The next few days saw Celestia fairly busy, looking through her things to see what she might take with her and also letting her fellow residents know of her impending departure. She and Luna had both purchased their apartments outright, so she always had her apartment to come back to whenever she wanted. Therefore, she didn't need to pack up the whole lot, just the essentials.

All the friends she'd made at Silver Shoals were rather sad to see her go, especially after so short a time with them. She had to promise them that she would come and visit occasionally, once her little Salmacis had developed a bit. Naturally, all the residents wanted to see her off properly, and so they were planning a little goodbye party for her the night before she left.

When the night in question rolled around, Celestia took stock of her luggage before heading out, Salmacis sniffing the bags curiously. "You and Momma are heading out tomorrow, Sally. Those are our things." Salmacis tilted her head and made a confused chirp. "Don't worry, you'll figure it out eventually. You're my smart little grub. Now come on, up." She lifted her daughter, depositing her on her withers. "Let's go have a little fun with our friends, shall we?"

* * *

As Celestia walked into the music hall, she was greeted by a loud "SURPRISE!" The room was absolutely packed with ponies, waving happily at her. There was Mixed Palette, wiping away a tear. Sunny Days, an earth pony who led the yogallop and meditation groups, smiled serenely at her. Sure Shot, a pegasus who remained ever her sister's rival in paintball, saluted her. And speaking of Luna, there she was, standing next to a..."ch-chocolate cake..." Celestia murmured, trying not to immediately drool on the floor.

"Greetings, dearest sister!" Luna called, parting the crowd and trotting over to her. "Got everything ready for tomorrow?"

"Y-yes cake....err, yes Lulu." She replied, tearing her eyes off the cake to look at her sister. Luna gave her a wicked grin and chuckled. "I'm going to look so silly in front of our friends now. You know I can't resist chocolate cake!"

"Or cake of any kind, for that matter. But chocolate especially." Luna shrugged and leaned in to give her a nuzzle. "Love you, sis."

"Love you too, Lulu."

"Finally, the V.I.P. has arrived!" Came a voice from the stage. Celestia turned to see Timbre Tone sitting on a stool, tuning his guitar. "Cake and punch and music for ya, Celestia."

"That's very sweet of all of you. I really appreciate th-" She broke off, turning to look at her daughter, who was suddenly chirping out the same notes that Timbre was striking. "Huh?"

"Would ya look at that." Timbre played a melody line, and Salmacis chirped it back to him. He played a note and then bended it back and forth, while at the same time giving it some vibrato with the whammy bar. Salmacis warbled it right back to him. "All right, that's impressive. Your bug's a natural mimic, and she's got perfect pitch. That...that's actual talent right there, that is."

"Oh?" Celestia turned to give her daughter a nuzzle. "Looks like this 'bug' might not be so terrible after all, hmm?"

"Hmph." Timbre Tone huffed, crossing his arms. "I guess. At least she has an ear for music. You should definitely follow up with music lessons when she is older. Any foal I've seen who could do what she just did ended up becoming very talented musicians."

"Well, something for me to think about!" Celestia stood up tall and proud, pleased with the compliment towards her daughter. "Wonder if she'll be a classical musician or a rockstar?"

"Why not both?" He shrugged, and continued tuning. "Anyway, get yourselves relaxed, the boys and I need a few minutes to get ready still."

Celestia nodded, turning toward the gathering behind her. She waded into the crowd, sharing greetings with the older ponies she'd be leaving in the morning. And, of course, she got some fruit punch and chocolate cake, trying to scarf it down with at least some decorum.

"All right, ladies and gentlecolts, we're ready to start." Timbre Tone's amplified voice floated over to them. "Since our lovely friend is leaving on the 'morrow, the boys and I thought we'd modify a few classics for 'er." He turned toward the rest of the band. "Ready? And a one, and a two..." His guitar rang out with the notes of a rather familiar blues standard, an upbeat song that had everypony stomping.

Celly please don't go,
Celly please don't go,
Celly please don't go to the changeling hive,
you know we love you so,
Celly please don't go.

Celestia smiled and blushed, her wings fluffing a little with embarrassment.

