Phase 3
"You're okay, Tia. It's okay. Breathe. Just breathe. Relax and take deep breaths."
Celestia lay wrapped in her sister's hooves, heaving and shuddering. She tried to follow Luna's instructions, but she couldn't catch her breath. She couldn't calm herself down. All she could do was clutch at her sister and try to keep her close.
What she had felt when she had reached out to the sun was so awful and terrible that she couldn't get it out of her mind. She had severed the connection as hastily as she could, but the sensation remained with her, assaulting her mind and leaving no relief.
"Tia," Luna said, concern heavy in her voice, "Tia, you're going to pass out. Just relax."
"It…It was…" Celestia murmured, "It was so…sick!" She quivered in her sister's arms, a bitter coldness overcoming her. "It was so sick…it was…horrifying." She fought off the urge to vomit again, and then turned to gaze up at Luna. "It was…dying…"
Luna bit her lip and turned away, gazing off to the side with an expression of remorse.
"What…" Celestia breathed, "What…?"
"I'm sorry, Tia," Luna spoke quietly, "I'm so sorry…"
"Why…Why is the sun so sick…?"
Luna shut her eyes. "When you first fell asleep, it was the evening. Everypony was so worried about you that nopony noticed that the sun hadn't set. It wasn't until after midnight that I forced myself to leave your side and try to move it."
A slight shiver came over her. "I didn't think it would be so difficult. I went up to the highest point of Canterlot Mountain and I reached out to the sun with my magic… It hurt, Tia. It hurt so bad. It was like I was grabbing onto a ball of concentrated fire and electricity. It felt like my horn was going to fall right off.
"Still, though, I pushed. I knew that above all, it was most important to keep the cycle of the sun and the moon going. I pushed as hard as I could, trying to get the sun below the horizon. It fought back against me, pushing against my magic like a stubborn foal. It refused to move, and it was lashing out at me. It hurt so much, and it was so hard…but I still pushed.
"Luckily, because the sun was so close to the horizon already, I was able to slowly push it down. It took me an hour and a half, but I got it done. The night was already half over when my moon rose, but I didn't care. I rushed back to your side as soon as I could."
Celestia was finally catching her breath. Her shivers subsided and her breathing returned to normal, though she could still not shake the painful, overwhelming sensation of sickness she felt. It was difficult to talk; she instead simply listened to Luna speak as she took deep, relaxing breaths.
"Little did I know, that was just the beginning. Soon, it was the following morning. With despair, I knew that I had to go try to raise the sun. I knew that if it were anything like raising the moon, this would be more difficult than setting it. So I had the chefs cook me a meal that would give me tons of energy, I abstained from using magic all night, and I brought along plenty of water with me as I headed to the mountain's peak once again.
"Tia, I've never experienced so much difficulty in my entire life. From its slumber beyond the eastern horizon, it shot back at me when I tried to reach out to it. It attacked me. It felt like fire and heat striking me and shooting down my horn. I was barely able to reach it at all.
"And I tried as hard as I could. I poured all of my magic into coaxing the sun out from the horizon and into the sky. I pulled and I pulled, straining myself and stretching my limits. I cried out to the heavens in both pain and determination…
"But I couldn't do it…The sun refused to heed my call and would not rise."
A cold chill came over Celestia as she nodded slowly. "The sun…It's very powerful and wild. I suppose…it is not unexpected that it wouldn't submit to anyone but myself." She shivered. "I had hoped to teach you one day…" she whispered.
"The sun remained below the horizon for eight days, during which there was constant night. This certainly did not help those who thought I was Nightmare Moon again. There was panic and riot, despite my best efforts to calm the public and show that I was trying.
"I didn't really know what to do, and you weren't there to guide me, but I tried anyway. I knew I had to raise the sun. I reached out to it and tried to keep a magical link with it as much as I could. I thought I could allow the sun to get used to my touch; to become familiar with me. Whenever I had the energy, I attempted to raise it. It was like trying to lift a concrete slab from the bottom of the ocean.
"But, I could feel progress being made. Eventually, the sun started to give just slightly. I couldn't make it visible, but I could feel it moving. And so I pushed myself, going dangerously beyond my limits. On the eighth day, the sun finally shone on Equestria once again. It had taken all of my strength, all of my energy, and all of my willpower…but I did it."
This brought a smile to Celestia's face, albeit a small one. "That's wonderful, Luna…That makes me so proud…"
"It still took me a while to get used to it. The sun was still stubbornly immobile at sunrise and sunset, and it always took so much magic from me to get it to move. For a month or two, day and night were all wrong, with the nights lasting much longer than they should've. There was one time when I lost track of time and ended up having the sun up during the night and the moon up during the day.
"Eventually, though, I was able to establish control over the sun. As time passed, it took less and less magical force from me to be able to move it. The day-night cycle slowly got better, and eventually things were normal again." She paused, and then added, "Though I always felt that I could never get it exactly right. Your sunrises and sunsets were always perfect."
"Luna…" Celestia breathed, still feeling weak, "You- The sun, it- it didn't accept you, it…"
Luna lowered her gaze. "I know. I didn't tame the sun I…I broke it in."
Celestia was silent.
"I- I had no choice, Tia. Without you, I had to raise the sun somehow. I- I- If I had any other choice I would've, but…but I had to force it. I had to force the sun to do my bidding, or- or…"
Celestia exhaled a long, calming breath. "So that is why the sun is sick…Without me…without its master…it's dying."
Luna hiccuped, more tears beginning to flow. "I- I'm sorry, Tia…I…I d- I'm…"
"Shhhh," Celestia soothed, "It's okay, Luna. I understand, now. You did what you had to. You did what was best for Equestria."
"But…Tia, I-"
Celestia sighed. "While this is not something I would have predicted, it's not implausible. The sun is more powerful and magical than the moon is. It's not as easy to tame."
