’t. Seeing Celestia like that, her mane a dull pink, and her fur holding none of the luster it once did, hurt more than thinking that Celestia was merely ignoring her for some reason. As she had restored the get-well bouquet by her bed back to its original beauty, she came to understand why Celestia had kept silent… The sisters had been right. If Twilight had seen Celestia like this, and been told Chrysalis was the reason, she would have charged off after the monster without a second thought. So, rather than feeling angry at Celestia for her silence, she was angry at herself, for not being good enough to be confided in.
“Twilight?”
She nearly jumped at Spike’s sleepy voice. She turned to smile at him once she was sure she could hold her composure once again.
“Hey Spike. Did you sleep well?’
“Yeah, I slept great! I forgot how awesome the beds are here, hahahaha.” Spike chuckled. A second later his smile faded away though, and he looked up at her in concern. “Are you okay, Twi? You look like you’re about to cry.”
‘H-huh? No, no, I’m fine! Just… fine.”
Spike gave her ‘the look’ that she had so often given him.
“Did you even sleep?” Spike asked, crossing his arms and using the “parent” voice she had so often used on him.
“…A little…” She admitted, starting to feel a little sheepish… And a little better, as Spike’s scolding was nearly making her laugh.
Spike even sighed like her, at which she couldn’t but giggle just a little bit. As soon as Spike caught her snicker, he gave her a huge grin, and ran up and hugged her.
“Don’t worry Twi, this’ll all turn out great in the end! And Celestia will not only be all better, but she’ll be able to follow her dreams! I know it feels weird…”
Twilight nodded. “Something that was supposed to be eternal simply… ending is just…”
“But, didn’t Celestia once say, “Just as all things have a time in which they begin, they must have a time at which they must end”?”
Twilight’s eyes widened. It was one of the first lessons she had gotten from the Princess, and she had written it down in each and every one of her notebooks… So how did it sounds so new and fitting coming from Spike? Very slowly, she smiled. It was still sad, but it was more accepting, and even though she was still scared, the panic no longer choked her.
As she hugged Spike tightly back, she let out a slow breath and answered him. “You’re quite right… And that’s why you’re my number one assistant.”