//------------------------------//
// Princess Celestia 
// Story: Life's Work 
// by spiderpony14 
//------------------------------//

	My life and its meaning, hm? Simple enough.

I am the rock upon which this nation is built. It is not something that I wear lightly, or altogether trust myself with, but it is something that I cannot change.

My life revolves around my subjects in the same way the earth revolves around my sun; were they to disappear, I do not believe I would find a way to continue. Once upon a time, before I created the life I now protect, I was fine with sharing the solitude of a barren rock with nopony besides my sister. Now, the symbiotic relationship I have grown dependent on is what sustains me.

Ah, and let me not neglect my sister any longer. If my subjects are my sun, then Luna is the green of my hills, and the blue of my ocean.

Oh, my, when did I become so poetic?

Alas, this is an apt metaphor. The time during her imprisonment was a bleak one for me, broken up only by the occasional, wonderful pony once every dozen generations or so. Everypony even remotely inclined towards the study of magic knows the name Star Swirl, of course. He was an... interesting character. I truly did not know whether he wanted to work on spreading harmony to the world, usurp my throne, or spend our lessons roaming the gardens and trying to woo me on any given day.

Now, even though her studies with me ceased nine years ago, Twilight Sparkle continues to stand by my side. I could share accounts of her past with you, but I’m sure that all I have to tell would be a repeat for you. I could also talk about her ascendance, when she joined me in becoming a princess almost a decade ago. However, I’m assured that most will have been in attendance for that as well, and the memories of the event will still be fresh in the mind. For now, I will simply leave my thoughts on Twilight at this; though I am incapable of having a child as an alicorn, I feel no less attached to my former Faithful Student than a mother does to her foal. Watching her grow up, learning about friendship... it filled me with a pride I had not felt since my sister first raised the moon.

I’ll need to create an appropriate metaphor for my student later, but I’m ignoring Luna again. Old habits die hard, I suppose.

My relationship with my sister is somewhat strained, at present, but the more I think about it, the more that seems to be the status quo for us. We have always had our bickerings and disagreements, and one could pin the blame on any number of reasons between us, but I believe it is simply because we were born polar opposites from one another. It is in our nature, considering what we represent, to clash in the same way the night and day do every dawn and dusk. Not a quarter of a day ago, at breakfast, had we gotten into another scuffle over the duties we are to uphold after the season changes from autumn to winter. While I will not present my side of the argument without my sister here to defend herself, I will say that she can go eat a cowpat if she thinks she’s getting away from the Winter Solstice Celebration.

Excuse me, that was unladylike. Then again, so was enchanting her hoofguards to make her do the Cupid Shuffle in the middle of the Night Court a week ago.

Whatever either of us tell you today, let it not be said that I do not love Luna; I would gladly give my life for hers, and I am almost convinced that she would do the same for me. We are sisters, after all, and no matter what comes between us, be it Nightmare Moon or the last slice of cake, we have and will maintain a happy and harmonious existence, where I always come out on top, and she always gets over it after fuming for a bit.

Now that I'm thinking of it, I suppose our relationship is not so tense after all.

OW!

Luna, if you think you can get away with playing horseshoes using rubber bands and my horn, you are SERIOUSLY MISTAKEN!

Excuse me, but I have a baby sister to suspend by the fetlocks and tickle until she's crimson.