It had been well over a year now, since the Solar Princess had been trapped on the moon. Well, more like in the moon - it was exceedingly complicated to explain. The scar across the silvery orb being a firm reminder of what transpired when Leotoln’s forces landed in Canterlot. And to put it simply… it was a mess. A stain on the throne, one that a certain purple Alicorn hoped to wash out.

“Alright girls, let’s bring Celestia home!” Twilight called to the night sky with bursting energy; a pile of books surrounding her in the Lunar Gardens, along with letters from Erenorn concerning their own banishment findings. Her friends cheered; bouncing into formation.

“Aw yeah! Finally! A plan I can get behind!” Rainbow Dash billowed, punching her hoof into the air. Applejack gave a yeehaw, too - as Pinkie Pie bounced excitedly at the idea of saving the extroverted Princess locked above. Even Fluttershy, the timid pegasi - gave a soft ‘yay’, while Rarity simply blinked at the lack of beauty sleep.

Before Twilight could draw the familiar power of Harmony into her body, the regal voice of Luna broke her concentration.

“Twilight, are you sure this is safe? I trust thy judgement in the matter, yet… I feel as if this may very well be a bad idea. I am excited to see my Sister’s safe return, yes - but my dreams have become… plagued, lately. Something is amiss.”

“Pfft! It’ll be fine, Princess Luna! The Elements are a force of good, and from my research - the Lunar Plane, like all others, can recover from a little magical prodding. It’s not like we’re going to crash the moon into Equestria. I mean… we probably won’t, heh.” Twilight straightened her mane with a hoof, a gentle wind rattling the flower’s of the smaller garden.

“...I trust you, Twilight. I miss Tia as well. I wish Harmony would have taken me instead, some nights, as I can not bear these burdens alone.”

Luna’s rolling blue mane relaxed, as Twilight and company formed together for their first attempt at freeing Luna’s lost sibling.

“From the top everypony! For Princess Celestia!” Another set of cheers followed, as magic whirled in the air. Sparkling light shimmering between the Elements, ethereal trails of power connecting the party; the balance of arcane elements condensing into the epicenter of magic, the purple mare herself.

Lifting into the air, Twilight churned this power within her ember - as her eyes flashed white. Harmony engulfed her spirit in a flash, and in a pearly beam of pure white - the pouring tidal wave of magic spiraled ever upwards, seeking its target: the moon.

And it crashed there, as the six ponies slowly fluttered to the floor in a cascade of flickering lights.

Then, they waited. One minute turned to three, three into ten - nothing. Yep, there was still a mare symbol roughly tattooed on the moon; and no Princess to show for their efforts.

Luna whimpered softly, clutching her head in a splitting migraine that started nearly all at once. It’s like the magic finally whiplashed her, landing a solid blow on the mighty blue alicorn. She struggled for a moment, eyes turning to the moon while the pain quickly faded.

“Princess Luna? Are you alright, dear?” Rarity asked, having spotted the wavering Princess clenching her aching head.

“I am… fine. Perhaps the magic touched Us in a way that one did not intend. It is my Element, after all, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna sighed, as her gaze turned back to the glowing orb. She honestly felt like her own magic had been pulled from her, in some way - perhaps it had something to do with her magical planar alignment shifting, or… something. A fluke.

Regardless, she now felt a wave of exhaustion seep over her form, and needed rest. The day courts were often a mess, and she would need a clear mind to handle the upcoming stress. If she had to deal with Silverbit, one more time - she would wring the old codger’s neck.

...She buried that intrusive thought, turning back to the garden doors.

“I crave sleep, but thank you, Twilight. For all you have done, and continued to do.” She said with a sigh, leaving her and her friends to contemplate this fresh failure.

Twilight flicked her wings in defeat, looking over her notes gathered. Maybe the answer wasn’t in breaking the banishment? She could reach out to a few talented hooves in the matter, but… No. It’s an unexplored subject. The Princess of Magic would simply need more research; simple as that. Theory crafting and magical experiments - she did have a bucket of chalk laying around somewhere. Maybe a few alignment sigils may help?