We'll always be your friends,
we'll always be your friends,
we'll always be your friends,
never let you walk alone,
Celly please don't go.

Your hooves done gone,
your hooves done gone,
you left Silver shoals
you had your luggage on,
Celly please don't go.

When we called your name,
when we called your name,
when we called your name,
nopony came,
Celly please don't go!

The song came to a close, Timbre's slide guitar reverberating through the hall. Everypony applauded, and Celestia whooped and flared her wings.

"Thank you, thank you. Now, I believe Luna wanted to come up and sing something for her sister."

"Lulu?" Celestia asked, watching her sister stroll on by her and climb the stairs to the stage.

"Indeed." Luna said into the microphone, beaming at her sister. "You didn't think I wouldn't try to be a part of this, surely?"

"Lulu, I'm touched."

"I'm glad. And I hope you like the song." She turned to look at the stallions around her. "Ready boys? On my count. 1, 2, a 1, 2, 3, 4." The band started up, strumming their chords, and Luna began to sing.

Let me tell you 'bout my sister,
you know she come around.
She 'bout six feet tall,
from her head to the ground.

You know she leavin' here,
in the mornin' light.
I'll miss her so,
every day and every night.

And her name is T! I! Ayyyyy!
T-I-A! Celestia!
T-I-A! Celestia!
I'm gonna shout it all night!
Gonna shout it every place!

From there, the verses repeated, with everypony joining in, even Celestia. Her heart swelled with love for her sister and her little ponies. They knew just how to make her feel wanted. Maybe she was no longer their princess, but she'd always be their friend.

The evening proceeded in the same manner, with Timbre and his band playing songs for her, and Celestia eating as much cake as she could get away with. Her cheeks burned with shame as Luna met her gaze, seeing the chocolate frosting smeared around her muzzle. Luna cackled. "Got a little something on your face, Tia."

"Yes, yes, I know." She grumbled, wiping her muzzle clean. She turned to look at Salmacis, who had also pigged out a bit on cake, the grub snoozing on a full belly of sickeningly sweet dessert. "I bet love tastes like chocolate cake."

"Maybe your love does, Tia. I do recall Thorax telling me that everypony's love has a different taste to it, but all are sweet like dessert. You should ask him what yours tastes like." That remark caused Celestia to fidget and blush. "Oho, does the handsome bug make you all weak in the knees, hmm?"

"Lulu! Stoooop!" She protested. "A-anyway, Salmacis and I should be going now, get a good night's sleep. Looks like our friends are starting to fade too." She looked about the hall, seeing the seniors yawning and looking sleepy despite their sugar intake. "I think this is later than they usually stay up anyway."

"It seems so." Luna nuzzled her. "Go on then, off to bed with you." Celestia nodded and went about the room, saying goodnight to those present, before heading back to her apartment.

* * *

"Mmff..." Celestia yawned, pushing the covers off of her. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and stretched. "Moving day." She murmured, tickling her daughter awake. Salmacis wriggled and chirped, letting out a yawn of her own. "I know, it's early, but we've got a long train ride."

Celestia got out of bed, bringing Salmacis with her, moving to the kitchen. A breakfast of oatmeal and apple sauce was soon whipped up, Celestia having gotten used to having soft foods with her daughter over the past few days. It was in the middle of their meal that Luna entered, joining them at the table.

"Morning, Tia! Ready to go?"

"Mmhmm, got everything packed." She gestured toward two bags sitting beside the door. "Didn't want to take too much, just some things I couldn't do without."

"Let me guess, one of those cases is just books."

"...maybe?"

"Tia, surely they have reading material at the hive. I know things have changed a lot for them after they embraced harmony. I bet they have a library comprised of both pony and changeling writing."

"I'm sure you're right, but...there's a few I need to have with me."

"Suit yourself." Luna stood up, fluffing up her feathers. "What time is your train?"

"8:00 a.m." She replied, turning to look at the clock, which showed that it was 7:30 a.m. "I best get going, get to the station."
Celestia stood up as well, and began to quickly clean up. "All right, Salmacis, time to go."

