//------------------------------//
// The Princesses Back Home 
// Story: The Return of Twilight Sparkle 
// by Cameron Nightshade 
//------------------------------//

Princess Celestia paced around her bedroom. Thought raced through her mind. "Twilight needs to be here, in this world. How can she just leave? Sunset Shimmer does not deserve her help. How will I get Twilight back here? How will I tell her friends where Twilight is? What happens when I seal the barrier, and her friends come to talk to me about it? What will I say?" Celestia wondered aloud.

“Sister, you must calm down. You need to go seal the barrier now. Come.” Princess Luna stood up from her place across the room, and helped Celestia to the portal.

“I- I can’t do it Luna. It would be like sealing you in the moon again for another thousand years. What if Twilight cannot return? Sunset may have opened it once, but who is to say that she can do it again?” Celestia asked. Worry was spread across the alicorns face. 

“Sister, she will be fine. Remember, it will open again in 30 moons. I will talk to her friends if you cannot do it yourself. Now, please close the barrier. If you can’t then I will.” Luna remarked. 

Celestia looked at the portal with a very heavy heart. “I’m sorry Twilight,” tears poured down Celestia’s face. Channeling all the magic she could, she closed the barrier. Slowly but surely, she completed the spell. Once she finished the spell, Celestia raced off, leaving Luna alone in the portal room.

Celestia took off towards the old castle in the Everfree Forest. No matter what she tried to do, she could not stop crying. When she had finally landed in front of the broken castle, she started to walk inside to the old throne room. This is where Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony used the elements against her sister. It was also the place where Celestia banished Luna to the moon.

After a few hours, Celestia made the return flight to the Crystal Empire. She knew that she would have to tell Twilight’s friends where she was the next morning, and she was not looking forward to that. "I’ll just have Luna do it for me." Celestia thought. 

When Princess Celestia reached the castle, Luna flew down.

“Welcome back. You have only been gone for hours. But next time, tell me when you leave. It wasn’t very fun having to bring down the sun as well as bring up the moon. I wish you could have told me, or even left a note to where you had gone. I looked all around the castle for you worried sick!” Luna remarked. Worry could be seen in her eyes, along with relief for having her sister back safely. 

“I’m sorry. I just hope that Twilight can find a way to come back soon, and not just in another 30 moons.” Celestia said.

“She will be fine, dear sister. You mustn't worry as much as you do. You need to loosen up a bit. Twilight Sparkle will be fine. If she can’t open the portal, then she will still be able to come back in 30 moons. I trust that she will do fine.” Luna consoled Celestia.  

That next morning, the princesses called Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash to the Crystal Empire’s castle. They had all thought that Twilight had done something very important, and they needed to hear it. Little did they know, they had just taken the worst trip of their young lives.

“Good morning girls. I have called you here today because- because…” Princess Celestia choked out. “Uhm Luna, can you-” Celestia ran out of the room, crying.

“Girls, this may not be hard to hear but it has to be done. The other day, Twilight was summoned back into the other world. With a heavy heart, my sister had to close the portal. We are almost certain that she will be able to open the portal on that side. That is what Sunset Shimmer did to get Twilight. I’m very sorry.” Princess Luna hung her dark blue head.

A chatter erupted from the 5 ponies. No one understood why Celestia would close the portal on their best friend, nonetheless on the other princess!

“Celestia closed the portal on her, that way nothing could enter, or escape. The portal is guarded when it is open, and since it wasn’t guarded, and someone found out, that could spell trouble. Twilight has taken her Element of Harmony to this other world. Please do not fret. If she can not come back, then she can return in 30 moons. Me and my sister will not open the portal ourselves. Now please, go home, and take a while to mull this over.” Princess Luna turned away and walked towards the throne.

“Come on ladies, let’s go.” Rarity said, leading her friends through the big double doors.

Celestia laid down on her large bed. All she wanted to do was go to sleep. Sadly, no sleep escaped the large alicorn princess.