Twilight Sparkle rushed into Celestia's throne room. She wasn't surprised that the princess would summon her. She knew a sonic rainboom when she heard one. That could only mean Rainbow Dash has returned. Celestia would want that pegasus caught as soon as possible.

Celestia was not sitting on her throne. Instead she was staring at a stain glass window featuring her and Princess Luna moving the sun and moon through the sky. Twilight approached her old mentor.

"Princess Celestia, I know about the sonic rainboom. I recommend scrambling the Wonderbolts into search patterns around the areas of rainbow sightings. The guards should be put on high alert and ordered to report any sightings immediately. We-"

"Twilight Sparkle," Celestia interrupted calmly but sternly, "I have already sent the letters out. That's not why I called for you."

Twilight wore a panicked look, "oh my gosh, this isn't about Applejack is it? I know she's in the city she couldn't have gotten through my perimeter. She'll be found and brought to justice quickly."

Celestia shook her head, "I know you concerned about her, but that's not why I called you either."

"Then what is it?"

Celestia gave a sad look and pondered for a moment. It was as if she was trying to find the right words. She clearly wanted to get something off her chest. Finally she asked, "have you ever read the works of Flint Locke?"

Twilight thought for a moment,"no I don't think I have." Twilight was surprised there was a book she hasn't read.

"I thought you haven't. Most copies were destroyed centuries ago, but I keep one or two in my personal collection. Flint Locke was a brilliant but misguided young unicorn. He believed that harmony is better kept when power is shared among ponies. That ponies could and should live together by their own volition, without royal assistance. He even claimed my rule was a detriment to harmony."

"But the time before your rule was horrible. Discord literally ruled over the land. Ponies were constantly fighting each other."

"That's what I told him. Without the alicorn princesses' guidance, ponies would descend back into disharmony. Sadly, he wouldn't listen. I eventually had to banish him and destroy his work before others were tricked by his foalishness."

Twilight sighed. She'd become quite familiar with stupid, idealistic ponies in the past decade and they kept getting worse. "Why are you telling me this?"

Celestia stared at the window, "That was the last time I thought I'd hear of his madness. Then Luna returned. My sister fell in love with the idea of self government. I thought... I hoped such ideas would fade over time, but... she became insistent. She said my little ponies needed to be free from me." she sobbed and wiped her eyes. "Luna told me that I could no longer guide my subjects to harmony. That I could not love for them anymore. I still don't understand what she was thinking... Those were the last words she said to me before it all started."

Twilight remembered the events leading up to the Revolution. Princess Luna's speeches gained her cause a lot of support from the masses. However, the moon princess' attempts to reform the government were repeatedly frustrated by her sister, Cadence, and eventually Twilight. Over time, Republican's became increasingly irritated with the royals. Exchanges between Republicans and Imperialists devolved from trading words, to blows, to bullets. In hopes to end the violence, some particularly aggressive Republicans were arrested and executed. Luna responded by publishing an official constitution for the New Lunar Republic. Any pretense of peace was thrown away into all out war.

"I fear that this idea of democracy has festered into Equestria. With Rainbow Dash's apparent return we may see the rise of another rebellion. I called you here to ask you this, Twilight Sparkle. What should I do to restore our empire to the way it was? How do I return ponykind to harmony?"

Twilight was astounded. Princess Celestia never asked her for advice. She always seemed to have the answer to everything. Twilight searched her thoughts, "I don't know, but I promise no matter what that I will always be your faithful student."

A familiar laugh rang through the throne room. "You shouldn't make promises you can't keep Princess Twilight," Discord teased, "what would your friend Applejack think?" He materialized by a window portraying the the elements' victory over Nightmare Moon.

The princesses frowned at the intruder. Twilight replied, "Applejack is NOT my friend. She is a criminal and a fugitive. As soon as she's caught she's going back in the mines."

"Oh my, have you had a falling out with our dear cowpony? It's always so sad to see friendships fall apart, but it must be even more depressing for the Princess of Friendship. Don't you think so Celestia?"

The sun princess cut right to the chase, "what are you doing here Discord?"