Suitcases floating beside her in her magic, and her daughter snug in her mane, she and Luna left her apartment, trotting down the path that led out of Silver Shoals. She waved goodbye to each pony she saw, wishing them well. "I'll miss these ponies, Lulu. They're like big foals, aren't they?"

"Compared with our grand ages, all our little ponies are foals, but yes, retirement brings out the foal in ponies again, doesn't it?" Luna giggled. "Not that we really needed retirement for that, you and I have never truly grown up."

"Speak for yourself, Lulu, I'm truly a mature pony." Celestia said with a straight face, only to break into a giggle fit. "A few months of not being a princess and I've already lost my poker face."

"Easy come, easy go."

They continued on down the road, the train station only a short walk from the retirement community. Several other ponies were already standing on the platform, milling about and chatting with each other. They waved at Celestia as she approached, and she waved back, then made for the ticket booth. "Good morning! One ticket for the changeling station, please."

"Morning, Celestia! Wow, we don't often get requests for that station." The stallion replied, taking her bits and sliding a ticket across the counter to her. "Going for a visit?"

"Actually, I'm moving there." She replied, gesturing to the changeling grub snuggled within her mane. "I'm hoping my changeling friends will help me raise my daughter."

"Huh." He looked at the grub in amazement. "Well I'll be. You've only been here for a few months, and now you're off to raise a changeling? Your life never ceases to be interesting, does it?"

"Tell me about it." She replied with a pout. "I don't think my life will ever truly be quiet." The ticketmaster chuckled at that. "Have a good day!"

"You too, Celestia! Hope all goes well in your new home!"

"Thank you!" She left the booth and returned to the platform, where Luna was standing with her bags. "Got my ticket, Lulu."

"Excellent. The train should be here in a few minutes." Luna let out a sigh, then went in for a hug, extending her wings around her sister. "Tia, I'm really going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Lulu." Celestia gave her a nuzzle, then rested her head on Luna's withers. Salmacis let out a few chirps, nuzzling her aunt as well. "After that millenia without you, I never wanted to be apart from you again, but here we are."

"Not even the moon could keep you apart from me, since I'm always in your heart, Tia." Luna pulled back, tears trickling down her cheeks. Celestia lifted a hoof to wipe them away. "This isn't goodbye, it's just 'see you later', no?"

"Exactly." Celestia smiled, wiping tears from her own eyes. "Have a good time here, keep me apprised of the goings-on."

"Of course! And you best write to me regularly, sister. I want to know everything that's happening in the hive."

"Will do." It was at that moment that a whistle sounded in the distance, drawing their gaze down the track. There was the train, steam puffing from its stack, chugging quickly towards the station. As it neared it began to slow, those metal wheels gradually coming to a screeching halt. "Well, this is me, Lulu."

"Love you, Tia. Until we meet again."

Celestia gave her sister one more nuzzle, then boarded the train, luggage in tow. She entered the compartment, looking about for a good seat, then slid her suitcases into the overhead luggage bin. She sat at the window, staring out at the platform, looking at Luna as she waited for the rest of the passengers to board.

After a few minutes, everypony was on board, and the train blew its whistle. She waved at Luna as the train began to pull out, blowing her kisses. It wasn't long before the station was out of sight, and she sat back, watching the scenery passing by. "Well, Sally, I'm on the road again." Salmacis responded with a happy little chitter. "I can't wait until you can talk, my dear. Now..." She produced the novel she'd been reading. "Time to see what Huthinax is up to this time..."

Author's Note

Hey everypony! Dizzy here. By now you've no doubt noticed all the music references. What started off as just a joke in chapter one (Call Upon the Seaponies) has become a way for me to reference music I know and like. So, here's some more for you.

'Celly, Please Don't Go' is a parody of 'Baby, Please Don't Go', an oft-covered blues standard. Here are a few performances of it:
Baby, Please Don't Go (Live) - Them
Intro / Baby, Please Don't Go / Train Kept A-Rollin' / Reprise (Live) - Blues Creation
Baby, Please Don't Go - Budgie

'Tia' is a parody of 'Gloria':
Gloria - Them
Gloria - Shadows of Knight

And finally, Celestia title drops 'On the Road Again' by Canned Heat.