It was a gentle and quiet night as a cool wind swept across Ponyville and moved along until it reached Twilight's castle. The six friends were seated on her balcony having a nice late night picnic when the breeze came along. Fluttershy shivered giving a small squeak as Twilight giggled a bit. She was enjoying a nice daisy sandwich while listening to her friend's conversations.

"And then I fell right in!" Pinkie giggled.

"Why do you need so much batter for a cake anyway?" Rarity asked.

"Why not?"

"Well, you're just gonna fall in again." Applejack replied.

"But that's the fun part silly! I get to swim in a bunch of batter! But..Then its not so fun when I get stuck."

Twilight shook her head, giving a small smirk at their conversation as she looked towards the stars now. She didn't exactly know what they were talking about but something about batter and Pinkie falling in? She'd have to catch up later.

"Heya Twi, what was that letter that came in this morning?" Rainbow asked as she was now sitting beside Twilight.

There was a bit of fear suddenly seen in Twilight's face. The other Mane Six had now lived with her in the castle and occasionally they would get stacks of mail for the each of them. Rainbow had just been looking for something she ordered when she found a letter in the pile addressed to Twilight. It even had the royal stamp on it. She was about to look further when Twilight suddenly snatched it from her and gave her a bit of a nervous smile, explaining that it was something important and she couldn't look. It seemed like a touchy subject of some kind however from the look on Twilight's face.

"Oh..That was nothing. Just..Uh..Me and Celestia sending back and fourth letters." Twilight tried to cover up whatever it was. However, Rainbow could see right through her lies.

"Come on Twi. I've known you for a long time now. I know how you act and when you're lying. Just spit it out."

"I wish I could..But its better off if nopony knows at the moment.." Twilight looked down at the ground now with a bit of guilt.

"Well, you better tell us sometime." Rainbow said as she now flew off to join her friends in their conversation. Twilight just kept silent after that as soon everypony went to bed in the castle for the night.

The next morning, Twilight woke up early as she galloped downstairs and began packing a saddlebag.

“Hello Twilight, going somewhere?” Twilight jumped slightly as she looked behind her to see Rarity sitting down in her throne sipping a cup of coffee.

“Oh, hey Rarity. Just heading out. I should be back in a few hours.” Twilight quickly said, not giving her a chance to respond before taking off with a gallop.

Within a few minutes Twilight was already sitting on a train watching the landscape pass by like a blur. She was on her way to Canterlot to meet with the other princesses. The reason why she hid the letter from Rainbow and everypony else was because she knew what it was for. Celestia had only asked her to come to Canterlot but she knew exactly what it was for and why. They had asked her to come because they were going to talk about her friends. A topic she really didn’t like. Which sounded quite odd for Twilight but it was true.

She suddenly felt the train come to a stop and the engineer pony shout they had arrived. Twilight levitated her saddlebag up from underneath her seat and began trotting towards Canterlot Castle.

When she made it inside, she seated herself in the hall of stain glass windows. The stained glass windows were one of Canterlot Castle’s most interesting aspects considering many of the beautiful portraits carried meaning and a story behind all of them. They also carried memories and nostalgia for Twilight as she almost teared up whenever she saw the stain glass of her friends defeating Nightmare Moon or any of them where she wasn’t at least a alicorn. She couldn’t cry now though, she was about to meet with the princesses in the throne room to discuss her friends. And in no time, she saw the throne room doors open a crack as Cadence peaked inside.

“Twilight, you may come in now.” She said as she now turned and started trotting back up to the thrones.

Twilight took a deep breath as got up and trotted inside. She watched as Cadence just made her way back to her throne and seated herself. Celestia and Luna were already there watching Twilight enter the room. As soon as she had walked far enough, she stopped, standing in the middle of a red rug they had that went up and down the room.

“I’m assuming you know why we are all here?” Celestia asked.

“Yes..I do.” Twilight replied solemnly.

“Twilight..I understand you don’t want to let them go and they are very dear to your heart, but you can’t keep them here forever. They will want to die and pass on. They probably already do.”

“Then why can’t I go with them? I want to be with my friends!” Twilight raised her voice.

“It doesn’t work like that Twilight. A alicorn can’t just simply pass on. We are not like other ponies.” Luna said.

“I don’t understand how you all can just live like this with no grief or sorrow that all of your friends are dead and you can’t go with them!” Twilight argued.

“We do feel grief and sorrow. I’ve made many friends during my lifetime. I know what’s it's like.” Celestia tried to reassure her.

“Then how come you don’t show it! You’re all like robots with no emotions!”

“Twilight! That’s enough!” Luna finally had enough as she yelled.

Twilight looked towards Luna now. Never before had she ever heard Luna yell like that. At least it wasn't really towards her. All the times she yelled was to fit in the crowd with her royal canterlot voice or perhaps Nightmare Moon? However, this was very different. Luna had used her raw voice to yell. There was no magical thing about it to make it louder or anything. Was this really Luna's true anger not covered by magic? Twilight folded her ears now as she stared at Luna.

"Calm down Luna.." Celestia said calmy as she looked into her sister's face, seeming to be looking for some control. Celestia then trotted down from her throne as she stood in front of Twilight.

She now rested her hooves on Twilight's shoulders. "All I'm trying to say is you can't hold on to your friends forever. Those elements and neither the tree of harmony can retain their old selves any longer. You need to pick a day to release them. No, not a thousand years from now, not a few months from now, a few weeks from now. But make sure to spend the weeks you have left with them fun filled and happy. Don't make it seem like its the end. Live your time to the fullest. Alright?"

Twilight stared into Celestia's eyes for a moment, studying them a bit before finally making a decision. "Fine.."

Celestia now backed away as she gave Twilight some space. "Now, go." Twilight nodded as she now trotted off back to the train station in Canterlot. She had a few things in mind to do first.

Author's Note

Yes, I keep switching the ways of how love Princess spells her name. I don't even know anymore honestly because me and her share the same name.