It is almost sundown.
Scenes like these appear to me very often nowadays. Ever since Twilight Sparkle's coronation, I feel like the weights on my shoulders have finally been lifted off. I dare say, I haven't assisted in a single Day Court in months now. National Assemblies? When was the last time I even considered that? International meetings: even those have—finally—become history to me. Not that I want it to stop, but believe me, dealing with griffons and dragons and whatnot do tend to give you more than a headache.
It also gives you a heavy shoulder, apparently.
Well, that's not the point, anyway.
I once believed that as a princess, life should be about learning and gathering experiences. I have read tales about past alicorn royalties going on epic adventures here and there. They have practically seen everything there is to offer the eyes, tasted everything there is to offer the mouth, felt everything there is to offer the skin. They'd probably known this universe like the back of their hooves.
I... would like to do that every once in a while.
I wish to stress the mention of my title much more than anything I had said, because that is what a princess really needs to do. Discover this world, be acquainted with the inhabitants, learn from them. And when the time comes, we will finally be fit enough to take over the throne.
Off the record though, I'd rather let Twilight take over the throne than Luna. Don't get me wrong; Luna is a great thinker: a philosopher even. But she just needs more experience in governance. That, and maybe getting along better with the citizens. And she also needs to crack down on playing games. Seriously, How does she become that addicted? The moon... doesn't seem to have much entertainment to offer.
We are no more different than any other ordinary filly in this kingdom. I and Luna; we are both daughters of another mare and stallion. Only that they happen to be the King and Queen of Equestria.
It has been fifteen centuries. Since then, I've been waiting for them. Like I've been waiting for Luna's return.
Waiting has become a second nature to me. Ever since Mother and Father left, I've been waiting for them. Ever since I and Luna were elected Regents of the Sun and Moon—thus becoming the surrogate rulers of the land—we have been forced to wait in that prison of a Day Court for our subjects to come by and vent their worries, angers, sadness, sometimes even madness. Every single day, it is the same routine. Of course, there are other agendas like National Assemblies and sometimes they do come in to do bizarre things. I just wish that there were more of them that express their gratitude and joy.
Nevertheless, I can't deny the fact that all those years taught me some—if not most—of the things that I need to know in order to govern. I now wish I have the time, the opportunity to do more than just warm the pillows of Canterlot's throne. I think I am more than just wishing it. I think... no, I feel that I need to do more. I need it.
And then, after the events of that fateful day, I used to wait for Luna to come back. Oh, how grateful I am to have her back. Most ponies only know the factual side of the story, but not many have felt connected to the characters. No one would understand what I had to go through. And neither will Luna.
Yet I know that even in the tumbling of my selfish emotions, Luna has her own share of pains. Maybe she went through a lot more, maybe less.
I forgot... she's right besides me.
"It's getting late, Tia," she said, maintaining her calm. But we both know what we're in for, if things turn out badly.
I remember once, a few hundred years back, when a pony came in for Day Court, screaming something in gibberish. All I processed during that short tirade, just before the guards restrained him and threw him out in fear of an assassination attempt, was that I will one day lose someone I loved. The thought of that hadn't really moved me much, knowing that I had already lost Luna to the feeling of hatred and jealousy. His words fell on deaf ears, I would say. It was even harder to believe them when I got Luna back.
I have never been more wrong to believe that.
Mother and Father were summoned to the Council of Stars. All authorities governing all lands in this... universe, are sometimes summoned during their governing lifetime in order to decide on matters. It is not a frequent convention: it happens when a large matter concerning everything comes up.
The trouble with this, is that since the beginning of time, alicorns have always gathered at the far edge of the universe. This is a long-standing tradition. I now wonder why that is a requirement. The Moon seems good enough to be a meeting place.
If the Everfree Forest is littered with dangers that make a stallion cower in the deepest of fears, then the Outer Space is filled with unknown creatures thousands of times more dangerous. I've read, in books written by the most adventurous of these royalties, of monsters called the Constellations. The only ones mentioned by name, is the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. I believe that this particular alicorn is the reason why they are even here in Equestria.
To go there and make it safely back, they relied on the alignement of celestial bodies, offering a safer and much faster path to jump back to Equestria. This is similar to how Nig-Luna got back from the Moon. If not for this, the journey itself is hundreds of millennium long. Add to that the Constellations and whatnot, and I'm sure no alicorn could make it back alive.
According to my calculations, today is the only day in a thousand years that the bodies align together. Today also marks the exact date when Mother and Father left for the Council of Stars.
After the Sun sets, there will be no other way to return but to journey through the Outer Space. And about that, it's at the brink now. It's half-hidden.
Well... it has been quite a long wait, and I am just about ready to move on.
Maybe today... is goodbye forever.
"Don't cry now Tia, I-I'm sure they'll make it."
"D- Don- leav- m-m-me..."
L-L-Luna h-h-hugged m-m-me. I-I did-didn't sp-speak.
"There, there. It's okay Tia, everything'll be alright."
"Luna, I'm... I'm... scared. I..."
Sh-She t-t-tight-tened her g-g-grip. I c-c-c-...
Poor Tia.
Even though I missed Mother and Father too, I had never been so soft that I cried. Sure, I had my share of tears. But I never dwelt on the feelings for too long. I know far too well what Mother and Father are capable of, and I'm confident that they will be alright. You just need confidence.
I'm starting to feel bad for Tia. This is the first time I've seen her crying her heart out. She had cried in the past: that I can assure you. But never like this. This feels... it feels just like... the day I was freed from myself.