"Tia…" Luna cried.
"Luna, aside from the shifted day-night cycle, were there any negative effects or repercussions upon the land resulting from this?"
"Um…n-no…"
Celestia shifted out of Luna's cradling grasp and sat up, leaning in to hug her. "Then everything is fine. It's going to be okay."
"But…Tia…Your sun…"
Celestia frowned. "It was definitely shocking and, yes, I am a little shaken. I've watched over the sun for eons, and so to see it like this brings pain to my heart." She paused and hugged Luna even tighter. "But I can't expect you to do the impossible, Luna. The mere fact that you were able to maintain the cycle for all these centuries is all I could ever ask for." She nuzzled her sister affectionately. "Thank you, Luna."
Luna sniffled. "I…I think I shortened the sun's-"
"Yes," Celestia said emotionlessly, "I believe the sun's life has been shortened by a few billion years…"
There was a harsh silence, as if the air had been sucked clean out of the room. Luna trembled slightly. "I…"
"But don't cry about that which you could not control," Celestia soothed, "I'm here now, so it's going to be all right. From what you've told me, you really pushed yourself just to raise my sun. I always knew I could trust you, Luna. I'm glad to know I was right."
"Tia…I…" Luna muttered, "You're right. What's happened has happened." She sighed. "It's just…so sad. I made it so sick…"
"No, Luna. It wasn't you that made the sun sick; it was the absence of me."
Luna hugged her sister tightly. "I'm sorry, Tia…"
Celestia returned the hug, nuzzling her sister. "Don't be, Luna. Who knows? Perhaps I can make it better somehow."
"You think?" Luna said hopefully, gazing into her sister's eyes.
"I'll certainly see what I can do."
Finally, Luna smiled. "I'm so glad to have you back. Everything's going to be all better now! Everything's going to be fixed!" She then stood up, glancing at the food that she had spilled onto the floor. "Um, sorry about that. I'll go get some more dinner, okay?"
Celestia nodded. "Okay, Luna. I'll set the sun while you do."
Luna softened slightly at this. "O-okay, Tia…Um…I'll be right back."
Celestia smiled as Luna teleported away. Alone in the room once again, she stood up and returned to the window. The sun remained in the sky, near the horizon, where it had been before. It looked no different than it had centuries ago, but as Celestia reached out her magic again, she could feel the damage clearly.
She had to keep from losing her strength completely. The ethereal feeling of the sun coursed through her veins as if it were a part of her. In some ways, it was, and so the sun's illness became her own illness when she was connected like this. She had to fight to keep from retching and toppling over.
My poor baby…I'm so sorry…I never meant to leave you…
It took her a little longer than usual, but she set the sun. As night began to cover the land, she released her magical grip on the celestial body, much to her relief. She sat upon the ground, shivering slightly. The sun's condition was definitely not good. It was unwell and dying, and it was extremely clear to her. However, it did not seem fatally wounded or imminently terminal. It was not well off, but was not in seriously bad condition. It was definitely still well enough to do its job.
Celestia took a deep, calming breath. To her, it was like seeing a dear pet that you'd been separated from for a long time, which was now frail and sickly. It was a painful, depressing feeling and it made her heart feel heavy, but she calmed herself and constantly reminded herself that there was nothing either of them could've done to prevent this. They would just have to see what they could do now to help.
Luna returned with more food. Celestia welcomed her and gratefully accepted her meal. The two sat quietly in Luna's room for a while as Celestia sampled the sandwich and salad. Though it was simple fare, it tasted absolutely delicious, just as she had expected. Even now, the chefs in the castle spared no expense to ensure that everything they created was above expectations. The bread carried a rich flavour, and the greens, fruits and vegetables were tasty and fresh. She wasn't sure if the fact that her stomach had somehow been empty for more than 500 years had anything to do with it.
"Is it good?" Luna asked.
Celestia smiled and replied, "Yes, Luna. It's delicious. I see the Canterlot chefs have not lost their touch."
"Certainly not. There is still that special kind of devotion that resonates through those that serve within the castle walls."
"I'm glad to hear that."
There was a short lull in the conversation before Luna spoke again, "So you set the sun, I see."
Celestia nodded.
"Are…Are you okay? With…well-"
"I'm fine, Luna. Fretting over this won't accomplish anything, and so I have to just overcome this obstacle and move on."
"I suppose that's a good way of looking at things," Luna said solemnly.
"There is no use dwelling on the past. We must look to the future."
"Right." Luna nodded. After a pause, she said, "I have thought about it a lot over the years. I would sometimes get very frustrated with myself and wonder why I couldn't do it. You rose the sun and the moon while I was imprisoned, so there was always this little voice in my head chastising me for failing."
Celestia shook her head. "Unfortunately, the sun is more wild and volatile than your calm moon. But, not only that, I had the Elements of Harmony to assist me."
"Ah," Luna said, nodding, "That's right."
"I was able to use the Elements to gain control of the moon with ease, without causing any harm to it. Unfortunately, though, you were not able to do this. Not since the Elements have come to reside within Twilight and her friends would you have-" Celestia suddenly gasped loudly. "Twilight!!"
Luna said something in reply, but she did not hear it. Her magic's grip on the rest of her sandwich dissipated, letting it fall to the floor. She stared straight ahead, her mouth hanging in a huge frown, as a heavy, powerful despair overcame her.
So much had been happening that it had slipped her mind completely. There had been so much to talk about, so much to learn, so many emotions to play out, that she hadn't even thought about it. Now, however, her mind was filled with images and memories of Twilight and her friends. She immediately found it hard to breathe as a terrible, crushing sadness began to overtake her.
"They're…all…" she muttered, barely audible. She was vaguely aware of somepony hugging her and embracing her with their wings, but her mind was elsewhere. It was somewhere dark and horrible, somewhere that caused a harsh pain deep in her heart.
