Author's Note

As for the characters here's some visual help. Think level 4.

Contingecy Plan

A week had passed since my sister’s funeral. The castle felt empty, without her going through the halls attending day court and inspecting the royal guard. I had to take charge of day court as well as night court taking only a few hours of sleep. Is this really what she had to go through while I was banished on the moon? The thought only made my guilt grow more.

Every time I passed by her room; I could see the fire crackling warmly from within the fireplace. The staff had started a small tradition which was to ignite a fire within the fireplace every day in honor of Celestia. It was nice to know my sister meant so much to them, that they would continue to do this every day without fail warmed my heart. To see that my sister had such a huge impact on her subject’s lives brought upon me a sense of pressure to be able to meet up to those standards and... well...It hasn't been easy.

Sometimes, my mind would play tricks on me and I could see her sitting on her desk chair, sipping tea and going through the latest reports only to disappear after noticing my presence and smiling at me. Without her here, life lost its meaning, making me feel as I felt during my time in the moon.

I felt alone.

It didn't help that everypony thought I had killed her. Many ponies claimed I must have poisoned my sister in a senseless effort to obtain control over Equestria or that Nightmare Moon had made a secret return.

But they couldn’t be farther from the truth.

I loved my sister. I had just reunited with her only to lose her in such a short amount of time, it was unfair.

What she said during that faithful night still haunted me. The sun was dying which meant that the temperatures would surely drop and that would cause the end of life as we know it. Even I could feel now the sun dimming as well. Every time I would lower the sun, I could feel its power fade, slowly slipping away like holding water.

There was only one solution to this problem and that was to await the arrival of a new alicorn who could link her very life to the sun just like my dear sister Celestia did shortly after receiving her cutie mark. But there was a catch: An alicorn with the ability to do so takes decades even generations to appear.

The solution is so straightforward and simple yet the path to achieve it will be long and arduous.

I sent letters to princess Twilight Sparkle and Cadence so we could discuss the foreboding warning Celestia had left behind. I didn't have to wait long for their answers. Twilight, as usual, answered within the hour and cadence sent in her answer shortly after. That was about an hour ago and right now I am currently awaiting the arrival of the princesses outside the castle gates.

Twilight was first to arrive clearly shaken and nervous. Beside her was her loyal servant Spike who was having difficulties to keep up with her. It was amusing and heartwarming to see.

"Princess Luna" Twilight bowed and the small drake did the same.

"There is no need for formalities Twilight" I said.

"I- yes, ok." her demeanor deflated for a moment.

I cup her face with my hands "Twilight, I know its hard to be back here and not see our beloved sister. I thank you for coming here in such a quick manner."

"Y-your welcome Prin- uh, Luna." she says with a hint of sorrow.

Shortly after Cadance arrives with Flurry heart beside her.

"I’m so sorry for arriving late auntie." Says Cadance carrying Flurry heart in a magical aura.

"Tis fine dear niece." I try to assure her.

"Please, follow me. There is much to be discussed" I said as I lead them into the throne room.

I tell the guards to wait outside before closing the doors.

"Auntie, what is this about Celestia leaving behind a warning?" Cadance breaks the silence.

I take a deep breath "Before passing away Celestia warned me that the sun was dimming"

Their faces turn to shock, even the young drake could not believe what he had heard.

"But how?" asked Twilight in panic.

"When my sister ascended into an alicorn she accepted to link her life with the sun granting her unparalleled power. But there was a drawback, if either one of them died the other would lie dormant." I explained.

Twilight, being the smart pony she is, quickly pieces together the information "So since Celestia passed away the sun is lying dormant?"

I nod "You’re close Sparkle. The sun is in the process of going dormant and we must prepare."

Silence, for a few seconds there is nothing but silence. Even the young filly Flurry Heart looked at us with silent curiosity. Spike was still at a loss for words.

Twilight speaks up, her eyes like pinpricks "B-but that's impossible! Can’t you or any one of us link our life to the sun?"

I shake my head "I’m afraid not. A pony must ascend with the affinity to link their life to the sun and to find such a pony could take decades and we don’t even have a year."

Once again, silence, but this time Twilight was noticeably trying to come up with a solution in her mind.

"How did you two do it Auntie? Survive the windigos and the winter?" asked Cadance.

I looked at her with a solemn look as I remembered back to those days. It was horrible. Nopony wanted to work together to survive the winter and just did the best they could while ignoring the suffering of everyone else as they froze in place. I still remembering going through hunger with my sister and hiding away from the cold in an abandoned earth pony house.

Times are different now. Thanks to the hard work of my dear sister, ponies no longer hate each other or discriminate one another. I have full confidence that we will be able to survive the terrible winter ahead of us but as to how we will do that is yet to be seen.

"It was terrible Cadance but we managed to survive thanks to the kindness of a few ponies and by working together" I said.

I use my magic and bring forth a scroll with Celestias’ cutie mark in the wax seal.

Twilight looks at the scroll in curiosity "What is that?"

I took a deep breath "This is a contingency plan my sister created some time ago in case she was to ever leave this plane of existence. In it, are her instructions as to how to survive the future events that await us."

Twilight looks taken back "She had plans for this situation?"

I nod "Yes Twilight, I also have my own contingency plans in case something was to happen to me or the moon."

Cadance looks up from flurry heart who was in Cadances’ arms and looks at me with determination shining in her eyes "Please auntie, tell us what she wrote, tell us what she planned and we'll get it done."

I know I have lied to them. I said the sun was dimming, not dying. When my sister and I ascended, we did it just in time to save everypony from a freezing death. But the last thing we need now is panic. I would much rather tell them a white lie and let them hang on to hope than to give them the soul crushing truth.

I smile warmly at her and look back at the scroll "Were going to need to build a city, a large city"