“Spike, take a note - add chalk and candles to the shopping list. And maybe more coffee.” She nodded to her trusty assistant; gosh, he was growing so tall now! “And for everypony else… Thank you for coming tonight. Even if my idea didn’t work.”

“Aw hush now Twilight; we gotta buck the tree to get apples, even if some of them are bad. You’ll figure something out!” Applejack said, hoping to perk the downtrodden mare up.

“Yeah egghead! You’ll find something in those old books somewhere!” Rainbow Dash fell in, checking a pocket watch she usually carried for time trials. “I’ve gotta go - tomorrow, I have a big meeting planned. I may finally have my chance to prove my stuff, and settle in as second in command to Spitfire herself!”

“I-I have to go as well… I have animals to feed tonight, and bits are becoming tight. I’ll have to pick up work at the Veterinarian's office again to keep Angel happy, so I have to be up bright and early tomorrow.” Fluttershy mewled quietly, hiding beneath her mane. She didn’t like being around all those… needles, and ponies in doctor’s outfits. It made her uncomfortable.

“And I’ve got a date with Cheese Sandwich! We’re gonna go out to Vinyl’s nightclub, you should come, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie bounced, but the studious mare simply shook her head.

“I have research to do, I’m afraid. Rarity, will you be able to stay here? We can fit you in your old guest tower, if you’d like.”

“I’m afraid not, darling - since the Galas have been cancelled, I’ve been working hard to scrape up any work I can to pay the bills. It doesn’t help that all of my old advertisers had switched to these newfound… ‘radios’, leaving my usual newspaper blocks pointless. It just means I have to move with the times, dear, but…” She gave a nervous, and hopefully understanding laugh. She had her own life to keep track of, after all.

Twilight bowed her head, “No no, I understand. At least I’ll have Spike to keep me company, right Spike?”

The not-so-baby dragon laughed, “Of course Twi! Though I’ve been thinking about taking time off for myself. I’m getting a bit old now - I’d like to visit the dragon lands again, y’know, figure things out about me? I mean, not now - but like, definitely next year.”

“Oh! Yes, of course, of course! I’ll just be here. Alone. You will all still visit, right?” The Princess of Friendship asked, hopeful eyes falling on her friends.

“Of course, Sugarcube! We won’t leave ya hanging out to dry! Though uh, ya might wanna make sure ya write in advance - I’ve been working my flanks off, since this ol’ recession started. I gotta find time for it, now - can’t run off as much as I’d like to, Twi.”

“And hey! We’re not that far! Just call us if you wanna hang.” Rainbow Dash smiled, hoping to cheer her egghead up.

“...Of course. I’m just being silly, that’s all, girls. I’d like to try this again sometime later, once I can decipher a few sigils to-” The Element of Magic began, but the Wonderbolt quickly cut her off.

“English, egghead.” The speedy pegasus poked.

“...Once I figure some things out.”

“And we will be right there, darling, as quick as can be!” Rarity chimed, forcing Twilight’s sad frown to lift into a hopeful smile once more.

“Thank you, all of you. For everything you’ve done. Now I’m going to clean up my mess - if anypony would like to help me reorganiz-... Where did everypony go? Spike?”

As soon as the Purple alicorn turned her head to her books, her friends - and the not-so-baby dragon - vanished all at once, leaving her entirely alone.

“...Great, just great. I should have told them there were cupcakes in the library, that usually works.”

“OOOOO!~ Did somepony say cupca-mmf!” A cyan hoof ripped Pinkie Pie’s muzzle back into the bushes, hiding from the bookish mare before she could ask them to organize the entire Royal Canterlot Library. Again.

Author's Note

If you're reading this now, Verve, the sequel, is now finished. It finishes the story properly.

If you enjoy Luna fics, Verve moves away from that. It may not fit your tastes.

https://www.fimfiction.net/story/503885/verve