"They're all gone…"
And then the floodgates opened. Celestia leaned on Luna's shoulder and cried her eyes out. It hurt; it was painful. In her whole life, she'd only ever experienced pain and sadness like this once before. She'd never thought anything could ever come close to what she'd gone through when she'd banished her sister to the moon.
But now, shivering in her caring sister's embrace, a truth that was all too real rang in her mind. Everypony she'd known, everypony she'd been friends with, was now long dead. All but the exception of her sister were gone forever. The knowledge hit her hard, leaving a heavy, empty feeling in the pit of her stomach and an aching in her heart.
Celestia was an immortal alicorn, and had experienced the death of a loved one far more times than anypony else. Through her eternal life, she'd been forced to watch ponies be born, grow old, and then die, never to return. It was always painful, and it always left a hurting in her heart that refused to subside for at least a day, but she had seen so much that she had come to accept it as the natural order of things. It no longer affected her as heavily as it once had, earlier in her life.
However, this was different. This was so much more, and all too sudden. From her frame of reference, life had been normal only a day ago. Now, after a sleep that had been endless but had only felt like a single night, she had to face the fact that tens, maybe hundreds, of ponies she'd once known were all gone.
Not only that, but Celestia had grown particularly attached to Twilight and her group of best friends. The bearers of the Elements of Harmony had connected with her on a much deeper level than most ponies she'd ever had the privilege of knowing before. There was something special about the letters they sent, or the things they would talk about on the rare occasions she would get to chat with directly.
Twilight especially was a student that Celestia would never forget. Though she had personally tutored and guided many young unicorns throughout the years, none were as bright, as clever, as friendly and as special as Twilight Sparkle. This studious pony, the Element of Magic, was somepony that Celestia could unquestionably call one of her best friends.
…And suddenly, she was gone.
Celestia wept, crying out in anguish as Luna held her tight. Minutes went by. Five, ten, fifteen. Her tears never seemed to cease and her sadness never ebbed away. She was unable to control herself as she was consumed by this unbelievable, overwhelming sadness that refuse to offer any mercy.
Luna stayed quiet the entire time, simply holding Celestia in her hooves, wrapping her in her wings, and gently stroking her. The only sounds, aside from her sister's anguished weeping, was the slow, steady ticking of the clock on the wall.
Some time later, an eternity in Celestia's mind, her cries subsided slightly and she tried to catch her breath. "Wh…" she wheezed, "Luna? What about…Spike?"
Luna rubbed her back comfortingly. "Forty years ago…"
Celestia held her eyes shut and grimaced.
"I'm sorry, Celestia. I'm so sorry…"
"I…I…" Celestia shivered fiercely, tears still flowing from her eyes.
"Oh, Tia…" Luna said comfortingly, "Here. Hop onto my bed. Lay down and relax."
Celestia wordlessly complied, standing up and lifting herself up onto the soft, cozy bed, laying atop the single cover. Luna stepped over to the large mirror and, using her magic, she slid a section of it back, revealing an expansive closet behind. From within, she retrieved a blue blanket and then closed the door. Then she returned to Celestia, sitting down beside her on the floor and draping the blanket over top of her. It was warm and comforting under the blanket, and Celestia nestled herself into it.
"Th-thank you, Luna…" she muttered.
"Just relax…" Luna cooed.
She sighed and simply lay there for a while, softly crying her tears. Images of her old life back in 2010 played repeatedly in her head, reminding her of all the good times she'd had and showing her just how much she'd lost.
The minutes ticked by in relative silence. Luna made no attempt to speak; she merely sat quietly, just being there. Her presence was very calming and helpful to Celestia, as it reminded her that not all was lost.
"L-Luna…?" she said quietly after some time had passed.
"Yes?"
Celestia took a deep breath before asking, "Were they…happy?"
Luna offered a smile. "They were, Tia. They were all terribly saddened by what happened to you, but with enough time, they all went on to live happy, successful lives."
Finally, Celestia managed a small smile. "Tell me about them…Please?"
Luna nodded. "Of course, Tia," she began, "Well…
"News spread to them quickly about what had happened to you. It was merely the day after you'd fallen that they were in Canterlot and at your side. I believe Rarity even cancelled a fashion show just to make the trip. The guards did not want to let them into the infirmary, but I commanded that they be granted access. They were asking questions about what had happened, both to me and to the doctors, but mostly they were quite quiet. They gathered around your slumbering form, closing their eyes and wishing…praying for your wellbeing.
"They stayed at the infirmary for two weeks, staying at your side when I could not. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie tried their best to keep my spirits up, though unfortunately, not much could be done about that. Applejack brought plenty of food for us all; she even gave some delicious treats to the doctors. I'd like to think maybe a little of her optimism rubbed off on all of us.
"But Twilight…" Luna paused and sighed, "Seeing you asleep like that, unable to be awoken, was definitely not easy for her to see. She didn't say very much while she was there, but there were a few times when she would speak to you. I believe she hoped that somehow, in some way…you could hear her."
Celestia frowned, new tears threatening to fall.
"Eventually, most of them could stay no longer. They all had other obligations to attend to and, since there was no change in your condition, they decided to depart. Twilight stayed behind much longer than any of the others. There were many days when it was just the three of us, alone and silent. I could tell that she missed you very much. She told me that she was frightened, and wasn't ashamed to admit it."
Celestia moaned quietly, a painful wail building in her throat and threatening to come out. She raised up a hoof to dry her tear-filled eyes, after which she saw Luna gaze at her with an understanding look.
"I'm sorry, Tia."
"N-No, no…This is fine. I want to hear what happened. I can't just ignore it."