Tia has always been attached to Mother and Father for as long as I can remember. I was a more... secluded member of the family. Not because they didn't love me: I had been loved equally by our parents, but I remained independent inside the family. I still know she cared for me.
And I admit that after a long time, I started caring for somepony else.
After Mother and Father left, we had to rely on each other. We've been friends ever since my birth. She took care of me when Mother and Father went away to the Council of Stars. I thought that we could get through the years without any trouble. I was wrong.
We started to drift apart. I was the quickest at that, since I never had any trouble with it in the first place. I still couldn't believe that we fought over petty things (and that that eventually turned into a full-scale war). We decided that it's best for us to govern two halves of the same world: day and night. I used to not want to see her face ever again. I couldn't care less about her. I guess I really didn't need her at the time.
But after a while, I finally admitted that ruling the night alone was... well... lonely. I longed for subjects who adored the beauty and mysteries of the dark hours, but nopony did. Then, I... wished that Tia would come and comfort me as I stay and watch over the sleeping citizens.
I guess that being independent also developed my ego. I fought those feelings and persevered, whilst Tia was infinitely revered with the glory of a shining Sun. Of course, jealousy took this chance to strike and... well... the rest is really history.
Damn that- No, I don't need to remember that anymore. It's over.
I could never guess how she feels inside, but I reckon I have some correct answers. The day I was freed from... myself, Tia was overjoyed to have me back. I, however, was filled with so much guilt that I refused to even enter the castle, fearing that the ponies would lock me up in the dungeon. How could someone who betrayed her kingdom deserve a second chance?
But it was that same night that I truly understood her love for me. I thought that she never cared a single dust-bit about my well-beings, but rather it was I who was too blind to see that Tia had built Canterlot; fortified its walls; improved the living standards and rendered prosperity to all ponies under her care for me. She even kept my room tidy while I was gone! She did all that for me. She really did care.
It was just I who didn't. Well, I used to not care.
So I swore from that day on, that I will pledge my loyalty to Celestia, Regent of the Sun, Ruler of Equestria, and most importantly, my big sister. I swore to aid her in all that she needs.
But now I... just wish that I could make her happier. I... don't really know what to do to cheer her up.
Think Luna, think! What makes Tia happy?
I know she'd love a cup of tea right now with honey cereal crackers, enjoying the sunset whilst listening to the breeze blowing past her ears, echoing off the prairies and howling into the vicinity. That, and a nice bath in the spa.
But none of it is appropriate now! Ugh!
How about a race to the moon? She always love a good challenge. Or that time when we tried to bake a cake. Maybe that could do it. Or even...
I... I give up. It's getting late.
Some say, if you look closely enough, you can the Sun flashing green. It may only happen once in a pony's lifetime. Sailors, griffons, dragons, they've always talked about this magical phenomenon in which ponies disappear from the face of Equestria and reappear again some times later. One such pony told me of his friend who vanished thirty years before and reappeared afterwards. The unlucky colt thought that he had fainted. He was taken in such awe when he found out he had missed three decades worth of life. Well, to tell you the truth, I've never seen it before. It may just be a legend, or a hoax.
Maybe Tia has seen it before. I know I haven't.
Wait! There it is! There, that bright light!
It's so... fascinating, and so serene, yet so sad. I guess it is magical. It carries a sort of peace, even in melancholic times like these. I could see the... images of souls dissipating into the dying sunlight. At peace dear beloved, rest now in moonlight's embrace.
And then, the night comes along, and the moon rises, illuminating the land with a soft shine and bringing rest to those who are tired, and relieving the workers from their duties in order to relax themselves.
Wait, what?
Is that? Is that really?! Is it really?!
"Tia quick! Look!"
"Mother!"
"Celestia! Luna!"
There are no words to express the feeling that I'm feeling. Sure, I had felt relieved when Twilight Sparkle and her friends destroyed Nightmare Moon forever and restored my sister. But this; there is no such comparison. By Mother's name, if somepony were to put me at the edge of the universe, this feeling and force is enough for me to fly all the way back to Equestria; be it that the stars and celestial bodies are aligned or not.
"Mother, we've missed you so much!"
"I know, Celestia. I've missed you both, too."
"Never, ever disappear from us again!" L-Luna cr-cried.
"I won't, ever again. Promise. Nothing else is going to separate us."
W-We exchanged hugs, and spilled all our heart's content. Being a daughter who is always close to her Mother, I couldn't help myself to control my feelings. I could swear she's growing tired of me expressing my concerns over and over again. I know I'm always attached to Mother and Father more than Luna is. I admit that despite being older than Luna, I am... whinier than her.
I know that I should be expecting more than just this. From the old days, I can clearly remember that Luna preferred to be by Mother's left side and I always don't care which side I get to hug because I love Mother anyway. And I know that whenever I have her on one side, my other would be besides Luna or... I've had a feeling since Mother arrived that something is amiss. The puzzle is missing a piece. And I can't see it anywhere.
"Where's Father?"
"Yes, Mother. Where is Father?" Luna asked, surprised.
"Father is... It's a long story."
"What happened to him!?" I demanded.
"He... well, you see, we were on our way back and... Oh, this is complicated."
"Mother, what happened to Father?" Luna asked again. She seems concerned. I am, too.
"He... He traded his place with mines."
"I don't understand Mother. Please, tell us, please... We've been waiting for too long."
"He... He sacrificed himself to save me. I... I couldn't save him, I..."
No.
"I'm sorry."