Chapter 3

October 11, 967 A.F.

Queen Faust

The train to Canterlot hadn't been a particularly eventful ride, but I suppose the change in scenery from the flat plains to the lush valleys did quite a bit to improve my mood, not that I was in a foul mood to begin with, but boredom was definitely one of those feelings that I most despised. Hopefully, upon our arrival, we could really start to have some fun. But, emphasize on the word "Hopefully" due to the fact that I was extremely tired. I haven't been sleeping well in the past few days. It was from the obvious change in species, and the fact I was given a pleasant surprise when I stumbled upon a certain alicorn. I would not be able to sleep in the train either even when it was quite, which was expected, we were the only ones on the train, even if it was remarkably dark outside it would be morning soon, Also the train was too bumpy. Finally, uhh... I need to stop complaining.

Groan I could go on for hours on why this train was the worse bed. It didn't really matter that much now though; we would be approaching the castle soon. The second we got off, I would sneak into Luna's room, and take a really long much needed rest. It was late into the night, so Luna definitely would be there. It might surprise her but I don't care enough though to hide when I fall into a deep sleep. Sadly, however, I would have to wait till we stopped at our destination. That was until the intercom sounded.

Thank you for ridding the Canterlot Express, we hope you enjoyed the trip. Have a nice night!

Speak of the devil.

Princess Luna

"That is the last of them, your highness."

"We thank thou for thy's assistance this twilight."

"Think nothing of it, your highness, I'm but a humble servant."

"Nonsense Raven, thy art a great friend, but as much We would like to chat We are tired and wish to retire."

"Of course your highness, good night." She says bowing.

With that, I leave to my bed chambers. Oddly enough, tonight there were more visitors for the night court. I was wondering if I was starting to regret saying that I wish more came. Be careful what you wish for, as they say, well I have now learned my lesson. The sessions become longer, and more aggravating as time went on. The nobles always asking for ridiculous favors. Soon enough the started to try to hide their true intentions by making small donations to distract us. Although enough of that, I didn't want to think of anything similar to that more than I needed to. Stumbling across my bed chambers I remove my royal regalia, to take a quick shower. Tucking myself into my large bed I drift off to sleep, well at least I was about to until I got the scare of my life. A foreleg had wrapped itself around my barrel. Yelping I jumped out of my bed shouting at my bed intruder.

"What foal dares to settle in our accommodations!"

No response. I light my horn getting ready to dispose of the perverted scum... until my eyes set on the said pony. My eyes widened and my throat tightens and constricts soon a clear salty liquid flows down my cheeks. No, it couldn't be, surely not, My mother slumbering like a bear in hibernation, on my bed no less. I cast a quick spell on the pony. It was my mother no doubt about it. Quickly using my earth pony strength, my hind leg muscles uncoil like a spring launching me onto the bed. I plant my face in her breast the fluffy fur soaking up my tears. We unintentionally wrap each other in a strong hug, An irrational part of my brain demands that I squeeze harder causing me to do so, thinking that she could and would fade away in my hooves. A nuzzle to the back of my neck and a loud snore breaks me from my thoughts. looking up I see a small smile plastered on her face, the last thing I see before falling asleep happier then I could be in a thousand years. Silently praying she would still be there the next night.

October 12, 967 A.F.

Princess Celestia

9:06 P.M

What was taking her so long? I've been standing on the balcony for about four minutes now, waiting for Luna to raise the Moon, I was tired and wanted to go to bed an hour ago. I first assumed that perhaps just in the bathroom getting ready for her nightly routine, but I'm not so sure anymore I notice she had canceled everything tonight. After another minute, I decided a visit would be in order.

Knock, Knock, Knock.

"Luna, are you alright? You have not risen the Moon yet." I say as she opens the large doors.

"Yes, sister We are quite alright. Apologies for not bringing it forth, We have forgotten to do so."

I raise my brow. "You... forgot?" I ask giving a... (Are you really alright, you known I'm here for you.) sort of look. She forgot to raise the Moon this has to be serious, but I'm to sure about that, she seems... happy? She then picks up on my distress.

"Really sister We are alright. I've simply had a lot on my mind this night, no dought you noticed I've canceled my duties for today."

"Luna, you FORGOT to raise the Moon. Promise me you really, really are alright?"

"We promise thee that We are fine, honestly there is no need for worry or panic, in fact, we have never been happier in our lives since last night."

"Oh, and why is that?" I ask sounding surprised.

"You will learn soon enough Tia, it is a surprise. Oh, and do thyself a favor and cancel everything on thys schedule tomorrow."

"Luna, I cannot just cancel everything because you said so. I have important meetings to tend to." I say Shaking my head.

"Tia just this once, trust in thys sister. You will not regret it We assure you, and if thou really must have these meeting looked over then send a message to Twilight Sparkle, and have thee return early."

I take a deep breath "Alright, Luna if it really is that important, but I won't bring Twilight I'll just have them rescheduled for a later date."