Luna nodded. "Eventually, Twilight too found that she couldn't remain and returned to Ponyville. By this time, I had gotten the day-night cycle almost correct, and so life was beginning to return to normal. At least, as normal as it could get. Though not a single pony had forgotten about you, and your wellbeing was still on everypony's minds, the citizens of Equestria started to move forward again. Twilight and her friends were no exception. They all lived grand lives, Celestia. Each one of them passed away happily.
"Applejack lived a long, simple life of farm work, but that is what truly made her happy. Though life was never incredibly exciting for the hard-working earth pony, there was always a smile on her face. Even in the roughest times, through the toughest harvests, she was always happy as she worked. Her brother Macintosh worked alongside her until the end of his working days. Her little sister Apple Bloom grew up to become a wonderfully skilled carpenter, and was always willing to pitch in around the farm. Applejack got married to a pear farmer and they had three foals, but she never gave up her dedication to Sweet Apple Acres.
"Fluttershy became a veterinarian, as you might have expected. She slowly but surely chipped away at her confidence issues. There was improvement every day. When she had grown up, she was still very quiet, but definitely more self-assured. She took over as full-time staff for the Ponyville veterinarian clinic. She actually saved Applejack's dog's life. The poor girl was really sick and nopony could figure out what was wrong with her. She was having trouble breathing and it looked like she wasn't going to make it, until Fluttershy stepped in. Winona made a full recovery. Fluttershy too got married eventually. Aside from her job, she lived a quiet, peaceful life, which is exactly what she wanted."
Celestia smiled sadly. "I'm so happy to hear that…It's wonderful that they were…happy."
"Pinkie Pie lived like you might imagine," Luna continued, "Wild and crazy. She never truly did grow up. She was bouncing off the walls and throwing parties until old age. For a while she continued living with Mr. and Mrs. Cake, helping in the bakery, but there was a time when she was on the road, performing on-stage alongside that unicorn magician, Trixie. I believe you remember her, don't you? She had it written in her contract to make sure she was never away from her best friends for too long, and always made sure to throw a party whenever she returned from abroad.
"Rainbow Dash joined the Wonderbolts Training Academy not long after we lost you. She then proceeded to set an academy record by becoming the youngest pony ever to join the Wonderbolts team. I believe that record still stands. She rose through the ranks quickly, utterly astounding everypony with her amazing feats and tricks. In just a few short years, she was a Wonderbolts captain. She went on tours, showing off her amazing skills to the world, but it didn't take her very long to realize that something was missing, and she wasn't as happy as she thought she'd be. She was missing her friends too much; being a captain meant she only saw them sparingly. And so, she resigned her position as captain and remained simply as a reserve team member for events. She got to live in Ponyville and spend a lot of time with her friends, but still got to achieve her dream of being a Wonderbolt, and that truly made her happy.
"Rarity continued to work as a fashion designer, making dresses and selling them. She tried her best to get noticed, but she still faced difficulty. No matter how hard she tried, she never made it big. Nopony seemed drawn to her designs. Sure, she made enough money from the shop to live quite a comfortable life, but she was always frustrated with her inability to attain fame. That is, until one day she sat down, took a look at her cutie mark, and thought hard about whether this was the right path for her. Making dresses thrilled her, but trying to become famous was frustrating her. It was at that point, I think, she realized that she didn't really need super stardom to be happy. She spent the rest of her life doing what she loved; creating. She never let her creative mind die; not when money was tight, not when she started a family…Nothing could stop her."
Celestia, tucked warmly beneath her blankets, smiled at Luna. "That's so wonderful to hear, Luna. I know that happiness can be very difficult to find sometimes. It's good to know that they all led such wonderful lives." Then, her smile disappeared. "And…And Twilight…?" she asked quietly.
Luna's eyes shifted away from her sister's. "Well…" she said, pausing.
"Luna," Celestia said simply, "Be honest with me. Please."
"I…" She sighed and said, "Okay, Tia. The truth is that…Twilight was very shaken by what had happened to you. I would be lying if I didn't say that she wasn't quite the same since that fateful day."
Celestia's face fell into a heavy frown and she laid her head on her front hooves.
"After she finally departed from Canterlot," Luna continued, "I made a request, through Spike, to her friends to stay in touch with me and tell me how she was faring. They told me that she was very depressed and spent a lot of time alone in the library. Spike told me he could hear her crying many nights, and her friends told me that no matter what they tried, they couldn't lift her spirits."
"Oh, Twilight…" Celestia bemoaned.
"I tried visiting her on a few occasions, though I wasn't much help. I was going through much the same that she was." Luna sighed. "Things were very bad for Twilight for a while. Everypony was very worried about her."
Celestia gasped lightly, trying to hold back tears.
"But then…One day, maybe a year and a half after you fell asleep, suddenly she was a different pony. She was up and about, going outside, and smiling more. She told us that she'd had an epiphany. She realized that sulking and sobbing was doing nothing to help bring you back, and so she decided that she was going to dedicate herself wholeheartedly to try to wake you up."
"Wh…R-Really?" Celestia murmured.
Luna nodded. "She spent the next few decades working as hard as she could to try to find some way to wake you up. She studied well over a thousand books, in a plethora of languages. She sought out advice, both medical and magical. She ran experiments in the field and in her basement. She even travelled abroad, seeking out experts in far-off lands. It became her mission in life to help you, Tia."
Celestia couldn't speak. She was overcome with a whirlwind of emotions.
"As I'm sure you'll realize," Luna continued in a lower tone, "she didn't have very much success. She was met with many dead ends and failures, and at no point was she ever any closer to finding a way to bring you back…"
Luna paused again before saying, "But at least she was smiling."
"She…" Celestia breathed, "She was?"
"Yes. She cared very much for you, Tia, as I'm sure you already know full well. If there was a chance that what she was doing could help you, then doing it made her smile. The way she saw it, each failure was only a doorway to the next challenge."
