Canterlot castle was bustling with nervous energy. The courtiers and the pages hurried here and there, cantering down hallways with panic in their eyes. Even the normally stoic guards struggled as worry rippled through their tensed muscles.
The Princess of Friendship was pacing her room, hollering orders to passing ministers and statesponies. Her horn blazed as she furiously penned letters and sent them off with Owlowiscious.
"We've received word from Shining Armor, Princess Twilight," one of the calmer guards announced loudly as he entered the state room. Even though his body was still, his voice shook. "He won't be coming. The Crystal Empire has just received declaration of war from Yakyakistan. They are completely unable to help at this time."
"Oh no!" Twilight Sparkle put her head in her hooves. "What am I supposed to do?" She murmured this under her breath, but then loudly questioned the guard, "Has anyone found Princess Luna?"
"We are still searching," the guard assured the Princess. "But's it's been years. Do you think we'll find her just because we have a crisis now? I mean, if Princess Luna wanted to be here, she'd be here."
"Did I ask you for your opinion?" Twilight snapped at the guard. "Princess Luna did not leave on her own accord. I know that much! We have to find her. We owe it to her. And now with the current Celestia situation, we need her more than ever."
The guard closed his lips tightly and bowed slightly before leaving. Only a minute later, a trembling statespony entered the room. "Princess Twilight, I know you are dealing with a lot, but the situation has gone from bad to worse."
"What has she done now?" Twilight demanded. She moved her face only inches away from his, hoping that he would speak faster than he was. He was shaking so hard that he could barely get his sentences out.
"S-She has…she decided…we tried to stop her…"
"Where's Princess Celestia?" Twilight screamed, her hair frizzing at the end as her panic escalated.
"She's raising the sun!"
"Again? In the middle of the night!" Twilight groaned loudly and galloped through the door.
"She says it's time. She says it should be day," the statespony yelled after her. Twilight didn't look back as his voice faded into the distance. Thoughts raced through her head as her legs raced through the palace. She was trying so hard to keep a handle on this. But if Princess Celestia caused a drought there would be no way that she could keep her secret anymore. If the ponies of Equestria found out, there would be mass chaos. What would she do then? She wished that Princess Luna would show up and alleviate the situation. But, for now, Twilight Sparkle was alone. She didn't even have any good friends to help her. She was the Princess of Friendship but she had no time to work on friendships when she was taking care of the kingdom. A memory flickered through her mind: a round table, a beautiful purple castle in the shape of a tree, smiling faces gathered around. Where had that gone? How had she lost them all? How was she going to do it all herself? Twilight shook her mane and felt the cool palace air run through it. She couldn't think about that now. Failure was not an option. She had to handle this. It was up to her.