The chaos spirit frowned, "Fine, be a party pooper. I just thought you might want to know where a certain blue pegasus might be heading."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, "How did you find that out?"

"I'm afraid I cannot disclose my source. I made a promise not to betray them. You understand of course. Any who, I have it on good account that Rainbow Dash is gathering Republicans in Ponyville . They seem quite eager to attend your Summer Sun Festival. I'm sure it will quite an explosive event."

Twilight shot into action, "We've got to move fast. I'll head down their and rally the local guards. Princess, may I request you send for Shining Armor's brigade? I will also need a team of Wonderbolts at my disposal. We can stop this rebellion before-"

"Whoa there, hold your horses" Discord interrupted pulling back on some reins he conjured around Twilight's muzzle. "Before you go rushing out the gate, I believe I have some insight for your little problem Celestia."

Celestia widened her eyes, "What might that be Discord?"

"I'm truly shocked you haven't figured it out before Tia. You aren't getting senile in your old age are you? Why do you think the Republicans plan to crash your little ego fest? They're hoping Luna will escape the moon like the last time it was in Ponyville."

Twilight furrowed her brow, "That doesn't make any sense. Nightmare Moon escaped because of an alignment in the stars that caused a magic surge that allowed her to counteract the banishment spell. The odds of another alignment so soon are near impossible."

Discord shrugged, "I didn't say Rainbow was the sharpest of ponies, but that doesn't matter. To the Republicans, today marked the return of the prodigal mare and they will rally behind her in hopes for the the second coming of Luna. They know their chosen princess is watching. As long as their the Mare in the Moon is in the sky, the fight will continue."

"Last time she was banished, my sister was forgotten. She became nothing more than a legend," Celestia pointed out.

"Believe me, no plan ever works the same way twice. That is the first rule of chaos. The second rule is to never give direct advice to Princesses so I must be off. I don't want to miss the show and I must be ready before the good stuff begins. You should get ready too. After all you are one of the main characters and you only have till the day after tomorrow. Ta ta." Discord faded away.

Twilight called after him, "wait! You didn't tell us anything." But she realized the draconicus was either long gone or didn't want to answer.

Celestia pondered Discord's words, "As long as the leaders of the Republic are here the revolution will never end. That means... oh my dear! I must..." Her tears welled back up as she found her solution. It was the last thing she ever wanted to do.

Twilight nuzzled her mentor, "We have to do it don't we. We have to end this once and for all."

Celestia nodded, "One last confrontation between night and day. Twilight, I need you in Ponyville by tomorrow. Mobilize Colonel Armor's troops and put a Wonderbolt team on stand by. They should be ready by the Celebration. In the meantime, do whatever you see fit to undermine Rainbow Dash's plans. I'll take care of Luna and will join you as soon as I can. Good luck Princess Twilight. The dawn of the Summer Sun Celebration will be the last the Lunar Republic will see."

Twilight quickly galloped off to carry out the orders. Celestia looked sadly back at the window. Canterlot's weather team had started a light rain outside. Droplets ran like tears down the alicorns' images. Celestia put a hoof on the dark blue form of Luna.

On my own
Pretending she's beside me
All alone
I'll walk with her till morning
With her gone
We laugh and play together
And when I need some help I look above
And she consoles me

In the past everything was simple
We would raise the sky together
The land would love us, their kind princesses
And all I'd see is you and me forever and forever.

And I know it's just a memory
that you chose a different path and I my own
Even though I could not set you free
Still I hoped we would make it up

I love you
but now all this is over
We are done
My subjects deserve much better
Without you
Harmony can grow unyielding
Love will spread out everywhere
And peace will live forever

I love them
But I cannot share that love
Not with you
Down here or sent up above
I must choose
Between you and my ponies
To give them back their happiness
I must give up my own

I love them
I love them
I love them
But only on my own

Author's Note

This chapter was a challenge. I had to create the philosophy for both sides while remaining sympathetic. On My own was pretty easy to write overall. Please comment, critique and like as you see fit. See y'all in Ponyville.

note: For military accuracy, I've changed Armor's division into a brigade.