"T…Twilight…"
Luna lowered her head. "She wasn't smiling all the time, however. She still carried with her a heavy sadness. Sometimes it got to her, and it took all of her friends, including myself, to calm her down and bring her back. She missed you very much, and as the years went by, she began to realize that her time was limited."
"Oh no…" Celestia shivered slightly.
"She did not let it deter her, of course. She continued searching for a solution until she could no more. But she told me that there was one thought that would not leave her mind, and it hurt her so much. It…was the thought of never getting to see you again. The very idea that she wouldn't live to be able to hear your voice again weighed heavily on her."
There was no holding it back now. Celestia was openly weeping, burying her face into her forehooves. So many painful emotions were surging through her, and it hurt her dearly to hear Luna's words. But she didn't ask her to stop; she needed to know what had happened.
"Tia?"
Celestia sniffled and murmured, "Hm…?"
"I was at her side during her final moments."
Looking up, Celestia muttered, "Y-You were…?"
Luna nodded. "Her senior years had been filled with heartache and a sense of failure. She wanted nothing more than to see you again, but could not. However…as she lay in her bed, her final minutes in this world…she was smiling. She was smiling once again. I asked her why, and she told me that she knew you would've been proud of her."
Celestia breathed quietly, listening intently to Luna.
"She told me, 'I did the best I could to help Princess Celestia. I tried my hardest to help her and make her well again. I know I did not succeed, but I know that as long as I tried my best, she would've been happy for me.' She asked me to lean in close and, when I did, she whispered to me, 'When you see her again…because I know she will come back…please, Luna…Tell her that I love her. Tell her that I missed her every day, but also tell her that the days we spent together were the happiest days of my life, and that I'll always cherish them.'
"She said, 'I'm the luckiest pony in the world, because Celestia was my friend. And Luna? One more thing…'"
Celestia looked to Luna with tear-soaked eyes. "Wh-what? What 'one more thing'?" Then, she gasped as she felt something across her back.
Luna hugged her warmly with one of her wings, holding her sister tight. "She told me to hug you for her, Tia."
Celestia stared wordlessly ahead, feeling the comforting embrace from the wing of a pony that she knew, yet was also from a wonderful pony she had once known; one who didn't even have wings. Somehow, it unquestionably felt to her that she was being hugged by Twilight Sparkle right now, and it brought to her both tears and a smile.
"I…" she murmured, "I love you too, Twilight…I'm so sorry this had to happen…I'm sorry I put you through this…"
"Shhh, Tia…" Luna soothed, "It wasn't your fault."
Celestia smiled as tears flowed down her cheeks, nuzzling herself into the warm comfort of Luna's blankets and Twilight's hug. A powerful bittersweet feeling was overcoming her. "Thank you, Luna…"
"Like I told you, Tia," she spoke, "while they may all be gone, they all left this world with smiles on their faces."
Celestia nodded. "And for that…I'm glad."
There was silence in the room for a few minutes as both ponies remained still, a few tears flowing across Celestia's sad smile.
"I'll truly miss her…" she said finally.
"I miss her every day," Luna said.
There was another brief pause before Celestia asked, "Wh-what about Spike?"
"Ah," Luna said, a smile brightening on her face, "Spike…Equestria's Proud Dragon." She chuckled, and then sighed. "Dragons have such an immense lifespan. When Twilight was in her final years, Spike was just becoming a teenager. She was 87 when his wings finally came in."
"Wow…"
"But he didn't mind at all. He told me that he was glad he was still able to physically be in the same room as Twilight right up until the end…though he eventually did need to duck through doorways.
"After Twilight passed away, he came to live with me in the castle. He had a room in the same wing as mine, which he used until he was too big. Afterwards, we allowed him to sleep in the garden.
"Eventually, however, he grew too large to move about the city of Canterlot, and so he flew off and made himself a home in a cave at the top of a mountain. When he turned 100 years old, he had grown to his full size; a little below average for his species, but still quite imposing. We still kept in touch, and he was well known to the populace, and so could come and go as he pleased, so long as there was room for him.
"When he was 350, it was time for him to take his 100-year sleep. I still remembered what happened in Ponyville when that other dragon had fallen asleep, sis. We talked it over and made sure to make arrangements so that his smoke breath would not disturb anypony at all."
Celestia smiled. "It's so difficult to imagine Spike as a fully grown dragon. I mean, I saw him get enlarged when Twilight's magic went out of control during her entrance exam, but…"
"He was a very impressive sight, Tia. I'll have to show you a photograph."
Celestia nodded. "I'd like that."
"It was just this century that he started growing old. He kept to his den most of the time and rarely came out. His letters to me became infrequent. In 2485 I visited him. He was frail and very sickly, but he smiled and told me that he had lived a good, long life, and to extend it any further would be greedy. He told me he had learned his lesson well about being greedy."
"And so he asked to simply be left alone in peace for his final few years. I complied, only stopping by once a year to check on him."
Celestia lowered her head and closed her eyes. "He was a good dragon," she spoke quietly, "and they were good ponies. They were seven of the greatest friends I've ever known in my entire life."
Luna gave her a quick squeeze with her wing. "Me too, Tia…Me too…"
"And I'll miss them all so much…"
"I think they all cherished the time they did get to spend with you, no matter if it was cut short."
"Th…Thank you, Luna…Thank you for telling me about them."
Luna smiled. "Of course, Tia."
Celestia too smiled. "I'm glad I still have you."
"I'm so happy to have you back."
"I…I'm so sorry for…for not spending enough time with you before. I-"
"Tia, don't-"
"No, Luna. You're my sister. You're more important than anything else in the whole world to me. It should have been my highest priority to be with you and…to make you happy."
Luna shook her head. "It doesn't matter now, Tia. For these past centuries, all I ever wanted was to have my big sister back." Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed, smiling at Celestia. "And…I got my wish."
