The Cherry Tree Behind Canterlot Castle

Twilight stares at Spike, sleeping soundly in his small bed next to hers. She can't sleep. She hasn't been able to. One problem was her wings. They'd go down when she wanted them up. They'd go up when she wanted them down. Second was something she had to get off of her mind. It had come to her realization right after she spoke to the large cloud. She was smiling, yes, but she was covering up pain with her whitened smile. Her crown was covering up her headache. Her happy eyes were withdrawing salty tears.

Twilight quickly flicks her covers to the side, draping them over her bed. She slowly moves up into a sitting position, placing her hooves on the ground softly, making sure not to wake one of her best friends that is snoring in his bed, all cozy and snug.She slowly move toward the door, using her magic to open it. She quietly slips through and closes it quickly behind her. Next obstacle is the hallway. With one step, the sound of hoof beats echo down the halls. A startled look appears on the newest princess's face. Her eyes go down and her pupils shrink. She quickly opens her wings, knowing that Celestia and Luna just tossed in their beds.

"Come on wings don't fail me now," she whispers to herself. With a small jump, she begins to hover. Then rise. She repeats in her mind, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" But as fate is cruel she only makes it half way, then crashes to the marble floor, the implode bouncing off the walls.

"Now they're definitely awake," she says aloud, jumping to all four hooves and racing out the door, not caring how loud she is.

Outside, the air is cool and the breeze is refreshing. It carries the smell of fresh-growing fruit. Twilight walks down a long, white concrete bridge, closing in on the moon. She wants to get to the cherry tree behind the Canterlot Castle; the one perched on a tall hill shining under a moonlit sky. It was old, but bloomed every year. Whether it was raining or throwing down sheets on ice, it always produced cherries. Very sweet, juicy, delicious cherries. Applejack made Twilight a "Congratulations!" pie out of them after her coronation, when the Elements of Harmony could meet and remain together, at least for a short time.

She makes her way up the hill, sniffing the air, taking in the smell of young blossoms. She sits down under the tree, some of the petals falling off and landing on her due to the gentle wind. She often sat here as a foal when was doing her studies. Even when she was reading about origins of Equestria. She hadn't sat there for a long, long time. Mainly because she had gone to Ponyville and sat under those trees. But she did miss her spot here, in the warm soil under a blanket of light pink petals that silently guarded her from the night's starry light. But even the ferociously beautiful cherry blossoms couldn't protect her from the dreams and thoughts she's been having. Nothing could erase the things that kicked her skull from the inside. All she wanted was some words of wisdom to heal her heart and mind. To cleanse her soul of the thoughts. Could meditation help her? She didn't know.

Suddenly the moonlight is blocked from her eyes only to reveal the shadow of wings, a crown, and a body. Twilight looks up. A large mare stops in front of her. Twilight could hardly see who it was in the dull light. The words form on on Twilight Sparkle's lips.

"Is that you...Princess Celestia?"