"Are you sure you can handle things while I'm away?" I asked of my sister, as we walked through the corridors of Canterlot Castle towards my bedroom. "I can always postpone this if you—"
"How many more times, Tia?" Luna interrupted. "I'll be fine taking care of Equestria on my own for one night. You did enough in my absence, and I have – despite what you may think – been paying attention to the lessons you've been giving me. So please, stop worrying and let me do this for you."
I smiled and nuzzled her under the chin. "I'm sorry, Lulu," I replied. "I tend to get worried a bit too easily."
"And what about when you see your friend?" Luna asked. "Will you be worried then, or will you be like..." She made kissing faces.
"Luna, stop it!" I giggled, my cheeks turning crimson as I took notice of the confused looks the staff were giving us. "It wasn't like that, I swear! We were just... really good friends."
Luna opened my bedroom door for me and nodded, though I could see the sly grin she was trying to hide. "Sure you were, Tia," she teased. "Now get into bed, and I shall send you to meet your beloved Prince Anthony Charming."
I rolled my eyes as I removed my regalia and climbed into my bed, the soft covers providing me with their usual cocoon of softness. "Thank you, Luna," I said, a serious edge to my voice. "I really appreciate you doing this for me. I just hope he isn't too upset with me — it has been over a thousand years, after all."
"If he's really your friend, then he'll understand," Luna replied. "Now relax, and let my spell do its work."
I did as I was asked, and soon felt Luna's magic working on me. Within a matter of moments, I had succumbed to the call of sleep.
I opened my eyes to find myself in the middle of Canterlot. The ponies nearby gasped at my sudden appearance and bowed, as one of them came running up to me.
"Your Majesty!" he exclaimed.
"Hello, Flour Pot," I replied. "I do apologise for taking so long to come and visit — Luna was cleansed of the Nightmare some months ago, and it took her a while to adjust to life in modern-day Equestria. It is wonderful to see all of you again, but I am here to find a certain individual. So if you'll excuse me, I need to go and do that — but I promise to come back and see you all again soon."
Flour Pot nodded and took his leave, while I took to the skies and flew towards Ponyville. I landed in the town square to more excited chattering and bowing, but I quickly explained my situation and ran to a small camp which had been built on the outskirts of town.
Several tents of various sizes combined to form what could have been described as a town in its own right. Camp sites like this were common, but this one was made unique because of the ones who called it home — the humans.
I only had eyes for one of them, though, and I could recognise him even from the rear. I walked up behind him – his companions not informing him of my presence, much to my relief – and put my forehooves over his eyes.
"Dammit, Simon," he grumbled. "What have I told you about—"
"Hello, Anthony," I cooed.
There was a moment of silence. "Celestia?"
"Yes, Anthony, it's me."
The effect was immediate. Anthony stood up and turned around, coming face to face with me. We stared at each other for a moment before we hugged each other tightly. I hummed contentedly, savouring a feeling I hadn't known for well over a thousand years, while the other humans wisely decided to leave us to it — though, for some reason, most of them patted Anthony on the back and grinned. I sat down next to him and he put an arm around me so he could run his fingers through my mane.
"I've missed you, Celestia," he said. "It's so good to see you again. I see that you're looking just as graceful as ever."
"I've missed you too, Anthony," I replied. "I'm just sorry it's taken me so long to come and see you."
Anthony chuckled. "A thousand years in the afterlife is nothing." He grinned. "I'm guessing Luna is back to her old self?"
"A lot has happened over the last few months," I said. "Nightmare Moon did indeed return, as you expected she would — but my latest student, Twilight Sparkle, managed to defeat her with the help of the Elements of Harmony. Each of the Elements now has a new bearer, with Twilight representing Magic."
"She sounds like a tough cookie." Anthony nodded. "If she managed to recover the Elements, I guess she's pretty good."
I returned his nod with one of my own. "She is, without a doubt, the best student I have ever had." I giggled. "Though I did kind have had to force her to make friends. She had a feeling Nightmare Moon was coming back, so I helped by sending her to Ponyville. There, she met the other five mares who would become the other bearers of the Elements. She adores her new friends — which is funny, because I heard that she complained a lot about having to go to Ponyville in the first place."
Anthony smiled politely. "Having friends is great, something I'm glad she understands," he paused for a moment. "So, um, how has Luna been coping after all of that?"
"Not very well at first." I sighed. "It took her a long time to adjust to how things are done now. For example, she's only recently accepted the fact that we don't use the Royal Canterlot Voice in everyday speech — as you know, it was once tradition to use the Voice to address the staff, guards, and guests.
"Ah, yes," Anthony mused. "I remember when humans and ponies first met — we seriously considered trying to find earplugs, since you and Luna were pretty much bellowing at us the entire time."