"Luna…"
"I am the happiest pony in the world right now, Tia! Nothing else matters as long as I have you!"
Celestia closed her eyes, also shedding a few happy tears. "I love you, Luna…"
"I love you too, Tia…"
"I promise…As long as it's within my power…I will never leave you again."
***
The two spent the next few hours simply talking, catching up, and being with one another. They were not disturbed once, as per Luna's orders to the rest of the castle. Nopony yet knew that Celestia was awake save for Luna herself and the two guards who had released her. Luna felt that enough was happening already that revealing her recovery to the outside world could wait for now.
The moon began to travel through the sky, casting a thin, silvery glow across the castle and into the bedroom. As time passed, Luna began to yawn more and more frequently. She tried to stay awake as long as she could, but eventually it was time for her to sleep.
Being Equestria's sole Princess had forced her to alter her sleep schedule so she was awake during the day instead of the night. It had been a long day already even before Celestia had awoken, and so Luna quickly found it difficult to keep her eyes open.
Celestia had asked where she could sleep for now, and Luna merely laughed and pointed her hoof at the large bed. Celestia had tried to refuse the generous offer, but Luna would have none of it. She had insisted that Celestia sleep in the bed while she would sleep on some cushions nearby on the floor.
"But Luna, you're exhausted," she had said, "You really should get a good night's sleep in your own bed."
"Nonsense, Celestia."
Eventually, she found that she couldn't refuse her sister's generosity, and had snuggled herself beneath the warm covers of Luna's bed.
The moon was now high in the sky. The angle of the windows caught very little light from it, bathing the room in an enveloping darkness. Luna had fallen asleep hours ago, and her light breathing could be heard from the foot of the bed.
Celestia lay staring up at the ceiling, completely unable to fall asleep. She had just woken up from a sleep spanning five centuries, so naturally she wasn't very tired. However, being a Princess had required her to take sleep wherever she could get it, and could usually fall asleep easily enough if she willed herself to, no matter how little tired she was.
But now, she was fully awake, eyes wide and hooves clutching the blankets. She rolled over onto her left. She'd tried closing her eyes and laying her head down to sleep, but as soon as she had, a coursing fear overcame her. She rolled over onto her right. Her mind was running wild and she couldn't bring herself to even close her eyes. Insomnia had a firm grip on her and refused to let go. She rolled over once more.
"Mnnn…" came a light groan from the ground next to her, "Tia…? Is that you…?"
"Luna…?" Celestia murmured, "Did I wake you?"
Luna yawned and nodded, barely visible in the thick darkness. "What's wrong…?"
Celestia clutched the covers close to her and frowned. "I…I…" she muttered, "I can't. I can't go to sleep…I…"
She jumped lightly as she felt Luna nuzzling her. "Why?" her sister asked.
"Is it not clear?" Celestia asked, "The last time I fell asleep…I didn't wake up for 500 years."
There was a pause. "Oh wow, Tia, you're right. I hadn't even thought of that."
"I…I can't let myself fall asleep…The same thing might happen."
Another nuzzle. "But we don't know that, Tia."
"I couldn't…take the chance." Celestia trembled. "I can't leave you…alone again…"
"Aww, Tia…" Luna cooed.
"I mean, it just came out of nowhere last time, didn't it? A-and, I…I…"
"Shhh…"
"Luna, I can't risk it. I can't put you through that again…"
"Tia!" Luna half-shouted, "Relax…"
Celestia took a deep breath and paused for a moment. "I can't…" she muttered.
Luna lifted her hoof and placed it on Celestia's chest, making soft caressing motions. "Tia, please don't panic," she said in a calming voice, "You can't go the whole rest of your life without sleeping…"
Celestia said nothing at this. She just continued to tremble.
"And…when it happened last time, it was like you fainted, right? It made you dizzy and you couldn't stand up."
"R-right…"
"So it was different than just falling asleep."
"I…Maybe, but…"
"So please, Tia…Just relax…Try to sleep…"
The two sat in silence for a few minutes. Luna continued to pat her hoof gently on her sister's chest, occasionally nuzzling her. Celestia carried on trying to calm herself down, attempting to summon up the courage to close her eyes.
She continued shivering.
She moaned and clutched at the covers more. "Luna…"
Then, Celestia stopped moving and making noise. The room was filled with a golden, melodious humming. Instantly she stopped trembling, turning her gaze through the darkness at the silhouette of her sister. Luna hummed a light, calming tune, swaying her head softly with the melody.
"Wh…" Celestia breathed, "What is that…?"
Luna paused and gazed at Celestia. Her smile was barely visible in the light. "It's your lullaby, Tia."
Recognition flooded Celestia's mind. The tune began to play in her head, becoming clearer and clearer with each second. "The lullaby…" she muttered, "You…still remember it…"
"Of course I remember it, Tia. I'll never forget your lullaby." She hummed a few more notes, and then said, "It's something I'll always cherish. That tune shall remain with me always."
Celestia smiled. Wonderful, happy memories of days long past came to her, slowly washing away her negative thoughts. "I used to sing that to you…" she said quietly, "I remember you would come into my room, hop onto my bed and nudge me awake. You would tell me that you were frightened, or that you simply couldn't sleep. So I would invite you to snuggle under the covers next to me…and I would sing to you…"
"I remember those days too, Tia…"
"Sometimes, when you'd had a really rough day, I would sing to you while you slept in your bed…and I would stay with you until you finally fell asleep." Her smile brightened as a particular image entered her mind. "You were so cute back then."
Luna chuckled. "I suppose I was…"
"The cutest, most adorable little foal…I remember that I couldn't stand to see you cry…"
The conversation paused for a moment, and after a while Luna began humming again. Celestia joined in with her, closing her eyes and humming the melody.
