***
Celestia’s heart leapt in joy as she watched the Hedge Maze collapse into the ground, but that joy was short lived when she saw a rainbow colored blur streak out away from the Maze and the world did not right itself. Laughter echoed up from the Maze, confirming her greatest fear. The Chaos Tyrant had won, and the nation she and her sister struggled to build was fallen once again to him.
“Sister, I take it that they failed?” Luna asked as she walks up beside Celestia.
The elder Alicorn frowned. “I hate to say it, but yes they did. He still runs free and Twilight and her friends are heading for home.” Celestia pointed out the hot-air balloon already leaving Canterlot.
“So what do we do now?” Luna asked.
“We wait and watch, Luna. We must hold the world together against him.”
“And the Bearers?”
“Twilight will think of something.” Celestia said with a smile.
Luna nodded and walked out of the tower, so she didn't hear the soft, “I hope.” that her sister quietly uttered.
Time passed, even though it was hard to tell how much, and she began to feel the warm magic of the Elements of Harmony. Rising from her bedding she looked out the window towards Ponyville. Something felt wrong. The magic felt sickly and forced. Again the Chaos Tyrant had won.
“Concordia in Heaven,” she prayed, “what can we do?”
A thought and fear came to her, her student had twice failed against Discord and likely lost her friends to his corruption. However, there was one thing she could do. With a smile, Celestia summoned over a quill and paper, and set to work.
Twilight gazed down at her gray hooves, despair griping her heart. She'd failed herself, she'd failed her home, she'd failed her friends, and most importantly she had failed Celestia.
“Twi,” Spike calls out, “you have a letter.”
She looked up at the young dragon to see an envelope in his clawed hand. For a brief moment she thought about ignoring him, but decided against it. She levitated the letter over and opened it. As her eyes flicked across it, color started to return to her coat, even bringing a blush to her cheeks.
“Spike, we have work to do,” she said with a smile. “Come on, Celestia needs us.”
She dropped the letter and headed out the library with Spike in tow. The letter floated to the ground and opened up for anypony to see.
My Dearest Twilight,
Do not lose hope, do not give up. I believe in you, my love. And through me all of Equestria believes in you. You can win, you can stand victorious over him and can bring back our home from the brink. You have to the power to beat him, let the friendship you share guide you and my love empower you. Discord can never take that away from you.
Concordia Invicta my love, remember that and you will win.
Love,
Tia