We both shared a laugh at this, and I began to feel as though he had never left me in the first place. "But aside from getting my sister back, something else has happened," I said. "Twilight Sparkle sent me a letter the other day, saying that she found 'a new species,' injured in the Everfree Forest. Luna and I went to Ponyville to see for ourselves and, well... it was another human."
Anthony's eyes widened. "R-really?" he asked, before shaking his head. "No, impossible, I was the last one." He looked me in the eyes. "Who is he? Where did he come from? Are there o—"
I put a forehoof over his lips to silence him. "His name is Geo," I said. "He somehow came to us from a universe where humans are the dominant species, ponies are non-sentient and unicorns and pegasi are myths. He also says there are over seven billion humans living in the world he came from. He's been in Equestria for a few months now, and Twilight recently sent me a letter saying that she and him were in love with each other."
"Well as long as he treats her right," Anthony said. "You know how much I despise people who mistreat others — I'd hate to have to haunt this guy's ass for the rest of his life."
I giggled. "I can assure you, Anthony, that the two of them are very happy together," I replied. "But enough about me and Equestria, how has the afterlife been treating you?"
"Well..." Anthony grinned. "For a start, I'm no longer the silly old fart who upped and died on you. I've got my youth back, and for that I am eternally thankful." He flexed his arms and grinned. "Seriously, check out these guns." I simply smiled politely, at which he stopped showing off. "Secondly, I get to spend time with my dear friends and family, many of whom passed on before me." He then let out a small sigh. "Finally, I have the power to relive any memory I have, whenever I want." He looked at me, taking one of my forehooves in his hands. "Needless to say, I often chose to relive all the good times I had with you."
"That's sweet of you to say," I replied. "After you died, I spent hours using a memory spell to do the exact same thing — in fact, I got so caught up in it, I forgot to raise the sun the next morning." I giggled. "As you can probably guess, this caused a mass panic."
Anthony chuckled. "I can indeed," he said. "I dare say that your subjects didn't see the funny side when you told them why you were delayed so much."
"They did not." I groaned. "But they forgave me eventually, when I convinced them that Nightmare Moon was still imprisoned."
Anthony coughed politely and looked around, clearly thinking of where to steer the conversation to next. "So..." he began. "Feel free to not answer this, but... say there had been a way to stop me from dying. Would you have done it, no matter what?"
"If I wanted to be selfish, then I probably would have." I said after some thought. "But we both know that wouldn't have been the right thing to do. Your time had come, and you were free to spend eternity with the rest of your kind. What kind of monster would I have been if I had kept you from that which you deserved?"
Anthony smiled. "And you're anything but selfish." he nodded. "But at least you would have considered it, so that's something."
"I love you dearly, Anthony, and you're my best friend," I said. "But had I kept you alive, you would have grown to resent me for it just as much as I would grow to resent myself for doing it."
Anthony patted me on the back. "Best not dwell on it," he said. "My place, as you said, is here with the others. I love it here — and as long as you continue to visit, things will only ever get better."
I burst out laughing at this and gently punched him in the side. "You always were a charmer." I giggled. "It's hardly a surprise that you were a big hit with the ladies."
He wiggled his eyebrows, which only made me laugh even more. It felt good to be laughing with him again — it was almost as though he never left me in the first place.
Time passed by, like it usually does, and the two of us just talked. I brought Anthony up to speed with everything that had happened in the last thousand years, while he regaled me with tales of his time in the afterlife — most of which involved pulling various elaborate pranks on the other humans in the settlement.
But soon, it was time for me to leave. I stood up and stretched my legs and wings, before giving Anthony one last hug.
"It's been wonderful seeing you again," I whispered. "I promise I'll come by and visit you soon, and I'll even try and persuade Luna to pay you a visit as well."
"I'd like that," Anthony replied. "But, before you go, I have something I want to give you."
"Oh?" I asked. "What would that be?"
Anthony leaned in and kissed me gently on the cheek. He pulled away with a small smile on his lips. "I've waited over a thousand years to do that," he said. "That should make up for the one you gave me before I kicked the bucket."
"Even in death, you always repay your debts." I smirked and rolled my eyes. "Never change, Anthony. Never change."
He nodded, and the world around me faded away as I woke up.
***
After completing my morning rituals, which included raising the sun, I was on my way to the dining hall when I saw Luna. She smiled wryly at me and walked over.
"Good morning, Tia," she said. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did indeed," I replied. "Anthony asked me to pass on his regards, and says he would like to see you again."
"It has been a while..." Luna mused. "I might just do that, but maybe at a time when my duties are not so numerous."
"Of course." I dipped my head in understanding. "Anyway, Lulu I shan't keep you any longer — you go to bed and rest."
Luna nodded and we both began walking. But before she turned the corner, she stopped. "Oh, Tia," she called. "One more thing."
"Yes?"
"He should have kissed you on the lips." Luna grinned. "Because we both know that's what you really wanted."
With that, Luna walked away, leaving me alone — and standing red-faced in the middle of the corridor.