"You would sing this whenever I couldn't sleep," Luna said softly as Celestia continued to hum, "So maybe this time…it can help you get to sleep."
"Perhaps…" She sighed happily, the cheerful memories brought up were warming her heart and helping her relax.
"So, what would you say?" Luna said, moving to stand up beside the bed, "You would tell me to get under the covers…"
Celestia snuggled herself under the blankets, feeling their warm embrace atop her.
"You told me to get comfy, relax…"
Luna's words were making Celestia's memories even clearer. She could almost see her younger self inviting the little foal that was once Luna into her bed.
"And…"
Celestia, guided by heartwarming nostalgia, opened her mouth to sing…
She blinked. Nothing. No words were sung. The song was not beginning. "I…" Her mouth fell into a frown and her happiness began to ebb away. "I…" It was replaced by a dawning, saddening realization that quickly overcame her.
"I can't remember the words…"
Luna leaned in and nuzzled her once more. "It's okay, Tia."
"N-No…I…I can't remember any of it…"
"I don't remember the words either, Tia…"
Celestia shut her eyes. "But I should! I've sung it so many times! I-It was so important to you…It was so important to us…"
"Shhh, Tia…"
"I can't remember…It's…" Celestia hiccupped, trying to hold back more tears. "I-I think there was something about watching you, and staying by you…but I can't remember…"
"Tia, it doesn't matter. Just hum the tune. It still carries the essence of the song. It will help you relax."
Celestia took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and then lay back calmly with her eyes closed. She once again began to hum the lullaby, with Luna joining in. Heeding her sister's advice, she did not focus on the forgotten words and simply allowed herself to be carried away by the melody. Images and memories of much happier times came to her, making her smile and begin to feel calm.
The dark room was filled with the harmonious humming of the two sisters, casting a quiet, almost mysterious melody throughout. It wasn't long before one of the singing voices was replaced with the soft breathing of a gentle slumber.
***
Celestia groaned in her sleep, slowly waking up to the partially brightened room. A moment later, her eyes shot open and she gasped. "Luna!" she shouted, flailing about under the constricting covers and trying to get up. She only succeeded in further entangling herself. "Luna??"
"I'm right here, Tia," Luna's voice floated over from the desk. Celestia turned her head to see Luna sitting there, smiling.
"What year is it?!" Celestia wasted no time in asking.
Her exclamation made Luna giggle, but she then gazed at her with an understanding smile. "Don't panic, Tia. It's still 2531. You've only been asleep for the night."
Celestia let out a sigh of incredible relief. "Thank goodness…" she muttered, before focusing her attention on untying the gordian knot she'd somehow created with herself and the blankets.
"You're just in time for sunrise," Luna said to her once she had extracted herself from the bed.
"Yes," Celestia replied, "I haven't been late yet." After centuries of rising and setting the sun, Celestia had developed an internal alarm clock that never allowed her to sleep through sunrise. It had never failed her.
After she had risen the sun, during which she tried her hardest not to cringe from the sickly feel of the celestial body, Luna walked over to her bearing a large grin.
"Today is a big day, sis!" she said excitedly, "I think it's about time we let the rest of the world know you're back!"
Hearing this made Celestia smile brightly. "I suppose you're right."
"Look what I got!" Luna said before using her magic to retrieve a collection of items from one side of the room. Celestia gazed at what was floating over to her, wrapped in Luna's blue magical aura.
"Is that…my…?" Celestia gazed at the two sets of horseshoes, the two crests, and the two shining crowns. Half were in brilliant blues and blacks, while the other half were a shining gold.
Luna nodded, grinning. "Yup! Mine are some newer ones that are on display in the castle as part of a collection of historical artefacts, but yours…These are the same ones, Tia." She used her magic to separate the golden regalia and hover it towards Celestia. "I've kept them safe, and made sure they were always clean and tended to. They have been under my care for all these years, just for such an occasion as this."
"Wow…" Celestia murmured, using her own magic to take the items from her sister. She had seen them so recently. To her, it felt like she had worn them yesterday. Yet, as she gazed closer, she could see small but unavoidable blemishes and damage from the passage of time. These familiar garments that she had worn nearly every day of her recent life carried with them a strange air of antiquity.
As she gazed at them, she saw Luna putting on her own set of garments, identical to hers except in colour and the image on the front of the crest. "I thought you didn't wear these any more…"
Luna smiled. "Tia, this is a wonderful, special occasion! I shall welcome your return by wearing what was worn back then!"
Celestia put on her own gear. An even bigger sense of familiarity washed over her. She had hardly ever gone without wearing these, except to sleep. To put them back on now was very comforting.
"So," she spoke to Luna, "what are you planning for today?"
Luna didn't answer. She was gazing at her and smiling warmly.
"Luna?"
"Oh! Sorry, Tia. I just…Seeing you wearing those, it…it brings back such wonderful memories."
Celestia gazed downwards at herself. "Does it?"
"Yeah…It's been a couple of centuries since I wore these. Times have…really changed." There was a moment of silence before Luna continued. "Right. Today. We're just going to start with everypony in the castle. They've all been hounding me with questions, wondering what I'm doing up here and asking if I'm all right. I'm going to call them all to the Grand Hall, where you and I will enter and let them all know that you're here."
"Okay…"
"Then, I'll have a press conference scheduled later today. I'll make sure everypony in Canterlot is there, as well as members of the press, news cameras, and anypony else who can help spread the word."
Celestia nodded. "That sounds like a good plan."
Luna was beaming. "I'm so excited, Tia! Aren't you?"
"A little, yes."
"They're all going to be so happy to see you!"
"I cannot wait to see their smiling faces."
Soon after, Luna left to go call upon everypony working in the castle. Celestia waited patiently in the bedroom for around ten minutes until Luna eventually poked her head back in through the door. Luna had led her down a few short hallways until they had come to an impressive door. She'd been told that this opened to the Grand Hall, near the thrones. Celestia had been particularly delighted to hear that Luna had ensured there had always been two thrones through all these years.
