Filly Twilight writes an essay on what she thinks of the nobles on a scroll she finds in Celestia's room that turns out to be for a speech Celestia was about to read to all of Canterlot.
Young Princess Cadance has gained the ability to see ponies' emotions, but sometimes what she sees puzzles and confuses her. Surely Princess Celestia can't actually be depressed?
After a week of recovering from her return Princess Luna seeks to return what was lost by her banishment and find the one pony she cares for the most... her daughter.
Celestia and Luna were born as earth pony foals in a dangerous world. They must rise from nothing to become the princess we know, upsetting chiefs, gods, and the very forces of nature in the balance.