6000 years

Luna paced across the balcony, her mind clouded with thoughts. The cold nights air revealing her breath. No one except Celestia and her knew why there is only so many Alicorns.

There was a time when Alicorns where feared, excluded from pony kind in fear of the unknown and immortal beings. This fear turned to outrage when her own mother, Galaxia, reached her 6000 year life span. But instead of a peaceful death, she transformed into something that would scare the devil itself, her power rivaling a million supernovas at once. It took all of the Alicorns to tire out and kill her. Every Alicorn at the age of 5999 took a never ending trip across the galaxy's until they'd found a desolate celestial body to store themselves in.

Celestia's 6000 was 1 week away, the reason she hadn't left yet was because she a Luna where hybrid Alicorns, a production of her mother and a Pegasus. The fellow Alicorns had told them that they wouldn't have a similar gorey demise, but Luna was skeptical.She had experienced her own monster when she transformed into the Nightmare. But compared to the regal alicorns of millennia past. She had only scratched  the surface.

Twilight awoke with a feeling of dread,

The weight of a country strapped to her shoulders. Grief-stricken emotions and stress filled her head. She was a mess.

After an hour of calming actives and a hairbrush later, she was ready for the morning. She was assigned for day court today. Setting a brisk pace, Twilight set off for the kitchen to eat a quick breakfast.

Luna stepped out of her room, her mane bedraggled, with bags under her eyes she shuffled her sore whooves to the kichten. Her hoof regalia was worn down to paper thickness from the 24- hour session of pacing and mental power. The guards that she passed broke the uniform mask to take a double-take of the usually regal princess. She didn't care, her head moderately low, she looked at the floor, lost in thought. Her thoughts shattered as she toppled over a familiar lavender alicorn that seemed like a mirror image.

Luna slowly groaned, getting off her sister, " I can see you slept as well as me. "  she spoke as Twilight balanced herself with a grim expression. "No kidding." With as much grace as possible, the two made it to the table, Celestia nowhere in sight.  Silently ordering their breakfast in an awkward tone.

"Twilight, we know you know about the current future of the sun..." Luna began quietly. Twilight looked away through one of the three story windows, her eyes showing a dulled fear. Luna is sighed but continued on. "Yes.. We know.. But there is something that you must know." Twilight whipped around " Haven't I learned enough?! "

The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence.

Celestia's mind felt like whirring thunderstorm in a blender. Old memories and regrets stuck into her mind like lightning. For the first time in a millennia,

Celestia was scared.

Getting out of her bead, she delicately pushed the doors to her study open with her magic. The guards to her left and right both bowed in unison.

"Is there anything you would like your highness?" Began Shield Point.

"Yes, please summon my advisor to my office, I wish to speak with her. " with a salute Shield Point set a brisk pace down the hall, leaving Celestia alone with other her guard in an eerie silence. He broke it.

"Permission to speak freely, Princess?" His tone was flat and dreary.

"Why of course, Gleaming Sword." She looked down at him with a fake smile.

His expression was washed over by concern, "With all do respect, Princess Luna and Princess Twilight seemed excessively tired and stressed this morning, and you seem to fit the same description...May I ask why?" With a sigh Celestia took her time to answer.

"Excuse me for answering a question, with a question, but... Do you have a secret that only you know about, something that you will take to the grave? Her voice was quiet, though silently begging for an answer. The guard thought for a moment, but his eyes soon opened wide as of to remember something.

"Yes..."his head held low ashamed.

"There is nothing embarrassing about keeping something private my little pony, but you must be asking why this has to do with 3 sleepless princesses."  Gleaming Sword in response. An expression of bewilderment and slight curiosity shone in his eyes.

The faint glow of golden magic formed around her horn, it drifted in between them, making an eatheral egg on top of a small sandcastle.

"As many ponies can assume, an elder like me has many secrets, " she sighed as she gestured towards the egg, her troubled expression becoming even more intense. " and when a secret is revealed-" she smashed the egg with her magic, the impact crushing the sandcastle, the eggs contents pouring onto the sandcastle rubble. " effect the others around us."

Gleaming Sword was left speechless as he realized what the princess was intending. He looked up at the monarch, who seemed even taller. " The reason for our lack of sleep, Gleaming Shield, was a secret. "  Princess Celestia looked away, ashamed by the tone of bitterness she has spoken in.

"Thank you, Princess, for the explanation. I hope your...predicament, will cleared soon, and you sleep soundly." His tone shifted into the rigid and structure-like tone as before.

"Thank you Gleaming Sword, I wish you good tidings as-well." And with that, she turned back into her room.

A second later Shield point trotted down the hallway, the royal advisor in tow. Gleaming Sheild held his breath as he tapped her shoulder with a hoof. She turned slithery started by the usually stoic-faced guard. He began to whisper in her ear.

"Notebook, Celestia seemed a bit.. off today... Worse than the long days, see if you can get her to smile. I know she enjoys those jokes of yours." Notebook was taken aback, realizing the serious tone of the guards concerns.  With determination she nodded and walked into the office.

"You wanted to see me Princess Celestia?"

"Yes, I have one request. " her tone was cold and bitter.

"Your wish is my command!" She giggled awkwardly.

"Clear my schedule for the next two weeks."

".. Excuse me... Celestia? "

"I said close them, now please get out, I need to think. "

"Yes ma'am."