Celestia sat on her throne, a troubled complexion resting on her face. Luna sat next to her with her head resting on her hoof, looking far off and miserable. Unfortunantly, Celestia could not trouble herself with her little sister’s qualms as the information she had just received from the master of chaos was causing her mind to race a mile a minute.

“So Starswirl believes that his master still has power linked to the Lichen and must shake it off at the right moment? This has gone from complicated to mind-aching all too quickly.” She rubbed her temples with her hooves. Discord was playing with marionettes of the Mane six, forming his own plot of drama. He snapped to attention as Celestia shot a beam out right in front of him.

“Yes my dear, I’m afraid your old pony friend decided to make this even harder than normal. All I wanted was to play a few games with him and this is what I get in return. More hoofwork.” Celestia sighed and turned to her younger sister, who still seemed in a state of misery because of the windows on the wall.

“Luna, do you have any ideas? Perhaps we should summon Twilight again or tell Star Strider of our plan finally.” His name struck something in Luna as she sat up for the first time the whole meeting. She looked at Celestia with hollow eyes and said in a flat and cold tone.

“Whatever works, sister. I don’t really care how we go about this.” Celestia was put-off by her demeanor. Luna was usually the more apathetic and introverted of the pair, but this was a whole new kind of detached. Even Discord stopped his charades to give Celestia a look of relative concern.

“Sister, is something the matter? I know mornings aren’t really your thing, but you’re acting colder than usual.” Luna let out a lengthy sigh and turned back to the wall.

“It’s… nothing. Call Strid— I mean Star Strider and let him know. I think we should be done with all this as soon as we can.” Celestia gave her one more look of worry before calling for a guard. Discord floated above the two sisters, peering at Luna for a moment and then whispering to Celestia.

“Let me know if she ever returns from wonder-land, and I’ll let you know if I see her mind lost in the chaos dimension.” His tone came with the familiar sarcasm, but also just a touch of sympathy that Celestia could detect. She nodded to him as he poofed away back to his home. The guard entered the throne room with Star Strider in tow. Luna shot her eye to see him and sat up, casting her eyes down to the ground awkwardly. Celestia again caught her behavior and looked to the entering pony. Something happened between these two. Oh Luna, what did you do this time. Celestia shook her mind as she greeted the silver-coated stallion.

“Star Strider, thank you for coming. We have a bit of… concerning news.” Star Strider bowed to the two sisters, not even looking at Luna as she shot glances to him every few seconds.

“Of course, princess. But what needest thou from me? Have you discovered news of the whereabouts of my foe?” Celestia raised an eyebrow at him. This was the first time he had switched back to his ancient formal tone since his arrival. She decided it meant little and moved on.

“Somewhat. Your old student, Starswirl, has been in the Chaos dimension. He and Discord have found what remains of the Lichen. It appears to be holding onto you through the realms and is feeding off you somehow.” The room was silent as Celestia paused. Star Strider’s eyes were fixated on the base of the throne she sat on. He didn’t look worried, no, more like he was both shocked and calm at the same time.

“I— I see. Yes. I must admit, I have felt some… urges that are beyond my normal range of emotion.” Luna let out a little breath at this, one only Celestia could hear. What in the world… But before Celestia could think, he continued. “But I thought them at least suppressed to be nothing more than remnants. I meditate daily to control these. What other reports come from pupil?” Celestia refocused her attention to the matter at hand.

“He noticed that there seemed to be a shockwave sent from our side that loosened the grip of the monster on the gateway. But after it recovered, it gripped tighter. He believes that in order to separate it permanently, we must time an event where you push against the creature at the same moment Starswirl uses magic to separate it. This will be difficult and require extreme precision, but we believe it possible. Discord said that he would report back with any plans that Starswirl forms and we should expect one after a few more days of observation.” Star Strider let his face relax as he heard her explanation. The room still felt tense to Celestia. Finally, Star Strider spoke in his usual tone and powerful voice.

“This news could be good. I am glad you informed me. But I was actually hoping to make a request to you. The both of you.” Luna drew her head up from its hung position to look at him, her eyes wide and head craned forward. Star Strider took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “I think now is a good time for me to leave Canterlot. Not permanently, but until we hear back from Starswirl. Twilight’s plan for me to come to her school and prepare the other creatures of the world seems to naturally fit right now. I think we could all use a change of pace. If it is alright with you, I would make haste for Ponyville by tomorrow morning.” Luna’s eyes grew wet as she let her head sink again. Celestia sat back and shot a look at Luna. Oh no. Please tell me they didn’t. She sighed as she spoke.

