Celestia walked through the Canterlot garden; it was one of the things she did to relax and reflect on the day. As she was walking, a letter materialized in front of her and fell to the ground. She levitated it and opened it up expecting it to be another letter from Twilight; instead, it was from Luna.
"Dear Tia,
I just got back from Winter Solstice. You were right, the trip did do me a lot of good. Thank you. One of my guards found something that I know you will love, but I won't say what it is until I get back! Speaking of which, I have decided to head to Ponyville for a while. I am going to try and mend some of the wounds I left last time I was in the town. I will be back later tonight.
I love you very much, Tia.
-Your Sister, Luna"
Celestia smiled and sighed in contentment as she walked farther into the garden. She eventually came across a memorial statue of Starswirl the Bearded. She approached the statue and looked up at it.
"Thank you dear friend. Without you, my sister wouldn't be here."
* * * *
"No...I-I can't leave...must help....Luna."
"We will your majesty. I have a plan, but we-" Starswirl was interrupted by one of his clones flying out of the dust cloud and slamming against a wall. After it hit the ground, it vanished in a cloud of white smoke. "We have to go now!"
Before Celestia could protest, Starswirl's horn glowed bright and the two teleported away.
The two instantly arrived at the old castle within the Everfree Forest.
"Take me back.." Celestia said weakly.
"Not right now Celestia. You are very weak and you need to rest," he said as he laid her on the ground.
"But...but Luna...she-"
"-Is gone Celestia. I'm sorry, but that thing isn't Luna anymore."
"No...no that can't be...there has to be a way to save her. I can't turn her into stone like we did with Discord. I-I-I just can't!"
"Shhh, we can talk about that later; but for now, take it easy."
Celestia slowly sat up and hung her head, "why did this happen Starswirl?"
"Well, part of it is Luna's fault for allowing her negative emotions to take over, but...but the other part of it-"
"Is my fault yes?" Celestia interrupted.
Starswirl didn't reply; he instead sighed.
"Looking back," Celestia started. "This is my fault...all of it. I should've seen this coming. I neglected my sister; assuming that it was simply the stress of being a princess that was getting to her. I thought it was just a phase and that she would, and could, get over it without my help. I'm a terrible sister."
"Stop right there Celestia. You are not a terrible sister; you simply made a mistake."
"But that mistake, as you put it, just cost me my only sister!"
"Actually, maybe not."
"What?"
"I've been studying celestial bodies for several months now; I think there might be a way to save Luna."
"Then tell me! What is it!?"
"Celestia, for the plan I have....the spell...it's going to banish her away for one thousand years."
"One-one...One thousand years!!?" Celestia hung her mouth open. "No I....I don't know if I could do that..."
"Celestia, it's either turn her into stone and never see her again, or banish her to the moon for one thousand years and maybe see her again one day."
"Maybe? There's still a chance that I won't see her again?"
Starswirl slowly nodded.
"Does it have to be the moon?"
Starswirl slowly nodded.
"Can you help me cast it?"
Starswirl slowly shook his head.
Celestia thought for a while before speaking up, "where's the scroll?"
Starswirl levitated the scroll in front of Celestia and unrolled it. Celestia studied the symbols and words on the parchment before standing up and turning to Starswirl.
"Where are the Elements?" Starswirl asked.
"Back at Canterlot."
-RIGHT BEFORE LUNA'S BANISHMENT-
Celestia finally opened her eyes to reveal that they were white and shining. As if on command, the sphere shot up into the sky towards the moon.
Ominous silence then fell over the courtyard.
One by one, the Elements of Harmony fell on the ground as Celestia stood staring at the scorched ground where her sister was just a few seconds ago. Her legs became shaky and her breathing quick and shallow as she tried to hold back the flood of tears building up in her eyes. It was then that Celestia noticed something on the black ground.
She walked over and found Luna's Solar Stone laying on the ground, cracked in half. The light it normally gave off was gone making it look like a normal gray stone; it was as if it knew it's master was gone from this world. Celestia could no longer contain herself and broke down; she fell to the ground and wept. As she was weeping, the moon shone brighter for few seconds before dimming down to normal. Celestia looked up with her tear stained eyes and saw a shadow of a unicorn mare staring down over Equestria. Celestia lowered her head and covered it with her forelegs as she cried even harder. She then heard hoofsteps approach her.
Starswirl walked up and lay next to Celestia nuzzling her neck with his leg around her shoulders in a comforting hug. After a few minutes, he looked up and stared at the Mare in the Moon.
* * * *
A tear drop rolled down the side of Celestia's cheek as she smiled and walked toward the edge of the garden and turned towards Ponyville.
"Go get 'em Luna; I know you can do this," Celestia whispered to herself as she stared over the horizon.