Presently, Luna had stepped through the doors first and was speaking to the gathered ponies.
"Stallions…Mares…Today, something wonderful has happened. Something I have prayed for every night. A wonderful wish has finally come true, and I could not be happier." Celestia took her cue and began to step through the doorway. "Everypony," Luna continued, "please join me in welcoming back my dear sister, Princess Celestia!"
There was a series of loud gasps and shocked faces, which all soon morphed into grand smiles. The room was filled with cries of "Princess!" "You're awake!" "You're okay!" There was a happy, uproarious clamour as the widely grinning ponies gazed at her with wonder in their eyes. Celestia stepped forward, ahead of Luna, and looked across the room with a warm smile. They all began bowing down respectfully to her.
There was a wonderful, warming feeling in her heart. Simply seeing their smiling faces and the joy she brought them by her mere appearance was enough to erase all of her stress and make her feel just wonderful. "My little ponies," she spoke, "I am so happy to see you all."
Unable to sit still for very long, the bowing ponies stood upright and crowded around her, though keeping at a respectable distance. A cacophonous array of questions found their way to her.
"Are you all right?"
"Princess, what happened?"
"Do you remember anything?"
"Are you here to stay?"
"Are you really Princess Celestia?"
She simply smiled and gazed at the overzealous ponies surrounding her. She noticed that most of them wore the same, simple silver outfit, though some had minor differences in colour or design. Truth be told, it was a little unusual to her. Not a single pony in the room was wearing armour; not even the personal guards. Some wore crests with Luna's cutie mark, while others did not. Some outfits were accented in blues, while others had yellows, pinks, greens, or no accent at all.
Luna attempted to corral the rowdy ponies and recapture their attention. Celestia hardly focused on her sister. She was lost in the sea of smiling, happy faces that surrounded her. She could see in their eyes just how long she'd been gone and how much she'd been missed. She could see the wonder in some of their eyes, as if they'd given up on ever seeing her in pony. She almost felt like a character in a fairy tale coming true in real life.
Luna began talking about what had been happening since Celestia had woken up, and what their plans were for the press conference later, but all Celestia could think about was how happy she was to make these ponies smile like this.
***
A few more hours flew by. The castle workers hounded Celestia with an onslaught of questions and welcomes, but she hardly minded. Then, Luna had set plans for the press conference in motion. Her sister had made it clear to everypony that Celestia's wellbeing was to be kept secret until the "big reveal". Luna had always had a flair for the dramatic, and it made Celestia chuckle.
The castle was a flurry of activity around the two princesses. The clock ticked on, and the press conference drew closer and closer. Eventually, noon passed into the afternoon, and the two were sitting in a hallway waiting patiently. Outside the door nearby was the Castle's main balcony that overlooked all of Canterlot, and presumably tons of intrigued ponies.
"This is so exciting, Tia!" Luna said, practically bouncing with enthusiasm, "I can't wait to see their smiling faces! It's going to be so wonderful!"
"Yes," Celestia responded, "I can hardly wait either. It was so wonderful to see how happy I made all the ponies working in the castle."
"You've been missed so dearly, Tia. There's not a pony out there who wouldn't love to finally see you for real."
Celestia glanced at the clock. "When is it starting?"
"We have five minutes."
She smiled and sat up tall. "This really is a wonderful occasion, Luna."
"It is!"
"Though it was not by my doing, I have done the ponies of this world a great disservice by being away for such a long time."
"Aww, it's okay, Tia. You're here now."
"I truly wish I could explain to them what happened…"
"They won't care, Tia! They'll just be happy to have you back again! Just like I am."
Celestia turned and nuzzled her sister affectionately. "This really has been a terrible, unbelievable turn of events…but we just need to move past it. We need to look to the future."
"Exactly!" Luna replied, beaming.
Celestia took a few steps forward and sighed happily. "I am truly sorry for everything I may have put you through, my dear Equestria, but I'm glad my sister was there for you, and she was more than capable."
Luna giggled. "Thanks, Tia…"
Celestia looked up at the clock again. "It's almost time."
"Are you ready, sis?"
She nodded. "I am ready. Let's get this started. I cannot wait any longer to see the wonderful citizens of this-"
Celestia lurched forward. She gasped as the floor rushed up to meet her, barely stopping herself from faceplanting. "Ah…"
"Tia?!"
She blinked. A heavy dizzy sensation was clouding over her, blurring her vision and making her head spin. Strength began sapping away from her limbs. "Ah! I…"
"Tia, what's happening??"
Celestia pitched to the side, staggering on her hooves and trying to stay upright as this dizzy, weakening sensation overpowered her. Her eyes widened as she came to realize just how hauntingly familiar it felt.
"Tia!!!"
"Luna…It…" she murmured, hardly able to speak. Already, the strength in her limbs was gone, leaving her collapsed on the floor. She was barely aware of Luna rushing to her side.
"Tia!! Is it…? Is…?!"
"N…No…!" Celestia whispered, fighting as hard as she could to regain her footing. Fighting to keep her eyes open.
Fighting to stay awake.
"It's happening again!!" Luna shouted frantically. "Please, no!!! No, Tia!! Stay awake!!!"
"Lu…na…" Celestia could barely see more than blurred blobs, and there was no strength left in any of her muscles. She lay collapsed on the cold floor, limp as a rag doll. "I…"
"Tia, don't leave me again!! You can't!! I…I…"
Celestia barely felt herself being hugged. She barely felt the tears on her shoulder.
"I just got you back…" Luna whimpered.
Celestia opened her mouth and attempted to speak once more, but nothing escaped from her throat beyond a desperate gasp of air. She was aware of nothing more as her head fell to the floor and the world disappeared from her.