“It’s alright if you do. You aren’t bound here after all. But I thought it best to stay close so we could remain in vigilant contact should a sudden event occur.”

“I understand, but I would be at Twilight’s castle, and one spell away. Any scroll you send would come instantly and we would be here in a flash. I believe this to be the best course of action as I could use a break from the intense training I’ve been directing these last few weeks.” Celestia nodded and stood to descend her throne’s steps.

“Very well. I shall have a carriage prepared for you. Should you wish to say any goodbyes and gather your things, you shall have whatever time you need. They will await you in the west stable by sundown tonight. Leave whenever you need. We shall send for you when we hear word from Starswirl.” She put a hoof on his shoulder as they walked towards the door, Luna noticeably absent from their walk. “Thank you. For all the work you’ve done in the last month. We shall keep your regiment strict. Here comes the hard part. Good luck being a teacher.” She opened the grand doors with her magic as he stepped through. He turned and looked past Celestia. But only for a moment. He met her eyes and smiled, bowing before her.

“Thank you both for your hospitality. Until we meet again… Princesses.” He turned and walked away; his head slightly lower than he usually carried himself. Celestia closed the doors and turned to her sister who was quietly crying in her seat. She immediately flew over and held her in her arms.

“Oh, my sweet sister what have you done?” Celestia stroked her head as Luna now cried openly.

“I— I— I’m sorry. He –hic-- I fell too… I love him ‘Tia! And I messed it up so quick—”

She was crying like a newborn foal into her sister’s chest. Celestia didn’t care one bit. She lowered her head down to rest atop her little sister’s. “I’m sorry Luna. I really am.” Luna cried for a few more minutes until she stopped shaking and her sobs quieted. Celestia brought her face to look at her sister. “Can I ask… why? Why him? I mean, I want to know what happened. Do you want to talk?” Luna choked back a few sobs and pulled away, but not in a harsh manner. She couldn’t meet Celestia’s eyes as she started speaking.

“At first, I just thought he was handsome. The most handsome stallion I ever saw. Then I got to know him, and he knew me. I felt… normal with him. I never feel normal with anypony but you. He treated me like a pony rather than a princess. He wasn’t afraid to see me for what I was and could be. We would practice late into the night, just me and him. I fell in love with his eyes. He told me I was beautiful when my mane was covered in dirt and my face all scratched up!” She let out a little laugh as she wiped her eyes. Her smile left as quickly as it appeared. “But when we finally expressed our hearts to each other, I backed off. I was afraid. My heart was so open and vulnerable I felt like anything could have killed me in that moment. But I also felt safe with him. I fucked it all up because some guard I fucked randomly walked in and brought back all my insecurities and fears. I pushed him away. I pushed him away!” She was shouting at this point, visibly angry. Not at Star Strider, not at the guard, but at herself. Celestia wanted to reach out and comfort her again but knew that Luna needed this. “He could be the only stallion that could become immortal too! I sent away the stallion of my dreams who could genuinely be with me forever because I have no self-control. I am a horrible, shitty, insecure little wretch of a pony. I don’t deserve these wings that he so meticulously worked for. I don’t deserve to be the princess of the night. I don’t deserve to be loved, much less by a pony of his caliber.” She was back to crying, but tears of anger rather than sadness. Celestia had heard enough. She once again swooped her little sister into a tight hug.

“You deserve all those things and more, my sister. One little screw-up does not define your worth. If he was willing to leave at the first fight, maybe he wasn’t as worth it as you thought. You’ll be alright, I promise.”

“NO! He is worth all that! You didn’t know him like I do!” Luna broke away from her grip and flew down to the doors. She lowered her head and voice as she pushed one open to slip out “I had the best right before me… Maybe I really am just destined to have meaningless flings for eternity. I certainly shouldn’t be wasting anypony else’s time again.”

“Luna, wait—” But the door slammed before Celestia could speak again. Tears filled her eyes as well. Tears of pain for her sister, anger at Star Strider, confusion at all that had just been explained. She stamped a hoof in frustration and let out a sigh. It won’t ever be easy for ponies like us, will it. She waited in her throne room for a few minutes to regain her composure. She shouldered her concerns and resumed her graceful smile as the doors opened for the first of many pointless dignitaries for the day.

Author's Note

Classic romance drama. Have you ever considered why the other alicorn princesses never dated besides Cadence? Probably something to do with their immortality. But everyone deserves to be loved :)