//------------------------------// // 3: Lost Princess // Story: Into the Black // by somatic //------------------------------// Drops of sweat sizzled on Celestia’s brow as she raised the sun to start the day. She had had no time to rest last night. Her wings still ached, immortal muscles knotting themselves under her skin. To fly all night, and still to fail… Softly, with silent steps as always, her sister came up behind her and began to preen her feathers. For a moment, Celestia let her, closing her eyes as Luna’s warm lips pushed pinions back into place, plucking out a few broken ones. But she could not let her spend so much time on her. She shook her head, Luna feeling the movement. Her sister gave her one last brush, exhaled one more breath into her feathers before she lifted her neck away. “Sister…” “Luna, you shouldn’t. You know a simple spell will do as well to fix my wings. It’s sunrise. You need to sleep.” “Can you blame me for wanting to make my sister feel a little better?” She tried and failed to stifle a yawn. “You’re tired, and I know your duties drain you. Our people need you to watch their dreams at night, so sleep in the day.” She extended a wing and pulled Luna close for a hug, necks rubbing against each other as big sister enveloped little. Her pastel mane was weary and did not billow with magic like it once did, but it was still long and warm and, if Luna breathed deep, still smelled like sunlight. The hug almost sent Luna to sleep, but she managed to lift her mouth to Celestia’s ear and breathe “I promise you’ll have sweet dreams soon.” If Luna’s eyes were open, she would see Celestia’s smile. As it was, she only felt her sister’s strong legs carrying her to bed, and her lips caressing her forehead with one more kiss. Celestia lifted one leg in front of the other as she left Luna’s room, too tired to do anything that could properly be called walking or trotting. Shambling was more like it. Another airship had sunk that night. It was growing more aggressive, and if the reports were true, the lost crew would not even have peace once the Wilder took them. She sighed, a long sigh that came from strained vocal cords. A shapeless halo formed around her horn as she fixed her feathers. She was correct: the spell worked. It was functional. But it was not beautiful. Nothing was anymore. Acting on autopilot, her hooves took her up into her study—no, not her study, her war room. That was its name now. She remembered the frantic days here, more than two decades ago. The letters she wrote, the orders she sent. Princess Twilight Sparkle, missing near the Everfree Forest. Report sightings to Canterlot Castle. She had been optimistic, then. Twilight went on journeys all the time. Princess Twilight Sparkle, missing near the Everfree Forest. Reward offered for information leading to her safe return. Surely she was only grieving. Celestia could understand the need to hide away for a while after a loss. Stars knew she had wanted to, after Luna’s banishment. Princess Twilight Sparkle, missing near the Everfree Forest. May be unstable; approach with caution. Reward offered for information leading to her safe return. She was strong. Celestia knew that. Very strong. She was proud she chose her as her student. Not like the ones that turned on her. Twilight would never do that. Princess Twilight Sparkle, missing near the Everfree Forest, presumed renegade. Engage with extreme caution; subject is magically trained and dangerous. Report any sightings to Canterlot High Command. Every expedition, every search party… nothing. Till the war dragged on too long, too bloody for her to waste any more ponies looking for a princess who didn’t want to be found. Celestia might have cried, but Equestria did not need a weeping princess. It needed a leader. And so, with heavy hooves and heavier heart, she began to plan the day. She did not plan for a breathless pegasus to flop into her war room, letter clenched in her teeth. Her lost princess was coming home.