"Huzzah, Thou will not regret this decision! Regardless We will go back on topic and lower the Moon, We bid thee a good night."

"Umm, alright Luna, have a good night. I'll see you in the morning."

After she closes the door, I walk back to my bed chambers lowering the sun and moving into bed. I wonder what Luna has planned, she seems really happy and I'm glad for that, but it just seemed so... out of nowhere. I push the thought aside, sleep first, surprises later.

October 13, 967 A.F.

Queen Faust

7:30 A.M

Coffee, the only thing more important than the world, well in the morning anyway, there were a lot of things I cared about. Coffee, however, was just one of the few, but right now coffee is the only thing in the world that mattered. I don't know how long I sleep for, but most likely a long time judging from the fact the moon was setting again. Sitting up I look around the room noticing Luna on the balcony lowering it. Strangely though, she looked as tired as myself, not the long day at work kind of tired but the, just woke up kind. The theory was proven when she turned to face me a small but warmest smile is what I saw when she looked at me. I returned it the best I could. She did a zombie like run towards me (to put it nicely) until she basically fell onto me, we both managed to do the strongest hug we could. We stayed like the for quite a while, petting and nuzzling her as she cried on my shoulder, whether or not they were tears of joy I could not tell, which only made me redouble my efforts to strengthen my hug. After drying her tears I broke our long silence.

"Lulu as much as I would love to stay here and talk I really need some coffee."

She smiled before speaking "Worry not Mother." Sniff "We have already had it brought up to our room."

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"So let me get this straight, you want me to go in this giant present so that when Tia opens it, she gets scared?" I ask.

"Why not Mother? Thou always cast pranks upon us in our youth."

"Yes, I suppose, but how long before she gets here?" I say putting a hoof to my chin. Before turning my head to a new voice.

"She should be here any second now." Twilight said taking a sip of her coffee. As some guards opened up the large double doors to let her through.

"Ahh, Sister Twilight, you must meet our mother, We were hoping to surprise everypony, but it seems it we were too late for you. Also, when did thou arrive, did our sister call for you?" She said before quickly noticing we were not questioning each other. Let alone even giving a reaction, as if we saw each other every day.

"Yeah about that," Twilight said rubbing the back of her neck before continuing "we kind of already met at the city place that you guys found and sent me to.  There wasn't much there sadly, but that's where we meet. I was going to ask you and Celestia about her later. I also sent you guys the reports last night of my findings, but nopony responded to them yet it seems."

"Apologies We have not forgotten, but We have been rather distracted these past hours. We are glad to see thou has returned unharmed."

"I can imagine," Twilight says smiling and taking another long sip of her drink.

"Now mother if thou cou-" She stops mid sentence realizing I was just about to close the top of the box.

"So I'm guessing you wanted to surprise Celestia?" Twilight says in a now muffled voice.

"Ahh yes, the surprise you were talking to be about yesterday." Celestia's voice, she must have just come in the second I closed the lid. "I hope this umm... gift you've been talking about was really worth canceling everything for." A long pause "Twilight when did you get here I thought you would still  be out at the ruins Luna and I spotted?"

"Yeah, I just told Luna about that, long story short it was a bust, there wasn't much there, I also got here yesterday, but I sent you my reports as well. All was not lost in the end however, because well, I seem to have unintentionally brought back, well this." I assumed she pointed a hoof me when she finished speaking.

"Well Tia, open it up!"

"Alright, alright, but I'm getting some breakfast right after though, I still haven't eaten anything yet." She says before I hear the sound of hoof steps getting closer. Just before the lid is off I jump out of the box crushing some parts of it.

"Surprise!"

Princess Twilight Sparkle

"Surprise!"

We all said in unison once Faust had popped out of the box. Celestia, surprisingly... looked like she got the scare of her life. She scampered away like a filly before claiming down. We maintained an awkward pose for a least a solid ten seconds. Meanwhile, Celestia stared straight at the alicorn in front of her, eyes locking onto each others gaze. Several concerning expressions crossing her muzzle, only to immediately switch to another in mere seconds. Anger, confusion, sadness, hatred, happiness, loneliness, fear, love? The mask she wore was having a hard time trying to maintain itself after being shattered into millions of pieces. Eventually, she decided to simply let it go, her lips quivered, and tears formed in her eyes. Celestia stumbled into her mother's grasp, wrapping her forelegs in a warm embrace. Though the view did not last long, for the sight was obstructed by massive white feathery wings. Loud sobbing filled the room causing Luna to join in. I simply stood there unsure of what to do with myself. Before I knew it, hours had passed and the crying had yet to cease. In fact, it had gotten louder over time when Luna joined. Years of bottling up all their emotions had finally caught up with them, I was quite happy for the three, they could let lose after so long. That was until silence filled the room.

"Heh," She chorted out the fakest laugh I've ever heard. "cried themselves to sleep, and it's only 12:00pm, they use to do that all the time when they were younger, every time I scolded them for doing something wrong or was disappointed when they fought. Profusely apologize through tear soaked eyes, they thought I was perfect; doubt that they think that now after all that's happened. What kind of mother leaves their children for thousands of years?" Faust asked in a soft, motherly voice, filled with sorrow.

