//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Waning and Waxing 
// by Calliope Pony 
//------------------------------//

We’re sitting together on a balcony high up in Canterlot Castle. The stars and the moon shine above us.

It’s been a little while now since I returned from my long exile. It’s been hard in many ways. The land and the culture and the language have all changed. It’s going to take me a long time to get used to it, to adjust.

Celestia has changed too. She told me how she learned to delegate some jobs, to manage her time better. It wasn’t just me she was neglecting; she was neglecting herself as well. Back then, she nearly ran herself ragged. Now she’s still busy, but she’s learned to keep things running smoothly without taking every little task on herself.

Now we do have time together every morning and evening, just like we used to a long time ago. Mostly we just talk. Celestia teaches me lots of things about how Equestria has changed in the past thousand years.

Ponies still sleep at night, but they stay up later than they used to. Canterlot now has many dance halls and cafés which stay open long after it gets dark. I’m a little shy as of yet to go among these unfamiliar ponies, but I’m happy to know that they are out enjoying my nighttime.

I didn’t believe that Celestia could forgive me for what happened. And it turns out she didn’t believe that I could forgive her. So we both forgave each other... even though I don’t think either one of us has forgiven ourselves.

She’s been looking up at the stars, but now she turns to me.

“Luna, do you remember a long, long time ago when we had a party to celebrate the first anniversary of building our old castle? We left the party to come sit on the balcony and look at the stars, just like we’re doing now.”

“I remember. It was such a wonderful night. I remember what we said too. We promised that we would be together forever. I guess that promise didn’t work out so well. We were apart for a long time.”

“But now we’re together again. We made some mistakes, but it’s still not too late to keep that promise.”

I smile and press my face against her. “I guess you’re right.”