I coughed to clear my throat. "Umm I'- I'm sure you had a go- good reason for leaving." I definitely sounded confident in my answer, yup, absolutely, one hundred percent, no studdering or high pitched squeal came from my mouth when I said that.

"You're right I did have a good reason, a very good one in fact, but it doesn't really make me feel any better. I still left them regardless."

"But you're here now, and you're going to stay quite awhile right? That counts for something, and they're happy now that you're back."

"Yes, but no doubt that the first time I left, left quite a... lasting effect."

I could relate "I understand what you mean, not with the mother, daughter thing or thousands of years part, but I had a friend named Moondancer here in Canterlot. She saw me as the greatest friend that you could ever have, but one day I left, and ever even told her why. It was the same day that she had a birthday party, as you could imagine she didn't take it very well when I didn't show up. Years later, I came back, but she wasn't really the same after that, I sort of promised myself that I would try to make it up to her, and that I could and would, be the greatest friend she ever had once again," my voice cracked a bit as sadness overtook me "it took a long time but after all that, our friendship rekindled and she's back to her same old self. I don't know, I've never really been good at telling stories, but basically the moral is that, even if you feel like you've failed, there's always room to fix the mistake. It's like a mirror, even if it's broken you can still fix it. Yeah, you'll still see the cracks within, but their not there to show the mistakes we've made, but rather, it's a reminder of the lessons we have learned." I know, I know, I admit my little speech was a bit cheezy, but it didn't make it any less true.

"You know Twilight, you really are something special even if you don't see yourself as so."

My heart fluttered a bit at the praise, my little talk somehow miraculously managed to get the point across.

"Well I better put these to back to bed I don't want them to wake up with pains for sleeping in a bad position." She picked up the two mares placing Luna on her back, and picking up Celestia like a dog... in her teeth? As if there was loose flesh on her neck to bite. Once having lifted the two, she walked down the corridors to a large guest room and lowered them onto the bed. Afterward, she lifted me in her magic and placed me with them despite my protests. Then she climbed up, twirled a bit then bent her knees until her belly and expanded wings were covering us along with the entire bed.

Let me just clarify something: She picked us up like stray puppies, placed us on a large bed, then proceeded to lay down on us like some chicken tending to her eggs to keep them safe. I probably would have said something along the lines of "What are you doing, can you please stop?" but she was really really comfy and super warm, so I ended up falling asleep almost immediately.

It was the best sleep I had ever gotten in my entire life.

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11:45 A.M

For once when I woke up I was actually in a good mood, and I'm not a morning pony either, maybe because this time waking up I didn't have to wash sand off of me or walk for more than twenty minutes to do so, also it helped that I could smell one of my favorite foods... Heyburgers. I don't know who was making them and I didn't really care I just wanted some. Opening my eyes and looking around. I realized that Faust, was in fact, lying down on the ground with several different types of Heyburgers surrounding her on the floor served on different silver platters. Celestia and Luna were still fast asleep on the bed next to me.

"I figured you would wake up soon after I got these." She said I could tell she was smiling despite facing away from me.

"How did you kn- never mind, anyway you don't mind if I-"

"Dig in?" she finished. "of course not, I got these for us."

Smiling, I sit next to her grabbing a good 4 or 5 burgers in my magic already unwrapping two and scarfing them down

"These are the best heyburgers I've ever had. Did you make them?"

"Naturally, who else do you know that can make food taste as good as mine? I am a Mom you know."

"I don't think that means you instantly know how to cook."

"Maybe, maybe not, but the foods good and I'm a Mom. Therefore, I'm a good cook."

I rolled my eyes, for somepony like herself she seemed really laid back and a bit silly at times.

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After finishing the rest of our meals in silence, Celestia & Luna had eventually woken up. We were simply talking about current events for most of the time along with other small talk. Well, that was until Faust had said something rather... interesting to say the least.

"It's so good to be back here in Equestria after so long. I hope you two didn't fight while I was away." A very slight amount of anger was hidden in her voice. I don't think Celestia or Luna had actually noticed, most likely too focused on the sentence itself.

The two had visible winced a that, a blight on both their part. I had recoiled from the subtle, yet, extremely bold remark. From what Faust had told me; even while she was gone she could still see what was happening in Equestria. She most certainly knew about what happened between them. No doubt she was most likely saddened, disappointed, and angry about what had transpired all those years ago. Though I wonder why she had brought that up, the sisters know that she could do that, so why ask?

Luna had looked down at the ground solemnly before answering. "Of co- course not M- Mother," Celestia quickly added. "We would never dr- dream of disappointing you."

My body froze and my blood ran ice cold. They didn't know.

They had just lied to their mother.

She had frowned for a fraction of a second, it was my by pure luck I manage to catch it. I'm not sure I wanted to live anywhere near Equestria, the dragon lands seemed real promising.